Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Green Forest Assembly (2)
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In the Central Plains, there are those known as the Three Madmen.
Just as the name suggests, it refers to three lunatics, and only these three in the vast world of the Central Plains bear such a title.
So, what do these three have in common?
Simply being crazy isn't enough to earn such a ridiculous reputation.
There are many types of madness.
Some are just loudmouths, others pretend to be mad on the surface, and some are genuinely half-insane.
In this vast continent, are there only one or two madmen?
Just look at the Heavenly Demon God Cult perched atop Mount Ilwol—there's a truckload of lunatics there alone.
Is it special that the Demonic Cult folks are crazy?
Honestly, nothing special about it. They practice demonic arts and belong to the Demonic Cult; it's par for the course. Isn't that obvious?
What about Cheongun, then?
As a disciple of a Sword Sovereign, his affiliation is clearly with the righteous sects of the orthodox path, but if you dig into the reality, he's the Bloodline Pavilion Lord, Darkwood Sect Leader, Filth Gate Leader, Vice Chief of the Heavenly Dragon Escort Agency, Chief Patrol Inspector of the Justice Alliance, and so on. It couldn't get any weirder.
And that's not all? He carries twin swords at his waist and slings a fishing rod over his shoulder.
Above all, the rumors floating around are downright vicious.
They say he smashes teeth first if he doesn't like someone, or plucks hair to fling like hidden weapons—things no righteous warrior would even dream of.
Yet he hasn't dabbled in sorcery.
Thick demonic qi overflows from his eyes, his core martial arts are clearly Taoist internal energy cultivation, and his realm as a warrior is unbelievably profound.
Though the color of one's martial arts stems from the heart, martial arts at the pinnacle inevitably dominate the heart as well.
In other words, a warrior who has surpassed barriers with Taoist martial arts could never be that mad.
Truly. Scrutinize Cheongun's situation, and there's not a single reason for him to be insane.
Of course, Cheongun from the modern world, who lived without envy, suddenly dropped into the wilds of the Central Plains to become an orphan—anyone would go mad to endure it, but no one else knows that.
Thus, the public's perception of Cheongun is as follows:
A guy mad by nature. A guy so consumed by madness that even his pinnacle demonic qi is overwhelmed. A lunatic best avoided.
A madman insane without logic or reason.
That was Cheongun.
"……"
Jin Gabok stared at the approaching Bang Jongdae from afar.
That monk—definitely the direct disciple of the Shaolin Abbot, right?
A guy who should be the purest and most noble of all, but rumor has it he prowls alleys daily, preaching enlightenment and nonsense to villains while smashing their teeth with prayer beads.
And a monk who enjoys meat and booze?
Shaolin is the pillar of the righteous sects. Why is a lunatic like that there?
At that moment, Bang Jongdae spotted Cheongun, slowed his pace, and extended his hand.
"Amitabha. To form such a bond again with Young Patron Cheong—truly the Buddha's merciful will."
"What brings you to this place?"
"Heh heh, the Buddha commanded me to cleanse the karma of sentient beings, drawing this monk to these treacherous mountains. Hearing that those with darkened hearts have gathered here, I intend to relieve them of their greed and offer it to the Buddha."
Jin Gabok blinked.
So, broke and came to rob bandits? A Shaolin monk?
Unbelievable.
The future of Shaolin looks bleak, he thought.
Of course, Cheongun clasped his hands in perfect form, beaming with pride at such a Bang Jongdae.
"Our intentions align."
"Heh heh, has Young Patron Cheong come to cleanse the karma of these beings as well?"
"Well, yeah. Expenses pile up like crazy."
"Then why linger here instead of entering?"
"Entry requires five members."
At those words, Bang Jongdae rolled his eyes, scanning Cheongun and his group.
"Amitabha. One short."
Bang Jongdae chuckled and nodded.
"This must be fate from three lifetimes past. May this monk join your party?"
Bang Jongdae clasped his hands, requesting to join Cheongun.
Jin Gabok's face soured at the words.
Oh god, Cheongun alone is overwhelming, and now this lunatic monk too?
Already suffocating, dizzy.
Couldn't even guess what chaos they'd cause in the tournament.
While Jin Gabok recoiled in horror, Cheongun paid no mind.
To Bang Jongdae's question of joining, Cheongun offered a handshake.
"Let's travel together."
"Amitabha. And how shall the prize money be divided?"
"Fair split—no worries."
Bang Jongdae's eyes sparkled.
"As expected of Young Patron Cheong, so full of chivalry. Even the Buddha smiles upon it."
"Obvious, right? Poverty is the greatest obstacle to cultivation."
"Heh heh, this monk's heart lightens. Meeting a comrade in purpose, I feel the Buddha's grace."
Cheongun pointed at Bang Jongdae's right hand.
"By the way, where'd that liquor flask come from?"
"Ah, this? A band of bandits passed by, so I enlightened them a few times with my staff. Moved by the Buddha's mercy, they offered it gladly."
"Thirsty myself—give me a bottle."
"Of course. Here."
Bang Jongdae handed the gourd flask to Cheongun.
Cheongun gulped it down, and Bang Jongdae laughed heartily, clasping hands.
Watching that, So Yerin muttered.
"Lunatics. They're in their own little club."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon chimed in.
"What’s new? When has the Sect Leader ever been sane?"
At that, Jin Gabok cautiously added.
"I-In my eyes, you all seem the same..."
"Gabok, you idiot. Shut it."
"Shut your trap, fool. Want me to sew it shut?"
"……"
The day of the Green Forest Assembly dawned.
A towering pavilion stood at the center of the vast training ground, surrounded densely by bandits.
With all seventy-two mountain forts present?
The numbers were overwhelming.
Fortunately, unlike Jin Gabok's fears, no entry rejection.
The bandits weren't systematic enough to verify every one of the seventy-two forts.
Bandits gonna bandit.
As Cheongun sat, filling his stomach with jerky and rations, a bearded middle-aged man climbed the pavilion and declared the assembly open.
"With the seventy-two forts gathered, we hold the 36th Green Forest Assembly! Rules are simple. Choose your sparring opponents yourselves, but no poisons or hidden weapons. Five from each fort compete; the fort of whoever remains standing—be it one or five—claims victory!"
The basis of the Green Forest Assembly is sparring.
Unique for bandits, whose daily life is brawls: not 1v1, but 5v5.
A survival of the fittest, pure strength decides.
The strongest here wins prize money and promotion, so the seated bandits roared in cheers.
Cheongun watched with indifference.
Having only read about it in the original work's lore, it felt unfamiliar.
Then, Jin Gabok spoke up.
"F-Fort Lord?"
"What's up, Gabok?"
"Hear that? Opponents chosen directly."
"Yeah."
"Sparring usually takes three days to end. With seventy-two forts checking each other, they eliminate strong ones slowly, one by one."
Cheongun listened blankly.
He's listening, right? Probably?
Jin Gabok cleared his throat and continued.
"Anyway, need a strategic approach. Your name'll be called soon—please don't say anything weird. Last year's winner was Blood Blade Fort's lord—don't touch him. Iron Armor Fort and Fire Dragon Fort allied since last year; hit one, the other jumps in. Better pick mid-tier lords first to eliminate..."
Then, Cheongun tsked and muttered.
"Three days is too long."
"Three days to end quick."
"Even worse."
"So if you want it over fast, listen to me..."
The Green Forest Assembly is a political battlefield of checks and sabotage.
Psychological warfare is key.
Thus, Jin Gabok stressed its importance to Cheongun repeatedly.
Since Cheongun was the fort lord, after all.
"Got it? Always target weak forts first."
Emphasizing over and over, then the man on the pavilion bellowed.
"Cloud Peak Fort! Fort Lord and officers, step forward!"
The man snapped his fingers.
Green Forest warriors rushed in, erecting a massive wooden board on one side of the arena.
Listed like a roster of forts, with "Matchup Chart" emblazoned at the top center.
The surrounding bandits buzzed and shouted.
Bang Jongdae chuckled.
"Shall we go?"
Cheongun replied.
"Right away."
Cheongun led, followed by Bang Jongdae, So Yerin, Jeok Hwa-ryeon, and Jin Gabok onto the arena.
The man checked the five, then casually asked.
"Fort Lord, step forward!"
Cheongun advanced, and the presumed referee handed him a brush, shouting.
"Draw a line in the blank next to your opponent's fort name!"
The watchers' gazes intertwined complexly.
Invisible mind games tensed the arena air.
Jin Gabok mouthed signals frantically, unable to speak openly.
Then, Cheongun slowly raised the brush.
Standing before the board listing all seventy-two forts, he drew lines in every blank from top to bottom.
First, second, third... all the way to the seventy-second.
And in a poignant voice, said.
"Come at me, world."
"……"