Chapter 150. At the Moment of Our Farewell

What had I been doing around this time in my previous life?

I did not know exactly. I had never kept a diary, nor had I ever recorded what I did on specific dates. I had lived as the days carried me along, so I remembered the years that had passed only through a few major events.

If I searched my memory, the inn should already have burned down by now.

It seemed to have been the period when I had left Ilyang County and spent all day swinging a sickle while working as a gravekeeper.

To think I was only swinging a sickle back then…….

What on earth had happened to me now?

The time was the same, and yet…….

Now I had so many subordinates that it had become difficult to look after them one by one. I had no choice but to keep an eye mainly on those directly beneath me, or those who drew my attention, while carrying on with my own training.

Among them, the most important plan as of late was to stay by Master Yukhap’s side until he fully recovered, badgering him, threatening him, and carrying out the work of remolding his character.

Just as planned, I had fed him the qi-dispersing poison Murong Bai had concocted, and was preparing to treat him at the same time while engaging in a second and third round of mental battle with the Ghost Demon from my previous life, when a letter arrived for me.

Even before I opened it, I felt strange. In truth, there were not many people who would send me a letter.

I wondered if it might be from the Murim Alliance Leader or the Sword Demon.

However, the moment I confirmed the contents of the letter, I could not help but be taken aback. It was written very simply, like this.

One hundred and eleven years are passing as though a single day.

Hoping the bond for our reunion still remains.

I shall see my friend in the jianghu before I depart.

There was no name of the sender, nor the name of the recipient, only those brief lines, so I read the letter again and again.

Upon reading it, everything was contained in those three lines.

One hundred and eleven years was the age of Chief Strategist Heo Gyeom, who was also my old senior manly man.

The “bond for our reunion” was his wish to see me again, since he considered me a friend.

I interpreted the words that the years were passing as though a single day to mean that Heo Gyeom’s health was not very good.

I read it repeatedly in case some other meaning was hidden within, but I could find no other meaning.

I neatly folded the letter and put it inside my clothes.

‘Hmm…….’

With my arms crossed, I pondered for a long while before asking toward the inner room.

“Lady Son, are you there?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

As soon as Lady Son came out from within, I said,

“Prepare ten thousand nyang in banknotes only. Put a black long robe in a bundle as well and bring it here.”

“Understood.”

“Pack some jerky too, even if it tastes bad. Put in a bamboo canteen as well.”

“Yes.”

I spoke quietly to Cha Seongtae, who had just entered the main hall.

“Quietly call only So Gunpyeong, Chief Steward Byeok, and Master Hoyeon here.”

“Yes.”

I waited for the officers with my chin propped in my hand. As soon as the officers came in and closed the doors of the main hall, I opened my mouth.

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

“I did not intend to leave for a while, but it cannot be helped. Hall Master So will manage the antidote that must be given to Master Yukhap. While I am gone, all of you officers are to keep watch. If he acts outside your control, kill Master Yukhap.”

“Understood. What should we do about the Gold-Silver Seven Insects?”

“Can’t you handle those bastards on your own? Unless they cause trouble, treat them in a way that keeps them alive.”

“Yes.”

“Also, though the possibility is small, since the head of the Sima Clan suffered a serious injury at my hands, there is a risk he may hire outside forces to attack this place while I am gone. If someone comes asking about my whereabouts, tell them I went to the Nammyeong Association. If you gather forces and strike together with the Nammyeong Association, it should be resolved to some extent. If an incident occurs, assess the situation and respond flexibly. Tell the Four Divine Generals to train at the Black Rabbit Gang for the time being.”

“Understood.”

So Gunpyeong asked,

“Where are you going?”

“The Blood Night Palace.”

“When are you leaving?”

I answered as I received the bundle from Lady Son, who was hurriedly coming out from within.

“I’m leaving now.”

Cha Seongtae, who had been looking at my expression, said,

“Sect Leader, if you are going to fight, you should gather forces and go.”

“It’s too far. I’m not going to fight, either. It is something I must reach quickly for, so the troops would collapse from exhaustion before we even arrived.”

I stood up and looked over the officers once.

“I’ll see you when I return.”

When I strode out, the officers followed me all the way to the front gate in a noisy rush. Suddenly, I wondered if there was something I had forgotten to say, so I looked back at the officers. Then I spoke as it came to mind.

“While I’m gone.”

“Yes.”

“Hall Master So will be in charge of the Black Rabbit Gang, and Seongtae will be in charge of Haomun. Master Hoyeon will be chief instructor. As for any other important internal matters that must be decided, consult with Chief Steward Byeok. Regarding external matters of the jianghu, consult with Junior Brother Baegin.”

“Understood.”

I said my farewell with a single nod, then unfolded my lightness skill.

* * *

Would I be able to meet Heo Gyeom?

There was no way to know.

If one hundred and eleven years were passing as though a single day…….

Then perhaps, at this very moment, a dark night was passing through the life of the man named Heo Gyeom.

What meaning did death hold for an old assassin who had survived for more than a hundred years? Since the road to the Blood Night Palace was far in any case, I unfolded my lightness skill while thinking all manner of thoughts.

It would be a problem even after this old senior manly man departed this world.

During the time my previous self stepped into the jianghu and was active, I had not heard anything in particular about an organization called the Blood Night Palace, nor did I remember anything about it.

These were the reasons I was running urgently toward the Blood Night Palace.

The fact that I could not know what would happen.

There was also an unfounded sense of unease.

At the same time, I wanted to exchange a final farewell with Heo Gyeom.

Because we were manly men who tried to keep our promises, no matter what.

As I ran, I gradually reduced my wandering thoughts and focused solely on my lightness skill. I had more than enough internal energy to keep running without rest, but even I could not help it when the soles of my feet grew hot, the sensation in my knees turned strange, and, in the end, my breath began to run short.

After running for a full day, I sank down in a quiet place, drank the water in the bamboo canteen, and chewed on jerky.

At that moment, I instinctively looked around, then circulated the true qi of the Moon Shadow Heartless Art within myself. I became cool from head to toe. That state itself was so wondrous it left me bewildered.

Even while experiencing something new,

I thought that the road ahead was still long, and the completion of my martial arts was still far away.

I rose again, let out one deep breath, and ran once more. This time, I operated my internal energy with the thought of combining the true qi of extreme yang and extreme yin through the Divided Mind Art.

It was not an easy task, but it was a realm I would have to challenge someday.

Using yin and yang within the body at the same time was the first stage.

Emitting yin and yang outside the body at the same time was the second stage.

I set the third stage for myself as being able to combine yin and yang whenever I wished, as my mind dictated, and freely use them both within and outside my body. This would be the starting point of the Zixia Divine Art as I envisioned it.

I ran with the feeling that I was laying the foundation for a new martial art through lightness skill.

A monkey who held in his shit, skipped his meals, and thought about martial arts even while running.

I watched the sun and moon change shifts several times, running and running again like a mad monkey.

Because a promise was a promise.

* * *

When I arrived at Blood Night Palace.

I knew I was not too late. Instead of wailing, I could hear occasional laughter.

‘Ah, I kept the promise.’

Without incident, I was guided by a martial artist of Blood Night Palace and arrived at a spacious main hall. Six or seven people were seated in a circle, and in the center sat Chief Strategist Heo Gyeom, dressed in faded black robes.

The moment Heo Gyeom saw me, he smiled as if he were truly glad.

“The Hao Sect Master came, just as I said. Yongmyeong, what did I tell you? I said he would certainly come.”

Yongmyeong replied with a faint smile.

“Yes.”

There were several people on either side, but I went straight ahead for now to greet Heo Gyeom.

“Senior, I’m here.”

Jianghu etiquette or whatever be damned.

I went to Heo Gyeom and lightly took his wrinkled hand. Heo Gyeom said with a smile.

“Sect Master, you must have had a hard time coming here.”

His tone had changed from before, but I did not mind. We were never the sort of men to concern ourselves with such things. I examined Heo Gyeom’s complexion and gaze, and felt the grip strength in the hand I held. He truly had no strength left at all.

I said with a smile.

“Senior, your attire is not bad at all. It looks like the assassin’s garb you wore in your prime.”

Heo Gyeom nodded.

“You recognized it at once. It is that outfit. I often wore it when I was the First Instructor…”

Yongmyeong, standing behind Heo Gyeom, said to me.

“Sect Master, please sit where I was seated.”

Only then did I look around at the other guests. The Palace Lord of Blood Night Palace was there, as was Lady Gyoyeong, whom I had flicked on the forehead, and there were also a few unfamiliar jianghu people mixed in. I planted my backside in the spot where Yongmyeong had been sitting, and then realized that Senior Sword Demon had not come.

This was not an atmosphere for idle chatter, so I simply looked at Heo Gyeom.

Only after I had taken my seat did the Palace Lord of Blood Night Palace speak.

“Sect Master, you must have had a hard time coming here.”

“Not at all. I came comfortably, as if visiting a friend’s house in the next village.”

“……”

The Palace Lord of Blood Night Palace blinked, then smiled slightly. Since the atmosphere had grown awkward, I asked without tact, as usual.

“What were you all talking about so happily?”

Heo Gyeom said with a smile.

“This old man has lived long enough that even these faded black robes remain. I was distributing a few items. Yongmyeong.”

“Yes.”

“Bring the item I once said would suit the Sect Master.”

I looked at Heo Gyeom and Yongmyeong.

‘A gift as soon as I arrive?’

In truth, it would not be a gift, but one of Heo Gyeom’s keepsakes. While waiting for Yongmyeong, I met Lady Gyoyeong’s eyes, then grinned broadly and mimed flicking my finger against her forehead.

At that, Gyoyeong glared at me with sunken eyes. The moment I saw Gyoyeong muttering with the shape of her mouth, I asked.

“Did you say I was obnoxious?”

Gyoyeong started in surprise and looked at the Palace Lord of Blood Night Palace.

“No. I didn’t say anything.”

“I know. The Sect Master is teasing you, so don’t get caught up in it.”

“Yes.”

Looking around, I saw that the middle-aged man I had once glimpsed at the high-class estate called Suwolok was also seated there.

“So you were the master of Suwolok.”

The middle-aged man smiled and lowered his head slightly.

“It has been a long time.”

It seemed only those connected to Heo Gyeom or high-ranking members of Blood Night Palace were present. Soon, Yongmyeong came out from inside and handed a shabby wooden sword to Heo Gyeom.

Heo Gyeom stroked the wooden sword, then said to me.

“This is a gift I would like to give the Sect Master. It is a wooden sword I cherished in my youth. I would be pleased if the Sect Master used it.”

I rose and received the wooden sword Heo Gyeom held out.

“Something so precious…”

As Heo Gyeom handed me the wooden sword, he smiled broadly, looking truly delighted. Holding the wooden sword, I returned to my seat and said to Heo Gyeom.

“Senior, I will make this the Sect Master’s Treasure, to be passed down through the generations of Hao Sect Masters.”

Heo Gyeom laughed lightly and said.

“Sect Master, that is an assassin’s weapon, so it is not suited to being the Sect Master’s Treasure.”

Heo Gyeom drew his finger to the side. I immediately understood what he meant and pulled on the plain wooden sword. The outside was an ordinary wooden sword, but inside was a real blade. Though it was so light I could hardly feel its weight, the blade looked extremely sharp.

I asked Heo Gyeom.

“Senior, does it have a sword name?”

“It has a name given by an old assassin, but I will not tell you, so please give it a new name yourself, Sect Master. That would be best.”

I nodded, then looked at the wooden sword.

“I will do so.”

Heo Gyeom looked around at the people nearby with an easy expression and said.

“There are good things about living long. I am fortunate to have so much to give away.”

Without saying much, I listened to Heo Gyeom’s calm voice, then turned my head toward the doors of the main hall. I heard footsteps that sounded rather urgent, and then a martial artist of Blood Night Palace appeared in the hall.

The young martial artist reported with a face as pale as a sheet of paper.

“…I have come to relay the news that the Cult Leader is on his way to visit Elder Heo in his illness.”

I looked at the people of Blood Night Palace, wondering what the hell kind of nonsense this was.

Seeing all their faces turn pale, it seemed he was an uninvited guest.

Heo Gyeom, the only one who remained calm, replied in an indifferent tone.

“Where did they say he is?”

“He has already arrived nearby. He said he would leave his forces waiting and come alone, and sent word that Blood Night Palace must not respond excessively and thereby trouble Elder Heo’s state of mind.”

Heo Gyeom nodded.

“It is only a visit to the sick, so there is no need to respond excessively.”

In the midst of this, I had become like a borrowed sack of barley and tried to grasp the situation. Well, there was nothing in particular I could do. Wondering if I had misheard, I asked this.

“Senior, did you change religions in your later years? Since they say a cult leader is coming…”

“……”

Since no one answered me, I accepted the situation realistically.

It seemed the Demonic Cult Leader was somewhere nearby.

I felt extraordinarily refreshed, yet exhilarated.