Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Some Village
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"Bro. How long are we just gonna keep walking? We need to pick a village and settle down already. How long are we just gonna keep walking?"
Gwang-woo, worn out from all the walking, started whining.
We had already passed more than ten decent-sized villages along the way.
"I haven't found a place that suits me yet."
"What kind of place would suit you, bro?"
"One that feels good."
Gwang-woo rolled his big cow-like eyes and tilted his head.
What the heck did "feels good" even mean?
"What does that mean, bro?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I turned and stared down the road.
"Someone's coming."
Gwang-woo spun around and stared down the road too.
A man in black robes with a sword at his waist was approaching from the distance.
The sharp-featured middle-aged man with cold eyes spotted us and froze for a moment before slowly walking over.
"Why are you blocking the road?"
A chilly voice flowed from the man's mouth.
"No, we're not. Go on your way."
Gwang-woo and I stepped aside to the edge of the road.
The man walked past us.
"Bro, that guy's got a seriously ugly mug."
Gwang-woo whispered what he thought was quietly, but the man walking ahead must have heard him.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing. We didn't say a word."
I stepped forward before Gwang-woo could respond, not wanting any trouble.
But the man's temper was even worse than his looks.
"Hey, didn't that big ox-like bastard just say something?"
Any normal person would shrink back at the sight of Gwang-woo's massive build, but this guy was different from most.
"If you heard something, sorry about that. Now be on your way."
"I didn't ask you. You, the ox-lookin' freak—answer me."
I'd been holding back, but irritation started bubbling up. Gwang-woo seemed even angrier than me, though.
"Did you just call me ox-faced, you ugly bastard?"
Ah...
Everything had gone wrong.
I'd been determined not to get tangled with any martial artists, but just days after leaving Heavenly Mountain, here we were in a scuffle.
As I'd guessed, killing intent poured from the man.
Gwang-woo stepped forward to meet it.
"I'll teach you a lesson by lopping off one arm."
Sssh...
The man drew his sword without warning and charged at Gwang-woo.
His speed was nothing like those bandits we'd faced before.
But his opponent was Gwang-woo.
The blade sliced through Gwang-woo's afterimage, but Gwang-woo's fist slammed into the man's chest.
Thud!
Urk... guh!
A dull impact echoed, followed by the man's short cry. Clutching his sword, he collapsed forward like a felled tree.
I glared down at the limp man and scolded Gwang-woo.
"Why'd you have to run your mouth?"
Gwang-woo hung his head.
"Sorry, bro. It just slipped out."
"Be more careful from now on. And you didn't hit him hard enough to kill, right?"
"I held back. He won't die. If he'd really been out to kill me, I'd have finished him."
"Good boy. Take him over to that tree shade."
Gwang-woo dragged the sprawled man to the shade. I resumed walking.
"Let's get moving. We need to find an inn before dark."
Three young men walked along the road, chatting.
"It's already this hot at midday. This summer's gonna be brutal."
"That's what worries me. Wonder how many days we can actually work in this heat."
"You haven't even found work yet, and you're already fretting about the heat? Lucky you."
Heh heh heh...
As they bantered between worries and jokes, they spotted someone lying under a tree.
"Hey, look over there."
"I see it. No movement—think he's dead?"
"Let's check it out."
They hurried to the shade and stared at the sword-wielding man sprawled there.
"Looks like a martial artist. Dead?"
One pressed a finger under the man's nose and stood.
"He's breathing."
"Hey! Hey!"
They shook the prone man gently.
No response.
Then their eyes gleamed as they started rifling through his clothes.
They pulled out his money pouch, pried the sword from his hand, and even stripped his garments.
"Let's go."
Fearful he might wake, the three bolted away.
Once they were gone, the martial artist under the shade opened his eyes.
Ughhh...
The man groaned faintly as he woke, then jolted up in alarm—only to clutch his chest.
Guuuh!
The iron-hammered shock still throbbed in his chest.
But then he realized he was clutching bare skin.
"Wha... what the... how...?"
He was so flustered he forgot the pain.
Realizing he wore only his undergarments, he ground his teeth.
"Those... fucking bastards. Just wait. Stealing Ma Bok-gye's sword and clothes...?"
Ma Bok-gye assumed the thieves were that ox-faced guy and his companion.
As dusk fell, I entered a large village and headed straight for an inn to fill my belly.
"Bro, I'm hungry."
"I know. Looking for one now."
I spotted a white flag not far off and headed there.
"Welcome."
An elderly man bowed as I entered.
I took a seat in the tiny inn with only five tables and asked the old man,
"What's the best dish?"
"First time in the village?"
"Yes."
"Try the steamed carp then. Fresh from the river this morning."
I nodded readily and placed the order.
"That'll do. And plenty of rice."
The old man glanced at Gwang-woo's huge frame and smiled.
"Got it."
As he went to the kitchen, Gwang-woo whispered,
"Bro, what do you think of this village? Feels good to me."
"What makes you say that?"
"He doesn't seem scared of me at all."
True enough, the old man hadn't flinched facing Gwang-woo.
Probably from years of experience, but it didn't feel bad.
"Let's check it out tomorrow morning."
The steamed carp he brought was big and tasty.
"I prefer land meat over fish."
Gwang-woo griped but crunched through the bones anyway.
Bellies full, we rented a room, washed up, and slept.
"Do you know what to watch out for most if you wanna survive in the martial world?"
I responded half-heartedly to the Great Heavenly Demon's question.
"I'm never living in the martial world."
"That's just your opinion. No matter how sharp and clever you are, there are things you gotta etch into your mind to survive out there."
His nagging grated, so I flopped onto my back.
Slash.
My arm was suddenly severed.
Aaagh!
I rolled in agony, but he just snorted.
Hmph... Listen while you roll."
Aaaaagh!
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Apparently my screams annoyed him; he stabbed me repeatedly with his sword.
"You old fart! Just kill me!"
Heh heh...
Chuckling at my outburst, he suddenly turned serious.
"Why do you think I died? Who could kill the world's strongest? But I died, awaiting perfect revival. To survive the martial world, never give foes a chance to scheme. The moment you let your guard down is when you fall into a trap. Remember that."
He was right, of course.
I'd sworn never to dip into the martial world, but I knew his words held truth.
"Don't sway to a woman's smile. Beware the babbler. If someone flatters or brown-noses you, cut their throat."
"Enough. You talk too much yourself."
His eyes blazed at my words.
"You bastard! You must surrender your intact body to me!"
Stab!
The razor-sharp sword pierced my chest as I lay there.
Kaaaagh!
Late at night, a visitor arrived at the tall-walled Mu household.
A fierce-looking man in shabby robes.
The gate guard spotted the stranger and barked sharply,
"Who goes there? State your business."
The fierce man replied coldly,
"Tell them Ma Bok-gye of Yangyang has arrived."
The guard bowed deeply at once.
"Forgive my ignorance. The family head has been awaiting you. Please, come in."
He flung the gate wide and shouted inside,
"The Life-Escaping Sword has arrived!"
The front yard lit up brightly as household guards rushed out.
The family head, running with them, was shocked by Ma Bok-gye's appearance.
"We've been waiting anxiously... No, why is the Life-Escaping Sword dressed in such lowly rags?"
I'd hoped no one would ask.
How could he admit getting jumped by passersby, beaten, and robbed of everything?
Ahem...
"Unavoidable circumstances."
"I see. Come in. What are you lot doing? Bring good tea and wine!"
After ordering the guards, the head led Ma Bok-gye inside.
They exchanged greetings anew and sat.
"With the appointed day tomorrow, I fretted you might not make it in time."
"Huanin Si Family and Yangyang Ma Clan aren't strangers. How could I break our promise?"
Hahaha...
"Indeed. Huanin Si Family pledges eternal loyalty to Yangyang Ma Clan."
As the Si head chatted amiably, servants brought wine.
But Ma Bok-gye wasn't in the mood.
Chest still aching, he wanted a simple meal and rest.
"Save the wine for after tomorrow. If you have a good sword in the house, lend me one. Mine's at the smithy for repairs."
"Understood. We'll prepare one."
After a late supper opposite the head, Ma Bok-gye was shown to a fine room.
Ugh.
As he lay on the soft bed, he suddenly clutched his chest.
'Seems like internal injuries... But handling Si Family head won't be hard. The problem's that mystery bastard...'
That ox-like guy nagged at him.
Even taking it lightly, the man had dodged his sword and dropped him in one blow.
'After tomorrow, I'll track them down. With Si Family's help, catching him won't be tough.'
"Why were you screaming all night? I barely slept, bro."
I brushed off Gwang-woo's complaint.
"One thing I wanna ask. Why do you scream every night?"
"Took you long enough."
It'd been over three years of nightly screams.
And now he finally asked.
Gwang-woo mumbled hesitantly.
"Well... you said there were things to learn, so..."
"Someone keeps killing me every night."
"Who?"
"Great Heavenly Demon."
Gwang-woo stopped and stared at my face.
Uhahaha...
Then he pointed and burst out laughing.
"That was fun, bro. Starting the day with a hilarious story. Got more, tell me."
Haa...
"Wanna die?"
I sighed and got serious. Gwang-woo cut off his laughter.
"Sorry, bro."