Chapter 377
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## Chapter 377: “It’s Not Like I’m on a Stroll”
Yeon Jeokha walked slowly towards Hyojaam (the Dutiful Son’s Hut), illuminated by the moonlight.
As he approached, he saw a sturdy hut that had been built with care.
When it was first built, it seemed makeshift, but now it gave the impression that whoever lived there was truly fulfilling the three-year mourning period.
Thinking of Nok Dam-pyeong, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
A man who used to harass Nam Su-gyeong had ended up doing something so foreign to him, mourning for someone else, and in a house that wasn’t even his own.
Perhaps it was because he was now involved in acts of kindness as part of his Taoist training (적선수행), but his heart seemed more generous than before.
When he reached the hut, loud snoring could be heard from inside.
“Tch! If someone came to take him away, he wouldn’t even notice,” he muttered as he pushed aside the blanket covering the entrance of the hut and peeked inside.
Inside, the only thing there was a makeshift bed. Nok Dam-pyeong was curled up like a worm in a thick cotton blanket.
After leaving the entrance as it was, Yeon Jeokha turned around and walked towards the river.
The moonlight reflected on the water, making the river sparkle.
Although during the day the water of the Huang He looked murky, under the moonlight it shimmered like a jewel.
Sitting on the edge of a rock, Yeon Jeokha contemplated the scenery. The scene, cold but somewhat dreamlike, evoked feelings of melancholy and memories of his past.
He thought of the warehouse where he grew up, the days on Five Peaks Mountain (오봉산), and the countless encounters he had in the Murim world:
The Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain.
Shim Tong, the Old Dao of Nine Heavens
Namgung Yeon, the legendary Incomparable Among Ten.
Namgung Cheon, the Blue Cloud Swordsman
Seol Cha-su, Yu Geun-sik, Jin Seolha, his uncle’s family, The Three Heroes of Qingzhou (청주삼협), and the Taoist master Cheongbulno (청불노).
When he remembered Cheongbulno, who had entered final meditation, his melancholy turned into a strange calmness.
‘It must be because I wasn’t a filial son,’ he thought, realizing that he missed Cheongbulno more than his own parents.
In fact, he barely remembered his parents’ faces:
His mother passed away giving birth to him.
His father, although he lived in the same house, was almost impossible to find.
As these thoughts invaded him, the Nine Heavens Energy (구천기) flowed on its own through his channels, circulating through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
When he completed a cycle of Grand Circulation, he came back to himself, and only then did he hear the deafening roar of the water crashing against the rocks below him.
With the sounds of the river in the background, he returned to the Namyeon Inn in the darkness of the night.
—————
The next day
After breakfast, Yeon Jeokha returned to Hyojaam.
Nok Dam-pyeong, who was sitting in front of the hut, glanced at him, but quickly looked away.
He assumed it was some curious person who had passed by and seen the hut.
In summer, at least a dozen people approached every day, so it was nothing new to him.
Besides, he didn’t want to look too much at the stranger, especially since the face covered in sores was an unpleasant sight.
But that “stranger” spoke first.
“Sir, what are you doing here?”
“I’m mourning for three years. And I’m not your ‘sir’. If you have nothing to do, go on your way.”
Perhaps because his temper had softened over time, Nok Dam-pyeong avoided starting an argument.
“Did you bury the body? I don’t see any grave nearby.”
“You must be an outsider if you don’t know the story of this Nok Dam-pyeong, the mourning man of Hyojaam. I’ll explain it to you only once, so pay attention.
The Great Protector of Nokrim, Yeon Jeokha, told me:
‘Brother Nok, I don’t have time to mourn for three years for my deceased parents. Could you do it for me?’ So here I am. Now, go in peace.”
“Did I say that?”
“…? ”
Hearing those words, Nok Dam-pyeong was startled and turned his head.
‘What does that mean, “I”?’
‘Does this guy think he is Yeon Jeokha?’
When their eyes met, Yeon Jeokha spoke.
“Did I really say that? I think what I said was something more like:
‘I didn’t receive care from my parents, but I want to experience the three-year mourning period like others do. However, it would be hypocritical for me to do it myself, so you will do it for me.’ Something like that, right?”
“W-who are you?”
Nok Dam-pyeong, who had been relaxed until then, jumped to his feet.
“Don’t you recognize my voice? It’s me, the one who left your sect in peace because you agreed to do the mourning.”
Finally, Nok Dam-pyeong realized that the disfigured man in front of him was indeed Yeon Jeokha. He fell to the ground and prostrated himself immediately.
“P-pardon me, young master! I said nonsense.”
Yeon Jeokha, although he knew that Nok Dam-pyeong had exaggerated his story, was not upset. Instead, he felt compassion for the man, who had tried to put a more dignified spin on his situation.
“Are you doing alright?”
“Yes, yes!”
Fearful that the young master might punish him, Nok Dam-pyeong quickly nodded.
“Have you eaten anything?”
“Yes, Sangdo brings me food every day. Of course, I pay for it.”
“Aren’t you tired of this?”
“No, no! I’m fine.”
Yeon Jeokha’s kind attitude took him by surprise, leaving him nervous.
However, Yeon Jeokha, ignoring Nok Dam-pyeong’s unease, walked towards the edge of the rock and said:
“Stop being silly and go back to taking care of your living parents.”
“P-pardon?”
The unexpected words left him stunned.
Did the feared Yeon Jeokha, known as a demon in the Murim world, really say that?
“Clean up this hut and leave.”
“Can I really leave?”
“What? Do you want to stay the full three years?”
“N-no, I’ll leave if you order me to!”
Even after saying that, Nok Dam-pyeong remained motionless, assessing the situation.
“Brother Nok,” said Yeon Jeokha, his gaze fixed on the river.
“Yes.”
“Live a decent life.”
“Yes!”
Nok Dam-pyeong’s response echoed through the place.
After receiving definitive permission, Nok Dam-pyeong destroyed his hut and cleaned up the area where he had lived for over a year. Then, he escaped the place as if he had been given wings.
Yeon Jeokha, sitting on the rock, closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Infinite thoughts arose and disappeared from his mind as he remained calm.
Just when he managed to free himself from those thoughts, he felt a presence behind him.
At that moment, a deep disappointment appeared on Yeon Jeokha’s face.
It’s not easy to achieve the state of “empty mind”.
He had finally achieved it, but now he had to return to mundane life.
However, life in the secular world is like that, and he couldn’t blame anyone.
Yeon Jeokha savored the echo of the “empty mind” and waited for the other to speak first.
“Sir Yeon.”
By the voice, he recognized Wang Muyang, the White Tiger of the Golden Guard (Geumuiwi), whom he had met on Mount Wudang.
“Speak.”
“We will meet at Yuguksa Temple (佑國寺) in three days. You just need to arrive by then.”
“Yuguksa?”
“Yes, arrive at the front of the Iron Pagoda (Cheoltap) at noon. I will guide you.”
“Understood.”
When Yeon Jeokha replied, Wang Muyang bowed and disappeared silently.
‘Hmm, it finally begins.’
Suddenly, he felt curious.
Was killing the Monk Master of the Yoomyeong Cult (Yoomyeonggyo) an act of charity or not?
But there was no one who could answer him.
———–
That night.
Yeon Jeokha went to the Geumwol Tavern (Geumwoljuru), run by Shim Tong.
Although the village was small, the tavern was full of customers.
When Yeon Jeokha entered, Shim Tong, who was at the cash register, ran towards him.
“Oh, Young Master! Welcome. Why didn’t you come yesterday?”
Before Yeon Jeokha could answer, Wol-a and Geum-a, who were running errands, quickly approached and bowed to him.
“Young Master, welcome!”
Yeon Jeokha, who hated inconveniences, waved his hand and sat down in an empty seat.
Shim Tong sat opposite Yeon Jeokha and ordered:
“Our Young Master likes chicken dishes, so bring one of each type. And Xiangxue wine (香雪酒).”
“Yes.”
Wol-a and Geum-a quickly ran towards the kitchen.
Shim Tong, with a satisfied look, watched his disciples as Yeon Jeokha spoke.
“It seems business is going well.”
“Yes. The wine is good, the food is decent, and the boys are kind, so it’s popular.”
“Ah! So they make money here and cause trouble at the inn?”
“T-that was because that guy from the Tang Family hurt you, Young Master.”
“There is no grave without an excuse.”
“Ugh! I won’t fight with that guy from the Tang Family again.”
After hearing Shim Tong’s response, Yeon Jeokha changed the subject.
“I’m leaving in three days.”
“Where are you going?”
“Kaifeng.”
“Is it for charity practice?”
Shim Tong discreetly observed Yeon Jeokha’s expression.
Kaifeng was only half a shichen (one hour) away, practically a stone’s throw.
If it was for charity practice, a place with more people would be better than a small village.
“No, I’m going to help someone. Oh, does that count as charity practice?”
Yeon Jeokha put on an ambiguous expression even after saying it.
Although he said it lightly, Shim Tong didn’t take it lightly.
It was rare for someone of Yeon Jeokha’s level to need to help someone.
“You are going to help, Young Master?”
“Yes. There’s something I need to do.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“You’ll go with me?”
“Yes. Isn’t that alright?”
“What will happen to the tavern?”
“Wol-a and Geum-a are here. Besides, you said it’s Kaifeng, right? We’ll be back soon, what’s there to worry about?”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Shim Tong with a doubtful expression.
It was true that Shim Tong could be useful, but he wasn’t sure if he should take him.
“Didn’t you retire from the martial world?”
Yeon Jeokha blinked.
If he had left the Murim, he should be living peacefully, why did he want to follow him?
“Hehe, retire? Life is the martial world. Retiring is like saying I’m going to die.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Of course.”
Shim Tong smiled as Wol-a and Geum-a brought the chicken dishes and the Xiangxue wine.
Shim Tong shooed away Wol-a and Geum-a, who were trying to squeeze in between them.
Then, he poured wine into Yeon Jeokha’s cup and said:
“Take me with you, Young Master. Being at the cash register all day is boring.”
“I’m not going for a stroll.”
“I know. In the martial world, not only tigers are hunted, but also dogs and chickens. It doesn’t look good for someone like you, Young Master, to hunt dogs or chickens.”
Yeon Jeokha let out a laugh at his words.
It seemed that he really wanted to follow him.
“Alright. We’ll leave in three days in the morning, so come to the inn.”
“Hehe, like in the old days.”
Shim Tong didn’t ask what it was about.
His dream was to travel the martial world with Yeon Jeokha, so he didn’t need to ask.
“But, Young Master.”
“What?”
“Are you going to Kaifeng in Taoist clothes?”
“What’s wrong with Taoist clothes?”
“It doesn’t suit you, Sir. Aren’t you thinking of becoming a Taoist, really?”
“I’m not that good. I’ll change clothes when I go to Kaifeng. I don’t want to attract attention.”
“Hehe. That’s a relief.”
Shim Tong smiled with relief.
It seemed that he really didn’t like seeing Yeon Jeokha dressed as a Taoist.
————
Three days later.
Kaifeng.
Snake Hour (11 a.m.).
A young man with a bamboo backpack and an old man with a Yuyeopdo sword entered Kaifeng.
They were Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong.
Shim Tong, who had a better sense of direction than Yeon Jeokha, found the way to Yuguksa Temple.
The two arrived at the Iron Pagoda of Yuguksa Temple a little after noon.
Wang Muyang, the White Tiger of the Golden Guard, passed by Yeon Jeokha, who was in front of the pagoda, as if nothing had happened.
“Follow me.”
He whispered and continued walking without looking back.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong followed him, walking clumsily.