WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Satori

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◈ Wanderer of the Martial World ◈

Chapter 22

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First, I performed Qi Accumulation to restore my spent internal energy, then absorbed the Yodan to add more internal energy and expand my dantian.

Next, I circulated my energy to improve my control over it.

“Hoo...”

After finishing, I let out a long breath and sat for a while, thinking about the Flowing Current Heaven-Severing Saber Method.

I had thought it was simply an efficient martial art.

Flowing Current Heaven-Severing Saber.

A name that meant following the current to deflect attacks, then severing the heavens.

But as with most martial arts, you could not understand it from its name alone.

Even basic martial arts sometimes had grand names because of the person who named them.

So I had assumed that was all it was.

Because its Qi Accumulation Method was basic, I had thought the Flowing Current Heaven-Severing Saber Method was a basic martial art made more efficient. I had assumed its energy circulation and saber techniques were basic as well, but now it seemed I had been wrong.

It also had many similarities to the martial art I had been developing myself, which made me think that even more.

But what I experienced today was different.

I had practiced alone, but I had never expected it to be this powerful in real combat.

The first form, Flowing Water Line, was exactly the sort of technique I had expected.

So I thought the second form, Whirling Vortex Needle, would be the same, but it was a completely different world.

Its foundation was naturally the same, but its power was vastly different.

As I thought about martial arts, Seoryeong’s face came to mind.

I expected her to be with the Namgung Clan.

Could this martial art belong to the Namgung Clan?

In her letter, she had said she obtained it from her natal family.

Then where was her natal family? And why had she needed to leave as though she were being dragged away?

“Hoo...”

A sigh slipped out, carrying my longing with it.

The next day, as soon as we entered Sangdeok, a fishy smell of water seeped into my nose.

Since the sun had not set yet, the vast Dongting Lake immediately came into view.

“Wow!”

Baek So-ok stared at the lake with sparkling eyes.

Honestly, I was surprised too.

I had only heard that it was enormous. This was my first time seeing it.

My first impression of Dongting Lake was that it looked like the sea.

At the same time, I wondered whether this could really be called a lake.

It was a lake that seemed fundamentally different from those I had seen in my previous life.

“Let’s look for a ship first.”

“Yes.”

Things had remained slightly awkward between Yi So-gang and me since yesterday.

It was not intentional. It had simply happened naturally.

Still, I had no intention of apologizing first, so I was waiting for time to make things better.

“There’s a merchant vessel leaving in an hour! Are you boarding?”

Fortunately, there was a ship leaving right away.

Since we were trying to avoid any possible pursuit, there was no reason to object. We boarded immediately.

“It’ll be safe, right?”

Baek So-ok asked with a slightly frightened expression.

“It’ll be fine. There are yokai in the water too, but the sects bordering Dongting Lake patrol it every day and guide people along routes that avoid Goe beasts.”

“Ah. That’s a relief.”

At Yi So-gang’s explanation, Baek So-ok’s expression brightened.

There were water bandits, but if they were enough to worry about, travel across Dongting Lake would have already been shut down.

In truth, I had heard that even bandits and water bandits considered proper Black Path were not particularly strong, at least by martial sect standards.

Of course, a few mountain and water strongholds possessed strength comparable to martial sects, but most did not.

When I thought about it, those who could not even join the unorthodox factions became bandits and water bandits to indulge their malicious urges.

There was no way people who hid in mountains and islands crawling with yokai, far from civilization, could be strong.

If they were strong, they would have occupied at least one empty village and lived there.

Still, things would be different if a merchant vessel like this encountered them.

Most of the passengers could not fight.

Four days passed like that.

Fortunately, we arrived in Yueyang without incident.

It was good to step on solid ground again after so long.

The massive lake had been as calm as its size suggested, so I had not suffered from seasickness. Still, it could not compare to the feeling of having solid earth beneath my feet.

After passing through the harbor, crowded with unloaded cargo and countless people, we found a cheap inn.

Even while fleeing, it seemed we needed at least a day of rest.

Besides, we had come this far. It felt as though we had put some distance between ourselves and any possible pursuers.

In truth, I did not know whether Azure Balance Gate would pursue us because of what Yi Pyeong had done.

But one thing was certain. If we had remained in Yeongheung County, something bad would have happened.

It might have been difficult for them to follow us all the way from Yeongheung to Yueyang to punish us, but it would have been easy to bring in and kill those within the same county.

We sat in a corner of the inn and ordered food.

“Did you hear about that?”

“About what?”

“The news about Azure Balance Gate.”

The conversation came from two men who looked like traveling peddlers.

At the familiar name, we all tensed.

Still, none of us turned our heads.

We knew that a careless movement would arouse suspicion.

“Azure Balance Gate?”

“Yeah. You know, that martial sect in Yeongheung County.”

“Yeongheung County? Ah, there! All those lay martial sect names sound alike, so I got confused.”

“Anyway, I heard their young master was stabbed by his escort while he was on his way to the Martial Alliance.”

“Really? Is he dead?”

“No. He isn’t dead, but it sounds like he was badly injured.”

“What happened to that escort bastard?”

“I heard he ran away.”

“That guy’s skilled. He attacked a direct-line descendant and still managed to escape!”

“That’s why we should head somewhere else. We could get into trouble if we go toward Yeongheung County now.”

“Fine by me.”

Yi Pyeong had caused an incident.

By chance, I learned the result.

At the same time, relief spread faintly through my heart.

It was not simply because Yi Pyeong was alive.

Of course, that was fortunate too, but I was also relieved because his survival could mean that no one would pursue us.

Most of the pursuit would be focused on Yi Pyeong.

It was selfish, but I did not want to deny my feelings.

The three of us ate without saying a word.

If we left without even eating the food we ordered, that would only make us seem suspicious.

After filling our stomachs, we went up to the rooms we had rented.

“Yi Pyeong caused an incident.”

Yi So-gang spoke as though sighing.

We were in Yi So-gang’s room.

“At least it seems like he escaped, so that’s fortunate.”

Yi So-gang nodded at Baek So-ok’s words.

“Yes... and there might not be anyone pursuing us either.”

It was exactly what I had been thinking.

“We cannot go back anyway.”

“...Right.”

That was reality.

“Still, it would be best to leave Hunan quickly. Let’s find a ship tomorrow.”

“I’ll be traveling separately.”

I had decided that when we heard the news about Yi Pyeong.

And because my relationship with Yi So-gang had not improved over the past four days, I had already been considering it.

We were fleeing.

Was there really any reason to stay together?

Of course, it would be safer than traveling alone, but I could travel by ship, then hire an escort for the rest of the journey to my destination.

I only needed to stay as wary of strangers as possible.

“...Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

I realized once more that it was difficult to repair a relationship once it had gone wrong.

Even if it began with something trivial.

It was not that I had come to dislike Yi So-gang.

I simply could not find a reason to keep traveling together while feeling this awkwardness.

And I had no intention of being the first to ease it.

“...All right.”

“I’ll go with Senior Hwang too.”

At Baek So-ok’s sudden words, I turned to look at her.

Baek So-ok stared at Yi So-gang with a firm expression.

Yi So-gang looked back and forth between Baek So-ok and me with a completely stiff expression.

An even colder atmosphere filled the room.

“...All right.”

“Yes.”

Yi So-gang could not stop her from making that decision.

From the start, they had merely been companions in the same group.

Without resorting to force, Yi So-gang had no grounds to compel her.

“Leave.”

At Yi So-gang’s dismissal, Baek So-ok and I left the room.

“I’m sorry for saying it without discussing it first.”

As soon as we left, Baek So-ok lowered her head.

It did not seem like a conversation for the hallway, so I brought her into my room.

“If you permit it, I would like to accompany you.”

Baek So-ok lowered her head again after entering. I watched her for a moment before asking,

“Why did you make that decision?”

When it came down to it, Baek So-ok had little connection to me.

We had only taken on one job together, and we had barely spoken to each other.

It had been the same during our flight.

Exhausted by our rapid march, Baek So-ok had barely left her room whenever we stopped at an inn.

Even after we boarded the ship, we had not spoken much.

In contrast, Yi So-gang had been with her for quite a long time.

I had heard that she joined Yi Pyeong’s group not long after becoming a wandering martial artist, so she had spent most of her time as one alongside Yi So-gang.

“It’s because I wasn’t given any of the money from selling the Changbu meat and Yodan this time.”

Had that happened?

Money was extremely important to wandering martial artists.

It was only natural. We were people who risked our lives for money.

Baek So-ok might have felt even more slighted.

After all, I knew that the two of them had only managed to defeat a Changbu this time largely because of her contribution.

Perhaps she had talent for martial arts. In such a short time, she had become capable of holding her own.

No, I had not heard the details, but I guessed she might have surpassed third-rate already.

Of course, even if her realm had risen, she would still die if she fought a third-rate martial artist at her current level.

“I could get your share for you.”

I could speak to Yi So-gang.

Wrong was wrong.

“That is my problem, so I cannot inconvenience you. And... I decided not to accept it.”

I did not know what her intentions were.

It was not because money did not matter to her.

If that were the case, she would not have become a wandering martial artist.

Even so, it was her decision.

I could not interfere.

“It’s just... I’m short on travel funds. If you could lend me some, I’ll definitely repay you.”

Baek So-ok flushed and lowered her head slightly.

“...All right.”

For a moment, I almost told her she could repay me with her body.

Baek So-ok was not as beautiful as Seoryeong, but she had a fairly pretty face.

Still, she was a clever woman.

She had never once shown her disappointment.

It was not easy to hide one’s true feelings.

Even Yi So-gang, who had much more experience as a wandering martial artist, showed their emotions plainly through their face and behavior.

After sending Baek So-ok away, I lay down on the bed.

It was fortunate.

A long journey became much easier if you had a clever companion.

A lack of experience would be filled with time, but wisdom was not guaranteed to grow just because one aged.

I put aside my thoughts of Baek So-ok and considered my destination.

Unless I intended to drift like duckweed, I needed a destination.

I was free to go anywhere, but if I had to choose a place, there was only one.

Hefei, Anhui Province.

It was home to the Namgung Clan, the sword clan known as the Azure Heavens and the greatest clan under heaven.

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