Tangmunjeon - Chapter 394



Only Krnovel

Tangmunjeon Episode 394

A man’s story

“I had no idea.”

Although Dang Mu-jin answered like that, Sae-hon-no-ong didn’t find it particularly strange.

“Well, it’s been so long since I left Sacheon City. The Sacheon City dialect has also long since disappeared.”

“Can you tell me more about the Great Guardian Law?”

When Dang Mu-jin asked, Sae-hon-no-ong smiled with a wrinkled face.

“I don’t think we can talk for a long time in front of the gate. Let’s unpack first.”

“···All right.”

Dang Mu-jin entered the Dang family hall. Hyeon-gong and Im-ssi followed him.

When Dang Mu-jin appeared, the people who had been busily moving around the yard all stopped moving and bowed to Dang Mu-jin.

“Hello, welcome back.”

Dang Mu-jin also lightly won the lottery.

“Yes. I’m back.”

Dang Mu-jin and Hyeon-gong did not find this situation strange.

But Mr. Im was different. It was very strange and burdensome to see all kinds of people, including the members of the National Assembly, the field chief, and even the martial artists whom he would never normally meet, bowing to Dang Mu-jin. And he was also a little excited. He felt like he had become a great person.

While Mr. Lim was looking around in confusion, someone approached him. It was Mr. Wang, the head of the Tang family.

Mr. Wang, who was a merchant traveling to and from the Western Regions, felt a sense of familiarity with the peddler Mr. Im.

Furthermore, he instinctively realized that he could be used as a subordinate.

Mr. Wang said to Mr. Lim.

“You seem to have followed the lord?”

“Yes? Yes···.”

“Follow me. I’ll give you a place to stay.”

Mr. Lim followed Mr. Wang in confusion.

*

Dang Mu-jin took care of urgent matters and headed to Sam-an-bul’s residence.

“I’ll go in.”

As he said that, Dang Mu-jin opened the door. There were quite a few people gathered in the small residence of Sam-an-bul.

The landlord, Sam An-bul, Jang Il-nam, Hyeon-gong who came to listen to the story, and Sae-hon-no-ong who was the storyteller. There was even Hwayeon-shin-ni.

However, unlike other people who were just sitting around, Hwa Yeon-shin-ni was sitting cross-legged on the three-legged Buddha with her desk legs crossed.

As Dang Mu-jin looked at Hwayeon Shin-ni quietly, Hwayeon Shin-ni made up an excuse.

“There’s no choice because the space is limited. Shouldn’t you sit down too?”

It was true that it was narrow, but it was not convincing.

Because Hwayeonshinni’s posture seemed too familiar and comfortable to say that there was nothing I could do.

As Dang Mu-jin sat down in the empty seat, Sae-hon-no-ong began to tell a story.

“After the Great Guardian Law claimed to be the leader, Sam-an-bul stayed in the Tang family. However, I have been wandering around the Central Plains. I wanted to see every corner of the Central Plains, but I also wanted to know what kind of person the Great Guardian Law was.”

“Ah, so that’s why you left. But it wouldn’t have been easy to follow someone else’s footsteps.”

The old man smiled softly.

“It wasn’t as hard as I thought. Daehobeop wasn’t the type of person to hide his past. He was even more so when he was young. I just went around checking if the stories I heard from Daehobeop were true and if there were more things that happened in between.”

Saeheonnoong moved his body slightly to find a comfortable position. Then he began to tell a serious story.

“I will tell you the story I have heard little by little over the twenty years since I first entrusted myself to the Demonic Cult. On top of that, I will tell you the story I have confirmed while wandering around the Central Plains for several years. If you look closely, it is a mixture of two stories, but it will not be too far from the truth.”

Saeheonnoong was a natural storyteller. He had everyone listening even though he hadn’t even started telling a full story yet.

“After all, it would be better to start the story from the beginning…”

In a languid voice typical of old people, Saeheonnoong began to tell the story of a person’s life.

* * *

Just a short distance from the city of Sacheon, there is a large embankment called Dujiangyan.

Because it was easy to get drinking water and you could catch fish by fishing or diving, there were always many beggars around Dogangan.

Among the many beggars near Dogang-eon, there was a young beggar called Yeonchu (延?). He was given this nickname and name because he survived by eating the leftover smelt(?) from other beggars.

Yeonchu survived by eating squid, and when he was about six or seven years old, he finally began begging.

At first, Yeonchu’s begging seemed to go quite smoothly. After all, the younger the beggar, the easier it is to receive alms.

But before long, the young beggars, some as young as ten, began to view the lotus as a thorn in their eyes.

The first reason was that as the money Yeonchu earned from begging increased, the people of the city spent less, and the second reason was that when Yeonchu, who was only six or seven years old, was next to a beggar who was about ten years old, he did not look so young and pitiful.

That’s why Yeonchu was beaten by other beggars every other day and had the money he received as alms stolen all day long.

That day too, Yeonchu was being beaten by other beggars. But it was much worse than on other days.

Children are more cruel than adults. Unlike adults, they do not know when to stop and do not know the extent.

If this continues, I’m really going to die. Such thoughts filled Yeonchu’s head.

In the end, Yeonchu cried and said to the other beggars.

“Please save me, brothers!”

But the medium did not stop easily.

When Yeonchu finally lost consciousness, the young beggar spat on him and said,

“Oh, man. People should live within their means. How can a weakling have the confidence to try to get his hands on someone else’s territory?”

“···.”

“Are you upset?”

If it were normal, I wouldn’t have said that it was unfair. Yeonchu was aware of that too.

But that day was different. Young Yeonchu found this situation difficult to endure.

As the little beggar nodded his head and groaned, the little beggar chuckled and said.

“What if it’s unfair? You’re weak and I’m strong. I’ll always be three or four years older than you, and I’ll be just as strong.”

The young Yeonchui gained insight from a short and awkward conversation.

The rule of the world is that those who have power hit, and those who don’t have power get hit.

Although the form may be different, it was what the so-called martial arts people called strong self-respect.

Although her body ached and hurt, Yeonchu’s heart felt a little lighter.

Because I realized the right reason and I realized the solution.

At the same time, Yeonchu had a cheeky idea.

Tomorrow I will beg for strength, not coins and food.

*

The next day, Yeonchu, groaning in pain, asked around who the strongest person in the city was.

The adults’ answer was the same. The Seongdo branch of the Cheongseongpa Seongdo branch is the strongest in Seongdo.

That is why Yeonchu sat down in front of the wall of the Seongdo branch of the Cheongseongpa.

“What a beggar… Go away.”

Although he was driven out several times by the people of Cheongseongpa Seongdo Bunta, Yeonchu kept returning little by little.

People passing by the Seongseongpa Seongdo branch office frowned at the six or seven year old beggar, but they didn’t hit him, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

There was someone who felt pity for Yeonchu, who had been kicked out so many times.

He was a Taoist monk who was only about ten years older than Yeonchu.

A young Taoist man approached Yeonchu and asked.

“Kid. I am the Master of the Seongdo Bunta, Hwangryeong. What is your name?”

“It’s called Yeonchu.”

“You’ve been staying here for the past few days. Do you want to eat something warm before you go?”

Hearing the story of food made him hungry. However, Yeonchu shook his head and said.

“no.”

The young master asked back.

“If you’re not hungry, why are you begging?”

“I need something else.”

“Something else?”

“Please teach me martial arts.”

It was a request that was not easy for a single teacher, not even a master. Even for a rookie teacher of the Bunta, it was not easy to accept. How could he teach martial arts to a beggar who was not even a disciple?

However, the Emperor was soft-hearted. He could not coldly refuse the young Yeonchu’s request.

The emperor thought for a long time and then said.

“···After the sun sets, come to the alley over there. I’ll teach you just a little bit, just a little bit. But you must not tell anyone.”

Yeonchu nodded immediately.

*

After that, Hwangryeong started meeting Yeonchu in the back alley every day.

The Emperor taught Yeonchu how to be hit less painfully, and taught him how to swing his small fists. He also brought him a handful of lukewarm rice. He also taught him simple letters.

More than a year has passed like that.

However, Yeonchu was still young and still weak. Even if he tried to learn martial arts with his immature body, he would not be able to defeat beggars twice his size. Yeonchu was never satisfied.

But the Emperor thought differently.

Even with my limited knowledge, it was clear that Yeonchu was a great talent. Yeonchu learned martial arts much faster than I, who was known as a genius, learned martial arts.

As the two years were approaching since he began teaching Yeonchu how to use his body, Hwangryung made a bold decision.

“Yeonchuya.”

“Yes, teacher.”

“If you go out to the east of the village at dawn tomorrow and wait, there will be a merchant pulling five carriages. I have given all the money I have earned from working as a teacher to that merchant. If you approach that merchant and tell him my name, he will take you to Luoyang over there in the east.”

“yes?”

“You’re still young and lacking in strength, but your talent is not something to be taken lightly. You shouldn’t aim to beat up a few beggars.”

Yeonchu was young. He didn’t have the confidence to go to an unfamiliar land with people he didn’t know.

That’s why Yeonchu shook his head.

“That’s enough for me. I want to learn more, Master.”

“I can’t teach you any more martial arts.”

“Why is that?”

“I must now return to the main Cheongseongpa sect. And if it is discovered that you, who have not even been listed as a lay disciple, learned martial arts from me, both you and I will be severely punished.”

“···.”

Yeonchu asked the emperor with tears in his eyes.

“So, what changes if you go east?”

“The previous head of the Seongdo Bunta, Jeongak Doin, retired last year and returned to his hometown of Luoyang. Jeongak Doin treasured me and even turned a blind eye to me teaching you martial arts, so he may teach you more martial arts. No, he definitely will.”

As the emperor spoke, he hugged Yeonchu tightly.

“You can become stronger. Become a big person.”

Yeonchu took that story to heart.

*

However, Yeonchu’s journey to Luoyang was not smooth.

The problem was that the passengers heading to Luoyang happened to come across the Nokrim Islands.

Even though they had green forests, the quality was not good.

“I’ll pay the toll!”

The leader of the upper faction held out a thick bag of money, but the leader of the Nokrim Island laughed.

“Do you think I came here to make some money?”

The senior spoke with his eyes tightly shut.

“···I’ll give you everything. Just spare my life.”

“Do you know who you’re going to call?”

The green forest men rushed in and swung their swords.

Blood spurted and screams echoed, but since it happened on a deserted mountain path, no one knew what had happened.

As the Nokrimdos were packing their bags, they discovered a lotus hidden among their luggage.

One of the Nokrimdo tried to swing his sword without hesitation, but the vice-chief intervened and stopped him.

“It’s bad luck to kill a kid. Last time, and the time before that, the government troops showed up not long after we killed a kid.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Put me in chains and make me do dirty work.”

*

A more difficult life followed than when he was a street beggar.

When he was a beggar, he would get beaten up for begging in someone else’s area, but there was no particular reason for the Nokrimdo to beat Yeonchui.

But paradoxically, Yeonchu did not feel the situation was as hopeless or unfair as it had been in the past.

‘I can’t help it since I have no strength.’

That was enough. Since Yeonchu was easygoing by nature, he could endure everything just with that much reason.

A month passed, a year passed, five years passed.

Yeonchu endured silently without showing any sign of difficulty.

I’ve never lived comfortably, so it wasn’t particularly difficult or painful.

They took care of the Nokrimdo people’s belongings, did laundry, prepared food, and even worked as porters.

Since when did the Nokrimdo stop hitting or harassing Yeonchu? There aren’t many people who would dislike a child who works diligently without complaining. The rough Nokrimdo is the same.

As the years that had passed like that approached six years, Yeonchu’s life reached another turning point.

“This fucking punk is a master!”

“Kill them all!”

“Ahh, please save me!”

Some young martial artists came rushing in and killed all the Nokrimdo members.

Only five martial artists fought against over twenty Nokrimdo warriors, and it didn’t take long for the fight to end.

Yeonchu looked at the sight and thought.

‘As expected, there are people stronger than Nokrimdo. Amazing.’

Yeonchu did not sympathize with the Nokrimdo.

Just as Yeonchu had endured six years without any grievances, he thought that the Nokrim Islands would not feel any grievances either. This time, the Nokrim Islands simply lacked the strength.

As the situation settled down, a young martial artist wearing a hero’s armor approached Yeonchu and aimed his sword at her.

“Are you part of the gang too?”

Then, the only woman among the five martial artists appeared and patted the back of the martial artist wearing the Youngwoonggun.

Crack!

“You idiot. What kind of gang is that kid running around like that?”

“But, Nanhyang.”

“His fingertips are swollen and his ankles are shackled. He doesn’t look like he’s from the same gang. He looks like a kid who was caught and worked. What’s his name?”

“It’s called Yeonchu.”

“How long has it been since you were caught? Judging by your condition, it doesn’t seem like it’s been a day or two. It can’t have been over a year, right?”

“It hasn’t been six years.”

“···what?”

If a child who doesn’t look even fifteen years old is talking about six years, how old has he been living like this?

“Where is your hometown?”

“I am a saint of Sacheon.”

“It’s a far place… Where are your parents?”

Yeonchu shook her head. Yeonchu didn’t know her parents’ names or faces.

The beautiful woman took a deep breath, took out a few nyang of money from her pocket, and handed it to Yeonchu.

It was a huge sum of money that an ordinary person would have a hard time touching in their entire life.

The men next to him were horrified.

“What are we going to do if you give us all that? We finally set out on our journey to the martial arts world, but we’re going to wander around like beggars for months?”

“What can we do in such dire circumstances? We can do anything even without money, but this child is different.”

After saying that, the woman bent down and became eye level with Yeonchui.

“Hey, take this money and settle down somewhere. If you don’t waste it, you’ll be able to live off it for a few years.”

“thank you.”

As Yeonchu nodded, the five martial artists left with very proud expressions on their faces.

Finally, Yeonchu, left alone, became lost in thought.

‘What should I do now?’

Should I settle down in a nearby village as the woman said?

No. There was still something left for Yeonchu to do. He had to go to Luoyang and meet the Jeongak Taoist.

Yeonchu, who had grown up in the meantime, headed towards Luoyang.

*

Less than two weeks later, Yeonchu met other Nokrimdos.

And all the travel expenses I had were taken away.

But this time, Yeonchu was not wronged.

Rather, I considered myself lucky. Didn’t I save my life?

The journey did not feel particularly difficult, for Yeonchu was very familiar with poverty.

Yeonchu walked silently.

One day, about eight years after leaving the city,

Finally, Yanqiu arrived in Luoyang.

‘It was a bit difficult, but I finally got there.’

The heavier the fishing rod, the bigger the fish you can catch, and the slower you reel in the net, the more fish you can catch.

It will be harder than expected, and since we arrived late, many good things will come our way.

Yeonchu’s footsteps became light and cheerful, like dancing.