Murim in my Hometown - Chapter 23

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Oblivious

◈ Murim in my Hometown ◈

Chapter 23: Work

──────

Hey guys, quick announcement before the chapter! We're hosting an original webnovel contest with a $1000 prize pool, a chance to publish your novel on WeTried, and lifetime free reading access for the top two winners!

There's also a participation prize of 500 coins for everyone participating.

If you've got a story sitting in a folder somewhere, or have been wanting to try writing one, we'd love to read it. You only need your first 10 chapters, and you have until 1st January 2027 to submit. New writers are welcome too!

Full details, rules, and how to enter here! https://wetriedtls.com/announcements/webnovel-contest

Feel free to send this to anyone you know who writes. Enjoy the chapter!

If you have any questions, please join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried

──────

“Oh no...”

Every vegetable I had planted had turned yellow, dried up, and died.

It was absurd. The midsummer sun was harsh, but the grass in the mountains and fields was perfectly fine.

“Why is only my vegetable patch like this?”

As I stared at it in dismay, I tried to remember when I had last watered it.

I couldn't remember.

I'd only been focused on practicing my saber art, always leaving the vegetable patch for later.

I was sure my parents had taught me how to farm when I was young, so how could I not even grow vegetables properly?

It seemed I'd held a saber for too long. Even if I owned land, I would be hopeless at farming.

Without even getting to eat the vegetables I'd worked so hard to plant, I pulled them all out, tossed them over the wall, and lay down on the porch.

The blazing sunlight, as though summer had reached its peak, was as fierce as a whip.

I had no desire to do anything. At least the humidity was low, so the shade was cool. That was a blessing.

I was idly chewing jerky and enjoying the breeze through the window when someone knocked on the front gate.

It was a boy running an errand.

“You came from Dojeong Ironworks?”

“Yes. You ordered a new long saber, right? They said it's finished and asked you to come pick it up.”

When I'd gone there after exactly a month, they said they were finishing it and needed more time. It seemed they'd finally completed it.

I quickly strapped my willow-leaf saber to my belt and headed for the ironworks.

“You're here?”

The ironworks master, who had been sorting iron ingots, dusted off their hands and stood to greet me.

The forge was terribly hot. Even in this weather, there was still a fire in the furnace. It seemed they’d been working until moments ago.

“Aren't you hot?”

The ironworks master wiped their forehead with the towel around their neck and shook their head.

“Not at all. If a blacksmith can't stand the heat, they ought to put down their hammer. Come in.”

We passed through the heat-filled workshop and went out into the yard. Once I stood beneath the shade of the eaves, the ironworks master brought out my new long saber.

“Here it is. Have a look.”

The hilt and scabbard had also been remade, though they were black like before.

When I drew the long saber, its flawless blade gleamed coldly in the shade. Its edge had been sharpened so white that merely looking at it sent a chill down the back of my neck.

Its length and curve were the same as before. It felt slightly lighter.

“It is a little lighter.”

“It weighs the same. It's probably because of the balance.”

I went to the middle of the yard and performed whatever forms came to mind.

Whooong!

The sharpness of the blade cutting through the air felt as smooth as slicing cloth. There was no resistance or trembling.

Just as the ironworks master said, the balance point felt about half a handspan closer to my body.

Since it felt lighter, it definitely carried a little less force. If it collided with an enemy's weapon, it would be that much less able to hold firm.

Still, the saber's speed and maneuverability were slightly better than before.

When I weighed the gains and losses, it wasn't bad. In real combat, being even a little faster was better.

When I went beyond the forms and swung it unpredictably in every direction, the long saber's true value showed itself.

The balance between speed and strength was much steadier than before, making me more agile when responding to sudden movements.

Only after I became confident in my new long saber did I stop and sheath it.

As I caught my breath, I checked the hilt, which fit snugly in my palm. It had been wrapped in new leather, but the rough tanning kept it from being slippery at all.

“Your saber art is vigorous and pleasing to watch. Do you like the saber?”

“It is far better than the last one.”

When I expressed my satisfaction, the ironworks master nodded with a pleased expression.

“I wasn't satisfied with making the same thing again. I considered your height and arm length and made several improvements. I'm glad you like it.”

“I can pay with the willow-leaf saber, correct?”

“Let's see.”

The ironworks master drew my willow-leaf saber and inspected its blade. Their eyebrows twitched.

“It shows signs of use.”

“The edge hasn't been damaged.”

I'd cut some bamboo and exchanged a few moves with Won Seogang, but the blade itself was fine.

“That is true, but look here. There are quite a few scratches on the blade, aren't there? It's nearly a new saber, but if you were the buyer, would you pay full price for it?”

I had nothing to say.

If I were buying this saber, I would probably use that as an excuse to knock off about one tael of silver.

A nearly new saber was only nearly new. It wasn't truly new.

“How much more should I pay?”

“Just give me half a tael of silver.”

It wasn't as if I lacked money, nor was it an unreasonable demand. I didn't know when this long saber would need repairs or replacement again.

There was no benefit in souring my relationship with such a skilled blacksmith over nothing.

I took out my money pouch and paid. When they mentioned half a tael of silver, something suddenly came to mind.

“Does the ironworks pay protection money to the Black Night Gang as well?”

“Protection money? Us?”

The ironworks master burst into hearty laughter as though the idea were ridiculous. Jongsu, who had been listening behind them, grinned too.

“Our ironworks has ties with Yongcheon Escort Agency, so we have no reason to deal with those Black Night Gang bastards. Sometimes ignorant fools come here claiming they want to buy a saber, picking them up one by one while threatening us. Jongsu, what did we do with those scoundrels last time?”

Jongsu crossed their arms, as though showing off their massive, muscular arms, and spoke boastfully.

“We beat them into pulp and tied them up tight. When we sharpened our blades on the whetstone in front of them, they were terrified. When we pretended we would throw them into that furnace alive, they wailed about elderly mothers, wives, and children who didn't even exist, crying, sniveling, and pissing themselves.”

There was probably some boasting and exaggeration mixed in, but it didn't seem they'd invented the story from nothing.

The strength and nerve of a blacksmith hardened by lifelong physical labor were more than enough to handle an average martial artist.

There was a reason people said not to mess with butchers or blacksmiths.

I strapped the new long saber to my belt, exchanged farewells, and turned away. Its condition was even better than I'd expected, putting me in such a good mood that I almost began humming.

After walking for a while, I stopped. The entrance to the alley was blocked by people.

“What is happening?”

“We're stepping aside for the Yongcheon Escort Agency convoy.”

“An escort agency?”

As I watched silently, I spotted the Yongcheon Escort Agency banner over the crowd's heads.

So many people were approaching in a cloud of dust that the broad road through the busy district was completely filled.

There were five head escorts on horseback and more than twenty wagons alone. There were dozens of escorts, and even more load carriers hauling baggage.

It seemed to be the large escort convoy scheduled months ago to depart for Sichuan.

Come to think of it, it was time for them to leave.

To prepare for this convoy, the escort agency had to pull escorts from the businesses it managed. Thanks to that, I had been able to work at Simhyang Pavilion for a month.

I spotted several familiar faces.

The chief head escort... Pung Gangik... and the escorts I'd stood guard with...

Jo Gyeongjik was probably still guarding Simhyang Pavilion. The huge brute built like Zhang Fei was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was staying at the escort agency.

The procession, laden with escorted goods, soon left the main road and departed Seochon. The street vendors who had moved into the alleys set up their stalls again, and the passersby went on their way.

I watched the escort agency wagons slowly make their way toward distant, rugged Sichuan, then continued walking.

Pungcheon Inn was quiet as usual. The same two farmers who came every day at the same time were eating thin noodles at the same table.

I was about to sit by the window when I hesitated.

“Hey, you're here?”

Won Seogang, who must have arrived earlier, recognized me and raised a hand.

I didn't think we were close enough to greet each other so warmly.

It would have been awkward to simply turn around, and sitting elsewhere was equally uncomfortable. In the end, I sat across from Won Seogang.

“Were you looking for me?”

Won Seogang picked up some thin noodles with his chopsticks and answered.

“I was.”

“How did you know I would come here? Were you following me?”

“Following you? The pavilion master was about to send someone to fetch you, so I said I would bring you myself. She said you would come if I waited at this inn.”

As expected, the pavilion master had already figured out my movements. She probably even knew where I lived.

I hadn't felt as though I was being followed at all, but the Hao clan had eyes everywhere. Keeping watch on me would be no difficulty.

“Why does the pavilion master want me?”

“I heard you agreed to work as a guest hire.”

“Did work come up?”

“Probably.”

“What kind of work?”

“You'll find out when you get there. More importantly, the cook here is quite good. Thin noodles are easy to make, but getting the broth right is rather difficult. It's been a long time since I had broth this refreshing, without any gamey smell from the meat. It's not even that crowded. I should come here more often.”

Won Seogang lifted his bowl with a satisfied expression and drank the broth.

Watching him eat so well made me hungry, but I felt like I would get indigestion if I ate anything now, so I only sipped cooled tea.

Work had come up as soon as I picked up my new long saber. I couldn't tell whether that was a good omen or a bad one.

* * *

“Are you not climbing over the wall today?”

The question was half sincere. As we headed toward Simhyang Pavilion's front gate, Won Seogang answered calmly.

“You can't climb over walls in broad daylight. Too many people are watching.”

As two martial artists carrying blades approached, the gatekeepers who had been chatting stiffened at once.

Won Seogang lifted the brim of his bamboo rain hat and showed his face.

“You're all working hard.”

“A guest from the annex. And this one is, um...”

One of the gatekeepers recognized me. Ever since Bang Join died, no one had spoken to me, so there was no reason for us to acknowledge each other.

The gatekeeper opened the wicket gate.

This was my first visit to Simhyang Pavilion since quitting. Nothing had changed. The main building was the same, and the workers were still familiar.

When we reached the pavilion master's residence, located deepest among the annexes, Geuk Hwan opened the door for us.

After exchanging brief greetings, Won Seogang and I were shown to the same reception room as before.

One person had arrived before us.

A middle-aged monk in monastic robes.

When Won Seogang and I entered, the monk only gave us a brief glance before closing his eyes again and fingering prayer beads.

Won Seogang silently took an empty seat. I sat on the chair closest to the door.

Since the atmosphere didn't seem suited for introductions, everyone remained silent.

As I savored my tea, I considered what this might be about. I reviewed my own standards for what I would accept and refuse. I didn't forget to consider escape routes either.

Hong Hui, the head of the Hao clan's Seochon branch and the owner of Simhyang Pavilion, appeared about fifteen minutes later.

After sitting in the seat of honor and looking over the three people she had summoned, she spoke.

“Thank you all for coming. I'll get straight to the point. A client pursuing a murderer is expected to arrive in Seochon this evening. They requested support from the main branch, so our branch has been assigned this matter.”

The monk spoke for the first time.

“You need a hunting dog?”

“For now, they have requested protection.”

“Protection?”

“They wish to hire several trustworthy first-rate masters. They have requested a guide separately.”

“There's no place for me in that.”

The monk gripped his prayer beads and rose, but Hong Hui continued calmly.

“The clients are people from Chengdu. If things go well, you may obtain what you desire. Are you still leaving?”

The monk looked down at Hong Hui with empty eyes.

The deep, indifferent gaze, seemingly stripped of emotion, briefly made the monk seem like a highly accomplished master of spiritual power. Yet it was so clear that it sent a chill through me.

It was inhuman enough to make me flinch without realizing it.

The monk had shaved his head and put on robes, but he was still nothing more than a martial artist soaked in blood.

Geuk Hwan entered after opening the door. I thought he had been waiting outside, sensed the monk's sharp aura, and come in to intervene, but that wasn't the case.

When Geuk Hwan approached and whispered in her ear, a faint smile spread across Hong Hui's face.

“We have identified the murderer's whereabouts. They stopped by the Wandering Swordsman Inn, hired some blade-for-hires, and left in a hurry.”

“The Wandering Swordsman Inn? There is one in Seochon too?”

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar information, and Won Seogang sighed teasingly.

“It seems you've had an easy life lately. A blade-for-hire who doesn't even know the Wandering Swordsman Inn exists.”

Geuk Hwan left, and the monk sat back down. Perhaps having changed his mind, he raised a teacup to his lips with the same expressionless face.

Then I began to feel uneasy.

“By Chengdu, do you mean Chengdu in Sichuan?”

“That is right. The clients are from Sichuan.”

The mention of people from that rough place, which I never wanted to revisit, gave me an ominous premonition and made me frown.

Hong Hui smiled as though my reaction amused her.

“They are people from the Tang Clan.”