Behind the Bandit's Blade
Yoo-sung asked out of pure curiosity, but his question brought a chilling silence over the room.
'As expected, is he treated like an outcast?'
Even so, considering how it would look to outsiders, it was difficult to understand.
Of course, since they were closer to Baek Mountain, Do Yoo-mi's assistance wasn't entirely incomprehensible, but still.
"As you know, my husband's situation isn't good," Do Yoo-mi said. "Trading the Blazing Pills with the Tang family was the only thing that gave him some breathing room."
The problem was that more and more people were targeting those Blazing Pills.
The Baekrang Bandits were merely the most prominent; countless others sought to steal the pills in secret.
Even if they were merely internal injury medicines infused with fire energy, such medicines were vital in this day and age.
Ever since the Matian fell, the threat of unleashed demons and the constant skirmishes among those vying for the vacuum left behind had made peace a luxury.
The Baekrang Bandits were just one of many such factions.
However...
"They have never launched such an open assault before," Do Yoo-mi continued. "I am certain someone is instigating them behind the scenes."
Everyone in the room except Yoo-sung nodded in agreement.
No matter how notorious the Baekrang Bandits were in the region, the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild was no easy target.
Though it paled in comparison to the ten great merchant guilds of Sichuan, it was still a rising power with a promising future.
Even the bandits could not easily afford to provoke the eldest son of the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild without consequence.
Their blatant interference could only mean one of two things.
"Either they have a desperate need for the Blazing Pills, or their goal is to prevent us from acquiring them."
When the Blazing Pills were first delivered to the Heavenly Sword Academy, the surrounding sects had looked upon the transaction with suspicion.
They assumed that stockpiling such medicine meant the academy was finally preparing for war.
But as years passed without any signs of conflict, their interest gradually waned.
Of course, those who wished to destabilize the Heavenly Sword Academy still clung to this pretext tenaciously.
Because of the Blazing Pills, Dang So-ryung's status as a branch member of the Sichuan Tang family became public knowledge, which in turn elevated Do Yoo-mi's standing within her husband's household.
'Which means the political pressure on them must have intensified.'
Listening to his sister, Yoo-sung easily pieced together the broader picture.
For an eldest son who was thought to have married into a powerless family to suddenly establish a connection with a branch of the prestigious Tang family was a monumental shift.
In Sichuan, it meant he could leverage the formidable influence of the Tang family to enact any number of changes.
Naturally, the other rival heirs would not sit idly by; their schemes against Ha Tae-gun would only grow more vicious.
"Our son-in-law must be facing a difficult time," Do Sang-woon sighed.
His parents looked deeply pained, feeling as though they were to blame for their children's hardships.
But Do Yoo-mi shook her head.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later. My husband simply lacks a backing faction, but his talent far surpasses the others."
"Then why does Brother-in-law have so many enemies?" Yoo-sung asked. "He is the eldest son, after all."
Do Yoo-mi gave a bitter smile at his question.
"It's because of his late mother's low birth. She knew her background would hold him back, so she didn't oppose my father-in-law taking a second wife. But..."
"They repaid her grace with malice," Yoo-sung remarked flatly.
From another perspective, it was an incredibly foolish and short-sighted choice.
In the end, it had only brought misery to her own son.
She would hardly be able to rest in peace.
Unable to openly criticize her in-laws' shameful behavior, Do Yoo-mi merely offered a wry smile in response.
"The identity of the mastermind is not our immediate concern," Do Sang-woon declared. "Our son-in-law's safety may be at risk. We must act quickly."
Do Yoo-chan spoke up calmly.
"In matters like this, trust is paramount. Let us send Ho-sung."
Ho-sung's loyalty to the Heavenly Sword Academy was fiercer than anyone else's.
Had he left the academy years ago to seek a renowned master like the others, his talent would have guaranteed him a far more prestigious position and greater strength.
Yet, Ho-sung had chosen to stay.
He had never forgotten the vow he made as a child, when he first knocked on the academy's gates to protect his only sister after losing his parents to poverty and bandits.
For that reason, the academy's trust in Ho-sung was absolute.
Even Yoo-sung, who had returned after ten years, had never doubted Ho-sung's loyalty for a single moment.
"Then let us assemble a swift unit led by Ho-sung," Do Sang-woon decided. "Time is of the essence."
Ho-sung alone was more than capable of handling ordinary bandits.
To ensure the safe retrieval of the cargo, they selected the fleetest of foot among the academy's martial artists and dispatched them immediately.
'Hmm.'
Watching Ho-sung's departing figure, Yoo-sung quietly slipped away to follow them at a leisurely pace.
He wanted to observe Ho-sung's growth and catch a glimpse of his brother-in-law from afar.
No matter how neglected an heir Ha Tae-gun was, the bandit bold enough to ambush the eldest son of the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild was none other than Baekho-bu.
Though he shared a close bond with the chief of the Baekrang Bandits, Baekho-bu had never settled in their main stronghold. Instead, he roamed the outskirts of Baekmyo County, committing all manner of atrocities.
However, because of his powerful backing and his cunning ability to skirt the line of open war, local forces had hesitated to strike him down.
This time, however, he had clearly crossed the line.
And Ha Tae-gun had no intention of backing down quietly.
'This is no longer just about me. The pride of the guild is at stake.'
Ha Tae-gun could endure any insult directed at himself, but he would never tolerate a slight against the merchant guild he loved.
If it were truly for the guild's future, he would have gladly relinquished his birthright as the eldest son and stepped down from the succession.
Of course, that was assuming the successor who took his place possessed a shred of decency and proper values.
In any case, Ha Tae-gun could not treat this matter lightly.
Determined to make an example of them, he rode out with Ho-sung to hunt down Baekho-bu.
"Charge!"
Despite the sudden night raid, the response from Baekho-bu and his bandits was surprisingly swift.
They counterattacked as if they had been expecting the raid, plunging the battlefield into chaotic, bloody combat.
Meanwhile...
"Hmm."
Yoo-sung stroked his chin as he watched the battle unfold.
Once Ho-sung joined forces with Ha Tae-gun, his advance was unstoppable.
Contrary to his reputation, Ha Tae-gun fought with surprising ferocity.
'Ah, that's right. They said that while he is usually quiet and unambitious, he burns hotter than anyone when it comes to his family.'
True to those words, Ha Tae-gun fought alongside Ho-sung, actively leading the charge.
"Amusing. He's not bad for a brother-in-law," Yoo-sung murmured softly.
His gaze then shifted to Ho-sung.
"He's swifter than I expected, and his strikes hold no hesitation."
Ho-sung's leadership was far more aggressive and dynamic than Yoo-sung had anticipated.
While most commanders preferred to direct from the rear, Ho-sung's fierce nature drove him to fight at the very front.
Yet, his sharp eyes never stopped scanning his surroundings, and his precise swordsmanship earned Yoo-sung's silent approval.
"The rascal actually kept his word."
Unlike the others, Ho-sung had sworn to live and die as a martial artist of the Heavenly Sword Academy.
Recalling the sheer effort Ho-sung must have poured in to keep that promise, a warm smile touched Yoo-sung's lips.
"But..."
Yoo-sung's cold gaze locked onto Baekho-bu.
'At the peak of the Peak Realm. However, his dantian is unstable and his internal energy is cluttered with impurities. In truth, his actual combat strength is only around the upper-middle tier.'
Having instantly gauged Baekho-bu's strength, Yoo-sung decided there was no need for him to intervene.
Ho-sung was more than capable of handling someone of that caliber.
Though it would be a tough fight, Ho-sung was also a master at the peak of the Peak Realm.
However, this realization raised a question.
If Do Yoo-mi secured the aid of the Heavenly Sword Academy, Baekho-bu and his men would inevitably become ghosts of the underworld.
Why, then, had they targeted the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild so aggressively?
'And no matter how powerless the eldest son is, he is still a prime candidate for succession.'
Even as a member of the Baekrang Bandits, Baekho-bu's standing as an external operative was insignificant compared to the leaders of the main stronghold.
There was undoubtedly a hidden hand pulling the strings.
'...I see.'
Yoo-sung instantly realized why Baekho-bu and his men were being used.
They were nothing but bait.
The true trap lay in the wrath of the Baekrang Bandits that would follow Baekho-bu's death.
Once the bandits' fury was directed at the Heavenly Sword Academy, even they would find themselves locked in a grueling, bloody war.
If that was the plan from the start, it was a remarkably vicious and underhanded scheme.
"Amusing. I wonder who designed this little plot," Yoo-sung murmured.
With a calm voice, he continued to watch the spectacle.
The outcome of this battle was already decided.
What mattered was what came after.
He was quite curious to see how his father and brother would respond to the impending wrath of the Baekrang Bandits.
"You bastards!" Baekho-bu roared.
Seeing his men being systematically slaughtered, Baekho-bu finally charged into the fray himself.
"Baekho-bu!"
Ho-sung, who had been cutting down bandits while waiting for the leader to show himself, swiftly intercepted him.
Boom! Boom!
In an instant, their ultimate techniques clashed.
The moment their weapons met, a heavy, suffocating pressure settled over the battlefield.
The surrounding fighters cast wary glances at each other, slowly lowering their weapons and backing away.
They all knew that the duel between these two would decide the fate of the entire battle.
'Now, let's see what you can do, Ho-sung.'
Yoo-sung watched their life-and-death struggle with casual interest.
He was completely relaxed, knowing he could step in at any moment if things went awry.
Crash! Boom!
The clash between Ho-sung and Baekho-bu was incredibly fierce.
Baekho-bu displayed a formidable level of martial prowess, proving he was far more than a mere common bandit.
His massive broadsword swept through the air, viciously targeting Ho-sung's vital points.
Ho-sung, however, parried with the sharp, refined skill expected of a martial artist representing the Heavenly Sword Academy.
"Not bad for a bandit! Let's see you handle this!" Ho-sung roared.
With a spirited shout, Ho-sung's sword danced with lethal precision.
He flawlessly executed the first half of the Thirteen Styles of the Heavenly Sword, the foundational martial art of the academy.
'He must have bled to master this.'
In Yoo-sung's memory, Ho-sung had always been closer to a slow learner than a natural genius.
Yet, his competitive drive and sheer tenacity were unmatched.
While other disciples left the academy after learning the basics of the Thirteen Styles of the Heavenly Sword, Ho-sung had remained, vowing to master it to its absolute limit.
"One day, I will become a reliable shield to protect the young masters! I will make sure to become the face of the Heavenly Sword Academy!"
With that fierce determination, Ho-sung had crossed swords with Yoo-sung every single day.
Yoo-sung had deeply admired his persistence.
He had firmly believed that Ho-sung, who always picked himself up no matter how many times he was beaten down, would eventually become the pride of the academy.
True to that belief, Ho-sung had remained a steadfast guardian of the Heavenly Sword Academy.
*Slash.*
The intense duel was finally drawing to a close.
Ho-sung's sword grazed Baekho-bu's shoulder with lethal precision.
As a spray of crimson erupted into the air, a desperate fire ignited in Baekho-bu's eyes.
'His actions are those of a bandit, but his martial arts follow an orthodox path.'
Typically, a bandit's martial arts were unrefined, free from the constraints of formal forms.
Designed purely for survival and slaughter, their techniques leaned heavily toward the unorthodox and pragmatic.
Yet, unlike those pragmatic rogues, Baekho-bu's blade work possessed a pure, orthodox flow.
Though slightly awkward, he was clearly executing established, refined forms.
Had Yoo-sung not known his identity, he might have mistaken him for a well-trained orthodox master of the Peak Realm.
Of course, that was as far as his talent went.
Crack!
The moment Ho-sung's sword shattered Baekho-bu's broadsword, the bandit leader's knees buckled.
"Surrender..."
Before Ho-sung could even finish his demand, black blood began to pour from Baekho-bu's mouth, and the light rapidly faded from his eyes.
"...!"
"Damn it," Ha Tae-gun cursed.
Ho-sung stood frozen in shock at the sudden death, while Ha Tae-gun let out a heavy sigh of frustration.
"Waaaaah!"
Oblivious to their leaders' dismay, the men of the Heavenly Sword Academy and the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild cheered at the sight of the fallen leader and surged forward to finish off the remaining bandits.
"Lay down your weapons and your lives will be spared!"
Leaving the fierce shouts and triumphant cheers behind him, Yoo-sung quietly turned and made his way back to the Heavenly Sword Academy.