Chapter 147

Dan seol-yeong

There was good reason for Dan seol-yeong’s growing impatience.

First, neither she nor Tang Mujin were young anymore. Their marriageable age was overflowing to the point of bursting.

People usually married before the age of twenty, and not long after that, had children. Among those of their age in Chengdu, few remained unmarried.

The only reason Dan seol-yeong had not felt rushed until now was because—though they had not yet held a wedding—her relationship with Tang Mujin was already closer than that of most lovers.

Tang Jeseon had treated Dan seol-yeong like a cherished daughter-in-law for over a year.

The problem had arisen after Tang Mujin returned from the demonic cult.

Dan seol-yeong glanced at Mok Wana. While arranging processed medicinal herbs, she would occasionally lift her head to check where Tang Mujin was and what he was doing.

‘It’s not my imagination.’

Tang Mujin himself seemed to hold no special feelings toward her, but the way Mok Wana treated him definitely went beyond simple goodwill.

There was something indefinable in Mok Wana’s demeanor—her gaze toward him carrying a subtle sweetness, her voice softening slightly whenever she spoke with him.

To make matters worse, Mok Wana had recently begun learning to read and write from Tang Mujin for an hour and a half each day, deepening the problem further.

It would have been better if someone else taught her, but no one volunteered.

Hong Geolgae could read just fine, but his writing was clumsy.

Namgung Myeong, on the other hand, avoided troublesome work as a matter of habit, so he was hardly someone one could entrust with Mok Wana’s studies.

In the end, the only person with adequate knowledge and diligence was Tang Mujin, so he had to take her under his wing. Though Dan seol-yeong understood his intentions were good, she could not help but feel uneasy.

So far, nothing had happened. But between men and women, the more time they spent together, the deeper things tended to grow—especially when one side already harbored feelings.

Dan seol-yeong clenched her fists.

‘I can’t hesitate anymore. I need to make my move.’

She did not know exactly how to resolve the situation.

But there was no need to worry. In every village, there was always a place where the greatest experts in love and married life gathered.

Dan seol-yeong suddenly rose from her seat and headed to the nearest well—where the town’s aunties and young wives gathered.

***

For the next few days, Tang Mujin immersed himself in training.

Once or twice a day he crossed swords with Namgung Myeong, and whenever he could, he sought instruction from Samanbul.

Both Samanbul and Namgung Myeong were masters whose skills would be respected anywhere. And since they currently had little to occupy themselves, Tang Mujin became their pastime.

It wasn’t just the two of them. Even the demonic cult members seemed intent on repaying him: every few days they gathered in the Tang family’s courtyard, creating chaotic melees or one-against-many scenarios to assist his training.

Watching Tang Mujin and Samanbul spar, Namgung Myeong clicked his tongue.

“Lucky bastard. I received plenty of investment in my training too, but never this much luxury.”

“Really? I thought it wouldn’t be that different. Your father’s also a supreme master, isn’t he? And you must have had many experts around you.”

“My father rarely oversaw my training directly. What does it matter if he’s a supreme master? I was grateful just to have an elder of the clan help me at all.”

“Is that so? Well, this isn’t exactly an easy life either.”

Covered in dirt from head to toe, Tang Mujin let his sword hang loosely and turned to Samanbul.

“By the way, I don’t really understand what the point of this training is.”

What Tang Mujin and Samanbul had been doing lately wasn’t just ordinary training.

It was more like a game with rules: if Tang Mujin could slip out of the Tang family clinic’s grounds while evading Samanbul, he won. If he failed, Samanbul won.

There was no restriction on using the main gate; any escape counted. The rules favored Tang Mujin heavily.

Yet in truth, he only managed to win once in ten tries, if that.

The reason was simple: Samanbul was overwhelmingly strong.

Hearing his question, Samanbul laughed.

“I can assure you, there is no training more important than this. Without this realization, you would never have broken past the wall of the peak realm.”

“And what is this training for?”

“To survive without dying.”

He had suspected as much, but the answer didn’t quite satisfy him.

Samanbul’s teaching diverged far from the usual path of “becoming stronger.”

“Isn’t it better to win and survive, rather than just flee and survive?”

“Of course it’s better to win. But unless you’re the world’s number one, you can’t win every fight. Even the world’s number one can’t win every fight.”

Samanbul approached and brushed the dust from Tang Mujin’s clothes. His rough appearance belied the delicacy of his touch.

“You must always be ready to survive against an opponent you can’t handle. I’ve never hesitated to retreat in a losing situation, and that’s how I lived long enough to stand where I am.”

“…Maybe that’s just you, elder.”

“Not at all. Think of Left Protector and Demon King.”

Tang Mujin recalled them. The moment they judged they couldn’t face Samanbul and Hwayeon Shinni together, they immediately lowered their gazes and retreated.

“…They survived, but it was a bit disgraceful.”

“What does disgrace matter? The point is that they lived. Knowing when to retreat and how to flee is what gives you another chance. And since you dream of revenge, that’s even more true. The one who can retreat survives and will one day succeed. The one who refuses dies and fails.”

Many had told Tang Mujin similar things.

So had Gwaiido, who valued pragmatism over face, and even the Soul-Crushing Elder he had met recently. But Tang Mujin had never taken such advice seriously.

Samanbul continued:

“The late Right Protector also knew when to retreat, as did the cult leader and Geolseon. Why do you think so many peak masters know when to step back? Why is there no supreme master who never retreats, no world’s number one who is truly undefeated?”

Tang Mujin answered simply:

“Because you need to survive first to increase your martial attainment and plan for the future.”

“Exactly. Prideful men die quickly. Those who can retreat live long and reach higher realms. It’s a simple truth. Yet few put it into practice, and fewer still speak it aloud.”

“But retreating doesn’t guarantee you’ll win the next time.”

“That’s true. But you’re an exception.”

“…What do you mean?”

When Tang Mujin asked, Samanbul placed a huge hand on his shoulder.

“Of course, some must stake their lives without retreating—for revenge, if they believe this is their last chance before their foe outpaces them. But you are different.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The strength of an ordinary martial artist depends solely on his martial arts. That goes for me, Namgung Myeong, even the cult leader. But you—you have another way to grow stronger. Poison.”

Samanbul gathered his thoughts, then explained:

“One day, you may face a wall. For others, that wall is the end. But you can push past it using poison—not just martial talent. You’ll always have another path.”

“Well… that’s true.”

Not long ago, simply because he had obtained the Death Poison, Tang Mujin had achieved incredible feats, even defeating the Right Protector.

Though it wasn’t entirely by his own strength, he had undeniably played the largest part.

“Poison is troublesome. Not just for common fighters—even I find it troublesome. Few can outpace you. You’ll always grow stronger faster, always able to plan for the future. That’s why, when I first met you, I wanted you dead no matter what.”

It sounded like praise, yet also like a curse. Tang Mujin scratched his chin and muttered.

“Mm…”

Samanbul grinned.

“Besides, if you’re always ready to escape, you can fight more boldly and bravely. If you win, good. If you lose, you can flee. Who could be braver than that?”

It was a laughable thought. Normally people said the opposite: that only with one’s back to the wall could true courage emerge.

Yet Samanbul’s reasoning carried its own weight.

Tang Mujin smiled too—not so much at the logic, but at the elder’s generous praise and genuine concern.

Seeing that he understood, Samanbul released his shoulder.

“Then let’s continue. This time, succeed.”

He shoved Tang Mujin back, putting some distance, then launched a punch.

Before half a beat had passed, Tang Mujin was sprawled unconscious on the ground.

***

When Tang Mujin came to, he blew his nose hard.

The clotted blood cleared from his nostrils, letting him breathe easier.

He went to a water bucket in the yard, rinsed the dirt off lightly, then wiped dry and dressed.

Quietly, Dan seol-yeong approached and stood beside him.

“Are you busy?”

In the evenings, Tang Mujin was free. Dan seol-yeong knew that, yet asked anyway.

“No. Nothing left to do.”

“Then… would you come with me somewhere tonight?”

“Where?”

“They say there’s an enormous stone Buddha at a temple to the south. I want to see it once.”

“It must be the story of Neungun Temple.”

“That’s right.”

South of Chengdu lay a temple called Neungun Temple, where a massive stone Buddha had been carved into the cliff face.

The Central Plains were vast and filled with wonders, but the stone Buddha of Neungun Temple was among the most remarkable. Visitors to Sichuan almost always went first to the Dujiang Weir and Neungun Temple. Tang Mujin himself had been there once as a child.

He didn’t hesitate long. After training all day, there was no reason he couldn’t give his evening hours to Dan seol-yeong.

“Shall we go right now?”

Dan seol-yeong nodded.

***

The two set off, moving quickly with their lightfoot techniques. When Dan seol-yeong’s pace slowed, Tang Mujin carried her on his back.

By dusk, they arrived at Neungun Temple.

The first thing they saw was not the great Buddha, but rows of lanterns glowing softly above their heads, hanging in neat grid-like lines, casting a gentle light.

The mingling fragrance of incense among the colorful lights made them feel as if they had stepped into another world.

“Wow… it’s magnificent.”

“Haven’t you been here before?”

“When I came with my father as a child, it was daytime. The lanterns weren’t lit.”

Dan seol-yeong glanced around. Just as the women at the well had said, most of the visitors here were young men and women.

When she had asked for advice at the well, the women had unanimously recommended coming to Neungun Temple in the evening.

Their reasoning was simple: after a couple walked hand in hand beneath the lanterns, gazing at the lights together, they would naturally wander out of the temple into the quiet forest, where romance blossomed.

They even claimed that such a thing happened even between strangers. The proof was strong—Dan seol-yeong had met four women at the well who said they had met their husbands at Neungun Temple.

And sure enough, right before her eyes, another pair who had come separately were now naturally walking side by side.

Dan seol-yeong’s expression brightened.

‘This is it. Without a doubt.’

She slipped her hand into Tang Mujin’s. Had she done this in town, she might have been scolded for being too forward. But here at Neungun Temple, this much was normal.

Tang Mujin returned her grip, looking straight into her eyes.

“Then, shall we go see the Buddha?”

“…Huh?”

Tang Mujin strode off with her in tow, heading directly toward the stone Buddha.

It felt like her plan had gone a little astray, but still within acceptable bounds.

Together they stood before the colossal Buddha, gazing in awe for a long time.

Both were interested in craftsmanship, so they even fell into a brief discussion about how such a statue could have been made.

Afterward, they returned to the lantern area—but Tang Mujin walked straight out of the temple grounds.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah? Weren’t we here to see the Buddha?”

“Well… yes, but still…”

Dan seol-yeong sensed things were going off track. Yet the situation wasn’t hopeless.

The air between them was sweeter than usual, and the true “charm” of Neungun Temple only revealed itself once they stepped outside.

Sure enough, once beyond the temple, faint presences stirred all around them in the surrounding woods.

Ordinary people might not have noticed, but neither Tang Mujin—whose martial ability was high—nor Dan seol-yeong, who had at least cultivated some internal energy, could be fooled.

From the thickets came whispers, rustling, and even breathless sounds of intimacy.

This was the heart of the well-women’s advice: after holding hands beneath the lanterns, couples left the temple into the quiet dusk, where the mood carried them naturally into secluded groves.

Dan seol-yeong tugged gently at Tang Mujin’s hand, steering him toward the shadowy thickets.

But Tang Mujin, distracted and unsettled by the sounds around them, failed to catch her bold signal.

“Mm… best to hurry through.”

That oblivious comment left her flustered.

“…What? Just pass through?”

“Yeah? Is there a problem?”

“Well, my legs hurt… Could we rest for a bit before moving on?”

She gave him a piercing look, but he failed to understand it.

“Then I’ll carry you.”

He crouched down naturally, offering her his back.

Inside, Dan seol-yeong sighed. Clueless fool.

***

Tang Mujin ran like the wind, not stopping until they returned to the Tang family clinic.

Though Dan seol-yeong had sent several bold signals while on his back, Tang Mujin’s density in this area was beyond imagination.

When she remained standing quietly outside under the night sky instead of entering her annex, Tang Mujin asked:

“What’s wrong? Planning to stay up a bit?”

“…Yes.”

She watched his back as he disappeared inside, unable to hide her disappointment.

She tilted her head up toward the dim crescent moon and wandered aimlessly around the clinic grounds.

Then, in the darkness, she sensed a presence.

Startled, she recoiled—thinking perhaps it was an intruder. But the next moment, a familiar voice spoke.

“You seem troubled.”

From the shadows emerged Hwayeon Shinni, oddly excited.