Chapter 37: Chapter 37

“You’re saying this monster was depicted in the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites?”

Both of us looked at each other in surprise, struggling to find the right words. Finally, I broke the silence.

“I went to that village near the Gyeongha River just before the fire broke out. And I saw this monster there.”

“You actually saw it? That sounds preposterous.”

“Do you think I’d make up something like this if I hadn’t seen it?”

“……”

Mang-ryang seemed reluctant to deny it, but he couldn’t. The probability of my made-up drawing coincidentally matching the illustration from the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites was too low. And the odds that I’d seen the Book just to tease Mang-ryang were even lower. He had no choice but to believe me.

“Tell me about what happened.”

“Alright.”

I recounted to Mang-ryang the incident involving human sacrifices, the fanatics, and my encounter with the monster. Naturally, I had to mention the Taoist Hyuncheon. I summarized the story, changing the ending to imply I had narrowly escaped death. Mang-ryang listened attentively before exhaling a weary sigh.

“It’s hard to believe, yet I can’t deny it either.”

“What do you think, then?”

I wanted to glean some wisdom from Mang-ryang.

“Give me a moment to think.”

Mang-ryang took out his folding fan, fanned himself, and pondered with a grimace. His face shifted as if he was struggling to think. After a while, he spoke.

“Baek-woong, what do you plan to do now?”

“I intend to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If luck favors me, I may obtain the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites, but it’s not crucial. There’s no need to hurry.”

“Interesting… You’re growing on me.”

Mang-ryang muttered something under his breath and then stopped.

“If I’m right, the fire near the Gyeongha River, the human sacrifices, the monster… all suggest the presence of a grand conspiracy. One that could potentially shake the Central Plains.”

“Do you know something?”

“It’s not the time to talk yet. A careless move could lead to both of our destruction. We need more evidence before drawing conclusions.”

For the first time, Mang-ryang’s face was utterly serious. Before, when we were trying to get the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites, he seemed invigorated as if the dullness of life had lifted. But now, he was resolute as if putting his life on the line. Clearly, he had picked up something critical from my story but refrained from sharing it due to lack of evidence.

After a brief pause, he spoke again.

“Do you have any allies in Luoyang?”

“A couple.”

The head of Great Sword Gate, one of Luoyang’s two main sects, might help me. Given that he was my master’s friend and we’d exchanged letters, he’d even recommended me for the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although Great Sword Gate could abandon me if I were in peril, I could count on their assistance for now.

Mang-ryang shook his head.

“A couple won’t be enough. I’ll accompany you.”

“What did you say?”

“I will persuade the most skilled person I know to assist you secretly. If not, you will undoubtedly die.”

“Die? I have no plans to directly access the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites just yet. I’ve been thinking about it for years; you’re too pessimistic.”

Mang-ryang let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Haha… That’s not the issue. Do you understand what it means that the monsters and the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites are connected? It means that the imperial family is deeply involved in this.”

“I suspected as much.”

“You suspected? Are you saying that because you don’t know what it means?”

At Mang-ryang’s following words, I shut my mouth.

“It means that there is a possibility that the imperial family has already interpreted the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites.”

“……!!”

So that was it! I was momentarily confused, so my thoughts hadn’t reached that far.

“Could it be…”

“Close your mouth.”

Just as I slightly opened my mouth to speak, Mang-ryang hurriedly placed his index finger on my lips.

“Do not rashly think or speculate any further. We need more concrete clues. Until then, assume that every move is connected to death. This is a huge conspiracy.”

“……”

Mang-ryang was clearly wiser than me. He quickly assessed the situation and firmly decided what needed to be done next. Various thoughts came to mind, but what was certain was that the imperial family could potentially be our enemy. This suggested that the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites itself could be at the core of the conspiracy.

Each step I take is on a path leading to death. If I show even a little suspicious behavior, the Imperial Palace will become my grave. With that thought, my previously light and cheerful mood towards going to Luoyang sank heavily.

However, I spoke up a moment later.

“Is it necessary to uncover this despite the risks?”

“What…?”

Mang-ryang looked at me in disbelief. I crossed my arms and continued speaking slowly.

“Neither you nor I have a cause to uncover this.”

“Well…”

“If you stay secluded here, you won’t need to risk your life entering Luoyang. You can still enjoy your life as Mang-ryang, the hermit of Jinranggok. I could also live a comfortable life if I don’t covet the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites. Isn’t that so?”

I don’t want to die anymore.

I only attempted to acquire the Nameless Ritual Sacrifice Rites because the opportunity presented itself. If there’s a huge risk involved, I don’t want to be obsessed with it any longer. I didn’t want to lose the life I had just begun as a warrior.

“……”

Mang-ryang seemed lost for a moment. Then he spoke in a gloomy voice.

“You know one thing but not another. Do you think I’m doing this because I’m upset that people from my village, whom I’ve never even met, died miserably? Do you think I’m risking my life to reveal this secret in order to uphold the justice of the Gangho?”

“……”

“Baek-woong. The tragedy you witnessed will eventually befall an unspecified number of people on a scale incomparable to that village’s tragedy. Do you plan to rely on luck and run away then? Or will you become the dog of those in power and take on their dirty work?”

Mang-ryang’s words were passionate, his appeal boiling with fervor.

From his perspective, I was the only one capable of preventing the tragedy.

“In this world, there’s no one who knows the nature of the imperial family better than I do. I’ve come to know this while working as an astronomer. They see this world as if it were a mere playground. If they are the ones in charge, it’s inevitable that unimaginable, terrifying chaos will eventually ensue. Isn’t it obvious that we should prevent it while we still can?”

I was at a loss for words, captivated by Mang-ryang’s articulate speech. It was bringing to light aspects I had never considered. Even so, applying it to my immediate life didn’t make it any more relatable.

I shook my head a moment later.

“I don’t want to suffer needless harm.”

“…You seem like my mentor. How disappointing.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mang-ryang spat out the words, clearly displaying a face of distaste.

“If that’s the case, then I have nothing more to say. Good thing I abandoned my trip to Luoyang as well. Is there anything else you’d like to hear from me?”

I hesitated before asking, “If you were me 5 years ago, how would you have prevented the tragedy? No, what would you have done if I had sought your help 5 years ago?”

Mang-ryang chuckled coldly.

“In that case, I would have secretly poisoned the well.”

“The well?”

Mang-ryang nodded.

“Whether they’re fanatics or whatever, humans need to drink water. And in a closed environment, the only sources would be a well, a stream, or a river. But from what I know, that village was far from the Gyeongha River and had no streams inside it.

That means they relied on a well with water drawn from afar. If I poisoned the well, their plan would have easily failed. Even with the vitality of fanatics, without water, they’d eventually die. Wouldn’t their human sacrifices vanish? Especially when their plan likely required a large number of them, making it difficult to switch to another village.”

“……!!”

“Moreover, if the main culprits behind the conspiracy, be they black-clothed men or flutist sorcerer, are human, they’d naturally drink the water living there, right? Wouldn’t it be a big win if they drank the poison and died?”

I was stunned by Mang-ryang’s strategy. As martial artists, Hyuncheon and I only thought of sneaking in for an assassination. Mang-ryang’s method would kill two birds with one stone. It would not only obstruct the fanatics but also potentially eliminate the perpetrators. Moreover, it avoids direct confrontation with the black-clothed men.

“Incredible.”

“Of course, they wouldn’t easily abandon their plans over just a bit of poison, but if you consistently report to the authorities and spread rumors within the martial arts world, they’d eventually have to withdraw. You don’t really need to be highly skilled for this.”

Mang-ryang took a short breath.

“However, this is all in the past. It’s a done deal. The villagers went mad and were eventually slaughtered after giving birth to monsters. Nobody can change the past, so what’s the point in discussing it now?”

“……”

“And you should keep in mind, if they’ve created a monster, where might that monster be now?”

“Gulp…!!”

I took a deep breath.

Come to think of it, where did all the monsters go? It’s not common to find a place where such gigantic and ferocious monsters can be raised. Even if they covered up their actions by burning down the village, moving around with the monsters would be too noticeable. Considering that there haven’t been any rumors of monster sightings, they must’ve hidden away without a trace, taking the monsters with them.

‘Damn it…’

I was tortured by the urge to investigate the imperial palace’s schemes, even now, based on what Mang-ryang said. Just the thought of those monsters festering somewhere in the world made me feel like throwing up.

However, I held back. No matter how correct Mang-ryang’s words might be, and even if a great calamity is coming, the likelihood of dying while trying to prevent it is too high. Rather than risking my life for an uncertain cause, I wanted to turn a blind eye. At the very least, in this life, I strongly wanted to live peacefully as a martial artist.

Instead, I changed the subject.

“You mentioned using poison earlier, what kind of poison are you talking about?”

“Didn’t I say that the fanatics have only enough rationality for daily life and cannot feel pain? In that case, a poison that causes intense pain or stimulates human senses would be useless. What’s needed is a neurotoxin that can paralyze the body’s muscles, leading to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.”

“Do you have this neurotoxin?”

“I know how to make it. By adding special chemicals to snake venom, it can be made within a day. If it’s water-soluble, it might take a little longer, maybe less than two days.”

Indeed, he was a man of immense knowledge. Even among the martial arts clans, including the Sichuan’s Tang Clan, only a select few secretly pass down the art of poison. However, due to his extensive reading, he was well-versed in this field.

After pondering for a while, I spoke.

“Mang-ryang, how about this?”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m not ready to act to prevent the conspiracy, as you’ve said. I don’t even have plans to stop it.”

“Hmm.”

“But I really want to learn how to make that neurotoxin. How about we exchange the method for making the neurotoxin for the information I obtain as a spy? I can’t promise to help you with what you do with that information, but I’ll definitely relay it.”

That should keep my life out of immediate danger. Also, Mang-ryang was currently disappointed in me, so he seemed unlikely to teach me the method. Hence, this was a compromise on my part.

“… Very well! Of course, I’ll teach you.”

Mang-ryang readily agreed. It seemed he was eager to fully support me, who had passively expressed my intention. Despite everything, he seemed to possess a chivalrous nature.

Fortunately, we had ample time before we had to reach Luoyang. I had at least 7 days to spare, so during that time, I learned the basics of poison arts as well as the specialized method for creating nerve poison. Because I had to memorize every single part of the production process and the material was extensive, I had no choice but to study without even leaving the house.

The reason for learning poison arts was simple. In case I ever go back to the past, it would be useful; and if I don’t get a chance to visit Mang-ryang, I would have to make it myself.

‘I’ve finally learned it all…’

The transfer of the nerve poison recipe was complete three days later. Both Mang-ryang and I, who had been studying tirelessly, were exhausted. Mental fatigue was the main cause.

After resting for about half a day, Mang-ryang, who had been motionless, woke up and saw me off.

“If you ever change your mind, go to saint Lu Dongbin1’s shrine located 5 li to the southwest from Luoyang City. If you have this token, you can find refuge there in times of danger.”

[TL/N: The token mentioned kinda looks like this: /images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmyNyE_renFezGAWqYBvQwYDycRr9ReH_PJUeUDAB6e8u8HNj9pnAlfNg5FABEdyS7E3A&usqp=CAU ]

What Mang-ryang handed me as a sign was a small curved jade. I stared down at the jade.

“Don’t go there unnecessarily, or else you’ll bring calamity upon yourself.”

“Thank you anyway.”

“Take care.”

I parted with Mang-ryang and headed to Luoyang.

About 8 days passed since then, and I entered Luoyang City. After crossing Luoyang’s outer gate on horseback, I slowly headed to Great Sword Gate. It was daytime, so the Great Sword Gate was bustling with disciples practicing, almost as many as Iron Blood Gate. Overall, their numbers seemed smaller, but the average skill level of the disciples seemed higher.

I went to the main gate of the Great Sword Gate. The gatekeepers stopped me.

“Halt. What is your business with Great Sword Gate?”

“I am Baek-woong, from Gwanjung’s Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Please deliver this document to the headmaster of Great Sword Gate.”

“Hmm.”

They went inside for a moment and then came out.

“Follow us.”

The place they led me to was a neatly arranged reception room. From the luxurious yet simple interior, one could easily sense that this was the most flourishing martial arts school in Luoyang. There weren’t many extravagant items, but the atmosphere itself spoke volumes about the owner’s character.

A moment later, a man walked into the reception room.

“I heard the story. You are Baek-woong, the teacher from the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, correct?”

I stood up and bowed respectfully.

“That’s correct. It’s an honor to meet you, Headmaster of Great Sword Gate.”

Indeed.

The man standing in front of me – dressed neatly in simple white clothes, was the leader among the current Luoyang martial arts leaders, and had defeated a martial arts elder of the Huashan sect in just 100 breaths. He was the Headmaster of Great Sword Gate, a man of unparalleled martial prowess.

“Please have a seat.”

“Yes.”

The person standing next to me, a servant girl, carefully poured tea into the headmaster of Great Sword Gate’s and my teacups. Seeing the Great Sword Gate headmaster dignifiedly sipping his tea reminded me of Azure Dragon Martial Hall’s own headmaster, making me think they became friends due to their similar temperaments. Both give off a gentle and graceful impression, but I suspect that the headmaster of Great Sword Gate must also be a fearsome figure in real combat, much like a tiger.

The headmaster of Great Sword Gate spoke.

“You’ve heard about your recommendation for the position of Embroidered Uniform Guard, I assume?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Though I said we’d keep it confidential, unfortunately, a few of my disciples overheard that discussion. Of course, I have no intention of going back on my word, but they want to test your skills.”

It was to be expected. If a position like Embroidered Uniform Guard that could have been theirs goes to an expert from another sect, I would have also lost my temper and picked a fight. However, the headmaster of Great Sword Gate’s disciples seemed to be planning to take their frustration out on me, most likely because of the immense authority and honor that the Great Sword Gate headmaster holds within the sect.

“A contest of martial skills?”

“It’s not as grand as that, let’s just call it a sparring match.”

I felt like things got complicated as soon as I arrived. However, since I had anticipated this to some extent, I confidently nodded my head.

“Of course, I’ll do it.”

A legendary Chinese poet who lived during Tang dynasty. He was elevated to the status of an immortal by Daoists, and also known as deities of the Eight Immortals[↩]