Chapter 109

Yeon Mujin stayed in Hwa-um County with Shapeshifter.

He unpacked at the inn where he’d met Mok Gyeong-hae and kept himself holed up, avoiding company.

Before dawn he completed a cycle of the Travelling Swallow Qi Technique, ate breakfast, then shut himself up again to fight Mok Gyeong-hae in his imagination.

Yeon Mujin didn’t need time to raise a sword or refine his forms.

Once martial skill reaches a certain level, moving the mind can advance you more than moving the body.

That was the case for Yeon Mujin now.

He skipped lunch and stayed in his room, fighting the imagined Mok Gyeong-hae until night fell.

He fought dozens of battles each day.

The imagined Yeon Mujin rarely won; Mok Gyeong-hae prevailed more often—his win rate hovered around forty percent.

Yeon Mujin set a goal to raise that to eighty percent.

Some days the outcome was decided by a three-moment technique; other days they traded five hundred moves or more. The longer the fight dragged on, the likelier Yeon Mujin was to lose.

Yeon Mujin knew Mok Gyeong-hae, but Mok Gyeong-hae did not know Yeon Mujin.

That fellow knew how to break Yeon Mujin down even during the fight—he was that much of a monster.

After roughly two hundred moves, most attacks stopped landing. It wasn’t a question of stamina or power.

Eventually there was a point beyond which you couldn’t close the gap in talent. Even with Yeon Mujin’s experience from seven regressions, it was impossible.

He tried other weapons because the Three Calamities Sword Technique alone couldn’t beat him.

He tried the sickle-sword, paired short swords, three-section spear, Nang-a club, golden ring, short staff, coiling dragon flail, celestial spear, spear of flight…

Still, his win rate was best when he wielded a sword. Yeon Mujin could handle all kinds of weapons, but in the end the sword felt most natural.

“…Goddamn it.”

He lost again today.

On the 127th move, Mok Gyeong-hae’s blade found Yeon Mujin’s neck.

“You crazy bastard. Do you feel like you’re getting stronger or something?”

But today’s death would become the foundation for tomorrow.

Even after dozens of defeats, Yeon Mujin never died the same way twice.

Sitting cross-legged and practicing the Travelling Swallow Qi Technique while continuing the imagined battles, his mind grew tired even as his body felt fresh.

Rumble.

His stomach demanded food again.

“Mok Gyeong-hae. I lost today because I was hungry. It’s not because I’m lacking.”

The Mok Gyeong-hae in his mind sneered. “Crazy man, a loss is a loss.”

Yeon Mujin sneered back. No— that’s not it. I lost because I was hungry.

He left his room and went down to the first floor; once again only two people were in the inn.

Shapeshifter and the innkeeper—while Yeon Mujin stayed, no one else had visited the inn.

Yeon Mujin nodded in satisfaction.

“This inn is nice and quiet.”

“What a cursed thing to say.”

The innkeeper took exception to Yeon Mujin’s remark.

Yeon Mujin retaliated even for small slights, so he spoke to the innkeeper.

“Give me your cheapest noodles.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Then bring pork and fried rice. If you contradict me again, I’ll punish you with noodles.”

“Won’t you have some alcohol?”

“No alcohol. I’m abstaining.”

The innkeeper muttered as he entered the kitchen.

“Why the hell is someone suddenly abstaining in someone else’s business…”

He spoke softly, but Yeon Mujin’s keen ears heard it clearly.

What an arrogant innkeeper; I’ll be sure to punish him with cold noodles tomorrow morning.

Shapeshifter, sitting listlessly, complained as soon as she saw Yeon Mujin.

“What on earth do you do in your room all day? Have you hidden a porn book somewhere?”

“Seven-inch vigor can’t be solved with a porn book.”

“That damn seven-inch talk… I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

“Who are you calling an old woman, lusting after a young, firm man? Even if you ask sneakily like that, I have no intention of showing you.”

Shapeshifter’s face contorted.

“I don’t care, you jerk!”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Yeon Mujin slurped from a cold teacup.

Only empty teapots sat in front of Shapeshifter.

“Looks like you didn’t drink.”

“You told me not to drink, didn’t you?”

“You could have drunk without me knowing. You’re a woman who keeps promises well. Good. I like people who keep promises.”

“It’s not for your benefit.”

In truth, it was because of Yeon Mujin.

Yeon Mujin’s words had left a thorn in Shapeshifter when they headed to Shaanxi.

—If you don’t keep your spoken words, in the end you won’t be able to trust yourself. That’s a loss in your life.

“Not drinking leaves nothing to do. The village is so quiet it feels like a place where ghosts live. How can it be so lifeless?”

“A life with nothing to do if you don’t drink? How pathetic.”

“Hey…”

She flared up but had no good retort.

Because she knew better than anyone whether she was wasting her life.

Uncomfortable with the topic, Shapeshifter changed the subject.

“What exactly do you do in your room all day?”

“I’m waging a war.”

“With whom?”

“With Mount Hua.”

“……”

This wasn’t a koan—what kind of conversation was this?

Is this what it feels like to talk to a madman?

“Fine. Fight hard. Preferably don’t drag me into that fight.”

“You do what you’re good at. As you always have.”

After a short wait, fried rice and pork were served.

It was Shapeshifter’s favorite dish, but without alcohol her appetite wasn’t stirred.

She felt a strong urge to order alcohol but held back. Even if she drank, she didn’t want to do it in front of this guy—he ruined the taste.

Instead, to distract herself she asked something else.

“Even if Mount Hua is at war with you, what about Southern Edge Sect? Do you think sending that young sect leader will be able to recruit Southern Edge Sect?”

“Don’t insult the sect master.”

“That girl looks young and inexperienced at handling people. If you blindly trust her just because she’s a sect master, you’ll get burned. The leader of Southern Edge Sect wouldn’t be an easy sort. People carry the guile that matches their position.”

Shoveling fried rice like a glutton, Yeon Mujin mumbled between bites.

“Southern Edge Sect is fine.”

“That’s disgusting—chew and then speak.”

gulp “Southern Edge Sect’s not a concern.”

“Ha— you trust that child that much?”

Yeon Mujin shook his head vigorously.

“The sect master still has a long way to go.”

“See. You don’t trust her either.”

“But Southern Edge Sect poses no worry.”

“…?”

“Because the leader is of Southern Edge Sect, it’s fine. Precisely because it’s Southern Edge Sect.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Still unsatisfied after the fried rice, Yeon Mujin added cold noodles and said.

“The sect leader of Southern Edge Sect has a serious chronic ailment.”

“A chronic ailment?”

“That person… is excessively fond of beauties.”

“……”

What the hell…

Bukgung Yoon and her party arrived at Xi’an in Shaanxi Province after a forced march.

Xi’an was the provincial capital of Shaanxi and a strategic point near Mount Southern Edge Sect.

Unlike Mount Hua Sect, the Southern Edge Sect faction wasn’t atop the peak; it sat on the mountainside in a spot convenient for travelers.

Bukgung Yoon steeled herself for the possibility of being rudely turned away and knocked on the Southern Edge Sect gate.

The External Protection Troops guarding her waited tensely, unsure how Southern Edge Sect would respond.

“Who is it?”

“I am Bukgung Yoon, manor lord of the Bukgung Family’s Flying Swallow Manor. I humbly request to pay respects to the leader of Southern Edge Sect; could you relay the message?”

“…Where did you say you came from?”

“From the Bukgung Family’s Flying Swallow Manor.”

Maybe it was her imagination, but she thought she heard something like cursing from inside.

Yang Gwanwol and Seo Nakil gripped their sword hilts tightly and readied themselves.

The sect master’s dignity was at stake. If Southern Edge Sect acted aggressively, they would respond accordingly…

“How dare you presume on such courtesy…!”

A Southern Edge Sect warrior flung the gate open and, seeing Bukgung Yoon, gulped in surprise.

“Who… who are you?”

“The Bukgung Family’s Flying Swallow Manor I just mentioned…”

Only then did the warrior notice the External Protection Troops standing behind Bukgung Yoon.

It was beyond his authority to decide. Swallowing his surprise, the warrior said to Bukgung Yoon.

“Please wait a moment.”

They heard hurried footsteps beyond the gate.

Relieved for a moment, Bukgung Yoon whispered to Seo Nakil.

“I’m glad you came with us. It seems their attitude changed when they saw the External Protection Troops.”

“I don’t think that’s the case…”

At that moment the closed gate opened again.

Creak!

The gate opened, but there was no one in sight.

A ghost? The wind? As people puzzled, a sound came from beneath their chins.

“Gasp!”

Looking down, they saw a small, young Taoist staring up at them with a flustered expression.

The young Taoist swallowed as he looked at the fine clothes Bukgung Yoon’s party wore.

“R-rich people…”

Bukgung Yoon couldn’t help but laugh at his blunt reaction.

She crouched down, met the young Taoist’s gaze, and asked.

“Are you a Taoist of Southern Edge Sect?”

The cautious Taoist stiffened at the word Southern Edge Sect, then raised his chin proudly and said.

“I am! Ah— no. I am! …Am I?”

Bukgung Yoon nodded and said.

“I see. Your bearing is dignified; I thought you must be a Southern Edge Sect Taoist.”

“You thought so… did you?”

The young Taoist smiled in satisfaction.

Only then, his guard lowered, did he circle Bukgung Yoon and scrutinize her.

From her clothing to her jewelry, nothing looked cheap.

“Wow, they really are rich…”

Bukgung Yoon did not answer; she only smiled.

The young Taoist hesitated, glancing around at the others.

Bukgung Yoon, puzzled, asked him.

“Taoist, do you need something?”

“Um, perhaps…”

The hesitant young Taoist nodded resolutely, then shouted confidently in a trembling voice.

“Is there anything to eat… is there?”

Bukgung Yoon’s eyes went wide.

“Something to eat?”

“Yes! Something to eat… I mean.”

The Taoist’s voice trailed off and grew smaller.

“Just a moment.”

She rummaged through her belongings and brought something out.

It was the crystallized ginger that had become her favorite snack.

“This is all I have. Please take this as a snack, Taoist.”

Bukgung Yoon handed over a fairly generous portion of crystallized ginger.

The young Taoist brightened at receiving something to eat.

He bowed and said.

“Thank you!”

“Won’t you eat it right away?”

“Not for me! Not for me—I’ll give it to the young disciples. I will. There are disciples hungrier than I am!”

“That tiny bit?”

The Taoist nodded.

He chuckled happily, took the crystallized ginger, and went deeper into the gate.

After the young Taoist left, people offered their impressions one by one.

“Young.”

“Cute.”

“But isn’t he too skinny?”

Yang Gwan-wol said.

No matter that Taoists shun rich foods and prize austerity, the young Taoist looked excessively emaciated.

“He looked like he’s been hungry for about three days.”

“He was even drooling over the candied ginger the sect master offered earlier.”

“That stuff tastes awful…”

A little while after the young Taoist left, the gate opened again and the outer courtyard of the Southern Edge Sect faction was revealed.

“The sect leader requests you to come inside.”