Envers woke up in the Namgung Clan’s medical hall. The Jiangshi’s poison had been completely neutralized, and his minor scratches were bandaged and treated.The physician’s assistant advised him to avoid strenuous movements for a while as there might still be some residual toxins. Envers responded that he understood and left the medical hall.
The atmosphere within the Namgung Clan was extremely harsh and chaotic.
This was understandable. After all, they had been openly attacked during a birthday banquet with all sorts of guests present, even if it was in the middle of the night. Several warriors had died.
When he stopped a passing servant to ask, he was told that the Clan Lord and the senior members had been in a meeting since daybreak, discussing how to deal with this incident.
It seemed they were divided between those who insisted on finding and killing the culprit at all costs, and those who argued for moving cautiously due to lack of evidence, resulting in an unresolved argument.
As Envers wandered around the clan compound in a daze, he saw Namgung Seungah crouched with her back against a wall.
He quietly asked.
“…How is Myeong?”
“Thankfully, his life isn’t in danger. But…”
His dantian was almost destroyed and couldn’t function properly. That was the diagnosis she said he received.Namgung Seungah cried, saying they were told that no matter how hard he tried, there were limits to what could be achieved with Outer Arts alone, so it would be better to give up on the path of a martial artist.
When asked why she was crying:
“Myeong… didn’t cry. Instead, worried that I might be concerned, he said he had always found buying and selling things interesting, so now he’d learn to be a merchant and contribute to the family.”
That young child was hiding his disappointment and not even crying.
“Shouldn’t I cry on his behalf…?”
“……”
Perhaps that’s right.
His head felt hazy, as if shrouded in fog.
Wandering as if in a trance, Envers found the building where Namgung Myeong was hospitalized. He could tell at a glance that warriors were standing guard strictly, and Namgung Pae was guarding the entrance.
Namgung Pae warned Envers with a stiff expression.
“Go back, Daoist Cheonghwi.”
“…Can I at least see his face?”
Namgung Pae’s eyes trembled slightly at the shadow that had fallen over Envers’ face. Envers’ deeply saddened expression seemed even more sorrowful than Myeong’s relatives.
It was unpleasant to turn away someone who was genuinely saddened by another’s pain, but Namgung Pae had to do his job. Myeong needed stability.
“I won’t say it twice. Go ba—“
“…Come in.”
A very small voice was heard from beyond the door.
Namgung Pae lowered his eyes with a solemn expression, then stepped aside from the door with a sigh. Envers bowed silently in gratitude and entered.
===============================================================
A strong medicinal scent filled the air.
Passing through the corridor and opening the sliding door guarded by two attendants, Namgung Myeong could be seen lying neatly on a pure white bed. His complexion was pale.
“…Daoist Cheonghwi, you came?”
His smile on that white face looked more like a ghost’s than that of someone lively and healthy. Envers spoke while looking at Namgung Myeong’s abdomen wrapped tightly in bandages.
“How are you feeling?”
“Ah, I’m fine. They say I’ll be completely healed in a few days. Our clan’s physician is very skilled…!”
“…I heard what happened.”
“Ah, you heard. I ended up… telling an unnecessary lie.”
A moment of silence.
Namgung Myeong forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
“Still, I’m fortunate to be alive. Thanks to Father, Daoist Cheonghwi, and… um. I wasn’t badly hurt.”
It was easy to guess what words the boy had stumbled over. He must have thought of the Namgung Clan warriors who died in the Jiangshi’s attack. A flash of guilt crossed his eyes.
Swallowing his damp emotions, Namgung Myeong spoke about the future.
“A man who can move his limbs properly can do many things. There are more people in the world who aren’t martial artists than those who are!”
That’s true.
“So, like others… I’ll learn and study, and be helpful to the family. There’s an elder in our main house who manages the business, and he’s been worried about not finding a successor. If I learn well…”
There would be many paths. Perhaps working at a desk might be safer and more rewarding than honing martial arts.
Maybe Namgung Myeong might achieve far more… tremendous merits than if he had learned martial arts, and spread the Namgung Clan’s name far and wide.
Envers had such opportunities too.
The world doesn’t run on martial power alone. Rather than stubbornly clinging to it when even his Mana Circuit was damaged, he could have turned his eyes to other wonderful and good things.
He could have become a merchant like Namgung Myeong, or tried being an informant. Perhaps there could have been a completely different… path.
However, the reason Envers Redburn didn’t do that…
The reason he stubbornly insisted on entering the Academy was, if asked…
“…You cannot stand side by side with your brother, though.”
“……”
Namgung Myeong squeezed his eyes shut as if struck at a vital point.
Envers also closed his eyes. Now he seemed to know what he wanted.
The reason those times of training and striving together shone so brightly was because he had been envisioning a future where they would fight together, back to back.
Fighting together.
For such a trivial thing, Envers still couldn’t let go and kept hoping. He hoped that he would deflect the blade flying towards his brother, and his brother would block the spear coming at him.
Because it had always been that way.
In that cursed house of illegitimate children, they had fought together against the jealousy and malice of other children. Even now, he wanted to stand together, as equals, side by side.
Namgung Myeong saw his own dream in Envers’ eyes. Envers too must be looking at himself, using Namgung Myeong as a mirror.
The young boy who had lost his dantian lowered his head deeply. Then he opened his mouth.
Only those who have lost their dreams say, ‘I have never dreamed.’
“…I’m fine. Really. The dream of standing side by side with my brother… I never actually wished for it…”
Just as such.
===============================================================
You could read many things from this young boy’s eyes.
Fear, pain, confusion, wounds from stepping on shattered fragments of a dream.
It wasn’t that you were skilled at reading people’s emotions. These emotions were ones you had often seen beyond the mirror. They were all too familiar.
There is a dream. You faced the dream that had been hidden.
[Dream: Return to the Redburn Mansion, prove my skills, make those who looked down on me kneel, and become the Household Head’s right hand…?]
No.
Returning to the Redburn Mansion, cutting down all the servants who looked down on you, becoming the Duke of Redburn’s right hand and enjoying all sorts of wealth and glory.
What meaning would there be if there was no family to share all the joys and sorrows of life in that position?
In that dark and gloomy house of illegitimate children, thrown away from their mother, your only family was your brother Roderus.
The sense of rivalry felt towards a brother, the desire to follow, the family circle, the promise to become his right hand - all these things stitched together formed your rough dream.
With unclear outlines and arbitrary shape, this dream would look different depending on the angle from which it’s viewed.
[Dream: Why did you do that to me, Elder Brother? At least tell me the reason.]
[Dream: Since it was you who opened the path of my hardships, I must have my revenge. Let me hit you just once.]
[Dream: It would be truly wonderful if we could rely on each other and move forward together.]
[Dream: Just stay alive. I shall come find you someday.]
Resentment, revenge, friendship, worry - we’ll bundle all of that together and call it a single dream.
Well then.
What do you want to do now?
“I saw a mirror.”
You saw a mirror that looked exactly like you. It was the boy named Namgung Myeong, who resembled you in many ways.
“I was sad remembering my childhood, and I also thought I did not want to leave things like this. I do not want him to end up like me.”
Like you?
“Thinking you cannot achieve your dream, so you patch it over with flimsy cloth.”
To hide the uglily shattered dream, covering up the reasons. Covering up reality. Adding conditions. Lowering the bar. We call this compromise.
Many people would do that. You did too.
Trying to change the entire Redburn Duchy that had twisted all these events. Starting by searching for your missing mother. Somehow trying to meet Roderus.
You put off all those difficult and dangerous tasks. That’s not necessarily wrong. It’s wise to cut off branches to survive.
Yet, even so?
“The important thing is… I do not want to do that. Not anymore.”
Then you must know what you need to do yourself.
To do your best and leave the rest to the will of heaven. The success or failure of things is up to heaven so it can’t be helped, but if a person does their best in their own affairs.
“Even if I fail, at least I will not have regrets.”
===============================================================
You still can’t answer clearly.
Of course you’ll hesitate when you have to challenge something with everything at stake.
You’ll probably wander many times, not even knowing where your own heart is heading.
But at least, you won’t leave regrets.
“Namgung Myeong.”
“…Daoist Cheonghwi?”
“You need to come with me to the Heavenly Mirror Lake.”
“…?”
===============================================================
People gathered in the Namgung Clan’s main hall. The clan’s senior members were tightly gathered, discussing how to deal with this incident.
The mood was dark, gloomy, and quite irritable. Namgung Chaegong was listening quietly with a furrowed brow, while various shouts were exchanged to his left and right.
Namgung Zhao was taking the lead in arguing.
“Our clan’s reputation is not good, so stirring things up will only bring trouble. I am also very angry that my younger brother was attacked, but we must look at the bigger picture! For the sake of the clan, we must endure–”
“So you’re saying we should just let this slide?!”
And so, as the intensity of the chaos kept increasing…
A commotion erupted outside.
“Daoist Cheonghwi, you can’t do this h… Ugh!”
“You can’t pass through he… Argh!”
Thwack, thwack!
The sound of jaws being dislocated, twice.
BANG-!!
And then, the main door was flung wide open. The people inside the hall opened their eyes wide, staring at the uninvited guest who had barged in during their serious meeting.
“…Daoist Cheonghwi? Did you just knock out the guards and come in…?”
“From the sound, it seems he kicked the main door open…”
Thud. Thud.
Envers walked boldly across the center of the hall. All eyes were on him. Without exception, everyone wore a surprised expression.
What kind of rudeness was this?
Namgung Chaegong rubbed his forehead and sternly warned:
“Even if you’re our benefactor… There are limits. We are holding a meeting to decide clan matters, how can an outsider–”
“I am taking Namgung Myeong with me.”
“…??”
“I shall heal him and bring him back.”
Everyone froze at these abrupt words. What was this crazy Daoist blabbering about? Among them, the Namgung Clan’s physician blinked and stuttered.
“…D-Do you mean you have a way to fix his dantian, Daoist?”
“That is right.”
Murmur, murmur.
Confusion spread in an instant. It was too sweet a promise. Could this be true? If true, it would be a great blessing. But to entrust Myeong to this big-nosed foreigner? It must surely be a lie.
As the commotion was about to grow uncontrollable, Namgung Chaegong raised his hand and slammed down on the armrest.
BANG!!
Crack!
The armrest was almost crushed, and thanks to that, silence filled the hall.
“Explain in detail, Little Daoist. What method?”
“I cannot tell you. If the secret spreads, there is a possibility of losing the initiative.”
“The destination?”
“That too, I cannot tell you.”
Envers spoke boldly, puffing out his chest. Seeing this, Namgung Chaegong let out a dry laugh. Then he summarized simply and asked again.
“So… the method, means, and destination are all secret. You’re just saying you’ll heal my son if I hand him over?”
“That is right.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“No.”
“……”
Namgung Chaegong stared into Envers’ eyes, trying to read his intentions. And there, he could see the boy’s stubbornness. The blue eyes were clear without deceit, and there was an unwavering determination.
Clang!
Namgung Zhao stood up, drawing his sword.
“Clan Lord, I’ll drive out this scoundrel…”
“Sit back down. Daoist Cheonghwi, what do you want? To fix the dantian, you’d surely need to use an incredible treasure or employ an extraordinary secret technique.”
“I shall use a treasure. It is not an evil method like feeding people, so do not worry. Since it is uncertain whether it will work or not, I do not need any compensation.”
“Huh… Huh huh huh.”
Namgung Chaegong slapped his forehead a few times as if dumbfounded, then burst into laughter. He clutched his belly and laughed for a while, then…
“What if I don’t give permission?”
“Then I shall have to take him by force.”
“Of course, you’d have to defeat me. You’d have to defeat all the Namgung Clan members gathered here. I’m much stronger than you, Little Daoist. Even so?”
“That is right.”
“Hahahahaha! Alright, it seems you’ve finally found your own sense of virtue and chivalry, huh?”
Envers actually took a fighting stance. It didn’t seem like just an act. This boy was really thinking about fighting and winning. Namgung Chaegong liked that straightforwardness.
Namgung Chaegong asked one last time.
“There’s no benefit at all. Of course, as a father, if anything happens to Myeong, I’ll tear you apart. It’s like asking me to hand over everything. Even so?”
“That is right. If you are going to stop me, then stop me. If not, please hand him over!”
“Alright. Good. Take him!”
“…FATHER!!”
Namgung Zhao cried out as if screaming.
Namgung Chaegong waved his hand to calm him down, and looked straight at Envers as he spoke. Such a straightforward clash was worth placing hope in.
“I like that spirit of not needing compensation. If you really heal Myeong’s dantian and bring him back, I’ll give you the most valuable thing I can give!”
“I will be back.”
As soon as he heard the Clan Lord’s permission, Envers turned his back and walked out of the hall boldly. His demeanor suggested that no one could shake him even if they tried to stop him. Behind him, the Clan Lord’s hearty laughter echoed.
Envers clenched his fist.
There was information the beggar had mentioned.
He had heard that there was a cave at the bottom of the Heavenly Mirror Lake, and there was a very precious Elixir there. Envers had originally intended to use this for his own power-up, but…
The elixir hasn’t fully matured yet, and it seems the Imoogi is absorbing the Elixir’s energy to grow, so I left it alone. It seemed like it would be ready in about 10 years.
People of Murim sometimes undergo Overhaul Rebirth when they eat Supreme Elixirs, but I’m not sure if it would apply to people of an otherworld. Since there are differences in internal bone structure…
With this, he thought it might be possible to induce Namgung Myeong’s transformation and fix his dantian.
Envers flung open the door to Namgung Myeong’s hospital room and shouted.
“I have received the Clan Lord’s permission!”
“…Y-You got permission…?”
“That is right. Once you have recovered enough to move, we shall set off for the Heavenly Mirror Lake together, so keep that in mind! And halve your expectations.”
“…I never thought I’d be heading out into Jianghu like this…!”
Namgung Myeong’s face showed he was confused about whether to have hope or not. Envers was confused too. He couldn’t be 100% confident in the success rate.
But he thought this way would leave no regrets.
“W-Wait! Daoist Cheonghwi! If you’re leaving, I’m coming too. Me too…!!”
Namgung Seungah also jumped in to catch the last train.
And so, their chaotic Jianghu Journey began.