Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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I was able to borrow a horse for free from the post station using the Righteous Heaven Alliance's special token.
The gold token he gave me was an item only the Alliance's key executives could use, signifying that the Righteous Heaven Alliance would cover the cost later.
On top of that, this token ensured most officials waved me through checkpoints or treated me with courtesy.
Thanks to it, I crossed into Shandong without much hassle and passed through the Jiegon lands smoothly.
After Jiegon, the terrain wasn't too rugged, so I figured I'd reach the trading port before long.
Upon arriving at the trading port, I got help from the Beggar Clan members.
They must have received prior word from the Heavenly Dragon Beggar, because the moment they spotted me, they freely shared their intel.
"Ships to Goryeo leave once every twenty days, so the next one's in ten days from now. The main trading outfits are the Great Dragon Merchant Association and the Western Outpost Escort Agency, while the official in charge of trade is a sixth-rank magistrate named Jeong Gi-tae. This shipment's primarily fine crafts, ironware, and silver. And here's a map of this trading port, Qingdao."
I took the detailed info and map, genuinely impressed. Gathering this much on my own by hopping between inns and escort agencies would've eaten up the full ten days.
Now I just needed to track down the relevant folks and find a spot on a ship.
"Thanks."
As a bonus, that Beggar Clan disciple handed me a small, pitch-black pipe. It didn't look black from grime.
"And if you need help from our clan, just blow this black flute. It's a special token issued directly by the Heavenly Dragon Beggar himself, so every Beggar Clan member in Qingdao will rush to your aid at the sound."
"Got it."
The Heavenly Dragon Beggar had prepared more thoroughly than I'd expected.
I could tell this black flute wasn't your average pipe—it emitted high-frequency tones inaudible to most humans.
The Beggar Clan's cultivation methods probably included sensitivity to its sound.
I examined the intriguing black flute and headed into Qingdao proper.
Wah-wah...
Qingdao was a bustling city.
As a major trade hub with Goryeo, I saw plenty of people in Goryeo attire everywhere.
Having never laid eyes on Goryeo folk before, I eavesdropped as I passed, confirming their speech differed from Central Plains tongues.
That's when a problem hit me.
'Ah... I barely speak Goryeo. What now?'
We could probably communicate via hanja, but true fluency would be essential—especially hunting for some treasure called Haein somewhere in Goryeo.
This oversight left me rattled for a moment.
But I soon thought of a solution.
"Right—hire an interpreter."
A trade port like this had to have folks fluent in both hanmun and Goryeo speech.
Escort agencies would surely have them.
I figured I'd scrape up some silver, snag an interpreter, and scour Goryeo for leads together.
So first, I visited the Great Dragon Merchant Association and the Western Outpost Escort Agency in turn.
They looked baffled at a kid like me showing up, but flashing the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader's gold token flipped their attitudes.
Not even half a shichen in, the Great Dragon Merchant Association's chief waddled out to the reception hall, his oily face jiggling.
As befitted a man running a massive firm, he was decked in lavish robes and ornaments from head to toe.
He grinned and said,
"Ho ho ho... Carrying a gold token, you must be one of the Righteous Heaven Alliance's promising young talents! To what do we owe the visit to our humble association?"
"Nothing major—I'd like to join your Goryeo run. And I need an interpreter too."
"Easy enough. We'll set you up with a top-tier guest cabin. As for an interpreter..."
The Great Dragon chief gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, but if you're planning to travel Goryeo proper, we don't have any spares. Can't be helped, even for me."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not about coin. Trade volume's exploded lately—our association and the officials are building several big ships. Goryeo-fluent interpreters are rare gems; we can't just hand them out."
Goryeo trade was booming so hard, interpreters rated as premium talent—even for pay, they were in short supply.
I nodded, out of options, and asked,
"Any way around it?"
"Try the Western Outpost Escort Agency or the yamen. If they strike out too, scout locals on-site or learn Goryeo yourself."
"Does the chief speak it well?"
"Ha ha. My position demanded decades of study, so yes. But Goryeo speech differs sharply from ours—real fluency takes years at least."
"Hmm..."
I gave the Great Dragon chief a cupped-fist salute and left.
Bonus: my guest cabin for the voyage in ten days was booked.
But the interpreter snag still gnawed at me.
'The Western Outpost probably won't have one either...'
Spot on.
The Western Outpost chief met me easily thanks to the gold token but shook his head firmly.
"Sorry. We've got three pro interpreters, all slammed for this trade run. I'll be run ragged alongside them."
"No way at all?"
"You already heard the same from the Great Dragon lot, right? They're ten times our size and still shorthanded—no hope there. Hitting up the yamen's a waste; you'll just piss them off."
But I couldn't quit on his word alone.
Worse come to worst, I headed for Jeong Gi-tae at the yamen.
Unlike the merchants or escorts, they didn't jump at the gold token—after a bit, the guard captain verified it and reported upward.
The sixth-rank magistrate, Jeong Gi-tae, shuffled out after about a shichen.
He glared at me irritably and snapped,
"You dare summon me in the yamen with the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader's clout? What do you murim thugs think this place is?"
He seemed seriously pissed.
He'd come because he couldn't ignore the token, but the official-murim rift had him seething.
Fearing complications, I bowed hastily.
"My apologies, my lord. Please forgive me. I'm not here to throw weight around—it's just an urgent matter I can't handle without your aid."
My deft deflection softened his scowl a touch.
He cleared his throat and said,
"Baek Woong, was it? Out with it quick. I'm busy."
"Nothing else—I need an interpreter. Name your price."
"Interpreter? Qingdao's crawling with 'em..."
"I need one to travel Goryeo with me."
Jeong Gi-tae tilted his head, getting it.
"What're you on about? Why seek one from the yamen?"
"No choice—Great Dragon and Western Outpost are tapped out."
"Hmph... True enough. Regrettably, we can't spare any either."
Jeong Gi-tae scowled deeper.
"But before that—think you can just waltz into foreign lands?"
"Pardon?"
"To tour Goryeo, you need clearance from their officials, a formal travel permit, upper approval on the report, and coordination with their nobles. Takes a month minimum here alone—and you're just gonna roam free? That's invasion, not travel. You'd be headless before you blinked."
"......!!"
"Hmph. Bet you planned to sneak off a merchant ship and hole up in some village. Typical murim scheme."
Grumbling, Jeong Gi-tae added abruptly,
"Listen up. I'm not some stickler—won't gripe about you murim sneaking around. Just don't dump extra work on me."
"Pardon?"
Fire flashed in Jeong Gi-tae's eyes.
"But if you get caught, it's not just you—the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader who gave you that token goes down too. I won't die alone!"
"......"
I left the yamen regretting his threats.
'Should've heeded the Western Outpost chief. Better to skip the yamen entirely.'
Felt like I'd stirred a hornet's nest.
Ignorance was bliss; now Jeong Gi-tae knew me, and trouble loomed.
I vowed never to rush yamen doors again and stepped out.
Now what?
No choice—I'd hit up the Beggar Clan.
Their info network might crack this.
At their Qingdao sub-branch where the disciples gathered, I spotted the map-giver from the gate.
"Young hero, what's up?"
"Hit a snag."
I spilled the issue; he looked grave.
"Young hero, why pull that stunt? Officials and murim's non-aggression pact benefits both. You basically announced illegal entry to Goryeo—what else is that?"
"No excuse. Sorry."
"Whatever on that... Interpreter, huh. You'll have to pound the pavement yourself for a Goryeo-speaker outside pro gigs. Bound to be fluent locals not in the trade."
"Any leads? Ten days left—blind hunting's tough."
"Hmm... No clue. You're on your own."
They shied from further meddling.
Sure, the Heavenly Dragon Beggar ordered aid, but not this nitty-gritty loyalty.
I dragged back to my inn, flopped on the bed, and brooded.
'What to do?'
Not like I had to nail an interpreter in ten days.
Worst case, find a Central Plains-speaking Goryeo local post-landing.
But that risked big, and convincing them? Doubtful.
Better hire a Goryeo-speaker for months.
After agonizing, I decided.
"No helping it... Go and learn it."
Plan: Hit Goryeo, settle as a local or naturalize.
Living among them, I'd pick up the language fast.
Unlike archaic scripts, foreign tongues yielded to time and effort.
Especially with Lady Queen Mother of the West's blessing—time was my plenty.
Years to master? Fine—once fluent, future eased.
Ten days later, I boarded the Goryeo-bound ship.
Shwaaa—
Waves crashed outside.
In my top-tier guest cabin, I sat quietly, lost in thought.
Lately, I'd picked up this thinking habit to temper my impulsive nature.
I'd learned calm reflection birthed paths in crises, heightening my meditation need.
'Even seasick, syncing with the vibrations keeps dizziness away.'
My balance was too sharp for seasickness.
I quietly rode with the Great Dragon caravan for days, savoring the voyage.
The first glimpse of the blue sea's horizon felt downright refreshing.
About six days out, screams erupted from the deck.
"Uwaaak! Pirates!"
What?
I rushed up; far off, black ships approached.
Our caravan had five vessels; theirs three.
Numbers favored us, but pirates changed everything.
Armed cutthroats meant melee favored them—our side would bleed.
The Great Dragon chief spotted me amid his panic.
"Ah, young hero! Perfect timing!"
"What's going on?"
"Those are the Blood Saber Gang—infamous Yellow Sea pirates. You seem highly skilled; please fend them off!"
Now I got why he'd comped my top cabin despite the token.
Insurance for moments like this.
But a sunk or seized caravan spelled doom, so I had to fight.
I eyed the approaching Blood Saber ships and said,
"They murim too?"
"Yeah. Heard plenty pack escort-captain-level skills. Please, young hero!"
"Understood."
Boom!
A pirate ship rammed our starboard.
I was stunned they hadn't even tried cannons—just straight boarding.
Merchant ships couldn't pack heavy artillery anyway.
Melee it was.
Pirates started clambering aboard.
I sighed, drawing my sword.
"Haa... Not in the mood for a fight."
This clash felt off—maybe a bad omen.
But next instant, my body flashed like lightning, severing pirate heads.
Brilliant Thunderclap Blade rent the sky.
My first naval battle began.