Chapter 89 Rest (3)

Chapter 89 Rest (3)

Silently, without pause, La.

Jin Muwol watched Gu Yangji approach this place, his gaze settling.

It was clearly not the look one gives a young disciple of the same sect.

He stared intently, as if observing an unknowable monster, not missing a single breath of Gu Yangji.

He didn’t even seem particularly surprised that Gu Yangjie had casually broken through the formation.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind: I knew he’d do something like that.

But the elder beside him couldn’t contain himself.

“No, how can that possibly be?”

His breathing surged uncontrollably, unable to hide his shock. His pupils dilated wildly, as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.

Duan Wuling, the Tongtian Weng who managed the entire Huashan monastery and the temple’s defenses in Meihua Valley.

A legendary elder of Huashan whose movements were so secretive that even his survival was uncertain, he was also the only person Jin Wuyue could converse with without reservation.

By seniority alone, he ranked higher than Yang Daohu, the fourth senior of the Hundanxian.

“Baek Dan-hyeon, that bastard… Hmph, I always thought he was a guy who’d get tangled up in strangely complicated connections since way back.”

At those words, Jin Mu-wol wore a stern expression.

“No matter how much Dan-hyeon’s status is lower than yours, he’s the current head of the sect now. You should show him proper respect.”

“Proper respect? Do you have any idea how much I’ve suffered cleaning up after that bastard? Just take Yu Zhangming, for instance…“

”Ooh.“

Jin Muwol’s deep voice served as a warning, and Dan Wuling pounded his chest as if his clothes were about to burst.

Yet his face was filled with laughter.

”Oh dear, you’re a celestial being now, so you’ve no ties to the mortal world, is that it? You damn fool.”

“Seems like this isn’t a matter of a day or two.”

Jin Muwol gave a faint smile, and Dan Wuling sighed deeply, as if resigned.

He then looked at Jin Muwol with a regretful expression.

“Not yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Right, I see.”

“If you’re going to keep forcing your way through, at least take this.”

Swish.

Jin Muwol tossed something lightly, and Dan Wuling scrambled to catch it.

It wasn’t just that it was fast.

The problem was that what Jin Muwol threw was utterly ridiculous.

Dan Wuling roared in anger.

“You crazy bastard! You’re giving me this just to keep that kid out of here? Why not just give it to me instead!“

”That’s fine too.“

”……What?“

Jin Muwol flashed an enigmatic smile.

”If you can subdue him and send him back, you can have it.“

”You mean that seriously?“

”Even in your old age, you’re still so greedy and suspicious.”

At that, Dan Wuling laughed heartily in a gruff voice.

“Of course! I won’t live like you. I’ll live long and see the revival of the Huashan Sect.”

“I hope you do.”

Dan Wuling’s expression turned bitter at Jin Muwol’s faint smile.

Dan Wuling’s gaze grew complex.

* * *

“Stop right there.”

Gu Yangjie halted his steps at the voice calling from beyond the darkness.

That distinctive, gravelly voice of an old man, coupled with attire far too simple for what should be a Taoist robe.

Seeing it exactly as he remembered from his past life, Gu Yangjie dismissed even a sliver of doubt.

“Gu Yangjie, disciple of Master Baidanxian, greets Grand Master Dan Wuling.”

As Gu Yangjeok immediately prostrated himself and bowed neatly, Danwooryeong looked at him with renewed surprise.

‘Not only does he effortlessly break through the barrier I laid down, but he also recognizes me?’

Danwooryeong had revealed himself fewer times than even the two great Dharma Protectors.

Above all, he hadn’t shown his face once when Baek Dan-hyeon ascended to the position of Grand Master, nor when Ha Jin-ak returned as a half-corpse.

So how could Gu Yang-ji possibly recognize him?

Dan Woo-ryeong couldn’t hide his unease and cleared his throat several times.

“Hmm, ahem. You’re a child of remarkable insight. But what brings you here?”

“……”

“If you’ve lost your way, I’ll guide you.”

At those words, Gu Yangji, who had been holding his tongue, flashed a look of realization.

“Does Your Excellency know as well?”

“What are you implying?”

“That you’re not blocking my access to Plum Blossom Valley, I mean.”

Realizing the sharp edge behind Gu Yangji’s words, Dan Wuling understood he could no longer waste time with wordplay.

In fact, if he continued like this, he would be the one at a disadvantage.

Once the sun was fully risen, the disciples of Huashan would come looking for Gu Yangji, who had suddenly become famous. They would start searching once they realized he was missing.

That was not what Dan Wuling wanted.

‘I never imagined this bastard would break the formation.’

Hiding these thoughts, Dan Wuling gave a sly grin.

“Then what should we do?”

“……”

After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Yangji offered a prompt reply.

“We must return.”

“Yes, ultimately… What?”

“I’ve heard you oversee not only the hermitages across Huashan but also the mountain paths. In truth, regarding access to Huashan, your authority surpasses even Elder Guo’s.”

It wasn’t exactly wrong, and since he didn’t know the reason behind the remark, Dan Wuling wore a slightly uneasy expression.

“That may be so.”

“I have many reasons to travel outside, so I don’t want to make enemies. I only came because there’s something I want to know.”

At those words, Danwooryeong put on a deliberately serious expression.

“If it’s something I can answer, I’ll tell you.”

“Why aren’t you asking me?”

“……?”

He’d expected a direct question about Maehwa-dong, but this rather unexpected query made Dan Woo-ryeong sigh deeply, as if relieved.

“What are you talking about?”

“How I’m passing through this formation’s gate, why I’m not accompanying the Sect Leader. You didn’t ask, but told me to stop first?”

“……!!”

He hadn’t uttered a single word about Maehwa-dong. Yet each question felt like it pierced Dan Wuling’s very core.

For instance.

It implied that breaking the formation was less important than stopping him, rather than questioning his solitary entry into Plum Blossom Valley.

Even as Dan Wuling’s expression froze as cold as ice, Gu Yangji continued his questioning.

“What does Grandmaster think of my senior brother, Yu Zhangming?”

“…Go! How dare you refer to your own elder brother so casually!”

For a very brief moment—barely a flicker—his reaction was unmistakably slow.

After a long pause, Gu Yangjeok bit his lower lip with his canine tooth. Dan Wuling’s aura was that heavy, that viscous.

“Then let me ask differently. Does Your Excellency perhaps know of any peculiar traits possessed by Brother Yu?”

As he uttered this question, Gu Yangji felt a sharp pang in his heart.

And no wonder—it meant doubting Yu Zhangming, whom he had held so dear.

Even if the reason were positive.

Gu Yangjeok recalled the questions he had been harboring until now.

‘Despite reaching the pinnacle through enlightenment, he gained no martial insights, possessed no goals, yet paradoxically attained a state of perfect maturity.’

‘When I asked Yu Jangmyeong for teachings, he said there was nothing to teach.’

Above all, there was what Yu Jangmyeong had said.

That at the end of the path to the pinnacle, there was something tender.

That was, above all, something alien.

Immunity to fire.

Indestructibility.

Immunity to poison.

Transcendence.

Overcoming desire.

There were countless names for such realizations, and each sect named them according to their own teachings.

But there was a common thread.

Superhuman.

It meant transcending the ordinary at noon, becoming untouched by external influences, mentally or physically.

But tenderness?

That was, above all, a human emotion. It wasn’t the pathless way to climb the narrow pass of heaven, beyond the peak.

That’s why he worried, and asked the formidable master Jin Muwol to teach him the Eternal Name.

And he was refused outright.

The subtle attitude Jin Muwol displayed then still lingered in Gu Yangjie’s mind.

“What on earth is there?”

“…….”

“What is there that makes you prioritize my arrival over breaking the formation? And also…….”

Gu Yangjie clenched his fist tightly once, then opened it. Before he knew it, cold sweat had dampened his palms.

“What is there that you’re hiding even from the Sect Leader?”

If Baek Dan-hyeon knew as much as Jin Mu-wol or Dan Woo-ryeong, he wouldn’t have been able to treat him so casually until now.

Gu Yang-jeok asked, half—no, almost—certain.

“Do you know how old I am?”

It was a question only possible because Dan Wuling didn’t reside permanently at the Huashan Sect but wandered about.

Moreover, the old man was generally uninterested in others’ ages.

If he had heard something from Jin Muwol, he would surely give an unusual answer.

‘Surely… he doesn’t know I’ve returned to the past.’

While Gu Yangji waited for an answer, Dan Wuling seemed to have every hair on his body standing on end.

What kind of disciple was this?

Had he held onto that doubt all this time and finally let it out?

Dan Wuling let out a long sigh.

‘Still, he is a disciple of the Huashan Sect. I can’t subdue him…’

Above all, he was a talent indispensable for the future of the Huashan Sect.

With that thought, Dan Wuling softened his tone.

“You’re barely eighteen, aren’t you?”

“……”

“Jie.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“When the time comes, I will tell you. Until then, bear with it.”

Dan Wuling drew something concealed within his sleeve.

“……!”

Gu Yangji His eyes widened.

* * *

Rustle.

The plum blossom pavilion atop Mount Huashan.

There, a man believed never to rise again was lifting himself up.

“Haah, haah.”

His body trembled like rusted hinges in the wind, and even exhaling in the winter air was an effort.

No one had wished for the man to revive, but no one had expected him to rise from his sickbed.

Given the nature of the warrior, they believed miracles did not exist.

Even if the Primordial Heavenly Lord aided him, they thought it would only end with a brief moment of lucidity.

But the man rose. Though he staggered as if his legs might break at any moment, he lifted his body by his own strength.

Swoosh, swoosh-swoosh.

Then, step by step, one step, two steps, three steps.

He walked, even if it meant his ankles would buckle. Even when his vision flickered as if he had a fever, he merely frowned and did not stop.

Creak!

When he finally opened the door.

The man shed hot tears.

“You’re back.”

To my volcano.

Ha Jin-ak leaned against the doorframe, weeping silently.