Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: No Matter What Anyone Says
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In just one sichen—two hours—they had dug down to the point where water began to flow.
The hill folk had all come out to watch the three men slicing through the earth with their sword energy.
The elderly village head spoke up.
"Our village youths will take over and finish the job from here."
When Nangong Cheolung and the other two looked my way, the village head realized I was their leader and added,
"Thank you, Scholar."
I was wearing the light blue robe favored by scholars, and holding a folding fan to boot—who wouldn't take me for one?
I turned to Nangong Cheolung.
"There might be those who try to damage the well later on. So, carve into a rock that this well belongs to the Nangong Family, to make it clear."
True gratitude lies in the details.
Digging the well was one thing, but ensuring no one could tamper with it was what would truly make it the hill folk's own.
Who in Anhui would dare touch a well owned by the Nangong Family?
"Ah, so you folks are from the Nangong Family."
The village head bowed deeply in thanks.
Nangong Cheolung fetched a flat rock, placed it nearby, and engraved the words I'd specified using his sword energy.
It was probably the first time he'd used sword energy for anything other than combat.
But before long, all three men's faces were lit with pride and satisfaction.
The village youths gathered stones from around to build up the retaining wall.
That way, the dirt wouldn't cave in, and the water could pool properly.
Even so, while this solved their drinking water in the long term, it wouldn't suffice for everyday use.
There was only so much I could do for them.
"Go to the local yamen and file a petition with the county magistrate. That might sort things out."
A fair-minded magistrate might not turn a blind eye to their plight.
"Thank you. We'll give that a try."
I addressed my group.
"Let's pack up and head out. If we want to reach the next village inn, we need to make haste."
Having spent half a day here already, we had to hurry.
The hill folk saw us off all the way to the edge of the village.
Yeoseol lingered, reluctant to leave the carriage behind.
Watching her, a flood of thoughts crossed my mind.
'If Yeoseol had fallen into the hands of the Demonic Cult or Blood Cult, what kind of heart would she have developed? Meeting good people and learning letters and etiquette from me gradually shaped her character. If she'd only learned to kill, she never would have developed any compassion.'
Thinking back to when I first saw her—practically pure evil incarnate.
Gazing at Yeoseol now, I couldn't help but wonder if humans were closer to Mencius's theory of innate goodness after all.
She'd started out selfish and near-pure evil, but following laws and norms had awakened her humanity.
Yeoseol must have been heartbroken at the sight of their impoverished lives, unable to tear herself away.
Moved by her kind heart, I approached the hill folk.
"Village head, I'm on my way to Jiangxi, where I expect to acquire a large plot of land. Once I settle there, I'll send you a letter. My name is Cheon Taesan. If you receive correspondence in my name, please consider relocating after due deliberation."
The village head's eyes welled with tears as he grasped my hand.
"We are truly grateful. You've taken pity on us, dug us a well, and now go to such lengths for us..."
"If the land is vast enough to farm, I'll divide it among you and charge only a modest rent. Would you come then?"
The old man's hunched back bent even lower.
"If you offer that, what would we have to hesitate about?"
I wrote down the area's name and nearby mountains on paper, then roughly sketched the local terrain and landmarks.
Escort agencies often failed to deliver letters based on names alone.
Seeing my meticulous care, the village head realized my words weren't mere courtesy, and his eyes reddened.
Only after I promised to call for them did Yeoseol finally climb into the carriage.
"Oppa, thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping those people."
"Why are you thanking me, though?"
"It hurt my heart. They couldn't even get proper water. Hurry and get that land, Oppa."
Curious, I asked,
"Seeing them stirred something in you?"
After a moment's thought, Yeoseol replied.
"I didn't realize, living with you. How many people in the world struggle like that."
The common folk we'd seen from the Nangong Family estate to here were never prosperous.
Thatch-roofed huts and wooden shacks abounded, lives where three meals a day were a distant dream.
"Thanks to you, I've been living in luxury."
Her vocabulary had grown enough to use a term like "luxury."
"Thank you for taking in a girl with no memories. Without you, I'd probably be living like them. If I weren't Yeoseol."
I looked at her and said,
"You're my little sister now. Everyone knows it too. So don't think otherwise."
"Forever?"
"Of course."
"Family?"
"Yeah. No matter what anyone says, we're family."
Without needing more words, Yeoseol sensed my feelings and nestled into my arms.
She might have realized her solitude upon gaining some self-awareness, feeling lonely for the first time.
Maybe from the moment I held her.
Feeling at ease, she drifted off to sleep in my embrace.
"Silly girl."
I'd made the noodle shop couple and Dusik Gang ensure no one talked about how Yeoseol and I first met.
They were the only ones who knew.
Thanks to that, without any rumors, everyone around saw Yeoseol as my real cousin.
Even Nangong Hak believed it, proof they'd kept their mouths shut.
Spotting a fairly tall mountain ahead, I said to the coachman,
"The carriage can make it up, right?"
"Yes. This path sees a lot of escort wagons, so even the mountain trail is well-maintained."
We'd finally reached the mountains forming the border between Anhui and Jiangxi.
"We'll rest here for the day and set off at dawn tomorrow."
"Yes. The horses need proper rest to climb."
We stayed at an inn at the mountain's base.
Now, without me saying a word, Nangong Cheolung and the two escorts diligently trained.
Yeoseol watched their practice of the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique in silence.
She'd let out admiring gasps one moment, tilt her head in puzzlement the next.
Later, she'd ask me about the parts she didn't understand, and I'd clear them up.
I'd told her not to practice the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique in front of Nangong Family martial artists, so she just observed.
Who knew what they'd say if they saw her practicing it.
Above all, her astonishing talent could spell trouble.
So she only swung her wooden sword when we were alone in our room.
All afternoon, as I pointed out flaws in the three men's technique, Yeoseol listened intently from behind.
They saw her as the little sister tagging along with her big brother, so they didn't mind her watching.
Just correcting and demonstrating for the three was a huge help to Yeoseol.
The Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique was an advanced art, after all—even a genius like her couldn't master it in one go.
Still, she'd already surpassed their level.
After instructing the three, whenever I had time, I practiced the Ghostly Scholar's martial arts.
Even during night halts, I'd find a secluded spot to test them alone, checking if they suited my body.
'They definitely fit me well. Especially after acquiring the three spirit energies—the power seems even greater now.'
The Ghostly Scholar had once been infamous in the murim as a sorcerer, so I understood why his arts were dismissed as mere oddities.
But the complete lack of information about him was strange.
Murim records only mentioned him as a demonic figure who sowed chaos with sorcery.
No origins, background, clan, or even name.
'Maybe the absence of info is better for me practicing his arts. No one will know who he was.'
Feeling at ease, I delved deeper into the Ghostly Scholar's martial arts.
After breakfast, we left the inn and began ascending the mountain.
As the coachman said, the path was paved for carriages and wagons.
On steeper slopes, the three escorts pushed from behind, making it easy.
The trail was deserted, just us, serene and quiet.
After cresting the peak, we descended a winding path snaking down like a serpent.
We ran into escort agency folk heading our way and exchanged local intel before proceeding cautiously.
A bit further down, a broad plateau appeared.
With a spring and flat rocks scattered like benches, it seemed travelers used it as a rest area.
"Let's take a break here. The horses need it too. Grab a quick bite."
I arranged rest time for the coachman, Cheongyo's maids, and Eunbi.
We gathered by the spring, each gnawing on strips of jerky.
Rough fare, but eating together and chatting kept the laughter flowing.
Having spent so much time on the road, Yeoseol and Eunbi had grown close to Cheongyo's group, calling each other sisters.
I glanced at Songran.
'Blind, yet she saw my dantian? Doesn't add up.'
I was convinced she was faking her blindness.
I just didn't know why—surely some story behind it.
"Gang leader. This just flew in."
A subordinate brought over an arrow, handing Mokjin the paper tied to its shaft.
"Where from?"
"West, they say. But by the time we got there, the traces were gone."
Mokjin, lying in wait to ambush the resting scholar's group, tensed at this unexpected twist.
'Someone knows we're here. What's their game?'
Frowning deeply, Mokjin unfolded the paper.
"Well, now!"
After reading it, he snorted in disbelief and passed it to his subordinate.
"Gang leader. Looks like someone's trying to help us out."
"Idiot. There's no such thing as free intel in this world. These bastards are after the scholar too. They can't handle his hidden escorts themselves, so they're dumping it on us."
Mokjin saw through the note's intent.
"Still, don't we have to do something now?"
"Why? Ignore it. Telling us about hidden escorts means they haven't given up on the scholar either. They want to stir us up and fish in troubled waters."
Blind with vengeance though he was, Mokjin wasn't stupid.
"Ignore the hidden escorts. Kill the scholar and pull back immediately. Hit him all at once. Only three escorts and the scholar know martial arts."
He reminded his men of the plan once more.
"He's close to the courtesans who came with him. Attack them to distract him. Kill them if you want—make it hurt more, and it'll scatter his focus. Be brutal."
"Got it. Me and five others will handle the courtesans."
"He might send the three Nangong escorts that way. Send ten."
"Understood."
Mokjin crumpled the note and flung it away.
"Whoever you are, pulling pranks like this. You think I'll dance to your tune?"
Not seeing the sender as an enemy, he dismissed it.
"Attack."
Mokjin led his men charging toward the spring where the scholar rested.