The Heaven-Slaying Sword - Chapter 52

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈

Chapter 52: Chapter Six - Escort Journey, Fateful Encounter (2)

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Woonseong Escort Agency’s escort journey was set to depart the very next day.

Since Dang Hwa-seo had no pressing business in the city to begin with, it was not a bad arrangement for her.

Outside the city’s main gate, Dang Hwa-seo looked over the long procession and the tightly sealed cargo wagons at its center, then spoke to Mok Ri-won.

“I hear it will take about ten days from here.”

“Ten days! Then we will arrive in Hubei Province?”

“Yes. There probably will not be any trouble. Even bandits weigh their own gains and losses, so they rarely target a procession this large.”

“I heard the Green Forest Bandits are active around here. Would they not make a move as well?”

“They are still part of the Black Path.”

“Ah.”

Mok Ri-won understood at once.

It felt a little strange to hear that the Green Forest Bandits, villains in every story, chose their targets carefully. But when he thought about it, they were martial artists of the Black Path.

True to their nature, they surely would not do anything that cost them more than they stood to gain.

“Hmm... Then there will be no fighting.”

Peace was a good thing, but Mok Ri-won could not help feeling disappointed.

How could he not?

There would be no moment of crisis in which he could step forward and wield his sword like the Wandering Hero he admired.

“Escort work is rarely as dangerous as it is in stories. If it were, far fewer people would enter this profession.”

“I understand.”

Mok Ri-won nodded.

Then, crossing his arms with a serious expression, he declared, “Still, one never knows when an accident may occur! Since I have joined this escort journey for pay, I shall remain vigilant with all my strength!”

Dang Hwa-seo smiled softly.

“How admirable. That is a truly wonderful attitude.”

“Hmph!”

Pride filled Mok Ri-won’s face.

Watching from beside them, Jegal San could not shake the thought that the two looked more like mother and son than lovers.

Just then, drums boomed, and the escort chief directing the procession called out.

“Then we shall begin the escort journey!”

The journey had begun.

* * *

Two days had passed since the escort journey began.

Nothing that could be called a crisis had occurred yet.

That was only natural, but Mok Ri-won, who had kept watch without relaxing for a moment, could not help growing a little bored.

Still, that was only Mok Ri-won’s perspective. To the other martial artists watching him, this procession felt quite special.

Why would it not?

Ink Dragon Mok Ri-won had joined what had been an ordinary procession.

The rising talent who had defeated Namgung Jin-cheon, the Sword Dragon thought certain to go undefeated in this generation, and won the Dragon Phoenix Gathering was traveling alongside them. There was no chance for them to be bored.

“His bearing is extraordinary.”

“Is that all? His face is something else too... Did you see the Poison Phoenix’s expression whenever Ink Dragon smiled? She was as red as a beet.”

“How unfair.”

“What can we do? That is how the world is.”

He was a man perfectly suited to the word flawless.

Even a simple smile made people feel as though they had witnessed a magnificent work of art. When he gazed sharply into the distance, his serious expression drew sighs of admiration.

It was not just his looks, either. His martial prowess was outstanding, and he was young besides. The escort agency’s martial artists could not help admiring him.

There was one reason that misunderstanding had not been cleared up.

It was a particular quality of admiration.

People could not casually approach someone they admired, and even when that person showed a strange side, they would only interpret it favorably.

In other words...

“Ink Dragon’s cheeks are red.”

“He must be spending sweet time with the Poison Phoenix.”

“Only Strange Dragon is suffering beside them. Look at that sour expression.”

Even the sight of the three of them talking nonsense and laughing together looked wonderful to everyone else.

“Miss! I have just had an incredible thought! About the Wandering Hero from Chapter Six of Tales of Martial Heroes! Perhaps fist arts suit him better than saber art!”

“I see. That is quite an interesting thought.”

“Is it not? If one had to hide one’s strength, would it not be more sensible to travel with nothing but one’s fists instead of carrying a weapon? If the Wandering Hero truly exists, he must be a practitioner of fist arts!”

“You have quite an imagination, Young Hero Mok.”

“Does it not make sense?”

“It was quite entertaining.”

Whenever Mok Ri-won spouted nonsense, Dang Hwa-seo simply found it cute and replied to him.

Jegal San found himself wondering what sort of conversation this even was.

That had been the extent of their conversations for the past two days.

They were once again making their way down the road while exchanging such trivial remarks when the escort chief shouted.

“We shall rest here! Prepare to make camp!”

“Ah,” Dang Hwa-seo said. “It seems we will camp tonight. There is no village nearby, so it makes sense.”

“Camping... There is romance in that.”

“Romance in this too?”

“Of course! I believe camping has its own romance! Lighting a campfire, sitting around it to share quiet stories, and friendship exchanged over a cup of liquor!”

Mok Ri-won clenched his fist.

His eyes sparkled.

“Romance!”

Mok Ri-won was drunk on romance.

Several escort guards approached them just then.

“We will help set up your tents.”

They meant to prepare their sleeping places.

Mok Ri-won smiled, about to refuse, but Jegal San spoke before he could.

“Ah! Thank you. We shall stay off to one side so that we do not get in your way.”

“Yes.”

Mok Ri-won was flustered.

He thought it was impolite to leave his own work to someone else.

After being practically dragged to a corner by Jegal San, Mok Ri-won finally opened his mouth.

“B-Brother Jegal, this is not...”

“This is right, Brother Mok.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is better for everyone,” Dang Hwa-seo answered.

She explained in a gentle voice.

“Did that Jegal brat not tell you to consider the weight of a dragon’s byname?”

“That is true, but...”

“It would make them uncomfortable to let us set up our tents ourselves. They would be in trouble if we went elsewhere and said, ‘Woonseong Escort Agency did not even prepare us a place to sleep.’”

“I-I would never say...”

“Even if you would not, they do not think as you do.”

Mok Ri-won’s brow furrowed.

Still, his expression held more confusion than anger.

“They do not?”

“They do not know us. They do not know you, either. Rather than trying to explain yourself, become accustomed to it. Explaining yourself and doing everything personally whenever you meet new people is inefficient.”

Only then did Mok Ri-won nod with reluctant acceptance.

“That is true...”

She was right.

If the Martial World’s feelings toward dragons were so special, and if people feared their influence, this would happen wherever they went.

Rather than arguing and explaining each time, rather than spending that emotional energy, this was easier on everyone.

“...I have learned something else.”

Mok Ri-won smiled bitterly.

For some reason, the title of dragon no longer felt quite so romantic.

Dang Hwa-seo and Jegal San understood him.

They had been born into prestigious families and always received such treatment, but there had been times when it made even them uncomfortable.

“Well, if it truly bothers you, we can help when the circumstances allow.”

“May we?”

“We will camp often. There will be fewer villages from now on. If we can help, it would be much better to do so.”

Dang Hwa-seo smiled as she spoke, and Mok Ri-won finally beamed and took her hand.

“Thank you! As expected, there is no one but you!”

Dang Hwa-seo’s shoulders twitched.

His voice had been quite loud. The nearby escort guards made knowing sounds and peeked at the two of them.

Dang Hwa-seo felt her face turn bright red.

“Th-That is enough. Later...”

“Hmm? Very well!”

Mok Ri-won released her hand with a broad grin.

Only then did Dang Hwa-seo take a deep breath and steady herself.

‘What am I supposed to do when he suddenly comes at me like that...!’

His innocence was terribly troublesome.

As Dang Hwa-seo blew out breaths to disperse the heat rising within her, Jegal San moved one step closer to Mok Ri-won.

He could not completely shake Dang Hwa-seo off in an emergency, but he intended to give Mok Ri-won a chance to run away. It was his own small act of goodwill.

* * *

The moon rose.

Not a single cloud hung in the sky that night, and the stars shone more brilliantly than ever.

On nights like this, there was something Mok Ri-won always did.

He performed a sword dance.

Though they were in the middle of an escort journey, Mok Ri-won could not possibly refrain from it. After asking the group for permission, he slipped away to an empty place.

Then he began his sword dance.

Saaaaa...

Ink-colored Qi Waves reflected the starlight.

Their radiant glow embroidered the empty air.

His movements were as slow as ever, but one thing had changed.

The density of the Qi Waves.

Mok Ri-won had somehow reached the middle stage of peak, and his Qi Waves had become thick enough to obscure his entire view.

As the sword dance continued, a smile appeared on Mok Ri-won’s lips.

He had already forgotten everything around him. His mind held only his sword and the stars.

How much time had passed?

Lost in his sword dance, Mok Ri-won suddenly heard a rustle and jerked to a stop.

“Who’s there?!”

A startled squeak escaped him.

The person at the edge of his vision flinched and trembled.

“W-Wait! I did not mean to spy on you! I am sorry!”

A man sprang up from the bushes.

Mok Ri-won recognized his face and exclaimed.

“...Are you not one of the escort guards?”

He was an elderly third-rate martial artist from Woonseong Escort Agency, with white threaded through his hair.

Mok Ri-won clearly remembered him.

The man looked helplessly at Mok Ri-won.

“I-I am sorry! I only came out to answer nature’s call, then saw something flashing and was drawn here! I-I did not spy on your training! As soon as I came near, Great Hero Ink Dragon noticed me...”

Seeing him ramble, Mok Ri-won finally calmed down.

“I see... I should be the one apologizing. Perhaps I was making too much commotion in such an open place.”

In the Martial World, spying on another person’s training was an offense for which even paying with one’s life would not be enough.

That saying certainly existed, but Mok Ri-won believed it was not right to blame someone entirely when he himself had been training outdoors like this.

“May I know your name, sir?”

“G-Gwak Chil...”

Gwak Chil.

Mok Ri-won smiled brightly at the name and offered a cupped-fist salute.

“It is good to meet you. I am Mok Ri-won.”

“I already know. How could I not know Ink Dragon?”

The man weakly returned the salute.

Mok Ri-won felt strangely sorry at the sight, so he continued, hoping to ease the mood.

“It is good to meet you, Truly Great Person Gwak. Come to think of it, your name resembles that of a writer I admire.”

“A-A writer?”

“Yes. The writer I respect is named Gwak Chil-pyo.”

Gwak Chil’s body trembled faintly.