Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: There Are No Good Evil Sects in This World
Rest assured, they’re just ordinary bandits.
There was no alliance like the Murim Alliance among the evil sects, but the world was full of unorthodox martial artists.
From petty bandits to street thugs and black road gangs, all the way to assassins who made killing their trade.
Ever since his debut in the martial world, up until now when he had risen to clan leader, Yu Ha-seong had occasionally set out on righteous expeditions to eliminate them.
As he cut down these evil sect martial artists, he felt all sorts of things about them.
They didn’t hesitate to swing their swords to steal others’ wealth, they broke promises and stabbed people in the back, and they knew nothing of chivalry.
Impurity.
Yes, impurity.
Yu Ha-seong saw the evil sects as nothing more than impurities that couldn’t blend into society, societal evils.
But….
“What’s this? You’re the master of this mountain path? Weren’t you just a guide?”
“Heh heh… No wonder your haggling skills seemed too sharp for an ordinary man….”
“More importantly, when the hell is the path going to reopen? There’s a line of people waiting all the way to Luoyang!”
…What in the world was this scene before him?
The moment Yu Ha-seong opened the door, he was met with a swarm of merchants packed together.
Naturally, he was taken aback by their sudden gathering, but….
“Haha, the path will reopen soon.”
…He was even more shocked to see them crowding around Mu-yeon like puppies searching for their mother.
“Soon when? I need to get to Yunnan quickly….”
“Have you finished repairing the lodges? Need any help?”
To all common folk, evil sect martial artists were objects of terror, but to merchants, bandits were an especial nightmare.
Bandits struck directly at merchants’ livelihoods.
Yet the merchants now….
They were acting as warmly as if greeting neighbors, relatives, or family.
Of course, he had known from intelligence reports that the merchants were highly satisfied with using the mountain path, but seeing it firsthand was another level.
This left Yu Ha-seong deep in thought.
**
It had been quite some time since we closed the mountain path after the Dokgo Young massacre, and the merchants who used it daily had no choice but to suffer the inconvenience.
If we didn’t open it, they’d have to take the old treacherous, winding route—and people used to the easy path weren’t going to do that.
In the end, the merchants had no choice but to wait nearby until we reopened.
Upon hearing this, I devised a plan to gather them. They would serve as witnesses to how well our bandits had operated.
“I’ve been craving that wild boar meat of yours after so long.”
“Heh heh, I used to spend good money at your lodges, but lately I haven’t, and it’s left me feeling slighted.”
Chatter filled the air.
I had tasked the youngest with summoning the merchants, and he’d done it so well that even I was startled by the numbers crowding the inn that served as our meeting hall.
Of course….
‘He looks completely shell-shocked.’
…The one most shocked by this sight seemed to be Yu Ha-seong.
He couldn’t close his gaping mouth as he watched the familial warmth between me and the merchants.
Truth be told, I hadn’t expected the merchants to welcome me this much either.
If I’d known they were this loyal, I wouldn’t have gouged them so hard….
“Heh heh, everyone quiet down a bit. We haven’t even heard exactly when the path will reopen yet.”
“Yeah, let’s hear it. When exactly is the path reopening? Give us a date!”
The merchants were fired up, while Yu Ha-seong stood flustered, his momentum broken.
Yes, this was my chance. The chance I wanted.
“Haha, the path will reopen now. Maintenance is done, and the lodges are repaired. However, there’s a slight problem….”
“Problem? What problem?”
At the merchants’ urging, I pointed at the dazed Yu Ha-seong and continued.
“We could open it, but they keep blocking us.”
That guy! He’s the one!
The moment I told the merchants Yu Ha-seong was to blame, their angry glares turned to him.
“How dare they—!”
“The mountain path is Honam Province’s treasure—!”
“Who is it? Show your face!”
The merchants rolled up their sleeves and advanced on Yu Ha-seong like older brothers avenging a beaten younger sibling.
But….
“Without the mountain path, how hard do we have it!”
“Hey—you, who are you to block the mountain path…!”
“…Enough, all of you! This is Yu Jeong, the Righteous Sword Hero of the Shanshu Yu Clan—!”
“…….”
“…….”
…The moment the Open Faction’s branch leader couldn’t stand it and stepped in, they backed off immediately.
The name Shanshu Yu Clan made them freeze, bow their heads, and fall silent like mice.
‘Such quick-witted, strong-against-weak types.’
Of course, this was only natural.
What fearless merchant would charge at a martial artist—let alone the head of one of the top ten clans?
“Ah, no way… How is the Shanshu Yu Clan leader all the way out here….”
“R-representing the Murim Alliance, perhaps….”
“L-let’s bow our heads quick and get out before we make him hate us…!”
Common folk feared evil sect martial artists. But they feared and avoided righteous sect ones just as much.
You never knew what could happen if you got tangled with them.
Unaware of this, Yu Ha-seong looked surprised to see the merchants fearing him more than me.
But it didn’t end there.
“…But why should we bow?”
Even small fry grow bold in numbers. And shrewd merchants knew that, unlike reckless evil sect folk, righteous sect martial artists couldn’t easily lay hands on them.
“They say this was the Murim Alliance’s enforcement squad’s doing? The victims are us bandits and you merchants—why should we bow?”
Starting from one person’s mutter, the merchants’ voices swelled like crashing waves.
“Y-yeah! The Murim Alliance is the one at fault, aren’t they?”
“Do you know how much I’ve lost from the path being closed this time?!”
“What did the bandits do wrong for the Murim Alliance to act like this?!”
“The Murim Alliance never cared about Honam before!”
“They ignored us until they saw the money in the mountain path, then tried to swallow it whole.”
And among them, this voice too.
“My brother died at the hands of the Murim Alliance’s subjugation force! He wasn’t even a martial artist—! What reason was there to kill him?! Explain yourselves, Murim Alliance!”
Not mere complaints, but voices wrapped in real fury.
It spread like wildfire, soon becoming a massive force ready to engulf Yu Ha-seong whole.
I watched Yu Ha-seong’s expression closely as he witnessed it firsthand.
No fear.
Just… an expression hard to put into words settling on his face.
Riding this momentum, I spoke to him as he looked conflicted.
“Hero. With public sentiment like this, do you still feel the same?”
“…….”
Yu Ha-seong didn’t answer me at first, then took a moment before rising from his seat.
And… instead of approaching me, he stepped toward the angry merchants.
“Wait a moment… Branch Leader. I have words for them.”
“Do as you like.”
I nodded, and he nodded back before turning his gaze to the merchants.
As he stood before them, they fell silent like mice again, and soon his mouth slowly opened.
**
“Now, everyone, please check the document once more. Stamp below.”
Thump.
I stamped it right away at the document clerk’s words. This document stated that the Murim Alliance recognized the bandits’ territorial rights.
There were various restrictions attached, but… with this, Honam Province was officially under our bandits’ influence.
“…….”
Yu Ha-seong, looking a bit dazed, lightly skimmed the document again.
Oh, by the way, all the summoned merchants had dispersed. I’d ordered the youngest to reopen the path, and upon hearing that, they’d set off to use it again.
Squeeze—.
Finally, Yu Ha-seong stamped the document too. Seeing it, the document clerk declared in a slightly raised tone.
“With this, the agreement between the twenty Honam bandit branches and the Murim Alliance is hereby established.”
It was an atmosphere for applause, but no one did. Instead, Yu Ha-seong suggested to me.
“You. Care to talk alone?”
“Sure.”
His eyes held no more hostility, so I accepted. I walked the quiet streets with him.
Once alone, he immediately said to me.
“I never expected to meet you like this… As you said, I’ve heard a lot about you from my daughter and son.”
“…Probably not good things.”
He was said to separate public and private well, and sure enough, the moment Murim Alliance business ended, he brought up family matters.
I wondered if he’d start demanding the Shanshu Yu Clan’s manual and elixir again.
To head that off, I struck first.
“I’m sorry about before. I got blinded by money, so please forgive me generously. I’ve already passed the locations of the Shanshu Yu Clan manual and elixir to Young Master Yu.”
“…….”
At my words, he smiled faintly and continued.
“Of course, recovering the manual and elixir is important, but that’s not what I came to say.”
“Then?”
“Thank you truly for saving the Shanshu Yu Clan, So-myeong, and Jin-myeong before.”
He said this and bowed his head deeply. I couldn’t help but be flustered.
The image he showed now was worlds apart from the stuffy old man from earlier.
“And… I apologize for showing such ugly, narrow-minded behavior this time.”
“…It wasn’t that ugly.”
Just moments ago.
Yu Ha-seong had bowed deeply to the merchants too, just like he did to me now.
He apologized for the Murim Alliance’s actions and promised compensation to the victims.
It was rare for a martial artist—let alone one of high status—to admit fault, bow, and apologize like this, so everyone was taken aback.
In that way, Yu Ha-seong quelled the merchants’ anger before concluding the agreement with me.
“Foolish me only realized, upon seeing them, that I—we, the Murim Alliance—were sitting there as sinners.”
His expression as he said this was truly bitter.
“And I learned that many common folk prefer the bandits who help nearby over the distant Murim Alliance.”
Hearing this, I finally understood why he was called the Righteous Sword Hero.
If it were just for the Murim Alliance’s gain, he never would have agreed to this. But he set aside the Alliance’s interests to consider public sentiment and the common people’s benefit.
Moreover… though late, he acknowledged the Murim Alliance’s wrongs and showed sincere remorse.
“Won’t the Murim Alliance Leader chew you out?”
“Don’t worry. He left the decision entirely to me, so even if he’s dissatisfied, he can’t do much. And he’s a man who knows shame, so it’ll be fine.”
“He’s more magnanimous than I thought.”
“Is that so? Haha.”
We shared a laugh, but then an awkward silence fell. To lighten the mood, I tossed out a line.
“By the way, when I visited the Shanshu Yu Clan before, I didn’t see Madam. Where is she?”
“She passed away. Fifteen years ago.”
“Ah.”
But that question hit a landmine.
“How did it….”
“She was ambushed by evil sect martial artists on her way to her parents’ home.”
“Ah.”
A damn anti-tank mine.
Seeing me flustered, he patted my shoulder as if to say it was fine.
“It’s okay. Thanks to you, this incident opened my eyes to a new perspective. Not all evil sects are the same….”
As he said this, gazing into the distance, his eyes held deep longing. Perhaps he was thinking of his late wife.
“…I was too hung up on the past and narrow-minded. I apologize once more.”
“…It happens.”
It wasn’t a mood for more talk, so we silently circled the neighborhood. Only when we returned to the original inn did I ask him.
“Are you heading back now?”
“With my business done, yes.”
Yu Ha-seong.
A man who put the common people’s interests before his own or the Murim Alliance’s. He’d seemed like a stuffy old man at first, but we got through to each other eventually. Not a bad encounter….
“But before that, I’d like to see my daughter’s face.”
“Pardon?”
…Almost.
“So-myeong sent a letter before. She said she came to Honam Province to meet you. Isn’t she with you?”
“…….”
That was true, but….
A day that seemed headed for a smooth end suddenly went into red alert.
Flustered, I tried to improvise….
“Ah, well, Young Lady Yu went back already….”
“Hm? The Shanshu Yu Clan’s breathing technique is unique, so her energy stands out. I sense my daughter’s energy nearby… Am I wrong?”
Fuck.
I immediately pictured what state Yu So-myeong was in. No matter how I thought, it wasn’t good.
“My daughter’s that way. Let’s go.”
“…….”
In that time, Yu Ha-seong had sensed his daughter’s energy, pointed in her direction, and started walking.
‘No way, fuck. It’s not like she has GPS—how the hell does he know?’
It didn’t make sense by my wuxia logic, but he could apparently detect his own daughter’s energy.
In fact, Yu Ha-seong was heading toward Yu So-myeong via a pretty accurate route.
“I was worried at first, but seeing you, I think So-myeong has learned much. I’m curious how much she’s grown after so long, but why are we heading to such a secluded spot?”
As we wove through back alleys to meet Yu So-myeong, Yu Ha-seong voiced his doubts.
“Young Lady Yu chose a tucked-away lodging….”
“So-myeong did…?”
Step—.
“…….”
“…….”
In the meantime, Yu Ha-seong’s steps had stopped. The place where he halted was an abandoned warehouse that looked long unused to anyone’s eyes.
“…This is it?”
“…….”
We’re screwed.
Now the only option was for So-myeong to talk her father down.
“Hero. From now on, don’t misunderstand and trust my words. The truth is….”
“…Let’s spar.”
Swoosh.
I tried to stop him, but he shoved my shoulder with internal energy, leaving me no choice.
Soon after, the door opened, revealing….
“So-myeong—!”
…Yu So-myeong, bound head to toe, gagged, lying on the floor.
Yu Ha-seong was shocked and first removed her gag. Yu So-myeong lay limp, opened her eyes at the commotion, and….
“Daddyyy….”
…Burst into tears.
“W-who dares make you like this… Tell me now, who?!”
“…….”
“Don’t look back—look into your father’s eyes and speak. Who?! I’ll tear that bastard apart. Come on, stop looking back and tell me… Huh?”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“Young Lady Yu, why are you looking at me? Father will misunderstand. Haha.”
I tried to play it cool, but….
Shiiiing—.
…Too late.
…Yu Ha-seong’s empty eyes began filling with overwhelming killing intent.
‘…Should I run?’
I thought about it, but that seemed too late too.