Chapter 10
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Good House
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Gwang-u and I walked through the village.
This village was called Huanin County, with over four thousand households and a population of around twenty thousand.
After passing through the village, I followed the river downstream.
It was too wide and deep to be called a mere stream, yet not quite grand enough to qualify as a full river, so there were hardly any fishing boats to be seen.
Still, the scenery was breathtaking.
"Nice."
The word slipped out before I knew it.
"Right? Hyung, I thought the same. Let's live here, hyung."
Gwang-u, clearly done searching for other villages, was practically bouncing with excitement despite his burly frame.
I eyed the house perched atop a low hill.
From there, the river was right in front, and you could see anyone approaching from afar.
But I didn't dare hope we could actually live in a place like that.
'It'd be perfect if it were a little more rundown.'
The house looked too good for the silver we had on hand.
Even if it was shabby, no owner would just hand it over like it was waiting for us.
"Hyung, you like that house?"
Gwang-u must have noticed me staring at it.
"Let's just go."
As I turned to leave, Gwang-u blocked my path.
"Why? Why leave? We can at least ask!"
"Would you sell a house like that for peanuts? Let's look for something old and beat-up."
Gwang-u's face fell instantly.
But then something sparked in his eyes, and he bolted toward the house I'd been watching.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll ask!"
The guy had no sense at all.
Asking wouldn't change a thing if it was a no.
I stood there waiting, and soon Gwang-u waved from the hilltop.
"Hyung! We bought the house!"
I quietly watched the middle-aged couple packing their belongings in a hurry.
This house—with four rooms no less—for just two hundred silver taels.
Even I, clueless about the ways of the world, knew a place like this should cost at least five hundred.
Gwang-u grinned ear to ear, poking around every corner of our new home.
"Hyung! The veggie patch is pretty big too!"
I half-ignored him and asked the owners as they packed.
"Why sell such a good house so cheap?"
The middle-aged man straightened up at my question and let out a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
But it struck me as forced somehow.
"I'm a merchant in the village proper. This place is too far for daily commutes, and I'd already been thinking of selling."
"No one wanted to buy it before?"
"Who'd want to live out here in the sticks?"
His words made sense enough.
With the deed in hand, I felt silly for suspecting anything and didn't pry further.
The owners took everything—the farm tools, even the chipped bowls and pots from the kitchen.
"Leave us a broom at least."
He sheepishly handed over the broom he'd been loading onto the cart.
"Live well."
The cart, piled high, rolled away from the house.
I called Gwang-u over and handed him ten silver taels.
"Go to the village and buy a pot, blankets, dishes. Get some rice and meat too."
The simpleton asked with a pout.
"What about you, hyung?"
"Gotta clean."
Only then did his face brighten as he headed out.
Alone in the big house, my chest swelled with emotion.
My house. A good one, at that.
Finally, a proper home in a village with real people.
It wasn't some palace, but I was content.
Sweeping the rooms, the yard, clearing trash—it wasn't a chore at all.
Done cleaning, I sat on the porch waiting for Gwang-u.
But he never came back.
Behind Huanin County stretched the vast White Stone Plain.
It used to be a quarry full of beautiful white stones, but now it was barren wasteland, unfit even for farming.
On that plain, over a hundred martial artists from the rivers and lakes glared at each other.
One side wore blue uniforms, the other red.
A middle-aged man in blue stepped forward first.
Matching him, a man in red did the same.
No greetings exchanged.
"Si Family Head, if you repent your wrongs and beg forgiveness now, the Seok and Si Families can live in peace without spilling blood."
The blue-clad man spoke first.
Si Family Head Si Ju-pyeong, in red, sneered coldly.
"Today's the day you die, Seok Yang-ho."
At Si Ju-pyeong's mockery, Seok Family Head Seok Yang-ho stepped back a few paces.
"No helping it. Today, I end you."
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Si Ju-pyeong laughed uproariously, then glanced back.
"Someone eager to meet you arrogant fool is here. Come out."
Si Ju-pyeong dipped his head slightly, and from behind the red-clad group emerged a fierce-looking man.
Seok Yang-ho's face grew grave facing him.
Unknown identity, but Si Ju-pyeong's deference meant no ordinary expert.
"Ma Bok-gye of Yangyang."
The fierce man revealed himself.
"Life-Escaping Sword?"
"That guy's the Life-Escaping Sword...?"
The Seok clansmen buzzed in shock; the Si side smirked triumphantly.
Seok Yang-ho's expression darkened further.
Ma Bok-gye, dubbed Life-Escaping Sword, was a Yangyang Ma Clan elder, the family head's brother.
His skills matched his icy temperament—even the Zhuge Family kept tabs on him, calling him Yangyang's king.
"Why does the Life-Escaping Sword meddle in Huanin County affairs?"
Seok Yang-ho asked politely, hoping to avoid a fight.
But not the type to heed courtesy.
"Word reached Yangyang of you rampaging in Huanin like no one matters. Show me that energy today."
"That's not true, Ma hero. It's Si Ju-pyeong there, robbing villagers, siccing black thugs on merchants for heavy protection fees."
Seok Yang-ho protested desperately, but Ma Bok-gye wasn't listening.
"Kneel before me and Si Family Head here, beg forgiveness, and I might spare you. What's it gonna be?"
A family head kneeling to enemies? The clan might as well be dead.
No leader would stomach that, even at death's door.
"So you want a duel after all. I'll oblige."
Here, he'd die with honor if need be.
Ma Bok-gye, reading his resolve, closed distance slowly, assuming stance.
But inwardly uneasy.
That morning's Breath Adjustment and Meditation brought agony.
His qi should flow freely, yet now it churned blocked, like a river dammed by boulders.
As Ma Bok-gye readied his draw, Seok Yang-ho tensed, hand on hilt.
Rumors said Life-Escaping Sword's swordplay was elite, his draws explosive.
Ma concentrated qi in right hand and feet.
Can't control inner power properly—end it in one strike.
Taat!
Kicking off, he drew, slashing for Seok Yang-ho's throat.
Or tried to.
Sudden stabbing pain in his chest slowed him, twisting the blade's path.
"Kuh..."
His sword grazed Seok Yang-ho's shoulder; the counter plunged into his waist.
He twisted desperately, but body lagged.
Scorching pain burrowed deep in his waist, withdrawing.
Then a white sword-flash hurtled at his eyes.
Srake!
Ma Bok-gye's head tumbled from his neck.
Seok Yang-ho, who severed it, stood dazed, sword held awkwardly, unsure what happened.
Clearly, Life-Escaping Sword's blade had arced for his throat.
Death loomed—then the blade wavered, slowed visibly.
Lucky shoulder nick, and he countered, beheading and bisecting the foe.
Seok clansmen gaped; Si too.
"Whoo... whooooaa!"
Seok side erupted late in cheers.
"The head beheaded the Life-Escaping Sword!"
"Victory over Life-Escaping Sword in single combat!"
Seok clansmen jubilant beyond words.
Si side, speechless.
Si Ju-pyeong, shocked rigid, said nothing; clansmen stared blankly at the corpse.
"Wh... what now, Si Ju-pyeong?"
Seok Yang-ho, regaining wits, pointed his sword and demanded.
Si Ju-pyeong floundered.
One choice left.
"H-head, seems you've misunderstood greatly. O-our Si Family has no ties to black riffraff. B-but if you've thought so, it's our fault."
Si Ju-pyeong bowed deeply to Seok Yang-ho.
Seok outclassed him in martial arts.
And valued righteousness, a true gentleman.
Seok glared at the bowed head, then sheathed his sword.
"I'll be watching."
With that, Seok Yang-ho left the plain.
"With victory over Life-Escaping Sword, Head deserves Soul-Seizing Sword."
"Indeed. The rivers and lakes will call you Soul-Seizing Sword henceforth."
Si Ju-pyeong trembled with humiliation amid the excited Seok voices.
But that was nothing.
The real issue: Life-Escaping Sword's death.
How to report to Yangyang Ma Clan?
"Ah... that idiot."
Tired of waiting for Gwang-u, I headed to the village for dinner.
In the first inn I saw, I ordered food and waited amid the din of patrons.
"Seok Head beheading Life-Escaping Sword? Hard to believe. That's a name even in Yangyang."
"Hero in Huanin. Si Head bowed to him—should curb Si tyranny some."
"All's well that ends well. Seok victory ends the feud."
From their talk, I learned Huanin had Seok and Si martial families; Seok Head earned commoners' trust.
But rivers-and-lakes drama—I tuned it out.
Tofu dish and rice filled me; I headed home.
Gwang-u wasn't the type to get beat up wandering, so no worry there.
Just hoped the simpleton hadn't been scammed somewhere.
Only twenty taels left—needed work to survive.
Home, I waited for Gwang-u till late.
But he didn't return before I slept.
"Gwang-u's better than you."
"What do you mean?"
"You coveted this house but never even tried to buy it."
"You're right."