A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 61

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The Wulin Alliance Patrol Unit.

It was one of the lowest-ranking organizations within the Wulin Alliance, primarily responsible for maintaining order and pursuing wanted criminals within the righteous factions’ sphere of influence, with Wuhan as its central hub.

The reason the Patrol Unit, instead of the government, took charge of maintaining order stemmed from an agreement between the Wulin Alliance and the government.

The biggest reason was that the government was finding it difficult to control the Murim.

After decades of fighting off barbarians, the nation’s resources were depleted, leaving them with little capacity for strict internal control.

While it wasn’t impossible if they were determined, entrusting the task to the Wulin Alliance benefited both sides.

The Wulin Alliance could solidify its power, and the government could save money.

It was a classic case of “good for you, good for me.”

Due to this background, the Patrol Unit effectively played the role of police in Wuhan, and broadly speaking, throughout the Murim.

The government soldiers couldn’t handle martial artists, so the Patrol Unit, scattered throughout the land, had no choice but to step up.

That was why the protagonist of the original story, Dan Mokgyeong, chose to join the Wulin Alliance through the Patrol Unit, the easiest way to enter the organization.

He passed the entrance exam with top marks.

It was because joining the Patrol Unit allowed him to accumulate achievements quickly.

Other units and departments only recruited once every few years, required a certain social standing, or at least a first-rate level of skill.

For someone like Dan Mokgyeong, a disciple of a reclusive master with no strong connections to the righteous factions, this was the best choice.

The Patrol Unit, with its frequent battles, was also the perfect place to showcase his abilities…

Anyway, as expected of the protagonist, he quickly built up a dazzling track record, rapidly rising from an ordinary soldier to a squad leader, then to a deputy commander, catching the Wulin Alliance Leader’s attention and receiving important responsibilities…

“Mister?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Didn’t you say we were going to the Patrol Unit?”

“We finished eating, so it’s time to head out.”

Hye-ryeong’s gaze dropped to his stomach, then back up to his face.

What was that about?

“Your stomach doesn’t stick out even though you eat so much! I’m envious!”

“I haven’t lived my life so carelessly that my stomach would stick out after eating just this much.”

A knight had to eat well.

He needed to eat as much as he could whenever he had the chance.

He remembered the times he had to fight on an empty stomach for a week because their supplies were cut off.

The more food, the better.

“My stomach sticks out even if I eat a little too much…”

A little?

“You ate at least two portions, though.”

“That’s only one portion for a martial artist!”

Is that so?

William decided not to argue with Hye-ryeong.

It wasn’t strange for a martial artist who trained rigorously to eat a lot.

“Hye-ryeong, do you know where the Patrol Unit is located?”

“Um… I think it’s somewhere on the outskirts? I heard it’s located on the outer edges of the city…”

So, she didn’t know the exact location.

Well, they had to walk around a few times to get a grasp of the Wulin Alliance’s layout anyway, so he could search for the Patrol Unit Headquarters while they explored.

William looked towards the north, standing side by side with Hye-ryeong.

North.

Their lodging and the dining hall were located on the north side, so they should be able to reach the Patrol Unit if they followed the wall.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay~”

William and Hye-ryeong started walking slowly along the wall.

“What pavilion is that…?”

“That’s the Four Guardians Unit Headquarters! All the promising disciples join the Four Guardians Unit, so I’ll be joining the Vermillion Bird Unit in a few months, right?”

“I suppose so.”

The Vermillion Bird Unit.

Wasn’t there a heroine there as well?

She didn’t have much of a presence, though.

He could say that one of the reasons the original story was criticized was the unnecessary increase in trophy heroines to pad out the story.

And then, when it lost popularity, it rushed towards an ending where the Heavenly Demon was defeated and the story was abruptly concluded.

Why did he have to transmigrate into this novel of all novels?

If he had transmigrated into a more peaceful story, he wouldn’t have to worry about fighting the Demonic Cult.

“Mister? Are you listening?”

“Ah, sorry. What does ‘Four Guardians’ mean?”

He smoothly changed the subject, and Hye-ryeong readily took the bait.

“The Four Guardians refers to the Four Guardian Beasts! Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise! The Four Guardians Unit is the Wulin Alliance’s main force, named after the Four Guardian Beasts!”

This part was the same as the original story.

Well, it wasn’t like this part would be any different.

“The Four Guardians Unit…”

“Do you think you could join as well, Mister?”

“I wonder…”

Him?

The Four Guardians Unit only recruited promising disciples from the righteous factions.

The rest were all filled with talented individuals known throughout the Central Plains.

Even the protagonist had a difficult time getting into the White Tiger Unit from the Patrol Unit.

Although it only took him a year.

“I’d like to be in the Vermillion Bird Unit together, but you’re a man…”

Hye-ryeong looked up at him with a disappointed expression.

Was she really that disappointed?

“Is it really necessary to join the Vermillion Bird Unit…?”

“If I don’t join the Vermillion Bird Unit, where would I go?”

“Well…”

To be honest, he didn’t think Hye-ryeong’s skills would improve significantly even if she joined the Vermillion Bird Unit.

The Vermillion Bird Unit felt more like a social gathering than anything else.

Unless she needed to build connections, it was a rather questionable choice.

The Patrol Unit, where she could gain actual combat experience, might be a better option.

Just like a baby bird learning to flap its wings to fly, Hye-ryeong would also have to leave the nest of the Haenam Sword Sect someday and stand on her own as a martial artist.

“How about the Patrol Unit?”

“Hmm, but everyone would object if I said I wanted to join the Patrol Unit.”

“…I would too.”

If he sent her to a place where she would be risking her life, Elder Baek, no, the Sect Leader would probably be furious and come looking for her personally.

Even from a brief observation, he could tell how much the Haenam Sword Sect cherished Hye-ryeong.

Sending her to the Patrol Unit wasn’t a good option.

He didn’t want to create friction with the Haenam Sword Sect, and it was unlikely that her skills would improve significantly even if she joined.

“What are you going to do, Mister?”

“I don’t plan on joining the Wulin Alliance.”

An unknown foreigner needed considerable fame to easily establish a position within the Wulin Alliance.

For example, bringing back the head of Gwak Musam of the Blood Wolf Gang, who appeared in the latter part of the Patrol Unit episode, or single-handedly destroying a Demonic Cult branch.

Great achievements brought great recognition.

When the time was right, he planned to hunt down Demonic Cult leaders, both for the money and to slowly build up his reputation.

He had to ensure that the Wulin Alliance wouldn’t restrict his movements.

If possible, he also wanted to train and become a Master.

“…I wonder if I can even achieve that.”

Even the Captain had said it took him ten years to become a Master.

The difficulty was even higher for William, who had to achieve it much faster.

He was no longer in a battlefield where simply surviving helped him improve his realm.

“If you’re not joining the Wulin Alliance, where will you go? Are you going somewhere far away?”

“You know I don’t like going far. I’m just saying… I’m not going to be affiliated with the Wulin Alliance.”

“Hmm…”

Hye-ryeong let out a groan and crossed her arms, inadvertently emphasizing the ample curves beneath them.

…Was she doing that on purpose? Or was she simply unaware?

William patted Hye-ryeong’s shoulder and said,

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll just be using the Wulin Alliance as a base of operations. My main goal is to improve my realm.”

“Improve your realm…?”

“I want to break through the wall of the Transcendent Realm and become a Master.”

“The Transcendent Realm…”

“It won’t take too long.”

It wasn’t something he could achieve just because he wanted to, but he had to try.

“Are you going into seclusion training?”

“No, I’m not.”

The Western arts weren’t like the Central Plains martial arts, where seclusion training yielded significant benefits.

Even if he tried, it would be meaningless.

He would just end up experiencing the joys of seclusion while chewing on 辟穀丹 (bigokdan, pills that supposedly allow one to survive without food).

So… he needed to experience more actual combat.

Perhaps through life-or-death battles with martial artists from the Central Plains, unlike the Mamluk scum he had faced before, enlightenment would naturally come to him.

But first, he had to find the protagonist.

“Hye-ryeong, let’s get going.”

“Okay~”

William began walking again, with Hye-ryeong by his side.

“So this is the Patrol Unit Headquarters.”

It was large.

Well, it made sense, considering it was one of the largest units.

William scratched his chin as he watched the Patrol Unit members busily coming and going from the headquarters.

It would be strange if he just barged in and started asking questions.

With Hye-ryeong by his side, it would be suspicious if he started making up lies.

How could he find Dan Mokgyeong?

As he pondered, William stepped into the Patrol Unit Headquarters.

“Mister, everyone is staring at us…”

“Don’t mind them. They’re just curious.”

It was only natural for people to stare when a Westerner appeared in the middle of the Central Plains.

Unfazed by the stares, William adjusted his bamboo hat and surveyed his surroundings.

He didn’t know what Dan Mokgyeong’s face looked like, but he was described as a strikingly handsome man.

He should be able to recognize him at a glance…

But there were no handsome men in sight.

They all had fierce expressions, as expected of martial artists.

“Mister?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“E-Excuse me…”

“I can speak the Central Plains language, there’s no need to be scared.”

“A Westerner who can speak the Central Plains language… Could it be… the Blue-Eyed Lion?”

“That’s right.”

The middle-aged man, who seemed to hold a certain position within the Patrol Unit, gasped and stared at him.

“To think I would meet the Blue-Eyed Lion who defeated the Iron Wind Fist, I’m surprised.”

“Is that so?”

“There have been many rumors about you circulating lately.”

“I see.”

It seemed the rumors had spread further than he expected.

“Haha, but what brings you to the Patrol Unit?”

“I’m here to observe the Patrol Unit, renowned for its tireless dedication to maintaining peace in the Murim. Would it be alright if I take a look around?”

“Observe…”

The middle-aged man, who seemed to be someone important within the Patrol Unit, glanced at Hye-ryeong and nodded.

“Very well. However…”

“Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“Hmm, hmm, then please, enjoy your visit. But please refrain from entering the restricted areas…”

Did he recognize the uniform of the Haenam Sword Sect?

Well, anyone from the Wulin Alliance would recognize it.

It was time to move.

“Hye-ryeong, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

William began to officially tour the Patrol Unit Headquarters.

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[interesting….]