Martial Wild West

The elderly gentleman who had advised him to refer to himself as Doctor Gam took a sip of his tea before peering out the window and questioning,

“Who ya waitin’ on?”

Lee Yoon, seated in a chair with a bandage secured around his midsection, mirrored the old man’s action and looked out the window as he replied,

“Master Jang. He’s the one who saved me and my boy’s lives.”

The view from the window showed a young boy gently petting a small pine horse. However, it was obvious to anyone observing that the boy’s focus wasn’t on the horse, but instead on the wilderness at the village’s edge.

Having observed Lee Hwan, Doctor Gam chuckled lightly.

“Judgin’ by yer description, he sounds like a renegade. Ain’t come across a true renegade among those who claim to be one. And takin’ on thirty bandits single-handed? He might not make it back.”

“Master Jang never called himself a renegade. And he’s already taken down ten thieves without a scratch. Why ya makin’ such suggestions?”

Doctor Gam, maintaining his smile, shifted his gaze to Lee Yoon, saying,

“I got a real dislike for them so-called martial artists. What do they end up doin’? They eat fancy and kill like murderers. Since ya paid me, I’ll fix ya a meal. But if this Master Jang shows up, make sure he don’t cause no trouble ’round these parts.”

“Why don’t ya tell him straight, Doc?”

Doctor Gam turned around and moved further in, exposing his back.

“I don’t chat with martial artists.”

Lee Yoon nodded, a bitter smile on his face. To him, Jang Geon was a lifesaver, but to Doctor Gam, he might simply be a potential disturbance to the peaceful village. After all, they were the unexpected intruders in this tranquil place, so they should be the ones to tread lightly.

He refocused his attention on the window, watching Lee Hwan who was attentively petting and fussing over the horse. The boy, now weary of pretense, stuffed his hand in his pocket, leaned his back against the post where the horse was tethered, and stared at the village entrance with a glum expression.

Observing the boy, Lee Yoon felt a pang of concern. Would Jang Geon manage to return? He hadn’t been able to properly evaluate his skills as he was laid up with a stab wound. However, judging by his calm demeanor post-battle and his adept handling of the bleeding with his bare hands, he appeared to be a master.

Moreover, the last image he had of Jang Geon seemed to have deeply ingrained itself in Lee Hwan’s memory. Otherwise, the boy wouldn’t be waiting like this for someone he had barely conversed with. He hoped for Jang Geon’s safe return, more for Lee Hwan’s sake than his own.

Lee Yoon sighed, whispering a brief prayer, and stood to assist in preparing Doctor Gam’s meal. The money he had handed over wasn’t a lot. Even though he was slightly discontented, he felt obliged to chip in to ensure a satisfactory meal.

Then, from the window, he noticed Lee Hwan standing upright and withdrawing his hand from his pocket. Without a second thought, he swiftly opened the door and stepped outside.

At the village entrance, he saw a man nonchalantly leading a horse. It was Jang Geon. His clothes had a few tears here and there and a wound graced his forehead above his eye, but overall, he looked unscathed. Without his hat, he was squinting against the sunlight.

He guided the carriage towards the Lees who had just emerged outside, sneaking a smile at the sight of the two gazing up at him.

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.

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“I’m mighty hungry.”

Doctor Gam seemed mildly taken aback as Jang Geon strolled into the building, but he kept quiet while Jang Geon ate with his chopsticks. He also remained silent while tending to the wound on Jang Geon’s forehead, to the point that Jang Geon asked Lee Yoon if Gam could possibly be mute.

Unable to relay what Doctor Gam had previously said, Lee Yoon responded with a vague smile. The only time Doctor Gam spoke was after he heard Jang Geon announce,

“We’ll stay put today and head out come mornin’.”

“If ya wanna crash at my place, ya gotta cough up more.”

Lee Yoon wore a disgruntled expression, but Jang Geon merely grinned and replied,

“I thought old man Gam couldn’t talk.”

“I’ll speak when I damn well please, and I’ll keep quiet when I don’t feel like it. But if ya wanna stay the night, ya better pay up some more.”

“Uh, Doc Gam! I’ll send ya the money later. So, for now…”

As Lee Yoon hastily interjected, Doctor Gam simply stared at Jang Geon and retorted,

“Pay up or get out.”

Jang Geon, who had been silently observing the stern old man’s face, reached into his clothing and silently handed over a pouch filled with coins. Gam accepted the money and hurriedly cleaned up the space before exiting, stating,

“Clear out ‘fore I come back tomorrow mornin’.”

Once the door slammed shut, Lee Yoon turned to Jang Geon, an apologetic look on his face.

“Apologies, Master Jang. Seems like he don’t like disturbances.”

“Can’t blame him for bein’ cautious ’bout strangers.”

With that, Jang Geon leaned back on a long bench and shut his eyes. Lee Hwan, who had been itching to say something, looked disappointed as Jang Geon laid down. Lee Yoon felt a twinge of regret, but considering Jang Geon had just tackled thirty bandits, he was likely exhausted. He comforted the child by patting his head.

The following morning, Jang Geon and the Lees rose early. They planned to depart right after breakfast, using the leftover food from the previous day. They tightened the slackened saddles and buttoned their collars against the chilly morning air.

Then, Doctor Gam, who had vanished the previous night, reappeared. He handed a bundle to Jang Geon, who was giving him a puzzled look.

“…What’s this?”

“Ya plannin’ to walk ’round lookin’ like that? Ya ain’t got the dignity of a martial artist who enjoys a good brawl.”

Within the bundle was a wide, black overcoat. Jang Geon, still dressed in his slashed clothes, quickly donned the coat and turned to thank Doctor Gam. But Gam merely bid farewell to the Lees and retreated indoors, not even glancing back at Jang Geon.

Jang Geon, chuckling, examined the pristine coat. It wasn’t brand new, but it was a well-laundered, clean coat. He shifted his gaze to the Lee father and son and inquired,

“We gonna reach our destination today?”

“Yep, reckon we should. ‘Least by evenin’.”

And so, they left the village known as Namjak Lake.

Their journey, which began as the morning sun ascended, was mostly spent in the saddle, with occasional breaks for Lee Yoon and Lee Hwan. As the day progressed from morning to afternoon, the arid, grassy land gradually transitioned into lush, green terrain. The expansive, flat landscape began to rise and fall more dramatically than before, and burbling brooks appeared in deeply gouged hollows.

Tall trees laden with lush, green leaves began to pepper their path. Through Jang Geon’s sharp eyes, he could see deer darting through the distant trees.

“It’s a real fine place to settle down.”

“My sister-in-law mentioned in her letters that the land’s rocky, makin’ farmin’ a challenge. So, they run a bunch of shops instead of farmin’. Lots of folks pass through ’cause of the stagecoaches.”

Indeed, it wasn’t long before they spotted a stagecoach. But it wasn’t just stagecoaches. There were horse riders, pedestrians, small carts drawn by a single horse, and ox carts.

Among them, many were martial artists armed with swords and knives. However, none seemed intent on causing trouble; most offered a greeting and moved along when their eyes met.

By the time the sun had decidedly moved westward, they had arrived at the village. Cheongsan Valley, with small boats moored along one side of a flowing river and a flurry of people coming and going, felt more like a small town than a village. At the very least, it was apparent that it was evolving into a small town.

“Yer sister-in-law must be mighty capable to handle all them shops in a place like this.”

“…Them two sisters were always somethin’ special…”

Lee Yoon murmured, bitterness tingeing his voice. It appeared that thoughts of his late wife surfaced as he considered his sister-in-law. However, he quickly masked his expression, as if fearful of revealing it to his son. Fortunately, Lee Hwan didn’t notice his father’s expression, as he was engrossed in observing the passing crowd.

As they navigated their way into the village, avoiding oncoming carts, they briefly lost their bearings. Indeed, it was challenging to find someone without a proper address in an unfamiliar place. However, Lee Yoon began to ask passersby for directions, and soon they were able to locate a shop on the outskirts of the village.

The sign read, ‘The Best Linen Shop in Cheongsan Valley Offering Beautiful and High-quality Fabrics.’ It was a trend in the New Continent to display the longest possible signboards. The linen shop, following this trend, was situated on the outskirts of the village, but there was still a flurry of activity.

After tethering their horse and entering, they spotted a woman arranging clothes. Upon seeing her, Lee Hwan shouted.

“Auntie!”

The woman spun around at the sound of “Auntie” and was taken aback to see Lee Hwan’s face.

“Hwan! Brother-in-law!”

On seeing the father and son, the woman, who introduced herself as Sun Yeon-oh, quickly shut down the shop and escorted them upstairs. Lee Hwan looked elated to see his aunt, and Lee Yoon appeared relieved.

Upon hearing about their ordeal, Sun Yeon-oh promptly retrieved a pouch and offered it to Jang Geon.

“Can’t thank ya enough. Savin’ my brother-in-law’s life… May ya be blessed abundantly.”

Jang Geon glanced at Sun Yeon-oh’s hand proffering the pouch, then out of curiosity peeked into the weighty pouch. Inside were two silver coins and a heap of copper coins.

“Looks like I done received a blessin’ already.”

He chuckled and rose from his chair.

“Can ya point me to the blacksmith and the merchant’s guild?”

Sun Yeon-oh offered to guide him. Lee Yoon, who intended to accompany them, was forcibly made to rest by her and could not depart, and Lee Hwan quietly tagged along. Neither Sun Yeon-oh nor Lee Yoon deterred Lee Hwan. The boy had been observing Jang Geon’s every move since the previous day.

Before leaving, Jang Geon addressed Lee Yoon.

“Rest up. Make sure to see a doc later.”

Without waiting for Lee Yoon’s response, Jang Geon, who had stepped outside, decided for some reason to hoist Lee Hwan onto Jojo’s back and hold the reins himself. Lee Hwan laughed and asked,

“How’d ya know I wanted to ride Jojo?”

“Just had a hunch.”

While following Sun Yeon-oh’s guidance, Lee Hwan, who had been chattering away, queried Jang Geon,

“Where’d ya learn them martial arts, Master Jang?”

Jang Geon glanced at Lee Hwan’s inquisitive face and then redirected his gaze forward.

“From different folks.”

“…Different folks?”

“There’s a bunch of martial arts instructors in the Central Plains who charge a fee to teach. Even if their own skills ain’t extraordinary, they’re good at teachin’.”

Lee Hwan looked astonished.

“I thought ya had to enroll in a martial arts school to learn the craft?”

“Some schools are like that. The schools in the New Continent operate that way, the old-fashioned ones. But most of the schools in the Central Plains are just prep schools for entrance exams.”

Lee Hwan cocked his head.

“What’s an entrance exam prep school?”

“They’re schools that get ya ready for the Imperial Army entrance exam. Ya gotta join the Imperial Army to learn proper martial arts and earn a livin’. That’s why the true experts in the Imperial Army are called the real deal.”

Lee Hwan seemed to be mulling over what he had heard. After a moment of profound thought, he was about to pose another question, but they had already reached the blacksmith’s shop.

Sun Yeon-oh commented,

“Outta the three blacksmiths in Cheongsan Valley, this one’s the best.”

“Much obliged.”

Jang Geon purchased a sword from the blacksmith without much bargaining. His old sword was only worth scrap metal due to its extensive wear and tear.

“Shall we head to the merchant’s guild next?”

The merchant’s guild, established by the merchants of the New Continent to safeguard their rights and interests, served a role akin to a bank, although the specifics varied between different branches. Jang Geon traded his small promissory note at the three-story merchant’s guild where he was directed. It was equivalent to twenty silver coins. The money he had spent on the sword was promptly recouped.

He also selected a new hat from the assortment of items available on the first floor of the merchant’s guild. The new one was more rigid and noticeably newer. He departed from the merchant’s guild with a contented smile.

As Jang Geon emerged, Sun Yeon-oh, who had been keeping an eye on Lee Hwan, said,

“It’s almost chow time. Ya fancy a drink? We got some fine liquor at home.”

“Appreciate the offer.”

While she appeared confused by his rejection, Jang Geon softly lifted Lee Hwan, who was still mounted on Jojo, and set him down on the ground. Lee Hwan, who had been deep in thought, looked startled as he observed Jang Geon climbing onto the horse.

“Mister warrior! Ya ain’t just leavin’ like that, are ya?”

Jang Geon, now seated in the saddle, laughed at the term ‘mister’.

“Mister, huh? When did I become a mister to ya?”

Lee Hwan clutched at Jang Geon’s leg.

“Please, stay a while longer. My aunt cooks up a storm. And ya need a place to rest. And also, um, that, that…”

“Ya want me to teach ya martial arts?”

“…If it’s doable. And how to become a warrior like yerself.”

Jang Geon leaned over and patted the somewhat whimpering Lee Hwan’s head.

“My martial arts skills are a mishmash, learned here and there. Might be tough for ya to grasp. Instead, ask yer aunt. She’s a master too.”

Sun Yeon-oh, who had been looking at Lee Hwan sympathetically, gazed at Jang Geon in astonishment.

“…Ya got a sharp eye.”

“Saw yer hands earlier. Thanks for guidin’ me. ‘Cause of ya, I can leave ‘fore sundown.”

Jang Geon, who had slightly dipped his head to Sun Yeon-oh, straightened his back and donned his newly purchased hat. He then lightly smiled at Lee Hwan, who was gazing up at him, and said,

“Lead a good life, partner.”

And then he nudged Jojo’s side gently. Jojo, as if mirroring Jang Geon’s nod, dipped its head towards Lee Hwan and then started a light trot. As it was late afternoon, the village main road was not crowded, and they quickly vanished from sight.

Lee Hwan could not tear his gaze away from Jang Geon as he receded into the distance. Sun Yeon-oh, who had been observing the boy from the sidelines, realized that this boy would never forget this moment, that he had begun to dream. Simultaneously, she realized that she had discovered her successor for the martial arts that she believed would be lost in the New Continent. Having come to this realization, she turned her gaze in the same direction as Lee Hwan.

Against the backdrop of the crimson setting sun, the silhouette of a warrior and his horse gradually disappeared into the distance.