Chapter 88 Hangryong.
The place where every story of the Jianghu gathers and then flows back out.
The headquarters of Hangryong was built atop the mountain peak. It exuded restrained solemnity, yet was dazzling enough to make one's eyes spin.
A corpulent stone statue of Bodhidharma, adorned with extravagant golden trim, looked down upon visitors. On either side of the statue stood two ascending and descending stone stairways and two gates.
Each time the wind blew, crimson cloth swayed with a sinister air, and golden bells strung throughout chimed ceaselessly with clear tones.
For a place merely renovated from an old temple, its excessive luxury was blatant from the very entrance.
Perhaps because of that, in some respects it resembled the grotesque altar of a sorcerer who might flay a person's spine and offer it to spirits.
"So this is Hangryong… the great river of the Jianghu where all secrets gather and spread."
Namgung Jeok-myeong voiced his belated admiration.
Watching Namgung Pae cross the garden of golden bells, Yeo Il suddenly found herself wondering—
If the Gate Master of Hangryong has joined hands with Namgung Pae?
If that is the reason Namgung Pae came here…
The thought dissipated quickly on the mountain wind.
No matter how I look at it, Namgung Pae is not the Gate Master's taste.
It was difficult to imagine the Gate Master joining hands with someone not to their liking. And even if they had, it was unlikely they would go to the trouble of dragging out every potential risk.
"You appear deep in thought."
This was directed at Namgung Jeok-myeong.
"Ah. I had only heard of Hangryong by word of mouth. I did not expect such an atmosphere."
"What sort of place did you imagine it to be?"
"Hm. Perhaps something slightly larger and more imposing than Chwihyang Garden… an inn?"
Namgung Pae let out a soft laugh. It carried an oddly light note.
"Your imagination has been pitiful since childhood, Jeok-myeong."
"I have no rebuttal to that."
Putting on a cloak to ward off the mountain wind, Namgung Pae stepped forward and halted before the Bodhidharma statue.
Namgung Jeok-myeong watched his back with a meaningful gaze, then said quietly,
"Then we shall wait here for your return, Uncle."
Standing still, Namgung Pae spoke without turning his head.
"Do you intend the same?"
This time, the question was for Yeo Il.
Instead of answering, she grasped Namgung Jeok-myeong's hand and stepped forward along the path Namgung Pae had taken.
But Namgung Jeok-myeong did not allow himself to be pulled. Instead, he tightened his grip on her hand and stopped her, warning coolly,
"We do not know what lies within."
And Yeo Il replied,
"Surely the Gate Master of Hangryong and the Gate Master's women."
"Women? …You know that is not what I meant, Soyo."
Of course she knew.
Just as she had, Namgung Jeok-myeong feared the possibility that the Gate Master of Hangryong had allied with Yeonghwang Yuse.
For one without ties to the Gate Master, it was a reasonable suspicion. After all, the Gate Master had once borrowed the hand of Salmak.
"If one does not enter the tiger's den, how can one catch a tiger cub? If this is the tiger's den, then it is an excellent opportunity. I came here precisely so I would not miss such a chance."
"..."
"You have not forgotten our promise, have you, Brother Jeok-myeong?"
Given his cautious nature, he might never fully understand her choice.
Yet for some reason, today he was different. After letting out a long sigh, he held her hand and stepped forward to stand beside Namgung Pae.
Namgung Pae gave a dry smile.
"I am curious what this promise might be."
Namgung Jeok-myeong smiled lightly.
"If you are curious, ask the Gate Master of Hangryong, Uncle. Is it not said that there is nothing in this world that that person does not know?"
"Is that so? I wonder if there truly exists nothing they do not know."
After a brief silence,
Namgung Pae called out loudly toward the Bodhidharma statue.
"I have come to seek counsel from Hangryong!"
How much time passed?
As though ghosts had played a trick, the golden bells ceased all at once.
Then a strange wind descended from atop the statue, and two strips of crimson cloth fell as if dancing.
Each bore a single short character.
Gazing at the left stone stairway beside the statue, Namgung Jeok-myeong said,
"The Gate Master's answer has come. Will you ascend the left stair with me, or the right with Uncle Pae?"
Yeo Il answered without hesitation.
"I will ascend the left stair with you, Brother."
Namgung Jeok-myeong seemed slightly relieved.
Soft-hearted. For someone who bargained even with a false Namgung Soyo to uncover Namgung Pae's identity.
The two climbed the left stair together.
Strangely, the higher they climbed, the stronger the wind from the heavens seemed to grow. By the time they pushed open the gate at the top, the gale was strong enough to knock even a sturdy man backward.
Namgung Jeok-myeong pulled Yeo Il into his arms and advanced against the wind. Behind them, the gate slammed shut.
Bang.
The sight before them was entirely unlike the scene below the stairs.
"At this rate, I will die here. I came thoroughly prepared, yet it takes longer than I was told!"
"As long as you have money, you need not worry about starving. A bundle merchant climbs up from the village below once a day. Eat then. The prices are outrageous, but it is something that a merchant climbs the mountain at all."
"How many days have you waited?"
"Let me see… about six days. I am starting to grow restless."
Unlike the deserted entrance below, a considerable number of people lingered atop the stair.
Before the grand hall seen from the mountainside stretched a long bridge, upon which a line of people waited.
Among them were noblewomen, martial artists, and even beggars. Most clutched large sacks to their chests—clearly filled with silver.
After surveying the surroundings calmly, Namgung Jeok-myeong approached the woman at the very end of the line and asked politely,
"Miss, how long have you been waiting here?"
The woman turned to him with a weary expression.
"Perhaps a little less than three shichen."
"Do you know how long one must wait before it is their turn?"
"Hm. Do you see that monk near the front? I asked him—he has been waiting five days."
Estimating the length of the line and the monk's position, Namgung Jeok-myeong looked dismayed and pulled Soyo's hand.
"Must we truly remain here for at least ten days? Soyo, can you endure it?"
"There is no need to endure. I mentioned briefly on the way here—I was invited by Hangryong through an old acquaintance. You need only follow."
"For someone invited, no one has come to receive you."
At that moment, the hall doors swung open and a man emerged, supporting his elderly mother.
"Ai, ai… They say she may die at once without medicine… and yet how difficult is it to name a capable physician! We scraped together every coin we had to come! Ai, my poor child…"
As the old woman wailed with each faltering step, whispers grew louder among the waiting crowd.
The woman before them leaned toward Namgung Jeok-myeong and whispered,
"Perhaps their offering was insufficient."
"Offering?"
"If you cannot meet the price Hangryong demands, even after waiting days, you are immediately expelled. As the rumors say, the Gate Master of Hangryong is truly merciless."
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