Purging Demons and Eradicating Evil (5)
“Hoh.”
“What do you think?”
“Fine red jade. This is top quality.”
“As expected, you have a keen eye.”
“Two cartloads of top-grade red jade... You put some real effort into this one, huh?”
“Haha, I worked my ass off for it.”
Hang Chun looked down at the middle-aged man rubbing his hands together and bowing repeatedly, a sneer creeping across his face. In a voice that didn't match his expression, he said,
“The leader will be very pleased. Wait here a moment. I'll show him the goods and come back.”
“Of course.”
Hang Chun entered the tent. A moment later—
Flutter!
The massive tent flap flew open, revealing a hulking giant of a man. Fear flashed across the middle-aged man's face.
The giant emerged completely naked, his body a mass of bulging muscles. Every slow movement sent them rippling dynamically. It was a sight to behold, but the problem was the blood staining his skin. Freshly spilled, it trickled down his shoulders and collarbones, glinting in the sunlight. The gruesome display instilled a primal terror in anyone who saw it.
Moreover, the man wasn't even from the Central Plains. With Western blood in his veins, he had an exotic look, and his eyes were a striking blue. The middle-aged man swallowed hard without realizing it.
That... that's the Hwarang Group leader?!
The hulking man, Pa Sa Leok, cracked his neck side to side.
Crack! Pop!
The resounding sounds were so loud it made one worry if his bones might snap out of place. The middle-aged man's face grew paler by the second.
“Nngh! Already feeling stiff.”
Hang Chun said deferentially,
“Leader, this is the man.”
“Hm?”
Pa Sa Leok looked down at the middle-aged man with lazy eyes. The man hurriedly bowed his head. He couldn't dare meet that gaze.
Pa Sa Leok's lips twitched.
“Red jade?”
Hang Chun continued,
“And the one who offered up the women.”
“Haha, is that right?”
Pa Sa Leok burst into booming laughter, like a whale's roar. The low, heavy sound had a dazed, hypnotic power over the mind.
“Very satisfying. Though they're no longer usable.”
The middle-aged man realized the blood on Pa Sa Leok's body was from the women he'd offered yesterday. His body shuddered.
Thud!
Pa Sa Leok plopped down onto the bare ground.
“First time meeting like this?”
“Y-yes.”
“You're better looking than I expected. I figured a rat skimming from his kin's merchant group would look like an actual rat.”
Pa Sa Leok laughed again. Infuriating words, but the middle-aged man couldn't show any displeasure. An invisible smoke seemed to creep up, binding his limbs. He couldn't move a muscle, frozen like a fawn facing a predator for the first time—body and mind locked in ice. His thoughts ground to a halt. The intense fear and inexplicable pressure blurred his vision.
Pa Sa Leok, eyeing him with an enigmatic gaze, asked Hang Chun,
“How much has he skimmed so far?”
“Two parts.”
“Two?”
“Yes.”
Pa Sa Leok let out a low whistle.
“Impressive. The average is one part, isn't it? Yet you've given this one two?”
“The goods he brings are always top-notch. So we paid accordingly.”
“Did I approve that?”
“Yes.”
“Was I drunk off my ass? I don't remember.”
Hang Chun smiled.
“Shall I collect half of what we've paid him so far, even now?”
A chilling remark. Pa Sa Leok roared with laughter.
“Even so, that'd be a bit much. Taking back money we've already given looks bad.”
After laughing heartily, he said to the man,
“Lift your head.”
The middle-aged man raised his trembling head.
Flash!
Gasp!
Meeting Pa Sa Leok's blue eyes felt like his heart plummeting. He squeezed his eyes shut instinctively.
Pa Sa Leok asked,
“You've got some real talent, don't you?”
“Th-thank you!”
“Thanks? We should be thanking you. Taking two parts as commission each time.”
“An honor...”
“Enough. Just one question.”
“Y-yes?”
Pa Sa Leok's face darkened ominously as he asked,
“This red jade—did you procure it from your brother's merchant group too?”
“...Yes.”
“What was the name again?”
Hang Chun answered,
“Hae Ryong Merchant Group. One of the top groups in Shandong Province. It's a historic outfit passed down five generations, they say.”
“Five generations? Impressive. Born worlds apart from bandit scum like us.”
Pa Sa Leok laughed, and Hang Chun chuckled along. But the middle-aged man couldn't laugh.
“What's your name?”
“Yeong Go Wi.”
“Right, Yeong Go Wi.”
Slide.
Yeong Go Wi flinched. A hand the size of a pot lid clamped onto his shoulder. The massive, thick fingers felt like they could crush his shoulder and collarbone at any moment.
“Isn't it a hassle sneaking this stuff out every time?”
“...Pardon?”
“We'll be stuck in Shandong for about a month. No money, no fun. Got to lay low.”
Killing intent flared in Pa Sa Leok's eyes.
“Before that, fancy a big score? How about guiding us to that Hae Ryong Merchant Group?”
“...!!”
Yeong Go Wi's face drained of color.
“H-Hae Ryong Merchant Group?”
“Yeah. The one your brothers run.”
He didn't need to ask why. These bastards planned to dismantle it entirely, swallowing all its wealth.
This... no!
Absolutely not. Hae Ryong was huge—that's why skimming was possible. Being family-run, there was some trust in him too. But destroying it was another matter. No matter the grudge, it was his blood kin's livelihood. Bringing the infamous Hwarang Group there would be utter betrayal.
...!!
But Yeong Go Wi couldn't say no. Sweat poured from him, soaking his clothes.
Even as Pa Sa Leok smiled, his eyes brimmed with ferocious killing intent, more terrifying than any martial master's.
“...I'll... guide you.”
Pa Sa Leok erupted in laughter.
“Good! Excellent! Vice Leader Hang, what did I say? This guy's got potential.”
“As expected of your unmatched insight, Leader.”
“Kahaha! Glad to meet someone who gets it. I like you. Once we smash Hae Ryong, one coin from their buried treasure goes to you.”
Hae Ryong's wealth was immense. Even one coin would sustain generations in luxury. Greed flickered in Yeong Go Wi's terrified eyes.
“Th-thank you! Thank you!”
Pa Sa Leok grinned, revealing yellow, beast-like fangs.
“Since we're on the topic, let's eat and head out right away.”
* * *
“Hwarang Group.”
Mo Yong Woo said in a curt voice.
“They've raided across Tibet, northern Qinghai, and northern Gansu.”
“Huge operating range.”
“Indeed.”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“What's their strength? They're bandits, so raw numbers probably aren't overwhelming. We wouldn't form a joint army just to catch one such group.”
Mo Yong Woo blinked his doe-like, innocent eyes.
“But have you never heard of Hwarang Group, Yeon-je?”
“No. And the main briefing for this op was only to you, the Grand Commander.”
“True, but... didn't Lord Yeon tell you?”
Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.
“He values principles. Anything from the strategy council not for you to handle, he keeps sealed tight.”
Mo Yong Woo stuck out his tongue. He'd heard the tales, but the man really was as rigid as a blade. No wonder they called him the Judge Sword.
“Tell me. Is Hwarang that big a deal?”
“Very. Their leader alone is no ordinary man.”
“Who?”
“Pa Sa Leok. Nicknamed Iron Bone Evil Buddha.”
“A nickname that pierces the heavens with childishness.”
“The title's silly, but his martial arts aren't.”
“How strong?”
“Not sure exactly, but he won't fall far short of me.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.
“A bandit leader's at that level?”
“Back when they operated in Gansu, he clashed with the Seven Heroes of Jade Gate. All seven were peak masters, called a walking minor sect in northern Gansu for their prowess.”
“No way.”
“Afraid so. Hwarang Leader Pa Sa Leok faced them head-on and slaughtered every one.”
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
“Weird guy. With that level of skill, why settle for bandit chief?”
People came in all types. Even Dang Sang-a tailed Mo Yong Woo out of boredom—in the Martial Alliance, no less. Even with world-topping arts, a twisted nature could lead to banditry. Rare, but possible.
“Not all. Hwarang numbers around a thousand.”
“A thousand...?”
“Varied races and ages too. Not for nothing they're the top Western bandits. Most have solid martial skills besides.”
Yeon Hojeong whistled.
“More sect than bandit gang.”
“Acts like typical bandits, but no one ignores their force.”
“That leader, though. Pa... whatever.”
“Pa Sa Leok.”
“Right. Why 'Evil Buddha' in his nickname? Suddenly curious.”
A casual joke to lighten the mood, but surprisingly, Mo Yong Woo knew.
“From the martial art he practices.”
“Martial art?”
“Pa Sa Leok hails from So Roe Eum Sa in Tibet.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
So Roe Eum Sa?
One of the absolute powerhouses of the Western martial world.
Western... Western.
Why? He'd felt nothing hearing 'Western bandits,' but a So Roe Eum Sa bandit chief suddenly evoked the Three Sects.
Huigae's intel said no major Western issues yet, right?
Yeon Hojeong's gaze deepened.
Is that guy connected to them?
He shook his head, lost in thought for a moment. Overthinking. Not zero chance, but no need to dwell now.
Still...
Even before the Three Sects' mad invasion, some Western forces stirred the Central Plains.
Yeon Hojeong stood.
“Heard enough. When do we move?”
“Asking me?”
“You're the Grand Commander.”
Mo Yong Woo smirked.
“When would you like?”
“Whenever. I'm just following orders.”
“Half a day from now.”
“Fine.”
“Why not call me brother?”
Yeon Hojeong turned coolly.
“See you in half a day, bro.”