WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Order
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◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈
Chapter 82: Chapter Nine - Mission, Espionage (13)
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The matters in Shaanxi were drawing to a close.
The Demonic practitioners led by Oh Gang-ak had been treated by martial artists from Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect before being escorted away. The people of So Family Estate, who had endured such hardship over the past month, were recovering one by one and returning to their daily lives.
Mok Ri-won asked Dang Hwa-seo,
"What will happen to them now?"
"Pardon?"
"I heard the head of So Family Estate died. As did the woman Flame Demon deceived into becoming his wife."
"Ah, you mean that."
Dang Hwa-seo told Mok Ri-won what she knew.
The estate head's half-brother lived elsewhere in Shaanxi. When they contacted him, he had told them to sell So Family Estate and distribute the money among its servants.
For some time afterward, the Martial Alliance would also oversee the land where So Family Estate had stood.
After hearing it all, Mok Ri-won's eyes widened.
"That half-brother is truly remarkable. Most people would say they wanted to become the estate head themselves."
"Indeed. He is an unusually good person. Apparently, he and the estate head were quite close. He also had many fond memories with the servants... He said he did not want to see them driven out onto the streets."
It was a heartwarming story, but thinking of those who had been sacrificed along the way still left a bitter taste.
Mok Ri-won nodded with a faint, bitter smile.
"Then when will we return?"
"Probably within three days. We still have some work to do with the branch here."
At those words, Mok Ri-won cautiously glanced at Dang Hwa-seo.
After all, Mok Ri-won knew those "matters" included the unexpected actions taken because of them.
"...I'm sorry."
"Please do not apologize. Was it not something we all did together?"
"Even so. It began with my stubbornness in the end..."
"Young Hero Mok."
Dang Hwa-seo cut them off.
Then she rose and went to Mok Ri-won's side.
The dejected sight of them looked so pitiful.
Even after doing what was right, Mok Ri-won first worried about what others thought. Perhaps they had been discouraged too much over the years.
The thought made Dang Hwa-seo let out a small laugh as she embraced Mok Ri-won.
Then she drew their head against her chest.
"Young lady...?"
Mok Ri-won flinched, their face reddening.
Their body had gone stiff, and their expression showed they had no idea what to do.
Dang Hwa-seo chuckled and stroked the back of their head.
"Yes, to be honest, it was dangerous. If something like this happens again, I do not know whether I will take your side."
"I thought so..."
"But."
Mok Ri-won's eyes shifted toward Dang Hwa-seo's face.
She smiled warmly.
"That does not mean I regret what we did today. We took action ourselves for the sake of chivalric righteousness. We did not make excuses that it could not be helped."
She truly had no regrets.
Above all else, she was satisfied that, while walking the path of the Righteous Path, they had not made excuses to themselves.
They had made a choice they would not regret.
"This was worth attempting. And we succeeded. So for now, please just be happy."
"Young lady...!"
"As I said, I will take responsibility. As the Division Leader."
Dang Hwa-seo lightly pinched Mok Ri-won's cheek.
Mok Ri-won's eyes trembled with emotion.
"Truly, there is no one but you, young lady!"
Mok Ri-won suddenly hugged Dang Hwa-seo.
She stiffened in surprise, then let out a laugh and patted their back.
"Yes, yes. So cheer up now."
"All right! I shall cheer up greatly!"
"And I will say this again. If the same thing happens next time, I will not help you unconditionally. I will not let Young Hero Mok leap into something reckless."
"Yes! I understand that too!"
Mok Ri-won's spirited cries and Dang Hwa-seo's laughter rang through the makeshift commander's office.
The two only separated some time later.
"Benefactor Dang, are you..."
It was around then that Il-un, the Deputy Division Leader, came to make a report.
At the sound of Il-un's presence, the two hurriedly drew apart, but both their faces were flushed.
It was enough to make Il-un tilt their head.
Dang Hwa-seo could not say a word.
Only afterward had she realized that, when Mok Ri-won hugged her back, she had found the sight so adorable that she had secretly enjoyed it.
Today as well, Dang Hwa-seo was fighting her own improper desires.
* * *
Three days passed.
Having finished all remaining matters in Shaanxi, the Dragon Phoenix Unit packed their belongings and exchanged farewells.
"Take care of yourselves!"
The people who had come to see them off were none other than the people of So Family Estate.
Mok Ri-won smiled as they spoke to Seon-u, who stood at the front.
Seon-u's eyes shone as he bowed.
"Thank you once again, Great Hero! I will never forget this kindness for as long as I live!"
"You embarrass me."
Mok Ri-won scratched the back of their head and smiled awkwardly.
A few of the younger women of So Family Estate let out soft sighs at Mok Ri-won's innocent, handsome face.
The usual reaction.
Seon-u giggled as he looked at the servants, then asked Mok Ri-won,
"Will we ever meet again?"
He had received far too great a kindness.
As he had said before, it was a kindness he would never forget, even if he lived his entire life.
But rather than merely keeping his gratitude in his heart, he wanted to repay it someday.
He wanted to grow up splendidly and say, "The person you saved has grown this well."
As Seon-u looked at Mok Ri-won with that hope in his eyes, Mok Ri-won smiled brightly.
"If fate brings us together again."
It was, as usual, a fine line borrowed from Tales of Martial Heroes.
The unit members wore expressions that said, Of course it is.
But Seon-u, who did not know Tales of Martial Heroes, gasped in admiration.
"If fate brings us together again...!"
He repeated the words to himself.
Then Dang Hwa-seo said,
"Take care. If anything happens, contact us through the Alliance's Shaanxi Branch."
"Yes!"
"Then we truly must go. Take care of yourselves."
Dang Hwa-seo turned after speaking and patted Mok Ri-won's shoulder.
Mok Ri-won waved broadly as they turned away as well.
The Dragon Phoenix Unit began walking down the road.
Seon-u watched their retreating figures, his face flushed with excitement.
There was no small measure of admiration in his eyes.
The sight of them carrying out justice with smiles, then leaving without hesitation, was enough to kindle something in the boy's heart.
"Mother..."
"Yes?"
"I have a dream now."
Seon-u's mother looked at him.
Then, seeing how flushed his face was, she laughed and asked,
"What is it?"
"A chivalrous hero."
Seon-u clenched both fists tightly.
His gaze was still fixed on the place where the Dragon Phoenix Unit had disappeared.
'Great Hero saved my life. I want to use it meaningfully.'
Once, he had thought everything was over.
He had thought he would die in despair, unable to see even an inch ahead.
But that was not so.
There were people who extended a helping hand to a child with nothing, asking for nothing in return.
There were people who possessed such warm hearts and courage.
Seon-u thought to himself.
He wanted to become someone like them.
And so he cried out,
"I want to become a chivalrous hero!"
From that day on, the boy's dream was to become a chivalrous hero.
* * *
The journey back from Shaanxi to Wuhan in Hubei was lighthearted.
While the Dragon Phoenix Unit had been finishing their work, rumors had moved ahead of them, spreading through every city they passed. With them, the unit's reputation had risen as well.
What martial artist would not enjoy seeing their name grow in renown?
Who would not be pleased to have the word chivalry attached to their name?
It was a truly joyful journey.
Even after their return to the Martial Alliance, that joy only deepened.
"You are back."
"Yes! We have returned!"
At the Dragon Phoenix Unit's hall, Mok Ri-won was the first to find Yeom So-so, calling out with a broad grin.
Yeom So-so laughed heartily as well.
"I heard what happened. You did something remarkable. Well done."
Mok Ri-won's cheeks reddened as they chuckled.
Then Yeom So-so brewed a cup of tea, offered it to Mok Ri-won, and said,
"Now then, will you tell me in detail what happened?"
"Ah, well! First, from when we entered Shaanxi..."
Mok Ri-won's chatter continued for a long time.
They were so visibly excited that even the listener could not help feeling good.
As Mok Ri-won went into detail about every event, every feeling, and every moment, Yeom So-so's smile grew gentler.
When the whole story was finally over, Yeom So-so nodded.
"You worked hard."
"It was hardly hardship! It was that rewarding!"
"Yes, but it was foolish."
Mok Ri-won froze.
Their body trembled, and surprise crossed their face.
But it did not last long.
They had already heard the meaning behind Yeom So-so's words until they were sick of it from the other unit members.
Mok Ri-won gave a bitter smile.
"...I only thought that Master would not have retreated in such a situation."
"That Mok fellow would not have. But do you know what is different between that Mok fellow and you?"
Mok Ri-won tilted their head at Yeom So-so's words.
"What difference do you mean...?"
"Strength."
Yeom So-so's smile was no longer merely warm.
"Do you know? That Mok fellow was strong every moment he made a name for himself in the Jianghu. Overwhelmingly strong."
Mok Ri-won's mouth pressed into a firm line.
It was not something they did not know.
Mok Seon-o had made his Jianghu debut very late.
He had been nearly forty, and his martial strength had already reached the Transcendent Realm.
At the time, there had been no one in the Jianghu capable of harming him.
"As I said, the Jianghu follows the principle that the strong are honored. The words of the strong become law. The reason that Mok fellow could become such a great chivalrous hero was ultimately because he was strong."
"...Are you saying my martial strength is lacking?"
"Yes. It is lacking by a great deal. It is remarkable for your age, but the Jianghu is not a place that will go easy on you because you are young."
Mok Ri-won's fists clenched.
It was frustrating.
As a martial artist, the words stung, but they were also words Mok Ri-won could not help accepting.
"...I will take them to heart."
"Do you know why I am saying this?"
"Is it not because you believe I have become arrogant?"
Mok Ri-won's eyes had already hardened with resolve.
Only then did Yeom So-so smile in satisfaction.
'They are quite clever.'
Mok Ri-won might act like a fool at times, but their understanding was excellent.
They had the insight to grasp ten meanings from one word.
In truth, even saying this much came from needless worry, but Yeom So-so no longer felt any need to continue.
'They will grow well on their own.'
Besides, even without her, Mok Ri-won seemed to have good companions at their side who would tell them what was right.
"All right, that is enough nagging."
"Thank you for your instruction. I will train harder."
"Good. That aside..."
Yeom So-so drew out her words with a grin.
"...You did make a mistake, did you not?"
"Yes."
"That Baek-un fellow will be looking for you."
Baek-un.
She meant Spear Star Sa Baek-un, the Martial Alliance Leader.
Mok Ri-won's face filled with alarm.
Yeom So-so smiled mischievously.
"It is a formality, so there is no need to be nervous. Though, considering how interested that fellow is in you, who knows what may happen."
Her next words were laced with a chuckle.
"Try to get through it well."
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