This was dangerous.
Pung Hwan’s face turned blue as he kneeled before Jinmu.
Jinmu gulped at the sight of the gushing blood and grabbed Pung Hwan’s hand.
His pulse was weak.
He had lost his senses from overusing the True Qi in his body.
“Jinmu…?”
Pung Hwan looked up at Jinmu, his consciousness slowly returning.
“It’s dangerous. Prevent your internal qi from dispersing and cultivate it. I will help.”
Despite his own struggle, Jinmu helped Pung Hwan sit up and touched his back.
Though he had little qi left, he couldn’t disappoint the old man.
His intention was to subdue him and acquire forgotten arts, not to take his life.
As he augmented Pung Hwan’s internal qi, tearing pain surged through his dantian.
Woong…
There wasn’t much qi inside.
As he drew out any remaining internal qi and channeled it into Pung Hwan’s body, black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
He had to survive.
Jinmu did his utmost to regulate Pung Hwan’s qi flow with his own.
“Ugh! Euk!”
When Jinmu’s qi began to synchronize with Pung Hwan’s qi and blood circulation, he finally expelled the tainted blood.
Got you!
He managed to prevent the True Qi from dissipating and started to collect a small amount into his dantian.
Pung Hwan’s face, which had been blue, slowly returned to its normal color, and his breathing became easier.
“Ahh… thank goodness…”
Exhausted, Jinmu fell back and managed to give a faint smile.
“L-Look, Jinmu.”
A blurry light pierces his eyes.
Although he couldn’t see things clearly, he could sense someone’s shadow moving back and forth.
This unfamiliar place.
A ceiling submerged in darkness.
Light smoke and the scent of incense tickled his nose.
Could this be heaven? Am I dead?
I don’t know.
Swoosh, squeak!
The sound of something being rinsed and wrung out penetrated his ears.
“Hmm.”
He tried to rise, but every muscle in his body felt as if it were tearing apart.
“You’re awake?”
Came an excited voice.
“Who?”
“Who else?”
It was Tang Se-ryeong.
But why was she here?
As he regained consciousness, he began to stir slightly, despite the aching throughout his body.
Jinmu slowly rose to his feet and surveyed his surroundings.
“But where is this?”
“The Heavenly Dragon Pavilion. You’re in the physician’s room.”
“Ah…”
Tang Se-ryeong had moved him here.
“Pung Hwan? The Ancestor?”
Jinmu inquired, as if recalling something, which caused Tang Se-ryeong to scowl.
Could it be?
“He is having a drink with the Sect Leader.”
Uh? What?
But then why the scowl?
You really shocked me, you bastard!
“How dare you! I miss out on drinking because of you!”
“…”
Jinmu blinked, perplexed by her anger.
He gazed at her again.
Creeeaak.
The door of the physician’s hall creaked open, and Un Am entered.
“Uh?”
His expression was one of surprise, apparently not expecting Jinmu to be awake.
Ah, damn it. What have I done?
He had driven Pung Hwan to the brink, forcing him to use his True Qi.
Perhaps he would be expelled for pushing the man, Kunlun’s pride and mightiest warrior, into such a dire state.
“You’re awake!”
“…?”
Un Am approached, his face alight with joy.
Why?
“Thank you for saving our Master’s life.”
What did he mean by that?
“The Master told me everything.”
What?
“I was told that Taoist Jinmu prevented our Master from falling ill in the forest during your training excursion.”
No, that was all part of the plan.
What was there to be grateful for?
“It seems the Master lost control and even resorted to his True Qi.”
He did.
Although that was completely unplanned and unforeseen.
“Thank you. If Taoist Jinmu hadn’t risked his life, the Master could have…”
“…”
Jinmu blinked once more.
He couldn’t make sense of Un Am’s words. But seeing him so overjoyed, it appeared, fortunately, that his plan had gone undetected.
“Taoist Jinmu is truly a savior to our Kunlun Sect.”
Un Am bowed towards him, his face etched with deep gratitude.
That’s going a bit far…
I appreciate the misunderstanding, though it does make me somewhat guilty.
As Jinmu offered Un Am an awkward smile, Tang Se-ryeong abruptly stood.
“Now, if you’re up, get dressed and come out because everyone is waiting.”
Right.
Pung Hwan must be fine… Wait, get dressed?
He only then realized he wasn’t wearing anything.
“….!”
Damn! Did she see everything?
His face turned red as he grabbed the blanket.
“Well, there wasn’t much to see.”
Tang Se-ryeong smiled as she raised her little finger, then closed the door behind her as she left.
Fucking… Shit! That insane woman! What does she take me for?
But what? It’s bigger than…
“She’s amazing. It was Miss Tang.”
What was that?
Even if one saw her a hundred times, she would always be insane.
“Taoist Jinmu, she stayed by your side for two days while you were unconscious. She applied clothes to reduce your fever.”
“….”
“She’s usually so lively, but she didn’t smile even once.”
“…..”
“You’ve met a good woman, Taoist Jinmu.”
Jinmu stared at the door through which Tang Se-ryeong had exited.
She did?
No way. She surely must have wanted something in return. It had to be that way.
But still, the thought that she might be a little bit of a nice, insane woman crossed his mind…
Should I be a bit nicer to her?
Jinmu licked his lips and sighed.
“Anyway, can you move?”
“Well, I can somehow move…”
“That’s amazing. Looking at the traces left behind, it seems the Master did his best…”
“Ah! That.”
They were alone now…
But, of course, he omitted the detailed explanation. Everyone believed he was a benefactor, and Pung Hwan, who knew the whole story, probably couldn’t remember.
That was enough.
Jinmu had helped Kunlun, who saved Pung Hwan.
“Then, would you like to see him?”
“….”
“The Master and the Sect Leader have been anxiously waiting for Taoist Jinmu to get up.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“I don’t know if you will like them, but we prepared Kunlun’s clothes. I will wait outside.”
Un Am left the clothes and bowed as he left.
Things had turned strange.
Pung Hwan was saved, but not everything was perfect.
Damn it…
Well, it was still better this way. If the old man had died, nothing would have remained.
Since he survived and so did he, his only option was to wait for the next opportunity.
“Whoa… It’s not that easy.”
Jinmu sighed and put on the robe that Un Am had left behind.
“Nice.”
The robe was of top quality, likely because the sect was wealthy; even his skin felt happy being touched by it.
When Jinmu stepped out of the room, all the disciples greeted him.
It was as if they had received some great favor from him.
Jinmu followed Un Am into Pung Hwan’s residence at the Pavilion.
“Taoist Jinmu!”
The Sect Leader, who was with Pung Hwan, had a bright look on his face.
“How is your body?”
Jinmu bowed his head to Pung Hwan, who approached him with a smile.
Perhaps because he had used his True Qi, his appearance had changed significantly. His once youthful appearance had turned into that of a wrinkled old man.
It made Jinmu feel unnecessarily guilty, seeing his face age by decades.
“This person… do you know how worried I was?”
Pung Hwan grasped his shoulders with both hands.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“…?”
What for?
To anyone else, Jin-mu might have been more grateful.
For him staying alive.
He almost became a murderer, and he could have been expelled from Kunlun. He had not only suffered a severe stroke, but his muscles had nearly been severed, too.
“Kunlun would like to express sincere gratitude to Taoist Jinmu.”
The Sect Leader bowed his head and greeted him with sincerity.
“All thanks to Taoist Jinmu, Sasuk managed to save his life…”
“Ah! That…”
Jinmu, who usually insisted on compensation for gratitude, couldn’t even think about it now, feeling guilty.
And then the Sect Leader finished his lengthy expression of gratitude.
“Sect Leader, can you leave us alone for a moment?”
“Uh?”
“I have something to discuss with Taoist Jinmu.”
“Ah, yes. Then, I will go and prepare a banquet.”
“Please do. Un Am, stay out for a while.”
“Yes, Master.”
After Sect Leader Un Am had left, Pung Hwan looked at Jinmu for a while before speaking quietly.
“I think there is something you want to know from me.”
“…?”
Jinmu was taken aback by the question.
“Why, isn’t it?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that. How did you…?”
“Yah, this one. Did I look that foolish? I remember everything until I lost my consciousness due to my illness.”
Jinmu lowered his gaze and frowned, feeling as though his innermost feelings had been exposed.
However, Pung Hwan’s face showed no signs of blame. He simply regarded Jinmu with a calm smile on his wrinkled face.
“It was the same with your reaction to Chung Mu’s story in the Cold Snow Valley, and the same with how you led me to the forest and asked the same question. It was all very strange.”
“… It seems like you’ve noticed everything.”
“Hehe. I have. I wondered why you did it, knowing I would show symptoms of my illness upon hearing about Wudang, and why you asked about Chung Mu. I thought deeply about it while you were unconscious.”
“…”
“Is it because of the martial arts?”
Jinmu’s face twisted when Pung Hwan hit the nail on the head.
“I am sorry.”
“What is there to apologize for? Using the True Qi turned out to be dangerous, but it was also a blessing.”
“Uh?”
“My condition has improved.”
“Ah, that’s a relief.”
“Anyway, I’m not sure how the latter part of the story was split, or whether it was passed down to Kunlun. However, a Wudang member came to visit me and became acquainted with me, and that was part of our fate. Since it originally belonged to Wudang, I thought it proper to return it.”
Jinmu was deeply touched by Pung Hwan’s gentle words.
If Pung Hwan knew everything, he would also know that Jinmu had nearly died because of him.
And yet, Pung Hwan understood and empathized with him so warmly.
He was indeed a person worthy of respect.
“The five elements complement and harm one another; they help and also deplete each other. The day is hot, and the cold is bad for metal. High and low divisions are normal, and when Yin and Yang touch the heart, they return to their original form, Taiji.”
“…”
Another verse from the latter part of the paper reached Jinmu through Pung Hwan’s voice.
“That is all I know about it.”
Jinmu nodded at Pung Hwan’s explanation and pondered it several times.
The salvation he had received from Qingcheng, and now from Pung Hwan.
Taiji—if there was Yang, there must be Yin.
The conflict of the five elements, the heavenly Yin and Yang. High and low didn’t matter, and when the principles of Yin and Yang united in one mind, that was Taiji.
‘What remains undisturbed in Taiji is that when Yang moves, Yin does not. The five elements protect yet harm one another. There is heat in the sky and coldness on the land. High and low mean nothing, so if the principles of Yin and Yang reach the heart, you will become one with Taiji.’
He still didn’t fully grasp what this meant, but he understood it on some level.
As Jinmu was reflecting on this, Pung Hwan asked,
“Now that you have achieved your goal, I guess you will be moving on?”
He posed the question as if expecting Jinmu’s departure, who did not contradict him.
“Yes. Soon.”
“Hmm, then, will you do me a favor in return for my assistance?”
“Please tell me.”
“Take Un Am.”
“Uh… What?”
Startled, Jinmu, who had been nodding, suddenly looked up.
Does this mean I have to take on another burden? Don’t I already have one too many?
“Well, that… that is…”
“Why? Is it inconvenient for you?”
“… Yes. I am sorry.”
“It’s alright. Then let it be.”
He was thankful for his understanding…
“What can I do if you don’t like it? You took me to the forest on purpose, drained my internal qi, then even made me extract my True Qi, and somehow, you saved me. We owe a debt of gratitude to Wudang.”
“…”
“I will make sure the alliance knows that.”
Pung Hwan looked at Jinmu, who had stiffened, with a smile.
“It’s fine. It happens. Heheh.”
“…”
“What’s the big deal? I am a top figure in Kunlun, a pillar of the alliance, and one of the most important figures in the Murim Alliance. And this old man is suffering from illness and dying. Hehehe.”
“…”
This old man is…
How could he threaten me with such a calm expression on his face? So much for understanding!
The respect that had come in like a tide vanished just as quickly.
It was true that Taoists, young or old, were the worst. And that was a fact.
