0089 — Dark Heaven Village
A year had passed since then. During that time, I had completed several missions and had perfectly fulfilled my role as the bodyguard of the Jeong Clan. I had also become completely accustomed to the late Goryeo period; while I wasn’t a local, I was able to converse in Goryeo quite fluently. As Lee Joo-hee closed her book, she said,
“This is it for today. I had fun during our time together.”
“Why the sudden farewell?”
Lee Joo-hee looked at me blankly before suddenly raising her hand to pinch my cheek. Not knowing what to say, I sat there dumbfounded, and she burst into laughter.
“You’re so silly~ but you’re cute.”
“……”
“Just joking! I have to return to my main family now. I had been stubbornly staying with the Jeong Clan.”
“By main family, you mean the Lee Clan?”
“Yep.”
I recalled hearing about the hidden stories between the Jeong Clan and the Lee Clan from Lee Joo-hee.
Originally, Yi Seong-gye, the progenitor of the Lee Clan, was said to be one of the most formidable generals in Goryeo history and was known as the Divine Bow. Due to the tyranny of the powerful families at that time, he had united forces with the newly rising scholar-officials, who were accumulating dissatisfaction, to initiate a rebellion against Goryeo. There were claims that he had intended to stage a coup during that time.
However, for some reason, Yi Seong-gye did not go through with the rebellion. Instead, he set aside his intentions and, together with General Choi Young, advanced toward Liaodong, significantly impacting the Ming Dynasty, which was attempting to conquer the Northern Yuan at the time. It was said that some of the 150,000 troops led by General Nam-ok, who had gone to quell the Northern Yuan, intended to attack Goryeo, but for some reason, they did not move.
As a result, the expedition to Liaodong was quite successful, and the Hongwu Emperor canceled the installation of Tielingwei. Moreover, Goryeo’s territory expanded all the way near Geumsan, coming to dominate more than half of Liaodong in practical terms.
It was puzzling why the mighty and ambitious Hongwu Emperor had canceled any interference with Goryeo, but a prevailing theory was that the pressure from the White Lotus Sect Leader might have consumed his capacity to meddle in foreign affairs at that time.
The subsequent developments were even more shocking. Yi Seong-gye, having achieved remarkable military feats, seized power in Goryeo a few years later, eliminating most of the powerful families. During that process, General Choi Young and his clan fell from grace and returned to their homelands, while Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon rose as the two principal families governing Goryeo. King Gongmin lamented the arrival of two tigers when he had driven away the wolf, and as a result, Goryeo became a system balanced among three great powers, including the monarchy.
When Lee Joo-hee recounted this story, she spoke with her arms crossed,
[The elders of the family say that Jeong Do-jeon obtained his current position by compromising his ideals with reality. Well, in the end, he purged the corrupt powerful families, and Goryeo regained its peace, so it’s not all bad, right?]
[That means…]
[Perhaps if Goryeo had perished at that time, a new nation would be standing on this land by now.]
Lee Joo-hee, who casually uttered such a significant statement, burst into laughter.
[Hahaha, but that’s just a hypothetical, right? Hypotheses have no place in history. Goryeo is enjoying its greatest prosperity right now, and that’s what matters.]
[……]
I finished my recollections and said,
“Once you go back, it seems it will be hard to see you again. Lady Joo-hee, you are a noblewoman of Goryeo’s largest clan, the Lee Clan.”
At that, Lee Joo-hee puffed her cheeks.
“Hmph, why do you say such things? We can see each other whenever! I thought we had grown quite close, but I guess that was just my misunderstanding?”
“……”
“Hahaha, I’m just joking~ You’re being too serious!”
Seeing her laugh like that, I couldn’t tell whether she was sincere or joking. Despite her seemingly frivolous demeanor, Lee Joo-hee was a lady from a prominent family, possessing the highest scholarly and intellectual knowledge in Goryeo. She had completely memorized the Four Books and Five Classics by the age of four and had been able to compete in knowledge with great scholars by around ten. Though she had the constraint of being a woman, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say she ranked among the most noble beings in Goryeo.
I, too, felt a pang of sorrow at the thought of parting with Lee Joo-hee. She had matured into a full-fledged woman; whenever I looked at her, thoughts of romantic feelings often crossed my mind. I must have developed quite an infatuation for her during our time together.
‘I want to get married.’
But I shook my head inwardly. Lee Joo-hee didn’t harbor any feelings beyond seeing me as a ‘young friend.’ Furthermore, the social disparities between us were far too great. The mountain of responsibilities I had ahead of me played a part, too. Still, I couldn’t help but lament inwardly.
“Damn it… Just once, I want to enjoy romance with the finest women throughout my life.”
Perhaps the dream shown to me by that Nine-Tailed Fox had been rather intense, as the suppressed desires I had been holding back were boiling over. Nowadays, it had become quite difficult to suppress those thoughts. This was only natural as my body was coming out of adolescence and was developing strong sexual urges.
I suppressed those feelings and said,
“Have you ever met the Twelve Righteous Leader, Lady Joo-hee?”
“Hm? You mean the supreme ruler of the Twelve Righteous? Of course, the Twelve Righteous are closely related to our family, so the leader comes to our clan every year to pay his respects during the New Year.”
“……!!”
“To the best of my memory, he was quite a handsome man. He gave off a vibe similar to Song Yu or Ban An. He looked to be in his twenties, very youthful. I don’t know his name, though. He never revealed it and only went by the title of the Twelve Righteous Leader.”
Lee Joo-hee, who spoke so quickly, was smiling at me. Her gaze seemed unexpectedly shrewd for her age, causing me to flinch without realizing it.
“Are you interested in the Twelve Righteous? I could tell. That’s why I shared as much information as I could with you~”
She must have recognized that I was trying to extract information like an interrogation, given that we had spent nearly two to three years together. It was evident to her that my question about the Twelve Righteous was intended as a difficult one since this was my last chance to ask.
Embarrassed, I turned my head away.
“I apologize.”
Lee Joo-hee smiled brightly.
“Ehehe, what’s there to apologize for? Uncle Cheol-wook knows you didn’t come to just settle in Goryeo. It’s just that you’re not a bad person, and you’re helpful to our clan, so we agreed to coexist peacefully~”
“Hmm.”
“Still, it’s a bit disappointing. You could have asked such questions anytime you wanted.”
A truly sad expression flickered across Lee Joo-hee’s face. When I fumbled, unsure of how to react, she burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Just kidding!”
“……”
“Well then, take care. I’ll visit again when I’m bored~”
“Goodbye. I had a wonderful time.”
Lee Joo-hee didn’t come by the next day. She found it stifling to stay within her clan and had been seeking refuge at the Jeong Clan’s residence. During that time, I had joined the Jeong Clan, and she had taken the opportunity to teach me language and literature. Now, as the daughter of the most powerful clan in Gaegyeong, the Lee Clan, it would be difficult for her to visit.
‘She also had exceptional talent in martial arts.’
I had taught her martial arts for just over two years. However, during that short time, she had developed the ability to easily defeat a second-rate martial artist. She had grasped not only the basic techniques of the Thunderstrike Sword Art but also its hidden meanings, a stark contrast to my own progress. Eventually, I found myself wondering if I should teach her the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique since I’d have nothing left to offer. If she were a part of the martial world, she could have been among the few outstanding female masters of her time.
Suddenly feeling gloomy, I began to ponder. Why was I here?
‘If a powerful entity like the Twelve Righteous Leader is protecting Haenin, is there really a need for me to delve deeper?’
Of course, this was just a random thought. Even so, I needed to verify whether Haenin was one of the Seven Luminaries and ascertain its whereabouts. If not, I might lack the strength to oppose the Golden Guards later on. Yet, despite these thoughts, the idea of spending my time as a bodyguard in a foreign land weighed heavily on me.
My gloomy state must have been apparent to Jeong Cheol-wook, as about three days later, he called me aside and said,
“I know you’re feeling down because you can’t see Joo-hee anymore. However, when you’re in such a state, I start to feel uneasy as well. Try to gather your spirits.”
“That’s not it. I’m just feeling frustrated because I think I’m not achieving anything at the moment.”
“Not achieving anything? Can’t you at least train your martial arts?”
I shook my head.
“My martial arts have approached the stage of ascent, and I am currently at a point of gradual improvement. I feel a barrier and find it hard to gain significant achievements through personal training.”
This was the biggest issue.
I had learned most of the advanced martial arts at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, but all of them were predicated on achieving a peak stage, thus requiring exceptional comprehension. In simpler terms, while I understood the basics of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique and the Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear, I had yet to reach their unique secret techniques.
Lee Kwang’s frustration and anger toward my talent stemmed from this. It was obvious that mastering the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique or the Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear to the level of great success would require decades of practice. He had initially accepted me as a disciple, believing me to be a genius.
There was no reason for an extraordinary master like Lee Kwang to dedicate decades of his life to nurture me. Thus, I had endured years of bullying at his hands to the extent that I sometimes wished to die.
Of course, even now, if I returned to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and showcased my accomplishments, I might somehow be accepted, surpassing several thresholds of difficulty. However, even if I were accepted, my limitations in talent would become apparent once more. If that happened, Lee Kwang might end up doubting how I had acquired the advanced techniques and could very well resort to killing me.
As Jeong Cheol-wook observed my frustration, he said,
“Didn’t you go to Haein Temple when you had your leave a while back? How did that go?”
“Yes. It was a mental retreat.”
That was a lie.
After receiving three months of leave following the nine-tailed fox incident, I took the opportunity to visit Haein Temple in Haecheon under the pretense of relaxation. Although the nine-tailed fox had seemed of little connection to Haein Temple, I felt it necessary to investigate. While I couldn’t meet with the temple’s abbot, I was able to explore the temple thoroughly. It was undoubtedly an ordinary temple, devoid of any sacred objects or exceptional martial arts practitioners.
After pondering for a moment, Jeong Cheol-wook said,
“Well, how about this: you should learn some medical skills or acupuncture.”
“Excuse me?”
It was an unexpected suggestion. When I asked for clarification, Jeong Cheol-wook continued,
“To be honest, I hadn’t mentioned it before, but one of the guests staying in the annex, Elder Hwa, is from the Central Plains and skilled in medicine. I often seek his assistance for health-related issues. His medical skills and acupuncture technique are of a very esteemed level, so why don’t you consider becoming his student?”
“Elder Hwa, you say?”
“That’s right.”
I had indeed seen Elder Hwa a few times during my stay in the annex. The Jeong Clan’s annex comprised around twenty buildings, which included not only the accommodations for bodyguards but also the guest lodgings for members of the clan. Elder Hwa was a white-bearded elderly man in his sixties whom Jeong Cheol-wook respected greatly, and it turned out he used to be a physician.
Jeong Cheol-wook chuckled.
“Do you know? Learning the art of saving lives can often enhance one’s martial skills.”
It was a plausible point. I had heard that many skilled physicians in the Central Plains had reached peak levels in martial arts themselves. Since medical skills handle the energy and meridians, powerful martial artists sometimes also had potent non-combat abilities. I thought it couldn’t hurt to learn medicine or acupuncture but responded cautiously,
“I wonder if he would accept me as a disciple.”
“Don’t worry. If you mention my favor to him, he will surely accept you.”
True to Jeong Cheol-wook’s words, when I approached Elder Hwa the next morning, he first gave me a disapproving glare and then bluntly stated,
“Brave Warrior Baek-ung, I owe a debt to the Jeong Clan as well, so I’ll teach you medical skills and acupuncture. But don’t reveal any unnecessary details to the clan leader.”
He spoke in Mandarin. It seemed he felt no need to speak in Goryeo as he was also from the Central Plains. I felt a strange kinship and replied,
“Understood.”
He examined my body and let out a hum.
“Hmph… Even upon a second glance, your martial foundation is indeed formidable. One cannot achieve such internal power merely by consuming ordinary elixirs; you must have encountered something extraordinary along the way.”
“Must I disclose that?”
“If you don’t want to, you needn’t. But if you possess a flaw that could be fatal, I can’t offer advice without knowing what it is. Do you think I’d stoop to tasting the dregs of the elixirs you’ve consumed?”
“……”
Elder Hwa’s words were quite coarse and confrontational. However, his offer of advice seemed genuine, so I reluctantly replied,
“I consumed Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and Black and White Lotus.”
“Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng…!! And what’s the Black and White Lotus?”
“There were black and white lotus flowers blooming in the pond next to the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. I combined their energies, as the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng possessed extreme yin energy, balanced with the extreme yang energy of the lotus flowers.”
“Wait… Could it be…”
Elder Hwa’s complexion suddenly turned pale. He hastily asked,
“Have you kept any roots or stems of the Black and White Lotus?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer me! Do you have any?”
I began to understand what the nine-tailed fox had meant. When someone who isn’t particularly fond of you starts interrogating you for information like this, it hardly fosters goodwill. I resolved to change my habit of responding curtly moving forward.
“I don’t have any. Why do you need that?”
It seemed my response had shaken Elder Hwa back to reality. He cleared his throat and stated,
“I misspoke. How about we make a deal?”
“A deal? What kind of deal are you talking about?”
“I was only planning to teach you about the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and basic medical techniques along with bloodletting methods. However, if you provide me with that root of the Black and White Lotus or disclose its location, I will teach you my complete knowledge and the secrets of the Hua Clan’s One Hundred Eight Acupuncture Points.”
“What is the One Hundred Eight Acupuncture Points?”
“Don’t you know the Hua Clan?”
‘I don’t.’
“……”
Elder Hwa wore an incredulous expression before quickly turning sad.
“Once a prestigious clan in Hebei, yet now reduced to such misery by the decline of its power!”
“I’m sorry, but I am young and have little experience in the martial world, so I don’t know much. If that was rude, I apologize.”
“No. That is to be expected. Hah…”
With a long sigh, Elder Hwa settled into a chair and spoke,
“Anyway, you must make a choice. What do you wish to do?”
I pondered inwardly.
“I secretly have two roots of the Black and White Lotus hidden in my pack. Should I use them here?”
Of course, if I were to think of it as a new life, it would be right to simply hand over the roots of the Black and White Lotus. After all, knowledge once acquired doesn’t just disappear. One could even argue that this presents an opportunity to gain more using the Black and White Lotus.
However, the reason for my hesitation was the possibility that Elder Hwa might make empty promises, taking only the roots of the Black and White Lotus and not imparting the secret techniques, instead creating a disciple-slave out of me.
I had already experienced how thoroughly someone like Lee Kwang could hide knowledge when I joined under him. It could be quite perilous to act recklessly in the martial world.
But in the end, I made my choice.
“Please wait a moment.”
I went to my pack and retrieved the roots of the Black and White Lotus that I had hidden away for years. Elder Hwa accepted the roots and examined them for quite some time before expressing his admiration.
“Indeed…!! This is the Sacred Lotus! Truly…!!”
“What did you say?!”
I was taken aback by his words.
Sacred Lotus!
It was a special elixir cultivated by the White Lotus Sect, granting formidable internal power even to those who were young. The government refrained from meddling with the White Lotus Sect, not only because of the power of its leader but also due to the sheer number of peak martial artists who had grown after consuming the Sacred Lotus.
But I had never considered this Black and White Lotus would be the Sacred Lotus. While I was still astonished, Elder Hwa continued,
“You seem to know what the Sacred Lotus is.”
“Please answer me. Is this Black and White Lotus from the White Lotus Sect?”
“Precisely. I’ve seen it firsthand within the sect.”
“You’ve seen it within the White Lotus Sect? You can’t be saying you’re a member?”
My question disregarded social niceties, yet it couldn’t be helped. The gravity of the matter demanded immediate inquiry. Elder Hwa, seemingly understanding my urgency, didn’t seem particularly angry and replied,
“Not quite. However, my clan’s decline is indeed due to the White Lotus Sect, and to my own actions as well…”
“……?”
“I’ll explain the details later, but I can guarantee, in the name of Hwa Seo-myeong, that this is indeed the Sacred Lotus. The aroma and shape, as well as the unique ecology of black and white flowers growing together—all clearly indicate it is the Sacred Lotus of the White Lotus Sect.”
I didn’t care about Hwa Seo-myeong’s reputation, so I shook my head.
“That’s impossible. Jeong Cheon-maeng, who faced the experts of the White Lotus Sect directly, told me that I do not emit the fragrance of the Sacred Lotus. How could this be the case if I consumed it?”
“Because of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. If one were to only consume the Sacred Lotus, it might be different, but since you absorbed its energy in the form of Taijitu with the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, the extreme yang energy would suppress the fragrance of the Sacred Lotus. You possess internal power far beyond the White Lotus disciples cultivated with the Sacred Lotus.”
“Hmm…”
“The more crucial point is that you extracted the Sacred Lotus incorrectly.”
“Excuse me?”
“While the roots indeed possess strong power, the true essence lies in the flower. If one could consume both the flowers and the roots, they would gain much greater internal power compared to just consuming the roots alone.”
This was shocking!
I thought it would be convenient to carry only the roots, believing the flowers would wilt quickly, but I never considered that the flowers were the essence! While I was still reeling, Hwa Seo-myeong spoke again.
“I plan to use the roots you gave me to revive my clan. If you promise to assist me after becoming my disciple, I will impart all my knowledge and acupuncture techniques as promised.”
It seemed he preferred to gain an ally rather than simply bring the Black and White Lotus to the martial world. After all, having a peak martial artist as a disciple would greatly reassure him.
“Can I trust you?”
“Hmph… How dare you doubt me, Hwa Seo-myeong, who was once one of the Five Great Elders of the Martial World?”
Elder Hwa’s face turned red and blue with indignation. Realizing I had struck a nerve regarding his pride, I quickly attempted to soothe the situation.
“That’s not what I meant! That can’t be! Elder Hwa is the best. I was merely asking.”
“Is that so? Great!”
Elder Hwa’s mood brightened abruptly. As the saying goes, the older one becomes, the simpler they tend to be; he appeared to be somewhat straightforward and passionate. Then Elder Hwa declared,
“Then let’s begin today. I will pass on the medical knowledge that started with the teachings of Hua Tuo!”
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
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