Chapter 26 Plum Blossom Companions (1)

Chapter 26 Plum Blossom Companions (1)

The journey back to the Huashan Sect was profoundly quiet.

No one spoke, making it resemble a funeral procession.

Yet, no one bowed their head or appeared dejected.

They did not deliberately soil their Huashan Sect robes or change into other garments.

Behold, world.

Behold, evil foes.

Bai Danxian gazed ahead with a countenance as clear as a mirror.

The world’s attention was focused upon them.

Even now, the piercing gazes of those who appeared to be Sado Ryun’s forces were sharp on the streets.

Seeing them, Baek Dan-hyeon felt a fire surge within him. He halted his steps, turned his body, and looked back at Song Muk.

-Catch him.

Baek Dan-hyeon’s lips twitched. In response, Song Muk leaped forward.

“Jin-ak, do you see?”

Baek Dan-hyeon turned his head, his eyes solemn as he gazed at the carriage where Ha Jin-ak lay.

“This is the world you cherished and loved.”

That world made you what you are.

Baek Dan-hyeon covered the wrinkles that had appeared with age with his palm.

As Song Muk returned, dragging a guard, Baek Dan-hyeon’s hand left his mouth.

For the brief time it took to pour tea into a cup, Baek Dan-hyeon had grown slightly younger.

His formidable inner strength momentarily pushed back the aging, and Baek Dan-hyeon’s lips parted slightly.

“There was a time I considered growing old a pleasure of life.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re mistaken!”

“Mistaken…”

Baek Dan-hyeon gestured with his chin toward the front flap of the guard’s tunic. Song Muk nodded sharply and searched the area.

There, a badge marked with the character ‘丁’ (ding) was tucked inside.

“What do you make of this?”

“……”

At those words, the guard hastily rolled his tongue, trying to bite off his tongue.

Then.

Thwack!

Gu Yangjie’s fist, packed with a handful of betting money, slammed into the soldier’s Gihyeopul.

“Guh!”

That single blow made the soldier’s insides twist in agony.

The Gihyeopul was the sea that received the qi.

Among the countless acupoints located on the Ren Meridian, it was the most crucial and smallest in area.

Even after striking such a vital spot, Gu Yangjie’s voice remained flat.

” Spit it out.“

”Guh, ugh.“

”One more punch for every moment you hesitate.”

At Gu Yangjeok’s crisp command, the soldier spat out the poison without protest.

The terror that Gu Yangjeok would strike his Gihyeop point again before he could even swallow it gripped him tightly.

‘In a situation like this, it might be better to…’

Seeing the crowd gathering, the soldier pretended to tremble and clasped his hands.

“I know nothing! Please spare my life!”

“You little…”

Just as Baek Dan-hyeon opened his mouth, Gu Yang-jeok interrupted again.

He saw mockery in the soldier’s eyes.

“If anyone heard us, they’d think we were trying to extort money. You’ve got a pretty sharp mind. You know how to use the crowd to your advantage.”

“……”

“But you picked the wrong target.”

Gu Yangji rolled up one sleeve, recalling the past.

Back when he was called the Bloodhound, there were exactly three things an opponent should never do to him.

Begging for mercy.

Trying to force pity.

And lying.

But this bastard violated all three.

Gu Yangji’s lips quivered slightly.

As he channeled the Zixia True Qi gathered in his dantian, his body shifted slightly.

Wooong.

The surrounding air trembled. Gu Yangji’s hand moved in an instant.

Thud!

The tip of Gu Yangji’s index finger pierced the soldier’s solar plexus.

More precisely, it struck the Zhongting point near the Yutang, close to the heart—the very foundation of life—hitting the vital blood vessel.

“Wh-what is this?”

“Well, have you heard of Jingju?”

At those words, the guard’s face twisted in grimace. Well abscess was considered the most vicious of all skin ulcers.

Simultaneously, he tilted his head in confusion.

Why mention well abscess in this situation?

At that moment, Gwak Un-pae, who had been watching silently, stopped Gu Yang-jeok.

“Brother, no matter how much of a rogue this man is, isn’t this going too far?”

“I don’t see it that way. At this rate, this bastard won’t reveal anything he knows, Elder.”

Gwak Un-pae swallowed his words at the response that came without a moment’s hesitation.

“Does he know something?”

But all Gu Yang-jeok could say was to borrow a name.

In the name of one who could never answer.

“…I cannot elaborate. It was simply the Master’s will.”

“I see. Is that so?”

Guo Yunpei’s gaze briefly turned toward the carriage. Then it returned to its place.

Only Gu Yangji, unable to reveal the truth as it was, remained silent.

‘It will be revealed later, that Sado-ryeon had long since placed the Black Dragon Sect under his command.’

The origin of this truth lay solely in the future. A shadowy realm unknown to the present.

Even then, it was a truth that would never have been revealed had it not been for the Black Dragon Sect’s Guardian.

Gu Yangji also glanced back at the carriage.

‘Until the Elder Brother awakens, I have no choice but to stall with this excuse.’

Gu Yangji tightened his grip on the finger piercing the soldier’s Zhongzheng acupoint.

“I won’t ask much of you. Just tell me who sent you here and why.”

“Th-that…”

As the soldier hesitated to answer, Gu Yangji pushed his inner energy through his fingertip.

“Guh… Ugh?”

The soldier tilted his head in confusion, unable to comprehend this action, but excruciating pain struck instantly.

Gasp.

Agony so intense it drowned out any scream spread throughout his entire upper body.

-Which is preferable: a favorable prognosis, a critical prognosis, or a fatal prognosis?

Hearing that whisper, the soldier could not continue speaking.

In an instant, the skin that had flushed bright red now took on a dark, blackish hue.

The damp-heat toxin had gathered so intensely it was now artificially crushing one area.

‘Was that child capable of such a thing?’

Baek Dan-hyeon, standing behind, frowned but watched silently for now.

By his usual nature, he would have intervened, but not now.

Now, he could tolerate anything.

“Speak.”

Gu Yang-jeok’s cold words brushed past the soldier’s earlobe.

But he couldn’t hear them.

Enduring such agony while listening to another’s words was beyond the weak existence of a lowly soldier.

Nevertheless, Gu Yangjeok repeated.

“Speak.”

Instinctively, he realized that if he didn’t speak, he would die.

It didn’t take long for him to reach that point.

“Red Tiger Ghost!”

A familiar alias.

Red Tiger Demon was, in the near future, a major worm known as one of the Eight Evils of Jiangbei.

Gu Yangjie’s lips parted slightly.

“The reason?”

“I, I don’t know!”

“Right.”

Thud.

Gu Yangjie lightly pushed the soldier aside and flicked his palm clean.

There was nothing more to squeeze out of him anyway. Even if that bastard returned to the Sado League now, he was already a dead man.

Having resolved to live as a cultivator of the Huashan Sect, he couldn’t just open the realm of life and death on a whim.

As annoyance colored Gu Yangji’s face, Song Mu, most accustomed to such situations, spoke up.

“Refrain from evil deeds henceforth.”

At those words, the soldier’s face lit up, and he nodded.

“Thank you, great hero!”

But Song Mu was not the type of cultivator who resolved matters with mere words.

Was he called the Swift Clear Sword for nothing in his youth?

Thud!

Song Mu’s fist struck the soldier’s abdomen once, then withdrew his outstretched hand.

“…Guhh.”

Judging by the guard thrashing on the ground, his lower dantian was undoubtedly rendered useless.

Seeing this, Gu Yangji let out a cold laugh and returned to the driver’s seat.

The sight of someone in the crowd wearing a look of disdain suggested that even as a lowly guard, this fellow had quite the notorious reputation.

“Come on!”

Gu Yangji slowly urged his horse forward. The carriage followed behind him, and the two elders, including Baidanxian, walked along the street.

Despite the presence of three key figures from the Great Martial Gate, it was an exceptionally quiet procession.

* * *

Upon arriving at the Huashan Sect, Gu Yangji personally hoisted the neatly wrapped body of Xia Jin’e onto his back and began the climb.

Thump, thump.

Carrying the weight of a person, especially one limp and lifeless, was no easy task.

But Gu Yangji didn’t grumble about personal matters.

“…They say a Taoist with accumulated virtue feels even the weight of the flesh is light. I suppose that wasn’t the case for our senior brother.”

Gu Yangji’s simple joke broke the heavy atmosphere.

Bai Danxian, whose expression had softened slightly, cautioned Gu Yangji,

“The mountain terrain is treacherous. Be careful.”

“I am well aware, Sect Leader.”

He remembered fleeing under cover of night, but there was no way he would stumble like this in broad daylight.

Gu Yangji clung tightly to Ha Jin’e on his back, despite the sweat pouring down his face.

Perhaps an hour or so had passed since dawn.

Gu Yangjeok glanced up at the commotion of many people.

“Quite a crowd has gathered.”

The faces immediately visible were Yu Jangmyeong and Jo Hun.

Beyond them, the Two Great Protectors—who held positions nearly equal to the Sect Leader—and the three Elders were staring blankly in their direction.

Gu Yangji’s eyes sharpened slightly.

‘I didn’t expect the Protectors to be here.’

The Two Great Protectors, who only intervened when the Discipline Hall and the Precepts Office couldn’t handle matters.

For Gu Yangji, this was the first time he’d ever seen them.

Plum Immortal, Baek Ja-jin, the righteous faction.

His younger brother, the Unselling Incense White Form Immortal, was Zheng Zhongshan.

Zheng Zhongshan, in particular, was famed for losing an arm fighting Asura Satyan, the former Great Dharma Protector of the Old Demon Sect.

Even he wouldn’t have recognized them without the insignia embroidered on their robes.

‘Indeed, things have changed.’

The two Dharma Protectors were senior disciples of the same master as Baek Dan-hyeon.

‘Is this the first time you’ve seen the Four Elders?’

Gyu Yang-jeok suppressed a chuckle at the appearance of these esteemed figures.

‘Weren’t they the ones who didn’t show up in my past life, citing lack of justification and no clear enemy?’

“With power comes responsibility.”

Hadn’t Zheng Falong said that before setting out from Huashan?

Gu Yangjie shook his head. Bullshit.

If you possess power, you must reveal it.

That was the proper way to live in the martial world.

Then, the voices of the elders sounded beside him.

“Zigekang Sect Leader Guo Yunpei greets the Two Great Dharma Protectors!”

“Discipline Master Song Mu greets the Two Great Protectors!”

Gwak Un-pae and Song Mu clasped their hands and knelt on one knee before the Two Great Protectors.

As elders of similar standing to the Sect Leader, this level of deference was absolutely necessary.

No, strictly by seniority, they were even higher than Baek Dan-hyeon, so it went without saying.

But Gu Yang-jeok simply passed right by them.

“……?!”

“That… that’s him!”

Despite the elders’ and Baek Dan-hyeon’s reactions, Gu Yang-jeok silently lifted his sword slightly, adjusting his stance.

Rather than waste time adhering to rigid formalities, he’d rather be a presumptuous disciple.

Seeing this, the righteous faction members suppressed a strange smile.

‘He’s just like him.’

He marveled, recalling the great elder of the Huashan Sect who must still be watching over this place.

“My greetings… circumstances prevent me from offering them now. I shall do so later.”

To a casual ear, Gu Yangji might have sounded arrogant and presumptuous, but the righteous sect leader dismissed it with a laugh.

“Very well. Go to the hospital now.”

“Excuse me.”

His expression showed no sign of apology whatsoever.

Gu Yangji brushed past the Guardian and the three elders.

Amidst this, he caught sight of Yu Zhangming.

“Master.”

“If you have questions, let’s discuss them later.”

Gu Yangji passed by without showing his face.

Yu Zhangming couldn’t hide his look of concern.

Are you alright?

That sentiment was contained within those two simple words.

That was precisely why he didn’t want to talk now.

‘First, I must save the senior brother.’

He had forcibly saved someone who should have died; he didn’t expect the treatment to be easy.

But he was alive, wasn’t he?

Though his soul lay buried beneath his base consciousness, he was breathing, wasn’t he?

Dripping-

The scalding oil and pus flowing from Ha Jin-ak’s body soaked Gu Yang-jeok’s back.

Crack.

Gu Yang-jeok exerted all his strength to unleash his divine technique.

Then he forcefully flung open the clinic door.

“…Quickly, lay him down here!”

At the words of the owner of Plum Blossom Clinic, Qinghouwen, Gu Yangjie hastily tore off the cloth and laid Ha Jin’ak down where the scent of yellow earth lingered.

His actions were so swift and precise that Qinghouwen’s gaze narrowed.

‘To handle qi without damaging the skin… That requires considerable experience.’

Chungho-won’s curiosity ended there. Ha Jin-ak’s condition was worse than expected.

“Explain.”

“The distance was five paces. The amount of gunpowder was roughly equivalent to three cannons.”

“……That’s enough firepower to partially destroy a city gate!”

It was remarkable he maintained human form after absorbing that.

Ha Jin-ak’s skill must surpass the rumors.

Thinking this, Cheonghowon took Ha Jin-ak’s pulse.

“Ugh!”

He knew Ha Jin-ak had no internal energy left due to the poison, but seeing his vital energy completely dried up, Cheonghowon’s expression instantly froze.

In this state, would even the Jasodan be enough to save him?

While Cheonghowon pondered gravely, Guyangjeok wiped down Ha Jin-ak’s entire body with a nearby cloth.

Watching this, Cheonghowon let out a startled gasp.

‘Surely this must be unsightly.’

Moreover, Guyangjeok wiped meticulously, focusing on the acupoints without batting an eye, making it easier to apply the needles.

The surprise was fleeting.

As Qinghowen cautiously picked up the needles, Gu Yangji bowed his head.

“I entrust this to you, Senior Qing.”

With those words, Gu Yangji left the physician’s quarters.

Disturbing a physician on the edge of hyper-concentration was tantamount to killing Ha Jin’ak.

Just as Gu Yangji, who had stood before the physician’s quarters for a moment, was about to head to the training ground, a familiar voice suddenly called out from the side.

“Jiyeok.”

“…Yes, Sect Leader.”

As if he had been waiting, Bai Danxian addressed him, and Gu Yangjeok bowed respectfully in greeting.

In his hand was a bronze-colored badge.

“Do you know anything about the Plum Blossom Sect?”

“……”

Gu Yangjeok hesitated briefly before answering.