A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 30

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
“The Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light is the secret sword art of the annihilated Jeomchang Sect! Although it pales in comparison to the Four Great Swords, that is said to be the ultimate arts… it’s still a remarkable martial art!”

“Thanks, Hye-ryeong Wiki.”

Ah, I made a mistake.

“What? What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

So the Jeomchang Sect had such a sword art.

But why is Mr. Ming transporting it, and what kind of relationship does he have with that middle-aged man holding a saber blocking the way?

Judging by the way they talked, it seems like Mr. Ming betrayed him…

For now, I should stop thinking about it.

I stopped my thoughts and observed the condition of the martial artists coming down one by one from the trees.

They didn’t seem to be assassins, but ordinary martial artists.

Seeing as they were holding sabers, were they saber users?

I’ve never faced a saber user from the Central Plains, so I’m not sure what it would feel like.

They don’t look as threatening as the Mamluks, but…

For now, it seemed better to take a defensive approach.

It would be better to attack after observing the opponent’s saber techniques.

“Are you thinking of attacking?”

“That bastard! He stole the secret manual that should have been ours! And he let my younger brother, his benefactor, die!”

A thick killing intent was mixed in with the sorrowful cry.

Not only that, but also in the gazes of the martial artists surrounding us. The martial artists glared at Mr. Ming as if they wanted to tear him apart and kill him right away.

I couldn’t gauge Mr. Ming’s expression since he wasn’t visible from my position, but he was probably scared. There’s no one who wouldn’t be afraid in a situation where their life is in danger.

“Hand that bastard over! You have nothing to do with this matter, do you?”

There’s nothing more troublesome than getting involved in someone else’s grudge. Ideally, it would be wisest to talk first, determine the right and wrong, and then act, but would that be possible?

The other party already seemed to consider Mr. Ming a mortal enemy.

I turned my head and looked at Elder Baek and Hajin, and they both had a visibly troubled expression.

In the martial arts world, grudges was an area that others couldn’t easily interfere with.

It was easy for a third party to carelessly interfere and create unfavorable circumstances.

If a new grudge was formed by getting involved unnecessarily, it would be a huge headache.

In this situation, the most suitable response that could be taken is…

“Sir, I understand your deep-seated grudge, but we have a duty to protect Mr. Ming as his friends.

However, we have no intention of fighting you and your subordinates, so why don’t we first determine the right and wrong through words? If your claim is reasonable, we will not interfere in this matter.”

“Mr. Lin?”

From afar, Mr. Ming’s perplexed cry rang out.

In the Central Plains, where relationships are important, it would be normal to take his side without question, but… Hajin didn’t seem willing to abandon his morals.

In fact, with our strength, dealing with that man and the martial artists wasn’t such a difficult task.

But that was essentially the act of eliminating obstacles without question, which was actually something that the evil sect bastards would do, so it wasn’t an option the Haenam Sword Sect could choose.

If by any chance this matter spread out, the reputation of the sect would be dragged through the mud.

Fortunately, the man holding the saber seemed to find Hajin’s claim reasonable and opened his mouth.

“Why should I listen to your words?”

“We are martial artists of the Haenam Sword Sect. We swear on our sect’s honor to determine the right and wrong fairly and justly. Is that still not enough?”

You’re taking a such strong stance.

“As far as I know, that despicable traitor has a trade relationship with the Haenam Sword Sect! Do you think you can determine the right and wrong impartially, leaving aside your friendship?”

“That’s…”

Hajin faltered at the man’s counterattack.

The man with the saber pointed out the relationship known in the martial arts world of the Central Plains, glaring with fiery eyes.

He stated a rebuttal asking if someone with a friendship with Mr. Ming could properly determine the right and wrong.

He used logic, asking whether he was a suitable person to convince these martial artists filled with killing intent, that he would be impartial.

That was not possible.

So, it was my turn to step up here.

“Hey.”

“Who are you… a Westerner?”

“If you can’t trust the Haenam Sword Sect, I’ll determine the right and wrong.”

I stepped forward with my longsword sheathed. Naturally, everyone’s gazes focused on me. A mixture of perplexity, surprise, and curiosity in their eyes.

I stopped about ten steps away from the man with the saber on his shoulder. He remained perplexed until I approached.

“A Westerner? A Westerner who can speak the language of the Central Plains?”

“I’m not affiliated with the Haenam Sword Sect, and I’m just traveling with this merchant because our paths are the same. So wouldn’t I be the most suitable person to play the role of a judge here?”

Actually, I was close to being affiliated with the Haenam Sword Sect, but there was no reason to reveal that fact here.

It would only complicate the situation further.

“Hmm…”

“You know it too, don’t you? No matter how much hatred you have, do you think you have a chance of winning? The martial artists here are not from the Haenam Sword Sect, but the skills of the other guys don’t seem that high.”

“The level of martial arts doesn’t always determine life and death.”

“But the level of martial arts can be used to predict the probability of winning.”

Our gazes met.

Noticing the confusion in his eyes at my unexpected appearance, I cupped my hands in salute before he could speak.

“I am William Marshal. A wanderer who crossed the Western Regions and came to the Central Plains. I happened to join this merchant group and was on my way to Hubei.”

“…Che Mu-ryeong, the sect leader of the Nakil Sect, a branch of the Jeomchang Sect.”

He also introduced himself with a salute, probably thinking he couldn’t avoid it since I had introduced myself.

A branch of the Jeomchang Sect.

A deep pride in the Jeomchang Sect was evident in his voice.

Even though the Jeomchang Sect was annihilated, did the branch continue its lineage?

“The Nakil Sect, I’ve heard of it. It’s famous as a sect that inherited the Nakil Saber among the other martial arts of Jeomchang. Can you show me the Ilyang-gi (Sun Cultivation Energy)?”

The martial artist named Che Mu-ryeong silently emitted internal energy from his body.

Then, a yellow light of internal energy flowed from his body. A warm energy like the sun containing no evil energy was felt.

“It’s true…”

Fortunately, it seemed to be the sect that Elder Baek knew. Then, let’s consider his identity confirmed to some extent. Shall we start listening to the story?

“What happened between you and Mr. Ming?”

At my question, he finally began to explain what had transpired between the two.

“We had been searching for the lost martial arts of the Jeomchang Sect for a long time. Our purpose was to re-establish the sect as the descendants of the former Jeomchang Sect. That brazen bastard approached us.

He informed us of the existence of a secret cave where the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light was hidden and proposed a deal. He suggested we loot it together.”

Loot it together…

He couldn’t do it with his own strength, so he called the Nakil Sect, who would be most easily hooked by the bait of the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light. At least he chose the right target.

But it seems things got complicated.

“It was fine until we broke through the traps set up in the secret cave and obtained the secret manual and treasures. But the moment we secured the secret manual and valuables… the secret cave began to collapse. We hurried to escape the secret cave.

My younger brother, Mun-yeong, carried the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light in his arms and ran while holding that bastard.

But unfortunately, the traps in the secret cave separated us from that bastard. We were on the inside. And then I heard Mun-yeong’s scream… it seemed he had fallen into a trap.

I don’t know what happened after that. But when we luckily found a way out of the collapsed secret cave… there was no one. And for several days, I dug through the collapsed secret cave and found Mun-yeong’s corpse.

…It was in a terrible state.”

He began to breathe heavily as if recalling his younger brother’s gruesome appearance.

His eyes were bloodshot and glistening with tears, looking like he would fall into demonic possession or rather, be consumed by vengeful thoughts at any moment.

“…If that’s the case, Mr. Ming, can you explain?”

“It was an unfortunate accident! He saved me and was crushed by a rock… Half of his body was crushed, so there was nothing I could do! So I had no choice but to take the secret manual!”

“Then! Isn’t it right to hand it over to us?! My younger brother sacrificed his life to save you!

Even though you knew we had returned safely, you pretended not to know and secretly tried to sell it to another sect! Did you think we wouldn’t find out?!”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t know you had survived and returned! If I had known, I would have handed the secret manual to you!”

I glanced at Mr. Ming, and he was sweating profusely with a flustered face, looking at Che Mu-ryeong.

It seems he hit him where it hurts.

Judging by his reaction, even if I don’t know the exact situation, it seems he did stab them in the back. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so flustered.

Indeed, from a merchant’s perspective, how could he not be tempted by the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light?

If he put it up for auction, he could receive an enormous amount of money.

“Your garbage-filled mouth spouts lies! We even went to your house! But didn’t you lie, saying you couldn’t retrieve the secret manual?! Then explain why the secret manual that should have been in my younger brother’s possession disappeared!”

Is it about time to drop the gavel?

I looked at Mr. Ming and opened my mouth.

“If your words are true, you have a duty to hand over the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light to Sir Che.”

“Sir William! You, you believe that scoundrel’s words?!”

“Then do you have a way to prove your innocence?”

“That’s…”

Just as the situation was heading towards its conclusion.

“Elder! Uncle! Other martial artists appeared behind us!”

What?

How is the situation excelating this quickly?

I unconsciously looked at Mr. Ming. Not only me but others as well.

“No! I didn’t call them over!”

“Then…”

Was there a spy from another force among Mr. Ming’s subordinates?

Information is spreading everywhere.

I slightly turned my body to observe the newly intruding group.

One, two, three, four… it seemed there were about fifty of them.

There are so damn many of them.

“The Geumyeong Sect will take the Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light!”

Who the hell are these guys?

I turned my head and proposed to Che Mu-ryeong.

“Let’s deal with those bastards first and continue our conversation.”

We need to take care of those troublemakers first in order to determine the truth. The sound of drawing swords echoed from all directions.

“We will do so.”

What a mess.

I drew my sword from its sheath.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇