WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Satori
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Wanderer of the Martial World ◈
Chapter 28
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The next day.
Around noon, we left the inn and headed for the wandering martial artist inn.
The busy crowds moving to and fro made it feel much like the market in Yeongheung County.
The difference was that the Yangtze River was nearby, so there was plenty of fish and the air smelled fishy.
Thinking steamed fish might make a decent dinner tonight, I continued on.
When we arrived at the wandering martial artist inn, the scene was much the same as before.
Unranked martial artists lounged about everywhere.
They looked at us, then quickly turned away and whispered among themselves.
They had probably heard that we were second-rate yesterday.
Ignoring them, I entered the inn, where a noisy atmosphere greeted us.
Had seeing us once made them used to us?
There was no momentary silence or anything like that.
Most of them merely glanced our way before returning to their chatter.
“I came to collect my token.”
“Here you are.”
I accepted the token the innkeeper handed over and examined it.
My name, grade, and distinguishing features were written on a roughly carved piece of wood.
After giving it a quick look and putting it away, the innkeeper spoke.
“By the way, when are you planning to take a job?”
“What jobs are available now?”
When I showed interest, the innkeeper nodded and pulled out a document.
“It’s a job from Yang Family Manor. Yokai have appeared in Amgok Village. The martial sect in Amgok Village is Yang Family Manor’s lay martial sect, so I suppose that’s why they put in the request.”
In areas of a decent size, several martial sects usually coexisted and protected the people from yokai. Small villages with little to offer were different.
The danger was great and there was little to gain, so no one wanted to go there.
That was why people pushed out of ordinary martial sects usually ended up in such places.
With nothing but the grand title of a lay martial sect.
“The yokai are Bonghui.”
Bonghui. Put simply, they were pig Yo beasts.
They were much larger than ordinary pigs, with thick hide and layers of fat that made weapons ineffective against them.
“What about Danggyeong?”
“They say there aren’t any. But there seem to be quite a few Bonghui. Even the Sect Leader there is first-rate, yet they asked the main sect for aid.”
Not all yokai evolved, but Bonghui could evolve into Danggyeong.
Their tusks grew long and sharp, and their strength became tremendous.
The fact that there were no such Goe beasts put me somewhat at ease.
“Yang Family Manor is so small that they seem to be recruiting wandering martial artists.”
The innkeeper added that as though hoping we would accept.
It did not matter.
Those bastards paid wandering martial artists to throw into danger in place of their disciples.
“Will you take it? The job is at noon tomorrow.”
“We’ll take it.”
After exchanging looks with So-ok, I agreed.
Bonghui were violent, but not as fast as gersu.
Their defense and toughness were exceptional, but if you drove a blade in properly, you could kill one instantly.
It was a decent job.
“The payment is four nyang of silver each, since you’re currently registered as Third Grade.”
It was certainly less than a second-grade job would pay.
Considering we would be heading into the wilderness, we would have received seven nyang if we were Second Grade.
Still, I could not complain.
“And...”
The innkeeper went on to say that we would hand over the Yodan to the sect, and that they would also buy the meat and hides.
“They’ll buy the meat too?”
“Urgh... they will. Still, they’ll offer a fair price.”
No matter what, it would be less than selling it ourselves.
After thinking it over for a moment, I nodded.
Even taking that into account, it was a good job.
“Just head to Yang Family Manor at noon tomorrow.”
The old man roughly explained the manor's location and wrote down our names.
As we finished confirming everything and were about to leave the inn...
“Hey!”
The bearded, brawny man we had seen yesterday called out to us.
He rose and approached us.
He was rather tall.
His eyes were nearly level with mine, and I was considered fairly tall in this world.
I gauged the distance between us as I watched him.
I kept far enough away that the long-handled double-bladed axe on his back could not reach me.
“Did you take the Yang Family Manor job?”
“We did.”
“I took it too.”
“...”
What was I supposed to do with that?
“Ahem. Well, I thought we should introduce ourselves. I’m Ju Daegang.”
“...Hwang Jeong-un.”
“I’m Baek So-ok.”
“Want to step outside and talk for a moment?”
We were leaving anyway, so there was no harm in hearing him out.
Once we had reached a place fairly far from the wandering martial artist inn, he spoke.
“I was wondering if we should travel together for this job.”
What an absurd thing to say.
I stared at the middle-aged man.
His appearance was fierce and unkempt, and his eyes gleamed brightly.
Even for a wandering martial artist, he had an intimidating face.
I did not normally judge people by their appearance, but even considering that, he did not look trustworthy at all.
“No.”
I refused firmly.
Traveling together was practically the same as becoming companions.
Why would I trust him enough to become his companion?
If he tried something behind my back, I could die without being able to do anything.
“Um... then how about we help each other if something happens?”
“Is something going to happen?”
At So-ok's question, he shook his head.
“No, nothing’s going to happen. Still, it’s dangerous to head outside without companions.”
“What about your group?”
Other than the Unranked, most wandering martial artists belonged to groups.
They helped not only with jobs, but with getting by in the city as well.
Having connections through a group prevented all sorts of problems.
After becoming second-rate, I had worked alone, but I had remained close with Yi Pyeong's group, so I had not faced any major trouble.
Ju Daegang scratched his head with an awkward expression.
“There was a bit of trouble. Of course, they aren’t here anymore.”
They were not here anymore... They were probably dead.
That made Ju Daegang even harder to trust.
“I refuse.”
“Tsk. Well, it can’t be helped. Still, let’s not become enemies.”
“Fine.”
With that, he left.
The long-handled double-bladed axe strapped to his back caught my eye.
After buying supplies for the journey, we returned to the inn and took turns training, just as we had on the ship.
As I watched So-ok immersed in energy circulation, I thought things over.
How could I obtain Yodan?
In the end, hunting was the only answer.
But unlike the area around Yeongheung County, which I knew well, I knew nothing about this place.
If I went hunting carelessly, I might end up being hunted instead.
Nor could I act recklessly during a job.
Martial sect warriors counted every yokai and checked the Yodan they had collected.
Trying to pocket one for myself could cause a bigger problem.
I suppressed the urge to rush.
Don’t think too hastily.
If I learned more about this place first, I could go hunting afterward.
And if I saved money, perhaps I could buy Yodan when the Black Market opened.
“Whew...”
So-ok opened her eyes and looked at me, seeming to have finished her energy circulation.
Our eyes met for a moment, and So-ok gave me a playful grin.
“What are you thinking about?”
“...I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
“Hmph! I thought you were thinking I’m pretty.”
So-ok pretended to sulk.
The sight of it revealed her age somehow, and I found it cute.
“Of course Sister Baek is beautiful.”
When I said that with a slight smile, she came over and kissed me.
“I’ll be right back. You need to train too, Brother Hwang.”
“Understood.”
After Baek So-ok went to the privy and returned, I sat cross-legged.
And unlike on the ship, I began circulating my qi.
The next day, after breakfast, we left the inn at the appointed time.
Yesterday, I had given the waiter a few mun and learned about Yang Family Manor.
It was a family that had never been particularly powerful, sustaining itself through several small inns and taverns nearby.
They called themselves orthodox, but their reputation was not very good.
The family head was upper first-rate, and the young clan head was mid first-rate.
Naturally, I could learn no deeper information, but this was enough.
Then we arrived at Yang Family Manor.
A larger estate than I had expected came into view.
There was a large main gate and a plaque bearing elegant calligraphy.
Was it because this was a city?
It felt grander than the small martial sects in Yeongheung County.
“I’m a wandering martial artist here for the job.”
There was a small open door beside the closed main gate.
I spoke to the young man in martial attire seated at a table in front of it.
“Name?”
His attitude was rather arrogant.
“Hwang Jeong-un.”
I did not bother with polite speech either.
Perhaps that annoyed him, because the young man looked up at me.
I met his eyes without avoiding them.
“Hmph!”
He soon lowered his head to check my name, then looked back up and spoke.
“Third Grade. Ha. Fine, go in.”
What was with this bastard?
I was already well acquainted with the arrogance of martial sect disciples, but this was new even for them.
I wanted to snap that beckoning hand of his, but I could not cause trouble right away.
Later, perhaps.
“I’m Baek So-ok.”
“Oh! Really? You’re Third Grade too? Heh heh. I’ll take good care of you later.”
“...Yes.”
Seeing that bastard hit on So-ok, I instinctively knew that if he joined us on this job, I would have one more thing to take care of.
Thinking about it, it was fortunate that he saw me as nothing more than a third-grade martial artist.
Carelessness easily invited death.
“Oh! You made it!”
The moment we entered the estate, Ju Daegang greeted Baek So-ok and me as though he knew us well.
The wandering martial artists gathered nearby turned to look us over, then resumed talking with their groups.
With a single greeting from Ju Daegang, we had become his companions in their eyes.
My brow furrowed slightly at that, but it had already happened.
In a way, it was not bad.
If we were associated with Ju Daegang, who appeared second-rate, they would at least not make any hasty plans to do something nasty.
Since the wandering martial artists here knew little about Baek So-ok and me, seeing us with a local like Ju Daegang would make them think twice about us.
I had no choice but to go over to Ju Daegang.
Of course, I did not let down my guard.
No, I needed to be even more wary.
Anything could happen in the wilderness.
“Did you sleep well?”
“...”
“Yes, I slept well. How about you, Senior?”
When I did not answer, Baek So-ok spoke in my place.
“I slept well. Hahaha. Ah, this must be your first time going to Amgok Village.”
Ju Daegang treated us with an easygoing manner that did not suit his fierce face.
“Oh! Have you been there?”
“I’m a local, so of course I have. It’s just a village in the mountains, a village.”
He gestured for us to come closer and lowered his voice as much as possible.
“The Sect Leader of Dark Sheep Sect is the youngest sibling of the Yang Family Head. They fell out of favor after some trouble and were relegated there. Honestly, it’s hard to even call Dark Sheep Sect a martial sect. It’s called a sect, but there is only the Sect Leader and one disciple.”
That was rather useful information.
I looked at him in surprise.
“You know the situation well?”
At So-ok's question, he grinned.
“One of the Yang Family Manor disciples is a close younger friend of mine. We lived next door as children and still keep in touch. He’s a decent fellow, so I’ll introduce you if we get the chance.”
“Oh! Thank you.”
“Haha. It’s nothing.”
Somehow, a warm atmosphere formed without including me.
Just as I was having trouble adjusting to the unfamiliar mood, the inner gate opened and a group of martial artists emerged.
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