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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“A letter of recommendation?”
There were a few things I had to prepare before going to Sichuan. How had I been ridiculed when I recklessly tried to enter the Mount Hua Sect? They said that a nobody like me would just end up cleaning the floors of the Mount Hua Sect for his whole life.
There was a chance that the Tai Chi sects would exploit people in similar ways. Because it was their way to suck those without any background or anything to rely on dry, like leeches.
So before going to Sichuan, I visited Jegal Yeong-yu, who was at the Shaanxi province branch. Yeong-yu, who had greeted me with a welcoming face at my sudden visit, made a puzzled expression after hearing that I needed a letter of recommendation. I confidently faced him and said,
“I haven’t learned many martial arts, so I’m thinking about learning more, but, wouldn’t it be easier if I had a letter of recommendation from a member of the Jegal Clan rather than just barging in as an unknown sect leader? Just write me one.”
Jegal Yeong-yu and I were in an alliance. Although he had said he had nothing to offer at the moment, there were still many things that I could get from him. For example, a minimal safety net like an insurance document to protect myself from getting screwed over when going to a place like the Tai Chi sects.
Although it wasn’t a difficult thing for Jegal Yeong-yu, to me, who was lacking in connections, his letter of recommendation was an important item. Jegal Yeong-yu said without any rejection,
“It’s not difficult to write one, but where do you plan to learn martial arts? There are many places that are not suitable, so I’d like to hear what you plan to learn.”
“I’m thinking about learning Tai Chi. I heard that there’s a school in Sichuan.”
Jegal Yeong-yu seemed to know where it was. He smiled with his eyes and nodded his head, before saying,
“Ah, you’re referring to the Yang Family Tai Chi Sect. I’ve heard that their leader has a very agreeable personality. But, why did you choose to learn Tai Chi? From what I saw, I thought that you preferred more swift techniques.”
“How can one be called a martial artist if they are only pursuing a single path? Isn’t it the way of a true martial artist to learn many things and pursue the extremes of martial arts? Since I’ve become a sect leader, I can’t be satisfied being some third-rate warrior who only knows how to use the Mount Tai Ax. My goal is to reach the pinnacle of martial arts by learning and using the advantages of other martial arts to create my own.”
Jegal Yeong-yu started laughing. I couldn’t tell the meaning behind that laughter. Was he mocking me or was he impressed? After looking intently at me with a meaningful smile, he nodded and then said,
“That purity… it is truly beautiful. I would be grateful if you were to continue on that righteous path.
Was it some kind of high-level warning? Or was he just speaking casually? Because I was thinking that this bastard had some kind of scheme hidden within, I couldn’t just casually accept his words.
Especially since he had a handsome face and was smiling roguishly, his face screamed ‘two-faced’, and he looked suspicious even when he wasn’t doing anything.
“I’ll write you the recommendation letter right away. Since I have many connections with the Martial Alliance, they’ll be sure to treat you with generosity.”
“I appreciate you doing this for me, sir. It must be a troublesome request.”
Jegal Yeong-yu nodded and said, He had already pulled out a brush and some paper from somewhere, and he was grinding the ink. The sight of him wielding his brush, dipped deeply into black ink, and gracefully writing the recommendation, resembled that of a scholar or a poet from folk tales.
“It’s only natural for us to help each other, right? Seeing you devote yourself to martial arts, I’m happy that my judgment about you was not wrong. Please drop by from time to time from now on.
“I will.”
Jegal Yeong-yu extended the paper to me. The recommendation letter said, ‘He’s someone connected to the Jegal Clan, so please do your best in teaching him.’ The content was simple, and surprisingly, he didn’t ask for anything in return.
“Is this enough? Do you need anything else? More content to be added, or?”
He was acting as if he was trying to make me indebted to him, even saying that he would add something more. I firmly shook my head and said,
“This is enough. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”
Jegal Yeong-yu seemed oddly regretful when I said I was leaving. Did he want to create more connections with me at this moment so he could ask for a difficult favor later? I had to be even more wary since I didn’t know what he was plotting. He was a member of the Jegal Clan. He might have been concocting some kind of grand scheme that I couldn’t even imagine.
“You’re leaving now? You’ve come all the way to Shaanxi, how about stopping by a brothel? It’s on me.”
I shook my head. Even though I enjoyed playing around with women, it was when I took someone else’s woman or forced myself onto naive ones. I had no intention of indulging in such vulgar acts of promiscuity such as going to a brothel and buying women.
Especially not when the request was coming from a member of the Jegal Clan. He might try to scam me on the bill, or use it against me as leverage to ask for some ridiculous ‘favor’ that I couldn’t refuse.
It was a trick that was far too obvious for the Jegal Clan. I shook my head and said firmly,
“I’m a married man. My wife is supporting me and hopes for me to achieve greatness in martial arts every single day, how could I possibly go to a brothel? I apologize that I’m unable to join you since I have an urgent matter.”
“You truly cherish your wife.
Jegal Yeong-yu’s mood didn’t sour at my words. As expected, he seemed to have just casually thrown out a suggestion. He instead said with a happy face,
“Then let’s see each other if we get the chance again. Have a few drinks together, what do you say?”
“That doesn’t seem like a bad idea. I look forward to it.”
Of course, that day would never come. Because I would never be swayed by the insidious tricks of the Jegal Clan. I vowed to break through any scheme he had hidden within those ambiguous eyes and smiles.
Of course, because I was still weak in martial arts, it was a matter for the future.
So, I bid him farewell with a smile.
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“Hmm?”
“Oh my.”
I stopped when I came across a familiar face as I was walking through the market. It was the merchant. The merchant who I had given Ja-yeong to and asked him to take to a school was doing business in the market, sitting and relaxing in a chair in the inn after finishing his dealings. His eyes were shaking after seeing me, and I waved my hand and said,
“It’s been a while. Sir.”
“Oh my, isn’t that the leader of the Hongryun Sect, sir?”
He was more polite than I had expected. Perhaps my name was starting to become known in Shaanxi Province? Or was it common for merchants to be like this to martial artists? I had no way of knowing.
“Yes. How have you been?”
“Aigoo, I’ve been well, Leader.”
Seeing his face, I recalled Ja-yeong. He was a bastard who tried to hit on my woman, but he was also a guy with a decent personality, and he had made some effort to protect my woman. So I took pity on him, spared his life, and had him taken to a school. I wondered how he was doing.
Since I had to kill him right away if he was learning martial arts, it was important to know his whereabouts.
“I just thought of it since I’ve seen you, but how is Ja-yeong doing? The guy I had given to you to take to a school?”
“Huh?”
The merchant had a puzzled look on his face.
It was a look that asked why I would even ask such a thing. I couldn’t help but tilt my head at his reaction. I had even paid him for the school, where had he taken him? Why was he reacting like this?
When my eyes narrowed, and my face turned serious, the merchant suddenly widened his eyes and then forced a laugh, saying,
“Aaah, that young man? He’ll be studying hard at school! Huhu! I haven’t received any letters or anything, so I’m not sure how he’s doing these days!”
This bastard, he killed him.
But I didn’t intend to reprimand him. Even this was Ja-yeong’s destiny, right? If he had met a good merchant, then he would have become a scholar, but even being brutally murdered after meeting a shady merchant was destiny.
Moreover, there was also the possibility that he had killed him because he misunderstood my words.
I had essentially abandoned him anyway, so wasn’t it too harsh to blame the merchant?
I nodded and then said,
“Is that so. I hope that young man studies hard and learns many things.”
“Hahaha! Yes! If he manages to pass the entrance exams, then I’ll definitely tell you, sir!”
“No, you don’t have to report such things. I just want to know if he’s studying hard. That’s all.”
“Oh my, is that so? Yes. Th, th, then I should get going now, I’m a bit busy.
Seeing the sweat dripping down his face, he seemed like a man who wasn’t very good at lying.
I patted him on the shoulder and began walking out of Shaanxi Province.
I wondered what kind of beautiful women I would meet in Sichuan.
I wondered what kind of schemes were waiting for me.
I hoped that I could master Tai Chi.
And I prayed that I wouldn’t be caught up in any troublesome plots concerning Master Gold Fortune.
My humble dreams spurred on my steps towards Sichuan.
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