[Chapter 98]
"Good heavens! What brings the beggar here? Has he finally been cast out from his lofty position?"
"The title of Dragon Head Boss isn't something one is simply chased away from, as I've said time and again."
"Kekeke."
"Stop that bizarre laughter. It's unpleasant to the ear."
"If you dislike it, then don't come around."
"This brat, so young yet so lacking in manners."
"Isn't the era of judging friends by their age long gone?"
"There's a limit to everything, young one. You haven't even reached the age of understanding heaven's mandate."
"Should I then honor a beggar as my elder? What nonsense."
"Keep that up, and you'll truly get smacked."
"Go on, smack me."
Thwack!
"Ouch! You actually hit me!"
"Enough noise, bring out some liquor. Damn, I'm exhausted. What's a jobless fellow like you doing building a hermitage on this high mountain?"
The Taoist grumbled but rose to his feet.
Heading to the kitchen, his muttering was quite the spectacle. 'Why come to a hermitage and look for booze?', 'How did he even know there was alcohol?', 'I'd love to see that damn dog's offspring drop dead.', 'That beggar's life thread is ridiculously long.' Such words that could raise one's blood pressure.
Hwajincheon endured. After all, isn't he the most wretched beggar in the world? Even if such a beggar were called a king, he's still a beggar.
Without patience, this relationship couldn't be maintained. He couldn't help but admire the resilience he had cultivated over the years.
Shortly after, the Taoist brought out the drinks.
"What's this? I asked for liquor, and you bring…?"
"What else? You filthy thing. It's jerky."
"You are a Taoist, right?"
"Quiet."
"Did you know I was coming?"
"Would I be scrounging for meals with divination if I didn't?"
"As if anyone comes for divination anyway."
"Ah, just take the drink tray! My back hurts!"
Later, the two set up a drinking table in the clearing in front of the hermitage and filled each other's cups.
The Taoist, Tongcheonjinin, asked.
"So, what brings you here this time?"
Hwajincheon snorted.
"Why else would I seek a diviner? To find out something, of course."
"Madness. Aren't you the one who claims to have the world's information at your fingertips? What's there to find out?"
"Is information the same as divination?"
"Is your offering generous?"
"The one with wealth always has greed."
"That's different, you fool!"
"Speak if you desire something. I'll have the kids send it over."
Gradually, the playfulness faded from Tongcheonjinin's face.
The difference between his playful and serious expressions was stark, almost as if he had become a different person.
"Is it because of the Nine Provinces Family?"
Hwajincheon's eyes sparkled.
As expected, he knew. He was one who sat atop a high mountain, watching over the world.
"The Nine Provinces Family is involved, yes. But what I want to ask is different."
"Surely it's about the young tiger leading the charge to topple the Nine Provinces Family?"
A seriousness crept onto Hwajincheon's face.
"Yes, I came because of him. More precisely, I'm puzzled because the world is turning differently from what you had said."
Tongcheonjinin.
It is said that there are three eccentrics in the current martial world. Each of these three is an expert in their field, their skills reaching the heavens, hence the title Tongcheon.
The Three Eccentrics of the Martial World. Or the Three Tongcheons.
Tongcheonjinin was one of these three, the most elusive and greatest eccentric of them all.
"I'm well aware that your divination has reached the realms of the heavens. And that it shows its limits."
Tongcheonjinin sees the flow and principles of the world. Sometimes he foretells the future and reveals people's fates.
But his ability is extremely limited. Few have met Tongcheonjinin, and even those who have may not receive divination, depending on their luck that day.
However, one thing is certain.
A divination once spoken by him never proves wrong. Not once has his word been false.
Tongcheonjinin shook his head.
"To reach the realms of the heavens, what a laughable notion. I've merely struggled not to die, given the overwhelming nature of my innate gift."
"Regardless."
"I've only glimpsed through the cracks of the heavens, never fully comprehending. If I had, I would have become an immortal long ago."
"Do immortals even exist?"
"If you believe, they do; to the unbeliever, they do not."
"Enough. I have no patience for such pointless riddles."
"Why do you call it a riddle?"
"Be silent."
"Goodness, this beggar is truly…"
"Enough. Speak. Why has it changed? Or rather, why was it wrong?"
A shadow fell over Tongcheonjinin's face.
"I don't know."
"You don't know? You, of all people?"
"You're not mocking me, are you?"
"Stop joking and talk. Be serious."
"Sigh, I don't know. As I said, if I knew everything, would I be human? I'd be an immortal."
"Hmm…"
"There is one thing that bothers me."
"What is it?"
Tongcheonjinin downed his full cup of liquor in one gulp and belched loudly.
"Sometime last year… Yes, it must have been autumn. Something changed then."
"Last autumn?"
"Whether it's the mechanism of heaven or the weather of heaven, it's hard to explain. I saw something distort far across the sky."
"The mechanism of heaven…"
"At the time, I didn't know what it was. Frankly, I still don't. But I suspect that change was the starting point for a future different from what I had predicted."
"That's… complicated."
"Not complicated, but I have a rather bleak thing to tell you."
"What is it?"
Tongcheonjinin spoke bitterly.
"You won't need to come here anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't see it, not since then."
"…What?"
"I can't see it. Divination doesn't work."
Hwajincheon's face was painted with shock.
"What do you mean divination doesn't work?"
"Yes, it doesn't. No matter how hard I try, it remains unseen."
"…Impossible! Wait a moment! You knew I was coming today, didn't you? You were aware of the Nine Provinces Family becoming the public enemy of the martial world and disappearing, and you knew the identity of the one leading the charge to bring them down?!"
Tongcheonjinin chuckled through his nose.
"Are you truly the leader of the Open Faction? Since when did people become such fools?"
"Eh?"
"The fall of the noble house to public enemy status is widespread knowledge. How could you not know? Every time I go down to the market to buy necessities, that's all anyone talks about. And who's that, the eldest son of the Yeon family?"
"Yeon Hojeong."
"Yes, I've heard tales of him too. The young tiger of the east, a man reborn from the union of Son Chak and Yuk Son. Nowadays, he's called the Wall Mountain Tiger, isn't he?"
"That's… right?"
"Just because I live high in the mountains doesn't mean I don't descend to the mundane world. I know all."
Hwajincheon asked urgently.
"Then how did you know I was coming?"
"That?"
Tongcheonjinin smiled bitterly and pulled out a thin booklet.
"It's written here."
"What's that?"
"It's not that I suddenly couldn't see. It started fading slowly, one by one. Just in case, I wrote down everything I could see."
"…!"
"And then."
Tongcheonjinin tossed the booklet carelessly.
The booklet flew far and was swept away by the wind, falling off the cliff.
Hwajincheon's mouth fell open.
"What, what have you done?!"
"The last line in that book was your arrival."
"This is…"
Tongcheonjinin smirked.
"Why so surprised?"
"No… I never imagined you would lose your divination skills…"
"What's so important about divination that you're making such a fuss?"
"What?"
"I became a Taoist because of my innate talent, and I've managed the upper elixir field. But, I am just a Taoist. I had a talent for divination and shared various truths, but even that wasn't something I could choose to see at will."
"…!"
"Does a monk stop worshiping Buddha if he loses an arm, or does a Taoist stop cultivating the Way if he goes blind? There's no need for such sorrow."
Hwajincheon sighed.
"There goes a good source of information."
Tongcheonjinin burst into hearty laughter.
"You've been too clever for your own good. To confess, there were many things I saw when you came for divination that I didn't tell you."
"What? This mad Taoist has been deceiving me?"
"It wouldn't be hard to tell you, but then wouldn't that disturb the heavenly order?"
"…?!"
"Don't underestimate your influence. If the Dragon Head Boss misspeaks, it could shake the whole world. To teach you your fate and predict the future, wouldn't that be defying heaven itself?"
Hwajincheon was at a loss for words.
Tongcheonjinin took a sip of his drink and spoke in a plain tone.
"Where in life is there an answer sheet? It's because we don't know the future that today is precious. That's life. Therefore, relying on divination isn't good."
"Damn, even as a Taoist, you recite texts."
"Hahaha!"
Tongcheonjinin's laughter was pleasant to hear.
He didn't care in the slightest about losing his divination skills, which could be called divine. No, it seemed as if he had shaken off a heavy burden.
Hwajincheon gave a wry smile.
He thought the loss of his friend's specialty was a loss for both the individual and himself. But seeing how happy the person in question was, what could he do? He could only join in the happiness.
"I'll come more often from now on."
"Oh? Is that a consolation?"
"Consolation? I'm planning to pass on the leadership to my disciple soon. I'll be lonely in my old age, so be my drinking buddy."
"That rascal has grown up already? It feels like I just saw him."
"He's still a long way off. But the righteousness and loyalty he holds are quite impressive."
"If you say so, he must be quite the catch."
"If he trains his martial arts properly, there'll be nothing more to ask for."
Hwajincheon rose from his seat.
"I must go now. I'm rather busy."
Tongcheonjinin waved his hand.
"Feel free to visit anytime."
"I'll build a room next to yours soon, so don't kick me out."
"Hahaha!"
* * *
"Hmm."
Another day had been exceedingly busy.
A master of martial arts wouldn't be physically affected by a day's work, but the mental exertion was significant. And this had been the routine for over a decade.
Yeon Wi massaged his neck. It wasn't particularly stiff, but this action seemed to ease his mind.
Watching Yeon Wi, Lee Baekhyun tidied up the documents.
"I'll take care of the rest. You should rest for today, Clan Leader."
"Let's do that."
"Oh, and what about the position of Chief Steward? It's about time you selected someone."
Yeon Wi glanced at Lee Baekhyun.
"How about you give it a try?"
"Me, sir?"
Lee Baekhyun waved his hands dismissively.
"How could I, with my modest abilities, become the Chief Steward of the Yeon Clan? I am content with assisting."
"You're doing quite well."
Lee Baekhyun hiccupped without realizing it.
He hadn't expected such immense praise from the Clan Leader. Overwhelmed, his face turned pale.
"I, I, I am absolutely… not capable enough…"
Yeon Wi shook his head.
"You may go now."
"Gasp! Yes!"
Lee Baekhyun scurried out of the Clan Leader's office, moving as if he had seen something he shouldn't have.
Yeon Wi leaned back in his chair.
Despite the fatigue, each day was fulfilling. The stability of the Kangso business, the smooth progress of household affairs, and especially the growth of the second son were astonishing.
He hoped tomorrow would be like today. A day filled with rewarding hard work and the hope of a promising future.
'The second son hasn't finished his Qi cultivation yet. It's his first state of selflessness, so it's understandable.'
Yeon Wi closed his eyes, dissolving the day's fatigue with Qi cultivation.
His son was facing a significant challenge and opportunity. He too must stay strong as both the Clan Leader and a father.
How much time has passed?
"Clan, Clan Leader!"
Yeon Wi, halting his Qi cultivation, spoke with his eyes still closed.
"What is it?"
"The, the Eldest Young Master has arrived!"
Yeon Wi's eyes snapped open.
"Hojeong is here?"
"Yes! But, but…"
"What's the matter?"
Lee Baekhyun's next words were sensational.
"He's brought a beautiful young lady with him!"