Chapter 130: There Are Memories That Don't Dilute with Time (Part 2)

Dangata's life was very free-spirited. Perhaps it was because he was a guest of the Tanggimun, but he never once spoke out of turn or treated Hanjinwol or Jinnuwon disrespectfully. They were very kind to both of them.

However, Jinnuwon sensed an invisible barrier in their demeanor. They were clearly in the same space, yet there was an insurmountable line between them and the Tangga.

Hanjinwol chuckled. "That's the pride of the noble families. They try to be as kind as possible to guests, but it means they won't open their hearts because you're not one of them. From an outsider's perspective, it might seem like a useless gesture, but among themselves, it's a way to reaffirm their unity. Dangata is relatively more lenient with outsiders. It's a sign of their confidence in their abilities. But the other Three Great Families in the Gangho are even more ruthless towards outsiders."

The Namgung family of An Hwiseong, the Paeng family of Habukseong, the Jegal family of Sandongseong, and the Hwangbo family of Oman were all known for their arrogance and towering pride. They never forgot grudges under any circumstances and always sought revenge. That's why many people avoided getting involved with them.

"Each noble family in the regions has their own intricate network and fortified walls. There's no room for outsiders to meddle."

Since the existing factions in the Gangho were firmly established, new factions would find it difficult to grow, and even if they did, they were likely to be absorbed by the existing factions eventually.

"This trend will continue to accelerate in the future."

Hanjinwol's words left Jinnuwon deep in thought.

Jinnuwon silently continued walking. Hanjinwol watched his back for a moment before turning around.

"Now is the time when you need to think for yourself. Your current concerns will be the nourishment for your growth."

Simply imparting a lot of knowledge at once without thinking for oneself would only lead to being a parrot. You have to ponder and seek answers for yourself. That's how you become a complete individual, a true human being.

Lost in deep thought, Jinnuwon continued to walk. After a while, he raised his head, and a strange landscape greeted him.

It was quite a spacious open area surrounded by large trees. Whenever the wind blew, the leaves would rustle and fall gracefully. The colorful leaves flying in the wind were so beautiful that Jinnuwon lost himself in watching them for a long time.

After what felt like an eternity, Jinnuwon's expression suddenly stiffened.

It felt like an itchy sensation, as if ants were crawling on his skin.

"Survival."

Someone had concealed their presence so thoroughly that they blended in with the blowing wind, sending chills down Jinmuwon's spine.

To those with dulled senses or those who hadn't reached a certain level of martial arts, the art of survival was secretive beyond imagination.

Jinmuwon tightened his grip on the sword and heightened his senses in all directions. In an instant, an area of thirty yards became his domain. He could detect even the slightest sound of a falling leaf, the subtle movements of ants. However, there was no trace of the owner of this presence anywhere.

"Either an absolute master or a master of stealth."

Jinmuwon's gaze grew even more intense.

This place was Dangata, where the members of the Tangga lived as a clan. There wasn't a single person passing through the streets who wasn't a master of memory, and everyone knew how to use deadly poison. The presence of such masters in abundance made it nearly impossible for an outsider to infiltrate.

"Is it someone from within Dangata?"

While their true identity remained unknown, Jinmuwon had no intention of sitting idly by to find out.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind. The range of his all-encompassing senses expanded explosively. And then, in the distance, he felt a faint warmth.

"Outside the perimeter, to the right."

Even though there was no trace of their breath or movement, they couldn't conceal their body heat.

Jinmuwon's eyebrows twitched. He had sensed the opponent's location, and at that moment, he felt a change in their breathing. The unknown presence had also noticed that he had located them.

However, neither of them moved first.

The distance between them, which could be considered the domain of an absolute master, overlapped. Just as a spider gauges the capabilities of its prey through the vibrations on its web, they assessed each other's abilities through the surrounding air, the blowing wind, and their breath.

Then, the wind stopped blowing.

In an instant, Jinmuwon felt a sensation that the surroundings were turning white.

The falling leaves, which had been falling relentlessly, suddenly began to rise into the air.

"Has it begun?"

The reconnaissance was over. The unknown enemy had moved first.

Swirling!

The leaves that floated in the air started circling around Jinmuwon as if caught in a whirlwind.

Jinmuwon found himself trapped in the midst of the swirling leaves.

While it seemed like the leaves were randomly drifting in the wind, in reality, they were circling around Jinmuwon in a systematic pattern.

From each leaf, a cold and chilling aura emanated, so subtle that it was almost imperceptible. Although they appeared to be ordinary leaves, each one contained an unprecedented level of inner strength.

"Refining my inner energy."

Jinmuwon understood that these leaves were not just leaves; they were imbued with refined inner energy, making them formidable weapons.

The delicate control of an overwhelming number of leaves, the profound inner energy that made it possible—just witnessing this one move was enough to understand how formidable the opponent was.

As the blood in his entire body turned chillingly cold, a sense of danger surged within Jinmuwon. However, his gaze grew colder, and his brain spun at an even faster pace. Jinmuwon had a personality that became calmer in the face of danger.

Suddenly, the leaves swirling around Jinmuwon were sucked up into the sky and blocked the sunlight.

For a moment, darkness fell, and everything became still.

And then...

Shuuuu!

Thousands, even tens of thousands of leaves turned into blades and rained down upon Jinmuwon. Despite the dizzying spectacle, Jinmuwon didn't blink.

To an observer, it might seem like the reaction of someone trapped and unable to escape. But Jinmuwon hadn't given up on his life, nor was he powerless.

"Now!"

When the rain of leaves was almost upon him, Jinmuwon finally moved. His sword, Seolhwa, slashed through the air like lightning.

Chuwahak!

With a sound reminiscent of tearing silk, the rain of leaves was split apart. Jinmuwon soared through the opening, his clothing torn by the leaves, and a surge of energy coursing through his entire body.

However, Jinmuwon paid no heed and found the hidden presence once again. The rain of leaves turned into deadly blades and descended toward Jinmuwon.

Jinmuwon once again drew his sword, the "Myeolcheon Mayeong Sword - North Heaven Wall" technique.

When the formless sword wall blocked the falling leaves, Jinmuwon was already gone from that spot.

In the blink of an eye, Jinmuwon had moved about thirty paces to the east and swung his sword towards a large tree.

Shu-ga-ak!

The beautiful tree was effortlessly cut down, revealing a hidden figure behind it.

It was a rugged man in his sixties, dressed in coarse martial attire. He had a single leaf attached to his finger and chuckled softly.

"Remarkable. You're the first to handle my White Night Scattering Leaves so easily."

"Who are you?"

"Me? You could say I'm the head of this household."

"The Venom Master?"

"That's right. I am Danggwanho."

Danggwanho, the Venom Master.

At that moment, the master of poisons in the Tangga revealed himself in front of Jinmuwon.

In Danggwanho's eyes as he looked at Jinmuwon, there was a glint of admiration.

"White Night Scattering Leaves, one of the most formidable memorization techniques within the Tangga, fitting into just three fingers. To handle the White Night Scattering Leaves so effortlessly, as expected, Kimun's words were not wrong."

It wasn't that he had given his all. He merely focused on gauging the opponent's level. However, just as he hadn't given his best, neither had his opponent.

There was no change in their breathing, and their complexion remained the same. The one who had effortlessly used the White Night Scattering Leaves, an incredibly powerful technique, appeared remarkably composed.

Jinmuwon's demeanor left Danggwanho, the Venom Master, equally shocked.

"After hearing Kimun's story last night, I became curious about you."

"So, you ambushed me?"

"Isn't an ambush part of the essence of the Tangga? After all, most of our martial arts are memorization techniques."

Jinmuwon was at a loss for words at Danggwanho's casual response. Somehow, he no longer felt the desire to continue fighting, so he sheathed his sword.

With a smile, Danggwanho tossed the leaf he had been holding into the air. Instead of falling to the ground, the leaf hovered in the air for a moment and then flew away.

"Walk with me for a moment."

Danggwanho led the way, and Jinmuwon followed.

It was as if the fierce battle that had just taken place had been a falsehood, with both now appearing remarkably composed.

"Your name is Jinmuwon, correct?"

"Yes."

"The last head of the North Heaven Gate. Is that right?"

Jinmuwon stopped in his tracks.

"Did Tang Daehyeop tell you all of that?"

"Kimun has nothing to hide from me. Don't worry. He has no intention of discussing it with anyone else."

These were the words of the head of the Tangga, who led the Tangga, not just anyone else. His words carried more weight than a million in gold. There was no choice but to trust them.

"I've thought a lot after hearing Kimun's story. I had no choice."

Danggwanho's gaze turned toward the sky. His eyes were fixed on a distant place. Jinmuwon somehow felt overwhelmed by his presence. It wasn't just because of his level of martial arts but also because of the wisdom and composure that had been cultivated over many years in the corner of the Gangho.

"I've always lived with a sense of owing a debt to the North Heaven Gate. It bothered me that I couldn't help when the North Heaven Gate fell ten years ago."

Danggwanho's voice was filled with the genuine feelings of a long-serving elder of the Gangho.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything to prevent the fall of the North Heaven Gate. It may sound like an excuse, but at that time, there was nothing I could do. I am also responsible for the Ilmun, and the safety of the Tangmun took precedence for me over the North Heaven Gate."

"Are you saying that the Tangmun was also under threat at that time?"

"The atmosphere at that time was like that. A stubborn atmosphere had formed where raising objections was not allowed. If we had come to the aid of the North Heaven Gate back then, the Tangga would have also been swept away by the tides of the era."

Danggwanho smiled bitterly.

The madness of a group is such that those who are caught up in it never tolerate anyone who opposes their opinions.

Instead of confronting the madness of the group, Danggwanho chose a middle path. He didn't comply, but he didn't oppose either. Despite having the power to oppose, he made that decision to preserve the Tangmun.

"That was my original sin, the height of cowardice. After hearing that your father was so small and humble, I regretted it for days. If you believe that the large boulder still weighs down my chest, would you believe it? When you appeared, I was once again at a crossroads."

"Is it because I am the current head of the North Heaven Gate?"

"That's right."

Danggwanho had already assessed Jinmuwon's strength with his own eyes.

At such a young age, Jinmuwon possessed formidable martial skills and adaptability. There were likely very few among the young members who could defeat Jinmuwon. Achieving such a level of accomplishment at Jinmuwon's age was truly a miraculous feat.

Moreover, Jinmuwon hadn't received the systematic support of a martial arts faction like other members. He had achieved his current level solely through his own abilities. It was impossible without innate talent, hard work, and unwavering dedication. Danggwanho had not yet encountered anyone like him.

"A person like you will never settle for the status quo. Even if you try to settle down, the era won't allow it. Eventually, you too will live in an era of turbulence. Because of your decision, the destinies of countless others may be twisted. Many may die because of your actions. Are you prepared to bear such a harsh destiny?"

Jinmuwon closed his eyes.

Danggwanho silently observed Jinmuwon in that state.

After a long time, Jinmuwon spoke.

"As you said, I don't know how harsh a destiny awaits me. However, that doesn't mean I will live in fear and avoid it. I don't know what awaits me at the end of the path I've chosen, but I intend to see it through once I've started."

"That's what I expected."

Danggwanho nodded.

He now understood Jinmuwon's determination clearly, and he realized that a new era was dawning.

So far, he had lived in an era different from the one that was about to begin. In such an era, he didn't quite fit in.

"You intend to send Kimun to the Woonjoongcheon?"

"The head of the Tangga?"

"Kimun desires it. He believes that the victims of the Okgye Tragedy should no longer appear. How can I break his stubbornness?"

"And?"

"Please take him to the Woonjoongcheon."

"It might be dangerous."

"Do you know what he told me last night? He said he didn't want to betray the four characters of Yi (義) and Hyup (俠). Hahaha!"

Yi (義) and Hyup (俠).

The worn-out principles of a bygone era, now faded.

For over sixty years, he had looked at those words with no enthusiasm whatsoever. But that day, they dug deep into his heart. He couldn't bear the shame of having neglected Tangmoon's well-being in favor of the safety of the world.

He lowered his head towards Jinmuwon.

"I'll ask you to do it. And no matter the outcome, Tangmoon will swear to support your actions."