The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 65

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

65
Woo Geom-san Competes for Supremacy
Woo Geom-san quietly slipped away from the empty lot, unnoticed by the rowdy revelers.
“Whew!”
As Woo Geom-san let out a soft sigh, the heavy scent of liquor drifted out with his breath.
He had accepted and drank every cup offered by the villagers, and the alcohol was finally catching up to him.
Though the night was late, the villagers were still feasting and drinking, celebrating the opening of the Plank Road.
The definitive catalyst had been the timely return of the young men who had gone to sell tea leaves.
Baek Wol-sang and the young men had been absolutely ecstatic at the news of the completion, and they were currently drinking as if they intended to drain every last drop the village had to offer.
Woo Geom-san understood exactly how they felt.
He knew all too well how agonizingly difficult it had been for them to trudge up and down the mountain for the past fifteen years.
They had spent those harsh years enduring a round trip that took nearly a month, navigating a path that was treacherous even for an unburdened climber.
They had persevered through that grueling time while constantly risking a fatal plunge down Manjangdanae with just one wrong step.
Now that the Plank Road was finished, their travel time would be dramatically slashed.
No matter how long it took, six days would be more than enough for a full round trip.
While falling from the Plank Road would still mean instant death, installing railings along the dangerous sections would drastically reduce the risk. Furthermore, it was wide enough to haul carts through.
With that kind of width, even a donkey would have no trouble pulling a cart across.
They would no longer have to strain their own backs carrying heavy packs just to distribute the weight. That alone would fundamentally change their quality of life.
Above all, this Plank Road was something they had carved out with their own hands.
Though they had received an immense amount of help from Woo Geom-san, they too had gone out every single day to split and move boulders.
Blisters had formed, burst, and hardened on their hands hundreds of times over.
After balancing farm work with the grueling labor on the Plank Road, they would return home completely drained, collapsing straight into sleep.
Because it was a relentless cycle of exhausting labor every day, playing with their children or spending quality time with their families had been an unimaginable luxury.
Having endured such a grueling ordeal, it was only natural for them to be overcome with an extraordinary sense of accomplishment.
It weighed slightly on their minds that the Plank Road had been finished while they were away, but they were still profoundly grateful to have returned in time to share the celebration with the village.
Woo Geom-san sat down on a large boulder and gazed at the village.
The emotions stirring within him at this moment were also deeply special.
He had brought to fruition the monumental undertaking started by his grandfather, Baek Ho-yang.
It felt as though he had finally resolved a grand trial given to him by Yunjung Village.
For fifteen years, unless something extraordinary held him back, he had gone out to the Plank Road to work rain or shine.
Splitting boulders with a chisel and widening the path inch by inch had given him a profound sense of achievement.
It was almost hard to believe that he had actually accomplished such a staggering feat.
Woo Geom-san murmured to himself as he looked down at his calloused hands.
“We really did something incredible.”
“Today’s achievement will probably be remembered forever in the history of Yunjung Village, won’t it?”
Someone spoke just then, approaching Woo Geom-san’s side.
Woo Geom-san offered a warm smile as he looked at the newcomer.
“It’s you, Mu-rin.”
“What are you doing out here all by yourself looking so melancholy?”
The one who grumbled as he naturally took a seat beside Woo Geom-san was none other than Nam Mu-rin.
Nam Mu-rin’s face was flushed a deep crimson, indicating he had also indulged heavily in the liquor.
Looking at his face, Woo Geom-san was struck by a sudden realization of just how much time had flown by.
When they first met, Nam Mu-rin had been a tiny seven-year-old boy.
It felt surreal that the little child had grown up so fast and was now old enough to share a drink with him.
‘Come to think of it, it’s already been fifteen years since I first entered this village.’
As he reflected on how swiftly time marched on, Woo Geom-san turned to Nam Mu-rin and asked.
“Why did you come outside?”
“No matter how much I drink, I just can’t get drunk, so it’s no fun anymore.”
“Are you bragging about your alcohol tolerance?”
“Aren’t you the exact same, brother? This damn internal energy is the real problem. Every time I start to feel a good buzz, it takes over on its own and flushes out the alcohol. Sheesh!”
“You’re complaining about an absolute luxury.”
“Well, I’m just saying.”
“Right! So, how did you like your trip to Guangu County?”
“It was wonderful. It’s so massive, bustling, and extravagant… I can finally understand why the older guys look forward to the trading journeys so much.”
Nam Mu-rin candidly bared his thoughts.
For someone who had spent his entire life tucked away in Yunjung Village, Guangu County was a whole new world.
The grand streets were teeming with crowds, and countless shops filled with unfamiliar goods had constantly caught his eye.
After seeing only the plain, simple women of Yunjung Village, laying eyes on the glamorous and beautiful women in Guangu County had nearly made his head spin.
If he had his way, he would have loved to stay in Guangu County for a few more days, and he felt a wave of resentment toward the reality that prevented him from doing so.
Hearing Nam Mu-rin’s tale, Woo Geom-san let out a chuckle.
“Well, you are certainly at the age to be thinking about marriage.”
The men of Yunjung Village typically wed and started families before reaching the age of twenty.
This wasn’t unique to Yunjung Village; it was the norm for most people of this era.
It was rather unusual for Nam Mu-rin to be twenty-two and not even dating, let alone married.
“You should be talking about yourself first, brother. Are you really planning to grow old and die alone while doing nothing but practicing martial arts?”
“Who said I’m going to grow old and die alone? I’ll marry and start a family someday too. The timing just isn’t right at the moment.”
“Are you sure it’s not just because there isn’t a single woman who catches your eye?”
“Are you going to keep hitting me where it hurts?”
“Since we’re both in the same boat, let’s just drop the subject of marriage altogether.”
“Tsk! Fine, I get it.”
Woo Geom-san surrendered, realizing he had gained absolutely nothing from pushing the issue.
Nam Mu-rin beamed as he watched Woo Geom-san concede.
He deeply respected and liked Woo Geom-san.
Ever since he was a seven-year-old child, he had admired Woo Geom-san and followed him around like a shadow, which had ultimately led to his initiation into martial arts.
The individuals who had exerted the greatest influence on his twenty-two years of life were not his parents, but Woo Geom-san and Baek Ho-yang.
Thanks to them, he had learned martial arts and gained a completely different perspective on life and the world. For that, he was eternally grateful.
Woo Geom-san questioned Nam Mu-rin.
“Did anything unusual happen while you were in Guangu County?”
“Ah! Actually, yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes! While we were conducting business with Master Seo at the Zhuyang Inn, a woman from the Tianjin Escort Agency suddenly intervened.”
“The Tianjin Escort Agency?”
“Yes! They said she’s the daughter of the agency’s leader. She offered to buy our Yunjung Tea at double the price Master Seo was offering.”
“I assume Wol-sang didn’t accept her offer?”
“How did you know? You’re right! Wol-sang honored our contract with Master Seo instead of going with the Tianjin Escort Agency.”
“Wol-sang is the type of person who taps a stone bridge before crossing it. Since he doesn’t know anything about the Tianjin Escort Agency, there was no reason for him to take an unnecessary risk for a profit. So, did things end smoothly with them?”
“No, not exactly.”
Nam Mu-rin openly recounted everything that had transpired with Chief Escort Luo Tieying.
Throughout the entire explanation, Woo Geom-san’s brow remained furrowed.
The Tianjin Escort Agency and the Woo Family Manor shared an inextricably deep history.
The Woo Family Manor was situated at a vital juncture where the Grand Canal intersected with the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, while the headquarters of the Tianjin Escort Agency was located just above them, along the mid-to-lower section of the Yangtze River.
Because their territories were so close, they had interacted extensively, and it was quite common for the Woo Family Manor’s goods to be transported via the Tianjin Escort Agency.
Consequently, traffic between them had been frequent, and they naturally knew each other inside out. However, that was a reality from fifteen years ago.
Having lived completely cut off from the rest of the world for fifteen years, Woo Geom-san was entirely in the dark regarding the current state of affairs in the Jianghu.
Naturally, his knowledge concerning the Tianjin Escort Agency was severely limited as well.
At best, he only knew that the leader of the Tianjin Escort Agency had a son and a daughter, and managed twelve branch agencies.
‘Was the young master’s name Nam Seung-pyo?’
He remembered the name because Nam Seung-pyo was roughly around his own age. He also recalled hearing passing mentions that the young master had a younger sister.
Given the circumstances, there was a high probability that the Nam Su-hyang whom Nam Mu-rin encountered was indeed that younger sister.
‘To think the Tianjin Escort Agency would venture out this far.’
The Woo Family Manor and the Tianjin Escort Agency were located on the complete opposite side of the Jianghu.
The chances of them arriving here by mere coincidence were slim to none. Their sudden appearance in Guangu County meant they were fiercely determined to get their hands on Yunjung Tea.
‘Is there some sort of internal crisis within their escort agency? Is there a reason they have to go to such extreme lengths to secure Yunjung Tea?’
Woo Geom-san knitted his brows.
If there was one thing he knew for certain, it was the notorious reputation of Nam Tae-ha, the leader of the Tianjin Escort Agency, for being exceptionally obsessive.
It was said that not just Nam Tae-ha, but his entire bloodline possessed a very similar temperament. If that held true, Nam Tae-ha’s daughter, Nam Su-hyang, was highly likely to share those exact same traits.
After all, children observed and mirrored everything their parents did.
Therefore, he couldn’t help but worry that she might become dangerously fixated on Yunjung Tea and Yunjung Village.
‘It seems this isn’t a matter that can be easily brushed aside.’
As a dark shadow cast over Woo Geom-san’s face, Nam Mu-rin looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong, brother? Are you worried they’ll keep causing trouble for us? Don’t stress over it. I can handle pretty much anything they throw at us.”
Nam Mu-rin flexed his arm muscles with an exaggerated air of confidence.
Having trained diligently in martial arts for ten years, Nam Mu-rin was formidable enough that ordinary martial artists stood absolutely no chance against him.
If one were to judge purely by his martial arts proficiency, he was certainly reliable. However, the world was far from a simple place.
It was a realm where all manner of insidious schemes, plots, and betrayals ran rampant.
The world was teeming with vile individuals who wouldn’t hesitate to commit unimaginable atrocities for their own gain.
Compared to such ruthless predators, Nam Mu-rin was nothing more than a powerful child.
Nam Mu-rin had no concept of just how cruel and depraved people could truly be.
While Woo Geom-san treasured Nam Mu-rin’s pure heart, he believed that the youth would eventually need to learn about the darker facets of reality if he wished to protect Yunjung Village. Still, that was a lesson only time could teach.
As he matured and accumulated experience, Nam Mu-rin would undoubtedly grow into an excellent leader, just like Baek Wol-sang.
Woo Geom-san patted the dirt off his clothes and stood up from the boulder.
“Grandfather must be feeling lonely. I should head inside first.”
“I think I’ll stay out here and drink a little more before heading in.”
“We have to start clearing up the Plank Road tomorrow morning, so make sure you don’t overindulge.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nam Mu-rin offered a playful reply.
Woo Geom-san parted ways with Nam Mu-rin and made his way back home.
“As expected, he isn’t asleep yet.”
Woo Geom-san smiled as he looked toward Baek Ho-yang’s quarters.
An oil lamp was burning brightly, illuminating the room within.
Woo Geom-san knocked softly on the door and spoke.
“Grandfather, it’s Geom-san.”
“Come on in.”
“Yes.”
Woo Geom-san carefully slid the door open and stepped inside, finding Baek Ho-yang seated at a table, deeply engrossed in a book.
A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him.
‘Grandfather has truly aged so much.’
The wrinkles on his face had deepened significantly, and more noticeably, his spine had begun to stoop.
The back that had always stood perfectly straight and resolute was now curved with the weight of years.
His eyesight seemed to be failing him as well, as he held the text close to his face just to read.
The sight of Baek Ho-yang, looking decades older than when they had first met, pulled painfully at Woo Geom-san’s heartstrings.
Nevertheless, Woo Geom-san forced a bright smile, determined not to let his sadness show.
“Reading books so late into the night will ruin your eyesight…”
“Is there really any room left for my eyes to get worse?”
Baek Ho-yang replied as he gently set the book down.
“Don’t you ever get tired of it? Just how many times have you read that exact same text?”
“Every time I open it, I discover something completely new, so how could I possibly tire of it? In fact, with each reading, passages I completely overlooked in the past suddenly catch my eye.”
“Even so, please don’t stay up too late reading.”
“You rascal! It seems your nagging has grown just as much as your martial arts. Very well, I shall close the book for tonight.”
Thud.
Baek Ho-yang promptly shut the volume.
“I’ve already heard the news. I understand you’ve finished the Plank Road?”
“Yes! For now, we’ve successfully connected it to the mountainside.”
“You’ve worked incredibly hard. You’ve achieved a truly magnificent feat.”
“Oh, come now! I certainly didn’t do it all by myself. It was only possible because every single person in the village pooled their strength together.”
“Indeed! It is precisely because everyone gave their absolute all that we have arrived at such a wonderful result.”
Baek Ho-yang firmly grasped Woo Geom-san’s hand.
A warm, content smile spread across Woo Geom-san’s face.
Without a doubt, receiving praise from Baek Ho-yang always brought him the greatest joy.
“Now that the Plank Road is complete, maintaining and refining the path leading from the mountainside down to the entrance shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Even so, you must always remain vigilant to ensure no accidents occur.”
“Please don’t worry. I’ll personally keep watch over everything.”
“You rascal!”
A look of profound gratification washed over Baek Ho-yang’s face.
No matter how many times he looked, his grandson was a truly splendid young man.
He couldn’t help but feel that he had been blessed with unparalleled fortune when it came to his disciple and his grandson.
Baek Ho-yang simply gazed at Woo Geom-san’s face for a long, quiet moment.
Woo Geom-san asked with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Simply because looking at you brings me immense joy.”
“Haha! I love you too, Grandfather.”
At Woo Geom-san’s playful response, Baek Ho-yang could only shake his head with an affectionate smile.
‘Still, I am truly fortunate to have someone so precious to leave behind in this world.’
The greatest and most magnificent legacy he could ever proudly leave behind on this earth was none other than Woo Geom-san.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————