A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 33

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“Sir William, I’ll see you next time.”

“Have a safe journey.”

We bid farewell to Mr. Ming as he led his merchant group away in the distance.

He kept turning back to look at us repeatedly while pulling his wagon.

Is he still bothered by signing the contract? No matter how much he looks back, I have no intention of canceling the contract.

“That was quite a chaotic trade journey,” Hye-ryeong said.

“Still, it’s fortunate we were able to resolve the situation without drawing our swords even once,” Hajin replied.

Hajin looked at me with admiring eyes. He always had that kind of gaze, but it seemed to have intensified twofold since I resolved the grudge between Mr. Ming and the Nakil Sect.

“Well… I just happened to have a good idea. More importantly, I hope Mr. Ming becomes a ‘great merchant’ by the next time we meet.”

“Since he received a favor, he will surely repay it.”

This kid is still so naive.

How many people in the world actually repay favors willingly? Enmities maybe, but favors?or is it different here than in the west?

In a place where it wouldn’t be strange for someone to come at you with a sword asking why you haven’t repaid a favor, I suppose it’s different.

“Still,uncle, Uncle, won’t Mr. Ming be forced to repay the favor he owes you as he has to comply with the contract? After all, even Elder Baek put his thumbprint on the contract as a witness! He has no choice” Hye-ryeong chimed in.

It would be beneficial for me too if he returned as a great merchant and fulfilled the contract he made with me, as Hye-ryeong said.

It wasn’t easy to find such an easy mark, and importing armor from the Western Regions was no simple task.

If I had to trade with another merchant, I would have to pay an astronomical amount.

Even here, the value of armor was by no means light, as it was a military item, it was very difficult to obtain.

To prevent potential misunderstandings, I could only get armor equivalent to a gambeson here. Even that would require going through quite a troublesome process to obtain.

It’s about time I stop thinking about annoying things and go rest.

I fiddled with the full money pouch in my chest and asked Elder Baek:

“Elder, do you know which inn is the most popular in Wuchang County?”

Since we received plenty of travel expenses, we might as well stay at a good place.

No matter where we go, it would be better than setting up a tent, but I didn’t want to live frugally even in the Central Plains.

“Hmm. The Hong Family Inn is certainly the best in Wuchang County.”

“Uncle! Then let’s go to the Hong Family Inn!” Hye-ryeong exclaimed.

“What kind of place is that?” I asked calmly.

Hye-ryeong, you still haven’t learned that I won’t reat with excitement over something like that no matter how much you expect me to. Realizing this, Hye-ryeong finally started explaining about the Hong Family Inn.

“The Hong Family Inn is one of the most popular inns in northern Guangdong Province! It’s also famous for having a former martial artist as its owner! It’s considered a must-visit place for travelers stopping by Wuchang County!”

“How do you know all that?”

“Ta-da!”

Hye-ryeong pulled out a book from her cleavage, no, from inside her clothes. The cover of the book read ‘Central Plains Travel Guide’.

Is this some kind of Central Plains travel guide that acts as means to promote tourism? There are all sorts of things in this era that i didn’t expect.

Of course, this isn’t the medieval China I know, but a Central Plains where martial arts exist, so it’s not strange for such things to exist openly.

“A former martial artist… sounds dangerous.”

Isn’t that too ominous of a setup? It seems like we’ll definitely get caught up in some incident if we go there.

I don’t know if i will be lucky and avoid getting involved in an incident there or not… but it wasn’t a place I particularly wanted to go to.

Perhaps my feelings showed on my face, because Hye-ryeong opened the book and tried to persuade me.

“It’s also famous for having some of the best cuisine in Guangdong Province!”

“That’s right. I had the chance to eat there once before, and I kept thinking about the food from the Hong Family Inn for days afterward,” Hajin added.

Some of the best… cuisine?

Food so delicious that it lingered in your mind for days?

“…I suppose one meal wouldn’t hurt.”

“Hoho, then we’ll go to the Hong Family Inn. As it happens, I’m acquainted with the owner, so I’m sure he’ll treat us well,” Elder Baek said.

With Elder Baek’s support, I had no more reason to refuse. If he says it’s a an acquintance’s shop, I’d be the bad guy if I said anything against it.

If any incident occurs, the inn owner will probably handle it well anyway.

So, with anticipation, I headed towards the Hong Family Inn with the group.

“…Huh?”

“Oh my.”

I looked at Elder Baek, who had let out a sigh. He was staring blankly at the inn. Following his gaze, I saw that the long space above the door where a signboard would normally be hanging, was empty.

There were only traces indicating that something had once been hanging there.

Even besides that, the place looked dreary, as if it had been out of business for quite some time.

“Huh, I’m sure this guidebook was published not too long ago…” Hye-ryeong said with a mixture of confusion and disappointment in her voice.

It seemed Hye-ryeong had been looking forward to the food at the Hong Family Inn as well.

Unfortunately, since it had gone out of business, we’d have to find somewhere else…

“Hmm, I wonder what happened…” Elder Baek muttered.

It must be disconcerting to come to a friend’s place of business after a long time only to find it in such a state. I spoke to Elder Baek, who was letting out sighs of regret.

“Since we need to stay here for a day anyway, why don’t we go find another inn first? Wouldn’t it be better to secure a place to sleep and then slowly investigate what happened to the Hong Family Inn?”

“…Alright.”

Elder Baek turned around with a bitter expression. We followed behind him, heading towards a new inn. However, perhaps because this village was located on the way to Hubei…

The place was overflowing with travelers and merchants, so there were hardly any inns with vacancies.

Even when there was a vacancy, it was barely one room, so we had no choice but to turn back several times.

“This is quite troublesome,” Hajin said.

“It seems we’ll have to go to an inn on the outskirts, even if it’s a bit less presentable,” Elder Baek replied.

“That’s right, Master. We’ll be fine…”

Mu-guang, why are you looking at Hye-ryeong like that?

I understand your feelings, but…

“Hehe, I’m fine with it!” Hye-ryeong chirped.

Aren’t they being a bit overprotective? She’s a martial artist in her own right. Though I understand to some extent, given that she’s essentially in the position of the sect leader’s daughter.

It seems she receives a lot of affection from the elders of the Haenam Sword Sect as well.

“Then, for the time being-”

“Elder Baek! It’s been so long since I’ve last seen you!”

As we were about to leave in search of a new inn, an unfamiliar voirce reached our ears. I immediately turned my head to look at the owner of the voice.

“Ma-ryang! Why are you here in such shabby attire?”

Is this someone he knows? He seems too young to be a friend, almost young enough to be his son.

Perhaps a nephew? Or a hidden child?

As I was looking at the two with keen interest, the young man with brown hair called Ma-ryang noticed us and hurriedly brought his fists together at chest level in greeting.

“I’m sorry! My greeting was late! I am Hong Ma-ryang, son of Hong Mu-gang, the owner of the Hong Family Inn!”

“I am Lin Ha-jin. I am humbly walking the path of the sword at the Haenam Sword Sect.I am a disciple of the sect”

“I’m Hye-ryeong! I’m also walking the path of the sword at the Haenam Sword Sect! I am also a disciple of the sect.”

Following this, the martial artists of the Haenam Sword Sect around me began introducing themselves. Since there weren’t many of us, it quickly became my turn, as I was standing at the back of the group with my arms folded.

I slightly lifted my bamboo hat and opened my mouth.

“William Marshal. You can call me Sir William.”

I really should come up with a Chinese-style name soon.

Or maybe I don’t need to, since everyone just calls me “Sir” now anyway.

While having these pointless thoughts, I looked down at the man in shabby attire. From the looks of it, he didn’t seem to have learned martial arts.

“A Westerner… Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t expect to see a Westerner here…”

“It’s fine.”

It’s not like you’re the first to react like that. I’d have more to say if there weren’t so many people surprised to see my face.

I’m glad I got this bamboo hat and that i wear it pressed down on my head so people don’t see my features clearly.

Even with this, shorter people can still see me because I’m so tall, but at least it can block gazes from a distance or from above.

“hey, what on earth happened to the Hong Family Inn that you’re in such shabby clothes and hiding here?” Elder Baek asked.

“…I can’t talk about it here. Would you mind following me for now?”

Hearing the desperation in his voice, Elder Baek looked at me.

It felt as if I had somehow become the decision-maker.

More precisely, since I was an outsider, they probably didn’t want to drag me into their personal affairs.

What should I do with these overly kind people?

“Let’s go and see. How can we call ourselves chivalrous if we ignore someone in trouble?” I said.

“Hoho…”

Why does he look moved when I just gave a casual answer?

I was just saying something perfunctory.

“Uncle…”

“Don’t you start too.”

Tsk.

If only the commander hadn’t drilled into my ears things like “Don’t ignore those in distress” until I could recite it in my sleep, I might have ignored this.

Why can’t I let go of chivalry even in the Central Plains?

I’m not even considered a knight anymore.

Pushing these useless worries to a corner of my mind, I spoke up.

“Young Master Hong, would you lead the way?”

“Yes, yes!”

He nodded frantically, his face noticeably lighter than when we first saw him.

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