Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 67. The Thousand Buddhas of This Kalpa
Yeoshan, in the depths of Imdonghyeon.
Late at night.
An elderly man well into his seventies and a young woman in her late teens made their way down the mountainside.
Hyeolje and Baek Yuhwa.
The old man’s face held a healthy flush, ruddy with vitality.
By contrast, young Baek Yuhwa had turned pale—drained by cold and fear.
Hyeolje traversed the frozen mountain path with an effortless glide.
When Baek Yuhwa’s feet slipped and she stumbled, Hyeolje caught her by the nape of her neck with surprising speed.
“A Murim practitioner who can’t even walk properly?”
“The path is slippery…….”
“Your training is lacking. Don’t blame the ground for your clumsiness.”
“I apologize.”
Without breaking stride, Hyeolje hefted her into his arms and began to run.
Whoosh—
Even bearing a person’s full weight, he moved faster than a mounted rider.
After running for some time, Hyeolje set her down.
Baek Yuhwa looked frantically in all directions.
In the distance, a massive structure loomed into view.
Bathed in moonlight, the building gleamed with splendor to rival that of Chang’an itself.
“Hwacheong Palace?”
“Yes. Though it seems too grand to serve as your tomb.”
“Is this our destination?”
Baek Yuhwa studied Hyeolje’s expression carefully.
A little farther would bring them to Munsan.
She had naturally assumed that was where Hyeolje meant to go.
Hwacheong Palace was the emperor’s retreat—utterly removed from Murim concerns.
“Yes. There’s someone here who needs to die.”
“Who?”
Baek Yuhwa had calmed considerably from before.
Ever since witnessing Yang Hoe’s death, she’d been too frightened to speak.
But now, grown somewhat accustomed to Hyeolje’s presence, she found herself asking questions.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“There is nothing that Haowen doesn’t know.”
When Baek Yuhwa spoke with such confidence, Hyeolje shot her a sidelong glance.
“Yi Deoknyeong, Deputy Protector of the Anxi Protectorate.”
Baek Yuhwa’s swagger evaporated instantly.
“Who is Yi Deoknyeong?”
“So Haowen knows nothing after all? He’s a member of the imperial household. He’s resting here after concluding his patrol of the Western Regions.”
“Why would you kill him?”
“Ha! You stand on the threshold of death and still wish to know this?”
Only then did Baek Yuhwa’s senses sharpen, and she asked again.
“……Are you going to kill me?”
“Of course. It’s only fair.”
Two people had pursued him, and he had killed one of them.
The other must also fall, so that the one who went before would not feel cheated.
This was the justice that Hyeolje sought.
Baek Yuhwa was speechless, but the unwavering set of Hyeolje’s face left her with nothing to say.
“Yi Deoknyeong slaughtered innocent people throughout the Western Regions during his patrol. I act as heaven’s instrument of retribution.”
Surprised by this claim, Baek Yuhwa glanced up at him again.
She never would have expected such words to pass Hyeolje’s lips.
“But you spent your days in Gangnam, sir. How do you know of the Western Regions’ troubles, and why should you kill him for them?”
“Because I am one of the Thousand Buddhas of This Kalpa.”
“Do you mean to say you are a member of Cheonnyeon?”
“Impressive. You’re not entirely without sense, after all.”
“I’ve heard that Cheonnyeon’s heroes slay only corrupt officials. Surely someone as lowborn as I am doesn’t deserve——”
Hyeolje cut her off.
“Before I am Cheonnyeon, I am Hyeolje. If I refrain from killing those who merit death, who will fear me?”
……
Baek Yuhwa closed her mouth.
The slender thread of hope that had flickered at the mention of Cheonnyeon vanished.
Then Hyeolje spoke abruptly.
“Tell me—what reason do you have for needing to live?”
“I…”
Baek Yuhwa could not find the words.
There was no reason she had to live.
Born into the House of Haowen, she had lived as a Sect Disciple of Haowen.
A Sect Soldier in command of ten?
It was laughable, considering her station within Haowen.
“No reason, then. You’ve simply lived because you were born.”
At that, Baek Yuhwa’s voice caught with indignation.
“No—that’s not it. I’ve lived earnestly!”
Baek Yuhwa, who had trained for ten years in the Terracotta Army Tomb, could not accept his words.
“Ha! A Haowen disciple claiming she lived earnestly—that’s rich enough to make a dog laugh. Still, since you amused me at the end, I’ll send you off without suffering.”
“If you were going to kill me anyway, why drag me all the way here!”
“So that those Oeak Geompa dogs chasing me will head toward Munsan instead. You should be honored that you’ve been used for Cheonnyeon’s great work.”
……
Baek Yuhwa stared at him with astounded eyes.
She had thought him nothing but a strong martial master of the previous generation—she had been wrong.
A fine line appeared across her neck as she stood there, her expression dazed.
‘What?’
Even as the strange sensation made her tilt her head in confusion, her head fell away.
Hyeolje, who had been looking down at Baek Yuhwa’s head, soared upward like a bird of prey.
***
Deep into the night.
A carriage came to a halt at the entrance to Munsan.
Dan Yeop and So Weolhwa, the patrol Hall Master, descended from the driver’s seat.
The two moved toward the gorge where the entrance to the Terracotta Army Tomb lay.
At the mouth of the gorge, So Weolhwa muttered quietly.
“That’s strange.”
“What is?”
“There are no footprints around the gorge. There should be at least the tracks of a hundred Sect Soldiers…”
“Could they have gone somewhere else?”
“They definitely headed toward Munsan with the Sect Soldier. Of that I’m certain.”
“But you said there are no footprints? Then they never came this way, did they?”
“That’s why I said it’s strange. They clearly went toward Munsan, but there’s no trace. If they brought the Sect Soldier here to execute her, they would have had to come this way.”
“We didn’t see anyone on the way here?”
“No one. You saw that yourself, didn’t you?”
“Could they have gone elsewhere to avoid Oeak Geompa?”
“Perhaps, but considering they specifically brought the Sect Soldier with them…”
So Weolhwa could think of nowhere else but the Terracotta Army Tomb at Munsan.
Growing anxious, Dan Yeop dashed straight to the cave entrance.
The cave was sealed with earth and stone.
It appeared the authorities had deliberately blocked it to prevent grave robbing.
So Weolhwa approached from behind Dan Yeop, who stood there with a dazed expression.
“Since the authorities sealed it, they wouldn’t have been able to enter the Terracotta Army Tomb.”
……
Dan Yeop turned away listlessly.
Not knowing whether Baek Yuhwa lived or died left him utterly frustrated.
‘If it were Sim Ma, could he find her?’
But he shook his head at once.
No matter how keen Sim Ma’s mind, this seemed beyond reach.
Even Haowen, with all its intelligence networks, hadn’t found her—what could Sim Ma possibly do?
“I need to search Munsan thoroughly.”
Dan Yeop said this and ascended the mountain using the Gyeongsin Technique.
Then he scoured the Munsan area like a man possessed.
Around once, then again…
He searched Munsan until dawn broke, but found no trace of Hyeolje.
So Weolhwa built a fire in the gorge and waited for Dan Yeop to return.
She wanted to search the mountain herself, but that could only be done one or twice.
The cold was unbearable.
Fearing he would freeze to death, he returned to his original spot and built a fire.
Dan Yeop came back at intervals to warm himself before departing again.
Finally, the day broke completely.
After a single night, Dan Yeop appeared looking haggard and worn.
So Weolhwa, spotting him, stoked the flames higher.
Dan Yeop approached, his face ready to collapse at any moment.
“Rest a while, sir. Since he hasn’t shown up by now, it seems he’s gone elsewhere.”
“Where do you think he went?”
Dan Yeop had now accepted that Hyeolje had left for some other place.
“I can’t say for certain. He was active in Gangnam originally, so his appearance here doesn’t make sense to begin with.”
“Why would he come all the way to Gwanneido? And in the dead of winter?”
“That’s what troubles me too.”
So Weolhwa drew provisions from her robes and handed them to Dan Yeop.
If they were to continue searching for Hyeolje, he needed to eat something.
Dan Yeop accepted the provisions and placed them in his mouth, chewing.
As he finished the last of the food, a group of martial artists appeared in the distance.
***
Gongsun Chan, the Cheonnyeon Society’s suppression commander, asked his guide, the Swordsman of the Immortal Path Jin Hacheong, a supervisor of Hyeonmu Palace.
“Do you know who they are?”
“The woman is So Weolhwa, Hall Master of Haowen. I don’t recognize the man.”
“Hmm! So Weolhwa, Hall Master.”
A note of surprise colored Gongsun Chan’s voice.
It was astonishing that only two of them were pursuing Hyeolje.
‘Haowen cannot be underestimated, it seems.’
Moments later, Gongsun Chan, Gongsun Ji, and Jin Hacheong approached the two.
So Weolhwa rose from her seat and offered a respectful greeting to Jin Hacheong.
“Greetings, Swordsman of the Immortal Path. I am So Weolhwa of Haowen.”
“Hall Master So, I did not expect to meet you here. Have you truly come following Hyeolje’s trail?”
“Yes, one of my disciples was taken.”
Jin Hacheong glanced around as he spoke.
“Hyeolje does not seem to have come through here. When did you arrive?”
“We arrived around midnight last night. As you say, Hyeolje did not appear.”
“Was it not said that Hyeolje was heading toward Munsan?”
“I confirmed he was heading in that direction, but it appears he changed course along the way.”
Jin Hacheong turned to face Gongsun Chan after their exchange.
“Commander, it seems Hyeolje has gone elsewhere.”
“I heard as much. So, Hall Master, do you happen to know where Hyeolje was last sighted?”
“At Hanyuchon. It is not far from here.”
“I see. Well then, this place is dangerous. I suggest the two of you turn back.”
“We are grateful for your concern, but we must continue searching for our disciple…….”
Gongsun Chan’s gaze, which had been fixed on So Weolhwa, shifted to the side.
A strikingly beautiful youth stood there, exhaustion etched across his features.
“Is the person beside you your disciple?”
“Ah, no. He is a Sect Disciple of Haowen…….”
So Weolhwa concealed Dan Yeop’s true identity.
Oeak Geompa regarded Haowen’s movements with disfavor.
Gongsun Chan nodded and spoke to the youth.
“Young friend, I am Gongsun Chan. What is your name?”
“I am Dan Yeop.”
“A fine name. Hyeolje prowls these parts, so be cautious. If his eye falls upon you, you will not escape with your life.”
“Understood.”
Gongsun Chan glanced once more at So Weolhwa, then departed.
As the Cheonnyeon Society’s suppression force receded into the distance, So Weolhwa turned to Dan Yeop.
“We should follow them.”
There was no further intelligence to be gained from Haowen anyway, and if Hyeolje was nearby, it was better to travel with them.
Dan Yeop offered no objection.
Now was the time to trust the judgment of Oeak Geompa rather than Haowen.
Jin Hacheong glanced back briefly and spoke.
“Commander, the Haowen disciples are following us. What should we do?”
“He seems frightened. Best to leave him be.”
“Yes.”
Then Gongsun Ji, the Sect Soldier, spoke up.
“Hall Master, last night when Deputy Hall Master Yoo Jeongpung asked why Hyeolje—who was active in Gangnam—had come all the way to Gwanneido, do you remember?”
“Why? Do you have an idea?”
“Yesterday I thought it must be Munsan because of the kidnapped Haowen disciples.”
“But?”
“Seeing how clean Munsan is, I don’t think that’s it. You said Hyeolje was last spotted at Hanyuchon?”
“That’s what I heard as well.”
“I think we’ve been deceived by Hyeolje.”
“Deceived?”
“Perhaps his true destination isn’t Munsan, but Yeoshan.”
“Yeoshan? Are you suggesting the Blood Demon is after Hwacheong Palace?”
Gongsun Chan, being a sharp-minded man, immediately grasped the implication.
“Yeoshan and Munsan are both near Hanyuchon. He could have used Munsan to lure Cheongsangoe away, then headed to Yeoshan instead.”
Gongsun Chan swiftly summoned Yoo Jeongpung, the Outer Hall Master of the Jongnam Sect.
“Hall Master Yoo, do you know anything about Hwacheong Palace at the moment?”
“Yes, what brings this to mind?”
Among Hwacheong Palace’s escort warriors were several Jongnam Sect disciples.
Through them, all manner of news reached the Jongnam Sect.
“Do you know who is currently at Hwacheong Palace?”
“I’ve heard that Yi Deoknyeong, the Deputy Protector of the Anxi Protectorate—a royal cousin—is there. They say he often stops by to rest after completing his patrols of the Western Regions.”
Gongsun Chan’s gaze turned sharply toward his daughter.
Gongsun Ji nodded and spoke.
“He may have been the target all along. Yi Deoknyeong is known as the Money Ghost for his unbridled greed.”
“But why would someone like Hyeolje—a former Grand Demon Master—target him?”
“I’m not certain. Someone may have placed a contract on him.”
With no better theory to offer, Gongsun Chan led his suppression force toward Yeoshan.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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