Episode 16: To the World Outside…(1)
Light Novel: Volume 1 Episode 16
Manhwa: Chapter 14-15
Chapter 6 Episode 16. To the World Outside…(1)
Dam-ho woke up early in the morning.
The sun had not yet risen. Dam-ho began moving diligently. The first thing he did was wash the rice and set it to cook
At that moment, Yeon Soha came to Dam-ho’s side.
“You’re up early. Is there anything I can help with?”
“No.”
Dam-ho answered firmly. His resolute response made Yeon Soha slightly awkward.
Without paying her any mind, Dam-ho took out the stored vegetables and began mixing them with his hands.
Yeon Soha watched him with a look of curiosity.
Since joining the Wudang sect, she had never once prepared food.
She was a first-generation disciple, neither an outer disciple nor a second-generation disciple.
Moreover, she was the disciple of Sage Cheon-heo. Instead of spending time cooking, it was better to hone her martial arts for the sake of the Wudang sect.
Dam-ho was also a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua sect. Seeing him personally prepare food naturally seemed unusual.
Meanwhile, Dam-ho’s thoughts while cooking were different.
Ever since he began training seriously in martial arts, cooking had been entirely entrusted to his master, Sage Hyun-so. It was Sage Hyun-so’s way of telling him to use the time he spent cooking to further cultivate his martial arts.
Now that he was about to resume his training, he would no longer have time to cook for his master. He wanted to cook and serve at least one meal for his master before heading back down the mountain.
Thus, Dam-ho prepared the food with great sincerity. His demeanor was so reverent that Yeon Soha could only watch in silence.
By the time the food was nearly done, Sage Cheon-heo returned. Having woken up earlier than Yeon Soha, he had gone for a walk to absorb Mount Hua’s energy.
“The food smells wonderful.”
Dam-ho bowed his head toward Sage Cheon-heo.
At that moment, Sage Hyun-so came out of his room.
“Ah! My head!”
“Master.”
“You’re already awake? Or am I the last one up?”
Sage Hyun-so pressed his temples with his hands as if he still had a headache. Seeing Sage Hyun-so like that, Sage Cheon-heo smiled.
“How’s your stomach?”
“I’m fine… No, actually, I don’t think I am.”
Sage Hyun-so shook his head and sat down heavily on the wooden platform. His candid admission made not only Sage Cheon-heo but also Yeon Soha smile.
Dam-ho carried the food tray over to the platform.
“You’ll feel better after eating.”
“Ugh, thank you, Ho. Let’s all eat.”
“A guest is only grateful.”
Sage Cheon-heo sat down first, and Yeon Soha took a seat beside him. The platform where the two usually dined now had two more people.
Though only two more had joined, the atmosphere was incomparably livelier than before.
Just as Dam-ho was about to pick up his chopsticks, he paused and stared blankly ahead. The others followed his gaze.
The wind carried fallen plum blossoms through the air. Some of them even landed on the table where Dam-ho sat.
“This is the most beautiful sight in the world. The best meal of my life.”
Sage Cheon-heo’s hearty laughter echoed through the air.
* * *
After the meal, Dam-ho took on the task of washing the dishes. Dam-ho did it without saying a word of protest.
Yeon Soha watched Dam-ho’s figure as he did so.
‘Ten thousand times? He trained ten thousand times?’
It was something her master, Sage Cheon-heo, had said. He had no reason to speak nonsense to his disciple.
Feeling Yeon Soha’s gaze, Dam-ho raised his head and looked at her.
“Is something on my face?”
“No.”
When Yeon Soha shook her head, Dam-ho returned to washing the dishes. The sight of him reminded her of someone.
‘In some ways, he resembles Senior Brother Jin…’
Yeon Soha shook her head again.
‘Nonsense. They don’t look alike, and their temperaments are completely different. It must be my imagination.’
She dismissed the thought.
Just as the Mount Hua sect had Myeong-gyeong, a prodigy who emerged to succeed Sage Hyun-geom, the Wudang sect also had a once-in-a-century genius.
His name was Jin Mu-young. He was regarded as the greatest prodigy of the Wudang sect in a hundred years, boasting exceptional skill, sense, and talent in all things.
So much so that all the elders of the Wudang Sect personally cling to him, willing to pass all their respective martial arts and techniques to him.
Not only Jin Mu-young have the uncanny ability to master everything that was taught to him, he even advanced it beyond its further form. His overwhelming talent sent shivers through the Wudang sect.
Because of Jin Mu-young’s appearance, the elders of the Wudang sect believed that the sect’s position in Jianghu would remain unshaken for the next hundred years or so.
Jin Mu-young was the complete opposite of Dam-ho.
Unlike Dam-ho, he wasn’t stoic. He always had a gentle smile on his face. He was polite to everyone and never overstepped boundaries.
Because of this, many people admired and followed him, Yeon Soha included. She prided herself on knowing Jin Mu-young better than anyone.
Clearly, Jin Mu-young had nothing in common with Dam-ho. Yet, for some reason, looking at Dam-ho made her think of him.
Suddenly, her eyes fell on Dam-ho’s hands which were busy washing the dishes.
His hands were rough and covered in calluses, with scars crisscrossing his fingers. His hands were much larger and more rugged than those of an average person.
‘Why didn’t I notice these obvious signs before?’
Normally, when a martial artist encounters another martial artist from another sect, they would scrutinize them closely, hoping to deduce their skill level and type of martial art they had mastered based on the shape of their bones and muscles, the form of their fists, and their physique.
Yeon Soha had grown to possess that habit as well. However, when she saw Dam-ho, she neglected to observe such things.
After thinking deeply, she finally realized why.
‘I only focused on his crippled leg, and because of that, I felt sorry for him, so I subconsciously disregarded the fact that he is a martial artist of the Mount Hua sect.’
She blamed herself for letting her guard down and allowing appearances to cloud her judgment. It was a mistake born from inexperience.
At last, she understood why her master had brought her here.
‘This is how Master wants to make up for my lack of experience.’
She suddenly felt immense gratitude toward Sage Cheon-heo and realized how fortunate she was to have him as her master.
This unexpected journey to Mount Hua had already taught her so much.
“Master Cheon-gyeong.”
“……”
Dam-ho looked up at the voice calling out to him. His indifferent gaze met her warm smile.
“Beautiful… Mount Hua is truly beautiful.”
Dam-ho silently nodded.
* * *
When Dam-ho and the others arrived at the Jade Cloud Palace, the sun had already risen high in the sky. In the vacant lot in front of the Jade Cloud Palace, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were already lined up.
“Junior Uncle, we are here to escort you.”
Moo-gyeong approached Sage Hyun-so, followed by Un-gyeong and thirty disciples standing in thirty disciples standing in orderly rows.
“Are they coming with us as well?”
“Yes.”
“Is this also the sect leader’s decision?”
“That’s right.”
Sage Hyun-so smiled bitterly.
The disciples standing with Un-gyeong were some of the most promising talents of the Mount Hua sect.
‘Our sect leader has truly made up his mind, sending such promising disciples of the sect on a journey that could be fraught with unknown dangers…’
They were the very future of Mount Hua. The fact that they were included in this journey spoke volumes about the way Sect Leader Hyun-cheon viewed this situation.
‘He intends to turn this crisis into an opportunity. And under the guidance of the Wudang sect, he wants our disciples to gain as much experience as possible.’
Sage Hyun-so shook his head, brushing aside any unnecessary thoughts. No matter what the true reason was, it was a procession that included him.
He, too, bore the responsibility of protecting the Mount Hua disciples.
Sage Hyun-so motioned with his hand.
“Come here, Ho.”
Dam-ho, who had been standing in the distance, stepped forward. Just then, Un-gyeong spoke up.
“Is Cheon-gyeong coming along as well?”
“Yes.”
“This is too dangerous, Junior Uncle. For Cheon-gyeong’s sake, it would be better to leave him at Mount Hua.”
Un-gyeong’s direct and blunt words made Sage Hyun-so furrow his brows momentarily.
“It will be fine.”
“It’s hard enough for us to protect you alone, Junior Uncle. If something were to happen, we may not be able to ensure Cheon-gyeong’s safety.”
Un-gyeong’s tone was extremely cold and tasteless, so much so that Moo-gyeong was sweating nervously beside him.
“You–! Mind your words in front of Junior Uncle!”
“I’m merely stating the reality, Senior Brother.”
“Junior Uncle has already decided. That should be enough. Let’s not argue further.”
“Understood.”
The authoritative tone in Moo-gyeong’s voice caused Un-gyeong to retreat back quietly. But the look in his eyes was not one of acceptance.
Moo-gyeong turned to Dam-ho.
“He’s only saying such things out of concern for you, so don’t take it to heart.”
“I don’t mind.”
Dam-ho’s words were sincere. But Moo-gyeong still couldn’t hide his apologetic expression.
He bowed slightly toward Sage Hyun-so.
“I apologize, Junior Uncle.”
“Hoo!”
Sage Hyun-so let out a deep sigh instead of responding, making Moo-gyeong even more uncomfortable.
Turning toward the gathered disciples, Moo-gyeong raised his voice.
“Is everyone ready to go?”
“Yes!”
The voices of the disciples resounded across Mount Hua.
Their determination and momentum piercing the sky.
“Looks like everyone is ready. Let’s depart!”
Sage Cheon-heo stepped forward, and Moo-gyeong nodded to him.
“Everyone, move out!”
“Yes!”
With Moo-gyeong leading the way, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect began to descend the mountain.
Just as Sage Hyun-so was about to follow them, he suddenly turned his head back to glance at the Jade Cloud Palace. There, at the second-floor window, a familiar figure stood.
‘Sect Leader.’
Sect Leader Hyun-cheon’s gaze was deep and unreadable as he looked down at them.
Sage Hyun-so offered a respectful bow before continuing to walk down the mountain.
Sect Leader Hyun-cheon remained standing still at the window, watching until his disciples disappeared from view.
* * *
Mount Hua was a place he had traversed countless times before. There should have been nothing sentimental or particularly exciting about descending it.
But today felt different.
Dam-ho turned back, gazing at the path he had just taken.
He could see Baichi Gorge and Thousand Feet Zhuang Path, the treacherous roads that defined the mountain. The countless stone steps that were nearly vertical bore the weight of his blood and sweat.
He took in the scene before him, committing everything to memory.
Just then, Moo-gyeong approached him with a smile.
“Why are you looking back like that? You look as if you’ll never return.”
“……”
“I’m just joking. You always take things too seriously.”
Moo-gyeong slung an arm around Dam-ho’s shoulder, his gaze shifting toward Mount Hua.
“Isn’t it breathtaking? Plum blossoms blooming all across Mount Hua… How could anyone not love this place? So don’t worry. We’ll definitely return to Mount Hua safely, and when we do, Mount Hua’s plum blossoms will welcome us back once more.”
Dam-ho remained silent. Moo-gyeong assumed he felt the same way he did, so he failed to notice the subtle shift in Dam-ho’s gaze, which had turned cold.
‘I do not love Mount Hua because of its plum blossoms. No matter how beautifully they bloom, a Mount Hua without my master holds no meaning for me.’
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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