The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 53

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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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53
The Fight for Supremacy
The tea harvest was a complete success.
The villagers had joined forces, and their collective hard work yielded a tea of much higher quality than in previous years.
All that remained was to transport the painfully harvested tea down the mountain to Guangu County.
The villagers distributed the tea into sacks and wrapped them securely in waterproof tarps. These tightly bound tea bundles were then loaded onto the backs of donkeys.
The sacks that couldn’t fit on the donkeys were carried on the backs of the young men.
Because the yield was far greater than in previous years, more young men were mobilized for this trading journey.
In the spring, only about ten people, including Woo Geom-san, had gone to Guangu County, but this time, five more had been added.
Baek Wol-sang took hold of a donkey’s reins and spoke as he looked back at the young men following him.
“It’s great that we have more tea and more hands, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to get a fair price for it.”
His worry was only natural.
When supply increased, prices typically plummeted.
Woo Geom-san comforted the anxious Baek Wol-sang.
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry, brother!”
“You think so?”
“Of course. Compared to the total amount of tea distributed across the entire Jianghu, this amount won’t even make a scratch. Even if we harvested a hundred times more than this, we’d be perfectly fine, so don’t worry.”
“Now that I have a child, I find myself worrying about things I never used to. I guess I’m getting old too.”
“Well, you are at the age where white hairs start to show.”
“What? You rascal, bring your forehead over here.”
“Hahaha!”
When Baek Wol-sang feigned a flick to his forehead, Woo Geom-san burst into a hearty laugh.
“What are those two so happy about?”
“I swear, I don’t know where his maturity went.”
The other young men shook their heads as they watched the two.
Just thinking about the ten days it would take to descend the mountain already made a cold sweat run down their spines.
While sightseeing in the world below the mountain was enjoyable, the process of getting down was far too grueling.
If only the time it took to descend the mountain could be shortened by just a few days, they would have nothing left to wish for. That was why they were risking their lives to carve out the plank road.
Because of that, they put aside all personal matters and clung to the plank road to work on its construction whenever they had free time.
Progress was painfully slow.
The entire canyon was composed of solid rock. Consequently, even after working all day long, they could only advance a few paces.
Even so, the people did not give up and worked on the construction day after day.
They held their hammers and chisels with the resolve of the Foolish Old Man who moved the mountain.
When they returned home after a hard day of labor, they fell asleep as if collapsing, and there was not a single part of their bodies that did not ache.
Despite this, the reason they did not give up on carving out the plank road was to bequeath a far better life to their children than their own.
Inevitably, once a new path was opened, interaction with Guangu County would increase significantly, and their lives would undoubtedly become more affluent.
For the sake of their own future and that of their children, they were walking a long and arduous path.
One of the village youths pointed at Woo Geom-san’s shoulder and asked.
“By the way, wouldn’t it be better to leave that fellow back in the village?”
What he was pointing at was none other than Hongbaek.
Hongbaek was perched on Woo Geom-san’s shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I wanted to do that too, but this guy refused to separate from me even if it killed him.”
“At this point, it’s an illness.”
The youth stared at Hongbaek with an exasperated expression.
Hongbaek sat comfortably as if he were a part of Woo Geom-san’s own body.
Woo Geom-san walked along the mountain path with Hongbaek perched on his shoulder.
Perhaps because autumn was setting in, autumn leaves were turning vibrant colors all across Cheonbaeksan.
As mist rolled into the multi-colored mountains, it created the illusion of strolling through Dowongyeong itself. However, reality was not quite so beautiful.
“Everyone, watch your step.”
“Keep your eyes on the back of the person in front of you.”
The area they were passing through was the most perilous path on Cheonbaeksan.
A single misstep could send someone plunging down a bottomless cliff.
Because of that, they had to move their feet with extreme caution, maintaining a state of heightened tension.
Baek Wol-sang led the way, guiding the group from the front, while Woo Geom-san stayed at the very rear to prepare for any unexpected situations that might arise.
Whoosh!
A strong gust of wind blew as they passed the cliff.
Everyone lowered their posture, taking care not to get swept away by the wind.
Woo Geom-san also walked cautiously like them when he felt a strange sensation on his cheek.
Turning his head to look, he saw Hongbaek lightly spreading his wings, braving the wind with his whole body.
As his wings fluttered in the wind, his feathers tickled Woo Geom-san’s cheek.
Woo Geom-san flashed a smile.
It was the nature of all birds to want to ride the wind and fly high.
“You really are a bird. Still, your wings have only recently healed, so you must be careful.”
Yet, even at Woo Geom-san’s words, Hongbaek did not fold his wings.
As if he felt something, he continued to flap his wings, taking the wind head-on.
At this point, Woo Geom-san no longer stopped Hongbaek.
Just as humans possessed intuition, beasts possessed powerful instincts.
Even without being taught, they knew when to walk and when to fly.
It seemed that Hongbaek’s instinct to fly had finally awakened.
Woo Geom-san moved Hongbaek from his shoulder to his forearm to make it easier for him to flap his wings.
With more space available, Hongbaek’s wingbeats grew even more intense.
Watching Hongbaek’s frantic movements, a powerful sensation washed over Woo Geom-san as well.
‘Now is the time.’
Woo Geom-san swung his arm just like that, tossing Hongbaek up into the sky.
“Ah!”
“Geom-san!”
The people, realizing the situation too late, gasped in surprise, but Hongbaek was already flapping his wings high up in the sky.
He moved his wings desperately, but in vain, as his body began to fall toward the bottom of the cliff.
Woo Geom-san clenched his fists tight.
It wasn’t as if he had thrown Hongbaek without any thought.
If the bird couldn’t catch the wind and fly, he intended to deploy his Flowing Void Steps directly to rescue him. However, that was a last resort.
Woo Geom-san believed in Hongbaek.
It was at that exact moment.
Swoosh!
Hongbaek, who had been falling endlessly, suddenly soared upward by riding the wind.
As if he had suddenly figured out the knack for catching the wind, Hongbaek spread his wings wide while riding the fierce gale.
Upon seeing that sight, the people burst into cheers.
“Whooa!”
“Hongbaek is flying!”
The young men pointed at Hongbaek floating high in the sky, deeply moved.
Since everyone had watched Hongbaek grow up, they were emotionally invested.
As if their own children were taking their very first steps, they rejoiced at the sight of Hongbaek’s first glide.
Perhaps because it was his first time flying, Hongbaek’s wingbeats appeared precarious. However, as time passed, his movements became increasingly natural, and he began to ride the wind skillfully.
Baek Wol-sang patted Woo Geom-san’s shoulder and said.
“Hongbaek looks magnificent! Congratulations.”
“I know, right? He does look a bit cool.”
He wondered if this was what it felt like to be a doting parent.
Suppressing a smile with great effort, Woo Geom-san said.
“Let’s get moving now.”
“What about Hongbaek?”
“He’ll follow.”
“What if he never comes back?”
“That would also be Hongbaek’s choice, so it’s fine.”
“My, you certainly are easygoing.”
Baek Wol-sang signaled to the young men, and they set off once again.
Woo Geom-san looked up at the sky as he followed behind the youths.
Fortunately, Hongbaek was following him well from the sky. However, he seemed to find his first flight so amusing that he showed no intention of coming down.
Having caught the wind perfectly, he barely even flapped his wings now.
“At this rate, he could stay afloat all day long.”
In a way, it shared a similar principle with the subtle truths of the Flowing Void Steps or the Choyeon Simgyeol.
The martial arts he mastered also aimed to yield the maximum effect with minimal effort by conforming to nature.
Woo Geom-san stopped looking at Hongbaek.
Even without keeping his eyes on him, he was certain that Hongbaek would follow.
Just as he believed, Hongbaek circled the sky, never leaving Woo Geom-san’s side.
It was only when Woo Geom-san’s group stopped to take a break that Hongbaek descended from the sky.
Screeech!
With a sharp cry, Hongbaek landed upon Woo Geom-san’s shoulder.
For Hongbaek, who was panting heavily with his beak wide open, Woo Geom-san prepared some water.
He poured water from his canteen into his palm and offered it to Hongbaek.
Hongbaek gulped the water down eagerly.
Next, Woo Geom-san offered Hongbaek the dried meat he had prepared in advance.
Only after consuming the dried meat did Hongbaek regain his original, noble appearance.
Stroking Hongbaek’s beak, Woo Geom-san spoke.
“Congratulations on your first flight.”
＊＊＊
Ever since he became able to fly, Hongbaek spent more time in the firmament than on the ground.
Woo Geom-san didn’t bother telling Hongbaek to stay by his side either.
Just as a tiger must live in the forest, a hawk must live in the sky.
Since he knew the bird would return to his side when the time came after gliding to his heart’s content, there was no reason to be obsessed.
True to his thoughts, during the ten days it took to descend the mountain, Hongbaek spent most of his time in the sky, but he always returned to Woo Geom-san’s embrace when it was time to rest or sleep.
As he mastered flight, Hongbaek began to hunt.
At first, he mainly hunted tiny mice or birds, but as he grew more accustomed to hunting, he caught fairly large beasts like rabbits.
It was truly a terrifying rate of development.
Watching Hongbaek fly and hunt made him lose all track of time.
The ten days flew by like an arrow, and before he knew it, they had arrived in Guangu County.
As always, they secured their lodging at the Zhuyang Inn.
Although it was a place where several theft attempts targeting their tea had occurred, there was still no better place than the Zhuyang Inn to store their donkeys and tea.
Just before entering the Zhuyang Inn, Woo Geom-san spoke to Hongbaek.
“We will be staying here for the time being, so you go ahead and spend your time freely.”
Screeech!
As if he understood, Hongbaek let out a cry and flew high into the sky.
Without even taking a rest, Woo Geom-san headed out to the market.
The very first place he directed his steps toward was the old bookshop where he had purchased books before. However, another store had taken over the spot where the old bookshop used to be.
When he asked the current shopkeeper about the old bookshop owner’s well-being, he was told that the old man had passed away two months ago.
Woo Geom-san prayed for the repose of the bookshop owner’s soul and looked for another bookstore.
After thoroughly scouring the market, he managed to find a tiny bookshop, but the books stored there were few in number and poor in quality. Even so, Woo Geom-san selected and bought all the books that were not present in Baek Ho-yang’s study.
In the end, the total number of books that came into Woo Geom-san’s hands was a mere twelve volumes.
“This won’t be enough, but it can’t be helped.”
He had searched every nook and cranny of the market, but there was no other place where books could possibly appear.
Woo Geom-san did not possess the talent to conjure up non-existent items.
Fortunately, a decent amount of paper was piled up in the small bookstore.
Woo Geom-san gathered all the paper and stepped outside.
Since he had purchased all the items Baek Ho-yang wanted, it was now time to obtain what he needed for himself.
Woo Geom-san went around searching every blacksmith shop in the market.
It was to find silver needles suitable for executing the Nine Heavens Soul Returning Method.
Its efficacy had already been proven through Hongbaek.
If he could procure well-made items instead of the crude silver needles he had bought in the past, he would be able to see an even greater effect.
However, despite searching through every single blacksmith shop in Guangu County, he couldn’t find any decent silver needles.
He barely managed to obtain a bundle of silver needles, but they were just as dreadful as the ones he had used to save Hongbaek.
Staring at the bundle of silver needles in his hand, Woo Geom-san muttered.
“I didn’t expect it to be this difficult to find usable tools.”
It seemed that if he wanted to find the items he desired, he would have to go to a city much larger than Guangu County.
To reach a city larger than Guangu County, he would have to travel for at least another three to four days.
For Woo Geom-san, who had to return to Cheonbaeksan as soon as the tea was sold, that was a burdensome distance.
“It can’t be helped. I’ll just have to be satisfied with this much.”
In the end, Woo Geom-san gave up on finding silver needles and returned to the Zhuyang Inn.
Upon returning to the Zhuyang Inn, Woo Geom-san ended up seeing an unexpected sight.
It was carriages and wagons bearing flags inscribed with the words ‘Man-sang Alliance.’
“Have they arrived already? It’s faster than expected.”
Usually, it was customary for them to arrive two to three days later than the people of Yunjung Village. Yet, this time, they had arrived almost simultaneously.
It was distinctly different from usual.
When he stepped inside the Zhuyang Inn, he saw the village youths and Master Seo sitting across from each other at a table. However, there was an unfamiliar figure sitting beside Master Seo.
It was a woman in her mid-twenties with a cute face and an impressive, smiling expression.
She looked at Woo Geom-san with a beaming face.
Approaching him as if she had known Woo Geom-san for a long time, she greeted him intimately.
“So, you are ‘Woo Geom’.”
“Woo Geom?”
“Ah! You don’t know? My mistake then. The Young Sect Master keeps calling you that, so without realizing…”
The woman cutely stuck out her tongue as she apologized.

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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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