Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Swift Surrender
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The time from swinging the Demon-Subduing Blade to dropping to his knees was short.
As if he'd planned it from the start, the Demon-Subduing Blade lay neatly on the ground. Behind it, the Ear-Cutting Greatsword knelt and looked up at Dan Mokrin.
It was a remarkably natural motion, like something he'd done many times before.
Silence fell over the unexpected scene.
But only for a moment.
"M-Mount Hua Sect?!"
"Gasp!"
His subordinates encircling Cheonhwi and Cheon Igae jolted to attention.
Soon, sweat poured down their faces. They subtly lowered their weapons pointed at Cheonhwi and Cheon Igae while glancing around nervously.
As they slunk back, Cheon Igae clicked his tongue.
"No wonder the bandit sightings have spiked near Shaanxi's borders lately. I figured some new Green Forest stronghold had cropped up."
Recalling intel from the Beggars' Sect, he pitifully shook his head at them.
"Not Green Forest. Just unorthodox scum chased out of Shaanxi, reduced to banditry around here."
Cheonhwi asked, puzzled.
"Huh? So these guys were originally Shaanxi unorthodox?"
"Likely. You heard it at the inn too. Shaanxi's unorthodox lost their footing after the Shenzhou Four Evils got crushed in that spar."
Cheon Igae furrowed his brows.
"Some unorthodox sects even sealed their doors voluntarily lately. The useless ones got booted."
"So they're turning to banditry?"
"What else? Plundering with their paltry skills seemed like their best bet."
"They could join another sect..."
Cheonhwi shook his head.
"No chance."
Their so-called encirclement hardly qualified as an ambush. Third-rate was putting it kindly.
"But if they're banditizing anyway, why not join Green Forest proper?"
"You think that's feasible? After scorning and stomping on Green Forest for years?"
Each pointed remark from their exchange made the bandits flinch hard.
Green Forest and unorthodox were night and day.
Unorthodox dismissed Green Forest as illiterate thugs living off robbery.
Green Forest sneered at unorthodox as filthy swindlers fleecing honest folk.
Cheon Igae let out a hollow laugh, still finding it ridiculous.
"To us, they're both bottom-feeders. But that's how they see each other."
"In the end, the ones who mocked banditry are stuck doing it."
"Spitting right in their own faces."
"Hmm. So there must be a bunch like this around?"
"Probably. Not just a handful booted from Shaanxi. Could be more than reported."
"Tsk."
Cheonhwi scratched his head.
More bandits near Shaanxi spelled trouble for Mount Hua Sect.
Merchants and escorts would steer clear of Shaanxi routes, trade would dry up, and the province's economy would suffer.
"This got annoying fast."
He'd assumed winning the spar wrapped it up. Instead, messy fallout.
What to do? Slaughter them?
But that'd drag on.
No quick sweep? Wait... ah!
Suddenly inspired, Cheonhwi grinned and whipped around.
He eyed the Ear-Cutting Greatsword and Dan Mokrin.
"Perfect."
As Cheonhwi's eyes curved slyly...
'Damn it! Why's Mount Hua here?'
The Ear-Cutting Greatsword's gut burned.
He'd fled Shaanxi after the unorthodox crumbled post-Shenzhou Four Evils' loss.
Too weak for a new base elsewhere, banditry it was.
'Wander in sect robes, why don't you? Ditched 'em!'
Blood tears welled inside.
'Damn! Should've been more careful!'
On his knees, he bellowed.
"This lowly wretch's poor skills blinded me till now, young hero!"
Desperation to survive oozed from the shout.
But...
"What is this?"
Icy dismissal.
Dan Mokrin spoke coldly, ignoring the begging.
"Pick up the Demon-Subduing Blade again."
As the Ear-Cutting Greatsword shuddered...
"Hold up."
A calm voice cut in.
Dan Mokrin instantly sheathed her sword and quelled her surging qi.
"Yes, senior brother!"
The Ear-Cutting Greatsword gawked as Dan Mokrin shifted from frozen fury to sunny retreat, then snapped to and kowtowed frantically.
"Please spare me!"
Sensing the approaching youth led the group, he pleaded desperately.
"I've a vixen wife and bunny kids at home. Who feeds them if I die? Mercy, just once..."
"Where's home?"
"...Pardon?"
He looked up, dumbfounded.
"H-Home, you mean?"
"Yeah."
"It's over there..."
His shaky finger jabbed vaguely into the mountains.
"That way?"
"Y-Yes."
Cheonhwi smirked at his wandering pupils.
"Lying smooth without spit, big balls."
The Ear-Cutting Greatsword blanched.
He slammed his head down.
"Forgive me! Grave sin!"
"Yeah? Die then."
Cheonhwi mimed drawing.
"Gasp!"
He jerked up, gulped, waved thick hands wildly.
"N-No! Rethought—not grave!"
Cheonhwi snorted at the instant flip.
"No do-overs."
"Got it!"
Taut shout. Cheonhwi murmured.
"One question."
"Anything!"
"Know lots of unorthodox bandit scum around here?"
"Pardon?"
Brain raced.
'What's the angle?'
Thwack!
"Urk!"
Scabbard cracked skull.
"Hear gears grinding."
Clutching head, teary, he mumbled.
"I know this area's!"
"How many?"
"Hundred li radius, maybe..."
"Not a ton. Eh, workable."
Pondered, then:
"Keep banditry here?"
"No!"
Booming reply.
"Then what?"
Never planned ahead, sweating buckets.
"Wanderer gigs, escorts..."
Cheonhwi cut in.
"Places hiring you?"
"W-Well..."
He squirmed.
Why banditry otherwise?
No wanderer crews or escorts took him and his ragtag bunch. He knew.
Cheonhwi slammed scabbard down.
Stared hard.
"Join a sect instead?"
"Gasp!"
Panicked.
"N-Not Mount Hua...? Gah!"
Hard scabbard whack.
"Crazy?"
Rubbing lump, whiny:
"Wh-Which sect?"
"Prosperity Fortress ring a bell?"
"Yes. Riverside one?"
He nodded.
Prosperity Fortress: lately, Shaanxi unorthodox looked up to it.
It kept power mild despite nearby Ilhwa Sect, Mount Hua's secular branch.
"How's that? Join Prosperity Fortress?"
Eyes gleamed.
Near-last unorthodox holdout in Shaanxi. Better than before.
"Possible?"
"Sure."
Cheonhwi grinned wide.
"Tell 'em Mount Hua sent you. They'll take you."
"R-Right."
Dubious look.
Made no sense: unorthodox sect taking Mount Hua referrals?
But zipped it. More lumps otherwise.
"En route, round up every unorthodox bandit in Shaanxi. Haul to Prosperity Fortress."
"E-Every bandit unorthodox in Shaanxi?"
"Yep."
"Too many..."
"Your job."
"..."
Head drooped at the iron tone.
"...Understood."
"Good boy."
Cheonhwi beamed.
"Oh, recent loot?"
"N-Not much."
"Enough to lie."
Hand out.
Silent demand. He dug pouch, dumped silvers on palm.
Hand stayed.
Cheonhwi mouthed:
"No do-overs."
"Huh?"
"You fetch? Or me?"
Whined.
"I-I'll get it."
Soon, he and men from camp dumped loot in cart corner.
"Less than thought."
Awkward grin.
"New to banditry. Slim pickings."
"Huh."
Glanced down, nodded, hopped on cart.
"Stick to my words."
"No worries!"
Straightened up.
Cart rolled out.
"Great hero! Safe trip!"
"Fare well!"
He and men waved big, beaming at departing group.
Out of sight...
"Filthy mutts! Robbing us when nothing left!"
"Hack, spit! Flip your damn cart en route!"
Curses flew.
But he quietly hefted Demon-Subduing Blade, sighed.
"Haa."
"Boss?"
"Nothin'."
"Now what?"
"What? Round up other unorthodox, head to Prosperity Fortress."
"B-But it work? How wrangle every bandit?"
"Run?"
"Only play now."
"Know that old beggar?"
"Huh?"
"Beggars' Sect. Evade their eyes?"
Shoulders slumped.
"Plus, he said if we bolt, tracks us to him. Heh."
Sad, forlorn laugh escaped.
"...We're flat broke."