Chapter 146 : Chapter 146
Chapter 146 Mysterious Sect (1)
Originally, what is important in doing things is justification.
As I said before, my conduct to hide regression requires a circumstance called ‘plausibility.’
Now to even question plausibility with Brother Chun-baek might be no different from burying one’s head in the sand, but shouldn't a person rightly show at least the minimum sincerity?
Anyway, I couldn't say ‘Brother Chun-baek’s sect will be devastated on the upcoming New Year’s Day, so let’s go now and block it,’ so I did need a suitable justification.
Naturally, I had already arranged that justification long ago.
“Brother Chun-baek. Are you keeping that well?”
“That?”
“I mean the Five-Leaf Immortal Orchid.”
“Ah.”
At the time of discovering the Garden of Joy, Brother Chun-baek had kept the Five-Leaf Immortal Orchid to give as a gift to his master.
Brother Chun-baek fumbled in his bosom and took out the Five-Leaf Immortal Orchid.
“It is well.”
Checking if the word ‘high-grade elixir’ was indeed not false, the Five-Leaf Immortal Orchid, which had been collected over half a year ago, still retained its vitality.
“When do you plan to go give it?”
“The time will come.”
Brother Chun-baek answered indifferently.
I know the fact that he is also not of a warm nature towards parents or teachers, just like Dancheon Myeong of the previous life.
But at the same time, I also know the fact that he cherishes that preciousness deep in his heart.
It is because I know the fact that the sorrow of the King of Wanderers was created thus.
“Shouldn't you give it quickly?”
“Everything has its time, so won't the date arrive?”
Originally I would agree with Brother Chun-baek’s words, but this time I cannot agree.
It is because I know the future that will come because I regressed.
I know the fact that if he misses the current timing, Brother Chun-baek will forever miss the opportunity to hand the Five-Leaf Immortal Orchid to his master.
“Good deeds should not be postponed.”
“Your words are not wrong, but…….”
“Let’s go now.”
Cutting off Brother Chun-baek’s words, I continued speaking as if being stubborn.
“Just in time, New Year’s Day is approaching, so there would be no time better than this to go pay respects to Brother Chun-baek’s master.”
“Did the words asking to go somewhere together mean my sect?”
“Correct.”
I answered confidently, but inwardly I was tense.
It was because I knew the fact that Brother Chun-baek’s sect is sensitive to the approach of outsiders due to being a ‘Mysterious Sect.’
But it would be correct to evaluate such worry of mine as unfounded anxiety.
“Fine. If it is you, it should be okay.”
It was because Brother Chun-baek, who chuckled, said so.
“Let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
“To go that far, I should prepare a bit.”
“What preparation when going home? Just going with your body should be enough. Since the gift is also in your bosom.”
Meaning I would not accept rebuttals, I strode forward.
Actually, the most important thing in going on a journey is money, and since the payment for the Immaculate Pomegranate sold to Yeo-wol still remains plentiful in my bosom, there was no problem either.
“Myeong-ie.”
“We are going to Brother Chun-baek’s sect. I will not accept rebuttals.”
“No, not that way, it’s that way.”
“…….”
I quickly corrected the direction.
“Follow me.”
As if he couldn't win, Brother Chun-baek took the lead.
I gazed blankly at such a back view of Brother Chun-baek.
Unlike Dancheon Myeong who became Myeong-gae after losing everything, there are many precious people around me now.
Similarly, Brother Chun-baek should also protect what is precious.
That is also the reason I regressed.
* * *
The time Brother Chun-baek and I left the Dancheon Clan was a time when the chilly north wind began to blow, passing Slight Cold a little.
More specifically, it was about twenty days before New Year's Day.
It is true that we hurried somewhat.
Although I say I have information of the future by regressing, since there are many parts I don't know about the incident where the King of Wanderers’ sect and hometown were annihilated, I considered it right to arrive in advance and prepare.
Thinking about it now, it is so.
It would be correct to evaluate that leaving early was truly a move of god.
-Brother Chun-baek.
-Why?
-Where is the sect?
-It is in Jilin Province.
Firstly, it was because Brother Chun-baek’s sect was farther than thought.
Jilin Province is a region close to the northeastern edge, the frontier of the Central Plains, and was a region not lacking to be called a remote area along with Black Dragon River Province.
If one walks endlessly in the direction the sun sets, there is Qinghai Province, the site of Kunlun, and if one walks endlessly in the direction the sun rises, the place that comes out is Jilin Province, isn't it?
It is also a place bordering the East, which is considered a land of mystery.
Since it is a place reachable only by passing through Henan Province, Hebei Province, and Liaoning Province starting from Anhui, it wouldn't be unreasonable to see it as traversing half of the Central Plains.
But actually, this was not a big problem.
Since Brother Chun-baek’s and my internal energy circulation were close to the extreme of martial arts, traversing about four provinces could be easily covered within seven days and nights even unfolding movement arts leisurely.
It meant the real problem lay elsewhere.
“Is this way correct?”
“……Why do you ask that to me? Isn't the guide Brother Chun-baek?”
“Haha.”
Because my answer was truly correct, Brother Chun-baek smiled awkwardly.
The keen gaze of the martial artist who will become the King of Wanderers in the future captured the surrounding scenery entirely.
And then Brother Chun-baek said…….
“I don't know well where this is.”
He muttered.
Right. Brother Chun-baek was directionally challenged.
“How did you come this far?”
“I just ran in the direction the sun rises.”
“…….”
Directionally challenged wanderer Lee Chun-baek.
Following his guidance, we became lost children of Jilin Province.
.
.
.
I think it is my blunder.
The reason being, I must have known the fact that Brother Chun-baek is directionally challenged long ago.
Brother Chun-baek’s words wouldn't be wrong.
Jilin Province is a place one arrives at just by going endlessly east.
It is correct to evaluate it as my fault for thinking Brother Chun-baek could find his own house just because he guided well to Jilin Province.
“Where in Jilin Province?”
“It is near Ji'an City.”
“……Follow me.”
“Haha.”
A rare scene unfolded where the guest guides the way to find the owner's house.
Although I said Myeong-gae before regression roamed all sorts of Central Plains and mastered geography, I also don't know the geography of Jilin Province.
As I said earlier, it was because I considered Qinghai Province at the western end and Jilin Province and Black Dragon River Province at the eastern end no different from the outer regions.
Nevertheless, the reason I decided to lead the way was from the thought that I could find the way better than that directionally challenged wanderer.
“Do you know the geography of Ji'an City too?”
Since there was no hesitation in my steps, Brother Chun-baek asked as if wondering.
“Naturally, I don't know.”
“Then how do you plan to find it?”
“There is a way.”
“You are truly mysterious.”
“…….”
Perhaps to Brother Chun-baek, my pathfinding ability is more amazing than the realm of Five Qis Courting the Origin I achieved.
“Just follow me.”
“Understood.”
I am currently tracking people's footprints. Because if I head to where footprints gather, people will appear.
Can't I just ask for the way I don't know?
Just in time, a passing woman was visible.
“I would like to ask for directions.”
“Please speak.”
My appearance, benefiting from the Vermilion Fruit, is truly gentle, so the woman accepted my question without guard.
“Which way is Ji'an City?”
“Where did you come from, Young Master?”
“I came from the Central Plains.”
“Here is near Wangqing City of Jilin Province. If the Young Master came from the Central Plains, you would have passed Ji'an City long ago.”
“…….”
I kept silent and…….
“Haha. Somehow I felt there was familiar terrain while coming?”
Brother Chun-baek laughed heartily.
I will evaluate it as a time to pledge never to use him as a guide next time.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
Leaving the kind woman behind, we retraced our steps.
.
.
.
We unfolded movement arts for another half day.
Half a day of asking directions whenever a passing traveler was seen and correcting direction.
“Oh, it is here.”
Finally, we could arrive at a place presumed to be Ji'an City.
“Are you certain?”
“I am certain.”
No matter how directionally challenged Brother Chun-baek is, with that degree of certainty, it would be right to believe him. It seems this is indeed Ji'an City.
Surely he wouldn't not know even the village he grew up in.
“Now follow me.”
Leaving the downtown of Ji'an City, Brother Chun-baek’s steps headed towards a mountain valley.
As if it were a lie that he couldn't find the way all this time, Brother Chun-baek’s steps pushed through the mountain path without even a landmark without hesitation.
And finally…….
“This is the village where I grew up, Sinhaeng-gol.”
I could capture the village where Brother Chun-baek grew up in my eyes.
-Annihilation. Not an exaggeration, but in the literal sense.
It felt like the Secret Pavilion member’s voice was ringing in my head.
It was a truly quiet and peaceful mountain village to recall such a gruesome future.
* * *
The sages said, human life rests with Heaven.
It means the matter of people living and dying depends on the sky.
The martial artists of the time accept this saying as meaning ‘the issue of life and death is an area of force majeure that human power cannot do anything about.’ It means if lucky one lives, and if unlucky one dies.
However, I interpret the above aphorism slightly differently.
Inmyeong-Jaecheon would not be words like grumbling denying human possibility. If so, wouldn't it not have established itself as the teachings of sages handed down uninterruptedly?
Thinking about it, it would be correct to see Inmyeong-Jaecheon as an aphorism representing the nobility of life.
It means it is a teaching that since human life is something even beings noble like the sky pay attention to, one should not harm humans privately.
However, in quite a lot of cases, there is not much awareness that murder is a crime in the Jianghu Murim.
.
.
.
There is a misunderstanding, but the beggars of the Beggar’s Gang also work sometimes.
It would be difficult to call it labor, but since they receive wages, it wouldn't be wrong to express it as work.
That work was none other than what is called the Environment Purification Business.
To express it so everyone can understand, it was the work of processing the corpses of martial artists who died in the market streets. For reference, the money is given by the government office.
“Why did this guy die?”
During the days of Two-Knot Myeong-gae, having eaten some beggar's rice, I asked a junior One-Knot Beggar.
“They say a quarrel broke out in a tavern.”
“Quarrel? Passion?”
“No. They say eyes just met.”
“Um.”
“Since eyes met and he didn't avoid, he deserved to die.”
Ppak!
“Ack! Why do you hit me?”
The One-Knot Beggar who couldn't dodge the beggar's gourd I swung asked sullenly.
“You rascal. How does eyes meeting become a reason to die?”
Adding a remark with triangular eyes without hiding dissatisfaction, the One-Knot Beggar said.
“After that, shoulders bumped but he didn't apologize.”
“Um.”
This time I also had no choice but to admit.
Looking at the long history of the Jianghu Murim, the so-called ‘shoulder check’ was because it was not lacking as a justification for a life-and-death duel.
But wasn't it after I already swung the beggar's gourd at the One-Knot Beggar?
If I admit it as is, there would be a flaw in the dignity of Two-Knot Myeong-gae, so I attached another justification.
“Originally, murder should be viewed as a crime, you rascal. Doesn't the Imperial Law say so?”
“How would I know the Imperial Law?”
Indeed, because beggars are guys with no front and back and no high and low, he did not show signs of submitting to the end.
“Sigh, ignorant guy.”
“Hehe.”
Since I was originally an intellectual who knew even the Imperial Law, I considered this issue a problem, but I know the fact that many people do not.
Literally, it was because the culture of the Jianghu Murim was so.
.
.
.
It was so.
The sages said human life rests with Heaven, but in the Jianghu Murim, human life lay in financial power. If one has power, one lives, and if one lacks power, one might die.
Even the Beggar’s Gang disciples walking the Righteous Path think so, so the perception of the Demonic Path would not need to be explored separately.
Thinking so, it is.
It was not a special thing that the incident where Brother Chun-baek’s sect and hometown were annihilated did not enter my ears.
The reason being, it can be seen that a village being massacred does not become an event talked about beyond the castle in the Jianghu Murim.
Frankly speaking, it is also true that I also cannot become a different human figure as I lived following the culture of the Jianghu Murim.
However.
Isn't it the village where my friend Brother Chun-baek’s precious people reside?
Isn't it an event where such people were trampled by the claws of Demonic Cultists?
It was an event sufficient to stop my steps running busily towards the Sixth Stage of Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, Pacifying the World.
“It is peaceful.”
“It is a good village.”
“Did you grow up here all your life?”
“Almost so?”
“I see.”
I will protect this village.
Now it would be good to shake off the sorrow of the King of Wanderers remaining in my brain and leave only Brother Chun-baek with easygoing laughter in my memory.