Chapter 38

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"Miss, please. What do you plan to do by following them like this?"

Jinha, unable to grab her, followed closely behind, pleading. The person walking ahead turned around, slightly lifting the wide-brimmed hat. Beneath the hat, a face as white as snow was smiling gently.

"You saw them too, Jinha. They are the very high-ranking martial artists I've been looking for!"

"Just because you saw them exchange a few punches? That's not enough to judge their true abilities."

"Didn't you say you could tell the difference between a master and a novice just by their stance and gait?"

"That's only when you observe them closely. And besides..."

Jinha sighed.

"...haven't you already seen the reality of these so-called high-ranking martial artists from the New Continent? They are just mediocre swordsmen, except for that one impressive slash."

"Hmph, even you said that one slash was dangerous. And it was amazing. A duel in the barren wilderness! Life and death decided in a single move! The ruthless villains and the merciless protagonist! Kill all the villains and loot their bodies!"

Jinha raised his hand to massage his forehead, at a loss as to what to do with this reckless girl. If she were just a reckless girl, he could have dragged her home by the leg. But if he did that to his charge, he would be the one in trouble.

The two of them, one wearing a large hat that covered her face and the other in a black cloak, were the ones being sought after by Governor Lian Xiaoshang of Hawaii and his soldiers, who had dark, grim expressions. The girl leading the way was named Yueset, and she was a peculiar person who had become deeply engrossed in cheap novels while wandering the streets, despite having been comfortably living in the palace and being far from the line of succession.

"Ah! What's the story between those two? The one with the hood is definitely a Shaolin monk. The one with the sword is probably a problem-solver in this city. A Shaolin monk who chased demons from the Central Plains and a martial artist from the New Continent who helps him? Does that mean there's a demon wandering in the darkness of this city? Ah! Could it be the descendants of the Ma family? The descendants of the mighty warlord Xiang Yu are still around! Maybe the descendant is a woman! A ruthless duel in the darkness! And betrayal and love!"

Watching Yueset, who was lost in her own fantasies as she walked ahead, Jinha muttered to himself.

"Ah... I should have killed Qinghua back then..."

Qinghua was the maid who first introduced Yueset to the cheap novels. She was probably searching for them in Tianhou City or Xinshatian by now.

After taking a boat from Hawaii and disembarking in Xinshatian, they headed straight east and rode a transport carriage for a long time. They had only just arrived in Yanhucheng.

Until a little while ago, they had been holed up in a corner of a tavern—Yueset's theory being that all martial world events happen in inns and taverns—drinking undrinkable alcohol and killing time. They had been following two martial artists, Zhang Jian and Jin Yuanshang, who had been investigating something and eventually got into a fight. Jinha had no idea what this troublemaker planned to do by following those two martial artists. He could only hope she wouldn't start a fight.

At that moment, her expression changed.

"Who is that martial artist from the New Continent? Could he be a famous martial artist? The Heavenly Dragon Swordsman Bai Shijing? The Gale Island's Gan Junshang? No, those two are too well-known. He only had a single sword. Could it be... the Nameless Hero? The Nameless Hero who wanders the wilderness, performing acts of chivalry without any reward!"

"Step back, Miss."

Jinha stopped Yueset, blocking her with his body as he stepped forward. They had been following the two martial artists for a while, and they had just entered a dark alley. Jinha had thought they might lose them in the complex alleyways, but the situation had exceeded his expectations.

The alley was pitch black, lit only by the stars in the night sky. As the clouds parted, the cool moonlight seeped into the alley.

Yueset, who had been pushed back by Jinha's hand, saw the scene in the alley gradually revealed by the moonlight. A man stood there, slightly leaning, holding the scabbard at his waist and looking at them.

It was Zhang Jian, the martial artist they had been following.

"Hello."

He greeted them calmly, as if there was nothing to be excited about. Jinha almost returned the greeting, but he managed to swallow it when he saw the sword in Zhang Jian's hand.

"Ah, hello."

Yueset, oblivious to the tension, poked her head out from between Jinha's arms and greeted Zhang Jian with bright eyes.

"Miss! What are you doing?"

"Why? I just greeted him."

"Is this the time for that?"

"Then what? Are we going to fight? Why?"

Jinha was speechless. Would they fight? He didn't know yet. No one had drawn their swords yet. At that moment, Zhang Jian spoke again.

"My name is Zhang Jian. What about you?"

"Ah! I'm Yueset! This is Jinha!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly at her cheerful attitude and nodded slightly.

"Pleased to meet you."

Yueset, encouraged by his friendly smile, stepped forward, slipping past Jinha. Jinha called out to her, looking troubled.

"Miss!"

"I'm pleased to meet you too, Zhang Jian. Did you notice we were following you?"

Zhang Jian nodded again.

"I'm quite sensitive to people's presence."

"That's quite something. Actually, I was trying to catch up with you quickly, but Zhang Jian was too fast. Ah! Where is the other person?"

"Amitabha... Here I am. My name is Jin Yuanshang."

Jinha's expression hardened as Jin Yuanshang appeared from the opposite alley, and he grabbed his sword hilt with his left hand. Now, Yueset and he were surrounded at both ends of the alley. If the two of them had any ill intentions and launched a surprise attack, Jinha would have been in serious trouble. He had to protect Yueset with his life.

Jin Yuanshang, who had appeared from behind, instinctively tried to fold his hands in prayer but then relaxed his posture, fidgeting. Zhang Jian, seeing his awkwardness, smiled slightly. Yueset, taking off her wide-brimmed hat, spoke.

"I'm sorry for following you secretly, but Jinha and I didn't have any bad intentions."

"Following someone at night without ill intent... Well, tell me what you're up to."

Yueset, still smiling, continued.

"I came to meet the high-ranking martial artists of the New Continent. I want to gather their heroic tales and compile them into a book!"

Zhang Jian's expression, which had been faintly smiling, turned blank. What is this girl talking about?

"...A book?"

"Yes! A book! Do you know that stories from this New Continent are popular in the Central Plains?"

"Popular? Stories from here?"

"Yes! The Heavenly Dragon Swordsman Bai Shijing, who defeated countless villains and demons as a disciple of the Wulin Alliance leader! The Gale Island's Gan Junshang, who roamed Xinshatian and Ganshan City, performing acts of chivalry! And the Nameless Hero, who wanders the eastern frontier of Xinshatian, performing acts of chivalry without asking for a name or reward!"

Zhang Jian's mouth opened a little wider.

"Stories of countless heroes who have risen and fallen over the past hundred years in this New Continent, and the new heroes who are emerging! Not just romanticized biographical novels, but real martial artists of this land!"

Yueset, before Jinha could stop her, approached Zhang Jian closely.

"I plan to gather the stories of real martial artists from this land and publish them in the Central Plains. It might sweep the capital! Then I'll become rich, and Zhang Jian, as the protagonist of the story, will also make some money!"

Both Zhang Jian, who had heard the story, and Jinha, who had learned of her plan, were left speechless, staring blankly at Yueset. Only Jin Yuanshang, with an awkward smile, tried to understand the situation.

After staring blankly at Yueset for a moment, Zhang Jian chuckled.

"...So, you came to this New Continent, all the way to this city at the eastern end, to find stories for a novel? And you saw us fighting just now and thought you wanted to hear our story?"

Yueset nodded vigorously, her cheerful face and lively attitude making it hard to be angry. Eventually, Zhang Jian, scratching his head, said:

"...There's an inn on the outskirts of the city. It's the only three-story inn, so it should be easy to find. I'm staying there now."

Yueset's expression brightened.

"Then...?"

"I have something to do tonight, so let's meet there tomorrow afternoon."

Yueset, feeling like she had accomplished something, gave a small cheer and bowed to Zhang Jian and Jin Yuanshang.

"Thank you! I'll see you then! I hope whatever you have to do tonight goes well!"

She then led the still-stern Jinha out of the alley. Jin Yuanshang, watching them leave, approached Zhang Jian.

"Amitabha. What on earth is going on?"

"I'm not sure... Did you hear the nicknames she mentioned just now?"

"The Heavenly Dragon Swordsman and the Gale Island? No, I haven't. I haven't heard of them from my fellow disciples either. They must be famous people, judging by what Yueset said. Do you know them?"

Zhang Jian slowly shook his head.

"I've been in the New Continent for a few years, but I've never heard those names. She seems to have a lot of fantasies about this land. I wonder what she'll say when we meet tomorrow."

Jin Yuanshang, no longer trying to hide it from Zhang Jian, folded his hands in prayer and smiled.

"Amitabha, a biographical novel of martial artists. I'll have to read it someday."

Zhang Jian just chuckled. After watching Yueset and Jinha leave for a moment, he turned and walked ahead. Jin Yuanshang quickly followed.

"Where are we going now? To find that Yan Gong?"

"Yes. It shouldn't take long. I heard there are only a few people who are called Yan Gong."

They headed straight for the nearest salt kiln. The salt kilns in Yanhucheng were always checked to ensure the fires didn't go out, even at night, as they boiled and baked salt. Zhang Jian stopped one of the workers, giving him a coin and asking:

"Is there an old man with white hair but the body of a young man, called Yan Gong?"

"White hair but young body? Ah, Master Zhang Yan Gong?"

Zhang Jian nodded.

"They say he bakes salt very well."

"Of course. The salt baked by him and his workers is excellent."

"Where should I go if I want to work under him?"

The worker, who had taken the coin, looked at Zhang Jian and Jin Yuanshang skeptically.

"...You don't look like workers..."

"Of course, I don't plan to be a worker. I want to learn how to bake salt and set up my own kiln."

The worker, hearing Zhang Jian's answer, laughed in disbelief.

"Are you serious? Do you know how hard it is to set up your own kiln? ...Well, if you insist on making things difficult for yourself, I won't stop you. Go straight from here until you reach a crossroads, then turn right. Keep going until you see a kiln. It's a bit of a walk. And if you can, come in the morning. It's not polite to visit now, and he'll be very busy during the day."

Zhang Jian, without a word, gave the worker another coin as a thank you and walked ahead. Jin Yuanshang followed closely behind. After walking for a while, Jin Yuanshang suddenly glanced at Zhang Jian. It was so obvious that it was hard to pretend not to notice.

"Is there something wrong?"

Jin Yuanshang, startled by Zhang Jian's question, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"You said you had already guessed where I'm from."

"Yes, you have a shaved head, which is required. You must also stay away from women for life."

"...But you didn't ask why I'm looking for Xiaoxiao."

Zhang Jian shook his head.

"Well, we've only known each other for half a day. We're not close enough to share everything. Our deal is simple: I find the woman you're looking for, and you pay me."

But after pausing, Zhang Jian smiled faintly and continued.

"...But now I'm curious. Can you tell me? I won't spread it around."

Jin Yuanshang, who had looked slightly awkward at Zhang Jian's distant tone, smiled similarly at the follow-up question. He and Zhang Jian slowly walked down the deserted street, looking up at the pale moon in the clear night sky.

"...Xiaoxiao and I were childhood friends. We lived next door to each other in a small village."

They lived in a poor household in a small village in the southern mountains of Henan, but they were happy, helping each other in the village. Among the village children, Jin Yuanshang and Yang Xiaoxiao were inseparable, getting into all sorts of trouble together.

"We were often hungry and dirty, but I have no happier memories than those times. The sight of the little girl with two braids walking in front of me on a summer day, the swaying trees and grass, the cool, fresh scent rising from the damp forest floor, and Xiaoxiao's bright smile when she turned to look at me..."

At this point, Jin Yuanshang's smile turned bitter.

"...I thought I would marry Xiaoxiao and start a family. But that wasn't possible. When Xiaoxiao grew up, her parents arranged for her to marry a wealthy man in the city... Xiaoxiao..."

His lips slowly tightened.

"At that time, Xiaoxiao asked me to run away with her. To run far away and live in the mountains. But... I didn't have the confidence... to take care of Xiaoxiao... to make her happy... At least the man in the city had a lot of money, so he wouldn't let Xiaoxiao go hungry."

Yang Xiaoxiao eventually married the wealthy man in the city and left. Jin Yuanshang, unable to take her with him, shuddered at his own weakness and tried to jump off a cliff. But an old monk named Huizhuan happened to pass by and talked him out of it, taking him as a disciple. Despite being nearly twenty, Jin Yuanshang showed considerable talent in martial arts and became a Shaolin monk with the potential to become the next abbot within a few years.

Then, a letter arrived.

"...It was from Xiaoxiao. She visited our hometown before leaving for the New Continent and, upon learning I had become a monk, sent a letter to the main temple. It was just a casual letter, talking about how much there was to see and how beautiful her daughter was. And occasionally, very occasionally, letters from the New Continent would arrive. Fortunately, there were quite a few pilgrims from the New Continent who visited the main temple, so she could send news this way."

In the letters, Yang Xiaoxiao seemed happy. She wrote long letters about the vast and beautiful landscapes of the New Continent, the unfamiliar but mysterious flora, and the many people living there. Whether these letters were meant for an old lover or just a childhood friend was unclear, but Jin Yuanshang didn't mind. He was grateful that she was doing well and that he could still catch a whiff of her scent this way.

The problem was the most recent letter. Unlike her usual neat handwriting, it was a mess, filled with stories of how hard life was, how her daughter had been sick for a long time, and how her husband abused her. And it said this would be the last letter.

After receiving this letter, Jin Yuanshang could no longer focus on his practice. He couldn't.

"...The Buddha abandoned all worldly attachments, including his wife and children, to achieve enlightenment. If I want to attain enlightenment... I should naturally abandon such attachments... But even though it's the Buddha's teaching... I just can't... I just can't..."

Jin Yuanshang was now crying as he spoke. Zhang Jian, after a long silence following his story, finally stopped walking. Jin Yuanshang, startled, looked up as Zhang Jian, still smiling faintly, turned around.

"We're here. Let's see if the old man Yan Gong is already here."

"…Yes, yes. We need to find out where Xiaoxiao is."

Jin Yuanshang, looking at Zhang Jian, quickly nodded and wiped his tears with his sleeve. He seemed somewhat relieved.

After waiting for him to compose himself, Zhang Jian walked ahead again. They passed through a low wall and entered the kiln yard. They had to stop again.

The white-haired old man they had met at the tavern was sitting in front of a blazing kiln, a small table set up with a drink.

"...You finally found me. Martial artists who bake salt are all tight-lipped, which is a problem."