Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Becoming Sworn Brothers with the King of Jinling!
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Five days after leaving Dong-ro Port, the *Flying Dragon* arrived in Nanjing and docked at the harbor.
The cook, Ha Mong-un, took a crewman with him and disembarked to buy ingredients.
I was thinking of seeing the sights of Nanjing and was about to go ashore with Ja-un and Go Un-hyo when Chae Gwang warned me that it was dangerous to leave the ship empty.
“Of all the ports in Nanjing, this one, Straw Sandal Gorge Port, is teeming with robbers, thieves, and disguised pirates.”
“Is that so?”
“Normally, we’d be fine guarding the ship ourselves, but we’re hopeless when it comes to martial arts.”
He said if pirates or robbers were to attack, we would be plundered without resistance, and in the worst-case scenario, the entire ship could be stolen.
Go Un-hyo spoke up.
“Go on ahead. I’ll stay with the ship.”
“Would you?”
Just then, a dozen or so warriors walked straight toward the *Flying Dragon*.
Judging by the complete lack of footsteps as they crossed the long wooden pier, they were masters.
However, they radiated no demonic or evil energy, nor any sort of chaotic aura. Their presence was commanding and dignified. Furthermore, their high-quality attire suggested they were no ordinary men.
They approached and stopped before the *Flying Dragon*, and their leader spoke politely.
“Who is the owner of this vessel?”
His tone was refined, not that of an uneducated man.
“I am.”
Even in this situation, I didn’t ask what they wanted. Those who came with a purpose would state it themselves.
“Someone has asked us to bring the owner of this ship.”
“Let’s go.”
I nodded and stepped off the ship, causing the leader to look surprised.
“Aren’t you curious who has summoned you?”
“Won’t I find out when I get there?”
Ja-un scurried to follow me.
“I’m going too.”
“Alright.”
I walked onto the pier.
“Lead the way.”
The masters all moved to walk ahead of us.
“Follow us.”
Ja-un clung tightly to my arm with both of hers and sent a telepathic message.
[My lord! That was so cool just now!]
At the end of the pier, a black two-horse carriage was waiting.
One of the masters swung the carriage door wide open.
“Get in.”
***
Unsure of what might happen, I sat down in the carriage and immediately entered a meditative state to activate my martial arts.
*Clip-clop!*
The carriage came to a brief stop, and the main gate swung open.
I slightly opened the carriage window and glanced at the gate, spotting the characters on the large plaque above.
Estate of the King of Jinling.
The carriage rolled through the main gate.
The view of the estate from the window was nothing short of magnificent.
Dozens of ancient, towering pavilions, beautiful gardens, artificial lakes, and gazebos filled the landscape.
‘An estate means it’s where a king resides, right?’
But I had never heard of a King of Jinling. My knowledge was limited.
Ja-un, sitting pressed tightly against me, leaned over as if she might fall, her arms still around mine as she peeked through the crack in the window.
When I looked at her, she turned to me, her face a mask of astonishment, and sent a telepathic message.
[Oh my goodness! The Estate of the King of Jinling?]
[Who is the King of Jinling?]
[You don’t know who the King of Jinling is?]
Her expression said it all: how could anyone not know of the King of Jinling?
[He’s the youngest brother of the current Great Ming Emperor.]
It was baffling. I couldn’t fathom even the slightest reason why the Emperor’s youngest brother would have me brought here.
[The southern part of Jiangsu Province and most of northern Zhejiang Province are the King of Jinling’s domain. And they say his power is immense.]
***
We were guided into a room so opulent it was dizzying.
My brow furrowed as I sank into deep thought, trying to figure out why the King of Jinling had summoned me, while Ja-un was completely absorbed in admiring the room’s interior.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the entrance, and two men walked in. Ja-un and I rose from our chairs.
The man in the lead, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, wore a clean, simple yellow robe. The man following him carried a sword and seemed to be a bodyguard.
I guessed the man in front was the King of Jinling.
The man, who had the refined look of a scholar, smiled warmly and spoke.
“I am Ju Won-ik.”
My guess was correct. This man was the King of Jinling. Despite being the Emperor’s brother, a king, he wore a simple, clean cotton robe instead of lavish attire.
I offered a polite fist-and-palm salute.
“I am Ak Bi-ryong.”
“A pleasure to meet you.”
The King of Jinling, Ju Won-ik, didn’t seem to recognize my name, but the bodyguard standing behind him gave a slight, startled flinch upon hearing it.
Ju Won-ik smiled and said.
“Three days ago, did you burn two pirate ships in the sea between Chongming and Hangzhou Bay?”
“I did.”
I finally understood that Ju Won-ik had brought me here because of that incident.
“Why did you burn the pirate ships?”
“Because they plunder and kill the common people.”
“Is that the reason?”
“Could there be a greater reason than that?”
“Hmm! You speak the truth.”
Ju Won-ik nodded in satisfaction and walked to one side.
“Let’s sit over here.”
Ja-un and I sat side-by-side, with Ju Won-ik opposite us and his bodyguard standing behind him.
Ju Won-ik seemed to have an easygoing personality.
“When I received the report that two pirate ships had been burned in the nearby sea and hundreds of pirates were killed, I was overjoyed!”
His delight over such an event, and his invitation to the one who caused it, suggested that Ju Won-ik was a man who genuinely cared for his people.
A maidservant came, carefully set down tea, and left.
“Have some tea.”
Ju Won-ik waited for us to pick up our teacups before speaking again.
“I called you here to give you a reward.”
“How did you find me?”
“The surviving sailors from that place all cried out in unison that the *Flying Dragon* had saved them. Unless I’m deaf, how could I not know?”
So people had seen the words ‘Flying Dragon’ on our ship’s flag.
I should have taken the flag down; it had become a nuisance.
“Tell me what you desire.”
“I have nothing.”
“Nothing at all?”
“That is correct.”
Ju Won-ik’s expression of surprise soon turned to one of disappointment.
“I wish to do something for you. Please, speak your mind.”
“In that case, I would ask for a meal.”
Ju Won-ik looked taken aback.
“Will that suffice?”
“Yes.”
Ju Won-ik smiled with satisfaction.
“To perform such a great deed and yet desire no reward… you please me even more.”
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
“Not long ago, I sent men to find the hero known as the Fire Dragon Sword, who subjugated the Yangtze River Water Fortress and the Twelve Fortresses of Qiantang, but I have yet to receive a reply.”
At that moment, the bodyguard standing behind him spoke respectfully to Ju Won-ik.
“Your Highness, that man is the Fire Dragon Sword.”
“Who do you mean?”
The bodyguard pointed at me.
“A moment ago, what did he say his name was?”
“He said Ak Bi-ryong… Ah!”
Ju Won-ik shot to his feet, a look of immense surprise on his face as he stared at me.
“You couldn’t possibly be the Fire Dragon Sword?”
I stood and bowed my head respectfully.
“I am.”
“Oh! How can this be!”
Ju Won-ik was so stunned he stared at me for a long moment, unable to speak, as if he couldn’t believe it.
He strode forward and grasped my hands.
“It is truly an honor to meet the Fire Dragon Sword in person!”
“You are too kind.”
I felt needlessly embarrassed.
Ju Won-ik shook my hands, overcome with emotion.
“When I heard the report that someone had burned two pirate ships, the Fire Dragon Sword immediately came to mind. And it truly was you!”
***
A grand banquet was held.
Never in my life had I been presented with such a magnificent feast.
I had only asked for a meal, thinking my actions didn’t warrant a reward, but it had led to this.
Ju Won-ik was in high spirits, his laughter unending.
“Hahahaha! Great Hero Ak, the more I look at you, the more I like you!”
He highly praised the fact that I had not wanted a reward.
The drinking session stretched on, but Ju Won-ik seemed to have no intention of letting me go.
I found myself liking Ju Won-ik as well. He wasn’t a petty man, and despite his high station, he didn’t put on any airs.
The man I saw was less the King of Jinling and more like a good-natured, generous neighborhood elder brother.
“After I heard the report that you subjugated the Yangtze River Water Fortress and the Twelve Fortresses of Qiantang, I had you looked into.”
“You did?”
“I heard that you drove the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union and the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path out of Dong-ro County in Zhejiang Province, turning it into a good place to live, and that people are now flocking there in droves.”
I simply offered a calm smile.
“I also heard that you fought fair, one-on-one duels with the many martial artists who gathered in Dong-ro County and defeated them all.”
Ju Won-ik truly seemed to be a man who cared for the world and its people.
He drank without pause, constantly refilling my cup. I had met a formidable drinker.
“Great Hero, you are a man after my own heart! There is not a single thing to fault in you!”
Every time he opened his mouth, it was to praise me.
I began to wonder if I was truly a person worthy of such praise.
Despite the copious amounts of alcohol, neither Ju Won-ik nor I were very drunk. It is said that wine drunk in good spirits does not lead to intoxication.
Nearly four hours had passed since I arrived at the King of Jinling’s estate when Ju Won-ik asked with a serious expression.
“Great Hero, how old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
“I am thirty-five.”
Then, with an even more serious look, Ju Won-ik spoke.
“What do you think of me?”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“A man as remarkable as yourself must have discerned my character after spending four hours with me, no?”
“I have.”
“Do you like me?”
Ju Won-ik asked bluntly.
“I do.”
I answered just as honestly.
Ju Won-ik smiled, his expression fervent.
“Will you become my sworn younger brother?”
“!”
In that instant, I felt a shock as if a heavy boulder had crashed down on my head.
Ju Won-ik’s expression was utterly sincere.
“I know well that I am lacking compared to you, Great Hero! Even so, will you not become my younger brother? If you were older than I, I would ask to serve you as my elder brother!”
I was half out of my mind. The King of Jinling, the Great Ming Emperor’s own brother, was asking me to become sworn brothers with him. Something unbelievable was happening in reality.
I quickly collected myself.
“Are you serious?”
“I am!”
Seeing the earnest look on his face, I judged that he was sincere.
But I had never once thought of him as a sworn brother, or anything remotely similar.
“I have never made a sworn bond with anyone.”
I saw the sincere expression and fervent gaze in Ju Won-ik’s eyes. A sworn bond referred to relationships formed through a pledge of loyalty, including sworn brotherhood.
If Ju Won-ik, who had never made such a bond before, wanted to become sworn brothers with me, then his feelings were genuine.
Normally, I’m not the type to agonize over a decision, but now, I hesitated.
In truth, my fundamental desire was to not get entangled with anyone in any way.
That was why I was trying so hard not to form a bond with Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, and why I deliberately kept my distance from Sang Gang-jo.
I had never deeply contemplated why I tried to avoid getting involved with people. It was simply instinctual.
So, I decided to think about it now.
And I quickly found the answer.
Aversion.
That was the undeniable answer. An aversion to social status, deeply repressed within me from a life of hardship—as an orphan in my childhood, as a disciple who was no better than a servant to my first master, and as a low-ranking junior warrior at the very bottom of the Martial Alliance.