The Heaven-Slaying Sword - Chapter 28

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈

Chapter 28: Chapter Five - Dragon-Phoenix Assembly (1)

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A long line stretched before the city gates.

Strange murmurs ran through the people waiting for inspection.

They were dazed exclamations of admiration, all directed at one man.

“Ah...”

“Oh...”

He wore black silk robes.

His hair gleamed jet-black, as though woven from the night, contrasting with his pale skin and high, sharp nose. His lowered eyes held a touch of melancholy, and his lips were red.

If the very concept of beauty took form, it might look like him. With his eyes closed, the man seemed to shine as though he alone had been set apart from the world.

“What do you think? Was I right or not?” Jegal San whispered to Dang Hwa-seo.

He was dressed like a beggar, covered head to toe in all manner of filth.

Dang Hwa-seo could only let out an incredulous laugh.

‘I can’t believe this is actually working.’

Disguise Mok Ri-won as a noble young master and bluff their way through the inspection.

She had thought it was absurd, but looking at the current situation, it somehow seemed possible.

-Just keep your mouth shut and look at the floor, Brother Mok. Sister will do all the talking. If a guard starts asking pointless questions, just frown.

-All right! Leave it to me!

-Young Hero Mok, do you really think this will work...

-Leave it to me!

Dang Hwa-seo recalled their conversation from moments ago and glanced at Mok Ri-won, who remained expressionless.

He truly was handsome.

Yet there was something else she could tell.

‘He’s bored to death.’

The twitching corner of his mouth made it clear that he was more than a little bored.

Of course, someone who would chatter all day without rest if left alone had to be itching to speak.

He looked both pitiful and funny, so Dang Hwa-seo gently took his arm.

“Young Hero Mok, please endure it a little longer. It will soon be our turn.”

“All right...!”

The moment she spoke to him, he nearly broke into a wide smile, then startled himself and stiffened his expression.

That was funny too, and Dang Hwa-seo smiled faintly.

Even then, she kept avoiding his gaze.

Naturally, she did not dare meet his eyes.

‘This is entertaining.’

Jegal San barely held back a snicker at the sight of Dang Hwa-seo acting so awkwardly.

Still, he could not help regretting one thing. He had failed to make Mok Ri-won dress as a woman.

‘Tsk, that would have been fun too.’

It was not as though he had not tried. Mok Ri-won’s resistance had simply been too fierce.

-D-dress as a woman? You want me to imitate a woman?! Good heavens, Brother Jegal! How could you humiliate me like this?!

Jegal San could not understand such an intense refusal.

He did not know how much Ma Il-seok had teased Mok Ri-won as a child for looking like a little girl.

“Next!”

A guard’s voice rang out.

Jegal San looked up, realized it was finally their turn, and spoke to Dang Hwa-seo.

“Let’s go.”

“All right.”

Tap.

Tension showed on Dang Hwa-seo’s face as she stepped forward.

* * *

Goh Chang, a martial artist of Zhang Family Estate, looked at the trio before him while bearing wounds from a previous attack by an assailant.

He tried to calm his surprise.

‘Good grief, that fellow is outrageously handsome.’

The woman beside him was also stunning enough to make his eyes widen, yet his gaze kept drifting back to the man.

He did not spare the filthy servant behind them a second look.

The man had the looks of someone who lived in a world all his own.

And those clothes.

As a martial artist employed by a wealthy estate, Goh Chang could recognize their value at once.

‘Those robes must cost at least four gold pieces.’

Tension filled Goh Chang.

He did not know who the man was, but his background was clearly extraordinary. He could not afford to treat him carelessly.

“Ahem. Then, I will conduct the inspec...”

“Haa...”

The man sighed and frowned.

‘W-what was that?!’

A flood of thoughts raced through Goh Chang’s mind.

Had he done something to offend the man?

Or was the man displeased simply because he had to stand in line and submit to an inspection?

Goh Chang forced himself to calm his pounding heart.

That did not mean he could carry out the inspection without fear.

Why would he?

There was nothing to gain from offending someone who so obviously came from a lofty family.

Zhang Family Estate might be rich, but it would not stand up to people like this for the sake of one insignificant guard.

“Th-the... the inspec...”

“Haa...”

“...”

Mok Ri-won sighed with all his might.

He was faithfully doing as he had been told.

Still, it was awkward.

Dang Hwa-seo feared the guard would notice something strange if she did not act at once, so she spoke.

“He is on edge because we are pressed for time. Please understand.”

“N-no, it is...”

“Hu... husband has been losing sleep because of the disturbance since dawn.”

Dang Hwa-seo’s cheeks reddened slightly.

That was right.

The two were pretending to be husband and wife.

It was an awkward performance from someone who could barely say the word husband, but fortunately, Goh Chang understood her.

‘Well, if someone that handsome were my husband...’

It was only natural that she would smile shyly like that.

“N-no, I apologize...”

“Think nothing of it. More importantly, will you let us pass? As I said, we are in a hurry.”

“Y-yes!”

Goh Chang quickly moved aside.

Dang Hwa-seo smiled faintly and slipped her arm through Mok Ri-won’s.

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Then she left through the gates, taking the servant with her.

Only after they vanished from sight did Goh Chang realize he had never asked for their identities.

‘...Ah, there’s no way they could have been those people.’

But Goh Chang had too many people left to inspect to spare a thought for how assuming “surely not” could get someone killed.

* * *

“We did it! We got out of the city safely!”

The moment they were far from the city, Mok Ri-won burst into cheers.

He cast aside every trace of his dignified act and rejoiced like a child.

“As expected of Brother Jegal! I knew I could trust you!”

“Right, right. You may praise me more.”

“I have once again realized the greatness of the Jegal Noble Clan!”

“More.”

“You are so incredible and astonishing that I can only stand here in awe!”

“Mm!”

It was a ridiculous little performance.

Dang Hwa-seo watched them with lifeless eyes before Mok Ri-won turned toward her.

“You were incredible too, Miss! I have never seen such outstanding acting in my life.”

Jolt.

Dang Hwa-seo’s shoulders trembled.

His shining eyes were fixed on her, and she found herself looking pointlessly into the air.

“Yes, well...”

“Did you prepare what you would say beforehand? Or did you improvise it all? I, Mok Ri-won, wish to learn from your acting, Miss!”

“P-please, stop...”

It was overwhelming.

No, she felt almost unworthily honored.

When someone with that face leaned close with admiration in his eyes, she could not help feeling flustered.

“That’s enough, please stop. It was nothing special...”

“But it was so amazing!”

Mok Ri-won’s fussing showed no sign of ending.

It could not be helped.

Disguises and acting.

Escaping hostile territory through them.

All of it brought him one step closer to the life of a chivalrous hero he had always dreamed of.

The protagonist of Chapter Five of Tales of Martial Heroes, the Killing Hero, had done something very similar.

Mok Ri-won’s hair swayed as he went on excitedly.

His silk robe fluttered too.

It was black, of all colors.

The shade made his pale skin stand out, and Dang Hwa-seo felt dizzy.

“How can one become good at such things? How do you make that gentle smile? Like this? Or this?”

Mok Ri-won lifted the corners of his mouth with both index fingers and leaned closer.

His scent grew stronger.

The rising embarrassment made Dang Hwa-seo feel the last thread of her reason snap.

“S-stop it!”

Thwack!

“Guh...!”

Dang Hwa-seo’s fist drove into Mok Ri-won’s solar plexus.

Mok Ri-won sucked in a breath and dropped to his knees from the unexpected attack. Dang Hwa-seo belatedly realized what she had done and apologized.

Beside them, Jegal San cautiously backed away from Dang Hwa-seo.

‘Could she not break that habit of throwing a punch first?’

He was afraid her arrow of anger would turn on him.

* * *

After a journey of roughly three days, the three arrived at their destination.

Mount Huang, one of the Central Plains’ Three Mountains, rose beyond them, its enormous rocky peaks piercing the clouds.

“This is Mount Huang! One of the sights you simply must see when you come to Anhui!”

“Oh! My master told me about it! He said that enjoying the scenery from Mount Huang’s highest peak, with the pines as your companions, was something truly special!”

“Hahaha! Your master knows a thing or two!”

As Mok Ri-won and Jegal San carried on excitedly, Dang Hwa-seo focused her mind on suppressing the tension rising within her.

‘At last.’

She had finally made it here.

This was the first step toward no longer running away.

Here, she would meet Fist Dragon Il-un and seek out the Shaolin abbot.

Dang Hwa-seo clenched her fist.

“...We should get going.”

“Are we climbing Mount Huang?”

“Ah, no. The Dragon Phoenix Gathering will be held in She County, so there is no need to climb it.”

“Ah...”

Disappointment appeared on Mok Ri-won’s face.

Dang Hwa-seo snickered and added, “But if we have the time, it would not be a bad idea to climb it. This is my first time coming to Mount Huang as well, so I am curious.”

“Oh!”

Mok Ri-won’s face immediately brightened.

If he had a tail, it would probably have been spinning like a windmill by now.

His excitement was that obvious.

For some reason, Dang Hwa-seo felt regret at the sight.

‘Soon...’

They might have to part ways.

The thought pricked strangely at her heart.

* * *

The Dragon Phoenix Gathering was a festival open to the young martial artists of the Martial World, but that did not mean anyone of the right age could take part.

It was, in name, a martial arts tournament meant to distinguish dragons and phoenixes.

There were minimum qualifications to meet.

“Well, it doesn’t concern us. Being from a renowned Noble Clan is quite useful at times like this.”

“What about me?”

“Don’t worry. With Sister’s and my recommendation, we can make room for you too, Brother Mok. Well... it is not as though you would fail an entrance test, but isn’t it better to avoid unnecessary trouble?”

“Exactly! As expected of Brother Jegal!”

“Ahem!”

The three sat together at an inn in She County, discussing the upcoming registration for the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

As always, Mok Ri-won had thin noodles and Bamboo Leaf Green.

Dang Hwa-seo had dumplings.

Jegal San had five-spice braised meat before him.

“Young Hero Mok, please eat first. Your noodles will go soggy.”

“Ah, right! I understand!”

At Dang Hwa-seo’s words, Mok Ri-won finally began eating.

As always, he slurped down the thin noodles as though drinking them, then downed a cup of Bamboo Leaf Green and let out a satisfied “Khh!” with a smile.

“Mount Huang’s Bamboo Leaf Green has a different flavor too!”

“Do you like Bamboo Leaf Green that much, Brother Mok? Try this as well. It should suit your taste.”

“Oh! Then...”

The meal continued pleasantly.

Dang Hwa-seo smiled gently at Jegal San and Mok Ri-won as they laughed together.

“Welcome!”

The inn attendant’s shout rang out.

It was louder than anything they had heard since entering the inn, and there was even a trace of tension in it.

The three were naturally curious.

Who could have arrived to warrant such a booming welcome?

They looked toward the entrance.

Then their expressions changed in surprise.