Sichuan's Mad Dragon (Novel) - Chapter 62 - The Daoist

Chapter 62 – The Taoist

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Bai Li watched Ju-seong with an expression that was half dazed.

He was now examining the condition of her father, the sect leader of the White Crane Sword Sect.

When he wielded force, he seemed like a demon; when he scolded people, he seemed like a judge of the underworld. Yet now he was tending to the wounded as if he had become a bodhisattva overflowing with mercy.

Just how many faces did this man contain?

Meanwhile, the sword energy thread that Immortal Hyeon-su had drawn out writhed through the air like a snake, stripping the martial artists of their dantians. They were driven away like defeated soldiers, without even time to shed tears over their loss.

The martial world of this region would now enter a period of vacuum, and in that time, this Bai tribe faction would surely seize the initiative.

Ju-seong let out a sigh and straightened his back only after he had finished treating all the wounded.

“Mm. They’re all gone. They fled like mangy dogs after having their dantians stolen.”

Bai Li offered a ceremonial bow to Ju-seong once more and spoke.

“Benefactor, please stay in our village to tend to your injuries and recover. Though it is humble, we will do our best to offer you our gratitude.”

“Very well. I’ve been injured, and we’ve been running excessively these past few days… More importantly, an unknown senior seems to have taken an interest in me, so I can’t hurry on my way just yet.”

He answered while glancing sideways at the old man who was watching him with a smile from across the way.

The old man was truly terrifying, but fortunately, that chilling martial prowess didn’t seem to be directed at him, which gave him some relief.

In the martial world, there existed beings like natural disasters that humans couldn’t contend with, and those were the individuals called the Ten Venerables Under Heaven.

It stung his pride, but the old man seemed to be at least a cut above his master.

“Could the senior who helped us over there, and my younger brother, also stay?”

“Ah, of course. By the way, may I ask the benefactor’s esteemed name?”

“Esteemed name, what esteemed name… Call me Ju-seong. My younger brother here is Red Beggar. That senior over there, I just met him too, so I don’t know.”

At his words, the old man, who had somehow approached nearby, spoke with a gentle smile.

“Just call me Immortal Hyeon-su. I am, in my own way, a person who walks the path of the Tao.”

“Ah, yes. Immortal Hyeon-su. I deeply thank you for your assistance as well, Immortal…”

Bai Li couldn’t even begin to gauge how high a level of mastery this old man had reached. If it was danger beyond one’s capacity to handle anyway, there was no point in being wary.

“Please, everyone come inside. It’s not proper to keep our benefactors standing out here so long.”

The Bai tribe people watched Ju-seong’s party with a mix of gratitude and awe.

Ju-seong was not used to receiving such looks, so he just kept his eyes forward.

April followed behind Immortal Hyeon-su in a half-dazed state, sticking to him like a side dish that comes with expensive liquor.

He was currently in a state of shock at the inhuman martial prowess of the old man he had thought was nothing more than an ordinary peddler.

Had he really been chatting casually with such a person as they walked together?

The old man seemed to read April’s mind and turned back with a grin.

“I wasn’t lying about being a peddler. I was a peddler at least until the age of twenty…”

April’s face grew even paler. The idea was mind-boggling: having been a peddler with no martial arts until twenty, he had now become a monster who could effortlessly draw out sword energy thread.

Ju-seong, vaguely listening to their conversation, felt chills run down his spine.

He hadn’t recognized the Taoist title Immortal Hyeon-su, but he had heard stories of a master who had been a peddler in the past.

Kunlun’s First Sword, Sword Saint of the Western Frontier.

The Sage of the Sword who had made his name in the western frontier.

From what he’d heard, he was among the upper ranks even among the Ten Venerables Under Heaven.

‘Then what the hell is that useless-looking guy? To be traveling with the Sword Saint… Truly puzzling.’

But the mystery of the man accompanying the old man would have to be set aside for now. Ju-seong and Red Beggar needed rest urgently.

They hadn’t been fighting from a fully rested state. They had been performing qinggong while keeping at least half their stamina and internal energy in reserve, only to encounter a fight while heading north.

This was not a method recommended in the martial world, but these two were new to the martial world and sometimes made such mistakes.

Pushing any harder from here could truly injure their true energy, so Ju-seong and Red Beggar were assigned guest rooms at a place called the White Crane Sword School where they could rest.

He had worried that the inside would be all white too, since the building’s exterior was entirely white, but fortunately it wasn’t.

Ju-seong listened to the murmur of the Bai language echoing in the corridor, then quietly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

It wasn’t Chinese, so he couldn’t understand it, but there was no need to stay tense even in a place like this.

That was because Ju-seong hadn’t accumulated many grudges yet.

A martial artist who had rolled around the martial world for a long time, was highly skilled, and had accumulated many grudges couldn’t easily let his guard down even in a place like this.

That was true whether the person was an orthodox faction hero or an utterly wicked deviant.

The martial world was, after all, hell that treated everyone equally.

So peak-level masters like Ju-seong usually couldn’t sleep without a guardian to watch over them.

He let out a long sigh and spoke.

“…You may leave now.”

To whom was he speaking? Ju-seong then immediately surrendered himself to the waves of sleep.

Steady breathing sounds came from within. Bai Li, who had been quietly keeping watch in front of his room, let out a small sigh and left.

* * *

“What brings Kunlun’s First Sword to this Yunnan Province?”

Ju-seong was sitting across from Immortal Hyeon-su, drinking tea.

He personally preferred liquor, but he couldn’t drink alcohol in front of a Taoist.

Immortal Hyeon-su did not bother to hide his identity behind pretense.

For a man bearing the title of Sword Saint, there was neither reason nor meaning to act so secretively.

“Actually, I came down from the mountain intending to deal with that creature in the southern jungle. I heard an entire province was suffering because of it. I also considered mediating if the conflict between the Southern Commerce Association and Green Wood Lotus grew too severe. But it seems their relationship has been somewhat patched up.”

“That’s right. The two forces formed a temporary alliance while pursuing the heinous sexual predator called the Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer. That temporary alliance bound the two forces together as something like… comrades-in-arms.”

Immortal Hyeon-su stroked his white beard and nodded.

“You might not know this, but comrades who fought together often form attachments stronger than family. Of course, the two forces wouldn’t have become that close. But just the fact that they pointed their blades toward a common goal together means the two forces won’t become irreconcilable enemies.”

“The Flower-Snapping Laughing Killer was also killed by my younger brother and me. Since neither of us belongs to the Southern Commerce or the Green Wood Lotus, the two won’t fight over credit.”

“How well everything was handled. It’s a pity that civilians suffered from the jungle wildfire in the south. But it would be awkward to go all the way to the Southern Barbarian lands to catch and punish the arsonists. It’s a different country after all.”

Saying this, Immortal Hyeon-su’s eyes lit up slightly as he looked at the moth sitting on Ju-seong’s shoulder.

“That must be the offspring of that moth monster? Its aura isn’t ordinary. I’ve seen a few spirit beasts in my life, and though faint, the qualities are similar.”

Ju-seong glanced sideways at the white moth.

-Cheep cheep… cheep cheep cheep.

‘Mama. Full?’

Its vocabulary had strangely increased.

To this creature, hunger was evil and fullness was good, so it was essentially asking if he was in a good mood.

Ju-seong sighed slightly and shook his head.

“It’s just a glutton. I got soft-hearted at the end…”

“It’s a good thing not to take life carelessly. And you don’t seem the type to hesitate and ruin things either.”

Immortal Hyeon-su could faintly sense the tremendous killing intent coiled in Ju-seong’s upper dantian.

He also clearly remembered the madness Ju-seong had briefly shown while facing the invaders the day before.

At first he thought Ju-seong might be a deviant pretending to be an honorable warrior, but speaking face to face, he could tell that wasn’t the case.

He was simply someone born with an excessive killing intent, like a heavenly punishment.

‘I’d like to look at his birth chart, but… I haven’t delved deeply into divination, so I’m afraid I might make a wrong diagnosis again.’

Immortal Hyeon-su was a Taoist, but he wasn’t the type who shook fortune-telling sticks, divined auspicious and inauspicious days, and wove formations.

For him, there had only ever been one sword, then as now.

This gentle-looking old man was also a martial world figure who would pierce an evildoer’s forehead with his sword in the blink of an eye.

Like most martial world figures who disliked being bound, he believed that a person’s fate lay in their own hands.

He set this matter aside for now and slowly spoke.

“Whether it’s evening or tomorrow morning, please stop by my quarters once. The man traveling with me says he has something to tell you.”

Ju-seong had been curious anyway, so this worked well. He asked.

“Who on earth is that man? To be traveling with someone like you, Senior, he seems a bit… how to put it. He seems like a man who lived recklessly, and anyway, nobody would think he’s a Kunlun Sect disciple.”

“I don’t know much about him either. He’s not a bad person, but he doesn’t seem particularly good either. What’s certain is that he’s not a threat to you or me. I just traveled with him out of curiosity.”

“…I see. I’ll come by tomorrow then. Today, Lady Bai Li has requested a meeting.”

Immortal Hyeon-su wore a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.

“She’s a beautiful young lady. Good luck.”

“I don’t think that’s why she summoned me… Anyway, I’ll see you next time.”

“Take care.”

Ju-seong offered Immortal Hyeon-su a ceremonial bow and left, realizing he had been remarkably comfortable during their conversation.

The Ten Venerables Under Heaven, Kunlun’s First Sword, Sword Saint of the Western Frontier…

Such titles naturally made people feel intimidated.

Ju-seong did have a bold liver, but not bold enough to feel at ease in front of such a man.

That the conversation had been smooth and comfortable was purely thanks to that old Taoist.

‘Taoists aren’t usually like that, are they?’

He didn’t speak profoundly, he didn’t engage in mysterious riddles. He simply spoke with clear words and clean sentences like a clever scholar.

It felt as natural and peaceful as being before a flowing stream or a rock covered with green moss… truly, a Taoist was a Taoist for a reason.

* * *

That afternoon, Bai Li led Ju-seong somewhere.

It was a place on the riverbank where the Bai tribe village was located, right up against the river. There must have been a channel there, as the water flowed particularly fast.

And they were using that fast current to turn a large waterwheel.

“This is the smithy of our White Crane Sword Sect. The martial arts of our White Crane Sword Sect from the Dali Kingdom era have all been lost to the Southern Barbarian lands, but the metallurgy of what was once the premier sect of that kingdom has been steadily passed down. I am the one who inherited that lineage.”

“You, Lady? Smithing is such hard work that it wouldn’t be easy for a woman.”

She nodded.

“The fire is intense and the labor is grueling, but… I couldn’t give it up. In the case of our White Crane Sword Sect, the level of our metallurgy exceeds that of our martial arts.”

“In other words, you’re a person with great ambition. You hope to reach through metallurgy the heights you cannot attain through martial arts?”

“That’s right. I’ve also been interested in working with metal since I was young.”

“Many people become masters with unremarkable martial arts. Of course, there are ranks among martial arts, but they’re not as important as a person’s own rank.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Bai Li was being respectful, but Ju-seong’s words seemed to go in one ear and out the other. It seemed this woman intended to cultivate her martial arts just enough and invest the rest of her effort into metallurgy.

‘Who am I to lecture?’

Martial arts wasn’t the only answer, yet he had assumed that the woman before him naturally wanted to become a master.

“Benefactor, will you follow me?”

Bai Li led Ju-seong deep into the smithy.

“Do you perhaps have a weapon you use, or any equipment you’d like to have made? For you, Benefactor, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this.”

Ju-seong looked at the dark metal in her hands.

“What is that? Ink Iron?”

Ink Iron was a fairly famous metal in the martial world. Heavy and hard, this black metal far exceeded steel in both hardness and weight, so it was often used to make heavy weapons.

Bai Li shook her head.

“It’s called Kunlun Iron. It’s a rare ore found mainly in the Southern Barbarian lands, and it’s excellent for holding yang energy. Hmm… Compared to Cold Iron, its hardness is slightly lower, but its surface hardness is far superior, and it’s a bit lighter.”

“The lower hardness but higher surface hardness mean it would be more suitable for making small equipment. Since it’s light, it would be good for making hidden weapons too. And because I handle fire energy, the trait of holding yang energy well would suit me even more.”

Bai Li nodded happily.

“So the first-rate master you felled in the previous battle was indeed through hidden weapon technique. Then I can happily make you equipment.”

Ju-seong expressed his gratitude and added an additional request.

“Thank you, but might I also request this?”

Ju-seong pulled the Heavenly Silkworm cocoon from his bundle.

When the cocoon appeared, the moth that had been hiding in Ju-seong’s sleeve poked out and wriggled its antennae, perhaps recognizing what was once its home.

“Oh my.”

Bai Li lightly covered her mouth, and the fox-like upturned corners of her eyes softened.

Indeed, the moth’s appearance held a cuteness that would make even a fairly cold-hearted person momentarily soften their expression.

“How cute. Is it a spirit creature?”

“It’s a poison creature.”

“Oh, I see.”

Bai Li flinched and stepped back, then carefully accepted the cocoon Ju-seong held out.

Ju-seong smiled slightly at Bai Li.

“This material is probably rarer than Kunlun Iron, if anything.”

“…I understand it’s silk, but you know I’m a blacksmith, right?”

Ju-seong hesitated for a moment, then asked.

“…Don’t artisans handle materials like this too?”

Bai Li smiled confidently.

“If I were an ordinary blacksmith, I wouldn’t be able to work with this. Fortunately, I am no ordinary blacksmith.”

She was a blacksmith, but also a skilled jeweler, leatherworker, and weaver.

She was born with unparalleled talent in the art of making things by hand.

From Ju-seong’s perspective, he honestly knew nothing about this field and had just assumed that artisans handled things like this too.

“What would you like me to make?”

“I haven’t really thought of anything specific… For now, I’d like a pair of hand guards.”

She stroked the Heavenly Silkworm Silk cocoon, scratched it with her fingernail, and slowly spoke.

“This is no ordinary treasure.”

“That’s right. I also obtained it with difficulty.”

“Might I… exercise some inspiration and make something different from ordinary hand guards?”

Bai Li’s face quickly flushed with the passion for creation. Ju-seong stroked his chin and slowly spoke.

“Are you confident?”

She looked Ju-seong straight in the eye for the first time and grinned.

“Of course.”