A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 28

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“Good morning… Uncle…”

“Hye-ryeong, this is an inn.”

So don’t wander around looking disheveled.

“Ah…”

This kid has no sense of crisis. I averted my gaze from Hye-ryeong, who was tidying up her disheveled clothes, probably because she had just woken up, and looked at the opposite corridor.

There’s no sign of people.

Even in the Middle Ages, when people wake up early, it seems they don’t wake up at the time when the sun is just beginning to show itself.

No, maybe it’s because the guests staying here don’t need to wake up early. Those who have to be diligent to make a living have to wake up early, while those who are well-off would want to secure more sleep time.

After some much time had passed, the rustling sound subsided and Hye-ryeong tapped my back. I turned around at Hye-ryeong’s signal and looked at her.

“Hehe. Thank you.”

“You’re a woman too, so don’t carelessly show your disheveled appearance to men.”

She already monopolizes the gazes of men just by walking down the street, yet she acts so defenseless.

I sighed, seeing Hye-ryeong, who had given the disciples of the Haenam Sword Sect a trial just because they were from the same sect. Regardless of what I did, Hye-ryeong smiled brightly and opened her mouth.

“You’re saying something boring. Uncle, you’re really like an uncle.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hmm, does it mean Uncle is also narrow-minded?”

Is she joking or serious?

Judging by her playful laughter, it seemed she was trying to tease me. I sighed and refuted her words.

“Aren’t I open-minded enough?”

I consider myself open-minded as a former modern person. At least I don’t act as strict as they do here. Hye-ryeong smiled playfully at my answer and said,

“I wonder?”

Hye-ryeong left an ambiguous answer and passed by me, saying she was going for a walk.

I think I’ll go into my room and rest a bit.

I still have some time before breakfast anyway, so I’ll spend it doing weapon maintenance or something.

Just as I was thinking that, Hye-ryeong’s gaze landed on my back.

An action as if she wanted something from me.

She didn’t say it, but I felt like I knew what she meant.

“…I’ll go ask Elder Baek and come back.”

“Hehe. Uncle, you wanted to take a walk too, right? I’ll guide you!”

Pretending to know nothing, Hye-ryeong leaned against the wall with her hands behind her back. Her chest and swayed up and down, flaunting a terrifying presence.

“…Forget it.”

“Hehe, i will go ask quickly and come back! Uncle!”

That mischievous girl.

She seems to be doing it all on purpose.

I smiled and grabbed the door handle.

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“Breakfast definitely feels light.”

I thought the food here would be oily even for breakfast, but if it’s like this… it’s a meal with quite little oil, isn’t it?

“Martial artists like us have strong stomachs, but others don’t, so it’s only natural.”

Hajin responded to my muttering. I nodded at his words and looked down at the thin noodles that were served for breakfast with chopsticks.

Is this the thin noodles that they eat to the point of getting sick of in martial arts novels? The appropriately oily broth and the rice noodle-like visuals caught my attention.

I picked up the white noodles with chopsticks and put them in my mouth, and the soft texture unique to noodles and the broth that had soaked into the noodles filled my mouth.

This is noodles!

Once the noodles enter my mouth, they kept going in endlessly. Perhaps because it was breakfast, the thin noodles with less oil than usually in the Central Plains cuisine was quickly finished revealed the bottom of the bowl.

“Is it that delicious?”

“Ye… no, it’s really delicious.”

I can’t even remember the last time I ate noodles.

It must have been at least 2 years since I last had them, so it could be called a moving reunion. There were hardly any occasions to eat such slurp-able dishes in the West.

Pasta?

Do soldiers get to eat pasta?

…In the first place, the basic supply method in this era is mostly local procurement, so there’s no way they could bring something like pasta.

Noodles are surprisingly good for preservation, but they’re a bit cumbersome to cook.

The only thing I had heard about pasta was a story from a guy from the Pythagorean school talking about pasta or something. Due to the era, there were no tomatoes, so it must have been different from the pasta I know, but I wanted to try it.

“Waiter! Another bowl of thin noodles!”

“Yes!”

The waiter who was standing blankly next to the kitchen answered my words swiftly and disappeared into the kitchen. It seemed he was going to deliver my order to the cook.

In the meantime, let’s indulge in the savory taste.

I scooped up the plain noodle broth with a spoon and ate it.

“Hoho, Sir William. You must be very hungry.”

“On the battlefield, you have to eat as much as you can when you have the chance. I still haven’t gotten rid of that habit. And with my large body, it can’t be helped.

I have to eat a lot to maintain this physique, don’t I?”

“Hoho, that’s right…”

“Uncle, try this too!”

“Sir William, why don’t you try the braised pork?”

The gazes of the group looking at me had a slightly pitying look.

They knew my situation, so they are looking at me with sympathetic eyes. I ate all the food the group offered me without leaving anything behind.

Pride doesn’t feed you, after all.

It was around the time when I was having a happy breakfast. While I was emptying the noodles bowl for the third time, that I felt someone approaching us.

Judging by the fact that my skin wasn’t tingling, it seemed there was no hostility, but it was a bit much to completely ignore it.

I put down my chopsticks and looked up at the other party.

“Elder Baek. Have you been well?”

“Mr. Ming, it has been a while.”

The elder and a middle-aged man exchanged bows with each other. It was a scene that looked like it came straight out of a movie, so I looked at the two alternately.

It seems they knew each other, did he approach us after noticing Elder Baek? Or does he have some business with us?

“I’m glad to see you’re still healthy.”

“Hoho, a martial artist without health is nothing but a failure, right?”

Did he just come to chat?

I let their small talk go in one ear and out the other as I picked up my chopsticks.

I didn’t want to eat swollen noodles.

About a moment later, I noticed that the person named Mr. Ming was looking at me with curious eyes, so I raised my head.

“Hoho, Elder Baek. I heard this person sternly taught a lesson to the ruffians of the Shi Clan and Bai Clan yesterday.”

“Sir William is an outstanding martial artist. The Haenam Sword Sect also owes him a favor.”

“Oh, you seem to be a remarkable martial artist. I am Ming Yunjin. I run a small business.”

“I am William Marshal. A martial artist indebted to the Haenam Sword Sect.”

I think it’s about time I make up a Chinese-style name to use, but I can’t think of a suitable one. With that thought, I cupped my hands in salute. Mr. Ming also returned my salute with a salute.

“Hoho, I’m curious about how Sir William and the Haenam Sword Sect formed a connection, but unfortunately, it seems difficult to hear about it now. I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

“An urgent matter, you say…”

Is this his purpose? I glanced at Mr. Ming, who had brought up the topic. He closed his mouth as if choosing his words for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

“I have been entrusted with an important trade this time, but the guards I originally planned to hire suddenly had an issue and couldn’t take on this job. So I was in a difficult situation.

If I want to meet the originally promised deadline, I have to depart today, but at this rate…”

Mr. Ming trailed off and looked at Elder Baek with desperate eyes.

Is it because he’s a merchant that he approached us with a purpose from the beginning? Elder Baek opened his mouth at Mr. Ming’s words, which casually conveyed a request.

“I would like to help if I could, but we left Haenam Island this time to participate in an event of the Wulin Alliance, so unfortunately…”

“Ah, that’s fortunate. My destination is also on the way to Hubei.”

“Hmm…”

Elder Baek seemed to be pondering. He probably couldn’t readily agree to it. It wasn’t like we were going on a leisure trip, but we were carrying important news that needed to be delivered quickly.

“Elder Baek. His situation is difficult, so how about we accompany him? didn’t we depart early on purpose anyway?.”

Hajin, who had been silent for quite a while, opened his mouth and offered his opinion to Elder Baek.

When the next sect leader suggested helping, Elder Baek seemed to be slightly swayed and touched the end of his beard.

“That’s right. Elder Baek! Isn’t it the spirit of the orthodox sects to not ignore those in trouble?”

“That’s right!”

When Hagyeong also added her opinion, Hye-ryeong and Mu-guang agreed with Hajin’s opinion.

It was unclear whether it was truly out of a sense of justice or because of the perks, but since helping someone in need is roughly correct, should I also add a word or two?

“If we’re going the same way, it wouldn’t be bad to accompany him.”

At my words, Elder Baek laughed as if he had no choice and opened his mouth.

“Hoho, if everyone’s opinion is like that, there’s no reason to refuse.”

“I’m truly grateful. Junior Brother Hajin.”

“Not at all. Mr. Ming. In times like these, we should help each other, shouldn’t we?”

…Do you see this?

I smiled at the implied words..

“During our journey together, I will take care of your lodging and meals.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you.”

And so, we ended up accompanying Mr. Ming’s merchant group to Wuchang County in northern Guangdong Province.

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