NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29
“The Eighteen Segment Swordplay is a secret sword technique of the Jianchang Sect that suffered annihilation! While it may pale in comparison to the highest upper-level martial arts, the Four Sunlit Swordplay…it’s still an incredible martial skill!”
“Thank you, Hye-ryeong Wiki.”
Ah, I made a mistake.
“Huh? What did you just say?”
“It’s nothing.”
There was such a sword technique in the Jianchang Sect.
But why is Lord Myeong transporting it, and what past connection does this middle-aged man with a greatsword have with him that he would block his path?
Judging by their words, it seems as though Lord Myeong has swindled them somehow…
I should probably stay out of it for now.
I stop my thoughts and observe the condition of the martial artists descending one by one from the trees.
They don’t appear to be assassins and look like ordinary martial artists.
Since they are wielding swords, they must be swordsmen.
I haven’t had the chance to face Central Plains swordsmen, so I don’t know how it will feel.
Though they do not seem as threatening as the Mamluks…
Still, it seems prudent to adopt a defensive stance first.
It would be better to assess their sword techniques and then switch to an offensive position.
“Are you here to draw blood?”
“That guy! He stole the manual that should have been ours! And he let his benefactor’s younger brother die!”
The sorrowful cry was tinged with deep animosity.
Not only him, but the surrounding martial artists also glared at us as if they wanted to tear Lord Myeong apart immediately.
Although I can’t see Lord Myeong from my position, I imagine he must be frightened. In a life-threatening situation, it is rare to find someone who doesn’t feel fear.
“Hand him over! You all aren’t involved in this matter, are you?”
Nothing is as troublesome as getting involved in other people’s affairs. Ideally, we should converse, clarify the situation, and then act, but will that be possible?
It seems they already regard Lord Myeong as their irreconcilable enemy.
When I looked at Elder Baek and Ha-jin, it was obvious they were also deeply troubled.
In the martial realm, past connections are difficult for outsiders to get involved in.
Interfering recklessly could easily lead to new enmities, thus creating even more headaches.
The most reliable response at this time would probably be to…
“Great Hero Wi. Though we understand your resentment, as Lord Myeong’s friends, it is our duty to protect him.
However, we do not intend to fight you and your subordinates, so wouldn’t it be better to sort this out with words first? If your argument is reasonable, we will not interfere in this matter.”
“Lord Yi?”
A flustered yell from Lord Myeong came from afar.
While in the Central Plains, one would typically side with a person due to their connections…but Ha-jin appears to have no intention of abandoning her principles.
In fact, with our power, it wouldn’t be difficult to deal with this man and the martial artists.
But randomly eliminating obstacles isn’t something righteous sect members should do, so it can’t be a choice for the Hainan Sword Sect.
If word of this leaked, the Sect’s reputation would be ruined.
Fortunately, it seems that Ha-jin’s proposition has some merit, as the greatsword-wielding man finally spoke.
“Do I have a reason to listen to you?”
“We are martial artists from the Hainan Sword Sect. On our Sect’s honor, we swear to fairly assess the situation. Isn’t that acceptable?”
Pushing strongly.
“As far as I know, that despicable traitor and the Hainan Sword Sect are merely in a business deal! Do you think you can fairly judge the matter without personal bias?”
“That’s…”
Ha-jin faltered under the man’s counterargument.
As they say, “a crooked arm bends towards its own side.” The greatsword wielder was pointing out the widespread “connections” within the martial world.
His rebuttal was challenging the ability of someone with connections to Lord Myeong to fairly judge the situation.
Judging by logic alone, it would be difficult to convince these murderous individuals.
Therefore, this was the moment I had to step in.
“Hey.”
“And who are you… a Colored-Eyed Person?”
“If the Hainan Sword Sect can’t be trusted, then let me judge the situation.”
I stepped forward with my longsword still sheathed. Naturally, everyone’s gaze fell on me. A mixture of confusion, surprise, and curiosity.
I stopped about ten paces away from the greatsword-wielding man, who remained perplexed as I approached.
“Colored-Eyed Person? One who speaks the Central Plains language?”
“I am not from the Hainan Sword Sect, and I’m merely sharing the road with this merchant. Thus, I’m the most suitable person to act as an impartial judge here, don’t you think?”
Though I am somewhat associated with the Hainan Sword Sect, there’s no reason to reveal that here.
Doing so would complicate the situation further.
“Hm…”
“You know, regardless of how tangled a past connection may seem, do you think you have a chance against us? The ones here are merely martial artists from the Hainan Sword Sect, and though you might not know it, their martial arts aren’t exactly of such a high caliber.”
“The level of martial arts doesn’t necessarily decide life and death.”
“But it can give an estimate of victory.”
Our gazes meet.
I detected confusion in his eyes, startled by my unexpected presence. Before he could say anything, I gave a salute.
“I am William Marshall, a wanderer who crossed the Western Regions and arrived in the Central Plains. I was coincidentally traveling with this caravan towards Hubei.”
“…I am the master of the Falling Moon Sect, the secular family of Jianchang, Iron Martial Spirit.”
He decided to introduce himself similarly after realizing I had extended the courtesy, and he gave a salute.
Secular family of Jianchang.
His voice was full of pride in mentioning the Jianchang Sect.
So even though Jianchang was destroyed and its lineage seemingly ended, its secular family has continued?
“Of the Falling Moon Sect, I have heard of it. You are known for inheriting Jianchang’s Falling Moon Swordplay. Could you perhaps demonstrate the One Yang Energy?”
This martial artist, Iron Martial Spirit, remained silent and emitted inner energy from his body.
A yellow glow flowed from him, radiating warmth like the sun.
There was no trace of anything malicious.
“Indeed…”
Fortunately, it seems Elder Baek recognized the sect correctly. With that, the identity check is more or less complete. Let’s hear the story.
“What occurred between you and Lord Myeong?”
At my question, he finally began recounting the incident between them.
“For a long time, we’ve been searching for lost Jianchang Sect martial arts. As descendants of the lost Jianchang Sect, our goal was to rebuild the sect. Then that brazen fellow approached us.
He informed us of the existence of a secret cave where the Eighteen Segment Swordplay was hidden and proposed a deal–to raid it together.”
“To raid it together…”
So he lacked the strength on his own and thus used the bait of the Eighteen Segment Swordplay to involve Falling Moon Sect perfectly. It seems like he chose his target well.
Though things have gone awry.
“We managed fine until clearing the traps in the cave and securing the manual and treasures. But as we were handling them, the cave began to collapse suddenly. We moved quickly to escape.
My younger brother, Moon-young, carried me and the hidden Eighteen Segment Swordplay manual.
However, the cave’s traps separated us. Unfortunately, we were closer to the outer sections. We heard Moon-young’s scream—it sounded like he had been caught by a trap.
The rest is unknown. But when we escaped from the collapsed cave, we found no one. Eventually, after days of digging, I found Moon-young’s corpse, horribly mutilated.”
His breathing grew heavier as memories of his younger brother’s grotesque appearance returned.
His eyes turned fiery red and filled with moisture as he looked like he might be possessed by rage or madness at any moment.
“…If that’s true, then Lord Myeong, do you have any explanation?”
“It was a tragic accident! My friend was crushed under a rock trying to rescue me…half his body was beneath the rock, and I was powerless to do anything! That’s why I could only take the manual!”
“In that case! The manual should rightfully return to us! My brother sacrificed his life to save you!
You even tried to sell it secretly to another sect after realizing we had returned! Did you think we wouldn’t find out?”
“It’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t know you had made it back! If I had, I would have given you the manual!”
I glanced at Lord Myeong briefly, who was sweating profusely, panic-stricken, and staring dumbfounded at Iron Martial Spirit.
It seems his Achilles’ heel has been hit.
Judging by his reaction, even if the exact details aren’t clear, it does appear that he stabbed him in the back. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this flustered.
After all, for a merchant, it’s hard not to be tempted by the Eighteen Segment Swordplay.
Auctioning it off would bring a staggering amount of money.
“Are you lying with your silver tongue! We even went to your house! And you lied, saying you hadn’t recovered the manual! So explain then why the manual that should have been in my brother’s possession disappeared!”
Alright, time for a bang.
I turned to Lord Myeong and spoke.
“If your statement is true, you should hand over the Eighteen Segment Swordplay to Great Hero Ti.”
“Lord Wi! Can you possibly believe this man’s words?!”
“Then is there any way to prove your innocence?”
“That’s…”
As the situation was heading towards its conclusion, something unexpected happened.
“Elder! Mister! There are more martial artists appearing behind us!”
What?
Where is this situation going?
Unconsciously, I glanced at Lord Myeong. Not just me—others did the same.
“No! I didn’t summon them!”
“Then…”
Could someone among Lord Myeong’s subordinates be a spy for another faction?
Information seems to be leaking like a sieve.
I tilted my body slightly to check out the newly arrived crowd.
One, two, three, four…almost fifty in total, it seems.
There’s way too many.
“The Eighteen Segment Swordplay will be taken by our Golden Phoenix Sect!”
Who the hell are these guys?
I turned my head towards Iron Martial Spirit to suggest,
“Let’s deal with these guys first, then we can continue our conversation.”
To ascertain the truth, we need to first clear out these meddling pests. The sound of swords unsheathing could be heard from all directions.
“That seems necessary.”
What a messy, messy situation…
I drew my sword from its scabbard.