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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Hechang.
Once the capital of the Later Han Dynasty.
A city located near the center of Henan, known for its thriving commerce.
“I heard Hechang is known for its high prices, since it’s a major trade hub.”
“Me too! They say it’s difficult to even stay for a day…”
I wasn’t short on money…
But staying here for fifteen days would strain my finances.
“Finding a decent inn will be difficult.”
“Maybe there are cheaper places on the outskirts?”
“Even the outskirts are expensive in cities like this.”
While Hye-ryeong’s suggestion was reasonable, prices tended to be consistent within a city.
I just hoped it wasn’t as expensive as Wuhan.
Hechang’s current status didn’t match its historical significance.
“Let’s go. There will be a line to enter the city. Finding a place to stay…we might have to get two rooms.”
That wasn’t ideal.
This was the Central Plains, where the concept of men and women avoiding each other had existed for centuries. Unless we were married, sharing a room would raise eyebrows.
Despite this, Hye-ryeong looked at me with anticipation at the mention of sharing a room.
“Mister…”
“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t. It’s too soon.”
I wasn’t going to…complicate things before the war with the Demonic Cult began. I couldn’t risk leaving her a widow.
I had seen too many women lose their husbands on the battlefield.
Assuming I would survive was simply arrogance.
“Okay.”
“I don’t mind a bit of cuddling, but anything more will have to wait until this is all over…understood?”
“…I’m here too.”
“Yes, we’re not alone…”
And stop glaring at Mokgyeong. He’s uncomfortable. I patted Hye-ryeong’s head a few times and headed towards Hechang.
We had to arrive early to find a place to stay.
“Let’s go.”
They followed, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and disappointment.
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“There are so many people!”
“It’s a trade hub.”
“Judging by the lack of people in martial arts attire, there aren’t any sects nearby.”
As Mokgyeong observed, there were very few martial artists in sight. Perhaps there was no reason for them to visit this city.
The few we saw were mostly bodyguards for merchants. There wasn’t much for martial artists like us to do here.
“…The prices here are too high for an ordinary martial artist.”
While we were relatively wealthy for wandering martial artists, most weren’t well-off unless they came from prominent families or merchant backgrounds.
Even the sects either relied on land ownership or established their own merchant guilds.
Or, like the Nine Great Sects, they relied on donations.
The Five Great Clans were an exception. Most righteous sects weren’t wealthy.
Still, they were better off than the Demonic Cult, which often resorted to extortion, or the Demonic Sects, which exploited their followers.
“It’s true! The tanghulu here is more expensive than in Wuhan!”
“Only you would notice that.”
She was obsessed with sweets. She had even been eyeing the desserts at the Peng Clan residence.
“But tanghulu is delicious!”
“Alright, let’s keep moving.”
“Okay~”
We continued exploring Hechang.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a single inn that wasn’t crowded.
The more extravagant-looking inns seemed to cater exclusively to wealthy patrons, forcing us further towards the outskirts.
“Benefactor, we might not find a place to stay at this rate.”
“Yeah, are we going to have to sleep on the streets?”
“Perhaps.”
I fiddled with my bamboo hat.
If my plan had worked, wandering around like this would be the best way to find lodging.
Just as I thought that, a small man bumped into me.
“Oh, my lord, I apologize. I wasn’t paying attention…”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
I instinctively grabbed his hand, and I felt something in his palm.
“Thank you, my lord…”
The man disappeared into the crowd. I moved to a less crowded alley and carefully opened the note he had given me.
‘“If my words fail to amaze the world, I vow not to rest even in death.”…What does that mean?’
Was it a poem?
I tilted my head in confusion, and Mokgyeong explained.
“It’s a poem by Du Fu.”
“So, we need to find an inn related to this poem?”
“It will likely be called Zimei. Using his given name or courtesy name for an inn would be disrespectful.”
Was that so?
I didn’t know much about these things, so I trusted Mokgyeong’s judgment. Hye-ryeong tugged on my sleeve.
“Mister, who was that man…?”
“Hao Clan.”
“Hao Clan…?”
Hye-ryeong lowered her voice, surprised by the sudden mention of the Hao Clan.
It was understandable. But I had anticipated this.
The branch leader in Wuhan would have informed the Hao Clan leader, and they would have been tracking my movements. I had assumed they would provide lodging in Hechang.
…It would have been problematic if I had been wrong, but fortunately, my assumption was correct.
I asked for directions and confirmed the existence of an inn called Zimei.
It wasn’t far from where I had received the note. While less extravagant than the inns in the city center, it had a pleasant atmosphere.
And it was located in a relatively inconspicuous area.
“Are we staying here?”
“This is a nice inn.”
“This is why connections are important.”
The inn was crowded, but there were a few empty tables. We settled down in a corner and watched as the…innkeeper, not a waiter, approached us.
He spoke cautiously.
“Are you…the Lion Sword?”
“That’s me.”
“You’ve been…expected.”
“Indeed.”
I showed him the note. He smiled.
“The Hao Clan Leader has covered your expenses. Please, rest comfortably until the time comes.”
“He’s quite generous.”
“He’s your employer. It’s only natural to treat a valued guest with respect. If this weren’t a clandestine operation, we would have arranged for more luxurious accommodations.”
“This is sufficient.”
“I’m glad to hear that. We’ll prepare a meal for you, and then I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Thank you.”
The innkeeper left, and waiters began bringing out dishes.
Each one was of exceptional quality and quantity. We picked up our chopsticks without hesitation.
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Our days in Hechang passed peacefully.
We avoided going out to remain inconspicuous, but I also spent most of my time meditating, integrating my recent experiences.
The Three-Step Sword Technique.
The lessons learned from using Qinggong to travel from Wuhan to Henan.
Incorporating the True Immortal’s teachings into my swordsmanship.
Each task was challenging, so I spent a lot of time meditating in my room. Or sparring with Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong in the hidden training area beneath the Zimei Inn.
“Mister, you’re too strong!”
“Well, the difference in our levels is like that between a penguin and an eagle.”
“Why do you keep calling me a penguin?!”
I would have shown her a picture if I had one. I chuckled, watching Hye-ryeong flap her arms and pout.
“There’s this cute little creature…”
“Cute…”
Look at her face melt.
I ignored a beaming Hye-ryeong and turned to Mokgyeong.
“Mokgyeong, you’re next.”
“Wouldn’t sparring consecutively be too strenuous?”
“It’s fine.”
While Hye-ryeong was skilled for her age, she was only first-rate. She had improved significantly from sparring with me, but she was still no match for me.
A transcendent expert could easily handle a hundred first-rate martial artists simultaneously. There was a reason why they were given such grand titles.
“Hye-ryeong, go laugh in the corner.”
“Okay!”
Hye-ryeong cheerfully skipped to the corner of the room.
Mokgyeong and I bowed to each other.
“I’ll be learning from you.”
“I’ll be teaching you.”
One who had overcome the barrier to the transcendent expert level, and one who hadn’t.
We drew our swords and assumed our stances.
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