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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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This time, I deliberately treated them to the most expensive dishes. At first, they were all stunned, but they ate with gusto.
It was a pleasant sight.
After feeding them all, I sent a gift basket of high-quality sweets and homemade treats to Geomseong. Feeling content, I fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, at dawn, I inspected the carriage and the two horses the magistrate had lent me.
It wasn’t a luxurious carriage, but a large, sturdy one, equipped with a waterproof canopy to protect against wind and rain.
It was still an excellent carriage, however.
It bore the official seal of the government.
Technically, I was only subcontracted, but what I was doing was essentially government work.
Government work!
Official business!
That meant I was entitled to utilize the resources of imperial officials.
Especially when it came to using the imperial highways, which required a carriage and horses bearing the official seal.
Using the highways without proper authorization could result in a lengthy imprisonment.
In “Heavenly Sword, Moonlit World,” guards would appear instantly if unqualified individuals attempted to enter the highway.
Of course, there were also events related to this, and I knew there wouldn’t be any hidden guards waiting to catch violators like traffic cops hiding with speed cameras…
But why take the risk?
I meticulously checked the two robust horses, strong as warhorses, and the carriage they were pulling.
It was always a good idea to thoroughly inspect anything you rented.
After finishing my inspection, I loaded a barrel of alcohol, food supplies, and other luggage into the carriage, then climbed onto the driver’s seat. Just then, Chaejin emerged, carrying her belongings.
“You’re early. Why didn’t you call me if you were going to check the carriage?”
“I could handle it myself.”
“Oh… but wait, isn’t this a government carriage? It has the official seal.”
“That’s right. I borrowed it because the magistrate asked me to go to Cheongho.”
I told Chaejin about my conversation with the magistrate from the previous day.
She listened silently, then hesitated for a moment before chuckling. She attempted to climb onto the driver’s seat next to me.
“Hold on. Why are you trying to sit there? There are seats in the back.”
I knew she could ride a horse, but could she drive a carriage? I raised an eyebrow, and she responded with her usual confident, slightly arrogant smirk.
“Heh heh. Today, I shall become the wind. Believe it or not, I’m the embodiment of Cheongho’s fastest theory. They call me… the Black Carriage Destroyer of Cheongho, the one who…”
What destroyer?
“I, um, destroyed a few carriages in the Cheongho carriage race. Heh heh. Ever since then, no one dared to drive near me. I achieved three consecutive victories, and everyone was so astonished by my skills that they begged me to stop participating in the races.”
“……”
The Cheongho carriage race.
It was a brutal competition where participants raced heavily modified, almost battle-ready carriages, each pulled by two horses.
It was known for its high injury rate.
I had earned quite a bit of money betting on that race in “Heavenly Sword, Moonlit World.”
But to hear that she had actually participated in those races… and earned such a terrifying nickname?
My gut instinct screamed at me.
Don’t let her near the reins.
I said, my voice trembling slightly,
“Don’t you know the saying? ‘Haste makes waste.’”
“Heh heh. It’s been a while since I’ve driven a carriage, you know.”
Was she even listening?
I ignored her pleading gaze, and she reluctantly climbed into the back of the carriage.
“We’ll be using the imperial highway, so there’s no need to rush.”
“But if we take the highway and I drive fast, we can reach Cheongho even quicker, right?”
That wasn’t… convincing at all!
“You’ll be kicked off the highway if you exceed the speed limit.”
High-ranking officials might be able to get away with it, but we were just ordinary folks. There was no need to attract unnecessary attention.
“Tch.”
I ignored her disgruntled noise.
After that brief exchange, it was finally time to leave. We left Seomhwachon, heading towards Yangwiseong, then turned north.
Soon, the dirt road gave way to a paved one, a clear indication that we had reached the imperial highway.
“Halt! Halt!”
We were stopped almost immediately.
But I wasn’t worried. I had the official seal and the authorization documents.
“I’m Yukgang, from the Highway Management Division. May I see your authorization documents?”
A military officer with sharp eyes and an intimidating demeanor, accompanied by several soldiers, stood before us, blocking the road. He eyed us with suspicion, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
I immediately presented him with the documents the magistrate had given me. He examined them briefly, then returned them and stepped aside.
“You’re on official business. You’re not an official, though, are you?”
“I’m on a mission for the magistrate, heading to Cheongho. By the way, I admire your dedication. How about a drink after your shift?”
I discreetly placed a pouch filled with several silver coins into his hand.
He tried to refuse, but I insisted.
“This isn’t a bribe. I simply want to express my gratitude for the hard work of the Imperial Army.”
“Well… thank you,” he said, accepting the pouch.
As I was about to climb back onto the driver’s seat, he pulled me aside and whispered,
“It’ll take you at least two days to reach Cheongho. There’s a guard post about half a day from here, in Yangcho. Mention my name, Yukgang, and they’ll let you rest there.”
He discreetly slipped a small wooden token into my hand.
It was a beautiful transaction.
I liked these clean, efficient deals.
“Glory to the Empire.”
“Glory to the Empire.”
We exchanged a brief salute, and I returned to the driver’s seat.
The paved road was smooth, and the horses pulled the carriage with ease.
“I didn’t know you were so good at bribery.”
“That wasn’t a bribe. How could you say such a thing?”
“That was a bribe!”
“The Highway Management Division is one of the most overworked departments in the military. And who uses the highways? Mostly officials.”
“Well… yes?”
“The Imperial officials and the military don’t exactly get along. So the officials tend to give those poor soldiers a hard time. But they wouldn’t dare mess with high-ranking officers like generals.”
“Ah.”
“So those low-ranking officers, they’re caught in the middle, always getting pushed around. They deserve a little recognition, a little support. A few silver coins is a small price to pay for their cooperation.”
“Hmm…”
“We’re just helping each other out. It’s an act of kindness, a gesture of goodwill. Don’t call it a bribe.”
Chaejin chuckled.
It wasn’t a mocking laugh. Just amusement.
“Heh heh. Okay, okay. But it’s surprising that you’d know so much about this.”
Of course I did. This was the first step in triggering an essential event for any serious “Heavenly Sword, Moonlit World” player.
As the officer had said, we reached a guard post in Yangcho after about half a day’s travel.
I stopped the carriage, and the horses, their coats damp with sweat, let out snorts of exhaustion.
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
The officer in charge of the post was a friendly-looking middle-aged man. I told him that Yukgang had sent me, showing him the wooden token. He smiled warmly.
“Anyone sent by that rascal is welcome here. Your horses look tired. Let them rest here for a bit. We have water and hay out back.”
“Thank you. Chae Sojeo, would you mind taking care of the horses?”
“Sure.”
As she led the horses to the back, I entered the guard post.
Several officers were relaxing, some playing cards, others simply napping.
I approached an elderly officer who was sitting alone in a corner, fiddling with some Go stones.
“Sir, would you care for a game?”
“I only play for stakes. How about we wager something?”
I had expected as much. I stepped outside and retrieved the barrel of alcohol from the carriage. He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder.
“Now you’re talking! I can’t refuse an offer like that. My stake… it’s this book.” He gestured towards a worn-out book lying on the table. “So, tell me… are you any good?”
“I’m decent.”
I smiled, and he seemed satisfied.
The clatter of Go stones against the board fell silent. Finally, the old officer spoke.
“Well played. I lost.”
“Thank you for the game.”
I had won. It wasn’t that I lacked confidence in my Go skills – I was good enough to place in the top rankings of the “Heavenly Sword, Moonlit World” Go tournament.
I just didn’t know how to lose.
“That was a fun game! These guys here are terrible at Go, so I was getting bored. Here, take this. An old Taoist gave it to me a long time ago. It might be of some use to you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Here, this is for you and your men. I enjoyed the game.”
I offered him the barrel of alcohol, but he shook his head.
I insisted.
“You would have given me the book even if I had lost.”
“Tch. You read me like a book.”
He would have given it to me regardless of the outcome. That was how this event worked.
I just shrugged, and he laughed, then looked around the room.
“Hey, looks like we’re having drinks tonight, thanks to our guest! Don’t think you can get away with drinking for free, though. Contribute something!”
Sharing drinks with your comrades after a long day was a cherished tradition, especially in remote locations like this.
The officers laughed and offered various items.
Daggers, military-grade healing salves, even some rare ores that could be used for crafting.
I accepted their gifts, then turned back to the old officer.
“Would you care for another game?”
“It’s beautiful women who tempt a traveler to linger, not an old man like me. May your journey be filled with fortune. And if you ever find yourself back here, you’re always welcome.”
He grinned, picking up his Go stones, his interest in me waning.
I took the hint and left the guard post.
Chaejin was giving the horses water, occasionally glancing at the reins, her desire to drive still lingering.
“All rested?” I asked.
“I am, but the horses still seem a bit tired. You must be exhausted from driving as well, Innkeeper. Why don’t you rest for a bit? Or maybe you could let me handle the reins…”
I ignored her and opened the book I had received from the old officer. She pouted, then leaned closer, curiosity getting the better of her.
“What’s that? ‘Understanding Distance,’ Volume 1?”
She read the title from the worn-out cover, then eagerly waited for me to continue.
I turned the page.
Have you heard of Kunlun’s Cloud Dragon Eight Steps, the legendary movement technique that allows one to move as freely as a dragon soaring through the clouds?
Or the Beggar’s Sect’s Drunken Eight Immortals Steps, a technique that utilizes the unpredictable movements of a drunkard to confound one’s enemies?
What about the Namgung family’s Imperial Steps, a technique befitting the rulers of the heavens?
Or Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Divine Steps, where each step leaves behind the lingering fragrance of plum blossoms?
And then there’s the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Divine Steps, based on the profound principles of yin and yang.
As you can see, there are countless advanced movement techniques in this world. But there are also basic techniques, like the Three Treasures Steps, that focus on fundamentals.
So what truly differentiates these techniques?
The lofty ideals they embody? Their complexity?
In the end, the true measure of a movement technique is how well it utilizes one’s understanding of distance.
I, Guijin, have compiled these teachings to help you better understand martial arts and the concept of distance. May they guide you on your path to mastery.
After reading the introduction, I flipped through the pages, skimming through the contents.
“Understanding Distance” was exactly what its title implied: a treatise on the importance of distance in combat, detailing the optimal range for both attack and defense.
In “Heavenly Sword, Moonlit World,” reading it increased your Evasion stat.
But after reading it now, I didn’t feel any noticeable changes. Perhaps my understanding of martial arts was still too limited. Or maybe my current level was too low to fully grasp its concepts.
I would have to revisit it later.
“It seems like a martial arts manual of some sort.”
“Yes. Here. You can read it on the way. I can read it later.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t it valuable?”
“It’s better for someone who can actually use it to have it. Besides, if you get stronger, it’ll make my life easier.”
And it wasn’t a rare, secret manual.
You could get it as a reward after accumulating enough points at a used bookstore in the capital.
Of course, reaching that point would require a significant financial investment. But you got both volumes, and there were other rewards available as well.
And there were other ways to obtain it, too.
“Just think of it as a loan. Return it to me when you’re done.”
I’ll add it to Hongseongmun’s library.
It would be helpful to them.
After all, they were more knowledgeable about martial arts than I was.
“Haha. Thanks! This will keep me entertained on the way.”
She took the book with a grin.
We continued our journey, and she remained silent, engrossed in the book, until we reached our campsite as the moon rose high in the sky.
Later that night, as the full moon bathed the world in its silvery light, I stopped the carriage and set up camp.
Chaejin, who had been deep in thought as she sat by the campfire, suddenly exclaimed,
“Wait a minute…”
She slowly drew her sword.
Moonlight Blade Technique.
But what she was doing now was different from the techniques I had seen her use before.
Bathing in the moonlight, she swung her sword slowly, almost languidly, towards the sky.
And before my eyes, the moon seemed to split in two.
-Crack!
The white moon hanging in the night sky seemed to shatter with that single, slow strike.
I blinked, and the moon was whole again.
I realized then that it was the technique Chaeryeon had unlocked in Act 3, after reaching a certain level of enlightenment.
Moonlight Split.
It was a technique that Chaejin, with her obsession with speed, would never have been able to achieve.
One of the secret techniques of the Moonlight Blade Technique.
It was the effect of the Moonlight Island.
As Chaejin stood there, stunned by what she had just accomplished, I walked over to her and offered her a cup of tea.
“Congratulations,” I said.
“Wait… did I… did I actually do that?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Oh. Ahahaha! Of course! As expected of the eldest disciple of the prestigious Moonlit Pavilion, the skilled warrior Chaejin, the Moonlight Blade, whose talent surpasses even Hongryeon! Ahahaha!”
I offered her another cup of tea as she laughed, her joy infectious. She accepted it, then said, her voice soft and a little shy,
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
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