Chapter 186: An Unsatisfactory Act (1)
It was finally time to head back to Shanxi after my trip to Shaolin.
Staying any longer wouldn’t yield much—there was no more to gain, so I truly had to leave.
I’d been in Hanam for just over ten days, but a lot had happened in that time.
I also got to learn a lot.
I encountered familiar things and discovered new ones.
“Did you forget anything here?”
I kept asking Hongwa this while she hurriedly packed our belongings. I think I asked her about five times.
As a result, Hongwa seemed a bit annoyed with my questioning.
“Everything is packed.”
“Really?”
“There wasn’t much to bring back, so you should be fine.”
She may have indirectly thrown a jab at me, but that was okay.
Honestly, it was true that I hadn’t brought much with me.
Why burden myself with unnecessary stuff?
All I needed was my training clothes.
[You’ve got a good point there!]
…
When Elder Shin reacted in agreement, it felt a bit strange.
It was almost as if he understood something deeper than what was said.
[What’s wrong with a martial artist prioritizing their training?]
If Elder Shin thought I had been sleeping in too late in the morning, he would force me to wake up and train.
That then became a habit, so much so that it felt second nature now.
Yet, it made me curious about Elder Shin’s training routine when he was still alive.
It definitely wasn’t a normal amount, that’s for sure.
Considering I was following the training style of Yung Pung, the Divine Sword of Mount Hua, it wouldn’t surprise me if he trained harder than I did.
Elder Shin scoffed at my thoughts.
[Aren’t you thinking about increasing your training intensity yourself?]
Yeah, I probably should.
Whether it was due to the newfound energy or my Qi integrating with my body, I found training hadn’t been as exhausting lately.
Even just now…
This morning, even though I had ramped up the intensity of my training, I didn’t feel any discomfort.
[It’s becoming one with your body.]
That state, where one’s Qi smoothly merges with their body after reaching the Peak Realm.
They typically referred to this as the perfected form of the Peak Realm.
[Well then, this is where the real journey begins.]
Yeah.
I nodded at Elder Shin’s words.
Having grown accustomed to the Peak Realm, it was now time to aim for the Fusion Realm.
But if reaching this checkpoint was like breaking through from First Rate to Peak Realm, the Fusion Realm was akin to a martial artist’s grave.
There were many martial artists who, despite being called geniuses, still fell to the ground without ever reaching the Fusion Realm.
Just reaching the Peak Realm was enough for many to find contentment.
That, however, doesn’t apply to me.
In my case, stopping here wasn’t an option. I had been down this road before, and hesitation was out of the question.
Still, Elder Shin’s remark about it being a tough journey came from the length of preparation involved.
Adjusting to my Qi was one thing, but mastering the newly accessible dantian would take time.
Many claimed that enlightenment was necessary to reach this realm, but my situation was different.
I had Qi that filled my dantian to the brim.
Once I could gather enough Qi to overflow like a full vessel, a new world would open before me.
Of course, this was only applicable to me.
It’s not every day that someone can wield as much Qi as I do.
Only individuals like me, who frantically absorbed energy through demonic arts, could do that.
But first, I need to build a body that can support this Qi.
Qi was one aspect, but my primary focus right now needed to be solidifying my foundation. This was the reason behind my decision to amplify the intensity of my training.
Will I reach it before I turn twenty?
I had to reach it.
Only then would things become smoother.
[You seem a bit rushed.]
The situation doesn’t exactly lend itself to relaxation, does it?
[Indeed, a certain desperation can be beneficial.]
Once I returned home, I intended to intensify my training.
And I’ll ask my father about Meteor too.
I’d visit the Hao Clan and finish the pending tasks I had been avoiding.
Is it fine with you, though?
[Hmm? Fine with what?]
I mean, can you handle going back like this?
I was referencing his friend at Shaolin.
The Light of Might, Cheolyoung.
Returning home would inevitably lead to uncertainty about when I’d come back.
Yet, Elder Shin responded unflinchingly.
[What’s the problem? We’ll meet again at some point.]
It was as if he was stating something self-evident.
[And besides, if I went to see him now, that bald bastard would probably just unleash a torrent of curses on me.]
…A curse?
A monk curses?
Reflecting back, I recalled Elder Shin mentioning the Chief Abbot choking on a piece of meat during his youth or something.
Was that the Light of Might?
Now I understood why they were such good friends.
Like attracts like?
[What did you just say?]
Nothing at all.
[Hmph, that bastard insisted he wanted to rest, so I’ll let him do just that. But if I see him later and he still looks like that, you can bet I’ll give him a proper tongue-lashing.]
Elder Shin’s candid remarks gave me a peek into his friendship with the Light of Might.
They really seemed to be friends.
Friends, huh?
The concept felt a bit foreign to me since I never really cared about such relationships in my life.
Oh, but there is one person…
Just one solitary person. That fool was probably napping away on Wudang Mountain at this point.
He was someone I could call a friend, but given this life, he’d likely forget me anyway, making the whole idea pointless.
I hoped to see his face this time around.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t shown up at this year’s tournament, leaving the timing of our next meeting up in the air.
“Young Master!”
As I was finishing packing, Wi Seol-Ah suddenly popped up and nestled in my arms.
“We’re all set!”
I gently brushed my hand through Wi Seol-Ah’s hair.
“Are you all ready?”
“Yep!”
At the sight of her, Hongwa quickly approached and peeled Wi Seol-Ah off me.
“Seol-Ah!”
“Awwww…”
Every time she got in trouble and made that tearful face, she looked so adorable that I had the urge to pinch her cheeks.
But there wasn’t much to hold on to.
Most of her baby fat had gone since the first time I met her, which tugged at my heartstrings.
[You’re concerned about this? Are you really in your right mind?]
Elder Shin wouldn’t know this since you’ve never felt it before.
…
I heard Elder Shin take a breath as he processed my statement.
Maybe I hit a nerve too hard, but then again, he was the one who started it first.
So, this was Elder Shin’s fault.
While the servants continued loading our things, I made my way down to the guesthouse.
In the tavern, others were already gathered and chatting, having finished packing. Amid them, I spotted Namgung Bi-ah dozing off with her head down and Tang Soyeol calmly sipping tea.
And
Why is she here?
The person sitting beside them, donned in a mask, was unmistakably Moyong Hi-ah.
This was the first time I’d seen her since our separation at Shaolin.
Though only a few days had passed, it felt longer.
“Oh! Young Master Gu, you’re here?”
Tang Soyeol smiled brightly at the sight of me.
She seemed to be smiling more often these days.
“Would you like to eat?”
“Haven’t you finished?”
“We still have some time left, so it should be fine for you to eat.”
“Is that so? Then I’d gladly accept.”
As I approached, Tang Soyeol subtly slid a chair out for me.
The way she tapped that chair seemed to be a clear invitation for me to sit there.
Once seated, I called for a waitress and ordered food. It was the usual—noodles and dumplings.
But
As soon as I sat down, my gaze naturally shifted to Moyong Hi-ah.
“Why is Lady Moyong here?”
I inquired, but she didn’t respond, her gaze remaining steadfastly away from me.
What’s this? Is she ignoring me?
What’s with the mask?
She had worn one when I first met her at Bacheonmaru, but she hadn’t been using it afterward.
“Lady Moyong?”
When I called her a second time, she finally turned toward me.
Yet her movements seemed quite rigid.
“…Hello.”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No…”
But why did her voice tremble so much?
She looked like something was wrong, so I leaned over to Tang Soyeol’s ear and asked.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Tang Soyeol shook her head in response.
She didn’t seem to know either.
“She just came in this morning without saying a word, and she’s been like this ever since.”
Yeah, but why?
I figured she must have come to discuss something, yet her peculiar demeanor suggested otherwise.
Peeking beneath her mask, I noticed her cheeks and ears were slightly flushed.
“Lady Moyong.”
“Yes?”
Thankfully, this time, I could elicit a reply from her.
“Is there something the matter?”
“It’s…”
Moyong Hi-ah seemed to struggle to find her words, closing her mouth momentarily.
A silence hung in the air, accompanied by the gentle sound of her breathing.
After a brief pause, she steeled herself and spoke again.
“I heard you were leaving today, so I came to bid you farewell.”
Whatever had caused her previous unease seemed to have faded, her natural self returning.
While I was relieved that the tension in her demeanor had vanished, I couldn’t shake my curiosity about why she had been acting that way.
“A farewell, you say?”
“Yes.”
With that, Moyong Hi-ah carefully pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me.
I accepted it and asked, “What is this?”
“If you ever visit our shop, consider this a token to use.”
I examined what she had handed me.
It was a ring embedded with a blue jade stone.
According to her explanation, it appeared to be something that could grant me privileges at the Moyong Clan’s shop.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“The clothing you wore seemed quite worn out.”
Rolling around so much had indeed left my clothes in tatters.
…Not that I particularly cared, to be honest.
Moyong Hi-ah gave a slight smile.
Though hidden by her mask, it felt apparent.
“This isn’t something to feel obligated by. It’s just a small gift for you to use as you like.”
“…Thank you.”
Her words made it challenging to refuse the offer.
I felt like I should give her something in return, but I didn’t have anything despite being a relative of a noble house.
Just as I began to dig through my belongings, Moyong Hi-ah rose gracefully.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Huh?”
I was left dumbfounded by her sudden announcement.
“Did you come here just to give me this?”
“Yes. It’s best to finish business matters promptly, after all.”
My eyes widened slightly at her response.
When she referred to “business matters”…
Did she do this to foster connections between our clans?
That made me feel more at ease. If her actions were rooted in clan relations, I wouldn’t need to worry about any underlying tension.
Turns out I was overthinking it too much.
Since so many others had taken an interest in me, I had wondered if Moyong Hi-ah might hold some different feelings toward me.
But thankfully, it seemed like a frivolous thought.
Yeah, it was absurd to think Moyong Hi-ah would harbor feelings for anyone.
I presumed I knew Moyong Hi-ah well, but I mistook her intentions.
It had just been her clan’s way of acknowledging my performance in this year’s tournament.
“I’ll gladly accept this gift, Lady Moyong.”
At my words, Moyong Hi-ah bowed her head slightly and acknowledged me.
Then, she walked away, her exit dignified alongside her attendant.
“Oh, Young Master Gu.”
Just as she was about to leave through the door, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly called me back.
“Yes?”
I responded, yet Moyong Hi-ah fell silent, seemingly contemplating something.
In her own way, she appeared still, but because I had attained a higher state, I detected her breathing growing a bit ragged.
It seemed she was trying to regulate her breath discreetly.
“Are you returning to the clan straightaway?”
“I believe so.”
“I see.”
Moyong Hi-ah appeared as though she had something more to say but shook her head and continued.
“Well then, I’ll see you next time.”
With those words, she departed through the door.
And her steps seemed quicker than before, oddly enough.
It felt like she had something to say but opted for a simple farewell instead.
Huh?
I was left pondering what that was all about, a feeling of unease lingering over our exchange.
It felt like there was more to the story.
As my thoughts turned back to why she had acted in that manner,
[As expected, she’s just like the others.]
Elder Shin’s voice whispered softly in my head.
Whom are you referring to?
Was he talking about Moyong Hi-ah just moments ago?
If so, I wanted to ask who she resembled, but a sudden instinct told me to let it be.
It felt as if Elder Shin was giving off an “I wouldn’t ask that if I were you” vibe.
Asking now would likely result in my untimely demise.
My survival instincts warned me against it.
While I commended myself for holding back,
“It’s all over.”
I could see Tang Soyeol mumbling quietly to herself.
It really feels like something went awry again… but what could it be?
“Why do you look so worried now?”
It was starting to get unsettling as everyone seemed to act abnormally.
I questioned her, noticing my voice brimmed with concern, and Tang Soyeol turned her head towards me.
“Young Master Gu, are you a flower?”
“What do you mean, a flower?”
“Why do bees keep following you then?”
“What?”
“Usually, it should be the other way around.”
I set aside Tang Soyeol’s ramblings for now, picking up a dumpling to eat.
It seemed like getting involved now would just complicate things more.
…Maybe she had a nightmare or something.
There were days when everyone felt a bit out of sorts, after all.
Wudang Mountain, situated in Hobuk.
It was one of the sites belonging to the Ten Sect Alliance, where the Wudang Clan practiced their swordsmanship and martial arts.
A young Taoist was huffing and puffing as he sprinted up the steep mountain path.
Just by looking at the crumpled letter in his hand and the anxiety in his eyes, it was clear how urgent his mission was.
After what felt like an eternity of running, the boy finally stopped beneath a colossal tree.
“Se—Senior!”
Before he even had a moment to catch his breath, the boy shouted toward the tree.
“Se—Senior! Seneeeior!”
Though his pleas were filled with desperation, the individual he sought had no intention of coming down.
In frustration, the boy bit his lip and yelled even louder.
“Hey, you bastard!”
Thwack!
“AGHHH!”
Out of nowhere, a rock was launched, causing the boy to wobble backward and fall flat with a yelp.
Moments later, someone landed gracefully in front of him.
“Your choice of words could use some refining, Junior.”
“Would you come out if I didn’t do this?”
The person standing before him had an absent-minded expression, looking like a young man from Wudang, courtesy of the uniform and sword he wore. Despite that, he emanated an aura that felt far from that of a typical Taoist.
“Do you realize right now is the designated napping time for your seniors, who are akin to gods? So, why do you disturb me?”
“It’s bright as day; why would you be napping—”
“Do you want another smack?”
“I heard Senior Woo lost.”
The young man tilted his head, bemused.
“Yeah, he isn’t really up to par for a win over there.”
He was indeed a Wudang disciple who participated in this year’s tournament, and since the young man himself opted out, others had gone instead.
But of course, that was bound to fail.
The boy rubbed his forehead where he’d been hit and continued.
“Not just that; he lost in the first round.”
“Huh?”
Hearing that caused the young man to frown.
“Regardless, that’s not the main issue here, Senior.”
“That’s not the main issue?”
You dare tell me that a Wudang disciple losing in the first round isn’t important? Then what is?
“Senior, do you know a guy named Gu Yangcheon?”
“Gu…who?”
The boy noticed the young man’s expression darkening.
Oh no, if I say the wrong thing here, I’ll get hit again!
His instincts kicked in, so he quickly handed over the letter he held.
“What’s this?”
“A letter sent by Senior Woo.”
“Wow, look at this audacity—a guy who lost has the gall to send a letter? Haha.”
With that laugh came a hint of something unsettlingly sticky.
Oh boy, Senior Woo…
The boy sent a silent wish for Senior Woo’s well-being.
As the young man read the letter, he finally commented.
“He’s claiming he’s close with me?”
The letter mostly contained excuses for his loss, but the young man skimmed through that part since it hardly interested him, only to raise his eyebrows at the final lines.
“So, if this is true, he wants you to ask about it.”
“Who exactly did you say?”
“Gu… Yangcheon.”
“Who’s that?”
Why does he ask me that?
The boy struggled to keep his face neutral.
The letter indicated that someone named Gu Yangcheon claimed to be close with the Water Dragon, yet…
The guy standing in front of me seems clueless about him.
“You don’t know?”
“Yeah, I’m also—”
“Well, then go find out.”
“Huh? Excuse me?”
“He said he’s close with me, but I don’t even know him, so go find out about it.”
The boy stared at the young man—no, the Water Dragon, completely flabbergasted as he processed the ludicrousness of the situation.
Then the Water Dragon smiled kindly at the boy.
“What are you standing around for, Junior? Run.”
With that, the boy managed a smile in return.
Fucker.
Silently cursing him inside, of course.
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