Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Strange Object (1)

The farmer of Jangnak Village, Lee Juhwang woke early at dawn and prepared for farming.

“Kkeueungcha!”

“Lee! Diligent today too!”

“It is already early spring, right? The field must be tended now to plant seedlings next month.”

The steady farming work that was hard at first became familiar and now the eyes opened on their own at dawn.

“Hoho! Quitting gambling looks very good!”

“I thought I would die quitting. Occasionally hearing hallucinations of dice rolling how much I suffered!”

“Well done! Gambling must not be done! A person must be diligent!”

The one who had completely become a born farmer finished the field work and at the market listened to the merchants’ conversation while having a drink.

“Did you hear that news? They say one large wild boar wandered the mountain path and starved to death?”

“It was not that it starved to death. The bulk was large and the flesh was solid. The hunters say no matter how you look it died from fear.”

“What is there for a wild boar to fear. Did a great tiger appear nearby?”

Listening to the people’s stories the heart became unsettled.

‘Why are there so many bizarre incidents around the village these days.’

Some tycoon trying to pass the village suddenly abandoned the carriage and all wealth and fled.

A vicious thief with a wanted notice died at the village entrance with a face as if having seen a ghost.

A mysterious bird suddenly fell from the sky and burned and disappeared.

“Shouldn’t we call a Daoist like last time?”

“The village chief has already called several times but they only try to extort money talking about evil spirits.”

“All scammers.”

“Fortunately no problems occur for the neighborhood people so it is good.”

Hoping that no more bizarre incidents occur in Jangnak Village and returning home Lee Juhwang discovered a swallow that had nested under the eaves at some unknown time.

“Is a precious guest coming?”

The next day, the village chief ran urgently to him who was doing field work.

“Lee! Lee! Come home quickly! An official has come!”

The one who sensed something threw the hoe and ran home together with the village chief. The official in front of the house had brought soldiers, and at a glance the grade was different from the officials usually seen.

“Are you Lee Juhwang?”

“Y-yes!”

“From now I will convey the official document.”

The official who finished the introduction adorned with splendid rhetoric brought out the main point.

“Your child Lee Shin has passed a special exam with outstanding martial skill and extraordinary learning so is informed of being selected into the Special Affairs Bureau.”

The neighborhood people who came to watch what was happening cheered.

“Oh! Shin has risen in the world!”

“They say special exam! Special exam!”

“Special from a young age, and passes a special exam too!”

Only one person, the schoolmaster’s heart was not at ease.

‘If Special Affairs Bureau is it not a direct agency managed by the imperial capital? What it does externally is not known at all.’

If there is one thing known, it is that officials selected into the Special Affairs Bureau do work wandering the Central Plains and in doing so cases of contact being cut off are very many.

“Your son must traverse various places of the Central Plains and convey the Son of Heaven’s will. Accordingly he requested that three years’ worth of his salary be delivered to the hometown, so receive this.”

“H-heok! I-is this all nothing!?”

“Ten gold nyang, twenty rolls of silk, one geun of Longjing tea, two roots of ginseng.”

Should I tell this?

“Even though the son sent it if eating this alone the belly will burst and die! Village Chief! Let’s hold a banquet, a banquet!”

“That is good! Let’s hold a banquet celebrating Shin fellow’s rising in the world!”

“Waaa! Banquet! Hehe!”

“Yul you like it too right? Uahahaha!”

He could not bring himself to tell the truth to the people rejoicing.

‘If it is that child he will do well.’

The schoolmaster also pushed aside the worry and prepared the banquet together with the people.

“Uheuheuheu! Long live our son!”

* * *

“Why are the ears so itchy? Is someone talking about me?”

『The ears itch because others talk about oneself in an unseen place? And then don’t claim to be human!』

“It is not an ability but superstition, superstition!”

Receiving the recommendation of the Righteousness Rank General and on the boat path heading to Tianjin looking at the winding river water.

-If Taowu’s barrier is like that then send an ordinary person. Thinking of conveying news while also giving wealth is it okay?

By now the news should have been conveyed to the hometown? It seems they are also sending wealth to look good to me, how much would it be?

‘Well, they will handle it themselves somehow.’

Unfortunately by boat path one cannot go directly to Hebei so switched to land route, and meeting merchants and accompanying them heard various stories.

“Last year’s Hebei was at a cursed level. From spring to summer not a single drop of rain fell, so farming was completely ruined.”

“And autumn? Belated rain poured and a flood occurred the embankment collapsed and the boat path was all cut. Moving so hard like this now is also all the aftermath of that time.”

“In winter how frequent were the fires, not a day passed without fire in the mountains or fields so even beasts had difficulty living. On top of that even the country’s warehouse was swept by the fire demon, there was no disaster like that disaster.”

The famine of Hebei was a calamity that occurred at the end of continuous disasters overlapping.

“By any chance the famine of Hebei, could it be the doing of a strange force and turbulent spirit?”

『I do not know. But the Heavenly Net recommending Hebei without any mention means it is already a resolved matter or the possibility that it is not the act of a strange force and turbulent spirit is high.』

The Three-legged Crow’s words have some reason but somehow the mood is uneasy, so as soon as arriving in the land of Hebei I smeared ink on the Heavenly Command Plaque.

‘The smeared ink disappeared. So it works in this way.’

Since said to come within a day wanting to stay in the first village visited I sought an inn, and the customers’ hearty order sounds greeted me.

“Hey! Waiter! Stir-fried pork and one plate of flower buns here!”

“Yes! Waiter Jang Sam is coming!”

Around the time finishing the meal, a man suddenly sat in the front seat. The man who looked ordinary at a glance whispered in a small voice only audible to me.

“I am Geum Wolun the branch chief of the Hebei branch of the Heavenly Net. Receiving the call of the Heavenly Command Plaque I come to see the honored guest.”

“Treating me as an honored guest, I do not know where to put my body.”

Then asking about the continuous disasters that caused the famine in Hebei, the branch chief shook his head.

“We also found the famine suspicious and investigated but did not discover traces of a strange force and turbulent spirit.”

“I wish to hear in detail.”

“First, we investigated all the places where disasters occurred.”

Sharing additionally ordered food and alcohol and listening attentively to the story.

“The energy of yokai and ghosts leaves traces from as short as a few days to as long as a few months but we did not discover.”

Through the story I learned about the method the Heavenly Net uses to distinguish strange forces and turbulent spirits.

“In the case of phenomena also because strange energy is the cause traces remain for a long time but likewise there were none.”

“You would have investigated people too.”

“Yes. Traces of humans who displayed martial strength were also not discovered.”

Ghosts that are a type of soul.

Yokai that are bewitching living beings.

Phenomena caused by strange energy.

Martial strength of humans possessing amazing power.

“Finally we investigated strange objects.”

And strange objects that display special abilities.

“Strange objects often look like ordinary objects. Moreover in displaying abilities they do not emit energy so tracking and distinguishing is difficult.”

“You mean they just cause phenomena without energy?”

“Yes, among strange forces and turbulent spirits they are the most bizarre category.”

Face powder that if applied to the face bewitches the opposite sex.

A book that if writing a name the written target is entangled in great misfortune.

A stone Buddha that if offering tribute and praying for what is desired grants in a twisted and broken form.

“Unlike other strange forces and turbulent spirits they are only used as human tools, and cases of possessing ego and moving on their own are rare.”

“Rare means there are also cases.”

Feeling with qi sense the brush, fire-seizing tool, and Time-Passing Stone in the bundle. These also correspond to strange objects, and no energy was felt at all.

“Yes, occasionally there are cases of moving on their own. It does not seem to have ego, but in the manner of being placed in someone’s study or entering a pocket as if choosing a master.”

“It seems exactly like being possessed by a ghost.”

“We investigated the relevant cases but it was not that a ghost possessed. However, there is one common point.”

“What is it?”

“It is that they react to desire and choose a master.”

One who covets wealth.

One who craves power.

One who wants to make a name under heaven.

Such strange objects were always grasped in the hands of such figures.

“Those chosen by the strange object used the strange object to fulfill their own desire but the end always reached ruin.”

It was no different from cursed objects that appear in old stories.

“In this famine too there were people who greatly benefited. Whether fame or wealth, or rising in the world. But there was nothing suspicious about them. The reason not told to the honored guest is because of that.”

“Well understood. Thank you for telling the precious story.”

“If there is a needed matter please call anytime!”

Parting from the branch chief and heading to Tianjin again I experienced Hebei.

“Move the materials there this way!”

“Have a snack and do it!”

“The ruined fields have all been cleared! Now just turning the water channel is enough!”

The remaining wounds of the famine quickly faded with the government’s active relief and people’s efforts.

“Those who left are also returning again since the officials give money for escort.”

“Keu! As expected the Son of Heaven!”

“The waterways were also all fixed some time ago so materials from other regions come in quickly and recovery has become one level faster.”

And the finally arrived Tianjin was already in a festival atmosphere ahead of the Hebei martial world harmony.

“Senior brother! Look over there! A really big lion dance mask!”

“The capital city really has many diverse things.”

“Look at the stalls spread everywhere! The food sold one and all looks incomparably delicious compared to our neighborhood restaurant!”

As the words that all martial artists of the Hebei region visited are not false, 20% of the crowd are martial artists.

‘To think this many martial artists would gather. It seems to combine harmony and festival, already looking forward to the day.’

Enjoyably going around the stalls I started snacking.

『Boss! Give me too! I want to eat!』

“You, could you eat food too? You haven’t eaten even once until now?”

『Because the boss keeps eating deliciously this seat also wanted to try eating!』

“I will put it in the bundle so eat secretly inside there. If eating outside people will be startled thinking the food disappeared in midair.”

『Understood!』

Carrying a lot of snacks in the arms and walking I discovered a crowd.

“So I said it’s not!”

“Ahem! How long have you lived in Hebei that you can assert so!”

“Is the days lived important? How many experts one has seen, and seen their skill is important!”

From elderly elders to young youths, men and women of all ages gathered and arguing I was curious what the topic was so listened.

“Who on earth is the number one of Hebei!”

“It is the person I said!”

“What nonsense are you saying! The person I said is the number one of Hebei!”

“Because of those who do not even know the martial of this martial world the insides are stuffy and the throat is choked, the throat is choked!”

As a martial arts novel maniac of the previous life I sat down in the spot and filled the mouth full with chicken skewers instead of popcorn.

‘How can I pass this!’

Using the snacks as snacks I listened to the people’s heated argument.

“The Fire Rain Sword Baek Unseong is the best!”

“What sound! The number one of Hebei is the Iron Fist Single Strike Baek Gwonhu!”

“The Divine Wind Sword Oh Jun is the best!”

Then someone said.

“Isn’t it one of the Hebei Three Dragons?”

Seeing many people nod at those words, the previous figures were all minor hipster picks.

“The sect master of the Grand Heaven Gate, the Silent Words Slashing Guest Dokgo Shin great hero cut ten thieves with one technique.”

“The Severing Peak Blade Jang Munyeon great hero during over thirty years of chivalrous deeds fought numerous evil thieves and had not a single defeat.”

“Have you all forgotten the anecdote of the Hundred Night Martial Person Chu Hwayeong great hero fighting and winning against a hundred black path group in one night!”

The achievements of them mentioned subsequently were not greatly different from what heard from Uncle Wang or the peddlers.

‘Since it is a world with a low ceiling the strongest ones are all similar.’

Interest dropping and about to leave the spot, another person was mentioned.

“Originally it was the Hebei Four Dragons right? Why, the Returning Heaven Flying Swallow Sword that one-person transmission sect.”

“The One Day One Good words.”

“Do not bring up that human’s story. Isn’t it a human that even ghosts do not take?”

Curiosity arising I opened my ears wide.

“More than that aren’t you more curious about the Jade-Faced Asura that appeared in Henan?”

“Suddenly appearing, perhaps it is of Hebei origin. It is right below right?”

“An expert who learned the sword from an immortal? Do you think a person engraving text on a cliff with a sword and calling a dragon makes sense?”

...Suddenly the direction of the story changed.

“According to the rumor as befitting the alias of Jade-Faced the face is truly fair and pretty.”

“I heard a face as if Song Yu and Pan An reincarnated.”

“While looking manly like an asura, it also looked like a peerless beauty under heaven dressed as a man.”

Trying to leave the spot, but people’s gazes were already fixed on me.

“Carrying one sword inherited from the teacher.”

“The name was probably Lee Shin right?”

“A face that if seeing once one immediately knows why Jade-Faced...”

In the crowd someone asked.

“You, young hero? Excuse me but what is your honorable name?”

“...I am merely an unknown soldier who has just come out.”

Clearing the spot and moving the steps, someone’s shout rang out loudly.

“It is the Jade-Faced Asura! The Jade-Faced Asura has appeared!”