Chapter 24
Jin Chen slowly surveyed his surroundings.
Stalactites hung in dense clusters from the ceiling.
Giant stone pillars stood like carved statues.
Yellow moss covered an entire wall.
A small spring held a pool of milky liquid.
The floor was unnaturally smooth, as if artificially made.
He took in every corner of the cavern, a space so vast its true scale defied comprehension.
This was the cavern he had entered following Baek-i.
This was where his life here had begun.
Honestly, he had no idea how much time had passed.
He had been far too busy to feel the changing seasons, let alone the passage of days.
Ten years? Twenty?
His body had grown so much that he could no longer measure the time.
Well, it did not really matter how long it had been.
If he had wanted to leave, he could have done so long ago.
Staying longer had been entirely his own decision.
Learning had been fun.
Having started, he wanted to see it through to the end.
And...
He slowly shifted his gaze toward the massive boulder that overlooked the entire cavern.
There, four figures sat in perfect lotus position with their eyes closed.
Because he had not wanted to part from his masters.
Jin Chen dropped down heavily in front of the four.
"Just saying this now, but you know this was straight-up kidnapping and imprisonment, right?"
No answer came.
Jin Chen continued anyway.
"You sent Baek-i to drag in a clueless ten-year-old, locked him inside a formation, made him learn everything you left behind, and that wasn't enough—you even forced him to live through your own lives. I'm only letting it slide because it's me."
Despite his arrogant tone, his face was filled with thick longing and gratitude.
"Oh, and don't get your hopes up. I have zero plans to go around bragging that I'm the disciple of the Four Sages. It would just attract a bunch of annoying flies."
The Four Sages.
The strongest martial artists of the Central Plains, who had vanished all at once a hundred years ago.
The murim had fallen into chaos the moment they disappeared.
Absurd rumors spread like wildfire, deepening every misunderstanding.
Those misunderstandings turned into conflicts both large and small, ultimately weakening the entire world of martial arts.
"People probably don't know, do they? That thanks to the masters' sacrifice, the Central Plains barely avoided total destruction."
Jin Chen shook his head.
"I still don't understand it. Why you went so far as to risk your lives to stop that bastard. Not that I'm trying to downplay what you did. After all, it's because of you that I exist as I am now."
Muttering to himself, Jin Chen slowly rose to his feet.
He looked at each of the four in turn and spoke.
The old man who somehow resembled a weasel.
The First Sage, Cheon-gi-ja, the one about whom almost nothing was known among the Four Sages.
"I'll keep it a secret forever that Master was the Amyong Shintu who used to sneak in and out of the imperial palace's hidden archives. Still, it would hurt the First Sage's pride if people called you a mere petty thief, right? Oh, and I'll find the survivor of the Seomun Clan that was supposedly wiped out, so don't worry. I can't promise to revive the clan, but if they're alive, I'll at least make sure they can earn a living."
Thaaank you, you rotten bastard!
Jin Chen gave a small snort of laughter and turned to the old man seated beside Cheon-gi-ja.
The white-haired, white-bearded elder whose face radiated benevolence, like an immortal from legend.
The Second Sage, Muhan Jin-in, the martial artist who represented the orthodox path among the Four Sages.
"Up until yesterday I was planning to head straight to the Wudang Sect the moment I left this place and flip the whole damn mountain upside down. But then I suddenly realized something. The poor bastards who had to serve a stubborn, frustrating, nonstop-nagging old man like you before I got here must have been the Wudang disciples. Man, they must have suffered. So I decided to forgive them. Oh, and you can skip the thanks. It'd probably sound like nagging too."
You braaaat! How many times did I tell you to be cautious with your words and actions...
The voice rang inside his skull like thunder. Jin Chen dug at his ear with a finger and shifted his gaze to the next figure.
A man whose entire face was horribly twisted and burned.
The Third Sage, Ak Do-wi, the martial artist representing the unorthodox path among the Four Sages.
"I'll keep it in mind. If I decide someone's an enemy, I won't hesitate no matter who they are. And I'm planning to mix in some poison qi and killing intent, so don't complain from the afterlife that I've gone soft."
You're already so damn soft! Get out right now. Go slaughter the ronin bastards who killed your parents until...
Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I don't even remember their faces anyway.
Jin Chen turned to the middle-aged man at the end.
A middle-aged man radiating an aura that seemed capable of destroying everything in existence.
The Fourth Sage, Sim Cheon-ak, the martial artist representing the Demonic Cult among the Four Sages.
"The saying that the survivor is the strong one is just nonsense losers spout. Only a true strong has the right to stand tall and claim everything. I'm not completely sure yet... but if I gain allies, I'll try living that way together with them."
A true strong needs no allies. Only followers!
Yes, yes, of course, Master.
After finishing his greetings to all of them, Jin Chen gave a deep, formal bow.
After two full bows, he looked at the Four Sages and raised his voice.
"I've learned well and now I'm leaving! Masters!"
At that final farewell, it seemed as if faint smiles formed on the lips of the four who had long since entered eternal slumber.
Jin Chen smiled brightly in return and turned away.
Psssssssh.
The figures of the Four Sages, which had seemed alive only moments before, crumbled into dust and scattered.
Sybel's face showed open astonishment after hearing the story of Jin Chen's masters.
"They were remarkable humans."
"You should really thank your lucky stars it was me. If any of the masters had come instead, you would've died long ago. Especially if the third or fourth master got their hands on you—you'd have been smashed to bits or sliced paper-thin."
"I understand that you hold deep affection for your masters as their disciple, but I would appreciate it if you could distinguish between bragging and genuine respect."
"If you don't believe me, try it yourself. Four matches, one against each master's martial arts. That should settle it."
Jin Chen spoke while picking at the snacks. Sybel cleared his throat.
"Ahem. No matter how magnificent the magic or swordsmanship, its power ultimately depends on the one who wields it. Moreover, there is a clear difference between your masters' realms and your current level, so such a duel would be..."
"Of course my realm is higher than theirs. By a pretty wide margin."
"That is precisely my point."
"But here's the thing. Our masters' realms weren't anything to scoff at anywhere in the world. They had reached the very peak of the Profound Realm. A level that surpassed what you people call Grand Master."
Sybel closed his mouth at Jin Chen's words.
He too had lived through countless adventures.
Yet he had never once claimed the title of Grand Master.
He could imitate Sword Master using mana drawn from a dragon heart, but Grand Master was on an entirely different plane.
It was the only realm capable of facing Ancient-grade dragons.
"I acknowledge it. Your masters were indeed extraordinary beings."
"The more extraordinary part is that they raised a martial artist like me."
"Heh. Fine. They were great. There, I said it."
Sybel let out a short laugh and lifted his bottle.
Jin Chen clinked his own bottle against it and grinned back.
Though their time together had been short, they had fought battles where life and death hung in the balance.
They possessed strength worthy of mutual respect.
The difference in their years of life posed no obstacle at all.
At least, that was what Sybel believed.
Jin Chen seemed to feel differently.
"So when are you going to fix the fortress? If you don't rebuild it by tomorrow, I'm heading straight back to Cologne."
"Tomorrow is fine, isn't it? Tomorrow!"
"Why is the debtor yelling so loudly? Do you think I only have one or two things to do? Keep dragging your feet like that and there won't be any formation or anything else!"
"I'll do it! I'll do it! I said I'll do it!"
To think I considered a guy like this a friend, even briefly.
Sybel shook his head and took a long drink.
Whether he did or not, Jin Chen suddenly shouted toward a distant spot.
"Hey! Baek-i! You gonna manage the kids or not? If you drool while staring at them one more time, know that they'll all really die!"
A grand feast had been laid out in the huge clearing.
The drinking party that included not only the bandits but every one of their family members had started at lunch and stretched all the way into the late evening.
It had been a long time since the last proper drinking bout, so Barkan and the mercenaries were there, along with the Sabel Tigers that had been accepted into the family at Baek-i's insistence.
The Sabel Tigers were simply each eating one assigned Kogirash, but that was enough.
While watching those Sabel Tigers, Jin Chen's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Hey! Bbakbbaki!"
"Yes, Fortress Lord."
"I'll tell Baek-i, so start training those guys so we can ride them."
"It seems like an excellent decision."
"Good! Start first thing tomorrow."
"Yes, Fortress Lord!"
As Bbakbbaki answered loudly and stepped back, a group came running and knelt before Jin Chen.
"We greet the Fortress Lord."
It was Barkan and the mercenaries, along with Barrel, leader of the Wagner Merchant Group, and his workers.
"What is this?"
"Please allow us to serve you as our lord!"
"Please accept us!"
"We wish to become bandits."
They shouted with bowed heads.
They were already practically bandits.
But they had never received official permission from Jin Chen.
That was why they had come forward now, even though they had already been living and raiding together.
What did it matter if they were bandits!
When even dragons groveled before the Fortress Lord!
Barkan and the mercenaries clenched their fists tightly.
If a man like this watched their backs!
Merchant leader Barrel trembled all over as if in ecstasy.
Same choice, different hearts.
It was obvious, yet Jin Chen did not bother calling them out.
"I completely forgot about you guys."
Jin Chen suddenly stood, bottle in hand.
"Everyone, pay attention!"
"Pay atteeeention!"
The heavily drunk bandits and family members echoed the call and turned their eyes toward their lord.
Jin Chen pointed at the kneeling Barkan and the rest.
"These guys say they really want to become proper bandits. What do you think? You've been dragging them around with you, so you should know by now, right?"
The bandits looked Barkan and the others over.
They had grown close enough to call one another brothers while spending time together.
Yet the eyes that had been laughing and chatting with them only moments ago changed completely.
They were no longer warm and friendly. They were sharp, scanning every inch of their bodies.
After hanging out with us a little, these guys started looking down on bandits, huh?
Under those gazes, Barkan and the others swallowed nervously.
Then the bandits and family members burst into laughter.
"Puhahaha, look at them shaking!"
"Can guys like that even pull off banditry?"
"I told you! Being a bandit is all about momentum!"
"You gotta glare like you're gonna eat them alive!"
At the bandits' teasing remarks, the tension drained from Barkan and the others.
Then Jin Chen raised his bottle and shouted.
"Looks like everyone's in the mood to accept them."
"Well, there's no reason not to, is there?"
"They've shown decent spirit. It'd feel wrong to send them away now."
"Please accept them! They seemed like pretty good guys."
Jin Chen gave a big nod at the bandits' words and looked at Barkan and the rest.
"All right. From today onward, you are also bandits of Jinryong Chae."
"Th-thank you! Fortress Lord!"
"We will bury our bones in Jinryong Chae!"
"Kugh, we will become the greatest bandits!"
Barkan and the others shouted with voices full of resolve.
"Good. From today, you."
Jin Chen pointed at Barkan.
"Are Baltop."
"Huh?"
"And you are Dondok!"
While Barrel opened and closed his mouth wordlessly, Jin Chen kept going.
"You are Nuntaeng-i. You are Amnae."
Jin Chen pointed at each mercenary and worker in turn, assigning the names.
It did not take long for the eyes of Barkan and the others to begin trembling as they wondered what on earth they were hearing.
"There! These are your names from now on. Everyone remember them?"
"Yes, Fortress Lord!"
"Good! Dismissed!"
"Kuk! Let's get along from now on, Baltop!"
"How did you end up with a name like Nuntaeng-i?"
"Amnae, there's a guy called Ddongnae over there. Go get along with him."
At the bandits' passing comments, the eyes of Barkan and the others shook even harder.
But they did not know.
Someone was quietly letting out a sigh of relief while watching them.
Th-that was close. Good thing I didn't step forward.
As Gannon clutched his chest, Jin Chen's voice continued.
"You'll just be Gaeneom."
"M-my name is Gannon."
"Yeah, Gaeneom. Got a problem with that?"
"Ah, no, that's not..."
"If you've got a complaint, say it. I'll wipe out everything in your heart right now."
Gaeneom hurriedly shut his mouth. Jin Chen roughly lifted his bottle high.
"Anyone still sober today dies by my hand!"
"Uhahaha, you're worrying about the strangest things."
"Just make sure we don't run out of booze!"
"Come on, everyone over here! I'll teach you what it really means to be a bandit!"
The entire fortress transformed into a loud, chaotic atmosphere.
Jin Chen smiled brightly as he looked at Sybel.
"If you want in, just say the word. I'll accept you as a member of the fortress."
"Even if a blade is pressed to my throat, that will never happen."
"Really? Now I'm getting the urge to make it happen."
"Cough! Enough nonsense. Let us simply drink."
Because the man would really do it if told to, Sybel quickly raised his bottle.
Jin Chen clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Too bad. I already thought of a good name. Sybel-nom."
The sound of it was terrible from the start.
Sybel shook his head and lifted his bottle once more when it happened.
Kuuuuuuuuuuuung.
The entire fortress suddenly began to shake violently.
At the same time, a ferocious shout rang out from outside the fortress walls.
"JIN CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!"
Jin Chen let out a short laugh.
"The reaction came faster than I expected?"