Wudang Sacred Scriptures

When the Cave Daoist only left behind a contact point and then disappeared, Gong Chun-sam stood there blankly for a moment.
‘What the hell is with this guy?’

To Gong Chun-sam, Kwak Yeon was a kind of man he had never encountered in his life.
In the martial world, the moment someone found out that the Hao Clan had taken a commission to hunt them down, they would immediately draw their sword.
That was why the phrase "Only a pushover gets hunted by the Hao Clan" had come about in the first place.

Naturally, Gong Chun-sam thought he was as good as dead.
But the man hadn’t even touched his sword. He even kindly gave him permission to sell the information.
What’s more, he did so knowing that the client was none other than the fearsome Jeong Family First Branch.

‘Does he have iron guts or a broken brain?’
Either way, it was a stroke of immense luck for Gong Chun-sam.
If he had found the target of a commission and ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) failed to report it, and it was discovered afterward, he’d be subject to severe punishment.
Even someone with a Gratitude Token from the Hao Clan wasn’t exempt.

The Gratitude Token could be used to request anything—but it didn’t allow a person to revoke an accepted commission.
It might look like there was no loyalty, but that was exactly how the Hao Clan survived. What could anyone say?
At any rate, the only way to avoid disaster now was to fulfill the top-class commission within the promised time. He had to start moving.

Reporting information about the Cave Daoist of Mount Wudang to the Jeong Family would come after that.
“So long as the promise holds, you need only focus on my commission.”
He understood now why the lay Daoist of Wudang had emphasized that he be found within a day.

 
****
 

“Oh dear, Chief Inspector!”
Physician Woo Seong-jin brightened at the sight of Chief Inspector Yi Gwal as he entered the guesthouse room.
“When did you arrive without so much as a message?”

Yi Gwal, Chief Inspector of the Black Serpent Division, furrowed his brow.
“This isn’t the time to be parading around with announcements.”
“Well, that’s true.”

“I told you to stay put in the room. Where’ve you been?”
“I just went out to the local herbal shop. The Wudang Daoists packed up and left in such a hurry… and being cooped up all day was stifling.”
“They say a sparrow can’t just pass by a millhouse.”

Yi Gwal knew all too well that Woo Seong-jin had come all the way to Hunan Province in part to stock up on rare medicinal ingredients.
Physician Woo chuckled sheepishly.
“As a doctor, I can’t resist medicinal herbs, can I? That aside, you were right again, Chief Inspector.”
“……”

“Just like you predicted, those Wudang Daoists packed their bags and vanished in an instant, didn’t they?”
Yi Gwal knew Woo Seong-jin was trying to flatter him to change the subject—but he didn’t mind. There was a tinge of frustration in his heart, knowing his accomplishments couldn’t be made public.
“I told you to trust me, didn’t I?”

“I always trust you, Chief Inspector. Frankly, the Black Serpent Division rose to prominence thanks to your brilliant leadership. I merely helped out a little.”
“Enough of the past. One day your loose tongue is going to get you in real trouble.”
“I’ll be careful. Still, when I heard the head of Seong Iljang was summoning his household, I was really on edge.”

“They couldn’t have pressed you too hard. You were brought in as a physician, after all. And besides, there’s no such thing as a doctor who sells out patients the way you do.”
“Aw now, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think? I’ve always done what I must. This time too—it was only because you asked me, Chief Inspector.”
Yi Gwal turned serious.

“You’re going to get yourself killed talking like that. When did I ever tell you to do such a thing?”
“Ah! Of course. This rascal must’ve been dreaming foul dreams.”
“Yes, it was a dream. And even in dreams, you’d best not say such things.”

After all, their opponent had been none other than the Wudang Sect.
A secret to be taken to the grave… but still…
Yi Gwal looked at Physician Woo for a moment before reaching into his robe.

—Rustle!
He took out two certificates.
“I added fifty nyang. Headquarters didn’t think it was necessary, but I persuaded them that it was better than ending up in some nasty rumor.”
There was half-truth in what Yi Gwal said.

Originally, they had ordered him to eliminate all witnesses, but that would have blown back on him.
The sudden death of a physician brought in from Geyang-hyeon would surely draw Wudang’s attention.
What’s more, Woo Seong-jin was rather well-known and had many uses.

They had built a tight relationship since their days in the Black Serpent Division. He’d been instrumental in eliminating rivals quietly.
The textbook case of what happens when a rotten person has talent.
‘Thanks to that shamelessness, today’s crisis was averted. This world truly is a madhouse.’

In any case, the danger stemming from the Cave Daoist had now completely passed.
All that remained was to return to the now-masterless Geyang-hyeon and rebuild the Black Serpent Division.
The Cult of the Evil Way had already sent powerful fighters, and the Wudang Sect had tucked its tail and retreated. There was no longer anything to worry about.

‘So this is what they mean by misfortune turning into fortune.’
He would leap from Inspector to Division Master.
A reward for his unwavering loyalty to the Cult of the Evil Way.

“Chief Inspector—no, Division Master. With the matter wrapped up, shall we have a drink? Thanks to you, I made a hefty profit. I’ll treat us to a proper feast.”
A clear attempt to stay on the good side of the man about to become Geyang-hyeon’s new underworld boss.
Yi Gwal, feeling as though he had already become Division Master, was in a fine mood.

“Very well. If we don’t drink on a night like this, when will we?”
They had played the mighty Wudang Sect for fools.
It would’ve been perfect if they’d eliminated that damn Cave Daoist too—but the Cult of the Evil Way would handle that from now on.

Starting tonight, he could finally sleep with both legs stretched out.
Not long after, two courtesans entered with trays of liquor.
“Hohoho! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“We’re here now, gaga!” (big brother)
After a few rounds, the drinking party grew rowdy.
“But just who are these fiery noble guests of ours? I haven’t seen either of you around Sain-hyeon before.”

Physician Woo, flushed from drink, pulled one courtesan into his arms and laughed.
“Noble guests! That’s right—true nobles! One of them’s going to be leading a great sect someday!”
“Hey now, you’re drunk.”

“Oh heavens, I misspoke. Just remember—he’s a noble guest, that’s all.”
The courtesan in Woo’s arms cooed coyly.
“Hohoho! If he’s the noble guest, then who is our gaga?”

“Take a guess.”
“Pii~! Why not just tell me instead of teasing me like that?”
“Guess right and I’ll give you a silver nyang.”

“Really?”
“I’ll guess too!”
The two courtesans lit up with excitement, and Woo Seong-jin was in high spirits.

“Whoever gets it first wins!”
“Judging by your fine clothes, you’re clearly not a merchant… are you a scholar?”
“Close.”

“What kind of job is like a scholar?”
The courtesan slyly brushed his sleeve.
“Oh! That’s a needle case! Then you’re a physician, aren’t you?”

Physician Woo burst into boisterous laughter.
“Wahaha! You got it!”
The courtesan sitting beside Yi Gwal pouted.

“That’s not fair. Hyanga figured it out by touching his stuff.”
“She’s got a point.”
“Then let’s make a new bet. This time, guess where he’s from.”

Physician Woo, riding high on the mood, nodded eagerly.
“Why not?”
“From the strong accent, I’d say… you’re from Hubei Province.”

“Half right.”
“You came alone, traveling light—so it must be somewhere nearby, right? Shangbu County, or… Geyang-hyeon? Am I right?”
“Wow, you’ve got sharp eyes. You guessed it.”

“That wasn’t exactly right.”
This time, the courtesan named Hyanga raised an objection.
“Then I’m betting on Geyang-hyeon.”

The other courtesan across from her pouted again.
“Hyanga, come on! You can’t just—”
“Unni, the question was to guess it exactly. Don’t want to play? That’s fine. I already gave in once.”

“Fine. Then I’ll go with Shangbu County. Physician, which one is it?”
Woo handed a silver nyang to Hyanga.
“Hyanga, you guessed it right.”

The courtesan sitting next to Yi Gwal scowled.
“Pii~, you two are in on it! Whatever. I’m going to get more wine. That okay?”
Chief Inspector Yi Gwal nodded without hesitation.

“Sure, go ahead.”
After all, it was Physician Woo’s tab—he had no reason to object.
When the courtesan who’d gone to fetch wine didn’t return for quite some time, the one named Hyanga stood up.

“She’s probably too drunk to find the room. I’ll go fetch her real quick.”
Hyanga left the room—and a few moments later, the door opened.
“What took you so long? Did you go all the way to the Daoist kitchen to get that wine?”

Physician Woo turned around irritably—and his eyes widened.
The person who stepped inside wasn’t a courtesan. It was a tall, handsome young man.
“What’s this? You’ve got the wrong room.”

The tall youth—Kwak Yeon—closed the door behind him and said,
“I’ve come to the right place, Physician Woo.”
In that instant, Chief Inspector Yi Gwal realized something had gone terribly wrong.

Whsh!
Yi Gwal swiftly pulled out a hidden steel tube from his sleeve and aimed it at the young man.
Physician Woo was in the line of fire as well, but he had no time to worry about that.

Without hesitation, Yi Gwal pressed the release mechanism on the steel tube.
Chachachak!
With a clattering sound, cow-hair needles coated in deadly poison shot forth from the tip.

“Geh-heuk!”
As Physician Woo collapsed from the embedded needles, Yi Gwal felt a wave of relief.
It was a hidden poison dart tube—Flying Misfortune Steel Tube—he carried in case of emergencies.

It launched faster than an arrow. At such close range, not even a master could dodge it.
But—
Whoosh!

The youth casually flicked his sleeve, and the poisoned needles dropped to the floor with a pattering sound. As if there were an invisible wall in the air.
With his foot planted on Physician Woo’s frothing neck, Kwak Yeon spoke.
“You’ve revealed yourself—this will make things simpler.”

Crunch!
The sound of bones shattering echoed through the room.
Yi Gwal, utterly stupefied, asked,

“W-who… who are you…?”
But he already knew the answer.
He’d heard the description of this man from subordinates and bodyguards more than ten times. The only difference now was that he wasn’t in Daoist robes.

Yi Gwal clung to the faintest hope that the lack of a uniform meant something. There were plenty of people who resembled others in this world.
Please…
Let him be a mere thief here for money.

But—
“I am Kwak Yeon, lay Daoist of Samnyeonggung under Mount Wudang.”
Yi Gwal wet himself without realizing it.

This was the man who had crippled a deputy master with bizarre techniques, killed Dok Ya-shinsal in a single day, and cleaved the treasured Manhan Steel Rock of the division master with a single stroke of his sword.
More than anything, the cold glint in his eyes made clear—he knew everything, and had come here knowing.
‘How… how did he find this place so fast…?’

Yi Gwal thought back to the courtesans’ playful guessing game.
‘Those women… they were searching for someone! For Physician Woo, who came from Geyang-hyeon!’
With that realization, an even greater question struck him.

The Cave Daoist and a pair of courtesans—an utterly improbable combination.
And the fact that the courtesan who had left to get more wine hadn’t returned for so long—it meant she had gone somewhere to send word and was waiting.
That meant… it wasn’t just the two courtesans searching.

If the courtesans of Sain-hyeon’s brothel were carrying out such errands…
‘Hao Clan!’