Chapter 385
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C385
The Justice Alliance warriors generally ignored magic/mystical techniques.
Were it not for the Yoomyung Cult, mystical techniques would still be ignored by the people.
However, with the Yoomyung Demonic Warriors and the Eight Trigrams of Fengzhi Mountain, mystical techniques and sorcerers/mystics/shamans became essential elements of martial sects.
In the Heaven and Earth Alliance, they began to actively recruit mystics, and this continued until the Infinite Heaven Alliance.
Yeon Mubaek and Yeon Seungbaek, who had served in the Justice Alliance and the Heaven and Earth Alliance, instantly recognized Namcheon’s identity.
If he was from the Five Dragons Palace, he was a mystic.
Yeon Mubaek and Yeon Seungbaek exchanged glances with ambiguous expressions.
Perhaps in the Infinite Heaven Alliance or large sects?
For a small rural military academy like the Yeon Academy, a mystic was like a bone in the throat.
He wasn’t someone useful in fighting the Iron Blood Sect.
Only Yeon Seolju, who had worked in the Chamber of Commerce and didn’t know that situation, was the only one tilting her head in confusion.
“The Five Dragons Palace? Is there a Five Dragons Palace in the Wudang Sect?”
Before Yeon Jeokha could answer, Yeon Mubaek spoke first.
“You may not know, but the mystics of the Five Dragons Palace are famous in the martial world. Mr. Nam, I hope you will help us in the future.”
Yeon Mubaek bowed respectfully.
Although it was a pity, the arrival of a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect as a guest was very welcome.
It would help pressure the Iron Blood Sect and recruit ronins/nangins.
“Ah, yes.”
Yeon Jeokha replied with an awkward bow.
From the expressions of Yeon Mubaek, Yeon Seungbaek, and Yeon Seolju, it seemed they didn’t know who he was.
After all, not even Shim Tong, who always followed him like a shadow, had recognized him, so it wasn’t surprising.
It felt strange to be treated with so much respect just for being a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect.
It was all thanks to the magic of the Wudang Sect’s name.
It was a warm but bittersweet feeling.
He hadn’t received this kind of treatment when he was in Nokrim, but he wasn’t entirely happy.
Then, Yang Yihwa explained:
“Ah, yes, Mr. Nam’s facial eruption is due to some medicine he took incorrectly. It’s not contagious like smallpox, so please treat him normally.”
“Oh, I see. It must be uncomfortable. Do you have any scars?”
Yeon Mubaek carefully examined Yeon Jeokha’s face.
He was already worried about the eruptions on his face, but he didn’t know about this situation.
“It’s improving. I’ll be completely healed by summer at the latest.”
“I’m glad. I look forward to seeing your true appearance. Please visit us again when you’re recovered.”
“…”
Yeon Jeokha didn’t respond to Yeon Mubaek’s comment.
After learning the Law of Words, he was avoiding making promises he couldn’t keep.
Yeon Seolju frowned at his silence.
It seemed the mystic, relying on the Wudang Sect, was despising Yeon Mubaek.
Yang Yihwa, knowing her sister-in-law’s fiery temperament, quickly intervened.
“Ah, yes, Mr. Nam. If you don’t have any plans, how about having dinner with us at Yeon Academy tonight? Since you’ve become our guest, we can get to know each other better.”
Yeon Jeokha tried to refuse the invitation because of Shim Tong, the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens.
But thinking of Yang Yihwa’s kindness towards him, despite his sorry appearance, he softened.
“Alright.”
Yeon Seolju looked at him disapprovingly. She was annoyed that he ignored his older brother’s questions and obediently answered Yang Yihwa.
Yeon Mubaek, with his experience, stepped forward to block Yeon Seolju’s view.
“Mr. Nam, I’ll show you to your room. You all, attend to the Jeong Family guests.”
Yeon Seungbaek and Yeon Seolju turned and left at Yeon Mubaek’s words.
“They are my siblings. They’re still immature, but they’re good at heart.”
Yeon Jeokha shook his head.
Even Sangdo, who was much younger (the owner of the Namyeon Inn), didn’t act like that. Maturity?
“It reminds me of the saying: ‘When one matures, they become an evil spirit.'”
“Ha, ha.”
Yang Yihwa laughed at Yeon Jeokha’s comment, which seemed like a joke but also seemed serious.
Yeon Jeokha felt happy that Yang Yihwa reacted to his lighthearted comment.
She resembled Nam Sugyeong. She communicated well with him and was kind despite his appearance.
He didn’t know about other things, but it seemed Yeon Mubaek had made a good choice of wife.
———
In the guest room:
When Yeon Seungbaek and Yeon Seolju returned after seeing off the guests, Jeong Gyeokcheon, the Swordmaster of the Sea and Mountains, Leader of the Jeong Family, asked:
“Did anyone stay to help?”
Yeon Seungbaek nodded with an uncomfortable expression.
“Yes, one person stayed.”
“Oh! Excellent. One can become ten, twenty. Who is it? A ronin?”
“He says he’s a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect. My older brother is taking him to his room.”
“Oh! Heaven has blessed us. Heaven has blessed us.”
Jeong Gyeokcheon fidgeted in his seat.
It was understandable that he was excited, as a secret disciple of the Wudang Sect could change the tide of the battle.
“But they say he’s a mystic/sorcerer.”
“…”
Jeong Gyeokcheon’s mouth snapped shut.
The Jeong Family warriors, who had been euphoric, quickly calmed down.
Jeong Gyeokcheon, his eyes blinking in a daze, asked:
“A mystic?”
“Yes, they say he’s a secret disciple of the Five Dragons Palace.”
“Oh dear! What a pity. But still, it’s good news. It will definitely help a lot in recruiting warriors. The Iron Blood Sect won’t move easily.”
“We believe so too.”
“Then why do you have that expression? Did something happen?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
When Yeon Seungbaek hesitated, Yeon Seolju spoke instead.
“That mystic acted like he was someone important. And he’s so lecherous. He didn’t answer my older brother’s questions, only talking to my sister-in-law. If he weren’t a disciple of the Wudang Sect, I would have given him a good… No, I can’t hit him. It would soil my hand.”
Jeong Gyeokcheon frowned at Yeon Seolju’s words.
It seems the mystic had personality problems.
“Even if you’re angry, you must control yourself. We need someone like that to face the Iron Blood Sect.”
“I know. So I endured.”
“Well done. We don’t avoid shit out of fear, but out of disgust.”
“Yes. They say personality is reflected in the face. That guy is really…”
Yeon Seolju continued describing how unpleasant Namcheon, the secret disciple of the Wudang Sect, was.
She felt relieved to vent like this.
She didn’t understand why she felt so uncomfortable with someone she had just met.
——-
Yeon Mubaek pointed to the building next to the training ground.
“That will be the guest accommodation. There are five rooms, so you can use one of them.”
“Yes.”
Just as Yeon Jeokha nodded absentmindedly, Yang Yi-hwa, who had been looking at the bamboo load, curiously asked:
“You said you were on a pious pilgrimage, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do secret disciples of the Wudang Sect also do that? I’ve heard that only Taoists do that.”
At that sharp observation, Yeon Jeokha hesitated.
‘Should I reveal that I’m a named disciple?’
It didn’t take long to decide.
“I am a named disciple of Master Cheongbulno. ‘Namcheon’ is my Taoist name.”
“Ah! I see. I’m sorry for calling you Mr. Nam all the time. I thought Nam was your surname and Cheon your given name. How should I call you?”
“Just call me ‘Namcheon’.”
“Okay, from now on I’ll call you ‘Mr. Namcheon’.”
Yang Yihwa didn’t ask about his surname and glossed over the topic.
Yeon Mubaek, who was listening, didn’t insist either.
In fact, Namcheon was just a symbol, so it didn’t matter how they called him.
But he had a question.
“Mr. Namcheon, will you become a Taoist?”
“No.”
Yeon Jeokha denied it outright.
He didn’t want a boring and monotonous life like that of a Taoist.
“Ha, ha, I see. So do you have any plans?”
“I want to save money and become the owner of an inn.”
“That’s good too. Please contact us when you open your inn.”
At that unexpected request, Yeon Jeokha quickly changed the subject.
“But why did you build a military academy, Master?”
“My original dream was to follow in my father’s footsteps and manage an estate. But it wasn’t easy. As you know, I ruined it twice.”
“You ruined it?”
“Yes, the estate my father built was taken by the Yoomyung Cult. The second estate I built was destroyed by conflict. I didn’t want to get involved in conflicts again, so I moved to the countryside. But it seems I’m unlucky, even living in peace isn’t easy. Haha.”
At Yeon Mubaek’s ironic laughter, Yeon Jeokha felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
It was he who destroyed Yeon Mubaek’s second manor, the Waryong Manor.
“I saw that your brother is missing an arm…”
“He lost it fighting the Yoomyung Cult in the Heaven and Earth Alliance. After ruining my second estate, we had nowhere to go, so my brother and I sought refuge in the Justice Alliance.”
“Ah…”
“That left a scar on my siblings’ hearts. Their personalities became rough.”
Yeon Jeokha felt heavy hearing Yeon Mubaek’s words.
Until now, he thought he had had the most unhappy childhood in the world.
He thought he was the victim, but the situation had changed.
Was it because of his pious pilgrimage?
His step-siblings, whom he had previously hated and resented, seemed a little miserable.
“Oh, I’ve said a lot of nonsense in our first meeting. I’m not usually like this. Please forgive me.”
Yang Yihwa smiled shyly at Yeon Mubaek’s words.
“Do you like Namcheon? You never talk about your family in front of others.”
“Did I?”
“You even forbade me from telling that.”
“It wasn’t something good to tell.”
Then, Yang Yihwa said to Yeon Jeokha:
“Mr. Namcheon, see? He’s like that. He told that bad news in our first meeting.”
“Ha, ha…”
Yeon Jeokha couldn’t help but laugh.
Thanks to Yang Yihwa’s intelligence and consideration, the atmosphere became warm and pleasant.
——-
Yeon Jeokha went to the largest tavern in Gosung village after leaving his luggage in his room.
It wasn’t difficult to find Shim Tong there.
He approached the window and sat opposite him.
Shim Tong poured alcohol into Yeon Jeokha’s cup with a red face.
“Young Master, why did you arrive so late? I thought I would die of boredom waiting.”
“If the tavern owner dies of boredom, what does it matter?”
Yeon Jeokha drank the alcohol.
As he enjoyed the sweet and bitter taste, a spicy sensation went up his throat.
“Cough, cough!”
Shim Tong smiled at that.
“It’s strong men’s alcohol, the Juyeopchung. Young Master, you should stop drinking Hyangsulju. What do you think?”
Yeon Jeokha put down the empty cup with an indifferent expression.
“It’s the same. All alcohols are the same.”
“The same? What nonsense! Although they all have the same intoxicating effect, each alcohol has its own history and tradition. Speaking of Hyangsulju, which you enjoy…”
Shim Tong, who was enthusiastically talking about alcohol, fell silent.
Yeon Jeokha’s expression had darkened.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did the Yeon siblings reject you?”
“I am a Yeon.”
“What? But you are different from those shameless Yeon siblings.”
“No. I’m the same as them. I only care about my own sufferings and don’t care about others. Damn it, Old Shim!”
“Yes?”
“Should we consider the enemy’s position when we take revenge? That’s not necessary, right?”
“What are you saying? Revenge is about mercilessly crushing the enemy. Considering their position? Not even Buddha does that.”