Big Trouble Because I Want to Bathe with Master!
Jin Seoryeong lightly swung her sword with one hand toward the shower of arrows raining down. Clang!!Thud thud thud! With that alone, the arrow storm that had filled their vision lost all its power and momentum, scattering harmlessly.
"Wh-what the...?"
The Green Forest bandits atop the log palisade couldn't hide their shock at the sight of the arrows they'd loosed in unison whipping about like straw caught in a gale.
"Alright then, let's see what Baek Jincheon's disciple can do."
Jin Seoryeong rested her blade on her shoulder and called to Yeon Wol beside her.
"Don't order me around. I'll handle it myself!"
Whoosh! Yeon Wol shot forward from the ground with an irritated huff. With a single leap, she effortlessly cleared the towering palisade made of whole logs driven into the earth.
Tap. Landing lightly atop the palisade, Yeon Wol faced the flustered bandits clutching their bows, clenching her fists lightly. It was her first real battle, but she felt no tension. If anything, the chance to test her accumulated skills thrilled her. She lowered her stance slightly and charged at the bandits before her.
Pow pow pow!
"Gaaahhh!!!"
"Kieeeek!!!"
"S-save me!!!"
Yeon Wol swept through the bandits on the palisade like a storm.
"Impressive power and momentum, as expected. She's definitely a martial prodigy. But... isn't she a bit lacking for the daughter of the Heavenly Demon?"
Watching Yeon Wol rampage freely, Jin Seoryeong turned her head back. Her eyes met Baek Jincheon's behind her.
"Hmm... Did you hold back on purpose in teaching her?"
Yeon Wol showed not a trace of Baek Jincheon's style. Despite their master-disciple bond, it seemed Baek Jincheon hadn't passed on any of his techniques. It was odd from the start—Baek wielded a sword, yet his disciple fought with fists.
"Well, I'll ask about that later."
But this wasn't the time to stand around pondering. Jin Seoryeong lowered the sword from her shoulder as she stepped through the mountain stronghold's main gate, which she'd blasted open.
"For now... time to clean up the trash."
A calamity incomparable to the white-haired beast atop the palisade set foot into the Green Forest's 29th stronghold.
※
Kaboom!!
"Kieeeek!! R-run awaaay!!!"
"Fortress Lord! When's the Fortress Lord comingggg!!!"
"S-saaave meeee!!!"
Armed bandits flew through the air amid thunderous explosions. It was the scene wrought by Jin Seoryeong's sword. With every swing, the bandits around her scattered like dandelion seeds. Her blade carved the air itself, birthing a storm.
The Jin Clan's secret sword art: Storm Sword.
"Ar-arrows aren't hittinggg!!"
"Too fast to even aimmm!!"
"U-uaack!? Sh-she just caught the arrow!!! M-monster!!!"
The situation atop the palisade was no different. If anything, the bandits up there had it worse. Yeon Wol was still inexperienced, so what should have ended in one blow took three. With every punch she landed, flesh tore, muscles burst, and bones shattered. Even if they recovered, they'd never bandit again.
Crack! Split! Crack!
"Phew, next."
The bandits screamed and hurled themselves off the palisade at the sight of Yeon Wol approaching, her fists dripping blood, her eyes glowing redder than crimson.
BOOM!!
But leaping down only meant facing Jin Seoryeong's Storm Sword. Below raged a disaster; above loomed terror. A true hell with no escape.
"I-I knew it... I never should've become a bandit..."
At the hellscape wrought by just two women, the Green Forest bandit regretted his choice. And those unwitting true words slipped out.
"What did you just say?"
"Eh...? Wh-what? Hiiik! F-Fortress Lord!"
Even in this dire chaos, Fortress Lord Ma Gal appeared ambling in, and the words reached his ears perfectly. The chaotic stronghold fell silent the instant its master arrived. Ma Gal was a Peak realm master. Simply revealing his aura choked the breath from ordinary folk.
"...!"
"Oh."
Yeon Wol tensed all her senses at Ma Gal's entrance, while Jin Seoryeong regarded him leisurely.
"'I never should've become a bandit'? Was the loyalty you pledged to the Green Forest so feeble it crumbled before two mere women?"
Ma Gal raised his axe to cleave the regretful bandit. Such words undermined the stronghold's discipline. It was a crime that could turn winnable fights into losses, warranting summary execution. But Ma Gal was a flexible leader, so he turned to eye those who'd turned his stronghold to ruin.
"You're saying those two are so strong they made you spout such weakness?"
If the regret was justified, there might be room for mercy. The wise Green Forest leader thought so as he first glanced up at Yeon Wol on the palisade—her white hair stood out.
"Hoo... Indeed. You'd have a hard time against them. She looks young, but that's a true master."
As a stronghold lord, Ma Gal had encountered countless experts. Serving the Green Forest King for years had honed his eye. He gauged Yeon Wol's level at a glance. Unlike the braggarts who'd boasted of subduing bandits only to be beaten and chased off in their underwear, Yeon Wol was the real deal.
"And that ferocious aura to boot. No way fledglings like you could take down that beast."
Moreover, Yeon Wol exuded a savagery beyond her years. She was a born predator, no match for petty bandits who just robbed travelers.
"I can understand your slip-up to some extent."
Ma Gal nodded understandingly at his subordinate's blunder and looked down to assess the other one who'd razed his stronghold.
"Hoo... Oh? Wh-what? Ah, wha—? Why, why?!?"
The moment he took in Jin Seoryeong, Ma Gal recoiled in horror.
"Why, why?! H-how are you here?!"
He recognized the black-haired woman tapping her foot idly with her sword slung over her shoulder.
Eight years ago, during the Demon Church uprising, Ma Gal had cooperated with the Murim Alliance alongside Green Forest King Ma Hui. The devastation knew no factional bounds, so even lifelong enemies had allied. At the Alliance headquarters he'd visited with Ma Hui, he'd seen her once.
"Wh-what brings the daughter of the Murim Alliance Lord here?!"
Jin Gang's only daughter, the pampered pearl Jin Seoryeong.
Gasps rippled through the bandits at "daughter of the Murim Alliance Lord." They'd never dreamed the woman who'd blown them away like a storm was that big a deal.
"Tch. 'Daughter of the Murim Alliance Lord'? Hasn't the head of one of the Green Forest's stronghold lords ruling all Zhongyuan's mountains kept up with current intel? I hate being called that."
"F-forgive me! Subjugation Force Leader!"
At Jin Seoryeong's displeasure, Ma Gal dropped to his knees, forehead to the dirt in apology. Unthinkable for a great Green Forest lord to bow to a righteous faction woman—but what choice did he have?
"Fine. Don't screw up again, got it? Unless you wanna die."
She was the Alliance Lord's precious daughter and the fearsome Subjugation Force Leader. Face meant nothing before a monster who could take his head with a flick.
"Heh, hehe! I'll correct it, ma'am!"
Prostrate, Ma Gal peeked up with a servile grin.
"So. How long you gonna keep us standing? Is this how the Green Forest treats guests?"
"Ah, s-sorry! You lot! Hurry and fetch the honored guests!"
At Jin Seoryeong's word, Ma Gal apologized and ordered his men. The bandits, well aware of the weight of the Alliance Lord's daughter's name, moved with crisp efficiency to escort Yeon Wol and Jin Seoryeong.
"There's a guy outside in white robes too. Bring him. Oh, and I heard you have great hot springs here on the way. Something to look forward to?"
"Oh, y-yes indeed! Our 29th stronghold's hot springs are so good even the Mountain Lord visits weekly. A true landmark of the Cheonbaek Mountains!"
"Good. Lead the way."
Jin Seoryeong was spotless of dust, but she couldn't resist a hot spring. As she moved to follow Ma Gal's lead, hurried footsteps approached from behind.
Pat pat pat.
"Wh-what are you?"
It was Yeon Wol.
"What else? Jin Seoryeong."
"Not that! You're the Murim Alliance Lord's daughter? Why would someone so amazing be so obsessed with our master, who's just kind and warm and handsome...?"
Yeon Wol had just learned Jin Seoryeong's identity. She couldn't fathom why such a powerhouse fixated on her gentle, handsome master. So she asked, and Jin Seoryeong smirked.
"Why? 'Cause he's hot."
"...!"
Yeon Wol had no rebuttal to that ironclad answer.
And so Yeon Wol's first real battle—the conquest of the Green Forest stronghold—ended anticlimactically with Jin Seoryeong's identity revealed.
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"He already went into the hot spring?"
"Yes, sir! That's right!"
"'Sir'? You look way older than me. How old are you?"
"Twenty this year!"
"...Huh. Alright. Keep it up. Go rest inside."
"Th-thank you!"
Guided by the bandit, I reached the hot spring entrance. Lounging in the enemy Green Forest stronghold's baths after battle—bold or oblivious? Well, with Seoryeong inside, nothing would happen.
Still, this was bandit central. They might not dare attack, but peeking was possible, so I decided to stand guard at the entrance.
"Wow, this place is legit."
The Green Forest hot springs were impressively built. Word was even the King came often—probably why. Steam rose visibly from the entrance, carrying the humid scent unique to open-air baths.
"Maybe I'll hop in after those two come out..."
I was thinking it was worth risking for a bandit spot when—
"Kyaaaah!!! Master!!!"
Yeon Wol's frantic scream echoed from inside.
"...!"
My hand flew to my sword hilt as I reflexively flung open the hot spring door and rushed in. The changing room and large washbasins didn't register. Only Yeon Wol mattered.
Clothes still on, I entered the bath and saw it.
"Master, big trouble! Huge trouble because I wanna bathe with you!"
"Uh, ahem! I-I tried to stop her, but... y-your disciple's so stubborn. Couldn't hold her back..."
The bodies of Yeon Wol and Seoryeong, barely covered by a single towel.