Chapter 97: A Coincidence That Forged Inevitability (3)

On reconnaissance toward Eight Dukes Mountain, Namgung Shin received a covert piece of information from the Beggars’ Union: intelligence on a demonic sect that had raised the Anhui Blood Bow—one of those circles crawling with such people.

After studying the Beggars’ Union’s detailed brief, Namgung Shin immediately requested troop support from the Namgung main house. He could not say precisely, but he knew their fighting power was on a different plane from ordinary small and mid-tier sects.

A secret sect unknown to the martial world. A mysterious organization.

There were more such sects than one might think. Just as there were hermits as numerous as grains of sand, there were many sects that did not show themselves publicly.

Clan Lord Namgung In sensed this was no ordinary situation and sent two additional elders and three combat units besides.

With that much force, they could sweep most small and mid-tier sects in half an hour. It showed how seriously Namgung In regarded this matter.

How could it be otherwise, when the Golden Sword Gate had been annihilated by the Anhui Blood Bow?

The Golden Sword Gate was a sect all praised. In northern Anhui, its esteem was higher even than the Namgung Clan’s.

Such a sect had been wiped out; it was only right that the Namgung—lords of Anhui—should exact vengeance. Yet five years had passed without even the shadow of the Anhui Blood Bow found.

And now the Beggars’ Union had handed them such a ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) succulent lead.

They could not possibly let it go. Namgung In resolved to use this chance to refresh the mood in Anhui and stamp the clan’s name upon the world.

The source was the Beggars’ Union. As sound a certification as one could want—nothing to hesitate over.

Thus the Namgung force set out for Sun-Piercing Valley’s main seat—Mount Tai in Shandong.

****

“I sealed his elixir field in case he thrashed en route. You can transfer him like this.”

“You’ve done the hard work.”

The Wild Wind Pavilion handler’s tone had changed.

Small wonder. Ming Heorim had already been a peak master hailed among the Twin Dragons and Three Peaks. Now he’d even taken in demonic arts—what more need be said of his attainment.

Yeon Hojeong had subdued such a master without so much as a scratch. It was martial prowess to astonish.

“Ah, and carry a message to Lord Mo Yong.”

“I’m listening.”

“Tell him I received his gift well. And tell him to look forward to a gift from me.”

“Is that all?”

“More than enough.”

“Understood.”

“You’ve worked hard. Off you go.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

After sending off the Wild Wind Pavilion, Yeon Hojeong went straight to the wine house.

“Hm? You’re not asleep?”

Mookbi sat in a corner of the room with an awkward face.

“I couldn’t sleep...”

“You haven’t slept properly in days, have you? Ate?”

“......”

“You haven’t eaten either?”

“I’ve no appetite...”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“Let me ask you something.”

“Eh?”

“Are you going to be a martial person?”

The question mattered.

Yeon Hojeong wanted Mookbi with him. Setting aside any past ties, he desperately needed her strength.

But if she did not choose the martial path, he meant to let her go cleanly.

Regrettable, but there was no help for it. Better to spend that time seeking out one more candidate with promise than clutch at someone with no heart for it.

Mookbi shook her head.

“Not... yet. I haven’t decided.”

“That’s wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s the one thing you have to decide now. You must.”

“W-Why?”

“Because I am a martial person.”

“......”

“You’ve learned martial skills, but it’s ambiguous to call you a denizen of the martial world. Because you’ve no conflicts with any sect or warrior in it. If you wanted, you could go straight to some village and live tilling fields.”

“......”

“But if you follow me, the story changes. I am a martial person. And I’m struggling to stave off a calamity that will befall the world in time.”

The world. Calamity.

It was lofty talk indeed. Had someone else said it, one might have snorted first.

But Mookbi did not laugh at him.

His face was that serious. Strength and gravitas filled the voice that rode the air.

A mood no one could laugh at—and must not.

“I need strength. The strength to protect everyone. It’s not a peace I can achieve by being strong alone. But I’ve no intention of forcing the future I know upon the world. They wouldn’t believe it anyway.”

“I... I...”

“If you want a life outside the martial world, I’ll help you in every way. I can do at least that.”

It was a choice compelled by another.

But it was reality. The instant she took Yeon Hojeong’s hand, she would plunge into the martial world—a realm of monsters.

A world where you never knew when or how you’d die. Where a petty quarrel could spark a sect-to-sect skirmish, where pride alone traded lives, where you could be assassinated for no enmity at all.

And—

A world bound by many things, yet bound by none. Where heroes lived who gave their lives for trifling help, and where even mortal enemies could be forgiven—a world of romance.

If she chose the ordinary life, she would have no further need to walk with Yeon Hojeong.

If she meant to live in the martial world, she could do so with him—at least for now.

“I know I’m forcing a hard choice on someone who hasn’t properly lived yet. You still have to choose. I believe you can make it just by looking back on the life you’ve led so far.”

Mookbi’s eyes trembled as she looked up at Yeon Hojeong.

But only for a moment.

The slightly vacant focus slowly came alive, and the wavering eyes soon found calm.

With a deep breath to steady herself, Mookbi spoke in a low voice.

“I’m an archer. I learned the basics of letters, rites, and refined pursuits—but it doesn’t change that I’m an archer.”

“Is Sun-Piercing Valley your enemy?”

Though abrupt, Mookbi’s reaction was immediate.

“My enemy. Enough.”

“I won’t ask why you think so. It would be meddling. I’ll ask again—can you live this world bearing the strength your enemies forced on you?”

It was the first time—

For the first time, Mookbi made something like a smile.

“I didn’t do it with my own hands—I even borrowed someone else’s.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“What does that matter?”

“It means it’s meaningless. Things like that.”

“Ha.”

It was a clean shot to the ribs. Yeon Hojeong laughed without guile.

“So, there’s a world that suits an archer best?”

“Whatever the reasons, my life was for becoming the best. And the life that fits me isn’t plowing fields and reading books.”

Smiling, Yeon Hojeong held out his hand.

“I’m going to persuade you—so you won’t drift from me, so you can stay with me as long as it takes.”

Mookbi took his hand.

“Just don’t kill my curiosity. Not that you could.”

Hand in hand with Yeon Hojeong, Mookbi rose.

Grrrrrrowl.

“Ah...”

Mookbi flushed.

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.

“Before choosing your life, manage what’s inside first. A martial person must keep their body at its best, anytime, anywhere.”

“I understand.”

“And you—how long has it been since you washed?”

“...Do I smell?”

“I thought you were a wildling.”

Her neck went red to the roots. Since coming down from Eight Dukes Mountain, she’d been too shattered to wash at all.

“Eat first, scrub down, sleep like the dead, then we’ll go. You’ve done well.”

“No.”

“Do you drink?”

“Drink?”

“You don’t. Fine, then. We’ll just order food.”

“Ah, no. I’ll wash first.”

“Suit yourself.”

Stepping out into the hall, Mookbi glanced toward the windows lining the corridor.

The sky without a single cloud looked bracingly clear. Birds free of all fetters winged across the sky in flocks.

As she gazed blankly at them, Mookbi’s eyes slowly reddened.

A life short yet fierce—and thus branded on her like a hot iron—came back to her.

Recognized for genius talent, she had spent her life in martial training near to torture. She had never wanted to kill anyone, yet she had trembled through life under the oppression of those who demanded she kill.

But that was not what she wanted.

She wanted freedom, and a human life. She loathed to the marrow those elders who said if she had no will to become a ghost archer, she wasn’t worth letting live and would be killed on the spot.

In the end, all the brothers she had hated were dead, and she—knowing nothing—was left alone in the world.

It was a loneliness that cut to the bone. She didn’t want to go out into the world. She wanted to go into any mountain and live with nature.

But she could not.

She sensed that if she lived like that, she would truly break.

Despair and solitude might make her lose her mind—but she knew that if she smiled and moved forward anyway, the future would show.

‘Brother, sisters. I’m sorry. But I’ll try living—just once—with all I’ve got.’

She felt guilty for surviving alone. Even so, she would not stop.

Taking a great breath, Mookbi forced a bright smile.

“I’ll live more splendidly than anyone. More than anyone.”

Just then, the door opened and Yeon Hojeong said,

“What are you doing, you brat? Don’t stink up the corridor—go wash.”

Mookbi snapped without meaning to,

“Quiet!”

At dawn the next day—

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s start moving.”

“Where are we going?”

“I was going to Zhejiang to meet someone, but first—home.”

“Home?”

“Yeah, home. We’ll eat hot rice, rest up, retool, then head out again.”

“Ah...”

“Why? Your fingers itching already? Dying to draw the bowstring?”

“No. Only... because you said we’re going home.”

“Don’t worry. My father doesn’t say much, but he’s a good man. My younger brother’s so gentle you’ll have no trouble fitting in.”

“I understand.”

“By the way...”

Yeon Hojeong looked at the horn bow on Mookbi’s back.

“This string looks a little stretched.”

Mookbi nodded.

“My inner power jumped lately—I must’ve failed to control my strength.”

“Hm, is that so.”

Yeon Hojeong did not bother to ask how her inner power had grown.

He glanced at his own axe.

The blade was full of rough scars. Trading blows with that much destructive force had blunted it. It was a wonder the shaft hadn’t snapped.

And the end of the shaft—

There was no ring there. He would have to procure “that” piece separately anyway, but there might be something decent to be found.

“We’ll stop by a smithy on the way. It’s time to get ready in earnest.”

There was still much lacking.

Not only martial arts but armaments were not yet in order. The preliminary work to block the Four Yin Cult hadn’t even begun.

It starts now.

The first step to stopping the mad advance of the three fanatical churches.

The Dark Emperor who once ruled the black paths dons the skin of a Green Mountain tiger general to prepare for the future. A family he’d never had before, and comrades met far earlier than expected, would give wings to the tiger’s back.

A history being written utterly differently than before.

Yeon Hojeong prayed earnestly that the new history he was forging would become the foundation of a peaceful future.