The group was walking side by side on the streets of Jebu Province.One of the most typical ways to identify outsiders is to check if they are looking around with wide eyes.
In that sense, Cheonghwi was clearly an outsider no matter how you looked at him. He was busy looking around in all directions. But the meaning was slightly different.
Cheonghwi had already adapted to the architectural style of the Central Plains while briefly living as a guest of the Namgung Clan. There was nothing particularly new to be surprised about.
Rather, this was a gaze of excitement and exploration.
Heavenly Mirror Lake.
He had to find an underwater cave at the bottom of a lake he only knew by name. Was the Elixir still safely there? Was someone digging it up at this very moment? Such light anxieties and…
The excitement of someone setting out on an adventure for the first time after establishing their resolve.
After being betrayed by his brother, he had wandered aimlessly all day long, and now he was finally starting to move forward with a clear purpose. Feeling as if the hazy veil blocking his eyes had been lifted, he couldn’t contain himself.
Namgung Myeong was also excited, simply happy about the unexpected journey.
On the other hand, Beggar’s Union Leader Hee Yeonghyeon was completely composed. Rather than a deliberate calmness, it was a naturalness that exuded from her body.Perhaps she had lived here for a long time.
There was another piece of evidence. The group had been able to enter Jebu Province safely with her help, and judging by how she naturally exchanged a few words and let them in, she seemed to have connections with the guard.
Hee Yeonghyeon walked ahead, guiding them. Though dressed like a village housewife, there was a strange sensuality in her gait.
It was the movement of a courtesan, swaying her hips left and right as she walked.
Namgung Seungah quietly covered Namgung Myeong’s eyes.
“…Noonim, I can’t see!”
“It’s because something got in your eyes. Stay still.”
Cheonghwi spoke to Hee Yeonghyeon.
“We survived thanks to you. I thought we might not be able to enter the city… but with one word from you, the province gates opened.”
Hee Yeonghyeon’s lower eyelids trembled slightly.
“I just helped because I had connections. And don’t call me Young Lady.”
“What brings you to Jebu Province?”
“There’s no reason to tell you… but, let’s just say I came for an investigation. When you’re clinging to the shadows of the Hao Sect, you have to do odd jobs, don’t you?”
The current Beggar’s Union had entered under the Hao Sect for survival. It seemed to be a kind of employer-employee relationship, so the Hao Sect side must have given her a request.
Namgung Seungah seemed to have some guesses, and after thinking deeply, she cautiously asked.
“The guard earlier said there have been disappearances in the city, right?”
“That’s why they said they wouldn’t let suspicious people in. Is this related to that?”
“…Yes. But you have your business, and I have mine, so let’s not show unnecessary interest in each other. Isn’t it enough that I got you into the city?”
Hee Yeonghyeon answered coldly and waved her hand as if to say goodbye. Cheonghwi nodded. Indeed, didn’t he have other things to do?
Unless he had time after completing Namgung Myeong’s dantian restoration, he had no leisure to get involved in such matters now. Still, he left some room.
After all, didn’t he also need to return the Dog Beating Staff Technique to her?
“If you need an extra hand, look for me. After I finish my business, I should have some time, so I shall help.”
“Thanks for the empty words. In return, let me advise you: don’t get tangled up in troublesome affairs for a while. Like getting into disputes with dark martial artists, or meddling unnecessarily. Well then, goodbye.”
Cheonghwi quietly watched Hee Yeonghyeon’s retreating figure. Swish, swish. There was a strange magic in her seductive movements that captured the gaze.
He was worried she might get caught up in unnecessary trouble, but Hee Yeonghyeon seemed to be a considerable Master, so it was probably needless concern.
After she disappeared into some alley, Namgung Seungah finally uncovered Namgung Myeong’s eyes. Myeong seemed curious about the reason for the physical censorship.
“Did the Beggar’s Union Leader use some kind of hypnotic eye technique…?”
“It was similar. First, let us find lodgings, wash our dirty bodies, and then go to Heavenly Mirror Lake. There, I shall heal Namgung Myeong’s body.”
“Is it a ritual that borrows the power of water?! I’ve heard that invisible forces flow through water and earth… Or perhaps you’re planning to ask the Immortal said to live in Heavenly Mirror Lake!”
“Maybe it’s offering a sacrifice to the heavens. Didn’t Zhuge Liang also pray to extend his lifespan?”
“……”
Seeing that the Namgung siblings seemed to be expecting a full performance as a Daoist, Cheonghwi was slightly flustered. He was just planning to pick up the Elixir from the underwater cave…
But to state the facts without any thrill and novelty would be disappointing, as the two’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation. Cheonghwi quickly racked his brain. He would need to come up with an appropriate performance before reaching the lake.
===============================================================
The three of them washed up neatly and set out onto the streets again.
If Cheonghwi had been alone, he would have gotten lost, but thanks to the Namgung siblings, he was relieved of the worry of losing his way. Passing through various buildings and streets, they moved towards where the smell of water could be detected.
As their view opened up, a vast lake revealed itself.
Several pavilions were built along the lakeshore, and quite a few people could be seen enjoying boat rides. Also, guard warriors patrolling the area caught the eye.
Namgung Myeong, his heart swelling with the beauty presented by the vast natural scenery, introduced it with an excited voice.
“This is Heavenly Mirror Lake, Daoist Cheonghwi! It’s called Heavenly Mirror because the lake water is clear and calm, like a mirror reflecting the sky. Look, there are couples enjoying the scenery, and fishermen too!”
“…A lake is supposed to be, well, smaller than this, is it not?”
“What? Hahaha! It has to be at least this big to be called a lake. Any smaller and it would just be a pond, wouldn’t it?”
“……”
On the other hand, Cheonghwi broke out in a cold sweat, overwhelmed by the size of the lake. This was no time to be laughing and enjoying himself.
It was wider than he had thought. Much wider.
He had to find an underwater cave somewhere in this vast lake, with only vague clues. It was dizzying just to imagine.
Surely, the Beggar Master had said…
He had gone fishing in the middle of Heavenly Mirror Lake, and when he got no bites, he got frustrated and dove in himself. While swinging his staff to catch fish, he saw a hole at the bottom of the lake.
There was a swallow-shaped rock nearby, so it was easy to remember.
When he first heard it, he thought it would be easy to find if he just felt around the middle of the lake, but actually seeing the lake, even that was no ordinary task.
Thinking positively, the chances of someone else having discovered the Elixir first were extremely low. He had to take comfort in that.
“Hmm… I shall use my Daoist Arts to search for the treasure here.”
“Treasure! Are you saying there’s treasure hidden in the lake, Daoist Cheonghwi?!”
“That is right. I… um… looked at the moon, and… read the flow… of mana. Seeing the position of the stars and the shape of the clouds… Yes, astrologically. I have read the will of heaven that there is treasure in this Heavenly Mirror Lake.”
“Wow!”
While Namgung Myeong was very excited, Namgung Seungah subtly changed her expression at this awkward performance that sounded strange no matter how you heard it.
Cheonghwi took out a Light Scroll from his bosom. This was a scroll often used for dungeon exploration, a magic that created a floating light source above one’s head when torn.
“O-O’ L-Light… illuminate where the treasure is!”
Whoosh-!
Fwoosh!
A sphere of light floated up. Cheonghwi pretended to chant with his eyes closed, and when the scroll’s duration ended, he spoke.
“…There is a cave near a swallow-shaped rock at the bottom of Heavenly Mirror Lake. There is an Elixir that has aged about 30 years there, and if Namgung Myeong takes it… his dantian should heal.”
“That was truly amazing Daoist Arts! Daoist Cheonghwi, you looked all the way down to the depths of that lake from where you were sitting! Is that the legendary Thousand-Li Eye? Or-“
“…Daoist Cheonghwi, did you really use Daoist Arts?”
“Y-Yes, I did. Anyway. That is not what is important. We need to search the bottom of the lake.”
Now all that was left was to put in the legwork.
Since swimming from the shore to the center of the lake wouldn’t be efficient, it would be good to rent a boat. Cheonghwi looked around and tried to find a way to get a boat.
Namgung Seungah pointed to a dock.
“It looks like they rent boats from that building, Cheonghwi.”
“I see. Then let us go there first… But why did you drop the ‘Daoist’?”
Namgung Seungah diverted Namgung Myeong’s attention and spoke quietly in a whisper.
“You use Daoist Arts like you’re reading an instruction manual. The light-emitting thing is amazing, but… the user is so clumsy. Be honest with me. You’re not a real Daoist, are you?”
“…I was not deliberately trying to act that way. People around me called me that, so I just did not break the illusion. Please keep it a secret from Myeong.”
“……”
Even if there was no need to deceive, shouldn’t a child’s dream be protected? He was so happy just from the mere use of supposed Daoist Arts, after all.
The Namgung siblings had brought a money pouch, so they had enough to rent a boat.
The group sat huddled together on a small boat and rowed forward. Although it was their first time, as three martial artists, they had no problem rowing.
“Aish… damn!”
“Noonim, I think if we row in a curved motion, we might move forward more smoothly…”
Even if the movements were clumsy, the boat moved forward somehow just by pushing down with force.
Swish swish swish.
They reached the center of the lake, creating ripples on the calm surface. Cheonghwi looked around cautiously. If someone saw a person repeatedly diving suspiciously, it would surely raise suspicion.
Fortunately, it seemed no one was paying attention to them, so Cheonghwi took off his outer clothes and prepared to explore the lake.
“I will go and find out the exact location of the cave. After that, we will enter the cave together.”
“If there’s something in there that can heal Myeong’s injury, couldn’t you just bring it up yourself? There’s no need for us to go down together.”
“I have heard that good Elixirs can only exert their full effect if consumed right where they are picked.”
“So the treasure was an Elixir… Wait a moment, Daoist Cheonghwi. If that’s the case, I think it would be right for you to take it, not me…!”
Namgung Myeong grabbed Cheonghwi, who was about to dive.
“Daoist Cheonghwi, you also have aspirations in martial arts, and I’ve heard that Inner Arts are important for Daoists too. So, rather than using the Elixir on me, whose dantian is already ruined…”
“Do not say unnecessary things.”
“But, it’s strange, Daoist Cheonghwi. You’ve saved my life twice, and now you’re trying to feed me a valuable Elixir. I’m confused. It’s such a heavy kindness…”
Cheonghwi smiled gently.
It was a fortuitous encounter in a situation where his dantian had been shattered. In that situation, rather than thinking of his own well-being, he pursued righteousness - how could that not be admirable?
Namgung Myeong was a good child. Moreover, he was endowed with outstanding talent, so if he grew up properly, he would surely become a great chivalrous expert.
With such a disposition, he would remember well the help Cheonghwi had given and undoubtedly become a person of character who would bestow it upon others.
Cheonghwi suddenly thought of a farmer planting seeds.
If you sow seeds and nurture them well until they bear fruit, many people in future generations will enjoy the sweet fruit, and the seeds will spread even more widely.
Thus, it would remain far into that distant future.
I see.
“I think I have found the answer. Hee Yeonghyeon should receive the Dog Beating Staff Technique.”
“…?”
“Namgung Myeong, do not mind. This is not pure kindness. All of this is for my own peace of mind…”
Even if not for a greater cause, Cheonghwi earnestly wished for Namgung Myeong to recover.
He didn’t want to leave another Envers Redburn in this world. He didn’t want anyone to feel the sadness he experienced.
By changing Namgung Myeong’s fate, he wanted to gain comfort and confidence that his own fate could also change.
Also… didn’t it seem like it would feel really good to do this? He thought it might be similar to how the beggar tied to the Tower of Trials deliberately took Envers as a disciple and passed on martial arts.
Cheonghwi spoke gently but firmly.
“For now, just take what is given. Should you not get better quickly and help your brother make the clan prosper?”
“…Then, though it’s shameless… I’ll accept it, Daoist Cheonghwi. But someday, I will surely repay this kindness!”
“I shall be looking forward to it.”
Splash-!
Cheonghwi gently freed Namgung Myeong’s hand, patted his head, and then threw himself into the lake. He paddled through the blue waves, descending downwards.
Watching the bubbles rising to the surface, Namgung Myeong clenched his fist and made a resolution.
He didn’t know what Daoist Cheonghwi saw reflected in him. He didn’t know what the occasional flashes of regret in his eyes pointed to. Nor why he cared so much for someone he had barely met.
But in the world of martial arts, wasn’t the line between gratitude and grudges always ever so clear?
Someday he would repay as much as he had received. He would definitely do so.
===============================================================
Cheonghwi was able to find the underwater cave faster than expected. Three dives were enough.
The entrance to the cave existed next to a frog-shaped rock.
“……”
He said it was a swallow-shaped rock, though.
Because the rock shape wasn’t a swallow, he had deliberately passed it by in previous dive attempts, but when he investigated just in case, it was right next to it. He felt a strange sense of betrayal.
He carefully cleared away stones with his hands to widen the entrance. When he briefly pushed his head in to look inside, it seemed wide enough for two people to pass side by side.
The problem was breathing.
The beggar had said he found the Elixir at the end of the cave, so there should be a space where one could breathe at the end of the underwater cave. But reaching that point was the issue. His lung capacity was barely sufficient.
Moreover, didn’t he need to bring Namgung Myeong into the underwater cave too? He was still a young boy whose growth hadn’t properly started yet. His lung capacity would be low.
If they weren’t going to bring air in containers, the only option was to increase swimming speed.
A way to increase speed underwater…
Cheonghwi first went up to the boat and consulted with the Namgung siblings about this problem.
Namgung Myeong suggested bringing a large, sealed metal container full of air, but it was rejected due to concerns about the time it would take to make and the rumors that would spread around.
If they went to an ironmonger and asked to make an oxygen tank, wouldn’t it look like an attempt to explore the lake no matter how you looked at it?
Namgung Seungah looked down at the lake, thought for a moment, and spoke.
“Do you want to learn the Thousand Catty Weight?”
“What is the Thousand Catty Weight?”
“It’s a technique that uses Inner Arts to press down on your body. It’s used when you need to land quickly from a floating state, or when you need to firmly establish your center of gravity.”
“A thousand catties… That is about 600kg.”
Shudder.
Cheonghwi suddenly had an ominous feeling that lightning might strike him out of a clear sky, and he looked around quickly.
“…??”
“Why are you suddenly like this?”
“No, it is nothing…”
Some words were known to invite trouble. Cheonghwi shut his mouth and silently learned the Thousand Catty Weight.
“Hup!”
A feeling as if the sky was pressing down on him.
There were similarities to Ignition in the sense of using Inner Arts to generate propulsive force. However, the Thousand Catty Weight was more about generating force continuously and gently.
With his broken Mana Circuit, fine control was difficult, so the force applied fluctuated, becoming a Ten Catty Weight at times and a Hundred Catty Weight at others.
Using the Thousand Catty Weight, his diving speed noticeably increased.
He could reach the lake bottom with oxygen to spare, and Cheonghwi swam into the underwater cave. After passing through a winding path, he was able to emerge into a connected underground cavity.
“Haaah, hoo…”
When he took a breath, there was no problem with breathing. It was a place where oxygen circulated.
It was dark and hard to see ahead, so Cheonghwi tore a Light Emission Scroll he had brought in advance. Although it was damp from the water, the scroll worked properly.
Whoosh-!
A sphere of light floated up.
And Cheonghwi saw a huge eyelid as big as his own body.
And a massive, scaly body that filled the cavity.
“…!!”
Cheonghwi frantically tried to disperse the light sphere by waving it around, but someone like him who lacked the ability to materialize mana couldn’t possibly strike magic.
“……”
He froze, unable to even breathe.
After an eternity-like 10 seconds passed, and confirming that the huge Imoogi’s eyelid was still closed, Cheonghwi let out a silent sigh of relief.
Perhaps due to living for a long time underground where not a speck of light entered, the Imoogi seemed to have atrophied sensory organs for detecting light, as it remained still even when this much light was shone on its sleeping eyelid.
He checked to see if it was dead, but proper inhalation and exhalation could be felt from its large nostrils. It was clearly a living being, just asleep.
And then…
Cheonghwi saw a small flower emitting a blue light.
The amount of mana that could be felt even from afar. It was undoubtedly an Elixir.
Cheonghwi swallowed hard and quietly returned to the underwater passage. Now that he had confirmed the existence of the Elixir, he needed to come up with a way to deal with that Imoogi.
===============================================================
“…So what you’re saying is, because you need to investigate how to catch an Imoogi, you want me to attack while pretending to be a salamander? On all fours?”
“Here’s a tail too.”
“Are you crazy?”
It was the beginning of the Imoogi Subjugation Battle.