The Protagonist’s Guardian Angel

This time, I fed everyone only the expensive stuff. At first, everyone had this blank look on their faces, but they still gobbled it up like it was going out of style.

It was a beautiful sight.

After properly nourishing everyone, I sent a gift of luxurious sweets to the Sword Saint and went to bed feeling good. The next dawn, I checked the carriage and the two horses sent by the local leader.

The carriage wasn’t exactly luxurious, but it was big, sturdy, and covered with waterproof canvas – just a basic traveling carriage that could fend off wind and rain.

Still, it was an excellent carriage by all accounts.

And it even had the official stamp of the authorities stamped on it.

I was technically contracted for this, but what I was doing felt pretty much like official business.

Official business!

Work for the authorities!

This meant I could use the gear belonging to the imperial officials.

Especially when it came to using the empire’s official roads, I could only use the horses and carriage stamped with the official seal.

If you’re caught galloping down the official road without that, you could be in for a long-term stay at the local jail.

Perhaps that’s why in Heavenly Bright Moon, unqualified folks were met with soldiers ready to spring into action on the official road.

Of course, there were events related to that, and there’s no way soldiers would just hide behind bushes like police watching for traffic violations, but really, why take unnecessary risks?

I carefully inspected the two robust horses, looking like they were bred for battle, and the carriage they were pulling.

You always want to check things thoroughly when renting, after all.

Once I finished inspecting the horses and carriage and loaded a bottle of alcohol, food, and other supplies into the carriage, Chaejin came out carrying some of her gear.

“You came out earlier than promised? If you’re going to inspect, just say so.”

“I could do it alone, so what’s the issue?”

“Come on… But isn’t this an official horse and carriage? There’s an official seal stamped on it.”

“You’re right. We’re borrowing it this time because of a request from the local leader for our trip to Cheongho.”

I filled Chaejin in on the conversation I had with the local leader yesterday.

She paused for a moment while listening and then broke into a smirk. Naturally, she tried to hop onto the driver’s seat.

“Wait. Why are you getting up there? There’s a seat in the back, go sit there.”

I knew Chaejin could ride a horse, but did she also know how to drive a carriage? As I looked at her, she wore her signature confident smug expression.

“Hehe. Today, I’ll be the wind. You see, despite my looks, I am the proof of the fastest theory in Cheongho. Everyone calls me the ‘Rampaging Black Carriage Destroyer of Cheongho…'”

What kind of destroyer?

“I’ve destroyed a few carriages during the Cheongho carriage race, you know. Hehe. Since then, no one has dared to come near me with their carriages. After winning three times in a row, everyone was amazed by my skills, begging me not to enter the Cheongho carriage race again.”

“……”

The Cheongho carriage race.

A race where modified carriages are pulled by sturdy horses, racing to a destination.

It’s such a rough game that many injuries happen.

I had won quite a bit in that race when playing Heavenly Bright Moon.

But she participated in that and ended up with such a savage nickname?

My instincts were screaming.

A desperate cry telling me not to hand over the reins to this woman.

I broke out in a cold sweat and said, “Uh… Have you ever heard of the saying, ‘Going thirty years too early if you hurry?’”

“Hehe. It’s been a long time since I drove a carriage.”

Who am I even talking to right now?

I avoided the gaze of her sparkling eyes fixed on the reins, and eventually, she pouted and climbed into the cargo area.

“Since we’re planning to use the imperial road, there’s no need to drive fast or recklessly.”

“Huh? Then if I drive quickly using the imperial road, wouldn’t we arrive even sooner?”

That argument… lacks punch!

“If you get caught going above a certain speed on the official road, you’ll get kicked out.”

Of course, high-ranking officials don’t care about such minor details, but we are not exactly in their league.

Let’s not take unnecessary risks where it’s not needed.
“Let’s not take unnecessary risks here.”

“Cheh.”

What’s with the “cheh”?

After a brief squabble, it was time to set off, and we exited Seomhwa Village. As we headed towards Yangwi Star and then turned north, we finally came upon a road paved with stones, unlike the ordinary dirt path we had been on.

“Stop! Stop!”

Running into trouble right from the start.

But I wasn’t worried. I had my official seal and a permission slip with me.

“I’m Yukgang from the Bureau of Administrative Affairs. Excuse me, but may I see your permits?”

A sharp-eyed officer stood in front of us, leading some soldiers in blocking our path.

He looked ready to draw his sword at the slightest hint of trouble, so I quickly showed him the permission slip given to me by Hyeonryeong. He examined it briefly before handing it back and stepping aside.

“Ah, I see you’re on official duty. You don’t seem to be an official, though.”

“I’m in a hurry to get to Cheongho on Hyeonryeong’s orders. By the way, you look tired. Why not have a drink once your work’s done?”

I slyly placed a pouch containing a few silver coins on his palm.

Of course, he hesitated several times, but I insisted, placing it back each time.

“This isn’t a bribe or anything. I understand how hard the Empire’s soldiers work.”

“Ah… I get it. Thank you.”

After receiving the coins, as I attempted to remount the carriage, he glanced around furtively and quietly whispered to me.

“If you’re heading to Cheongho, it’ll take you about two days from here. If you travel for half a day, there’s a guard post called Yangcho. Just tell them Yukgang sent you, and you can rest inside.”

With that, he discreetly handed me a wooden token.

What a beautiful sight this had turned out to be.

I do love a clean transaction.

“Glory to the Empire.”

“Glory to the Empire.”

I lightly tapped my fist and continued driving the carriage. It was definitely smoother on the paved road; the horse and carriage were moving quite well.

“I didn’t know you were so good at handling bribes.”

“Bribe? What a hurtful thing to say.”

“Isn’t that a bribe?!”

“The Bureau of Administrative Affairs has it tough, even within the military. Who do you think is qualified to pass through the official roads? Most are just bureaucrats.”

“True… I guess?”

“The relationship between the Empire’s officials and military isn’t great. Because of that, officials often nitpick at the officers. But do you really think officials would bother a high-ranking general?”

“Oh.”

“That’s why the junior officers doing the real work here are always pinched between the two. If you can acknowledge them and support them with a few silver coins, that’s a much better deal.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s just helping each other out. Don’t call that beautiful and noble gesture a bribe.”

Chaejin chuckled softly.

It wasn’t a mocking laugh. Just a little laugh of curiosity.

“Heh, I get it, I get it. But I didn’t expect the innkeeper to know about this kind of stuff.”

Well, this is just the first step to kick off an essential event for those involved in Heavenly Bright Moon, you know.

After about half a day of travel, as the officer had said, we arrived at a guard post next to the official road.

As I stopped the horse, it let out a heavy breath.

“Hey there! What brings you here?”

The officer guarding the post looked like a friendly middle-aged man. I explained that I was introduced by Yukgang and showed him the wooden token he had given me. He broke into a welcoming smile.

“If you were sent by that guy, you’re welcome to come in. The horse looks tired, so let’s give it a little break. Get it some water and grass in the back.”
“It seems the horse is tired, so let’s take a little break. Have some water and grass from the back.”

“Thank you, Lady Chaejin. I’m sorry, but could you please watch the horse?”

“Sure.”

While she went to untie the horse and stepped inside, I entered the guardhouse.

Inside, I saw several officers resting in their own ways, perhaps on break.

Among them, I approached an older officer who was playing with chess pieces in the corner.

“Sir, if you don’t mind, would you like to have a match?”

“Huh? I only play for stakes. How about we bet something?”

I figured as much. I went outside to grab the barrel of alcohol from the carriage, and only then did the officer burst into laughter, tapping an old book next to him.

“Haha! If it’s that, then I’ll accept. I’ll bet this book. By the way… do you play well?”

“I can play at the level of others.”

I smiled, and he seemed satisfied.

When the sound of the chess pieces hitting the wooden board stopped, the old officer opened his mouth.

“Well done. I lost.”

“Thank you for the match.”

I won the game. I’m decent enough to rank in the Heavenly Bright Moon Gallery chess tournament, so I wasn’t too surprised about the win.

“Wow, that was fun. These guys here don’t play well, so it was boring. Here, take this. I received it from a sage long ago. It might help you.”

“Thank you, sir. Haha.”

“Hehe, you’re too kind.”

“And here’s something for your companions to enjoy. I had a fun time too.”

I smiled and offered the barrel of booze, but the old officer shook his head.

But I insisted once more.

“You planned to give me this book even if I lost, right?”

“Tsk, it seems you can read people pretty well.”

Whether I won or lost, I received something.

I shrugged instead of answering, and he smiled and glanced around.

“Thanks to this gentleman here, we’ll be having a drink after work today. Don’t just think about drinking for free; bring something!”

A drink after work in such a quiet place is quite the delightful pastime.

Maybe that’s why? The officers, smiling, handed out all sorts of things.

Daggers, army-provided gold bars, decent ores for materials, and such.

With their gifts in hand, I looked back at the old officer.

“Shall we play another round?”

“A beautiful woman is what captures a traveler, not an old man like me. I wish you blessings on your journey. If you ever return, feel free to come by and rest.”

The old officer grinned and resumed fiddling with the chess pieces.

In the end, I couldn’t find any more words to say and stepped outside.

Chaejin was giving water to the horse while glancing at the reins.

“Are you all rested?”

“I’m all rested, but the horse doesn’t seem quite done. The Innkeeper must have had a tough time driving the carriage, so please take a break. Or you can hand me the reins…”

Ignoring that, I opened the book I obtained earlier. With her cheeks puffed up slightly, she moved closer to me, looking at the book with a tilted head.

“What is this? ‘Understanding Distance’ Volume One?”

Reading the title on the tattered cover, Chaejin looked intrigued, silently urging me to turn the page, so I did just that.

Do you know the Sinbeop of the Kunlun’s Heavenly Dragon, moving freely like a dragon playing among the clouds?

As those who are intoxicated can approach the truth, do you know the Eight Steps of Open-Drunkenness that mocks many things with a drunken stagger?

What about the Namgoong Clan’s Imperial Skill that reigns in the sky?

How about the Plum Blossom Divine Skill of the volcano, where the scent of plum blossoms blooms at every step?

Or the Tai Chi Divine Skill of the Wudang that is based on the mysteriousness of the Taiji?
There are high-level Sinbeop techniques in the world, but there’s also basic Sinbeop that stays true to fundamentals like Samjae-bo.

So, what is the standard for dividing Sinbeop?

Is it the lofty ideal contained within? Or is it mere delusion?

In the end, the ultimate goal is simply how well one understands distance and how effectively that understanding can be utilized.

I, the narrator, leave behind a few teachings to help with understanding martial arts and distance, hoping you can make a step forward by following them.

After reading the introduction of the first chapter, I turned to the next one. And the next. And the next.

Upon a diligent read, the content of this book ‘Understanding Distance’ was, quite literally, a theory on at what distance to dodge an enemy’s attack and at what distance to strike.

In Heavenly Bright Moon, reading it diligently increased evasion, but…

Maybe it’s my lack of martial knowledge, or perhaps my low level, but after a careful read, nothing particularly changed.

I should read it again later.

“Hmm… At a glance, it seems like a martial art book.”

“Indeed. Here. Take a look as you go. I can check it later.”

“Huh? Isn’t this precious?”

“It’s better for someone who can use it now to take it. If you get stronger, it’ll make things easier for me too.”

Besides, it’s not like this is some super rare martial arts book.

You can redeem it as a reward for accumulating mileage at the capital’s secondhand bookstore.

Of course, it will take some money to gather mileage, but you can obtain both the upper and lower volumes at once along with other rewards.

There are also quite a few other ways to get it.

“Well, if you must, just think of it as borrowed and return it nicely.”

I’ll later put it in Hongseong. It should help those folks out.

After all, they’ll likely have better knowledge than me regarding martial arts.

“Hahaha. Sounds great. I’ll read it well. I was worried the trip might be boring, but this worked out nicely.”

Smiling, she took the book.

And so, as the moon rose and we reached our campsite, she sat in the back seat of the swaying carriage, completely focused on the book without saying a word.

As I prepared the campsite under the splendid full moon in the deep night, she, deep in thought by the campfire, suddenly exclaimed.

“…Huh? Wait a minute.”

Letting out a short sound of amazement, she slowly held up the martial art.

What unfolded away from me was the Moonlight Sword technique.

But it was different from the Moonlight Sword she had shown me until now.

As she swung the sword, basking in the moonlight, Chaejin slowly drew it towards the air.

At that moment, what appeared before my eyes was a split moon.

– Zzurr!!

The white moon hanging in the sky was cleaved in two by that slow strike.

I hurriedly closed my eyes and opened them again to confirm the moon was still intact.

Only then did I realize it was the technique she could use after reaching the realization of the hammer in Act 3.

A technique that was once utterly unattainable for Chaejin, who pursued mere flashy moves.

One of the secrets of the Moonlight Sword technique.

I realized it was the effect of the Moonlight Sword.

I gazed at her standing there dazed after performing the Moonlight Sword, and slowly approached, offering her a teacup.

“Congratulations.”

“Uh… That was me just now, right?”

“Don’t you know what you just did?”

“Ah. Ahahaha. Hoohoohoo! As expected! It’s the great disciple of the distinguished Moonjeong sect, Chaejin, with talent surpassing Hongryeon! A hahahaha!”

As she laughed joyfully, I offered her the teacup again, and only after accepting it did Chaejin speak shyly.

“…Thank you.”

“No need for formality.”

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