Of All People... (2)
I had become the savior of the martial world.
It was one of those run-of-the-mill mass-produced wuxia novels. The kind I’d picked up just to kill time. If my hazy memories were correct, it was so unremarkable that I immediately understood why it had ended after only two hundred chapters.
The story went something like this: the protagonist, who had possessed an ordinary commoner, became the disciple of a reclusive master, learned martial arts, went through the usual motions, and finally defeated the Heavenly Demon, the final boss. That was it.
Since fewer than five people even read the thing, the Heavenly Demon’s death in the end felt particularly hollow. A rushed ending, you could call it. The author had wrapped up the climactic battle in just two chapters and slapped a “completed” tag on it.
And now I had transmigrated into that very novel—the one I’d gotten so pissed off at that I’d rage-quit writing a comment. To make matters worse, I’d been rescued by the Hainan Sword Sect, the first faction destined to be wiped out.
Bad luck didn’t even begin to cover it. If I didn’t recover quickly, I’d end up burning to death alongside the entire Hainan Sword Sect. Even cosmic spite should have its limits.
If you were going to drop me into this story, at least make me the protagonist!
Chewing on my resentment, I curled my fingers. Whether it was because I’d exhausted every last bit of my internal energy or because I’d swallowed half the ocean, even moving my fingers required considerable effort.
My body was in tatters. At this rate, I’d probably be stuck in bed for at least a week, maybe even half a month. Meditation—or rather, qi circulation—would help, but in my current condition, even that was impossible. Sure, circulating qi while riding a horse was basic training for a knight, but that was only if you could actually sit up.
For now, I’d focus on recovery until I could manage qi circulation again. In the meantime, I’d try to recall the original story’s plot.
I formed the simplest plan I could manage in this situation and put it into action. After all, the only thing I could do was struggle desperately.
Just like I had on the battlefield.
“So I told my master-uncle, ‘How long are you going to keep acting so recklessly…’”
“And why are you coming to me with your complaints?”
“Because if I complain to my senior brothers, they just say it’s because I don’t have any sense! They treat me like a little kid every single time…”
Ah… I see.
So that’s why she comes to me—the only one who can’t help but listen. I pondered how to shake off this troublesome girl while repeatedly clenching and unclenching my fist.
After two days of effort, at least my fist was moving properly now. In a few more days, I should be able to attempt qi circulation.
Right now I was still in such a pathetic state that I couldn’t even handle my own bathroom needs without help, but soon I’d be able to visit the outhouse by myself.
Enduring days that felt like pure, 100% humiliation play, I swallowed my tears and asked Hye-ryeong.
“Have any other Westerners been found besides me?”
“They searched everywhere, but there weren’t any. Looks like you were the only one who washed ashore, mister.”
So I was the sole survivor from that slave ship. I’d gone through thick and thin with those men and had even grown somewhat attached. I closed my eyes for a moment of silence for the comrades who had become fish food.
Hye-ryeong must have noticed my mood. When I shut my eyes and fell into thought, she quietly closed her mouth.
Some time passed. When I finally opened my eyes again, she asked,
“You must have been very close to them.”
“When you share the same boat, you can’t help but form bonds.”
They were fools, but they weren’t bad people.
“That’s what they call the friendship between men! That’s what my senior brothers said!”
“Yeah.”
“Your comrades must have been proud to have a friend like you, mister.”
…I appreciate the comfort, but—
“I told you, I’m not a ‘mister.’”
Why does she keep calling me that?
Of course, Western faces do tend to look older than Eastern ones, but still, being called “mister” stung. This body was only twenty years old. Sure, the battlefield had aged me faster than most, but I wasn’t at “mister” level yet.
“But my senior brother said any man older than me should be called mister…”
“There’s only a one-year difference.”
“Come on, you shouldn’t lie.”
It’s the truth.
“My senior brother told me that most things strange men say are lies meant to seduce women…”
The senior brother I hadn’t even met yet seemed to dote on his youngest junior sister quite a bit. Every time Hye-ryeong complained, her words dripped with his concern for her. He didn’t seem thrilled about her nursing me, but because of her stubbornness, he was apparently letting it slide for now.
“He’s not entirely wrong, so take it to heart.”
“What? Don’t tell me you’re also…?”
“You think I’d try anything when you could kill me with a single finger?”
“Oh? That’s true, isn’t it?”
…The poor senior brothers and master-uncle who haven’t even seen her face yet must be suffering terribly.
“Ah, then I should get going! It’s almost time for training!”
“Alright. Take care.”
Only after the room finally fell silent did I let out a deep sigh.
Why is she bothering with me instead of playing with friends her own age? As the youngest disciple of the sect leader, she should have people lining up to be her friend.
Still, it was better than her turning dark. Once she blackened, that bright personality of hers vanished completely and she became a vengeful demon.
Even that eventually collapsed midway through the story. She stopped caring about revenge and just clung to the protagonist like a trophy heroine, which was one of the reasons readers showered the novel with hate.
All in all, it was a terribly flawed work. The setting was sloppy, the plot holes were ignored entirely, and if you asked whether the heroines were charming… well, they weren’t. It was easy to see why it had been a low-view novel.
And now I was stuck inside it.
Recalling that miserable reality, I sighed again and continued clenching and unclenching my fist. It was part of my rehabilitation exercises to recover even a little faster.
I needed to regain enough strength to at least run away before things went to hell.
…By the way, is the only person I interact with besides Hye-ryeong and the physician really just… no one?
I wanted to meet the sect leader and the other martial artists if possible. Not only did I have things to say, but as someone who used to enjoy wuxia novels, I also wanted to see the experts of the martial world with my own eyes.
I was curious how their martial arts compared to the knightly arts I had witnessed for two years. The two systems were fundamentally different, with vast discrepancies.
Since the original novel had claimed to be wuxia yet offered pathetic descriptions of martial techniques, I’d only be able to grasp the differences by seeing them in person.
Analyzing those differences and striking at the gaps—that would be the sharpest dagger I could forge.
Just then—
“Are you awake, young man?”
A rough, elderly voice reached my ears as I sat lost in thought. Fortunately, it seemed someone had finally decided to make contact. I answered the unknown elder.
“I am awake.”
“Then I shall enter.”
With the sound of wood scraping, the door opened. A muscular old man with a beard that reached his chest stepped inside. Just looking at him, an overwhelming aura radiated from his entire being.
“How is your body?”
“Thanks to you, I am recovering little by little.”
“That is good to hear.”
The old man stroked his beard and sat down in front of me. He took my wrist, checked my pulse, and said,
“Your meridians are damaged.”
“Considering everything, it’s fortunate that’s all that happened.”
“Indeed. Life is the most important thing. What use is anything if you’re dead?”
“You speak the truth.”
“You speak the Central Plains tongue remarkably well, just as I was told. I am called Lim Ha-bong. Though I am lacking, I currently serve as the sect leader of the Hainan Sword Sect.”
“…My name is William Marshall.”
“A difficult name indeed.”
“It seems I will need to obtain a new name in the style of the Central Plains.”
“…It appears you have nowhere to return to.”
“That is correct.”
I answered honestly. There was no benefit in lying to someone far stronger than myself.
He carefully released my hand and spoke again.
“A warrior of your caliber should recover quickly. I will call for the physician and have him prescribe medicine good for the meridians.”
“I am deeply grateful for your kindness.”
“Think nothing of it. My youngest disciple brought you here, so this must be fate. The Hainan Sword Sect does not turn a blind eye to those in need.”
How long had it been since I last received such unconditional goodwill?
I almost thought I saw a halo glowing behind the sect leader’s head.
A sect like this was supposed to be destroyed just to serve as an alarm announcing the appearance of the Demonic Cult? Author, is this really how it’s supposed to go?
While silently cursing the author, I opened my mouth.
“Thank you truly.”
“It is nothing. For now, focus solely on recovering your body. And… my youngest disciple seems to be bothering you quite a bit. Please bear with her. She has always been a very curious child.”
“Doesn’t the youngest disciple of the sect leader have many friends? Why does she keep coming to me…”
“Our sect has few female disciples to begin with. Among them, Hye-ryeong has no peers of the same age. Moreover, once she takes an interest in something, she clings to it until her curiosity is satisfied. Please look after her a little.”
So she’s taken an interest in me because I’m a rare Westerner and keeps coming to chatter away?
Since they were even treating me for free, I could certainly grant such a small request. When I nodded in understanding, the sect leader gave a benevolent smile and rose from his seat.
“Then rest well. I will come to check on you from time to time.”
“Please take care.”
The sect leader quietly left the room.
I stared blankly at the door he had closed, then closed my eyes and muttered,
“I need to recover quickly.”
It was practically a vow.
Since I had no idea when the Demonic Cult would attack, I had to regain my strength as soon as possible if I wanted to prepare. Only then could both I and the Hainan Sword Sect survive.
I began slowly clenching and unclenching my toes, which were finally starting to move again.