Reincarnated Sword Ghost-Chapter 15 : First Encounter

First Encounter
A group of five burst out from the brush beside the road, noisily parting the undergrowth as they emerged.
Every one of them clutched a weapon—a chipped sword or a shoddy spear.
'......?'
Jeong-un hadn't been oblivious to their presence, lurking and tailing him from the roadside.
They were making a commotion so conspicuous that it would have been harder not to notice.
'Are these... really bandits?'
Jeong-un eyed them with curiosity.
He found it difficult to be certain, simply because they looked so utterly pathetic.
"You done checking?"
"He's just a clueless brat."
"Is he really alone? He looks like some noble's young master."
"Maybe he's an abandoned child."
"What's with that sword?"
"Nothing special. Probably just something he was given for self-defense."
Jeong-un watched as they chatted amongst themselves, until—at last—one among them, clad in what looked like the pelt of some unknown beast, shouted at Jeong-un.
It was meant to be threatening, but the getup was just overbearing and awkward.
"Hey, hand over everything you've got! Then we'll give you a quick, painless death!"
"So, sparing my life wasn't an option?"
At that, the bandits looked at each other and snickered.
Beast-pelt, hefting a dull blade, pointed it at Jeong-un and replied.
"So, the brat wants to live, huh? Too bad—the only mercy we give is a swift beheading—"
"No, I meant: in all your banditry, have you ever actually spared anyone?"
"......?"
At Jeong-un's retort, beast-pelt blinked in confusion, then frowned deeply.
"When would that ever happen, you stupid little—!"
A head went flying through the air.
Its glazed eyes showing confusion at why its world had flipped upside down.
The headless body crumpled limply forward.
Thud.
For a brief instant, the others just gawked, stunned. Only belatedly did reality hit them.
"A martial artist!"
"T-this is insane!"
Clang─!
They tossed aside their weapons as if burnt, and bolted in panic.
Jeong-un, who had been ready for the next sword stroke, could only watch them run with a faintly dazed look.
'I expected them to charge straight at me.'
These guys didn't have a shred of loyalty to each other.
Well, what could you expect from people who take lives just to fill their bellies?
Jeong-un sheathed his sword. He had no intention of chasing them.
Even if he did, he wasn't confident he could track and kill every last one as they scattered.
'That's only possible for those who've mastered lightness skill.'
Jeong-un recalled Cheong Jin, who'd soared onto the dueling platform in an eyeblink.
He regretted not having been able to take in the whole scene with his eyes.
The movement had been so fast that he'd only barely caught the tail end of it.
'If I'd seen it more clearly, would I have gotten some insight into true ki control?'
He couldn't be sure. After all, Cheong Jin was a master who controlled his true ki far better than Jeong-un did.
What's more, it had to be Mount Hua's lightness skill—the handling of such a technique couldn't possibly be simple.
'I must learn lightness skill, no matter what.'
He'd tried several times, and failed every time.
He could use true ki to move swiftly, but nothing like moving as if flying, the way Cheong Jin had.
Besides, the Yu household didn't have any lightness skill techniques at all.
It was another searing reminder that he needed to make his way into the Central Plains.
Jeong-un glanced at the rolling head and the body lying on the dirt.
It was a strange feeling. Was it the influence of a life spent as a swordsman in a dream?
It was his first time, but his hands weren't shaking.
"Well, anyway..."
He debated for a moment about whether to bury the body somewhere, but soon gave up the idea.
Someone who treated human life as a joke deserved to become food for wild beasts.
That's the feeling Jeong-un had, even as he saw a corpse for the first time.
'Even scum like this can kill and rob...'
That man possessed nothing beyond the weapons in his hand—not a trace of martial arts.
He was clumsy, but also sly enough to pick his victims.
Had it been a different season, maybe he'd just have been an ordinary farmer.
'So this is the world.'
It really drove home how isolated he'd been, like a frog in a well.
Yet, in a way, he was glad to have learned it now.
* * *
Several days and nights passed.
He passed through several small villages, but purposefully chose to camp outdoors as he pressed on.
He disliked looking like a naïve young master traveling alone, but he wasn't confident enough to look like a skilled martial artist, either.
It wasn't that he had no destination, but he didn't want to bring any more trouble upon himself.
Practicing the rapid movement of true ki as he hurried along was just a bonus.
"... So this is it."
As the bright sun pierced a cloudless sky and cast its light to the earth, shadows quickly returned—there were simply that many people coming and going.
The very center of the Central Plains, the heart of the martial world.
He had arrived in Hanyang Prefecture, in Hogwang Province.
'This is... truly, it's astounding.'
Jeong-un stood still, overwhelmed by the sight before him.
As he neared Hanyang, the dirt road had become a main artery, and he'd passed throngs of people.
But compared to this, it was nothing.
Just what he could see right now was in the hundreds, maybe thousands.
Perhaps even tens of thousands of people moved with their own purposes—a spectacle in and of itself.
The surrounding din of voices was practically dizzying.
"Welcome, sir!"
Finding a place to stay was not difficult.
He was lured into a guesthouse by a servant with a large mole on one cheek.
The moment he produced a silver coin from his pocket, the innkeeper's face changed.
He asked for a room and meals for ten days but received handfuls of change.
'This much?'
He was reminded again that the Yu household had been wealthy landowners.
It was only thanks to such foundations that he'd been able to hole up in his room for years.
"What happened with the regular test at Heavenly Martial Hall?"
"Still don't know? A vagabond from Sichuan took first place, they say he's got amazing sword skills."
"Hmph, but can that compare to those taking the special test? The regular exam is just a prelim, nothing more."
"Watch your tongue! Don't you know that when martial artists gather, there's bound to be troublemakers?"
Seated at his table, Jeong-un had to stifle a laugh at the voices he overheard.
He thought it was rather ironic for someone warning others to be careful to not watch their own mouth.
The guesthouse was spacious and packed with people.
All kinds of faces were eating, some downing alcohol even in the middle of the day.
By the sound of things, this wasn't always the case.
'Special test...'
To enter Heavenly Martial Hall, you had to pass an examination.
That much he already knew.
But Jeong-un wasn't interested in the regular exam, which anyone could watch.
The special exam required qualifying credentials to even take.
The proof of qualification was the Cloud Dragon Token.
'Why did they give me such an item?'
It must have been a treasured item even within Mount Hua itself.
Jeong-un doubted that Mount Hua, a renowned sect, only had one, but even so it couldn't be something handed out lightly.
'I don't understand their motives.'
Out of nowhere, he'd been offered a chance to become a disciple. When he declined, he was given the Cloud Dragon Token.
He couldn't figure out their intentions at all.
"Um, sir..."
Jeong-un turned to see the mole-faced servant looking at him with an apologetic expression.
Behind him stood a group of young men and women—specifically, four men and two women.
"I'm sorry, but would it be all right if we shared your table? There aren't any available seats..."
Jeong-un merely nodded quietly.
He was feeling self-conscious about occupying a large table alone, anyway.
There was no reason to refuse, but more than that, he lacked the nerve to turn them down.
"Thank you."
One of the group gave Jeong-un a small nod as he sat down.
Jeong-un, too, just nodded silently.
After casting a few glances, the newcomers soon began chatting among themselves.
Jeong-un, for his part, quietly ate the noodles the servant put before him.
Even if he was sharing a table, he had no desire to join in their conversation.
'... Delicious.'
Jeong-un's eyes widened slightly.
It was nothing at all like the food from the small countryside villages of Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province.
In fact, it was even tastier than the meals he'd eaten at the well-off Yu household.
He was so absorbed in his noodles that he barely noticed when:
"The young hero Peng Cheonwi from Hebei's Peng Family is sure to stand out. I caught a glimpse of him last time—his presence is remarkable. Hard to believe he's only a branch member."
"Still, can he surpass Young Hero Namgung Hyeon? Rumor is he mastered the Boundless Sky Sword Technique; s of it have made it beyond the city walls. He'll likely achieve the greatest feats at Heavenly Martial Hall."
The Peng Family of Hebei, the Namgung Clan.
Even Jeong-un had heard of those names.
It would be strange not to know—they were famous houses central to the history of the Central Plains.
They often popped up in the martial books he'd read back in his bedroom.
'Are they talking about the special test?'
Young men and women about Jeong-un's age, each wearing a sword at their waist.
And so casually discussing the special test.
That meant they were martial artists.
'So these are martial artists of my generation.'
Unwittingly, Jeong-un glanced over them.
All bore healthy complexions and wore fine clothes.
Most importantly, their energy was well managed—almost as if that was the norm for them.
Then, he made eye contact with one of the women.
"..."
Feeling self-conscious, Jeong-un quickly lowered his head, scolding himself inwardly.
He'd heard that even making eye contact between martial artists could be considered rude.
"Don't forget. If we want to make a name for ourselves, we have to pass the entrance test first."
At that moment, the woman with the rather stern face interjected, addressing the men who'd been chattering away.
"Well, of course. Are you saying, miss Gong, that you think we'll fail the special test?"
"We'll have to wait and see."
"Hahaha!"
The men laughed as if it were the silliest thing they'd heard.
Miss Gong looked at them with a rather disgruntled expression.
"You're not taking it too lightly, are you? The entrance test for Heavenly Martial Hall is infamous for its brutality. If we fail, we'll have to wait another year."
One of the men, the one who'd mentioned the Namgung family earlier, responded, a wry smile on his sharp features.
"It's not that we're taking it lightly, it's just that none of us have been lazy in our training, right?"
"And for that, shouldn't we also be humble? What if others overhear?"
"Ha, so what if someone hears? They'll just think we're confident in our martial accomplishment. Besides..."
He glanced at Jeong-un, who sat quietly.
"The only ears eavesdropping here are this young master's, after all."
His tone implied they had nothing to worry about.
Clearly, a subtle dismissal.
"Young Hero Pyo!"
Miss Gong called out in irritation, but Jeong-un himself remained unruffled.
'Well, he's not wrong.'
If they'd really been diligent in their training, that was all they needed.
If they were so confident, why force humility on them?
With that, Jeong-un quietly raised his head and spoke.
"It's all right, you needn't mind me."
"..."
But contrary to his expectations, the group stared at Jeong-un intently.
His indifferent manner seemed to surprise them.
"Do you use a sword?"
Perhaps he'd already noticed the sword at Jeong-un's waist, as one of the men asked quietly.
"I can swing one, at least."
"So you've learned swordsmanship?"
The man gave him a look of mild surprise, then exchanged glances with his companions, a slight smile playing on his lips, before turning back to Jeong-un.
"Well, since fate has brought us together, why don't we introduce ourselves?"
"No, thank you."
"......"
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】