Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Encountering the Green Forest (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Between Zhejiang and Anhui.
It was an outlying area from the perspective of both the Namgung and Cheon Families.
Geographically situated on the border, it was ambiguous for both families to definitively classify whether this place fell under Namgung or Cheon territory.
‘Of course, strictly speaking, it is Cheon Family territory.’
Nevertheless, the reason it had been neglected until now was because of the Namgung Family.
This was due to concerns that if the area was ceded to the Cheon Family, the Namgung Family's allies located nearby could be destabilized.
‘For purely political reasons, this place was left unattended...’
And in that neglected gap, parasites like that band of bandits had begun to swarm.
The damage, however, fell squarely on everyone else.
‘They're surprisingly well-informed.’
It seemed one needed sharp ears to become a villain.
Otherwise, how could they possibly exploit such a loophole to thrive?
They acted as if they were the masters of this place.
“Puhahahahahaha!”
The breathless, maniacal laughter was just one way of displaying their inexplicable confidence.
“How dare you what?”
“Should I repeat myself? Decide whether you're going to get lost or get beaten.”
“You brat, I don't know where you crawled out from, but we belong to the Green Forest.”
“So?”
“It means this is no place for a country bumpkin who's never even heard of the Green Forest to be running his mouth!”
The bandit chief gestured.
At his signal, the men standing behind him slowly approached Cheon Muryang.
“That's right. Just stay still.”
“We'll make it less painful for you!”
*Swish!*
A crude fist flew.
But Cheon Muryang sighed, not even bothering to glance at it.
“Huh?”
As always.
Their plan was to strike the opponent with their fists, and once he fell, stomp on him.
But something was wrong.
‘Why can't I breathe?’
He couldn't breathe properly.
It felt as if something in his chest was dislocated.
Slowly.
Their heads drooped.
*Drip.*
*Drip, drip.*
A single sword protruded from each of their chests, having pierced them completely.
“Gah!”
Before they could say a word, death swiftly claimed them.
*Thud!*
The two bandits collapsed.
Watching them with cold eyes were Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak.
“Y-You bastards!”
At this, the bandit chief was flustered.
‘Fast and powerful!’
He had discerned that the two men's swordsmanship was no ordinary skill.
It was the crisis of a lifetime.
Faced with this, the bandit chief didn't have many options.
“J-Just you wait!”
He fled.
The remaining bandits could only stare blankly as their chief ran for his life.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes?”
“Aren't you going to run?”
“Ah... Then, excuse us.”
For bandits, they were surprisingly polite.
Expressing their gratitude for Cheon Muryang's mercy, they fled in a hurry, their speed truly remarkable.
“They're fast.”
Cheon Muryang shrugged.
Then, he met the countless gazes directed at him.
“Ah, I am Cheon Muryang.”
That one sentence.
As soon as it was uttered.
“Waaaaaaah!”
“It's the Heavenly Sword, Cheon Muryang!”
“He looks even more like white jade than the rumors said.”
“His heroic aura is just as you'd expect from the Great Young Lord of the Cheon Family!”
Cheers erupted.
For those who traveled between Zhejiang and Anhui, tales of Cheon Muryang were the most popular topic of conversation.
Thus, his popularity, at least among them, was sky-high.
“Huh?”
Therefore, it was Cheon Muryang who was utterly bewildered.
He hadn't expected so many people to react with such favor.
“Thank you.”
Someone representing a few of the merchants approached Cheon Muryang.
“If I may ask, Great Young Lord, where are you headed?”
“Ah, we are heading to Anhui.”
“Are you going to the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly?”
“Yes.”
“Just as I thought.”
Although people traveled both ways, far more were heading from Zhejiang to Anhui.
The Dragon and Phoenix Assembly was no different from a festival.
Therefore, it was only natural for people to gather, hoping to cash in on the event that drew the attention of the entire martial world.
“If it's alright with you, would you care to travel with us?”
“Hmm...”
It was a deviation from his plans.
So, when he made a troubled expression, the quick-witted merchant smiled and said.
“Ah, please don't feel pressured. How could we possibly insist?”
“Thank you. As this is my first time in the martial world, I wish to experience things for myself.”
“I see.”
“However, I will accompany you until we are out of this area. There is a chance the bandits might attack again.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
*Clip-clop.*
The cargo carts, which had been stopped, began to move.
Cheon Muryang, who had staunchly refused a ride in a cart, asked the merchant.
“Have bandits always been rampant here?”
“Not at all. It's only recently that those bastards started running wild so brazenly.”
“I see.”
“Still, I'm not sure if we should consider ourselves lucky that they're bandits affiliated with the Green Forest.”
The Green Forest had its own code.
Therefore, no member of the Green Forest could excessively demand tolls or anything else.
Doing so would result in them being subjugated by the inspectors dispatched from the Green Forest's main headquarters.
“Lucky, my foot! Those so-called inspectors are all cut from the same cloth! Who wouldn't be swayed if you stuff them with bribes until they puke?”
Someone vented his indignation.
He was the merchant who had offered gold to the bandit chief who had fled.
He was the most critical of the Green Forest.
“In the end, they're all the same.”
“Perhaps.”
Even if you wrap them up as the Green Forest, bandits are still bandits.
Their true nature would never change.
“After all, stagnant water is bound to rot.”
Woryeong, who was nearby, realized.
While Cheon Muryang was consoling the merchant, his gaze was fixed elsewhere.
‘What is it?’
There was no one there.
But she was certain someone had been there just a moment ago.
“Please wait just a little longer.”
“Pardon?”
“This is Zhejiang, is it not the territory of the Cheon Family?”
Cheon Muryang knew what the Cheon Family should have done in the first place.
“I intend to negotiate with the Green Forest, and if necessary, with the Namgung Family as well, so please wait.”
“G-Great Young Lord, that is no simple matter. The Green Forest and the Namgung Family are involved.”
The merchants, on the contrary, tried to dissuade him.
It was because the situation could escalate into a major issue.
“Indeed. That merchant is right. Nothing good comes from getting involved with the Green Forest.”
Not just the merchants, but even the Wandering King tried to stop him.
It seemed he really wanted to avoid any entanglement with the Green Forest.
In other words, the Green Forest was so persistent that even the Wandering King was reluctant to deal with them.
However, that couldn't be the Wandering King's true intention.
“Hmm. Are you afraid?”
“What?”
Cheon Muryang provoked the Wandering King.
It was easier than he thought.
Cheon Muryang gazed at the flaring Wandering King with his characteristic smile.
“No, it's just strange how you've been so averse to the Green Forest since earlier.”
“Ugh!”
“It's not like you owe them a debt or anything.”
“...”
“Are you truly afraid of the Green Forest Fighting King?”
“Y-You really...!”
The moment the Fighting King was mentioned, the Wandering King unleashed an irrepressible rage.
*Grip!*
Veins bulged on the hand gripping his saber.
“That's it.”
“...?”
“That anger.”
He didn't know the reason.
The Wandering King simply chose not to draw his saber, even though he could have.
‘Anger...?’
However, the Wandering King caught a glimpse of the anger Cheon Muryang concealed behind his smile.
That anger was certainly not a red rage, boiling like lava, but it was akin to a blue flame, burning subtly.
“That's exactly how I feel right now.”
*Shudder!*
A chilling aura emanated from him.
A sharp presence billowed out, as if ready to surge forward at any moment.
*Tingle!*
The Wandering King felt a stinging sensation between his brows.
‘This brat... has he gotten stronger again?’
Cheon Muryang paid him no mind and continued speaking.
“If necessary, I will cut down the Green Forest. And if necessary, I will cut down the Namgung Family as well.”
*Thump!*
Neung Ryeoun, Cha Myeonghak, and Woryeong stood beside Cheon Muryang.
“That is the will of the Cheon Family.”
“Always so reckless, just like a true madman.”
The Wandering King clicked his tongue.
But what could he do?
As long as he was under the Cheon Family's patronage, he had no choice but to follow.
“Fine. In that case, let's chase after those bastards.”
“Why?”
The Wandering King grinned.
“We need to beat them down and draw out the Fighting King.”
“Ah.”
Cheon Muryang agreed.
So, he stared at the figures barely visible in the distance.
“Then let's go, quickly.”
“...”
“Come to think of it, I didn't get the collected money back, and I didn't get to beat them up either.”
He had to keep his word, didn't he?
Cheon Muryang spoke to the merchant whose gold ingot had been taken by the bandit chief.
“Come to the Cheon Family anytime. I will return the gold ingot you lost today.”
“Huh?”
Before he even finished speaking.
Cheon Muryang's figure vanished like the wind.
“You brats, what are you doing? Let's go.”
“...”
“Young Lord! Wait for us!”
Starting with Woryeong, Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak followed.
The Wandering King casually spoke to Namgung Seo-hui, who seemed to be lost in thought.
“Tsk. Child of Namgung.”
“Yes.”
“You may have abandoned the Namgung name, but the world doesn't see it that way.”
“...”
“You must find your footing.”
“I've already prepared myself.”
“Prepared for what? To raise your sword against your family? Don't be foolish. You are not Cheon Seo-hui, but Namgung Seo-hui. Even if you wish to discard the Namgung name.”
“...”
“That boy will never bend. At this rate, the Namgung and Cheon Families will walk a path of no return.”
The Cheon Family had only just gotten back on track.
A clash with the Namgung Family would inevitably shatter that momentum.
Namgung Seo-hui knew this as well.
“What can I do?”
“That is for you to figure out. But remember this: denying what you have doesn't make it disappear.”
The Namgung name was like a shackle, one that would surely never release Namgung Seo-hui.
“Find that answer.”
“...”
“If you stay by that boy's side, you might come to a realization.”
With those words, the Wandering King moved in the direction Cheon Muryang had disappeared.
“...”
Left alone, Namgung Seo-hui suddenly felt an urge to swing her sword freely.
So, she headed in a different direction from where Cheon Muryang had gone.
“Hoo...”
The blowing wind was cool, but for some reason, her heart felt heavy.
*Trudge, trudge.*
Her steps were somehow heavy.
***
The mountain stronghold came into view.
‘I'm saved.’
A sense of relief washed over him.
He was worried about the men he'd left behind, but here, he was king.
“Someone, attend me!”
“...”
It was quiet.
The bandit chief frowned and entered the stronghold.
“Those bastards!”
He thought they were probably drunk and sprawled out somewhere.
But he was mistaken.
“Gasp!”
All of his men were bound by ropes, completely subdued.
Some of them had collapsed while coughing up blood; it seemed there were dead among them as well.
“W-Who are you!”
In front of them stood figures wearing strange masks.
But the bandit chief's gaze was fixed on what was behind them, and he couldn't move.
“It seems I stayed at the main headquarters for too long. The stench of rot is overwhelming.”
*Thud!*
Two axes slammed into the floor.
“N-No way...!”
The bandit chief was horrified.
Because one being who should absolutely not be here kept coming to mind.
“Yes, do you recognize me?”
That being was like a tiger.
His mere glare was enough to make the bandit chief wet himself.
It was an instinctive reaction.
The instinct of prey that realizes it can never win.
And that it can never escape.
“F-Fighting King...!”
The Fighting King.
The man known as the Green Forest Fighting King was sitting on the tiger-skin chair the bandit chief always used to show off to his men.