Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Blood Slaughter Guest Appears
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After Ma Won-pyeong and the Hyeongsan Sect group left.
The emotion we all felt was one.
Suspicious.
"They're awfully territorial, aren't they? I didn't even expect cooperation."
"Yeah. They seemed wary of us from the start."
"Is Baekyang Group usually this uncooperative?"
"No. They might not step up actively, but it's rare for them to show outright hostility like that."
"Hmm..."
The anger from losing disciples didn't seem to blind them—their tone was far too calm.
Excessively emotionless.
He just seemed to be revealing an excuse not to cooperate. It felt like he hoped we wouldn't get deeply involved.
"Senior, you said the Blood Slaughter Guest only targeted bandits, right?"
"Yeah. At least based on the reports."
"A guy who only hunted bandits... went after Hyeongsan Sect..."
What had kept the Blood Slaughter Guest from being branded a public enemy of the martial world despite all the blood he'd spilled?
He only picked bandits.
They were scum who raided civilians or merchant caravans anyway—statusless wretches no one would avenge.
That was why Baekyang Group was only stepping in now, after his massacres drew too much attention.
But sects were different.
Turning a sect into a personal enemy was madness.
In the martial world, the sharpest blade was justification.
Justification.
Even in a world with laws, the martial world was a place where grasping justification let you plunge a knife into someone's gut without consequence.
Hell, you'd get applause.
"We avenged our sect's disciple!" they'd say.
That was why avoiding needless grudges was the way to survive in the martial world.
Knocking down a few vengeful disciples who came looking? Useless.
If third-generation disciples fell, second-generation would come; if they fell, first-generation.
Step by step up the ranks, until the sect's elites stepped in.
A wheel of battle that wouldn't stop until the enemy was dead.
"Unless the Blood Slaughter Guest is some utter madman, he wouldn't touch Hyeongsan Sect without reason."
"Reason...? Does a murdering demon who slaughters bandits need a reason?"
"Guess we'll find out starting now."
In truth, there might be no reason at all.
Maybe a Hyeongsan Sect disciple poked the suspicious-looking Blood Slaughter Guest, and he killed them for it.
But as we investigated Honam Province to grasp the situation, the suspicions deepened.
"Blood Slaughter Guest? He's a rare hero! Bandits have been rampant lately—made it hard to make a living."
"Don't even get me started. Last merchant trip got ruined by those Black Dragon Lair bastards. Feels good knowing someone's cleaning house!"
"What the hell is Hyeongsan Sect doing? They ignored bandits because they were 'busy,' but now they're hunting the Blood Slaughter Guest like rats!"
The people of Honam Province were favorable toward the Blood Slaughter Guest.
They eyed us suspiciously as we searched for him.
Defending a murderer? It spoke volumes about how shitty the security around Honam was.
'He doesn't even bother hiding anymore.'
Another suspicious point.
Investigation was just digging into rumors—no need to guard against it so fiercely.
Yet as we roamed this vast Honam Province, men in yellow uniforms watched us from everywhere.
Mobilizing this many to surveil us?
If they had nothing to hide, no reason for it.
"Looks like Hyeongsan Sect has something they want to keep buried."
"Yeah. They stared us down openly."
"You too, Junior? Should've smacked a few as an example."
"Senior... I don't expect help, so just stay put."
Jegal Yeong brushed off Hwangbo Seyul's joke and continued.
"There are more than a few suspicious signs..."
"We'll only know for sure after meeting the Blood Slaughter Guest ourselves."
"Right. But finding him's the problem. Locals seem to be hiding him, and Hyeongsan Sect won't tell us."
In the end, the key was the Blood Slaughter Guest.
We needed to learn how he ended up clashing with Hyeongsan Sect to resolve this nagging doubt.
"Senior, I've got a good idea."
"What is it?"
"Let's just smash one bandit lair first."
"?"
Luckily, this was right up my alley.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Im Kyung-tak, lair chief of the Crimson Bandit Stronghold, was at his wit's end.
Lately, the Blood Slaughter Guest had been wiping out bandit lairs across Honam Province. So many had fallen to him you couldn't count them on fingers. Forewarned, they'd halted raids and fortified defenses.
But...
'What the hell are these guys?!'
The Blood Slaughter Guest never showed—instead, some weird bastards barged in.
One man, two women.
Before he could even think, "Damn, parading around with two beauties—must be something,"
the Crimson Bandit Stronghold's forces were annihilated in an instant.
"Senior, are you sulking over what I said earlier?"
"No, not at all. Your cold attitude never hurt my feelings?"
"Well... you didn't have to step in."
They chatted casually, like out for a stroll.
Hard to believe these were the ones who'd floored dozens in a blink.
No deaths made it even scarier.
Meant they were elites who could handle armed foes like children.
"Hey, you the boss?"
"Y-yes! That's me!"
"From now on, answer my questions right. Unless you wanna spend your life crawling."
The guy pointed his sword at Im Kyung-tak's leg as he lay sprawled. No need for threats—he wouldn't resist. Im Kyung-tak flailed, signaling full cooperation.
"Of course! I can even tell you where the vault is. Please, spare my life!"
"Hey, hey. Don't make me out as a killer of innocents. Someone might think I'm the Blood Slaughter Guest."
"Eek! N-no way!"
The guy's reassuring smile looked utterly devilish. Im Kyung-tak vowed to answer anything.
'This'll be easy.'
Yi Se-woong, that devilish bastard, sensed the right pressure and asked.
"You lot pay tribute to Hyeongsan Sect, right?"
"Yes... Huh?"
Hit hard with the first question.
Sudden shocks confuse people.
They stammer, spilling everything in the chaos.
Yi Se-woong's go-to method.
"Well..."
"Where'd the guy offering to empty your vault go? If you don't wanna answer, we'll move to the next candidate."
"Y-you're right, Great Hero!"
"Knew it."
He knew Hyeongsan Sect's reaction to his confession, but survival first.
"They'd overlook our banditry in exchange for half our income. That's Hyeongsan Sect's offer."
"Half? More like thieves than Taoists."
"Yes! No different from bandits!"
"Bandit fits scum like you. Answer the question."
"Yes, sir!"
Excitedly agreeing, Im Kyung-tak shut up at Yi Se-woong's warning.
"No wonder there are so many lairs around here. Crazy bastards operating in Nine Great Sects territory. Impossible without Hyeongsan Sect's permission."
"Yes, exactly!"
"Any demands besides tribute?"
"Uh... Sometimes orders. Ruin a specific caravan, raid a village."
"Basically your underlings."
"They treated us like slaves. And those Orthodox Faction bastards!"
"Say one more dumb thing."
Pak!
Yi Se-woong slammed his sword down.
Next to Im Kyung-tak's head.
First a point, now embedded in the ground.
Where next?
Realizing, Im Kyung-tak cut the chatter and answered diligently—even unasked parts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "How's that? Your junior's clean, swift handling."
"Junior Junior's a pro at intimidation!"
"I'll admit it's efficient. But you okay? Might stir up nearby lairs."
We'd gotten all the info needed.
After knocking out the bandit chief for the authorities, Jegal Yeong asked worriedly.
"What, you think, 'How dare they touch us—we'll make 'em regret it!' and other lairs swarm?"
"Something like that. Beating them's easy, but it could hinder the mission."
"Don't worry. Bandits only talk loyalty on full stomachs. Another Blood Slaughter Guest showing up? They'll hole up like rats."
"I've noticed—you know bandit habits weirdly well."
"Got some history there."
Jegal Yeong eyed me curiously.
She'd opposed my idea at first.
-This mission tests judgment, right? So let's go with Junior Junior's plan!
Without Hwangbo Seyul's full backing, it wouldn't have flown.
Once we started, things went smoothly—no more objections from Jegal Yeong.
Pinpoint locations from victims' testimonies. Bandits rarely stray far from bases.
Search nearby for markers: cloth on branches, arranged stones. Anything unnatural.
Spot the lair's outline? Charge in without delay.
Sentries spotting you complicates things.
My tried-and-true bandit hunt method, honed by experience.
"This outlines it nicely."
"Who'd think Hyeongsan Sect was pulling this crap..."
"Yeah. Stuff for gangster thugs pretending to be a sect. Nine Great Sects, my ass. That's why Taoists suck."
"Got a grudge against Taoists?"
"History there too."
History.
What a convenient phrase.
Jegal Yeong looked a bit miffed at my dodge but tried not to show it.
"And raiding the lair wasn't just for interrogation—another reason."
"What?"
"Didn't expect a bullseye on the first shot."
"Huh?"
Whoosh!
A dagger flew in.
Aimed at the unconscious bandit chief's head.
Clang!
I swung my sword, knocking it away.
He was for the authorities anyway, but I wouldn't let blood spray before my eyes.
"Defending bandits?"
A low voice.
Sharp as scraping metal.
"They say to enter the tiger's den to catch a tiger."
"Give me a reason. Your treatment depends on your answer."
"To catch the Blood Slaughter Guest, hit the lairs first, right?"
"No intent to answer. Then I'll ask with my sword."
He wore black uniform.
Stained darker with blood.
Under his deeply pressed bamboo hat, wolf-like eyes gleamed.
No questions asked.
The Blood Slaughter Guest charged, swinging his sword at me.