Chapter 50 - The First-Rate Warrior Peering Into the Darkness (3)

After being treated(?) by the unidentified young man, Moyong Sangwon somehow felt a new energy circulating within his body.

Though he still didn't have a single ounce of strength in his body, his condition had improved just enough to barely perform qi cultivation.

Having regained some vitality after a single session of qi cultivation, Moyong Sangwon looked at the small wooden box placed in front of him with complex eyes.

The young warrior, who had given his own blood(?) out of desperation, had left the cave saying he would go get something to eat.

"Does he not know that this is a Fire Monkey's core?"

A Fire Monkey's core emitted scorching yang energy all on its own.

There was no way anyone who practiced martial arts wouldn't feel that energy, so he must have known but pretended not to notice.

"Just what could his intentions be?"

The way he pulled a thin thread-like object from his arm and ascended the valley looked exactly like a spider.

Tearing off small pieces of the jerky the young man had left behind and chewing them, Moyong Sangwon thought deeply about the young man.

* * *

After eating a filling meal at the guest house, Jin Sowoon headed straight to the smithy.

"That's a bear trap."

Jin Sowoon asked as he looked at the bear traps piled high on one side of the smithy.

"But you sure have a lot of stock, don't you?"

"The magistrate of the lower village offered to pay three times the price for bear gallbladders, so all the hunters in the vicinity gathered and wiped out the bear population."

After thinking deeply, Jin Sowoon asked.

"Can you adjust this to be very sensitive?"

"Sensitive? How sensitive?"

"Enough to trigger if a rabbit steps on it."

"Hey now. If you adjust it like that and a person ends up stepping on it, it'd be a disaster!"

"I won't be using it on people. Beasts are appearing earlier than the season and harming people."

"Even so, I can't do that."

When the blacksmith firmly shook his head, Jin Sowoon took two silver taels from his clothes and set them down.

The blacksmith's eyes trembled violently.

"Can you really not do it?"

"..."

When he put down one more silver tael, the blacksmith spoke.

"I can't make it trigger if a rabbit steps on it, but I can alter it to trigger if a squirrel steps on it."

The blacksmith quietly slipped the silver into his clothes.

* * *

It was a day later when he returned to Moyong Sangwon.

Setting the traps had taken longer than expected.

When I stopped by the guest house again to buy dumplings and Bamboo Leaf Green before going to Moyong Sangwon.

Moyong Sangwon, having apparently been quite anxious over the past day, welcomed me with a bright look.

"I was wondering if you had left me behind."

"Haha, I'm sorry. I had some matters to attend to."

"*Sniff, sniff. * What is this smell?"

Perhaps due to immense hunger, Moyong Sangwon's sense of smell had grown sensitive.

When I set down the dumplings and Bamboo Leaf Green, he started scarfing down the dumplings as if he had forgotten his position as the Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan.

"W-what kind of dumplings are these? In my entire life, this is the first time I'm tasting such delicious dumplings."

Whenever Moyong Sangwon smiled, I could see glimpses of Moyong Seol's face.

Seeing the smile she hadn't shown much in the past like this gave me a strange feeling.

"It's probably a dumpling called hunger."

"There's no way. That can't be right."

Moyong Sangwon, who had been hurriedly swallowing down the dumplings, eventually choked.

"*COUGH! *"

When I handed him the Bamboo Leaf Green, Moyong Sangwon pounded his chest and gulped down the liquor.

"Urgh! Is this also a Bamboo Leaf Green called hunger?"

"That is correct."

Once he was somewhat full, Moyong Sangwon finally realized that I hadn't eaten anything and slightly pushed the dumplings toward me with a blushing face.

"I filled my stomach at the guest house on the way to get food."

"..."

Moyong Sangwon showed a conflicted gaze for a moment, then soon nodded a couple of times and reached for the dumplings again.

"I'm deeply embarrassed in front of you, young friend."

Only after eating all four portions of the packed dumplings did Moyong Sangwon seem to recover a little vitality.

"Everything is a mystery, but there is something I am more curious about than anything else."

Moyong Sangwon spoke with an awkward expression.

"Please go ahead."

"Do you know my identity?"

"Judging from how you blurted out the word 'Moyong' when you weren't fully conscious, I guessed you might be someone from the Moyong Noble Clan."

"That's right. I am Moyong Sangwon, the Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan. But... who exactly are you?"

"I am Jin Sowoon. I'm a disciple of a small sect near Hefei."

"If it's Hefei... you mean the Iron Sword Sect?"

I shook my head and replied.

"It's the Taiyi Sect, which is a bit older than them."

"Ah...! The Taiyi Sect..."

Moyong Sangwon smacked his lips and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"A member of the 108 Peaks... I'm sorry. If it's Hefei, the Taiyi Sect is obviously the first to come to mind."

"Not at all. It's likely because the Iron Sword Sect's prestige has grown that great."

Moyong Sangwon lowered his head with a somewhat apologetic expression.

"T-this is. I'm really showing every kind of disgraceful behavior in front of my benefactor."

"Benefactor? I merely did what obviously had to be done."

"Don't say that. Going this far for someone else isn't something just anyone can do."

"The teaching of the Taiyi Sect is 'always benefit people as long as it is within your ability.' I merely followed the teaching, so if you keep praising me, it might embarrass me."

"... Hoh. Really, this is the very first time someone has made the name 'Moyong Noble Clan' feel small."

Moyong Sangwon had a look on his face as if he were observing a fascinating creature.

"... But how did you know to come all the way down here?"

I couldn't exactly tell him that I had been planning to extract the Fire Monkey's core from his corpse.

"While thinking about whether there was a way I could contribute to my sect amidst the Iron Sword Sect's growing prestige. I heard from an old herb gatherer that Wall Flower Grass grew on the cliffs of Wujiang's Seoho Peak, and while searching the cliff..."

"And that's when you found me!"

Moyong Sangwon chimed in as if he were excited.

"That is correct."

"To think there's a disciple who would go this far for his sect. I envy the Sect Leader of your sect."

"I am merely returning what I have received, nothing more and nothing less."

Nodding his head, Moyong Sangwon spoke again.

"Anyway, what should be done since you couldn't gather the precious herb because of me."

Moyong Sangwon fidgeted with his hands inside his clothes for a long time before seemingly making up his mind and pulling out the wooden box.

"... Would you accept this instead?"

"..."

"As you know, this is a Fire Monkey's core. I don't know what level your martial arts attainment is at. But with this alone, you can easily reach the first-rate realm, and if you share it with the disciples of your sect, it could serve as a cornerstone for the Taiyi Sect to establish itself as a powerful sect equal to the Iron Sword Sect."

Moyong Sangwon's image as he held out the Fire Monkey's core overlapped with Moyong Seol from my past life.

["Isn't this a Cheongmyeong Pill?"]

["So what?"]

["I'm fine. You should take it when you are in a critical situation, Senior."]

["You and I are just members of the Minor Orthodox Unit right now. What I need right now is a comrade to survive with. And how long are you going to keep using that word, 'Senior'?"]

Watching Moyong Sangwon's actions, I could see where Moyong Seol's kind heart had originated.

Recalling the Cheongmyeong Pill I hadn't been able to refuse in the past, I pushed the Fire Monkey's core back.

"I didn't do this hoping for a reward. So please, put it away."

"... If you feel the reward is lacking, do not worry. It's embarrassing to say this with my own mouth, but the life of the Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan is not cheap. It definitely will not end with just this."

"If the Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan came out to find a spiritual elixir himself, wouldn't you have a very important use for it? For instance, the Murim Academy's standard exam."

"...!"

"Intercepting a father's heart for his child halfway is not the teaching of the Taiyi Sect. I will only accept your goodwill, Senior."

In my past, and their future, I had already received all the rewards.

I did not want to leave even the slightest bit of misfortune in the future of Moyong Seol, whose debt I could no longer repay.

I then drove a wedge in to finalize it for Moyong Sangwon, who was still conflicted.

"If a Fire Monkey's core enters a weak sect like ours, wouldn't an incident like the one at the Taiyuan Cheonga Manor happen?"

In Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi Province, there was a famous martial family that had been passed down for 10 generations, and it was a place called the Cheonga Manor.

The exclusive martial art created by its founder Cheon In-se, the Cheonga Saber Form, was an outstanding martial art that ranked among the top 10 saber techniques in Murim, and its active role in large and small events in Murim history was by no means small, to the point that there was much debate over whether or not to include them in the Murim Alliance's 108 Peaks.

One day, a rumor spread that the Taiyuan Cheonga Manor had secured the Gongcheong Stalactite Milk, a rare spiritual elixir, and warriors from all over Jianghu gathered in Taiyuan.

At the time, the Taiyuan Cheonga Manor's prestige was also quite formidable, so even with thousands of warriors gathered, the Taiyuan Cheonga Manor's defenses seemed solid.

However, a fire broke out for inexplicable reasons, and as the flames spread wildly, warriors hiding their identities invaded the Cheonga Manor, and on that day, the Cheonga Manor suffered clan annihilation.

Later, the rumors of where the Cheonga Manor's Gongcheong Stalactite Milk ended up were never confirmed.

Just like that, the Taiyuan Cheonga Manor vanished into history without even knowing the true culprits.

This was the reason why I had consumed the spiritual elixirs I secured while keeping it a secret even from the people of my sect.

"... Hmm."

"My mind is already made up, so please let it go, Senior."

"Understood. I will respect your wishes. But apart from that, tell me what you need. No matter what, I will grant that wish for you."

"I'm fine..."

"Ah, I don't think that the debt I owe you disappears just because I grant your request. I strictly say this because I cannot have a clear conscience if my heart does not express its gratitude. This is my will, so you must also comply."

"..."

I thought deeply about it, but there wasn't really anything I could say.

I had eaten so many spiritual elixirs that I couldn't digest them all, and I would continue to eat them in the future. It wasn't like our sect lacked the funds to serve as a foundation either.

'Ah!'

A good idea flashed through my mind, and when I looked at Moyong Sangwon, he also had an expectant look in his eyes.

"How about giving a Cheongmyeong Pill to a disciple of our Taiyi Sect?"

"A Cheongmyeong Pill?"

Moyong Sangwon tilted his head.

Then, after looking down at the Fire Monkey's core, he looked at my face and asked again.

"The Cheongmyeong Pill is a precious spiritual pill of our family, but it cannot compare to the Fire Monkey's core, right?"

"Having a Fire Monkey's core would bring disaster upon us, but if you, Senior, bestowed a Cheongmyeong Pill upon us, no one would dare to covet it."

"...!"

A slight smile formed on Moyong Sangwon's lips.

"Understood. I will definitely give it to you under the name of the Moyong Noble Clan."

To the me right now, consuming a Cheongmyeong Pill holds no great meaning. After all, I had an overflowing amount of spiritual elixirs that I could take in small amounts in the future anyway.

It was more efficient to take this opportunity to raise my junior brothers' internal energy.

"Rather than that, I would ask you to give it to the Sect Leader so that he may give it to the disciples."

"... Why is that?"

"If I, the head disciple of the Taiyi Sect, receive it, that might perhaps look like favoritism, but if the Sect Leader chooses and another disciple receives it, wouldn't it serve as motivation for the other junior brothers?"

"... Hoh!"

Moyong Sangwon's expression turned into that of a dumbfounded person.

Then he said something unexpected.

"... Do you, by any chance, have a childhood marriage promise or something like that?"

Unable to understand the intent of the question, I tilted my head.

"I do not, but why do you ask?"

Moyong Sangwon looked somewhat relieved for some reason.

"Never mind. Don't worry about the Cheongmyeong Pill. I will convey three Cheongmyeong Pills to your Sect Leader with my utmost gratitude."

* * *

"It truly is a fascinating device."

After tying Moyong Sangwon's and my bodies together, we ascended the valley using the Flying Dragon Claw, and Moyong Sangwon spoke as if amazed.

However, Moyong Sangwon's interest quickly drifted away from the Flying Dragon Claw after seeing the sunlight for the first time in a long while.

"It feels so good. So good! I thought I'd have no other wishes if I could just feel this sunlight one more time. And you made that come true."

Moyong Sangwon stretched out and enjoyed the sunlight to the fullest.

"Please don't overdo it."

The energy of the demonic qi had all been absorbed, but his Dantian was still not in a complete state.

"Don't worry. I feel like I could run right now. What is your schedule going forward?"

"It's about time for me to head back to my sect."

Considering the time needed to stop by the Namgung Clan on the way, it might be a tight schedule.

"If you're not particularly busy, why don't you rest for a few days at our merchant group in Wujiang and then head to the Moyong Noble Clan with me?"

"I will visit the Moyong Noble Clan in the future. I also have things I need to do once I return to my sect."

"Is that matter related to the Murim Academy exam?"

"... Yes."

Moyong Sangwon did not hide his disappointed expression.

"I suppose so. ... Still, you could rest for a few days before going, right?"

"That's..."

"Let's do that. If you move so forcefully like this and don't rest, fatigue will build up and strain your body."

"Understo..."

While speaking, I abruptly turned my head at a strange sensation.

Even though it was still bright daytime, no sound echoed in the forest aside from the sound of the wind blowing.

"What's wrong?"

Moyong Sangwon seemed completely oblivious still.

"By any chance, were the ones who attacked you, Minor Patriarch, wearing black martial robes with red bandanas wrapped around their heads?"

"Hmm? How did you..."

"Over there."

When I pointed to one side of the forest, Moyong Sangwon furrowed his brow, seemingly forcing his inner qi to rise while looking at a spot where nothing was visible.

As expected, his Dantian was still not fully recovered.

"...!!"

"Are they the ones who attacked you, Senior?"

"I'm not sure."

A moment later, twenty people emitting no flow of qi at all emerged from the forest.

"... You're right. It's them."

Instead of answering, I drew the Black Dragon Sword.

Moyong Sangwon had a grim expression.

"I'm truly filled with nothing but apologies to my benefactor. Not only have I not repaid any of my debt, but you're now going through something like this because of me."

"Senior. Save those words for later."

"Alright."

Moyong Sangwon took a step forward.

Even though the group of twenty people only stood in the front, they completely dominated the area for ten *zhang* in all directions.

There didn't seem to be an opening to escape anywhere.

"Just what is your goal that you chase me so persistently?!"

"..."

"I'll ask you one thing."

Moyong Sangwon's voice rang out loudly.

"Did you come to capture the Minor Patriarch of the Moyong Noble Clan?"

"..."

The masked men with red bandanas remained silent.