TWSV 12

Chapter :12

The Weakest Under Heaven Village

“Please tell me. What were the clan leader’s last known whereabouts?”                                                           

“…!”

It felt like a lump of iron had dropped onto everyone’s shoulders.

Such pressure, without the slightest warning.

What was worse — even now, not a trace of aura could be felt from the Ten Dragon Emblem Bearer.

“Re… Reverse Spirit Suppression…!”

Everyone present was a well-known expert of the martial world — masters in both name and deed.

There wasn’t a single person here who failed to realize it now — that the one called Gang Yu was no mere errand boy.

So he wasn’t just some messenger…!

Up until a moment ago, the Namgung elders had treated Gang Yu with polite formality, nothing more.

But now that they had witnessed his transcendent martial level, their eyes were different.

The Ten Dragon Emblems (十龍牌) —
a legend they had thought no more than a myth — now pulsed with the weight of reality before their very eyes.

“Why is everyone silent? I asked you — where was the clan leader’s last known location?”

And just as suddenly as it had come, the pressure vanished.

Namgung Gu, breathing deeply, rose from his seat.

This time, he did not glance around for approval.

He, more than anyone here, was in a position to help.

“The clan leader’s last known location was Soho. But before that — there’s something you should see.”

Namgung Gu left the room and returned carrying a wooden box about two hand-spans long.

Inside was a rolled-up scroll.

“This arrived at the Clan Leader’s Pavilion on the very day he disappeared.
From the contents, we concluded that he left the estate afterward.”

Gang Yu unrolled the scroll.

At the center of the wide parchment, only two characters were written.

The very word Namgung Gu had just mentioned.

『Soho (巢湖).』

Gang Yu asked,
“Soho? What’s that?”

“Soho is a freshwater lake near Hefei. It’s a fishing ground for locals, but it’s better known as a tourist attraction.”

“I see.”

Namgung Gu went on to explain the circumstances of the disappearance.

They had searched the entire lake area as the message indicated, but it was far too vast — no trace was found.

The sender of the message remained unidentified.

Even the inspection of the Pavilion’s intake records by the General Affairs Office had yielded nothing so far.

In short —
despite the long explanation, the summary was simple.

“So basically, you don’t know anything except that the clan leader vanished?”

“I… I’m afraid that’s correct.”

Gang Yu clicked his tongue.

“Tch. Then why say you could help if this was all you had?”

“M-my apologies…”

Gang Yu looked again at the scroll.

“So, you searched Soho, but it’s too large and you found nothing?”

“That’s right.”

“And this scroll is the only lead you’ve got?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmm.”

Gang Yu’s eyes spun lightly in thought.

“When did the clan leader leave?”

“About half a month ago. We realized he was missing four days after that.”

“Hmm. Then it’s cutting it close.”

“Cutting what close…?”

Without answering, Gang Yu suddenly pressed his nose to the scroll — and sniffed.

“Sniff, sniff.”

“W-what are you doing…?”

Still smelling the scroll, Gang Yu said,

“This is the only lead, right? Then we have to do whatever it takes to find something.”

“You’re… trying to smell out a clue?”

The Ten Dragon Emblem Bearer answered seriously,

“There’s this old man Baek in our village who makes medicine. One of the herbs he uses is hard to find, so we track it by scent. He made me do it since I was a kid — so I’m pretty good at smelling things. Sniff sniff.”

“An… herb?”

“Yeah. Grows underground. Flesh white as snow, shaped just like a person. That one.”

“…?”

The elders tilted their heads.

The description didn’t quite match the bellflower root (doraji) they knew.

A root growing underground, flesh white as snow, shaped like a human body…

That could only mean one thing — the Human-Shaped Snow Ginseng (人形雪蔘), a transcendent spiritual root born of condensed earth energy.

“You mean… you can track a Human-Shaped Snow Ginseng by smell?”

“Human-Shaped Snow Ginseng? Is that also a kind of herb?”

“Eh? But you just said you can smell out ginseng—”

“When did I say that? I said bellflower root!”

“Huh?”

“Have you ever seen ginseng before?”

“…”

They were members of the Namgung Clan — one of the Five Great Martial Houses.
Of course they’d seen ginseng before.

Gang Yu went on.

“Ginseng looks kinda like bellflower root, but way bigger. Even the smallest one’s twenty times the size. And they have tons of flowers on their heads — purple, red, yellow, green, white… they even glow at night. And they run really fast.”

…What?

“R-run?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re saying ginseng can run fast?”

“I’m telling you, they do! They’re tiny, but lightning quick. If they burrow into the ground, that’s it — you’ve lost ‘em. That’s ginseng for you.”

“…”

What nonsense was this?

No matter how mystical a Human-Shaped Ginseng might be, it was still just a plant.

A plant that could run?

Unless he was talking about the mythical Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, said to gain sentience after ten thousand years…

But that was just folktale stuff — children’s bedtime stories.

What a ridiculous joke…

Perhaps the boy wasn’t as good with humor as he was with martial arts.

“Ha… haha! R-right! Of course!”

Everyone laughed politely, though their smiles were forced.

Only Gang Yu remained completely serious.

“Could you all be quiet? I’m trying to focus.”

“…”

He closed his eyes and concentrated on his sense of smell.

The scent of paper. Ink. The silk wrapping around the scroll. The wooden plug sealing its end. The scent of the chest it was kept in.
The scent of the man who’d handed it to him.
The scent of the elders around him.

All ordinary smells — until one unfamiliar note broke through the mix.

A faintly alien scent. Out of place, but strangely familiar.

Where have I smelled this before…?

Not in Jangbaek Valley.
Not here in the Namgung estate.
Not in Jilin.
Not even when he was with his master…

“Ah.”

Gang Yu’s eyes opened as memory clicked.

He turned to the others.

“Do any of you know something that smells metallic — mixed with a bit of grass and soil — and comes as a red powder? Not just red, but bright, bloody red.”

Metallic, earthy, grassy… red powder?

Vague, yet oddly specific.

One elder asked, “Hard to tell from that alone. Do you at least know what it’s used for?”

“I saw a mountain climber sprinkle it on a lynx once. The white lynx’s whole face turned red from the stuff.”

“You saw someone throw it on a lynx?”

“Yup.”

The elders exchanged looks.

The description fit one thing perfectly.

Cinnabar Dust (朱砂粉塵).

It was sometimes used to scare off wild beasts — but why use it on a lynx?

“It sounds like you’re describing cinnabar dust.”

“That red powder’s called cinnabar dust?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“And it’s used for lynxes?”

Another elder shook his head.

“Usually for protection in the mountains, or occasionally as a medicine — but it’s quite toxic. It’s mainly used as an ingredient in talismans.”

“Talismans?”

“Yes.”

“Huh.”

Weird.
The talismans he knew didn’t work like that.

But that wasn’t important right now.

He had to find the clan leader fast — return the item, collect his payment, and get back to his errands for the villagers.

Maybe even find a job as a porter along the way.

Time was short.

He raised his fingers, counting.

“So — the scroll says Soho, and the scent is from this cinnabar dust used for talismans.
Anything that connects those two?”

Namgung Gu hesitated.

“You… truly smelled that on the scroll?”

“Yup. Told you so.”

“…”

That scroll was the only clue they had.

They had already used trained sniffer dogs on it — to no avail.

The dogs had gone in circles, unable to pick up any trail.

But this boy — this person — could?

Unbelievable.

His senses were beyond comprehension.

“There is something that comes to mind,” Namgung Gu said, raising a hand.

Cinnabar dust. Talismans. Soho.

It clicked immediately.

“As I said, Soho’s a fishing hub — but the northeastern shore is a tourist spot. Young couples flock there, so it’s filled with fortune-telling stalls. Practically a whole street devoted to love readings.”

The elders caught on at once.

“Right, I’ve heard that. More fortune-tellers than tourists up there.”

“And of course — that area consumes the most cinnabar dust in all of Anhui.”

Everyone agreed.

That settled it.

Gang Yu stood up and headed straight for the door.

“Show me the way.”

Namgung Gu, the outer hall’s chief, stepped forward.

“I’ll guide you.”

But before he could take a step, two slender arms reached toward him — as if asking to be carried.

Namgung Gu chuckled awkwardly.

“I am quite capable of— wha-WAAAAAHHH!”

And then he was gone —
vanishing into the sky.

An elder gasped.

“That level of lightness skill… at that age…!”

Namgung Gu’s scream echoed across Tianju Mountain.

Gang Yu soared through the air, Namgung Gu clinging to his neck as forests and rivers blurred beneath them.

They were high — terrifyingly so.

Namgung Gu squeezed his eyes shut and gripped tighter.

So much for dignity — that could wait for another day.

Years of martial cultivation meant nothing in this moment.

“Eeeeek!”

And after what felt like forever—

“Is this the place?”

“Huff… huff… Y-yes. It is… huff…”

A journey that would normally take a full day and night had taken barely an hour.

Namgung Gu panted, drenched in sweat, while Gang Yu stood perfectly composed — not even breathing hard.

Reverse Spirit Suppression… shadowless movement… monstrous stamina… even his nose… what is this creature?

Before them stretched a vast lake, dotted with fishing boats.

Laughter drifted from larger pleasure barges.

Along the central promenade, neatly lined with trees, couples strolled under the evening lights — and to the east, rows of shops hung with red lanterns.

Fortune-tellers’ alleys, just as described.

“Wow. How long will it take to search all this?”

“At least now, thanks to you, we’ve narrowed it down. Before, we had to search the entire lake blindly.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“Yes… let’s begin.”

“Okay.”

Namgung Gu steadied his breath and moved to follow—

“Hey, kid.”

“?”

A group of burly men stepped out, surrounding Gang Yu.

Namgung Gu gave a weary sigh.

Typical street thugs — not even real martial artists.

They’d seen the gentle-looking youth and thought him easy prey.

Idiots. They’re about to learn a painful lesson…

But before he could even think of intervening, Gang Yu spoke politely—

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Here, take this money.”

“…?”

“Heh heh. Smart kid.”

“…”

As the thugs walked away laughing, Gang Yu let out a long sigh of relief.

“Whew. That was close. Guess not all high-level experts are good people after all.”

Then he lifted his left pant leg slightly.

“Hehe. At least they didn’t take the money in my right sock.”

“…”

Namgung Gu just stared blankly at him.

He really had no idea what to make of this person.