A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel

“…Countless…you’re a monster…”

The old man, who had been bent in half, managed to utter these short words as if they were his final ones.

I turned my gaze from him, as he spat out blood and died, and looked at the other two.

“Even your defensive qi has limits, doesn’t it? How can such an absurd thing exist?”

“If you’re upset, why don’t you become a supreme master?”

“That sounds so easy…if it was, I’d have done it already!”

“…Calm down. Your injuries are worsening.”

A man with a cold expression carelessly said this to Suo Deng or Suo Ling, whoever he was. I watched his demeanor calmly, then wiped the blood off my sword.

The old man had his waist broken in half and met his end.

The man throwing daggers at me, his left arm bent in an unnatural direction.

Even the wandering swordsman with a long diagonal wound across his chest was still trying to talk back.

Without a single twist, this three-on-one martial prohibition was my victory.

“I guess their side is almost done too, so let’s see how we should deal with the two of you.”

I thought about just killing them, but then again, maybe their lives could extract some information about the Sangu Fang.

We could get help from Haowen, but nothing beats insider intelligence.

“I won’t beg for mercy.”

“Wulin warriors were born to fight and die. I won’t beg for my life either.”

“Hmm…”

I pulled out the Deathbook from my robe and confirmed whether their names were written in it. As I flipped through the pages, they stared at me like wandering souls waiting for judgment from the King of the Underworld.

“Hmm…Suo Ling. Wandering swordsman from Sichuan. Is that correct?”

“Wow, so that’s already known?”

“You’ve killed quite a number of people, haven’t you?”

“That’s what a Wulin warrior does.”

Most were probably in life-or-death duels. This one might just be a battle enthusiast. He certainly wouldn’t be clean, being part of the Sangu Fang.

“Yul Chuan, from Sayeong Academy, is that correct?”

“… Whoever you are, you’ve done your background check.”

There’s nothing left to say for this one.

“I’ve roughly confirmed the Deathbook information is accurate. I’ll ask you one thing only, where is the Sangu Fang Leader?”

“I don’t know. I just followed orders.”

“I don’t know either.”

What use are you two. I wanted to know if they’re staying by the Yangtze River.

“If you don’t know, that’s fine. You’ll probably die as you are now, so I’ll give you a clean finish.”

I had no intention of letting them live.

No matter how many times I’ve been told to reduce killings, letting those who tried to kill me go would be something only the monks from Suhlim Temple wouldn’t do.

Here the monks would bring up breaking the commandment of non-violence at every chance and would not use martial arts.

As long as there is no indiscriminate slaughter, it would be fine.

Without hesitation, I reversed my grip on the Gladius.

I was going to use the special execution method from Roman gladiatorial techniques.

I smote between Suo Ling’s neck and collarbone with my reverse-grip sword.

“…Too brutal…”

Suo Ling quietly passed away, not allowing himself to die ungracefully.

“Rather noble way of execution, huh…”

After severing Yul Chuan’s airway as well, I turned around.

I had someone I needed to check on immediately.

“Mu Kyung!”

I rushed forward with light stepping. It wasn’t too far, but I could see Mu Kyung lying down, bleeding.

I immediately landed beside her and checked her condition. Mu Kyung had golden wound powder in her hand, seemingly trying to treat herself.

“There’s quite a bit of blood loss here.”

She might die from excessive bleeding. With that thought in mind, I promptly took off my top.

If I leave her clothed, I can’t provide even the most basic treatment. As I started taking her clothes off, I paused briefly.

Bandages…

“…There’s no point in caring about this now.”

It’s not like I’ll get sued for sexual harassment in the 21st century.

I carefully untied Mu Kyung’s bandaged chest. Due to prolonged battling, they were already a bit loose, and it didn’t take long to untie them.

The problem is… to treat her, I need to look at her chest.

Had I known she was male, I might have just torn them off without hesitation. But knowing she’s female made me hesitate.

…Still, it’s not more important than her life. If I can’t save her life just for this trivial issue, there would be nothing more shameful.

Closing my eyes, I carefully untied the last bandage.

“…Ah.”

I took the medicine that Mu Kyung was holding and smeared it on her chest.

Since I had no experience using golden wound powder, I wildly smeared it, which dirtied her chest, but I had no time to worry about that.

“Ugh…”

Why is she making such an alluring sound?

Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…

I silently prayed as I covered her powdered chest with new bandages.

———————-

“Ajeossi? What’s wrong?”

“Not…just worried about Mu Kyung?”

“Ajeossi…is it right to leave her like this?”

What?

I looked at Hyeryeong’s scolding face. She was looking at Mu Kyung lying beside me. Mu Kyung’s upper body, wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, was exposed under the light.

“The clothes will stick if you put them back on her.”

“It’s just too much to leave a woman’s clothes open. At least cover her with something above.”

You’re right.

I hadn’t thought about that. I took off my robe and covered Mu Kyung’s body with it.

“How is her condition?”

“It’s not a fatal wound, and it’s not a light injury either. If she were an ordinary person, it would be dangerous, but for a Wulin warrior, this extent means…with some meditation and proper treatment, she’ll recover soon.”

It’s like the depth of a wound that initially doesn’t seem intended to kill. Speaking of which, where did that Yun Nan’s First Swordsman or something go?

“Hyeryeong, did you see that Yun Nan’s First Swordsman or something?”

“No. I didn’t. If there’s a broken sword, maybe he left after breaking his sword.”

“Hmm.”

“By the way, Ajeossi, anything changed about you?”

What. Why are you suddenly checking for assassination signs? I stared at Hyeryeong who asked me what must be the most dangerous question in the world.

Slightly ruffled attire compared to usual, lost her hair tie and let her hair down, and finally her face filled with anticipation. I carefully examined Hyeryeong for any changes.

“…Why are you taking so long? You should know as soon as you see.”

What is it?

The only change is her realm.

At the end of my thoughts,

“…Did you reach the supreme master level?”

“Hehe. Now I’m also a Su-preme mas-ter!”

Hyeryeong placed her hand on her waist and thrust her chest forward. Naturally, two watermelons as big as her head swung up and down.

…Seeing that reminds me of earlier…no, forget it.

“Congratulations. You might get a nickname of your own now.”

“I’m happy that I won’t have to hear ‘Hainan’s Lone Flower’ anymore!”

“Hainan’s Lone Flower.”

“It’s not a nickname I particularly like, but…Ajeossi is fine.”

Too explicit display, isn’t it? Isn’t it quite rare for a Middle Plain’s person of this era to be this proactive?

“You’re always proactive.”

“Ajeossi, this is something I’m only telling you, but Mother repeatedly told me: Love isn’t about waiting for someone to come to you, but it’s about taking the initiative!”

“…Your mother is quite progressive.”

“Isn’t she?”

That’s why Hyeryeong was pushing so forwardly as a Middle Plain’s person. I nodded, feeling I had uncovered a hidden secret.

“Well…now that I know, sit beside me.”

“Beside you?”

“I’m tired. You should rest too.”

“I won’t refuse.”

Hyeryeong immediately sat beside me and embraced my arm. Her overwhelming presence mercilessly squeezed my arm. Right after, a pleasant weight and fragrance clung to my shoulder.

“I’ll sleep for just a bit…”

“I can hold your legs.”

“I like it like this.”

…Do as you please.

I periodically checked Mu Kyung’s condition while waiting for the sun to rise.

——————

“Ugh…”

“You’re awake?”

“Ugh, Eun Gong…water…”

I opened the lid of the water flask and slowly poured water into Mu Kyung’s mouth. Like a baby bird, she received the water I poured and, with half-dazed eyes, looked up at me.

“Eun Gong…can you tell me what happened?”

“Hye-ryeong and I defeated everyone. How about you?”

“I lost.”

“Hmm. I don’t know why they didn’t kill you, but this isn’t a fatal wound, so I managed with medicine.”

“The medicine…it was given by the one who cut me.”

…Why would he?

Another unresolved question popped into my head. For now, I pushed it aside, then stopped Mu Kyung who groaned in pain but tried to get up.

“Don’t move. Your chest wound might worsen.”

“…Did you treat my wound, Eun Gong?”

Mu Kyung’s eyes turned towards me. With no room for lies, I silently nodded.

“…I apologize for showing such an undignified body.”

“Not at all…ah.”

“…It’s fine. It happened unintentionally while treating you.”

“…That’s true.”

“…”

We both avoided eye contact, pretending to be doing something else. Touching and treating a woman’s bare chest was indeed a bit awkward.

Hye-ryeong was lost in dreamland, leaving only the birds chirping around. Mu Kyung, her face flushing, spoke to me quietly.

“…Thank you, Eun Gong.”

Her shy smile blooming on Mu Kyung’s face made me dazedly nod in return.

---