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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The journey to Mount Yunhaeng continued.
The daily diet of grains and dried meat reminded me of my days at Mount Hua, though it was far better than the fasting pills I’d subsisted on there.
Today, unusually, I was at the front of the convoy, instead of my usual position at the rear.
“Wow… so you really only trained at Mount Hua for about a year…?”
“That’s right, but…”
“It’s… inspiring. I could only dream of such a thing…”
Ok Seon-yeong, the convoy leader, spoke with a hint of wistful admiration.
She’d requested my company at the front, and we were making small talk. She seemed to have taken a liking to me.
As we rode along, Ok Yeong-u spoke up,
“You know, Brother, you’re really handsome!”
“…What?”
“Noona rarely shows this much interest in a man! She said you were so handsome she was smitten the moment she saw you.”
“…”
My silence prompted Ok Seon-yeong, with her face flushed crimson, to scold her brother.
“Yeong-u! What are you saying? I’m just trying to build a good relationship with the future head of the Silver River Trading Company…!”
“Come on, Noona, it’s true, isn’t it? He’s really good-looking. I bet he had tons of admirers at Mount Hua.”
“…”
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Even Ha-seol, who had been watching us with amusement, looked surprised by her brother’s blunt words.
I, however, remained silent.
Ok Yeong-u, sensing the awkwardness, scratched his head.
“Uh… I guess I shouldn’t have said anything…”
“…”
“I’ll… I’ll just go to the back. I need to check on something I left with the other escorts.”
“…”
He made an excuse and hurried away.
I sighed.
‘He just leaves after stirring things up…’
I’d known for a while that Ok Seon-yeong was attracted to me.
It had probably started when I visited the Choice Escort Agency with Ha-seol.
She was too shy to express it openly, but recently, she’d been making more of an effort to talk to me.
“…”
Silence fell over the group as we continued our journey.
Lost in thought, I figured it was best to keep to myself, since Ok Seon-yeong was likely too embarrassed to speak now.
‘Once this is over, I’ll return to the sect and focus on my training.’
My thoughts drifted to martial arts.
Ever since my fight with Zhongli Chu, I’d felt… something.
A subtle shift, a sense of stagnation.
It was probably what they called hitting a plateau.
‘They say first-rate is the limit for those without talent…’
I pondered.
Honestly, my progress had been abnormally fast.
I’d reached a level where I could easily defeat a seasoned first-rate master from a powerful clan, after only a little over a year of training.
I considered my current situation.
‘The Plum Blossom Sword Technique… it’s still incomplete. And I haven’t mastered the Ten Stages Heart Technique yet. At least the White Cloud Steps and the Azure River Sword Technique are practical enough for combat.’
I still had a lot to learn.
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique, in particular, had immense potential for growth.
‘If I can master the Plum Blossom Sword Technique… or at least perfect it… I have a feeling it will open up a new path for me.’
It wasn’t just a feeling.
It was a near certainty.
My instincts were rarely wrong.
I continued my contemplation.
Then,
“…?”
Suddenly, there was a commotion.
I hadn’t noticed anything amiss, too absorbed in my thoughts.
‘…What’s going on?’
I looked around.
A middle-aged man had stumbled down the slope, with his body covered in blood.
Thud!
“Gasp… gasp…!”
“What…?”
“P-Please, help me…! Please…!”
He was clearly in distress.
He was carrying a small child on his back, a girl who looked about Ok Yeong-u’s age.
Ha-seol, her eyes wide with concern, quickly dismounted and rushed towards him.
“…What happened, sir?”
“Gasp… gasp…”
“Calm down. Tell me what happened…?”
I grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.
Tap!
She looked at me, surprised.
I spoke urgently, with my voice low,
“…Don’t go.”
“…?”
“You could die.”
“What are you…?”
I reached for my sword.
A sense of dread washed over me.
‘Did they get caught in a landslide…?’
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
I sensed multiple presences approaching, their killing intent palpable.
There were about five of them, moving quickly, as if searching for something.
I spoke grimly,
“…Ha-seol.”
“Yes, Oppa?”
“Stay with the others. Don’t rush in because you’re worried about me.”
“What are you talking about…?!”
“…They’re coming.”
My words made her eyes widen.
She realized something was wrong.
She jumped off her horse.
Just then,
Swish!
“…So, you thought you could hide amongst these people and wait for reinforcements?”
“…!”
They emerged from the trees, dressed in black, their faces hidden by hoods.
They looked like assassins.
Even I felt a chill run down my spine.
The middle-aged man gasped and fainted.
One of the figures, who seemed to be the leader, spoke to the others, his voice filled with killing intent,
“…These people are in the way. Eliminate them. It’ll be too much trouble if they interfere.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t take longer than an hour. Understood?”
I stepped forward, with my gaze cold.
They looked at me, this lone young master daring to approach them.
“…Who are you?”
“…”
“Get out of our way if you value your life.”
I slowly drew my sword.
Shing!
Their eyes narrowed.
I spoke, with my voice low and steady,
“…You were planning to kill everyone here anyway, weren’t you?”
“…!”
“If that’s the case, I suggest you start with me.”
I deliberately provoked them.
The leader sneered, with a hint of madness in his eyes.
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