Seeing the fierce expressions of the approaching Easterners, Yuri spoke up.
“I once learned about the East from my master.”
“Oh? Do you understand what they’re saying?”
“No.”
“Then what did you learn?”
Yuri dismounted his horse.
“In the East, if you want to talk to a man with a sword, you have to meet him blade to blade. It’s a world where the weak are despised and devoured. Another name for the martial world is the ‘Heartless Jianghu.’”
“But Master Moyongchan always talked about chivalry, righteousness, and honor…”
“That’s all lies.”
Yuri raised his sword, and the angry faces of the Easterners drew closer.
“Why do you think my master came to this continent? The life of a chivalrous man in the East is like a drifting empty boat.”
“What does that mean?”
“Knowing too much will only get you hurt.”
The energy of his Soul Slash blazed atop his sword.
With a sigh, Yuri stepped forward.
“There’s a saying: ‘All under heaven are comrades.’ Though the continents differ, how can those who live by the code of the martial world draw swords on a stranger they’ve never met? The way of the Jianghu has fallen to the ground.”
Though others might have spoken up, Yuri’s companions trusted his skill and let him handle the situation, watching calmly from their horses.
Just as the Easterners closed in, Yuri shouted.
“Ha!”
A whirlwind of sword energy erupted with his roar, sweeping through the Easterners.
Among the many, not a single one could keep their footing; they were all sent flying backward, crashing to the ground.
“Pathetic.”
Yuri flicked his sleeve dramatically and stomped toward the groaning Easterners sprawled on the ground.
“I could just leave these guys like this…”
At that moment, a young woman from the Elaine Trading Company came running up, breathless.
Still looking down at the Easterners, Yuri asked sharply, “Interpreter?”
“Yes. Are you…?”
“Relay my words.”
Yuri steadied his voice.
“There are five virtues a person must always uphold: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. You have failed to embody even one of these!”
Though the language barrier remained, the phrase ‘benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust’—the ‘Five Constants’—was pronounced exactly as he had learned from Moyongchan.
Hearing his native words, the Easterners looked up in surprise.
At first, their expressions were doubtful, but when the interpreter fully conveyed Yuri’s message, their faces flushed with shame.
To be rebuked by a foreigner for failing to uphold the Eastern virtues was humiliating.
The interpreter bowed on their behalf.
“They mistook you for bandits. Please don’t be too angry.”
“Such mistakes cost lives. If I were weaker, innocent blood would have been spilled. Strength without understanding is no better than a beast’s brutality.”
“That’s true. These Easterners are greatly impressed and wish to know your full name.”
“My name is Yuri Briole.”
When Yuri revealed his identity, the interpreter smiled faintly and nodded, as if confirming her suspicions.
“As expected…”
“By the way, my enemies call me the Black Devil.”
“Huh?”
Jared, standing behind, made a throat-slitting gesture.
“Don’t translate that last part.”
“Ah, yes.”
Yuri cleared his throat.
“Anyway, you’re from the Elaine Trading Company, right?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. It’s an honor to meet you.”
The interpreter’s respectful tone surprised the Easterners, who widened their eyes.
When she bowed and spoke to them, they hesitated but returned the courtesy to Yuri.
“Apologies that they did not recognize Your Excellency.”
“Tell them to stand. It’s natural that Easterners don’t know me. They don’t need to bow to me.”
“Yes, but since they plan to live on our continent, they must follow our customs.”
“Is that so?”
Yuri tilted his head.
“Interesting. Well then, let’s travel together for a while and talk. You’re heading west anyway, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Yuri mounted his horse and moved toward the caravan with his group.
As they talked, Yuri learned that the interpreter was the caravan’s leader. Her name was Iris, and she had a talent for languages, quickly mastering Eastern tongues and rising to a high position despite her youth.
“They’re ronin from the East,” Iris explained.
“In the East, the entrenched powers have made life difficult for ronin. Sword-wielders without backing struggle even to survive. These people are tired of the harsh life there and want to settle here.”
“So, mercenaries from the East.”
“Exactly.”
“Bringing in not just goods but people—Elaine Trading Company’s reach is impressive.”
Iris bowed silently, but Yuri waved his hand.
“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not mocking; it’s a compliment.”
“Yes, thank you. We comply with labor laws. All of them signed standard contracts when we brought them over.”
“I believe you.”
As they spoke, the ronin marching behind the caravan looked at Yuri with eager eyes.
Having heard of his status, they seemed hopeful for work.
“Are there many ronin like this in the East?”
“Yes, quite a few. As peace spreads in the martial world, more unemployed swordsmen—those who only know how to wield a blade—are increasing.”
“Just call them unemployed, then. Sounds like a fancy title.”
“Yes.”
“Right.”
Yuri glanced back. The ronin, who had been wandering aimlessly, straightened their backs and began marching properly.
“They seem pretty skilled with their swords…”
“They’re decent fighters,” Iris said, glancing sideways.
“There was a lot of opposition when we brought them here, worried they might cause trouble on the way back.”
“Understandable.”
Though Yuri had swept away the bandits with a single slash, these ronin seemed capable enough to swing their swords recklessly at enemies.
Yuri muttered to himself.
“Anyone coming to settle in a new land must go through this trial.”
To be accepted here, they’d have to shed blood alongside the locals. Until they paid their dues, they’d be shunned. That’s human nature.
Yuri decided to put the ronin to use in the upcoming war.
“Iris, will you deliver a message for me?”
“Yes. What is it?”
Suddenly, Yuri turned his horse sharply, yet kept moving backward as he spoke. Everyone admired his horsemanship.
He shouted.
“Ronin from the East! If you are true martial artists, you must claim your place with your sword. Are you ready to bleed to prove your worth? Do you have the courage to pay the price to settle on this continent?”
To Yuri’s surprise, the Easterners answered in broken continental speech as soon as Iris finished interpreting.
“Yes!”
Yuri liked their enthusiasm.
Iris added, “Ronin life is harsher than mercenaries here. They’ve wielded swords every day. They must have come prepared to fight.”
“So you already guessed how I’d use them.”
“I’m a merchant, after all.”
“Elaine Trading Company has many talents.”
Yuri asked casually, “By the way, do you know someone named Rick?”
“Rick? He’s the type to flatter anyone he meets…”
Iris stopped mid-sentence, noticing Yuri’s expression, and quickly corrected herself.
“…No, he’s a colleague with excellent speech skills I admire.”
“Right, that’s him.”
“You’ve met him, then.”
“Just crossed paths now and then.”
“Ah…”
“Anyway, I’ll hire these ronin.”
Yuri planned to deploy them in the battle to retake Bezos.
If they proved their worth, they could settle here as they wished, and Yuri could bring in more ronin from the East—a win-win.
They might even become an unexpected trump card against the Empire.
Beyond hiring them, Yuri had a larger plan in mind, using the ronin as a stepping stone.
“You said the Celestial Demon is the enemy of the martial world…”
“What’s the Celestial Demon?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”
Yuri smiled wryly.
“If these ronin open the door to East-West exchange, the two continents will grow closer. Isn’t that right?”
“Exactly. That’s the world merchants like us dream of.”
“It will happen. Is there a leader among them?”
“There’s one who’s learning the continental language fastest. He’s leading the group now.”
“That makes things easier. Tell him I want to contract with all the ronin. The battle to retake Bezos will start soon; they can join then. Leave the rest of the details to you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I’m hiring you as the intermediary.”
Iris’s eyes widened.
Securing a service contract for a group this size was a major achievement for any merchant. This deal would only boost her reputation at Elaine Trading once again.
And the client wasn’t just anyone—it was the royal family of Briole.
Iris smiled brightly and nodded.
“Leave it to me!”
“Then will you guide them to Briole? We plan to head there first.”
“Yes. I was going to take the goods to Briole anyway.”
“Not the Empire?”
“Not all the customers are in the Empire, you know.”
“True.”
Yuri chuckled softly and turned his gaze back to the ronin. They all looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for something.
Soon, these men would be fighting under his command.
Before parting ways, Yuri decided to build some camaraderie with the ronin. As their leader, it was his duty to foster unity within the group.
He dismounted and began walking alongside them.
Then, to the bewilderment of the ronin, he pulled something out.
It was the Eastern artifact he had purchased from Rick—the Bokma Jubal.
As he rotated the wooden rod along its outer surface, a strange, humming resonance spread through the air.
“Uh…”
“Whoa…”
The ronin, apparently familiar with such objects, all clasped their hands together in front of them.
Yuri exchanged a glance with Iris and then spoke.
“I’ve heard this tool has the power to ward off evil spirits. Let go of your past. Say goodbye to the dark energy that’s been holding you back. We’re starting a new life together!”
His words were immediately translated.
The ronin’s eyes glistened with tears.
In this strange, confusing place far from home, Yuri’s warm words touched their hearts.
Suddenly, one of the ronin began chanting in a strange language.
“Mahā-prajñā-pāramitā-hṛdaya… Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, practicing deep prajñā-pāramitā…”
The humming from the Bokma Jubal and the ronin’s mysterious chant blended together as if they had always been one.
“Śāriputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness, emptiness itself is form…”
Yuri closed his eyes, savoring the sound. Though he didn’t understand the meaning, it resonated deeply within him.
He continued playing the Bokma Jubal in silence, while the ronin solemnly recited the sutra.
It was a brief moment, but one where Yuri and the ronin became one.
At last, the chanting ceased, and Yuri stopped moving the rod.
“When we meet again, I’ll be checking your sword skills. I expect the prowess of true warriors. Until then, farewell. Prajñāpāramitā!”
“Prajñāpāramitā!”