<-- Episode 116: Chapter 6 I forget grace, but I never forget resentment (1) -->
Unexpectedly, Ha Jin-wol and Dang-moon got along very well. From the moment Ha Jin-wol joined, Dan Dong-mun moved to the cart and began to work on his masterpiece.
The conversation between the two began with medicine and continued into astronomy and geography, expanding its scope endlessly. The conversation between the two reached its peak with Zhong Li Wuhuan joining in.
People who were listening to their conversation at first soon turned off their attention and went on their way when unfamiliar terms began to appear. However, it was true that the atmosphere was very excited due to Ha Jin-wol’s joining.
Contrary to when he entered Yunnan Province, he did not stop by Kunming, where the Hegemony Association is located. Since he had already saved Yun Ja-myeong, there was no reason to get involved with the Hegemony Association. Since they decided to stay together only until they left Yunnan Province anyway, Jin Mu-won followed Gong Jin-seong’s lead.
Before I knew it, the sun was setting over Seosan Mountain. Gong Jin-seong told Bo-pyo to quickly prepare to sleep out in the open. Fortunately, there was a fairly large stream flowing nearby, and in front of it there was an open space where dozens of people could stay.
The treasurers built a round wall with wagons and lit a fire. We fetched water from the stream and filled it into a large cauldron hanging over the campfire. Various dry ingredients and vegetables were put into the pot, and soon an unidentified porridge was ready.
Rations were distributed to the staff, and Jin Mu-won also received a bowl. I knew from experience that even if it didn’t look that good, it was still good enough for a meal.
Even while eating, Jin Mu-won’s expression was not very bright. Hwangcheol, who was nearby, asked cautiously.
“Why are you doing this, Confucius? “Don’t you like your meal?”
“no.”
“But why?”
“I just feel frustrated.”
“yes?”
“I feel frustrated and empty, as if I’ve forgotten something important.”
It was like that the whole time I came here. I felt heavy and my mind was a mess, as if an invisible hand was pulling my ankles. Because of this, it was difficult to find peace of mind and I could not practice using imagery.
Hwang Cheol’s expression also became serious at Jin Mu-won’s answer. The composure of a master like Jin Mu-won was like a solid rock, never easily shaken or collapsed. However, if his composure was shaken, something must have affected his psychological base.
At that time, a thought suddenly occurred to Hwang Cheol’s mind.
“if… … .”
“yes?”
“Isn’t it because of that sword?”
“You mean the folktale?”
“Yes, the home of the tribe that brought the black stone that made that sword is not far from here.”
“Is that true?”
“If you go a dozen ri further north from here, you will come to a place called Geomhyeonsan (劍玄山). “If you go deep into the north of Geomhyeonsan Mountain, you will find the tribe’s homeland.”
“I have to go.”
Jin Mu-won put down the bowl and got up.
“You mean right now?”
“Yes, I think it would be better if I leave now and come back now since the ox horn is also sweet.”
“Then I will go with you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Geomhyeon Mountain is more rugged and deeper than it looks, so finding the way is not easy. “You will need guidance.”
Hwang Cheol woke up. His will seemed so firm that Jin Mu-won could no longer refuse.
Jin Mu-won told the group that he would go to Geomhyeon Mountain. He told me not to wait and to leave first, as he would follow me if I was late.
The two left the place where the group was sleeping and set off for Geomhyeon Mountain. Jin Mu-won matched Hwang Cheol’s speed. Although Hwang Cheol’s light fighting skills were not that outstanding, he was able to maintain a very high speed thanks to his magnificent internal skills.
Hwangcheol thought it was amazing himself. No matter how much effort he exerted, he never seemed to dry out or get tired. This was something he could never have imagined if he were the person he used to be.
Hwangcheol glanced at Jinmuwon from the corner of his eye. Even though he was running at his top speed, Jin Mu-won, who was keeping pace, did not change his complexion at all and his breathing did not become rough.
‘Confucius’s achievements have already reached a level that I cannot even fathom. ‘If my lord was alive and saw this, how happy would he have been?’
When I thought of Jin Kwan-ho, I felt like tears would fall at any moment. Ten years had already passed since Jin Gwan-ho met his tragic end, but Hwang Cheol still felt heartbroken when he thought of him.
Hwangcheol held back his tears and tried to smile. This is because he did not want even Jinmuwon to be depressed because of him. But he couldn’t help but feel sad.
Hwang Cheol didn’t want to show Jin Mu Won tears, so he increased his speed even more.
Swish!
The surrounding scenery was pushed back at great speed. As I ran like that, a huge shadow appeared under the moonlight. Under the faint moonlight, a huge mountain could be seen, barely revealing its shape. It was Geomhyeon Mountain.
“Whew!”
Only then did Hwangcheol stop and let out a loud breath.
Jin Mu-won also stopped and looked at Geomhyeon Mountain. I felt a strong tremor in my lower back. Seolhwa was crying softly. It seemed like he was whining as if he was happy to return to his hometown.
‘Was it because of the folktale?’
Jin Mu-won touched Seol-hwa. Then, Seolhwa’s intense tremors calmed down little by little.
“I don’t know if there’s still a way left.”
Hwangcheol said with a slightly worried expression.
A village without people will quickly become a ruin. Likewise, unused paths quickly become covered with vegetation, making it difficult to find traces. It’s already been ten years since he stopped by here. It didn’t seem like there would still be a road left.
Hwangcheol began to move forward through the bushes, tracing memories from a long time ago. Jin Mu-won followed quietly behind him. The forest was so quiet that even the cries of insects were cut off by the sudden appearance of people.
As Hwang Cheol said, Geomhyeon Mountain was very rugged. Although it was nothing compared to Aeneosan Mountain, there were many dangerous valleys and cliffs blocking the way.
I crossed the valley and climbed the cliff. After going out like that for a while, the day was already getting brighter.
Hwangcheol pointed in one direction from a tall rock.
“It’s over there.”
The place Hwang Cheol pointed to was a flat area located below a peak shaped like a roaring lion. The flat land was covered with grass as tall as a person, and wooden pillars, presumed to be the remains of a house, were sticking out here and there.
“This place… … .”
Whining!
Seolhwa, who had tried to calm her down, burst into tears again. Seolhwa’s sword even shook Hwangcheol’s heart nearby.
“Ugh!”
At this unexpected moment, Hwangcheol grabbed his chest and quickly increased his energy. Then his heart finally calmed down.
“What kind of sword… … .”
Hwangcheol looked at Seolhwa with an expression of boredom. I heard from Jin Mu-won that it was a magic sword, but this is the first time I experienced it myself.
Jin Mu-won did not answer. No, he couldn’t answer. This is because the yogi of the story was shaking Jin Mu-won’s heart. Jin Mu-won tried to calm Seol-hwa down, but it was no use.
My heart sank and I felt like crying for some reason. It wasn’t her own feelings. She was the emotion of the tale.
Without realizing it, Jin Mu-won followed the lead of the story. Guided by the tale of the sword, the place he headed was a large cave at the back of the village.
Inside the cave, there was a shrine that worshiped the tribe’s ancestors, but it was completely destroyed, with only traces remaining.
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“This is the place. “I brought the stone from here.”
“Are there no survivors at all?”
“When I arrived, there were no survivors.”
Hwang Cheol’s face darkened as if the memory of that time came back to him.
When I came here before, there was a tragedy of wood-burning dogs. Many tribesmen were dead, and even the animals they raised were slaughtered. Most of the houses were burned or destroyed, and the streets were filled with the smell of blood. Hundreds of small tribes who had been living peacefully were literally massacred.
“I still don’t know. What on earth drew the Murim people to this place and led them to destruction? … .”
This place was blocked by mountains on all sides. There was not a single element of interest nearby. It was not a place that the martial arts people would find particularly attractive. However, the fact that the Murim people came in and exterminated them means that there is something they do not know about.
After looking around for a moment, Jin Mu-won walked inside the cave. The inside of the cave was blocked by a pile of stones, as if the ceiling had collapsed.
Jin Mu-won looked at the pile of stones. I felt a strong pull beyond the rubble. As if to prove it, the tale worn around his waist exudes even stronger swordsmanship.
Jin Mu-won began moving the piles of stones one by one. Hwang Cheol helped him. I didn’t ask why. Hwang Cheol believed that there must be a good reason for Jin Mu-won’s actions. So the two people cleared away the pile of stones for a while. Then the interior scenery that had been hidden until now was revealed.
The moment he checked the scenery inside, Jin Mu-won bit his lip without realizing it. Hwang Cheol’s expression also hardened.
“This?”
Inside the cave, which was concealed by a pile of stones, numerous corpses were piled like luggage. Perhaps because they had been in a closed space for a long time, the bodies had not decomposed and had turned into internal organs. There was a large puddle in front of the bodies.
“So you’re saying the body you saw outside back then wasn’t all that bad?”
Hwang Cheol’s voice suddenly trembled.
The number of corpses that had become sores exceeded a whopping 100. A foul odor emanated from the body, causing confusion. However, Jin Mu-won, despite the bad smell, approached the body that had become a corpse and examined it closely.
“These are all women.”
“So you’re saying you gathered all the women separately?”
“I think so.”
“Mmm!”
Hwang Cheol’s expression became slightly distorted.
‘A hundred bodies, all women… … .’
I felt like I was thinking of something, but I couldn’t think of anything clearly.
The condition of the bodies was truly the worst. It had been so long since I became a Moknae-i that every time Jin Mu-won touched it, the dried flesh broke apart. Jin Mu-won looked closely, being as careful as possible to avoid breaking the inner ear. As a result, he discovered that there were sharp, cross-shaped cuts on the inner ear, neck and wrist.
“It looks like all the blood in the body has been drained through this wound. That’s why the body became a wooden ear.”
“What kind of crazy person would drain all the blood from a corpse? “As long as you don’t go crazy.”
“Is it really true that the Hegemony Association annihilated this place?”
“First of all, that’s how the rumor went. “Why are you doing this?”
“The body has been drained of all its blood and has become a corpse, and this pit looks like someone has practiced magic.”
“Magong?”
“Is there anything that comes to mind, such as the magic technique of using someone else’s live blood?”
Hwangcheol shook his head.
Although he was confident that he had quite a lot of experience as he had traveled the world countless times following the White Dragon Sangdan, he had never heard of a magic skill that could be practiced using a woman’s live blood.
“Do you know anything, Confucius?”
“There’s a story I heard from the adults at Beitian Gate when I was young.”
“what… … ?”
“There is a magic technique that uses a woman’s live blood to increase internal strength. It is said that the more a woman’s blood it absorbs, the more its power increases exponentially.”
“Such a magician… … “Does it exist?”
“The Cross Blood Demonic Gong (十字血魔功) is a martial art that was banned in the world a long time ago because of its extreme power and destruction of humanity.”
Jin Mu-won’s eyes became cold.
‘Cross blood magic techniques have fatal side effects. That means that personality is divided into two. Who are you? A person who has mastered the forbidden magic arts like this… … .’
Ugh!
Seolhwa was crying.
martial arts,
