Once they had taken their seats in the main hall, Kwak Yeon could not keep himself from asking at once.
“Senior Brother Hyeonmun, what brought you to the Martial Alliance?”
Their appearance was so unexpected that even as he sat across from them, he could hardly believe they were truly there.
“Junior Brother Kwak, when the first thing you ask is why we came, you make it sound as though we have turned up somewhere we have no right to be.”
Hyeonmun Dojang put on an aggrieved expression before continuing.
“Should you not ask how we have been first?”
Kwak Yeon hurriedly replied.
“Of course I meant to ask. I was simply so surprised to see you—and so happy that...”
“I know.”
Hyeonmun Dojang cut him off with a faint smile.
“I only felt like giving you a hard time because you have been so thoughtless.”
“......”
“How could you go all this time without sending so much as a single letter? I could let it pass, but...”
Hyeonmun Dojang glanced at Taoist Cheongmu, who had been grinning at Kwak Yeon without taking his eyes off him, then let out a quiet sigh.
“Whew. In any event, I have occasionally heard rumors of your exploits. Martial Uncle Uncheon once visited the Hall of Heroic Martiality and told us that your progress had soared like a divine dragon.”
Kwak Yeon had already heard from Uncheon Zhenren that he had visited the Hall of Heroic Martiality, so he listened in silence.
“But now that I see you in person, I can tell that you have reached still greater heights.”
“Whatever I have achieved, I owe to your teachings, Senior Brother Hyeonmun.”
Hyeonmun Dojang had not only laid the foundation for all of Kwak Yeon’s martial arts, but had also set the course of his life. His gratitude was sincere.
“Though it is long overdue, I would like to offer you my thanks.”
As Kwak Yeon began to rise, Hyeonmun Dojang abruptly spoke.
“Why are you trying to thank me twice?”
“......?”
“By accepting my sword, you already gave me your thanks.”
Emotion suddenly welled up inside Kwak Yeon.
It was customary for a disciple to receive a sword bestowed by his master.
Kwak Yeon, however, belonged to the Taoist-immortal line of Samryeong Palace and could not receive such a ceremony. His master, Unseon Taoist, had already ascended as well.
He knew that Hyeonmun Dojang had considered his circumstances and forged the Blue-Steel Sword before sending it to him.
Yet Hyeonmun Dojang was saying that Kwak’s acceptance of the sword had been thanks enough. The words made his heart tremble.
“You have reached the highest heights in martial arts, yet why is your heart still no different from your days in the Hall of Heroic Martiality?”
After delivering that stinging rebuke, Hyeonmun Dojang put on a deliberately displeased expression.
“Now I understand why your journey through the martial world has been so arduous.”
Kwak Yeon smiled.
“Back then, the Instructor at the Hall of Heroic Martiality clicked his tongue and told me that a man could never change his inborn nature. It appears I am still exactly as he said.”
“That Instructor had a fine eye for character.”
“It seems so. Even now, the memory of his thunderous command to uphold chivalry and justice snaps me to attention.”
“That Instructor burdened you with a load you will carry for the rest of your life.”
“And I am presently worried that the same Instructor has come to saddle me with yet another.”
“Hah! They say the latter waves of the Yangtze drive out those before them. I can no longer match your tongue, Junior Brother Kwak.”
Hyeonmun Dojang laughed heartily before continuing.
“In any case, I did not come today to burden you. I came because someone else burdened me.”
“......?”
“We can discuss that when the opportunity arises...”
Seeing Hyeonmun Dojang’s gaze shift toward Taoist Cheongmu, Kwak Yeon immediately realized who that burden was.
“First, I should explain why I came to the Martial Alliance. Because Martial Uncle Uncheon had to hurry here, the expedition’s supplies were inadequate. I was placed in charge of the supply train and brought it here.”
“I see.”
Kwak Yeon had seen Uncheon Zhenren and Wudang’s disciples searching for a guesthouse tavern because they had come ill-prepared for the journey, so he readily nodded.
“We arrived at dawn today. I met Martial Uncle Uncheon and delivered the supplies to the expedition, so tomorrow I will lead the supply train back.”
“You are returning to the main mountain so soon?”
“Most of the people in the supply train are lay workers. Do you think they would feel at ease in the Martial Alliance, surrounded by martial artists?”
The workers were ordinary people. The martial artists who filled the Martial Alliance would naturally intimidate them.
“I suppose not.”
Kwak Yeon answered with a noticeably disappointed expression, prompting Hyeonmun Dojang to continue.
“That is why I came straight to the Inner Fortress to find you. If I did not see you today, I would have to return without seeing your face at all. Besides... Martial Nephew Cheongmu badgered me so relentlessly that I could hardly remain seated for a moment. Then he caused trouble, so I had to set everything else aside and come here early this morning.”
“Trouble?”
“When I told him that I was busy and would not be able to visit you until the afternoon, Martial Nephew Cheongmu disappeared. Not long afterward, Martial Alliance warriors brought him back. They said they had caught him trying to climb over the Inner Fortress wall.”
“......!”
When Kwak Yeon looked at him, Taoist Cheongmu scratched the back of his head vigorously and spoke.
“......Little Martial Uncle, I thought I would find you if I just crossed one wall.”
Taoist Cheongmu was not calling the towering walls of the Inner Fortress a mere wall because he was dull-witted.
Before his abilities, they truly were no more than an ordinary wall.
Kwak Yeon recalled Taoist Cheongmu nimbly scaling the sheer, slick face of Immortal Aura Cliff and smiled.
“I can understand why you thought that. But you must never do it again. It may be acceptable on Mount Wudang, but you cannot behave that way outside.”
“All right, Little Martial Uncle!”
Taoist Cheongmu answered with a bright smile, then suddenly whipped his head toward the inner room.
“Little Martial Uncle, there is someone inside...?”
Kwak Yeon knew that Taoist Cheongmu’s five senses were keener than anyone else’s, so he nodded.
“Someone traveling with me is inside.”
“Someone traveling with Little Martial Uncle...? Then is that person your friend?”
“......Something like that.”
Kwak Yeon gave an evasive reply before calling toward the corridor leading to the inner room.
“Lady Jin, please come out.”
Jin Cheongha emerged from the corridor.
“Oh? Little Martial Uncle, that person is a woman!”
At Taoist Cheongmu’s cry, Hyeonmun Dojang also turned to look at Jin Cheongha.
“......?”
Taoist Cheongmu beamed.
“Ah! Then she must be Little Martial Uncle’s lady friend.”
Seeing Jin Cheongha’s cheeks turn faintly red, Kwak Yeon hurriedly addressed Hyeonmun Dojang.
“Senior Brother Hyeonmun, Lady Jin is a disciple of Reed-Blossom Gate in Nanjing Prefecture. We happened to meet on the way to the Martial Alliance and have been traveling together.”
Jin Cheongha offered Hyeonmun Dojang a cupped-hands salute and bowed.
“I am Jin Cheongha, a disciple of Reed-Blossom Gate.”
Hyeonmun Dojang returned a silent bow.
“I am Hyeonmun, a first-generation disciple of Wudang Sect’s Ujin Palace.”
Jin Cheongha also offered Taoist Cheongmu a cupped-hands salute.
“Taoist, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jin Cheongha of Reed-Blossom Gate.”
Taoist Cheongmu bent deeply at the waist, straightened, and spoke.
“I am Cheongmu, so...”
“Taoist Cheongmu, please speak freely with me.”
Taoist Cheongmu’s face brightened at her words.
“I am Little Martial Uncle’s martial nephew.”
Seeing Taoist Cheongmu proudly square his shoulders, Jin Cheongha could not help smiling.
That one gesture was enough to show how dearly Taoist Cheongmu regarded Kwak Yeon.
Jin Cheongha turned to Kwak Yeon.
“Chief Secretary Kwak, forgive me for intruding on your conversation. I thought Hu Gae had arrived and rushed out without thinking.”
“It is all right.”
Kwak Yeon shook his head.
“I am not the only person using this guest residence. Besides, I am grateful that you came out just now.”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“Senior Brother Hyeonmun has come a long way, yet I have not even offered him a cup of tea. I would be grateful if you could go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare a meal.”
“Ah! That is no trouble at all. I will go at once.”
“Lady Jin, please wait a moment.”
“......?”
Kwak Yeon turned to Hyeonmun Dojang.
“Senior Brother Hyeonmun, the Martial Alliance headquarters is vast, and its kitchen is correspondingly large. I believe Martial Nephew Cheongmu would enjoy seeing it. Would that be all right?”
Hyeonmun Dojang readily nodded.
“Do as you like, Junior Brother Kwak. It is indeed not a sight one often gets to see.”
Kwak Yeon turned toward Taoist Cheongmu.
“Senior Brother Hyeonmun has given his permission, so Martial Nephew Cheongmu, please go with Lady Jin.”
Taoist Cheongmu looked back and forth between Hyeonmun Dojang and Kwak Yeon.
“But I want to stay with Little Martial Uncle...”
“I am not going anywhere. I will remain right here. You know that I always keep my promises, do you not?”
“It is not that I do not know...”
Jin Cheongha realized that Kwak Yeon wished to speak privately with Hyeonmun Dojang and stepped in.
“Taoist Cheongmu, come with me. You must know better than anyone what dishes Hyeonmun Dojang and Chief Secretary Kwak enjoy.”
Taoist Cheongmu puffed out his chest.
“That is true.”
“Then please come with me and tell the Martial Alliance’s cooks. On the way back, I will show you around the Martial Alliance as well. I even know a place where you can see Righteous Heaven Hall, where the Martial Alliance Leader resides, at a glance.”
Only then did Taoist Cheongmu become interested enough to rise.
“Little Martial Uncle, then I will be right back.”
Once Taoist Cheongmu had followed Jin Cheongha out, Hyeonmun Dojang spoke.
“I was wondering how I could pry Martial Nephew Cheongmu away from your side. Well done.”
“My apologies again.”
Kwak Yeon knew how much difficulty Taoist Cheongmu must have caused Hyeonmun Dojang, so he offered another apology before asking a question.
“Why did eldest senior brother Hyeonhae, the Palace Lord, entrust Taoist Cheongmu to you, Senior Brother Hyeonmun?”
“It was entirely because of you.”
“......!”
“After you left the mountain, Martial Nephew Cheongmu seemed to have nowhere to set his heart. He began staring toward Blue Cloud Bridge more often with each passing day, and lately, I heard that he had even begun wasting away from grief.”
Kwak Yeon’s chest grew painfully heavy, as though something were gouging into it.
“Palace Lord Hyeonhae heard that the supply train was going to the Martial Alliance and asked me to bring Martial Nephew Cheongmu along. Cheongmu had been confined to the mountain all this time, so he thought that perhaps even a brief breath of outside air might help. Most of the people in the supply train were lay workers whom Cheongmu would not find intimidating, and we would only stop briefly at the Martial Alliance before returning directly. He judged that the journey would suit Cheongmu perfectly.”
“......!”
“But when we arrived, rumors that you were here were everywhere.”
Kwak Yeon had already heard everything that happened afterward, so he quietly lowered his head in gratitude.
“I am deeply grateful that you cared for Martial Nephew Cheongmu, Senior Brother Hyeonmun.”
“There is no need to thank me separately. I had to make the journey either way, and Martial Nephew Cheongmu’s company kept it from becoming tedious. If anything, I enjoyed having him beside me. What worries me is that we must take him from you and return to Mount Wudang almost as soon as you have met.”
Kwak Yeon had been worried about that very thing from the moment he saw Hyeonmun Dojang and Taoist Cheongmu.
He was overjoyed and deeply happy to see them, but thoughts of the pain and sorrow of their approaching farewell had already entered his mind.
The worry weighed even more heavily on him because he himself would soon have to leave the Martial Alliance.
“All who meet must one day part, and Martial Nephew Cheongmu will have to endure such pain if he is to mature. I know it cannot be helped. Still, when I consider his gentle and innocent nature, I cannot put my mind at ease. That is why I would like you to spend at least tonight with him.”
Kwak Yeon immediately bowed his head.
“It was what I wished for in my heart, but I did not dare ask.”
For this one day, Kwak Yeon wanted to forget all under heaven.
He thought he had earned that much.
He had spent all this time running forward without a moment’s rest.
Perhaps this unexpected reunion with Taoist Cheongmu was the Primordial Heavenly Venerable’s reward for those labors.
At that moment, Hyeonmun Dojang smiled brightly.
“When no outsiders are present, you may address Cheongmu as your martial nephew. Just as I am addressing you now, Junior Brother Hyeonmu.”
*****
Grand Strategist Sagong Ui left the gates of the Strategists’ Office for the first time in quite a while, intending to visit the guest residence.
The matters concerning the Great Demon Prison were secrets that could not be handled carelessly in the slightest. He could not entrust their delivery to Strategists’ Office personnel or anyone else.
A succession of unforeseen incidents had caused him considerable difficulty of late, but the storm of major events that erupted the previous night had brought matters more or less to a close.
The scars left behind by the storm could simply be covered and repaired, allowing Grand Strategist Sagong Ui to finally breathe a little easier.
FLUTTER.
Grand Strategist Sagong Ui was fanning himself with his crane-feather fan as he headed toward the guest residence when he suddenly froze in place like a stone statue.
He had spotted a powerfully built Taoist walking beside the Young Castle Lord of Ghost Night Castle.
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