Chapter 18: Change the Course to North-Northwest (7)

Chapter 18: Change the Course to North-Northwest (7)

Change the Course to North-Northwest (7)

Yes, Im telling you thats how it is. The world is quite the perilous place.

A-Qing firmly stepped on the back of the rat-faced man.

S-Save me! Please save me!

Just as she was about to thrust the Moonlight Sword (No. 6) into him, Dao Master Seungsu urgently stopped her.

Look here! Fairy. Shouldnt you still show him some mercy, even if he has sinned?

Huh? What? Why? Using these kinds of things as fertilizer is the only way to benefit the world, though.

It is all for your sake, Fairy. For those who walk the path of Dao, accumulating a karma of killing does no good.

A-Qing waved her hand dismissively.

Ehhh, nah, Im fine.

A-Qing plunged her sword into the back of the rat-faced mans neck with precision, eliciting a bitter smile from the old Daoist of Wudang.

A-Qing swung her sword to shake off the blood.

A graceful sheathing of the sword followed.

She had practiced this move a lot when there was nothing else to do.

But Elder, why did I get hit? I vomited a whole bowlful of blood. And this friend over here has not apologized even once.

Hoho, Yuk.

Teacher! But I really saw it with my own eyes! Clearly! Exactly! It was a sight of unorthodox, evil, deathly Qi oozing out of her eyes! So purely evil that it has no comparison! I swear on the honor of Teacher! There is not a shred of falsehood in my words!

Hwanyuk leapt up in indignation.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

This was one of the strongest types of promises among martial artists.

I swear on my sect that its true

I swear on my Teacher that its true

It was much more solemn than its modernistic counterpart where one would swear on their mother.

It was because lying on the name of ones sect or teacher could lead to expulsion and the dishonor of being cut off from ones lineage.

And a single expulsion could ruin a martial artists life.

As such, this was far more serious than the modern era, where one could go Imma shit on my family once. Sorry, Mom! and pass over it.

Hoho, Yuk. What should I do with this punk.

I am telling the truth! Do not be fooled! She must be some Ykai!

Yuk, where in this heaven and earth would there be Ykai? How can someone who cultivates the way of the Dao speak like a charlatan?

Eh, charlatan?

A-Qing tilted her head.

Isnt charlatan an English word?

Actually, charlatan came from a word used by Confucius, which had a similar meaning but was not exactly the same.

It basically meant something equivalent to a counterfeit or knock-off.

As A-Qing pondered this, Hwanyuk, filled with grievance and feeling wronged, was seething.

No, Teacher! In this Trichiliocosm1A concept in cosmology of a third-order universe containing one thousand second-order clusters, which are made of one thousand first-order clusters, which are in turn made of a thousand worlds each. Billion-fold universe. A Buddhist concept. It basically means all universes where the Three Eminences, the Six Emperors, and the Eight Immortals exist, how can there not be such capricious and mysterious monsters!

Oho, this punk, who is as blind as a bat, dares.

Dao Master Seungsus beard bristled.

However, Hwanyuk seemed a bit more oblivious and lacking in tact than usual because of his excitement.

Why? Didnt you previously say that evil spirits and demons akin to Living Jiangshis are made-up tales that only exist in the Classic of Mountains and Seas2a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Early versions of the text may have existed since the 4th century BCE, but the present form was not reached until the early Han dynasty.! But how did that turn out! Wasnt I right before! Beneath Dongting Lake wasnt there the Living Jiang-

You rascal! Do you need a caning to set your mind straight!

Hup.

A secret history of Murim slipped out from Hwanyuks mouth, as light as a feather.

However, A-Qing didnt know anything about it anyway.

Living Jiangshi?

Werent Jiangshis those corpses that stuck their arms forward and hopped around?

But if a Jiangshi was alive, wasnt it no longer a Jiangshi?

Well, what do I know. I guess that kind of thing exists.

A-Qing got to the point.

Elder? Anyway, it seems he has no intention of apologizing.

I am truly sorry to the Fairy.

Dao Master Seungsu spoke as if he was ashamed.

A-Qing responded with a smile, as if to indicate it was okay.

In return, how about we go do a good deed together?

-

A-Qing roughly explained the situation.

This child was being targeted, but needed to reach Mount Wu. As such, she was bringing the child, but it seemed like they would continue to be attacked by such people.

Initially, A-Qing wasnt particularly concerned. Nor did she pay attention.

It was unlikely that attackers aiming for Jin Jangmyeong would brazenly block the road. And in the first place, considering their Righteous Karma, they didnt seem like bad people.

A young man standing in front of the group blocked the way.

His Righteous Karma was 62.

It was just that Dao Master Seungsu had heightened her standards. In reality, this was among the highest she had ever seen.

Dao Master Seungu, Little Supreme Justice, and now, this young man.

As long as they did not exceed three digits in Evil Karma, it meant they werent going around doing bad things.

As such, A-Qing was at ease.

Ah, you are experts of Wudang. Could you perhaps be Dao Master Seungsu?

Hoh, do you know me?

I am Chaemu of the Yang Clan.

Oh, Wijeokie, no, I mean, Great Expert Yang Wijeoks son! The last time I saw you, you were about this tall. Your face looks the same as it did then. And you still remember an old man like me! How impressive!

Listening in, A-Qing assumed it was a greeting to a friend of his father.

Consequently, Dao Master Seungsu was also smiling warmly.

Yes, yes. Well, how is the Great Expert? No, wait, I heard he went into closed door seclusion. Is he still training?

Yang Chaemus expression darkened.

In truth, Father did not enter closed door seclusion.

Then what happened?

He was severely injured while fighting the Demonic Cannibal.

What! Then, whats his condition?

He was in a state where his life could not be assured, but fortunately, there has been significant improvement recently. He has regained consciousness.

Oh my, oh my. What a relief. We almost lost a giant of the Orthodox Faction.

Dao Master Seungsu patted his chest in relief.

And then, he continued with a tone filled with sympathy.

Ah, you should have at least sent word. If the Divine Hero of Changan was the one in critical condition, the Sect Leader would have spared no effort. He would have given Purple Night Pills without any hesitation.

It was due to a vehement Demonic Arts. The Divine Doctor said that an elixir would only act as a poison.

Ah, I see the Divine Doctor attended to him. That is fortunate! Truly fortunate.

However, the Divine Doctor mentioned that his Yuan Dan4basically his original or core dantian. The very essence of ones energy/Qi was damaged by Flame Demonic Arts.

Flame Demonic Arts! How was he afflicted by that cursed Demonic Art!

Flame Demonic Arts!

The name caused a stir among the Wudang Sects Daoists.

A-Qing, not knowing what it is, just listened.

After all, it wasnt her place to interrupt their discussion.

But what exactly is Flame Demonic Arts?

Does it involve shooting fire from their hands or something?

That sounds.

Pretty cool.

Come to think of it, theres also a Mount Hua Sect, right?

Even A-Qing, the Martial Arts Fiction Ignoramus/Wah-Wah I Dont Know Shit About Murim, had heard of it.

Flame Demonic Arts, you say?

If lava beats fire, does that mean the Mount Hua Sect is stronger?

As A-Qing was lost in meaningless thoughts, the conversation continued.

The Yuan Dan is damaged? And elixirs dont work? My word. Then, what can be done? Is there a way?

Dao Master Seungsu pressed on, his expression turning somber upon hearing the news of his friends critical condition.

.There is a way.

Oho! How fortunate that there is! So, what is it?! Is there anything I can do to help?!

Apparently, there is only one treatment in this world

Yang Chaemu trailed off, his gaze shifting towards A-Qing.

Or to be more precise, towards Jin Jangmyeong standing beside A-Qing.

Wait, something seems terribly wrong here.

A-Qing felt a deep sense of foreboding.

1

A concept in cosmology of a third-order universe containing one thousand second-order clusters, which are made of one thousand first-order clusters, which are in turn made of a thousand worlds each. Billion-fold universe. A Buddhist concept. It basically means all universes

2

a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Early versions of the text may have existed since the 4th century BCE, but the present form was not reached until the early Han dynasty.

3

the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang or King Shou of Shang, the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin. In Chinese, his name Zhu also refers to a horse crupper, the part of a saddle or harness that is most likely to be soiled by the horse

4

basically his original or core dantian. The very essence of ones energy/Qi

/genesisforsaken