Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
A few days later, Mangnyang and I were heading back to the Main Gate of the White Lotus Sect along with Dongbang Mu-gyeol. This time, Mangnyang decided that Jin So-cheong‘s escort wasn’t necessary, so it was just the two of us using beetle carriages. Dongbang Mu-gyeol, blindfolded and subdued, only had his blindfold removed when we reached the Main Gate of the White Lotus Sect, and upon seeing it, he was taken aback.
“What are these bastards thinking?”
“We agreed to guide you to the Master of the White Lotus Sect as per our deal.”
Suddenly, Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s face turned pale with fear. He stammered,
“Y-you’re not planning to take me out, are you…?”
With a grin, Mangnyang replied,
“Then I would have just dealt with you in Jinrang Valley instead of going through the trouble of bringing you to the White Lotus Sect, wouldn’t I? The Master won’t harm you, so don’t worry.”
As Mangnyang reassured him, Dongbang Mu-gyeol looked at him suspiciously and said,
“What’s your actual intention?”
“Nothing much. We’re just planning to relay some information for you, and we’ll take care of the tasks you need to do moving forward.”
“……!!”
Dongbang Mu-gyeol gritted his teeth, his eyes ablaze.
“You scoundrels…!! You’ve stolen someone else’s accomplishments!”
“While that’s technically true, keep in mind that we treated you rather gentlemanly.”
“What did you say?!”
“You should know there were plenty of better ways to eliminate you if that were my intent.”
“……”
His face turned pale. As Mangnyang pointed out, he could have kept pretending in front of the Master of the White Lotus Sect and lived out his days in Jinrang Valley, dying without anyone knowing. The Master had no obligation to take care of Dongbang Mu-gyeol up to that point.
However, after a moment, Dongbang Mu-gyeol overcame his fear and growled,
“Thief’s audacity has its limits. You’ll be struck by heavenly retribution…”
Mangnyang stared at him blankly and said,
“Ultimately, you haven’t really lost anything, have you?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Whatever reward you’re expecting for this expedition, going to see the Master of the White Lotus Sect won’t really change anything. You’ll be able to live comfortably within their sect, like you have until now.”
Dongbang Mu-gyeol snickered at Mangnyang‘s words.
“Don’t joke with me. How do you know what I was promised?”
“I know plenty. It was the entrance to the Susin Sect‘s martial arts, wasn’t it?”
“Gah…!!”
In that instant, Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s eyes became as wide as a rabbit’s. While he was accustomed to hiding emotions, the response caught him so off guard that he couldn’t maintain his composure. It was a revelation so shocking that even a decades-old veteran would be rattled. Trembling, Dongbang Mu-gyeol managed to say,
“H-how did you know?”
“Let’s just say I have my ways. Regardless, you’re quite something. Surviving until this age yet still yearning for martial prowess… I guess the Master of the White Lotus Sect‘s Susin Sect arts are quite enticing.”
“Ugh.”
Indeed.
Using Miho’s charm, Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s secret had been thoroughly extracted, including the reward promised by the Master of the White Lotus Sect if the expedition was a success. It was that he would be taught the Advanced Susin Sect Techniques, which were notoriously closed-off and only passed down to bloodline heirs, making the Master’s offer an extraordinary opportunity.
Mangnyang continued to tease,
“But how long do you plan to live? Learning the Susin Sect techniques will take at least ten years, and even if you utilize your inner energy to delay aging, you might have another thirty years at most… What kind of dream do you expect to experience while undertaking such risks?”
“You don’t understand.”
Dongbang Mu-gyeol snapped back.
“Is wanting to gain the world’s greatest martial arts really wrong? I was born into a lowly background and endured all sorts of hardships to live to this age. It’s only natural to pursue being the strongest in a world where the powerful rule all.”
“Well, I’m not saying you’re wrong per se. I just find it impressive that you still have that kind of passion even after all you’ve been through.”
“Heh… You’re mocking me now. You, the one who’s stolen my expedition results?”
“Don’t be so harsh. You might find yourself surprisingly fortunate.”
“What did you say…!!”
“The moment you start honing the Susin Sect martial arts, it could bring death and suffering to you.”
I expected Dongbang Mu-gyeol to blow up in anger at Mangnyang‘s remark, as it was the culmination of sarcastic jabs.
“……”
But surprisingly, Dongbang Mu-gyeol fell silent as if struck by lightning, saying nothing. This wasn’t merely a refusal to converse, but more like he was pondering something. It seemed that Mangnyang‘s words surprisingly hit the nail on the head.
After a moment, we came face-to-face with the youths of the White Lotus Sect again, and following them, we met Samno of the elder council. As it was our second visit, Samno didn’t question us much. Instead, he seemed to take note of Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s face.
“You are Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Celestial Monstrosity.”
“Yes.”
“Weren’t you a bit late on fulfilling the agreement?”
“I had some unavoidable circumstances, so I ask for your understanding. If you have doubts, you may inspect his body.”
“Of course, I shall.”
Samno searched Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s body as if brushing off dust. While it appeared to be just a search, it was actually a procedure using a high-level technique to check if he had hidden weapons or poisons. There was no need for him to use that technique on us, as it seemed he only wanted to be cautious against self-destructive sorcerers.
“Nothing unusual. Follow me.”
We were allowed to meet the Master again. Once more, the Master sat quietly in a relaxed position.
[You’ve come.]
We spoke respectfully even without Samno‘s prompting.
“We have brought him.”
[You’ve worked hard. Dongbang Mu-gyeol, please step forward.]
Dongbang Mu-gyeol hesitated, then stepped forward and said,
“Mas… Master, I…”
[I am aware of the circumstances. I know well of your efforts, so do not worry. I shall provide the promised reward.]
“……!!”
In that moment, Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s eyes wavered. It was an internal conflict that shouldn’t have existed in the first place, a seed planted by Mangnyang. He stood there trembling, contemplating for quite some time before managing to say,
“Th-thank you, Master.”
He bowed deeply, his head nearly hitting the floor. When the Master waved his fingers, it seemed the restriction placed on Dongbang Mu-gyeol was removed almost immediately. Restoring his strength in an instant, Dongbang Mu-gyeol glared at us with furious eyes, but quickly turned his head away.
[Dongbang Mu-gyeol, retreat to the guest quarters and rest for now. We shall discuss matters further later.]
“Understood.”
As Dongbang Mu-gyeol followed the others outside, the Master turned to us and asked,
[Bancheon Alliance leader, have you found any clues about the Seven Talismans?]
“Even if I wanted to, circumstances aren’t permitting.”
[What do you mean?]
“Perhaps you are unaware, but currently, the Bancheon Alliance is being designated as a public entity in the Mural Realm, making things exceedingly busy. I apologize for the difficulty in resolving matters, as it’s a matter of life and death.”
[Hmm.]
The Master fell silent for a moment before saying,
[That issue can be resolved today, so do not worry.]
“Thank you.”
[The deadline for the Thunder God Lineage is ten years, but you must find the clues to the Seven Talismans even faster. Therefore, I wish to provide some assistance.]
Mangnyang‘s expression changed. He calmly replied,
“I appreciate the offer, but if there’s no other interference, our team can work quickly enough on our own.”
[If help is available, we could certainly proceed faster. Are you truly refusing my assistance?]
“If our secret plans were to leak, it would cripple our organization.”
[Then I shall trust you this time. However, should my envoy visit you next time, and you are unable to provide satisfactory answers, there will be due consequences.]
“Absolutely.”
[If you ever find the need for the expertise of our strong members, just say the word. I am fully prepared to support you.]
“Thank you.”
After the conversation ended, Mangnyang and I left the White Lotus Sect. Mangnyang looked pale and deeply troubled, causing me to glance at him with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“…I’m not okay. If you hadn’t lent me your inner energy, I would have probably bled out right there.”
I’ve been subtly transmitting my energy to prevent him from succumbing to the unseen pressure. But even while receiving that support, the back-and-forth with the Master had evidently drained his strength. I returned with Mangnyang to Jinrang Valley and entered a quiet house to rest.
“Haah…”
Mangnyang lay down and fell into a deep sleep without saying another word. When he finally woke up, he spoke,
“I never want to go back there again. It felt like stepping into death.”
“From our conversation, it seems the pressure from the Master was intense.”
“It’s about his son recovering from an unprecedented curse, a longing he’s waited decades for. Of course, it would be pressing. Topics like this normally shouldn’t even be broached.”
Mangnyang lamented. His words hinted at a “bad hand” played out of desperation. It seemed he had been laboring relentlessly to establish the Thunder God Lineage, ultimately choosing to shoulder that burden himself.
Mangnyang said,
“If I had agreed to receive help there, high-ranking members of the elder council… or even elite Susin Sect masters would have likely followed me. That would have truly been the end of it. There would have been nothing I could do to escape their gaze.”
That was likely true. Even just a couple of them would possess vast power, enough to trouble Lee Kwang greatly. And neither the Thunder God Lineage nor the Bancheon Alliance possessed the ability yet to control them.
“Ugh… What a dire situation.”
“Well, for now, we’ve crossed a significant hurdle. I should take comfort in the fact that the Master of the White Lotus Sect is relatively broad-minded. But the Master’s envoy won’t let this slide next time, so we need to prepare now.”
“Exactly.”
Mangnyang suddenly thought of something.
“Oh, right. If you manage to survive, I hope you’ll pay attention to Dongbang Mu-gyeol‘s fate.”
“What do you mean?”
“I bestowed compassion on him today, but it seems he ultimately chose the path of death.”
I pondered over Mangnyang‘s words. Then, it struck me, and I exclaimed,
“You’re suggesting to find out whether Dongbang Mu-gyeol survived even after learning the Susin Sect techniques!”
“Precisely. I held sympathy for him, which led me to doubt his pursuit of the Susin Sect martial arts, but in the end, he couldn’t overcome his desire for martial skills. If so, I can make good use of that for information.”
“……”
Could Dongbang Mu-gyeol survive after learning the Susin Sect techniques?
That was undoubtedly vital information. The Susin Sect, known for being extremely secretive and passed down only through bloodlines, clearly had reasons for excluding outsiders. If Dongbang Mu-gyeol were to learn and still remain unharmed, it would imply that the Susin Sect‘s arts weren’t as deadly as presumed. However, if he were to die in training, it would certainly carry significant meaning.
‘There are increasing reasons to survive now.’
While I was deep in thought, Mangnyang spoke up,
“It’s clear the Master intended to hold onto Dongbang Mu-gyeol until he answered his question before releasing him. Now that he’s returned him, with answers in hand, orders will be sent to halt operations regarding the Wind God Lineage like Yong Junil. We won’t have to worry about fights with them for now.”
“That’s a relief.”
“The real issue now is negotiating with the Jeongcheon Alliance. If we move directly, we may not stand a chance, so it’s time for you to take action.”
“Me?”
“Think carefully. You’re the only one who can do this.”
I felt bewildered until I suddenly realized,
“Wudang Sect (무당파)!”
“Exactly.”
Mangnyang looked at me intently and said,
“By now, you should have enough training and practical experience. Go to the Wudang Sect and prove that you’ve returned to share their legendary martial arts. Use that debt to persuade them to help finalize negotiations with the Jeongcheon Alliance.”
I was impressed as I listened to Mangnyang’s plan.
‘There really isn’t a single wasted move in this strategy.’
At the time, I hadn’t understood why the plan was coming together, but now that time has passed and events unfolded, I’ve seen that Mangnyang‘s strategies are all perfectly reasonable, guiding me toward the future as if it were the most natural path.
“I understand! I will definitely persuade those Wudang Sect masters.”
“Hmm… But we must also consider the worst-case scenario…”
Mangnyang staggered for a moment as if his head were spinning.
Cough!
Suddenly, he coughed up blood. Seeing him spit blood startled me, and I rushed over to support him and checked his pulse. His blood flow seemed stable, but it was clear his energy had weakened quite a bit in a short amount of time.
“W-what is going on…?! Why are you in such poor condition?!”
I asked in shock. Just a few months ago, he had been thriving while training, and now he was on the verge of breaking down. I quickly attempted the Healing Technique, inserting acupuncture needles to stabilize him, and Mangnyang chuckled lightly.
“Haha. My celibate lifestyle has been too long… You, being a popular guy, should introduce me to one stunning beauty.”
“Get the hell out of here! Are you in any mood for jokes? Mangnyang, you shouldn’t move for at least a month; just rest!”
I was furious as a healer. Objectively speaking, Mangnyang was in a patient-like state. If he exerted himself further, it could lead to chronic issues or complications. To avoid such incidents, he needed thorough rest and care for his health.
Then Mangnyang laughed softly.
“Don’t worry. Once you quickly finish your work with the Wudang Sect and negotiate the Jeongcheon Alliance, I’ll finally have some time to rest… By then, I might sleep for an entire day.”
“…Understood. Don’t worry. I’ll make it happen.”
I clenched my teeth and replied.
‘This is my fault.’
Problems that were almost invisible when it was just Mangnyang operating the Bancheon Alliance had spiraled once he added martial arts training, strategic planning for the Thunder God Lineage, and endless efforts into the mix. The fatigue he’d accumulated had hit critical levels due to the burden of managing the Bancheon Alliance. If he pushed himself any further, he would surely face dire consequences.
It all stemmed from his commitment to helping me. Deep down in regret, I resolved to find a way to let Mangnyang rest. There was no way I could just give up when everything was on the line; I had to put in my best effort.
Mangnyang lay back on the bed and said,
“Go to the Wudang Sect with Jin So-cheong.”
“With Jin So-cheong?”
“Having him with you will be more helpful than an army. If he’s with you, I won’t need to worry.”
“Understood. Just promise me you’ll take it easy today and rest well.”
“Hahaha! If that’s the case, I guess I will snooze for a short while…”
And with that, Mangnyang immediately fell fast asleep. Even in his sleep, the aura of his Owhwa Chilkumsun didn’t leave him. He must be ready to spring back into action, devising strategies at any given moment.
“……”
I gazed sorrowfully at his state before rising from my seat.
I needed to head to the Wudang Sect with Jin So-cheong.
