Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Traveling Together - 1
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Though Yu Ye-ryeon looked a bit glum at Fist Emperor Cheon Si-jeok's refusal, a conclusion had been reached nonetheless.
She would go hunt down the Imugi.
And as planned, I would join the investigation in Sichuan. In other words, I'd be traveling with the Fist Emperor.
"Is this really okay?"
"Honestly, I'd love to go myself... but sending him off alone makes me uneasy."
According to Yu Ye-ryeon, Fist Emperor Cheon Si-jeok handled things in an utterly reckless manner.
The type to throw a punch first and ask questions later at the sight of an enemy. Because of that, wherever he stepped in, the area ended up in ruins.
His belligerence was great for dealing with foes, but this mission was about tracking down a Blood Cult Protector and capturing them.
With the Blood Cult not yet fully mobilized, if Cheon Si-jeok went around flipping everything upside down, it could complicate matters terribly.
That's why I was tagging along—to keep him in check.
"The Imperial Family surely knows what he's like... So why not rein him in?"
"Who knows. Maybe the Empress has her reasons. Perhaps... sending him out is the whole point."
"A reason he can't stay by her side... Testing her subjects' loyalty?"
The ultimate guardian of the Imperial House and one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces—an absolute master. With Fist Emperor Cheon Si-jeok at the palace, no rebels would dare move.
But if he left? It could lure out those harboring treasonous thoughts.
Maybe the Empress was counting on that and deliberately sending him away.
"The flashier he is, the more openings she'll spot in the palace. Could be she let him loose on purpose... Who knows. Only the Empress truly understands her own mind. That woman's got dozens of serpents coiled in her heart."
Shuddering in disgust, Yu Ye-ryeon shivered all over. Then she poked my cheek and pouted.
"I was looking forward to traveling together after so long... Ugh. Should I just leave the Imugi alone? Someone else will handle it if I don't."
"It's a prime chance to make inroads with the Imperial Family. We'll have plenty of opportunities to travel together later."
"True enough. Anyway, traveling with Cheon Si-jeok... You're in for a rough time."
Looking at me with pity, she patted my head. What kind of travel companion was he, anyway?
I glanced in the direction she was eyeing. There sat Cheon Si-jeok, cross-legged in meditation.
Perhaps because he was utterly still like a statue, a few small birds had perched on his shoulders, chirping away.
"That guy's just no fun."
"Hahaha... In that sense, we'll get along fine."
I'm not exactly a barrel of laughs myself.
"You have no idea how tough it is to have a boring travel buddy... You'll miss me terribly once you experience it."
Winking with her signature playful smile, Yu Ye-ryeon grinned. Nodding as I gazed at that smile, I replied.
"I've missed you every day."
Back at the Namgung Family, I'd truly longed for her optimistic, mischievous energy.
"Huh? R-Really?"
"Yes. I always lean on Sword Heaven..."
"...Ahaha. Is that so?! Ugh, you! Always saying the sweetest things!"
Her face flushing slightly, she ruffled my hair wildly before pinching my cheek.
But it didn't hurt.
"Anyway... I'm curious how things unfold, so write me letters every day."
"Writing them is one thing, but how do I send them?"
Yet to my question, she just flashed her usual joyful smile.
"Don't worry about that! I've got a way!!"
What on earth was she planning?
.
.
.
It had only been a day since returning to Sword Heaven Manor, and now I was off again.
Not just me—when Yu Ye-ryeon announced she was leaving too, Hina looked quite disappointed.
"I wish I could come along..."
"That'd be nice, but I can't drag around someone who's ill. Besides, if this goes well, I can get a rare medicine from the Imperial Pharmacy to cure you."
And along with that, a shot at some Imperial connections.
Glancing between Yu Ye-ryeon and me, she let out a short sigh.
"I'll pray for your safe return."
"Yeah, yeah. Be a good girl and watch the house."
"I'll bring you a gift when I return."
"It'll take at least two months, right?"
"Probably."
"Hehe. Forget gifts—just come back safe and healthy."
It wouldn't be easy, but with one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces by my side, it should be fine. I glanced at Cheon Si-jeok, standing there with arms crossed and a stoic expression. Perhaps noticing our stares, he shrugged and raised a fist slightly.
"As long as you don't do anything stupid, I'll handle the fighting. No need to worry."
Anything stupid... I wished my plans were truly pointless.
But if the incidents in Sichuan really tied to a Blood Cult Protector, I couldn't avoid combat.
Yu Ye-ryeon knew that too, silently watching me.
"I've told you—keep training on the road."
"Understood."
"And spar hard. You're better at one-on-one than me."
"Am I?"
"Just a little. A tiny bit!"
She held up her fingers emphatically, then tapped her sword.
"Against big monsters or groups, I'm way better. Heh heh heh."
"...Fine, I'll concede that point. That's why Her Majesty assigned you this way."
Cheon Si-jeok nodded reluctantly, and Yu Ye-ryeon shook her head in boredom at his response.
"See? Ugh, I feel bad for you, stuck with this stiff. Next time, all three of us— you, me, and Hina. Got it? Alright, I'm off first. Jin Hyun, train hard."
"Understood. Please take care."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's meet again with smiles."
With that, she mounted her horse. She turned back several times, waving, until she faded into the distance. Watching her go until the end, Hina then bid me a cautious farewell.
"Please come back healthy."
I ushered the pale-faced Hina inside first. Once preparations were set, Cheon Si-jeok mounted up and said.
"Keep up."
"Understood."
.
.
.
The journey was uneventful.
Whether due to a request from Yu Ye-ryeon or not, Cheon Si-jeok added daily runs and evening spars to the routine, and he'd offer pointers while watching my training.
Weapons aside, a Fist Emperor was a Fist Emperor. His advice proved invaluable, letting me expand my grasp of the Taiji Sword a bit further.
"We'll rest here tonight."
"Huff... huff... Yes, sir."
As usual, sprinting to keep up with him brought us to Namyang, a border village between Hubei and Sichuan.
The sun hadn't set yet, and the village gates stood wide open. As he rode toward the entrance, Cheon Si-jeok spoke flatly.
I caught my ragged breath from the full sprint and followed behind.
"Hm? What's going on?"
A crowd had gathered at the gate. Were travelers causing trouble?
Leaving the puzzled Cheon Si-jeok behind, I headed over.
Near the gate, martial artists faced off, weapons drawn.
"Didn't expect to run into you here. Why don't you all turn back?"
"Sorry, but no thanks!"
Three warriors glared hostilely at three others. And one caught my eye.
A beauty with light brown hair and brown eyes, her cold demeanor striking.
Sharp gaze and provocative allure—just like the illustrations from the novel.
Ju Yu-ri, the only daughter of the Four Black Alliances' leader—one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces.
The trigger whose death at a Blood Cult Protector's hands would shatter Righteous and Evil Faction relations.
Ching!
They'd clashed while I pondered.
From the start, Ju Yu-ri's side held the advantage. Her flashy whip work, combined with the ornate spear and sword techniques of her two female subordinates, overwhelmed the daoist-robed foes.
How many exchanges passed? As the tide fully turned, Ju Yu-ri whipped her lash wide, smashing the arm of a short-haired woman in daoist robes.
"Kyaaak!"
"Junior Sister Chai!!"
Ju Yu-ri yanked back her whip leisurely, smirking as blood dripped from the woman's arm.
"Hohoho! Come back after more training, why don't you? It's settled—Sichuan is ours!"
"Ugh...!! Senior Brother, I'm sorry..."
"Ugh... No choice."
The daoist-robed man whipped around. Leading his group away without entering the village, he left. She laughed triumphantly once, then sauntered inside.
With the commotion over, soldiers resumed admitting waiting travelers.
"What was that?"
"Just a brief disturbance."
To ordinary folk, merely a momentary uproar. But to me, far from trivial.
Heavenly Martial Hall. Sichuan.
Ju Yu-ri, the spark that would rupture Righteous-Evil ties.
With one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces investigating the man-eaters in Sichuan, Heavenly Martial Hall surely hadn't dispatched its own.
So she was here for something else...
What could bring her all the way here?
Time to get closer.