Liaoxi (3)

94. Liaoxi (3)

Pretty friends like Gyeong Su-yeon or Murong Rin were nice, but somehow a friend who bore a man's responsibility on both shoulders brought a strange sense of kinship, and we were growing close fast.

"What a relief. Our Ji-yeon. I worried so much we wouldn't be able to make friends in the martial world because we're fake martial artists."

"Same for my Senior Sister Cho. I thought she'd become terrified of outsiders after being kidnapped by the unorthodox faction not long ago, but it's a relief she's made a good friend."

The liquor bottles piled up. Ji-gyu had started martial arts late, and his aptitude was ordinary too, but the martial arts he'd paid to learn were fairly high-level, close to second-class, and he'd consumed elixirs through his immense funds, so his internal energy was far higher ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than mine had been before I left the Baek Clan Estate.

"So listen, come visit the Star-Moon Sect sometime. We're in Shanxi, so it can't be far from Henan."

"Shanxi? Then why are you here?"

"My mother-in-law lives in Shenyang. We're actually just out on an excursion. If you come to our Star-Moon Sect, I can't promise much else, but I'll gift you some splendid shoes. Truth is, the Star-Moon Sect is a shoe shop."

Ji-gyu spoke with cheerful affability. Just then, someone burst urgently into the inn and shouted.

"Ji-gyu of the Star-Moon Sect! Your disciple is surrounded by the Blacksmith Gang's crew right now! Is Ji-gyu of the Star-Moon Sect not here?"

In the middle of the leisurely drinking session, at the man's cry, the two of us reflexively rose and ran out into the street. We sprinted through the streets using the Flame Blossom Steps and within moments came upon a cluster of people.

"Apologize to Ji-yeon! Mister, you knocked Ji-yeon over!"

At Cho-ryeong's furious voice, we pushed through the crowd to find several guys who looked like White Tiger Sect bandits sneering at the two little ones.

"Ryeo... Ryeong! Stop. I'm not hurt."

"You made her drop her candy. I'm going to tell my Junior Brother."

"Tell on us? What, are you from Mount Hua or something? And 'Junior Brother'? Judging by the way you even use an honorific for your junior brother, your sect must be a complete mess."

The bastards snickered and mocked. Thank goodness. They were just thugs.

"Ji-yeon!"

Ji-gyu, who'd arrived belatedly, leaped over the crowd and landed where they were.

"Master!!"

"What are you doing to my young disciple!"

Ji-gyu drew his sword with a sharp, blazing glare. Seeing that, the men now wiped the grins off their faces and began to watch him with serious caution. The men moved quietly. Three surrounded him, but before they could close in, Ji-gyu swung his sword and cut one down. Blades crossed, scattering sparks. The man who took Ji-gyu's sword strike, laden with fifteen years of internal power, collapsed on the spot.

It was fairly impressive, but just as he'd said, he didn't seem to be much of a martial artist. The men had started moving not just to surround him, but to take the little one hostage.

"How about you put down the sword?"

The man shouted cowardly, pressing his blade to Cho-ryeong's throat. While Ji-gyu was thrown off, two men shoved him back and began to press him hard.

"Senior Sister Cho. What did I tell you?"

"Ah! Junior Brother! Please teach these people a lesson! They're really bad people."

"I'll teach them a lesson, but what did I say to you before we left?"

"Mm. Don't follow strangers. Don't eat food a stranger gives you carelessly. And if the other side uses sword qi, don't fight—come to Junior Brother."

Cho-ryeong spoke leisurely while counting on her little fingers. Clever as she was, she quickly understood what I meant. With triumph in her eyes, she extended her tiny, bracken-like hand and pushed away the sword before her.

"Wh... what the! You want to die?!"

"You brought this on yourself, mister. Mister, you should know you're going to get it!"

Both Ji-yeon and the man were horrified by Cho-ryeong's bold words. The man must have been an experienced thug, because he sensed that something was wrong and immediately brought his sword down at Cho-ryeong.

Clang.

A clear, lovely sound rang out, like a home-run hitter's bat. Cho-ryeong had blocked the sword with her bare hand. At that bizarre sight, not only the man but the entire onlooking crowd was deeply startled. Then came a small kick. When Cho-ryeong's short leg swept the man's shin, he collapsed with a scream.

"Hehehe. I won."

Cho-ryeong spoke happily. But the opponent was an irredeemable sort who'd swing a sword at a child in the marketplace.

"Senior Sister. It's not over yet."

"Ah. Right. Then..."

Cho-ryeong raised her fist high. The fallen man, seeing that small fist, cried out in terror.

"Ah... no! It's over! I said it's already over!"

"You haven't apologized yet."

Cho-ryeong's fist came down. The man frantically raised his arm to block her fist, but with a snap, the arm that should have extended straight bent in a direction it should never have bent. Yet Cho-ryeong's small fist didn't halt its momentum and struck the man's head directly. The man had barely managed to save his life by sacrificing his arm. He seemed to have already lost consciousness.

"Ji-yeon. You hit him too."

Cho-ryeong grabbed the horrified Ji-yeon's hand and brought her over beside the man. Our Senior Sister Cho—truly admirable. She even took good care of her friend. The child Ji-yeon seemed no ordinary girl herself; though frightened by Cho-ryeong's martial prowess, she soon collected herself and kicked the fallen man.

Yes. This is what it means to be a martial artist. Brother Ji. You were wrong. Your disciple is a splendid martial artist.

Come to think of it, Ji-gyu and the men facing him had also forgotten their fight and were simply staring blankly at Cho-ryeong. My senior sister had been splendid. Now it must be my turn, as her Junior Brother. There was no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason for any of them to remain alive—not the martial artists who'd forgotten their enemy on the battlefield, not the villains harassing a small child, and not the sons of bitches who'd dared swing a sword at our Cho-ryeong.

I swept off the dazed men's heads with a sword infused with Blazing Fire Qi. Blood sprayed and people screamed, but when I handed five taels of silver to the constables who arrived late, they quietly collected the bodies and declared that the authorities wouldn't interfere in affairs of the martial world.

"Brother Baek. You really are incredible. As expected of someone from the Baek Clan Estate!"

Ji-gyu marveled at the Blazing Fire Qi. He began to praise ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me with the eyes of a boy.

"Thank you, Ryeong. I only thought you were cute, but you really are a strong martial artist, huh?"

The children spoke as if nothing had happened, even though a man's head had been sent flying right before their eyes. Even for those who weren't martial artists, human ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life didn't hold particularly sublime value in this era.

"Hehehe. Grandfather taught me."

"Grandfather? You call your master Grandfather? I sometimes call our ancestral grandmaster Grandmother too."

"Grandfather gets really sad if I call him Master. Ji-yeon. Let's go over there."

In no time, the two little ones disappeared, hand in hand.

"Brother Baek. Let's head back too. With your senior sister around, there's nothing to worry about."

Ji-gyu spoke, clapping me on the shoulder. He was right. It had been needless worry. In fact, back in Jilin, the only second-rate experts who could imbue qi were my father, the White Horse Unit Commander, and the steward—there was no way a master like that would just casually strut around a neighborhood like this. Even within the Yeongsan Sect, apart from myself, the only second-rate expert who could injure Cho-ryeong was Lee Eun-ha.

—What do you think? The Vajra Art's practical usefulness surpasses imagination, does it not?—

Geo Am spoke confidently. The very fact that he hadn't leaped out must mean Cho-ryeong's level in Vajra Art was highly trustworthy.

—Yes. Thank you. But Layman, did you teach her that punch too?—

—No. You know that bandit? That bastard taught it to her. I thought I'd be better off teaching her the Mount Tai Strike than letting her learn nonsense like that.—

—Forget the Mount Tai Strike. Hurry and raise her Vajra Art to the point where she can withstand Sword Qi safely.—

—Indeed. Offense is still premature.—

When we returned to the inn with Ji-gyu, Geum-hyang and Jeong-hyang were sitting at the spot where we'd been. Their faces were flushed. They'd said they were just going to have a cup of tea, but they already seemed quite close.

"Why did you leave your seats?"

"We heard that some strange men had picked a fight with Senior Sister Cho, so we hurried there and back."

"Junior Sister Cho did?"

"Don't worry. Senior Sister Cho resolved it herself."

"Who would dare mess with our Junior Sister Cho..."

While Jeong-hyang was flustered, Lee Eun-ha burst into the inn with an even more flustered face.

"Se... Junior Brother! S...something terrible happened!"

Ah... Cho-ryeong's matter had just ended, and it was finally time to have another drink.

"What's the matter? Senior Sister Lee?"

"I... I killed someone!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"I... I said I killed someone!"

Lee Eun-ha was pale as a ghost. Seeing her state, Jeong-hyang, startled, sat her down and asked.

"Senior Sister Lee, what was that just now?"

"Th... that, they called themselves the Blacksmith Gang. I was buying dumplings at a famous dumpling shop and leaving when someone pickpocketed me. Flustered, I grabbed a dumpling and threw it, but I'd infused my internal power into it without realizing it, and the man's head was smashed."

The Blacksmith Gang again? For a thug to lose his head picking a fight with a martial artist was a common story, but that his end came from getting hit by a dumpling and having his skull burst—it almost made me feel a little sorry for him.

"Senior Sister, there's no need to panic. It was just an affair of the martial world. The authorities should have appeared near the bodies, so just slip them a few taels of silver."

"What? Th... that's all?"

"That's all. Because we're people of the martial world. Think about it. When we were attacked, did the authorities step in for us?"

"Ah... then I'll go take care of it."

Lee Eun-ha hurried out of the inn. Just as I was about to lift my cup again, this time my master burst in.

"Yeongmok! Something terrible happened!"

"The Blacksmith Gang again?"

"Oh my! Yeongmok, you already knew everything! I had no intention of killing him. But when I returned his sword with Taiji, I never imagined he'd die on his own blade."

"Why were you in a sword fight in the first place?"

"I was returning to the inn after offering prayers at the Daoist temple when some old man made a pass at me. When I tried to ignore him and walk past, he had his sect members try to drag me away by force."

"He had his sect members do it?"

"Yes. He called himself the Blacksmith Gang's Sect Leader, you see?"

My master spoke, her eyes like a rabbit's.

"Master. Congratulations. Senior Sister Cho, Senior Sister Lee, and even I had already drawn blood with the Blacksmith Gang, and now, as befits a Sect Leader, you've personally slain the enemy's head."

"What? Ryeong and Eunha and even Yeongmok?"

"Yes. At this rate, we were bound to become enemies anyway. I'll go settle this."

"Brother Ji. I'm sorry, but hold off on the drinks just a little longer."

"I don't have the nerve to say no here. By the way, this lady is your Master, Brother Baek? The Yeongsan Sect really is amazing. Our Master is completely an old man. Don't tell me, Brother Baek, are you older than your Master?"

"No way. Though our Master does have an exceptionally youthful face, she's already past thirty...

"Ah... ow! Master! What are you doing, stabbing me with your sword! I'm not Senior Sister Cho, you know!"

"A woman's age mustn't be spoken of carelessly to others. What's so boast-worthy that you go spreading rumors all over the neighborhood?"

Having forgotten even the shock of killing, my master glared at me with a truly frightening intensity.

"I apologize for the late introduction. I am the Sect Leader of the Star-Moon Sect. My name is Ji-gyu."

"I am the Yeongsan Sect Leader, Chae Yeong-ok. You're the one who shared drinks with our Yeongmok late into the night yesterday, I take it?"

Fortunately, Ji-gyu's greeting calmed Master's anger for a moment. I had only meant to boast about her youthful appearance, but I seemed to have stepped on one of her land mines. To escape the uncomfortable situation, I rose and headed toward the inn entrance, where Son Yeong was coming in.

"Junior Brother? Where are you going?"

Her face was serene. The only person who wasn't flustered by this whole Blacksmith Gang or whatever problem.

"I'm just heading out somewhere for a bit. Did anything happen to you, Senior Sister?"

"Nothing much. Though I did gain a small enlightenment. The Moonlit Divine Sword is originally a martial art effective against multiple opponents. I'd been unable to properly understand Master's teachings all this time, but having experienced it firsthand, I could finally grasp it."

"Multiple opponents? No way?"

"The Blacksmith Gang? I believe that was the name. When I requested a sparring match, they accepted gladly with smiling faces. They said if they beat me, they'd do as they pleased with my body, so I confirmed with them whether I could take it as a life-or-death duel."

Good heavens. The Blacksmith Gang. They'd truly been wiped out overnight by our Yeongsan Sect. Now this was a completely different sect from the Yeongsan Sect of the days when we'd been annihilated by local thugs.

At that moment, Jeong-hyang abruptly rose from her seat.

"Junior Brother, I'll go too. I heard that Master and all my senior sisters fought the Blacksmith Gang. As the head disciple, I can't be the only one relaxing at the inn."

Her eyes showed a rare determination. The timing was a bit needless, but for now, let's respect her will.

"Then let's go together. Senior Sister."

As if we were going on a date, she stuck cheerfully by my side, looking around the street. With her bright expression like that, flies might have swarmed her, but overnight, the Blacksmith Gang that had run rampant in this street had been beaten down by martial artists from out of town. So now even the locals here simply watched us from afar, their faces full of tension.

The Blacksmith Gang. Just as I'd expected, after all. When I arrived there with Jeong-hyang, only the corpses Son Yeong had already made remained. Even if there were survivors, no one would have the nerve to hold out here.

As befitted Byeok-geum's older brother and the eldest son of the Baek Clan Estate, I searched the room that seemed to belong to the sect leader and came away with forty taels of gold. After handing one tael of gold to a passing constable, I returned to the inn. At that moment, I felt truly ashamed of how much I had worried that morning about the women's first independent outing.