Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Rogue King
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As everyone in the Central Plains knows...
A nickname isn't something handed out lightly.
Sometimes, people oblivious to their own station claim overly grandiose titles, but that's just the pipe dream of nobodies.
A nickname only gains meaning when everyone else acknowledges it.
The audacious soul who dared to bear the character for "king" in his name.
The Rogue King, Du Heon-woo.
That name was a testament to the path he had walked.
Like any rogue, no one knew his origins.
A powerhouse who appeared out of nowhere, without fanfare.
Some said he was a master expelled from the Royal Guard.
Others claimed he was a disciple excommunicated from Shaolin Temple.
Or perhaps a runaway from a Daoist sect.
Mysteries swirled around the Rogue King.
Countless speculations tossed out "just in case" had yet to find answers even now.
But one fact everyone could agree on.
He was the strongest rogue.
Murim folk tended to look down on rogues.
Their members came from all sorts of messy backgrounds.
From those kicked out of great sects for abusing their strength, to country bumpkins drifting in just to put food in their mouths.
Rogues encompassed them all.
Compared to other Murim forces with systematic martial training, they couldn't help but seem a cut below.
The rogues' inherent temperament played a part too.
Gold is king.
There was a saying widely accepted in Murim.
If you're in a bind with a rogue, just offer a single tael of silver.
They'll lick your shoes clean.
A phrase dripping with contempt for rogues as a whole.
The only issue was how it pierced right to the core, exaggeration aside.
Most rogues were the type ready to throw everything away for a big score.
Du Heon-woo was the one who washed away all that scorn.
Twenty years ago.
Back when rogues were seen as mere meat shields to take blows for others.
The Wudang Sect's forces arrived in Fujian Province.
To eradicate the demonic factions lurking in Guangdong and Guangxi, they would use Fujian as their base.
The justification sounded noble enough.
If you ignored the real intent: to dominate Hubei and Fujian, then extend influence into Jiangxi sandwiched between them.
But rogues had no grounds to refuse.
Their opponents were elites led by Elder Qingyun of Wudang.
No rogue was ignorant of Wudang's prestige in Murim.
They could only grit their teeth and seek new dens, resigned to yielding their turf.
That was when.
Du Heon-woo stepped forward.
All the rogues were stunned.
Just one rogue who always wrapped himself in a burlap sack and slept in a hovel.
A wretched figure who'd make you think, why not join the Beggars' Sect instead?
The kind of guy who inspired pity even among rogues, tempting them to toss him alms.
"This is the city of rogues. The guest rooms are empty, but unfortunately, the master suites are all full."
He led the charge before anyone else.
To block Wudang's elites.
One by one, the rogues drew courage from his example.
The most rogue-like of rogues.
The Rogue King, Du Heon-woo.
That was the day he came to rule the rogues' city, Fujian Province.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "This is the Rogue King's abode...?"
"Hard to believe, but it's true."
After dumping the rolling band of rogues at a nearby clinic,
we ventured deeper into Fujian Province to find the Rogue King.
The terrain was truly treacherous.
Jegal Yeong kept asking if humans could even survive in a place like this.
Following the direction one recovering rogue had pointed,
Jegal Yeong's expression grew increasingly peculiar.
I understood why.
We were walking the opposite of lined-up grand buildings: a barren path overgrown with weeds.
No wonder she doubted the Rogue King would be out here.
"Well, it's been a while since we had visitors."
That was when.
A voice cut through Jegal Yeong's doubts.
From a hovel barely qualifying as a house, the Rogue King emerged.
'His presence leaks out with every breath.'
In Murim, the better one hid their cultivation, the higher the respect.
It signaled complete control over their aura.
Yet the Rogue King exuded an overwhelming pressure he seemed unable to contain, prickling the nerves.
His shaved bald head and the scar running from left cheek across nose to right cheek amplified that intensity.
"Are you the Rogue King, Senior Du Heon-woo? I'm Jegal Yeong of the Baekyang Group."
"Senior? Rogues don't have such things. You Murim Alliance folk have such fine manners these days."
Unlike the tension his aura induced,
the Rogue King greeted us with a kindly smile.
"Who wouldn't show respect before the Rogue King?"
"Heh, you're making me uncomfortable."
"Humility in excess is a flaw, they say. You needn't humble yourself."
We started with some light flattery.
Jegal Yeong rattled off the Rogue King's achievements to break the ice.
No one hates praise.
He listened impassively, but didn't bother hiding his upturned lips.
"The Alliance Leader must be as vigorous as ever. Makes sense—he's good for at least another two centuries."
"The Leader remembers you too, Rogue King."
"Me? Ha, that's an exaggeration. I'd be thrilled if he doesn't see me as a stepping stone."
"The seat of the Eight Kings isn't won by gambling."
It struck me anew, but Jegal Yeong had a real talent for sycophancy. She picked words tailored to please, no doubt from thorough research.
His expression brightened noticeably.
The Rogue King had welcomed us warmly from the start.
With the conversation flowing smoothly, she figured things would go well.
"So... what brings you all the way to this remote Fujian?"
"You're aware, I'm sure. Of the Crimson Blood Group stirring up the south lately."
"Heard the name."
"We've confirmed it's an item laced with vile sorcery. It strips away reason, burns through the meridians..."
"Confirmed? You mean when your group beat down those seven rogues?"
A flinch.
Jegal Yeong stiffened at the Rogue King's words.
It hadn't even been half a day, and he'd already heard.
"It started as a scuffle. Actually..."
"Oh, I'm not judging right or wrong. Those guys must've picked the fight first. That's how they live."
The Rogue King chuckled reassuringly.
Jegal Yeong looked troubled, unsure of his true intent.
"Fine. I get that you're here to catch the Crimson Blood distributors. Go ahead and poke around as you please. Treat all of Fujian like your own home."
"Even so, is that alright?"
"Don't block those who come; don't chase those who leave. That's our iron rule."
He'd permit investigating Fujian itself.
With his approval, Jegal Yeong pressed further.
"Then, might we request your cooperation?"
"Cooperation?"
"Yes. Rumors link this to the Demonic Cult. Their ruthless methods match too."
"Hmm..."
The Rogue King stroked his chin beard thoughtfully,
then clicked his tongue.
"That might be tricky."
"Pardon?"
"Do you know the one value rogues hold supreme?"
Jegal Yeong paused to choose her words.
Not because she didn't know, but wondering if she should say it.
"Money?"
"Half right. But money's just a means."
"?"
"No need for me to explain. Ask your comrade."
Jegal Yeong looked baffled.
The Rogue King's gaze pointed my way.
After staying quiet in the back, this guy just had to drag me in.
I stepped forward before she could ask.
"Rogue King, what do you mean?"
"Rogue King? Don't make me blush. And why lower your voice like that?"
"As a mere commoner, I find it hard to grasp your meaning."
I emphasized "hard to grasp," enunciating each word.
With a pointed glance for good measure.
Only then did he sigh shortly, as if catching on.
"I must've been mistaken. Sorry. You look too much like a guy I knew."
"I wondered what you meant."
"Age brings these mix-ups. Anyway, Jegal Yeong, was it? Here's your answer."
Time is cruel.
He muttered low, then turned to her.
"Freedom. Rogues all crave freedom. They cast off anything that binds them for it."
That's why I rule but do not govern.
The Rogue King continued.
"Money buys freedom in this world, so that's how it is... Anyway. Whether they take Crimson Blood and become cripples, or avoid it and scrape by—it's their freedom. I won't suppress it."
"But...! Letting it fester will doom Fujian's rogues!"
"That's their choice too."
I won't interfere.
The Rogue King declared.
In truth, Fujian's state had already tipped me off.
Even rogues with no steady income stashing Crimson Blood meant the province was infested.
Impossible without his tacit approval.
"Is that the will of all Fujian?"
"I don't speak for the rogues. At least I'm staying out of it."
"...Understood."
Jegal Yeong must've read his resolve in his eyes.
She turned away without further protest.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After talks with the Rogue King fell through,
Jegal Yeong tirelessly sought rogue cooperation.
Fierce looks or ragged appearances be damned.
She pushed on for any leads.
"With empty words? Slip me a tael of silver, maybe."
But the rogues were unanimous.
No progress after over two hours of legwork.
Jegal Yeong's patience was fraying.
"I just don't get it. Rogues chasing Crimson Blood knowing it'll cripple them, and the Rogue King ignoring it."
"Senior, trying to understand will just tire you out. That's how they live."
Yi Se-woong tried to console her.
Her gaze turned to him.
"Speaking of which... what's your deal with the Rogue King?"
"You heard. Just a mix-up."
"Gonna play it like that again?"
I'd seen them exchange glances plain as day.
She'd noticed too.
Against the Blood Reaper, rattling off rogue lore.
Yi Se-woong had been hiding something all along.
Jegal Yeong hadn't pried before.
He'd tell when the time was right.
They were comrades, after all.
But how long?
The question slipped out.
"Junior! That's not the point right now!"
Then,
Hwangbo Seyul jumped in.
"He'll say when the time comes, right? If I knew the Rogue King, I'd brag everywhere. But there's reason he's keeping our junior sister uncomfortable."
"No, I..."
"Cooperation from the Rogue King seems tough anyway, so let's find another way. I'll help too!"
Hwangbo Seyul mediated with a bright smile.
I tried to hold back, really.
Before I could add anything, she wrapped it up.
'Am I the bad guy again?'
That snapped Jegal Yeong's patience.
Yi Se-woong hoarding secrets, the aloof Rogue King, uncooperative rogues.
And Hwangbo Seyul meddling like a sister-in-law.
All of them.
Got on her nerves.
Fine, she'd do as she pleased.
"You're right. I was foolish."
Her eyes held a resigned glint.
In that moment, she let something go.
"The Rogue King parroted 'freedom' like a parrot."
"Junior? Your eyes look dangerous."
"Then just buy their freedom with money."
"Junior?"
Hwangbo Seyul called out, sensing trouble,
but got no reply.
Jegal Yeong just muttered to herself.
"The budget doubled anyway..."
"Senior?"
"If short, I'll cover from my own pocket."
"Calm down a bit."
"Buying freedom with money is my freedom too, right?"
Maybe from the Rogue King.
She latched onto "freedom."
Jegal Yeong grinned brightly with sinister eyes.
Exuding a highly dangerous aura.