0025 : Golden Eagle Guards (금의위)
Rumble…
A cliff and a waterfall. As I gazed across the endless stream of cascading water, I was filled with nostalgia. Right over there lies the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
“Is there anyone else in the world who can consume a miraculous herb twice besides me?”
The Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was an unparalleled miracle drug that surfaced only once every hundred years, causing countless individuals to clash, staining the martial world with blood. The odds of consuming such a rare herb more than twice were remarkably low. I dismissed these thoughts and stepped into the waterfall.
As I passed through the cave behind the waterfall, the sight of the hibernating ginseng in the Seolwon caught my eye. I began clearing the snow in the area, setting down the water container and cooking utensils I had roughly stolen from a nearby house. Like last time, I had to ensure that I boiled the leaves and roots of the Black and White Lotus thoroughly before consuming them. Cooking tools were essential.
I then entered the cave to appreciate the majesty of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng once more. It was still adorned with its pristine white patterns, unchanged. Like before, I commenced boiling the Black and White Lotus next to the ginseng.
Before long, once everything was ready, I hesitated for a moment before chewing on the root of the Black and White Lotus without delay. It tasted surprisingly like potatoes. Although the taste was not displeasing, the thought of the trials that awaited me afterwards made me anxious.
“Ugh…”
A surge of Yang Energy started to creep up from my Dantian. I gritted my teeth, recalling the hellish pain I had undergone last time. However, it wasn’t as excruciating as I had anticipated. The last time, I felt like my insides were melting in lava from the pain radiating from my lower abdomen; now, it only felt like a simple stomach ache.
“Huh? This doesn’t hurt much after all?”
It seemed that although the energy was overflowing, my body had grown accustomed to a large amount of Qi. But I couldn’t afford to let this massive Yang Energy remain stagnant, so I extracted and eagerly gnawed on the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. The coldness flowed refreshingly down my throat. Soon, a massive clash between the Yin and Yang energies within my body began to build up, threatening to explode. The last time, I had rolled my eyes back and suffered from a nosebleed, feeling as if my skin was being peeled off one piece at a time, so I couldn’t help but tense up. The level of tension was overwhelming, comparable to facing the edge of death.
Rumble…
“…?”
However, I sensed something unusual. The immense Yin and Yang energies swirling and exploding within my Dantian gradually dissipated like water seeping into the ground. The surprising sensation of them melting away without pain was bewildering. I had readied myself to desperately struggle with the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique and the Mabo Moving Meditation Technique, but it turned out that simply performing the basic foundational technique of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique was enough to stabilize my body.
“What just happened?”
With a sense of curiosity, I decided to channel some Qi to sense the Life and Death Meridian. The meridian was still unobstructed, and the surrounding paths were clear as well. However, there was no surge of immense energy piercing through to the Life and Death Meridian.
I waited for a while, but other than my head feeling a bit dizzy, nothing else happened.
“What’s going on? Did I gain power or not?”
I attempted to gauge my internal energy but couldn’t measure anything as it had always been beyond my capability. Now, there was no way for me to assess my abilities. Could it be that consuming the miraculous herb multiple times was ineffective? I worried that I might have fallen into a trance from overindulgence, so I lightly unleashed the basics of the Thunder Cloud Palm into the air.
Boom!
“…!!”
In that moment, the air exploded, unleashing a storm of Thunder Wind chaos. The power I unleashed was even more formidable than when I had done so previously, and I instinctively recognized that my internal power had indeed increased. But at the same time, I knew a crisis was upon me.
“Ugh, damn!”
My face turned pale.
As I screamed out, the massive accumulation of snow surrounding me began to ripple as if alive, resonating with the sound and explosions.
An avalanche!
I instantly dashed towards the only narrow path available, escaping from the white torrent threatening to engulf me. There was no time to gather my cooking utensils; I fled without glancing back. Despite my swift movement skill, I couldn’t outrun the falling snow. If I were an ordinary person, I would have surely been buried alive in the snow back in the day.
Rumble…
“Ahhh!”
Even after leaping fifty steps, the avalanche looming above continued its descent. Despair filled my scream. How could such a massive amount of snow have been here in this secluded spot?! After running another thirty steps, I finally noted a gradual slowing in the avalanche’s momentum and sat down on a nearby rock to catch my breath.
“Huff… huff… that was close…”
It was no laughing matter. I had consumed the miraculous herb, but almost died while testing my internal energy due to an avalanche. But then again, given that the Huangshan area was not particularly known for heavy snowfall, I had completely underestimated the potential for an avalanche.
After calming my mind, I pondered if my internal energy had doubled. However, just because the Thunder Cloud Palm’s power had increased didn’t necessarily confirm that. What bothered me more was that the immense pain I experienced the first time I consumed the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng had vanished, leaving this mediocre process in its wake. It was unsettling not being able to assert whether my strength had increased or weakened, and it left me feeling quite uneasy.
I began to contemplate what I should do next. I had gathered everything I needed, including the secret documents and the miraculous herbs, but what was I supposed to do now? It would be beneficial to train at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, but that seemed nearly impossible in reality, leaving me in a state of dilemma. Suddenly, annoyance welled up inside me.
“Should I just forget about training and live comfortably instead?”
Any ordinary martial artist would likely find such a thought absurd. Here I was, after all, having undergone a miraculous event and consumed the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng twice, yet I was contemplating this. But my journey to Huangshan during my third reincarnation had brought a strong sense of skepticism. What meaning was there in enduring this much hardship to cultivate martial arts and boldly challenge to steal the Secret Manual, only to acquire it in the end?
I had suffered far too much until now.
If I wanted to live comfortably, no one could stop me.
I already had enough power.
“……”
I contemplated for a while before making a decision.
“Let’s live comfortably.”
This time, I decided not to engage in any other bothersome thoughts and instead indulge in what I wanted to do. I resolved to temporarily forget about the Secret Manual.
I had something in mind that I wanted to do. As soon as I descended to the lower village of Huangshan, I stealthily made my way to the home of the notorious miscreant, Albuja, who was known for tormenting the farmers. I retrieved 50 nyang of silver from inside.
“That should cover my travel expenses.”
It was clear stealing, but I didn’t care. He was already a person hated by the villagers and cruel to the farmers. The fact that I hadn’t committed murder was fortunate enough. I left the village and paused in front of the crossroads, pondering.
“……”
Which way should I go? I hesitated, but I chose the eastern route without a second thought. This meant returning the way I had come, back to my hometown of Soeul Village.
I could go to the Plum Blossom Escort Agency and see the lovely face of Sagong Rin again.
I could visit Mangnyang and learn more about Qimen Dunjia and other knowledge.
There were various options, but I was heading back to Soeul Village.
It didn’t take long for me to return to the village while enjoying a leisurely journey after leaving Huangshan. I didn’t take the back mountain paths; I traveled along main roads, occasionally hiring a carriage at the relay station or riding a horse myself. This was all made possible because of the 50 nyang in silver I had spent on travel.
As I walked into the entrance of Soeul Village, a cold smile appeared on my face.
“Haha!”
Why had I returned here? To carry out the revenge I had been planning for a long time. Looking back, I questioned why I hadn’t thought of this sooner after reversing time.
It must have been due to the psychological shock when the Village Chief hired assassins to kill me. During that moment, I had been so terrified that I probably started avoiding thoughts of vengeance. But now, after consuming the miraculous herb twice, I felt remarkably relaxed yet cold.
As for the aftermath of the Village Chief? If I eliminated him, who would know?
Even if I did some investigation after the revenge, I could simply vanish.
If the villagers heard that Cow Dung had massacred the Village Chief’s family, no one would believe it.
“People should live doing what they want.”
I infused my inner energy into one arm as I slowly walked into the village. A fierce intent flickered in my eyes. Anyone who crossed my path would find their body torn apart as a warning.
Then, it happened.
“Cow Dung, you’ve returned!”
“……?”
Seeing a figure pretending to greet me left me feeling baffled. It was a rustic villager whom I had never properly met before, offering me a cordial salutation. Throughout my entire past life, I had never spoken a word to this person and had only perceived him as one of the farmers paying rent to the Village Chief. I didn’t even know his name, so I absentmindedly responded.
“Oh, yes, yes.”
My killing intent diminished. Fundamentally, I harbored deep hatred for everyone in this village, so I hadn’t expected a greeting. The villager handed me a potato with a sympathetic demeanor.
“Why have you returned to the village? You should just go out and live your life.”
“Pardon me?”
He clicked his tongue in pity.
“I thought you escaped from the Village Chief because your life had been so difficult.”
I was rendered speechless by his words.
Weren’t the villagers all supposed to revel in my suffering?
Moreover, being addressed with sympathy left me at a loss for words. Holding the potato in both hands, I sat quietly, and he continued.
“If the epidemic hadn’t spread, your parents wouldn’t have passed away so suddenly, and you could have grown up like all the other regular village kids. It’s just how life is…”
That was right. My parents had died from an epidemic when I was young. I had unexpectedly become an orphan, and the villagers had argued over who would take care of me before deciding to raise me in the Village Chief’s home. I spent my teenage years living like a servant in the Village Chief’s household.
I bit into the potato and said,
“I came back to kill the Village Chief.”
“Hahaha, that would indeed be wonderful!”
He forced a smile. It seemed he believed that my statement was merely a venting of frustration. After all, who would think that a teenage boy possessed supreme internal power? Now, I had both the capability and the will to commit mass slaughter. I stared blankly at him before speaking again.
“I don’t remember your name, uncle.”
“Me? I’m Jangsu.”
“What a truly ordinary name.”
“Isn’t that the case for someone like me?”
“What was your son’s name?”
“Jangtae.”
“……”
I knew Jangtae, the son of Jangsu. He was one of those village kids who participated in beating me up, often resorting to kicking during group attacks. He was also the one who poured cold water on me while I was sleeping in the barn, just to torment me.
It goes without saying that I vividly remembered kicking Jangtae’s head into the afterlife when I returned to the village seeking revenge in my first reincarnation. I recalled laughing maniacally while stomping on his unevenly split head. That bastard was Jangsu’s son.
‘Why does this uncle seem nice, but his son turned out to be an idiot?’
Then again, it wouldn’t be fair to say Jangsu was completely kind-hearted. Since it wasn’t directly his concern, he had pretended not to see me being tormented by the Village Chief’s family. Of course, he lacked the realistic ability or authority to intervene, so I could understand his position to some extent.
After a moment of contemplation, I asked,
“If you could repeat your life, how would you want to live it?”
“Repeat? You mean go back to the past?”
“Yes.”
“Well… I’d try to live happily, not regretting anything and doing what I want.”
I nodded in agreement with Jangsu’s response.
“I plan to do the same.”
Thud.
In that instant, Jangsu collapsed forward and fainted. I had quickly struck a pressure point. Although he fell into a comatose state, it wasn’t a deep one, so he should wake up after a short while. I propped him carelessly against a tree stump and muttered,
“Shall I go then?”
No regrets.
Do what I want.
Live happily.
Though it seemed simple, it was the most challenging thing in the world. With any lingering hesitation erased, I headed toward the Village Chief’s house situated higher up in the village. It was early evening, and it appeared that the Village Chief’s family was gathered around, preparing for dinner.
To an ordinary person, that scene might seem warm and happy, evoking smiles. But the moment I spotted the Village Chief’s face, I felt a surge of emotions welling up inside me. The memories of being beheaded by the assassin group leader suddenly flooded back, mixed with the chaotic memories of my struggle to survive in my past life, igniting a fury within my heart.
I slowly walked toward the Village Chief. The Village Chief looked at me with a puzzled expression before shouting,
“Cow Dung, you rascal! Where have you been running off to and now you’re back?!”
“Village Chief!!”
I roared. The voice, slightly trembling like a lion’s roar, froze everyone present in place with a rumbling sound. The Village Chief must have sensed something was off, as he staggered backward.
With a fierce intent, I spoke,
“Choose one person here that you want to save the most. I will spare that one.”
“……”
“Answer me right now.”
The Village Chief stammered before suddenly regaining his composure, pointing at himself.
“Me, me…”
“I knew it.”
With that, the next moment, the Village Chief’s head was severed, flying off upon impact. Brain matter spattered, and flesh scattered. Though I could have tortured him and made it last, the turmoil from my earlier conversation with Jangsu left me conflicted, prompting me to want to finish it quickly.
“Ahh!!”
“Village Chief!! Ahh!”
“My love!!”
Chaos erupted as people screamed. Some noticed that something was terribly wrong and attempted to flee, but I leapt forward, killing those first.
Thud.
Boom!
“Ahhh!!”
With each punch, one person fell, and within just a few steps, there was only one person left standing among the massacre. Even amidst the sea of blood, I remained untouched, tightly clenching my fist.
The only one remaining, Kim Manje, stood there in shock, unable to process what was happening around him. He seemed completely lost, as if he was in denial about reality.
I approached Kim Manje and slapped him hard across the face.
“Ugh.”
Though I had only applied a slight amount of internal energy, his teeth flew out as he fell to the ground. I had deliberately adjusted my strength to ensure he wouldn’t collapse completely. I looked down at the fallen Kim Manje and said,
“You have no idea why this is happening, do you?”
“Ah… Ugh… Why… why on earth…”
“I hold a grudge against you spanning fifty years. Today will be the first time I settle it properly.”
“……”
Kim Manje trembled in fear and anger, unable to utter a word. If he had been strong enough to maintain his composure in this situation, I might not have borne such a grudge against him.
I grinned and said,
“You bastard! Was it that hard to have a decent heart while enjoying your privileged life thanks to your father?”
Puhak!
Kim Manje clutched his stomach, gasping for breath, having been unable to take a breath. I hadn’t struck him with any intention; the pain inflicted was entirely sufficient. Watching him writhe in agony felt like a relief from the decades of resentment I had carried.
His memories of harassing me were still vivid. He was the instigator behind the group of village kids who bullied me and made sure I was treated like a servant in the Village Chief’s household, never recognizing my humanity. I had cried silently numerous times in the barn, suffering as a young boy.
The most agonizing aspect of living as a lowly servant in my first life was not the daily struggle to survive. It was the fact that the ones who tormented me continued to thrive and lead fulfilling lives while I found myself bereft of any means to exact my revenge. However, now that I was in a position to do so, a violent storm of emotions was raging within me.
A ruthless fury inside me erupted. I found the terrified gaze of Kim Manje, who looked up at me, completely repulsive. In that moment, I acted in a way that even I found hard to comprehend.
“Your eyes are infuriating. You don’t deserve to keep those.”
Snap.
“Ahhh!!!”
At that moment, both of Kim Manje’s eyeballs were seized in my hands. As I severed the optic nerves to remove them, he transformed into a bloody pulp, writhing in agony. The absolute worst pain a human could fathom was now crashing upon him.
“Try living like a man without those balls, Kim Manje.”
With that, my vengeance was complete, and I turned my back on the scene of carnage.
Entering the Village Chief’s house, I activated a secret mechanism and retrieved the safe filled with gold and silver ingots. With this, I would be well off for the foreseeable future.
Initially, I had contemplated exterminating the entire village, but after my conversation with Jangsu, I decided against it. Had he not shown any sign of humanity, the village would have become a sea of blood, and I would have poured oil over it and set it ablaze.
I walked outside the village, placed the safe down, and washed my bloodied hands in the stream.
As I washed, I felt my hands trembling uncontrollably.
“……”
My reflection rippled in the stream.
‘Am I happy right now?’
After decades, I had finally fulfilled my revenge today. I had acted without a thought for any consequences. I didn’t know if Kim Manje would survive, but even if he did with his eyes gouged out, he could never live a normal life again. In a literal sense, I had repaid the grievance that had drowned in the basin of my past life and the resentment I held for decades. I had no need to worry about future consequences.
Future troubles? That only arises if the one holding a grudge against me has some form of ‘power.’ It may be possible for the Plum Blossom Escort Agency or the local authorities to identify me as the perpetrator, but I had no obligation to continue to be pursued for the Village Chief’s family. At most, they would track down a suspect resembling Cow Dung in this vicinity for a year or two before letting it become an unresolved case.
Once the Village Chief was dead, I had no worries left. I had spent too long being concerned.
Yet, my heart was not light. Unlike the intense thrill I felt the first time I killed a village youth, a heavy darkness now settled within me. This was due to my conscience and self-reproach for the brutal massacre I had committed.
Above all, I felt the most discomforting thought—that the Village Chief and his family had perished without fully acknowledging their wrongdoings. Killing them had been easy, but witnessing the bloodied aftermath caused me to realize my mistake. It felt as though the unfulfilled grievances in my heart had only partially dissolved, leaving a lingering discomfort.
I was not happy now.
I was simply frustrated.
I shook my head vigorously and resumed walking.
This feeling was likely the rebellion of my resentment brewed from a lifetime of struggling to survive. However, somehow, after committing the massacre, I found myself surrendering to whatever would come next.
I thought calmly about my next steps.
First, I needed to consider whether I could exchange this silver at the money exchange.
‘Hmm, I shouldn’t exchange it right away. I’ll need to keep it for a few years before trading it in.’
With the Village Chief’s family dead, the Plum Blossom Escort Agency and local authorities would be on alert. They would undoubtedly be investigating any suspicious activities in the area, and if they heard of a young child suddenly exchanging a large sum of silver, they would be quick to track me down. Thus, I felt it necessary to let the silver ingots rest for at least a few years before changing them.
Thinking about where to hide the safe, I decided to bury it in a suitable pine grove. The landscape was familiar enough that I believed I could find it again whenever I came back. In my mind, I resolved to unearth the safe three years from now.
Then came the real dilemma.
Where to go from here?
I could go anywhere, but the abundance of choices made it difficult to decide.
“……”
After a long deliberation, I settled on heading to Mangnyang’s home.
‘I need wisdom right now.’
While entering the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to train would allow me to become stronger, that was not currently feasible. Struggling to earn a living felt equally daunting—where to even start? I didn’t consider myself particularly bright, so I figured I should consult Mangnyang about my present situation.
Perhaps he could offer the insight I needed to gain entry into the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. Of course, I had no intention of discussing anything with Mangnyang or the anonymous temple priest now. For the time being, improving my personal circumstances was of utmost importance.
My objective was towards Jinlang Valley, where Mangnyang lived!
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
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