Chapter 78
Chapter 78: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
The conversation had taken place several years prior.
“Young Hero, I have discovered traces concerning the Sword Immortal, Lü Dongbin.”
“Can that really be true?!”
Some time ago, Yanghwi had confided in the Sound Empress regarding the sacred medicine and immortal qi left behind by Lü Dongbin. She had given her word to investigate back then, and true to her promise, she had returned with tangible news.
“To be exact, what I found does not point directly to Lü Dongbin himself, but rather to his personal disciple.”
“The Sword Immortal took a disciple?!”
The heritage of the Sword Immortal had actually survived?
The blade arts mastered by none other than Lü Dongbin held every right to be lauded as unparalleled across the lands. Had his succession truly endured, whispers would have swept throughout the pugilistic world long before now. Yet, the Sound Empress’s following remark caused Yanghwi to freeze where he stood.
“Young Hero, are you familiar with the Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath?”
The Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath. Forgetting it was utterly impossible. Yeo Unjuk, having assumed the identity of Yeo Hyeok before entering the Baek family, stood as one of the chief instigators of that catastrophic slaughter. Tensing involuntarily, Yanghwi answered.
“…I know of it. Was that not the massacre provoked by the fraudulent treasure map distributed by the Blood Serpent Sect?”
“Correct.”
“What leads you to mention the Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath out of nowhere… Ah. Could it be?”
“What you suspect is almost certainly right. The Sword King. That very man was the disciple of the Sword Immortal.”
The Sword King. Over the vast annals of the martial sphere, various figures had claimed that regal moniker. Even so, throughout every era, merely a single warrior had ever been addressed simply as the Sword King, devoid of additional descriptors.
“Sword King Jin Cheonhwi… Are you claiming he was the student of the Sword Immortal?”
“That is what I am telling you.”
“Yet how could such a thing be possible? Considering the respective ages in which they lived, they should be separated by many centuries.“
The Sound Empress offered an affirming nod.
“Your reasoning is sound, Young Hero. Even so, ancient records establish that the Sword King indeed served as the Sword Immortal’s successor, traversing time and space to manifest in the mortal realm.”
“Could you share further details on the matter?”
“Young Hero, do you understand why he came to be revered as the Sword King?”
“Naturally. Did he not rescue the land from the wicked forces assembled beneath the banner of the Myriad Demon Castle?”
“Because you grasp that much already, understanding the remainder will prove straightforward.”
The Sound Empress then elaborated upon the hidden history.
Sword King Jin Cheonhwi had taken up the noble purpose of the Sword Immortal, striving to rescue civilization from ruin. Through that conviction, he pushed back the demonic tide. In the twilight of his life, he desired an apprentice to inherit the Sword Immortal’s aspirations and martial arts. Yet an adequate heir never appeared before him. Thus, to nurture a worthy successor in the distant future, the Sword King pooled all of his worldly possessions and constructed a final resting place.
“The Sword King’s Tomb. Remnants of the Sword Immortal will inevitably be preserved there.”
“This student concurs with your assessment.”
A momentary shadow of regret brushed across the Sound Empress’s features.
“Contrary to my initial assurances, I was unable to unearth more precise specifics. I feel deeply contrite.”
“Please do not say that, Honored Teacher. What you have provided is already invaluable.”
“Truly? Even though I uncovered merely that the Sword King’s Tomb, an edifice whose whereabouts remain entirely lost, shares ties with the Sword Immortal?”
That singular revelation made her intelligence beyond priceless. Of all conceivable places, for the traces of the Sword Immortal to lie concealed within the Sword King’s Tomb.
If I maneuver correctly, I can take out two—nay, three birds with a single stone.
Presently, the martial world treated the Sword King’s Tomb as nothing more than a fable. Given the carnage stirred up by the Blood Serpent Sect, the entire affair had been written off as a fabricated delusion. Yet the days to come would sing a vastly different song.
What lies ahead will overturn everything.
Decades following that historic Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath, the prestige of the Sword King would sweep across the jianghu like wildfire once more. The cause was evident. The Namgung clan would brazenly announce to the world that they had laid hands upon the legacy housed inside the Sword King’s Tomb.
Despicable scoundrels. Proclaiming to the realm that grave-robbing another’s ancestral tomb was some grand, virtuous triumph.
He naturally recognized their underlying motives. They craved an ostentatious display of power by parading the spoils excavated from the Sword King’s Tomb. Indeed, relying on the immense bounties salvaged from within, the Namgung noble house went on to swell their territory and influence far and wide.
My sincere thanks, you shameless dogs. In this lifetime, I will swallow every single crumb before you ever touch it.
A trail toward the lingering immortal qi had finally revealed itself. Moreover, he stood to plunder the very fortunes destined to enrich the Namgung scoundrels. Missing such a glorious chance was out of the question.
If memory serves, they originally stumbled upon the path to the Sword King’s Tomb by coming to the aid of a traveling merchant facing disaster.
That memory alone had driven Yanghwi to seek out a merchant journeying across Anhui headed for the Gyesu region.
“Tell me something, Brother Hwi. Why must Yeon and I accompany you on this merchant escort?”
Breaking away from his contemplation, Yanghwi replied without missing a beat.
“It is a direct directive from the Sound Empress.”
“Oh!”
Both Tang Gun and Tang Yeon looked on, wide-eyed. Having spent years forging unshakable camaraderie, the Baek house and the Tang Clan shared an intimacy that eclipsed ordinary fellowship. The Tang siblings were fully conscious of Yanghwi’s position as the apprentice of the Wave-Piercing Sound Empress, a luminary counted among the Ten Paragons Under Heaven.
“A mandate issued by the Sound Empress!”
“Whatever has the Empress instructed?”
Revealing the Sword Immortal, the Sword King’s Tomb, or the memories belonging to his former life was impossible. Invoking the Sound Empress presented an impenetrable shield, sweeping away all inquiries with absolute authority.
“Being an explicit mandate from the Sound Empress, I am forbidden from disclosing particulars.”
“Mmm. That makes sense.”
“If the Sound Empress commanded it, it cannot possibly involve any underhanded dealings.”
What did it matter if this was a fabrication? Provided events unfolded according to design, it would ultimately transform into the absolute truth anyway.
“Then you require our swords to carry out the Sound Empress’s behest.”
“In that case, we are duty-bound to stand by you!”
With that settled, the Tang siblings were fully persuaded. Next came the remaining candidate.
“Brother Gu. You are accompanying us as well.”
“Hmm? What is the expected duration of this venture?”
An unhurried journey toward Gyesu ought to demand roughly a month, yet taking unforeseen complications into account, around three months seemed far more realistic.
“Three months.”
“I decline.”
“Excuse me? What for?”
“Abandoning Rangnang and Huahua for three entire months? Allow me to reverse the inquiry. For what possible reason should I go?”
“Because it comes as an order from the eldest young master of the Baek household?”
“I hold no obligation to obey first-rate underlings.”
“…?”
Is this bastard out of his mind? Is he begging for a thrashing?
Just as Yanghwi’s features began to contort in irritation, Gu Ak smoothly raised an impenetrable barrier. That barrier came in the form of Gu Huahua, who was suddenly clinging affectionately within Gu Ak’s embrace.
“Unccle! Does Daddy really have to travel somewhere far?”
“…That is completely foul play, Brother Gu.”
“Hah! If that displeases you, Little Brother, hurry up and sire a child of your own!”
Matters were growing rather irritating.
Hmm. Evaluating the hidden perils ahead, securing at least one apex realm cultivator is indispensable.
Commanding his father, the Lord of the House, to play the part of a mere caravan guard was an absurdity. That left only one viable solution: bring forth his ultimate, lethal gambit.
“Huahua.”
“Yes! Unccle!”
“Wouldn’t you love to have a younger brother or sister to play with?”
“A baby sibling…?”
Just as Gu Huahua’s tiny face brightened with pure wonder, Gu Ak’s complexion plummeted into dread.
“A baby! Huahua truly wants a little baby brother or sister!”
“You see that, don’t you?”
Curling his lips into a sharp grin, Yanghwi fixed his eyes on Gu Ak, who had already begun perspiring under his collar.
“You heard the young lady clearly, didn’t you, Brother Gu?”
“Ahem. Considering that our precious Huahua desires a sibling, that only gives me greater justification to stay put.”
“Let us be frank. Do you honestly believe that lingering at home and exerting fruitless effort will alter the silence of these past few years?”
“…”
“Judging from what Sister Rang confided in me… the performance has appeared somewhat… underwhelming—”
“Quiet your mouth! Cease this at once!”
— Did Rangnang truly disclose such matters to you? Are you serious?!
Suppressing a smirk, Yanghwi projected his voice silently through internal qi.
“Sister Rang keeps nothing concealed from me. Hehehe.”
— Rely solely on qi transmission! Keep it to qi transmission! Not another spoken word! — Gu Ak pleaded desperately, hanging his head low like a thoroughly humiliated man.
Yanghwi contemplated tormenting him further, but ultimately chose mercy out of basic masculine sympathy.
— A confidential Daoist chamber art. Would that happen to interest you?
Gu Ak’s ears perked up instantly.
— A confidential Daoist chamber art? Wherever did you come across such a treasure, Little Brother?
— Hehehe. There is nothing beneath heaven that escapes my awareness. Agree to watch our backs on this escort trek, and I shall impart it to you without reservation.
Throughout his prior existence, Yanghwi had pushed himself through every imaginable extreme to elevate his bloodline into the ranks of noble houses. Devising cultivation manuals to trade for liquid funds had been one of those enterprises, and among his works were specialized chamber arts.
Dignifying it as an esoteric art might be generous considering it was merely an upgraded variant of a third-rate market manual, yet its practical potency had been undeniable.
In truth, the very manual that had generated his greatest fortune in his past life was that exact chamber technique. During the early days of his rebirth, introducing it had been difficult given the trouble of explaining its origins. Now, however, the tides had shifted. His standing was solid and ample years had passed, granting him the freedom to gradually deploy the expertise amassed from his past.
— Stand proud, Gu Ak, you defeated man! Hold your head high once more!
— …Swear by your life that you speak unvarnished truth, Little Brother.
— Naturally. Have I ever fed you a false word, Brother Gu?
He had never uttered a technical falsehood. The real dilemma was that he had led countless people into traps without telling a single outright lie. Even now, enlisting him under the guise of an ordinary escort journey reeked of suspicion. Calling it simple escort duty meant an exhausting ordeal surely awaited them. Even so… an esoteric Daoist bedroom art.
With that mastery… I can stand unyielding and proud before Rangnang throughout the whole night…!
“Ahem. Very well. My days are packed with urgent affairs, but I can certainly carve out time for Little Brother.”
“Daddy! Are you leaving on a long trip?”
“Huahua, your father shall return bearing a lovely little sibling for you.”
“A babyy!”
Thus, Gu Ak had taken the bait hook, line, and sinker.
“Brother Tang, Sister Tang. You remain committed to coming along, correct?”
“Whenever my little brother requires this elder brother’s blade, I will gladly step forward.”
“It promises to be entertaining, so you have my sword as well.”
With that, the five-member escort crew was formally established.
“We set out at dawn tomorrow. See to it that all preparations are completed before nightfall.”
The Tang siblings excused themselves, while Gu Ak ambled away carrying Gu Huahua upon his shoulders. As Chudal attempted to trail after them, Yanghwi snatched him firmly by the collar.
“Chudal, hold on a moment.”
Looking utterly bewildered, Chudal blurted out.
“What is it, Boss?”
“I have an errand for you to run privately.”
“Is it going to be a headache?”
“Stop whining and listen, you rascal.”
Directing Chudal to take a seat, Yanghwi paused to gather his thoughts.
Should I seek the elder’s counsel or let it rest?
Chudal’s martial mentor, Yeo Hyeok, was the very architect who had drafted the counterfeit map during the Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath years ago. Though it had ultimately been a forgery, it possessed enough verisimilitude to beguile the sharpest experts across the lands, meaning it inherently touched upon authentic secrets.
It might poke at lingering regrets, yet the safety of everyone on this trek takes precedence.
“Chudal. Take this confidential message to Elder Yeo.”
At daybreak the following morning, Yanghwi stood positioned at the estate’s grand gateway alongside the Tang siblings, Gu Ak, and Chudal.
“Is everyone fully equipped?”
“Ready to move.”
“Every necessity is secured.”
“All packed up on my end, Boss.”
Observing the substantial bundles and travel bags resting against their shoulders, their preparedness was evident.
This will suffice.
Shifting his focus, Yanghwi noticed Jin Geumbo seated upon the coach arranged by the Gaecheon Escort Service, staring back with an utterly slack jaw.
“Young Lord Baek. A-Are you saying all these figures—nay, these renowned masters—are riding along as our personal guards?”
The sole prerequisite he had put forward had been the participation of the Baek household’s eldest scion, Yanghwi. Instead, the entourage standing before him was shockingly distinguished.
“Young Hero Tang Gun, Heroine Tang Yeon, and the Great Hero Gu Ak himself…!”
Through their notable exploits across the martial world over recent years, Tang Gun and Tang Yeon had garnered the lofty titles of the Hidden Dragon and the Poison Flower. Though their prestige was mostly concentrated within Sichuan and Jiangxi, that simply denoted they were the peerless prodigies of their respective lands. On top of their presence, Gu Ak, the celebrated warrior of One Chivalrous Deed a Day, was personally present.
“I can understand the young talents of the Tang Clan joining to broaden their horizons, but why would Great Hero Gu walk this road…?”
Hearing that, Gu Ak pushed his chest forward with immense pride.
“Ahem. Merchant Jin holds this Gu in remarkably high regard.”
“How could I not? You are one of the two apex realm masters safeguarding the Baek Estate, and the martial hero commanding the highest moral esteem throughout this domain!”
“Ahem. Hrmph!”
“Even though I supplied tenfold the ordinary compensation, to think Great Hero Gu would attend to us with his own blade! This Jin is utterly overwhelmed with honor!”
Thrusting his chest outward and elevating his chin, Gu Ak coughed arrogantly and glanced sideways toward Yanghwi, his gaze fairly oozing with self-satisfaction as if announcing, Witness the profound reverence I command.
Ugh. Merely laying eyes on him turns my stomach.
“Even with all that grandeur, when midnight comes you hang your head in—mph! Mmph-mmph!”
Darting with blinding speed, Gu Ak clamped his palm across Yanghwi’s lips and shouted, “Indeed! Everyone take your places! Daylight burns, so let us set off immediately!”
Flying the colors of the Gaecheon Escort Service, the carriage dashed beyond the estate boundaries and charged along the thoroughfare.
“Following our earlier arrangement, we will navigate the river route from northern Jiangxi to cross into Anhui.”
“Understood, Young Lord Baek.”
To make that feasible, their first leg demanded traveling overland toward Jiujiang situated at the northern limit of Jiangxi, as boarding a vessel near Jiujiang presented the most rapid passage.
Even choosing the most direct passage, merely clearing the boundaries of Muju will require seven days and nights.
Remaining trapped inside a cramped enclosure for seven consecutive days, rather than an afternoon or two, would wear down anyone’s patience, regardless of their fondness for tranquility. Predictably, Chudal grew agitated first.
“Boss, are escort travels perpetually this monotonous?”
“What kind of foolish question is that?”
“Sitting cooped up in a wagon all day leaves nothing to do besides flap our gums. The stories around the markets always said escort runs were brimming with thrills, ambushing bandits, and pulling off righteous heroics.”
Hear this fool prattle on with drivel that would make any battle-hardened rover or seasoned escort spit blood. Rather than offering prayers for uneventful safety, the brat was actively wishing for highwaymen to leap out purely to cure his boredom. Yanghwi frequently forgot due to the weight of his previous life’s memories, but Chudal remained fundamentally a youth.
“Real journeys are typically tedious and quiet. If boredom plagues you, focus on circulating your qi.”
“And should the carriage hit a rock and throw me into qi deviation while meditating, will you accept the blame?”
“Provided your allotted days on earth remain, you won’t drop dead so easily.”
“…”
Following a brief lull, Chudal grumbled once more.
“Had I known it would drag like this, I would have packed a chronicle to read.”
That very sentiment had driven Yanghwi to maintain a constant supply of books during his drifting days in his past life. It was likewise the foundation that had permitted him to earn bread as an author under the brush name Ilpilhwiseo.
“Would you like me to pen one for you?”
The instant those words left his mouth, Tang Gun’s eyes flashed with excitement as he leaned in.
“Oh, Brother Hwi! If a fresh chronicle is on the table, I am tremendously eager to hear it.”
Ever since The Tang Sect Chronicle took the realm by storm years back, Tang Gun had maintained an obsession with the creations of Ilpilhwiseo. Scratching his temple, Yanghwi offered a nonchalant shrug.
“It seems Brother Tang suffers from boredom as well. Shall I share a few chronicles along our path, then?”
He possessed an inexhaustible storehouse of anecdotes and legends gathered throughout his prior existence. Were he inclined to spin tales, seven days and nights would scarcely scrape the surface.
“During the years when I lived among the beggars, I caught wind of this tale…”
Not only his companions, but even Jin Geumbo and the coachman holding the reins leaned forward, hanging on every word. The narrative was simply that captivating.
“…And that was how the matter concluded.”
“What a truly remarkable chronicle!”
“Haha, the jianghu is remarkably vast indeed.”
“Little Brother, is there no further development following that?”
“I wish to listen to more as well, Hwi.”
Offering another shrug, Yanghwi shifted his eyes toward the road ahead. Through the distance, a lively settlement emerged before them. It was Gyeongyang County, situated at the boundary of Muju.
“As captivating as stories may be, why not carry on over a table at a tavern instead of inside this cabin? Taking shelter here for the night strikes me as the wisest course.”
Finding unanimous approval, the driver guided the wagon straight toward a hostel.
“Attendant! Patrons arriving!”
“Welcome, welcome, honored travelers!”
Directed by the attendant, the group unloaded their travel packs and claimed seats on the ground floor.
“Serve a portion of plain noodles and dumplings for each seat, accompanied by three of your finest culinary specialties.”
“Immediately, masters! What kind of spirits would you prefer to wet your whistles?”
Just as Yanghwi swept his eyes across his companions to conclude the tavern order, an uproar flared near the threshold.
“Hmm?”
A pair of youths garbed in silken attire that practically shouted wealth strolled through the entryway. Yanghwi caught the unmistakable glint of anticipation lighting up Chudal’s face.
What sort of trouble is this rascal dreaming up now?
A breath later, Chudal conveyed his voice through internal qi.
— Boss, this setting feels extraordinarily familiar.
— Hmm. It matches the usual tropes of wandering storybooks and marketplace gossip, admittedly.
— If those fellows walk over and challenge us right here, wouldn’t this serve as an entire chapter of a novel on the spot?
— You hopeless fool, actual reality does not mimic pulp novels. Why would random strangers march up and pick a fight for no reas—
“Well, look who decided to show up. If it isn’t Young Hero Sword Dwarf himself?”
Unbelievable. Someone had truly swaggered over to pick a quarrel. Hearing the young man’s taunting drawl, a thick blue vein pulsed visibly across Yanghwi’s forehead.
“Sword Dwarf? Sword Dwaaarft?”
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