The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

“Haap!”

Neung Ji-pyeong gave a strong shout.

Then, he fiercely struck the Heavenly Echo Drum with his fist, a secret technique of the Wudang Sect.

Teng!

The sound was better than a mere ‘thud.’

However, it was still undoubtedly weak.

Instead of scolding or stopping Neung Ji-pyeong, Myung Won and Jang Hyun actually encouraged him.

“Try hitting it with your inner power. I’ve tried it long ago as well.”

“Yes!”

With renewed spirit, Neung Ji-pyeong clenched his fist tightly.

Though a swordsman, he was no fist master.

But perhaps due to his intense fervor, a faint aura of fist energy rose from his tightly clenched fist.

“Haah!”

Teeng!

A similar sound echoed again.

Clearly, what was truly remarkable was the strength of the Heavenly Echo Drum.

The drum was not wrapped in ordinary leather. It couldn’t be ordinary if it didn’t tear even under a fist charged with fist energy.

“It’s too early to be disappointed,” advised Sage Jang Hyun.

“The important thing is not the Qi but the mind. The Heavenly Echo Drum is such an object. While the drumstick is special, it’s just an object too. Perhaps the Heavenly Echo Drum might respond to your heart.”

Neung Ji-pyeong closed his eyes tightly at those words.

How could his heart not be earnest?

He filled his tightly clenched fist with willpower. Perhaps because of the Qi swirling through his body, his pores tightened, making his beard bristle and his hair shiver.

Myung Won and Jang Hyun sighed without even realizing it.

Then, what about Yi-gang?

He too was watching Neung Ji-pyeong.

「It’s clearly not working.」

‘Regrettable.’

Yi-gang seemed to have the deepest knowledge about the Treasure.

The drumstick and the Heavenly Echo Drum seemed to be a pair of Treasures. It’s unlikely that they can be overcome by the power of will alone.

“Haahhhh!”

Pff!

Still, no sound came out.

Yi-gang watched Neung Ji-pyeong slump and then turned to look at Zhang Sanfeng.

‘The Sage did the same thing.’

「Embarrassing as it may be, that’s true. I once secluded myself in the mountains to refine my martial arts, as they kept calling me from the sect.」

Zhang Sanfeng shared his past experiences.

He didn’t intend to destroy the Heavenly Echo Drum but admitted to taking a drumstick.

‘It seems you had quite the temper.’

「Cough… Well, it was all meaningless in the end. I made another drumstick in less than half a year.」

It seemed that the Wudang Sect of that time was better at handling Treasures than now, at least capable of making a drumstick.

But what surprised Yi-gang wasn’t that.

An important detail was hidden in Zhang Sanfeng’s words.

‘You made another one?’

「Yes, it’s not an easy task and takes a long time, but if you want to know how to make one…」

‘No, there’s no time to listen. If there’s another one, where is that drumstick?’

If there had been another drumstick, Myung Won and Jang Hyun wouldn’t have made Neung Ji-pyeong suffer like this.

At least Myung Won and Jang Hyun seemed unaware of it.

「It’s like the saying, the darkest place is under the candlestick—I used that proverb.」

Zhang Sanfeng’s finger pointed to a particular spot in this pavilion.

Yi-gang’s eyes widened.

‘Are you saying it’s hidden in the floor?’

「Unless someone has already taken it out. I hid the drumstick by opening the floor at that spot.」

The floor of this pavilion was laid with stone slabs.

「Even so, it would be impossible to break or damage the drumstick. I’ve kept it well preserved, haha.」

It was fortunate for Neung Ji-pyeong.

Yi-gang looked closely at the stone slabs on the floor.

Over time, the gaps between the slabs had become clogged with dirt and dust.

‘How do we get it out?’

「What’s there to worry about? There’s a space under the slab, so just break it and take it out.」

Zhang Sanfeng spoke with satisfaction, but Yi-gang was uneasy.

‘That’s not the point. If I suddenly break the floor and take out the drumstick, how will those people view me?’

「…Ah.」

‘It won’t be easy to just gloss over.’

Yi-gang had shocked those around him countless times before.

It was due to the status and aura that Yi-gang possessed.

At least on the surface, Yi-gang was an extraordinary young man. He suffered from the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, was an honor flower disciple of the Azure Forest, and was the eldest son of the Baek Noble Clan.

With his unusual appearance and an aloofness that did not match his age, people could only marvel at whatever Yi-gang managed to do.

However, even in front of the current and former sect leader of the Wudang Sect, one could not simply pass by after hearing the exclamation ‘Truly the Immortal Divine Dragon!’

“Excuse me, is there only one drumstick?”

Yi-gang casually broached the subject.

“There was one more made previously, but it has been lost for a long time. The method to make the drumstick has also been forgotten, so there’s no answer.”

It seemed the only way was to open the stone slab and retrieve the drumstick inside.

Yi-gang racked his brain desperately.

Could there be a way to discover the drumstick naturally?

A flash of insight struck him.

“Ahem, hmm, this place is fascinating.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Myung Won showed interest at Yi-gang’s muttering.

“I mean this pavilion. Its design seems unique.”

“Unique?”

“The sound differs with every step.”

“Hmm?”

Myung Won furrowed his brows.

All the masters present were skilled in light footwork, so their steps were light and regular.

Therefore, they likely did not sense anything unusual.

“Look at this.”

Yi-gang made his footsteps heavier as he walked.

Thud, thud, thud, the sound of the footsteps resonated.

「Ah, could that be…」

Zhang Sanfeng seemed to have slightly caught on to Yi-gang’s intentions.

As Yi-gang walked, he naturally headed towards the spot that Zhang Sanfeng had pointed out.

He thought that if there was a hollow space, the sound of the footsteps would surely be different.

Then he might find an excuse to look under the floor.

“The sound is different like this…”

Yi-gang stepped down hard.

Thud.

However, the sound was not much different from before.

“…It’s not different, is it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It must have been my mistake.”

Yi-gang returned to his spot without showing any sign of embarrassment.

「The stone slab is inherently thick, and the fact that there’s space underneath makes no difference.」

‘You should have told me earlier.’

「I didn’t say anything because it seemed like it would be interesting to watch. Euhahaha!」

He laughed heartily, though it’s not funny at all.

Yi-gang clenched his fist absentmindedly.

“Sigh, it seems impossible. Let’s go down first. If it still doesn’t work, you can search Mount Wudang. Although, you probably won’t find the Master,” said Sage Jang Hyun.

Neung Ji-pyeong nodded gloomily.

It looked as if they might leave their seats at any moment.

At that instant.

Yi-gang’s chest twitched, trembling.

It wasn’t because he had thought of a great idea that made his heart tremble.

Rather, it was the opposite. His heart trembled, and that made him think of a method.

‘Yes…!’

Inside the robe Yi-gang was wearing, there was a pocket sewn in.

It wasn’t for anything else, but for carrying Cheongho.

Cheongho, perhaps bored, poked her head out.

Yi-gang picked up the Cheongho with both hands.

Then, he shouted in a voice loud enough for the other party members to hear.

“Why? Have you found something?”

Cheongho blinked her eyes only.

“You sensed something strange!”

“What’s the matter!”

Jang Hyun and Myung Won showed interest.

They too knew that Cheongho who was in Yi-gang’s hands was not an ordinary animal.

It was called a yokai, but Cheongho was a being with a mysterious energy that was not clearly distinguishable from a spiritual creature.

“It seems Cheongho has found something.”

“Found something? What!”

At Jang Hyun’s question, Yi-gang first petted Cheongho as if she had done something commendable.

“So, which way?”

Cheongho seemed pleased to be praised, as her two tails swayed back and forth.

Yi-gang gestured desperately with his eyes.

Cheongho tilted her head, not sure whether she understood or not.

“What on earth is going on!”

“Just wait a moment, please.”

“These days, the young ones…”

Jang Hyun grumbled.

Yi-gang, regardless, continued to communicate with gestures.

Over there, go over there.

「Even though it has inherited the blood of a great yokai, it’s not too young to understand words… Wow!」

Contrary to Zhang Sanfeng’s expectations, Cheongho did not disappoint Yi-gang.

Cheongho went in the direction Yi-gang indicated with his eyes and made a scratching gesture on the floor.

“Cheongho seems to have found something.”

“Found something?”

“Let’s go see.”

Cheongho scratched at the floor as if she was a squirrel that had buried an acorn.

Yi-gang persuaded Jang Hyun and Myung Won.

Amazed by the two-tailed fox, they followed Yi-gang’s suggestion to lift the stone slab.

And indeed, just as Zhang Sanfeng said, there was a drumstick hidden underneath.

“Can such a clever thing really happen!”

Jang Hyun and Myung Won were amazed, and Neung Ji-pyeong was moved.

Yi-gang lifted Cheongho high in appreciation for perfectly understanding his words.

Cheongho seemed proud of what she had accomplished.

“I don’t know why the drumstick was hidden here, but truly, it is a remarkable spiritual creature.”

“You were embracing a great opportunity!”

Praise for Cheongho came from all around.

「The young master’s mind turns very quickly.」

‘Is that so?’

If Yi-gang did something suspicious, people could interrogate him thoroughly, but it’s not appropriate to ask a yokai how it found something.

Yi-gang’s acting had perfectly succeeded.

「Your acting is a bit clumsy, so perhaps not cut out to be an artist. Euhahaha.」

‘…’

However, to Zhang Sanfeng, it seemed rather contrived…

The Heavenly Echo Drum was there, and the drumstick was ready.

Simply striking the drum was not enough.

The drumstick was now in the hands of Sage Jang Hyun.

Neung Ji-pyeong and the other party members took a step back, watching Jang Hyun.

“Then, I will call the retired elders here. This is not due to a crisis of extinction but rather to retrieve the deeds the Wudang has spread into the world.”

After these strangely defining words, Jang Hyun swung the drumstick.

Neung Ji-pyeong focused his mind.

Yi-gang beside him seemed to be on alert as well.

They were curious about what the sound that would spread across all of Mount Wudang would be like.

Perhaps it would be like the sound of thunder.

However, when the drumstick struck the drum.

…

There was no sound at all.

Jang Hyun struck the drum a second time.

…

It was not just a feint.

The drumstick definitely hit the leather. The vibration was visible.

…

But only a faint tapping sound could be heard, making Neung Ji-pyeong feel as if he was haunted.

Out of a sudden hunch, he turned his head to look at Yi-gang.

“…!”

Yi-gang was different.

He was frowning and covering his ears.

The hair on his forearms was visibly standing on end. It was clear that Yi-gang was hearing something.

Jang Hyun struck the drum a total of five times.

“Phew, it seems the priest can hear it.”

“…It’s very hard to hear.”

“That’s how it spreads far. I heard you were suffering from meridian blockage disease… indeed, it’s impressive. You’re not even a monk who has mastered Divine Ear.”

Jang Hyun was surprised that Yi-gang could hear the sound.

As Neung Ji-pyeong looked puzzled, he chuckled and said, “Do you know of a bird called a ‘thunderbird’? Those are the ones that…”

“I’m not sure.”

“They emit sounds that are hard for humans to hear. Very low, almost like thunder.”

“Such creatures exist.”

“Yes, just the cry of a single thunderbird can be heard for miles. That’s the principle behind the Heavenly Echo Drum. Those who can hear it, can hear it from afar.”

He didn’t clearly understand.

Neither Neung Ji-pyeong nor Jang Hyun knew it was related to infrasound. Only Yi-gang could roughly guess the principle.

And truly, the sound of the Heavenly Echo Drum had spread throughout all of Mount Wudang.

“They’re coming.”

Down below, a cloud of dust rose high.

From there, someone as small as a flea jumped up and then charged forward with fierce momentum.

“Seeing such a flashy movement technique, it must be the Master.”

Jang Hyun confirmed that it was Su Ryong-ja.

The problem was in an unexpected place.

“…It’s not just one or two.”

Yi-gang noticed.

It wasn’t just one or two people running towards the sound of the Heavenly Echo Drum.

“Those who can hear it are all coming, I guess. Chuckle.”

The reclusive masters of Mount Wudang were heading to South Rock Palace.

Not long after—

They began to show their faces.