Wanderer of the Martial World - Chapter 18

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Satori

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◈ Wanderer of the Martial World ◈

Chapter 18

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A narrow alley leading from my house toward the market.

A small drawing I had never noticed before, since I normally just passed by, caught my eye.

Beneath a crude turtle was a snake that looked like an earthworm.

The black market's coded mark.

Staring at it openly might draw unnecessary suspicion, so I only gave it a quick look and passed on.

The sun had only recently set.

The first thing I saw was market merchants putting away their stalls and wrapping up the day's business. Street vendors were selling cheap liquor alongside meals.

Children watched for chances to steal money among the people staggering through the streets.

I slowly made my way through them toward the clinic where I had left Yi So-gang.

The children who were obvious pickpockets glanced at me, but turned away when they saw the straight saber at my side.

The world was dark, but scattered red lanterns and the torches some people carried kept visibility from becoming too poor.

It did not take long for me to reach the physician's house.

The physician appeared to be finishing up for the day as well, sorting various medicinal herbs.

"Hm? Ah! Welcome."

"How is Yi So-gang?"

"Yi So-gang was just about to be discharged, so you've come at a good time."

As soon as the physician finished speaking, a room to one side opened and Yi So-gang walked out.

Yi So-gang's face was far paler than usual, and Yi So-gang looked unusually disheveled.

"How are you feeling?"

When I stepped closer and asked, the physician beside Yi So-gang answered instead.

"Fortunately, Yi So-gang's life isn't in danger, but Yi So-gang's internal organs were injured. He'll likely need to rest and recuperate for a few weeks."

I nodded, and the physician spoke again.

"By the way, I used quite a lot of herbs... You'll need to pay two silver taels."

It was not a small price, but I had no intention of haggling, so I handed over two silver taels.

Judging from how brightly the physician's expression changed, he had probably overcharged me. Still, I did not argue.

As I supported Yi So-gang out of the clinic, Yi So-gang spoke weakly.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. How are you feeling?"

I asked the same question again.

"I have some medicine for internal injuries left at home. If I take that, I'll recover in a few days."

"What happened?"

At my question, Yi So-gang looked up at the dark sky with vacant eyes.

"I got greedy."

"..."

"Jo Man-sik tempted me. He said there was a way to buy a martial arts manual."

A third-rate wandering martial artist, no, anyone in this world who had not learned martial arts would want a martial arts manual.

"I see."

"...What happened to Jo Man-sik?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"So it ended like that. He probably ran away."

Yi So-gang's expression looked bitter.

I did not bother telling Yi So-gang that I had killed Jo Man-sik.

Considering what had been in Jo Man-sik's possession, he had likely pooled his own money with Yi So-gang's to buy spiritual medicine. This matter could end up causing unexpected trouble.

Since I had saved Yi So-gang's life, Yi So-gang probably would not cause problems. Still, one could never know what another person was thinking, so there was no need to tell him I had killed Jo Man-sik.

When we reached Yi So-gang's house, I sat Yi So-gang down on the wooden porch and said,

"If you wanted martial arts, you could've gone with Brother Yi, couldn't you?"

At my words, Yi So-gang stared blankly into empty space.

"...Receive martial arts in exchange for escorting Gwak Ha-jun... Those martial arts would have come from Azure Balance Gate in the end. I would have had no choice but to become their lackey. I didn't want that. Besides, Jo Man-sik had told me about the black market before then."

I nodded at his words.

There was nowhere that simply gave away martial arts.

"Once again, thank you. I'll definitely repay this debt someday."

"All right."

I answered without refusing.

Back when we had been in the same group, we had saved each other's lives many times.

I did not know how Yi So-gang would repay the debt, but I did not attach much significance to it.

These days, just having the Qi Accumulation Method that let me absorb Yodans and the martial arts Seoryeong had given me was more than enough.

I had killed Jo Man-sik and gone to the black market only to obtain Yodans. I did not need anything else.

I had more than enough to train in, and it was still time to move forward little by little.

"I'll be going."

Leaving Yi So-gang behind, I departed.

I should go to the black market.

It was nearly midnight by the time I arrived at the black market.

Of course, it was not because it was far away. If I left the county too early, there would be that many more eyes watching, so I had deliberately passed the time in a tavern before going.

Even if people likely to know of the black market's existence did know of it, there was nothing to gain from being seen going there.

Also, now that Seoryeong was gone, drinking a little to ease my tension was the only way I had to relieve even a little of my stress.

Though it did not seem very effective.

"Turtle snake."

"Go in."

I gave the same password as yesterday and entered.

After passing the old man who was presumably at the Peak Realm, I entered the black market and saw that the streets were a little less crowded than yesterday.

Without paying it any mind, I went straight to the herb dealer.

"You're back?"

The old man spoke as he looked at the bruise not hidden by my mask.

"Yes. I'd like to buy three Yo-beast Yodans."

"Three gold taels."

I took out thirty silver taels and handed them to him.

A great deal of money had vanished, but I still had the money from selling Jo Man-sik's weapons, so it was fine.

I intended to use that as living expenses while I trained.

"Here."

The old man handed me a pouch slightly smaller than yesterday's.

After opening it slightly to check the contents, I tucked it into my clothes.

As I turned to leave, I saw a familiar figure hurriedly crossing the street.

Gwak Ha-jun.

The young master of Azure Balance Gate was walking quickly.

Seeing him reminded me of the conversation he had had with the slave trader yesterday.

He had mentioned an auction.

For a moment, I wondered if I should at least take a look.

When I approached the direction Gwak Ha-jun had disappeared in, I found a passage in the cave wall.

Two sturdy men stood guard there as well.

"Stop."

As I approached, one of them blocked my way.

"This is where the auction is held. To enter, you must show one hundred gold taels."

One hundred gold taels.

That was a full thousand silver taels.

The mere requirement to prove one had a thousand silver taels made me realize that the items being auctioned inside must be quite valuable.

But I did not have that much money, so I stepped back.

There was no doubt they would stop me if I tried to force my way in, and I had no intention of going that far just to enter.

I was curious, of course, but I was not enough of an idiot to cause trouble over simple curiosity.

I returned to the county.

I learned what Gwak Ha-jun had bought at the auction several days later.

After finishing my morning training and roughly washing up, I strapped my straight saber to my waist.

I was about to leave home, thinking that since I had promised to teach Gu Deok martial arts tomorrow, I would go to the inn to see Jin Pal and eat as well.

Then I saw Yi Pyeong standing in front of my house.

"Brother Yi?"

"Ah."

Puzzled by Yi Pyeong's pale face, I sat him on the wooden porch and sat beside him.

"Did something happen?"

"...Jang Wi is dead."

"...What?"

Like Yi So-gang, Jang Wi had been part of Yi Pyeong's group with me.

He had been kind to me since I was an Unranked wandering martial artist, someone I had been grateful for.

The sudden news of his death left me briefly stunned.

Yi Pyeong hesitated before opening his mouth.

"Um... A few days ago, Gwak Ha-jun brought a woman with him. She was a rare beauty."

A beauty... I could not be sure, but she was probably the woman Gwak Ha-jun had bought at the black-market auction.

"That fool Jang Wi seemed to have fallen for that bitch."

After saying that, Yi Pyeong bit his lip.

"After Gwak Ha-jun took the woman into a room, a scream was heard, and Jang Wi rushed in."

Yi Pyeong's voice had become nearly tearful.

"I... I... Huu... I tried to stop him. I grabbed Jang Wi and held him back. But Gwak Ha-jun... that lowlife bastard punched Jang Wi in the face."

Gwak Ha-jun was First Rate.

Of course, he was a First Rate who could not fight, so he was not a proper First Rate. Still, that did not change his realm itself.

He was a master who had opened every blood acupoint required by the qi circulation method.

Even if that realm had been built by swallowing spiritual medicine as though it were food, First Rate was still First Rate.

And if a First Rate swung a fist infused with internal energy, it was bound to be dangerous.

At another time, Jang Wi might have been able to evade it. But if Yi Pyeong had been holding him back, that would have been impossible.

"And... Jang Wi died. Sob."

Yi Pyeong buried his face and wept.

Beside him, I stared into empty space and thought.

Revenge?

That was impossible.

Part of it was simply my selfishness, but the biggest problem was that Gwak Ha-jun was the young master of Azure Balance Gate.

He was also the child the Young Gate Master cherished.

Even if the Azure Balance Gate martial artists looked down on him because of his conduct, they would never stay still if he died.

He was direct bloodline, after all.

And that would lead to my ruin.

I should have killed him then.

Unnecessary regret rose inside me.

I regretted not killing Gwak Ha-jun immediately on the mountainside where he had blocked my path.

But it was already in the past. I could not take it back.

"...Tomorrow. Tomorrow, we're going to the Martial Alliance."

"..."

"It'll be long and dangerous."

The Martial Alliance was in Xu Chang, Henan.

I had never been there, so I did not know exactly, but from what I had heard, it was a distant journey that took over a month.

Perhaps it would be different by boat, but there was no denying that it was far away.

And yokai were everywhere, so it would indeed be a dangerous journey.

"...Yes."

I could already guess what Yi Pyeong might do.

Even so, he did not make any separate request of me.

"So I have a favor to ask."

...Was I wrong?

"I intend to persuade Yu Sam and Baek So-ok. I'll tell them to pretend to be sick today and not come along. If they don't come, I want you to help them reach third-rate."

I turned to look at him.

Yi Pyeong stared blankly into empty space, his eyes wet.

He was a good person.

That was why he worried that Yu Sam and Baek So-ok might suffer if he caused trouble.

But I could not help them thoughtlessly.

"Do you think they'll listen?"

At my question, Yi Pyeong gave a faint laugh and shook his head.

"...Probably not. Still, I'm asking you."

Spiritual medicine was being offered to those who went to the Martial Alliance together.

It would not be easy to give that up simply because they trusted Yi Pyeong.

That was why I thought it was unlikely they would listen to him.

"All right."