Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Kwak Yeon, noticing the person beside Danmok Seong flinch under the brim of his straw hat, respectfully performed a martial greeting.

“Kwak Yeon of the Martial Forest, disciple of Wudang, greets Senior Danmok once again.”

Danmok Seong let out a hearty laugh at that.

“Kwak Daoist, to call yourself a mere student of the Martial Forest despite such attainment—you are far too modest.”

Kwak Yeon spoke calmly.

“Last time, this junior behaved rudely due to an unavoidable urgent matter. If you were offended by my actions, I ask for your generous forgiveness.”

Though the saying ‘A virtuous man does not wander without cause’ is well known in the martial world, Kwak Yeon spoke those words in the faint hope that this encounter was, by chance, a coincidence.

Because now, his circumstances were even more dire than back then.

“Keuhahaha!”

Perhaps because Kwak Yeon had shown the utmost courtesy, Danmok Seong burst into loud, hearty laughter.

“I was indeed furious that day. In all my years, never have I been treated that way by a junior.”

“......”

“But thinking back on it, I was far too one-sided. Thanks to your insight that day, I finally saw the beam lodged in my own eye.”

A sense of respect naturally welled up in Kwak Yeon at Danmok Seong’s dignified, magnanimous attitude—worthy of the renowned Danmok Clan.

For him to so candidly admit to such a humiliating incident was no small thing.

“But Kwak Daoist, are you some sort of goblin?”

Unable to ignore the sudden mention of a goblin, Kwak Yeon had to ask.

“Senior, what do you mean by that?”

“The old man chased you all the way into Jiangxi Province. I heard from someone that you’d been inquiring about the fastest route to Mount Wuyi.”

“......!”

“But no matter how far I went, there were no rumors of you to be found. So I returned to Deokseong Prefecture’s ferry crossing to retrace your trail, and lo and behold, you appear today, bold as ever. I rushed here from Hyeonseong’s east gate because word was you’d just set out, only to find you doubling back along the same road. How could you not seem like a ghost or a goblin?”

Seeing that Danmok Seong openly admitted to following him all the way to distant Jiangsu Province, even visiting the Hao Clan’s Deokseong Prefecture branch, Kwak Yeon felt an undercurrent of unease.

‘He may have acknowledged the wrongdoing of his nephew, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgiven the beating that left him in that state.’

What made Kwak Yeon even more certain of that was recognizing the identity of the straw-hatted man beside Danmok Seong.

It would have been stranger not to recognize him—the very same man he’d slapped across the face three separate times. No matter how low he pulled the brim of his hat to hide his features.

‘To think he’d drag along his grandnephew just to chase me down...’

The welling sense of respect Kwak Yeon had felt promptly vanished. He sighed inwardly at the situation.

Hoo...

There were urgent matters to deal with, yet this unexpected entanglement had caught him off guard. What unfortunate fate kept tangling him with Danmok Seong?

‘What excuse can I use this time? Even a full day wouldn’t be enough to resolve this properly.’

Just as Kwak Yeon was contemplating how to extricate himself—

“What’s the young lord doing? Why have you not yet apologized to the Daoist Kwak?”

“......?”

At Danmok Seong’s stern voice, Kwak Yeon was momentarily taken aback.

The man beneath the straw hat was indeed who Kwak Yeon suspected—Danmok Cheong, young lord of the Danmok Clan.

Danmok Cheong hesitantly clasped his hands in martial greeting.

“Kwak Daoist, I, Danmok Mo, have gravely wronged you. At the time, I was blinded by ignorance and behaved recklessly. I humbly beg your forgiveness.”

But in the next instant, Danmok Seong roared in fury.

“Cheong-ah! You fool! Is that how one offers an apology? Clasping your hands with false courtesy, wearing a straw hat no less, and speaking with such insolence!”

Danmok Cheong flinched.

“Remove that hat this instant, fall to your knees, and properly beg forgiveness!”

In the martial world, kneeling to seek forgiveness was a symbol of submission. Kwak Yeon was thoroughly alarmed.

“Senior, that seems far too excessive.”

“No, Kwak Daoist.”

Danmok Seong shook his head firmly and continued.

“If I had my way, I’d have him grovel face to the ground in a full prostration. If you had taken his life that day, I would have had no right to complain.”

Danmok Seong had heard the rumors that Kwak Yeon had cut down the Jeong Family’s First Branch Head, Jeong Waryong, in a single stroke. Thus, he knew Kwak Yeon had already shown extraordinary mercy to his grandnephew.

“Senior, even so, forcing him to kneel is too much. And this is a public road with people coming and going.”

“Then let’s move elsewhere.”

But the location wasn’t the problem. Kwak Yeon quickly interjected.

“Senior, what I mean is—intent matters more than formality. There’s a saying that excessive etiquette becomes disrespectful.”

Danmok Seong regarded Kwak Yeon for a moment before speaking.

“Hmph, since you insist, I’ll forgo the kneeling. But I cannot yield on offering formal apologies.”

“......Understood.”

Danmok Seong remained unwavering, and with pressing matters weighing on him, Kwak Yeon could refuse no further. Moreover, he understood Danmok Seong had pursued him this far for this very reason.

“Young lord, be grateful for the Daoist’s generosity. Remove your hat and offer a proper apology.”

At his granduncle’s command, Danmok Cheong hesitated, then removed his straw hat, revealing his bruised and swollen face.

With a deep bow, Danmok Cheong spoke solemnly.

“I offer my sincerest apologies to Daoist Kwak. If you grant me forgiveness, I will never again act so disgracefully.”

Kwak Yeon returned the bow.

“Young lord Danmok, who am I to demand your apology? I only accept it because Senior insists. In any case, the matter from that day is long forgotten.”

Seeing Danmok Cheong’s bruised face, Kwak Yeon reflected that striking him a third time may have been excessive. Still, he made no mention of it.

Though he had deliberately provoked matters at the tavern that day, it was also true that Danmok Cheong had instigated things.

The Danmok Clan’s Grand Elder, Danmok Seong, spoke.

“Daoist Kwak, I thank you for your generosity toward the young lord. I know you still harbor misgivings, yet for my sake, you’ve shown leniency.”

Kwak Yeon responded courteously.

“Senior, as I said before, I left all grievances behind after that day. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself further.”

Danmok Seong exclaimed.

“To punish what must be punished, then entrust the rest to one’s own conscience—truly the righteous tradition of Wudang! Your sect has indeed produced a pillar of the martial world.”

Kwak Yeon flushed slightly at the compliment.

“You flatter me. Please, such words are unwarranted.”

“It’s no mere flattery. In fact, my words fall short—this is the least I could say.”

With Danmok Seong’s endless praise, Kwak Yeon felt both embarrassed and increasingly anxious to find an opportunity to withdraw.

Oblivious to Kwak Yeon’s inner turmoil, Danmok Seong continued.

“To be honest, you may wonder why I brought the young lord along, but I had to. Teaching someone is hard, but reforming someone is even harder, is it not?”

Kwak Yeon sensed unease creeping in. When someone grew this talkative, they always had an ulterior motive.

“Cheong-ah has deeply reflected. I wouldn’t pursue this if he were an ordinary child. But he is to succeed the Danmok Clan as its young lord.”

“......?”

“This journey was also to find him a worthy teacher.”

Kwak Yeon felt unease steadily rising.

“I see. But I’ve only recently stepped foot into the martial world—I know few who embody true righteousness.”

“There’s no need to look far.”

“What do you mean...?”

Danmok Seong smiled faintly.

“Have you not already taught him once?”

Kwak Yeon suddenly realized the reason for Danmok Seong’s excessive praise.

‘Surely he doesn’t mean... that counts as teaching?’

Incredulous, Kwak Yeon exclaimed.

“Senior, your jest goes too far. I am still young and inexperienced.”

“The sages say, ‘If a three-year-old child has wisdom to impart, learn from them.’ Age has nothing to do with being a teacher.”

“......”

“I’m not asking you to formally become his master. Just scold him harshly whenever he strays, as you did before. Let’s call it being his teacher in life.”

“Senior?”

“I sincerely ask this of you.”

Danmok Seong’s gaze was heavy with sincerity.

“This matter made me realize how poorly I’ve governed my household. When the head is indulgent, no one beneath can restrain them. The misfortune that results knows no bounds.”

Kwak Yeon read the old master’s burden clearly.

He had devoted his life to the family. He understood their survival rested on the head’s righteousness.

Kwak Yeon grasped the depth of Danmok Seong’s intentions.

‘He fears for his clan’s future once he’s gone.’

If there was someone capable of guiding them, they might not veer so easily off course. But still...

“Why must it be me?”

“Are you not the righteous path-bearer of Wudang?”

“......”

“This too is a form of righteous conduct.”

“......”

“I ask you sincerely.”

Seeing the unwavering resolve in Danmok Seong’s eyes, Kwak Yeon understood the elder had come fully prepared.

“Even so, I cannot shoulder the # Nоvеlight # title of teacher. As a fellow traveler of the path, offering occasional advice is all I can do.”

“What worth is there in mere passing advice among martial peers? Such words are little more than empty banter.”

Danmok Seong’s stubbornness left Kwak Yeon reluctant, but he replied.

“Then what of friendship? Friends can offer counsel as well.”

“If you, Daoist Kwak, would accept this foolish young lord as a friend, I’d be grateful indeed. But even that falls short. Besides, I hear your martial rank is present-generation master, while he is a young lord—how could you be equals? A sworn uncle, however...”

“......?”

“Are you hesitant to form ties because my grandnephew is so lacking?”

“Senior, that’s not it.”

“Say the word, and it will be so.”

“......”

“You fear ties bring only burdens, I see. But worry not—only the three of us will know. You’ll bear no obligations. Just reveal the connection if you must chastise him.”

Kwak Yeon recognized that the old senior was making careful arrangements for his family’s future.

‘I cannot refuse such earnestness forever.’

Besides, there was no time to keep arguing like this.

Kwak Yeon glanced at Danmok Cheong’s bruised face, seeing the embarrassment plainly written there.