Chapter 178. Ill-fated Relationship (3)

The path descending the Heavenly Peak Ridge and heading to Yunnan.

I engaged in training like usual, but it was a little different from usual.

To say it was like usual, over three years had already passed.

Also, rather than focusing on individual training, it seemed I should focus on teaching for a while.

“Since everyone has reached a stage now, I will teach you new things.”

Before being dragged away by the Fighting Venerable and trapped in the cave. There were things I taught while with my companions.

And my companions were already perfectly mastering what I taught in the past.

So we had to move on to the next step.

“There are largely two things I will teach you from today. The Sun Moon Infinite Sword and the Life and Death Blood Steps.”

My companions were listening to my words attentively with serious expressions.

The Dang Clan guy also raised his hand with a serious expression.

“I know the Sun Moon Infinite Sword is a very outstanding divine art. But since I focus on hidden weapon arts, I think learning just the Life and Death Blood Steps will be sufficient.”

“The Life and Death Blood Steps and the Sun Moon Infinite Sword have similar textures. Only the names are footwork and sword technique, but in reality, they are closer to arts handling Qi. If you learn them, it will be easy to apply to hidden weapon arts as well.”

This was also the biggest reason I was teaching the initial forms of the Sun Moon Infinite Sword and the profundity of the Life and Death Blood Steps to them.

The companions were all walking completely different paths of martial arts.

If I taught everyone martial arts bound to a specific form, it would inevitably become poison to someone.

But these focused more on the profundity of handling Qi rather than form.

Also, the companions all possessed special talents.

I thought they might broaden their own paths even more using the initial forms of the Sun Moon Infinite Sword and the profundity of the Life and Death Blood Steps.

“Then first, today I will teach you about the profundity of the Crimson Lotus Ascends to Heaven, the first form of the Sun Moon Infinite Sword.”

***

Moving while transmitting martial arts for a few days.

We entered Yunnan through a remote mountain path.

“Have you ever been to Yunnan while I was gone?”

At my question, all companions shook their heads, and Junior Sister Baek Hyang asked with an expression of just in case.

“Does Senior Brother have experience visiting?”

When I nodded, the Dang Clan guy said with a fascinated expression.

“What on earth were you doing before meeting us that there is no place in the Jianghu you do not know?”

Naturally, it was because of the experience of the past life.

“Passing by Yunnan once fleetingly is all.”

It was half true.

Even in the past life, there was almost no occasion to visit Yunnan.

It was the edge of the Central Plains, and although called Central Plains, it was essentially a different country.

Crossing over through a remote mountain path was also because of this.

“This place, Yunnan, can be seen as a gateway to the Outer Regions. To the south, it is connected to Nanman, and to the northwest, it touches the place called Tubo or Tibet. Therefore, the customs of those living here will also be different from the Central Plains in many ways.”

The landmass of the Central Plains was wide.

Naturally, there were various differences by region.

Among them, Yunnan exuded an atmosphere distinct from other places in many ways.

Like the form of buildings or the attire worn.

The customs of the southwest Central Plains and the customs of Nanman with dense jungles. And even the customs of the barren Tibet.

It was a place where cultures of various regions were mixed.

“Also, there is a unique stone called marble mainly produced here in Dali Kingdom. So there will be several buildings using that marble.”

I gave brief information about Yunnan I knew to my companions.

“So do not be too surprised while passing through Yunnan.”

This was also the reason I gave such detailed explanations.

“But there is no need to shrink back. Since there will be many things you see for the first time, enjoy it calmly with the mind of broadening your horizons.”

As soon as my words ended, Junior Sister Baek Hyang answered smiling faintly.

“Yes. Senior Brother!”

For some reason, Nam Geon was drooling.

“Th, then are there ma, many f, foods I haven’t eaten too Hyung-ah?”

“Probably many.”

“Th, then can I ea, eat those?”

“Yes. Eat as much as you want within the limit the travel expenses Junior Sister packed allow.”

“Do not worry. Senior Brother. Brother. The travel expenses are ample.”

“A, as expected Hyang-ie is the best!”

The Dang Clan guy also chipped in slyly.

“Ahem. Th, if the travel expenses are sufficient, perhaps can I stop by pharmacies in villages a little? Since it is a region I’m visiting for the first time, I wonder if I can obtain some herbs or poisonous plants I haven’t handled so far.”

“Well, you can find them all in the mountains on the way anyway, just dig them up in the mountains.”

When I rebuked him, the Dang Clan guy’s expression crumpled.

“Didn’t you say we have to move even a moment faster sometime? Then when on earth are you telling me to dig herbs? Damn it, truly.”

Looking at his crumpled face, laughter came out automatically.

“Hahahaha.”

***

The journey crossing Yunnan continued.

Every time we stopped by a village occasionally, Nam Geon stuffed various foods into his mouth.

“He, here food is fascinating! It’s a ta, taste I’m eating for the first time!”

It was a positive meaning, and also a negative meaning.

“Th, this taste is too weird.”

“Th, this is fa, fascinating but delicious! Wa, wasteful for only m, me to eat. E, everyone ea, eat a little more.”

“My stomach is about to burst. Brother.”

Junior Sister Baek Hyang just smiled as if happy just watching.

The Dang Clan guy walked pretending to be indifferent, but his eyes rolled whenever he discovered herbs or poisonous plants he saw for the first time.

If he discovered them in the mountain, he didn’t hesitate to do very dangerous things.

“Th, that cliff! I will just pick that and come!”

And his eyes rolling was the same in villages too.

Among them, what the Dang Clan guy was most interested in was insects.

“A, are these all from Nanman?”

“Yes, indeed.”

He looked at gross-looking insects. Even insects harboring poison as if very desirable.

“Is it that good?”

“Ahem. Isn’t it natural? Such poisonous insects are all things that come only from Nanman. The poisons of the world are diverse. And when different poisons and medicines are mixed, the effects also change variously. Whether developing extreme poison that can kill anyone or developing medicine that can save anyone, as diverse experiences as possible…….”

The Dang Clan guy whose eyes rolled chattered incessantly preaching the importance of poisonous insects.

That guy was also a madman in various ways.

Junior Sister Choyeon was walking as if indifferent, but now I thought I knew.

Minutely raised corners of eyes and lips.

Furthermore, often when seeing fascinating buildings or fully bloomed flowers, her gaze was stolen for a moment.

“Will you pick one?”

When I asked pointing at the flower the Junior Sister was looking at, the Junior Sister shook her head calmly.

“Just seeing is enough. Senior Brother.”

Moving for a few days in such a relatively peaceful atmosphere. One day, we had an occasion to pass a small village.

A small village festival was taking place there.

Drinking tea served by residents, we also watched that festival.

“In Yunnan, it seems they drink tea wherever we go.”

At Junior Sister Baek Hyang’s words, the Dang Clan guy acted knowledgeable.

“Although less than Nanman, the water here isn’t water just drinkable. You can only drink it if you boil it very vigorously, and even if boiled like that, miscellaneous smells remain. Thus, it seems the culture of diluting that scent with tea like this settled. Also, speaking of Yunnan’s tea…….”

Cutting off the Dang Clan guy’s long speech again, I asked.

“Did you have knowledge in tea too?”

“Tea or alcohol are also things that can be used as medicine or poison. Naturally, I know to some extent.”

“Then what do you think of that?”

I said pointing to the side where a ritual was in full swing.

The Dang Clan guy tilted his head and looked there quietly. My companions also looked there together for a moment.

Junior Sister Baek Hyang tilted her head and said.

“It is different from the Central Plains. It seems somewhat, jumbled up. Senior Brother.”

It was as the Junior Sister said.

The surroundings were decorated with things similar to Buddhist lotus lanterns.

But the object of the ritual was a god, not Buddha. To be precise, they were performing a ritual to the god of the mountain located near the village.

“Come to think of it, there was a story I heard from Teacher Sama before. Confucius said to keep distance from mysterious phenomena, and encouraged performing rituals to ancestors instead of such gods.”

Since it was an unfamiliar scene in many ways, this and that conversation went back and forth.

***

A few days later around afternoon, we arrived near a place called Chuxiong.

“After taking a meal and rest there. Let’s move south after one Shichen.”

“Hm? Shouldn’t we go northwest to go to Tibet?”

At the Dang Clan guy’s words, I shrugged my shoulders and answered.

“Didn’t I say at the Heavenly Peak Ridge. That I have one business in Yunnan too.”

“Ah. Is there something in the south?”

At his question, I nodded.

A certain mountain was located about two days south from here.

And the Number One Sect of Yunnan had settled in that mountain.

I didn’t know if they were the Number One Sect of Yunnan even in this period, but at least in the future I remember, they were called so.

Just as the horse-hair hat Taoist guy who killed me was called the First Sword of Yunnan.

While walking through the village for a while to find an inn to eat. Junior Sister Baek Hyang opened her mouth in a serious tone.

“Senior Brother. It seems there is something.”

Certainly, it seemed the Junior Sister also accumulated various experiences while I was gone.

“It seems so in my view too.”

The atmosphere of the village was somewhat gloomy overall, and for some reason, compared to the size of the village, the residents were hardly visible.

With a doubtful mind, I threw this and that question to the residents visible occasionally.

But perhaps because we were outsiders, it was difficult to get answers easily.

Then I coincidentally encountered a woman with a dazed face.

“……Today is the day to perform a ritual honoring the Dragon King.”

A ritual honoring the Dragon King?

I didn’t know what that was, but just hearing the words, it felt like a kind of village festival.

But why was the atmosphere so gloomy.

“Where is that ritual performed?”

“……They must be busy preparing at the mouth of the Yongcheon River over there.”

The woman said so and trudged away with powerless steps.

Something didn’t feel right.

“Let’s go see for now.”

Moving steps with my companions, we headed in the direction the woman informed us.

Arriving near the Yongcheon River, something familiar entered my eyes.

Taoist bastards dressed in neat Taoist robes.

Those Taoist robes were impossible to forget even if I wanted to.

The guys who surrounded me in the Sun Moon Divine Sword old master’s secret grotto in the past life.

It was the martial arts uniform of the Aenoe Sect settled in Mount Aenoe.

People who appeared to be village residents were gathered a little away from them, and.

“What kind of behavior is this!!”

A middle-aged man dressed in shabby martial arts uniform was shouting at the Aenoe Sect Taoists.

At this, a middle-aged Taoist of the Aenoe Sect stepped forward one step and shouted.

“If the Dragon King rages, the ones receiving punishment are the civilians here! If you know nothing, just pass by!”

“That is right! Do you know how long it has been since rain fell?”

“This is a warning the Dragon King gives! It means the Dragon King has already raged! Therefore, we must perform a ritual to the Dragon King even a moment faster!”

At this, the residents nodded as if agreeing.

Then the middle-aged Taoist who was arguing with the Aenoe Sect pointed somewhere and shouted.

“What crazy Dragon King in the world takes a new bride every year!”

At the place the Taoist pointed, a girl was tied hand and foot dressed in neat clothes.

Only now did I think I roughly knew how the situation was flowing.

Human sacrifice was taking place here.

And under the lead of the Aenoe Sect Taoists who killed me in the past life.

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