Chapter 48

Chapter 48
## Chapter 48: A First-Rate Warrior Peering into the Darkness

People often remark that a new moniker feels strange initially, but grows on you over time. However, I couldn’t bring myself to care much for the title forced upon me. If anything, it possessed an uncomfortable, jarring essence that sent a shudder through me whenever it was uttered. That very title made it impossible to concentrate on the ongoing dialogue, and then, completely out of the blue, Jegal Cheon-gi addressed me as “my liege…” The situation surpassed mere awkwardness.

“Young Master Cheon-gi, please stand up. Your father is observing us,” I urged, throwing a sideways glance toward Jegal Hyeon-un. It had taken an immense amount of effort just to obtain his consent. If he witnessed his own flesh and blood pleading to serve as a follower to someone from a third-rate sect, Jegal Hyeon-un might very well revoke his approval on the spot.

“I have reached fifteen years of age. I am an adult now, and my father will honor my choices.” Observing that Jegal Cheon-gi refused to budge, I turned to Jegal Hyeon-un for assistance. Strangely, instead of looking angered, Jegal Hyeon-un was observing the scene with genuine curiosity.

Right then, a dark silhouette materialized from above, mimicking Cheon-gi’s stance before offering a respectful hand gesture. “Ever since the Young Master learned of Great Hero Black Flame Dragon’s arrival, his mind has been set on this path. This is no impulsive choice, so I beg you not to reject him.” It was Yeong-yeong, her features partially hidden behind a mask.

Yeong-yeong’s sudden arrival made the entire situation even more complicated. Perhaps driven by my silence, an increasingly panicked Jegal Cheon-gi raised his voice further. “Should you refuse to take me in, I refuse to leave this Prison altogether!”

“I implore you to take him under your wing!”

“…”

When Jegal Cheon-gi dug his heels in like this, his resolve was entirely unyielding. He had stubbornly refused to renounce Mechanism Formations to the bitter end, choosing to remain in that Prison when a single sentence could have freed him. In my past life before my regression, he had remained confined there for eight whole years.

“Young Master Cheon-gi, I do not harbor ambitions to establish a clan, nor do I plan to manage a merchant group or an Escort Agency. While I might command followers upon arriving at the Murim Alliance, that status is confined solely to my time within their walls. Do you understand?”

“In that case… I shall accompany you to the Murim Alliance as well.”

“No, you misinterpret my words,” I replied, attempting to soothe Jegal Cheon-gi. If this display persisted, his father might call off everything entirely. “Hear me out. What if, instead, we pledge ourselves as sworn brothers?”

“What did you say?”

“!”

“!”

Both Jegal Cheon-gi and Yeong-yeong looked stunned, and even Jegal Hyeon-un’s eyes widened in surprise. At this point, surely the Clan Head of the Jegal Clan grasped the intent behind my offer. Within the Murim World, such brotherhood between individuals from a prominent lineage and a lesser sect was a well-established custom.

“You… you are willing to take me as a younger brother?”

“We shall be brothers in arms.”

Moisture gathered in Jegal Cheon-gi’s eyes.

“I vow to serve you with absolute devotion for the rest of my days, Elder Brother.”

Witnessing such intense determination, I found myself glancing back at Jegal Hyeon-un once more. Had this taken place in private, I would have been overjoyed to secure such an extraordinary prodigy. Concerned about his potential disapproval, I observed his reaction cautiously.

“Hahaha! Splendid! Truly marvelous! To think such a solution existed. Yes, a proper observer is required for a vow of brotherhood. Allow me to serve as your witness,” Jegal Hyeon-un boomed with laughter, summoning an attendant to fetch some liquor. We opted out of a grand, formal ritual akin to the Peach Garden Oath. Ultimately, true companionship was forged through one’s subsequent deeds. Provided there was mutual trust, a simple toast between brothers sufficed.

“I place myself in your hands from this moment on, Elder Brother.”

“Likewise, younger brother. I am relying on you.”

“Furthermore, if my destination is the Taeul Sect, may I make a single request?”

“Speak.”

“I want Yeong-yeong to accompany me as my personal protector.”

“Hmm, that seems acceptable. Given your departure, a cohort of martial artists from the Jegal Clan will accompany you regardless.”

“No, that is not my meaning. I desire for Yeong-yeong to be recognized as an authentic martial artist, rather than a Shadow Warrior.”

“Young Master! Please, there is no need!”

The visible skin around Yeong-yeong’s mask burned a deep crimson. This was likely the result of the countless hours they had spent in isolation together, sharing their deepest aspirations and consoling one another.

“Is that not a matter requiring the Clan Head’s authorization rather than my own?” I noted. The upbringing of Shadow Warriors mirrored that of covert killers. Within the ranks of the Five Great Clans, it was standard practice to mold these Shadow Warriors specifically for the protection of direct lineage heirs.

“Father, I beg you to release Yeong-yeong from her duties as a Shadow Warrior,” Jegal Cheon-gi pleaded.

“…”

“Her true aspiration is to become a renowned martial artist, just like Young Lady Murong Seol.”

Hearing the name Murong Seol caused a sharp pang in my chest. As a female martial artist, she had claimed the third rank during the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, possessing a radiant grin and a remarkably pure soul. Eventually, her mastery over the blade allowed her to forge a unique style, earning her the title of Sword Empress. In the midst of the Great Righteous-Demonic War, following the annihilation of the Murong Clan, she joined the Sojeong Squad, frequently preserving the lives of everyone in our Sojeong Squad.

‘I believed I had moved past this…’

It appeared that feelings remained timeless even when the events themselves were ancient. As I briefly lost myself in nostalgia, Jegal Cheon-gi pressed on.

“This is an issue I have pondered deeply for ages. I possess enough capability to guard myself, so please grant this request, Father.”

“Clan Head, please pay it no mind. Young Master, if you persist, you might find yourself locked in the Prison once more!”

Neither Yeong-yeong nor Jegal Cheon-gi was willing to yield, both driven by a desire to shield the other.

“…”

This placed Jegal Hyeon-un in a highly difficult spot. Ultimately, Jegal Cheon-gi belonged to the direct bloodline of the Jegal Clan. Furthermore, a Shadow Warrior had been allocated to him precisely due to his lack of martial training. If she transitioned into a standard martial artist, Jegal Cheon-gi would be left without a dedicated close-range protector.

“What if we compromise like this?” I suggested tentatively, drawing an expectant gaze from Jegal Hyeon-un. “Since her assignment as a Shadow Warrior stems from Cheon-gi’s lack of combative skills, let her continue her covert duties only until Cheon-gi gains the ability to defend himself. Once he achieves that, she shall be granted her freedom to live as a standard martial artist.”

“Hmm, that is a reasonable proposal. But is Cheon-gi capable of such a feat? He has shown an aversion to training in martial arts since his youth.”

Jegal Hyeon-un actually seemed quite receptive to the notion. Hearing this, Jegal Cheon-gi’s face lit up with hope.

“I will dedicate myself to it, Father. I swear I will master the martial arts and ensure my own safety.”

“…”

“So be it. Should Cheon-gi attain the rank of a first-rate warrior, I shall allow Yeong-yeong to take up independent missions in the outside world.”

While Jegal Hyeon-un likely believed he had established a near-impossible benchmark, Jegal Cheon-gi simply beamed at Yeong-yeong as though victory were already theirs. Reflecting on Jegal Cheon-gi’s future, where he would begin his martial path at the advanced age of twenty-two and still ascend to the Transcendent Peak realm, that milestone would undoubtedly arrive far quicker than his father anticipated.

“Young Master…”

“We shall reach our destination side by side, Yeong-yeong.”

“Understood.”

Though Jegal Cheon-gi was visibly younger and smaller in stature compared to Yeong-yeong, in this brief instant, their maturity levels seemed completely inverted.

—

The departure for the Traveling Party was put together without any grand display. Jegal Cheon-gi was the sole individual being sent out, and owing to his lack of significant private wealth, the entirety of the Traveling Party consisted merely of a lone supply cart and the personal carriage he would occupy.

“Elder Brother, will you not be journeying alongside me?”

“There are remaining matters requiring my attention before I can make my way back. Journey onward without me. Take this as well.”

I handed over a pouch filled with Promissory Notes that I had previously separated. Upon inspecting the figures inscribed on the Promissory Notes, his eyes widened with shock.

“Five thousand gold taels?”

“Constructing Mechanism Formations immediately will present challenges, so employ these resources to establish a foundation first. I shall provide further backing upon my return.”

For the immediate future, my expenses were stacking up like mountain ranges. This meant I needed to pillage a few additional hidden treasuries prior to the commencement of the Murim Academy Exam.

“I comprehend. I shall guard this wealth at the cost of my very breath,” Jegal Cheon-gi declared with utmost seriousness, slipping the Promissory Notes into the inner folds of his attire.

“Such extreme measures are unnecessary. Your safety is far more valuable to me than any coin.”

“…Elder Brother.”

Emotional tears threatened to spill from Jegal Cheon-gi’s eyes. Having seen Jegal Cheon-gi off on his journey, I turned to offer a respectful hand gesture toward Jegal Hyeon-un and Jegal Jeong, who had gathered to bid us farewell.

“I take my leave after benefiting immensely from your hospitality. If my actions caused any offense during my time here, I pray you look past it with your immense magnanimity.”

Jegal Jeong tugged irritably at his facial hair, looking somewhat disgruntled.

“When do you plan on returning?”

“Excuse me?”

“The Slash-and-Burn Farmer Village. Surely you intend to check on the welfare of the villagers there, do you not?”

I was aware that he had been frequently visiting the Slash-and-Burn Farmer Village recently, and it appeared he had developed a deep affection for the inhabitants. The better I understood his character, the more transparent his motives became.

“With the Grand Elder overseeing their well-being, my mind is entirely at ease.”

“Hmph! As if I harbor any genuine concern for those peasants! Should your path bring you across Mount Longzhong in the future, ensure you make an appearance before departing.”

Leaving those words behind, Jegal Jeong retreated indoors. Jegal Hyeon-un offered a soft laugh as he observed his relative’s exit.

“It appears you have managed to win over the Grand Elder.”

“Are you certain he doesn’t harbor an aversion to me?”

“When dealing with individuals he genuinely despises, the Grand Elder merely wishes them a prosperous life. He never requests their return under any circumstances.”

“He possesses an incredibly complex temperament.”

“My own sentiments mirror his, to be frank. Please visit occasionally to update me on my child’s progress.”

“I shall do so. Until we meet again.”

—

Situated within Dengfeng, Henan Province, lay a concealed estate belonging to White Horse Mountain Lord, a figure of mythic proportions among outlaws. White Horse Mountain Lord held the distinction of being the Bandit King who originally brought the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds together under the banner of the Green Forest Alliance, dominating every mountain pass across the land. The wealth funneled to him as tribute from those seventy-two strongholds across his lifespan was staggering, matched only by the unimaginable spoils he gained through personal raids. Following his demise, the public anticipated the unveiling of his vast inheritance. Curiously, his actual home yielded absolutely nothing of value. This led to a widespread conviction that the covetous White Horse Mountain Lord had cached his fortunes in a clandestine location, prompting searches across the entire realm. Yet, despite the collective efforts of every master thief in the Murim World combing through every corner, the hidden treasury of White Horse Mountain Lord remained entirely undiscovered.

The hidden vault was eventually brought to light only when the Shaolin Temple of Mount Song constructed an annex for guests within Dengfeng. No one had ever suspected that a mere brigand like White Horse Mountain Lord would dare to establish a hidden cache so close to Mount Song, the very domain of the Shaolin Temple.

‘It is quite fortunate for my purposes that White Horse Mountain Lord possessed such a fondness for precious metals.’

While the hidden cache fell short of the riches within Wolhyang’s tomb, it provided a substantial quantity of gold, sufficient to pack three large sacks. Without delay, I visited the Hao Gate Branch located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, converting the entirety of the gold into Promissory Notes. Intriguingly, they provided the exact current value without any deductions once more.

“An instruction exists for the special treatment of Jin So-un,” declared the Zhengzhou Branch Chief, an individual I was encountering for the very first time.

“Is that the case?”

“The Gate Master requests your patience for just a bit longer regarding the reply.”

Though he refrained from specifying the nature of the inquiry, his meaning was perfectly transparent to me.

“I understand.”

There was no great rush, provided the conclusion was reached prior to the start of the Murim Academy’s Regular Exam.

Leaving that location, my journey took me directly toward West Lake Peak in Mugang. Carved out by a river flowing down from Mount Pingding, West Lake Peak featured a profoundly steep gorge. Within that very abyss lay the spot where the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core was destined to be unearthed. This particular Spiritual Medicine was universally recognized as a supreme treasure among items infused with Yang Qi, making it exceptionally elusive. To secure it, one had to locate a Fire Monkey that had survived a full century while absorbing thermal energy. Capturing the creature was only half the battle; the Fire Monkey also had to retain its precious core rather than expelling it beforehand. Consequently, despite the existence of alternative herbs offering comparable benefits, the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core commanded a significantly superior reputation. According to history, within the depths of the West Lake Peak gorge, this specific Fire Monkey’s Inner Core would be found resting alongside an unrecognized set of remains.

‘Now that I recall, she mentioned that her sire ventured forth in pursuit of a Fire Monkey and vanished without a trace…’

The eventual downfall of the Murong Clan during the onset of the Great Righteous-Demonic War was partly due to their overextended efforts to defend territories abandoned by other factions. However, another critical factor was that the Young Clan Head destined to guide the Murong Clan had vanished prematurely. The formidable Young Lady Murong Seol, during her bleakest hours, would isolate herself with me to recount tales of her lost parent repeatedly. Given that my own achievements paled in comparison to her stature, I was limited to a single supportive gesture: offering a silent, enduring ear to her cyclical narratives.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I questioned her purpose. Since my mind retains everything flawlessly, what reason did she have for repeating the narrative? She responded, “It is my wish that you, Young Master, hold onto these clear recollections. Thus, should my own recollection ever begin to decay, you will be capable of painting the picture back to me with perfect clarity.” When the inevitable hour struck where I could no longer attend to her words or echo them back, a profound remorse washed over me. Why had I never taken the initiative to inquire? Why hadn’t I used the excuse of verifying my own recollection to draw closer to her?

“Cease these thoughts. There is no use dwelling on it. That timeline has been entirely averted.”

Feeling an unusual sensation tightening within my chest, I rapidly cleared my mind and reviewed the mental pages of the Murim Compendium of Spiritual Medicines stored within my memories. Once I determined the precise coordinates inside the West Lake Peak gorge, I plummeted off the edge.

ROOOAR.

A roaring sound echoed as I descended further, the unmistakable rumble of a torrential current rushing below. Reacting instantly, I deployed the Flying Dragon Claw.

WHIRRRRR.

With a sharp mechanical whine of the internal mechanism spinning rapidly, the Heavenly Silkworm Thread unspooled, gradually arresting the momentum of my descent.

As I neared the base of the gorge, a raging torrent slicing across the valley floor came into view.

‘One, two, three, four.’

Tracking the openings carved into the stone face, I targeted a specific crevice, detached the Flying Dragon Claw, and launched myself off the rocky surface in a single motion.

TAP.

Landing softly, I noted the impressive distance covered, yet my physical form executed the maneuver effortlessly. Ever since mastering the Taeul True Scripture alongside the Unrivaled under Heaven Movement Art, my physical capabilities had progressed at a rate that left even me astonished.

“Found it.”

A shallow cavern came into view, with a motionless form resting close to the mouth.

“Forgive me, but I shall ensure this resource is put to excellent use.”

Rolling the figure over to inspect the contents of his garments, an anomaly caught my attention.

“…”

“…he…lp me…”

“!”

Goosebumps broke out across my skin, causing the Black Dragon Sword to unsheathe via reflex.

‘He is still breathing?’

My expectations were limited to finding remains; the possibility of encountering a living soul had never crossed my mind, leaving me completely bewildered.

‘Should I end him to guarantee secrecy?’

The dark impulse was instantly discarded.

‘Unacceptable. Taking a life merely for a Spiritual Medicine is unjustifiable.’

While losing full ownership of the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core would be unfortunate, rescuing him would surely entitle me to a fair portion of it. Prompted by this reasoning, I dragged him toward the exterior of the cavern to assess his wounds. As the ambient illumination illuminated his features, I cocked my head in confusion.

‘He looks incredibly familiar.’

My recollection was far too precise to falter. Anything within my sight was retained permanently; an absence of memory simply meant an absence of exposure. Yet, gazing upon this individual triggered a persistent feeling of recognition that defied logic.

‘How can this be?’

Just then, a fragile whisper escaped his parched lips. I leaned in tightly to catch the sound.

“…Mu…rong… Clan…”

“Repeat that?”

“…Murong…”

The realization hit me with the force of a sudden thunderbolt. He had uttered the name ‘Murong’.

Re-examining his features, specific countenances flashed through my mind. To be precise, a perfect blend of Murong Seol’s appearance combined with that of her younger sibling, Murong Jae-hwa, would yield the exact visage of the man resting before me.

‘Could it be that the lost Young Clan Head of the Murong Clan, Murong Sang-won, was the one who sought out the Fire Monkey’s Inner Core?’

This was no time to ponder the circumstances that left him near death in an isolated ravine with such a treasure. I rapidly checked his vital signs.

“The life force is incredibly faint. Could this be the effect of a toxin?”

His pulse throbbed erratically, on the verge of fading permanently. Quickly unfastening his attire to inspect for signs of poisoning, I recoiled in utter astonishment.

“Demonic Qi?! How is this possible?!”