The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 55

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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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55
The Fight for the Righteous Sword
If Woo Geom-san had instead opposed her with massive martial cultivation force, and she had lost in a clash of internal energy, she would have accepted it easily.
But without any resistance whatsoever, her force flowed away somewhere, ultimately vanishing without a trace like a river reaching the sea.
Because this was her first time experiencing such a thing, Jeong I-yeong could not hide her bewildered expression.
Paying no heed to Jeong I-yeong’s reaction, Woo Geom-san took the alcohol bottle from her hand.
“Let me pour for you this time.”
Trickle!
Jeong I-yeong’s cup was filled to the brim with alcohol.
Thinking that he might press down on the cup using internal strength just as she had, Jeong I-yeong channeled her force and prepared to counter.
However, contrary to her expectations, Woo Geom-san truly only poured the alcohol.
Thanks to that, the force Jeong I-yeong had gone to the trouble of channeling became useless.
Since she had exerted herself all alone only to look ridiculous, Jeong I-yeong bit her lip tightly without realizing it.
Yet, showing any more emotion than this would only expose her own inadequacy and hastiness.
Jeong I-yeong forced a calm expression and spoke.
“Thank… you.”
“Let us have a drink.”
“Very well.”
The two made a show of clinking their cups together before bringing the alcohol to their lips.
Even as she swallowed the alcohol down her throat, Jeong I-yeong could not take her eyes off Woo Geom-san.
He possessed a handsome face and a mysterious aura, to the point where it felt like a waste for him to live only in the mountains.
If Jeong I-yeong had been an ordinary woman, she might have fallen completely for Woo Geom-san’s aura and face. However, Jeong I-yeong was by no means an ordinary person.
She was a martial artist who had waded through far more shurabas than most martial artists in the Jianghu.
She had crossed countless lines between life and death, and had met just as many people. Therefore, she prided herself on having a better eye for reading people than anyone else. Yet, even with eyes like hers, she could not fathom the latent power possessed by the man named Woo Geom-san.
What level his martial arts were at, how strong his internal energy was—she could read absolutely nothing.
The only thing she could guess was that the gongfu Woo Geom-san had mastered was absolutely extraordinary.
‘There was a reason why the Young Sect Master was mindful of him.’
She felt she understood why So Seol-yeong referred to Woo Geom-san by the martial title of Righteous Sword.
Human beings feel uncomfortable around or fear existence that lies beyond their scope of understanding.
So Seol-yeong was born with a destiny where she must absolutely never fear others.
Woo Geom-san was a breed of person So Seol-yeong had never experienced until now. Because she lacked a standard of judgment for someone like Woo Geom-san, she was unable to form a proper assessment.
For that reason, it was clear she deliberately gave him a title and stood on guard.
Though the title of Righteous Sword might feel amusing to some, in Jeong I-yeong’s eyes, it seemed to best express the inscrutable slyness of the human named Woo Geom-san.
Woo Geom-san set his cup down and looked out the window.
If he had it his way, he wanted to ask Jeong I-yeong about the Woo Family Manor right this instant. But if he did that, Jeong I-yeong would immediately notice that Woo Geom-san was connected to the Woo Family Manor.
The moment she realized he was from the Woo Family Manor, she would undoubtedly scheme for a way to utilize it.
Because the Man-sang Alliance was originally that kind of place.
If there was even a slight connection, they would mobilize every means to take full advantage of it.
There was nothing more foolish than handing over one’s own information without having secured a clear upper hand.
Fortunately, it seemed there was no major disaster at the Woo Family Manor. If such a massive incident had occurred, Jeong I-yeong would have reacted in some way when Woo Geom-san mentioned the River Martial World.
‘No news must be good news.’
Woo Geom-san hid his regretful feelings and raised his cup again.
Jeong I-yeong watched Woo Geom-san’s figure intently.
‘Just as the Young Sect Master said, he truly is well-versed in the Jianghu. But what was his reason for deliberately mentioning the River Martial World in that situation? Woo? Could he perhaps be related to the Woo Family Manor?’
In the River Martial World, namely the Seven Great Water Gates that held the shipping rights, there existed a group of people who used the surname Woo.
It was none other than the Woo Family Manor.
Coincidentally, Woo Geom-san’s surname was also Woo.
Jeong I-yeong’s intuition flared sharply. The thought struck her that there might be some connection between Woo Geom-san and the Woo Family Manor.
Right then, Woo Geom-san spoke to Master Seo.
“Master Seo!”
“What is it?”
“Could you perhaps procure some silver needles and books the next time you come?”
“Silver needles?”
“Yes! I would like it if you could find the fine needles used by physicians. Would that be possible?”
“That is not a particularly difficult matter.”
“I will pay the price, so I ask for properly crafted ones.”
“Understood. I shall procure ones made by a master craftsman.”
Master Seo answered readily.
Since he could reap immense profits just by maintaining a good relationship with Yunjung Village, a request of this level was no problem at all.
“Thank you.”
“What kind of books do you want?”
“The genre does not matter. Miscellaneous books are fine, and Daoist scriptures or Buddhist scriptures are good too.”
“You do not want a martial arts manual?”
“My grandfather will be reading them. He is already advanced in age, so what would he do by looking at a martial arts manual?”
“Do you have a grandfather?”
“Yes! He is a lifelong local of Yunjung Village, and lately he has become deeply engrossed in reading books.”
At Woo Geom-san’s answer, Jeong I-yeong showed a disappointed expression.
‘If his grandfather is a lifelong local of Yunjung Village, it means he has no connection to the Woo Family Manor.’
The Woo Family Manor and Yunjung Village were at opposite extremes of location.
Even if one only calculated the distance, they were separated by at least ten thousand li.
It was not a distance where physical contact was possible.
Ultimately, her speculation from a short while ago was nothing but a delusion.
Jeong I-yeong clicked her tongue and raised her cup.
On the other hand, Master Seo spoke with an impressed expression.
“You are a filial grandson who thinks dearly of his grandfather. As long as it is not a martial arts manual, I can find as many as you need. I will ask around and try to find some useful books.”
“Thank you, Master Seo!”
“If you are grateful, try increasing the tea harvest volume a bit. Even if the harvest increases by just a hundred catties, how much profit would that be?”
“I will work hard to try.”
“Haha!”
Whether he liked Woo Geom-san’s answer, Master Seo burst into a hearty laugh.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the room softened considerably.
As Master Seo, who had been overwhelmed by Jeong I-yeong’s presence, began to lead the conversation in earnest, smiles appeared on the faces of the village youths as well.
Jeong I-yeong smiled as she watched the conversation between Master Seo and the village youths. However, the look in her eyes remained as cold as ever.
***
Late at night, Jeong I-yeong left the Zhuyang Inn alone.
The moment she came out, those who had been waiting outside approached her.
They were the martial artists of the Cheanan Squad led by Jeong I-yeong.
They were staying at a different inn.
Jeong I-yeong asked them.
“How did it go?”
“We are sorry. Because it is such a remote backcountry, there was no way to find out anything here. They say even the people living in Guangu County do not know much about the people of Yunjung Village.”
“So in the end, it means you found out absolutely nothing about Woo Geom-san?”
“We beg your forgiveness.”
Jeong I-yeong bit her lip tightly.
No person suddenly falls from the sky out of nowhere.
Likewise, an expert is not completed or does not appear overnight.
One must cultivate for many years, and must receive the help of numerous people.
Only when there is a proper master along with the systematic support of a sect can a single expert be born.
On rare occasions, an unexampled genius might suddenly create or learn an outstanding martial art, but that too was impossible without a solid foundation.
If an expert like Woo Geom-san had appeared, there would certainly be a sect and a master who raised him.
Yet, not a single trace could be found in Guangu County.
All of this happened because Yunjung Village was located in too deep of a backcountry.
Even so, she could not send people to Yunjung Village right now to dig up information. Not only would it take too much time, but they did not even know the way to Yunjung Village.
Dispatching people now was too inefficient an endeavor.
Moreover, because another mission awaited Jeong I-yeong and the Cheanan Squad, they could not stay here for long.
“It cannot be helped. I have no choice but to ask Master Seo to find out as much information as possible.”
Jeong I-yeong clicked her tongue.
It was because it did not sit well with her.
Master Seo was a person with a talent for business, but he was not someone skilled at digging up information like Jeong I-yeong or the Cheanan Squad.
It would take an eternity to obtain proper information.
Perhaps he might never obtain it at all.
If she had simply not known of Woo Geom-san it would be one thing, but she did not like the fact that she had to leave things be like this despite knowing about him.
Jeong I-yeong looked at her own hand.
Her hand, fine and without a single blemish, contained ten thousand catties of force.
If she set her mind to it, she could instantly turn a boulder the size of a house into powder.
Her internal energy was so fierce and powerful that even renowned experts of the Jianghu found it burdensome to engage in an internal energy confrontation with Jeong I-yeong.
Yet, Woo Geom-san had let such internal energy of Jeong I-yeong flow away as if it were nothing.
If he had instead counterattacked with a powerful force, she would not be this confused.
Because this was her first time experiencing such a case, Jeong I-yeong was also bewildered.
“Woo Geom-san! I must absolutely never let go of the thread of interest regarding him.”
Jeong I-yeong glared at the Zhuyang Inn where Woo Geom-san was staying, as if facing a mortal enemy.
***
Woo Geom-san and the youths checked the luggage loaded onto the backs of the donkeys.
Jeong I-yeong and Master Seo had left the Zhuyang Inn yesterday, and now it was their turn to leave.
Woo Geom-san and the youths had gone around the market all day yesterday to buy the goods needed for the village.
The luggage that could not be fully loaded onto the backs of the donkeys was carried directly on their own backs.
Once all the checks were finished, Baek Wol-sang spoke.
“Alright, let us head out to the village now.”
“Yes!”
The youths answered in energetic voices.
Though it was a pity they could not stay long in Guangu County, still, the road returning to the village always made their hearts flutter.
The youths and the donkeys lined up and stepped out of the Zhuyang Inn.
However, in a shop near the Zhuyang Inn, there were those secretly watching the procession of donkeys and youths.
They were men dressed in shabby clothes.
One was skinny and emaciated, while the other was plump and chubby, creating a contrast.
Pretending to linger as they shopped, they watched the horses, donkeys, and people emerging from the Zhuyang Inn.
“They are out.”
“Look at that luggage. It is immense.”
The donkeys lined up numbered over twenty.
The amount of luggage loaded onto the backs of the donkeys was also massive.
It was a procession that would make anyone’s mouth water.
“Let us go inform the others quickly.”
“Hurry up. We need to arrive at Cheonbaeksan before them.”
They slipped out of the shop and ran at full speed. Because they ran too fast, they bumped into several people on the street.
“Ah!”
“What the?”
The people who were bumped into flared up in anger, but they left the street without so much as an apology.
Woo Geom-san looked toward the direction where the commotion had occurred.
The sight of several people venting their anger came into his view.
“Hmm!”
It was right when Woo Geom-san tilted his head at the strange feeling.
Screeech!
A sharp bird cry echoed from the sky.
When he raised his head and looked up, he saw a hawk circling the sky.
Woo Geom-san recognized at a glance that the hawk was Hongbaek.
Though he had not seen him for just a few days, Hongbaek’s size had grown larger.
His skill at gliding also seemed to have developed further.
Even though Hongbaek was still a chick, he was emanating a majesty no less than that of an adult bird.
Woo Geom-san smiled and raised his arm. Then, Hongbaek, who had been circling the sky, descended at a terrifying speed.
Whoosh!
Hongbaek, who had been plunging down like a flash of lightning, opened his wings wide right in front of Woo Geom-san to reduce his speed, and landed lightly on his forearm.
“Ohh!”
“Wow!”
Exclamations burst out from here and there.
Not only the youths, but the people on the street also admired Hongbaek upon seeing him.
Hongbaek held his head up stiffly on top of Woo Geom-san’s forearm.
That appearance looked exactly as if he was enjoying the attention of the people.
With an absurd expression, Woo Geom-san lightly tapped Hongbaek’s beak and spoke.
“For a mere bird, are you actually enjoying the attention of people?”

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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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