The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 36

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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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36
The Contest of Woo Geom-san
“Let’s move!”
Under Baek Wol-sang’s command, the young men and the donkeys began to move.
A total of about ten young men participated in this trading journey.
Since it was the season when spring farming began in earnest, far fewer young men than before participated in this trading journey.
If too many young men left, it would cause a major disruption to the farming.
Furthermore, whenever they had free time, they had to work on the plank road construction.
One way or another, it was a situation where they could not mobilize a large number of people.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
Listening to the worried voices of the villagers, the young men left the Village.
Once they were some distance away from the Village, Baek Do-gyeong spoke.
“Make sure the donkeys don’t break from the line, and check the waterproof tarps thoroughly.”
“Yes! Brother.”
“We’ve already checked them two or three times. Don’t worry.”
The Village youth replied with smiles.
Having grown up together in the same Village and worked in lockstep, the young men were as close as biological brothers, sharing a bond just as tight.
Baek Wol-sang’s gaze turned toward Woo Geom-san.
“Geom-san, follow from the rear and prepare for any potential threats.”
“Is there anything else we need to pay special attention to besides bandits?”
“At this time of year, bears and wolves are highly active.”
“Understood.”
Woo Geom-san replied calmly.
Having spent five years on Cheonbaeksan, Woo Geom-san also knew there were many bears and wolves in the area.
The Cheonbaeksan Mountain Range was incredibly vast and dense, providing a habitat for countless beasts.
Deer and wild boars were abundant, and bears or wolves that preyed on them were not uncommon sights either.
However, they shied away from humans and avoided approaching the Village if possible. Because of this, they rarely encountered bears or wolves normally.
They were even less likely to appear before people moving in a group like this. But since no one ever knew what might happen in life, it was better to be thoroughly prepared.
Bears and wolves were already no match for Woo Geom-san.
Yet, even if only for the safety of the Village youth, he could not afford to slacken his vigilance.
Baek Wol-sang, who knew the path well, led the group from the front.
As was the case with most trading journeys, a seasoned guide was bound to take the lead to set the direction when traveling a long distance.
For the past several years, the guide for this group had been Baek Wol-sang.
He had that much experience, and the young men’s trust in him was deep.
Woo Geom-san followed the group from the rear while looking around at his surroundings.
After the landslide blocked the original path they used, the villagers went down to Guangu County through this path. So they knew the currently utilized path well. However, knowing it well and it being safe were entirely separate matters.
The path they were walking on now had many sections that were incredibly dangerous. Therefore, they had to exercise extreme caution.
Through five years of experience, Baek Wol-sang knew all the hazardous sections inside out. Thus, they were able to pass through the initial dangerous sections without much trouble.
“Let’s take a short break here. Everyone, rest!”
Half a day after leaving the Village, the word ‘rest’ finally came out of Baek Wol-sang’s mouth.
“Ughhh! I’m dying.”
“I’ve already got blisters on the soles of my feet.”
As if they had been waiting for it, groans spilled from the mouths of the Village youth.
And no wonder, for although they had walked for a mere half a day, their appearance was as wretched as if they had been walking for days.
Their entire bodies were drenched in sweat, and heat was radiating from their heads and shoulders.
Even for the young men seasoned by mountain life, it was no easy path.
They traveled back and forth along such a rugged path three or four times every year.
If it weren’t for their families back in the Village, it was a sacrifice they would never have made.
One of the Village youth pulled out a bundle of food from his pack and spoke.
“Everyone, try one of these. My wife packed it for me, and it’s quite edible.”
“What? Brother, does this mean you don’t want to die alone?”
“What did you say? You punk!”
“No, I mean, everyone knows how dreadful sister-in-law’s cooking is, so that’s…”
A younger brother who was close to the young man waved his hands frantically, desperately refusing the food.
“Why, you little!”
“Oh my! I messed up. Please forgive me. Still, sister-in-law’s food is…”
“Still…”
“Hahaha!”
At the banter between the two, the young men burst out laughing.
Woo Geom-san also watched the scene with a smile.
Unlike the young men who were drenched in sweat, his face was perfectly fresh.
For Woo Geom-san, who had mastered Flowing Void Steps, a mountain path of this level was no issue at all.
The Village youth did not find Woo Geom-san’s appearance strange in the slightest.
It was because they knew just how incomparably high-high martial arts he had mastered.
They knew he was different from them, but they did not envy him for it.
It was due to the demeanor Woo Geom-san had shown in the Village over the past five years.
Woo Geom-san never put on airs just because he had learned martial arts; furthermore, he always did his absolute best when it came to farming or pioneering the plank road.
Because they knew Woo Geom-san’s sincerity, the Village youth also treated him without any formality, just like a biological brother.
The young man who had pulled food out from his pack handed one to Woo Geom-san as well.
What he held out was a piece of pitch-black Dried Meat. It was literally dried meat, but it was impossible to tell why it had discolored so blackly.
“Try this. Unlike how it looks, it’s really quite edible.”
“But really, sister-in-law’s skills are…”
“What? Geom-san, are you going to be like that too?”
“No, it’s not that. I’ll eat it. I’m eating!”
“If you guys really keep doing this, I’m telling my wife.”
“Aw! Come on, over something like that…”
Woo Geom-san quickly snatched the Dried Meat from his hand and put it in his mouth.
“See? I’m eating it.”
“You, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
“Yes sir!”
Woo Geom-san replied while chewing the Dried Meat.
Contrary to its pitch-black appearance, the Dried Meat was actually quite edible.
Woo Geom-san munched and savored the Dried Meat.
The longer he chewed, the richer the juices tasted.
“Not bad!”
Chewing the Dried Meat, Woo Geom-san leaned his back against a boulder and looked up at the sky.
Just then, Baek Wol-sang approached Woo Geom-san’s side.
“How is it? Managing all right?”
“It’s not tiring.”
“Well, I suppose saying something like that to you is ridiculous. You’re a guy who practically flies across mountains.”
“But Brother, what are you going to do since you miss Su-yeon so much? You have to be apart for almost a month.”
“Even without you saying so, she’s already flickering before my eyes. It’s a real problem.”
Baek Su-yeon was the name of Baek Wol-sang’s daughter.
Baek Wol-sang, who had no children for a long time, had gained a lovely daughter two months ago.
Even though it wasn’t a son, the entire Baek Clan rejoiced.
In particular, the joy of Baek Do-gyeong, Baek Wol-sang’s father, was beyond words.
Baek Do-gyeong practically lived with Baek Su-yeon tucked by his side.
Seeing her husband like that, his wife chided him for being eccentric, but Baek Do-gyeong paid her no mind.
Even Baek Ho-yang, who could be considered the greatest elder of the Baek Clan, was so delighted by Baek Su-yeon’s birth that he visited frequently.
Since everyone in the family showered her with love, Baek Su-yeon grew prettier by the day.
It was understandable that Baek Wol-sang missed his daughter.
“Su-yeon will definitely become an incredible beauty.”
“You think so too, right? I need to strictly crack down from now on so that men can’t even approach her.”
“She’s only two months old, though?”
“What does that matter? Aside from the men of our Baek Clan, everyone is banned from approaching.”
“Then I won’t be able to see her either?”
“You’re an exception.”
“Really?”
“So consider it an honor, you rascal!”
“Thank you so much. I will consider it a lifelong honor.”
When Woo Geom-san spoke while clasping his hands exaggeratedly, Baek Wol-sang let out a chuckle.
“I feel relieved because you came along with us. I’ll continue to count on you.”
“I will do my best.”
The two shared various small talk after that as well.
Once he judged that the group’s physical strength had recovered to some extent, Baek Wol-sang stood up from his seat and spoke.
“All right, let’s head out.”
“Yes sir!”
“All right, let’s go.”
The young men followed Baek Wol-sang’s words without a single complaint.
It was because they knew that in a trading journey like this, it was crucial to follow the leader’s orders.
Under Baek Wol-sang’s guidance, they set out on their way.
The mountain path was rough and rugged.
After walking for a long time, they entered the most dangerous section of the first day.
It was a path that passed along a sheer, vertical cliff.
The path’s width was so narrow that a single mistake could lead to a plunge down the Manjangdanae.
In the past, they had lost several donkeys while passing through here.
Baek Wol-sang warned everyone.
“Be careful so the donkeys don’t misstep.”
If they lost the tea, they could just harvest it again, but if they lost a donkey, the loss would be far too severe.
Donkeys were a precious asset.
Especially in a rugged mountain like Cheonbaeksan, they were far more useful than horses.
They could climb narrow and steep paths where horses could never go, and with their great endurance and physical strength, they could travel long distances even while loaded with heavy baggage.
For that reason, the villagers tried to increase the number of donkeys, but they did not multiply easily. Thus, they received even more precious treatment.
Under Baek Wol-sang’s guidance, the group carefully walked along the treacherous cliff path.
“Whew!”
“Holy shit! I’m losing my mind from the tension.”
Although it was a path they had traveled back and forth multiple times, there was not a trace of ease on the young men’s faces.
That was how dangerous the path was.
Woo Geom-san focused his gaze from the very rear to ensure that the people and donkeys were traveling safely.
The cliff was menacing enough to make even him, who had mastered martial arts, feel a dizzying sensation.
“Giddyap!”
“Come this way.”
The young men carefully walked while pulling the donkeys’ reins.
The donkeys also knew it was dangerous, so they exerted themselves to take the safe path.
It was just when they had almost arrived at the end of the cliff path while exercising extreme caution.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a tremendous gale swept across the cliff path.
One donkey loaded heavily with baggage lost its balance and staggered. Consequently, the body of the young man holding the donkey’s reins was also violently shaken.
“Ugh!”
The young man tried to regain his balance by pulling tightly on the donkey’s reins. But that was a mistake.
Startled by the pulling force, the donkey reared up, and the young man’s balance completely collapsed as he was dragged by the donkey’s strength.
In the end, the donkey and the young man collided, putting them on the verge of plunging below the cliff.
“N-No!”
“Ju-myeong!”
Belatedly realizing the situation, the young men screamed in despair.
It was exactly at that moment that Woo Geom-san moved.
Flash!
Kicking off the cliff and throwing his body forward, Woo Geom-san grabbed the back of the Village youth’s collar with one hand.
“Catch him.”
Woo Geom-san threw the young man as he was toward where the other young men were.
“Aaaah!”
The young man flew gracefully like a bird and landed safely where the other people stood.
Although he fell bottom-first and received a tremendous impact, he didn’t even have the frame of mind to feel the pain.
It was because the young man’s mind had completely gone blank, causing his body to freeze.
After saving the young man, Woo Geom-san gripped the donkey’s reins tightly with one hand, and his other hand grabbed a stone protruding abruptly from the cliff.
Naturally, it was impossible to withstand the immense weight of the donkey and the baggage with only Woo Geom-san’s arm strength.
It was an action made possible because Choyeon Simgyeol backed it up.
The surrounding energy that entered his body bolstered Woo Geom-san’s internal energy.
While holding the donkey’s reins, Woo Geom-san swung his body slightly in midair for a moment, and using that rebound, he hurled the donkey upward.
Hee-hawww!
At the dizzying sensation of flying through the air, the donkey let out a bizarre bray.
At that exact moment, Woo Geom-san kicked off the cliff and threw his body toward the donkey.
If a human fell bottom-first, they might not suffer a major injury, but if a donkey fell like that, it was certain to be severely injured.
If even a single leg broke, they would have no choice but to put it down.
To prevent such a worst-case scenario, Woo Geom-san had moved.
In midair, the hands of Woo Geom-san as he caught the donkey moved fluidly.
He had deployed Chaeuolsu.
His hands, moving as gently as if plucking tea leaves, softly caught the donkey’s torso in midair.
While holding the donkey like that, Woo Geom-san landed lightly on the path.
Seeing Woo Geom-san land safely along with the donkey, the young men could not close their wide-open mouths in shock.
With everyone’s gaze focused on him like that, Woo Geom-san needlessly patted the donkey’s rump out of a sense of awkwardness.
“You fellow, be careful not to fall next time.”
“Whoaaaa!”
“This is insane.”
Belatedly, exclamations of admiration erupted from the young men.

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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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