Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: In a World Without Unorthodox Sects
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“In a world without unorthodox sects…”
“Thank you once again. The area around the fortress has been so suspicious lately that I was still worried even after sending my child off, but to think something like that would happen…”
“No, it was just the right thing to do.”
Even as I set down my teacup and waved my hand dismissively, the kid’s mother held out a roll of tightly wound cloth without paying it any mind.
“I don’t have anything to offer as thanks, but please, at least take this…”
“No, it’s fine. It wasn’t anything worth receiving payment for, and I ended up getting help from your son anyway.”
A loom sat in the room, and their circumstances looked dire.
She was probably supporting them by weaving cloth despite her frail health and selling it.
The thought that accepting this cloth might leave this mother and son starving all day made it impossible for me to take it.
At my repeated refusals, the middle-aged woman finally bowed her head again.
An awkward silence hung in the room for a moment after that.
With nothing particular to say, I kept sipping my tea until my gaze drifted back to the loom.
“Um… you make cloth on that loom and sell it, right?”
“Oh, yes…”
“…If it’s not too rude, could I watch you weave for a bit?”
“Pardon?”
Seeing her face unable to hide her bewilderment at my odd request made me flush with embarrassment, but I didn’t withdraw it.
I didn’t know why myself, but the urge to see it kept circling in my mind.
“Yes, if that’s what you want…”
“Thank you.”
Fortunately, the kid’s mother tilted her head but readily sat at the loom and demonstrated weaving cloth.
-Creak, clunk
Warp threads fixed vertically, weft threads crossing beneath without gaps, producing seamless cloth.
I watched in a slight daze, and my mind started to tingle.
Not just haphazardly wrapping threads to tangle them, but weaving them tightly without gaps…!
My focus peaked right at that moment,
-Clunk!
“I’m back!”
“…….”
The kid burst in with an utterly innocent voice, shattering my concentration in an instant.
…Ah, if only you’d come just a little later.
I forced a composed expression and welcomed the kid.
“You’re back? What about your friends?”
“They’re waiting outside!”
Seeing that proud look screaming ‘Did I do good?’, a chuckle slipped out.
Even if I watched more weaving, nothing else would come to mind, so I bid farewell to the kid’s mother.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
“…Yes. Thank you again.”
I glanced at the middle-aged woman, who rose from the loom and bowed once more, then stepped outside.
My eyes caught sight of boys and girls of various sizes.
They differed in height and build, but they all seemed about the kid’s age.
“These are our village’s rumor-mongers.”
“Ahem!”
“We’re the best around here!”
At the kid’s introduction, the children puffed up with smug pride one by one.
Their antics were so ridiculous and cute that I bit my lip, then feigned earnestness as I asked,
“I’m heading to Wudang Mountain tomorrow, but the rumors about it sound really bad. Do you know anything?”
“Hmph, of course. But we can’t give out premium info like this for free, you know?”
Premium, huh, kids.
I suppressed the laugh bubbling up.
They were trying to be serious, and ruining it might make them sulk and cause headaches.
“Of course. I’m not that rude. Here, take these.”
I placed an iron coin in each child’s hand.
Their eyes widened like saucers, clearly not expecting one per kid.
Soon, they chattered happily and poured out rumors one after another.
“The sky over Wudang Mountain turned red seven days ago.”
“Even the grown-ups are scared and won’t even glance toward the mountain. Total cowards!”
“The Wudang Taoist priests haven’t come down to the village since then.”
“The villagers there are doing some… what was it? Striking a bell or something?”
“Primeval Heavenly Lord.”
“Oh, right. They’re offering sacrifices to the Primeval Heavenly Lord.”
“Really?”
Far better info than expected.
Like kids do, they’d eavesdropped on adults’ talk while running around everywhere.
Picking out the key points from what the kids said,
The sky over Wudang Mountain started turning red about seven days ago.
Right after, the Wudang Taoists vanished, and no one entered or left the mountain.
That could be gleaned.
It had passed through many mouths, so reliability wasn’t high, but it was plenty useful.
“Thank you. This helped a lot.”
“Woo-hoo—!”
I playfully thanked them and handed out one more iron coin each.
Watching them babble about buying candy with it filled me with warmth, until a rough voice shouted from afar.
“B-Big brother! That’s the guy!”
Looking up, the thugs I’d beaten earlier were pointing at me.
And at their center stood a martial artist in uniform with a sword at his side.
What the hell?
*
The only martial sect in Goseonghyeon, boasting prestige near that of a king locally: the Righteous Martial Sect.
Jang Han-su, the sect leader’s direct disciple, was shocked to see his sworn brothers arrive in battered states.
“B-Big brother…!”
“What is this…! What the hell happened!?”
Han-su couldn’t hide his fury at the clear signs of assault on his brothers.
As he scowled and demanded answers, his sworn brothers—the thugs who’d gotten thrashed by Ja-seong—recounted what happened, complete with embellishments.
Of course, with added flavor.
Before long, the thugs had become victims who’d tried to discipline a brat stealing from others’ pouches, only to get unilaterally beaten by some stranger.
“To dare make my brothers—who toil for Goseonghyeon’s peace—look like this…! I’ll never forgive it! Lead the way! I’ll punish that bastard myself!”
“Yes, big brother! We know that kid’s house by chance. He’s probably there with him, so come with us.”
The thugs smirked inwardly, clutching their aching arms as they led Han-su to the kid’s house—and spotted Ja-seong right there.
“B-Big brother! That’s him!”
One thug pointed at Ja-seong with his good hand, and Han-su twisted his lips maliciously as he stepped forward.
“You’re the insolent cur who persecuted my brothers?”
“…Persecuted? Insolent?”
Ja-seong, who’d hidden the frightened kids behind him, wore an incredulous expression.
From the situation, it seemed the thugs had dragged some fool along for revenge.
‘Breaking one arm wasn’t enough, huh.’
Ja-seong let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
Mistaking it for fear, Han-su berated him with even more confident bluster.
“You scum! Persecuting my brothers who strive for Goseonghyeon deserves a hundred deaths!”
“…Hah. So, what? You gonna kill me a hundred times?”
Ja-seong tossed out the question to hear what nonsense he’d spout.
Han-su cleared his throat dramatically and began spouting drivel.
“Ahem! I’d love to, but as the upright Righteous Martial Sect’s sect leader disciple, I’ll grant you one chance.”
“…What chance?”
“Cut off one of your own arms! Offer up an arm, and I’ll show you mercy.”
“…Hah.”
Ja-seong let out a hollow laugh.
At first, he’d thought he was just a fool duped by sweet talk.
But demanding he cut off his own arm revealed him as worse scum than the thugs.
The problem was that this scum had come here himself.
Whether the thugs told him or not, it meant he now knew where the kid lived.
After Ja-seong left, the mother and son could suffer at their hands.
‘So, what to do?’
How to crush them to prevent that mishap.
As he pondered, a sudden event unfolded.
Unlike his friends hiding behind Ja-seong’s back, the kid—who’d been standing frozen—suddenly hurled a stone the size of his fist at Han-su.
-Whoosh!
The stone flew straight at Han-su’s head, slicing the air.
But the sword at his waist wasn’t mere decoration; he drew and struck it down.
-Clang!
Han-su scowled as the stone ricocheted into a corner.
“This little brat dares…!”
To stone him, the great Righteous Martial Sect’s sect leader disciple!
Han-su’s vicious glare fixed on the kid.
Yet the kid, fearless or deranged, met the martial artist’s murderous gaze head-on.
“Hey, you bad guy! Give back my dad!”
And spouted something incomprehensible.
Ja-seong turned to the kid in surprise, while Han-su advanced on him, sword at the ready.
“The kid’s lost his mind. Fine, if that’s what you want, you first…!”
Han-su’s words cut off there.
Ja-seong vanished and reappeared before him, kicking his gut.
-Boom!
With a sharp explosion, Han-su flew back and crashed into the wall.
He slumped unconscious, sword clattering limply to the ground.
“…Huh?”
The thugs, smirking at thoughts of revenge, were left dumbfounded by the sudden turn.
What?
What just happened?
Why’s big brother smashed over there?
As they failed to grasp the reality before them, a cold voice pierced their ears.
“I spared you once and sent you off, but you came back? You’re prepared, right?”
“…Could you let it slide just one more time?”
The thugs belatedly realized they’d messed with the wrong guy and begged.
Ja-seong smiled brightly and broke their remaining arms and both legs.
“Urgh…!”
“Eek!”
The thugs writhed with all limbs shattered.
Ja-seong coldly ignored them and approached the now-alone kid.
“Wanna tell me more about what you just said?”