Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Pickpocket's Initiation
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The next day.
The entire Divine Demon Blood Death Squad assembled in front of their camp.
Standing tall before them was Hyeok Mulin, with Ji Wolhon facing the group behind him.
As all eyes focused on him, Hyeok Mulin parted his lips in a subdued tone.
"You've all heard the news by now. Two of our squad members lost contact while pursuing the unorthodox sects."
Unorthodox sects...!
At those words, the squad members' eyes sharpened fiercely.
Ji Wolhon continued, gazing at their resolute eyes.
"We're heading to the Central Plains where their communications cut off."
"Ooooooh!"
With that declaration, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad's morale soared sky-high.
But amid the fervor, only Danri Hyang stood with a hardened expression, silent as ever.
Hyeok Mulin glanced at him briefly before stepping back, and soon Ji Wolhon brought forward the next introduction.
"In the process, we'll be welcoming a new recruit to the squad. Come on over."
As everyone watched intently, a man shuffled forward slowly.
Ji Wolhon pointed to Na Taemun beside him.
"This is the specialist we brought in to track the missing members. His tracking skills are top-notch, and he's got nimble fingers too. He even knows basic lightness skills, so he won't hold us back on the move."
As Ji Wolhon's introduction ended, Na Taemun awkwardly bowed his head in greeting.
But the squad's reaction was lukewarm at best.
"Hmm..."
"We could handle the tracking ourselves."
"Do we really need a newbie...?"
They eyed him with reluctance and doubt, not exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
It was only natural, really.
The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad had operated with the same tight-knit group since its formation, making it an extremely insular unit.
Even Jeokmugun, the recent addition, had only earned his place after proving his skills. No matter that the captain vouched for him, Na Taemun was a complete stranger, so their wariness was understandable.
As the uneasy atmosphere rippled through the group, Man Hyobom spoke up on their behalf.
"Frankly, we're not thrilled about outsiders joining, but is he really necessary? And what's this about 'nimble fingers'?"
"Well..."
As Ji Wolhon moved to answer, heavy footsteps approached.
Thud. Thud.
Na Taemun started walking straight toward Man Hyobom.
"...What the?"
Man Hyobom furrowed a brow as the man approached him directly.
Na Taemun stopped right in front of him and stared piercingly.
'He looking for a fight?'
As Man Hyobom pondered the intent behind that gaze, his eyes drifted to Na Taemun's hand.
The man had slipped it into his robe.
'Drawing a weapon?'
Man Hyobom subtly gripped his own blade, ready for an instant counter if attacked.
With all eyes on him now...
Swish.
Na Taemun hesitantly pulled a money pouch from his robe.
"...?"
"What's that?"
The squad members tilted their heads in confusion, but Man Hyobom, standing closest, blurted out differently.
"Huh? Why's my money pouch coming out of there?"
That was Man Hyobom's pouch?
The stunned squad members' gazes flicked between Man Hyobom and Na Taemun.
Na Taemun scratched his head awkwardly and spoke up.
"Uh... I ran into you earlier and just... habit kicked in. Sorry."
At his apology, Man Hyobom and the others stared blankly.
Moments later, Man Hyobom clutched his chest and burst into laughter.
"Puhahaha!"
After his hearty guffaw subsided, he slung an arm around Na Taemun's shoulders in encouragement.
"Didn't notice a thing. You've got some guts on you."
He seemed to take a liking to Na Taemun right away and shifted his stance completely.
It reminded one of his father—once he approved, he set aside all other concerns and accepted fully.
"If we're chasing unorthodox scum, we need every edge to boost our odds. With fingers this quick, his tracking must be killer."
"I... I didn't brag or anyth..."
"I'm all for it. Anyone still got beef?"
As Man Hyobom pushed forward enthusiastically, the rest of the squad's mood began to thaw.
"If the captain and vice-captain approve..."
"Doesn't bother me much."
"More firepower can't hurt when we're rescuing comrades."
Just as the atmosphere turned positive toward Na Taemun's inclusion, Ji Wolhon spoke.
"I get where you're all coming from. What he's shown so far isn't quite enough for full membership yet."
He'd planned this from the start but framed it as respecting their input before delivering the verdict.
"So, we'll take him on as a temporary member. Nail this mission successfully, and he'll join as a full squad member then."
"Y-Yes?"
Na Taemun's pupils shook, but the squad cheered in agreement.
"Sounds good!"
"Haha, show us what you got!"
"We believe in you."
They clapped him on the back encouragingly.
But the man himself felt like he was dying inside.
'Not just for this one mission...?'
Full member? What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
The Heavenly Demon Army was infamous for its strict discipline already—sticking around temporarily was bad enough, but officially enlisting?
This would force a total upheaval from his usual sleazy ways. Picturing that horrific future, Na Taemun clutched his head in agony.
Hyeok Mulin brushed off his odd behavior and issued orders.
"We depart tonight. Scatter, prepare, and stand by."
"Yes, sir!"
With their resounding reply, preparations wrapped up.
And as night fell...
A line of carriages slipped out through a back gate of the outer walls.
The carriages were luxurious but understated, avoiding attention. Several rolled in convoy, flanked by mounted escorts.
It was Hyeok Mulin and the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad, bound for the Central Plains.
The carriages raced on, and their journey proceeded smoothly.
Thus, the squad crossed Shin Gang Province without incident, passed through Cheonghae Province swiftly, and soon entered Gansu Province.
As the rhythmic clatter echoed along the mountainside path...
"This is boring as hell. No one's gonna jump us?"
Man Hyobom, lounging in his carriage seat, peered out the window and griped.
He'd been yawning nonstop throughout the trip.
Everything had gone too smoothly, without a single hitch.
A few greedy types had eyed their fine carriages, but when mere squad members—not even the vice-captain—dispatched them effortlessly, the rest fled without looking back.
"Be grateful for the peace. Even with the cult leader here, no one's dumb enough to risk it."
Han Baek, seated diagonally across, scolded him.
"True, but boredom's boredom."
Still, Man Hyobom held firm and sought agreement from those around.
"You think so too, right?"
This time, he turned to Jeokmugun beside him.
The man shook his head slowly.
"No need to waste energy before we reach our goal."
"Tch, such a stickler."
Jeokmugun wasn't the vice-captain yet.
But after besting Man Hyobom in sparring and proving his worth, his promotion to vice-captain in the next reorganization was all but certain—hence his spot in the carriage.
Unhappy with the response, Man Hyobom scowled at the front.
"Feels like looking at that guy when we first met."
His gaze settled on Danri Hyang's blank face.
Lately, the man had grown even quieter, just staring out the window.
Man Hyobom asked curiously.
"Why the troubled look again?"
"......"
Danri Hyang merely kept silent.
Man Hyobom sighed deeply.
"Sigh, whatever. None of you are any fun. Guess I'll sleep till we arrive."
He closed his eyes after that. He woke to the patter of rain in his ears.
Drip. Drip.
The light drizzle soon turned into a pounding downpour.
"We'll have to pick up speed."
Judging it impossible to camp on this slope, Hyeok Mulin decided to push on despite the risks, aiming for the next village.
They pressed on after sunset and mercifully escaped the hillside.
But ahead lay not open plains, but a raging, swollen river.
As a mountain stream, it wasn't too wide—more like a creek, really.
Yet with the torrent, it embodied nature's fury.
Even the wooden bridge that had stood moments ago was swept away by the furious currents.
Hyeok Mulin stepped down from his carriage to assess.
He eyed the rain, the river's surface, gauging the flow.
'This rapids means something's wrong upstream at the embankment.'
He could leap across barehanded, but with distance left, abandoning the carriages wasn't an option.
As Hyeok Mulin pondered solutions...
"Puha! Puhaha!"
Something gasping raggedly floated down from upstream.
"S-Save...!"
It was a small child, not yet ten, swept from upstream.
Soon, figures who looked like the parents rushed down from the opposite bank, faces ashen.
The father stripped to dive in, but the mother clung to him, holding him back.
'Smart move.'
Plain farmers with no martial arts—jumping into that current was suicide.
Hyeok Mulin watched them briefly, then turned to the drifting child.
Their eyes met for a split second.
The child's gaze brimmed with terror, yet burned with desperate will to live.
Hyeok Mulin slowly curled his lips.
He glanced at Ji Wolhon, who nodded.
"Understood."
Confirming Hyeok Mulin's intent, Ji Wolhon ordered Jeokmugun.
"Bring the kid."
"Yes."
Jeokmugun hurried to the bank and hurled a chain toward the child.
Whirr!
The chain coiled around the child, then reeled back in.
Pulled ashore with the chain, the child coughed up water on the ground.
The parents across the way leaped in joy, embracing each other, then waved frantically at the squad.
"Down...?"
Spotting their gestures downstream, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad followed the river.
Soon they found a diversion where the slope eased, complete with a stone bridge for the carriages.
After crossing, the child ran to the parents, who hugged tightly.
Moments later, they approached Hyeok Mulin, kowtowing profusely in thanks.
"Oh, benefactor!"
"How can we ever repay this grace...!"
Hyeok Mulin replied lightly.
"No need. I did what I could."
"Still, for our savior..."
"Then, may I ask one thing?"
"Yes! Anything!"
They nodded vigorously.
"We need a spot to rest. Any village nearby?"
They brightened.
"Yes! Half a shichen more down this path—our village!"
"We'll guide you!"
"Hm. Very well..."
Hyeok Mulin scanned the squad.
Soaked and weary, they needed rest to preserve strength.
He decided.
"Lead the way."
"Yes! This way!"
The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad followed their guide.
A half-shichen walk became mere moments by carriage.
At the village entrance, the squad dismounted.
The child and parents said they'd fetch the village chief and headed inside.
As they vanished, the squad surveyed the area and waited.
"Hmm..."
"Pretty rundown."
"Typical backwoods mountain village."
It was a remote hamlet, isolated from the world.
Villagers peeked curiously at the armed outsiders.
As they eyed each other at the edge...
The village chief arrived from afar, having heard the news.
He sighed in relief for the child's family and walked slowly.
Turning toward the entrance, his gaze landed on Hyeok Mulin—and that instant...
"Heup...!"
Swallowing a scream, his round eyes bulged wide.