Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Embroidered Uniform Guard
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On the way to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, I decided to hold back on pointless robberies and murders. Not because some dormant sense of justice suddenly awakened inside me, but because I needed to keep my past clean now that I was about to join the hall and train there for the long haul.
My current goal wasn't to make a ton of money or gain fame. I just needed enough time to improve my martial prowess, so creating an environment where I could focus on that one thing was key.
I let out a short sigh.
"And here I was thinking that, but why are you lot testing my resolve?"
"......"
The five bandits who'd overheard my muttering trembled violently, kneeling with their heads bowed to the ground.
About the time it takes to boil a cup of tea earlier.
They'd spotted me and come at me swinging their blades, dead set on killing me. Typical murderous bandits, twelve of them strong—enough that any ordinary traveler would've been helpless and died. You'd need at least four or five escort warriors to reliably fend them off.
But I'd unleashed Thunder Cloud Palm and knocked four unconscious in an instant, then swung my short dagger to sever three arms. I only had my bare body and a single dagger for self-defense, but dealing with riffraff like these bandits was still easier than eating cold rice.
"Aaaah!"
"Spare us..."
Seeing their comrades writhing in agony on the ground, the bandits collapsed in terror. I eyed them coldly and spoke.
"I'm debating right now. Whether to end your worthless lives for good or give you a pass."
The bandits freaked out, slamming their foreheads into the dirt and begging.
"Y-Young Hero... No, milord... Please, just spare our lives..."
"Mercy...!!"
"Sob, we were wrong!!"
I stared at them impassively, then said,
"If you've got any useful info you've picked up, spill it. If I like it, I'll let you live."
Killing them would be a breeze. A casual Thunder Cloud Palm would fry them like deep-fried chicken. But since I'd just resolved to hold back on killing, I figured I'd hear them out first and decide.
The bandits' faces twisted in desperate thought. Then one with a thick beard shot his hand up and shouted.
"Milord! They say the deputy leader of the Golden Wolf Stronghold next door has an incredible beauty for a concubine!"
"......"
"You could take her and..."
This guy's life really was a dead-end mess.
Dumbfounded, I stared at him, reached for his ear, and yanked it off with a twist.
Spurt!
"Kiiiiiaaaak!!"
He screamed and rolled on the ground as blood gushed out, passing out. The other bandits, who'd been scrambling to offer "useful info," froze like rabbits. I tossed the ear into a nearby stream and growled.
"Think hard before you speak. Tell me something that'll actually help."
"Sob... Milord... What do you want? Give us a hint, please..."
"Something about the martial world."
"Uh..."
The bandits looked flustered. Fair enough—what would roadside thugs like them know about Jianghu news?
"If you don't know, fine."
Seeing them hem and haw, I slowly built up my killing intent and raised my hand. These scum were the type to kill and rape any passerby they caught, so I planned to just wipe them out cleanly.
That's when it happened. A scrawny bandit with beady eyes widened them and yelled.
"Milord!! I know some really good info!!"
"What is it?"
"I've heard rumors that a martial artist called Azure Heaven Sword Dragon Namgung Hwan is staying in a village eight li from here! He's with his fiancée, but that's all I know."
"......!!"
I jolted in surprise.
Azure Heaven Sword Dragon Namgung Hwan!
'He was here in his youth?'
The moniker rang a bell. Not from this era, but from decades in the future, when he'd be one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven. I'd heard Namgung Hwan would later become the head of the Namgung Family, dominating Anhui Province, hailed as a Sword King of his generation.
Even as an escort warrior, he'd loomed like a giant. A single family wielding influence over an entire province, earning fame as Anhui's top hero. Decades before becoming family head, he was evidently living as a promising talent of the righteous faction.
Fascinated, I asked,
"Why's Azure Heaven Sword Dragon Namgung Hwan here?"
"Something about meeting someone... Martial artists were whispering about it, but we don't know details. Heard it from the innkeeper..."
"But you were still bandit-ing around with Azure Heaven Sword Dragon Namgung Hwan nearby?"
"Uh, well..."
The bandits couldn't answer. Of course—they feared Namgung Hwan or real martial artists, not a kid like me in his teens. Twelve armed thugs were enough to overwhelm even an escort caravan.
I smirked and pondered.
'Intriguing. Should I swing by and see what Azure Heaven Sword Dragon looks like?'
From here to the Guanzhong Azure Dragon Martial Hall was exactly half a day's travel. The same route I'd taken solo before. With my formidable inner energy, I could dash there in less than half a day. Plenty of time and leeway to check out Azure Heaven Sword Dragon.
"Hey. Which village is Azure Heaven Sword Dragon staying in?"
"Past this ridge, around Micao Mountain, there's a place called River Moon Village."
"Sounds familiar."
It wasn't far off the main road—a mid-sized village right along the major route to Guanzhong. I'd stopped there before, napping near some buildings, so I knew it.
I told the bandit who'd spilled the info,
"Good. You gave me something useful, so you live. Anyone else?"
"Yes!"
"There's rare paintings and calligraphy in Lord Ja's warehouse..."
The bandits vied to desperately share their "good info." Some useless, but I learned the Golden Wolf Stronghold's location nearby, slave markets, how to connect with child traffickers, that the toughest bandit lair around was Blood Wolf Stronghold. Pure bandit intel, but worth remembering for later use, so I let it slide.
After piecing together their tales, I wrapped it up.
"Time to part ways."
"Yes?"
Thud thud thud thud!!
I smashed the downed bandits dead with rapid palm strikes. Then dashed at the four who'd given info. Hope lit their faces at "spared," but twisted to despair as my dagger whipped out at blinding speed.
"Uwaaak!"
"Milord, what the..."
Slash!
Slash slash!!
Next instant, four heads flew. I landed cleanly, not a drop of blood on me. The heads hit the ground late. I rifled their belongings for cash—over twenty taels of silver.
"Who's your milord?"
I'd said I'd spare them, but my whim changed mid-chat. So I killed them all. Standing in a sea of blood, no guilt whatsoever.
Who'd complain about offing some useless murderers? Thanks to me, civilians could live. More precisely, I killed because I wanted to, but I dryly stashed the silver in my bundle and moved on.
'Head to River Moon Village and check out what Azure Heaven Sword Dragon's about.'
I wanted info on a future Ten Great Master if possible.
Clop clop.
I raced to River Moon Village, taking two hours. Sunset by arrival. With ample travel funds, I sought an inn for food and bed. Lights flickered from a tavern on the village's west side.
Chatter chatter...
River Moon Village hugged the main road, bustling with logistics. Unlike small hamlets, the inn was packed and lively. Seeing courtesans tempting travelers, I figured busy spots were all like this.
The innkeeper looked surprised when I said I wanted to stay, offering silver upfront. A kid too young for solo travel—natural reaction. But money talks; he handed over a room key without fuss.
While at it, I asked the innkeeper,
"Any famous martial artists staying in the village?"
"Ah... Here for Azure Heaven Sword Dragon? A martial family kid traveling alone, huh."
Misreading me, he grinned.
"He left the village at noon with his fiancée. Stayed here."
"Really? Know where they went?"
"Why would an innkeeper pry into guests' business?"
"......"
Fair point; I had nothing to say. Maybe pitying my lone young traveler schtick, he gave me a sympathetic look, then said,
"Well... I can guess. Headed north from the village—leads to Guanzhong. Probably entering the city there."
"Makes sense."
I figured the innkeeper was onto something. A prestigious talent like Azure Heaven Sword Dragon wouldn't loop through backwoods villages, especially with a fiancée. Normal was main roads, horseback, hitting big towns. Seemed certain he was Guanzhong-bound.
'Rest up and follow his trail.'
My destination was Guanzhong anyway. Leave tomorrow morning, track him—I could catch a glimpse by day's end. If not, no big deal; straight to the hall.
Creak.
"Take this."
"Hm?"
Later, the innkeeper brought chicken dish to my room. I blinked wide-eyed; he chuckled.
"Free. Eat up and build some strength."
"Thanks."
Another travel kindness. After he left, warm chicken in belly, something nagged at me. Reflecting, across reincarnations, years of journeys meant debts to many.
Fabric Shop Owner Song aside, I owed Three Pines Escort Agency's Jang Cheol too, but busyness kept me from repaying. Life piles up favors I can't settle—a contradiction.
'But can't go repaying debts every rebirth... Tricky.'
I finished the chicken, washed, and slept soundly for once.
Next morning, thanked the innkeeper profusely, helped tidy tables and chairs. He said that sufficed; my mind lightened.
Leaving River Moon Village, I reached Guanzhong. Last time, barely surviving intact through perils, I'd camped here digging dirt holes against cold—vivid memory, though unsure exact years ago.
"No more camping for me."
I scoured Guanzhong city for Namgung Hwan. Holed up training at Azure Dragon Martial Hall before, I'd missed how vast and bustling it was—not capital Luoyang, but wide streets, crowds galore.
To find him, qi sense seemed best. Third elixir had skyrocketed my inner energy; beyond sensing qi volume, I could now detect it afar. Meaning spot superior martial artists in a wide area.
'A promising talent like Namgung Hwan should be easy.'
Curiosity drove me—not some errand. What did a future celeb look like back then? Wandering busy streets, probing qi sense, I unexpectedly picked up five massive auras within two hundred zhang.
All first-class experts or better. Rare cluster, even over distance. I rubbed with peak experts lately, but first-class were leagues above escorts. Huge gaps within first-class—no downplaying below peak. Even I, inner energy aside, couldn't claim first-class techniques. First-class experts were true masters gazing at grandmasters.
'Hmm... Namgung Hwan's gotta be one.'
I decided to check each of the five.
First encounter: alleyway, man slumped with wooden sword over shoulder. Face full of ennui, early twenties maybe. Spotting me, he said irritably.
"What're you? Leave me be; get out of this alley..."
"You seem like a first-class expert. What're you doing in a dump like this?"
His brow twitched.
"Not some ordinary brat. Beggar Clan disciple?"
I glanced at my clothes. Travel-worn and filthy—easy to mistake for Beggar Clan. I shook my head.
"Nope. Sorry to bother; I'll head out."
"Wait."
I paused; the wooden sword man said,
"You looking for Namgung Hwan too?"
What?
I fixed him with a stare; he chuckled, introducing himself.
"I'm Battle Blade Ghost Wi Jong. If you're Beggar Clan, spill what you know about his fiancée, Moyong Yeon."
Zing.
Battle Blade Ghost Wi Jong rose, radiating killing intent.
I sensed an abrupt clash with a first-class expert, frowning.
'What the hell's this guy's deal?'
But perfect timing.
Ideal opponent to test my strength. So thinking, I slowly gathered my power.
"Come at me..."
============================ Author's Note ============================
Favorites, recommendations, and comments appreciated~