Chapter 129: There Are Memories That Don't Dilute with Time (Part 1)

"It's Jade City."

Danggimun looked around with a deeply moved expression.

Familiar scenery met his eyes. A vibrant downtown area with numerous shops and bustling crowds of people. It was more splendid and bustling than any place they had seen before. It was Saint City, their destination. It had been almost ten days since they left the Western Plateau and arrived in Saint City, which was their home base.

For Danggimun and Dangmirye, it had been a return after nearly two months. Many things had happened during their absence. The young men from Dangga who had been dispatched to the Southern Frontier had all lost their lives, and only they had barely survived.

Their survival came from their duty to inform Dangmun of their deaths. This was necessary for Dangmun to make preparations in advance.

Danggimun spoke to Jinmuwon.

"We still have some time, so let's rest for two days in Danggata. We should meet with the Elder and inform him of the recent developments."

"Sounds like a plan," Jinmuwon readily agreed.

There was still plenty of time until they reached Unjungcheon, and everyone was exhausted from the consecutive forced marches. Since they needed rest anyway, they thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a break at Dangga, which was Danggimun's hometown.

Hajinwon patted Jinmuwon's shoulder.

"You've made a good choice. Taking this opportunity to experience a prestigious family like Dangmun's will greatly benefit your journey."

Danggata was not a place where outsiders could enter freely. It wasn't just Dangmun; most of the prestigious families in the region had such exclusivity. The spaces they made available to the public were only a small fraction of the whole.

The essence of a martial art lineage wasn't solely transmitted through high-level martial techniques. The ambiance of the lineage, the training facilities, daily routines, the process of cultivation, everything could be part of the lineage's essence.

The prestigious families of the region were wary of leaking their essence and strictly blocked outsiders from entering. Because the essence was essentially the lifeblood of the lineage, their exclusivity was beyond imagination.

Even the famous Northern Heaven Gate had barely survived for a hundred years before disappearing from the world. If they could enter Danggata, they might catch a glimpse of the secrets that had been passed down through Dangmun for centuries.

Hajinwon believed that alone would more than compensate for the time spent at Danggata. Jinmuwon's growth was essentially his own growth.

Jinmuwon's gaze turned to Cheongin, seeking his opinion.

"I won't be entering Danggata. It's been too long since I've been in touch. I need to stop by the Saint Branch to report on what has happened and await instructions. If the time comes for you to leave before me, don't wait for me; go ahead. No matter where I am, I'll find my way."

"Understood," Jinmuwon nodded.

Unlike Hajinwon and Dalmirye, Cheongin wasn't entirely his person. Being part of the Heukwol organization meant that he couldn't dictate Jinmuwon's actions.

Cheongin left first. Jinmuwon watched his retreating figure for a moment and then followed Danggimun.

Entering Saint City after a long absence seemed to put a smile on Dalmirye's face, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

Danggimun broke into a warm smile.

"You seem really happy about this."

"Well..."

Dalmirye's face, which had been about to answer with a smile, suddenly turned dark. She had been consumed by thoughts of the young men who hadn't returned with them.

They were all distant relatives connected to her by blood. The fact that she couldn't recover their bodies and bring them back weighed heavily on her conscience.

Danggimun seemed to sense her emotions and spoke as he patted her shoulder.

"It's alright. Their deaths are by no means your fault. Living life on the edge of a blade, it's not unusual for death to come at any time. That's the fate of those who live in the martial world."

"But still..."

"Never carry guilt for it. Not even for your sake."

"Yes," Dalmirye replied quietly.

Hajinwon looked at Dalmirye in silence.

While Jinmuwon had been living a life on the edge of a blade since he was young and might not find this situation significant, for Dalmirye, who had lived within the safety of Dangga, it was a profound shock.

There was no one who could offer comfort. She would have to overcome this burden on her own.

"If she can overcome the psychological burden of this incident, she will become a strong member of the Heukwol," each of them thought, each with their own convictions.

The four of them continued on their way to Danggata. After walking for about half an hour, they spotted a distant hill. That was Danggata.

At first glance, Danggata appeared to be like any ordinary village. There were no walls or fences surrounding the village, giving it an atmosphere of freedom, where anyone could come and go easily.

However, that was only the surface. Once they entered Danggata, they could feel the gazes of many people. The presence of unfamiliar outsiders had put everyone in Danggata on alert.

Though they appeared ordinary at first glance, in reality, they were all masters of martial arts. The moment they revealed themselves as a potential threat, the countless techniques hidden within their clothing would rain down like a storm upon Jinmuwon and the others.

"It's truly a hidden fortress here," they thought.

While there were no stone walls, there was an invisible barrier of human vigilance. Its thickness and strength were comparable to stone walls, and it created an atmosphere that surpassed any stone barrier.

This moment shattered Jinmuwon's preconceived notion that martial arts sects and clans should be confined within massive walls. It was another awakening.

At first, those who had cast suspicious glances towards Jinmuwon and his group now recognized Danggimun and Dalmirye and stared at them with a hint of disbelief. They rushed toward Danggimun and Dalmirye.

"You're safe!"

"Great Master!"

They inquired about their well-being with smiles. Danggimun and Dalmirye exchanged greetings and then asked, "Where is the Elder?"

"He's probably in the workshop by now."

"I see. We'll have to meet with the Elder first. There are many things we're curious about, but we'll talk later with you."

"Understood. We're truly relieved that you've returned safely."

"The people who came with me are distinguished guests I've personally invited. Please arrange accommodations for them at Samyanggak (Three Sun Pavilion)."

"We will do so."

"Good."

Danggimun turned to Jinmuwon and Hajinwon.

"Follow their guidance, rest, and relax for now. I'll pay my respects to the Elder first and come to see you in the evening."

"Understood."

"Well..."

Danggimun quickened his pace, and Dalmirye lowered her head in acknowledgment before following him. Hajinwon smiled.

"So, shall we rest comfortably at Danggata?"

Despite its grand name, Samyanggak was as ordinary as the other mansions in Danggata. The only advantage it had was a slightly higher wall that provided a bit more privacy from outside views.

Hajinwon untied the reins from the horse on one side of Samyanggak and said to Jinmuwon, "I think I'll take a bath. What about you?"

"I'll rest for a while."

"Sounds good."

With his response, Hajinwon headed towards the bathhouse.

Left alone, Jin muwon sat down with Snow Flower nestled in his arms.

He was tired, but it was not physical fatigue; it was mental exhaustion. The journey had been demanding, and there was so much to absorb, especially with the teachings from Hajinwon. He had taken in an overwhelming amount of knowledge all at once, pushing the limits of his mind.

Jin muwon closed his eyes.

His breathing gradually became even, and at some point, Snow Flower, cradled in his arms, began to emit a soft, indigo glow.

The girl's tribe had lived on the sacred mountain for generations. Her great-grandmother, her great-great-grandmother, and even further back, they all lived on the sacred mountain. While the central plains people referred to it as Geumhyeonsan, the girl's tribe simply called it the Sacred Mountain.

The Sacred Mountain served as the tribe's provider of food and shelter. Every year, as an expression of gratitude, the girl's tribe held a ritual for the Sacred Mountain.

The one who presided over the ritual was a chosen priestess of the Sacred Mountain. In her time, the girl was chosen to be the priestess.

Once someone became the priestess chosen by the Sacred Mountain, they could not marry or have contact with the opposite sex.

For a girl at an age when dreams were abundant, it was a harsh fate. However, the girl did not consider her destiny cruel and accepted it willingly.

The girl chosen by the Sacred Mountain diligently prepared to become a priestess. She learned how to communicate with nature and mastered healing techniques to help the wounded.

In this way, the girl steadily grew into her role as a priestess.

When she turned fifteen years old, something unexpected happened. A star fell from the sky, creating a large crater to the north of the village. Inside the crater, remnants of the fallen star were discovered.

The previous priestess referred to the remnants as sacred stones and placed them in the village shrine. The tribe worshipped these sacred stones with great reverence, conducting rituals and offerings.

Three years later, the previous priestess passed away.

The girl succeeded her as the priestess. Now, the responsibility of conducting the rituals was solely hers.

She woke up at dawn and performed the morning purification ritual for her tribe's well-being. She strictly adhered to a vegetarian diet and maintained a modest and ascetic lifestyle. Whether her prayers were answered or not, fortunately, the tribe began to prosper.

The tribe's prosperity brought her concerns. Some members of the tribe started showing an interest in the outside world, desiring prosperity through interaction with outsiders. Over time, their voices grew louder.

Despite her objections, the tribal chief chose to engage with the outside world. Tribe members began bartering the items they obtained from the mountain with outsiders.

More people started coming into the mountain, and the tribe gradually embraced a more convenient lifestyle. They hunted and exploited the mountain's resources to acquire the goods desired by outsiders.

The Sacred Mountain cried out in agony and appealed to the priestess for relief. The priestess wanted the chief to reduce interactions with the outside world, but he turned a deaf ear.

The event occurred on the day the priestess turned twenty-five.

Someone entered the village.

He was more ferocious than a bear and stronger than a tiger. As soon as he entered the village, he started killing indiscriminately.

The tribe's warriors fell at his hands, and the screams of many echoed through the Sacred Mountain. Overwhelmed by the horror, the priestess cried out.

He was a demon.

Most of the men met their demise at his hands, while the women were herded into a large cave where they conducted their rituals.

The priestess tried to stop him.

Though she wasn't as strong as the tribe's warriors, she possessed unwavering determination and the protection of the Sacred Mountain.

She did her best to stop him, but her efforts were in vain. She had to helplessly watch as women with broken limbs were dying before her eyes.

He carved cross-shaped wounds on the bodies of the women, causing them to bleed. He absorbed their energy from the puddles of blood shed by over a hundred women.

He laughed as he looked at the priestess. With white teeth revealed, the demon's laughter filled the air, and the priestess cursed her own helplessness.

"I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you. I cannot forgive you."

The priestess harbored a burning grudge.

Everything she loved was falling apart.

In the midst of the demon's atrocity, her world and the people she loved were disappearing.

She prayed to the Sacred Mountain.

She asked for the strength to seek revenge, no matter the cost to her own body.

Her tears of blood seeped into the black stone on the altar.

Jin muwon opened his eyes. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. The dream had been too vivid to dismiss as mere imagination.

He was so tense that his clenched fist remained rigid and refused to open, and his entire body was drenched in sweat.

Jin muwon looked at Snow Flower.

"Is it you?"

Snow FLower didn't respond.

Jin muwon sighed and tried to recall the face of the person he had seen in the dream. However, like it was shrouded in mist, the face didn't come to him clearly.

"Cross Blood Demon."

His grip on Snow flower tightened involuntarily.

Note: Seolhwa  is the name of the sword and in manhwa it is translated as Snow Flower.