The Calm Before the Storm (1)
After the Japanese pirates' raid was dealt with, the Hainan Sword Sect began mourning their dead while following my advice to strengthen their defenses. The residents of Hainan Island cooperated willingly, so wooden barricades sprang up around the harbor in no time, and checkpoints that had never existed before were now reinforced.
With measures like these in place, it seemed unlikely the Demonic Cult could slip onto the island through ordinary means. The real question was whether they would abandon Hainan Island altogether or force their way in regardless.
Their goal was the unification of the Central Plains. During the previous Righteous-Demonic War, the Hainan Sword Sect had struck them from behind so many times that the cult apparently decided to eliminate the sect first. The original novel had mentioned this only briefly.
That was why, just as the protagonist began his journey into the martial world, the sect suffered total annihilation, giving birth to a vengeful penguin—no, to Lim Hye-ryeong. At least, that was the explanation given.
The problem was that, being a filler heroine added for padding, she ended up falling for the protagonist almost immediately.
“Ahjussi? What are you thinking about?”
“The raid from four days ago has me a bit distracted.”
“Ah… just forget about it for now! Today’s the day we’re meeting Elder Baek-cheol, remember?”
Hye-ryeong waved her arms dramatically as she spoke. She was probably making a fuss on purpose because my expression had turned gloomy.
I nodded to show I understood and followed her toward the workshop where Elder Baek-cheol was working.
“Elder Baek-cheol!”
“Oh, if it isn’t Hye-ryeong. What brings you here?”
The muscular old man, larger than most Central Plains natives though not quite my size, looked at Hye-ryeong as if she were his own granddaughter. The elders and the sect leader all doted on her—there had to be more to it than I knew.
Since Hye-ryeong’s backstory had barely been revealed, the only conclusion I could reach was that her natural charm simply made her popular with uncles and old men alike.
“We came to request the weapons for Sir William that we discussed last time!”
“Oh, then the one standing behind you is…”
The muscular man called Elder Baek-cheol regarded me with curious eyes.
“So you’re the foreign guest everyone’s been talking about.”
Fortunately, he hadn’t been in the raided area and had returned safely. That was the first thing he said. I nodded and got straight to the point.
“I need weapons.”
“Of course. After what you’ve done, forging a few weapons is the least we can do.”
Elder Baek-cheol’s friendly gaze swept over my body. He was probably checking my build before making the sword. To craft a weapon suited to the user, one had to know their physique.
“Let me see your hands.”
“Yes.”
I held out my hands. He took them, turning them this way and that, then nodded.
“Hands that have only eaten and swung weapons. I heard you were a soldier. Is that true?”
“Huh? Really?”
Had I never mentioned it? I gave a single nod to Hye-ryeong, who was staring up at me in surprise, then answered Elder Baek-cheol.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmm… a soldier. You don’t look like an ordinary foot soldier…”
How was I supposed to compare a knight? The only thing I knew here was the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but I wasn’t even sure if this novel was set in the Ming dynasty, so that comparison felt awkward.
“Not a regular soldier. I was a cavalryman.”
“Cavalry, eh. That’s a fairly high position. How did someone like you end up all the way out here? Cavalrymen are valuable troops, from what I understand.”
“It’s a rather long story…”
I deliberately let my words trail off. I had a feeling that if I started talking, this conversation wouldn’t end anytime soon. Especially with Hye-ryeong’s eyes sparkling like that. I wanted to place the order and leave quickly.
After all, making the weapons I was about to request would take time anyway.
“Right, let’s get to work first. What kind of weapons do you want? I heard you use a sword…”
“Can you make weapons other than swords as well?”
“Just say the word.”
“Do you have any paper? If possible, I’d like to draw them myself so I can explain the shapes and structures.”
“Hmm, wait a moment. Baek-cheon!”
“Yes, Father!”
“Bring paper and a brush!”
“Yes!”
From a distance came the sound of hurried movement and irregular thuds against the ground. He must have been rushing. I leaned against the wall and watched Elder Baek-cheol’s son running toward us with paper and brush in hand.
He looked a year or two older than me.
The way he kept glancing at Hye-ryeong suggested he was interested. When I glanced at her, she was busy chatting with Elder Baek-cheol and didn’t spare him a look.
She, on the other hand, had zero interest.
“H-here you go, Sir!”
I accepted the paper and brush from Baek-cheon.
It had been a while since I’d held a brush. Probably not since high school. I couldn’t even remember how to hold one properly.
“Ahjussi! You have to hold the brush like this!”
Hye-ryeong shaped her hands in the air to show me the correct grip. Following her instructions, I took the brush and began to draw.
The first few lines were shaky from lack of practice, but by the time I reached the third weapon, the drawings were decent enough.
“Hmm. They certainly look different from Central Plains swords. And… I assume your polearms are different as well?”
“They’re essential for cavalry.”
A lance would have been ideal, but it was a shame it wouldn’t be practical here. While lance arts could be used against people, carrying one around was simply too cumbersome.
“I see… What’s the dagger for?”
“Dual-wielding.”
“You’re going to use both this sword and the dagger together?”
This old man was quite curious. Then again, it was his area of expertise, so it made sense. I answered Elder Baek-cheol’s endless questions as sincerely as I could.
Since these were weapons that didn’t exist here, I needed to explain them in detail if I wanted to get exactly what I asked for.
After ordering a longsword, a dagger, a poleaxe, and a buckler—four weapons in total—I asked Elder Baek-cheol,
“How long do you think it will take?”
“Hmm… I’ve never made a shield before, so that one might take some time.”
Shields couldn’t be helped. In this region, only soldiers ever had reason to carry one.
“Take your time. If possible, I’d like the sword first.”
“Understood. I’ll forge a blade that even the greatest swordsmen under heaven would envy.”
A sword crafted by the blacksmith of a major sect. I was looking forward to it.
“Elder Baek-cheol is an exceptional craftsman, so he’ll definitely make you a fine sword!”
“Leave it to me! I’ll make them right away and have my son deliver them!”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks! Thanks to you, the children of the Hainan Sword Sect survived. This much is the least we can do!”
Elder Baek-cheol laughed heartily and clapped me on the back. The sense of community here really was strong. I smiled and nodded.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“When you’re done, tell me the story. I can’t hold back my curiosity.”
“Once everything’s settled, I’ll share it over a drink.”
If we could repel the Demonic Cult’s invasion, there would be plenty of time for that.
Hye-ryeong and I left the workshop and headed toward the building where the sect leader resided.
“Ah, you’re here.”
The sect leader sat at a long table, watching us. In front of him rested a box that gave off an unusual fragrance. It looked valuable at a glance.
“Have a seat. Hye-ryeong, you may return.”
“Yes! Ahjussi! See you later!”
Hye-ryeong waved at me and left the building. Now only the sect leader and I remained. I sat across from him and met his gaze.
“Thanks to you, we were able to capture all the Japanese pirates. I owe you a great debt.”
This was already the third time I’d heard words of gratitude.
The previous two had been more formal. This one felt personal.
“It was only what needed to be done.”
I spoke humbly while looking at the sect leader. In situations like this, boasting about one’s achievements was one way to go, but there was no need to push for more when he was already planning to reward me anyway.
Once we stopped the Demonic Cult’s invasion, there would be even more to gain.
Being able to commission custom weapons from Elder Baek-cheol was already a significant benefit.
“This is a personal gift from me.”
“You didn’t have to…”
“It’s a token of my personal gratitude, so accept it. If not for you, the Demonic Cult might have taken it anyway.”
The sect leader pushed the box toward me with his fingertips. I took it and slowly opened the lid.
“This is…”
“A hundred-year-old fleeceflower root. It doesn’t compare to something like the Great Return Pill, but it’s still quite precious.”
…It looked incredibly unappetizing.
Still, the smell was wonderfully fragrant. Just breathing it in made my dantian resonate. It seemed my dantian instinctively recognized that this fleeceflower would enhance my internal energy.
“Circulate your energy here.”
“Thank you.”
I took the box and walked over to the wooden platform beside the building, sitting down cross-legged. Then I picked up the hundred-year-old fleeceflower from inside.
I don’t like bitter things.
But it’s good for the body, so I have to eat it.
I closed my eyes and slowly chewed the fleeceflower, starting from the stem.
Wow, I feel like I’m going to throw up.
I forced myself to endure the terrible taste lingering in my mouth and kept it closed. I needed to keep my mouth shut if I wanted to meditate.
With that, I began slowly moving my aura along the mana road.