Episode 10 — The Token of Cheonglim (1)
Though the world was full of masters, few could truly be called superhuman, those who had surpassed the limits of mortal flesh.
Among such these superhumans, only a handful stood at the very top — the Abbot of Shaolin, the Sword Sovereign of Wudang, and among them, the Lord of the Forest, master of Cheongnim.
Cheonglim was the Taoist sect he led — a sect said to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nine Great Sects, yet rarely seen wandering the martial world. Only those recognized by the sect could leave the forest, and they never meddled in political strife between sects. For that reason, though a great sect, Cheongrim remained cloaked in mystery.
That was why it was so surprising that the Immortal Divine Sword had ties with them.
“Reading many books is fine, but remember — the real world exists outside their pages. The men of Cheonglim are still human; they roam as freely as others. I once stayed among them.”
‘I’ve never heard that before.’
“…I did not tell the clan. At that time, they sought my aid — and only a martial artist of my level could have fulfilled it.”
Lee kang recalled the knowledge he had. Cheongrim was already powerful during the Immortal Divine Sword’s lifetime — why would they need help from an outsider?
But the Sword said nothing more.
“In return, they gave me a token. They said if I ever presented it, Cheongrim would grant one request.”
A token imbued with Cheongrim’s promise — rarer than any treasure.
‘Then why didn’t you keep such a thing within the clan?’
“It was not something to leave in an ordinary place. You’ll understand when you see it, so don’t be difficult, my descendant.”
The Sword had sealed the token in a shrine in the western marketplace — a place bustling with people.
“Brother, is it this way?”
Lee kang turned to Baek Hajun, who was chewing on candy. The boy now looked suitably scruffy — hair messy, face smeared with dirt, clothes soiled. His jewel-encrusted sword was wrapped in cloth, making him look every bit a beggar. When I-gang had bought him sweets, his earlier sulking had vanished.
“Yeah. Tastes good?”
“Mhm.”
It was Hajun’s first time out in the marketplace. Like a country boy seeing the city for the first time, he couldn’t stop marveling at everything.
“Wait… my clothes are filthy. What’ll I do when we return home?”
“You’re thinking that already?”
I-gang chuckled. Even if Hajun didn’t realize it, once he left the clan, they’d surely notice. He had left a letter behind to prevent panic.
“It’s always easier to ask forgiveness than permission. A few lashings won’t kill you.”
“Lashings…?”
“You’ve never been punished before?”
Hajun’s face paled. He clearly dreaded it.
“Don’t worry. I told them I forced you to come.”
“But then you’ll get scolded!”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
Before Hajun could get sentimental again, Lee kang stuffed more candy into his mouth.
They made their way through the busy market as the Sword’s voice guided him.
“There was a pond nearby… yes, and the magistrate’s office that way… the shrine should be in this direction.”
‘You said it was a shrine, but this is the most crowded part of town.’
“It honored the god of wealth. It’s only natural business would flourish around it.”
A Cheongrim token hidden in a shrine to the god of wealth — how ironic.
“Brother, you really know the way!”
Following Lee kang through the winding alleys, Hajun looked up in awe.
“Do you think it’s really there — the Immortal Divine Sword’s relic?”
“I lived in his old manor, remember? I found mention of it in a book there.”
“Shouldn’t we tell Father?”
“And have them take it away? No thanks.”
“We should handle this ourselves.”
“Right! It’s the Immortal Divine Sword’s relic, after all.”
Since hearing that name, Hajun’s eyes had shone with admiration.
“You really admire him that much?”
“Of course! He was the greatest martial artist in our family’s history!”
“Hah! Unlike his brother, that boy’s sharp and spirited!”
‘Just find the path, would you?’
“Patience! Turn right up ahead.”
Finally, they found it — or rather, what was left of it.
Before them stood not an ancient shrine but a five-story restaurant, grand and opulent. The scent of incense had long been replaced by that of roasted meat and wine.
“Is… the relic inside that?”
Lee kang stared wordlessly.
‘You sure this is the place?’
“Ahem. I am. A hundred years changes many things, it seems.”
‘Looks like they tore the shrine down.’
“No — it’s still there. Hidden within.”
The Sword inhaled deeply, as if sniffing the air.
“The shrine and the token are both still inside.”
‘And how can you be so sure?’
“No fool greedy for wealth would dare destroy the god of wealth’s shrine.”
Lee kang looked up at the signboard —
“Golden First Pavilion (黃金第一樓).”
A fitting name for such a place.
“Let’s go in.”
Hajun flinched. “We’re actually going in?”
There was no turning back now. Even if they got caught, punishment was inevitable — better to make this worth it.
As they approached, a burly doorman glared.
“Beat it, you beggar brats! No handouts here!”
Both boys indeed looked like street urchins — a disguise to avoid attention, though it now backfired.
“If the shrine’s here, it’ll be on the first floor somewhere.”
‘A place like this might have an indoor garden.’
“So, how do we get in? I recommend sneaking through the back — reminds me of when I infiltrated the cult of chaos…”
The doorman barked again. “Hey! Deaf, are you?”
Lee kang ignored him and glanced at Hajun — whose eyes were already cold, hand gripping his wrapped sword.
“Hey!” the doorman sneered. “I’ll count to three! One—”
Before Hajun could react, I-gang whispered, “Don’t draw unless I say so. And today, you won’t need to.”
“Two—!”
Lee kang tousled Hajun’s hair and stepped forward.
At “Three—!”, he flicked something from his sleeve. A small silver ingot struck the man’s nose and fell into his palm.
“Wh—what the…”
The man blinked. “A… silver ingot?”
His expression flickered — greed, suspicion, then hesitation.
Before he could question them, Lee kang’s tone dropped cold.
“What are you waiting for? Lead the way.”
Something in his voice made the man’s spine stiffen.
“Prepare the finest room, the richest dishes, and the rarest wine. That is your duty, is it not?”
Even his walk exuded quiet authority.
The doorman swallowed hard. “Y-yes, sir. Right this way…”
Soon they were seated in the best private room on the first floor, beside a small indoor garden — and beyond that, what remained of the shrine.
The waiter bowed low. “Our chef’s specialty is Golden Fish Soup with Yellow Croaker.”
“Good. Bring that — and a roasted duck.”
The waiter brightened when I-gang handed him three more silver pieces.
“But bring them later,” Lee kang added. “We’ve much to discuss. Return in two hours.”
“Yes, sir!”
When the waiter left, I-gang rose.
“Let’s go.”
“Eh? But the food—”
“I told him to delay it for a reason.”
“Ah… right.”
Lee kang sighed. Smart kid, but naive.
He opened the door quietly — no one in sight. The small shrine was right beyond the garden.
Inside stood a statue of the wealth god, Guan Yu, with offerings long since burned to ash.
“Let’s check inside.”
He entered and scanned the worn floor.
“Is the relic really here?”
“Underneath.”
“Look behind the statue.”
At the Sword’s guidance, Lee kang crouched and inspected the base. One patch of stone was unusually polished — as if something had rubbed against it countless times.
“Pull it.”
He did — and heard the rattle of hidden chains.
Grinding stone echoed.
A section of the floor slid aside, revealing a dark hole large enough for a person.
“Wow…” Hajun gasped.
Such hidden mechanisms were far from ordinary. His admiration deepened.
“Hmph! It’s me he should be admiring, not you!”
“Let’s go.”
“Wait, I’ll go first.”
He unwrapped his sword, lit a candle, and leapt down without hesitation — landing softly.
“See anything?”
“It’s… too dark—whoa!”
“Hajun!”
“W-wait, brother—!”
Something startled him enough to almost break his usual composure. Lee kang didn’t hesitate — he jumped in after him, landing without a sound.
“Well, well…”
The Sword chuckled.
“The boy’s movements — light as wind. He’s truly mastered the art of weightlessness. Remarkable.”
Unable to suppress his praise, the Immortal Divine Sword followed them down into the darkness.
