WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 4: Read a Book a Hundred Times and Its Meaning Reveals Itself (3)

──────

A world without the internet or electricity was unbearably dull.

That was why whenever people of Jianghu gathered, they traded every story they had picked up here and there, searching for stimulation.

Markets, inns, washhouses, wells, anywhere people gathered, there were stories.

Stories never fact-checked.

Stories embellished solely for dopamine.

By commenting on them and commiserating over them, people endured their tedious lives and exhausting labor.

Street discourse. Alleyway gossip.

Idle rumors.

This was the community, social media, and messenger service of the era.

And Yeon Sowol's name came up there.

"Have you heard? They say a young man named Yeon Sowol from Annam asked Great Hero Yi Yubaek to accept him as a disciple."

"Cough. Ptooey. That story's already gone cold."

"No, then have you heard this? When he was rejected, he offered thirty nyang of gold."

"Bullshit. I heard he was a woodcutter. How would he have thirty nyang of gold? I'd keel over if he even had three."

"Think about it. What kind of man is Great Hero Yi Yubaek? Would he change his mind over three nyang of gold?"

"Bu... Hmm. Is that so?"

"I'm telling you! Three nyang of gold is a fortune to us, but do you think it means the same to Great Hero Yi Yubaek?"

"Still, three nyang of gold is a lot..."

"No, it was definitely thirty. I heard it too. That young man is incredibly handsome, you see? I heard a highborn lady in Annam fell for his face and sent him gold to ask for his hand in marriage. But he took all of it, crossed the sea, and offered it to Great Hero Yi Yubaek."

"Wow. What a man."

"...How does that make him a man? That makes him a lunatic."

"You don't know? Don't tell me you can't get it up?"

"You bastard. When have you ever seen me?"

The people noisily chatting in one corner of the market suddenly grabbed each other by the collars and began brawling.

In the meantime, the three nyang Yeon Sowol had offered somehow became thirty, turning into an accepted fact. And there were others nearby listening to that very story.

Three men with fierce eyes and sturdy builds.

"Hey. Did you hear?"

"Yeah. Yi Yubaek took in a disciple, right?"

"Exactly. That bastard wouldn't even accept our Goncheol as a disciple. He only broke his arms and legs."

Goncheol was the man who had gone to see Yi Yubaek last month, swaggering around and saying he would become his disciple if Yi Yubaek could defeat him.

These men were his closest friends, so they bore Yi Yubaek a grudge.

"That son of a bitch has thirty nyang of gold now?"

"Pissing me off. Are we just going to let that slide?"

"How about we pull a job for the first time in a while? Huh?"

Most wealth in this era was stored as rice or cloth. Gold made up only a tiny portion of it.

So even if Yi Yubaek was wealthy, news that he had acquired thirty nyang of gold was bound to be a big deal.

Compared to rice and cloth of equal value, gold was incomparably smaller and lighter.

Thirty nyang was roughly 1.2 kilograms. Perfect for slipping in, grabbing, and carrying out. With that, a person could loaf around and live well for ten years in a small-to-medium city like Shinheung County.

"Yeah, fuck. No matter how skilled that bastard is, what can he do if we sneak in while he's asleep and just swipe the gold?"

"But do we know where he keeps it?"

"I know someone who attended Windflow Martial Academy until last year. I'll ask where they think it might be."

"Oh, nice."

"Shit. We do this one job, then we're getting out of this godforsaken town."

The men's eyes gleamed as they looked at one another.

* * *

Yi Yubaek, master of Windflow Martial Academy, stated firmly,

"It is impossible to begin learning martial arts at eighteen and become someone capable of standing on their own."

He looked over the students training at Windflow Martial Academy.

"They began as early as ten, and no later than fifteen. Yet even among them, perhaps one in ten will make something of themselves through martial arts. Most will never rise beyond the third-rate level and will find other work. The bad ones sometimes become street thugs."

"That's right. Like that Goncheol or Dongcheol or whatever his name was last month. I broke his leg, and senior brother broke his arm."

"Quiet."

Yi Yubaek flicked the forehead of the fooling-around disciple, then turned to Yeon Sowol.

"But they say that if one's resolve is strong enough, even Heaven will be moved. And if Heaven is moved, what can't be accomplished? Isn't that right?"

"Yes, Academy Master."

Yeon Sowol quickly lowered his head. It seemed appropriate to agree at this point.

Since his acceptance was conditional, he had to do his best.

Yi Yubaek smiled in satisfaction.

"You truly know proper etiquette."

Then he waved a hand.

"But Sowol, from what I can see, your resolve still isn't strong enough."

Yeon Sowol thought, How would you know that, sir? But he lowered his head.

"I'm sorry. I'll work harder."

"No, there's nothing to apologize for. It is difficult for one's resolve to become strong by itself. That is why I will help you."

Yi Yubaek stepped forward.

The three disciples beside him were startled and hurried to stop him.

"M-Master, are you doing it yourself?"

"No, I'll do it."

"Wouldn't it be troublesome, Master? Please rest. Your disciples will do it."

Yi Yubaek gently shook his head.

"No. He came looking for me, so I should teach him myself on his first day, at least."

The disciples reluctantly stepped back.

Yeon Sowol thought,

What a picture-perfect master-disciple relationship.

The master was benevolent, and the disciples respectful.

This really is a place where common sense works.

That was what he thought, until one of the disciples looked at him pitifully and muttered,

"...May you rest in peace."

???

"Sowol, come stand here."

Yeon Sowol stood facing Yi Yubaek.

"You said you wanted to learn martial arts so you could dodge well?"

"Yes."

"No. You have no desire to dodge."

"Pardon?"

Thuuud!

The moment he asked, Yeon Sowol saw the blue sky.

Huh?

Thump!

He fell backward.

The ground against the back of his head seemed to sway. Terrible dizziness washed over him, and hot blood streamed from his nose.

Huh?

Yeon Sowol had never been hit like this in his life.

At most, he had traded a few blows with other kids. But a single hit bursting his nose and rattling his brain so badly that he couldn't stand was something else entirely.

As he sat there completely dazed, something struck his side.

Thuuud!

The pointed toe of a leather shoe drove into him.

"Ghk!"

His breath caught. Yeon Sowol rolled across the ground.

Then a cold voice spoke.

"Get up."

Yeon Sowol realized at once.

If I don't get up, he'll hit me more!

Gasping through lungs that still wouldn't draw breath, he forced his limp legs into the ground and staggered upright like a fish.

The instant he stood, a question came flying at him.

"Why didn't you dodge?"

Yeon Sowol was dumbfounded. He had attacked him without warning, and now this...

Still, he tried to answer somehow. But he still couldn't breathe, and only wheezing sounds came out.

"Uh... Hek, keh..."

"You're questioning me again?"

He wasn't questioning him! He just couldn't breathe!

But Yi Yubaek gave him no second chance.

Crack!

This time, a fist drove into his lower abdomen.

It came so fast that Yeon Sowol couldn't even react.

"Ugh... Huh?"

The sky seemed to turn yellow. His entire body stiffened like stone.

Flop.

Yeon Sowol collapsed onto the ground.

Then he saw it.

A leather shoe flying toward his face.

Soccer kicks are banned even in the UFC...

Thuuud!

Once again, Yeon Sowol saw the blue sky.

And the red spray of blood splattered across it.

Thud.

Pain flared through his face as if it had caved in. Yeon Sowol rolled across the ground, and Yi Yubaek asked,

"Why didn't you dodge?"

The moment he heard those words, Yeon Sowol wasn't dumbfounded this time.

Instead, gritting his teeth through the pain, he rolled across the ground like an earthworm doused in salt.

Whoosh!

A heavy kick swept through the spot where he had just been lying.

"Oh?"

Yi Yubaek let out a quiet exclamation.

"Have you finally developed the desire to dodge? Good. The strength I'm using now is only about that of a third-rate martial artist. If your resolve is strong enough, you can dodge."

He followed after Yeon Sowol as he rolled away.

"Eek!"

Yeon Sowol fled in terror.

Yi Yubaek laughed.

"That's it! Run! Dodge! With all your might!"

Tap!

With a strange rhythm, Yi Yubaek kicked off the ground and glided like a swallow, crossing in front of Yeon Sowol in an instant.

"Are you giving it all you've got?"

He moved as if he were lightly reaching out with a hand, then casually extended a foot. It was a kicking technique aimed at Yeon Sowol's shin.

For a beginner like Yeon Sowol, it was a vicious move. He would try to avoid the hand feint, take the kick to the shin, and tumble over.

But.

"Gah!"

Yeon Sowol leaped backward and rolled across the ground.

"Hm?"

Yi Yubaek tilted his head.

Even if he was holding back and striking lightly, a beginner like Yeon Sowol should not have been able to avoid that attack.

I even mixed in a feint, and he dodged it? Was it luck?

Still tilting his head, Yi Yubaek lightly pushed off the ground again and caught up to Yeon Sowol.

Yeon Sowol caught a faintly sweet lemon scent.

When he reflexively turned around, he saw Yi Yubaek baring his teeth in a bright white smile.

Like a dog that drooled at the sound of a bell, Yeon Sowol screamed and kicked off the ground, twisting his body away.

Whoosh!

A heavy fist passed through the spot where Yeon Sowol's head had been. His body shook on its own.

"That's right. You're trembling, aren't you? You feel like you're going mad from fear, don't you? That is the attitude of someone who wants to dodge. You must always be like this."

He's insane.

Yeon Sowol screamed soundlessly.

He's insane. He's a lunatic!

Elder Jo Manseok was right!

The quiet voice that had warned him never to trust people of Jianghu brushed past his ears.

At that exact moment, Yi Yubaek's fist struck Yeon Sowol's heart before he could dodge.

Thuuud!

"Ik?"

He let out an idiotic cry and crumpled where he stood.

The impact had stopped his heart for a moment.

Once Yeon Sowol realized that, a cold shiver ran down his back. Cold sweat soaked his entire body.

Is this really okay...? Am I not going to die like this?

Something was wrong. Great Hero Yi Yubaek was supposed to be benevolent and enjoy raising up talented people, wasn't he?

A black shoe tip suddenly entered Yeon Sowol's vision as he sat there in confusion.

No. Wait.

Thuuud!

Yeon Sowol fell backward.

Looking down at him with his hands clasped behind his back, Yi Yubaek asked,

"Why didn't you dodge?"

* * *

I want to dodge.

Yeon Sowol thought.

I want to dodge.

He wished for it desperately.

Really, truly. I want to dodge.

When his first day of lessons ended, he sat in the lodging prepared in the back courtyard of Windflow Martial Academy, repeating the thought over and over.

I want to dodge. I want to dodge somehow too. No... I have to dodge...

Because it hurt too much.

"I'm doing this again tomorrow?"

The thought of quitting immediately and running away suddenly surfaced.

The brutal violence he had experienced for the first time in his life was that frightening.

But.

No. I can't run away when things get hard.

That was one of Yeon Sowol's principles.

He had been the same when studying.

If he rested whenever things were hard, the next time something became difficult, the first thought that came to mind would be wanting to rest again.

So Yeon Sowol never stopped when things got hard. He stopped only after he had done what he had set out to do.

This world won't be any different. If I run away because it's hard here, I'll run away somewhere else next time too.

Then his life in this world would become a mess.

He would keep living in filthy, stinking places.

That can't happen.

Yeon Sowol gritted his teeth.

"Urgh..."

A sudden pain made him curl up.

It hurt too much to sleep.

"But is this really okay? It hurts in a really strange way..."

Frowning, Yeon Sowol examined his body.

It was covered in bruises.

Yet the pain he felt was not simply the pain of bruises. It felt as though something hot was wriggling inside them.

"Ow..."

The sensation slowly spread throughout his entire body.

If he had to compare it to something, it felt like hot earthworms swimming through and tearing apart his muscles.

Unable to sleep at all, Yeon Sowol stepped outside.

He crouched on the veranda and curled his body up.

"Ugh..."

The cool night breeze helped clear his head a little.

He was enduring the pain when it happened.

Thump!

Something suddenly vaulted over the wall.

Thump! Thump!

There were three of them.

"...Huh?"

All three wore black masks.

Their eyes met Yeon Sowol's.

Without a second thought, Yeon Sowol shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Thieves!!!!"

"Fuck!"

He had assumed that if he alerted everyone before they could enter, the thieves would be startled and flee.

But their reaction differed from what Yeon Sowol expected.

"Because of that bastard!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him and run!"

The three masked men suddenly pulled daggers from their clothes and charged at him.

"!!!"

Yeon Sowol was horrified.

But he didn't freeze.

After being beaten, rolling, dodging, and dodging again all day long, his body reacted almost on instinct.

Crash! Bang!

"He dodged that?"

"Get him!"

"Surround him!"

The three masked men rushed at Yeon Sowol as he rolled away across the veranda.

Yeon Sowol dodged. He rolled. He threw himself aside.

Just as he had all day, he kept dodging desperately.

But his situation grew increasingly dangerous.

Why are they going this far?

He couldn't understand.

Why aren't thieves running away?

It made no sense.

Yeon Sowol gritted his teeth.

"Crazy bastards..."

Blades flashed beneath the moonlight.

But they no longer looked like blades to Yeon Sowol.

They looked like threads.

A world made entirely of threads.

Blades made of threads.

A veranda made of threads.

People made of threads.

The sky, moon, and stars, all made of threads...

Yeon Sowol twisted his body. He grabbed the opponent swinging a blade at him and kicked him away.

Then,

Die.

He severed the threads tangled around him.

Snip.

Snap.

Thump!

Crash.

Flop.

Heavy bodies collapsed onto the veranda.

"..."

Yeon Sowol pushed them aside and got to his feet.

"..."

He seized one of the daggers and stabbed the throats of the already dead bodies.

When he killed people with the power of the Heaven-Killing Star, no visible wounds remained. Someone might find that suspicious.

Stab.

Stab.

Rip.

The feel of the blade tearing into flesh was not pleasant.

Yeon Sowol trembled.

A little later, people from Windflow Martial Academy rushed into the back courtyard.

Yi Yubaek was among them.

"Did you kill them?"

"...Yes."

Yeon Sowol lowered his head, his hands covered in blood.

He had killed people, after all.

"I'll be put on trial, won't I...?"

He might go to prison.

How did everything get so tangled up?

Yeon Sowol had not cried once since coming to this world.

But this time, he felt as though he truly might.

What did I do so wrong?

One unreasonable disaster after another.

Completely dejected, he heard Yi Yubaek say,

"I checked their faces. They were street thugs from this town."

Yeon Sowol blankly stared at Yi Yubaek's face.

He did not understand why he was saying that.

Wait. If they're thugs, does that mean I don't go to prison?

"They may be thugs, but they are martial artists of at least the third-rate level. Yet you somehow managed to deal with three of them alone."

Did I?

Yeon Sowol thought that if he had not spent the entire day fleeing from Yi Yubaek, he would never have survived.

I'm not particularly grateful, though.

And what use did any of that have if he was going to prison?

Yi Yubaek said to Yeon Sowol,

"It seems you are strong in real combat. From tomorrow onward, I can increase the intensity of your training."

"Pardon?"

Yeon Sowol was startled.

Training? Then what about the trial?

That was his first question.

But can the training intensity be increased any further here?

That was his second.

At the single word that condensed all of those thoughts, Yi Yubaek quietly replied,

"You're questioning me again?"

!!!

A chill shot down Yeon Sowol's spine. He instinctively bowed deeply.

"No, sir. Thank you, Academy Master!"

Above him, Yi Yubaek laughed quietly.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried