Chapter 59. The Target (2)

On the way back to the inn after dealing with the Black Market’s minions.

Junior Sister Baek Hyang asked an unexpected question.

“Senior Brother. Who is that person named Hyeok Ilso?”

When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, she added.

“Um… You asked that master called Blood Shadow Ghost Spear last time, right? Where Hyeok Ilso was.”

“Th- that’s right. C- come to think of it, Hyeong-a. Y- you asked in Zunyi too.”

After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I answered.

“He’s one of the worst pieces of trash among the trash I know. A bastard who sees people not as people, but as money. A bastard who will stop at nothing to kill if it gets in the way of his money-making.”

I didn’t bother to talk about the Scholar Chivalrous Hero.

“Then he must be a bad guy in a pretty high position in the Black Market.”

I nodded at my junior sister’s words.

In about twenty years, he would be the one who ruled all the Black Markets and was called the King of the Black Path.

Not only that, but just looking at the information I had gathered while attacking the Black Markets so far, it was true.

“The branch leader of Zunyi. And the Blood Shadow Ghost Spear from last time. Only those two knew the name Hyeok Ilso. It means he’s an executive of a similar or higher rank than them.”

Junior Sister Baek Hyang, who frowned as if organizing her thoughts at my answer, this time turned her head and asked Yeongcheon.

“Mr. Daoist. May I ask you something?”

“Hahaha. Feel free to ask, Miss Baek.”

“What kind of place is the Mount Heng Sect?”

A truly random question.

Perhaps because the question was about his own sect, Yeongcheon answered with a bright smile.

“Hahaha. It’s a very good place. The scenery of Mount Heng enriches one’s heart just by looking at it, and it’s full of spiritual energy, so every time I circulate my energy, I feel my dantian filling up. The elders of the sect there are all excellent people as well.”

As Yeongcheon’s boasting was about to continue, Junior Sister Baek Hyang hurriedly asked again.

“Then, are the Daoists of Mount Heng all masters?”

“Hahaha. That’s very true. My skills are but a drop in the bucket compared to the sect elders. Hahaha.”

Listening quietly, I thought I knew what Junior Sister Baek Hyang’s purpose was.

“Junior Sister. Stop with the useless talk. Are you planning to ask Mount Heng for help?”

My junior sister flinched like a child caught plotting mischief, and Yeongcheon looked surprised.

Junior Sister Baek Hyang spoke cautiously while glancing at me.

“Senior Brother. Last time, a master called Blood Shadow Ghost Spear came, didn’t he? We’ve dealt with another place this time, and since we’re chasing that person named Hyeok Ilso, I’m sure even more formidable people will come next time.”

She was a junior sister who spoke her mind coherently, even though she was being cautious.

“So shouldn’t we ask for help from others this time? It’s not like you have to fight the bad guys all by yourself, Senior Brother.”

And I, too, agreed with my junior sister’s opinion to some extent.

Her point that we might face an even greater crisis next time, and her words that I didn’t have to fight the villains all by myself were all valid.

Nevertheless, I considered my junior sister’s actions to be futile.

“I said it was useless talk because the Mount Heng Sect wouldn’t help us anyway.”

“Wh- why? We’re fighting bad people, so why won’t they help, Senior Brother?”

I pondered how to answer my junior sister’s question, and for now, I answered as it came to mind.

“There are largely two types of Daoists and monks. One is the fake long-nosed Daoists and bald-headed monks who pretend to be Daoists or monks to deceive commoners and take advantage of them. These people harm others, so they are trash that deserves to be killed.”

“Ahem. N- not all Daoists are like that, chivalrous warrior.”

It was Yeongcheon, defending them because he was also a Daoist.

“I know. That’s why I said there are two types.”

After saying that to Yeongcheon, I looked at my junior sister again.

“The other type is the Daoists and monks who truly seek enlightenment. But I don’t like them very much either. What do you think is the reason?”

Junior Sister Baek Hyang, who pondered for a moment, answered.

“Umm. I’m not sure, Senior Brother.”

“It’s because their only goal is enlightenment. The goal of a monk is to achieve Buddhahood, and the goal of a Daoist is to attain the Dao. Whether it’s Buddhahood or attaining the Dao, they both value severing ties with the secular world. In the end, ‘proper’ Daoists and monks are all people who are not interested in the secular world. Even though they have power, they don’t help the commoners and just stay cooped up in the mountains training, so how could I like them? And the Mount Heng Sect is one of those proper Daoist sects I mentioned earlier.”

This was something I knew because of my experience in my previous life.

The area where the Steel Sinew Sect was rampaging and Mount Heng were about a five-day walk apart.

Not exactly close, but close enough for the notoriety of the Steel Sinew Sect to reach.

But they did not appear.

Until Yeongcheon was torn to pieces and killed by the Vajra Dog Nam Seup.

It was a ridiculous state of affairs.

Those who didn’t intervene when the commoners were being exploited, saying they had to sever their ties with the secular world, came rushing down like a storm at the news that one of their disciples had died and wiped them all out.

After that, the Mount Heng Sect returned to Mount Heng, saying they would sever their ties with the secular world, taking only the bodies of their disciples who had died fighting the Steel Sinew Sect, including Yeongcheon.

There was a widespread rumor that they had returned without taking a single piece of the wealth that the Steel Sinew Sect had accumulated through their evil deeds.

People praised their lack of greed and chivalrous deeds, but I didn’t see it in a very positive light.

“In any case, for this reason, I don’t like Daoists and monks. Likewise, the Mount Heng Sect will not come to help us. Unless their disciple, Daoist Yeongcheon, dies.”

After I finished speaking, a silence fell for a moment.

Soon, Yeongcheon cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Ahem. I understand what you’re thinking, chivalrous warrior. But please don’t hate our sect elders too much. Hahaha.”

Yeongcheon, laughing good-naturedly as if trying to mediate.

Looking at his face, I suddenly had a thought.

What an oddball.

Where else could you find such a meddlesome Daoist?

Yeongcheon could be called a fake long-nosed Daoist in a different sense.

“Don’t worry. I just don’t like them, I don’t have any intention of fighting them. At least the Mount Heng Sect doesn’t torment innocent people.”

Of course.

I wasn’t a madman who would just draw my sword because I didn’t like something.

It seemed there would be no reason to antagonize the Mount Heng Sect.

Unless it was a relationship where we just ignored each other like a cow looking at a chicken.

Just then, Junior Sister Baek Hyang, who had been looking thoughtful, opened her mouth.

“Then, Senior Brother, you just don’t like the Daoists, but you’re not against fighting the Black Market with them, are you?”

I nodded.

“If they come out to the secular world and punish the villains, what reason would there be to dislike it? But they won’t come out. As always.”

At my answer, for some reason, Junior Sister Baek Hyang smiled sweetly and replied.

“Then, how about we try this?”

A mischievous-looking smile.

“Instead of asking the Mount Heng Sect for help, just have Daoist Yeongcheon send a letter.”

But it was only because Junior Sister Baek Hyang’s face looked young.

“Saying that there is a very bad group in Iyang, and he intends to punish them.”

If it had been an adult’s face, it might have looked a little different.

“Saying that there are many masters, so he might die, and to wish him luck in battle.”

“…You mean to send news that Daoist Yeongcheon is walking to his death?”

“Yes. Senior Brother. No matter how uninterested they are in the secular world, they wouldn’t just stand by while their disciple goes to his death, would they?”

Indeed, I couldn’t help but nod.

In fact, they had left Mount Heng, moving their heavy buttocks, for the sake of Yeongcheon’s revenge.

However, ‘might die’ felt a little insufficient.

“Then let’s send a letter tomorrow morning, and then send another one a few days later. Rip Daoist Yeongcheon’s robes, stain them with blood, and enclose a letter saying that the Daoist died fighting the black path of Iyang, and they will probably move for revenge.”

Perhaps because it was an unimaginable story.

Yeongcheon, who had been listening to the conversation between me and my junior sister with a half-dazed expression, belatedly came to his senses and shouted.

“Th- that’s a lie, isn’t it, chivalrous warrior!”

No.

It seemed he still hadn’t come to his senses.

To be arguing about whether it was a lie or not at a time like this.

“Then are you planning to just leave those Black Market bastards alone, Daoist? As I’ve said before, they are atrociously cruel trash who kidnap and sell people, or sell stolen goods from people they’ve killed.”

“Th- that’s…”

“Please help us just this once, Mr. Daoist. If the Mount Heng Sect doesn’t help, we might all die this time.”

Junior Sister Baek Hyang looked up at Yeongcheon earnestly with a tearful expression.

While Yeongcheon was in a predicament, I also added my words.

“I don’t mind if I die. But I can’t stand the sight of those Black Market bastards living in luxury and committing evil deeds after I die. What about you, Daoist?”

“Th- that’s right. Daoist Hyeong-a. We- we’re punishing bad guys. H- help us.”

When Nam Geon joined in, Yeongcheon looked back and forth between the three of us, not knowing what to do.

***

Around the time the clouds below the mountain ridge were dyed crimson.

A thatched-roof house built on a peak halfway up the mountain.

On a rock near that thatched-roof house, there was an old Daoist in worn-out clothes sitting in a cross-legged position.

The old Daoist looked down at the foot of the mountain with clear eyes.

He could see a Daoist swinging a sword in similar attire to the old Daoist, and another person deep in meditation in a cross-legged position.

There were also people digging for medicinal herbs or weeding fields all over the mountain.

It was the usual scenery of the Mount Heng Sect.

Just then, a voice came from behind.

“Sect Leader. A guest has arrived from the secular world.”

“The only person I know in the secular world is Yeongcheon, who has descended the mountain, so a guest from the secular world. It’s truly a strange thing.”

At the Sect Leader’s words, the disciple smiled awkwardly and replied.

“He is a man from the village at the foot of the mountain, and he has come to ask for help, saying he has been wronged.”

“Hahaha. Where in the world is there a matter that is not unfair? Also, if we were to step in and intervene, wouldn’t it then become an unfair matter from the opposite side’s perspective? Fate is indeed so intricately intertwined that it is best not to intervene.”

The Sect Leader’s usual answer.

The disciple replied with a face that seemed to have expected it.

“Then I will send that man back now.”

“Do so. Hmm. There are many ownerless mountain peaks on Mount Heng, so if he too wishes to sever his ties with the secular world, tell him we will not refuse.”

From human relationships to natural disasters.

Everything in the world does not go according to one’s will.

If one is to live in the secular world, one must simply accept this and live.

If it is too difficult to endure, then it is better to sever ties with the secular world like them.

Good and evil were ultimately decided by the humans of the secular world, so it was not logical for them to come to Mount Heng for their own interests.

Right after the disciple left to deliver the not-so-subtle expulsion order to the guest.

From behind, familiar footsteps and a familiar voice were heard again.

“Were you looking over the mountain path again today?”

“It has been quite some time since Yeongcheon descended the mountain, isn’t it about time for some news to arrive?”

“Senior Brother Sect Leader. If you’re so worried about that Yeongcheon fellow, why didn’t you just stop him from descending the mountain?”

At his junior brother’s question, the Sect Leader stroked his beard and replied.

“Hahaha. Even if you turn over an empty gourd, can you call that emptying it? Only when you turn over a gourd filled with water can you truly empty it.”

“With that fellow’s temperament, I’m worried he’ll come back with a whole jar filled, not just a gourd. A gourd is easy to empty, but it will take quite some effort to empty a jar.”

Yeongcheon.

He was a child with a very suitable aptitude for becoming a Daoist.

He had clear eyes from a young age and was an innocent child with no desire for wealth or honor.

If there was one thing to be desired, it was that he was too affectionate, perhaps because of that innocence.

“Hahaha. No matter how big the jar is, as long as he returns, we can empty it, can’t we?”

At the Sect Leader’s words, the junior brother clicked his tongue lightly.

“That’s true, but that innocent fellow doesn’t even know how to lie, so I’m worried he’ll get caught up in some unnecessary trouble. The grudges of the Jianghu are truly needlessly complicated, aren’t they?”

“Hahaha. We can only pray that the Primeval Lord of Heaven will look after him.”

The Sect Leader who answered so was still looking down at the mountain path.

Waiting for just one letter from his innocent disciple who couldn’t even lie, saying that he was safe.

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