Wudang Sacred Scriptures

A strange silence hung in the air, taut with tension, until Danmok Seong suddenly stepped forward.
“Family Head Sang Gwan, well, obviously it must’ve come from the King of Flames Sect leader. Where else would he have gotten it?”
“The Grand Elder...?”
When Sang Gwan Eung shot him a displeased glance, Danmok Seong replied in a half-teasing tone.
“If that’s not the case, then are you saying someone else violated national law?”
“...!”
“Branch Administrator.”
Danmok Seong turned to the Branch Administrator and asked.
“If an official colluded with evildoers like the King of Flames Sect to intimidate commoners, what punishment would be issued?”
“All assets are confiscated, and the guilty receives two hundred lashes.”
“Pah, two hundred lashes? There wouldn’t be a single patch of flesh left. A truly dreadful punishment.”
“...That is correct.”
Danmok Seong looked at Sang Gwan Eung.
“Family Head Sang Gwan, as far as Cheongwu Merchant House is concerned, you ought to be grateful to Daoist Kwak. If he hadn’t brought it to light, your son-in-law would’ve come with false documents tomorrow and brought great disgrace upon your house, wouldn’t he?”
The implication was clear: press further, and the filth of Cheongwu Merchant House would be dragged into the open.
Sang Gwan Eung had no choice but to nod willingly.
“Now that I think on it, Grand Elder Danmok speaks the truth.”
“Then it seems all has been resolved nicely.”
Danmok Seong beamed with a bright expression.
“Ah! Now I understand what Daoist Kwak meant when he said it was unfortunate earlier. Had the Cheongwu Merchant House brought those documents, we could’ve compared them on the spot and determined their authenticity without all this lengthy discussion.”
Sang Gwan Eung nodded with the expression of a man chewing bitter herbs.
“That... is true.”
Danmok Seong turned to Kwak Yeon with a smile and spoke.
“Daoist Kwak, it seems you’ve gone to great lengths for the common people. Thanks to your efforts, even the Grand Scholar has been relieved of his worries. As expected of a disciple of Wudang.”
“I have only done what was my duty.”
Bowing lightly to Danmok Seong, Kwak Yeon placed the land deeds before Grand Scholar Seol Jung-hyu.
“I was pondering what to offer as a seventieth birthday gift for the Grand Scholar, and thought it best to relieve him of a burden. As I was seated among the lower ranks, I regret I couldn’t present it earlier and ask your understanding.”
For the first time today, a smile appeared on the soot-darkened face of Grand Scholar Seol Jung-hyu.
“I had no idea Daoist Kwak was making such an effort. Truly, a great gift. I shall immediately spread this joyful news to the villagers and return the deeds.”
Grand Scholar Seol Jung-hyu summoned the village elders and handed them the land documents.
“Everyone must have been anxious. Summon them quickly and distribute the deeds. And let them know of Daoist Kwak of Mount Wudang’s efforts.”
“We shall do so immediately.”
Once the elders left the banquet hall with joyful faces, a great cheer erupted outside in Deokseon County.
—Waaahhh!
Hearing the villagers' cheer, the guests inside the hall also shared in the joy—everyone except the members of the Sang Gwan Family, who all wore the faces of the dead.
Family Head Sang Gwan Eung spoke to Grand Scholar Seol Jung-hyu.
“Grand Scholar, I would love to remain longer and celebrate your seventieth, but I’m feeling suddenly unwell and must take my leave.”
“If you are unwell, it would be improper of the host to insist you remain. Please, Family Head, do as you must.”
Rising abruptly, Sang Gwan Eung turned to Danmok Seong.
“Grand Elder, I’ll take my leave first.”
“As you wish.”
As Sang Gwan Eung was departing the banquet hall, he paused in front of Kwak Yeon’s seat at the lowest end of the room.
“Daoist Kwak, as thanks for today’s events, I’d very much like to offer you a meal at our house.”
“Since the Family Head has extended an invitation, I shall make time to visit soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Following behind Sang Gwan Eung, Sang Gwan Jin-ho left with a twisted expression on his face.
The cheers of the villagers only grew louder.
—Waaaaaaah!
****
—Clang! Clang! Clang!
A clamor of metallic noise echoed endlessly through Cheongwu Merchant House.
All the household members froze in terror, their work halted by the chilling sound.
The source of the noise was the study of the Merchant Lord.
—Clang! Crash!
At last, the iron door of the safe could no longer hold and was torn apart.
Only then did Sang Gwan Eung, his face red like a brazier, stop swinging his blade.
The Heaven’s Frost Blade (Sangcheondo), the sacred treasure of the Sang Gwan Family’s patriarch, proved worthy of its name, shredding the cold steel like paper without a scratch.
“Check it.”
Merchant Lord Sang Gwan Jin-ho opened the safe door with a face pale as death.
“There’s nothing inside.”
Though he had expected it, the sight of the empty safe still filled Sang Gwan Eung with uncontainable rage.
Clack!
The blade of the treasured sword pressed against Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s neck.
“Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
“Father...”
“Address me properly. Family Head!”
“...Family Head, I have erred.”
Military Officer So Seok-ha hurriedly intervened at the grim sight.
“Family Head, please compose yourself and lower your sword. First, let’s hear the full account.”
Only then did Sang Gwan Eung lower the sword.
“What happened?”
“I don’t understand myself. I definitely placed the documents inside and locked it...”
“Did the documents grow legs and walk away?”
“...”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho couldn’t say a word. Not only did he have no explanation, but he also couldn’t even guess what trick the Cave Daoist had pulled.
At that moment, Military Officer So Seok-ha voiced his thoughts.
“Family Head, it’s clear the Cave Daoist used some trick to steal them.”
“Well of course. How else would the documents have ended up in his possession? What I’m asking is what exactly happened!”
Irritated, Sang Gwan Eung turned back to Jin-ho. So Seok-ha quickly asked:
“Merchant Lord, when did you leave the study unattended?”
“Only twice yesterday. Once when Grand Elder Danmok visited, and once when I went out to greet the Family Head.”
“Was there anything odd during those times?”
“Nothing, except...”
“Except? Merchant Lord, speak.”
“Well... when I returned from seeing off the Grand Elder, I felt a slight heat. At the time, I thought it was just me feeling warm, but now it troubles me.”
Sang Gwan Eung shouted.
“What nonsense is that? Are you saying the Cave Daoist lit a brazier and melted the safe open?”
“...”
As Sang Gwan Jin-ho flinched and bowed his head, So Seok-ha cautiously said:
“Family Head, perhaps it was a trace of Yang Heat Internal Force.”
“Officer, the idea that the Cave Daoist used Yang Heat Force is absurd. Wudang’s Red Yang Divine Art (Jeokyang Singong) belongs to Jasogung, and even there, only direct disciples of the Sect Leader can learn it. Besides, I’ve never heard of such extreme Yang Heat strong enough to melt cold steel.”
Sang Gwan Eung scoffed.
“It’s clear he learned theft techniques. Either that, or you were so careless the keys weren’t properly managed.”
“...”
Jin-ho bowed even deeper.
Even So Seok-ha had no response—Sang Gwan Eung had left no room for rebuttal.
Except, of course, for the one truth no one could deny: that Yang Heat Force strong enough to melt steel did exist in the martial world.
Just then, a sudden gust sounded outside the study—
Whirrr!
And a voice followed.
“Family Head, it’s the Captain of the Heaven’s Frost Unit.”
“Enter.”
The captain of the personal guard entered and saluted.
Sang Gwan Eung’s brow furrowed.
“Why are you empty-handed?”
“The leader of the King of Flames Sect, Gong Yeom-gak, was already dead. Not only him, but all the King of Flames Sect members and the entire Gold Fortress household were wiped out.”
Sang Gwan Eung, So Seok-ha, and even Jin-ho all jerked their heads up, eyes wide.
Sang Gwan Eung asked in disbelief.
“Not a single survivor?”
“The unit searched thoroughly. None remained.”
“Don’t tell me... was it the Cave Daoist?”
“We cannot say for certain without witnesses, but all signs suggest it.”
“Hah. And a disciple of Wudang no less, committing such monstrous acts...”
There had been rumors that the Cave Daoist committed brutal killings around Aknyang. But until now, the victims had been known wrongdoers or enemies of the Wudang Sect.
Rumors even claimed he killed Jegal Waryong, though the Jegal Family had stayed silent, so there had been room for doubt.
But this event was on another level.
While punishing Gong Yeom-gak and the King of Flames Sect might be justifiable, slaughtering all the people of the Gold Fortress was excessive.
“A killer star has emerged from Wudang?”
So Seok-ha cautiously interjected.
“Family Head, it may be premature to make such a conclusion.”
“And why is that?”
“The Cave Daoist is a Wudang disciple. Moreover, he’s from Samnyeonggung, the Daoist line that follows the Way.”
“Officer, just because one follows the Way doesn’t mean one is immune to inner demons. The greatest danger to the sword-wielder is bloodlust.”
As one’s martial power grows and killing becomes easier, numbness sets in. And when bloodlust cannot be controlled, one becomes a slaughterer. At that stage, the justification of punishing the wicked becomes mere pretense.
“That may be so, but in this case, there may be another possibility. I’d like to ask the Captain a few questions.”
“Proceed.”
With the Family Head’s permission, So Seok-ha turned to the captain.
“Captain, were the silver taels recovered?”
Retrieving the silver was as important as capturing Gong Yeom-gak. If not, not only Cheongwu Merchant House, but the Sang Gwan main family would suffer massive losses.
“Not a single coin remained.”
Sang Gwan Eung’s face twisted.
“Then the loss is confirmed.”
So Seok-ha said,
“Family Head, if the silver vanished, it might’ve been the doing of a few King of Flames members. If so, there’s still a chance to track them down and recover it.”
Sang Gwan Eung scowled at Sang Gwan Jin-ho and asked,
“How much was actually spent on this operation?”
“Just over one hundred thousand taels.”
A small portion of the inflated 500,000 tael scheme, but still an enormous sum.
—BANG!
Slamming the table, Sang Gwan Eung shot to his feet.
“This was your doing, so you’ll bear the cost. The main family will not provide a single coin.”
“...Understood.”
“Captain, gather the swiftest men and organize a pursuit party immediately. The officer’s guess may be right.”
“I accept the command.”
As the captain rushed out, Sang Gwan Eung turned to So Seok-ha.
“In any case, it’s reasonable to say the Cave Daoist triggered the massacre at Gold Fortress. As a member of the Martial Alliance, this house cannot overlook such brutality.”
“Then...?”
“Inform the Martial Alliance. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) They will naturally relay the matter to Wudang, so we needn’t do so separately.”
“Understood.”
For now, Sang Gwan Eung would let off steam by reporting the Cave Daoist to the Alliance.
But that didn’t mean he had given up on delivering his own lesson later.
Since the Cave Daoist had accepted his invitation, he planned to give him a true lesson—as a senior of the martial world.
And not with words.
But with the Heaven’s Frost Blade in hand.
For no lesson is more lasting than one carved into bone and flesh.