The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 4

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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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4
Woo Geom-san Contends for Supremacy
The place where Baek Ho-yang and the boy stayed was an abandoned Guan Di Temple.
Having been neglected for a long time, the Guan Di Temple was beyond shabby; it was downright desolate. The walls were half-collapsed, and holes were punched wide through the ceiling, failing to shield them from the wind and rain.
If the two had been in perfect health, they would have already left this place. Unfortunately, however, neither Baek Ho-yang nor the boy was in very good physical condition. Therefore, they decided to stay at the Guan Di Temple for a few more days.
Baek Ho-yang gathered tree branches from nearby and started a fire.
The boy spoke with a deeply apologetic expression.
“I am sorry. This is a task I should be doing…”
“It is fine. Now is not the time to be moving around, but a time to nurse yourself back to health, so rest comfortably. Later on, even if you want to rest, you will not be able to.”
“Yes!”
“You must be famished, so eat this.”
Baek Ho-yang took a small pellet out from his robe and handed it to the boy.
“What is this?”
“It is a Biyogu Pill.”
“A Biyogu Pill?”
“It is made by mixing various grains and medicinal herbs. It does not taste good, but even so, it will make your hunger vanish.”
“Thank you.”
The boy carefully placed the Biyogu Pill into his mouth.
The Biyogu Pill, crafted through the secret heritage of the Quanzhen Sect, surprisingly had absolutely no flavor.
It would have been better if it were bitter or sour instead, but because no taste whatsoever could be felt, it felt like chewing on sand.
Nevertheless, without even once knitting his brow, the boy thoroughly chewed and ate the Biyogu Pill.
His mouth was already parched because he had not been able to drink water, and when the completely moistureless Biyogu Pill entered, his throat choked up tightly.
The boy looked at Baek Ho-yang.
Thirst must have been the same for Baek Ho-yang as well, yet he thoroughly chewed and ate the Biyogu Pill without showing a single hint of displeasure.
The sight of him silently eating the Biyogu Pill even appeared solemn.
‘Just what in the world is that person’s identity?’
The boy was also a martial artist.
His family had frequent interactions with martial artists. Thus, he had been able to see quite a few martial artists. However, not a single martial artist the boy had ever seen was as mysterious as Baek Ho-yang.
Though he wore a blood-stained, shabby Taoist Robe, a noble aura that was difficult to dare approach was flowing out from Baek Ho-yang’s entire body.
It was impossible for a person exuding such an aura to be ordinary.
The Biyogu Pill he had consumed was likewise far from ordinary.
The moment he swallowed the entire Biyogu Pill, his hunger vanished as if it were a lie.
He had never heard a story of there being a Biyogu Pill whose effects manifested so instantly.
This was because most Biyogu Pills did not digest well, merely making one’s stomach feel bloated without completely eliminating hunger.
At that moment, Baek Ho-yang opened his mouth.
“Was it palatable?”
“Yes! My hunger has vanished.”
“That is a relief. Then let us talk about our situation now. We will have to keep traveling together in the future, so should we not get to know about each other?”
“Then I will speak first.”
“Do so.”
“By any chance, have you ever heard of the Woo Family Manor?”
“I am sorry. It has not been long since I emerged into the Jianghu, so my experience and knowledge are not that wide.”
When Baek Ho-yang assumed an apologetic expression, the boy hurriedly shook his head.
“No. Since the Woo Family Manor is far away, it is not strange that you have not heard of it.”
“It seems you hail from the Woo Family Manor?”
“Yes! The Great Hero Woo Jang-myeong, Master of the Woo Family Manor, is my father. I am called Woo Geom-san, the third son of the Great Hero Woo Jang-myeong.”
“Geom-san? That is a good name.”
“Thank you.”
“From now on, I shall call you Geom-san. You may call me master—no, call me grandfather.”
“Grandfather?”
“Why, do you dislike it?”
“No. I like it very much.”
Woo Geom-san replied in a hurry.
For some reason, the word grandfather had a much better ring to it than master, which felt somewhat distant.
Baek Ho-yang asked.
“If your family possesses a manor to that extent, they must not be ordinary either. How did you come to encounter water bandits all alone?”
“There were unavoidable circumstances.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“I will tell you from now on. Our Woo Family Manor is a family that grew large based on Shipping Rights.”
“What on earth are Shipping Rights?”
“It refers to the right to transport cargo and people through the Yangtze River, the Daha, the Huai River, and the Grand Canal.”
“Does such a right even exist in the world?”
At a fact he was entirely unaware of, Baek Ho-yang naturally wore a surprised expression.
“If you have no interest, you might not know. A long time ago, when the damage became severe due to water bandits, the sects that took the great rivers as their strongholds gathered their strength and suppressed them. Those who secured safe waterways in that manner claimed rights over the rivers passing through their respective territories. This is the beginning of Shipping Rights.”
“Ha! For such a right to exist in the world, is it not sheer absurdity? Even so, did the other sects just stay still?”
“Of course they did not stay still. They disputed, fought, and tried to snatch them away. However, the sects that claimed the Shipping Rights protected the rights they claimed through force.”
It was already a hundred years ago that the concept of Shipping Rights emerged.
The sects that claimed Shipping Rights a hundred years ago naturally faced countless challenges. However, they repelled those many challenges with force, establishing the concept of Shipping Rights.
Those who opposed it at first also gradually came to accept their rights naturally as time passed.
In that manner, the right called Shipping Rights, which did not exist in this world, came to be.
The seven factions that possess Shipping Rights are referred to as the Seven Great Water Gates. Originally, they were split into dozens, but as time passed, they were integrated and merged into seven factions.
The Woo Family Manor was one of the Seven Great Water Gates that possessed Shipping Rights.
Although their power had shrunk a lot over the course of a hundred years due to incompetent descendants, they still firmly protected the Shipping Rights.
“The problem is that as our Woo Family Manor grew weaker, a faction that covets the Shipping Rights appeared. It is precisely the sect called the Yunyo Bang.”
The Yunyo Bang was a sect that placed its stronghold South of the Yangtze River.
The Yunyo Bang, which possessed its own merchant group, coveted the Shipping Rights.
Among those, the place they were eyeing was precisely the region where the Woo Family Manor was located.
Situated on the waterway where the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal intersect, the Woo Family Manor was truly the prime choice spot.
If they could only obtain the Shipping Rights held by the Woo Family Manor, the power of the Yunyo Bang would instantly grow several times larger.
The Yunyo Bang approached while targeting the Shipping Rights of the Woo Family Manor.
“The Chief of Yunyo Bang wished to marry his third son, Yun Tae-ho, to my younger sister to make us blood allies.”
“That is a orthodox method.”
“Yes! The problem is that Yun Tae-ho is a piece of trash worse than a dog and a dreadful profligate, and the age of my younger sister, So-ha, is barely thirteen.”
The age difference between the two alone was double.
Normally, such a marriage should not have been permitted.
However, for whatever reason, Woo Jang-myeong did not give a definitive answer, and because of this, Yun Tae-ho held a lingering attachment and continuously demanded the marriage.
Due to Woo Jang-myeong’s ambiguous attitude, the Woo Family Manor fell into great distress.
Therefore, unable to just watch any longer, Woo Geom-san stepped forward.
He formally requested a martial duel from Yun Tae-ho, who was making advances on his younger sister.
They say there are no fierce tigers that sire dogs, but Yun Tae-ho was a worthless fellow except for his decent appearance, and he was no match for Woo Geom-san.
Yun Tae-ho, who had looked down on Woo Geom-san for being young, had his face turned into mush, and thoroughly humiliated, he returned to the Yunyo Bang.
“The problem was the aftermath. If I stayed at the Woo Family Manor, it was obvious that they would use me as an excuse to continuously raise issues. That is why I left the Woo Family Manor.”
“Ha! You mean you came out on your own?”
“To be precise, it amounts to fleeing under the cover of night. I just never expected to encounter water bandits along the way.”
“It seems there is no sect possessing Shipping Rights in this area, seeing as how water bandits are running rampant.”
“How can barely seven sects manage all of the rivers and canals? It is only natural that their power does not reach as far as a remote place like this.”
“I see.”
Baek Ho-yang nodded his head.
Woo Geom-san’s words were so interesting that it was fun to listen to.
The concept of Shipping Rights and the sects called the Seven Great Water Gates were all stories he was hearing for the first time.
Thinking that the world was changing so rapidly while he was merely cooped up in the mountains, he felt himself to be like a frog in a well.
Then, a question suddenly arose.
“By any chance, the water bandits you met…”
“Yes! It seemed they were people instigated by the Yunyo Bang. Seeing how they treated me with particular malice…”
“You seem certain.”
“Yes!”
Woo Geom-san replied without even a shred of hesitation.
An ordinary water bandit would have no reason to target and ruin his right hand and Dantian.
Unless, that is, they had been instigated by someone.
Woo Geom-san believed that those who did the instigating would be the Yunyo Bang.
“Do you have no intention of returning to the Woo Family Manor even now?”
“If I return, they will continue to seize upon my existence as a pretext to escalate the issue.”
“Mmm!”
“As of right now, it will be better for the Woo Family Manor if I am not there.”
His response was so mature that it was truly impossible to believe it came from a young fifteen-year-old boy.
Baek Ho-yang asked carefully.
“If you do not go now, there is no telling when you will be able to return. Even so, will you go with me?”
“Even if I return now anyway, I will regret it.”
“Your determination is firm.”
“Yes!”
Woo Geom-san replied shortly.
From the moment he stepped out of the Woo Family Manor on his own feet, he had no intention of returning.
Because he knew that a being like himself would only be a burden rather than a help to the Woo Family Manor.
He also possessed quick wits.
He knew better than anyone how great a burden his actions to protect his sister would become to the Woo Family Manor.
From the very moment he fought against Yun Tae-ho, who dared to push for a political marriage with his sister, there was no place for him to return to.
Baek Ho-yang spoke.
“With that kind of resolve, it is fine for you to go with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“It is difficult to explain in words. Once you get there, you will naturally come to know.”
“Understood.”
“For now, let us stay here for a few more days while treating your wounds. Since we have to go quite a long way, recovering your injuries and physical strength is the priority.”
“Yes!”
Even without that, a tired look was distinct on Woo Geom-san’s face.
Having given a long explanation without being recovered, his physical strength was entirely exhausted.
Baek Ho-yang made Woo Geom-san lie down.
“Lie down by the campfire and sleep.”
“I am fine. I can still hold out.”
“I know your heart, but now is the time you must rest. I will not go anywhere and will be by your side, so close your eyes for a bit.”
“Then I will just close my eyes for a moment.”
Woo Geom-san closed his eyes with the intention of taking a rest for just a brief moment. However, without even realizing it himself, he fell into a deep sleep.
Baek Ho-yang quietly looked at the face of the deeply sleeping Woo Geom-san.
It was an ordinary-looking face.
If he had not directly seen his gaze and conversed with him, he would have absolutely never noticed that Woo Geom-san was a Taoist Vessel.
“For now, I have taken him in, but I do not know if I can raise this child properly.”
A person who has raised disciples before knows how to raise them well.
The reason the Nine Great Sects could flourish greatly was because they had developed their disciples well to that extent.
For hundreds of years, they researched and applied methods to efficiently educate disciples.
The system created in that manner was immensely efficient, allowing them to turn even a disciple with lacking talent into a useful martial artist.
Occasionally, a martial artist who astonished the world was produced, bringing prosperity to the sect.
As generations passed, their system became firmer, and the secret heritage of raising disciples added depth.
On the other hand, because the Quanzhen Sect failed to possess such a system, it collapsed as it went through generations.
To teach the disciple he had obtained with difficulty, there were many things Baek Ho-yang also had to ponder deeply.
Though he was an outstanding martial artist, it was his first time teaching someone.
A novice master had much to worry about.
Looking at the sleeping face of Woo Geom-san, Baek Ho-yang entered into deep deliberation.

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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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