Chapter 39
Ch. 39 .｡.:✧ Chief ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The Chief of the bandit stronghold was a giant of a man with a bushy beard.
Just looking at him was intimidating.
I stopped mid-punch, and he tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
I hesitated for a moment, then asked,
“…I came here to ask the leader of these bandits, the Chief, a question.”
“Hmm! If you’re looking for the Chief, you’re looking at him!”
“Do you know of a place where two sheer cliffs meet?”
“…Hmm.”
The Chief fixed me with a blank stare before breaking into a chuckle.
“You attack my stronghold single-handedly and then expect me to answer your questions?”
“…”
“Asking about the surrounding geography in a bandit stronghold, no less! Preposterous!”
“So you refuse to answer.”
The Chief laughed heartily.
“Well, since things have come to this, and it’s too late to back down, I’ll answer your question if you can defeat me!”
“Hmm…”
“Isn’t it the victor’s right to demand answers?!”
He’d sensed my unusual strength.
I, too, realized he wasn’t just a common thug.
I considered his words, then smiled.
“You’re absolutely right.”
“…!”
“Then let’s not waste any time.”
Woooong~
My sword vibrated in my hand.
The sword’s hum resonated through the air.
The Chief, sensing the start of the fight, lunged at me.
Swish!
‘He’s not the leader for nothing…!’
Whoosh-
I matched his speed, dropping low to the ground and then springing back up like a soaring swallow.
The Chief seemed momentarily impressed, then drew his saber with a flourish.
Shing!
The sound of metal rang through the air.
“Hahahaha! I’ve found a worthy opponent…!”
“…”
‘Worthy opponent… we’ll see.’
Clang!
Our blades clashed, and the Chief unleashed a powerful strike that cracked the ground.
His internal energy seemed comparable to mine.
Even after consuming the spirit herbs Elder Dokgo had given me, this bandit chief was almost my equal.
I wasn’t surprised, though.
As our swords met, I thought,
‘Just because our internal energy levels are similar doesn’t mean we’re equals…’
If internal energy alone determined strength, then there would be no point in fighting.
The protagonist of the novel, who devoured countless elixirs and practiced dual cultivation techniques, wasn’t the strongest from the start for a reason.
In the end, experience and enlightenment were what truly mattered in a fight between masters.
I unleashed a flurry of attacks, culminating in a heavy strike.
“Ugh…?!”
“Azure River Sword Technique, First Form, Maha Filling Sword.”
“…!”
“Let’s see if you can block this.”
I smiled and swung my sword.
It was a simple, almost casual, diagonal slash.
But this strike was different from my usual swift attacks.
[Train until you can cut someone with the wind pressure from your sword alone.]
[You need to rethink how you use your energy. Your rigid approach is holding you back.]
[Swift swordsmanship isn’t the be-all and end-all of swordplay… You have a rudimentary understanding of heavier, slower sword techniques, but you need to hone them further.]
‘He was right. Swift swordsmanship isn’t everything.’
I recalled Heavenly Slaughterer’s teachings.
His words had reignited my resolve.
A slow, deliberate strike.
A return to the basics.
That was what he expected of me.
“Gah…?!”
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed through the air.
The Chief, unable to withstand the force of my attack, was pushed back several paces.
His cry of pain reverberated through the surroundings.
I could sense the bandits’ unease.
‘This Chief isn’t just a brute. He’s received proper training.’
I nodded slowly.
I hadn’t intended to pry into his past, but our brief exchange had revealed his experience.
The Chief’s expression hardened, and his fighting spirit rekindled.
“…You want to continue?”
I asked.
“Of course…!”
“You’re going to lose.”
The Chief laughed.
“Hahaha! Perhaps! But…”
His laughter abruptly stopped.
He spoke seriously,
“…even though I’m just a bandit leader,”
“…”
“I’m not foolish enough to refuse an opportunity to grow stronger!”
“…I see.”
“If you’ll allow it, I’d like to give it my all, even if it means collapsing on the spot!”
He was determined to see this through, even if he was just a bandit.
‘Hmm…’
I’d initially thought this was a waste of time, but now I saw an opportunity.
The Chief already knew I was holding back.
There was no reason to refuse his request.
It was a chance to earn his favor.
“I accept your challenge.”
“…!”
“Let’s continue.”
“Hahaha! Excellent!”
This fight, against a bandit chief, reminded me of my spar with Yoo Seong-ho.
The joy of crossing swords, regardless of rank or skill, was exhilarating.
Whirl-
I flicked my sword to the side.
The Chief responded, whirling his saber like a windmill.
Clang!
The clash of our blades echoed through the air, light yet powerful.
I felt something brush past my ear – a spark from the colliding metal.
I looked at the Chief’s face.
‘…He’s smiling.’
A wide grin spread across his face.
I could sense his excitement.
He was enjoying the fight.
I smiled back and pressed my attack, aiming for an opening.
The Chief tried to match my movements, but my relentless assault was too much for him to handle.
He was overextending himself.
Wham!
I struck him and sent him flying.
Crack!
I heard the sickening sound of bones breaking.
I stopped.
‘So it ends like this.’
The Chief’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed on the ground and lost consciousness.
I looked down at him, my sword still in hand.
“…When you wake up, I’ll ask you again.”
“…”
“And I expect an answer.”
Shick-
I sheathed my sword.
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The Chief didn’t take long to regain consciousness.
I clicked my tongue inwardly at the chief’s recovery speed — it took less than an hour for him to wake.
I was impressed by his resilience.
‘His recovery is superhuman.’
“Ugh… where… where am I…?”
“Your home.”
The Chief, now effectively a guest in his own house, looked around in confusion, then spotted me and smiled.
“Hmm…! So this is how it ends.”
“You seem well enough.”
“Haha! Hardly! I dreamt I was on the verge of death from your sword strikes!”
“…”
I waited for him to fully recover before speaking.
“You gave your men instructions beforehand.”
“…?”
“You told them not to seek revenge if you lost, and to treat me as an honored guest.”
“Hmm…! Indeed. I told them before the fight began.”
“You don’t seem like an ordinary bandit. Why are you doing this?”
“…”
The Chief closed his eyes, a moment of silence passing before he spoke again.
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