The Heaven-Slaying Sword - Chapter 21

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈

Chapter 21: Chapter Four - Anhui (2)

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Several weeks had passed since Mok Ri-won gained the epithet of the Ink Sword.

At last, the two arrived in Anhui Province.

“Whoa...!”

The main road was crowded with people, and shops stretched along both sides.

Ri-won’s face brightened at the bustling sounds filling the streets.

“Miss! What is that?”

Whenever they came somewhere this lively, questions like this always followed.

Dang Hwa-seo gave a small laugh and answered him.

“They’re street stalls. They usually sell simple snacks.”

“I smell chicken.”

“Yes, that’s chicken.”

Ri-won swallowed.

The mention of food had clearly caught his interest.

Since they were already out, Hwa-seo thought there was no harm in buying him some and approached the stall.

Just then,

“Look at that man!”

“Oh my... How can anyone be that handsome...?”

“Who’s that beside him? Who does she think she is?”

The young women’s voices pierced Hwa-seo’s ears.

She had grown somewhat accustomed to such exclamations by now.

They were admiring Ri-won’s looks, which drew attention wherever he went.

Normally, she would have let it pass. But the last remark properly irritated her.

‘Who does she think she is?’

What kind of manners were those, spouting such nonsense about someone they had never met?

Hwa-seo turned toward the voices, fire in her eyes.

Several young women stood there with swords at their waists.

They all wore pure white martial robes.

Hwa-seo’s brows drew together.

‘...The Emei Sect.’

They were nuns of the Emei Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Judging by the fact that they still had their hair, they appeared to be lay disciples.

‘Right. We’ve reached a place where I’ll start seeing people like them.’

The women startled when their eyes met hers and hurried away. Hwa-seo gave a hollow laugh.

Her fist clenched.

She was holding back her rising anger.

‘...The next town is the venue.’

They had only one town to go before reaching the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

If those Emei disciples were headed there, they would surely participate. She could wait to teach their brazen mouths a lesson.

Clicking her tongue at her growing annoyance, Hwa-seo spoke to Ri-won.

“Young Hero Mok, let’s go.”

“Hm? All right!”

Hwa-seo strode off, openly showing her displeasure.

Ri-won, who had been staring longingly at the chicken, followed after her with a dejected look.

* * *

At an inn in the center of town, Hwa-seo watched Ri-won once again make a meal of thin noodles and Bamboo Leaf Green.

‘There is only one reason to attend the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.’

She needed a public place where the Tang Clan could not easily come after her.

She already knew she could not keep hiding. Instead, she would make her movements known to the whole world and tie their hands.

‘While the martial arts tournament is underway, the Tang Clan cannot approach me.’

No, more accurately, they would choose not to.

Given the clan head’s personality, there was no way the clan head would prevent a member of the clan from raising its name at a public event.

‘My goal is to make contact with the Fist Dragon.’

She had to meet Il-un, the rising young talent representing this generation of Shaolin.

If she conveyed her wish to meet Shaolin’s abbot through him, her business in Anhui would be finished.

Once she left for Shaolin Temple with him, her clan would be unable to interfere with her even after the gathering ended.

‘When that happens...’

Hwa-seo’s expression darkened.

Once she finished her business in Anhui, she might have to part ways with Mok Ri-won.

No, parting ways was the right thing to do.

They had only promised to travel together until the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, and there would be many difficulties in having him accompany her afterward.

A strange tightness filled Hwa-seo’s chest.

‘Have I grown too attached?’

The thought that she might miss his chatter, which had filled her days at his side, brought a bitter smile to her lips.

“Miss?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Aren’t you eating?”

Hwa-seo looked directly at Ri-won.

He had finished his own meal and was staring intently at the fish dish in front of her.

“Would you like some?”

“Can I?!”

“Go ahead. I have no appetite.”

Ri-won happily picked up a piece of fish.

His face lit up with delight.

“It’s so delicious...!”

Watching him find happiness in something as simple as food swept away her stray thoughts.

Hwa-seo wondered if this was what people meant when they said they felt full just watching someone eat.

After a moment, she spoke.

“Young Hero Mok, there’s somewhere I need to go. Can you stay here by yourself for a little while?”

“Hm?”

“It’s somewhere I must go alone.”

She had a single reason for asking him.

When she left Suyang County, she had entrusted her subordinates with an investigation. She needed to visit the Beggars’ Sect to hear their findings.

Since it was personal business, she did not want him to become involved and suffer for it. Ri-won nodded firmly.

“All right! Then I’ll go look around the streets by myse...”

“No. Stay seated.”

Hwa-seo’s expression hardened.

Ri-won flinched, then carefully asked her,

“Why not...?”

“What if you get lost? What if you follow a stranger and something happens to you?”

Ri-won blinked.

Then he burst out laughing and waved his hands.

“Oh, Miss! What do you take me for, a child? You worry about the strangest things.”

Because you are a child. That was why she worried.

...But Hwa-seo was too soft-hearted to say that to his face.

“...In any case, I won’t be long. Stay seated here.”

“Sightseeing...”

“Answer me.”

“...All right.”

Ri-won’s dejected expression filled Hwa-seo with guilt, but she had no choice.

She truly worried about him.

Even now, women were peeking at him from all around. Who knew what might happen if he went out into such a crowded place?

There might even be a seductress who lured him away by promising to buy him candied fruit.

“You understand, right? If a stranger asks you to go somewhere, don’t agree so readily. Be especially careful of anyone who offers to buy you candied fruit. Ah, and if someone asks you to share a drink, make sure they’re trained in martial arts, and...”

Her worries poured out in a stream of nagging.

Ri-won had to swallow the words, I’m not a child!

He did not want her lecture to grow any longer.

* * *

At a corner table in the inn after Hwa-seo left, Ri-won raised his cup.

He was a little dissatisfied that she had stopped him from seeing the streets, but he still did not move.

Even Ri-won, who knew little about dealing with people, understood how well she treated him.

How could he not?

During his time in Suyang County, where he had first entered the Martial World, he had learned well enough what kind of person she was.

‘Miss...’

Ri-won continued thinking about Hwa-seo.

Just as he had thought at first, she was incredibly beautiful.

On the journey from Suyang County to Anhui, he had not seen anyone prettier than Hwa-seo.

That was not all. He had not met anyone as kind to others as her, either.

‘I did well to follow her!’

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that following Hwa-seo was the right way to become a chivalrous hero.

As that certainty filled him, Ri-won felt a ticklish sensation in his chest.

‘When will she return?’

He suddenly found himself wishing she would come back soon.

A smile had already blossomed across his face.

Gasps rose here and there in response.

As someone else began nursing a lovesickness at the sight of Ri-won drinking alone,

“Excuse me!”

Thud!

Someone sat across from him.

Ri-won looked up.

“Hm?”

Before him sat a man around his own age.

He had the sort of face that resembled a weasel.

His narrow eyes, sharp nose, and sly smile made Ri-won ask the first thing that came to mind.

“Who are you, brother?”

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself!”

The man grinned.

There was a playful air about him.

He stood, clasped his hands in greeting, and spoke to Ri-won.

“I am Wang. I noticed you drinking alone and became curious about your story, so I came over.”

Ri-won blinked at the man.

Then he smiled awkwardly and answered,

“I’m waiting for a companion. I appreciate your concern, but I think you should be on your way.”

“Huh? No, don’t be like that...”

“My apologies.”

Ri-won’s smile deepened.

It was not his usual innocent smile.

“My companion repeatedly warned me to be wary of martial artists who approach me out of nowhere.”

“What...?”

“Especially martial artists who are first-rate or above.”

The man’s body twitched.

His expression wavered for a moment, but he soon returned to a smile.

“Come now, brother, what a joke. Look at me. Can’t you see these clothes? And this brush and book? I am a student continuing my studies to earn a government post...”

He could not continue.

Ri-won had suddenly thrown his chopsticks.

Snap!

The man caught the chopsticks flying at the center of his brow with one hand.

“You caught chopsticks infused with inner qi quite well for a student.”

Ri-won’s expression had turned sharp.

‘They told me to be wary of people hiding their identities.’

Even without Hwa-seo’s warning, Mok Seon-o and Ma Il-seok had warned him until his ears practically bled before he entered the Martial World.

Ri-won had expectations of romance and elegance, but he was also someone who knew how to heed others’ advice.

For this supposed chance meeting, the man’s inner power was far too suspicious.

The man broke out in a cold sweat.

“Well...”

The atmosphere sharpened.

The man looked troubled by the energy rising from Ri-won, while Ri-won grew more suspicious at the sight of someone who could not explain himself even now.

Then,

“What do you think you’re doing?”

A clear, sweet voice cut between them.

Ri-won turned toward its source.

His face brightened.

“Miss!”

Dang Hwa-seo stood there, glaring coldly at the man.

Ri-won rose and approached Hwa-seo, speaking with a wide grin.

“Did everything go well? You finished quite quickly!”

“Yes, and you stayed in your seat. Well done.”

Hwa-seo gave Ri-won a small smile before turning back to the man.

The man smacked his lips, looking as though all the fun had gone out of the situation.