Return to the Wulin Alliance (2)
“This is getting a bit tiring.”
Running for a day and a half was part of it, but the drain on my internal energy was no joke. Maybe I had been too crude about it.
Or perhaps it was because the Blood Wolf Step was only a basic movement technique.
As a footwork method taught to wanderers, it was never meant to be high-level. It felt closer to an entry-level technique, which was probably why Kang Hyung had taught it to me without hesitation. If it had been anywhere near an ultimate skill, I would have struggled to learn it in such a short time.
After all, my body could not simply absorb and use Central Plains movement techniques as they were.
“It’s because you don’t run enough, Uncle! When you’re learning footwork, you have to sprint until you’re completely used to it!”
“He is correct. When I trained in the Dan family’s movement technique, I spent my days climbing and descending the mountain behind our estate.”
Scaling mountains with movement techniques. That sounded like solid training—building stamina while mastering footwork at the same time.
Since I would be spending quite a while at the Wulin Alliance, I would need to dedicate time to practicing movement techniques. In this vast Central Plains, if I was not going to travel everywhere on horseback, mastering footwork was non-negotiable.
Right now I was only keeping up with Hye-ryeong and Mok-gyeong because my realm was higher; my actual technique was nothing special.
In Central Plains terms, everything else was at the Super Peak level, but my movement technique was barely third- or second-class.
Fixing that would take time and effort, but there was no helping it. I had chosen this path, so I could not afford to neglect anything.
“Let’s stop here. Wuhan is not far now.”
Once the city came into view, there was no reason to keep using movement techniques. Wuhan was a bustling trade hub with heavy water traffic, so people came and went constantly. Unless I wanted to cause a scene like some real-life GTA, it was better to enter like a respectable citizen—on foot.
“Uncle, once we’re inside, I’m heading straight for a bath.”
“Go ahead.”
“I…”
“Wash up at Hainan Hall.”
“But—”
“I will speak with them. There is no need to worry.”
The Hainan Sword Sect was not so poor that they could not host a single guest. Even I, an outsider, had been mingling freely with their warriors.
“…I wonder how the Hainan Sword Sect people are doing.”
“They must be incredibly busy. Senior Brother Ha-jin looked completely swamped!”
“That is to be expected. He is set to become the sect leader.”
Even though he had only recently joined, as a member of one of the Nine Great Sects, Ha-jin would have mountains of things to learn if he wanted to maintain and grow the Hainan Sword Sect’s influence. Picturing him sacrificing sleep to study, I was once again reminded that I had truly twisted fate.
…I’m glad I saved him. Truly.
“Uncle, by the way… are we going straight into secluded training when we get back?”
“Not sure.”
“Then let’s take a break and look around Wuhan!”
“…I have heard that excessive training can be harmful. Perhaps resting for a day would be wise.”
“Maybe. There are things I should check while I’m wandering around anyway.”
If possible, I wanted to gather information on the Three Treasures Sword King’s secret manual and see if there were any decent movement technique manuals available. Finding signs of the events I remembered was also important.
By the original timeline, we were nearing the end of the early arc. I had ignored more than half of those incidents, so things were calmer than they should have been, but the ripples would still be there.
Especially around this period, when the Yangtze River pirates and the Green Forest started moving without warning.
Things were about to get busy—maybe even busier than before. The trip to the Wudang Sect had been little more than a brief respite. Once I started following the original flow in earnest, I would have to fight Super Peak masters to the death, and eventually…
…No.
Don’t think about that now.
The Heavenly Demon was the final boss, but that did not mean he was my final boss.
Who knew? Maybe some random guy would beat him senseless and knock him off the final boss throne.
The odds were slim, but not impossible.
After all, the chance of a medieval European country bumpkin possessing my body, becoming a journeyman in two years, getting captured as a prisoner, sold into slavery, and ending up in the Central Plains was less than one percent.
As long as I existed as living proof, there was no guarantee the original story would unfold exactly as written.
Hell, the Saracens could go mad, raid Tianshan, and start a second Battle of Talas. That was also extremely unlikely, but what if it actually happened?
The physical distance made it improbable, but if it did…
“Whew. I got carried away.”
“Huh? With what?”
“Just organizing what I need to do next. Anyway, the line is pretty long.”
At this rate, we would be standing here for at least an hour.
“It seems a merchant caravan is arriving. Look at all those wagons…”
“A merchant caravan, huh.”
If only it were the Seongcheon Merchant Guild.
Probably not.
I crossed my arms and watched the caravan’s procession. There was nothing else to do.
Just like that, we finally returned to Wuhan after what felt like ages.
“It has been a while, Hye-ryeong.”
“Elder! I’m back!”
Hye-ryeong’s cheerful greeting echoed through Hainan Hall. I quietly clasped my hands in greeting beside her and spoke.
“It has been a while, Elder.”
“Indeed it has. But… you. Don’t tell me you have achieved the great accomplishment?”
“I have.”
“Congratulations! To think you would reach it so quickly! You are truly a genius of the ages!”
Elder Baek showered me with praise, his face bright with genuine joy at my breakthrough to the Super Peak realm.
Seeing him celebrate it as if it were his own achievement…
Was this going too far?
Still, in the Central Plains where connections mattered, having an acquaintance grow stronger was a good thing. We had already exchanged favors, after all.
The Super Peak realm was worth that much. If someone was a friend rather than an enemy, the benefits were enormous.
How much could you accomplish with a Super Peak master as an ally? Just having one willing to lend their strength in a crisis was enough to resolve most disputes. Connections at that level were not easy to come by.
Even in this era, China’s population was overwhelming. Among all those people, fewer than a hundred reached Super Peak.
Even at the very bottom of that rank, a Super Peak expert could live comfortably just by existing. If not for the original story, I could have spent my days in luxury. A shame, really.
“Elder, has anything happened at the Wulin Alliance while we were gone?”
“The Wulin Alliance is always one incident after another. With so many hot-blooded youths from various sects gathered here, clashes are inevitable. Just the day before yesterday, the Azure Dragon Unit and White Tiger Unit fought and injured people.”
“Sounds peaceful.”
“It was. The Alliance Lord is so busy he barely has time to eat, relying on elixirs instead of meals, or so the rumors say…”
That was the nature of the Wulin Alliance Lord’s position. Regardless of the actual power it held, the workload was mountainous.
Reports from branch offices across the Central Plains and matters that required the main headquarters’ attention were far more numerous than one might imagine. Since the Wulin Alliance was filled with martial artists rather than scholars, the Alliance Lord’s burden was considerable.
“That is a relief. If the Alliance Lord is still working properly, it means the Wulin Alliance remains peaceful.”
The fact that the Alliance Lord was wielding a brush instead of a sword meant the alliance was still at peace.
“Then we will go wash up. After traveling for days…”
“Rest well. You too, young hero.”
“…Thank you, Elder Baek.”
“No need to feel burdened. The Hainan Sword Sect does not mistreat guests. Ah, I have matters to attend to, so I will see you later.”
Elder Baek left after those words. I watched his retreating figure for a moment before heading to my room.
It was time to rest properly.
And scrub off the grime.
Is there even a martial art for removing dirt?
With all kinds of bizarre techniques in existence, it would not be strange if one existed.
Entertaining that pointless thought, I stepped into my room for the first time in a while. It had been cleaned regularly and was neatly organized. I sat on the bed and gazed out the window.
“Now that I’m back, it is time to start moving in earnest.”
My immediate goal was to build a closer relationship with the Wulin Alliance Lord. I needed to find a way to meet him without being tied to the alliance.
Is it even possible?
Still, I had to try.
Looking at the thin crescent moon hanging in the sky, I let out a sigh.