Episode 18: To the World Outside…(3)
Light Novel: Volume 1 Episode 18
Manhwa: Chapter 16
Chapter 6 Episode 18. To the World Outside…(3)
From the early morning, the Yun Family Manor was bustling with activity. This was because the elite warriors of the Wudang Sect, Mount Hua Sect, and Southern Edge Sect were preparing to depart.
There were well over a hundred people traveling. There were many things to prepare. Fortunately, the head of the Yun Family Manor had made meticulous preparations for the journey, ensuring that the three sects’ disciples could depart without issue.
Perhaps due to the drinking gathering the night before, Moo-gyeong and Geum Han-su’s relationship did not seem as strained. However, that was only how it appeared on the surface. In truth, they were still secretly keeping each other in check.
The same could be said for the Wudang Sect. They too maintained a subtle distance from the martial artists of Mount Hua and the Southern Edge Sect, still somewhat unfamiliar with one another.
Sage Cheon-heo and Sage Hyun-so believed that time would resolve and sort these kinds of things out. Although the disciples might feel awkward among each other at first due to the differences in their sect affiliations, as time passed, they would gradually grow closer.
Indeed, after some time on the road, laughter began to flow among them.
After all, they were all martial artists living in the same era of Jianghu. This meant that as long as they were active in Jianghu, they were bound to cross paths at some point in their lives, whether as allies or rivals.
Regardless of the relationships between their sects, there was no harm in forming personal connections and friendships.
Once Moo-gyeong, Geum Han-su, and Yeon Soha began interacting more freely, others followed suit, exchanging names and gradually getting to know one another.
Watching the scene from a distance, Dam-ho stood silently until Sage Hyun-so approached him.
“What are you doing just standing here?”
“Master.”
“Why are you not mingling with the others…”
Sage Hyun-so trailed off mid-sentence.
He realized that it was not that Dam-ho was avoiding the others, refusing to hang out with them but rather that they were excluding him.
“Hah…”
Sage Hyun-so let out a quiet sigh.
Even within the Mount Hua Sect, Dam-ho was not treated with much regard. If even within his own sect he was not valued, there was no reason for outsiders to treat him any differently.
Those people had eyes and ears, too. It wouldn’t be difficult for them to read the atmosphere and understand the social dynamics currently at play.
To them, Dam-ho was a useless presence. If not for his role in assisting Sage Hyun-so, he would not have been allowed to be here at all.
“Perhaps I had been too greedy. Dragging you here and subjecting you through all this trouble and humiliation.”
“That is not true.”
“In any case… Did you visit that place?”
“Yes.”
Sage Hyun-so’s expression darkened. He hesitated before asking cautiously.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Dam-ho…”
“Really, Master. Thanks to you, my heart feels much lighter. So, I’m really grateful.”
“Hoo…”
Sage Hyun-so let out another heavy sigh.
His disciple was truly strong. Had he experienced the same tragedy as Dam-ho, he doubted he would have remained sane.
Even after losing his parents, sibling, and everything else, his disciple remained steadfast. His sheer determination and unwavering resolve were, at times, frightening. But no matter the circumstances, Dam-ho was his student.
Sage Hyun-so gently patted Dam-ho on the shoulder.
“As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters. Anyway, it’s time to depart, let’s get on our horses.”
“Yes, master!”
As soon as the two finished their conversation, horses were brought out from the Yun Family Manor, carefully prepared to match the number of people departing.
Sage Cheon-heo mounted his horse and called out,
“Then let’s set off. From here on, we will ride with all our strength until we reach Yumen Pass.”
The martial artists promptly climbed onto their horses.
Some of them had never ridden a horse before, but as individuals who trained in martial arts, they quickly adapted.
Dam-ho and Sage Hyun-so also mounted their horses.
Led by Sage Cheon-heo, the group left the Yun Family Manor. Kicking up clouds of dust, they galloped away.
Thud, thud, thud!
The sight of over a hundred horses galloping across the land was truly a spectacular view.
The Wudang Sect’s arrangements were very meticulous.
Whenever they encountered a river, there were already boats prepared to aid them in their crossing. Then, when their horses grew weary, fresh mounts were waiting to replace the tired ones. There seeemed to be no place in the world that was beyond their influence.
Entering Gansu Province was no different.
Gansu Province was the territory of the Kongtong Sect. Yet, the Wudang Sect somehow managed to secure the cooperation of the Kongtong Sect and made the necessary arrangements for their smooth passage through Gansu Province.
Thanks to this, all they had to do was continue riding their horses.
They passed through Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, in the blink of an eye and continued heading north.
As they neared their first destination, Yumen Pass, the surrounding landscape grew increasingly barren.
All that could be seen was the reddish-brown earth and the towering mountains stretching into the distance. The young martial artists instinctively shrank their shoulders at the eerie, desolate scenery, unlike anything they had ever encountered before.
Their journey came to a halt at a guest house near Yumen Pass.
Unlike the guest houses commonly found in the Central Plains, built with bricks and wood, this one was constructed from earth. Because of that, it gave off the impression of a small fortress rather than a simple guest house.
The name of the earthen guest house was Wind Dust Guest House.
Merchants traveling to the Western Regions always spent their final night at Wind Dust Guest House, mentally preparing themselves for the journey ahead. Once they left this place, they would not return to the Central Plains for at least six months to a year. For the unlucky ones, they would never return at all.
Yumen Pass was the gateway connecting the Central Plains and Saibei. Countless merchants from the Central Plains used this passage to enter and leave the Western Regions.
It was often said that once one crossed Yumen Pass, the world changed, and even the air itself was different.
Dam-ho now understood that this saying was true.
Upon arriving at the Wind Dust Guest House, the smiles on the young martial artists’ faces vanished. Like Dam-ho, they, too, could feel the shift in the air.
Though they had yet to cross Yumen Pass, it already felt as if they had. The stark atmosphere weighed heavily on them.
Sage Cheon-heo spoke quietly to Sage Hyun-so and Yeom Zhong-hwa.
“We are to meet with Escort Warrior Im, who sent us the letter near this area.”
“Is he still alive?”
“Although communication was lost shortly after he sent the message, I still believe he is fine. He’ll guide us to the place where the battle with the Demon Sect took place.”
“Hmm…”
“For now, let’s allow our disciples to rest. I will make contact with Escort Warrior Im.”
“Understood.”
Sage Hyun-so and Yeom Zhong-hwa nodded before ordering their disciples to rest at the guest house.
Having traveled an exhausting distance, the disciples cheered and rushed eagerly into the guest house. Dam-ho followed behind them.
As he stepped inside Wind Dust Guest House, Moo-gyeong approached him.
“We’ve had a long journey. Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Moo-gyeong’s gaze unconsciously swept over Dam-ho’s left leg. Just then, Un-gyeong called out to him.
“Senior Brother! You need to come over here.”
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
Moo-gyeong looked back at Dam-ho.
“You already know this, but from here on, we are in Saibei. I may not be able to look after you anymore, so you need to take care of yourself from now on. Do you understand?”
Dam-ho nodded wordlessly. Moo-gyeong looked at Dam-ho like that for a while, studying his expression, before patting him on the shoulder twice and walking in the direction of Un-gyeong.
It was then.
“Tsk! You’d think he was a stray dog, the way a simple pat on the head makes him wag his tail.”
An unfamiliar voice pierced Dam-ho’s ears. At that moment, someone walked up to his side.
It was a man with an unusually pale complexion. His eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, and his lips were thin, reminiscent of a snake’s. The man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was wearing a faint smile.
As Dam-ho stared at him, the man clasped his hands in a palm and fist salute and spoke.
“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Yeop Mun-cheon of the Southern Edge Sect.”
Despite Yeop Mun-cheon’s introduction, Dam-ho was not surprised. He already knew of him.
Yeop Mun-cheon was one of the few people Dam-ho kept a close eye on.
In many ways, Yeop Mun-cheon was an inconspicuous individual. But, it wasn’t that Yeop Mun-cheon lacked presence due to his appearance or his introverted personality.
Rather, he was someone who deliberately concealed himself while carefully observing others.
That was the impression Dam-ho had of him, which made him all the more noticeable.
Yeop Mun-cheon scratched his head awkwardly as Dam-ho stared at him wordlessly. However, his eyes were still shining sharply.
“I heard you are the Young Master Cheon-gyeong… or am I mistaken?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Cheon-gyeong. I merely came to build a rapport, so there is no need to be on guard. Hahaha!”
“Rapport…”
Seeing that Dam-ho had seemingly lowered his guard, Yeop Mun-cheon smiled.
“That’s right. Rapport. I heard that Young Master Cheon-gyeong is Sage Hyun-so’s disciple. If so, that would mean that you are a first-generation disciple, but it seems like the Mount Hua Sect’s disciples don’t treat you accordingly. Haha! Or am I mistaken?”
“You are mistaken.”
“……”
Dam-ho’s curt reply made Yeop Mun-cheon’s expression stiffen for a brief moment. However, it was only for a moment before he relaxed his expression and continued speaking.
“I see.”
“What are you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you asking because you truly don’t know?”
“……”
A furrow formed between Yeop Mun-cheon’s brows.
Dam-ho was a cripple, ostracized even within the Mount Hua Sect. Yeop Mun-cheon had assumed he would be easy to provoke, but he reacted far more sharply than expected.
If it had been just a defensive response, he might have brushed it off. But the way Dam-ho was looking at him—his piercing gaze—sent a chill down his spine. It was as if he was seeing straight through him.
‘This bastard…’
A sudden unease welled up in Yeop Mun-cheon’s chest.
If it had been just a sharp glare, he wouldn’t have thought much of it. But there was something else—an overwhelming aura that seemed to press down on him.
‘So he really is a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua?’
Yeop Mun-cheon had no choice but to reassess his opinion of Dam-ho. Forcing a hearty laugh, he spoke again.
“Haha! It seems there has been a misunderstanding. I had no ulterior motives. I simply wanted to have a conversation.”
“……”
“It seems Young Master Cheon-gyeong is not in the mood for conversation. Perhaps today is not the right time. I shall take my leave for now. Until next time…”
Yeop Mun-cheon clasped his hands in a martial salute before turning away.
His face, which was decorated with a smile just a moment ago completely vanished, leaving only a cold expression.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Grinding his teeth, Yeop Mun-cheon disappeared from sight.
Dam-ho watched him go before turning around. In the distance, he saw his master, Sage Hyun-so, approaching.
“Master.”
“Is something the matter?”
“No, nothing at all.”
“Is that so?”
“……”
“If you say so, then I won’t press further. Let’s head inside.”
“Yes, master.”
Dam-ho followed Sage Hyun-so into their assigned room.
While the other disciples were assigned shared rooms with four or five people each, he was placed in the same room as Sage Hyun-so. This was out of respect for Sage Hyun-so’s status as an elder of the Mount Hua Sect.
The room they were assigned was not particularly large, but it was tidy and more than adequate for a night’s stay.
Sage Hyun-so asked,
“So, did you make any friends along the way?”
“I’m sorry.”
“As I expected.”
Sage Hyun-so smiled bitterly.
Throughout their journey, Sage Hyun-so had intentionally left Dam-ho alone. He had hoped that by leaving him to his own devices, Dam-ho would find opportunities to connect with others. This had been one of the reasons he had brought him along in the first place.
However, not a single person approached Dam-ho. Even though with his status as a direct disciple of Sage Hyun-so, an elder of the Mount Hua Sect.
At this point, only Sage Hyun-so was the only one in the sect who recognized Dam-ho’s potential and achievements. None of the other disciples had any expectations of him.
This was evident from the way the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect had treated Dam-ho on the way here.
They had ignored Dam-ho’s presence entirely as if he didn’t exist at all. Aside from Moo-gyeong, who occasionally showed concern, no one in the Mount Hua Sect even spoke to him.
It was as if the entire Mount Hua Sect was bullying Dam-ho. With the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect shunning Dam-ho and treating him like an outcast, the martial artists of the Southern Edge Sect and Wudang Sect followed suit, acting as if he did not exist.
His disciple was by no means someone so insignificant as to deserve such treatment. No, even the most insignificant person should not be subjected to such disregard.
Countless thoughts flashed in and out of Sage Hyun-so’s mind.
“Hoo…”
Still, no clear answer presented itself. Sage Hyun-so could only exhale in resignation.
“The hearts of people are truly frightening. They form prejudices based solely on what they see.”
“It is only because I am lacking, Master. I’m sorry.”
“What is it that you lack? You are my greatest disciple. I am proud of you.”
So what if he was crippled? So what if his aura carried a tinge of bloodlust?
In all his years, Sage Hyun-so had never seen anyone with a stronger will or more resolute spirit than Dam-ho.
It was simply unfortunate that the world failed to recognize Dam-ho’s true worth. But Dam-ho himself paid no mind to the world’s judgment—his gaze remained fixed beyond the window.
Beyond this place lay a world unknown to him.
Sage Hyun-so saw the desire for freedom in his disciple’s eyes.
Not a crippled mutt, but a hawk longing to soar into the open sky.
The time had come for a decision, and Sage Hyun-so had made up his mind.
“Ho.”
“…….”
“I’m sorry. Due to your master’s incompetence, I couldn’t secure a place for you in Mount Hua. Because of that, even here, you are not treated as you should be.”
“I am fine, Master.”
“But I am not. Mount Hua stands tall, reaching the heavens, but it is not broad enough to embrace you. This master of yours has no choice but to bury his bones in Mount Hua, whether I like it or not. But you are different. Mount Hua has already rejected you so there is no reason for you to cling yourself to it.”
“Master, what are you saying?”
“When this is over, leave and go out into the world.”
“What do you mean?”
“Live freely.”
“But Mount Hua—”
“You need not concern yourself with it. Mount Hua is Mount Hua, and you are you. Once you have grown strong enough to stand firm against the harshest winds, when even a raging storm cannot shake you—then return. When that day comes, let us share a drink together.”
“Master!”
Sage Hyun-so smiled. But Dam-ho’s shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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