Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Moon Shadow (1)
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The next day, night had already fallen, cloaked in darkness.
Cheongun stretched lightly.
"Whew, those damn bandit bastards."
I thought I was gonna die trying to convince them.
In truth, midway through, they'd been so dense he had to beat some sense into them a few times. But hey, as long as the message got across, right?
Of course, a few had objected fiercely.
They were all notorious scum among the bandits, the type who actually enjoyed the bandit life. No way Cheongun's proposal would sit well with them.
Cheongun had promptly singled them out, crippled their dantians, and kicked them out.
Wasting a scumbag's dantian is a blessing to the neighbors.
With the successful "operation," Cheongun found himself in high spirits and downed a cup of rice wine without realizing it.
Seeing that, the bandits suddenly became much more compliant.
The Green Forest might not be on the level of the Demonic Cult, but it was still a world where the strong made the rules.
Everyone in the seventy-two mountain strongholds had witnessed Cheongun's spar with Jin Mu-hyeok, so none dared to challenge him lightly.
Above all, most of them were genuinely intrigued by what Cheongun had said.
Plenty felt disillusioned with banditry itself, and many were ready to descend the mountains anytime life got decent enough.
Banditry paid well, sure, but it came with the constant risk of being wiped out by a purge.
At its core, it was crime.
Hard to boast about your job anywhere respectable. But now? A legit paycheck, even a chance to join the Justice Alliance?
How could they not be interested?
"Ahem."
Cheongun turned at the cough from behind him.
"What is it, Gabok? You shady bastard."
At Cheongun's usual ribbing, Jin Gabok let out a sigh.
"You're leaving soon, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Will it really run smoothly without a stronghold lord?"
"It will. I sent letters to the Bloodline Pavilion, Darkwood Sect, and Filth Gate affiliates in the Alliance. They'll provide plenty of manpower for road repairs and cleanup. Plus, Jin Mu-hyeok's reliable enough."
Jin Gabok nodded.
"Here."
"What's that?"
"The former... well, the total stronghold lord asked me to pass it on. Something about a token proving your status as Green Forest Total Stronghold Lord."
Cheongun snatched the plaque at once.
Jin Gabok chuckled.
"You're heading to Dongjeong Lake, right?"
"Yep."
"So you'll leave for the central plains from here?"
"Something like that."
"You know the Waterway Stronghold controls that area, right?"
"Hm."
Only then did it click.
Oh yeah, there were those waterway bandits too.
If mountain raiders were called mountain bandits, then those who pillaged on water were water bandits.
And the gang they formed was the Yangtze Waterway Stronghold.
"Green Forest and Waterway Stronghold have an unspoken rule not to mess with each other. Flash that plaque, and they'll steer clear."
Cheongun's eyes narrowed.
Avoid a fight just by showing a plaque? Fights were better the more you picked. What a useless trinket.
Still, it was a gesture, so Cheongun accepted it without complaint.
Jin Gabok smiled warmly and began packing various things for him.
"This is dried rations for the road. That's a waterskin. Oh, drape this sack over stuff to keep off the rain, and take these straw sandals as spares."
Cheongun's eyes narrowed again.
"Creepy bastard. What's with the sudden fuss?"
"You're leaving soon."
"Gabok, you dumbass. Think I don't know you've got something to say and that's why you're fussing? Spit it out straight."
Jin Gabok bristled.
"What? Can't a fellow stronghold brother do this much when the lord's leaving? You think we call each other brothers in the Green Forest for nothing? Stronghold kin are like sworn brothers—that's the code. And sure, I may be an uneducated brute, but I know enough to repay a life debt."
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Jin Gabok's words.
Cheongun stood silently, listening.
"When that Gangho-cheon bastard kicked the bucket at first, honestly, I thought, 'Welp, I'm done for.' But you spared me anyway."
"Yeah."
"And that toll you called a fair fee? Sounds good on paper, but honestly, I'm not sure it'll run smooth like you say."
"That's 'cause you're a dumbass."
Jin Gabok sighed.
"Fine. Anyway, you're the first to step up and help a bunch of idiot bandits scraping by on robbery actually act human. You think I'm some beast with no gratitude? Don't know恩怨? I'm thankful, so I pack you some stuff for the road, and you call it shady? Geez. Damned if I do, damned if I don't."
"……"
Cheongun looked at Jin Gabok.
Sincere? The hurt in his eyes seemed real enough.
"Leave tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Fine. Go or don't. I'll keep the Yunbong Stronghold lord seat empty, so drop by if you get bored."
"Will do."
"Then I'm off."
Jin Gabok bowed his head and turned away.
Cheongun watched his retreating back in silence.
Clouds drifted slowly across the night sky.
Moonlight filtered through, spreading softly.
Each gust of wind fluttered clothes and brushed hair across his eyes.
A few willows planted at the inner courtyard's edge cast long shadows under the moon.
A constellation shone brightly in one corner of the sky, twinkling like the Big Dipper.
Cheongun fell into thought.
What constellation is that?
He couldn't recall the name.
He'd memorized every in-game location and technique, but random trivia like this always slipped his mind. No need to remember it.
Same with extra NPCs' names.
Fleeting connections weren't worth remembering. Cheongun only kept what mattered. Holding onto every little thing just led to bigger disappointments. It was his way of surviving as an orphan in the game world.
But some things stuck naturally, without trying.
Standing still, Cheongun spoke.
"Gabok, you dumbass."
Jin Gabok halted at the call.
As he turned, Cheongun tossed something.
A heavy pouch flew over.
He barely caught it with both arms. A metallic jingle and cold touch followed.
Jin Gabok asked, bewildered.
"W-what is it?"
"Prize money."
"Prize for what?"
"Gabok, you dumbass. Making me say it twice. The tournament winnings. Split evenly into five shares."
Gabok blinked dumbly.
He got that it was winnings, but why to him?
Five shares? Normally, the lord took it all. And what had he done in the tournament? Sure, he called Cheongun lord, but they weren't that close...
Finally, Jin Gabok asked.
"Why give this to me?"
"I said we'd split the prize fairly."
"You meant with your group, right?"
Cheongun tsked, as if it was obvious.
"That's why I did. Gabok, you dumbass. Aren't you part of my group? Yunbong Stronghold, remember? Hilarious bastard. Being that ignorant's a talent."
"……"
Cheongun ragged on him a while longer, then tossed something else.
"Catch."
"What's this?"
"Manual."
"……"
It was a hand-copied manual of some nameless saber technique—decent power, easy to learn—from the system's corner.
"Was gonna distribute arts to officers after reforming the Green Forest, but your skills are pathetically low, so here—early gift."
"……"
"You'll take time 'cause you're such a dumbass, but train diligently, body and mind, and you'll achieve something in no time."
Rough words, but clear goodwill.
Jin Gabok's eyes reddened.
"Lord..."
Cheongun replied.
"Not lord. Total Stronghold Lord."
"……"
Cheongun strolled slowly through the courtyard, passing Jin Gabok.
His shadow shrank in the distance.
A cool breeze brushed his collar.
...Good call sparing him.
Cheongun murmured softly.
The next morning.
Cheongun headed down the mountain at dawn.
His companions were the same two as on the ascent: Jeok Hwa-ryeon and So Ye-rin.
Bang Jong-dae stayed behind at Cheongun's request.
With Bloodline Pavilion, Darkwood Sect, and Filth Gate personnel incoming, plus Alliance envoys to negotiate with, someone needed to lead the temporary Green Forest reform. Bang Jong-dae fit the bill.
He'd objected at first, but promised a cut of future profits, and he flipped like a switch.
Easy guy to handle.
Ryeon asked, baffled.
"That monk—we can really trust him?"
"We can."
"The lunatic who eats meat, drinks booze, and smashes teeth with prayer beads?"
"He's not so mad he ignores reason. He's what Shaolin should truly be."
"……?"
Ryeon blinked.
That is Shaolin's ideal?
She thought Shaolin's future looked bleak.
Cheongun meant it.
He'd raised Bang Jong-dae in every route in the original.
Among them, Shaolin was strongest when the monk fully corrupted into a "mad" one.
Then So Ye-rin murmured.
"Look ahead."
A faint presence stirred.
An unfamiliar aura rode the wind.
Something approached fast.
A woman leaped through space, position shifting with each blink.
Sudden presence—Cheongun drew his sword.
No killing intent, but urgent.
Then a figure halted at his feet.
It was a girl in a veiled hat, small and youthful. Panting hard, face desperate, like she was being chased.
Cheongun's eyes narrowed.
The veiled girl cried urgently.
"Cheongun! Are you Cheongun?"
"Yes."
"Help me!"
Out of nowhere?
Cheongun tsked and tried to pass, but she pressed.
"I'm Moon Shadow, info broker for the Secret Society!"
Secret Society?
Cheongun's eyes widened.
"The Secret Society faces its greatest crisis! Crimson Night Sword Sovereign—that insane killer—is rampaging, hitting our bases one by one, slaughtering everyone!"
Ooh, Master indeed.
Turning the central plains' biggest underworld group to ash.
Sovereign's no joke.
As Cheongun nodded—
"That old man's a lone wolf with no blood kin or family, save his sole disciple—you, Cheongun! So help us!"
"With what?"
"Convince your master! The Secret Society's innocent! We didn't know about Namgung Yeol—we wouldn't touch a Sovereign's disciple! We just passed info!"
"Pass. Can't sway Master when he's pissed."
Cheongun brushed past lightly.
Then the girl shrieked.
"Name your price!"
Cheongun stopped dead.
He turned, voice wistful.
"How much intel you got?"
"……"