Chapter 15

“Senior Brother Jinheo?”

“What tradition?”

“…”

Jinhye frowned at Jinheo’s question.

This was the senior martial brother who had spent several days in Jeongdong Palace’s infirmary after being beaten by an unworthy junior.

He ought to have been ashamed of himself, yet here he was, switching sides to support Jinmu.

“Will clinging to tradition make anything better? You won’t even consider finding better ways and making changes… Tsk, tsk.”

At Jinheo’s scornful clicking of the tongue, the corners of Jinhye’s eyes slanted sharply upward.

“Didn’t you see Martial Uncle Myeongjin? How he could even get about after eating meat?”

“Mind your words. Are you going to defend a violation of the precepts?”

“The precepts? Hah. Just what I’d expect from the disciple managing Yeongeun Palace. But hasn’t that prohibition already been lifted?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“Martial Uncle Myeonggong seemed to agree with sending Jinmu earlier, didn’t he?”

“…”

“Jinhye.”

Jinheo looked steadily into Jinhye’s face.

“To me, you simply look jealous.”

“What?”

“Well, you did make such a tremendous contribution to forging ties with the Cheongyang Merchant Guild. It’s only natural.”

“Y-you… How dare…”

“But your motives are far too obvious. How can a Taoist be so calculating?”

“Mind your words.”

“Mind my words? Well, now. Everyone acknowledges that you understand worldly affairs better than anyone. But I don’t think you’re putting that knowledge to proper use.”

“…”

“What do you suppose Senior Brother Jingung thinks of you?”

“Wh-what did you say?”

At the sudden mention of Jingung, Jinhye flinched and glanced over to gauge his reaction.

“Dealing with outside merchant guilds and other powers is Ujin Palace’s responsibility. Shouldn’t you have discussed this with Senior Brother Jingung and had Martial Uncle Myeongchung report it?”

“…”

“Yet you went directly to the sect leader. Why? And I hear you even showed the guildmaster around the temples.”

“Th-that was the sect leader’s…”

“Jinhye, know when to stop. Enough is enough. Do you think handling outside affairs alone will make you head disciple? How well you lead your palace, and how much support you have from the disciples, matter far more.”

“…”

Jinhye stole a glance at Jingung.

Three deep furrows creased his brow.

“The head disciple represents Wudang. The position isn’t there for you to use the sect for your own gain and your family’s advancement.”

“Senior Brother! You go too far!”

At Jinheo’s words, Jinhye’s eyes widened with murderous intent, and his aura surged outward.

Bang!

“Enough, both of you!”

Unable to watch any longer, Jingung glared fiercely at Jinhye and Jinheo.

“My apologies.”

“M-my apologies.”

They might raise their voices at each other, but Jingung presided over this administrative meeting.

“Tsk. You bear the grave responsibility of leading your respective palaces. How can you behave so disgracefully?”

“…”

“Jinhye, Jinheo, apologize to each other for your excessive language. And there will be no further argument over a matter the elders’ meeting has already decided.”

Jingung’s words left no room for dispute. Neither Jinhye nor Jinheo could say anything.

“However, our earlier decision to give Jinmu no assistance on his journey remains unchanged. The elders may have made their decision, but he is still under punishment for violating the Ten Precepts. Just as with the repairs to the wooden stands at Haegeomji, each palace is to keep its disciples firmly in hand so the Cheong generation does not get dragged into this.”

“Yes.”

“But, Senior Brother!”

As Jinheo tried to object, Jinso tugged his sleeve and shook his head.

“I will not repeat myself. Keep them firmly in hand, but do not restrain anyone who volunteers.”

Radiating a fearsome aura, Jingung abruptly rose and strode out of the room.

“S-Senior Brother!”

Jinhye hurried after him.

“Whew…”

Once everyone else had left, Jinso chided Jinheo with a kindly expression.

“Come now. You ought to know when to stop. Don’t you realize how much effort Jinhye put into the Cheongyang Merchant Guild?”

“Yes, but even so…”

“Tsk, tsk. Honestly. I’ve told you to curb that fiery temper of yours. Don’t you know how much Jinhye hates having his family brought up?”

“Jinhye was in the wrong. Bringing up an offense even the elders no longer mention.”

“…”

Jinso watched Jinheo grumble for a moment, then chuckled.

“Are you that fond of him?”

“Pardon?”

“Jinmu. You look as though you simply adore him.”

“Ah, ha ha! Yes, that’s right. I absolutely adore him.”

“Goodness. Hearing you go on like this makes me curious.”

“Do you know how remarkable he is? His whole way of thinking about martial arts is different.”

“Different?”

“Yes. Think about it. Is modifying a sword art an easy thing? You could never manage it without contemplating it over and over.”

“Hmm. You mean the Thirteen Spirit Gate Swords.”

“Yes! And do you think that’s all? There’s a boy named Cheongu at Wonhwa Hall.”

“Ah, I heard. He beat Cheongsang, didn’t he?”

“He did more than beat him. His progress in martial arts lately has been astonishing. All thanks to Jinmu’s teaching. Ha ha ha!”

As Jinheo laughed loudly, Jinso shook his head.

“Honestly. He’s not even a woman, yet he’s stolen your heart so completely… Had I known, I would have given you a beating now and then myself.”

“What? Oh, Senior Brother. Ha ha!”

“In any case, Cheongsang keeps running off to Chungheo Hermitage these days, with no thought of coming back.”

“Well, Cheongsang has had a hard time of it, hasn’t he? If you ask me, that’s your fault, Senior Brother.”

“Hmm. But we cannot accept a child who has yet to cleanse the bitterness from his heart as a disciple of Jeongdong Palace, where we hold lives in our hands.”

“Well, thanks to that, a promising young disciple will end up under Jinmu.”

“Hmm… Perhaps. All the better if he does…”

“What do you think, Senior Brother?”

“About what?”

“The head disciple.”

“Surely you don’t have that boy Jinmu in mind?”

“I do. He’ll get the position.”

“And to think you used to be so certain it would be you…”

“That was when there was no one any good.”

“Hah. Listen to you. Apart from Jinhye, every one of them is your senior martial brother.”

“Oh, come now. You know what I mean, Senior Brother.”

“Well. Whatever the others might do, neither Senior Brother Jingung nor Jinhye will stand idly by.”

“An awl in a sack will always poke through, won’t it?”

A talented man was bound to stand out, whatever the circumstances.

“Ho ho. We shall see.”

Jinso rose with a hearty chuckle.

---

While the administrative meeting was in progress, Jinmu supported his master Myeongjin back to Chungheo Hermitage. They arrived only as evening approached.

He hadn’t even asked, yet Myeongjin had dragged his ailing body out to speak on his behalf. Jinmu could hardly have been more pleased with him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He nearly answered, “Because you’re adorable.” When Jinmu chuckled, Myeongjin smiled gently.

“Happy at the thought of leaving, are you?”

“Well, I’m only worried about you, Master.”

“You rascal…”

He meant none of it, but Myeongjin took it as concern for his welfare and was touched.

“Never mind worrying about me. Go and enjoy yourself.”

“Enjoy myself?”

“Of course. Is there a law saying Taoists can’t have fun?”

“Hmm. Once I’m down the mountain, I might eat meat…”

“You eat it already.”

“And perhaps drink…”

“Ho ho, you rascal. What of it? I had a drink myself when I went wandering in my youth.”

“Courtesans…”

“…”

“A night together…”

“J-Jinmu.”

“I’m joking. Just joking.”

“You and your silly jokes.”

Myeongjin gave a hollow laugh at Jinmu’s wink, but deep down he felt terribly uneasy.

Somehow, he could imagine this disciple of his actually doing it…

“Martial Uncle! Martial Uncle!”

As Jinmu helped Myeongjin into his room, Cheongu and Cheongsang came running up with their baggage packed.

“Hmm? What brings you here? And what’s all that baggage?”

“We heard you’re going on a journey!”

“We heard you’re going to the Cheongyang Merchant Guild.”

Jinmu blinked at their simultaneous outbursts.

“So?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Me too…”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? A disciple must attend his master!”

“Disciple? Who?”

Jinmu snorted at Cheongu’s words.

“Huh? Wasn’t I… your disciple?”

“Like hell. Who’d take someone as…”

Who would take an idiot like you as a disciple? What would I get out of it?

He couldn’t quite bring himself to finish.

“I’ve already received permission from Great Martial Uncle Myeonghwa and Martial Uncle Jinso.”

“Hmm?”

Cheongsang was a disciple of Jeongdong Palace, whose affairs were managed by Senior Brother Jinso.

And they had given him permission?

Jinmu tilted his head.

“Martial Uncle Jinheo wished me a good trip and even gave me spending money!”

Given Jinheo’s reaction at Purple Firmament Palace, that was plausible enough.

Clearly, he was trying to foist that idiot Cheongu onto him.

“Damn it, forget it! Why would I take you two? You’re useless.”

“Oh, Martial Uncle. Please don’t be like that.”

Cheongu clung to him, looking ready to burst into tears.

“No! I’ll pick some decent ones from whoever turns up tomorrow morning.”

“Martial Un-cle!”

Cheongu sank to the ground with an anguished wail.

---

From a spot overlooking Chungheo Hermitage in the distance.

Jinhye was glaring fiercely at Jinmu, Cheongu, and Cheongsang.

How dare you… Are you trying to make all those years of my family’s effort come to nothing?

Murderous intent seethed in Jinhye’s eyes.

Jinhye’s birth name was U Cheolhwan.

The U Family Estate of Danjiangkou.

It was now establishing itself as a fairly reputable martial arts school, but only a few generations ago, it had been a notorious gang of thugs in Danjiangkou’s back alleys.

His grandfather U Jumyeong’s efforts had turned it into a respectable school, but the stigma of a family that had protected all manner of dirty dealings still clung to them.

To shake off that stigma and fulfill the family’s long-held wish, U Jumyeong had sent Jinhye to become a disciple of Wudang.

That had been over twenty years ago.

Had Wudang not fallen on hard times, and had Jinhye not shown exceptional talent, it would probably have been out of the question.

Jinhye had worked day and night, deliberately becoming a disciple of Myeonggong, who oversaw the precepts.

And when he finally became one of the Seven of Wudang, his joy had been beyond words.

Yet even after all that effort, the stigma would not easily fade.

In the end, there was only one path: to become head disciple. To become Wudang’s sect leader.

Wudang’s most serious problem at present was money.

Without the funds to expand its influence or feed its disciples, it was steadily declining.

Jinhye had tried every means to solve that problem.

And with his family’s help, he had managed to establish ties with the Cheongyang Merchant Guild.

Now, just as his efforts to shed that loathsome stigma were finally about to bear fruit, some damned bastard had barged in and was interfering with his plans.

“You lowborn bastard. Very well. We’ll see whether you make it back in one piece. Plenty of nasty things can happen on a journey.”

Wings fluttered.

A carrier pigeon left Jinhye’s hand and soared into the night sky.

Jinhye, a first-generation disciple of Wudang.

He was now attempting to commit the murder of a fellow disciple—an offense absolutely forbidden under the Ten Precepts of Wudang.

Heading down a path he must never take.