The banquet hall, once in disarray and filthy due to the drunken antics of Hyeok Gi-rin, was now neatly tidied up. Samayeom sat alone at the table, gracefully tilting his cup of alcohol.
In that brief moment, the reddish hue that had once graced his face disappeared completely. If it weren’t for the lingering smell of liquor, one would hardly believe he had just been drinking heavily, his demeanor now orderly and composed.
Is this the dignity of the Sacheon Governor?
As I sat across from Samayeom, he poured me a drink.
“Just plain liquor, cooled down. Consider it a side dish.”
We both took a sip. The ice-cold liquid flowed down my throat, sending a chilling sensation through my body, sharpening my mind.
“How long have you been stationed in Sacheon?”
“Over seven years.”
“I apologize, but I’ve done a bit of digging into your background. Apparently, whoever managed to cover your tracks did an excellent job, as I could only uncover events from the Hwang Gold Clan’s main gate and yesterday’s happenings.”
Samayeom let out a chuckle, as if genuinely amused by my endeavors.
“Your exploits are quite unique and impressive, but in the end, you’re still a chivalrous person, aren’t you?”
“…I can’t say I’ve done anything particularly chivalrous. I’ve merely followed my own interests.”
“Hahaha. Indeed.”
The more I conversed with Samayeom, the more I felt entangled in some web. It felt like being Sun Wukong playing around in the palm of Buddha’s hand. Above all, my mind was still in chaos due to the information Samayeom had shared.
Yet, upon hearing it, my first thought leaned towards optimism rather than negativity.
The bloodshed in Yeo-ga Mountain Villa occurred when the martial sects of Sacheon were fervently clashing. Sacheon was indeed the perfect stage for ambitious individuals eager to climb up, even by engaging in wicked deeds.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the perpetrator behind the bloodshed wasn’t just Hwang Geum-seon but two or three others.
Gae Myung-bu had sought to hire outcasts to break apart the Tang Clan and deal with the Jajang Clan too. His personality was suited for the bloodshed at Yeo-ga Mountain Villa. How could an unnamed nobody like Gae Myung-bu afford such a robust network of outcasts and their fees back then? If he made money by robbing Yeo-ga Mountain Villa, that would explain everything.
Well, considering Yu Sa-yeon’s background as a shady figure, he certainly wouldn’t have hesitated to expand his influence by any means necessary. There was no need to mention Hwang Geum-seon.
In the end, the individuals who instigated the bloodshed at Yeo-ga Mountain Villa took advantage of the chaos to commit all kinds of misdeeds in Sacheon and flourish.
“What do you think chivalry is?”
“I don’t really know.”
In a state of confused emotions, I didn’t want to reply seriously, so I half-heartedly said I didn’t know.
“When you’re involved with this line of work, you often find yourself clashing with the martial world. In those moments, they tend to frequently use the term ‘chivalry.’”
“As a manager, it’s not something I should voice, but since this is a private conversation, I’ll speak openly. There are indeed times when I feel a sense of relief in that chivalry.”
Samayeom’s words were unexpected.
“Law cannot entirely encompass human morality. There are no perfect beings in this world; thus, our nation had to make choices. Should we stop the greater evils or the lesser ones? That choice is indeed significant. Small frameworks can be easily established, but large frameworks must naturally be more challenging to set up.”
“If there’s someone being beaten in the market, stepping in to help is chivalry. But is that the definition? The one being beaten may have done something deserving of it. Yet when people witness that scene, regardless of the context, they feel compelled to help and cheer when the battered individual is saved.”
Samayeom set down his glass and looked at me.
“That’s what chivalry is. There are no absolute standards, and when laid bare, it often results in mere emotional outbursts that tend to make matters worse rather than resolve them. Yet, people are enamored with chivalry. Do you know why?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Because it feels refreshing. Just like this cold liquor.”
Samayeom downed his glass in one go.
“People are captivated by the presence of chivalrous individuals because it refreshes the stagnant resentment within them. How delightful it is when a villain who was beating me and robbing my money is punished right in front of my eyes?”
Is that why I’m called a chivalrous person? Because my actions seemed refreshing?
“At breakfast, you appeared quite perplexed by my words, didn’t you?”
“…That was indeed the case.”
“You didn’t say much at dinner. The tale of the Great Hero of the Okryong Sinhyeop regarding the Nine Great Sects was quite an intriguing one, wasn’t it?”
What message was he trying to convey? I looked at Samayeom, who smiled broadly at me.
“Why aren’t you angry?”
That statement felt like a jab.
“I am curious. Why is someone who seemed full of chivalry only hiding that frustration inside?”
Did I… really do that?
I glanced down at my hand gripping the glass. My reflection was twisted with an indescribable displeasure in the ice-cold drink.
Why was I making such a face?
…The truth is, I knew.
Before I reached the pinnacle, I was somewhat unrestrained. I had nothing to hold me back. But now that I’ve reached the pinnacle, the situation had changed. It may be a tough condition, but there was now a guaranteed method to ascend beyond.
I desired to surpass the peak and wanted to reach the peak stage beyond that. Becoming an expert that looms over the world was the very goal of playing [Martial World].
I emerged from the underwater cave, assessing the situation, accompanying Hyeok Gi-rin, and clashing with the members of the Sacheon Outcasts. Until then, I remained oblivious, merely swept up in the incidents around me.
I had engaged in various activities, but let’s be real. I simply wanted to be in an environment where I could diligently train my martial arts without a care.
So when Hyeok Gi-rin offered a helping hand, I accepted his request with the hope he would resolve things for me.
I followed Yu Sa-yeon’s plans without adding anything to them. I figured someone would handle it all. It was just a thought.
After clashing with Gae Myung-bu, I felt overwhelmed and displeased learning that Hwang Geum-seon and Gae Myung-bu Yu Ji-gyeong manipulated things in Sacheon. But I endured it. Why? Because the opponent was too formidable. That would disrupt my martial arts training. If I were to die fighting these people, I’d merely end up as the peak-level martial artist Ho Cheon-an without even reaching my full potential.
I also held my tongue when Hyeok Gi-rin condemned the immorality of the Nine Great Sects. I didn’t want to feel overwhelmed by the opponent’s vastness again.
I couldn’t say anything when Miss Yeo Il-ye cried either. Rather than stepping in, I simply devised plans to turn the current situation around by using her.
“The hearts of people are filled with all kinds of pent-up frustrations. It’s only natural. They can either suppress or release it.”
I downed the ice-cold liquor.
Is this the life I had wanted in [Martial World]? To remain a bystander, turning a blind eye and only pursuing my personal training, as I envisioned a martial artist while reading martial arts novels?
Even as the cold liquor went down my throat, my insides didn’t feel at ease. Samayeom silently refilled my cup.
The hope brought by methods to advance my realm and the desire to become more than just an expert turned me cowardly and foolish.
But what’s wrong with that? After all, isn’t it natural for people to focus solely on their own affairs? If I were to poke around this and that, how could I ensure my life was secure, when would I train, and when would I ascend?
Yu Sa-yeon might have had it rough, but the seeds I had sown until now could bear fruit. The members of the Sacheon Outcasts were truly uneventful. They could simply return to their hometowns and live as outcasts making a meager living. So it’s not like Jeong Sam and Yeo Jin-sang’s wages make sense given their skills. They better off going back to the countryside to earn coins.
I drained my cup again.
Well, Sacheon’s people and the sects were the same. There wasn’t another place in the world without bandits other than Sacheon. They should be grateful for having enjoyed that until now.
Hyeok Gi-rin was due for a reality check. Just being cute and innocent won’t cut it in life. Realizing that the Nine Great Sects are not a chivalrous organization, but rather a sect will help him navigate this rough martial world. As for Miss Yeo Il-ye…
Damn it.
I drained my cup once more.
“Damn it.”
I hurled my cup and snatched the jug, pouring it into my mouth. Each time my throat convulsed, the ice-cold liquor flowed down.
“Stop it.”
When did I finish savoring the moment? The Black Cat snatched the jug from my hands.
“…Senior, let me tell you something. I’ve lived my whole life as an observer. No matter where or what happened, I quietly watched it all from the shadows, remembered it in my head, and remained detached.”
Right. That’s the life of an informant. An observer who doesn’t meddle in anything.
“But since I’ve lived like that, nowadays when I see Hyeok Gi-rin, my heart feels fluttery. Is it because I’ve never met someone as cute as a cat before? I kind of… want to help Hyeok Gi-rin.”
The Black Cat lowered her head.
“Having lived my whole life as an observer, I didn’t tell you about the enemies of Miss Yeo Il-ye at Hyeong Gwi-san. I thought you might rush out if you knew. Eventually, as you forgave and accepted my situation, I worried that learning about someone else’s situation might lead you to throw yourself into dangerous situations as well.”
“Thinking that way and not saying anything… and now wanting to help Hyeok Gi-rin, I’m sorry.”
“Well.”
Sacheon was like a second home to Ho Cheon-an. I started from the entrance of Iryu, had my requests, improved my stats, and trained my martial arts, rising to the conclusion of Iryu. Listening to the naggings of outcasts to train and Yu Sa-yeon’s scoldings, I frequented the gambling houses and met Miss Yeo Il-ye. That’s how I reached this point.
“Let’s do it.”
No, I didn’t need any of that. I disdain watching human trash thrive. Yu Sa-yeon had to pay the price for all the hardships. The outcasts too, as I had some affection for them, it was infuriating to see them collapse and bleed. What sin had Hyeok Gi-rin committed to warrant her distress leading her to drink until she’s hammered? Sacheon’s people seemed lifeless, making it feel like they don’t belong there. And there shouldn’t be bandits in Sacheon.
I was just frustrated. I was just angry.
Indeed, Samayeom was right.
I was a severe soda pop addict.
I just wanted a soda.
I, Ho Cheon-an. Whether I played characters without arms or legs, with a ticking time bomb in my brain or veins filled with poison, would never bend my will and had reached the end.
So, I’ll clear everything out, just as I am, reclaim the Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicine.
I will train comfortably and raise my level.
I looked at Samayeom.
“I trust that you won’t pretend you don’t know after pushing me thus far.”
“I’ve felt that the power of law alone was a bit inadequate.”
Samayeom smiled, embracing his authority.
“Only now has chivalry been fulfilled.”
