The Guide - 1
The Great Wall of China was originally constructed to defend against the Buyeo and Goguryeo, brilliant empires established by the Dongyi people. As their enemies were nomadic horsemen with exceptional mobility, the Chinese faced considerable challenges in defense. Once they built the wall, however, these problems were resolved almost instantly. Enjoying the success, they gradually expanded it westward. Eventually, the wall stretched nearly ten thousand li, from the eastern sea at the northern end of Hebei Province, through Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces, and to the westernmost part of the long, narrow Gansu Province.
However, the Xirong tribes based in Tibet and other Nanman tribes were not nomadic horsemen, so there was no pressing need to extend the costly wall further. Thus, the Great Wall ends north of Qinghai Province. Instead, they maintained less fortified defense lines in Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces, which sufficed to fend off those tribes.
Following the well-developed official road stretching from the provincial capital of Gansu, Lanzhou, to the military hub Wushan, one would come upon the gateway to the city of Wushan. Unlike the Wushan in Sichuan, which refers to mountains, this Wushan is a massive commercial city. It serves as a supply route for military goods to the western Great Wall and a thriving hub of trade.
The Black Wind Brigade moving toward Wushan likely indicates one of two intentions: either retreating to the mountains of Qinghai Province or moving further toward Tibet, beyond the Great Wall, where no barriers would obstruct them. Tibet's rugged terrain and mountainous regions would make it an ideal location to build small fortresses and settle. Although settling on the plains of Mongolia might be more advantageous for grazing livestock, the atrocities committed by the Black Wind Brigade make it unlikely that the Mongolians would allow them to live peacefully.
These were Mookhyang's thoughts as he rode along the official road.
By now, it was well past lunchtime, and a small village appeared ahead. Without hesitation, Mookhyang entered and sought an inn. For such a modest village, there were surprisingly many restaurants and inns, and Mookhyang chose one of the larger establishments.
No longer new to the martial arts world, Mookhyang immediately sensed the unspoken atmosphere of the inn as he entered. Even though the deep-brimmed bamboo hat he wore obscured his view if ignored, his skin instinctively picked up the nuances of the room.
The restaurant was not small, yet it was bustling with activity. Mookhyang found a seat, ordered a simple meal, and began eating.
Then, from a table in front of him, a voice reached his ears. It belonged to a figure Mookhyang had identified as the inn's top martial artist the moment he entered. That was why Mookhyang had deliberately chosen a seat facing them.
Suddenly, a voice diverted Mookhyang's focus. It was a young girl's voice, and one word she said piqued his attention.
"Why are you going where the Black Wind Brigade is, brother?"
A calm yet authoritative voice answered, feigning composure.
"Because they are not guilty. I'm not foolish enough to help them fight, as you think, Yeon. I simply intend to offer them some advice."
Another woman's voice, more composed than the first, interjected.
"Advice? Judging by their route, it looks like they're heading to Tibet."
"Yes, sister is right. Tibet's rugged terrain makes it perfect for hiding. If they planned to escape south, they would've gone toward Sichuan or Yunnan instead."
"That's exactly it. That's the problem."
"What is?"
"If they were simply hiding in the rugged mountains of Qinghai or Sichuan, it would be one thing, but if they flee to Tibet, things become much more dangerous."
A slightly puzzled voice responded.
"Why? Fleeing abroad would be safer, wouldn't it?"
"Not at all. You're only seeing half the picture. If they hide within our borders, it becomes a matter for the Song Dynasty to resolve, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"But does the Marshal's Office currently have the military strength to defeat them?"
"What are you talking about? The Five Great Marshals are the most powerful military forces!"
A man's smug voice cut in, sounding almost boastful.
"Click, click… Normally, yes, but that's not the case right now. Almost all of the Yulin Army's forces have been deployed to the war with the Khitan. That means there's barely any military power left. The only places with enough Yulin troops are the Northern Frontier Marshal's Office and the Western Frontier Marshal's Office. But rumor has it the Western Frontier isn't on good terms with the Southern Barbarians and has been too occupied with suppressing bandits to spare any troops, so they didn't even participate in the war with the Khitan. That leaves only the Northern Frontier Marshal's Office. But if we pull their 200,000 elite troops, who will handle the fallout if the war with the Khitan takes a turn for the worse?
"And deploying the Township Defense Army? They're not strong enough to deal with the Black Wind Brigade. Besides, would the generals from various camps, already stretched thin from sending most of their forces to the war, want to risk losing the few subordinates they have left? They'd likely turn a blind eye and pretend not to notice.
"But if the brigade flees to Tibet, it's a completely different story. All it takes is putting pressure on Tibet. Threaten war unless they deliver the brigade's heads. Then Tibet will gather its masters to exterminate them, resulting in an even worse situation than if they had stayed in our territory."
Though the man seemed to enjoy showing off, his remarks were met with playful teasing from his sisters.
"Wow! Isn't big brother overdoing it today?"
"Whoa! To think you'd analyze things so thoroughly… I'm impressed!"
"You little brats!"
They were probably siblings. While they kept their voices low, speaking casually among themselves, their conversation couldn't escape Mookhyang's sharp ears. He felt as if meeting them was a stroke of fortune. Based on the man's words, he seemed better informed than Mookhyang and quite thoughtful.
Perfect. I just need to follow that guy.
Unconcerned with Mookhyang's thoughts, their conversation continued. A calm female voice spoke up.
"That's all well and good, but what are you going to do if Father finds out you took a detour?"
"It's fine. What's the worst he'll do? Make me meditate in seclusion for a few days?"
"The problem is us! Oh, by the way, brother, how about this?"
"Do you have a good idea?"
"Since you're already getting punished, you should take the blame for all of us, big brother."
"What did you just say? You little…."
A deliberately sweet and playful voice chimed in.
"Aww, big brother has to take one for the team. Right, sis? Come on, big brother, what's so great about being the eldest if you don't do things like this? I could never survive staring at a wall all day. So, please, big brother, hmm?"
"I can't win against you, can I? Fine, I'll take full responsibility. Everything is my fault. Ugh… I shouldn't have brought you all along…."
"By the way, when are we going to Huanghua Tower?"
"Wow, you really sound like someone who's new to the world…."
"We'll go there after finishing our business."
A whining tone followed.
"Aww, big brother, I really want to see it. I've heard so much about the breathtaking scenery at Huanghua Tower. I heard every martial artist worth their salt has been there!"
"The way you're talking, it sounds like you think anyone who hasn't been there isn't a martial artist."
"Isn't that true? Both you and sis have been there already…."
Then, a calmer, reasoning voice interjected.
"No, it's a beautiful place, but it's also incredibly expensive. It's more frequented by high-ranking officials or the children of wealthy families than martial artists. The scenery here is already well-known in this area, which is why there are so many inns and restaurants nearby. While Qinghai Province is famous for its Yellow River scenery, Gansu Province has plenty of notable sights as well, including this spot."
"Even so, I really want to see Qinghai Lake this time."
"Ugh, even if I promise to show you later… Enough chatter, let's eat. We need to finish up quickly and head out."
"Hmph!"
The siblings hurried through their meal, paid their bill, and rode off on horseback. However, after some time, they realized a dark shadow was following them. A woman in a pale red robe glanced behind her and spoke to the man beside her.
"Big brother… there's someone following us."
"I know."
"You already noticed?"
"Yeah… I didn't realize at first, but after thinking about it, he's been tailing us ever since we left the restaurant."
The woman in a pale blue robe embroidered with a plum blossom design also glanced back and said, "Big brother, are you talking about that man in black?"
"Yes."
The woman in the red robe thought for a moment before speaking.
"Judging by the blade at his waist and his shabby black clothes, he doesn't seem like someone too remarkable. Could he be a government spy eavesdropping on us?"
"Hmm... that sounds acceptable. But you do realize, if no one recognizes you upon arrival, you'll lose your life, right?"
"I've already prepared myself for that."
"Good."
With that, the man lunged forward and struck the pressure point of the man in black. Since the latter had composed himself and offered no resistance, the task was easily accomplished. However, as if still not fully trusting him, the man dashed into the forest, retrieved their horses, and took out a pair of handcuffs from his saddle.
As someone from the orthodox sect, the man often roamed the martial world capturing wrongdoers and turning them over to the authorities. Because of this, he always carried a few pairs of handcuffs, though he hadn't expected to use them in a situation like this. As he fastened the cuffs, he explained:
"These aren't just ordinary steel; they're made of black iron alloy. It's not as durable as profound iron but far sturdier than refined steel. Don't even think about escaping from them."
"I have no intention of trying."
Despite the man in black's calm demeanor, the younger man displayed remarkable experience for his age as he thoroughly searched his saddle and belongings for anything that might be used to send a signal.
All he found in the man's pocket was a coin pouch containing 25 silver taels and 40 copper coins, a plain dagger that was slightly too long to be called a dirk, a small piece of cloth marked with strange characters, a finely carved jade token depicting a lifelike dragon, and a small pouch of salt. Nothing else.
Most martial artists, even those confident in their abilities, don't travel this lightly. Not even a throwing knife? Odd.
As he rifled through the man's sleeves, he asked, puzzled, "Is this really all you have?"
"Why do you ask?"
"In case we can't meet the others quickly, we may have to travel far. I was wondering if you left anything at a nearby inn."
"This is everything. And if carrying weapons bothers you so much, you're welcome to hold onto them until we arrive."
That last comment came as the man inspected the sword sheath for hidden mechanisms. Perhaps distracted, he committed what might have been a grave error—he handed the sword back without checking its blade or the dagger inside.
Had he done so, his perception of the man in black might have changed. The sword was entirely forged from profound iron, a rare and valuable material used only sparingly to reinforce blade edges. Crafting an entire sword from it was unheard of. Nevertheless, as a precaution, he kept the dagger, tucking it into his own saddle.
After finishing the search, they exchanged introductions.
"I apologize for the thorough inspection. This matter requires the utmost confidentiality, and I couldn't trust you entirely at first. Please forgive me for the discourtesy."
"It doesn't matter much to me."
"I am Chou Woo, known as the Calm Sword. These are Chou Yeon and Chou Hee."
"My name is Mookhyang. I have no title, so simply call me that."
"Forgive me for saying this on a first meeting, but it's an unusual name."
"Haha, well… I don't even know who my parents were, so I have no surname. Just Mookhyang. Until recently, I was stuck with the ridiculous name Gukgwang due to unavoidable circumstances. Incidentally, the Black Wind Brigade knows me only by that name, so if you meet them first, use it."
Two names, huh? Suspicious. I'd better keep a closer eye on him.
Chou Hee had been feeling increasingly uneasy ever since a new traveling companion had joined their group. Why uneasy? Well, at 22 years old, she was teetering on the edge of being considered a spinster. As someone making her first foray into the martial world, she had secretly hoped to meet many impressive men on this journey. Perhaps, if the opportunity arose, she could even find a potential partner for the future.
Having grown up as a cherished daughter of a prominent martial family, she had lived a sheltered life with little interaction with outsiders. The only man she had regular contact with was her brother, which made her current situation all the more unfortunate.
And yet… now she found herself accompanied by a man—one she could only describe as an amusing creature.
"So, you're saying you're a master of martial arts?" she asked, skeptical.
Her companion responded with a proud grin.
"Of course! You could say there's hardly anyone in this world stronger than me."
That's absurd!
"And such an incredible master must have a prestigious sect. Which sect are you from?"
"My sect isn't really important. Let's not dwell on that," he deflected. "Just thinking about them lately makes my blood boil, so I'd rather not mention their name."
Sensing his evasiveness, Chou Hee pressed further.
"Are you not on good terms with your sect?"
"You could say that. They seem to want to kill me whenever they see me."
"Were you expelled?"
"No, wait. Now that I think about it, I wasn't expelled."
"Then who is your master?"
"Yoo Baek. Though I have no idea if he's still alive."
Yoo Baek? Never heard of him. Guess there's only one way to check…
"Then what's your ultimate skill?"
"Hmm. I wouldn't call it ultimate, but I specialize in sword techniques. My forte is the Supreme Swordsmanship."
What a ridiculous and unheard-of name for a sword style.
"And aside from that? What other martial arts have you learned?"
"Other than that? Countless techniques."
"How many, exactly?"
"About… ten thousand, give or take. I've lost count."
This is getting more absurd by the moment…
"Surely among all those techniques, some must be particularly powerful. Could you name a few?"
"Hm... the Shura Moon Blade Technique, the Celestial Blood Dragon Sword Art, the Bare-Handed Demon Technique, the Blood Hand Demon Technique, the Whirlwind Willow Sword Style, the Six Union Sword Technique, the Supreme Sword Technique, the Void Dragon Crossing Sword Art..."
Oh, come on! He's just rattling off every famous martial art from both the orthodox and unorthodox sects. This is ridiculous...
As the list of sword techniques continued, Chou Hee could no longer tolerate it. She interrupted him sharply.
"Enough... That's enough. My father has a very close relationship with the Kunlun Sect, and by chance, I was taught a bit of the Void Dragon Crossing Sword Art. If you really know it, then recite the incantation for me."
"The incantation? Wait... what was that again?" He chuckled awkwardly. "Heh, I've forgotten. I've memorized so many things that it's hard to keep track. But, to be honest, the incantation isn't the important part."
Once again, the man dodged the question, and Chou Hee pressed him further.
"Then, is there a martial art you can confidently recite the incantation for?"
"Let me think... It's not this one... hmm... not this either... uh, well, it's been so long that I can't really recall any of it..."
Ugh, and he expects me to trust him? This is too much...