Awakening to an Unfamiliar Murim
"Really, will it be all right? He didn't seem to be in ordinary pain…." At the words filled with obvious concern, Song Chae-ji let out a deep sigh inwardly. The most pressing issue right now wasn't the unidentified man they had brought in just yesterday, but the girl herself. Her kind and selfless heart was what worried her.
"Dang-ah. Yang So-dang. That man is a man, but right now you should be worrying about yourself."
"But…." Yang So-dang trailed off, her eyes brimming with trust as she looked at Song Chae-ji. It was the belief that Song Chae-ji would solve her own problems.
"W-well, of course if Sister does her best it won't be a problem, but…."
"Ah, he's awake!"
"…We must prepare for every possibility, Dang-ah. We should go together."
§
'If this place is reality, what should I do from now on?'
The pain that had been splitting his brain vanished as if it had been a dream, leaving his thoughts crystal clear and allowing Namgung Woo to objectively analyze his current situation. First, he understood that this was indeed reality. But what had happened to him? Had his mind possessed a character inside the game Chukrok Murim? Or had he fallen into a completely different world while carrying the game's body?
The situation resembled the novels he occasionally read, so Namgung Woo quickly accepted the reality given to him and began analyzing the circumstances. At the very least, it was clear that he now possessed the body of a character from Chukrok Murim. The energy flowing through his body and the fact that he could immediately control his eyes confirmed it. But that was as far as Namgung Woo's knowledge extended. The information available was far too scarce. He could form several more hypotheses, but determining which was correct would have to wait.
'For now, focusing on what's right in front of me would be best.'
Information gathering was urgent. With that thought organized, Namgung Woo stepped out to find Yang So-dang running straight toward him, followed by Song Chae-ji rubbing her forehead. Only then did he recall that they had saved him. Rather than acting as he would in reality, Namgung Woo clasped his hands in the manner he had used in Chukrok Murim. It was not a fist salute, but a more formal bow with hands pressed together.
"I received great help. I will surely repay this kindness."
Even if this body belonged to Chukrok Murim, sleeping rough on the streets for days on end would cause no fatigue or muscle pain. Yet the simple fact that they had offered him shelter out of goodwill was enough for Namgung Woo to consider it a debt. His sincere bow prompted Song Chae-ji to immediately resolve the matter she had been pondering. She clenched her right hand into a fist and placed it against her open left palm—the standard fist salute of the martial world. Though it differed slightly in meaning from his bow, both gestures conveyed respect.
"I would like to apologize for speaking so rudely earlier."
"Not at all. Anyone would be wary of an unknown man."
"Thank you for understanding. It's late, but let's introduce ourselves. I'm Song Chae-ji. And this is Dang-ah…."
"Yang So-dang!"
Yang So-dang raised her hand high and shouted her name. Despite the chaotic situation, her lively demeanor brought a smile to Namgung Woo's lips.
"I won't forget the kindness you showed in saving me."
Though she looked only in her mid-teens, Namgung Woo spoke respectfully to honor his benefactor. Perhaps unused to receiving formal speech from an elder, Yang So-dang grinned and shyly hid behind Song Chae-ji.
"Ehehe, it was nothing…."
"Then I should introduce myself. I am…."
Just as Namgung Woo turned his gaze from Yang So-dang back to Song Chae-ji to reveal his name, a loud crash rang out. The door flew open with a violent bang.
"Those bastards…."
Song Chae-ji's expression hardened, as if she had known this moment would come. Gripping the sword at her waist, she turned her body.
"I'm sorry, but introductions will have to wait."
Before Namgung Woo could reply, Song Chae-ji stepped forward. Beyond her, standing at the doorway, a group of men came into view.
"How rude. You'll have to compensate us for the cost of repairing the door."
"Hah, this inn was going to collapse anyway. Think of it as us helping with demolition in advance, won't you?"
At the man's shout urging agreement, cheers erupted from behind him.
'So that's why there wasn't a single customer, even though it looked like an inn.'
Namgung Woo's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. The interior was clean, as if it had been regularly maintained, yet there were no signs of recent use by guests. 'These men must have been interfering with business.'
The truth of his guess was evident from Yang So-dang's complexion alone. Perhaps because her reliable protector Song Chae-ji had disappeared, her face had turned deathly pale.
"What problem do you have with them?"
Namgung Woo approached Yang So-dang and asked. But before she could answer, the commotion at the door escalated. Song Chae-ji's furious voice rang out, her polite speech abandoned.
"Fine! If you're going to keep acting this way, then let's settle it with a duel, just as we agreed!"
As if they had been waiting for Song Chae-ji's bold declaration, the group smirked and backed away from the door. Watching the scene unfold, Namgung Woo roughly grasped how the situation had developed.
"So you've been in conflict with them over this place."
"…Haa. You ended up seeing something unsightly."
Song Chae-ji, who had been about to speak to Yang So-dang, turned to Namgung Woo instead.
"I have no intention of dragging you into this. Fortunately, they didn't come inside, so they probably haven't noticed you're here. There's a back door—you can leave without being seen."
Had she blocked the doorway the moment they arrived just to hide him? Song Chae-ji's consideration ran deeper than he had expected. Though she tried to exclude the outsider Namgung Woo at this point, he did not simply walk away.
"It seems you're in conflict with those people."
"Huu… Well, it's not something worth hiding. You're right."
According to Song Chae-ji's subsequent explanation, the men belonged to the Black Bear Gang, a dark path faction that held this county in its grip. They were trying to force Yang So-dang's father to sell the inn at an absurdly low price. Through her words, Namgung Woo learned two things. First, their location: as Song Chae-ji had said, they were in Pyeongyo County, a town in Shanxi Province. Second, this was not the world of Chukrok Murim. Namgung Woo, who prided himself on having traveled the entire Central Plains that served as the game's setting, had never heard of the Black Bear Gang. Even if it was a small local faction ruling its own little league in a remote county, Song Chae-ji's words suggested it had some reputation within Shanxi Province. If he didn't know it, then this was clearly a separate world from Chukrok Murim.
"Then shouldn't you request help from the authorities?"
There was a famous saying in the martial world: the authorities and the martial world do not interfere with each other. In more classical terms, well water does not mix with river water. No matter how often martial artists wielded their strength and preyed on commoners, could they openly disregard the authorities? At Namgung Woo's question, Song Chae-ji answered firmly.
"It's useless. The fact that they haven't moved even after things have escalated this far means they've already bought off the county magistrate. And more importantly…."
Song Chae-ji tapped the sword at her waist, emphasizing its presence.
"I'm also a martial artist. If I report this to the authorities, I'll lose any justification to handle it the martial way. This is better."
Rather than relying on unreliable officials, she would trust her own martial arts. It was the perfect answer for a martial artist living in the martial world. How could someone who walked the path of blades, taking a single sword as their companion through the forest of swords, lack faith in their own skills? Thus Song Chae-ji had demanded a duel from the Black Bear Gang. In the modern world this would have caused an uproar over private sanctions, but in the martial world it was an everyday occurrence.
There were many more questions he wanted to ask, but their time had run out. Shouts and laughter seeped in from outside the door. At the arrogant, mocking tone directed at her, Song Chae-ji's brow furrowed.
"There's no time. Dang-ah, take the gentleman and come out. And…."
"I'll watch as well."
When Song Chae-ji's eyes turned to him, Namgung Woo spoke decisively. He had no reason to leave. First, the two of them were his benefactors. Second, this was an opportunity to gauge how strong the martial artists of this unknown world were—an opportunity he welcomed.
"…Do as you please. But I can't take responsibility for you. I'm already overwhelmed just looking after Dang-ah."
"That's fine. I'm grateful enough that you considered it."
When Namgung Woo smiled faintly, Song Chae-ji let out a startled sound and flinched backward.
"Ahem, ahem. W-well then, let's go."
Perhaps because the moment was urgent, Song Chae-ji's movements were flustered. Namgung Woo followed behind her with a gentle smile on his face.