It had been less than a month since entering the Martial Realm, yet they had already earned an epithet… truly remarkable. Great Hero Wi praised.
Mugwang’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
“I see you’ve taken an interest in things other than swords, huh? Even while sitting in the cart, you were always talking about sword techniques and forms. Is it because you got scolded so much by Elder Baek?”
“You’ll get one soon too.”
“If only… epithets are not something you can simply wish for and obtain. They tend to come when you least expect them, don’t they?”
“Therefore, stop bothering Great Hero Wi and focus more on your sword training.”
“Yes, Master.”
Having been reprimanded by Elder Baek, Mugwang scratched his head and began swinging his sword again. I watched him for a while before turning and heading back to the campsite.
At the campsite, Hye-ryeong sat alone, staring blankly at the crackling fire.
“Did Mister arrive?”
“What’s this ‘Mister’ nonsense?”
“Blue-Eyed Lion Mister, so… ‘Mister’ for short!”
That’s quite an awkward nickname.
Honestly, it doesn’t sound like something you’d find in a martial fiction novel.
Actually, could Hye-ryeong be a reincarnation or a traveler from another world?
It’s hard to believe she’s a native of the Central Plains given how alien her thoughts and actions seem.
I scratched my head while sitting beside her and wondered where Ha-jin had gone.
“Where did Ha-jin go?”
“She went hunting! I’m keeping the fire going.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?”
“I’m really bad at hunting… and I can’t see things well below…”
Hye-ryeong lowered her head. It almost seemed like she was looking down at her own chest.
Indeed, with such a large bust, even if she wraps it tightly with bandages, chasing down fleeing animals would be difficult. No matter how skilled a martial artist, tendons don’t strengthen that way.
Earlier, I noticed her struggling when eating because spices kept falling onto her chest.
For Hye-ryeong, her large breasts must truly be inconvenient.
“You shouldn’t be too down. You’re good at something too, aren’t you?”
“Am I?”
“Hmm… like talking?”
“Heehee.”
I had just thrown that out there without much thought, but she seemed to like it. Well, if she’s happy, that’s good. I chuckled softly and pulled out my longsword.
A sword I hadn’t unsheathed since warming up earlier.
My trusted blade shimmered in the warm light of the fire, casting an orange hue. Even though I constantly oil it, I wondered when I’d get the chance to swing it.
While I aim to avoid fights when possible, sooner or later, I’ll have to unsheathe my sword. I should probably ask the Martial Alliance near here to craft another suitable longsword for me.
Maybe one specialized for combat, like a gladius or a standard arming sword – that might not be a bad idea.
I’ve learned plenty of techniques, and having another tool for practical use in combat would certainly give me an edge.
While the longsword is versatile, specialized weapons for certain techniques can sometimes prove more advantageous.
As I pondered these thoughts, Ha-jin returned from the bushes holding a well-prepared rabbit. She shook the leaves off her body, cleaned the rabbit with water, skewered it with a stick, and placed it over the fire.
“Do you have experience butchering?”
“A few years ago, I had business with the Martial Alliance. That’s where I learned.”
“Martial Alliance… we’ll arrive in Changsha in half a day, so we’ll be in Hubei Province pretty soon.”
We’re near a mountain just below Changsha now, but we haven’t rushed since there’s no need to hurry.
By now, the Martial Alliance in Hubei must have already received news of the Demonic Sect’s attack on the Hainan Sword Sect and the appearance of the Wallbreaker Bomb. By the time we arrive, they should have a plan in place.
…I hope they do.
I don’t want them wasting time with useless debates. When I was a knight in the Western Regions, watching the allied forces bicker unnecessarily made me so frustrated.
You have to hang the ones who politic in war to get things moving.
That’s why our knights were wiped out.
“Hubei Province…”
“Big Brother, will we get to see Dongting Lake on our way there?”
“We should be able to see it from afar.”
“Ho ho, Dongting Lake is a truly fanciful place, like where immortals would reside.”
“Come on, it’s just full of drunkards passed out everywhere.”
“Ha-jing.”
“Ah, understood.”
Big Brother is dignified while the second one is restless, it seems like she was destined to draw swords wherever she goes. I glanced away from Ha-jing’s antics and looked at the rabbit roasting above the fire, its surface turning a golden brown.
This amount isn’t ideal for seven people, but we can make up for it with the food we bought from the village.
“Almost done.”
Ha-jin, as the responsible one, carefully filleted the meat and distributed it among the seven of us.
After finishing our simple meal, we spread out our blankets and laid down to sleep.
It’s not ideal to eat and immediately sleep, but dawn comes early in the Martial Realm, so it’s best to rest early.
Not like there’s anything else to do without smartphones or nightlife here.
“A-ji…ssii…”
As I lay down and closed my eyes, Hye-ryeong whispered beside me. It was barely audible, but I responded softly.
“What?”
“Good night.”
“…Yeah, sleep well.”
Hehe, laughter echoed softly.
With that, my consciousness drifted into the darkness.
—
“Is that Changsha?”
“I’ve seen it before, but every time I view its scenery, I feel overwhelmed.”
Just as Ha-jin said, Changsha’s views were indeed awe-inspiring.
Maybe because it’s rare to see such a megacity in this era? Or maybe it’s the tall buildings making me unsure if I’m in medieval times or modern times.
Perhaps both.
While continuously walking, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Changsha’s sight. Seeing it reinforces the fact that I am in the Central Plains.
Western villages are so small that they seem insignificant compared to Changsha.
Even a domain with a castle would barely suffice to make one feel like it’s a place people live in.
The joke I heard before transmigration about the size of nations being small enough to fit in a district of Seoul feels truer now.
“Ho ho, while Changsha has many sights, Dongting Lake, which you can reach by going upstream, is one of the most scenic views in Hunan Province. If things go well, it would be nice to visit.”
“That would be nice.”
“Is taking a short detour really a problem, Elder?”
“Don’t we have a lot of work to do? We need to deal with the Demonic Sect issue, build relations with the Dragon Phoenix Association, and the martial competition is also coming up soon. We need to secure results there too.”
We do have a lot to do.
Also, with the mention of the Demonic Sect, shouldn’t everything stop?
“Will the event proceed despite the Demonic Sect’s mischief?”
“It will. On the surface, it might seem like we’re downplaying the Demonic Sect… but continuing the event is also an announcement that ‘we won’t cancel events just because of the likes of the Demonic Sect.'”
So, it’s to show our strength.
That does seem like a good plan, but there’s always the risk of being blindsided.
Thus, the main topic of the anti-Demonic Sect meeting will likely focus on identifying and dealing with the Demonic Sect’s tricks.
Of course, I won’t be entering the meeting room, so I’ll eventually just hear the conclusion from Elder Baek.
The story will proceed without the Demonic Sect causing trouble, but…
If something unexpected happens on their side?
If the failure to annihilate the Hainan Sword Sect creates unintended consequences?
Where and how will this snowball roll?
I silently agreed with Elder Baek without voicing my unease.
“Who’s entering the martial competition?”
“Ha-jing and Mugwang will.”
“I’ll crush all those arrogant fools and come back victorious, Big Brother!”
“I will do my utmost.”
“I also want to participate in the Phoenix Martial Competition!”
Is there a separate competition for female martial artists?
Hye-ryeong declared with enthusiasm that she would earn a cool epithet.
“Will you support me?”
“Of course.”
“Heehee.”
“I heard the champion will win a precious elixir, so I’m looking forward to it. Hye-ryeong, show the Central Plains people how fierce the techniques of the Hainan Sword Sect are.”
“Understood!”
That elixir is going to the protagonist who will win this tournament, though.
Or maybe not, since this is a separate matter, so it doesn’t matter after all.
The one in danger is Ha-jing.
I silently prayed for Ha-jing’s peaceful demise in the competition.
“By the way, Great Hero Wi. Are you not participating in the martial competition?”
“Me?”
“Right. Surely, you can enter as a wandering swordsman.”
“Participating… but with the knowledge that the protagonist will sweep it all, I fail to see any need to join. When I shook my head, Ha-jin said with a regretful look on his face.”
“I wanted to spar once…”
“That can be done when we have time. For now… let’s think about where we’ll stay in Changsha.”
“Ho ho, leave that to this old man. I know of a good inn.”
Let’s hope we don’t get dragged into another mess.
With some unease in our hearts, we arrived in Changsha.
