163

Chapter 163 - Inevitability - 7

"We've greatly exceeded the range of control."

The Ji-Gak Master described Hwarin's situation with a somber face. Hwarin had failed to neutralize all of the poison from the Thousand-Year Wraith's desperate and secret maneuver by herself.

Like a herd of nomadic livestock that follows direction when led, the poison of the Thousand-Year Wraith could be controlled by the Qi of firm resolve during battle. However, once the battle ended, the poison was preparing to strike its own master.

"What should we do?"

It was said one could live by going to the Sacheondang family. I asked the Ji-Gak Master for details on the method.

"We need the Poison Pillar of the Human-Faced Spider, which can control the extreme yang poison of the Thousand-Year Wraith."

The Poison Pillar of the Human-Faced Spider? It refers to a spider as large as a big predator, except it bears a human face.

A human face – what would it do with such a thing? Certainly not a courteous insect asking how one is doing; instead, an S-tier monster in the world of martial arts, known for its venomous nature.

"Is the Poison Pillar of the Human-Faced Spider in the Sacheondang family's possession?"

"Yes."

The Ji-Gak Master nodded. Fortunately, I didn't have to wonder whether a great sword or a gunlance would be more suitable for hunting a giant spider.

"Then should we head to the family immediately?"

"There's a problem. The Poison Pillar of the Human-Faced Spider is a treasured relic of Sacheondang. You will need to convince the head of the family and the council of elders to lend us the Poison Pillar. Even if we manage to obtain it, I can't guarantee that a human body could withstand the poison of a spider that has lived a thousand years, as well as that of the Human-Faced Spider."

"Whether it's about persuading, withstanding, or being certain, staying here won't achieve anything."

We will have to figure out what to do once we get to Sacheondang, won't we?

"There is an even more serious problem."

"What is it?" 

"If we leave this village, we might be ambushed or pursued by the Devil Sect."

"So the threat we faced earlier wasn't the end?"

"The main attackers were probably the ones we confronted at dawn. However, the Devil Sect may be waiting for us to flee."

"Are you saying that we must brave the road infested with the Devil Sect, convince Sacheondang to give us their treasured relic, which might save Hwarin's life, and then she must endure the poison having already ingested the Poison Pillar? That's quite the simple plan."

Was I showing irritation due to Hwarin's condition? My words were laced with annoyance.

"…There is one more option."

The Ji-Gak Master seemed to think there was no answer before telling me there was another choice.

"I'd prefer an easier method."

"We return the way we came and descend the mountain. Going back should be easier than going forward, so we can regroup, recover the injured, contact Sacheondang for reinforcements, and then head to the family house."

It really was an easier method. I would have pressed that option button instantly, if it weren't for one thing.

"Hwarin will die that way."

"Fortunately, before she collapsed, she managed to bind the poison with the attraction of the Poison Pillar. She should hold on for a while, but I can't promise for how long."

"Why mention a method that won't work?"

There's only one way to save Hwarin, why talk about other options?

As I responded irritably, the Ji-Gak Master looked at me with a slightly exasperated gaze and opened his mouth.

"Because we might be carrying the hope of Sacheondang. We need to avoid risks."

Hope, what hope? As I looked around, confounded, I could feel everyone's eyes piercing into me.

Am I the hope? I've come a long way from being Kang Yoonho, the black-haired foreigner brat. Have they become convinced that I am the illegitimate child of the family head?

When I turned to look at the Ji-Gak Master, he silently stared back, as if to test me.

Are you telling me to choose?

"Hwarin is a child of the family. She's a victim of the family. And she's the hidden sorrow of the family. If we turn away just because a child who has finally spread her wings has fallen to the ground, then where exactly does Sacheondang's duty lie?"

I looked around and spoke earnestly, appealing to them.

People of the Ji-Gak won't suddenly refuse to protect Hwarin. They've already risked their lives for her, and in turn, she has saved theirs.

Important is my choice.

"It's possible to turn away for the greater good at times," the Ji-Gak Master said, testing me with his voice.

"Even if someone turns away, do not ask me to turn away from Hwarin."

"Trying to protect this child could cost you your head."

"Didn't you just suggest that I could become the hope of the family? Hwarin is a friend who risked her life for me. If I can't risk my neck for such a friend, then don't even bother calling me hope in the future."

My life is precious. But if I lose Hwarin here, I will have lost everything except my life.

A colleague who would entrust their life to me, a friend who would support me to the end, Dasergak, Hofil, Tanggapungun, and even the eye candy I sometimes glimpse through the front slits. I've made it this far, starting as a ragged black-haired barbarian.

To lose her would mean starting all over again from the very first village. Rather than that, I choose to take the risk.

"Fine. If that is your will, then let us go."

The Ji-Gak Master smiled in satisfaction at my response.

As if he's going to go anyway, why bother asking my intent?

-----------------------------

"We will divide the party into three. Those who are capable of fighting will progress while guarding Miss Tang Hwarin. Deputy Chief Tangpae and those with serious injuries will go back, receive treatment, and return later."

The Ji-Gak Master hastily began to reorganize the remaining members.

"If there are three groups, what's the third one?"

"I shall form a separate group consisting of the capable but severely wounded, including myself."

"What does that mean?"

"My injuries are substantial as well. I'll only be a hindrance in a large-scale battle. So, should enemies appear, we will split into two to distract them."

He meant to serve as bait. Such a strategy could indeed disrupt the enemy if we were pursued. However, those serving as the bait were likely to die.

"You might end up dead. Just come with us…"

"Do I look like someone who needs the concern of a barbarian like you?"

The Ji-Gak Master mocked me with a laugh.

"Ha."

Hope, you say. Back to being called a barbarian? I worried for nothing.

"I am confident I can escape the grip of death; do not worry about me."

The Ji-Gak Master reassured me with these words, then silently observed me. Although his face bore a mocking attitude, the look in his eyes had certainly softened since we first met.

"Take care of yourself."

Despite any bad blood between us, he was someone who was willing to risk his life for me, and the only thing I could offer was my support.

"Let's move out."

-----------------------

"That bastard Tang Geo Ho! If we fail, find the poison master!"

The crisis occurred in an instant.

As we passed through the mountain village and re-entered the mountain path, the black-robed figures we had been expecting launched their attack.

At first glance, they were weaker than those who had assailed us throughout the night, but their perseverance demanded recognition. The Ji-Gak warriors busily countered with hidden weapons and poison, yet the pursuit continued.

"I'll go to the southwest. The rest of you, head to the northwest!"

"No! Splitting up?"

Unable to shake off the pursuit, we eventually had to divide the party as planned, one group acting as a decoy.

"Cough!"

"Argh!"

The intensity of the chase lessened, but we couldn't completely rid ourselves of it.

Exhausted from battle, more of the warriors fell, and the cart toppled.

"This is madness."

I was launched from the cart with a twirl that would make a triple axel envious, spinning 720 degrees.

"Kill them all…!"

"Stand until the end…!!"

"The cart…!"

What are they saying? The ringing in my ears muffled their words. I felt dazed, as if I had just come out of major surgery, the anesthesia not fully worn off.

What happened? The cart toppled over, and I was thrown. My body isn't responding properly. Could something be wrong? Luckily, I can still feel my fingertips.

A 720-degree dive to the ground after struggling to swim through the air – the impact must have been considerable.

I've never experienced a traffic accident in my life, yet here I am now. My ears not functioning correctly, my body not moving right, I can only move my eyes to scan the surroundings.

I could sense sounds but not see them. Was I flung far away? A sharp pain flared up in my back along with a damp sensation. Perhaps the wound that had been stitched up had burst.

If I close my eyes now, I felt as if I would lose consciousness, so I focused on the sky instead.

'When was the last time I lay on the ground, looking up at the sky?'

Desperately trying not to lose consciousness, I dredged up a thought—something memorable. Recalling by the sense of déjà vu felt in my body.

Sadly, it wasn't a pleasant memory.

Why did I have to recall the beating in Chilgok County? Being robbed by third-rate criminals, beaten black and blue, collapsing on a rainy day on the street feeling like I had hit rock bottom.

There's supposed to be honor among martial artists, isn't there? Why won't anyone help me? I had lamented once.

"Find Writer Hofil!"

"Where's Young Master Kang gone?"

Now, seeing things differently, I realize that there are people who live by their own code of chivalry. Of course, such chivalry wasn't exactly what I had read about in martial arts novels over the years.

"Cough!"

"Despicable Devil Sect!"

"In the luggage cart! The poison master has collapsed inside!"

Realizing that there's honor in this world doesn't mean it's the same world depicted in the martial arts novels I used to read. 

It's not a world where a knight in shining armor solves everything but a world where everyone is too busy looking out for themselves.

"I must help as well."

I have to get up. I told myself, trying to hypnotize myself into summoning strength in my arms and legs.

I must protect Hwarin. If I don't stand now, I'll lose her—it'll be just like that time in Chilgok County. Why does everything have to be taken away from me? Crying miserably and screaming at the sky is something you should only have to do once.

Slowly, I got up to survey the situation. Fortunately, it was a stalemate. It would be nice if someone could resolve this situation, but reality is not a martial arts novel.

This isn't a world of martial arts novels; it's a predestined martial arts world.

The only person who can help me, in the end, is myself.

I have to get to the fallen horses and try to pick them up...

"Ah!"

My body staggered momentarily.

Damn. I'm collapsing to the ground. My body is too heavy to hold me up, but my eyes, absurdly keen, see the ground approaching as if in slow motion.

I braced for impact, but instead of hitting the hard ground, I felt something slightly soft yet firm—a human body.

"Though I understand your spirit, stay down."

"Who?"

The unexpected figure who caught me now approached the enemy with a slight smile directed at me.

**********

There was once a man.

Could it be that this world is devoid of chivalry?

What was the martial arts world I had dreamt of?

In a world where no one would reach out to a black-haired barbarian, in a shanty town reeking of stench, on a rainy day. There was a man who, lying broken on the ground, cried out to the heavens.

The man sought hope. The man wanted to write something to find hope in this world. He longed for someone to read his cries, his hope.

一 Let's write a martial arts novel.

And so, the man scattered a single seed in the barren land.

Contrary to the man's hopes, the seed did not know how to sprout, and the man, not one to just cry out to the heavens, dusted himself off and resumed his journey.

But the seed had undoubtedly been sown.

As with everything, cause and effect are linked; every planted seed has the potential for diverse outcomes.

"Who goes there!"

Some seeds rot unnoticed, others pecked away by birds, yet some plunge roots into the ground and sprout.

"Great Wudang Sect."

Chance (偶然). The man's hopes had taken root in the headquarters of the Daoist sect purely by chance.

"Third-generation disciple."

Destiny (因緣). A third-generation disciple finds his fate with the Wudang Sect in a damaged book. Thus, the seed finally sprouts.

"Successor of the Eight Trigrams Sword Technique."

Fateful encounter (奇緣). The third-generation disciple discovers among the seed the blossom of a rare and wondrous destiny.

The blossom born from the seed cre

ates new seeds, and those new seeds, in turn, forge new connections.

Therefore, this encounter today is.

Neither chance (偶然).

Nor destiny (因緣).

Nor a fateful encounter (奇緣).

"It should be called a clear and destined path,"

Inevitable (必然), that is what it shall be called.