Episode 2 – Deep Mountain Valley

 

Life in the mountains is quietly busy.

 

To sustain life, one needs food, clothing, and shelter, and in the mountains, these had to be obtained directly.

 

It’s not for nothing that practitioners seclude themselves in deep mountain valleys or caves to cultivate their minds and bodies.

 

For those unfamiliar with it, mountain life is a form of asceticism in itself.

 

Especially if you have dependents like Yujeong, life becomes even more demanding and busy.

 

Waking up early to prepare meals and wash dishes.

 

After that, tending to the garden, preparing what’s needed to pay the protection tax, and preparing meals again in between.

 

It’s hard to even find time to practice martial arts, let alone rest.

 

But Yujeong didn’t find it difficult.

 

From a childhood with hazy memories, the place Yujeong grew up was right here, Muo-gok (Mist-Weeping Valley).

 

The current life was as natural as breathing.

 

Of course, Yujeong also had troublesome things to deal with.

 

“Hello? What’s your name?”

 

Perhaps animals had been here. Even while tidying up the mess in the garden, Yujeong’s eyes constantly turned to her master.

 

Perhaps bored of waiting. Yujeong saw her master looking at a small wildflower, constantly talking to it.

 

A small frame. A girl with an appearance that seemed like it would break if touched.

 

Silver hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight, the ends touching the dirt and getting mixed in because of her squatting posture.

 

A girl who looked to be around 10 years old.

 

She was Yujeong’s master, once praised as the Sword Empress, a legend of the sword.

 

And a patient with amnesia.

 

Her martial prowess was something even the current Yujeong couldn’t dare to match, but she couldn’t use that power properly. Because she had forgotten.

 

The master wasn’t just mentally ill. It was hard to believe she was a master of Banrohwandong (Return to Childhood) as her physical condition wasn’t normal either.

 

She smiled brightly, but at night, she suffered silently.

 

Her clear blue eyes, containing flowers and butterflies, had faded a little compared to before.

 

It was evidence that her eyesight was deteriorating.

 

She was a master, and like a mother.

 

Since she had become younger, she was someone Yujeong had been taking care of, wondering if this was what it was like to raise a daughter she had never had.

 

So she was Yujeong’s only weak spot, someone who was usually indifferent to everything.

 

And because she didn’t know what she would do, she was the only problem in this mountain life that troubled Yujeong.

 

‘Still, she’s well-behaved today.’ Yujeong let out a sigh of relief inwardly and stretched her back, which had been bent over.

 

‘Should I build a fence?’

 

Recently, the number of animals breaking through the formation and entering Muo-gok (Mist-Weeping Valley) had increased.

 

Of course, it happened from time to time. No matter how perfect the maze formation was, it was made to deal with people.

 

The sixth sense of animals was a different kind from the senses of a master who had learned martial arts, so animals like wild boars would break through the formation and enter Muo-gok (Mist-Weeping Valley).

 

‘No. It’s better to catch them.’

 

Even though she had regressed due to dementia, the master was a master.

 

Not just any master, but an absolute master who had opened the Governing and Conception Vessels, achieved the union of heaven and earth, and possessed internal energy that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.

 

Also, the way the master was circling around the flowers was like stepping on the Big Dipper Formation of a shaman.

 

Even if unintentional, the martial arts ingrained in her body naturally blended into her actions, so the possibility of her being harmed by wild animals was low.

 

However, just like how she became a dementia patient due to Banrohwandong (Return to Childhood), you never know what might happen.

 

And as it was something related to the master, Yujeong thought she couldn’t miss even the slightest possibility.

 

Meanwhile, the master, who had been telling stories to the modest wildflowers blooming next to the garden, suddenly moved when Yujeong stood up.

 

Her small hand was holding something tightly, and Yujeong soon recognized what it was.

 

“…Master?”

 

“Jeong-ah worked, so she needs to eat a snack.”

 

A smile with not a trace of malice.

 

But Yujeong couldn’t purely rejoice at her master’s kindness.

 

“Hmm. A snack.”

 

If you saw a finger-sized larva wriggling in your palm.

 

And if someone told you to eat it.

 

Even the Arhats of Shaolin, who had mastered equanimity, wouldn’t be able to remain calm, Yujeong thought.

 

“It’s good for you. Baek-ah told me. So Jeong-ah should eat it.”

 

“Baek-ah, are you talking about that butterfly friend from before?”

 

The pure white butterfly she had befriended while dancing with swords from early in the morning.

 

When she asked, recalling the still vivid and beautiful sight, her small face nodded vigorously.

 

“Yes, yes. Baek-ah. She said she wanted to be friends with Jeong-ah too, and told me to take care of her.”

 

Small beads of sweat formed on Yujeong’s forehead at the excited story.

 

Should she eat it?

 

The way it was wriggling so actively was too hard to bear.

 

“How can I, as a disciple, only take care of myself? I’ll just accept your friend’s heart, so please eat it, Master.”

 

Therefore, Yujeong decided to refuse gently. Half joking, half serious.

 

But Yujeong’s eyes widened at the master’s reaction that followed.

 

“Master?”

 

The master, who had been hesitating, subtly avoided her gaze.

 

And then, as if whispering, she said in a very small voice.

 

“…I don’t want to.”

 

And then she stretched out her arm holding the larva towards Yujeong.

 

A silent protest telling her to eat it quickly.

 

Yujeong, who was watching, was shocked.

 

“Jeong-ah needs to eat it to become healthy.”

 

“Your health is more important, Master.”

 

“No. I’m healthy even if I don’t eat it. Jeong-ah needs to eat it and grow up quickly.”

 

“Master.”

 

Yujeong said firmly.

 

“You don’t want to eat the larva either, do you? Such pranks are not right.”

 

Even though she was already making mud balls and telling her to eat them, or overturning the garden because she didn’t like vegetables.

 

The master had been playing more pranks related to food lately.

 

So, Yujeong was thinking of giving a long lecture through this opportunity.

 

Until she saw the master’s changed expression.

 

“…It’s not a prank.”

 

As if betrayed.

 

Yujeong’s heart sank at the master’s face, distorted and tearful.

 

“Really. She said it’s good for you. I went to get it for Jeong-ah.”

 

Seeing her large eyes welling up with tears, she realized.

 

Oh dear. She was serious.

 

The actions that followed Yujeong’s were swift.

 

She snatched the larva, still wriggling on the master’s palm, and put it in her mouth without even closing her eyes.

 

The dynamic sensation felt on her tongue.

 

The fluid bursting out with a rustling sound every time she chewed.

 

Even the terrible bitter taste that numbed her mouth.

 

‘The taste of the larva that Master gave me. I will not forget it.’

 

All sorts of terrible things were happening in her mouth, but still, it was something the master had prepared.

 

Yujeong ate the larva with the feeling of taking medicine.

 

The master stopped tearing up and watched with her mouth open, as Yujeong silently chewed and swallowed the larva.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“I ate it all.”

 

When she opened her mouth to show her, the master burst into a bright smile as if she had never cried.

 

“Good job, Jeong-ah.”

 

Yujeong also smiled slightly at the master’s touch as she tiptoed and stroked her head, and said.

 

“But Master.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“When did you go to get this?”

 

“At night! I went with Baek-ah.”

 

She had clearly told her not to go around without telling Yujeong.

 

Several times she had warned her.

 

Yujeong smiled brightly at the master’s too bright answer and said.

 

“I’m not buying meat today.”

 

“Euaaang. Jeong-ah is a meanie. It’s too much. You’re bad.”

 

* * *

 

The life of Innkeeper Jang was very leisurely.

 

Jang’s clan village in the foothills of Hoegyesan.

 

It was the only inn in a fairly large village, but all Jang did was wander between the tables, pointing out the state of cleanliness, or urging the cooks when the food was late.

 

So he was spending a rather boring daily life, but today was a little different.

 

Because of a special, or rather, a slightly strange guest.

 

“Hey, innkeeper. Haven’t you seen an old beggar before? You’re going to make a hole in my face.”

 

“Ahem. I’m sorry.”

 

“Keuheuheul. It’s amazing that a beggar pays to eat. Isn’t it?”

 

Had he seen through his mind?

 

Startled, Jang quickly shook his head.

 

It was as he said.

 

Among the beggars Jang had seen so far, he was the most ragged, but the boldness with which he put down silver coins was naturally surprising.

 

Nevertheless, the reason he hurriedly shook his head was simple.

 

Because he could unnecessarily upset the beggar.

 

Although he wasn’t a martial artist, Jang had met many martial artists as the only inn in the village and had heard stories from them.

 

Among them, of course, was the Beggars’ Sect.

 

The number of members was so large that ordinary sects couldn’t even compare, and therefore, they also performed the most acts of chivalry.

 

Their biggest characteristic was that they wore cloth around their waists, which was a kind of identification tag that indicated the status and position of the Beggars’ Sect member.

 

A Beggars’ Sect member who joined the sect would first receive a pure white cloth, and the Beggars’ Sect member would always wear this cloth, except in special cases.

 

When their position rose, they would cut off the hem of the clothes of the Beggars’ Sect member directly above them and sew it onto their cloth to indicate their raised position, and they would be called White-Clothed Beggar, One-Knot, or Two-Knot depending on the number of times.

 

However, the beggar in front of Jang had as many as seven knots.

 

Seven-Knot Disciple! It was a symbol representing the elder of the Beggars’ Sect, also known as the number one sect in the world.

 

Even if the members of the Beggars’ Sect were righteous and didn’t harm the common people, it was natural to be careful with their actions.

 

“Tch tch. The food here is really good.”

 

“T, thank you.”

 

“It’s very soft, so it goes down smoothly.”

 

The beggar’s front teeth were particularly yellow as he picked up and tore at the leg of a subtly grilled chicken, smiling.

 

“By the way. Tch tch. It’s a very quiet neighborhood.”

 

As he said that, the beggar scratched his head, and salt-like dandruff fell on the food and the table, regardless.

 

But the beggar was used to it and nonchalantly picked up the other leg of the chicken with that hand.

 

Jang, who was watching, pressed his lips tightly to hold back the vomit that was rising.

 

“Yes. That’s right. It’s a common village where the Jangs gather. Fortunately, thanks to those who go to Hoegyesan, a guy like me can make a living.”

 

As Jang started to speak, he continued, thinking of something that suddenly came to mind.

 

“Still, like the Taoist elder earlier. There are quite a few outside guests today.”

 

“Tch. By any chance, did that Taoist old man have big ears?”

 

“Oh. He did. I thought the Emperor Zhaolie had come down. Do you happen to know him?”

 

“Keuheuheul. Of course, I know him. This old beggar may be a little drunk, but he’s a hateful old man who abandoned me and ran away.”

 

“Oh dear. Is that so.”

 

“Yes. Did he say where he was going?”

 

“Let’s see…”

 

What did the Taoist old man say? As Jang retraced his memory, the silence seemed to be seen differently by the beggar old man.

 

Tak.

 

The beggar old man, who had rummaged through his money bag, soon put a silver coin on the table, and Jang stopped him in horror.

 

“Oh dear. How could I have expected money from the chivalrous person of the Beggars’ Sect? This old man’s memory is hazy, so I was like that.”

 

“Hmm? Is that so? I was wondering what it was. Keuheuheul. And you, young man. Old man? Are you showing off your wrinkles in front of a silkworm? You still look young to me.”

 

“H, hehehe. Ah, that elder said he had something to look into and headed towards Hoegyesan, but he said he would stop by again.”

 

“Eing. He’s being diligent. Separately… huh?”

 

While picking his teeth with a chicken bone, the beggar old man’s eyes widened like lanterns as he tried to ask something more.

 

Swish.

 

The beggar old man’s head turned towards the entrance of the inn.

 

“Uncle Jang. I’ve come to collect the protection tax.”

 

There, Yujeong was coming in, carrying several wild animals on her back.

 

The face of the Beggars’ Sect elder, the Eccentric Beggar, was filled with shock.

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