Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Grim Reaper Sword
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Reaching that conclusion, I felt a wave of misery wash over me.
‘It’s a slave’s mentality!’
Despite my ambition to become the strongest and greatest master on earth, I possessed the absurd instinct to shrink away and refuse when faced with someone of noble birth.
I have to break it to grow stronger. Perhaps this is my chance.
When I looked at Ju Won-ik, he was waiting patiently, his expression earnest.
The thought of becoming a sworn brother to the King of Jinling, the younger brother of the Great Ming Emperor, made my heart pound and my blood boil.
It wasn't excitement, but I was tense.
Finally, I spoke in a tight voice.
“I accept.”
“Oh! You really accept?”
“Accept? I feel I am not worthy.”
“Hahahaha! Thank you!”
Ja-un was so moved that she shed silent tears.
Seeing her cry, Ju Won-ik asked.
“Who is this young lady?”
“She is my subordinate.”
“Such a beautiful subordinate? I thought she was your younger sister.”
I glanced at the bodyguard and saw a flicker of surprise on his face.
For a man who never showed any emotion to be surprised, it meant Ju Won-ik had done something truly unconventional.
Ju Won-ik and I knelt side-by-side before the outdoor pavilion, proclaiming our oath of brotherhood to the heavens and the earth before sharing three cups of wine.
Ju Won-ik looked at me, his face filled with passion.
“Brother Ryong! Thank you for accepting me as your older brother!”
“Brother! Thank you for taking this unworthy one into your care.”
Suddenly, I wondered what Ju Won-ik had seen in me to propose becoming sworn brothers.
But then I thought about why I had accepted his offer—it was because I was drawn to his character and personality.
By that logic, Ju Won-ik must have recognized my character in the short span of four hours.
Considering he was the one who proposed it, I suppose I must be a decent person.
We returned to the banquet inside the hall.
“Brother Ryong, stay at my home and enjoy yourself for a long time. No, it would be even better if you lived here until the day you die!”
With Ju Won-ik saying such things, I couldn't bring myself to say I was just going to have a drink and leave.
“Then I will impose upon you for one night, Brother.”
“What? Just one night?”
Ju Won-ik was surprised, then spoke firmly.
“One night! Absolutely not! You must stay for at least ten days! I won't let you leave!”
“Brother.”
I felt a lump in my throat and a warmth spreading through my chest.
For a lonely orphan like me, who doesn't even know who his parents are, just becoming the sworn brother of the Son of Heaven's own brother was more than I could ask for. Seeing him act this way moved me deeply.
However, the thought of spending ten days at the King of Jinling's residence already felt suffocating.
One night is just right. Long nights invite many dreams.
***
We drank and talked until just before dawn, around six in the morning.
I don't know how two people who had just met could have so much to say, but both Ju Won-ik and I talked as if a dam had burst.
It was the first time I realized I could be such a chatterbox.
Every time Ju Won-ik said something, I readily agreed, and when I spoke, he would clap his hands and respond with admiration.
I was taken aback by Ju Won-ik's sudden decision.
“Why? Is it not possible?”
“No, it's not impossible, but…”
“Then it's settled.”
Ju Won-ik had abruptly declared that he would accompany me.
“Unfortunately, I don't think I can go with you all the way to your destination, Yueyang. I have business in the Forbidden City in Beijing soon.”
He meant that if he didn't have to go to Beijing, he would have followed me to Yueyang.
I liked Ju Won-ik, too. Although we had only talked over drinks for one night, he was so down-to-earth, truly like an older brother.
Even if not all the way to Yueyang, traveling together for a while wouldn't be so bad.
“Let's take my ship.”
“I'm more comfortable on the Flying Dragon.”
“Is the Flying Dragon your ship, Brother Ryong?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then let's take the Flying Dragon.”
And just like that, I ended up traveling with Ju Won-ik.
I stopped Ju Won-ik as he was ordering his aide to prepare for the journey.
“Brother, you only need to bring yourself.”
“Is that so?”
Ju Won-ik didn't insist.
“In that case, I'll bring just one person.”
I naturally assumed it would be his bodyguard, but I was mistaken.
“I'll bring my wife.”
“What?”
Last night, while we were drinking, Ju Won-ik had called his wife to greet me, and she had stayed at the table for a while before leaving.
I looked at the bodyguard.
“Is it alright if he doesn't come?”
“Can he come?”
“Of course.”
Ju Won-ik called the bodyguard over.
“Captain Jeong, greet my younger brother.”
The bodyguard approached, clasped his fist, and bowed respectfully.
“I am Jeong Chung-ho.”
I said to Ju Won-ik.
“Brother, I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask me anything.”
Ju Won-ik looked pleased that I had a favor to ask.
It was the joy of being able to do something for someone he cared about.
“Please keep my presence on the Flying Dragon a secret.”
“Why is that?”
“I have many enemies. If word gets out that I'm on the Flying Dragon, they will flock to it.”
“Is that so?”
“If you are afraid, you can still back out of traveling with me.”
“Then we just have to make sure the rumor of you being on the Flying Dragon doesn't spread, right?”
“That's right.”
“I understand. I'll also keep the fact that you visited my home a secret.”
“Thank you.”
***
*Swoosh!*
The Flying Dragon set off, cutting through the currents of the Yangtze River.
Behind the Flying Dragon, another ship followed. It was twice the size of the Flying Dragon and was the vessel Ju Won-ik would take on his return.
Ju Won-ik said he had chosen the most ordinary-looking ship among his fleet to avoid revealing his identity.
Go Un-hyo had stayed up all night, worried when I didn't return.
I had the Flying Dragon set sail first, thinking that introducing Go Un-hyo to Ju Won-ik would lead to a long conversation.
Ju Won-ik found the Flying Dragon fascinating, so I took him on a tour of the ship, pointing things out.
Ju Won-ik was in constant awe.
“A mid-sized ship with six sails! I've never seen a vessel like this!”
I explained the purpose of the six sails.
Ju Won-ik pointed to his ship following behind.
“That ship's sails are much larger than those on other vessels, and it has three of them, making it as fast as a willow-leaf boat. Is the Flying Dragon faster than that ship?”
“Would you like to see?”
I ordered Chae-gwang to unfurl all six sails.
Ju Won-ik instructed Jeong Chung-ho to have the trailing ship follow at full speed.
*Swoooosh!*
“Whoa!”
“Oh!”
As the Flying Dragon's speed suddenly increased, Ju Won-ik and his wife were startled and nearly fell backward, but I caught them.
With an east wind blowing, the Flying Dragon, with all six sails fully unfurled, seemed to fly across the water, its bow lifting slightly from the surface as it sliced through the waves.
In a matter of moments, the ship following us shrank into the distance and disappeared from view.
Ju Won-ik and his wife exclaimed in amazement.
“Wow! Brother Ryong! This is almost as fast as flying!”
***
The Flying Dragon returned to its normal speed, using only two sails.
At the table on the deck, Ju Won-ik, his wife, and I sat, while Go Un-hyo and Jeong Chung-ho stood behind us.
I decided it was time to introduce Go Un-hyo.
“Brother, I mentioned I had a younger brother, didn't I?”
I had told Ju Won-ik a little about Go Un-hyo during our drinks last night.
Ju Won-ik looked at Go Un-hyo.
“Is that young man Un-hyo?”
“Yes, he is.”
By this point, Go Un-hyo was thoroughly confused. I had stayed out all night, then suddenly brought back strangers whom I was calling 'Brother' and 'Sister-in-law'.
I stood up and called to Go Un-hyo.
“Un-hyo, this is the man I have begun to serve as my older brother since yesterday. Greet him.”
Go Un-hyo bowed his head respectfully.
“I am Go Un-hyo.”
Ju Won-ik and his wife also stood.
“I am Ju Won-ik.”
I said.
“He is our eldest brother.”
Go Un-hyo wore an awkward expression.
“Eldest Brother!”
Ju Won-ik couldn't take his eyes off Go Un-hyo.
“Is this friend of yours by any chance a woman disguised as a man?”
“No, Brother. He is a man.”
“You're telling me a man can be this beautiful? No! Even a woman could not be this beautiful.”
“It's true, isn't it? Un-hyo is indeed beautiful.”
Ju Won-ik gestured to his wife.
“It seems my wife also fell for him at first sight.”
“It's true. He is a truly beautiful young man.”
Go Un-hyo, who was naturally shy, blushed.
Ju Won-ik was in high spirits.
“Hahahaha! To have two heroes of the martial world as my younger brothers, there can be no one more blessed than I!”
Go Un-hyo, still bewildered, looked at me.
When I smiled and nodded, Go Un-hyo bowed his head as if in understanding.
I hoped that gaining a sworn brother would be a good thing for both Go Un-hyo and me, two lonely people.
***
Before it got dark, we moored the Flying Dragon by the riverbank, and dinner was served on the deck.
Ju Won-ik suggested we move to his ship for dinner, but I persuaded him to eat here.
After tasting the dishes that Ja-un and a maid had spread across the table, Ju Won-ik and his wife exclaimed how delicious everything was.
As we drank with our dinner, my attention was drawn to the bodyguard, Jeong Chung-ho, standing behind Ju Won-ik. So, I casually mentioned him.
“Brother, what kind of person is Captain Jeong?”
I had heard Ju Won-ik call him 'Captain Jeong'.
From the moment I first saw Jeong Chung-ho, I sensed he was a formidable master, and I had been curious about him ever since.
“He's the captain of the masters I keep.”
“Are there masters at the King of Jinling's residence?”
“Yes. About a hundred of them.”
“Then Captain Jeong must be very strong, I presume?”
Even though we were talking about him, Jeong Chung-ho's face remained impassive.
“Hmm! I have never seen a master stronger than Captain Jeong.”
“Is that so?”
I thought that might be because Ju Won-ik had never seen a true master of the martial world.
Ju Won-ik asked Jeong Chung-ho, as if in passing.
“Captain Jeong, wasn't your title in the martial world the Grim Reaper Sword?”
“Yes, it was.”
I flinched in shock.
‘The Grim Reaper Sword!’
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo had told me there were at least thirty or forty people in the martial world who had learned the Twelve Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts. She said she knew eight of them and had described them to me—and among them was the Grim Reaper Sword.
The Grim Reaper Sword is Ju Won-ik's captain of the guard. This is not a coincidence; it's fate.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo had said that if I wanted to become the God of Combat, I must defeat the masters who have trained in the Twelve Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts.
Of course, there are absolute masters in the martial world who are even stronger, but for now, my targets are those who have mastered the Twelve Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts.
But I never imagined that my sworn brother Ju Won-ik's bodyguard would be the Grim Reaper Sword, a practitioner of the Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts.
In that case, Jeong Chung-ho is someone I must fight.
I subtly provoked him.
“Brother, do you think Captain Jeong is stronger than me?”
“Hmm!”
Ju Won-ik thought for a moment before speaking.
“I'm well aware of the masters you've defeated, Brother Ryong.”
He had mentioned that he'd ordered a subordinate to investigate the Fire Dragon Sword and had received a report.
He shook his head.
“Even for you, Brother Ryong, it would be difficult against Captain Jeong.”
I looked at Jeong Chung-ho.
“Do you think so too, Captain Jeong?”
“That is not the case.”
“Then what do you think?”
Jeong Chung-ho stood straight and replied politely.
“How can one know the outcome without fighting?”
“You're right about that.”