Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 23
Only Noblemtl
Episode 23
No Cheong-bong’s blacksmith shop was always bustling with people trying to get swords.
The sword he made is sharp and strong, and brings out the inner strength of the one who wields it well.
We call such a sword a famous sword.
But not many people obtained the sword.
Because he himself chose who would wield his sword.
In my previous life, I needed a special sword.
A light and strong sword suited to weak muscles.
So I went to see Noh Cheong-bong.
He asked me a question and I answered it.
And I was able to get a sword that was just right for me.
I could tell at a glance that she was a murderer and that she had an abnormal body.
To this day I still don’t know why he was so willing to make me a sword.
“So where are you now?”
“Him? I don’t know anything about him except that he is in Namman. I heard he told me not to reveal his location before he left.”
Why did he come to Namman?
Anyway, it’s good news.
If he is in Namman, he can be given the Mukgang Hancheol that is currently being stored in the East.
This is a sword made by melting cold steel by the best craftsman in the Central Plains.
Maybe something great will come out of it.
Of course, the priority is to find him, convince him, and give him a hammer in his hand.
Can we find him in this vast South Bay?
I crossed Mt. Porang before the sun set.
If we just get over this small mountain, we’ll reach the Central Plains.
The central plains were closer than I thought.
“Okay. Now, if you just follow this road, you’ll reach Jang Seong-hyeon. Little one, you’ve worked hard.”
Both of the heads are injured.
Still, I can walk somehow, so this is good enough.
If you go a little further, you’ll also see the Bangrimpyo group.
“Then, at this point we should go back… … .”
“No.”
The little boy’s firm voice.
“why?”
“Are you just going to leave two injured people and a young girl behind in this strange land?”
The injury doesn’t look that serious?
And why did I, who used to frown at the word ‘kid’, suddenly become a little girl?
And then I was walking back the way I came, and suddenly I found myself in an unfamiliar land?
“Isn’t this the road you’ve been on before? At this rate… … .”
“Does the warrior of the Beast Palace just abandon the people he is supposed to protect? Is this really the state of mind of a warrior? From what I hear… … .”
“Little one.”
“yes?”
“… … Take the lead.”
This kid comes from a strange place.
Where did you hear the phrase ‘warrior’s mindset’?
It would be better to just bring it to him quickly before he even comes up with the ‘purpose of becoming stronger’.
* * *
Finally, I came to Jang Seong-hyeon.
In Yunnan, which is located at the southernmost part of the Central Plains, the southernmost county is Jiangcheng County.
Since it is the border with Namman, there are quite a lot of people.
There is still no proper trade linking the Central Plains and the Southern Plains.
I heard that several countries in the Central Plains are eyeing it.
However, the Beast Palace is not very keen on trade with the Central Plains.
I heard there were a few attempts, but they were all just people trying to eat it raw.
However, judging by the number of people carrying bundles here and there, it seems that there are quite a few people who travel between the Central Plains and the Southern Plains to make small profits.
“Oh my, Miss. You said you’d be back in a day. I was just about to gather some people and go out to look for you.”
An elderly-looking man came out of the inn and greeted us.
“Fortunately, nothing serious happened. Please take care of Gam Pyo-du’s injuries, and let Jang Pyo-du rest. We will rest another day tomorrow and leave the day after, so please check the condition of the horse until then. On the way back, we will stop at Gwiju Samdo-hyeon to load new supplies, so please make sure the cart doesn’t get wet.”
They say she’s the daughter of a wealthy family, but she’s so smart at such a young age.
Even so, he’s just a brat.
“This person is our savior. And he was willing to guide us back. Please do not neglect our hospitality. He will be hungry, so please prepare some light food first.”
“We will go back right now.”
Why do you keep trying to keep busy people?
I need to go back and practice quickly.
As I turned around, dragging Deoksam, who was feeling regretful, the little boy continued talking.
“Oh. Should I prepare some alcohol? I think one or two drinks would be fine. Oh. Are you too young to drink? Heh.”
Are you saying you can’t drink alcohol when you’re young?
I turned back again at the kid’s provocation.
And then he looked into her eyes and answered in a firm voice.
“Shaoxing wine! They say that the liquor of the Central Plains is Shaoxing wine.”
* * *
Since they were in contact with each other, Namman people were occasionally seen.
There was no one who looked like a warrior of the Beast Palace.
From the perspective of the Central Plains people, the Nanman people are definitely exotic.
Especially, women from Namman have their own charm.
Dark skin and large, round eyes.
A body full of healthy beauty.
That must be why.
There are guys in the Central Plains who want women from other countries.
Where there is demand, there will be supply.
Those scumbags who kidnap women from the South and take them to the Central Plains are those guys.
The Iron Corps’ latest mission was to find them.
I haven’t found any traces of it yet though.
“Please come in here.”
The guest house where Bangrimpyoguk stayed was quite large.
The guest house was so large that there were only about twenty tables on the first floor, but there were hardly any empty seats.
Half of them were carrying swords.
Probably signs protecting the top of the small scale.
You can also see the appearance of ronin who seem to have received various small requests.
But I didn’t see any experts who looked useful.
But why would a skilled warrior come to a remote corner of the Central Plains like this?
If they have flowed all the way to the southernmost part of the Central Plains, they are just people trying to make a living with a knife.
“This one would be better.”
The little boy guided us to a table in the corner.
Everyone’s eyes are drawn to the entrance of two muscular, large men.
It doesn’t look like he welcomes me, but it doesn’t feel like he openly hates me either.
Well, with a size like this, there’s not much chance of getting into trouble wherever you go.
The Shaoxing wine we ordered and some simple snacks came out first.
Shaoxing wine is a fermented rice wine made by mixing rice and millet.
At first it is dark brown, but as it ages, impurities disappear and the color becomes clearer.
I wasn’t expecting to find proper Shaoxing wine in a rural area like this, but they produced a pretty good product.
“Hmm. The color is clear and the aroma is good. I didn’t know I could taste Shaoxing liquor of this quality here.”
Deoksam looked at me with surprised eyes and asked.
“No, when was the last time you tried Jungwon’s alcohol?”
“I don’t remember.”
This answer is always universal.
I changed my plan to just have a taste.
Good wine should be enjoyed while it is available.
I also wonder how much this body can hold.
If you fall, Deoksam will carry you.
In the southern part of the country, the main drink is Hwangju, which is made by fermenting glutinous rice in jars.
I’ve often seen warriors drink it after training, but I haven’t tasted it yet.
It was quite tasty to drink.
But the alcohol I was drinking was the best.
With a fluttering heart, I poured a glass of Shaoxing wine and poured it into my mouth.
It went down my throat with a soft, gentle scent.
Well, that sounds good.
Shaoxing wine was the alcohol I enjoyed the most in my previous life.
When I returned from a killing spree, I would drink alone with the moon as my friend.
I feel like the blood on my hands is being washed away.
It feels like the last expressions of those who were dying are momentarily forgotten.
I was so lonely in my previous life… … .
As I drank the alcohol of the Central Plains, my mind became complicated with all sorts of thoughts.
The last of the Salmak who betrayed me.
A client whose identity is unknown to him.
The many greeds and conspiracies intertwined between them and my death.
We have to uncover everything.
And then you have to kill him.
But a gentleman’s revenge is not too late, even if it takes ten years.
“Kid. Tell me about the Central Plains.”
“What are you curious about? Within the scope of my knowledge… … .”
“Has there been any unusual incident in the Apostolic Twelve recently?”
If there is a Murim Alliance in the righteous faction, there are twelve evil factions in the evil faction.
It was a coalition centered around twelve forces that ruled Sapa, and Salmak was one of them.
Of course, it doesn’t have a strong bond like the Murim Alliance.
A coalition that joins hands for their own benefit, and sometimes fights against each other.
To Salmakju, I was like a loyal hunting dog.
The fact that he killed me means there was someone behind it.
Someone with enough power to move the curtain of the Salmak belonging to the Twelve Apostles.
“Well, I don’t know. I don’t think anything special happened. Maybe I just don’t know.”
Any bastards who are connected to my death will one day kneel before me.
So there is no need to rush.
For now, you just need to know the general flow of the Central Plains.
“Is the Demonic Cult still quiet?”
No matter how much the Jeongpa and Sapa expand their influence, it cannot be said that they divide the Central Plains into two.
It is because of the existence of the Demonic Cult.
Although he has been quiet for decades, the current leader, Dong Junwei, is an absolute master who rules the world.
“It’s always like that. It’s something you can’t see, but it’s always scary.”
The kid is quite the character.
The young scholars of the Central Plains take the existence of the Demonic Cult too lightly.
The last Great Battle of Jeongma has already been over a hundred years ago.
To them, the devil’s cult is just a thing of the past.
Anyway, there hasn’t been any major change in the central region yet.
But surely something is moving beneath the calm waters.
“But how do you know the situation in Central Plains, So Dong-ju? I heard that today is your first time setting foot on Central Plains.”
“It’s noisy. Have a drink.”
There is no need to answer every single question that the people of Zhongyuan ask.
Because I am a savage who does not know manners.
What a convenient setup this is.
“But Lord Sodong, do you have any plans to begin full-scale trade with the Central Plains in Namcheon Damdong?”
I wondered why he kept holding back even though people kept calling him a brat, and then I found out he had this hidden agenda.
“Why not? I just haven’t found a trustworthy leader in the Central Plains yet.”
I responded in a way that was pleasant to hear, to whet her appetite.
I have to go to the Central Plains someday.
At that time, the friendship with Bangrimpyo-guk will be of great help.
Of course, there is the amazing background of Namgung Se-ga, but I haven’t decided yet.
Whether to use that background or ignore it.
“Oh, then how about you start with Bangrimpyoguk? You know how trustworthy our Bangrimpyoguk is. Of course, it’s not the biggest pyoguk in the central plains, but it’s still a good one in Hanam… … .”
“Little one, no explanation needed.”
“No, but at least listen to it… … .”
“You’re the daughter of the head of the Pyo State? That’s why Bangrim Pyo State trusts him. If Namcheon Damdong ever trades with the Central Plains, the first person to negotiate with will be Mok Ye-rang of Bangrim Pyo State.”
Judging by the little boy’s flushed face and sparkling eyes, I guess he was quite touched by my words.
Of course, saying that there is a plan is a lie.
But when I say I trust you, I mean it.
I understand when you mix words.
You can trust this little girl.
The eyes of people who harbor other thoughts and think of hitting the back of the head are cloudy.
His tongue is like a serpent.
It was realized at the cost of betrayal and death.
“Ah… … . Thank you.”
Why are the eyes looking at me so moist?
Do I suddenly look like a receipt?
“I’ll consult with my father as soon as I arrive at Pyo-guk. In fact, I wanted to start my own group within Pyo-guk. I wanted to prove myself by just using the name Mok Ye-rang, not the daughter of the owner of Pyo-guk. In reality, I’m just hanging around as a bonus on Pyo-ha. Haha.”
I like these people.
People who try to achieve something with their own abilities without using their background.
“I’m really confident. If only I could get the initial capital to get started. But my father still sees me as a child, so that’s the problem.”
When you drink a little, your hidden feelings come out.
This kid tends to talk a lot when he gets drunk.
“You’ll do well, kid. It’s just not your time yet. By the way, you’re pretty good at drinking.”
“Ah. I can drink a lot. I’ve never gotten drunk without it.”
Well. She’s a woman who doesn’t get drunk no matter how much she drinks…
I guess she’s not popular with the guys.
There are generally two types of women that men like.
A woman who lives alone, and a woman who gets drunk even after drinking a little.
Of course, it would be better if both are satisfied.
The reason for this is… … .
“It’s just the two of us left.”
The little boy said, filling the empty glass with alcohol.
Maybe it’s because it’s late at night, or maybe he’s drunk, but his voice is strange.
“Isn’t it time for you to sleep now? Is a place to sleep ready?”
“Oh, I have my own private room on this floor.”
Oh, you’re using the room alone.
Of course, that would be the case.
Is it around the time of the ox?
There’s only me and the kid on the first floor of the guest house.
Over there, Dotso is half-lying on a chair, snoring.
Deoksam buried his nose in the table after drinking three glasses of Shaoxing wine.
The other members of the group had also long since gone back to their rooms.
My little brother and I have already emptied six bottles of Shaoxing wine.
It’s been a while since I’ve had Shaoxing wine, so the alcohol goes down smoothly.
Sometimes I find myself feeling sentimental and regretful for no reason.
The cheeks of the little boy who had never been drunk before were also flushed red.
The large, black eyes were slightly wet with alcohol.
Late at night.
A quiet guesthouse.
Slurp.
The only sound that could be heard was the sound of empty glasses being filled.
The two of us also didn’t say anything.
Somehow it feels like the world has stopped.
I brought up what I wanted to say all along.
I was worried if this was okay.
“Little one.”
“yes?”
“Did you really mean what you said back then?”
“what……?”
“You said you would repay me in some way… …. Do you really care what it is?”
The little boy couldn’t hide his embarrassed expression.
“Ah… … . That, that’s what I said,”
“That’s right… … . It doesn’t matter what.”
He bent down and faced her.
If you want something, you have to look straight into the other person’s eyes and say it.
I drank a lot of alcohol late into the night for the first time in a long time.
Maybe that’s why my voice was very quiet.
For some reason the little one can’t meet my eyes.
Only the eyes that had lost their way were shaking here and there.
“No, that, that’s why. But still, all of a sudden, like this… … .”
“Once you say something, keep it. Say it the way I want.”
Her large, black eyes were looking up at me.
Lower lip slightly bitten.
Fidgeting with an empty glass for no reason.
After a while she asked in a trembling voice.
“What do you want?”