A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 44

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“That was impressive, Sir!”

“Uncle, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, don’t worry.”

I wouldn’t let myself get hurt when dealing with someone like that.

In this medieval world, it was best to avoid injuries as much as possible.

Although I’m not familiar with the situation in this place, over in the west, wrapping a bandage, meditating, and saying a quick prayer was considered proper treatment.

Living in such a place, one could only become underhanded in actual fights while verbally proclaiming honor.

The hygiene issues were serious too.

Still, this was the Central Plains, so it should be a bit better.

At least they would attempt treatment with acupressure or medicinal decoctions.

Enough of these idle thoughts…

“Elder Baek, how was the situation at the top of the waterfall?”

“It was a scene of horrific slaughter. There were five dead Wulin Alliance patrol members, brutally mutilated.”

Including the one Hagyeong carried away, that made six. He killed quite a few. Of course, considering this person could be counted among peak experts, it wasn’t strange.

The Wulin Alliance patrol was a low-ranking unit, so most were at most first-rate experts. Probably only the unit leader or deputy leader would be at the peak realm.

“We’ll need to hear the details from the martial artist Hagyeong carried away. And we should inform the Wulin Alliance to collect the bodies.”

“Elder, what if we collect them ourselves…”

“We can’t enter the city carrying dismembered corpses, can we? I’ve taken measures to prevent wild animals from disturbing them, so we just need to inform the Wulin Alliance martial artists to collect them.”

…So it was such a horrific act that the bodies were in such a state.

The man who fell down the waterfall was lucky to survive. Perhaps he had been fleeing while his comrades bought time.

“Then what should we do with this demon cult leader?”

“It would be better to just cut off his head and take it with us. Since we caught him, we should receive the bounty if there is one, and even if not, we should let the other martial artists know we eliminated this villain so they can collect their comrades’ remains with peace of mind.”

“I see.”

I watched Hajin nod in agreement, then turned to look at Hye-ryeong. Hye-ryeong was examining the nameless madman with an expression no different from usual.

“Uncle, he’s dead, right?”

“Probably.”

Could he still be alive after I struck his vital point with full force using aura-wrapped hands?

Unless he had the Vajra Indestructible Body, I didn’t think the man lying face down in a pool of blood could get up.

There was no way a person could get up after losing almost all the blood in their body.

“…For now, let’s cut off this demon cult leader’s head and go to the Wulin Alliance’s Tongcheng branch in the morning.”

“Understood.”

“And Sir, well done.”

“That’s right! Uncle, you really worked hard!”

Well, this much is nothing.

I turned my gaze away from the demon cult leader’s corpse and smiled back at Hye-ryeong who had approached.

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“Excuse me, is this the Wulin Alliance’s Tongcheng branch?”

“Y-Yes, it is… Are you from the Haenam Sword Sect?”

“That’s right. We’ve come with news for you.”

Elder Baek briefly explained the situation to the Wulin Alliance martial artists.

He explained that Wulin Alliance patrol members were found dead near a valley, that a surviving patrol member was taken to a doctor by a Haenam Sword Sect disciple, and that a demon cult leader appeared and was killed with his head brought here.

After hearing the full explanation, the Tongcheng branch leader immediately bowed to Elder Baek with clasped hands.

“Thank you for avenging our patrol.”

“You should direct your thanks to this friend here. He alone brought down that demon cult leader.”

Elder Baek subtly passed the baton to me. I slightly raised my bamboo hat as I saw the branch leader’s gaze turn towards me.

“A Westerner…? Could you be the Blue-Eyed Lion who’s been the talk of Chang’an lately?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re Just as I heard you are, you’re fluent in the Central Plains language! Sir Blue-Eyed Lion! Thank you for avenging our patrol!”

“How could I just stand by when a demon cult madman was rampaging?”

“it’s as I heard, you truly are an expert! To be able to deal with the Blood-Thirsty Asura alone, who was certainly no easy opponent!”

I suppose this counts as making a good impression on the Wulin Alliance.

But wait a moment, Blood-Thirsty Asura?

“Blood-Thirsty Asura?”

“Yes, that’s his alias. He was originally an evil sect martial artist active around Guangdong, but he fell into demonic possession and started killing people. So we sent a unit to track him down… but he turned out to be stronger than expected…”

How did things get so messed up?

The Blood-Thirsty Asura was supposed to be an opponent the protagonist defeated in the early stages.

He was someone the protagonist was supposed to fight with his companions in the early part of the novel, but if I’ve fought him… how will the protagonist gain experience?

“Sir?”

It seems I’ve unintentionally shattered the flow of events of the original work, and I couldn’t even begin to gauge how far the ripple effects would reach.

He was meant to be an enemy who gave the protagonist a hard time in the early stages, sufficiently helping the protagonist grow. The fact that such a character had been caught… suggested a high possibility that the original work would become distorted.

…there is a possibility that, unlike in the original work, we might lose to the demon cult.

I have a terribly ominous feeling.

…At this point, I absolutely couldn’t feel at ease.

I might even have to forcibly shove spiritual medicines down the protagonist’s throat.

Even if I did that, all I could really do was to push forward the spiritual medicines the protagonist was supposed to consume in the original work, and it was uncertain whether I could return the current situation back to its original course.

…It might be more feasible for me to monopolize the spiritual medicines the protagonist was supposed to eat and take down the Heavenly Demon myself.

At least I’m stronger than him right now.

This body’s talent is quite outstanding, having reached the peak realm by this world’s standards in just two years.

The problem is that to deal with the Heavenly Demon directly, I’d need to reach at least the Grand Master level.

Could I reach that level?

“Sir? Are you alright?”

“Ah, I just had something to think about.”

“Something to think about…?”

“Just remembering the past.”

I calmed Hajin’s worries with a suitable response.

Hajin, who knew something of my past, nodded at those words and began talking with the branch leader beside Elder Baek.

Seeing that the talk of rewards had come up, it seemed they were trying to receive payment for taking the Blood-Thirsty Asura’s head.

There was no need for me to interject in this kind of negotiation…

“I’ll wait outside.”

“Alright.”

I quietly went outside the building and made eye contact with Hye-ryeong who was waiting. Leaning against the wall with a bored expression, looking up at the sky, Hye-ryeong smiled brightly when our eyes met and said:

“Is it over?”

“Not yet.”

“Then why did only you come out, Uncle?”

“There’s no need for me to handle the negotiations, is there?”

“That’s true. But I thought you would, like last time… When you negotiated with Merchant Ming, words flowed from your mouth like water, so I thought you’d squeeze all sorts of things out of the branch leader this time too!”

“That time I had a reason to step up, but not this time.”

With Merchant Ming, it was a situation where we’d be in trouble if I didn’t, but now it’s just a matter of negotiating for an appropriate reward with the Wulin Alliance, so what is there for me to do?

They won’t try to pull a fast one on an elder of the Haenam Sword Sect, one of the core pillars of the Wulin Alliance.

“Well, it’s as you said Uncle, this time we just need to receive the reward and relay the news about the demon cult to the branch leader …”

“That’s right.”

“By the way, Uncle, are you going to participate in the martial arts tournament?”

Hye-ryeong flapped her arms with eyes full of expectation. The fact that she was asking again, could it mean that she had noticed the change in my mood?

Hye-ryeong was quite perceptive, so it might really be the case.

“…Hmm.”

Given how things have turned out, it’s something I need to seriously consider.

The Haenam Sword Sect was originally just a sect used to set the background, so it wouldn’t have effect the original work greatly, but this incident may have caused some changes to take place.

Now I can’t be certain that staying in the rear is safe anymore.

So…

“It might not be bad to participate.”

“Did you change your mind?”

“Since we’ve come all this way, it would be a shame not to experience the swords of the Central Plains.”

I gave a plausible reason and looked up at the sky.

It was a clear sky without a single cloud.

Unlike my complicated feelings, it was so clear it was almost irritating.

I let out a sigh mixed with worry and looked at Hye-ryeong.

“Help me fill out the application form when we get to the Wulin Alliance.”

“Hehe, leave it to me! I’ll fill out the application form for you splendidly!”

Hye-ryeong nodded vigorously, thrusting her chest forward.

I averted my gaze from her swaying chest and looked up at the sky.

Commander, it seems I’m not cut out to live peacefully even here.

A bitter smile involuntarily formed on my lips.

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I have a feeling those sorts of situatains where william’s actions effect the protagonist will keep happening.