Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 91

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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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Episode 91
Yeon Ryang, impressed by my dazzling swordwork, quickly abandoned any idea of teaching me proper technique.
“If you keep handling a sword like that, I’m going to have a heart attack. Let’s find another way.”
Instead, he taught me how to grip a Dagger in reverse and use it for close combat.
It was a matter of holding the Dagger reversed and thrusting it like I was throwing Internal Energy around my grip hand, which had similarities to the Saber Technique.
“How much Internal Energy should I wrap around it? I can’t quite gauge it.”
“Just try wrapping it. Coating the Dagger with Internal Energy alone isn’t easy enough…….”
“Is this amount okay?”
When I pulled out the Internal Energy thread-thin and wound it around to bind the Dagger and my hand like wrapping twine, Yeon Ryang’s eyes went wide.
“What? This isn’t supposed to work on the first try like this? Sister, you’ve got skill.”
He marveled at it, poking my hand repeatedly.
“This is strange. How is this working? Is it because you’ve accumulated so much Internal Cultivation?”
“It just works?”
“With your face, you’d do just fine using the Palm Technique too. No one would ever guess you’d throw such crudely condensed Internal Energy with that kind of appearance.”
Perhaps. Come to think of it, it might be wise to practice the Palm Technique for situations where the Saber lacks adequate range…….
I was turning his words over in my mind with a nod when my face suddenly hardened.
“You just insulted me, didn’t you? You called me brute-like because I don’t look like it?”
“It’s a compliment, sister. Do you think many Martial Cultivators your age possess Internal Energy that dominates their opponents to this degree? You just need to apply it well.”
Yeon Ryang chuckled and showed me several tricks for applying Internal Energy more effectively.
The methods were simple, but their effects were remarkable.
“Brother, aren’t you a genius? This actually works so easily?”
“Ha, your brother’s got some skill, doesn’t he?”
Now the same application was possible with far less Internal Energy. I was so moved that I clapped my hands in delight.
It felt like receiving a sharp kitchen knife after spending so long scraping potato peels off with my bare hands.
……Ah. So that’s why he called me brute-like. People really do need to use their heads.
Crouching down to practice wrapping the Saber with Internal Energy, I looked up at Yeon Ryang and asked.
“What about this sword, then? Should I just carry it around?”
“Since you’ve bought it, carry it for a while. And if you can’t wield it properly, at least practice the Draw and Cut and Sheathe Technique. Sister, just looking the part will let you fool common ruffians.”
“I think I can manage that.”
I answered with confidence and gripped the sword hilt firmly.
“Yes, so you bend your arm like this…….”
Snap!
“……don’t throw it, sister.”
“Haha.”
Yeon Ryang grabbed my arm in alarm. I laughed awkwardly and waved my hand.
“Let me try again. I think I can really do it this time.”
“Yes, not giving up is good discipline.”
Yeon Ryang replied without the slightest hope in his expression and retreated from me, seemingly planning to dodge before the sword came flying at him.
I shot him a glare and gripped the sword again.
Yeon Ryang had dropped his elbow like this, with his hand positioned like so. Yes, like this.
I thought I’d executed the Draw and Cut quite impressively, but by then the sword had already left my hands and was lodged deep in a tree stump some distance away.
Crack! Boom!
Unable to withstand the force in the sword, the tree split in half and toppled to the side.
This is driving me crazy. Why does it keep flying away?
Standing there dejectedly, staring at the fallen tree, Yeon Ryang—who’d been watching—held his forehead as if he couldn’t take it anymore.
“……Let’s give up on the sword, sister. Just wear it at your side.”
I nodded and sheathed the sword again.
* * *
Wuhan was teeming with Martial Cultivators no matter where you went.
Whether you went to an inn, a shop, or simply walked the street, most of the people passing by wore swords.
In a way, it was a sight that might concern one about public order, yet the people of Wuhan didn’t seem to mind.
If anyone caused trouble, the Martial Alliance’s security force would rush over and drag them away.
“Stop! Release me! I’ve done nothing wrong. That merchant started it first…….”
“Take it up at the Alliance.”
It was a remarkable sight.
The Martial Arts World police? Where was the magistrate while the Martial Alliance managed law and order? Was this the principle of official non-interference?
Those who’d always seen what happened to anyone causing a disturbance in front of the Martial Alliance’s courtyard didn’t regard Martial Cultivators with much caution.
Perhaps because of that, few people were startled or stepped aside when they saw Yeon Ryang’s bulk.
He seemed quite pleased by this.
With the stares that had always followed him now gone, he looked remarkably at ease—and though I couldn’t be sure, I thought it was probably because he’d taken the Loneliness Antidote.
“Sister, how much money do we have left?”
“Not much. About three taels of silver.”
Yeon Ryang scratched his head as he rummaged through his purse, tallying what little remained.
“We’re running short on travel funds. I’ll need to visit the currency exchange.”
“The currency exchange?”
“I have a Currency Note from the Zhongyuan Currency Exchange. It’s for fifty taels of silver, so that should keep us comfortable for a while.”
He produced a small slip of paper and held it up. The paper, printed with fifty taels of silver, bore a crimson seal mark.
As I gazed at the Currency Note with curious eyes, Yeon Ryang gave a soft laugh and waved the paper teasingly.
“Would you like to keep it, sister?”
“What? You’d let me run off with it?”
“Fifty taels of silver is barely worth one silver ingot. Why would a nobleman’s daughter covet such small change?”
Small change. My monthly stipend during my service years was only two taels of silver. And now my entire fortune amounts to exactly three taels.
Yeon Ryang had clearly mistaken me for nothing but a delicately raised young lady.
Too weary to bother correcting him, I shrugged and accepted the Currency Note.
The thin paper had been treated with oil to resist tearing and waterproofed against moisture.
I held it up to the sunlight and a design overlaid on the seal mark became visible—it resembled a bamboo stalk.
“What is this? What’s drawn on it?”
“It’s a Seal Mark. The Zhongyuan Currency Exchange uses a bamboo design. Each Currency Note bears the Exchange’s unique pattern.”
An anti-counterfeiting measure. People everywhere run their affairs the same way. Just like bank checks.
I handed the Currency Note back to Yeon Ryang and asked, “How do you tell if a Currency Note is genuine or forged? It seems like someone could easily trick you with a fake.”
“If you’re unsure, just ask them to accompany you to the nearest Currency Exchange. Every Exchange has a Verifier to authenticate the notes. If it was issued by an Exchange operating in that region, they’ll confirm it.”
“I see.”
“Let’s go exchange it. How does lamb ribs sound for dinner, sister?”
“That sounds wonderful. I noticed people at the next table yesterday eating lamb ribs that looked delicious.”
“Lamb ribs it is.”
“Ask them to sprinkle plenty of Sichuan pepper on it. And lots of peanuts too.”
“I know you have good taste.”
We made idle conversation as we headed toward the Currency Exchange.
The Zhongyuan Currency Exchange occupied a single-story building fronting the main road. Though its entrance stood wide open, the place appeared quiet, as if it didn’t see much foot traffic.
As we stepped inside, an elderly man approached and greeted us.
“Welcome. Will you be depositing or exchanging?”
“Exchanging. Here.”
The man accepted the Currency Note that Yeon Ryang offered and examined it carefully, narrowing his eyes as he turned it this way and that.
“Please wait in the next room for a moment. We must complete the customary verification procedure.”
“Of course.”
The courteous man led us into a small chamber.
He lit a candle sitting on the table, then held the Currency Note up to its flame.
He appeared to be checking whether the Seal Mark was drawn correctly.
“Yes, this is indeed one of ours. Please wait just a moment; I’ll return with the exchange shortly.”
“Understood.”
The man bowed politely and left. I began to examine the small room slowly.
Stacks of documents filled every surface, and the air carried the scent of aged paper and ink.
They write out all the Currency Notes by hand. Does one person do it all? How fascinating.
Yeon Ryang called out softly, “Don’t wander too far, Gyeong-ah.”
“Yes.”
Curious about what the rest of the Exchange looked like, I crept quietly through the adjacent space and spotted a clerk in the next room signing a Currency Note.
Five Taoists dressed in the robes of Mount Wudang Sect were exchanging silver coins.
Oh no.
As I turned to retreat, not wanting to draw attention, the young Taoist whose eyes had caught mine nudged the one signing the note.
“Master instructor. Look there……”
“It matches the Wanted Poster the Martial Alliance provided exactly.”
At the Taoists’ whisper, the man wearing a Taoist crown and with glossy black hair neatly bound looked up and turned to face me.
It was Jin Seong.
Recognition crossed his face, and he raised one eyebrow.
So he’d already been sent to the Martial Alliance? I hadn’t expected to see him again.
As I blinked, hesitating whether to offer a greeting, Jin Seong gave me the Fist Salute first.
“I am Jin Seong, eighteenth-generation disciple of Mount Wudang Sect.”
“Ah… yes, Instructor Jin Seong. It’s good to see you again.”
I awkwardly bobbed my head, and his gaze met mine. His eyes held no warmth.

At the same time, a sinister sensation crawled down my spine. He was hostile toward me.
I hurriedly stepped backward, waving my hands.
“Ha ha, do enjoy the Currency Note exchange. Well then, if you’ll excuse me…….”
“Stop.”
Jin Seong’s icy voice made everything clear.
I was finished. I didn’t know why, but I was finished.
I rolled my eyes nervously, searching Jin Seong’s expression.
As Jin Seong approached me slowly, the Mount Wudang Sect Taoists standing behind him formed a circle, hemming me in.
“I don’t believe explanation is necessary. I have no wish to cause a disturbance. Please come willingly with me to the Martial Alliance.”
“Ah ha ha, I’m not sure what you’re talking about…….”
Could I possibly be on a wanted list with the Martial Alliance? A criminal bounty, something like that? Wasn’t that sort of thing reserved for the worst demons in the Martial Arts World?
I tried to hide my panic, but my lips trembled.
“I know everything, young lady.”
“Everything about what? I’ve done nothing wrong. The sect must be under some misunderstanding…….”
“If you’ve done nothing wrong, then you should be willing to cooperate with the Martial Alliance’s investigation.”
Jin Seong cut off my words calmly and stepped toward me, halting just before me.
I felt the weight of his presence bearing down on me.
“Young lady. I would prefer that you follow me of your own accord.”
His quiet slate-gray eyes fixed upon me. He spoke with an expressionless face.
“If you refuse, I may be forced to cut you down.”

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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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