Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: Dongting Lake (4)
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“I thought you were a warrior who understood courtesy...”
Son Baek grumbled, having been struck on the head.
I casually showed him the weapon.
“In my hometown, we have a tradition of calling heads ‘pots.’ So when we punish someone who can’t get their act together, we use the expression ‘cracking the pot.’”
“Hup...”
When I showed them the bloodied table leg, not only Son Baek but everyone who came with him shut their mouths and bowed their heads.
Feeling the atmosphere was getting too grim, I offered them a drink.
“For now, just eat and relax. It may not look like much, but my wife made this food herself.”
“But the ingredients and the liquor are ours...”
“What was that? You want your pot cracked?”
“N-no, sir... Huh?”
The Lord of the Heaven-Piercing Sword Sect, who had just put a side dish in his mouth, widened his eyes.
“T-to think chicken could have the flavor of beef! How can this be!”
Seeing this, the others hesitantly moved their chopsticks, and soon, they all let out cries of admiration.
Watching them, I filled the cup of Son Baek, who was sitting right in front of me.
“Alright, I doubt you came all this way just for a drink... If you have something to say, say it.”
“...I came to clear up the misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding, my ass. You kidnapped an innocent person, pushed them into a trap, and swung your weapons first.”
“No, that wasn’t on purpose...”
“Why? You scared I’ll go tattling on you with every little detail?”
“Ahem...”
At the direct question, Son Baek was too flustered to speak.
After all, the main force of the Honam Defense Force was the warriors of Nine Dragons Fortress, led by Dan Un.
“So why didn’t those fine gentlemen believe me?”
“Ahem. Hmm.”
“Let’s talk over a drink.”
“Let’s.”
After he downed the drink, I spoke.
“Don’t worry too much. It all happened because of a misunderstanding, and besides, no one got hurt, so I have no intention of spilling every little detail.”
“...”
He lowered his head, his face flushed.
“Thank you.”
Thankfully, the man had some shame.
I said to Son Baek, who was watching me cautiously.
“If it really bothers you, you could introduce me to a boatman...”
“A boatman, you say?”
“This is our first time at Dongting Lake. Since we came all this way for fun, we should at least see it properly before we go back, right? So we’re looking for a skilled boatman, but we have no way of knowing who’s good.”
Only then did Son Baek’s face brighten.
“If that’s the case, don’t you worry. I was born the son of a fisherman and have lived on Dongting Lake my whole life. I know all the famous spots that common folk don’t.”
“You’ll steer the boat yourself?”
“Ahem, what’s a little trouble if it eases the burden on my heart?”
*Pfft.*
“Good. It would be an honor for me to ride in a boat steered by the Hegemon of Eastern Wu himself. Let’s call it even with that.”
“E-even...?”
“Then take tomorrow and the day after to treat your wounds. Let’s meet in three days. We’ll be looking around Yueyang in the meantime.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
As the mood lightened, the awkward air of the drinking party evaporated.
As if they had never tried to kill each other, the warriors of Yueyang and my own men began to mingle and share drinks.
It seemed that because they were men who lived on the edge of a blade, they became friends quickly.
After exchanging a few cups like that, I asked Son Baek.
“By the way, who exactly are the Black Wind Corps? From what I overheard, they sound like they’re with the Lion Alliance...”
“Ah, that...”
Son Baek cleared his throat and began to explain.
“They are a cavalry unit led by the fourth son of the Lord of the Lion Alliance. Like you, they wear black cloaks and wield cavalry spears.”
“Hmm...”
In truth, I had expected as much.
The Black Wind Corps.
The name itself conjured an image of a cavalry unit dressed in black.
Just like us.
“They’re similar to us.”
“You can think of them as exactly the same. That is why we misunderstood.”
I poured him another drink.
“So, those bastards are crossing into Honam territory and tormenting the people?”
Downing the drink I poured for him, Son Baek looked at the sect leaders of Yueyang’s martial world who had come with him.
“If it were mere torment, those men would not have gathered like this.”
“Then?”
“They are committing massacres. Ten days ago, they say they wiped out not only the martial artists of a training hall in Pyeonggang County but the common folk as well. Men, women, and children, without exception.”
“...What was the Defense Force doing?”
“How can a mere three hundred men in the Defense Force watch over all of Honam? I believe it’s only because of them that the tragedy was contained to Pyeonggang County.”
“How frustrating.”
“It seems the number of defenders is insufficient...”
“No.”
“...”
I looked around at everyone present and continued.
“I’m saying it’s frustrating how complacent you all are, with a blade at your throats.”
“...We are doing our best.”
“What is? Do you think you’ve accomplished something by gathering all the martial artists of Yueyang here? It’s laughable that you’re struggling to deal with a single armed unit from the Lion Alliance.”
“...Hall Master Jin.”
“I don’t think I’ve said anything wrong.”
As I looked around and met their eyes, a scholar who was in a corner stood up from his seat.
He was the very person who, dressed as a servant, had led us into the trap.
He approached me and asked politely.
“If you have some wisdom to share, please tell us. We will listen attentively.”
It seemed he had intervened, perhaps fearing another fight would break out.
I met the scholar’s gaze and spoke.
“The crisis in Honam isn’t just a matter of yesterday or today. It’s been developing for a long time. That’s why the Lord of the Cheong Family Manor wandered the world, persuading three of the Five Hegemons to create the Defense Force.”
“...”
“But what did the martial world of Honam do? Didn’t you all just ignore the Cheong Lord and hole up in Yueyang, looking out for yourselves?”
“...We couldn’t act because we lacked the strength to help. That is also why we have gathered like this. Furthermore, by taking our time, we were able to invite the great warrior Son here to be our leader.”
“You have a silver tongue.”
“...”
“When a tiger grows old and loses its teeth, it uses its claws. Only dogs run away because they have no teeth. You all ignored someone extending a hand to you, claiming you lacked strength. Are you dogs, or are you tigers?”
At my words, which crossed a line, everyone’s eyes grew sharp.
At that, my warriors scanned the surroundings.
For this was the martial world, a place where men who had just shared drinks and built camaraderie could draw their blades in an instant.
But I paid no mind to the stirring atmosphere and walked slowly to the front of them all.
“You don’t have the men? Then gather them while you fight. If you show them a desperate battle, not just Yueyang, but the martial artists of all Honam would have risen.”
“...”
“You lack martial arts? You naturally grow stronger through life-and-death combat. And if the skills you have are poor, shouldn’t you be teaching each other?”
I clicked my tongue, rebuking the scholar—no, all the martial artists of Yueyang.
“If you had fought back with all your might from the beginning, the Lion Alliance would never have dared to target Honam.”
“...But, if we had risen without preparation, an unimaginable amount of blood would have been shed.”
“And now that your preparations are complete, is no blood being shed?”
“...”
“They say the best time to start is when you think it’s already too late.”
*Pat.*
I gave the scholar a light pat on the shoulder and turned to leave.
“Come and consult with me anytime. I have too many mouths to feed to shed blood alongside you, but I can lend you my mind.”
“...”
“I’ve talked for too long. I’ll be heading in now, so take your time drinking. Senior Son, I’ll see you in three days.”
Until then, I had no idea.
What kind of storm my words would bring.
* * *
Three days.
During that time, Myo Hyang and I wandered all over Yueyang.
We visited the markets, walked around Dongting Lake, and ate at a restaurant famous for its freshwater fish dishes.
They say people are pretty much the same everywhere, but having lived my whole life stuck in the west, seeing the people of the east felt new and different.
“Look at this, my lord! The fish are so fresh, they’re flopping all over the place! If we made porridge with this, many people could eat their fill.”
Seeing Myo Hyang so happy, I felt once again that it was a good thing we came.
And on the morning of the day we were to go boating, Son Baek arrived as promised, even before the sun had risen.
He had clearly prepared thoroughly, bringing all sorts of things with him.
The problem was.
“...Why on earth did you bring that?”
“Isn’t a true warrior supposed to always carry his cherished weapon?”
“No.”
He had brought his meteor hammer, which weighed over two hundred pounds.
“...Won’t the boat sink because it’s too heavy?”
When I asked with an anxious look, Son Baek laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, if a boat were to sink over a mere two hundred pounds, how could a person weighing one hundred pounds ride it? And how could we load a horse that weighs a good five hundred? I anticipated this and arranged for a large boat, so do not worry.”
“Ah...”
To think that I, who learned the essence of modern physics for a year in high school, would make such a mistake.
It felt like my knowledge had degenerated after living in the martial world for so long.
As I failed to hide my embarrassment, Myo Hyang approached with a gentle laugh.
“Please understand, Great Warrior Son. He rarely has a chance to ride a boat in Sichuan, so he doesn’t know much about them.”
“I-Is that so-so.”
Hey, why is he stuttering so much?
And why is his face so red?
‘Could it be...?’
Just in case, I nudged Son Baek’s side with my elbow.
“Senior Son, have you ever dated a woman?”
“Ahem... N-no, I have not.”
“How old are you this year?”
“I have just turned forty.”
The age of no longer being perplexed.
Meaning he was forty years old.
“What, what have you been doing all this time...?”
“I had no time, as I was focused on mastering my martial arts.”
“...I suppose that’s possible.”
Martial artists were people who trained twenty hours a day until they reached their desired level.
It didn’t matter if your goals were low, but if you aimed to become an absolute master, you wouldn’t have time for romance, let alone to go out for a cup of tea.
The prime example was my own master.
I remarked that perhaps a martial-world-wide solution was needed, and Son Baek nodded.
“To become a master, you must stay away from women, but once you finally become one, you’re already old. It’s a total mess.”
“I agree.”
As we were speaking in a somewhat serious mood, Myo Hyang chimed in.
“What’s so serious?”
“It’s nothing. We were just discussing the dark side of the martial world.”
She grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
“Let’s go. I’ve been waiting for this boat ride all this time.”
* * *
The boat ride, steered by Son Baek, was quite enjoyable.
We explored various parts of the vast Dongting Lake, enjoyed fishing at a spot only Son Baek knew, and sat on a rocky islet hidden in the mist, a place no one else could find, to eat our packed lunch.
Son Baek, reading the atmosphere, said he was going fishing and took the boat out, leaving Myo Hyang and me alone to enjoy the scenery.
‘Should I just quit everything, return to the countryside, and live as a farmer?’
I’d earned enough money. I may not have three wives and four concubines, but I had a pretty wife who was a great cook.
A sudden urge to hole up in some deep mountain valley and live a life of inaction and naturalness washed over me.
“My wife... no, my dear.”
“Yes?”
She looked at me with a bewildered expression at the sudden change in address.
“My dear, how do you want to live from now on?”
“Why? Are you going to let me live however I want?”
“If possible?”
“I don’t have any grand ambitions. I just want to live a healthy life with you, my lord, and if we happen to have a child...”
She smiled gently, the setting sun at her back.
“My dream is to conquer the entire world of commerce and pass it down to that child.”
“...I-I see.”
It seems I’ll have to work hard to maintain my dignity as the head of the household.
After all, I must secure the economic power.