Chapter 55
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Bandit's Price
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Yu Hyun's mind grew complicated at Gu Ja-jin's response, which showed no regard for any backing.
What should he do? How?
His judgment had been wrong.
It was a mistake to assume that bandits would naturally fear government troops just because of their numbers.
"Kid."
"......"
"You're misunderstanding something."
"......"
"I'm a bandit. Born one, and I'll die one. Even in my last moments, I'll be treated like a criminal. Whether it's the authorities or martial clans chasing me, what's the difference? Right?"
"......Y-Yeah?"
Yu Hyun gave an awkward smile at Gu Ja-jin's words.
Damn old man must be proud of that.
But he couldn't back down now.
Yu Hyun's top priorities were saving the people aboard the Manjangho, rescuing Nangong Seong and Cibuli from Jungsan's grasp, and securing the knocked-out and hidden Hwang Deok-sam.
Wait for an opening and launch a surprise attack or ambush... Yeah, right.
Impossible against even one monster, let alone two standing right in front of him.
No chance.
So what now? Force wouldn't work, backing didn't faze him—what could he use to persuade this man?
Suddenly, another teaching from the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner flashed through his mind.
'There are countless ways to negotiate, but they all boil down to two essentials.'
'Mention what the enemy fears to cower them, or offer what they like to win their favor.'
"Elder."
"What?"
"Please don't misunderstand. I only revealed my status to let you know who I am. How could I stiffen my neck against you? Ridiculous."
"Hmm, but you sure wrecked a lot of our boys earlier."
"That... I live by the creed of being strong against the weak and utterly weak against the strong."
"......"
Gu Ja-jin let out a snort as he watched Yu Hyun clasp his hands, smile obsequiously, and bow low.
This guy's getting more entertaining the longer I look.
Causing all this mess and then claiming strong against weak, weak against strong?
Sure, the world's full of such sly bastards. Especially in the martial world...
But this one in front of me?
Nonsense.
Live long enough, and you turn into a face-reader.
If he truly lived by that creed, he'd have been bowing and scraping from the start, not uttering a word.
Flat on his belly, head to the ground, begging for mercy.
But the Yu Hyun in Gu Ja-jin's eyes was clearly different.
"What is it you want to say?"
"That you grant us mercy and spare our lives."
Yu Hyun boldly made his request in response to Gu Ja-jin's question.
"Heh heh, funny talk. Even if I chalk up the dead in battle as the fate of common martial artists, we've got dozens of sunken ships and more than a few drowned. You want me to spare you? And after one of my sub-fleets got smashed by a punk like you, dragging the Yangtze's pride through the dirt—would you spare yourself in my shoes?"
"Of course not."
"......"
"So what if I offer compensation enough to satisfy you, Elder?"
"Compensation? You gonna pay up now?"
"Yes."
"......"
Gu Ja-jin barely held back a burst of laughter, maintaining his expression.
What kind of brazen punk is this?
Looks barely twenty at most, yet facing me without a hint of fear.
Not just that—he knew his power fell short, so he tried pressuring me with his backing.
Even now, that practiced smile and bowing, but come on.
Can't win with strength, so he's seizing the high ground however he can to negotiate.
Unlike those prideful orthodox sect stiffs, he knows how to bend his knee when needed.
Heh, where'd a guy like this come from?
Interest piqued—I have to hear him out, check him over.
"Not bad."
"You're too kind."
"Fine. These bastards make their living threatening lives with swords anyway—what's so unfair about dying in a fight? But a life has its price. How much you offering?"
Yu Hyun grinned at Gu Ja-jin's words.
Should've led with this.
I knew money summons ghosts, but didn't know it tames Water Dragon Kings too.
I'm rich. Well, son of a rich house.
The kind that lays out priceless luminous pearls on the floor for bath time. That's me.
Pride? Screw that.
Life? I'll buy it with cash now!
"How much will it take?"
"......"
Gu Ja-jin stared at the confidently smiling Yu Hyun, then twisted his face grotesquely and started laughing.
"Kekeke, kehahaha!"
He soon erupted into狂 laughter.
Is the old man thrilled at the sight of gold? What's with the sudden fit?
After laughing with his head thrown back for a good while, Gu Ja-jin abruptly stopped and fixed Yu Hyun with his gaze.
"What's your reason?"
"Pardon?"
"Look."
"......"
Yu Hyun followed Gu Ja-jin's glance to the canyon above, where people clung like ants.
Probably the ones who came with Cibuli.
"Those beggar bastards and sword-carriers are all from the Justice Alliance."
"......."
"Why do you think they're just standing there?"
"What do you mean?"
"They're weighing it. Shouting about justice and righteousness, but calculating what's more profitable. Starting a war with me over a few lives? The losses would be incalculable."
"......"
Too spot-on to argue.
His six masters always said the same.
Justice? Righteousness? Just packaging.
Martial artists can never escape power and profit.
"If even those self-proclaimed representatives of the orthodox sects act like that, why are you saying this to me?"
"Pardon?"
"Saving your life alone would suffice—why beg a deal to save everyone?"
"......"
Yu Hyun could only grimace, speechless.
Seeing that, Gu Ja-jin wanted to learn more about this punk.
He had a rough read on his personality; now for his skill.
But oddly, even he couldn't gauge Yu Hyun's inner energy level.
No matter how well-hidden, the realm gap should allow a rough estimate...
Is he really as weak as he looks? No way.
A real weakling couldn't track Jungsan's moves, dead or alive.
No choice—test him directly.
"Kid."
"Yes?"
"The world has plenty of things money can't fix."
"......!"
In that instant, killing intent flickered in Gu Ja-jin's eyes as they locked on Yu Hyun's, then rolled toward one spot.
The direction of the warrior Jungsan, restraining Nangong Seong and Cibuli.
An order given with a glance.
Kill them.
"You fucking—! This old bastard for real!"
Before the curse could reach Gu Ja-jin's ears, Yu Hyun kicked off the ground and launched himself.
Thwack!
His heart's spirit energy exploded upward, and Yu Hyun crossed the space at his maximum speed.
In a single step.
Unfurling the Beggars' Sect's Flying Heaven Shadowless Step, he slipped between Jungsan—about to cleave Nangong Seong—and his blade.
Claaang!
Yu Hyun slapped the blade low to alter its path, then stomped Jungsan's arm gripping the helm spirit.
Jungsan released involuntarily, caught the rebounding sword, and slashed down diagonally with full force.
"You damn—!"
Boom!
Cursing, Yu Hyun swiftly clapped his hands together then apart, flinging Nangong Seong and the unconscious helm spirit beyond the blade's reach. He twisted his torso desperately.
Slaaash!
The blade tore a long gash across Yu Hyun's chest, unable to fully evade.
"Uncle!"
Nangong Seong, shoved back, barely steadied himself and cried out urgently, but Yu Hyun was already moving.
The slash exposed his torso through the torn clothes, blood spraying shallowly.
It stung, but not enough to halt him. He had to move before the blade swung back.
Flesh yielded—now seize bone.
One exchange.
No second chance.
Opponent: absolute master at the threshold of river realm. Full fight meant certain defeat.
So pour everything into one strike.
Yu Hyun curled his toes to grip the deck, twisting his torso in an arc, channeling spirit energy into one hand.
Rip!
Torn cloth flapped wildly; his upright hand, riding the rotational force, shot up diagonally.
Target: opponent's solar plexus.
Pierce it.
Even if Water Dragon King remained after felling this one, no time for that.
Who plans ahead mid-fight with a powerhouse?
Yu Hyun's mind focused solely on Jungsan's solar plexus; all spirit energy gathered at his fingertips.
Shuuu...
Done.
Blade hadn't returned; his hand already flew toward the mark.
No dodging, no blocking.
Spirit energy—purest, most primal force.
Even scant in quantity, its purity and intensity dwarfed human dantian qi.
No matter how great this Jungsan, it would penetrate.
As Yu Hyun's fingertips neared the solar plexus, a cold smile crept onto the panicking Jungsan's lips.
Huh? What?
Chill from that smile raised Yu Hyun's hackles; instinctively, he halted the strike and ducked his head desperately.
Whooosh!
"......?"
Air screamed as it parted.
Thud!
Then something heavy smashed his skull brutally.
Dizzying impact blurred his mind.
Amid fading consciousness, Yu Hyun glimpsed the old man baring his teeth in a grin.
Giant playing dirty... Water Dragon King, you dog...
Boom!
Yu Hyun blacked out, crashing to the deck.
"Uncle!"
As he fell, Nangong Seong desperately drew his sword.
Or tried to.
A cold gaze pinned his body.
"Kid. Don't do anything foolish."
"......"
Just eye contact, yet he was trapped like a fly in a web.
Forced to watch helplessly.
His young uncle risked death to save him—what was he doing?
Rage surged from deep within.
Rage ignited uncontrollable fury, peaking to amplify his dantian qi and shatter Gu Ja-jin's binding energy.
He would save him.
Even at the cost of his life.
Crunch.
Nangong Seong gnashed his distorted lips viciously.
Blood from split lips flooded his throat, mingling with fury as energy erupted and swirled.
Whoooong!
Azure energy cloaked his trembling blade, then shot forth straight.
"......Sword Gang?"
Surprise flickered in Gu Ja-jin's eyes.
Not blade aura—true gang qi, wieldable only by those at its initial threshold.
Pale hue meant incomplete...
Heh, what oddballs.
One tries killing Jungsan with no detectable inner energy; the other snaps my Qi Binding Technique.
But his state was poor.
Red glow in eyes confirmed demonic influence invading his brain from overexertion.
Qi deviation. Left unchecked, inevitable.
Yet gang qi, even so.
Forcing power beyond realm, eroded by demonic qi, yet attaining enlightenment?
"Kekeke, what entertaining bastards. Truly entertaining."
Rare fun toys found—at once, two.
"Clear case of Chang-seon's bloodline. Can't crush the sprout before seeing how it grows into adulthood."
As Gu Ja-jin sensed familiarity in Nangong Seong's energy and lightly lifted a foot—
"Haaap!"
Nangong Seong, eyes bloodshot, swung his sword with all his might.
Shiiiing!
Gu Ja-jin, watching calmly, added a bit more force to his raised foot and rolled it lightly across the deck.
Kuuuung!