Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 334
Chapter Title: The Wudang Deception
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Cheong Woo-jin scanned Namgung Hyeok from head to toe before taking a step forward.
“I don’t know where you’re from, but we’ll find out soon enough. Let’s see how long you can keep hiding your true martial arts!”
Cheong Woo-jin was the hero of the Mountain King Stronghold, leader of the Thirty-Two Bandit Strongholds.
The Mountain King Stronghold was on a different level from other bandit dens.
The members of the Mountain King Brigade, who guarded the Bandit King, were all experts surpassing the stronghold leader level.
They were on par with the sect leaders of most factions.
As Cheong Woo-jin moved toward Namgung Hyeok, two of his subordinates naturally shifted toward Namgung Ryong.
Sring!
“I’ll teach you what it means to draw a blade against the Thirty-Two Bandit Strongholds!”
“It means bandit scum-hunting! What else?”
“You’ve got a mouth on you!”
Cheong Woo-jin narrowed his eyes sharply.
The moment he drew his sword, he stomped the ground forcefully.
Without any recoil from his knee, he shot forward in a surprise thrust.
It was Cheong Woo-jin’s sword technique, honed through countless battles.
A single move from the Quick Kill Sword: Traceless Kill.
A translucent sword qi targeted Namgung Hyeok’s throat.
‘I’ll make them reveal their identities!’
If they had targeted the Great Tiger Stronghold, one of the Thirty-Two Bandit Strongholds, their preparations would have been thorough.
There was a high chance they hadn’t left any identity tokens or traces.
That left inferring their origins from their true martial arts.
Clang!
Namgung Hyeok twisted his sword lightly to block Cheong Woo-jin’s Traceless Kill.
But Cheong Woo-jin, as if anticipating it, changed his stance and twisted his shoulder.
The sword light slithered up Namgung Hyeok’s blade like a snake, once more diving for his throat.
Whoosh!
A one-chi-long sword qi burst from the tip.
Namgung Hyeok twisted his upper body to evade it.
Cheong Woo-jin furrowed his brow.
‘Dodged?’
He’d thought he wasn’t ordinary, but deflecting the sword qi so effortlessly.
It surpassed his expectation of at least exchanging a move or two.
“How long do you think you can keep dodging!”
Cheong Woo-jin increased his speed.
The energy riding his Quick Kill Sword grew denser.
The translucent sword qi turned a murky blue.
Swoooosh! Crackle-crackle!
Like sunlight piercing through bars, Cheong Woo-jin’s sword qi flew toward Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok deflected the chaotic barrage and narrowed his eyes.
‘Ah, didn’t expect a guy like this.’
He’d thought all bandits were just dumb thugs, but one had sharp instincts.
Too bad. He could’ve wrapped this up easy.
Now he worried things might get messy if he slipped up.
If their identities got exposed, it’d spark conflict with the Thirty-Two Bandit Strongholds, which he absolutely wanted to avoid.
Half the world was mountains, half rivers.
Bandits operated on those mountains and rivers as their main stage.
Clashing badly with them meant losing escort cargo to bandits and hole-ridden boats from river pirates—not just once or twice.
Mess with bandits, and every road crawled with mountain and river scum. Nothing more annoying.
‘Kill them all?’
No, that’d just blow things up big time.
Then what was the point of the disguises?
He’d planned to frame it as bandit work.
‘This punk’s got some experience, huh? Sharp instincts.’
That’s why sharp ones are...
Wait.
Sharp instincts?
A sly glint flashed in Namgung Hyeok’s eyes.
He deflected Cheong Woo-jin’s sword and grinned.
‘Thinks we’re orthodox, does he?’
He’d disguised it as bandit work to hide their identities anyway, right?
‘Just hide the identities.’
As long as it wasn’t the Namgung family!
Namgung Hyeok!
In an instant, Namgung Hyeok surged his internal energy.
The snaking sword from Cheong Woo-jin twisted and was pushed back.
Cheong Woo-jin’s eyes shook wide.
‘Rough style, but that energy is pure.’
Cheong Woo-jin had been in the bandit life for over a decade.
He’d fought escorts on mountain paths and clashed with countless orthodox warriors.
But the sword force Namgung Hyeok revealed in that instant was qualitatively different—pure energy.
Almost like Daoist qi...
‘Daoist?’
Cheong Woo-jin’s eyes gleamed as he pushed his Quick Kill Sword to the limit.
Ten strands of sword qi chained tail to tail, cascading down.
Each one brimmed with killing intent, vowing to sever breath.
The moment a faint sword shadow flashed, ten swords pierced toward one point.
Shiiiiaaa!
Clear light flowed from Namgung Hyeok’s eyes.
His sword rotated around the Quick Kill Sword diving at one point.
In that instant, suction energy unleashed, followed by a majestic surge.
Dang! Shaaaack!
Cheong Woo-jin’s eyes bulged.
His Quick Kill Sword qi seemed sucked into the circle Namgung Hyeok drew, like a waterlogged cotton wad.
‘No way?’
As Cheong Woo-jin paled with realization.
Fwoooosh!
The sword force sucked into Namgung Hyeok’s circle reversed and shot back.
Kriiiiind!
His sword blade twisted in his grip, sleeve tearing.
Cheong Woo-jin leaped back, yelling in shock.
“With Softness Overcome Hardness!”
Only one place in the world wielded With Softness Overcome Hardness so adeptly, with such pure, majestic energy.
“You’re from Wudang Sect!”
At his shout, the gazes of the fighting Mountain King Stronghold experts and Namgung Ryong stabbed toward Namgung Hyeok like arrows.
Nearby, Seo Gang-jong fighting widened his eyes.
‘Wudang Sect?’
Wudang Sect?
They suddenly raided the Great Tiger Stronghold?
Namgung Hyeok scratched his head and sighed.
But inside, he endured boiling laughter.
‘Dumb bandit scum, draw a circle and they think Wudang! Can’t even tell it’s fake, heh heh!’
Namgung Hyeok muttered, hiding his thoughts.
“That’s why I hate sharp ones.”
“You’re really Wudang?!”
“Tch, busted.”
Namgung Ryong flinched at Namgung Hyeok’s brazen reply.
So Geol-gae gaped.
“That crazy...”
Wow, now he’s selling out Wudang since there’s nothing else left.
Huh?
Wait, what’s wrong with selling them out?
They’re one of the Nine Great Sects?
“Hey! Why’d you say that!”
Dang Myeong-jin, deflecting a flying blade with his leaf fan, glared at So Geol-gae.
“Now’s not the time for...”
“If you don’t wanna die, back me up quick!”
“What...”
“Can’t you see the madness in that punk’s eyes?”
Dang Myeong-jin rolled his eyes.
“That’s right! We’re Wudang Sect!”
At his declaration, bandits and all froze in shock.
Gazes whirled to Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok shamelessly eyed the stunned Cheong Woo-jin.
Cheong Woo-jin ground his teeth, glaring at Namgung Hyeok.
“Why would Wudang do this!”
Namgung Hyeok’s masked mouth twitched.
Cheong Woo-jin realized the punk was grinning.
“Isn’t the loot you stole right here?”
Cheong Woo-jin’s eyes twitched.
‘Where the hell did the info leak from?’
Or was Wudang’s intelligence better than he thought?
“Is Wudang picking a fight with the bandits!”
“Stolen goods don’t care about owners. The thief owns it. That’s the Shaolin monks’, not yours.”
“The wrath of the Thirty-Two Bandit Strongholds...”
“Ah, don’t worry. Dead men don’t talk! That’s why they say ‘kill all witnesses.’”
Namgung Hyeok’s heh-heh chuckle echoed chillingly.
Namgung Ryong and the others stared at him dumbfounded for a moment.
No, laughing like that makes you look like the villain.
Who’d buy Wudang?
“You hypocrites! Your true colors are showing!”
Ah, guess that’s what they think.
People nodded at Cheong Woo-jin’s reaction.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“Where’d you stash the Solar Water root?”
Cheong Woo-jin bared killing intent at Namgung Hyeok knowing the exact item name.
“Aren’t Wudang Daoists afraid of bandits?”
“What’s scary about goods-mooching scum? We’re Wudang Sect, Wudang.”
“......”
“Shaolin’s the shady ones, not you. Get lost!”
Namgung Hyeok hurled mockery relentlessly.
Realizing no compromise, Cheong Woo-jin subtly gathered energy.
He planned to end it in one instant while the foe was off-guard.
He sent a transmission.
[The moment I strike, retreat and inform the Bandit King!]
His subordinates exchanged glances.
They too knew chances were zero once confirmed as Wudang.
Cheong Woo-jin turned to Namgung Hyeok.
“How did you know we have the Solar Water root?”
“This stronghold leader told me?”
“Wh-what bullshit!”
Seo Gang-jong panicked at the sudden finger-point.
The instant Cheong Woo-jin flinched and glanced away, Namgung Hyeok kicked off the ground.
Swoosh!
With Blood Wind God technique, a blue shadow trailed long.
Once pegged as Wudang, Cheong Woo-jin’s mind morphed Blood Wind God into Wudang’s Cloud Drift Step.
“Cl-Cloud Drift Step! You coward!”
“Yeah! This is Wudang’s way! What’re you gonna do?”
“You wench!”
Cheong Woo-jin steadied his breath to block Namgung Hyeok’s sword.
But Namgung Hyeok’s sword slyly changed direction, instantly wrapping his blade.
Skriki-kik-clang!
Sparks flew briefly, then Cheong Woo-jin staggered with a defeated look.
Namgung Hyeok’s fist shot out.
Paaak!
“This is Taiji Fist!”
“Gahk!”
Namgung Hyeok spread his hand wide.
Slaaap!
“This is Taiji Palm!”
“Kuaaak!”
“This is Taiji Finger!”
Puk!
Namgung Hyeok’s fingers poked out Cheong Woo-jin’s eyes.
“Gaaahk!”
“And this is Taiji Kick!”
As Namgung Hyeok powerfully kicked up.
Crack!
“Wh-what Taiji is...”
A horrifying shock pierced his groin, sending Cheong Woo-jin flailing.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“Split in two, it’s Taiji, punk.”
“...That, what... grrrk!”
“Hand over the Solar Water, now!”
Paaak!
At Namgung Hyeok’s brutal blow, the steadfast Cheong Woo-jin finally crumpled.
Suddenly, like a blow to the back of the head, the two Mountain King Stronghold bandits attempting escape, and the Great Tiger Stronghold bandits, all gawked wide-eyed.
All recoiled at the brutal methods unimaginable from Wudang warriors.
Swoooosh!
Skriki-kak!
“Gahk!”
“Kuaak!”
Mountain King Stronghold bandits retreating were pierced by Namgung Ryong’s attacks and collapsed.
Seo Gang-jong’s pupils shook violently.
The battle was already decided.
Wudang experts had subdued all Great Tiger elites, even the Great Tiger Ten Heroes teetering on death.
With Mountain King heroes down and retreat blocked, no chance remained.
Seo Gang-jong dropped his weapon.
“Hah, surrender! We surrender! E-everyone, drop your weapons! W-Wudang Sect, please show mercy!”
“Sp-spare us!”
“Great heroes—no, Daoists, please spare us!”
Bandits dropped weapons en masse and surrendered.
Peng Jung-hyeok, Peng Yeon-hwa, So Hye-yeon, and the Blood Killer Squad herded them together.
So Geol-gae turned to Namgung Hyeok.
“Young master... sigh.”
Bandit or not, Namgung Hyeok was already rummaging through the fallen Cheong Woo-jin’s bosom.
“This it? Yeah!”
Namgung Hyeok cheered, pulling a wooden box from Cheong Woo-jin’s chest.
Warm energy rose from within.
‘...Should I just eat it?’
No, no!
He came for Shaolin ties, so hold back!
Suppressing his instinct for the elixir, Namgung Hyeok opened the box.
The Solar Water root slept inside, emanating scorching heat like a blaze.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
‘Yeah, this is it.’
He tucked the box securely and approached Seo Gang-jong.
With acu points sealed, they couldn’t resist.
Peng Jung-hyeok exhaled roughly and turned his head.
“What about these guys?”
“These guys?”
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze swept the bandits like the reaper’s eyes.
Bandits shuddered as it passed.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“First, check how much they’ve got.”
“......”
“What? We should get our share too.”
Namgung Hyeok had deviated far from the original plan.