Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Bandit Conference (3)
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"Come at me, world."
"……"
In response to Cheongun's declaration of war, Jin Gabok's eyes bulged wide as he silently mouthed, Are you freaking insane?
Ignoring him completely, Cheongun desperately struck a distant, heroic pose without a care in the world.
Jin Gabok clutched the back of his neck at the sight.
He'd known the guy was nuts, but he never imagined he'd be this crazy.
No, they'd told him to start with the weaker bandit lairs—so what the hell was this lunatic doing?!
Even more outrageous, he'd drawn a line separating his own Yunbong Mountain Stronghold from the rest.
Cheongun's bizarre antics sent a massive wave of murmurs rippling outward.
The referee glared at him with axe-like eyes.
At this point, even if the bandits were utter fools, everyone had no choice but to scrutinize Cheongun's features closely after his mad outburst.
No one had noticed on entry amid the crowds and chaos, but now it was different.
Suspicious voices erupted from all around.
"Isn't the Yunbong lair chief that Kang Ho-cheon guy?"
"That guy's face is different."
"Where'd this fresh-faced kid pop up from?"
"Who's that monk next to him? Face looks familiar..."
Jin Gabok squeezed his eyes shut as dizziness overwhelmed him.
Bang Jongdae burst into laughter like he'd been waiting for this, pulling out his prayer beads one by one. Jeok Hwa-ryeon and So Ye-rin sighed deeply and prepared for battle.
The referee standing nearby asked,
"Who the hell are you?"
Cheongun replied,
"Chief of Yunbong Mountain Stronghold."
"...You're Kang Ho-cheon?"
"Nope."
"Then where's Chief Kang Ho-cheon?"
"Dead. By my hand."
The referee furrowed his brow.
"...You messing around right now?"
"Talkative for a referee. You're distracting me—shut your trap and get on with it."
"Shut your mouth! This Bandit Conference is a formal martial gathering for the Green Forest path! I don't know where you crawled out from, but you think you can walk away alive from a spot with all seventy-two lairs assembled?!"
Cheongun eyed the shouting referee and said,
"What's the problem? I am the chief of Yunbong Mountain Stronghold."
"Lies!"
The referee flew into a rage and drew his sword, poised to charge.
Cheongun paid no mind and continued,
"Referee's gone mad. Fine, I'll judge instead. Listen up, you idiots. Yunbong Mountain Stronghold hereby names you all as enemies. So come at me—all of you pathetic bandits."
"You damn bastard!"
The referee finally snapped and lunged with sword in hand.
Cheongun countered by drawing his demon sword and pointing its tip skyward.
The man who'd charged halted abruptly upon seeing the sword qi shooting toward the heavens.
He hastily sheathed his blade and shouted,
"...Who might this senior be?"
"Chief of Yunbong Mountain Stronghold."
"Wha—you still spouting that nonsense...? Gahk!"
Crack!—!
Before he could finish, a prayer bead smashed squarely into the center of his gritted teeth, punching clean through.
When he spread his palm over his mouth, it revealed blood, shattered tooth fragments, and the bead all mingled together.
Bang Jongdae flicked his fingers with a hearty laugh and pressed his palms together.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Cheongun chimed in,
"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
"You filthy mongrels...! What are you all doing? Draw your swords!"
The toothless man bellowed in fury, and the clustered bandits leaped to their feet, drawing weapons.
As hundreds of bandits unleashed their auras and brandished blades, Jin Gabok quaked in his boots, knees buckling, tears welling up.
"Charge!"
Cheongun flashed a bright smile and scanned his surroundings.
In the jianghu, carelessness meant death.
Especially here, utmost caution was essential.
There might be an unexpected master lurking.
Fortunately, no one seemed a real threat.
Relaxed, Cheongun let his mouth run.
"Come on, you losers. What do you pathetic leeches—who live off robbing others—have to brag about with your Bandit Conference? Screw you idiots. Even the courtesans hawking booze and themselves in the brothels are manlier than you lot."
Cheongun just spewed whatever came to mind.
"Trash who bully your own kin in Yunbong. Heartless scum without blood or tears. Cowards who need hundreds to take down five. The world tests me. Fine. Come at me. Today, we settle this."
Cheongun extended his other hand.
Ahead, bandits swarmed like ants, weapons drawn and charging.
The shattered-tooth referee was hurtling toward him with lightness skill from behind.
Cheongun had to decide.
Handling the rear first might let the front mob close in.
He turned his back squarely.
Back-to-back with Bang Jongdae, Cheongun took the front, the monk the rear.
Simple reason: chaotic melees got messy fast.
Unless slaughtering everyone, blind swings wouldn't cut through the horde.
Dodging demanded top-tier lightness skill.
And Cheongun, master of Shadow Flight Isle Step, feared no one in mobility.
"Ryeon-ah."
"Yes?"
That instant—
"Eek!"
Jeok Hwa-ryeon flailed as her body floated up.
Cheongun had grabbed her by the scruff.
She dangled like a kitten in its mother's jaws.
"Let's go, Ryeon-ah."
"No, damn it! Wait...!"
Before she finished, Cheongun kicked off the ground and soared into the air.
Aloft, the view was even more spectacular than expected.
Cheongun hummed a tune and unleashed his lightness skill again.
The bandits whirled in confusion, searching for the vanished Cheongun.
Then, with a faint flash of thunder qi, his form reappeared.
Hidden weapons rained from everywhere.
A myriad of darts streaked in, varied and vicious.
Under the glaring sun, their paths gleamed obvious.
Clear sky. Brilliant sunlight. Fresh snow? Cool breeze. Battlefield swelter. Pouring malice. All eyes on me. Thrill and tension. This is attention. Chest tickles.
Ah, summer. Even the weather aided him.
Cheongun spun wildly, snapping his wrist to whirl Ryeon like a flail.
Ryeon spat "Damn sect leader!" nonstop, thrusting palms to unleash blasts.
The spinning gale scattered the darts harmlessly to the ground.
As projectiles fizzled, bandits charged with sabers from all sides.
Shadows poured from left, right, front, back—even above.
Blades flashed like lightning from every direction.
Trapped in a cage of iron bars.
No room to breathe amid the hulking brutes swarming—no foothold even.
Of course, Cheongun feared no dumb bandits.
He had whirling Ryeon.
She'd handle attacks herself.
He just dodged with lightness skill and spun her faster.
Idiots charging into the mad vortex ate palm blasts and crumpled.
Wherever Cheongun and Ryeon passed, formations collapsed into ruin.
His speed made it seem gales erupted from thin air to others.
Bang Jongdae flicked beads relentlessly at the lightness-skill referee.
The man parried with his blade flat, but cracks spiderwebbed the sword each time.
So Ye-rin yawned boredly, standing still.
Left alone, Jin Gabok babbled nonsense, mind unhinged.
"Heavens, come at me."
Cheongun rambled as he cut them down.
"Never underestimate Yunbong again."
"Shut up!"
"Hot. The heat's intense."
"Kill him! Right flank!"
Boom! Crash-crash-boom!
What a clusterfuck.
Yet astonishingly, despite the overwhelming numbers, Cheongun's crew held firm.
That was when—
"Enough."
A man spoke from inside the pavilion.
Cheongun looked.
Mountainous build, bursting muscles, white beard to his chest—a middle-aged titan.
His gaze alone roared tiger ferocity: the Bandit King.
He rose, vanished in a blur, and appeared before Cheongun, swinging his saber.
Cheongun shoved Jeok Hwa-ryeon behind him, drew his wooden fish striker, and blocked.
Crash-crash-boom!—!!
Sparks flew wildly; the grinding clash pierced ears.
Boom! Boom! Crash!
Each block made the king's lips curl higher.
"Fun! This is fun!"
"That's Yunbong's strength."
The king smirked.
"Cut the jokes."
"I don't joke."
"Quiet! You've ruined the grand Bandit affair! So spill—who sent you?!"
Cheongun answered,
"This one: Justice Alliance Chief Patrol."
"What?"
"Know what Chief Patrol means? The Justice Alliance's public face."
"...?"
Cheongun stated firmly,
"So take all complaints to the Justice Alliance."
"……"