Chapter 43
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Six Spinning Taihang Bang Chung
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Unexpectedly, it was Jin Seolhwa who ended her fight first.
With a vigorous shout, her linked sword pierced Mok Gwangji's Qihai acupoint, and that was the end of it.
Jin Seolhwa's Subduing Demons Sword Art was no longer what it used to be.
The original Shaolin Subduing Demons Sword Art was a pure and incomparably sharp sword technique, one not easily seen in the martial world.
As Jin Seolhwa reflected on the humiliation from their previous clash and regained her original edge, Mok Gwangji could no longer withstand her.
And now, the duel between Sa Hongcheon and Seo Hongsan, which had dragged on for over a hundred exchanges of advance and retreat, was also reaching its conclusion.
As Sa Hongcheon targeted Seo Hongsan's Qihai acupoint with the twentieth form of the World's Thirty-Six Swords, Swimming Dragon's Hidden Tail, Seo Hongsan countered with Great Roc Raises the Mountain, sweeping his spear upward from below to deflect Sa Hongcheon's longsword.
But this was Sa Hongcheon's hidden killing move, and Seo Hongsan's mistake.
Sa Hongcheon's left hand now thrust toward Seo Hongsan's exposed lower abdomen.
It was the latter ultimate technique of the Thunderclap Hands: Rushing Thunder Onslaught.
The moment Sa Hongcheon's palm struck Seo Hongsan's dantian, the green-robed old man flicked a small pebble.
Sa Hongcheon twisted his body to block the stone flying at his back from behind, withdrawing the Rushing Thunder Onslaught and dodging in the process.
"That's enough. This old man has a face to save, after all..."
The green-robed old man, who had been sitting, slowly rose and inserted himself between Sa Hongcheon and Seo Hongsan.
"Who the hell are you to interfere? Will you take responsibility for today?"
Enraged, Sa Hongcheon raised his longsword again and took a step toward the old man.
What was strange was Seo Hongsan's reaction.
He was just as furious as Sa Hongcheon, hurling curses at the old man.
"Hmph. Damn old geezer. Is it so hard for you to let me die right here?"
"Hey, you brat. Don't I have my own duties to attend to? If it's your wish, I'll kill you anytime—just wait a moment."
Sa Hongcheon sized up the green-robed old man's bearing while glancing at Seonwoyong and Do Gwang.
With their skills, they couldn't have missed the old man throwing the pebble, and if they'd wanted to stop it, they could have.
Yet both sat there calmly.
The seasoned Sa Hongcheon quickly regained his composure, sheathing his drawn longsword.
He asked the old man once more.
"This Sa has yet to hear the esteemed name of the old hero. Pray enlighten these humble eyes."
When Sa Hongcheon asked politely again, the green-robed old man replied.
"My name is Bang Chung. I serve as the inadequate Chief Patrol of the Green Forest."
Upon hearing this, Sa Hongcheon cupped his hands in respect.
"Then you must be the great hero Bang Chung of the Six Spinning Taihang, whose name echoes throughout the land. This Sa from the western front offers her greetings."
"You've had a hard journey. But first, I need to settle our Green Forest matters."
The old man who had revealed himself as Bang Chung now approached Seo Hongsan.
"Come now, you've played enough and resisted plenty. Follow me."
"Old man. Is our Green Forest some government office? What right do you have to order the handover of this Radiant Peak stronghold?"
"Heh heh... You young pup sure talk a lot. By the time you poked your head out of your mother's jade gate, I was already eating the bandit's rice. You know full well that our Green Forest has its laws and hierarchy."
"Laws my ass... Heh heh heh. The seventy-two Green Forest strongholds are just names now, and the Chief Stronghold Lord is a toothless tiger, isn't he?"
"You dare wag that loose tongue before me, Bang Chung? You know well what the first law of the Green Forest is."
"Hmph. What else? The strong rule."
"Exactly. You've held the chieftain's seat here on Radiant Peak by that law until now, so I'll reclaim it by the same token."
Bang Chung struck before his words even finished.
The man who had shuffled feebly moments before charged at Seo Hongsan with astonishing lightness skill, thrusting out his right palm.
It was the common Striking Ox Through the Wall technique, but when executed by Bang Chung with peak lightness skill and astounding internal energy, even an expert like Seo Hongsan couldn't respond in time and had to roll ignominiously on the ground in Lazy Donkey Turns Over.
Bang Chung immediately followed with Chasing Moon Stepping Snow, stomping his left foot on Seo Hongsan's right hand to force him to release the spear, then kicking it up with his right foot to catch it before retreating.
It was dazzlingly swift handiwork, a ghostly chain attack.
"That's right. Combat is about real battle. Ha ha..."
Do Gwang, who had been watching, clapped in applause, while Seo Hongsan sprang up, his face flushed beet red.
"Care to continue?"
Bang Chung plunged the spear in his left hand straight into the ground.
Incredibly, it sank nearly three feet deep, making the longspear look like a shortspear now.
"Hmm... So what now?"
Seo Hongsan was completely deflated.
"First, go to the stronghold, hand over all the warehouse keys to your second-in-command, then come with me to Yoryang Mountain."
"What do you plan to do with me once we're at Yoryang Mountain?"
"How should I know? The Supreme Lord of the Green Forest ordered me to bring you, so I've merely followed orders. You'll face judgment when we get there."
Seo Hongsan nodded dejectedly, fully subdued.
"Understood. I'll do as ordered."
"You should have from the start. Here, take this. You have to swallow it..."
Bang Chung pulled a small pill bottle from his bosom and tossed it to Seo Hongsan.
"What's this?"
"Dispersing Power Pills. One a day."
"Hmph. Does it have to go this far?"
"Let me live a little too, you brat. Don't you ever think about someone who's done this their whole life?"
With a grim expression, Seo Hongsan took out one pill and swallowed it.
* * *
The savory aroma of roasting meat filled the stronghold.
Fires blazed here and there in the central clearing, with two pigs and three sheep skewered on spits, turning slowly as they cooked.
The sun had long set, and the night sky twinkled with stars.
At the central table among the many set up in the clearing sat today's protagonists.
Sa Hongcheon, Jin Seolhwa, Seonwoyong, Do Gwang, Gang Pyo, and others sat side by side, with Bang Chung, Seo Hongsan, Gi Hyogwang, and a gaunt middle-aged man facing them.
The table held various blanched and stir-fried wild vegetables, roasted and braised meats, and several jars of liquor.
But the mood wasn't great.
"So those two were the ones who leaked it."
When Sa Hongcheon confirmed, Seo Hongsan nodded again.
Ten days ago, No Deuk and So Myeongcho had visited this Radiant Peak stronghold, receiving five hundred taels of silver in toll and exchanging greetings.
They casually let slip how valuable the cargo was that the Shenzhou Caravan passing through here would carry, prompting Seo Hongsan to press for details, and So Myeongcho reluctantly spilled everything.
Sa Hongcheon read their intent.
They planned to race ahead of the Shenzhou Caravan, spreading the rumor at every stop along the way.
Sa Hongcheon let out a deep sigh.
She had thought that until they exited Gayok Pass west of Lanzhou, the Green Forest strongholds they met would settle for a modest toll.
But now, such calculations were moot.
"What on earth happened with the Heungyang Merchant Association to make them go this far..."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Bang Chung prompted, and Sa Hongcheon began calmly explaining the past incident.
"Hey, let's go grab another drink somewhere else. This is no fun."
Displeased at hearing a familiar story dragged out, Gang Pyo suggested to Gi Hyogwang across from him.
"Sure thing."
Gi Hyogwang rose with Gang Pyo.
Gang Pyo and Gi Hyogwang had shared over three hundred exchanges, forging a bond of mutual respect.
After Bang Chung subdued Seo Hongsan and the fallen fighters in the hall began rising one by one, a messenger informed them of the situation, and only then did the pair halt their hour-plus spar.
As the two left, Do Gwang poked Seonwoyong beside him.
"Come on. Let's head over by that campfire..."
But Seonwoyong shook his head.
His gaze was fixed on the emaciated man.
When Bang Chung had fetched him from the stronghold's prison and first introduced him, Seonwoyong had tilted his head.
His name was Yu Munsul, alias Azure Frost Blade.
He had been the first chieftain of Radiant Peak Stronghold but lost to Seo Hongsan, who arrived five years ago, and had been locked in the prison ever since.
Usually, one would acknowledge defeat and become a brother, continuing bandit life, but this man hadn't.
What made Seonwoyong tilt his head was the man's eyes.
They weren't the eyes of someone imprisoned for years.
His body was wasted, but his gaze burned fiercely. The restrained aura was no less than Seo Hongsan's.
'No, how did a man like that lose to a fool like Seo Hongsan? There must be some inside story.'
Even Bang Chung, who knew it all, offered no explanation.
He merely introduced that Radiant Peak Stronghold would now be under Yu Munsul again, and the sole remaining deputy, Gi Hyogwang, accepted it as natural, ending the matter there.
Since Seonwoyong stayed put, Do Gwang grumbled but emptied his cup.
When Sa Hongcheon finished her tale, Bang Chung shook his head.
"Hmm. That's not something a merchant house should do..."
"Exactly. This is truly..."
"By the way, the Four Great Heroes must be quite worried now. With three thousand li still to Dunhuang ahead, not only the strongholds in between but also the roadside bandits popping up anytime are cause for concern."
"Indeed. If the Chief Patrol has any wisdom to share, this Sa washes her ears to listen."
"Ha ha... I'm the Chief Patrol of those very bandit hordes, and you're asking me for countermeasures?"
"Didn't the seas say the east road? Meeting great hero Bang today and forging this bond—how could it not be heaven's will?"