Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Free Spirit Sword Saint
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It's an old saying in the martial world that you can tell an opponent's realm just by looking into their eyes upon first meeting.
This was a claim made by quite a few masters in the Kangho martial world.
More precisely, when facing someone, you could roughly gauge their level from the atmosphere and energy they exuded, as well as the feeling conveyed in their gaze.
It could be said that the instincts accumulated from living as a martial artist naturally allowed one to estimate the opponent's realm.
And now, Hyeok Mulin gazed at the man who had approached him and sat down opposite.
A man who appeared to be nearing middle age sat before him, smiling as he faced Hyeok Mulin.
He had a gentle, affable impression, yet somehow gave off a sense of resolute strength.
Hyeok Mulin knew for certain the moment he laid eyes on him.
His lifelong accumulated instincts were signaling that this man was a master as well.
"You must be the Free Spirit Sword Saint."
The representative figure of the Wanderers' League and the one hailed as the world's greatest gallant wanderer—Free Spirit Sword Saint Song Dowan was right there before him.
It wasn't solely due to the energy and aura emanating from him.
The moment Song Dowan appeared, the atmosphere inside the inn shifted dramatically.
The attention that had been solely focused on Hyeok Mulin was now dispersing toward him.
The influence this man held in this place was astonishing.
In truth, the Wanderers' League was a group where individual gallant wanderers held equal status, with no one issuing top-down orders.
As when Hyeok Mulin had entered as a new member and garnered majority approval, decisions were made by following the consensus of the majority.
But there was one exception.
The name that came up first whenever gallant wanderers were discussed in the world.
The Free Spirit Sword Saint possessed an influence unlike any other.
Of course, he didn't lord over them as the league's master.
However, the representativeness he held as a gallant wanderer naturally drew admiration and respect from the others, making him, in effect, the unofficial leader of the Wanderers' League.
No one here would oppose his opinions.
Thus, Hyeok Mulin was now face-to-face with what amounted to the head of the Wanderers' League and the pinnacle of gallant wanderers.
"A title I don't deserve. Just call me Song Dowan."
He smiled and replied to Hyeok Mulin's words.
Hyeok Mulin responded curtly.
"Hyeok Mulin."
Hyeok Mulin.
Song Dowan murmured the name, smiling.
Yet after that, for some reason, Song Dowan found himself unable to speak further.
A strange sensation.
Not all gallant wanderers were like this, but most could be called wandering ronin drifting through the world.
The origins of the term lay in calling those ronin who harbored chivalry in their hearts "gallant wanderers."
Song Dowan was the same.
He had spent most of his life as a ronin, wandering the world in that existence.
And having encountered all sorts of landscapes and martial artists along the way, he prided himself on having an exceptional eye for people.
Yet.
'I can't see through him.'
Song Dowan couldn't sense any presence at all from the man seated before him.
If he hadn't heard beforehand about the friction with the Four Black Alliances and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he might not have even realized the man was a martial artist based on his energy alone.
But there was something even stranger.
A martial artist's aura was typically heavily influenced by the momentum they exuded.
Yet Hyeok Mulin, seated before him now, wasn't emitting any momentum at all, and still formed an atmosphere unlike any Song Dowan had ever seen.
As if.
'...The pressure I felt when I first met the Martial Alliance Leader.'
He could hardly believe he was thinking it himself, but Song Dowan sensed something similar.
And yet, everything else about it was utterly different from the Martial Alliance Leader's aura.
'Intriguing.'
Song Dowan felt his interest in this new member surging rapidly.
On top of that, the man knew who he was but showed no exaggerated reaction.
Even now, after a simple greeting, he was calmly continuing his meal.
It was the complete opposite of the reactions from all the other gallant wanderers he'd met.
Once Hyeok Mulin finished eating and neatly wiped his mouth, he moved to stand.
As if Song Dowan's presence made no difference to him.
Song Dowan quickly spoke up to stop him.
"Wait a moment. I'd like to talk with you."
Hyeok Mulin paused at his urgent gesture.
"Do you have business with me?"
Song Dowan was momentarily at a loss for words.
Most gallant wanderers who came to the Wanderers' League tried desperately to strike up a conversation with him, so this reaction was entirely new, leaving even him flustered on how to respond.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he finally spoke.
"I have something to say. Please, sit for a bit."
"......"
Hyeok Mulin met his gaze briefly before turning back and returning to his seat.
Once seated and facing each other, Hyeok Mulin posed the question.
"What is it you want to say?"
"Well..."
Song Dowan trailed off.
In truth, nothing specific came to mind; he'd just blurted it out.
Shifting awkwardly from a question to casual conversation, he continued.
"Welcome to our league. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything. I've been a founding member since the Wanderers' League was established, after all."
"I do have a question."
"What is it? Ask away."
"What exactly does this place do?"
A "league" referred to a group gathered for a common purpose.
However, the Wanderers' League operated a bit differently from most leagues.
Unlike typical ones, it didn't seem centered on money or martial arts.
Moreover, from what Hyeok Mulin had observed while staying here, it was just a gathering of ronin who liked to congregate at inns and chat.
Song Dowan nodded at the question and explained about the Wanderers' League.
"The fundamental purpose of our league is for gallant wanderers to band together and protect each other's lives. When standing against various injustices, we often become targets. We serve as a shield to keep their chivalrous spirit from breaking."
A shield.
A simple goal. Rather than attacking to protect each other's chivalry, it was about defense.
That must be why gallant wanderers could join without burden.
"Didn't you join for the protection of the Wanderers' League as well? Everyone thinks the same."
The path of a gallant wanderer was far too lonely; before a massive organization, they could crumble like grains of sand.
But what if gallant wanderers banded together into a group?
No one could retaliate against them easily.
They were people who had gathered to live in the harsh Kangho martial world without their personal convictions as gallant wanderers being broken.
"I see."
Afterward, he gave a brief explanation of the league's structure and systems.
Hyeok Mulin's responses were mostly short.
Yet Song Dowan felt himself increasingly drawn to the aura emanating from those curt replies.
'Remarkable.'
How to describe this feeling?
No martial artist he'd ever met in his life had given him this sensation.
It was as if he had to get an answer whenever he asked something—a pull that drew him into the man's words.
Having made up his mind about something, Song Dowan patted his chest and stood.
"In that case, you're not from around here, right?"
"Correct."
"Then let me introduce you to the area."
The gallant wanderers who had been quietly listening to their conversation were stunned in unison.
'The Free Spirit Sword Saint is personally guiding someone?'
He was famous for wandering alone without keeping anyone around him.
Yet here he was, approaching on his own to talk, and now offering to guide first.
Any other gallant wanderer would accept immediately without hesitation.
To them, Song Dowan was an object of envy.
"An introduction..."
However, Hyeok Mulin didn't accept the offer right away. As a result, all eyes turned to him.
'Just accept it!'
Receiving their pleading gazes, Hyeok Mulin finally replied with an impassive expression.
"I happen to have some free time, so that doesn't sound bad."
At Hyeok Mulin's acceptance, they all let out sighs of relief.
Song Dowan grinned and rose from his seat.
"I won't let you regret it. Follow me."
Song Dowan headed toward the entrance and stepped outside, with Hyeok Mulin following behind.
After they left, a long silence hung over the inn.
Then, at some point, someone murmured softly.
"Lucky newbie..."
Several days had passed since Song Dowan began showing Hyeok Mulin around the vicinity.
Hyeok Mulin had started to grasp his behavioral patterns.
Appreciating scenic natural views or enjoying taverns filled with music.
Most were the latter.
True to his title's inclusion of "free spirit," he showed a clear fondness for music and song.
He would pause to savor street performers' tunes or listen to courtesans' performances in taverns.
Though he'd said he was introducing the area to Hyeok Mulin, what he actually showed him were mostly his favorite taverns.
Today was no different; after being introduced to a new tavern, Hyeok Mulin sat with him, enjoying light drinks and snacks while listening to a courtesan's performance.
To Hyeok Mulin, whose ears were attuned to the standards of the Yagul Clan and Sound Flower Pavilion, the music felt somewhat crude.
But Song Dowan seemed plenty satisfied, applauding generously when it ended.
As a new performance began, he immersed himself in it and fell silent once more. Hyeok Mulin stared fixedly at Song Dowan enjoying the music.
'Unique.'
He showed great interest in music but none in playing instruments himself or sound-based arts.
Nor did he drink to excess. He truly visited taverns just to appreciate performances.
'Indeed. That's why he's called the Free Spirit Sword Saint.'
Hyeok Mulin had directly confirmed the origin of his moniker.
Once the performance concluded, Song Dowan turned to look at Hyeok Mulin.
"Ah, I feel bad for enjoying it alone."
"No need. I'm glad you enjoyed it. But you seem quite fond of music."
"Indeed. As I've wandered the world, this is the only pastime left to me."
Hyeok Mulin drew a faint smile on his lips.
"In that case, why not listen to my performance?"