Chapter 152: S3. Using The Past As A Mirror - Revised

Envers woke up in the Namgung Clan’s medical hall. The Jiangshi’s poison had been completely neutralized, and his minor scratches were bandaged and treated.

The physician’s assistant advised him to avoid strenuous movements for a while as there might still be some residual toxins. Envers responded that he understood and left the medical hall.

The atmosphere within the Namgung Clan was extremely harsh and chaotic.

This was understandable. After all, they had been openly attacked during a birthday banquet with all sorts of guests present, even if it was in the middle of the night. Several warriors had died.

When he stopped a passing servant to ask, he was told that the Clan Lord and the senior members had been in a meeting since daybreak, discussing how to deal with this incident.

It seemed they were divided between those who insisted on finding and killing the culprit at all costs, and those who argued for moving cautiously due to lack of evidence, resulting in an unresolved argument.

As Envers wandered around the clan compound in a daze, he saw Namgung Seungah crouched with her back against a wall.

He quietly asked.

“...How is Myeong?”

“Thankfully, his life isn’t in danger. But...”

His dantian was almost destroyed and couldn’t function properly. That was the diagnosis she said he received.

Namgung Seungah cried, saying they were told that no matter how hard he tried, there were limits to what could be achieved with Outer Arts alone, so it would be better to give up on the path of a martial artist.

When asked why she was crying:

“Myeong... didn’t cry. Instead, worried that I might be concerned, he said he had always found buying and selling things interesting, so now he’d learn to be a merchant and contribute to the family.”

That young child was hiding his disappointment and not even crying.

“Shouldn’t I cry on his behalf...?”

“......”

Perhaps that’s right.

His head felt hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

Wandering as if in a trance, Envers found the building where Namgung Myeong was hospitalized. He could tell at a glance that warriors were standing guard strictly, and Namgung Pae was guarding the entrance.

Namgung Pae warned Envers with a stiff expression.

“Go back, Daoist Cheonghwi.”

“...Can I at least see his face?”

Namgung Pae’s eyes trembled slightly at the shadow that had fallen over Envers’ face. Envers’ deeply saddened expression seemed even more sorrowful than Myeong’s relatives.

It was unpleasant to turn away someone who was genuinely saddened by another’s pain, but Namgung Pae had to do his job. Myeong needed stability.

“I won’t say it twice. Go ba—“

“...Come in.”

A very small voice was heard from beyond the door.

Namgung Pae lowered his eyes with a solemn expression, then stepped aside from the door with a sigh. Envers bowed silently in gratitude and entered.

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

A strong medicinal scent filled the air.

Passing through the corridor and opening the sliding door guarded by two attendants, Namgung Myeong could be seen lying neatly on a pure white bed. His complexion was pale.

“...Daoist Cheonghwi, you came?”

His smile on that white face looked more like a ghost’s than that of someone lively and healthy. Envers spoke while looking at Namgung Myeong’s abdomen wrapped tightly in bandages.

“How are you feeling?”

“Ah, I’m fine. They say I’ll be completely healed in a few days. Our clan’s physician is very skilled...!”

“...I heard what happened.”

“Ah, you heard. I ended up... telling an unnecessary lie.”

A moment of silence.

Namgung Myeong forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“Still, I’m fortunate to be alive. Thanks to Father, Daoist Cheonghwi, and... um. I wasn’t badly hurt.”

It was easy to guess what words the boy had stumbled over. He must have thought of the Namgung Clan warriors who died in the Jiangshi’s attack. A flash of guilt crossed his eyes.

Swallowing his damp emotions, Namgung Myeong spoke about the future.

“A man who can move his limbs properly can do many things. There are more people in the world who aren’t martial artists than those who are!”

That’s true.

“So, like others... I’ll learn and study, and be helpful to the family. There’s an elder in our main house who manages the business, and he’s been worried about not finding a successor. If I learn well...”

There would be many paths. Perhaps working at a desk might be safer and more rewarding than honing martial arts.

Maybe Namgung Myeong might achieve far more... tremendous merits than if he had learned martial arts, and spread the Namgung Clan’s name far and wide.

Envers had such opportunities too.

The world doesn’t run on martial power alone. Rather than stubbornly clinging to it when even his Mana Circuit was damaged, he could have turned his eyes to other wonderful and good things.

He could have become a merchant like Namgung Myeong, or tried being an informant. Perhaps there could have been a completely different... path.

However, the reason Envers Redburn didn’t do that...

The reason he stubbornly insisted on entering the Academy was, if asked...

“...You cannot stand side by side with your brother, though.”

“......”

Namgung Myeong squeezed his eyes shut as if struck at a vital point.

Envers also closed his eyes. Now he seemed to know what he wanted.

The reason those times of training and striving together shone so brightly was because he had been envisioning a future where they would fight together, back to back.

Fighting together.

For such a trivial thing, Envers still couldn’t let go and kept hoping. He hoped that he would deflect the blade flying towards his brother, and his brother would block the spear coming at him.

Because it had always been that way.

In that cursed house of illegitimate children, they had fought together against the jealousy and malice of other children. Even now, he wanted to stand together, as equals, side by side.

Namgung Myeong saw his own dream in Envers’ eyes. Envers too must be looking at himself, using Namgung Myeong as a mirror.

The young boy who had lost his dantian lowered his head deeply. Then he opened his mouth.

Only those who have lost their dreams say, ‘I have never dreamed.’

“Even if you’re our benefactor... There are limits. We are holding a meeting to decide clan matters, how can an outsider–”

“I am taking Namgung Myeong with me.”

“...??”

“I shall heal him and bring him back.”

Everyone froze at these abrupt words. What was this crazy Daoist blabbering about? Among them, the Namgung Clan’s physician blinked and stuttered.

“...D-Do you mean you have a way to fix his dantian, Daoist?”

“That is right.”

Murmur, murmur.

Confusion spread in an instant. It was too sweet a promise. Could this be true? If true, it would be a great blessing. But to entrust Myeong to this big-nosed foreigner? It must surely be a lie.

As the commotion was about to grow uncontrollable, Namgung Chaegong raised his hand and slammed down on the armrest.

BANG!!

Crack!

The armrest was almost crushed, and thanks to that, silence filled the hall.

“Explain in detail, Little Daoist. What method?”

“I cannot tell you. If the secret spreads, there is a possibility of losing the initiative.”

“The destination?”

“That too, I cannot tell you.”

Envers spoke boldly, puffing out his chest. Seeing this, Namgung Chaegong let out a dry laugh. Then he summarized simply and asked again.

“So... the method, means, and destination are all secret. You’re just saying you’ll heal my son if I hand him over?”

“That is right.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“No.”

“......”

Namgung Chaegong stared into Envers’ eyes, trying to read his intentions. And there, he could see the boy’s stubbornness. The blue eyes were clear without deceit, and there was an unwavering determination.

Clang!

Namgung Zhao stood up, drawing his sword.

“Clan Lord, I’ll drive out this scoundrel...”

“Sit back down. Daoist Cheonghwi, what do you want? To fix the dantian, you’d surely need to use an incredible treasure or employ an extraordinary secret technique.”

“I shall use a treasure. It is not an evil method like feeding people, so do not worry. Since it is uncertain whether it will work or not, I do not need any compensation.”

“Huh... Huh huh huh.”

Namgung Chaegong slapped his forehead a few times as if dumbfounded, then burst into laughter. He clutched his belly and laughed for a while, then...

“What if I don’t give permission?”

“Then I shall have to take him by force.”

“Of course, you’d have to defeat me. You’d have to defeat all the Namgung Clan members gathered here. I’m much stronger than you, Little Daoist. Even so?”

“That is right.”

“Hahahahaha! Alright, it seems you’ve finally found your own sense of virtue and chivalry, huh?”

Envers actually took a fighting stance. It didn’t seem like just an act. This boy was really thinking about fighting and winning. Namgung Chaegong liked that straightforwardness.

Namgung Chaegong asked one last time.

“There’s no benefit at all. Of course, as a father, if anything happens to Myeong, I’ll tear you apart. It’s like asking me to hand over everything. Even so?”

“That is right. If you are going to stop me, then stop me. If not, please hand him over!”

“Alright. Good. Take him!”

“...FATHER!!”

Namgung Zhao cried out as if screaming.

Namgung Chaegong waved his hand to calm him down, and looked straight at Envers as he spoke. Such a straightforward clash was worth placing hope in.

“I like that spirit of not needing compensation. If you really heal Myeong’s dantian and bring him back, I’ll give you the most valuable thing I can give!”

“I will be back.”

As soon as he heard the Clan Lord’s permission, Envers turned his back and walked out of the hall boldly. His demeanor suggested that no one could shake him even if they tried to stop him. Behind him, the Clan Lord’s hearty laughter echoed.

Envers clenched his fist.

There was information the beggar had mentioned.

He had heard that there was a cave at the bottom of the Heavenly Mirror Lake, and there was a very precious Elixir there. Envers had originally intended to use this for his own power-up, but...

The elixir hasn’t fully matured yet, and it seems the Imoogi is absorbing the Elixir’s energy to grow, so I left it alone. It seemed like it would be ready in about 10 years.

People of Murim sometimes undergo Overhaul Rebirth when they eat Supreme Elixirs, but I’m not sure if it would apply to people of an otherworld. Since there are differences in internal bone structure...

With this, he thought it might be possible to induce Namgung Myeong’s transformation and fix his dantian.

Envers flung open the door to Namgung Myeong’s hospital room and shouted.

“I have received the Clan Lord’s permission!”

“...Y-You got permission...?”

“That is right. Once you have recovered enough to move, we shall set off for the Heavenly Mirror Lake together, so keep that in mind! And halve your expectations.”

“...I never thought I’d be heading out into Jianghu like this...!”

Namgung Myeong’s face showed he was confused about whether to have hope or not. Envers was confused too. He couldn’t be 100% confident in the success rate.

But he thought this way would leave no regrets.

“W-Wait! Daoist Cheonghwi! If you’re leaving, I’m coming too. Me too...!!”

Namgung Seungah also jumped in to catch the last train.

And so, their chaotic Jianghu Journey began.