Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Hwa So-mi sat on the veranda with dumplings clutched firmly in both hands, nibbling them one by one. These were not the kind sold at Market Street, but ones Jang Sam-tae had made with his own hands—which made them taste all the better. She was already on her third.
Watching her, Hong Won-chang’s mind seized upon an idea.
‘If that child were to become my daughter-in-law……?’
She was only seven years old, but considering her future, it seemed she would grow into something truly magnificent.
Her shyness was a minor flaw, true, but the background she possessed carried a power that could crush such shortcomings in an instant.
And then, she was rather endearing besides.
For Hong Won-chang, who had always preferred daughters to sons, the prospect of Hwa So-mi becoming his daughter-in-law was something he would welcome with both hands raised.
‘The problem is that my own son is useless…….’
Hong Won-chang found himself thinking of his boy.
With the standing of County Magistrate of Ak-yang behind him, his son wanted for nothing. He had trained in martial arts since childhood and, despite his seven years, possessed a truly solid frame. He commanded the children of Ak-yang like servants at his beck and call.
Would Hwa So-mi ever take a liking to such a fellow?
The answer was unmistakably no.
Given the girl’s gentle temperament, she would never suit his son.
“What troubles you so deeply?”
“Hmm, that child Hwa So-mi, that’s all.”
“Is there some business with So-mi?”
“If we were to take her as our daughter-in-law…….”
“That’s foolish talk. If you breathed such a word to the Manor Lord, he’d overturn the magistrate’s office with his bare hands.”
Shiver—
For just an instant, Hong Won-chang felt a genuine chill run down his spine.
Hong Won-chang had witnessed Dan Woo-hyun’s temper firsthand, and the power behind it.
He knew all too well that once that man began to rampage, no one could stop him.
Hong Won-chang gave an awkward laugh.
“Of course…… I was only jesting.”
“Think of it as only a jest. If you actually broached it, nine lives wouldn’t be enough for you.”
“Ahem!”
“All the same, that child is remarkable. Beautiful countenance, excellent lineage. In another year or two, we’ll send her to the academy, and with that keen mind of hers, her scholarly skills will surely be unmatched? She is, in truth, the finest match for any young man.”
“Precisely! Our boy is the finest match himself. He has a decent enough face and excels at combat. His wits may be dull as a stone, but there’s no one quite like him.”
Whether curse or compliment, it was hard to say.
Jang Sam-tae regarded Hong Won-chang with a peculiar expression.
He nearly shot back a retort, but he bit his tongue. If he continued to heap praise on Hwa So-mi this way, he feared the man’s own son would become too pitiful a figure by comparison.
“Regardless, where have you been that you’re only now returning?”
“I made some snacks for that child and spent some time in training.”
At the word training, Hong Won-chang’s eyes gleamed.
Others did not know it, but he too had once dreamed of becoming a martial artist.
Though he now took pride in his position as County Magistrate, that old dream had never truly faded.
Indeed, this recent business had only deepened his hunger for martial knowledge, so he could not help but take interest in any martial arts that Dan Woo-hyun himself had taught.
“Ahem! You mean that one? The martial arts the Great Master Dan taught you?”
“Taught me nothing. It’s just a Martial Technique Manual sold at Market Street, as I told you.”
“And yet he offered guidance, and you transcribed it, did you not?”
“Even so, it’s merely Third-rate Martial Technique.”
Hong Won-chang stifled a laugh.
This man clearly had no idea how remarkable Dan Woo-hyun’s slightest word could be. Though it was called mere Third-rate Martial Technique, its value could be worth ten million silver coins.
Hong Won-chang fished out a silver coin from his sleeve with deliberate care.
“Take this and give me the manual.”
“Get lost.”
“What insolence! You’d think he had some great standing! You can simply buy a new Martial Technique Manual at Market Street, can’t you?”
“Then go buy yourself a new one. I have no use for it.”
Jang Sam-tae grinned wickedly.
Seeing Hong Won-chang try to buy it with money, he had gleaned that this Third-rate Martial Technique Manual was quite valuable indeed.
Of course, he had never intended to give it away anyway, but now he would extract the maximum profit from the situation.
“Very well…… what of ten taels?”
“Twenty taels wouldn’t be enough for this. Ten taels is nothing.”
Hong Won-chang’s face flushed crimson as if stung.
Only then did Hong Won-chang realize that Jang Sam-tae had seen through his very thoughts.
It seemed he would end up paying far more silver than he had intended.
Yet if it was a Martial Technique Manual containing Dan Woo-hyun’s own words, surely such a price was not unreasonable?
In the end, Hong Won-chang sighed and gave a reluctant nod.
“Fine then. I’ll take it for twenty-five silver coins.”
“Here you are.”
“I haven’t got it on me now. Come by the county office later and collect it.”
“Ha! You expect me to believe that? I’ll hand it over once you bring the money.”
‘This bastard.’
Hong Won-chang’s flushed face showed no sign of cooling.
Jang Sam-tae snorted derisively, and Hong Won-chang swallowed his rage.
Hwa So-mi, watching the two of them in silence, seemed unimpressed—her fingers fidgeted restlessly and her expression had grown somber.
Jang Sam-tae was there, Hong Won-chang was there. The number of people hadn’t changed, yet somehow the space felt peculiarly hollow. Why?
The small child understood the reason.
It was Dan Woo-hyun’s absence.
Where had he gone?
He’d left without a word to her, and she couldn’t hide her unease.
Had he abandoned her? Or had something terrible befallen him somewhere?
Neither Jang Sam-tae nor Hong Won-chang offered any explanation, so her anxiety only grew.
Two days had already passed.
Even Hwa So-mi, far more mature than children her age, found the strain unbearable as Dan Woo-hyun remained absent—her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
This wouldn’t do.
“Sniffle……”
“Oh, So-mi! What’s wrong? Don’t cry, don’t cry!”
“There, there! Stop it—! Stop it—!”
Two burly men were trying to console a single child, and the manor swayed with their frantic efforts.

***

Once Dan Woo-hyun had left the manor, he set out along mountain paths, searching for the place Bang Chu-gok had described.
But it was farther than he’d anticipated, and the location remained vague—finding it proved more difficult than expected.
“After spending so long cooped up in that manor, it’s rather refreshing to be out here.”
Old memories surfaced, faint but present.
From childhood until now, those days when he’d wandered alone across the Central Plains—a world cradled in his chest, a man’s dreams held in his two fists.
Walking those solitary paths, whether by night or day, so consumed by martial arts he’d never bothered to look at the scenery—now those forgotten sights seemed visible again.
Wasn’t this too a pleasure of living?
Of course it was.
Rustle—!
A band of men suddenly emerged from hiding, blocking the path and leveling their blades at him.
Fierce expressions, numerous in number—they were no ordinary folk. Yet they weren’t masters of any formidable martial art either.
This was what one typically called them.
Bandits, plain and simple.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve run into such types.”
He’d clashed with innumerable bandits over the years.
In truth, it would be no exaggeration to say bandits had largely sharpened his martial skill in his youth.
Later, when these very men had sought vengeance against Dan Woo-hyun, they’d banded together to form something called the Eighteen Bandits of the Green Forest, roaming about in throngs.
“Hah! You there! If you want to pass, hand over everything you’ve got!”
“Your words haven’t changed at all.”
This too felt like an echo from the past.
The tone of their voices, their mannerisms—they were no different from those men a thousand encounters ago.
If anything, they seemed to have deteriorated. At least those men had possessed some shrewdness.
“Enough! If you value your life, surrender everything now!”
“I have nothing.”
“What……?”
The bandits were taken aback by his unexpected reply and stared at him. Looking at him now, dressed in a worn white robe, he did appear rather destitute.
His clothes were frayed. Moreover, he carried no bundle, so there wasn’t even luggage to speak of—and judging by his appearance, he didn’t seem to have a purse either.
“What…… what’s this, fellow? What possessed you to wander a mountain path like this?”
“No particular thoughts. I was simply observing the mountain landscape.”
The bandits fell silent at his gentle words. Each phrase from Dan Woo-hyun seemed to resonate in their hearts and somehow soothe their minds.
A man who appeared to be the leader cleared his throat with a cough.
“Listen here—this path swarms with bandits. If you go wandering about without money, you might end up dead, and no one would blame you for it.”
“Ha, is that advice? I’m grateful. I’ll remember it going forward.”
Though he had no right to be saying such things, the leader found himself embarrassed by Dan Woo-hyun’s grateful acceptance of the warning, scratching his head sheepishly. He’d spent his whole life doing this, but it seemed some shred of humanity remained in him after all.
“But tell me—is this really the way to Cheon-ja Mountain?”
“Cheon-ja Mountain? You’re planning to go to that cursed place? You’ve lost your mind, haven’t you?”
Chae-ju clicked his tongue and shook his head. Anyone living in Honam knew the stories of Cheon-ja Mountain.
Once you entered, you never came out alive.
It was notorious for its treacherous terrain, but that wasn’t truly what made it dangerous.
It was a place where spirits lingered.
Or so they called it—the Mountain of Death.
That was Cheon-ja Mountain.
“Listen here, you fool.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Cheon-ja Mountain is the most dangerous place in all of Honam.”
“Why?”
“……It’s just dangerous.”
How would he know the reasons?
He’d never set foot there himself.
Chae-ju turned his head awkwardly, his expression turning sour. Everyone said it was dangerous, so he thought it was dangerous too—there was no real reason behind it at all.
“Um…… Chae-ju.”
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to rob him?”
At his subordinate’s words, Chae-ju came to his senses. This strange man before him had such an unsettling presence that he’d been completely entranced by it.
But he was a bandit.
He couldn’t forget his duty.
No money meant—
Thud!
Chae-ju drove his blade into the ground with rough force, his eyes gleaming sharp and fierce. Then he bellowed.
“You! If you’ve got nothing, strip down to nothing and be on your way!”
“That’s fine, but you’d do well to be careful…….”
“What?”
Again, those incomprehensible words.
As Chae-ju tilted his head in bewilderment, the distant sound of hoofbeats reached his ears.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
The bandits spun around in alarm.
“Chae, Chae-ju, over there!”
Someone was riding toward them on horseback.
At first, the distance was too great to make out details, but as the figure drew closer, the silhouette became clear enough to discern—though still hazy.
It was a woman.
She rode with her long hair streaming behind her, her expression fierce and menacing as she bore down on the bandits.
“You wretches! Are you brigands?”
The woman cried out and threw herself from her horse.
Her movement was as stunning as watching a bird take flight—so graceful, so impossible. How could a person leap so lightly into the air? How could she draw her blade while airborne? The bandits couldn’t fathom it.
Whoosh—
That was when Dan Woo-hyun stepped back a single pace.
In that same instant—
Crash!
The woman’s blade swept toward the bandits with devastating force.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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