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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator:Bobt
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Jang Geon was sitting under a tree, basking in the bright noon sunlight.
Over there, Birang could be seen playing and running with the children. Initially, she had played with them reluctantly, but now she was the one excitedly jumping and running around. The bright sunlight shone on the frolicking children between the grass and the river, with their shimmering figures exuding a bucolic serenity and a vibrantly pulsating vitality.
It was a scene that made one gaze dreamily.
“She’s such a bright child.”
At that moment, Jeok-pung approached Jang Geon and spoke. Jang Geon smiled faintly. Seeing Jang Geon smile, Jeok-pung also chuckled lightly before continuing.
“So, did you hear the story from the elder?”
“Yes, about teaching him how to deal with martial artists…”
Jang Geon murmured softly, his gaze still fixed on Birang and the children. He then recalled the story he had heard in Old One-Eye’s tent.
“…One day, a few Central Plains people came to this valley, leading the young tribesmen they had sent to the villages below. They suddenly demanded that we sell this land to them, promising a large sum of Central Plains silver coins. However, this valley and village have been our tribe’s home for over a hundred years. We may have moved around a bit with the seasons, but ultimately, this valley is our tribe’s home. How could we sell that? Where would we go if we sold it? No, even before that, is land something we can freely buy and sell?”
The Central Plains people then promised even more money. Furthermore, the young tribesman who had led them here tried to persuade the tribesmen, saying this was the best opportunity to give up the valley and live in the Central Plains cities.
“We sent that bastard to the villages below for too long. He must have drunk some strange water to spout such nonsense, making me want to beat him up. Anyway, those Central Plains people left obediently after hearing our firm refusal. Or so we thought.”
The young tribesman who had brought them treated the people of the other tribes like outdated fools and left with the Central Plains people. And some time later, those Central Plains people who had left returned, this time with twenty-six more men.
“…They claimed they had bought this land with money and told us to leave. When we questioned their absurd claims, they presented some flimsy piece of paper…”
It was a certificate stating that the young tribesman Swift Crow had sold the rights to this valley and received five hundred silver coins. That young man who had insulted the tribesmen had betrayed the entire tribe and fled.
Jang Geon could roughly understand what had happened. They had exploited the fact that these indigenous people lacked a sense of land ownership.
To them, land was something the entire tribe shared together, something belonging to their ancestors, and at the same time, not something they fully owned, but merely borrowed from nature. Eventually, they would return everything they had temporarily borrowed back to nature upon their deaths, so they did not easily understand the concept of owning and selling land.
The Central Plains people took advantage of this and created a document stating that Swift Crow was the owner of the land, immediately completing the transaction. From the perspective of the tribesmen living here, it was outrageous, but on paper, they had to leave since the Central Plains people had clearly bought the rights from the landowner.
Jang Geon asked which organization had acknowledged and stamped that document.
“What was it? It must have been some kind of association.”
“The Merchant Association?”
“Ah, yes! The Merchant Association. Something about protecting the rights and distribution of goods for merchants?”
Even after presenting that document, the tribesmen could not acknowledge it. Naturally, the Central Plains people had no choice but to leave, just as they had come in droves. At least the tribesmen numbered nearly fifty, with many strong adults.
However, Old One-Eye sensed a clear greed and unwavering determination in the eyes of the departing Central Plains leader. His departure was merely an act to establish justification. It was not difficult to foresee that the day they returned would be a bloody one.
One of the reasons Old One-Eye did not expel Jang Geon was the thought that, even if he did not know the extent of Jang Geon’s martial arts abilities, he might at least learn how to deal with martial artists.
Emerging from his thoughts, Jang Geon spoke without taking his eyes off the playing children.
“Such unfair transactions are prohibited by the Merchant Association, the Martial Arts Alliance, and even the Empire. Those Central Plains people and some members of the local Merchant Association branch must have conspired to deceive you. Send someone to the Martial Arts Alliance branch.”
Jeok-pung, gazing in the same direction as Jang Geon, slowly folded his arms and replied.
“The head of the nearest Martial Arts Alliance branch here is neither particularly good nor bad. However, even if bribed by those Central Plains people, he would ultimately side with us in the end, as it’s his job. The problem is that the bribe might only delay the time until he acts. And that time would be enough for our entire tribe to be wiped out.”
Jang Geon turned to look up at Jeok-pung.
“…You seem well-versed in the Central Plains language and knowledgeable about Central Plains people.”
“Before that Swift Crow fellow, I used to monitor the movements of the Central Plains people in the villages below. He was observant and quick-witted, so I passed the job to him… but this happened. I must have been poor at judging character.”
His expression was bitter. If he had lived away from the tribe to serve its interests, he must have had a great affection for the tribesmen, making his betrayal by one of them all the more lamentable. Jang Geon turned his gaze back to Birang and the children and spoke.
“It might be good to prepare proper documentation this time. Even if we overcome this incident, such things could happen again.”
Hearing those words, Jeok-pung then looked at Jang Geon.
“…You’re not going to ask?”
“Ask what?”
“Why those Central Plains people want this valley.”
“Who knows? Based on their actions, it doesn’t seem like anything significant.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jeok-pung spoke.
“Apparently, there might be a gold mine somewhere in this valley. They’re trying to drive us out so they can tear the whole place apart to find it.”
Jang Geon chuckled.
“If it’s gold, I suppose it’s something significant.”
“You’d need more than a dozen of those silver coins you gave me to exchange for a single gold coin. Doesn’t that make gold extremely valuable to you Central Plains people? It seems like more than just ‘something significant.'”
Despite Jeok-pung’s puzzled question, Jang Geon did not answer right away. His eyes were still fixed on the joyfully playing children and Birang. Birang, who had been giggling, suddenly seemed to sense his gaze, met his eyes, and beamed at him. Jang Geon smiled faintly back at those golden eyes.
“Some gold is more valuable than other gold. At least, to me.”
Jeok-pung followed Jang Geon’s gaze. For a moment, they both watched the playing children. Jeok-pung felt like he could understand the meaning of the gold Jang Geon referred to.
“I should be able to move my arm without much discomfort tomorrow. Then we’ll see what we can do.”
“…Understood. I’ll let the tribesmen know as well. Thank you. I’ll be sure to repay you.”
Jang Geon simply nodded lightly, without a word. Although Jeok-pung could not discern Jang Geon’s martial arts skills from that small gesture, he could at least sense his willingness to help them.
The two continued to bask in the noon sunlight, watching the children.
* * *
The next day, Jang Geon followed Jeok-pung to an open space on the village outskirts, where he could meet the tribe’s strongest warriors. Jeok-pung was the oldest, while the others were all young men with robust physiques. Birang was among them.
When her eyes met Jang Geon’s, she smiled faintly, acknowledging him. Jang Geon responded with a nod and scanned the lined-up tribal warriors.
After observing them for a moment, Jang Geon turned to Jeok-pung and asked.
“Are these all the capable fighters you have?”
“These warriors are all we have.”
“…In such a remote place, even the swordsmen you could hire with money would not be exceptionally skilled. But still, I could easily handle a dozen or so.”
Jeok-pung nodded.
“If these ten are all we have, you may have to face two or three each. But we’re confident. Truly.”
As Jang Geon pondered that response, the largest man among the ten suddenly spoke up.
“If you’re worried, why don’t you spar with me first? Let’s see a taste of these vaunted martial arts of yours.”
He stepped forward, boasting his lumbering movements and rippling muscles. Jang Geon looked at the man’s sullen expression and chuckled. It wasn’t a bad way to start.
“It might be a bit spicy.”
“Heh. When Sad Wolf carried in that corpse, I didn’t expect such a braggart.”
The warriors, who had been somewhat distracted upon seeing Jang Geon and Jeok-pung arrive at the open space, quickly formed a circle and sat down when they realized Jang Geon was not joking. A circular fighting ring had been formed in an instant. Seeing Jeok-pung among them, it seemed they had intended to assess Jang Geon’s abilities in this manner from the beginning.
Smiling lightly at the sight, Jang Geon unsheathed the sword at his waist and stood it against a nearby tree in the open space. He then lightly moved his right shoulder and turned towards the opposing warrior. It seemed better not to strain his right arm.
“I’m called Climbing Bear. Excluding Red Wind, I’m the strongest in our valley tribe. What’s your name, martial artist?”
“Jang Geon.”
“Alright, Jang Geon. Show me these vaunted martial arts of yours.”
Climbing Bear threw off his loose upper garment and lowered into a crouch, bending his body. Judging by his flashing eyes and slowly raising hands, he seemed ready to strike and grapple at any opportunity. It was a tactic that made good use of his weight and strength.
However, in contrast to his combat stance, Jang Geon showed no particular posture, except for raising his left hand to his chest level.
Seeing this, Climbing Bear snorted loudly, as if thinking Jang Geon was underestimating him, and charged like an enraged bull, quickly raising his arms to protect his head as a counterattack defense for his vitals. The distance between Climbing Bear and Jang Geon rapidly closed.
And then, Jang Geon’s lightning-fast backward kick grazed Climbing Bear.
The arms guarding his head were meaningless. Jang Geon’s foot, like a whip, traced a graceful arc, avoiding Climbing Bear’s blocked arms on both sides and striking upwards into his chin. Climbing Bear fell sideways, thinking, ‘Did this guy have a metal lump attached to his foot?’
He had clearly been hit with the tip of the foot, but it made a resounding ‘pee’ sound as if struck by a hammer, ringing in his head. However, living up to his name, Climbing Bear rolled and quickly pushed off the ground with both hands to stand up.
Despite his ringing head, he charged at Jang Geon again, thinking there would be an opening after such a large movement.
Jang Geon gently received the bulky charge and grabbed Climbing Bear’s waist, flipping him over backward. Climbing Bear’s attempt to grab Jang Geon’s body missed its mark, thrown off by Jang Geon’s subtly swaying movements. In the end, Climbing Bear tumbled forward and fell again.
After rolling on the ground once more, Climbing Bear gritted his dust-covered, swollen face and spat out a bitter-tasting saliva to the side.
Then, looking towards Jang Geon, he lowered into a crouching stance like a track athlete about to start, and struck the ground with both fists.
At that moment, Jang Geon felt a peculiar tingling sensation running through the soles of his feet. It was as if this ground was being pulled towards Climbing Bear’s two fists.
“Climbing Bear!”
At Jeok-pung’s shout, Climbing Bear, now three times faster than before, charged at Jang Geon’s waist.
And Jang Geon reflexively infused his inner energy and struck Climbing Bear’s solar plexus with his knee.
A booming sound echoed with a ‘tung,’ and a hazy cloud of dust formed a ripple centered on the impacted Climbing Bear. The open space fell briefly silent.
“…Jang Geon?”
As Jeok-pung called out to Jang Geon with a surprised expression, the unconscious Climbing Bear collapsed with a thud. Jang Geon dusted off his clothes and, looking at him, said.
“That was an interesting technique. Could you explain it?”
“…Climbing Bear?”
“See for yourself. That force seems to have protected his body just now.”
Jeok-pung quickly approached and examined Climbing Bear. As Jang Geon had said, aside from being unconscious, there seemed to be no other issues. After checking on him, Jeok-pung looked up at Jang Geon with an admiring expression.
“You’re quite skilled.”
Jang Geon simply grinned without a word.
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