Chapter v13c16

### The First Gate of the Five Elements: The Wood Gate

#### – The Boy’s Hatching

When speaking of Wood in the Five Elements, it’s not just about a simple tree. To limit Wood to the mere “form” of a “tree” would be to miss the bigger picture, to see only a small facet of its true nature.

Wood symbolizes spring and represents “benevolence,” the inherent virtue of humanity. But its most encompassing quality is “production.”

So, what is production? Isn’t it a continuous, flowing activity of life?

Look at the fruit of a plant. It’s not simply a dessert or snack provided by nature for our enjoyment. (Anyone who thinks so clearly has an arrogant and self-centered view of the world, believing humans are at the top of the natural order.) The fruit is a vessel for seeds, for offspring, a plant’s womb for propagating life.

Just as a tree absorbs sunlight through its leaves, draws water and nutrients through its roots, and gathers these fragments of life to bear fruit, we can define “production” as the act of gathering scattered elements, combining them to create something new, and thereby continuing a cycle of value.

Therefore, production requires the act of gathering and “connecting” scattered elements into a unified whole. In simpler terms, the essence of production lies in continuous, uninterrupted flow.

Thus, the Cheon-yul-sip-ryeong, the highest authority of the Yul-ryeong-ja, decided that this “continuity” best represented the element of Wood. And to embody this attribute, they chose a rather unconventional method:

A relay race, a “Qinggong Relay.”

When this unique competition format was announced, the first question that arose was:

“So, we’re not fighting?”

The answer was:

“We are fighting.”

“But… we’re not fighting,” the questioner retorted.

“A relay race is also a form of struggle, a competition for victory. So, it’s a fight. Surely you don’t think that ‘fighting’ only involves wielding swords and injuring others?”

The young man, realizing his narrow-minded view, was ashamed and fell silent.

“This is unexpected… To decide the winner based on something as simple as running.”

Jang-hong said, groaning.

This tournament was vastly different from the Mount Hua Sword Conferences he had known in the past. He couldn’t predict where this unpredictable event was headed, what its purpose was, or how it would unfold.

“Is it really that simple? It might be more difficult than you think, this gate.”

Bi Ryu-yeon seemed to believe that Jang-hong’s hasty judgment was premature.

“Difficult?”

“Yes. Mount Hua is known for its treacherous terrain, right? Even just looking at Heavenly Peak, it’s full of jagged rocks and cliffs. And this relay race covers the entire mountain!”

Indeed, the Wood Gate involved a relay race across all five peaks of Mount Hua, divided into nine segments. The route was open there was no need to follow a specific path. If you were capable, you could swing through the trees like a monkey or fly between the cliffs. The only restriction was that the location of the next runner was determined by the Yul-ryeong-ja.

That was what bothered Bi Ryu-yeon.

“If you just want to run a long distance, you can conserve your energy and pace yourself. It might take longer, but you’ll reach your destination eventually. But if you want to cover a short distance quickly, you have to expend all your energy in a burst. But this relay race requires both endurance and speed. And the terrain is treacherous. It’s not going to be easy. I have a feeling this competition will take at least two days. Which means…”

“We have to run at night.”

Jang-hong finished his sentence, his voice grim. Bi Ryu-yeon nodded.

“Exactly. And I doubt they’ll be kind enough to give us torches.”

Jang-hong agreed.

He had been too complacent, thinking that a competition without bloodshed would be easy. He had been confused by Bi Ryu-yeon’s uncharacteristically sensible remarks. (Yoon Jun-ho and Yi Jin-seol would probably agree.) But upon reflection, he realized that Bi Ryu-yeon was right.

He was ashamed of himself for underestimating this gate.

“I apologize for thinking this gate would be easy. So what should we do?”

He asked. Had he unconsciously started to value Bi Ryu-yeon’s opinion?

Such a notion would undoubtedly be met with fierce opposition from the others.

“Well… first, we need to decide on the running order.”

Bi Ryu-yeon said.

Mount Hua was renowned for its scenic beauty, worthy of being called the Western Mountain of the Five Great Mountains. Especially in autumn, the entire mountain was adorned with a tapestry of red and yellow leaves. The towering peaks, piercing the clouds like inverted swords, inspired awe and wonder. People traveled from far and wide to witness this spectacle. (Of course, such a luxury was only available to the wealthy.)

It had been two years since Yoon Jun-ho had left the mountain. And he was currently on Jade Maiden Peak, where the Hua Sect was located, not Heavenly Peak. But he didn’t have the leisure to admire the scenery. He couldn’t appreciate the intricate beauty of nature, the tranquility of the sunset, the golden hues of twilight, or the gentle breeze that caressed his cheek.

The mountain flashed by in a blur. One moment it was in front of him, the next it was beside him, and then it was behind him. It never stopped, never waited for him.

Because he was running. He couldn’t slow down. His legs pumped furiously, his left foot and right foot vying for dominance. They never touched the ground at the same time, as if they were jealous of each other.

He was pushing himself to the limit, discovering the true meaning of exhaustion. Every discovery came with a price. And the price for this discovery was excruciating pain, as if his heart were about to burst, a suffocating tightness in his chest, and muscle aches he had never experienced before.

He was being chased, like a fox hunted by hounds. And he had to overtake four others.

“Listen, I don’t expect you to overtake anyone. Don’t push yourself too hard. Just maintain your position. That’s enough. Don’t overdo it.”

Wi Ji-cheon, the arrogant Wind Sword Dragon, had mocked him, trying to demoralize him. But the others had come to his defense.

“Don’t listen to that petty scoundrel. We believe in you. You’ve been through a lot. Have faith in yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be betraying our trust. We believe you’re a man of honor.”

He was touched. He could still feel the warmth of Jang-hong’s hand on his shoulder, a gesture of friendship and trust.

They were his friends, the ones who had always supported him, even when he had been ostracized and ridiculed. He didn’t want to disappoint them.

‘I have to be more proactive!’

Maintaining his position wasn’t enough. He had always been too passive, too afraid to believe in himself. He had always been the target of ridicule. But his friends believed in him. He had to believe in himself too.

A chick, about to hatch, struggled to break free from its shell. The shell was the world, the world that surrounded him, the world that was both strong and fragile. He had to break free from this world to reach a wider world. The chick’s beak pecked relentlessly at a single point, creating a crack. The shell began to shatter, radiating outward from the crack.

“What? You want to know how to run faster?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, his eyebrows raised. Yoon Jun-ho nodded.

“I need your advice… Honestly, I’m not confident…”

He trailed off. If Jang-hong or Hyo-ryong knew that he was asking Bi Ryu-yeon for advice, they would have stopped him. What was he thinking, asking this unpredictable weirdo for help?

But…

“Well, you’ve come to the right place for advice! You have good taste, I see.”

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled, pleased with himself. He agreed without hesitation, even though it might have been better for Yoon Jun-ho to refuse.

“So… how can I run faster?”

Yoon Jun-ho asked, still using formal language. (It was a hard habit to break.) Bi Ryu-yeon clicked his tongue and wagged his finger.

“You’re forgetting something.”

“Forgetting what?”

“This Wood Gate isn’t just about speed. It’s about endurance too!”

Yoon Jun-ho realized his mistake.

“Y-You’re right.”

It wasn’t a short distance. The nine segments were of varying lengths, for some reason. Na Yerin had said that it was to test their ability to allocate their resources effectively. Many people agreed with her, and he was one of them. He had been assigned to Jade Maiden Peak, the central peak of Mount Hua.

“You used to live on Mount Hua, right?”

“I wasn’t just living here. I was a disciple of the Hua Sect.”

“Was? So you’re not anymore?”

“N-No! I’m still a disciple of the Hua Sect.”

“Alright, it’s decided!”

And so, the running order was decided. Yoon Jun-ho’s task was to run from the foot of Jade Maiden Peak to the summit – the shortest segment of the nine – and pass the baton to Bi Ryu-yeon, who would then run from the summit of Jade Maiden Peak to the summit of Heavenly Peak – the longest and most treacherous segment – at night.

It hadn’t been easy to decide on the running order. Their group included Wi Ji-cheon, the leader of the Ice Crystal Peak Fan Club, the group that hated Bi Ryu-yeon with a passion.

“Hey, Ryu-yeon, why is he here?”

Jang-hong whispered, his face grim.

“I don’t know…”

“Don’t give me that! Do you think he’s here to kill you? He’s been acting like a nervous wreck. Look at him! His eyes are bloodshot!”

“Maybe he’s just agitated because you’re within striking distance. He’s never been this close to you before. He can’t control his murderous intent.”

Hyo-ryong chimed in. He was also in Group 7.

“You’re right, Ryong! That makes sense! So it’s not because of drugs.”

Jang-hong nodded.

“Ryu-yeon, what happened? I was surprised that your prediction came true. I was surprised to be in the same group as the young lady. Not that I’m complaining, of course…”

Hyo-ryong added unnecessarily.

He had been skeptical when Bi Ryu-yeon had confidently predicted the group assignments. But to his surprise, it had come true. Bi Ryu-yeon was in the same group as Na Yerin, and he was in the same group as Yi Jin-seol. And all four of them were in the same group. It was a strange coincidence. When he had asked Bi Ryu-yeon what he would have said if his prediction had been wrong, Bi Ryu-yeon had replied that he hadn’t considered that possibility. He was a strange one.

“Is this some kind of side effect…?”

Hyo-ryong asked quietly. Perhaps Bi Ryu-yeon had paid a price for manipulating the odds.

“No.”

Bi Ryu-yeon shook his head.

“Then what?”

“Actually…”

“Actually?”

“Well… I only focused on the person I wanted to be in the same group with. The fewer targets, the better. If you spread your focus too thin, the effect is weaker. The success rate drops…”

“So?”

“So I didn’t pay any attention to the rest. Not even a little bit.”

“Hmm… so?”

“The rest were probably chosen randomly. Or maybe he made a similar wish.”

“So you’re saying…”

Bi Ryu-yeon pointed at the sky.

“It’s a prank by the gods. Or some other damn ‘being’!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Jang-hong and Hyo-ryong exclaimed in unison. They were unconvinced.

“Do you think we can pull this off?”

Jang-hong asked, his voice laced with anxiety.

“I don’t know…”

No one could guarantee anything.

“This is worrying…”

Jang-hong muttered, frowning.

“Don’t worry!”

Bi Ryu-yeon said. Hyo-ryong snorted.

“Easy for you to say. You’re the one who’s going to be in the most danger. And we haven’t even decided on the running order yet…”

“Don’t worry, I said! It’ll work out somehow.”

“How?!”

Jang-hong and Hyo-ryong demanded. Bi Ryu-yeon held up a finger.

“All it takes is one word.”

“One word?”

“Yes, her word.”

He pointed at Na Yerin.

She looked at him, her brow furrowed, her finger tapping her chin. He smiled and waved. She looked even more confused, and Wi Ji-cheon glared at him.

“I see!”

Jang-hong and Hyo-ryong exclaimed, slapping their foreheads. It was a brilliant plan.

Yoon Jun-ho’s segment might have been the shortest of the nine, but it was still a long and arduous run. It would require a lot of stamina and internal energy. He knew that better than anyone, having lived on Mount Hua.

He admitted that he had underestimated the challenge.

“But don’t worry! Just follow my advice, and you’ll be fine! You’re actually in a very advantageous position!”

Bi Ryu-yeon said confidently.

“How…?”

Yoon Jun-ho leaned forward, his throat dry. Bi Ryu-yeon’s confidence, however unfounded, was strangely compelling.

“Well…”

Bi Ryu-yeon lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret of the universe.

“Whisper, whisper, whisper…”

“Ooh! I see! Hmm! Heh…”

Yoon Jun-ho’s expression shifted rapidly, like the changing seasons on Mount Hua.

“Become one with the mountain!”

He said, his voice filled with determination, his gaze fixed on his destination.