27 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

## Chapter 27 - Manager: Anhui (8) * * * "Then, I trust you'll take care of it." Leaving those words behind, Zhuge San leapt over the damaged wall. The elder, who had been standing in a daze, finally came to his senses, wearing an expression akin to a malicious deity. "Ch-chase! Go catch them..." "That's impossible." The movement-ready individuals froze. Mok Liwon, with a gentle smile, continued. "You cannot pursue them. Because I am here." Even though his words carried not a single thread of inner power, those present felt an undeniable pressure within. The elder's heart ached as he realized the target had slipped away, and he bitterly spoke. "Do you even know what you are doing right now...?" "I do not." "Then just leave..." "But." Mok Liwon, adding that as a caveat, swept a glance around. He continued speaking. "I do not believe those who judge others based on their origins are righteous. Nor do I believe those who obey such commands are righteous. Moreover, I do not consider those who oppress a grieving woman to be righteous." As Mok Liwon's words flowed, his tone grew sharper. "For those reasons, I see you as villains." The elder, gritting his teeth, trembled violently at the words that followed. The situation was not unfolding as he desired. And now, a hindrance had appeared before him. All these elements mixed with the elder's rising anger, forming a rather plausible suspicion. Of course, it was plausible only from his twisted perspective. "Rubbish! Righteousness, you say! Are you not one of them? Surely you are! You think I wouldn't recognize a lackey of that scum trading association who deserves to be torn apart!" Filled with lowly self-rationalization, he pointed and shouted. Mok Liwon furrowed his brow. "Trading association?" "Don't play dumb! That damned woman, the man with nothing but an active mouth, you—all of you are footstools of the 'Universal Trading Association!'" "What nonsense is this..." "Gaaaaaal!" The elder's cheeks quivered. Mok Liwon could discern the hatred on his twitching face. ‘Universal Trading Association.’ Mok Liwon was familiar with the association. How could he not know when they were the very people who had swept all the horses from the stables in the village right before Blood Valley not long ago? Having ventured into the martial world twice already, Mok Liwon's mind started forming an unreasonable aversion toward the association due to back-to-back unfortunate incidents. "You wretched trading scum. How much more do you need to take before you're satisfied? How much more greed do you plan to harbor until you're content?" "I am not affiliated with..." Mok Liwon paused. ‘...No, there's no need to reveal my identity.’ Mok Liwon wasn't a fool. He knew well that there was no reason to correct a misunderstanding if it benefited him. "Think whatever you wish." Only then did a sinister glee spread across the elder's face, making him burst into laughter. "Just as I thought! It's all a conspiracy by those trading bastards!" It was a smile that could be mistaken for a madman's. "Attack!" With the elder's loud command, martial artists sprang forth. Mok Liwon took a small breath and pulled up the inner power from his dantian. Smack! In an instant, he struck down the three swordsmen attacking from three directions, and then he escaped from his encircled position, breaking through the formation's flank as he contemplated. ‘There's no need to draw my sword.’ Weak martial artists who couldn't even maintain their killing intent. To Mok Liwon, these were pathetic beings unworthy of even being called villains. * * * Zhuge San ran for a long while with the woman on his back. No longer did his footsteps carry inner power, and his breath had been uneven for some time, but he showed no signs of stopping. After all, this was the opportunity Mok Liwon had created by weaving through the numerous martial artists. There was no room for complacency—no time to look back anxiously or stop to rest. The scenery changed. From the Zhang Family to the street, and then from one street to another. Finally reaching the most humble corner of the city, Zhuge San halted as he arrived at a dilapidated alley patched with rough planks. "...We've arrived." "..." The woman bit her lip, gazing at the alley. Even though it was a dark alley, it was her home. The place she was born and raised in, where her only family resided. It was a strange thing. Though she had no good memories here, standing before it invoked a peculiar feeling of comfort. "Tha...nk..." Only then did the woman realize. The icy gazes colder than the biting chill no longer existed. The piercing loneliness of having no one by her side no longer remained. While it may not be dazzlingly brilliant, the warmth lingered in the place she'd returned to. "Tha...nk you..." "It's too early to thank me." Feigning ignorance of the teardrops falling onto his neck, Zhuge San smiled gently. "Come on, let's go. Your brother is waiting." With those words, he carefully set the woman down. She staggered briefly, finding her balance, then leaned on Zhuge San's arm and slowly began to walk. * * * "Sister!" "Chang!" The siblings embraced each other. The youthful man, whom the woman called Chang, was startled to see her and pulled her into a hug. Seeing the young man approach, the woman could no longer hold back her tears and hugged him with a flushed face. "Sister, how did you get here...? Ah, Hero!" "It's been three days, hasn't it?" "Does your presence here mean that..." "I visited the Zhang Family. As per your request, I went to see your sister; it appeared she wasn't well, so I took it upon myself to step in." Chang's eyes widened. He looked between Zhuge San and his sister, realizing Zhuge San's words only in hindsight, and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he held his sister even tighter. "...Sister, you've been through a lot." "Hooooh..." "Thank the Hero..." --- ### Translations & Explanations: 1. Universal Trading Association (천하상단): In the context of martial arts stories or xianxia novels, a "trading association" often refers to a large and influential commerce organization within the martial world that can affect the lives of protagonists and other characters. I translated it as "Universal Trading Association" to reflect its wide-reaching influence as implied in the narrative. 2. Hero (대협): The term "대협" is often used as an honorable title for a chivalrous knight or martial hero in wuxia tradition. This could also be translated as "Great Hero" or "Chivalrous Hero," but in this context, "Hero" sufficiently conveys the respect and gratitude of the characters towards Zhuge San. No alternate translations were deemed necessary as the terms accurately fit within the narrative style of martial arts fiction. Adjustments on character affiliations or title context might be required if further details reveal more about organizations or roles. "That's enough. I just did it on a whim. More importantly, you should attend to your sister. If she keeps crying like that, her eyes will be all swollen by tomorrow." Zhuge San joked. At his words, the young man burst into laughter, nodding. "Come now, Sister. Try to stop crying. The Hero says you should stop as well." "Hooooh..." The woman couldn’t stop her tears. It was as if she was finally releasing the pent-up longing and the grievance she had suppressed for so long. She only stopped crying after her tears and snot had completely soaked the young man's clothes. * * * Inside the flimsy shack that looked like it would collapse with just a punch to the wall. Zhuge San sat in the center, looking at the siblings who sat side by side. "Seeing you like this, you really resemble each other. Anyone would say you're siblings." At his words, the young man chuckled while the woman bowed her head. It was only then that she realized her disgraceful behavior. "I'm sorry for showing such a sight..." "Now, why apologize? It's a good day, isn't it?" The woman gave a small laugh. 'A good day...' She thought there couldn't be a better way to describe this moment. Indeed, wasn't it true? What truly brings happiness is not a lavish table or expensive treasures, but the warm presence of family by one's side. "What will you do now?" At Zhuge San's question, the woman smiled softly, placing her hand on her belly. "We'll leave here before dawn. I want to go somewhere other than Anhui and lay a new foundation." The young man's eyes widened at the sight of her caressing her belly. The woman noticed his gaze and smiled. "Chang, you're going to be an uncle." "This is..." "Let's go together. We can finally live without hunger." "...Sister, but what can we do? We haven't learned anything." "What about a cloth shop?" "Pardon?" "A cloth shop. I got some experience handling silk during my stay, so don't worry." Zhuge San watched the perplexed young man and the now brightly smiling woman. And he smiled slightly. 'As expected...' She was beautiful. Far more beautiful when she smiled. "I should be on my way now." Zhuge San stood up. The siblings startled and tried to follow suit, but Zhuge San waved them off. "Enjoy your time together. I'm pleased to see siblings together." "But..." "It's really okay." As Zhuge San chuckled, the woman bit her lip. Then, she smiled, as if accepting the situation. "Thank you." "I'm getting tired of hearing that." "But still, thank you." "Hongseon..." Zhuge San's movements halted at the woman's words. Seeing Zhuge San finally look directly at her, Hongseon, with a radiant smile, continued. "My name is Hongseon. My brother's name is Hongchang. Would you remember our names, please?" Hongseon. Hongchang. Zhuge San etched those names into his heart. But as he always had, he buried these names deep within, never to retrieve them. He was a man who had no time to pause and reminisce about those he had saved in the past. He would simply bury them and move forward. That was who he was. "They're wonderful names. I'll certainly remember them." Zhuge San turned around. The siblings felt a pang of regret and asked one last question. "Is it really true you won’t accept any reward?" The siblings realized that what had come to them was a fortune some might never encounter in a lifetime. So, they asked, hoping to repay him somehow, but Zhuge San remained steadfast. Or rather, this time, he added a touch of wit to his firmness. "If I may say..." Zhuge San looked back at the siblings. Then, with a sly smile, he said: "Just be a good mother. That's all I ask." With those words, Zhuge San stepped out into the street. * * * Dawn broke. It was a dawn when a certain pair of siblings sneaked out of the city under the cover of darkness, and a dawn when two men, who brought a smile to a sorrowful woman's face, found tears in their own eyes. "You’ve accomplished quite a feat, haven't you?" Inside the guesthouse that just began its service. Two men knelt on the floor, bowing deeply at the chilly voice of Tang Hwaseo. Mok Liwon's cheeks were reddened with the marks of pinches, and Zhuge San had a swollen bump on his head. "Are you both mute? Why can't you speak?" Tang Hwaseo sat with her legs crossed on a chair, tapping her toes, as she prodded the two men to speak. At this, Mok Liwon hesitantly offered an explanation. "We were merely doing a righteous deed..." "Mr. Mok, do you call lies righteous deeds?" Mok Liwon clammed up. Indeed, it was true. Having secretly snuck out after claiming to retire early to his room, Mok Liwon had no defense against her. To these two men, the absence of eternal secrets in the world was deeply regrettable. "You've certainly done it now. Do you know what chaos erupted outside at this early hour? There are rumors of intruders in Zhang Family Village. They say the martial artists and elders of the Zhang Family were beaten up by the intruders." Swift- Tang Hwaseo pointed her finger towards the entrance to the guesthouse. "There are checkpoints at the city's entrances. The martial artists of the Zhang Family are making an uproar about finding the intruders, all while wearing splints on their bodies." The two men's bodies flinched. Tang Hwaseo felt a tense sensation at the back of her neck and sighed. "…Well, I know that anything you do, Mr. Mok, isn't necessarily bad. But if you're going to cause an incident, you should at least consider cleaning up afterwards." "I'm sorry..." "If you're just going to apologize, keep quiet." "…." Tang Hwaseo touched her forehead that was starting to throb. ‘Darn checkpoints.’ It was troubling. The Zhang Family was the largest manor in the city, and as such, it had a tremendous influence on the city. --- ### Translations & Explanations: 1. Hero (대협): Referred to Zhuge San as a "Hero," which is similar to calling someone a knight or a chivalrous hero. This aligns with the context of wuxia stories where individuals who perform brave and honorable deeds are referred to in such a manner. 2. Hongseon(홍선) and Hongchang(홍창): Names of the woman and her brother were translated phonetically to retain their authenticity and to give readers a sense of their cultural context. 3. Cloth shop (포목점): A straightforward translation of the term, maintaining its meaning as a place where fabrics are sold. No puns or wordplay were present in the original text that required special attention in this translation. Moreover, no adjustments to the character affiliations or contexts were needed based on provided details. With Zhuge San and himself present, they could bypass the checkpoint using the name of the family. However, just thinking about the conflict that might arise during the process and the aftermath made Tang Hwaseo's stomach churn. "Heh… I won't die of natural causes, that's for sure." Almost a lamenting grumble, Mok Liwon kept his head deeply bowed, while Zhuge San tentatively watched her reactions. After a moment, he spoke up. "Um… Sister?" "If you're about to spout nonsense, I'll rip your lips open." "...It's not nonsense, I just happened to think of a potentially good idea." Tang Hwaseo's gaze fixated on Zhuge San. There was a sharpness in her eyes, as if she was ready to slice someone's throat at any moment. Zhuge San swallowed hard, growing more tense. 'If I mess this up, I'm dead.' Dying of poison would be the most agonizing death imaginable. Thus, he had to make use of this one chance to preserve his life. In that instant, the eyes of Mok Liwon and Zhuge San met. Mok Liwon looked at Zhuge San with an air of hopeful anticipation, while Zhuge San, nodding as if to assure him, turned to Tang Hwaseo and said: "What if we disguise ourselves and slip out that way?" Tang Hwaseo's right eyebrow rose. --- ### Translations & Explanations: 1. Sister (누님): Used in an informal, endearing manner, this term is often used in Korean to refer to an older female family member or someone the speaker respects in a fraternal sense. In the context, Zhuge San addressing Tang Hwaseo as "Sister" conveys a sense of camaraderie or closeness. 2. Disguise (변장): Directly translated as "disguise," this term is understood as a method of concealment in order to evade detection, very fitting in a plot involving subterfuge within a martial arts setting. Given the context, no further adjustments were needed for the characters, and the dialog translated retains its original tone and context, conveying the tension and dynamics between the characters accurately.