Book 20 Chapter 7

Where do you think Machangak is located?

"I don't know, guest."

Another institution that rivals Baekdo's Cheonmu Academy, Machangak. Its location was shrouded in an astonishingly ambiguous fog, considering its fame. With such renown, it would naturally be known by everyone, but whenever one tries to confirm it, it disappears behind a fog of ambiguity.

'Where do you think Machangak is located?'

If you were to stop a passing martial artist and ask this question, ten out of ten would imagine a massive black fortress hidden away deep in a remote, secluded mountain valley in the borderlands. However, this is an answer that can only arise from a lack of understanding of the ways of the dark path. While it might sound plausible if one were to lubricate their rusty brain, which they've only used a handful of times in their life, and churn it a bit, one can quickly realize how far removed it is from reality – a product of 'mental tradition.'

Those on the dark path are those who pursue profit through violence. For that, they need targets, and it's only natural that human traces are rarely found in the remote borderlands. In short, the mobility of the population is extremely low, making the market extremely unfavorable. If it were a prestigious sect of the white path, which outwardly shows no interest in profit and can secure legal high returns by lending out farmland or employing tenant farmers as a landowner, it might be able to survive by hiding in deep mountains and clear waters, chewing on roots. However, a dark path faction whose primary source of income is illegal operations absolutely cannot do so. They were individuals who pursued power and gold rather than noble spirit or knowledge. Therefore, dark path factions would naturally prefer the heart of bustling cities where they can seize the greatest profit opportunities, rather than remote mountain valleys.

In the world of the night, turf wars are always brutal and fierce. However, securing a good spot, a so-called prime location that can rake in money like a rake, also symbolizes the faction's power, so no one easily gives up. When they establish their base, they always—almost always, in fact—present a disguised identity upfront. The fact that a surprisingly large number of people involved in the dark path are engaged in commerce stems from this. Accommodation, liquor, horse trading, and the oldest profession, prostitution. It's no exaggeration to say there are almost no professions they don't dabble in.

Therefore, it would not be a grave mistake if Machangak, a place for educating the descendants of the dark path, were located on Dongting Lake, which has a very high population mobility, is always bustling due to its reputation as a tourist destination, and is a key point for water transportation. Yeongnyeong's arrival here with the two maids, Monghwan and Sangmu, was by no means for tourism, but because Machangak was located here. However, a problem arose as soon as they arrived.

"Yes, what did you say?"

"I said I don't know, guest."

"No, how can you possibly not know? How can you not know such a large place?"

"But this is the first time I've heard the name Machangak. If I don't know, what can I do?"

"Unbelievable…"

Mongmu's jaw dropped. How many times had they been out of luck already! It wasn't just here.

"I don't know."

"Really? Was there such a place?"

"This is the first I'm hearing of it!"

Every time they asked about Machangak's location, the answers fell into one of these four categories.

"That's strange, young lady. Why does no one know? Machangak is supposed to be a very famous place, isn't it?"

Mongmu, after a long argument, returned and tilted her head as if it were strange.

"Indeed, it is strange. But if you think about it differently, it might not be strange at all."

"Differently? How so?"

Mongmu asked again, not understanding the implied meaning.

"They don't truly not know. They are all just hiding it… like this."

"In other words, they know but are pretending not to know!"

"That's right. Isn't that the choice of those who are not part of the martial arts world but are influenced by it?"

Yeongnyeong kindly explained her conjecture in detail.

"So, you mean they are deceiving us right now?"

Mongmu, provoked, exclaimed in a sharp voice.

"Mmph…"

Since they were in the middle of the street, and many people were watching, Yeongnyeong quickly covered the maid's mouth with her hand.

"Why are you shouting like that? You startled me."

"I am truly ashamed as a fellow being, young lady! If you wish, I will sew this one's mouth shut right away."

Hwanmu said one word as if finding it truly pathetic.

"Ubu bubub!"

Mongmu protested.

"Why are you getting so worked up over something like that? That's likely the rule. An unwritten rule that exists outside the law, sometimes above the law. A dark rule (暗規) that, if broken, will inevitably lead to force. We outsiders cannot argue about such dark rules. Besides, it's possible they genuinely don't know where it is."

"That's another thing I can't understand, young lady."

As soon as Yeongnyeong removed her hand, Mongmu said, pouting.

"That's because you're too stupid to understand, Mongmu. Odd."

A merciless remark from Hwanmu shot out from the side. Mongmu, provoked, shouted back.

"What? So, you understood it then?"

"Of course. It means that the mouths of these commoners can be controlled sufficiently by a proxy without needing to act directly. Odd."

"That's what it means."

Yeongnyeong expressed full agreement with Hwanmu's interpretation.

"But Machangak is one of the largest organizations in the dark path, isn't it? Including the students, the resident staff alone would easily exceed a thousand people. How can such a large place be hidden?"

Mongmu, finding herself alone as the fool for a moment, seemed desperate to escape that position.

"Have you forgotten where we are?"

"Dongting Lake."

Mongmu replied in a sulky voice.

"Then what kind of place is Dongting Lake?"

"It's a place with a lot of water. And it's incredibly vast. For a lake, this might be the only place you can see the horizon."

"Yes, it's an incredibly large and vast place. So vast it might seem like the sea has been moved here."

"So, what you're saying is…"

Only then did Mongmu seem to grasp the idea.

"Yes. If I wanted to secretly establish a base, I couldn't find a better place than here. If one were to nest somewhere in that vast lake, it would be extremely difficult to intrude upon it, unless one had wings like a water bird or fins like a fish."

"Then what should we do? Should we try swimming?"

"If drowning is your dream, that would be fine. But let's wait a little longer. I have no intention of becoming lunch for the fish yet. First, we need to find a place to stay."

"Should I go and find out now?"

"No. As we came, I saw an inn named the Illusionary Guest House. Let's check in there first and have a light meal."

"Wow~ food."

Mongmu, who had coincidentally become hungry, welcomed it with both hands raised. It seemed she had completely forgotten the scolding she had just received.

"Mongmu, you're so tactless!"

Hwanmu shot her one remark.

"Mind your own business!"

Mongmu retorted, sticking out her tongue.

"Now, now, stop fighting and let's go. It'll be dark soon."

Yeongnyeong stopped the two maids, whose argument was threatening to spread like wildfire. Having seen this scene countless times on their way here, it was now a familiar sight.

"Yes, young lady."

The two stopped bickering and replied in unison.