Chapter 84. The Meaning of a Knight (1)

"Alright, then, as we agreed, please provide a guide to take me to Mount Ami. I need to hurry and meet Swordswoman Xichuan with this letter."

Bancheonbaek, who had suddenly appeared, asked Baolinghua to provide a guide to take him to Swordswoman Xichuan.

Baolinghua, who was utterly bewildered by what was happening, changed his expression and, with a calm face, bowed respectfully and said,

"Of course, Sir Ban. However, could you give me a few more days? I need to recruit someone internally."

Upon hearing this, Bancheonbaek's expression slightly frowned. Then, he shook his head and asked, as if he had no choice,

"Hmm, how much longer will it take?"

"Four days should be enough."

After a brief calculation, Baolinghua answered. Bancheonbaek looked dissatisfied but soon nodded and said,

"Alright. Send someone to the Zhengjia Inn when you're ready."

"Of course."

Then, he turned around and left abruptly. He was truly a stormy old man. After Bancheonbaek's sudden visit ended, I asked Baolinghua,

"Sir Baolinghua? What exactly did Sir Ban want by suddenly appearing like this?"

Baolinghua sighed lightly and said,

"You know about the time I went to the Zhengjia Inn to handle the Fengyunwu incident and met Sir Ban, right?"

"Of course."

I nodded in agreement, and Baolinghua continued,

"At that time, Sir Ban set a condition."

"What was it?"

"He asked for a guide to take him to Mount Ami. He said he would go to Swordswoman Xichuan after this matter was over to inform her about it."

"Hmm..."

I let out a sigh. It seemed Bancheonbaek still hadn't given up on Swordswoman Xichuan. Then, I thought to myself,

'Well, the timing isn't bad this time.'

After being rejected once, Bancheonbaek would need a proper reason to meet Swordswoman Xichuan. Just showing up again would only look like stalking. He needed a legitimate reason.

This matter could serve as a sufficient reason for Bancheonbaek. After all, he had helped Swordswoman Xichuan's disciple and avenged her.

'It's a good reason.'

As a top expert, Bancheonbaek seemed to have excellent timing.

"Still, does a high-level expert like Sir Ban need a guide?"

While it's not unheard of for experts to be directionally challenged, it seemed unnecessary for someone like Bancheonbaek, who had traveled extensively in Hubei Province as a knight.

When I asked this, Baolinghua explained,

"Having a companion would be better when meeting Swordswoman Xichuan, wouldn't it?"

"Ah, that's true."

Upon reflection, Baolinghua was right. Meeting her alone might make Swordswoman Xichuan feel uncomfortable and refuse to meet him. It would also be good to have someone to boost Bancheonbaek's image.

For various reasons, a suitable companion would be necessary. I pondered who would be the right person.

'First, it has to be a mid-level courier.'

The person needed to be able to guide the way to Mount Ami in Sichuan and match Bancheonbaek's pace, so a mid-level courier skilled in lightness techniques was required. A junior or new courier wouldn't suffice.

Baolinghua sighed and said,

"I'll need to discuss this with Jiang Biandu and see if we can find a volunteer."

"Still, it's quite a bargain."

When I said this, Baolinghua nodded with a somewhat reluctant expression.

"That's true. For someone of Sir Ban's caliber, that's a reasonable price."

Providing a mid-level courier for two weeks in exchange for bringing in an expert like Bancheonbaek was indeed a great deal.

'He's worth a fortune.'

Top experts don't usually move for just any amount of money. Either a substantial sum or a sufficient reason to move them is required.

For such a top expert, asking for a companion in return was a very reasonable request. It would have been impossible without the connection with Buguanglin and other factors.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

"Alright. Go back and get to work."

I bowed and left. I felt bad for whoever would end up serving the old man, given his character.

'He's not an ordinary old man.'

'He's going to have a tough time.'

***

But the unlucky one turned out to be me.

"Why...?"

I held the yellow-marked lot and shed a tear. As soon as I was chosen, everyone around me started clapping with subtle smiles on their faces.

"Congratulations."

"Good for you. Hehehe."

"Congratulations."

I couldn't believe this was happening. A bone-deep regret washed over me.

'I should have rigged the draw.'

Why did I, of all people, leave it to chance?

It was truly a case of bad luck.

Initially, the mission to support Bancheonbaek was open for volunteers, with a generous double salary.

Surprisingly, no one volunteered. Not a single person.

When I asked everyone why, they all shook their heads and said,

"His personality is a bit..."

"It's bound to be unbearable."

It seemed that those from Mayang County or who had been there for a long time already knew about him. I asked Guo Dushan, a newcomer like me, if he was interested, but he sighed and shook his head.

"Sir Ban is known among us knights for his eccentric personality. Some even say he's a bit crazy."

"How so?"

"There was an incident in the past."

Guo Dushan then told me an old story about Bancheonbaek.

When Bancheonbaek was young, he got into a fight with Nangong Min, the eldest son of the Nangong family and now the head of the Nangong family, during a drinking session.

'He got into a fight with the Nangong family?'

Whether he was drunk or not, it was clear he wasn't in his right mind. To think of challenging the eldest son of the Nangong family, who dominated Anhui Province, was insane.

If it were me, I would have run a hundred miles away.

In any case, they ended up fighting. Despite the fight being a fistfight, Bancheonbaek ended up with two teeth knocked out.

'That's the eldest son of the Nangong family for you.'

Without using any famous martial arts, just with his bare hands, he managed to knock Bancheonbaek out. That's the level of martial arts of the eldest son of the Nangong family.

Despite the conflict with the Nangong family, if it had ended there, it would have been considered a stroke of luck and a good story to tell at drinking sessions. However, the next day, as soon as he sobered up, Bancheonbaek went to the head of the Nangong family and loudly demanded compensation for his broken teeth.

'Is he a man with extra lives?'

He was clearly not in his right mind. No ordinary person would go to the head of the Nangong family and demand compensation for broken teeth.

During the story, Guo Dushan shivered and added,

"The head of the Nangong family let it slide because of his good nature. Otherwise, it would have been a serious matter."

"What happened in the end?"

In the end, Nangong Min sent a set of ivory dentures and a pair of black iron gloves, saying that if Bancheonbaek wanted to fight him again, he should wear them.

'Nangong Min is no ordinary person either.'

Sending ivory dentures for just two broken teeth was already quite a gesture, but sending black iron gloves to a person he had fought with was even more remarkable.

In any case, Bancheonbaek seemed to like the black iron gloves and wore them all the time, which became his trademark.

"There are more than just one or two stories like this."

"Are there other anecdotes?"

"Well, for example..."

Guo Dushan told me several other stories, none of which were ordinary. They all painted a picture of someone who would be exhausting to deal with.

'Is no one going to volunteer?'

As I feared, no one volunteered. With the deadline approaching, Baolinghua decided to draw lots among all the mid-level couriers.

And the one who was chosen was me.

'How can I be this unlucky?'

It seemed my recent good luck had run out. I had to go to Mount Ami to take care of a grumpy old man.

Seeing my extremely gloomy expression, Baolinghua came over and tried to console me.

"Um, well, hang in there. I'll give you a higher salary..."

"Can we have a rematch?"

I was confident I could rig the draw this time. However, despite my earnest plea, Baolinghua shook his head.

"That's not possible."

I swallowed my tears. Since I was chosen, there was no choice but to accept it. Now, it was time to prepare professionally.

I calculated the two-week journey and quickly prepared for the trip. There were many things to pack, including maps, compasses, food, cooking utensils, and bowls.

'But this time, I can travel lighter.'

I could use lightness techniques, and Bancheonbaek was likely an expert in them, so there was no need to carry a lot of supplies. I just needed to plan the journey with villages in mind.

Of course, I packed plenty of food and supplies in case of emergencies. It's always good to have emergency rations on hand.

After preparing, I studied the map to find the route to Mount Ami.

'However, I'm more worried about getting lost in Mount Ami than getting there.'

Mount Ami was a very rugged mountain. Guo Dushan had mentioned getting lost there, so it must be extremely rugged. It was rugged enough to confuse even an expert's memory and vision.

Still, Swordswoman Xichuan often corresponded with Buguanglin, so she couldn't be living in a completely isolated place.

'First, I need to find out where Swordswoman Xichuan lives.'

I immediately went to Buguanglin. When I asked, Buguanglin replied seriously,

"My teacher never told me exactly where she lives, but if I send a letter to the Ami branch in Aishan County at the foot of Mount Ami, she replies."

"Can I see one of those letters?"

Buguanglin hesitated for a moment and then said, "If you're a trusted courier...," before fetching a box. Inside were a few crumpled letters.

Buguanglin showed me the letters and said,

"Since they contain some private information, it's difficult to show them to outsiders, but I trust you. Just don't tell my teacher you saw them."

"Of course."

That was no problem.

When I smiled and agreed, Buguanglin nodded. Upon reading the letters, I found they indeed contained some private information.

'So, this happened in the Ami Sect. Wow, even this?'

While it wasn't a major scandal, the letters contained some awkward stories. They detailed power struggles between the current leader and the elders of the Ami Sect.

'Hmm... Swordswoman Xichuan seems to be in a difficult position.'

While not explicitly stated, reading between the lines, it was clear that Swordswoman Xichuan was caught in the middle and in a difficult situation.

Initially, the letters asked Buguanglin to come to Mount Ami, but over time, they focused more on the Ami Sect's internal affairs.

I understood Swordswoman Xichuan's position, as she didn't want to align with either faction.

'If she aligns with one faction, she'll be hated by the other.'

Swordswoman Xichuan, being a lay disciple, didn't have strong roots. In such a situation, her value lay in maintaining a delicate balance between the two factions.

If she fully aligned with one faction, she would become an easy target for the other.

Understanding Swordswoman Xichuan's difficult position, I let out a sigh.

"Hmm..."

"Why are you sighing?"

"It's just that things might work out better than expected."

When Buguanglin looked puzzled, I explained. I committed the main points to memory and returned the letters.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

"Wait a moment."

"Sure?"

Buguanglin hesitated for a moment, then went to a corner of the room and brought out a well-packaged envelope. When I opened it, I found a belt. It looked new.

Buguanglin stammered,

"I haven't had a chance to thank you, so I prepared this small gift."

"What a surprise. Thank you."

The belt had a hook for a sword. I bowed in gratitude, and Buguanglin, blushing slightly, waved it off.

After receiving the gift and having a cup of tea, I was about to leave to finish my preparations when I decided to ask one more question.

"By the way, Miss Buguang. Sir Ban and I will be delivering your letter."

"Oh, yes..."

"How is Sir Ban's personality when traveling? I've never traveled with him before."

I knew he had a strange personality, but traveling might be different.

Some people who are very picky in daily life can be helpful on a trip because of their meticulous nature. Conversely, someone who is tough and likable in daily life might become unbearable on a trip.

So, I asked Buguanglin about Bancheonbaek's personality when traveling. She hesitated and looked down, then said,

"I don't know how to describe it..."

"It's okay. Just tell me."

Encouraged to be honest, Buguanglin carefully said,

"I wish you good luck."

Why wish for that?

***

After finishing my preparations, I reported to Jiang Biandu and headed to the Zhengjia Inn. Despite my heavy steps, I hoped to reach Mount Ami as soon as possible.

At the Zhengjia Inn, Bancheonbaek was waiting in casual attire.

"Hmm? You look familiar."

"You saw me last time."

After seeing me so many times, you should remember my face.

When I mentioned Bai Sheng, Bancheonbaek finally recognized me and said,

"Oh, that's right. I remember you."

"Thank you for remembering me."

Remembering me?

In any case, I quickly scanned Bancheonbaek from head to toe. He was dressed very simply.

'Is he just going to a nearby town?'

It seemed he hadn't packed anything. He only had his clothes and the iron gloves I had seen before.

'Did he bring any money?'

I hoped he had at least brought some money. Otherwise, it would be truly sad. As I thought this, Bancheonbaek patted my back and said,

"Let's go!"

"Y-Yes..."

And so, we set off for Mount Ami.