A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel

“Are your preparations complete?”

“Yes!”

“…That is correct.”

Why is it like this?

Mok-kyeong seems weak.

Is it because of that incident from last time?

Just because of that?

From the beginning, Hye-ryeong had been overtly showing her intentions, so it’s a bit peculiar for Mok-kyeong to act this way now. Perhaps Mok-kyeong was more naive than I thought.

I glanced at Mok-kyeong, who was avoiding my gaze, then looked at Hye-ryeong, who was tugging on my sleeve.

“Mister, but didn’t we not buy horses?”

“There weren’t any good ones.”

I never imagined that in this massive city, there wouldn’t be any decent horses for sale.

They were selling small, ponified creatures as top-tier quality.

When I asked if there were any others, I was told that the army had already taken all of them, and the remaining horses were just the runts unsuitable for military use, so I had no choice but to abandon the horse purchase and return empty-handed.

“But won’t you teach me horsemanship?”

“It’s not urgent, so we can take our time.”

“But I wanted to ride with you.”

Teaching horsemanship isn’t that complicated. I could have taught her as long as we had time. However, if we were buying a horse, it should be a good one.

Ch.

If we had good horses, perhaps I could also teach battle maneuvers.

Though they might pale in comparison to the battle-trained horses from Europe, teaching the rider-horse unity technique alone would undoubtedly prove helpful for our journey ahead.

“Then, we’re still heading to Yunnan using light body techniques, right?”

“That’s right. Our destination is…”

My gaze shifted back to Mok-kyeong. Seeing that the conversation was about her, Mok-kyeong, deciding she couldn’t avoid my eyes any longer, met my stare and quietly continued.

“To find the hidden grotto in my hometown.”

The final legacy of the Yunnam Dan family.

As the rightful heir to Yunnam Dan, she’s heading there to reclaim everything she deserves.

…Including blood money.

After all, in the martial world, few things are as certain as vengeance. If one cannot repay one’s debts, one cannot call oneself a true martial artist.

“And we’ll locate the culprits and the masterminds behind the extermination of Yunnam Dan. We’ve a sufficient cause; no force should dare interfere with us. Moreover, our ostensible enemies aren’t excessively powerful, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

However, tracking down the masterminds will certainly require some effort.

The backers of the Sae Hyul Bang…are the Demonic Sect.

But honestly, I don’t know much about the specifics.

I only know that her father participated in the Zhengma Gathering. Apart from that, there seemed to be no real connection between them and the Demonic Sect. It’s simply…something that needs to be explored, so we will.

“This journey ahead might prove perilous again!”

“Hmm…In Yunnan, Mok-kyeong knows the way well, so it probably won’t be that tough.”

Mok-kyeong remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ground, as though lost in thought.

When I saw this and turned to Hye-ryeong, our eyes met.

Hye-ryeong smirked faintly when she noticed my gaze and tilted her head slightly, as if trying to find the angle where she looked the prettiest.

I observed her briefly before speaking.

“Then let’s set off. The way to Yunnan is long, so we’d better move quickly.”

It’s not urgent, but it’s not leisurely either. I turned to look beyond the main gate of the Martial Alliance.

I could feel someone’s distant gaze.

Looking in the direction from where the gaze was coming, I saw someone I’ve encountered often recently.

Could we possibly have developed such a close rapport that she felt the need to see us off?

When our eyes met, Miss Seo-ryeon, accompanied by her guards, waved at me. She truly came to see us off. Of course, it’s possible she was out for a walk and just happened to spot me.

…What’s the point in overthinking such things?

We’d better get moving.

“Before we set off, I’ll outline the route: through Hubei, then Hunan and Guizhou, finally reaching Yunnan. Taking the main Gwan Road will be more convenient.”

There’s no need for haste.

As long as we don’t delay too much.

Thus, the journey naturally emphasized comfort over speed. Traveling along the main roads is the easiest way after all. Problems were few and far between, excepting unforeseen circumstances.

“…Understood.”

“Then let’s be off.”

As we left Wuchang, I took a step forward.

———————————–

Our journey went astonishingly well, in large part because there wasn’t anyone who didn’t recognize me.

Of course, there was no way anyone else in the Central Plains could have a towering figure with blond hair beneath a broad-brimmed hat aside from me. And replicating my appearance—especially the blond hair—would be no easy task.

In any event, thanks to my widely recognized name, there were virtually no foolish souls attacking me.

The results of my martial competition with the Martial Alliance Leader had already spread beyond Hubei, reaching Hunan and Guizhou.

By the time we reached Yunnan, I had been acknowledged as a rising martial prodigy whose skill far surpassed the ordinary, placing my name firmly among the top one hundred warriors under heaven.

I never expected to experience so vividly the saying, “Rumors travel faster than the wind.”

However, whenever I entered an inn, the atmosphere became unusually quiet, which made me a tad uncomfortable.

Even the troublemakers behaved like lambs.

If it only seemed that way, innkeepers might be bringing out more generous servings, too.

Even though I didn’t intend it, receiving such reverence felt…strange.

Still, I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I quietly ate my meals in the corner, returned to my room, and continued our journey toward Yunnan each day.

And today, about fifteen days later…

“Mister! We’ve arrived at Yunnan!”

“Continuing west, you’ll come to a city named Qujing. We should probably stay there for a night before heading to Wenshan, the place where the Yunnam Dan family once was.”

Isn’t Wenshan that mountain in the southeastern part of Yunnan Province?

“So, our journey is nearing its end.”

“That’s right! It feels like only a few days have passed, but we’re already in Yunnan…”

“It’s been a little over fifteen days.”

“The constant running has distorted my sense of time.”

“Hmm.”

Considering the distance covered—territory equivalent to two or three Korean peninsulas—we traveled swiftly, all the while training and teaching Hye-ryeong.

Though it was hectic, it was a rewarding journey.

“…”

Mok-kyeong seems to be getting quieter.

Is her mind preoccupied with the memories of Yunnam Dan? I observed her sorrowful figure as she quietly gazed in the direction of her home.

According to the original storyline, after the destruction of her home, she spent many years secluded in the mountains practicing her martial arts alone.

…The difference between having a master and not can be vast, yet Mok-kyeong managed to reach her current level without one. That’s extraordinary.

What kind of talent is that?

Even considering the protagonist effect, she’s unmistakably a genius.

“Hey, Mok-kyeong. I understand that it’s complicated, but don’t let it overwhelm you. It only serves to burden you.”

“…Thank you, Eun-gong.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

“Had it not been for you, returning to Yunnan might have taken much longer.”

True.

Compared to the original timeline, this was almost years ahead.

By the original, it would probably occur three months after the assassination attempt on the Martial Alliance Leader. The plot developments took time to resolve until they finally acquired a clue leading to the Yunnam Dan family’s secret cave.

Because I forced the timeline forward and significantly sped up the progress, the timing should approximately align with when the Demonic Sect begins their aggression.

That’s when I’ll lay out my plan.

Do you guys want to be decimated and retreat in tears?

Or would you prefer to stay stuck?

I intended to offer them this malicious choice.

Because our side was defensive, there was no better strategy for forcing such decisions.

Even if we mobilized the army and crushed them, it would be wasteful to mobilize forces to capture enemies entrenched near the far-off regions of Xinjiang when we’re already dealing with large-scale invasions by nomadic tribes that have nearly compelled the Martial Alliance to take over law enforcement.

“Hey, Mok-kyeong, don’t get too down. Whatever happens here will… likely be painful.”

“Thank you for your advice, Eun-gong…”

Mok-kyeong answered in an uncharacteristically melancholic voice, as if unpleasant memories were flooding her mind. Her unusual despondency made her seem pitiable.

And offering physical comfort, like a hug, between two men would feel a tad awkward.

“We’re not far from Qujing now, so let’s hurry. If we delay any longer, we’ll be wandering around at night looking for inns.”

“…Understood.”

“Let’s go!”

We picked up our pace once more, leaving no time for hesitation.

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