The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 114

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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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114
Woo Geom-san’s Party
Descending from the mountain, Woo Geom-san’s party walked along the narrow Official Road.
Moving comfortably by boat before walking along a rugged road for several days made it naturally exhausting. Even so, Ning Yunxiao and Ha Yeong-ryeong didn’t say a single word about it being difficult.
Ha Yeong-ryeong was at least less exhausted because Ha Baek-jin carried her on his back midway, but Ning Yunxiao had to walk the long distance solely on his own two legs.
Sweat poured down like rain, and his breath hitched at the tip of his throat, but Ning Yunxiao never once said it was hard or threw a tantrum.
His appearance of walking silently while enduring the pain was enough to make Gong Pyeong-hae marvel.
“That lad’s patience is remarkable. He looks gentle, but he’s quite a stubborn one.”
“He’s bound to become someone great.”
Ha Baek-jin also agreed with Gong Pyeong-hae’s opinion.
Having watched Ning Yunxiao while traveling together for several days, he could be certain of it.
A person’s true worth was bound to reveal itself in the midst of adversity.
In that respect, Ning Yunxiao deserved a passing grade.
The very fact that a young child who wasn’t even ten years old possessed such patience was an amazing thing.
Woo Geom-san fell into thought as he watched Ning Yunxiao walking diligently.
‘The Internal Energy has begun to find its own path.’
Ning Yunxiao was a child who harbored an immense amount of Internal Strength due to his father’s mistaken greed.
The Leader of Red Cloud Sect, Ning Hanming, had not taught Ning Yunxiao any Internal Energy Cultivation Method just in case he might digest the Internal Strength. Because of that, the immense Internal Strength remained unrefined and gathered in its pure state inside Ning Yunxiao’s Dantian.
The change occurred when Woo Geom-san drew upon Ning Yunxiao’s Internal Strength to treat Ha Yeong-ryeong.
From the very moment it was forcibly unlocked by Woo Geom-san, the Internal Strength gained life.
Even without Ning Yunxiao intentionally circulating Qi, it had begun to move on its own. That was why Ning Yunxiao didn’t tire easily even after walking for a long time.
This was a very special case.
If it were a Fortuitous Encounter, it could be called one, but Woo Geom-san thought that Ning Yunxiao’s condition was extremely dangerous.
Because it was moving before he could digest the Internal Strength as his own, a single mistake could cause him to suffer a Qi Deviation.
This was entirely Woo Geom-san’s responsibility.
He had to have him learn a proper Heart Method as soon as possible to right the Internal Strength that had begun to find its own path.
If worst came to worst, he could pass down the Internal Energy Cultivation Method of the Quanzhen Sect, but that was a last resort.
If his maternal family, the Qingyu Clan, accepted Ning Yunxiao, learning their Heart Method was the best option.
“Whew!”
Woo Geom-san let out a sigh in secret.
He needed to head to the Woo Family Manor as soon as possible, but there was more than just one or two matters he had to handle.
‘It’ll work out somehow.’
Woo Geom-san decided to think positively.
Because he knew that worrying in advance wasn’t something that would solve the problem.
If he resolved them one by one just as he had done until now, he would eventually obtain a good result.
It was the same when he carved out the Plank Road on Cheonbaeksan.
It felt daunting when he started, but since he didn’t give up and did the exact same work every single day, he saw that the Plank Road was completed at some point.
This exerted a great influence on Woo Geom-san’s thinking and outlook on life.
Without his life on Cheonbaeksan, the current Woo Geom-san wouldn’t exist either.
Just then, the voice of Gong Pyeong-hae, who was walking ahead, broke Woo Geom-san’s reverie.
“I see Maseong.”
Looking forward, a large City surrounded by fortress walls came into view.
Gong Pyeong-hae said.
“Since there is no branch office or Sub-Branch of the Tianjin Escort Agency there, it won’t be a problem to rest for a day and then go.”
“What about the Yunyo Bang?”
“Don’t worry. It’s a place where the Yunyo Bang’s influence doesn’t reach either. Maseong is a sort of blind spot. The City’s state is terrible, so no Sect pays any attention to it.”
Gong Pyeong-hae answered with certainty at Ha Baek-jin’s question.
Woo Geom-san nodded his head.
“Then let’s rest for a day in Maseong. Instead, do not let your guard down.”
“Don’t worry. Our quick-wittedness is like a ghost’s. If there’s even a slight smell of danger, we can tell right away.”
“I also have connections in Maseong, so Master Woo doesn’t need to worry too much.”
Yi Se-gyeong stepped forward.
She was also a Vagabond as experienced as Ha Baek-jin or Gong Pyeong-hae.
The very fact that she had survived as a Vagabond until now showed just how seasoned and strong of a person she was.
Surviving alone in a woman’s body within an environment as harsh as the Jianghu was absolutely no easy feat.
Though she was currently attached to them under the Just Cause of repaying her debt to Ha Baek-jin, before this, she had active experience to the point where there was almost no corner of Under Heaven she hadn’t visited.
Thanks to that, she had formed numerous connections, and a few of them lived in Maseong.
“If I contact them, we’ll be able to secure a safe residence.”
“That’s great. Thanks to you, we can rest with peace of mind. Thank you!”
“No need for thanks. I’m just glad I can be of help in this way.”
Yi Se-gyeong replied with a smile at Ha Baek-jin’s words.
A smile also graced Woo Geom-san’s face as he looked at the two of them.
Unless one was a fool, it was impossible not to notice the warm current flowing between the two.
Yi Se-gyeong liked Ha Baek-jin, and Ha Baek-jin didn’t seem to dislike Yi Se-gyeong either.
If Ha Yeong-ryeong hadn’t been sick, the two would have formed a deeper relationship much sooner.
Woo Geom-san moved his steps while wishing for things to go well for the two of them.
Walking like that, they were able to arrive at Maseong before they knew it.
From this point on, Yi Se-gyeong earnestly took the lead.
“If we try to enter through the main gate, we’ll have to wait a long time, and we’ll catch the eyes of others. I know of a dog hole from before, so let’s go there.”
“A dog hole?”
“It’s a secret passage managed by the underworld gangs settled in Maseong. If we use it, we can enter quietly.”
Yi Se-gyeong led the party toward a secluded spot on the outskirts of Maseong.
Beneath the fortress wall where she arrived, there were a few shabby Thatched Cottages.
At a glance, it looked like a beggars’ den.
In fact, people who looked like beggars were lying down and rolling around on the bare ground.
Yi Se-gyeong approached them without hesitation. At that, the beggars jumped up and grew wary.
“Who are you?”
“Is Dokgui inside?”
“Who are you to look for the boss?”
“Tell Dokgui that Honggwimo has arrived.”
“Honggwimo?”
It was then.
“What, Honggwimo is here?”
Someone came outside from within a shabby Thatched Cottage along with a husky voice.
It was a man in his early forties wearing shabby clothes like the people outside.
Because of a sword scar slicing across one cheek, his impression looked terribly sinister, but as soon as he saw Yi Se-gyeong, a broad smile formed on his face.
“Haha! The real Honggwimo actually came?”
“It’s been a long time. That sinister face of yours is the same as ever.”
“It’s thanks to Honggwimo that it ended with just this much of a wound. If it weren’t for you, my neck would’ve been cleanly snapped off.”
“Seeing you doing well makes me feel good.”
“Haha! What brings you here?”
“I want to enter Maseong quietly.”
“I suppose you have your reasons.”
The man nodded his head.
His martial title was Dokgui, and he seized and managed the dog hole leading into Maseong.
At a glance, one might wonder what kind of money such a passage could make, but there were quite a lot of people who used this place.
Those who couldn’t enter proudly, those who had to slip in secretly, criminals—the types were diverse.
Dokgui was running a business that allowed them to enter Maseong secretly in exchange for money.
Dokgui asked.
“What about lodging?”
“If you have a quiet place, let us have one. I’ll pay the price.”
“Heheh! I can’t take money from the savior of my life. I have an appropriate place, so I’ll let you use it.”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’ll repay this favor later.”
“Heheh! Just hearing those words makes me feel reassured. Go on in before others see you. A lackey of mine will be waiting on the other side.”
Dokgui smiled and pointed to the Thatched Cottage tightly pressed against the fortress wall.
After executing a Cupped Hand Salute to Dokgui, Yi Se-gyeong led the party into the Thatched Cottage. Then, a fortress wall with a small hole wide open came into view.
To hide the dog hole, the Thatched Cottage had been built tightly against the fortress wall.
Gong Pyeong-hae let out a whistle.
“Whew! That’s impressive. To make a dog hole in a fortress wall this thick.”
“It’s their main source of income. A lot of people and all kinds of goods enter Maseong through this place.”
“Heheh! How did you form a connection with a guy like that?”
“We were betrayed by the same client. I saved him when he was on the verge of death, so we became special.”
“Honggwimo? Even without looking, I can tell how crazily you must have run wild.”
“Be quiet. If you don’t want to die.”
Yi Se-gyeong frowned at Gong Pyeong-hae.
Because to her, it was a memory and a martial title she wanted to forget.
Yi Se-gyeong, who had been betrayed by her client, had truly become an evil ghost and run wild.
Dokgui lost his ear back then and received a deep laceration on his face. He survived because Yi Se-gyeong helped him; otherwise, he would have become a handful of dirt long ago.
How intense the memory of that time was, Dokgui treated Yi Se-gyeong with utmost respect while calling her Honggwimo.
The martial title Honggwimo, given because her blood-soaked appearance looked exactly like the mother of ghosts. She didn’t want the children to find out about such a martial title of hers.
While conversing back and forth, they were able to cross the fortress wall and enter inside.
There was a Thatched Cottage on the inner side of the fortress wall as well, hiding the dog hole.
The man who was waiting in the inner Thatched Cottage said to Yi Se-gyeong.
“I will guide you to a quiet residence, so please follow me.”
The place he guided them to across the dark night streets was a house with an impressive high wall.
“If it’s here, you’ll be able to stay quietly without worrying about the eyes of others. Then, please rest comfortably.”
He bowed his head to Yi Se-gyeong and then disappeared with quick steps.
Once only the party remained, Yi Se-gyeong said with a bright smile.
“It’s a Safehouse managed by Dokgui, so you can rest with peace of mind. You went through a lot of trouble to come all the way here, so everyone, set your minds at ease and rest up.”
“We’ll rest comfortably thanks to you. Thank you!”
Gong Pyeong-hae and the people entered inside the house with bright smiles.
Woo Geom-san, who entered the house last, looked around the interior.
“It’s nice!”
Because a wall two Zhang high surrounded the house, it was absolutely impossible to know the situation inside from the exterior.
It seemed impossible to find a place more suitable than this as a hiding place within Maseong.
Woo Geom-san said to the party.
“Everyone has worked hard, so let’s rest well for now and gather again in the evening.”
“Let’s do that.”
“Good work.”
The party members all quickly found their respective rooms and entered.
Having camped out while coming to Maseong, they missed a soft bed.
Everyone entered their respective rooms, and Woo Geom-san was left alone in the Courtyard.
Unlike the others, Woo Geom-san showed no signs of exhaustion at all.
Whistle!
When Woo Geom-san blew a whistle toward the empty sky, Hongbaek appeared after a short while.
Hongbaek, who was circling the firmament, soon descended at a terrifying speed and landed on Woo Geom-san’s arm.
Woo Geom-san stroked Hongbaek’s beak and said.
“If a stranger approaches by any chance, let me know.”
Screech!
Hongbaek cried softly as if understanding.
Woo Geom-san stroked Hongbaek for a long time before sending him up into the sky again.
Becoming alone once more, Woo Geom-san entered his room.
Although it was a small room with nothing but a shabby wooden bed, there was no problem at all in spending a night.
“Whew.”
Woo Geom-san exhaled a sigh and lay down on the bed.
Numerous thoughts surfaced, making it completely impossible for sleep to come.
In the end, Woo Geom-san gave up on sleeping and took out the Bojebang to start reading.
The knowledge he had learned until now was nothing but an extremely small part of the Bojebang.
Even with just that, Woo Geom-san came to possess an extraordinary Medicine.
He had keenly realized during this time how great a help excellent medicine could be. It was certain that learning even one more of the Bojebang’s medical arts while on the move would be a greater help.
Woo Geom-san began to read calmly starting from the first volume of the Bojebang.
Rustle! Rustle!
The sound of Woo Geom-san turning the Paper echoed inside the quiet room.
Taking the sound of the book as his companion, Woo Geom-san submerged deeply into a world of his own.

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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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