Tangmunjeon - Chapter 385



Only Krnovel

Tangmunjeon Episode 385

Sunna Seung

If Namgung Myung had been the one discussing the survival of the Jeongpa martial arts world, Dang Mujin would have let that story go in one ear and out the other.

However, if the speaker is Namgung Jincheon, the weight of the story changes. Namgung Jincheon was a person who never lied.

Dang Mu-jin asked.

“How much time do you think you have until the leader reaches that realm?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m rushing even more.”

Dang Mu-jin nodded.

“···I see. Now I understand. I wondered why you sent Banyeop Doin at that time… It seems you intended to bring up the most shocking story at the most important moment to rally the Jeongpa warriors. Namgung Myeongdo will understand your true feelings.”

Namgung Jincheon asked back after hearing that story.

“Why is the name Ming mentioned there?”

“Didn’t you send Banyeop Doin on purpose to coincide with Namgung Myeong’s wedding day?”

“···Are you confused?”

It seemed that Banyeop had not conveyed the situation that day.

Dang Mu-jin tried to cover up the situation with an unnatural smile, but Namgung Jin-cheon got up from his seat with a serious expression and went outside. Based on the circumstances, it was clear that he had gone to find Ban-yeop.

Dang Mu-jin became a little anxious.

‘···Did you say that for nothing?’

When Dang Mu-jin became nervous, Yoo Yoo-do-in smiled and said.

“Gunlun Mountain is such a remote place that it’s hard to hear news from the outside world. It’s even harder these days. Namgung Jincheon must have just found out that my son got married.”

Oh, dear. Dang Mu-jin said quietly, mourning Ban-yeop.

“···I see. Anyway, I’ve listened to your story. We’ll take a break and find a way to help the Kunlun Sect.”

“Thank you.”

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong quickly got up from their seats.

Although it was not intentional, the people who created the situation where Banyeop delivered the news of Namgung Jincheon’s death that day were Dang Mujin and his friends.

But that’s already in the past. Dangmujin and Hyeon-gong decided to be a little more shameless.

‘I didn’t do it knowing the circumstances… Anyway, I don’t think it’s my fault.’

*

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong hid in a corner of the largest hall.

There were a lot of children running around inside the dojo, which made it noisy, but that was also what Dangmujin and Hyeon-gong had intended.

Even Namgung Jincheon, who is not rough in the world, or Banyeop, who holds a grudge after being scolded by Namgung Jincheon, would not act rough in a place with many children.

Dang Mu-jin, who had found peace of mind, soon became lost in thought.

‘What should I do now?’

The thought that the leader of the Demonic Cult had surpassed his peak and was approaching a realm beyond that kept coming to my mind.

‘Should I go help the old man, the Sword Master, and eliminate the cult leader right away?’

No, that’s nonsense.

It was said that the swordsman Namgung Jincheon also met the leader under the guidance of the monk Soreumsa.

It would be nearly impossible to break through the cult and meet its leader without assistance, and even if you were to miraculously meet the leader, the chances of being able to eliminate him would be extremely low.

Namgung Jincheon also seemed not to have considered that possibility.

‘Then should I go back to the Central Plains?’

But even if we returned to the Central Plains, there was no special solution.

Urging those who have already left for each place to come back again won’t cause the Jeongpa unmanned forces to gather any faster.

Dang Mu-jin looked to the side, concluding his unanswerable worries. Hyun-gong was also lost in thought with a serious expression.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I was just thinking that you never know what will happen in the world.”

Hyun-gong looked back on the past and felt a little regretful.

‘Should I have joined the Demonic Cult even if it meant pushing myself a little back then…?’

In Hyun-gong’s view, there was a high chance that the Demonic Cult would successfully take over the Central Plains martial arts world.

And Hyun-gong was a person who thought it was wiser to side with the advantageous side and get a piece of the pie rather than trying to turn things around by being on the disadvantaged side.

‘The problem was that I betrayed Kwangyeomra as soon as I saw signs that things were going wrong. Rather, if you show sincerity and persuade the other person in a slightly wrong situation, trust will deepen even more… I tried to take the safe path and ended up in trouble instead. Was this what Seonhyeon meant when he said that the more urgent it was, the more you should turn back?’

But while he was regretting it, Seol-hwa’s face appeared in Hyun-gong’s mind.

Hyun-gong slowly inhaled and exhaled. An unknown heat was felt on Hyun-gong’s exhalation.

On the day Seolhwa died, a small flame took root in Hyungong’s heart.

The flames weren’t hot enough to burn Hyun-gong, but they were more than enough to burn away distracting thoughts.

After Seolhwa died, Hyungong thought about it.

If the cult leader had simply killed Baek Hyang-ah, or if her condition had not gotten that bad, wouldn’t Seol-hwa have been able to survive without getting caught up in trouble?

In fact, Hyun-gong knew that it was not a matter of punishing the leader. The one who had the most influence in Seol-hwa’s death was definitely the Bukhae Ice Palace Lord, and then the So-sang-gak-ju or the Dae-byeok-gak-ju.

If we judge rationally, the role played by the cult leader in Seolhwa’s death was not that great.

However, Hyun-gong had to make the cult leader pay for his actions, because all the other people who were responsible for Seol-hwa’s death were dead.

Hyun-gong needed someone to take revenge on.

The empty space left in Hyun-gong’s heart by Seol-hwa was so big. It was so big that he had to fill the empty space in his heart with revenge in order to endure.

Furthermore, even if we separate the story from the story, it is too late to turn the situation around.

Hyungong is the one who took the initiative to gather the martial arts community together to fight against the Demonic Cult. In fact, he was in a situation where he had no choice but to surrender to the Demonic Cult.

‘I’m already on the tiger’s back. I can’t get off.’

As Hyun-gong finished making his decision, Ban-yeop quietly entered the temple.

Judging by his slightly pouty expression, it was clear to anyone that he had heard something from Namgung Jincheon.

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong hid their presence without even making a sound.

But in a dungeon where there is no place to hide, there is no reason to avoid being caught by hiding your presence.

The moment their eyes met, Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong both stood up from their seats without saying a word and greeted Ban-yeop with a friendly attitude.

“Oh my, where have you been? I couldn’t find you for a long time!”

“···You were looking for me?”

“Yes. I was concerned about the fact that you performed a spell earlier and vomited blood. As a member of the National Assembly, I was very worried about the condition of Master Banyeop’s body.”

Banyeop made a slightly embarrassed expression. However, you can’t spit on a smiling face.

Banyeop had to suppress the small anger and sadness in his heart.

Banyeop said with a deep sigh.

“I happened to come here for a similar reason.”

“For similar reasons?”

“There is a critically ill patient. I heard that the head of the family is a famous doctor. Could you please examine his condition for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“Come this way.”

The three people left the temple.

However, the distance to where the patient was was further than Dangmujin and Hyeon-gong thought.

The place where Banyeop, Dangmujin, and Hyeon-gong arrived was the next peak.

“This way.”

When we finally arrived, there was a two-building concourse.

Likewise, it was shabby and uninhabited, but when Banyeop moved the objects in the yard here and there, its original appearance was revealed.

There were more than a hundred people crowded into the temple, and in the middle of the yard, a Taoist monk of considerable age was sitting cross-legged.

Dang Mu-jin immediately realized that the patient Ban-yeop had spoken of was a Taoist monk sitting cross-legged.

The Taoist monk was so skinny that even someone who knew nothing about medicine would think he was in danger. He reminded me of the monk Damjeong I had seen at Shaolin Temple.

Banyeop introduced the Taoist.

“It’s Wonpyeong’s death penalty.”

Wonpyeong smiled with his thin face and nodded toward Dangmujin and Hyeon-gong.

Dang Mu-jin squatted down next to Won-pyeong and asked him as he always did when dealing with a patient.

“Where are you uncomfortable?”

Wonpyeong wrote on the dirt with his finger and spoke to Dangmujin.

– Sometimes my heart beats fast and I get a headache. It’s more than normal, so I’m worried that something might go wrong.

Dang Mu-jin waited for the next story, but that was the end of Won-pyeong’s story.

‘···There’s no way the symptoms could end at just that?’

Instead of asking questions, Dang Mu-jin grabbed Won-pyeong’s wrist.

But because the pulse felt on his wrist was too weak, Dang Mu-jin put his hand on Won-pyeong’s neck.

Dang Mu-jin spoke in a pretended calm voice.

“The pulse is slow but coarse, and the body temperature is higher than that of an ordinary person.”

The symptoms were strange from the start.

When there is a problem with the body, the pulse is usually fast and rough, or slow and weak. However, a Taoist’s pulse is slow and rough.

Furthermore, it is rare for the pulse to slow down while the body temperature rises.

Then, Dang Mu-jin, hiding his secret feelings, lightly touched Won-pyeong’s side. When Won-pyeong squirmed slightly, Dang Mu-jin applied a little force and pressed down on Won-pyeong’s forehead.

Wonpyeong’s expression became a little more frowning.

“Looking at your sides and chest, it looks like you also have symptoms of chest tightness.”

Dang Mu-jin spoke calmly, but this symptom was also strange.

If the sides and groin were this stiff, they should have cried out in pain or twisted their body when touched.

Dang Mu-jin tilted his head slightly, then touched and massaged Won-pyeong’s hands, feet, and various parts of his body to check his reaction.

“If you’re in pain, don’t just endure it. Speak up.”

Dang Mu-jin stimulated several points where Won-pyeong felt severe pain. However, Won-pyeong’s response was always vague.

Finally, Dang Mu-jin placed his hand on Won-pyeong’s stomach and poured his internal energy into it to examine the condition of his acupuncture points and organs.

“It seems like it’s been a long time since I last ate, and my stomach is moving extremely slowly. The circulation of the internal energy extending to my limbs is not smooth. However, there is a thick heat in my head.”

Even the heat from the head does not stop and leaks out in all directions.

Dang Mu-jin has never seen a patient like this before. It is a symptom he has never heard of before.

Dang Mu-jin couldn’t speak hastily about the results and kept his mouth shut. Anyone could tell that he was not confident.

Wonpyeong smiled as if he had known this would happen, then went back to writing on the dirt floor.

– As long as it doesn’t cause sudden death, it’s enough.

As expected, Wonpyeong knew better than anyone that his physical condition was not normal.

Dang Mu-jin smiled at Won-pyeong as if telling him not to worry, then spoke to Ban-yeop in a voice as small as an ant.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. How on earth did this happen? There are too many symptoms that are unlikely to appear together.”

Banyeop nodded and answered.

“It’s because of sorcery.”

“Sorcery?”

“If you use Taoism in moderation, there won’t be any particular problems, but if you use Taoism excessively without preparation, it will harm your body.”

Dang Mu-jin understood the meaning of the expression, ‘As long as it doesn’t die suddenly, it’s enough.’

Both Wonpyeong and Banyeop knew that Wonpyeong was heading towards death.

“Taoism inevitably goes against the natural order. The Emperor is generous and will overlook a certain amount of rudeness, but if you want to perform a feat that greatly goes against the will of heaven, you must offer a sacrifice and prepare the necessary price. And right now, the Kunlun sect is not in a position to offer a sacrifice and prepare the necessary price.”

Dang Mu-jin, who was listening to the story, asked.

“What are you doing now, Wonpyeong Doin?”

“You’ve been hiding this mansion and its people for four months alone.”

“Wasn’t that something that was accomplished through logic? Things like the positions of stone lanterns and stone statues···.”

Banyeop nodded.

“Of course that’s important. But a formation that can completely fool the senses of a person with keen senses cannot be achieved with just the arrangement of buildings and structures.”

Indeed, if formations were that easy, there would be no building in the world that wasn’t hidden by formations.

Although neither Tang Wujin nor Xuan Gong knew much about Taoism, it was not difficult to guess that hiding a Taoist temple for several months was a much more difficult feat than the Shukji method.

Dang Mu-jin thought back to Wonpyeong Do-in’s physical condition and collected his thoughts.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t give you a good story. The condition is serious.

Dang Mu-jin whispered to Ban-yeop again.

“If something happens to Wonpyeong Doin, what happens then?”

“The disciple of the executioner will succeed him.”

Banyeop glanced back as he spoke.

In the place where Banyeop’s eyes landed, there was a young Taoist man who looked to be at most a little over twenty years old. When Wonpyeong Taoist passes away, he is the young man who will take over his role.

Even to the young Dang Mu-jin, he was too young.

The young man must have thought the same thing, because there was an unmistakable fear in the young Taoist’s eyes.

Dang Mu-jin let out a deep sigh.

“That’s harsh.”

“There’s nothing you can do. Those who endure as long as they can, and then run away without looking back when things get tough, are not called guardians.”

Dang Mu-jin pressed his temples.

Difficult decisions always require sacrifice. Even though Yu Yu-do knew that this would happen, he still set foot on Kunlun Mountain.

This time, Ban-yeop whispered to Dang Mu-jin.

“Is there a solution?”

Dang Mu-jin couldn’t answer easily.

Dangmujin could relieve the heat in his head and suppress the pain, but he could not come up with a way to solve all the problems and save Wonpyeongdoin.

Since the symptoms are beyond the realm of medicine, the solution must also be beyond the realm of medicine.

Hyun-gong, who had been listening to the story quietly, said.

“Dangmujin.”

“huh?”

“What do you think is the most serious symptom?”

Dang Mu-jin thought carefully and then said.

“The heat in my head.”

Unsmooth circulation of the stomach, dull movements of the stomach, chest tightness, dull sensation.

Such symptoms are not life-threatening right away. However, the heat in the head is different. It could burst at any moment, and if it does, it will kill you immediately. You can relieve the heat a little with acupuncture, but it is only a temporary solution.

Hyun-gong said in a slightly uncertain voice.

“Dangmujin. How about using Danhwaseon (?樺蘚)?”

“Short story?”

Danhwaseon is the name of the moss that grows at the base of short birch trees.

However, Dang Mu-jin only knew the name of the moss, and did not know its efficacy.

However, Dang Mu-jin did not ignore Hyun-gong’s opinion.

Firstly, it was because Dang Mu-jin never ignored other people’s opinions regarding medicine, and secondly, because Hyeon-gong’s achievements in medicine were not low.

Hyun-gong stayed at Danggajang for a long time and studied medicine more actively than Nam-gung-myeong or Hong-geol-gae, so his accomplishments were better than those of other doctors.

Even Hyun-gong’s medical skills had one important characteristic.

The fact that he is strangely knowledgeable about the efficacy of a complex plant that is neither a elixir nor a medicinal herb.

“I’ve never used Danhwasun as a medicine. How does it work?”

“It’s a bit cold in nature, and it helps with headaches and corrects the imbalance of the stomach. Strictly speaking, it’s not a medicinal herb, but rather a very weak elixir. So you have to take a lot of it…”

First of all, the direction of the effect is excellent.

It wasn’t something that could be used directly on patients, but it was worth trying to see the effects by taking it directly. There were no other solutions, so it was worth trying.

But there is one very fundamental problem, Dang Mu-jin said.

“The problem is that there is no single-line connection right now.”

“Short birch trees are common in cool, high places. And once you find the short birch, you can find it in large quantities, so if you find it, you won’t be short of it.”

When Hyun-gong had finished talking, the surroundings suddenly became as quiet as a mouse.

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong looked back. There were strangers there.

The strangers consisted of four monks, all of whom had somewhat unusual appearances.

He was wearing a bright scarlet robe that was not commonly worn, and the shape of his facial features was clearly different from that of an ordinary middle-aged person.

Among them, the three monks at the back were of strong build and appeared to be in their forties or fifties.

But the monk standing in front was so old that it was hard to tell his age, he was short and had a very thin build. He was so thin that his cheeks were sunken, but his eyes were clear.

And Dang Mu-jin intuitively realized that the oldest monk in the front of the four monks was the monk from So-roe-eum-sa that Namgung Jin-cheon had spoken about.

People looked at the four monks with bated breath.

However, the four monks just looked around as if they were not seeing the people staying in the temple.

I don’t know how they found out and came all the way here, but it’s clear that the monks don’t know the true nature of the dharma.

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong quietly glared at the monks of So-roe-eum-sa Temple, wondering if they could attack those monks and kill them.

At that time, Banyeop spoke.

“Stand back. Even though we have a formation in place, if we move too aggressively or get too close, they will sense our presence.”

“Are you just telling me to send it back?”

“There was a similar situation before. At that time, Elder Namgung Jincheon just let them go. He said that if even one person ran away, it would be impossible to clean up the mess.”

Dang Mu-jin couldn’t hold back his regret and kept wringing his hands.

‘If you read the dog’s soul, you should be able to handle it…’

But I’m not sure.

I couldn’t foresee what the consequences would be if the plan went awry, and I didn’t have the confidence to handle the consequences. Too many people’s lives were at stake.

In the end, Dang Mu-jin shook his head and relaxed his shoulders.

‘It’s better to act cautiously. The opportunity will come again.’

Fortunately, the four monks didn’t seem to notice anything, just took a quick look around the temple and left.

Only then did the people staying in the temple breathe a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere loosened up a bit again. Hyun-gong returned to the original topic and asked Ban-yeop.

“Is there any place nearby where short birch trees grow?”

Banyeop nodded.

“There is. If you go south from here through the mountains and thirty li to the southwest, there is a forest. If you look around the outskirts of the forest, you will often find birch trees shorter than a person.”

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong looked at each other.

Thirty li is not that far. He thought that Hyungong and himself would be able to get there without having to worry about the gazes of the Demonic Cult members.

*

After Tang Wujin and Xuan Gong rested until it got dark, they left the Kunlun Mountains by the same route they had come.

There were many Demonic Cult members around, but they did not discover Dangmujin and Hyungong moving around under the cover of darkness.

“It’s simple.”

The two looked around the outskirts of the small forest. As expected, there were many small birch trees that looked like shrubs. The bases of the birch trees were covered with a thick layer of whitish moss.

Hyun-gong picked some moss, tasted it, and then nodded.

“It’s the taste of memories. It’s the same as Danhwaseon.”

“···.”

The taste of memories. What on earth did Hyun-gong eat when he was young?

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong each began to stuff the short stories into the pockets they had brought.

And not long after, Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong sensed an unfamiliar presence.

“···.”

Dang Mu-jin’s back hurt like a thorn.

The approaching person was following the exact path that Dangmujin and Hyeon-gong had taken.

Although not as good as Namgung Myung, Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong are quite adept at moving around under the cover of darkness. Most people are unable to read their movements and footsteps.

Besides, following along slowly is not a good sign, as it could be an attempt to buy time and gather their followers.

‘No. There is only one sign of approaching.’

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong hid behind a nearby rock for a while.

I was planning to attack the enemy as they approached.

Their hearts were beating fast. A feeling of excitement that felt like their chests were being squeezed tightly engulfed them both.

However, the opponent, as if he knew full well that Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong were hiding behind the rock, did not come close to the rock and shouted.

“Two o’clock. My name is Seonna Seung (禪那承) from Soreumsa Temple. I am also acquainted with the swordsman Namgung Jincheon. I have no intention of harming you, so may I talk to you for a moment?”

If you’ve already been caught, there’s no point in hiding. Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong showed up, looking a little nervous.

As expected, the short monk I had seen during the day was there.

And then Dang Mu-jin’s gaze met the high priest’s. The high priest had eyes so pure and clear that it felt a little unfamiliar.

Dang Mu-jin became a little confused.

Seonnasung was clearly a person who had mastered martial arts. However, his aura was closer to that of a scholar monk who devoted his life to studying sutras rather than a monk who devoted himself to martial arts.

Hyun-gong also got a similar impression when he saw Seon-na-seung.

‘He is a person with a pure nature like a child. He does not seem to place much importance on worldly fame, honor, wealth, or even martial arts achievements.’

However, Hyun-gong reached a conclusion that was one step further than Dang Mu-jin.

‘···I guess I can use it.’