Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: It's Fine! She's Our Initial Investor!
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"Whoa, it's fine! That lady is our bandit gang's initial investor."
After the special discount period sparked by the spy finally ended, I returned to the mountain stronghold.
My other underlings had grown accustomed to their roles as guides by now, and it didn't seem like any more Murim Alliance spies would show up, so I no longer had anything to do.
That didn't mean I was just lounging around, though.
There was the promise I'd made when I first took in the Mount Muak Brotherhood as my subordinates: to teach them martial arts.
What good is playing around all day? My body felt stiff and sluggish, so I personally trained the Mount Muak Brotherhood in martial arts.
Of course....
"Ugh...."
"My ribs... my ribs...."
"Hey now, enough with the whining."
It was a bit intense, sure.
But what's so special about how unorthodox sects train in martial arts?
I just sparred with them in a light bout on top of what East Dragon had already been teaching them—that was pure unorthodox training focused on experience.
"Whew...."
"Ow, man...."
The Mount Muak Brotherhood guys I'd beaten down groaned, but they still twitched their bodies, showing they could endure it.
Looks like East Dragon had trained them decently while I was away in Sichuan. Even though they hadn't been learning long, they already had a proper martial artist's air about them.
And among them, the one who stood out the most was, naturally....
"...Please, one more time."
...Jeok-yeom, the former leader of the Mount Muak Brotherhood.
*Damn, this guy's starting to grow on me.*
His grit was even better than East Dragon's. Despite getting the crap beaten out of him and his body screaming in pain, he got right back up without a single complaint.
"Alright, if that's what you want...."
If he wants it, give it to him. I charged at Jeok-yeom with my bare fists raised.
"Hraaah—!"
Jeok-yeom shouted his kiai and swung his massive axe. A fine swing.
But....
*Thwack—!*
"Graaagh—!"
"...I'm not kidding, I could tell where you'd attack with my eyes closed."
...His attacks were so predictable that I stuck out my tongue and drove my fist straight into Jeok-yeom's gut.
He'd been using that axe since his imperial army days, apparently. His stance was solid, and after building up his internal energy, his speed had improved too.
But so what if his stance was solid and his speed was fast?
He kept repeating the same motions, the same trajectories, so I could see exactly where and how he'd swing that axe.
If he just calmed his mind a bit and varied his movements even slightly, he'd improve by leaps and bounds—but he couldn't, and that was a shame.
I shared that sentiment with Jeok-yeom as he lay collapsed on the ground.
"Hey, Jeok-yeom. You're...."
"Yes... please tell me."
"You're... not bandit-like, I guess? Lacking freedom or something? Anyway, it's off."
"Not bandit-like... is that what you mean?"
"Yeah. Your face screams bandit, but why's your body like that? Didn't you say it's been years since you quit the imperial army? So why do you still move like you're following their manual?"
Most of the Mount Muak Brotherhood were ex-imperial soldiers. That's why they all had that solid, rigid, standardized imperial army style at their core.
But Jeok-yeom took the cake.
"...That bad?"
"Yeah, that bad. At this rate, the army must've been your true calling."
"......"
At my words, Jeok-yeom bowed his head in a somber mood before speaking.
"Maybe... you're right. But... I'm not an imperial soldier anymore. I'm a wanderer of the jianghu now. I want to move like one."
"Then make the effort. From what I see, it's a matter of mindset. Try fixing that."
"How do I fix my mindset...?"
"That's for you to figure out."
"......"
Jeok-yeom gave me a look like it was absurd, but it really wasn't something I could help with. It was his own hurdle to overcome.
I was just about to open my mouth with some advice that might actually help him when—
"Boss—!!!!"
A familiar voice pierced through the outer wall to where we were training.
It was familiar because it belonged to Bang Sam-i.
"Boss!!! Come out here—!!!"
Puzzled by Bang Sam-i's desperate cry, I headed out beyond the outer wall with my underlings.
And....
"No, Bang Sam. Aren't you supposed to be working right now? This bastard's slacking off... huh?"
...Bang Sam-i wasn't alone outside.
Standing behind him was someone pressing a sword to his neck.
And that person was....
"Miss Yu...?"
"......"
...Yu So-myeong.
"Miss Yu, right? What brings you here... wait a sec...."
Her face was haggard, pale as a ghost, and her eyes burned with venom unlike before, but it was definitely Yu So-myeong.
I was about to ask what had brought her here so suddenly when I glanced at Bang Sam-i in front of her and realized something far more serious.
"Hey, Bang Sam! You're supposed to be at the entrance gate right now— who's minding the shop if you're out here? Shit! If the travel permits don't get issued properly, the whole day's business is fucked—don't you know that?"
"I handed things off properly to the other guys assisting me and left them in charge. Miss Yu was kind enough to wait while I did the handover, so I made it out fine."
"Oh, good thing then."
As expected of a noble house's daughter.
Even in that situation, she waited for the handover. Her character was as solid as ever.
As I nodded, impressed by Yu So-myeong's generosity, Bang Sam-i said to me with a pale face.
"Haha, but boss. This isn't the time for jokes. Miss Yu's so mad her sword's trembling—blood's trickling from my neck without me even noticing, fuck, save me...!"
"Brother Bang Sam—!"
Sure enough, thin blood trickled from Bang Sam-i's neck, and the underlings drew their weapons.
I raised a hand to stop them, then kindly explained for the ones who didn't know her.
"Whoa, put the weapons away, everyone. Miss Yu here is from the orthodox sects, but she's not our enemy. Hmm... if anything, she's our mountain stronghold's initial investor?"
"Brother...! Every time you open your mouth, Miss Yu shakes her hand like she can't contain her rage—please watch what you say!"
Hmm... true that.
So-myeong's eyes were coldly still, but her hand trembled like an aspen leaf, drawing more innocent blood from Bang Sam-i's neck.
At this rate, Bang Sam-i would bleed out.
I put on my most merciful expression and asked Yu So-myeong.
"So, Miss Yu, what brings you here? Here to use our mountain path?"
"......"
At my question, Yu So-myeong took a few deep breaths to calm her anger but couldn't hold it in and shoved Bang Sam-i aside.
She pointed her sword at me and finally spoke.
"...You fucking bastard."
"......"
No questions asked, huh.
Man, So-myeong's picked up some foul language.
Hearing curses from that innocently pretty face somehow doubled her appeal... or so I was about to say when....
"Die! You rotten bastard—!!"
"Oof."
She leaped at me with her sword raised.
**
Outskirts of Hunan Province.
*Swish, swish swish—.*
The spy wrote down what he'd seen and felt on the Hunan Province mountain paths over the past seven weeks, then set off to report back.
Of course, the contents were mostly positive. He even had a bit of selfish hope that the paths wouldn't disappear.
*It wasn't bad at all.*
Compared to his usual spy work, this had been practically a vacation.
The initial tolls were pricey, but the roads were smooth, the food at every gate was cheap and delicious, and everyone was friendly.
If not for prior intel, he wouldn't have believed they were bandits.
*At this rate, the Murim Alliance leadership won't take drastic measures.*
Thinking that, the spy pressed on. His first stop was the Beggars' Sect branch in Hubei Province, up from Hunan.
He planned to rest there before heading straight to the Murim Alliance headquarters in Anhui.
But....
"You there—!"
"Hm?"
"You! Aren't you Number Four? Haha, I barely recognized you from your gait."
At a dim, secluded spot late at night on the way to the Hubei branch, a man called out to him—using his secret agent codename, no less.
Puzzled, Number Four looked at the man's face.
"Brother Duggo...?"
"That's me."
...It was Duggo Young, captain of the Murim Alliance's Elite Execution Squad.
Agent info was classified by default, but captains and above could access it. And Duggo Young was so sociable that he was friends with a few agents. Number Four included.
Relieved it was an ally, Number Four asked.
"Brother Duggo, what brings you here?"
"Truth is, I was curious. About those bandits supposedly gathering in Hunan. So I came out to meet you."
"Oh."
Coming out to greet him was a bit much, but it made sense—he'd be curious. If the Hunan bandits were deemed enemies, Duggo Young's Execution Squad would likely mobilize.
But....
"Sorry, Brother Duggo. I can't leak info before reporting to HQ."
...Number Four had no intention of spilling beforehand. As a spy, he was extra sensitive to protocol.
Even knowing that, Duggo Young sidled up and kept pleading.
"I get that. That's why I came to you. I don't need the full details. Just... a little luck of the draw?"
"Hmm...."
Number Four had to think it over. Normally he'd refuse flat-out, but this was Duggo Young asking.
He had a reputation in the Alliance for being a good guy. He was friends with lots of people and had shared drinks with Number Four before.
*Dropping a hint... should be fine.*
With that, Number Four quietly spoke.
"The Execution Squad won't need to move...."
"......"
No need for the Execution Squad meant no need to exterminate the bandits.
Duggo Young nodded silently, getting it.
"...I see."
"Yes."
That should satisfy him.
Duggo Young looked troubled, but Number Four brushed it off and took a step.
Even if it was a vacation infiltration, seven full weeks on the road had worn him out. He was about to urge the statue-still Duggo Young along when....
"Brother Duggo, if you're satisfied, shall we get going? If we hurry now...."
*Stab.*
"...Huh?"
Number Four's words cut off. Duggo Young's drawn sword was buried in his gut.
"What the—!"
Shocked, Number Four reached for his hidden dagger to counter, but....
*Stab—! Slash—!*
"Guhk—!"
...The ambush plus the vast skill gap left him with severed meridians, collapsing to the ground.
Amid the betrayal and searing pain, Duggo Young's voice drifted down from above.
"So goddamn peaceful.... Fucking peaceful...."
That cold tone clashed sharply with his usual warmth.
Duggo Young stomped on Number Four's wound and continued.
"Ughaaaagh—!!"
"...Too peaceful, and I have no outlet for my killing urge."
Killing urge.
It had been with him since birth, innate.
People, animals—anything wriggling before his eyes, he had to kill.
The harsh Duggo Clan training had caught it early, letting him wear a good man's mask on the outside.
But inside, he was no different from a bloodthirsty asura.
"No helping it. Time to frame the innocent again...."
"Hah... please...."
"And kill them all."
*Crunch—.*
With that, Duggo Young drove his sword into Number Four's throat.
The next day.
Beggars' Sect beggars found the Murim Alliance spy's corpse on the Hunan outskirts.
He'd been brutally slain.
That was enough for the Murim Alliance to issue an extermination order, facts and context be damned.