Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Convincing the Old-Timer: High Difficulty
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"Don't worry, it's just ordinary bandits."
Yu Ha-seong listened to my words in a daze for a moment before opening his mouth.
"...Do you even know what it means to guarantee exclusive territorial rights?"
"I do."
"...Acknowledging your faction is the same as uniting the unorthodox sects and weakening the Murim Alliance's power. Do you think I'd allow that?"
"If the hero truly knows what's right, he'll agree."
"...What?"
Is the Murim Alliance always right just because it's the Murim Alliance? No, it's not.
"The common folk don't care much whether the righteous sects rule a region or the unorthodox ones do. They just like those who don't harm them and bring them benefits."
The world I'm in right now is a murim world. Many people are involved in the jianghu and related affairs.
But there are plenty who live without getting tangled in the jianghu and couldn't care less about it.
"The Murim Alliance has no interest in Hunan anyway. In that case, wouldn't it be a hundred times better for us to rule—opening roads and staying close to protect them—than the Murim Alliance?"
"......"
"And we just want to live peacefully too. We have no grand ambitions. If you leave us alone, we promise not to stir up trouble and provoke the Murim Alliance."
Yu Ha-seong listened silently to my words, then seemed to catch on to something and hurriedly asked.
"...And if I don't guarantee your territorial rights, what will you do?"
"What do you mean, what will I do."
In the end, refusing territorial rights means we'll remain eternal enemies of the Murim Alliance, targets for extermination. If that happens, our bandits will spend every day in anxiety.
In that case....
"Even a cornered rat will bite. I'll spread the Murim Alliance's dirty secrets all over the land and take my men to Anhui Province."
"......"
"I hear things are noisy up top with infighting against the Demonic Cult bastards? Well, try stopping us if you want to see some sword dancing down here too."
"Of course, things are chaotic in the north, but this side..."
"Yu the Righteous Blade Hero."
Swish-.
In an instant, his hand went to his waist. He must have sensed the thorn in my words.
"...Haven't you heard about what happened in your clan? From your daughter and son?"
"......"
"Whether the Murim Alliance's enforcers number three, five, or ten..., do you think I can't make it to Anhui?"
Damn it, I keep talking nicely, so why does everyone keep trying to paint me as the thug.
Let me say it again: we're the victims here.
The Murim Alliance couldn't control one of their brats, sparking the disturbance, and we just responded justly—and in the process, over ten of my men died.
Even so, I'm trying to compromise with the Murim Alliance because I don't want more blood spilled.
We're the ones making concessions, so of course it pisses me off when they act like they hold all the cards.
"...Hero, can you handle me?"
"......"
I can gauge his level. Can he gauge mine?
His expression grows complicated. I can't predict what he'll say next.
Ah..., screw it. I'm an emotional guy by nature.
If things go south, screw the protagonist's dad, the original novel, the righteous sects, everything—I'll just draw my blade.
Truth be told, this kind of threat would be absolutely impossible if the Murim Alliance were at full strength.
Whether I danced around with my sword alone or threw a tantrum, they'd just overwhelm us with their numbers, and our bandits would be reduced to a handful of ashes.
But thanks to the Demonic Cult right now, the Murim Alliance is in bad shape. Even trash bandits like us can growl like this.
So in this situation, what choice will he make?
I quietly waited for his response.
Finally..., when his heavy lips parted....
"...I absolutely can't agree."
"......"
The words from his mouth weren't what I wanted to hear.
"Hero-!"
Even the Beggar Clan branch leader seemed to think he'd agree by now and shouted in surprise at his refusal.
But Yu Ha-seong ignored the branch leader, veins bulging in his eyes as he continued toward me.
"Three hundred years ago, there were unorthodox scum who banded together to build their own power base, just like you. Did you know?"
"...No, I didn't."
I didn't. It's not in the original story, and how would I know about something from three hundred years ago? That said, this world had a powerful unorthodox group too?
"They secured territorial rights through war and negotiations with the Murim Alliance, just like you. And the land they ruled became a hell of evil."
"......"
"And that land is now the territory of Shanxi where our clan resides. Since our founding clan leader, the Yu Clan of Shanxi has been defined by struggle against the unorthodox."
"......"
...So that's the backstory.
But after hearing all of Yu Ha-seong's words, my reaction was....
'What the fuck does that have to do with anything.'
...Exactly that.
Isn't it? I'm not a descendant carrying on those unorthodox bastards' legacy, and I'm not the same as them.
Why the hell is he bringing up other unorthodox scum—hell, from three hundred years ago—to lecture me?
"I'm different from them, damn it."
"Can you prove you're different? Can you keep Hunan peaceful and stop plundering the commoners even after time passes?"
"Of course, natur—"
"No, I can't believe it."
"......"
Should I draw?
What kind of textbook boomer uncle is this?
For a moment, I couldn't hold back and let a bit of killing intent slip, but even feeling it, Yu Ha-seong didn't yield.
His resolute expression radiated that he'd accept even an immediate sword fight.
"Even if you do it, there's no guarantee your descendants will act the same. In the end, I just can't trust the unorthodox as a concept."
"Damn it, then why the hell did you even come here? To make my insides boil, you old—"
"P-Please, both of you, calm down."
"Hoo...."
For a moment, I nearly lost it, but Mun-seok's intervention let me hold back.
I took a deep breath, calmed myself, and gathered my thoughts again.
For now, it's clear this Yu Ha-seong guy despises—hates—the unorthodox. Whether because of his clan's history or some personal circumstances I don't know.
'Straight-up show him the hostage? No..., that would really be the end.'
I could easily imagine Yu Ha-seong yelling 'As expected of unorthodox scum!' and drawing his sword the moment I showed him the tied-up Somi.
'Then what...'
As I pondered, Yu Ha-seong spoke up with a sunken expression.
"...That said, I don't want to deny that you're the victims here and we're the perpetrators in this incident. So instead, I'd like to propose two things to you."
"What proposals...."
They were obviously not good, but I decided to hear him out first.
"First, we'll acknowledge your property rights to the mountain road you've opened. However, management will be handled by the Murim Alliance."
"Haha, rejected from the first one, but let's hear the rest."
In the end, if they take management rights and cut us out of the business, it'll all be snatched away in no time. Naturally, the first proposal is rejected.
"Second, disband the bandits right now, and we'll grant amnesty for all past bandit activities."
"......"
...Hm, I was tempted for a second.
Right now, I have quite a few bandits under me. But they're not all guys I personally recruited as subordinates. I just ended up as their boss out of necessity.
If I accept the proposal, get the amnesty, and disband the bandits like this, everyone can start a new life.
I could forget the past too and live happily off the wealth piled up in my warehouse.
On the surface, it's a great proposal for shaking off everything and living free.
However....
"...Still rejected."
...It won't do anymore.
Dongryong brought in the new subordinates, but I brought in Dongryong. As the boss, I naturally have to take responsibility for what my men did, and now I see these new guys as my own too.
These guys became bandits because they had nothing else to do. Even with amnesty and a new life, they'll just wander aimlessly.
But they're my kids now—I can't just leave them like that.
I calmed my frustration, anger, and killing intent, returning to my initial state, then spoke to Yu Ha-seong again.
"...Hero. I'll say this one last time. Set aside your personal feelings and vague suspicions—think rationally and decide. You're not here to handle personal matters; the future of Hunan's common folk is in your hands."
"......"
At my final words, Yu Ha-seong seemed to ponder for a moment, but his resolute expression remained.
From his face, I could predict he'd refuse again.
And at that moment....
Murmur murmur.
Mun-seok the uncle and the Beggar Clan branch leader might not have heard, but the faint noise from outside reached me. It seemed to reach Yu Ha-seong too.
"This is..."
He looked a bit flustered, but I wasn't.
Because....
'It was something I arranged.'
...I was worried it'd be late, but it came in the end.
I stood up from my seat, and only then did Mun-seok sense the presence outside and grab my arm.
"W-What's that? Something came outside?"
"Ah..., it's something I called. Don't worry—stay seated."
"You didn't call in swordsmen or bring hostages here, right...?"
"Haha, what do you take me for? Don't you trust me?"
"......"
"...You don't."
Mun-seok the uncle was looking at me with a face full of distrust.
Feeling awkward, I headed toward the door.
Yu Ha-seong watched me and subtly moved his hand toward his sword, asking.
"...What's the commotion outside? I heard this meeting was just the four of us."
"Don't worry too much—I'll open the door now, so take a look."
I grinned and flung the door wide open.
And....
"......!"
...He made a shocked expression at the sight outside the door.