Chapter 32: Chapter 32

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Jang Geon was watching the morning sun rise with tobacco in his mouth.

The sunlight filled the empty sky alone without dust or morning mist, illuminating the world. There was no ambiguity to be found there, only sharp clarity. Sitting casually on a crate and puffing on a rolled cigarette while watching that spectacle, Jang Geon could not distinguish whether what was filling his heart right now was the hope of morning or the futility of repeating days.

The villagers, who had put out all the flames of the inn throughout the night, were sitting on something like Jang Geon or simply sprawling on the ground, watching the morning break. Seeing their quietness, it felt as if their shouting, drawing water, and splashing it until just a moment ago was all a lie. Jang Geon inhaled deeply on the tobacco in his mouth, then exhaled with a soft huff. Smoke drifted smoothly out from his mouth.

Just then, feeling a gaze on him, he turned his eyes to the side and saw the little waiter boy Horyong standing with soot smeared all over his face, staring at him.

“What is it?”

Even at Jang Geon’s blunt question, the kid did not answer and stared at Jang Geon for a long time. Then, he spoke as bluntly as Jang Geon.

“Mister, are you that?”

“…What is ‘that’?”

“You know, that thing. A martial artist who helps the weak, the wronged, and the good. Someone who defeats villains.”

Jang Geon let out a chuckle.

“So what is that?”

Horyong even crossed his arms for a moment and tilted his head to the side. It seemed he couldn’t remember the word. Then, as if suddenly recalling it, he spoke.

“Ah, right. That one, a chivalrous hero. Mister, are you a chivalrous hero?”

“Why would I be a chivalrous hero?”

“…You defeated the bad guys, helped put out the fire… You saved Auntie and you saved me too. And since you saved us, you didn’t even ask for money.”

Jang Geon held the rolled tobacco between his fingers, took it away from his mouth, and said,

“I might just not have asked for money yet.”

“Ah, then should I tell Auntie to prepare silver coins?”

At Horyong’s words, Jang Geon smiled again and answered.

“Forget it, kid. Tell her to use that money to repair the inn instead. It’s so burnt down that it practically needs to be rebuilt from scratch.”

“…Then you are a chivalrous hero, right? You’re not taking money.”

At the kid’s persistent question, Jang Geon gave a dry chuckle and took a deep final drag of the remaining tobacco. Then he flicked his finger to knock off the embers, and flicked it once more to throw it away. Having finished smoking a cigarette like that, Jang Geon dusted off his clothes and stood up from his seat.

“Chivalrous hero my ass. I’m nothing like that.”

Regardless of Horyong’s blank gaze following him, he walked steadily over to a tub filled with drawn water, washed his hands, and approached Old Man Go, who was sitting a short distance away.

Old Man Go, sitting with a bandage wrapped around his thigh, tried to scramble up hurriedly when he saw Jang Geon approaching. Jang Geon gently pressed down on the old man’s shoulder, grabbed a nearby crate, and sat down on it.

“Stay seated.”

“A-Ah, but still… You’re the benefactor of our village…”

Jang Geon shook his head.

“Forget about such things. Just tell me where Seo Wi-ryang lives.”

“…Are you really planning to go see him?”

Even facing the startled Old Man Go’s face, Jang Geon remained unshakeable.

“He and I have already reached a point of no return. Since his son died at my hands.”

Old Man Go’s eyes widened further. It was because he realized the reason why Seo Wi-ryang’s martial artists went wild last night was sitting right in front of him. However, the old man’s expression soon settled down.

“You did well. Seo Sang-jeong was violent like his father’s son and treated people recklessly. Among the ranch hands, there were maidens who were violated by him, so he was a bastard who deserved to die.”

“…The village catching fire and your leg getting slashed by a blade were ultimately because of me. Do you not resent me?”

At Jang Geon’s question, Old Man Go smiled and shook his head.

“The ones who set the fire and slashed my leg were Oh Jung-seo and his subordinates. Warrior Jang is the person who saved this old man and the village. Why would there be any reason to resent you, Warrior?”

The old man slowly wiped away his smile and continued.

“However… Going to Seo Wi-ryang’s manor alone is…”

“I have to wrap things up.”

At Jang Geon’s calm words and expression, Old Man Go nodded as if he had made up his mind as well and said,

“Then I will guide you. There’s a hill in the middle and a shallow river to cross, so you’ll need a guide.”

“With that leg?”

“This much is nothing compared to when I was rammed by a wild bison in my youth!”

At Jang Geon’s counter-question, Old Man Go answered sharply and tried to stand right up. But as soon as he stood upright, the old man let out a groaning sound of pain and collapsed back down. Then, looking at Jang Geon with an embarrassed face, he said,

“…I’m getting old now too…”

Jang Geon, letting out a faint smile, was about to tell him to just give him directions. Just then, someone chimed in.

“I’ll guide you.”

Turning their heads, Madam Yeo, the innkeeper, was standing there. Having just washed up, her face and hands were clean and moist. Old Man Go tried to stop her.

“You foolish girl, you almost died last night. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Calling me a foolish girl when I’m at my age? Besides, that gentleman’s treatment yesterday was so good that I’m completely fine now. I know Seo Wi-ryang’s residence too, so I’ll guide him.”

“Still, you foolish girl. You have to clean up the inn too…”

Madam Yeo put her hands on her waist, stood slightly crooked, and answered,

“I’ll do it after I get back. It’s not like I’m going to fight alongside him, I’m just guiding the way.”

“Is it alright to leave that kid behind?”

At Jang Geon’s sudden question, she turned her head and met eyes with Horyong, who had approached before anyone noticed. The child ought to be anxious, but he merely looked at her blankly without saying anything. After meeting those eyes for a moment, Madam Yeo shifted her gaze back to Jang Geon and spoke.

“I’m the only one who rested lying down all night. The other people need to rest a bit.”

At that resolute answer, Jang Geon stood up.

“Do you have a horse?”

“I have one. Since the fire was put out before reaching the stable, it’s doing fine in the stable.”

Jang Geon immediately approached Jojo, who was resting on one side. Seeing that, Old Man Go tried to stand up again while making a wailing sound.

“Th-At least have a meal and rest a bit before, ”

“What good will it do to drag out time more? We can eat after wrapping things up.”

Jumping smoothly onto Jojo’s saddle, Jang Geon looked back at Cheongsu Village for a moment while Madam Yeo went to fetch her horse. It was really nothing special. Unlike other pioneer towns, there were no tall or grand buildings, only old wooden houses clustered together, hanging up signs like doctor’s clinic or cloth shop. And resilient lives that fled here to escape the exploitation of the Central Plains, yet continued to survive even while being exploited again.

“Let me lead the way.”

Madam Yeo, who approached on horseback, said so. Jang Geon nodded and looked down one last time at Horyong, who was looking up at him. The kid looked back and forth between him and Madam Yeo, pretending not to be, but appearing anxious.

Jang Geon spoke to the kid.

“Don’t worry. Your auntie will return soon.”

Though they were just words, Horyong soon nodded and smiled faintly. Jang Geon turned to Madam Yeo and said,

“Lead the way.”

Madam Yeo merely nodded and rode out first. Jang Geon steered Jojo’s reins following behind her. The villagers watching them, the half-burnt inn, and the buildings of Cheongsu Village he had been looking at until a moment ago disappeared into the background of his vision.

Jang Geon and Madam Yeo rode out toward the north of Cheongsu Village. Upon leaving the village, gentle hills and dry grass sparkling in the morning sunlight immediately welcomed them. The two people and two horses ran over it, raising yellow dust from the ground.

Riding for a short while, Jang Geon increased Jojo’s speed slightly, pulled up beside Madam Yeo, and asked,

“How long will it take?”

“We’ll arrive before noon. But are you really going alone?”

“Is there anyone else?”

Madam Yeo slowed her speed slightly.

“I heard Seo Wi-ryang has nearly twenty martial artists left and that Seo Wi-ryang himself is an expert. Will you be alright?”

Jang Geon did not bother to bring up the fact that if he didn’t go now, an enraged Seo Wi-ryang might retaliate against the village. Since she would know that well too. He unfastened the bamboo hat tied to Jojo’s saddle, put it on his head, and answered,

“If I don’t fight now, Seo Wi-ryang will use money to chase me down. Rather, now when his forces are even slightly reduced is the opportunity.”

“…You really intend to go alone without any reinforcements. I thought you were that.”

“That?”

Madam Yeo tilted her head as if she couldn’t remember the word. Not being real parent and child, she behaved similarly to Horyong.

“Ah, that thing. Secret Imperial Army. The Imperial Army that travels around the New Continent hiding their identity.”

“Why did you think I was the Secret Imperial Army?”

Even while riding her horse, she stole a glance at his reaction. There were many people in the New Continent who disliked the Emperor. It was natural since they had fled to the New Continent to escape his army and control.

“Well, a young expert traveling alone, working with Yang Goeng.”

At the name that popped out out of nowhere, Jang Geon looked at her.

“Yang Goeng? What about Yang Goeng?”

“…It’s quite famous news in the underworld that Yang Goeng used to do work for the Imperial Court in the city. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t know. How did you know that?”

Madam Yeo hesitated slightly.

“…Thanks to being the only inn in this area, I’ve overheard a lot of things. And thanks to those things, I earn a tidy income too.”

Jang Geon smiled strangely. An information broker gathering intel at an inn and selling it through dark channels was a familiar sight to him somehow. Things like the Ha-o Sect or the Beggars’ Sect. But it was something that hadn’t even appeared in the Central Plains.

“What on earth did the Imperial Court use that fraudster and thief for?”

“I don’t know that far. It’s just famous among fraudsters and thieves because of the fact that Yang Goeng survived after doing work for the Imperial Court, and even after that, he wasn’t hunted down by the Imperial Army, as you said.”

“Yet despite such notoriety, he isn’t hunted by the Martial Alliance.”

“From what I see, whenever a bounty is put on him, he pays it promptly. In the first place, he doesn’t do things that would get him hanged, or he doesn’t get caught.”

Jang Geon smiled again. This time while thinking about Yang Goeng. He had felt a strange vibe from Yang Goeng despite his mediocre martial arts, and now he felt he understood the reason a little bit. It seemed if he met him again next time, he should interrogate him thoroughly.

“I’m not the Imperial Army. I thought about giving it a try, but after looking into it a bit, it felt like going to the army twice, which made me feel sick.”

“…Going to the army twice?”

Madam Yeo tilted her head as if asking what that meant. At most, Jang Geon’s age was in his late twenties. Even that was because of his untidy beard, and he looked like he would look much better if he trimmed it. The statement of going to the army not once, but twice, was hard to understand.

“There is such a thing. Do we have to cross that river?”

“Ah, yes.”

The two crossed a shallow river and soon passed a wide field and a couple of low hills, arriving at a hill where many cattle were visible far off in the distance. The cattle were all enclosed inside wooden fences.

Madam Yeo said as she looked at it,

“…Originally there were many wild bison here. But because they couldn’t be tamed, they killed them all or chased them far away, so on this side’s ranch, they could raise cattle fed on abundant grass. Did you know that ranch sells the most cattle to Gamsan City?”

Without answering, Jang Geon took his eyes off the fence and looked at the manor beyond it. Spotting people wriggling out in front of that manor, he said,

“Now go back.”

At those firm words, Madam Yeo hesitated as if not knowing what to say. Only after a moment did she look straight at Jang Geon and speak.

“…Thank you. For saving me, and for saving Horyong.”

“Then next time, rent me a suite cheaply.”

She was stunned for a moment at Jang Geon’s joke, then laughed lightly.

“Alright. I’ll tidy up the inn well and wait. I’ll fix it up so it won’t lose to an inn in Heavenly Empress City, so look forward to it.”

Jang Geon nodded, and she turned her horse back. Jang Geon watched her figure riding back the way she had come for a moment, then soon pulled Jojo’s reins toward Seo Wi-ryang’s manor. In accordance with Jang Geon’s will, Jojo advanced at a speed neither too rushed nor too slow. By the time Madam Yeo turned back to look, he had already advanced beyond the hill.

*

As Jojo passed beside the wooden fence at a leisurely pace, the cattle inside blinked their large eyes and looked at Jang Geon. Whether chewing the cud or dropping dung with a thud, they looked at him with blank eyes as if just watching whatever was passing by. Passing through the cattle fence like that, there were swordsmen waiting outside.

Despite the weather cooling down, the noon sunlight was glaring piercingly into the eyes. The swordsmen standing in a semicircle with the manor at their backs and the middle-aged man sitting on a chair pulled out in their center also squinted in the sunlight. Only Jang Geon, wearing a bamboo hat, hid his face inside the shadow of its wide brim.

Jojo, who had been trotting lightly, was now walking slowly before anyone noticed. Over twenty people inside the grounds were all looking at Jang Geon and Jojo. Men smoking tobacco, men chewing on something, men sitting on a barrel shaking their legs nervously, tough-looking bastards gathered together and glared at the approaching Jang Geon.

Jojo’s steps stopped. Jang Geon, sitting atop him, slightly lifted his bamboo hat and faced the middle-aged man glaring at him, presumably the man guessed to be Seo Wi-ryang. He was biting a short bamboo pipe with smoke rising from it, glaring at Jang Geon with eyes glinting with rage.

Jang Geon spoke.

“Have you been waiting?”