North Sea Martial Arts Warrior - Chapter 62

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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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62. One Word

Cheon Geom Mun headquarters, Corridor.
Dawn was just breaking. White lanterns flickered out one by one.
Cheok Un-hui sat with the Jeol-hwi Geom across his knees.
The early morning air in the Corridor was cold. His fingers, resting on the blade, felt it first.
Footstep. Footstep.
Footfalls echoed from the end of the Corridor. Cheok Mu-yeong.
His son’s shoulders were composed. Yet his back seemed heavier than usual.
His son had never come at dawn before. This was no personal visit. Was it a matter concerning the Murim Alliance?
Cheok Mu-yeong knelt in the middle of the Corridor.
“Father. I apologize for the early hour.”
He held up a letter with both hands.
‘As I thought… this must concern the Northern Barbarian Warrior.’
The Murim Alliance seal stamped on the envelope. He could guess the contents without opening it.
“Speak.”
“A report arrived that three thousand bandits who had been invading the Northern Region and committing atrocities have been destroyed by merely six men.”
“I’ve heard.”
“As Inspector General of the Murim Alliance, I must investigate this matter personally and submit a report.”
“…Yes.”
Cheok Un-hui gave a brief reply.
From beyond the Inner Courtyard, a rooster’s crow cut through the air once, sharp and short.
Cheok Un-hui did not take the letter. He stared at it without accepting it.
This was not the first report his son had brought.
Word from Okmun Gwan had reached him four days ago. The rumor that three thousand cavalry had been destroyed in the rocky Wasteland came yesterday.
He already knew both rumors stemmed from one person’s work. The rumors had shifted shape as they passed through the valleys, yet even as they traveled, the weight of death never diminished.
Cheok Mu-yeong drew back the letter he had been holding out and tucked it into his robes, then spoke.
“The gates of Okmun Gwan, it is said, were opened in a single instant. The three thousand cavalry in the rocky Wasteland too were destroyed by merely six men. They are asking: who was it that journeyed to the North Sea two months ago?”
“I know.”
Cheok Un-hui answered curtly.
Cheok Mu-yeong lifted his head.
“Have you already heard of it, Father?”
“The rumor from Okmun Gwan reached me four days ago. The cavalry rumor came yesterday.”
“Then…”
Cheok Mu-yeong paused briefly, then continued.
“Do you suppose you understand as well that they are moving southward toward the Central Plains?”
Cheok Un-hui did not answer.
Silence stretched long.
A single thread of Sword Qi stirred within his chest and then subsided.
He understood. Neither Okmun Gwan nor the cavalry could fall by human hands alone—and he understood that the one who had wrought this and the Jeol-hwi Geom would inevitably meet.
He did not fear it. He had been waiting for it.
Beyond the Corridor, the dawn mist in the Garden was beginning to drift.
Cheok Un-hui watched the mist’s drift for a long while.
It seemed his blade was drawn along that drift of mist. The edge he had honed throughout his life resembled the mist’s own flowing.
“Father.”
Cheok Mu-yeong broke the silence.
“As soon as dawn breaks, I will depart for the Northern Region to investigate this matter.”
Cheok Un-hui slowly opened his lips.
“Investigate as much as you can. Do not engage in direct conflict.”
These were all the words he could offer.
A father’s words meant to protect his son. Yet beneath those words lay another weight entirely—the judgment of a renowned master swordsman regarding the Martial Deity Rank of the Northern Barbarian Warrior.
To meet is to die.
Cheok Mu-yeong understood the meaning of those words.
The desire that his son might step aside from the chariot barreling toward him.
Cheok Mu-yeong bowed his head.
“I will obey your command.”
“Just watch. Don’t draw your sword. Don’t create that necessity. Remember that.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And if… that person sees you, step aside.”
Cheok Mu-yeong lifted his eyes.
This was the first time his father had referred to someone as “that person.” He’d never spoken of anyone that way before.
“Father… do you know that person’s name?”
“Whatever the name may be.”
Cheok Un-hui paused briefly.
“I think I know that sword.”
A drop of dew fell from the edge of the corridor’s eaves.
The sound was small, yet it cut through the dawn with crystalline clarity.
Cheok Mu-yeong asked no further. He only felt that his father carried some unspoken secret, another layer of weight settling upon those solemn shoulders.
Cheok Mu-yeong rose to his feet.
Cheok Un-hui gripped the Jeol-hwi Geom and stared into the mist at the end of the corridor.
He did not want to send his son north. That was why he’d urged him to refuse a position like Inspector General of the Murim Alliance—why he’d hoped his son would stay clear of worldly storms and pursue only the way of the blade.
He would carry out his orders, yet he prayed—desperately prayed—that his son’s fate would not intersect with that person’s.
‘It is the karma my blade has drawn. Heh…’
The unspoken secret and guilt wept silently in his chest.
He did not let that weeping escape into the world.
He never would, for the rest of his life.

Yet the world would not bend to his wishes.
Light footsteps sounded from the end of the corridor.
It was Cheok Ha-rin.
She wore neat traveling clothes—her first venture beyond the walls since her recovery from the Han-seo Zhi Illness. Her eyes were bright. So bright that even Cheok Un-hui turned to look again.
Cheok Ha-rin came to stand before her father.
She bowed with clasped hands and drew in a deep breath.
“Father, I mean to accompany my brother to visit Uncle at the Hwa-san School and pay my respects. I’ll be back quickly, so please don’t worry.”
Cheok Un-hui studied his daughter’s face.
“Uncle?”
“Yes. The Han-seo Zhi Illness is cured now, isn’t it? I must thank Uncle for his kindness. He’s been so good to me. And since my brother is heading north anyway, I thought to travel with him. I’ll bring enough guards.”
Her reasoning was sound.
Cheok Un-hui saw the reasoning in his daughter’s face. How much had she agonized to construct this pretext? Behind the pretext shone a bright light—curiosity about the Central Plains, a longing to step beyond these walls.
His daughter’s eyes were brighter than ever.
‘Of all times, why now…’
Under his silence, Cheok Ha-rin’s pupils wavered slightly.
‘He’s going to refuse.’
Unable to bear the lengthening silence, she clung to him with a voice that mixed childish pleading with resolve.
“Father, just once. Let me feel the wind of the Central Plains, just this once. I’ve wanted so badly to go outside. Let me at least feel the breeze on this one chance.”
She took hold of his sleeve.
“Ha-rin.”
Cheok Un-hui spoke gently. Her hand did not slip from his sleeve.
“After you pay your respects to Uncle?”
“Once my brother’s work is finished, I’ll come straight back. I promise.”
“Is that all?”
Cheok Ha-rin’s lips stilled. Her father’s gaze reached past her eyes, deep into them. There was no room for falsehood here.
“I also want to see the Central Plains…”
She spoke softly, but clearly.
“That won’t do. You still need to care for your health.”
“While I lay in bed, I watched people passing by the window. People carrying burdens, people holding hands, people laughing as they walked. I’ve never once walked among them.”
Cheok Ha-rin’s voice trembled slightly.
“Visiting Uncle is not a lie. But… even if only during the journey, I want to know what it feels like to belong among the people.”
Cheok Un-hui looked into her eyes. They held no deception. Her resolve was as solid as her pretext.
His conflict did not last long.
He knew how desperately his daughter was asking.
He also knew the danger. The karma his blade had drawn might brush against his children’s paths. Yet he could not refuse her.
A caged child breaks all the harder.
A single white hair trembled.
He gripped and released the sword hilt once more.
For the karma his blade had drawn not to touch his daughter, she would have to walk one step apart from his own path.
Perhaps this journey might accomplish such a thing.
Cheon Geom Mun was not a safe place from the claws of the North Sea barbarians. It might be better to leave this place and stay by her brother’s side.
‘Since I cannot keep her close, I entrust her to Mu-yeong.’
He reached out and clasped Cheok Ha-rin’s hand.
It was warm. He held that hand a moment longer before releasing it. Then he spoke.
“Do not leave your brother’s side.”
One sentence.
Brief permission. Yet in that single line, two hearts were bound together.
A cord that binds a child.
And a yielding that does not prevent the child from walking her own path.
Cheok Ha-rin’s eyes brightened.
Her father’s consent shattered her expectations.
She had thought he would refuse. She had prepared to cling and plead, layering her arguments two and three times over. All of that crumbled at once.
Her eyes welled with tears. But laughter burst out first.
“Thank you, Father! Thank you, truly, thank you!”
Cheok Ha-rin pressed her palms together.
She bowed twice.
She who always carried herself with grace could not hide her excitement now. Her laughter filled the corridor like a single brush stroke.
Cheok Un-hui did not cut short that laughter.

Cheok Mu-yeong descended into the Garden.
A contingent of escort warriors stood in formation. The pack horses rolled their heavy hooves. The sound shattered briefly against the gravel like breaking glass.
The head escort stepped forward and bowed.
“Young Master. All personnel and provisions have been inspected and accounted for.”
“Is there not too much baggage?”
“It is because the young lady travels with us… Three additional pack horses were required. Her belongings and carriage were placed in the center of the column.”
“Well done.”
Cheok Mu-yeong placed his hand on his sword.
His father’s words settled heavily in his mind.
Watch only. Do not engage.
Those words sounded less like a command or caution than like a plea.
‘Is he truly that formidable? The Northern Barbarian Warrior?’

“Brother. Thank you so much. If we’re to pass through the Hwa-san School, we’ll need to take a slight detour.”
“It is no matter. This is your first journey in your whole life—see much and enjoy yourself.”
Cheok Mu-yeong answered briefly with a faint smile.
He was glad for his sister’s joy. But curiosity about the Northern Barbarian Warrior did not leave his mind.
“Brother, is the road very long?”
“Long. It will be about a fortnight.”
“A fortnight.”
“Pack light. The road is long and too much baggage will weigh you down.”
“I only brought what’s necessary… I can remove some things right now.”
“Ha! Never mind. Since you’ve packed it, let’s just go. The horses will carry it anyway—a few more don’t matter. And… you want to leave quickly anyway, don’t you?”
“Hehe!”
Cheok Ha-rin’s eyes grew round before breaking into a bright smile. Her brother’s cheerful laugh made her spirits soar even higher.
“Then I can pack more? I have so much I want to bring! Hehe!”
Cheok Ha-rin scampered into her quarters. The attendants and servants scrambled after her in bewilderment.
Voices leaked from inside the room.
“I’ll take this robe too.”
“Miss, that’s already far too much.”
“This one as well. I must make two bows of respect to my uncle.”
“Miss.”
“And I must look proper on the road.”
“But you said there was already too much baggage.”
“The horses carry it, so it doesn’t matter. If there’s too much, we can add another horse.”
“Miss.”
“All right. Just two robes.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Wait—three robes. I need something to wear when we go to see the plum blossoms.”
“Miss!”
“All right, all right. Two sets.”

Cheok Mu-yeong issued orders to his guards in the Garden.
“Take your positions. Two at the front, two at the rear. The supply horses in the middle.”
The captain of the guard bowed his head.
“We receive your command, Crown Prince.”
“If we encounter any other party, take a detour. Don’t draw your swords. This journey is for observation only.”
“Understood.”
“Move out.”
“Yes, Crown Prince!”
Cheok Mu-yeong’s hand touched the sword hilt once more.
The main gates of Cheon Geom Mun swung open on both sides.
A contingent of guards took positions fore and aft, with Cheok Mu-yeong’s horse leading the way. Behind it came Cheok Ha-rin’s carriage, attended by servants and handmaidens who walked alongside.
The wind was warm, carrying the scent of earth. Spring waited beyond the threshold.
No one sensed the danger that was coming.
Cheok Ha-rin turned back once.
“Father, I’ll return soon!”
…….
No answer came. Her father never escorted guests to the main gate. She knew that, yet she couldn’t help but call out to him anyway.
“I’ll give Uncle my regards!”
…….
“Brother, where do we go first?”
“Hwa-san School first. After paying respects to Uncle, we head north.”
Cheok Ha-rin poked her head out from the carriage, peering at her brother.
“How long until we reach Hwa-san?”
“Within a fortnight. Don’t get excited—the road is long.”
“I’m not excited. I’m not. It’s just… I wish the plum blossoms would be in bloom.”
“So do I.”
“I want to bring Father a sprig of plum blossoms.”
“Ha-rin.”
“Yes, Brother?”
“Don’t get too excited, I’m telling you.”
“I know. But still, Brother. It really is wonderful.”
…All right.
The horses and carriage began to move slowly forward.
This inspection was not urgent. The Murim Alliance hadn’t instructed Cheok Mu-yeong to stop the Northern Barbarian Warrior—only to understand the details.
But did the Inspector General himself need to move just to gather information? No. If that were the case, local informants would bring far swifter and more detailed news.
The Murim Alliance wanted the Heaven’s First Sword to intervene.
If Cheok Un-hui could hold back the Northern Barbarian Warrior—that’s what their message had said.
Was the Northern Barbarian Warrior truly that strong?
Even as Cheok Mu-yeong left Cheon Geom Mun, his mind was full of thoughts about the Northern Barbarian Warrior. He could not shake his curiosity about him.

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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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