Tangmunjeon - Chapter 288



Only Noblemtl

Episode 288: Sparks

The party would often stop by a village to eat and spend the night. It might be easy for a couple of people, but it was not easy for more than fifty people to move around and get food.

The monks of Shaolin Temple and Gaebodo. No one intended to harm the villagers, but the villagers were afraid of the swarming martial artists.

For those villagers, Dangmujin would leave small gifts in the village.

A gift that will help them for a long time, not a material reward that disappears when used.

That is, medicine.

As Dang Mu-jin was about to leave the guest house, Hong Geol-gae asked.

“Are you going again?”

“okay.”

“Let’s go together.”

When Dang Mu-jin sets out on a journey, Hong Geol-gae naturally follows him.

If it were normal times, Namgung Myung and Hyeon Gong would have followed, but recently, the two of them were busy with their own work.

Hyun-gong was busy teaching Seol-hwa the language of the Central Plains, and Nam-gung-myeong was reducing his sleep time to defend against surprise attacks from his opponents.

Bloody Face Light sometimes attempted to attack under the cover of darkness, but Namgung Myung was no match for Bloody Face Light’s skills and cunning in moving in the dark.

Namgung Myung seemed to know exactly where Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang was hiding.

This is already the third time that Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang has tried to sneak up on sleeping people, but was caught by Namgung Myung and ran away.

Namgung Myung’s performance was necessary for the party, but it was also quite rewarding for Namgung Myung. Wasn’t it a moment where he could prove his skills against the ultimate master, Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang?

In any case, while Hyeon-gong and Nam-gung-myeong were spending their time in their own ways, Dang-mu-jin would visit the local doctor to teach him some medical skills and check on one or two patients who were not in good condition.

This may have been the councilman’s nature rather than a reward for the townspeople.

While wandering around looking for the member of parliament, Dang Mu-jin asked Hong Geol-gae.

“But why are you following me? If you have nothing to do, you can just rest.”

“If you learn medicine, you’ll find a use for it someday.”

“Can you learn just by looking?”

“Of course. My skills will be better than those of some village councilman.”

Hong Geol-gae’s voice was confident.

In fact, Dang Mu-jin’s friends have some knowledge of medicine. They are not great doctors, but they are clearly better than the incompetent doctors, like Hong Geol-gae’s story.

Namgung Myung, Hong Geol Gae, and Hyeon Gong. All three of them have stayed in the Dang family for too long, and have lived with too many members of the council. Just by eavesdropping and looking around, they have enough time to imitate the work of the council.

Also, the three friends were able to learn medicine ahead of people who didn’t know anything.

If Dang Mu-jin was able to learn martial arts easily through the foundation of medicine, the three friends were able to accept medicine after learning the human body to some extent through the foundation of martial arts.

Although doctors who heal the human body and martial artists who destroy the human body seem to be at odds with each other, they clearly have something in common in that they both need to be knowledgeable about the human body.

Finally, Dang Mu-jin found the doctor and had a few words with the young doctor who was examining the patient.

That should be enough to take the lead in the conversation and give you a chance to practice your medicine.

When Dang Mu-jin performs his medical skills in front of an unfamiliar member of the National Assembly, the reactions are divided into two.

The ignorant, ignorant lawmakers just keep their mouths shut and nod their heads so as not to reveal their true colors.

They only want to make a comfortable living, not medical practice, so they do not ask the Dangmujin for guidance or ask questions.

Dang Mu-jin would often give those people a few common prescriptions that could be used.

Just that much would be of great help in curing sick people.

Just as the doctor lost his daughter and wife to a minor illness, not all diseases that can lead to death have complicated treatments.

On the other hand, those who were serious about medicine actively accepted Dangmujin’s teachings. The doctor of this village was clearly close to the latter.

The young congressman listened to the party secretary’s story for a bit, watched a patient being treated and prescribed a prescription, and then lowered his posture as if prostrating himself.

“thank you!”

The party secretary examined the young congressman’s appearance.

He seems to be a little over 18 years old. He is unusually young for a member of the National Assembly.

Among people who want to become members of the National Assembly at that age, it is rare to find someone who only wants to deceive people and make a living.

People tend to look at young lawmakers with suspicion. To overcome such gazes and be recognized as a lawmaker, strong will and constant effort are required.

The party leader asked the young lawmaker.

“What did you say your name was?”

“I’m Wangbu. It’s a name given to me with the meaning that I will become rich. However, I’m taking a completely different path from the rich.”

“Is that so, Brother Wang? Where did you learn medicine?”

“I learned by going around the surrounding villages and begging.”

“Have you ever thought about learning medicine properly?”

“I have the idea, but I just don’t have the opportunity.”

As soon as the king finished his story, Dang Mujin handed him a gold coin.

Since it was a large sum of money that was difficult to come by while working as a member of parliament in the outskirts, the royal family became tense and froze.

The party leader said.

“Use this money for travel expenses and go to see Danggajang. You will be able to learn the most advanced medical techniques in the Central Plains.”

However, the king hesitated even after hearing Tang Wujin’s proposal.

“Where is the party? It’s a bit difficult for me to find it with my skills…”

The king seemed to have heard of the Tang family.

In fact, in recent years, Dang Mu-jin has never met a member of parliament who does not know the head of the party. It was the same across the Yellow River and in the northern lands.

“The Tang family values ​​attitude more than skill. In other words, how serious you are about medicine, so you don’t need to worry. In fact, someone like Wang Hyung would not be far behind in terms of achievements.”

“How do you know how seriously someone takes medicine?”

“If they come all the way to the party hall, they’re serious enough.”

In simple terms, it means that if someone comes to you asking for medical advice, you won’t be turned away.

The king laughed coolly.

“Very well. But since you never know what will happen in this world, could you please tell me your name? An unlucky person might break his nose if he falls backwards, so I might be the first member to be kicked out. But if I say I was introduced, I might be able to stay even if I’m about to be kicked out.”

Dang Mu-jin reached into his bosom, took out a needle from the needle case, and handed it to the king.

“Show me this needle and tell them that Dang Mu-jin sent it.”

The king’s eyes, which were not that big, widened twice. First, he was surprised to see the needle thinner than a cow’s hair, and then he remembered where he had heard the name Tang Mujin and widened again.

“Dangmujin···!”

I had some expectations since he was a young congressman who brought up the topic of the party, and my expectations turned out to be correct.

The king shivered in surprise at the unexpected good fortune.

“I will definitely go. I will take care of all the patients I have been seeing so far and then leave for Sacheon.”

“See you in Sacheon.”

After Dang Mujin finished his story, he left the royal palace.

Hong Geol-gae followed Dang Mu-jin silently, as if lost in thought, without saying a word.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I felt like I had a lot to learn.”

“Medicine? You should learn it in earnest too.”

“No. It’s just that you’re really good at sneaking around and revealing your identity.”

“···Am I you? Don’t interpret it in a strange way.”

Recently, Hong Geol-gae has been getting a little impatient.

If everything had gone as planned, Hong Geol-gae should have already shown his skills to the other open-minded people.

However, things got a little complicated. The thirty-six Arhat formations of the Shaolin monks were so strong that there was no need to fight.

‘Should I just show off the power of the Hangryong Shippal that I’ve learned? No. That would be too ugly…’

Hong Geol-gae followed Dang Mu-jin back to the guest house, deep in thought.

*

The next evening, Dang Mu-jin and his party arrived near Gwangrangmun Gate.

As expected, Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang was restless and was circling around the group.

It was clear that Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang was cornered, but this was a reaction that was slightly different from what the group had expected.

Shin Seung frowned.

“You still won’t come? You’re such a coward.”

Even if they are just a moderate disciple, they will risk their lives to stop anyone who tries to set fire to their sect.

However, Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang, even though he was the head of the Gwangrangmun, had no intention of approaching. It seemed that he valued his life quite a bit.

The reason the group headed to Gwangrangmun was not because they wanted to burn it down, but to lure in Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang and kill him. Things took an unexpected turn.

It didn’t seem like he would come even if I wasted time here.

Namgung Myung asked Shin Seung.

“What are you going to do?”

“I can’t go back empty-handed after coming this far. I should at least light a fire like I promised.”

At that moment, a loud shout was heard from far away. It was Bloody Face.

“Cowards! Get out of town!”

A cry that clearly shows the intention to somehow drag the group out of the village.

It was incredibly funny to be talking about a coward when he was too scared to approach. It was even more so when I remembered him having lost one of his ears and having his head wrapped in a cloth.

‘That guy probably knew it would turn out like this.’

Before setting the fire, people searched through the Gwangrangmun Gate to see if there was anything useful. There were no valuables or treasures. It seemed that Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang had already taken them.

But the buildings remained. The buildings of Gwangrangmun were spacious and magnificent.

It was hard to even guess how many evil deeds had to be committed to form a sect of this size.

“It’s fortunate that the building and the fence are far apart. I don’t think the fire will spread to other buildings.”

“I think so too.”

After a quick look around, the group of about fifty people gathered together to decide who would start the fire.

However, no one willingly stepped forward. It was a rather radical action to set fire to a building, and people felt resistance to it.

The sound of the bloodthirsty man shouting outside was heard again.

“Stop right there! If you come out like that, I won’t tolerate it any longer! Don’t think I’ll just let it slide like I did before!”

People started to laugh without saying who would start first.

No one listened to it because it was nonsense.

Throwing knives, shooting arrows, driving Sapha drones to fight, sneaking up on people while they are sleeping to kill them. Were such actions considered to be acts of patience and mercy?

Hyun-gong whispered to Dang-mu-jin.

“How about you step forward like someone with experience?”

“What about those with experience…”

In the past, Dangmujin locked up the murderers in Salmak and burned down the entire building.

In fact, the current situation is nothing compared to that time. What’s so bad about setting fire to an empty building?

But before Dang Mu-jin could step forward, Shin Seung took up the role of the villain.

“It would be natural for the person who brought up the story to come forward.”

Shin Seung put firewood into the bonfire and walked around the grounds, setting fire to each building.

The fires, which were small at first, quickly climbed up the pillars to the roof, slowly enveloping the building as they illuminated the surroundings in red.

There was deep anger in the bloodshot eyes of the demon.

“I warned you clearly! There is nothing you can take from me now! Everything that happens from now on is your responsibility!”

Hong Geol-gae said, laughing at Hyeolmyeon Gwang-rang.

“That guy has a talent for pretending to be genuinely upset. Anyone who sees him would think he’s lived an honest life.”

As expected from someone who is well versed in the psychology of difficult people, Hyun-gong chimed in.

“There are people like that in the world. People who don’t remember what they did, and only remember the things that hurt them or that they didn’t like.”

The fire spread slowly and enveloped Gwangrangmun Gate.

The monks of Shaolin Temple and Tang Mujin’s party reacted calmly, but the Gaepodo looked genuinely happy.

To complete Geulseon’s revenge, he would have to kill Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang, but he seemed to think that this was not a bad start to revenge.

*

The group leisurely watched as Gwangrangmun Gate was reduced to ashes, then changed direction and began to head back the way they had come.

People’s thoughts were similar. Now, how can we lure and kill the bloodthirsty madman?

But no good method came to mind. How can one pursue a coward who has no power?

When they returned a day or so later, the group saw something a bit strange.

I can see the village I left just two days ago. In front of the village, there was a fairly large zelkova tree, and something was hanging from the tree and swaying.

The group approached the zelkova tree, suppressing their ominous intuition.

There were people hanging from the zelkova tree. Not one, but nine.

A monk muttered.

“The five on the left are the innkeeper, the waiter, and the maids. Who are the other four?”

This time, the open-minded people answered.

“These next two are the ones who gave us food.”

Dang Mu-jin looked at the person on the far right with cold eyes because he knew who the two people on the right were.

The young congressman Wang Bu and the patient that Dang Mujin treated at Wang Bu’s hospital.

The condition of the corpse was also not clean. It seemed as if it had been stabbed before being hung to death, with wounds scattered all over its limbs and body.

It seemed like he had been dead for not long, because drops of blood were still dripping down.

Veins stood out on Shinseung’s wrinkled forehead.

“It’s so annoying. Why would you bring non-martial arts people into a problem between martial arts people and vent your anger on them?”

The open-minded people muttered.

“How foolish. If you do something like this, the authorities will intervene. Why create trouble by doing something that has nothing to gain?”

“I’ve heard that the area north of the Yellow River is not very under the influence of the government. But that doesn’t mean they’ll just sit back and do nothing…”

However, no matter how the government thought about how to punish Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang, no suitable method came to mind.

How can the government punish someone who was not caught even when Shaolin Temple and Gaebong joined forces to pursue him?

Dang Mu-jin hurled his sword and cut the ropes that were hanging the nine people.

Blood was seen writing on the backs of those who had fallen to the ground.

“What does it say?”

Dang Mu-jin approached the corpse and read the letters written on its back.

[Think about who these people died for.]

Dang Mu-jin stood up from his seat with a cold expression on his face and thought.

The answer to that question should be engraved on the back of the Hyeolmyeon Gwangrang.