Episode 54. Shhh.

In the end, Daenachal laughed too.

“That is certainly not something my disciple could say. You, show your face already. The mask no longer holds any meaning.”

Hearing such words only makes one more reluctant to take it off.

I am not one to bend to pushy demands. That’s just who I am.

“I am not your slave. Nor am I someone who undresses just because you say so. Why the hell would I strip for someone I just met, you crazy old bastard.”

“Crazy bastard” was a feint. “Old man” was my hidden trump card.

“The dead man and the master share the same fucked-up way of thinking.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…….”

Daenachal’s smile was rather revolting, so I spat out a brief remark.

“Ugh, creepy.”

Having met many unorthodox practitioners in my past life, I had seen plenty of people who grew bizarre while learning martial arts. Even so, Daenachal’s laugh ranked near the top of the most unpleasant people I’d encountered. Probably because he often issued orders to kill right after that smile.

He was no Rakshasa in name only. His appearance and presence were more than threatening enough.

Sure enough, a death sentence was handed down to me.

“Death Generals, step forward, all of you.”

I replied before the Death Generals received the command and rose.

“Daenachal, must you live so foully?”

“…….”

“If the Death Generals rush me all at once, I’ll flee from this spot. For your information, my qinggong surpasses my martial arts. Let’s play a game of the Net of Heaven and Earth. But if you challenge me personally, I too shall accept a one-on-one duel like a man.”

Anyway, if the minions rush in, I run.

If the enemy commander rushes in, I fight.

Even I had to admit it was a completely inconsistent way of handling things.

But I was confident I could break through the encirclement of the Twelve Divine Generals. Thanks to the mask, they still didn’t know my face.

If I changed clothes midway, threw my mask away somewhere, and was even mopping the floors at an inn, at least the Death Generals and Daenachal wouldn’t be able to recognize me.

Like the secret technique (祕器) of a tavern boy disguising himself as a tavern boy.

“If I succeed in escaping, I don’t plan on showing myself for quite some time this time. I’ll probably appear before you again after obtaining a fortuitous encounter from falling off a cliff or something. The Net of Heaven and Earth, or one-on-one? Choose. For your information, rumors that you avoided a one-on-one duel will spread throughout the entire Namhwa region. I tend to talk a lot.”

I cackled as I laughed, also gauging the atmosphere of the Twelve Divine Generals.

The martial world is not a place to let one’s guard down.

Because the Death Generals might not prevent their master’s death. Those who lasted long under an abnormal master couldn’t possibly be normal.

Unexpectedly, Daenachal was unable to decide immediately and was turning his wheels.

Needless to say, I wasn’t about to let that opening slip—not with this mouth of mine.

“Twelve Divine Generals, listen well. Why do you think your incompetent master told you to step forward first? It’s to figure out whether I use palm techniques, whether I’m skilled with the blade, what level my internal energy is at, how I fight, and what my weaknesses are. Of course, if I fight you, such strengths and weaknesses will be revealed. In exchange, I’ll kill you like Heukmyo. I wonder how much wealth and glory that old master bastard expects to enjoy after sending his disciples to hell first.”

Suddenly, looking around the lesser divine generals standing at the edge, I realized something.

“The disciples are all quite young. Yet the master is so old there. Could it be that you had disciples before you? In the sense that when one departs for the Yellow Springs, only the mask is passed down to fill the vacancy. How old is that black little calf over there anyway?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Hyeonchuk, who stood at the edge of the Twelve Divine Generals.

Though his face couldn’t be seen, just from his physique it was obvious he hadn’t been training in martial arts for long.

“Of course, our Master won’t care in the least about the death of a disciple. If anyone thinks I’m wrong, raise your hand and stand there.”

To fish for a reaction, I slyly raised my own hand too. It was a trap—keep your mouth shut and just raise your hand—but no one took the bait.

“Anyway…….”

Daenachal smiled with a relaxed attitude, as if watching his grandson’s little performance.

“So a rather strange fellow has been pretending to be my disciple.”

I answered in a solemn tone.

“I agree. Masks worsen the madness, so the other fellow disciples should be careful too.”

Daenachal rose from his chair.

“So be it. I shall face you myself.”

While speaking, whether by coincidence or intention, Daenachal glanced around at the Death Generals.

It could have been a meaningless glance.

But in moments like these, there are no actions without reason.

If Daenachal faced me directly, and the Death Generals launched a surprise attack in the middle of the fight, it would be a difficult situation.

Therefore, it would be dangerous to engage in a static confrontation where we contest internal energy.

Only now did I slightly understand Daenachal’s true nature. He was a man whose fairly sharp head had developed in a sinister direction.

If it came to this, the matchup became even more of a mess.

Because I would end up facing Daenachal, Baegin, Cheongjin, Jeoksa, and Baekyu all by myself.

I scratched the back of my head once, then hurled my body toward the wall where Baekyu was.

In midair, I drew the Heukmyoa at my waist.

Swinging the blade toward Baekyu with terrifying momentum, Baekyu flinched in surprise and assumed a defensive posture with an iron fan (鐵扇, a steel fan).

I had merely executed the motion of sending out sword qi using the Illusory-Real technique (虛虛實實).

While Baekyu assumed a defensive posture, I sheathed the Heukmyoa back into its scabbard, landed on the ground, and unleashed my qinggong like a gale shooting outward.

From behind, Baegin, Cheongjin, and Baeksa surged up and over the wall.

Following them, Baekyu—who had been tricked by me—and the other Twelve Divine Generals also leaped over the wall and pursued me.

Here, another round of psychological warfare.

If I fled too far, Daenachal’s group might give up the chase entirely.

I slowly turned around and looked at the Twelve Divine Generals charging fiercely toward me.

When I suddenly stood with my hands behind my back…….

Baegin, Cheongjin, and Jeoksa—who had been running side by side as if competing in qinggong—also stopped simultaneously.

I asked in a solemn tone.

“Fellow disciples, where is the Master? Ah, he’s coming out now.”

Daenachal was standing atop the wall.

I looked at Daenachal while whispering in a small voice to the Death Generals.

“Fellow disciples, none of you need worry. I’ll kill the Master, so play along accordingly.”

It was a whisper so faint that to Daenachal, with his sharp ears, it barely reached him. Perhaps just enough to create an atmosphere suggesting that the Death Generals and I had conspired together from the start. Actually, it was rather funny that the Death Generals were just staring at me like this.

As expected, Daenachal raised his voice.

“Why are you all standing there staring blankly!”

“That old bastard, seriously.”

In that instant, Jeoksa launched the first attack. Following him, the other Death Generals also drew their respective weapons and charged.

I bolted like an arrow toward the right alley I had scoped out beforehand.

The reason my qinggong is outstanding is simple.

From the Central Plains to Xizang, and from Xizang to Zhejiang, I had been dragged around without much reason.

Originally, martial experts often used qinggong when traveling because walking felt too stifling. Compared to Gwangseung, my skills were severely lacking, so I really had no choice but to run for dear life.

If you traipse across the world claiming you want to see fish, your qinggong skills inevitably improve.

I ran like a turtle, ran intoxicated by flower fragrances, tried spinning a fishing rod in the air out of boredom, and even ran while beating a wooden fish. Since I had no way of escaping Gwangseung from the start, there were even times when I simply followed him around.

With the intention of verifying the disciples' qinggong skills, and to avoid causing harm to ordinary people, I kicked off both walls of a narrow alley and soared into the air.

Upon stepping onto the roof, the entire Namhwa district came into view at a glance.

I searched for Ilyanghyeon with my hand on my forehead.

From high ground, it felt much closer than I had expected.

I whistled as I ran across the rooftops again.

Perhaps thinking it foolish to follow me in a straight line, masked disciples suddenly popped up here and there on the rooftops after a moment.

I exchanged a few words with the disciples.

“Everyone’s having a hard time. Hang in there a little longer.”

Perhaps they found it hard to endure, as hidden weapons came flying from all around.

Sharp hidden weapons, round hidden weapons, ugly hidden weapons, and needle-like hidden weapons so small they were barely visible—all came flying, gleaming with sunlight.

I am a man persecuted like this.

That is why more than half my dreams are dreams of being chased.

The remainder feature beauties appearing, but……

Dreams are not a sin.

Anyway, a man always being chased, a pitiful man, a man who fends off hidden weapons while eating, a man chased by disciples, a man chased by a monk holding a fishing rod even in his dreams…… Pitiful bastard, this human that is me.

As I was leaping between roofs that were quite far apart, a dagger came hurtling toward me.

I drew the Heukmyoa while spinning, knocked aside the dagger, and landed.

It was a bright, sunny day with white clouds floating beautifully. It was also a day when laundry dried fluffy and soft.

“Wow, the clouds……”

I took in the positions of the disciples throwing hidden weapons, the building positions, the laundry positions—all these movement lines—then crossed the rooftops again before falling below as if I had missed my footing.

Snatching laundry in midair, I kicked off the wall and went through the open window on the opposite side. Twisting my body so as not to get caught between the windows is the basics of escape.

I placed the black robe and the Heukmyo Bangju’s mask under the bed in the small, empty room, then changed into clothes that had dried fluffy.

Fluffy, clean, confident.

While at it, I observed the room’s atmosphere; it wasn’t a man’s room.

I opened the drawer and laid the Heukmyoa to rest among a woman’s undergarments.

Not that this makes me a pervert.

Well, you might when you’re in a rush.

Retrieval would be handled by Martial Sister Hong later. Thievery is something you learn precisely to use at times like this.

I slipped out of the room and wandered like a thief when I heard someone’s voice.

“At this hour, not studying, where are you off to again?”

An old woman weaving a mat with her back turned came into view. I answered, playing the part of a pathetic freeloader living in this house.

“I’ll come back early, Grandma.”

The grandmother spoke in a tone mixed with worry.

“Drink in moderation.”

I replied in a calm tone before leaving the house.

“Yes, Grandma.”

After surveying the street for a moment, I slowly walked toward the inn across the way. The waiter lad’s gaze, having sensed that a fight had broken out somewhere, was darting rapidly across the rooftops.

I tapped the waiter on the shoulder and took a seat. It was an outside seat where I could watch people come and go.

“Do you have Dugangju?”

“Ah, yes. Just a moment.”

The waiter watched the masked experts flying about the rooftops and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow…… I’ll bring it right away.”

He was an impudent bastard who could watch a fight and take an order simultaneously. A moment later, the waiter set down the Dugangju and the basic dried side dishes that came with it perfunctorily, then looked around again.

I poured the Dugangju into an empty cup and spoke.

“Did a fight break out or something?”

The waiter nodded.

“Looks like a big one. Many of the Twelve Divine Seats have gathered.”

I drank the Dugangju, chewed on the dried side dishes, and spoke to the waiter who was watching distractedly.

“Have a drink.”

“Ah, yes.”

The waiter naturally sat across from me and held out an empty cup. I poured liquor for the waiter and spoke.

“The neighborhood is bustling.”

“Tell me about it.”

The two of us downed a cup of Dugangju refreshingly, chewed on dried side dishes, and watched the street in a slouched posture.

The waiter chewed on the side dishes and also chewed out the roaming black-clad martial artists.

“Look at that. The disciples must be shitting their pants. Pathetic bastards, every damn day, pulling that shit.”

When masked figures suddenly appeared up ahead, the waiter who had been chewing on side dishes naturally lowered his gaze.

“……”

I stared blankly at a fellow tradesman who was a master of survival and a consummate expert in the ways of the world.

In the meantime, some lackey Divine Seats came out, glared at the waiter, and walked past. I muttered, watching the disciples whose nerves were shot.

“People should live with composure.”

“That’s right.”

The waiter chewed on the dried side dishes and held out an empty cup to me with an attitude completely devoid of awkwardness. He was a waiter who had reached the realm of perfect mastery in the art of naturally freeloading drinks from customers. Since I could read the waiter’s mind, I had no choice but to pour.

The waiter whispered after drinking.

“When the Great Abbot gets pissed, the whole neighborhood goes quiet. Look at this. It’s already quiet. Ah, don’t go telling anyone else—just keep it between us, customer. They say Divine Seat Hwang-o was assassinated.”

I also replied in a small voice.

“Wasn’t it Noksul?”

“Ah, right. It was Noksul. How did you know?”

“I saw Hwang-o passing by just now, though?”

“Ah, really?”

Suddenly, the waiter looked into my eyes, tension gradually creeping into his expression, then swallowed once and straightened up. He was a fellow with truly ghostly quick wits.

I looked at the waiter and put a finger to my lips.

“Shh.”

The waiter and I exchanged glances, then nodded simultaneously.