Chapter 132 : Chapter 132
Chapter 132 Taecheong Pill (2)
Shadowless Divine Thief.
In the Jianghu Murim, it was said to be the alias of a legendary Great Thief.
Actually, it would be correct to think of it as an alias that replaces a status rather than referring to a specific individual.
Just as the supreme leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult always has the alias Heavenly Demon, and the Sect Leader of Wudang succeeds the alias Taecheong, it means that all mysterious beam-walking gentlemen (thieves) known to steal anything by mastering transcendent movement arts and concealment techniques were called Shadowless Divine Thief.
There would be no way to explain with other logic the fact that the name Shadowless Divine Thief, which existed in the ancient era more than a thousand years ago when Shaolin was founded and Wudang originated, still exists in the present age.
Judging by personal sentiment, I think the alias Shadowless Divine Thief is a very plausibly created alias.
Since it refers to a ghost-like theft that leaves not even a shadow, actually, it would be correct to evaluate it as a new epoch that all those who make theft their profession hope for.
Since thieves are gently called beam-walking gentlemen, I know that there are many who accept Shadowless Divine Thief as roughly a superior version of a beam-walking gentleman.
Although I cannot be certain how it was in the ancient era, it would be correct to say it is a misunderstanding with room for correction in the current Murim.
The reason is, in the current Murim, beam-walking gentleman is a word referring to a real person, and Shadowless Divine Thief is strictly because it refers to an unknown phenomenon, not a person.
-Shadowless Divine Thief has visited.
When an object disappeared for a completely unknown reason, the reason people expressed it as Shadowless Divine Thief having visited rather than saying they ‘had the object stolen’ was due to such reasons.
Actually, it implies that Shadowless Divine Thief should be viewed as a rhetoric expressing unsolved theft cases or disappearance cases of precious objects rather than the alias of a legendary Great Thief.
Mr. Gwak said the culprit of the theft case of Wudang’s secret treasure, the Taecheong Pill, was Shadowless Divine Thief.
Since it means a culprit whose tracks even the Great Wudang could not catch, it would truly be no stretch to deduce that the identity is a ghost.
* * *
Wudang is a renowned Great Sect.
It would be inevitable that many guests visit and stay, befitting the dignity of a huge sect.
Since I knew the fact that the guest halls where guests visiting Wudang stay are gathered near the Taehwa Palace, my steps to find Lee Chun-baek naturally headed in the direction of Taehwa Palace.
It is my first time visiting Wudang throughout my days as Myeong-gae, but knowing the geography of the Nine Sects' mountain gates was like a basic accomplishment for a Beggar’s Gang disciple, so there was no hesitation in my steps.
Originally, one might think the guard of a Great Sect like Wudang is strict, but this is not true.
It is because the barrier of disciples guarding outside the mountain gate is thick, and any senseless ruffian who would dare to cause a disturbance inside the mountain gate of the Great Wudang would have long since been stabbed and sent to the afterlife.
It would not be to the extent that an outsider could freely roam around at this hour past midnight (Ja-si), but if that outsider is a master of the State of Harmony, the situation changes.
Swish.
Originally, the Dancheon Clan’s movement art, Stepping on Clouds Gait, also took lightness and fleetness as its basis, so my figure cut across the roofs of Wudang’s pavilions just like a beam-walking gentleman.
‘It is here.’
Although I did not hear explicitly where Lee Chun-baek was staying since we parted without details ten days ago, there would be no problem.
My vast sense, which had begun to grasp the glimpse of spirituality, had no difficulty detecting the presence of someone exceptional like Lee Chun-baek.
Lightly.
I landed quietly in front of the guest hall where I was certain Lee Chun-baek was staying.
Come in.
At the same time, Lee Chun-baek’s voice was heard.
Although I did not unfold extreme concealment techniques with all my heart and soul, I did not expect my presence to be discovered at once at such a late hour.
It must be that the all-around vigilance of Lee Chun-baek, who had lived the life of a wanderer, was indeed true to his reputation.
Ahem.
Since this was a guest hall anyway, but the current owner was Lee Chun-baek, I made my presence known as a guest and opened the door.
When I opened the door, Lee Chun-baek was in the middle of the guest hall, which was modestly formal befitting the essence of Wudang.
Is today the day?
Lee Chun-baek asked.
I had not spoken in detail, but had just given a hint that I had business in Wudang besides the New Star Exchange Meeting.
That is correct.
When I answered, Lee Chun-baek raised his body.
Where should we go?
We will go to Youngeun Palace.
Mm.
Youngeun Palace.
Befitting the name that means welcoming grace, it would be called a secret place that stores all the spiritual medicines and elixirs owned by Wudang.
It is also the headquarters of the Wudang Medicine Hall.
It is a natural story, but it should be viewed as a space where guard power far exceeding the mountain gate resides.
Youngeun Palace...
Since Wudang’s Youngeun Palace is quite a famous name, Lee Chun-baek also seems to know that name.
May I ask why we are going?
Just the fact that he hadn't asked until now makes Lee Chun-baek a true gentleman, not a gossip like Mr. Gwak or Myeong-gae, so it would be right to tell him the truth now.
It seems Shadowless Divine Thief will stop by Youngeun Palace.
At my words, Lee Chun-baek’s expression sank into contemplation.
Finally finishing his consideration, Lee Chun-baek asked carefully.
...Surely, you are not becoming that Shadowless Divine Thief, are you?
Mm.
I understand why he contemplated.
Since the matter of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fleeceflower Root of the Heuksu Mun seems to be deeply engraved in Lee Chun-baek’s mind, there is a need to clear up the misunderstanding.
The moment I was about to open my mouth to clear the misunderstanding.
Take me too.
...Eh?
My older brother Dancheon Hak was there too.
* * *
In the Jianghu Murim, there is a phrase called Risk Taking.
It is not a phrase for chivalrous heroes who practice justice without caring for their own safety, but a phrase mainly used by gamblers who like gambling or guys who have reached the bottom even among the Unorthodox Faction.
If interpreted, it means the fact that the higher the risk, the greater the compensation, which is the counter-benefit, so it would not be unreasonable to think of the phrase itself as the essence of gambling.
Therefore, one could easily find examples of risk-taking in bullfighting or horse racing, which can be called synonyms for gambling.
A weak bull or a slow horse usually has low expectations for winning.
As I have said repeatedly, there are no absolutes in any competition, but it is because it is a well-known fact that the probability of a weak bull or a slow horse winning is low.
Therefore, in gambling, a high dividend rate is placed on the weak guy to offset that low probability.
Because of that, if the event chosen by taking a risk happens to win, making a fortune at a single stroke would not be a dream. It is a method called the leverage effect among gamblers.
At a glance, it seems extreme, but it could be seen as resembling life.
Seeking a great reward only for those who have taken a risk would be a measure faithful to the law of cause and effect.
I am not a lowlife who gambles, but recalling that aphorism was not for any other reason.
It is because I am taking that risk right now.
-Follow carefully.
Nod.
Nod.
At the cautious telepathy, Lee Chun-baek and Dancheon Hak nodded their heads.
Swish!
At the same time, we began to cut across the roofs of Wudang’s pavilions.
Tat!
Since all three of us were possessors of solitary movement arts, it would not take a long time to arrive at Youngeun Palace.
Originally, to perform a secret deed, it would be said that the fewer the number, the better.
If it were a robbery, maybe, but theft is usually conducted alone or at most by two; that is the reason.
It is because it is inevitable that as the number increases, secrecy and mobility decrease.
However, does it mean there is only loss when the number increases? Not necessarily.
Originally, the fact that hands and eyes increase greatly expands the radius of action.
The risk of our tracks being discovered has increased, but the range we can monitor has expanded.
It would be right to see it as typical risk-taking behavior.
Clatter-
Oh no.
Shh-!
I quickly covered the mouth of Brother Dancheon Hak, who had stepped wrongly on a weak part of the eaves.
Whew...
Correct.
Actually, I was just lining up excuses for the case where I failed to detach Dancheon Hak.
* * *
During my days as Myeong-gae.
Based on Mr. Gwak’s information, I was able to obtain information of various layers regarding the Taecheong Pill theft case.
Although the theft of the Taecheong Pill was a grave matter not meant for the ears of a mere Three-Knot Beggar, since I had already encountered that information, digging into it was possible.
It was a situation where I discovered a definitive buoy in the sea of information flooding into the Beggar’s Gang, so it was not a difficult task with the capability of the competent informant Myeong-gae.
Since I did not know the existence of the Healing Sage's Mind Cultivation Art at the time, I think I just intended to bestow grace on Wudang and ride on the crest of success.
Anyway...
The time of the Taecheong Pill’s theft was exactly fifteen days after hosting the New Star Exchange Meeting.
Since it was such a big incident, the fact that the date was clearly identified would be called good news.
They said the matter became more complicated because many prodigies who participated in the New Star Exchange Meeting remained at Wudang.
I guess the reason the information could reach Mr. Gwak’s ears might also lie with one of those outsiders.
There is also information after the theft.
At the end of a pursuit spanning a long six years, the Taecheong Pill theft case concluded as the mystery of Shadowless Divine Thief.
Correct.
It means that despite the Great Wudang’s arduous efforts, they failed to even identify, let alone arrest, the culprit.
Actually, it could be called a slightly regrettable point for me.
If the culprit had been identified even in the future, for me who has regressed now, the Taecheong Pill theft case would have become a matter to be solved as easily as turning over a hand.
For reference, the reason the pursuit stopped at only six years is because the Great War of Righteousness and Evil broke out.
Nevertheless, as a competent informant, I was able to obtain meaningful investigation records.
The fact that the Taecheong Pill was not found anywhere within the mountain gate of Wudang is exactly that.
That is, it means Wudang had definitely revealed that, at least, it was not the deed of an insider.
Since this will be my guideline for action now, it will be sufficient to evaluate it as a meaningful outcome.
What I mean is, the guy invading Youngeun Palace from the outside today is the criminal.
-Brother Hak, please take the rear left of Youngeun Palace, and Brother Chun-baek, the rear right. I will take both sides of the front. If you discover any abnormal signs, you can give a signal to each other via telepathy.
Simultaneous with my telepathic voice, the figures of Brother Dancheon Hak and Lee Chun-baek vanished fleetly.
Since they were sufficiently competent talents, they would take appropriate positions and conceal themselves.
Today at this time.
We will guard Youngeun Palace tightly all night long.
Two masters of the Realm of Harmony and one master of the State of Harmony.
It would be right to view infiltrating Youngeun Palace by piercing the strict surveillance of a total of three as impossible.
Even if the target is truly the legendary Great Thief Shadowless Divine Thief.
.
.
..
Since the surroundings are already dark, the Hour of the Tiger (In-si, 3-5 AM) has passed.
Since we started surveillance around the Hour of the Rat (Ja-si, 11 PM-1 AM), it would be right to see that about two double-hours (four hours) have passed.
Spending the night on guard would be a sufficiently tiring task, but that would be correct only by the standard of an ordinary person.
Since both my older brothers and I were masters who had long achieved the blooming of the spirit, forgetting sleep and food for about three days would not be a great hindrance to our bodies.
Therefore, what sharpens my nerves is not fatigue but tension.
It would be right to see it as the reason that the mystery which the Jianghu Murim, the Great Wudang, stepped forward to solve but failed, is still not revealing its appearance.
Time flowed helplessly, and as it passed the Hour of the Rabbit (Myo-si, 5-7 AM), the sun began to rise dimly.
And...
-The... The Taecheong Pill!
The sound of someone belonging to the Medicine Hall shouting in shock was heard faintly, waking the quiet dawn.
I made eye contact with Lee Chun-baek and Dancheon Hak.
Both shook their heads.
It meant no one entered or left Youngeun Palace.
‘Mm...’
It was truly a situation where a ghost would wail.