Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: I'm Prepared (2)
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While they exchanged stories, Dang Yu-wol gathered the information he needed.
-As expected, it's the Black Alliance.
'I didn't expect they'd even put a bounty on my head.'
Capture Dang Yu-wol, and the Black Alliance would grant you a high position.
It was enough to turn the heads of any unorthodox martial artist.
-Must be nice to be so popular.
'Nice? It makes me want to kill them all.'
Blood Cult or Black Alliance.
He'd just crush and kill every one he came across.
Dang Yu-wol pointed at the Poison Eye Dragon's black ship.
"Is there anything among that cargo worth buying, Captain?"
"Oh?! You mean it?!"
"Yes."
"Then I'll purchase it at a fair price."
Items for use on a ship were always better to have in abundance.
As the captain happily inspected things with his crew, Yi-kyeong and Yi-yul approached.
"Brother. Are you okay?"
"Big brother…."
"I'm fine."
It didn't feel bad to be fussed over.
Dang Yu-wol stroked their heads, then casually turned his gaze.
Hwan-gyu's eyes were still fixed on him.
The next morning.
Hwan-gyu approached Dang Yu-wol, who was sitting alone on deck meditating.
His two disciples were training with Gu Hwan-gae.
"Little brother. Got a moment?"
"Yes. Please speak."
"I debated whether to say this or not… but I'm worried, so here goes."
Hwan-gyu hesitated.
But he pressed on.
"The martial world is like a demon's cave, piled high with countless ties of karma."
-He's not wrong. In the martial world, you never know when your own actions will come back as a dagger.
"You might have the advantage now, but you could fall into crisis at any time."
"I see. So depending on the ties you've built, your lifeline can change."
"Exactly. In my eyes, little brother, you still lack experience. So…."
"I'm always prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"When I have to kill someone—their family, brothers, friends, comrades. Or even people from the same sect."
Dang Yu-wol's voice was firm.
"I'm prepared to accept it, even if they come at me with swords."
Hesitate to act against those who must die, calculating unknown future karma?
If he feared that, he never would have started in the first place.
"If the path crumbles due to the grudges I've sown, I'll just gather the strength to cling on."
"Well…."
"You're probably worried I might stray onto the path of evil."
Hwan-gyu flinched, his shoulders trembling.
He had hit the nail on the head.
"The Tang Clan teachings include this: Harbor a poison heart. But do not waver."
"Hm…."
"I'll engrave your words deep in my heart. Thank you."
-He talks well.
'I have to talk well. Hwan-gyu isn't speaking out of malice, after all.'
He wasn't so devoid of humanity as to ignore well-intentioned advice.
Dang Yu-wol bowed politely.
"If you put it that way, then fine. Your resolve is truly admirable, little brother. I wish my Geomchang Sect disciples were the same."
"That would make things too cold."
At his words, Hwan-gyu pictured his Geomchang Sect disciples.
'Hm… What if Geomchang's disciples were as stoic as him, cold-blooded killers who don't hesitate to take lives?'
He unconsciously glanced at Yi-kyeong and Yi-yul.
'That'd be a bit scary.'
Unable to deny it, Hwan-gyu gave an awkward smile.
As the conversation wrapped up, Gu Hwan-gae approached with Yi-kyeong and Yi-yul in tow.
"Hey. The captain says we'll stop at a nearby county in two days' morning."
"Is that so?"
"He says he'll drop off the bandits there. What're your plans?"
"Plans?"
"We'll dock for about two hours. Go ashore to rest, or stay on the ship?"
Dang Yu-wol looked at his two disciples.
Their eyes sparkled—they clearly wanted to go ashore and sightsee.
"Let's go together."
His answer brought radiant smiles to their faces.
The next morning, as planned, the ship approached a large harbor.
"This is Hoi-gang County. It's located between Zhongjing and Sacheon."
Gu Hwan-gae stepped forward to explain.
"Wow. It's huge!"
"It looks big because it's where two provinces meet, but once you head to the Central Plains, there are even larger cities."
"Really?! Have you been to those cities, Master?"
The disciples' eyes sparkled.
Hwan-gyu smiled gently.
"Yes, a few times. Geomchang County is developed enough in Yunnan, but it falls short in some ways."
"Really?!"
"Hearing you say that stings a bit."
Unlike the wistful Hwan-gyu, Yi-kyeong and Yi-yul were purely excited.
They gazed at the distant grand harbor with thrilled expressions.
"Those young Taoists are so cute."
"Great personalities too. They even prayed for us earlier."
Was it thanks to the lively young Taoists?
The other passengers on the ship wore warm smiles.
"We're docking soon!!"
At the captain's shout, the crew bustled about.
The ship docked steadily.
The captain immediately spoke to the local officials, and soon armed soldiers approached swiftly.
"Huh? What's with those guys? Their gear is too good for mere county soldiers."
"That's… Imperial Army equipment, isn't it?"
"Huh? How do you know that? You're not wandering around like some Beggars' Sect beggar."
"That's surprising to me too. Little brother, you hardly ever see the Imperial Army in Sacheon."
-How's he gonna answer?
Ye-ui seemed amused.
As if eager to see how Dang Yu-wol would wriggle out of this.
"I read about it in books."
"Ah."
"Hm."
Gu Hwan-gae and Hwan-gyu, who hadn't been reading books a moment ago, averted their eyes.
Meanwhile, men in Imperial Army armor approached.
"Heard you caught the bandits. And killed the criminal Poison Eye Dragon Mun Yeong-gil too?"
A middle-aged general in finer armor than the rest.
Gu Hwan-gae was startled as he stepped forward.
'He looks high-ranking at a glance….'
He wasn't the only one who noticed the man's status.
The captain was greatly surprised and bowed deeply.
"Yes."
"Hm. Who earned the merit?"
Should he put forward Dang Yu-wol or Hwan-gyu?
As the captain hesitated, Hwan-gyu stepped up with a smile.
"I'm Hwan-gyu, disciple of the Geomchang Sect."
"Hwan-gyu…? The Four Styles Sword Guest?!"
Murmurs rippled at the name "Four Styles Sword Guest."
This was the moment his fame from activities in the martial world shone.
"Quiet."
The general raised a hand to silence the crowd.
Hwan-gyu then pushed forward Dang Yu-wol, who had been behind him.
"Well, I'll be. This young hero caught the Poison Eye Dragon?"
"Yes. It was little brother Dang Yu-wol's doing. All Elder Gu Hwan-gae and I did was protect the ship and passengers."
"Correct. Even I, the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae, acknowledge it."
The general, who knew the name, eyed Dang Yu-wol with interest.
'Still so young. Yet he took down a big shot like the Poison Eye Dragon.'
There was a saying in the martial world: The waves behind drive the waves ahead.
It rang true.
"Young Clan Head of the Sacheon Tang Clan, Dang Yu-wol."
"Well done. Sacheon Tang Clan, huh? I hear they're rising fast. Impressive indeed."
With a chuckle, he lightly cupped his fists, then called his soldiers.
"Move, quick!!"
"You trash! You'll all be enslaved and shipped north!!"
The soldiers hauled away the bound captives and the Poison Eye Dragon's corpse.
Watching them leave the harbor, the general pulled a bill of exchange from his bosom.
"Ten silver taels per bandit head, and fifty gold taels bounty on the Poison Eye Dragon. Take this for now."
"For now…?"
"You know an Imperial official was killed by the Poison Eye Dragon, right?"
"Yes, I've heard."
"When you reach Anhui later, visit the Jeong Clan there. It's the family of the general he killed."
Not as prestigious as the Nangong family in Anhui, but still a notable house.
He said they'd get more reward there, then handed over a certificate.
"If the Jeong Clan asks for proof, show them this."
Glancing casually at the Poison Eye Dragon's corpse, he added,
"Of course, we'll salt his head and send it to the Jeong Clan, so no worries."
"Understood. Thank you for your kindness."
"Heh. Not like most martial clan folk—you know how to treat an official."
The general's face lit with pleasure.
It wasn't just the look of appraising a young martial talent.
It was the gaze of someone itching to enlist him on the spot.
"Plenty of those without rank treat officials like dirt below them."
"Martial artists are also subjects of His Majesty the benevolent and compassionate Emperor."
"Oh? Indeed."
"Catching thieves who threaten the Great Empire's peace and the Imperial family's security is only natural."
"Well, aren't you eloquent."
The more he saw, the more he liked him.
Finally, he couldn't hold back.
"Ever thought of enlisting in the army? The Empire wants you."
"Haha…."
"Building your clan's prestige through officialdom might suit better than the martial world."
"I'd like to do more here first."
"I see. Very well."
-He thinks becoming an official isn't bad.
'Officialdom and the military are demon realms too. Better the martial world I'm used to.'
As Dang Yu-wol lightly replied to Ye-ui, the general grinned.
He patted Dang Yu-wol's shoulder and turned.
"Anyway, see you later."
With a leisurely smile, he departed with his men.
Only after the Imperial soldiers were gone did Gu Hwan-gae burst into hearty laughter.
"Whoa~! You're something else!"
"Why?"
"Don't you know who that was?"
"No."
Gu Hwan-gae chuckled at Dang Yu-wol's answer.
"Song Juk. Song Juk, younger brother of the Hainan Song Clan head."
"Ah."
"Heard he earned big merit last year and got promoted fast."
"Is that so?"
"He's a general in the Emperor's Personal Guard now… At least Third Rank, smooth sailing ahead."
"I see… But why would someone like that come here?"
Gu Hwan-gae had no answer to his question.