Chapter 20
Cho Yun lightly ran down the mountain path. With each step, he passed numerous trees and rocks, leaving no trace of disturbed soil where his feet touched. The mountain wind that coolly brushed his cheeks and ankles lifted Cho Yun’s spirits. Thanks to his hair tied up and covered with a bamboo hat, the usually bothersome locks remained in place.
More than anything, what pleased him were the three presences following him without fail.
“Master, please don’t go so fast!”
Sa-yeong, who was the first to catch up, shouted. He kept looking back, likely worried that the two younger ones following might stumble. Cho Yun glanced back and mustered more strength into his legs to speed up a bit.
“Master!”
Sa-yeong raised his voice, but Cho Yun had his reasons.
‘This much should be fine.’
In terms of speed, Sa-yeong was the best. Just now, he was the only one among the three disciples who managed to catch up to Cho Yun even once. Sa-hyeon seemed a bit unstable in his posture, but kept chasing after his sister. Cho Yun had worried he might be simply jealous, but it seemed he had a decent amount of competitive spirit.
And then there was Seomun Cheon-o.
‘What is that kid up to every day? Is he secretly meeting another master?’
I’ve never taught him to this extent.
It’s easy to quicken or slow down, but difficult to maintain the same speed from start to finish, especially coming down a rugged mountain path.
While Cho Yun was descending, Cheon-o maintained the same speed at a certain distance behind him, neither closing in nor falling behind.
Though it still seemed tough to conceal his presence or tracks, it was an excellent body technique nonetheless.
‘I thought teaching him pharmacology at a slow pace would keep him from becoming too strong… a boss is a boss, after all. He’s destined to become strong anyway.’
Feeling somewhat complex emotions, Cho Yun came to a stop. A thick fog ahead blocked the path like a wall. Instead of passing through Jaechon Mountain and Oegong Mountain where the kids might become exhausted carrying their loads, they took a direct route down Dumang Mountain.
Before long, the children arrived one by one. They were all catching their breaths, but Sa-hyeon seemed the most exhausted.
“Huff… Huff… Master, are we going to keep going at this pace the whole time?”
“Of course not. We can’t afford to spill everything we’re carrying, can we?”
“Oh, sister… your knots… came undone.”
Each of the children was given a makeshift backpack and instructed to pack their clothes and essentials. It was an excellent opportunity to foster their independence as long as they were guided carefully.
Cho Yun briefly placed the herbal case he was carrying on the ground and rummaged through its many drawers.
“Master, isn’t it hard carrying such a big case around?”
“If something like this tires me out, I wouldn’t be fit to be your master.”
In response to Sa-yeong’s question, Cho Yun took out a small lock-shaped ornament no bigger than a palm. Made of pure white jade, the intricately carved lock featured a cloud pattern, with the character for ‘sky’ engraved in relief in the center.
“Cheon-o, do you still have the jade token I gave you before?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Bring it here.”
The child, who had been standing quietly beside his sister and brother, quickly approached and brought out the token from his bosom, holding it out with both hands. Cho Yun received it and instead gave him the lock.
“This is a longevity lock. From now on, carry this instead of the jade token. With this, you can freely pass through the Bulgui mountain range.”
“I’m receiving something like this…?”
“Accept it. It means you’re now allowed to come and go to the mountains, so take it without any burden.”
Cho Yun preemptively spoke to the child who appeared reluctant to accept, then turned to Sa-yeong and Sa-hyeon.
“Did you both remember to bring yours?”
“Yes, Master. It’s right here.”
“Here it is.”
Sa-yeong took out a thin, sharp silver hairpin from his bosom, and Sa-hyeon jingled the silver bracelet hidden by his sleeve. Though they weren’t inlaid with expensive jewels, their crafting alone made these ornaments appear quite luxurious.
“Just like your sister and brother, yours will also serve as the key to Dumang Mountain. Accept it without any hesitation.”
“…Yes, Master. Thank you.”
Gently touching the cloud pattern on the lock with his fingertips, Cheon-o put it inside his bosom. Cho Yun, smiling contentedly, strapped the large herbal case onto his back again and continued forward. This was the first journey he was taking with his three students.
◇
The Jinryeong mountain range was famous for its treacherous terrain. The narrow trails clinging to the cliffs, following water paths, provided a safe and unique route away from bandits.
Typically deserted except for peddlers with their bundles, the sight of over a hundred people with large loads on their backs was undoubtedly unusual.
Suddenly, a sound of twisting came from under one of the porters.
Screeek⎯.
“Eek! Eeek!”
“Ah! Hey! What do you expect us to do if you stumble like that?”
The frightened porter stumbled back in a panic, causing those following him to lose their balance and shout.
As the line descended into chaos, a shout came from the back.
“Stand properly! Keep your distance! Do you all want to die together?!!”
“Ugh… Damn it, I should’ve quit as soon as I heard we’d be passing through a path like this!”
Cursing non-stop, the porters managed to form a proper line again.
The one who had shouted was Jo U-il, the martial artist, who clicked his tongue while observing the scene.
“Leader, this isn’t going to work. We haven’t even reached halfway, and the porters are too anxious.”
“…But there’s no other way. With the Green Forest raising their flag, we can’t go back the way we came. We need to arrive as soon as possible, but taking a roundabout path through the mountains… is too long.”
Standing beside Jo U-il was Nang Wi-jeong, the head of the Dan Gum merchant group. Despite saying there was no other choice, her pallor suggested she was grappling with worry and regret.
“We’ll have to offer extra pay. Please, Jo U-il, try to calm them down.”
“I am more concerned about you, Leader. You’re going to be on edge the entire two days we cross the cliffs. It might be better to seek help from the Mount Hua Sect and take another mountain path.”
“I’ve thought of that too, but the Mount Hua Sect⎯.”
“Arghhhh!!”
“What’s happening!”
Just as Nang Wi-jeong and Jo U-il were having their headache-inducing conversation, a sudden, tremulous crash and a scream echoed through the mountains. Looking ahead, they saw the broken middle part of the footpath and two porters tumbling down the cliff.
“Get back! Fall back! Don’t run!”
“Arghh!! It’s collapsing!!”
Though Jo U-il tried to evacuate the people around the broken path, those paralyzed with fear scrambled blindly to flee.
Nang Wi-jeong had no choice but to opt for retreat. The damage to the Dan Gum merchant group that day amounted to four porters and thirty nyang worth of goods.
“Haah…”
Nang Wi-jeong sighed heavily, her eyes fixed on the map spread out before her. It had been two days since they were grounded at the inn in Xian. The overcast sky outside the window had been pouring seasonal rain since morning.
Striking the table lightly with her fingernails, Wi-jeong scrutinized the map of southern Shaanxi once more. No matter how much she pondered, no solution came to mind.
‘Those bastard bandits. Robbing civilians and calling it power and enterprise.’
Before the Green Forest raised their flag to announce they had started pillaging, it had been a perfectly smooth trip. The valuable bronze they prepared sold at a high price, and they obtained necessary items at reasonable costs. However, on the day they decided to return, the bandits made their grand declaration.
They couldn’t afford to stay idle in Xian for several months waiting for those flags to come down. There seemed to be only one option.
‘We’ll just have to brace ourselves… and push through.’
It seemed there was no avoiding involvement with the martial world. Wi-jeong leaned back in her chair, tilting her head to look at the ceiling. She remained there, lost in thought, for how long she did not know. Finally, a voice called from outside the room.
“Um, Leader. You should come out for a moment.”
“Is it Jo U-il? What is it?”
“It’s… Wang Pyeong and Wang Geol have returned.”
“What? How?”
Wi-jeong jumped up in surprise, so shocked she didn’t realize she was speaking informally. She hurriedly opened the door and followed U-il’s guidance down to the first-floor dining area of the inn.
There, she found two middle-aged men sitting on chairs.
“Wang Pyeong, Wang Geol! You’re alive!”
“Leader!”
Wi-jeong rushed to them. Up close, she saw their legs and arms were splinted, and their heads bandaged, but they seemed mentally clear. With evident relief on her face, she grabbed their hands tightly.
“Thank goodness. I’m sorry we couldn’t come to rescue you.”
“Oh, it’s alright, Leader. We’re fine thanks to this person who saved us.”
“They fished us out of the water, treated us, and even saved Wang Cho and Jang Gang as well. They’re lying in the physician’s bed, but their lives are safe.”
“You mean Wang Cho and Jang Gang too?”
Until just now, she had thought they had all surely perished, but all four were alive. Wi-jeong’s mouth fell open as she shifted her gaze beyond Wang Pyeong. Only then did she notice someone quietly watching their reunion. The person, face obscured under a deep bamboo hat, bowed to her.
Wi-jeong quickly straightened up and deeply bowed in return.
“Thank you, benefactor. These men are important members of our caravan. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for saving them and even treating their injuries.”
“…It’s alright. Thank the children. They were the ones who found and brought these men.”
Standing silently, the man had an unusual yet gentle voice and emanated a faint medicinal scent.
