NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23
“Leader, what are you doing here?”
“I suppose you don’t see it? I was gazing at the Holy Land.”
The Holy Land.
I fixed my eyes on the tower whose tip was barely visible at the horizon.
The Holy Land.
The reason why we fight.
I squatted next to the Leader and bit into the dried meat.
“Give me a piece as well.”
“You’ve already had your share, Leader. Quit being such a glutton.”
“Cheeky fellow. Did I raise you this way?”
“Didn’t you say one must claim one’s due? And when exactly did you raise me?”
“Hmph… Youngest son, you sure lack respect.”
Respect? What’s that?
I simply faced ahead and chewed on the tasteless dried meat.
Feels like this could break my teeth.
“This dried meat’s harder than rock.”
“Infuse your teeth with aura while chewing.”
“To think we have to use aura just to eat dried meat… sigh.”
While chewing the dried meat, we stared at the Holy Land. It happened fairly often. The Leader sat where the Holy Land was visible and daydreamed. I would sit quietly next to him and chatter.
Among all fleeting moments of peace in a battlefield where bloodshed far exceeded water consumption for me…
Peace…
How could we speak of peace when it’s a living hell ahead?
I lower my gaze.
Countless traces of shattered weapons and corpses. Corpses from both sides tangled all over.
How many have perished this time?
A hundred? A thousand?
Given the sight before me… perhaps this battle had claimed over ten thousand lives.
Such an intense fight. The reinforcements that arrived were pulverized, and we…
We too?
“Youngest son, is this a habitable place?”
“Where isn’t a battlefield inhabitable?”
“Yes, you’re right. Anywhere’s better than a battlefield… Fortunate we are.”
A chuckle sounds beside me.
The voice was familiar and nostalgic.
Armor feels cumbersome.
“Seems like another war’s brewing.”
“Use what I taught you. You won’t be at the forefront this time, right?”
“I guess…”
Since the only thing I’ve learned is to charge…
I stand up, turn my body.
And begin to walk. Away from the battlefield.
“Remember one thing, youngest. Wherever we are, we must uphold the code of a knight. Protect the weak, honor your promise, and toward the enemy…”
“Yeah, I know, I know…”
You said ‘one thing’, but it’s more than that.
I let the Leader’s nagging pass through one ear as I continued walking.
Straight ahead towards the endless horizon.
—————————
“…A dream?”
The details are hard to recall, but it felt like a nostalgic dream.
Rubbing my eyes, I rise from the bed and stretch. The chirping birds indicate it’s morning. Let’s loosen my body first.
Honestly, without such routines, just a brief meditation is enough for me. But as it aids mood shifting subtly, I habitually loosen up my body upon waking.
People here tend to meditate right after waking.
Well, their system entirely revolves around internal energy here, so unavoidable.
It’s sort of like the blend of external and internal arts…
After finishing stretching, I sat cross-legged on the bed. A martial artist must meditate.
Closing my eyes, I introspect.
Then, the mana core swollen from those spirit medicines greeted me.
This is why everyone seeks spirit medicines.
If a century-old ginseng works this well, imagine consuming rare treasures like thousand-year-old ginseng or green jade fluid…
The mana core could grow as big as a watermelon.
With that, you could extract aura recklessly and it’d never run out.
…Time to focus.
Unsure how much time has passed, I opened my eyes and rose with renewed energy.
Time to wash up and pack.
Since I’m leaving Haenan Island now.
Walking out of the room, I head towards the well. Along the way, I see Hainan Sword Sect warriors bustling around. Some have bandages, meaning there are still many whose wounds haven’t fully healed.
Wouldn’t resting be better for them?
…No.
What good does my worry do? Better I hurry up and wash.
I quicken my sluggish pace toward the well. There weren’t many people at the well.
Is it because this is a peripheral well?
Or did I wake up late?
Shaking my head, I fill a bucket and splash water on myself. I then added some vinegar I had saved to the water and poured it over my hair.
Since we don’t have soap or shampoo, alternatives like this are necessary.
After rinsing myself a few more times and scrubbing with a cloth, I noticed someone watching me, and I spoke up.
“Hye-ryeong.”
“Ah, well, I… I wasn’t looking intentionally, so you know, it’s an accident? A mishap? Stuff like that…”
Why are you so flustered?
I look at Hye-ryeong as she frantically flails her hands. She appears dressed neatly, unlike her usual self, as if ready for departure.
Wearing so neatly, but her light-stepping skills would mess it all up instantly.
Reflecting on this, female warriors must have it tough.
Even when they dress up and beautify themselves, a bit of running would necessitate redoing everything, then running again…
“What’s with all the fuss?”
“Male and female shall not share the same room at the age of seven!”
What?
And is this even the right time to say that?
I look perplexedly at Hye-ryeong, who suddenly shouts and thrusts her hands forward.
What’s going on? I ask her.
“Since you’re looking for me, I assume you’re ready?”
“Yes, yes! Once Uncle comes…”
So, you’re waiting for me.
“Then go ahead and wait. I’ll be right back.”
“AHH! Uncle! Your top! You’re not wearing it!”
So that’s why you were flustered. I put on my top and head back inside.
Time to leave Haenan Island now.
————————
“You’re all here.”
The words of the Sect Master as I arrived at the main practice yard.
Seems I was the last one, as I stand on the far left corner staring at him.
The Sect Master cleared his throat and began.
“You will all be heading to the Wu Lin Alliance located in Hubei. The purpose is not only to deliver the letter but also for our sect to attend the annual event held by the Wu Lin Alliance.”
“Understood?”
Annual event, huh.
Thinking back, the original story seemed to deliberately stretch time, making the Wu Lin Alliance hosts of every kind of event.
Dragon-phoenix gathering, martial prohibition contests, joint training, conferences regarding martial world matters… and even a festival.
Seeing the Wu Lin Alliance host a festival did give me a slight headache.
But will they proceed as usual despite the appearance of the Demonic Sect?
Compared to the original, the news reaches much earlier this time.
…On second thought, if you contemplate the original, that’s plausible.
“Yes!”
“And… Ha-jin.”
“Yes! Sect Master!”
“The responsibility of leading the youths this time will fall to you. Elder Baek will accompany you, but remember that the primary task of leading the group lies with you.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely keep that in mind!”
“And Hye-ryeong… and Ha-kyeong.”
“Yes! Sect Master!”
“Yes! Sect Master!”
Hye-ryong’s voice and a male voice I hadn’t heard before echoed across the training yard. I blankly listen to them, remembering they are all the Sect Master’s premier disciples.
“To you two falls the crucial task of mingling with other sects and families’ younger generation. Carry it out well.”
“Leave it to us!”
“We’ll definitely get along with them!”
“And Great Hero William…”
The Sect Master trails off, making eye contact with me. His eyes brimming with goodwill and concern.
Smoothing his beard swept by the wind, he spoke.
“Zhon Yuan is different from Haenam Island. Here we’ve relatively frequent exchanges with foreigners, so even a Colored-Eyed Person like Great Hero William is accepted without issue. But Zhon Yuan is full of people who are territorial.”
…Fair enough.
Even in a Korean-authored wuxia story set in China…
Certainly, the heavy influence of Sinocentrism is inevitable.
Haenam Island, being akin to a peripheral land akin to the New Outer Martial World, didn’t raise many objections, but the central plains of Zhon Yuan would surely be different.
Perhaps, I’ll encounter many annoying people.
But still… if things get too bothersome, they will calm down once they see me break things. I’m considered peerless here.
There’s no way I’d be beaten wherever I go.
And being one of the best martial artists comes with a lot of recognition.
“I understand.”
“Still, I trust that whatever happens, you’ll navigate it well. After all, you are the valiant warrior who charged against the Demonic Sect alone. Though, I still wonder if it’s necessary…”
“Territorial pride is nothing but the Demonic Sect’s advance warning. Besides, widening one’s horizons is essential for a martial artist.”
If I wanted honey, I needed to go to the Wu Lin Alliance.
“Haha. That’s true.”
The Sect Master laughed heartily at my answer.
“Nevertheless, don’t be overly confident. Zhon Yuan houses many monsters.”
Monsters.
I nod in agreement after pondering over his words.
“I’ll remember that.”
“Then everyone, let’s depart.”
“Yes!”
The voices of the delegates echo across the training yard.