Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Later Heroes of the Martial World (2)
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An unexpected guest had arrived at the Yangyang Ma Clan.
The visitor was Jo Gu, a master of flying knives known throughout the martial world as the One-Fly Killer.
He shared a deep friendship with the clan head Ma Baek-su and had been sworn brothers with Ma Bok-gye.
"Thank you for coming to pay your respects to Bok-gye, Brother Jo."
"The Life-Escaping Sword was like a little brother to me as well. Tell me in detail how Bok-gye met his end, Clan Head."
Ma Baek-su explained the dispute between the Seok Family and the Si Family in a somber tone.
Once he had heard the full story, Jo Gu's face twisted in blazing fury.
"So you're saying you've just been sitting here trusting those assassin riffraff? Bok-gye must be weeping bitterly in the underworld!"
"Calm yourself, Brother Jo. We've commissioned the Black Moon Gate, so Seok Yang-ho is as good as dead."
Jo Gu's fiery rage subsided in an instant.
The Black Moon Gate stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Red Death Gate as the pinnacle among assassin organizations, holding an unrivaled position.
Its gate master was rumored to be the closest to the title of Killing King.
"If the Black Moon Gate has taken the job, why hasn't there been any word yet? Could the Si Family have skimped on silver and hired some lesser group instead?"
"How could the Si Family dare such treachery? They owe their safe establishment in Huanin County to our Ma Clan's protection. That debt is as vast as the heavens—they could never betray us."
"This is a world teeming with those who repay kindness with enmity. I'll head straight to Huanin County myself and meet with the Si Family head. If the chance arises, I'll take out Seok Yang-ho in place of the assassins."
Ma Baek-su, already constrained by the Zhuge Family's watchful eyes, couldn't help but be moved to gratitude.
He prostrated himself on the floor at once.
"If you do this for us, I will never forget your grace, even as a pile of bleached bones."
"If the Zhuge Family catches wind that I met with you, things could get messy. I'll depart before dawn. In return, if all goes well, you'll need to increase the tribute from our Jo Family in Henan."
"Of course, Brother Jo."
Jo Gu was a blood relative of the Henan Jo Family and the clan head's cousin.
His formidable martial arts had earned him the clan head's favor, and he often stepped forward for family matters.
Now, he was setting off for Huanin County to avenge his family and sworn brother.
Once the rain stopped and the waters receded, Gwang-u and I wandered about picking up fish stranded on the shore.
As we gathered them into our bamboo creel, we spotted a small boat perched atop a rock by the riverbank.
"Hyung, there's a boat... sitting on that rock."
It was a sight I'd never seen before, so I stared in awe.
"Yeah, a boat just sitting up on the rock."
"Hyung, let's take that boat. You always said you wanted to be a fisherman."
I wanted that boat just as badly.
But something nagged at me.
"The owner will come looking for it."
"We can give it back then. Come on, let's use it, hyung."
"You think...?"
Gwang-u and I dragged the boat down from the rock and floated it on the water.
It had a few dents here and there, but thankfully it didn't leak, and it even came with fishing nets inside.
We towed it back home using the attached rope, and by the time we were done, it was already lunchtime.
After a meal of grilled fish and rice, I headed out with Gwang-u to learn how to cast the nets.
But before we even crested the hill, someone came sprinting toward us from downriver, gasping for breath.
The raggedly dressed middle-aged man scanned the riverbanks frantically as he ran. My gut told me instantly that he was the boat's owner.
Spotting us as he came rushing down, sweat pouring off him, he bolted straight to me.
"Hey! My boat got swept away in the flood—have you seen it by any chance?"
Gwang-u mumbled and looked away, pretending not to know, but I couldn't do that.
His desperate search for his lost boat was just too pitiful.
"We found a boat stuck on a rock and pulled it behind our house. Take a look and see if it's yours."
"That's definitely mine. No doubt about it."
Back at the house, I pointed to the boat tied up in the back.
"Check it out."
"Yes, that's my boat."
Without so much as a word of thanks, the middle-aged man hopped aboard and vanished downstream on the current.
Watching him go, I suddenly felt all strength drain from my body.
I'd thought we'd scored a boat with some effort, only for the owner to show up and take it away just like that.
"Gwang-u..."
"What, hyung?"
"I think we have to give up on becoming fishermen."
"Hyung, that's why I told you to shut up and keep quiet? Why'd you give the boat back?"
Thwack!
"Argh... you thieving little punk."
Gwang-u, rubbing the back of his head after the smack, pouted like a sulky child.
"Hitting me for no reason..."
"What did you just say?"
I hadn't sparred lately, and it seemed my fists were itching.
As my voice turned icy, Gwang-u leaped back, putting distance between us.
"I didn't say anything, hyung. For real, hyung. Please believe me."
I headed to the village with Gwang-u first stopping by the butcher shop.
"Twenty catties of beef and half a pig, please."
The butcher greeted Gwang-u with a bright smile and started cutting the pork first.
Gwang-u and I stood in front, waiting for the meat.
"Looks like Seok Family Head is out drinking with his retainers."
Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, I turned to see the Seok Family head and his men in the distance.
"H-Hyung, look over there... over there."
Gwang-u suddenly jabbed my side repeatedly with his finger.
"I'm looking, so quit poking me, you punk."
Walking beside the Seok Family head was a short but pretty-faced young woman.
As the family head approached, still walking our way, Gwang-u had spotted us and flashed a broad smile.
The closer he got, the more Gwang-u edged behind me.
'This idiot. Hiding behind me won't cover your big frame.'
Before he could speak, I bowed in greeting first.
"Greetings, Seok Family Head."
Hahaha...
"It's been a while. With that massive flood, I was greatly worried, but seeing you both safe puts my mind at ease."
"Thank you."
The family head shifted his gaze from me to Gwang-u lurking behind.
"Long time no see, Jang-sa."
"H-Have you been well, Family Head?"
Gwang-u's voice trembled violently as he bowed.
Amused by Gwang-u's demeanor, the family head burst into hearty laughter.
Hahahaha.
He then pulled a money pouch from his robe.
"I was meaning to see you anyway, but the flood delayed things."
He handed me a bill of exchange.
"What is this, Family Head?"
"Looking back, I underpaid for that tiger. Here's an extra fifty taels—take it."
I was utterly flustered.
"N-No, you already paid generously for the tiger."
"No, no. Just take it."
He forced the bill into my hand.
With no choice, I accepted it.
"Thank you, Family Head."
"No need. And if you ever need work, stop by the family estate anytime. Until next time. Let's go, Su-a."
After handing over the bill, the family head departed with his retainers.
I stood there clutching the bill, watching his retreating figure endlessly.
"Hyung, did you hear? Su-a, Su-a. That world's most beautiful girl's name is Su-a."
"Yeah, I heard."
The Seok Family Head truly was a good man.
I felt proud knowing I'd saved him from the assassins.
"Hyung, the Seok Family Head seems like a really good guy. And Miss Su-a is super pretty. In my opinion, Miss Su-a is..."
I walked home, listening to his endless chatter.
Just as we neared the house, I spotted an old man wandering back and forth along the riverbank.
I thought nothing of it and moved to enter the house.
But unexpectedly, the old man blocked Gwang-u and me.
"H-Have you by chance seen a boat? It got swept down in the flood, but I can't find it anywhere."
Startled, I nearly dropped the meat piled in my arms.
'What the...? So this old man's the owner of the boat we returned this morning?'
He might not be the owner.
But something told me he was.
"This morning we found an abandoned boat and soon after, a middle-aged man showed up claiming it was his and took it downstream."
"You just stood there watching like fools?!"
The old man bellowed, his face flushing red.
"Hey, old timer, that's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
I couldn't fathom why I deserved his abuse.
"Kids these days have no brains..."
"Hey, you."
Gwang-u, who'd been behind me, couldn't hold back and stepped forward.
Frightened, the old man spun around and scurried downstream along the riverbank.
"That rude old geezer must've eaten manners for breakfast. Let's head in, hyung. I'm starving."
Gwang-u, shouldering the rice sacks, went inside first. I glanced at the old man's retreating back as he hurried along the flowing river, then stepped through the gate.
He really was an ill-mannered old coot, just like Gwang-u said.
Sssshhhh.
His swordplay in the water was several times slower and weaker than on land, as expected.
Yet the Great Heavenly Demon moved as if on flat ground.
Splurt!
The blade stabbed into his shoulder and withdrew, blood spreading through the water.
'Damn it.'
As I swung my sword against the current, another blade grazed past my abdomen.
My belly split open, blood flowing out.
No matter how hard I tried, defeating this Great Heavenly Demon seemed impossible.
'Ah... I just want to die quickly.'
Finally, as the sword flew toward my throat, the ripples flowing along the blade caught my eye.
Even as it pierced my neck, my mind was filled with those waves riding the sword's edge.
'Is the sword cutting the water, or is the water parting to make way?'
'Why isn't he coming out?'
Gwang-u grew anxious waiting for his senior brother, who had entered the water.
'Did he drown down there?'
Stripping off his clothes, Gwang-u dove straight in.
Splash!
As he plunged into the river and dove down, a faint beam of light shot up before his eyes.
The river parted in two, and his senior brother rose to the surface.
A soft glow emanated from the senior brother's form above the water.
The cleaved river rejoined and flowed downstream.
But the senior brother's figure, lying calmly atop the waters, remained utterly still, untouched by the current.
'Wh-What...? What's going on?'
Clambering onto the bank, Gwang-u watched his glowing senior brother.
He lay there emitting light for nearly half an hour.
Time passed, and the light enveloping his body faded.
Then, in a flash, his body vanished beneath the surface.
"This is driving me crazy."
Gwang-u dove back in.
But no matter how he searched, his senior brother was nowhere to be found.
Cough, cough!
"Feels like I swallowed a ton of water..."
Hauling myself onto the bank, I vomited up a full bowl's worth.
I was startled briefly by the water rushing into my mouth upon opening my eyes, but escaping the depths hadn't been hard.
After expelling all the water, I looked around and spotted Gwang-u poking his head above water, then diving back down.
"What the hell is that guy doing?"
I watched his antics for a moment, then headed home.