WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Chapter 72: When Water Is Too Clear, There Are No Fish (20)

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Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The world was vast, and bandits and wild beasts swarmed through the mountains and plains, so it was only natural for anyone setting out on a long journey to carry at least a sword.

But what if more than two hundred martial artists with proper bearing, powerful frames, and swords at their waists marched toward the city gate with imposing steps?

Ten times out of ten, anyone who saw them would think, 'What is this? An invasion?'

That was exactly how the guards at Eunpyeong County's northern gate felt.

"W-What is that?"

"War?"

"They're attacking!"

"What are you doing? Close the gate first!"

Yeon Sowol came racing toward the flustered guards and showed them the writ issued by Seo Myeongeum, Governor-General of Liangguang.

"Eeek!"

"Gah!"

The misunderstanding was cleared up, but the situation did not calm down. The even more terrified guards rushed into the city, and before long, Eunpyeong County's magistrate came galloping out at full speed.

Sweating profusely, the magistrate welcomed Yi Yubaek, then quickly summoned the leaders of the two sects that divided Eunpyeong County between them, the Mujin Sect and the Baekha Sect, at Yi Yubaek's request.

"Things are going so easily because the Governor-General is backing us. Under normal circumstances, we would have had to engage in a contest of wills just to get both sect leaders into the same room."

The martial artists of the Martial Alliance could not help feeling emboldened.

The leader of the Mujin Sect and the head of the Baekha Sect, on the other hand, were utterly bewildered.

The Eunpyeong County magistrate had summoned them, so they hurried over, only to find more than two hundred martial artists crowding the first floor of a tavern.

Though they were far from friendly, the two whispered to each other.

"What is this?"

"How should I know?"

"Wait, I know someone over there. The Undeserving One, Noh Huideok!"

"What? That man is the Woman-Dressing Official, Chu Jinhyeok?"

There were three first-rate masters whose faces they recognized.

The color drained from their faces.

"There must be more among the ones we do not recognize."

"At least five or six, I would say..."

In all of Eunpyeong County, there were only two first-rate masters, the two of them.

Yet outside masters had entered their territory in force, forming a single faction. It even looked as though Eunpyeong County's magistrate was helping them with their affairs, so the two sect leaders were cowed from the start.

Even so, their pride as people of the Jianghu made them think.

'Right. Come to think of it, that Yi Yubaek from Shinheung County destroyed Cheonro Mountain Stronghold and founded a new sect, did he not? This must be them. Have they come to demand tribute or something? Hmph. If that is their intention, they have picked the wrong people. The Mujin Sect does not bow before unjust intimidation!'

'I do not know how they won over even Eunpyeong County's magistrate, but that is certainly troubling. Still, if I lower my head just because they are putting on a show of force like this, will everyone not laugh at me? The Baekha Sect does not retreat simply because the situation is unfavorable!'

The two straightened their backs.

They glanced at each other.

They had fought and competed over Eunpyeong County all their lives, so at this moment, they understood each other's thoughts better than anyone.

"Let's go. Let us show them Eunpyeong County's spirit."

"Heh. The day has come when I find you reassuring."

Step. Step.

The two climbed to the top floor with confidence and met Yi Yubaek.

Then they heard his plans for the enterprise centered around Heavenly Road Mountain. They heard of Governor-General Seo Myeongeum, who had granted a commander tally, a plaque, and even official writs on the condition that proper taxes were paid.

The expected profits were enormous.

The circumstances had already made failure impossible.

The conclusion came swiftly.

The Mujin Sect moved first.

"Naturally, our Mujin Sect is the one best suited to become an affiliated organization of the Guangdong Martial Alliance!"

The head of the Baekha Sect was startled.

The Mujin Sect and Baekha Sect were the only two factions representing Eunpyeong County. If one joined the Guangdong Martial Alliance while the other could not, what would happen?

Would the side that gained the powerful backing of the Guangdong Martial Alliance and the strong source of income that was Heavenly Road Mountain leave the other side alone?

The enormous profits to be gained by joining the Guangdong Martial Alliance became a secondary concern. This was a matter of the sect's survival.

The head of the Baekha Sect spoke faster and faster.

"No! When it comes to logistics and transport, our Baekha Sect specializes in that. It is our Baekha Sect that maintains order in Eunpyeong's markets!"

The two leaders glared at each other.

Both were desperate.

"You said there was an admission fee, correct? Our Mujin Sect can pay this much."

"The Baekha Sect will pay ten percent more than that."

"What? Then the Mujin Sect will pay twenty percent more..."

"No. The Baekha Sect will pay twenty-five percent more..."

"Ghk... Then we will..."

No one had told them to, but the Mujin Sect and Baekha Sect began competing over the admission fee on their own.

"Hoho. Since both of you are so full of chivalrous spirit..."

Yi Yubaek only had to sit back and enjoy the feast.

In the end, he accepted both sects along with their enormous admission fees.

The leader of the Mujin Sect and the head of the Baekha Sect felt bitter, but they were satisfied with the result itself.

The best outcome would have been for only their own sect to join the Martial Alliance, but if that was impossible, both joining was the next best thing.

And so, all of Eunpyeong County came under the Guangdong Martial Alliance.

The Guangdong Martial Alliance departed Eunpyeong amid the earnest farewells of the Mujin Sect and Baekha Sect.

"All right! Now, let's go to Naryong!"

When traveling from Eunpyeong to Yanggang, they first aimed for Naryong County.

Once they reached Naryong County, they could follow the Naryong River straight to Yanggang.

There were several fairly large towns on the road to Naryong County. They were not large enough to be called cities, but each was prosperous enough to have its own specialty product.

The Guangdong Martial Alliance split into five groups.

They would each take a different route toward Naryong, visit every important town along the way, and bring them into their sphere of influence. They would exchange greetings, share meals, make various promises, grease the wheels, and inspect necessary facilities such as inns and stables.

Their goal was to create a dense network for moving goods.

Yeon Sowol was assigned the northern detour, one of the five routes.

He was to open a route through several sizable towns nestled at the foot of Heavenly Road Mountain, continuing all the way to Naryong.

Just as things had gone smoothly in Eunpyeong, their visits to the towns were also smooth.

There was no reason they would not be. Once a proper road was built through Heavenly Road Mountain and the Guangdong Martial Alliance began operating in earnest, the towns' specialty goods would sell even better.

One village had apparently heard rumors of the Guangdong Martial Alliance in advance and held a welcoming feast for them, saying it had been waiting.

The group led by Yeon Sowol consisted of twenty-nine newly joined alliance members, including Noh Huideok, the Undeserving One, as their leader.

They were treated well everywhere they went, eating, drinking, and sleeping comfortably, so the mood could not have been better.

"Young Master Yeon, aren't you thirsty? Please have some of these plums."

"Young Master Yeon, we received this liquor from the last village. The taste is incredible. It isn't strong either, so please try some."

Throughout the journey, the alliance members took excellent care of Yeon Sowol.

That was how popular he was.

Even before the Heavenly Road Mountain Expedition, Yeon Sowol had earned a reputation through the story of the boat outing on the Jipseong River and the fight against Hang Inwoo.

Afterward, he had made a deep impression on the Jianghu people who came to Shinheung County with his proper bearing and martial arts so outstanding that they shamed even Noh Huideok.

Most importantly, he had beheaded Yong Useok, a martial artist of the peak realm, during the Heavenly Road Mountain Expedition and become everyone's hero.

And that was not all. He had also played a great part in founding the Guangdong Martial Alliance, so to the martial artists who had decided to begin new lives in the Martial Alliance, Yeon Sowol was nothing less than a symbol of dreams and hope.

Affection, then more affection, then still more affection, and finally admiration had piled up around him.

Even a gruff middle-aged martial artist with a thick beard would break into a broad grin whenever he saw Yeon Sowol.

Being treated like that naturally made Yeon Sowol feel even closer to the alliance members.

It also made him curious.

"There's something I'm curious about."

"Please, ask away, Young Master Yeon."

"How did all of you... come to live as people of the Jianghu?"

It was a simple question, in a way.

Yet the alliance members looked at one another as though they were unsure how to answer.

Then one of them asked, "What about you, Young Master? How did you become a person of the Jianghu?"

"Me? My circumstances are a little different..."

"Come on. What does that matter? Tell us anyway."

Yeon Sowol fell into thought.

He could not say that he had come from another world.

He also did not want to repeat the lie he had once told Yi Yubaek, that he had been a woodcutter in Annam and come to learn martial arts.

If he told the truth, he would have to say that he decided to become a person of the Jianghu because he could not stand ancient China's standard of living.

That did not seem right either.

After some thought, Yeon Sowol gave an answer with a little truth mixed in.

"Since I was young, I wanted to live differently. If possible, I wanted to be wealthy. To wear good clothes, use good things, and have a reasonable amount of freedom. Something like that."

The alliance members snickered.

"What's different about that? We're all the same."

"Are we?"

"Yes, of course."

The alliance members exchanged meaningful looks.

"I'd rather die than keep living like this. Everyone has something like that. That is why we become people of the Jianghu. That is why we learn martial arts."

"That is right, Young Master. The Guangdong Martial Alliance will become a strong nest that lets us live as we wish. Thanks to you."

"Thank you, Young Master Yeon."

Cupped-fist salutes came at him from every direction, half in jest and half in earnest.

Smiling, Yeon Sowol returned the salutes.

He hoped every one of their dreams would come true.

Wooooong!

At that moment, the Demon-Severing Sword hanging at Yeon Sowol's waist gave a low hum.

"Hm?"

Yeon Sowol gently stroked it with one hand, and the hum stopped.

"I noticed it before, but that is no ordinary sword."

Noh Huideok, the Undeserving One, who had been quietly following along, suddenly stepped beside him.

"It was granted to me by the Governor-General of Liangguang. Perhaps it has some spiritual intelligence, because it occasionally hums like this on its own. It usually does so at night, but it is doing it during the day today."

"When I saw it last time, it seemed to possess the power to repel demons."

"Ah, that's right. Governor-General Seo Myeongeum called it the Demon-Severing Sword."

"The Demon-Severing Sword... I see. You have acquired a precious treasure."

"Yes. It is a good sword."

Yeon Sowol smiled and stroked the Demon-Severing Sword. The sword gave another low hum.

Noh Huideok, who had been watching it closely, spoke.

"It is more than simply a good sword. It is an extraordinary treasure."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Weapons that can contend with demons are not easily made."

The moment he heard that, Yeon Sowol remembered.

'With talent and wisdom like yours, you will surely encounter a true demon someday. When that happens, that sword will be of use to you.'

Those were the words Governor-General Seo Myeongeum had spoken when Seo Myeongeum gave Yeon Sowol the Demon-Severing Sword.

When Yeon Sowol first heard them, he had thought they might be somewhat symbolic, that it was a fine sword capable of killing anyone wicked enough to be called a demon.

But hearing Noh Huideok say the same thing gave him an odd feeling.

Yeon Sowol asked, "But what's a demon exactly? Isn't it similar to the Black Path?"

"Of course not."

Noh Huideok firmly shook his head.

"The Demonic Path is completely different."

"Is that so? But I saw several people called demonic fiends in the Register of Jianghu Figures, and from what it said, they seemed like especially vicious members of the Black Path."

"When we call someone a demonic fiend, we do use it in that sense. But true demons are completely different."

"What is the difference?"

Noh Huideok looked steadily at Yeon Sowol.

"Do you know the difference between the martial arts of orthodox schools and unorthodox schools?"

"Hm. The martial arts of the unorthodox schools I have seen were crude in their stage of maturity and put excessive strain on the body. They also seemed easy to learn through shortcuts, but their limits were clear. At times, it even seemed like they lacked the most basic safety measures."

"You saw correctly. Then do you know what orthodox schools and unorthodox schools have in common?"

"Hm... I don't know."

"They are all martial arts used by humans. That is what they have in common."

Yeon Sowol swiftly turned toward Noh Huideok.

"...What do you mean?"

"Yes. The Demonic Path is not a human path."

Wooooooong!

As soon as Noh Huideok finished speaking, the Demon-Severing Sword at Yeon Sowol's waist began to hum.

It was completely different from its occasional low hums until now.

The sword began vibrating so violently that Yeon Sowol's robes fluttered.

"This is...?"

In place of the startled Yeon Sowol, Noh Huideok gave a short, decisive command.

"Everyone halt. Prepare for battle."

Shing!

Noh Huideok drew a sword and stepped forward, and the other martial artists hurriedly drew their swords as well.

Wooooong!

Yeon Sowol also drew the Demon-Severing Sword.

Once it left the scabbard, the Demon-Severing Sword hummed louder and clearer.

Only then did Yeon Sowol realize.

It was as though a veil covering his eyes had been lifted.

A man suddenly came into view.

He had been crouching in the middle of the road.

"Found you. Finally."

His voice was cold and damp.

He had a pale face, a light yellow robe, and long, dangling ornaments.

When he stood, metal clinked.

"Yeon Sowol..."

He took out a dark fan and slowly swept it over the group.

"So you're the one?"

Then he singled out Yeon Sowol.

"I can smell you."

His eyes curved like crescent moons.

Footnotes:

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