Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: To the Azure Dragon Squad
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“Die, all of you.”
Clap!
The command rippled outward as intent with the echoing sound of applause in the forest. At first, hypnotizing even a dozen men drained quite a bit of mental energy, but through repeated real combat, my hypnosis had advanced by leaps and bounds. The range of suggestion had widened, and those with weak minds could now be driven to take their own lives with just a low whisper, without even needing the clap.
Even dozens of bandits appearing no longer made me bat an eye. To me, they were merely training fodder for my mental strength and a tidy source of income.
“Se... Senior Brother, again...”
Inside the carriage, Bang Soso had trembled in terror at the bloody scenes of slaughter during the first few times, her face pale. But as I casually strolled through the corpses to collect money pouches and used the loot to buy delicious food, she gradually grew accustomed to it. Now, rather than being shocked by the act of killing itself, she simply seemed to accept it as, Senior Brother's working again. Her fear had turned to awe, and the awe to absolute trust.
Of course, it wasn't entirely without mental drain. After casting wide-area hypnosis on a group of enemies, a splitting headache and dizziness inevitably followed. And the only remedy was always right by my side.
“Soso.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
I leaned my weary body against the soft backrest of the carriage and closed my eyes. Without a word, Soso came to my side, pulled my arm, and nestled it between her ample breasts. Familiarly, I slipped my hand inside her clothes and gripped the soft, warm flesh.
The heavy, yielding sensation filled my palm. I kneaded it thoughtlessly. Touching that wondrously soft mound made my mind, emptied by the intense mental exertion, feel like it was refilling with warm energy. The throbbing headache faded, and my brain relaxed in comfort.
“Mm...”
Soso let out a pleased sigh and rested her head on my shoulder. To her as well, this was no longer embarrassing foreplay but a natural act of healing for her exhausted Senior Brother.
Days passed in cycles of blood, money, and sensual respite. The money pouches piled in the carriage grew, and my mental strength sharpened to an incomparable degree.
Finally, a massive city wall and grand gate came into view in the distance. A place teeming with martial artists coming and going, filled with the ceaseless clash of spears and swords and shouts of exertion. The heart of the martial world: the Murim Alliance.
Our long yet short journey had reached its end. The coachman was awestruck by the Alliance's imposing grandeur but wore an expression of deep reluctance at having to part from me.
“My lord, I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life.”
His eyes brimmed with genuine gratitude. He'd nearly lost his life several times over, but the wealth he'd gained in return was enough to change the rest of his days.
“You've worked hard. Use this to retire to your hometown and live comfortably.”
I handed him a portion of the bandit loot. It was more than enough even after setting aside our shares. The coachman bowed repeatedly to me, nearly in tears.
We settled into the largest inn at the entrance to the Murim Alliance. It was a modest farewell dinner for our last night with the coachman. I spent our earnings freely. The table groaned under platters of fatty meats, delicacies from land and sea, and fragrant liquor.
“Haha, thanks to you, my lord, I'm living a life of luxury I've never dreamed of!”
The coachman grinned ear to ear, downing cup after cup. Soso chattered excitedly over the delicious food she hadn't tasted in ages. The journey had been bloody, but its end felt rather heartwarming.
It was right then.
“For such a lovely young lady to be sitting with rough men like these... it's like a jewel fallen into the mud.”
A slimy voice drew near our table along with a man. He wore expensive silk robes, but there was something cheap about his demeanor. His gaze was blatantly fixed on Soso's full bosom.
I furrowed my brow. A sickening displeasure welled up from within.
The man introduced himself as Paeng Daesan of the North Hebei Paeng Family. Ignoring me and the coachman entirely, he bowed only to Soso.
“Miss, if it's alright with you, why not leave this dull gathering and share a drink with me at that fine table over there?”
“Huh...?”
Soso looked back and forth between me and Paeng Daesan with a confused expression. Her innocent eyes seemed to ask, Senior Brother, what's with this guy?
My mood soured.
Noticing my change, the coachman hurriedly stood to block Paeng Daesan. He knew better than anyone how my temper worked after our travels.
“Young master, I'm sorry, but my lord and miss are in the middle of important talk. Perhaps another table...”
“Out of my way!”
Paeng Daesan bellowed and shoved the coachman roughly. The coachman tumbled backward powerlessly.
“How dare a mere coachman try to lecture me! And the master you serve looks like some third-rate physician quack—know your place!”
All eyes in the inn turned to us. Paeng Daesan puffed out his chest proudly and moved toward Soso again.
I quietly set down my cup.
Then, locking eyes with Paeng Daesan, I whispered low. The suggestion-laced voice was soft enough to reach only him.
“Come outside with me.”
“Wha... what?”
Paeng Daesan couldn't comprehend what he'd heard for a moment. But his body was already responding. Without realizing it, he turned and stumbled after me.
“H-hey! Young master! Where are you going?!”
His entourage shouted from behind, but Paeng Daesan trudged blankly after me out of the inn, as if deaf to everything.
In a dark, dingy alley behind the inn, I stopped. Paeng Daesan halted rigidly behind me. His pupils were still unfocused.
Killing inside Murim Alliance territory would be trouble.
I'm a physician. One formally dispatched to the Azure Dragon Squad. Creating an unnecessary corpse would only stir up complications.
But letting him go scot-free was out of the question.
I did some light stretches. Casting body reinforcement suggestion spread a pleasant heat through my limbs. From his aura, he was at least a third-rate martial artist. This much wouldn't kill him.
I stepped up to the blankly standing Paeng Daesan.
Snap.
I lightly flicked my fingers. With the sound, faint focus returned to Paeng Daesan's dilated eyes. He looked utterly baffled at finding himself in this dark, stinking alley.
“Wh-where is this? And who the hell are you?”
His confused gaze scanned around before finally landing on me. He tilted his head for a moment, then flushed red as he recalled the inn, shouting.
“You dare drag me here?! Do you know where we are?!”
He didn't remember that I'd made him follow me. All he recalled was me ignoring him and ruining his advances on Soso.
I gave no reply.
Instead, I focused on the sensation of body reinforcement rippling through my muscles. Hot energy surged through my veins and gathered at my fist.
“Not answering? Why you little...!”
Paeng Daesan placed a hand threateningly on his sword hilt and advanced. Whether out of pride for his Five Great Families name or misplaced confidence in his skills, he seemed intent on striking first.
But before his hand fully gripped the hilt, my fist met his face first.
Thwack!
With a dull thud, Paeng Daesan's head snapped back violently. Blood sprayed from the nose of the silk-clad young master like a fountain.
“Guhk...!”
He staggered back a couple steps, not even registering that he'd been hit.
“You... filthy...!”
Before the curse finished, another fist flew. This one to the gut. With a choked scream, his body folded like a shrimp. Vomit surged from his mouth as stomach acid refluxed.
I gave him no respite.
I kicked his bent back, slamming him into the wall. With a thud, his head cracked against it, and he crumpled limply to the ground.
“Urk... grrr...”
Paeng Daesan flailed desperately to rise. But his fighting spirit was gone. His eyes brimmed with terror.
I grabbed his hair and yanked his face up to meet mine.
Holding his face, I swung. Thud, thud, crack! The sounds of bone and flesh mashing echoed through the alley. His screams devolved into garbled mush, and his resisting hands fell limp.
This should do it.
Seeing his face turned to raw meat eased my anger somewhat. I released his hair. Sticky blood coated my palm.
Paeng Daesan's body slumped to the ground. He trembled violently, gasping ragged breaths. There was nothing left to hit.
I searched his body and pulled out his money pouch. A paltry sum, but habit was habit.
That was when.
From Paeng Daesan, groaning on the ground, came an unbelievable sound.