A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 32

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“Sir William, is it alright to let them go like this?”

What, should we stab them in the back after we told them we would let them go?

I answered Elder Baek, who was looking at the disciples of the Geumyeong Sect with an uneasy expression.

“It’s better for us to let them go. We don’t know if the Geumyeong Sect is the only one after this secret manual, or if other sects are also interested. If other sects are targeting the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light, the fact that the Geumyeong Sect returned empty-handed will act as a deterrent to them.”

Although the Geumyeong Sect had returned empty-handed, the fact that they mobilized hundreds of people showed they were still a considerable force.

As the saying goes, there’s strength in numbers. Unless you’re a monster like Xiang Yu, even the strongest expert would struggle against overwhelming numbers.

In that sense, the Geumyeong Sect leader’s decision to bring all his disciples to attack us was somewhat wise.

If we hadn’t declared that we would concentrate on killing the sect leader first shamelessly, we would have had to kill them all in a chaotic battle while suffering casualties ourselves.

“How can the Geumyeong Sect become our means of deterring the other sects?”

“They returned ’empty-handed’. People will think that either our forces were so strong that they couldn’t even attempt anything and had to flee, or that the window of opportunity for them to act was already over and they had no choice but to return without being able to do anything.”

The fact that they failed to preserve their forces after intending to snatch the manual meant that even with a sect the size of the Geumyeong Sect bringing all their members, it was futile.

It was a strategy that could reduce the majority of potential attackers, even if it couldn’t make us completely safe.

And those planning to attack us would hesitate for a while.

The Geumyeong Sect leader would exaggerate our strength if only to save face.

For example, saying there were three supreme experts or something like that.

“Does that mean the riffraff won’t think of coming after us?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded at Hye-ryeong’s question as she chimed in.

“Sir William, your foresight is impressive.”

“Well, I didn’t expect to meet a friend like you on my way to intercept that bastard.”

I made eye contact with Che Mu-ryeong at those words. His eyes were filled with goodwill towards me.

“You flatter me.”

“No, I have to thank you for your quick thinking, our Nakil Sect is also indebted to you.”

That was true. If they had clashed with the Geumyeong Sect, quite a few of the Nakil Sect disciples would have died. Or they might have all been wiped out.

In that sense, I had indeed become a benefactor to the Nakil Sect.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a win-win situation.

It was a windfall for me. I could use this situation to proceed with things more smoothly.

“Now then, let’s continue our conversation. Mr. Ming.”

“Mr. Ming…!”

“Did you happen to have a contract with the Nakil Sect?”

“Oh, I didn’t!”

It’s a bit disappointing. If there had been a contract, we could have settled this more easily.

I glanced at Che Mu-ryeong, who had crossed his arms as if he was going to watch what I did for now, and then made a proposal to Mr. Ming.

“Anyway, now that things have come to this, you must have realized that coveting the secret manual of the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light is meaningless.”

“…”

Being a merchant, it seemed his greed was still overflowing. He was still hesitating, even though I had essentially saved his life twice by now.

“Sect Leader Che. Would you make me a promise?”

“What kind of promise?”

“Please just promise to take the secret manual and leave quietly.”

“But…”

“We’ve just narrowly avoided a situation where countless lives could have been lost. How about considering it as repaying your debt to me and just leaving?”

What takes priority – repaying a debt of gratitude or exacting vengeance?

Deep anguish was visible on Mu-ryeong’s face.

For a martial artist, not repaying debts of gratitude or exacting vengeance was unthinkable. As a third party, I waited patiently for Che Mu-ryeong’s answer.

It was inevitable that he would hesitate over not avenging his brother.

I could certainly wait the amount of time it took him to come to a decision.

It was after about an incense stick’s worth of time had passed that Che Mu-ryeong gave his answer.

“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”

Che Mu-ryeong’s agreement was given.

Now there was only one thing left to do.

“Mr. Ming. Please take out the secret manual.”

“Alright…”

With a crestfallen expression, he took out a small box from his chest. It was just big enough to hold one book.

I received the box from him, undid the lock, and opened the lid.

“…So this is the manual of the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light that caused all this commotion.”

“It seems to be slightly tattered, but… that’s it.”

Mr. Ming, who had tried to escape with this in all that chaos and got caught, glanced his way with an expression that suggested he didn’t know whether to feel relieved or not that he no longer had the manual.

His lingering attachment to the manual was clearly visible.

“We should check the contents just in case. It could be an expertly made forgery, couldn’t it?”

At my words, Che Mu-ryeong nodded and carefully opened the book, and began to read. I was also a bit curious about what a secret manual of the martial arts world would look like, but coveting others’ secret manuals was something only third-rate villains did.

I sat on the wagon and waited for him to verify its authenticity.

“…It’s genuine. This is undoubtedly the secret manual of the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light. It matches the verses of the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light that have been passed down in our Nakil Sect.”

“You had the verses?”

“Only half of them, though.”

Mu-ryeong closed the book and carefully put it back in the box. There was a click as the lock engaged, and Mu-ryeong’s gaze turned to me.

“Sir William. Come visit the Nakil Sect later. I’ll give you a grand reception.”

“I’ll visit when my business is done. I’m glad to have made a friend while living in a foreign land.”

was a new card added to the cards in my arsenal just now?

It might not be useful right away, but there might come a day when I could use it.

I quietly watched Che Mu-ryeong and his subordinates leave, then turned my gaze to Mr. Ming.

“Mr. Ming.”

“Yes, Sir William…”

Why was he looking at me like a small animal that had encountered a predator?

There’s no one as harmless as me.

I approached him with light footsteps and placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Now that the most urgent matter is settled, it’s time to bring up a new topic.”

“Y-Yes?”

Why are you so frightened? Despite appearances, I’m someone who was called a legitimate knight over there.

“Mr. Ming, didn’t I happen to save you before?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

“And not just once, but twice.”

“T-Twice, you say?”

“Once when you were about to be killed by the Nakil Sect, and once when you were in danger of being killed by the Geumyeong Sect. That’s twice, isn’t it?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right…”

“Now then, since you need to repay your debt to me, let’s sign a contract.”

“What?”

“In the martial arts world, repaying debts of gratitude takes precedence over anything. So if Mr. Ming has received a favor from someone in the martial arts world, shouldn’t you naturally repay it?”

The reason I saved this man, who would have been cut into pieces if left alone, was simple – it was far more profitable to keep him alive and squeeze him dry than to let him die.

If I had let him die here, it would have brought dishonor to the Haenam Sword Sect as well.

Just as with the Geumyeong Sect incident, if Mr. Ming died then, it would look like we failed to protect him.

“Y-Yes, that’s right…”

“Now then, let’s write up a contract. I may be from the Western Regions, but I’ve decided to become a martial artist like those of the orthodox sects out of admiration for their lofty spirit, so I don’t intend to make excessive demands.”

“Wang Qil, bring some contract paper!”

“Yes!”

A man with a somewhat simple appearance, called Wang Qil, ran to the wagon and then approached us with the contract paper.

I took the paper Wang Qil handed me and looked at him.

What, are you just going to give me the paper without helping further?

Ah, never mind.

“Hye-ryeong!”

“Yes?”

“Write this down for me!”

It’s not that I couldn’t write, but my handwriting was seriously terrible, so I had no choice.

It would be more efficient to entrust this to Hye-ryeong, who at least had pretty handwriting.

“I’ll do it!”

Hye-ryeong, who had been quiet for a while, rushed over at my words and pulled out a long quill from between her breasts.

…Seeing that scene, I was speechless.

“Hehe. What should I write?”

“First…”

I began to slowly dictate my demands.

With each of my demands being written into the contract, Mr. Ming’s complexion turned increasingly pale.

His face looked as white as snow.

“S-Sir, this is…”

“This won’t be bad for Mr. Ming either. I heard you run a well-known merchant group in ona certain region, but you can’t play in small waters forever. Isn’t it time to play in bigger waters?”

“Bigger waters…”

“Just as the waves at the front of the Yangtze River are pushed out by the following waves, the way to become a new magnate is through performing bigger trades than the other merchant groups before you. Specifically, trade with the Western Regions, which are currently at their peak.”

“But isn’t the risk too, too great?”

That’s true.

Not only was there the problem of opening new sea routes, but to know which goods would sell well, one would have to either talk with other merchant groups or go see for themselves.

“If you only sell the items I point out, you can truly become a giant merchant. As you can see, didn’t I come from the Western Regions? I know which items will sell well in the Western Regions.”

Mr. Ming’s face visibly relaxed.

Seeing his eyes glaze over, I wondered if he was imagining himself as a giant merchant.

There’s no one easier to handle than someone blinded by delusions.

“Sir William. I didn’t realize you were also knowledgeable about business…”

I smiled triumphantly as I watched Mr. Ming pick up the quill.

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