Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Unexpected Invitation (5)
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I couldn't hold back the words lingering on the tip of my tongue and spat them out.
"Is that it?"
At my words, Do Jung-gwang halted his steps and turned his body.
"What do you mean?"
Having drawn Do Jung-gwang's attention like that, I mixed flattery with my point and continued.
"There are plenty of people who frown at the mere mention of Black Path folks, but I think places where people live are all pretty similar, really."
At my words, Do Jung-gwang opened his mouth with an expression that said, 'Well, look at this guy?'
"Keep going."
"Being free from family constraints means you might not feel the need for etiquette, so your manners are a bit rough around the edges. But look closely, and you have your own code of loyalty. And you're sharp about interests and alliances, aren't you?"
In truth, ever since coming to this world, I hadn't seen a single decent guy tagged with the Black Path label, but since this was all sweet talk, the truth didn't matter.
"Still, it worries me a little that the Bandit King himself—your spiritual pillar and living legend to us Black Path folks—would brush off an incident like this with a single cupped-fist salute. Won't it tarnish your name?"
"So, summing up what you're saying, it sounds like you're implying the fault lies with us, and I'm trying to wipe my mouth clean after eating. And that subtle threat about whether we can protect our reputation with those beggars over there?"
He hadn't eaten his years in the Black Path for nothing; Do Jung-gwang had pierced straight through the subtle intent I'd woven into my words and glared at me.
But I wasn't one to shrink back from such a glare.
"How dare I threaten a senior like you? They say even brushing sleeves creates a bond, and since we've agreed to host you with food and beds, it didn't seem polite to just swallow this foreseeable mess without a word."
I feigned innocence.
At my act, Do Jung-gwang burst into laughter.
"Kuhahaha. Bold one, aren't you? Bold indeed. Hey, Wild Wind Maniac. Is this kid your disciple?"
For some reason, at Do Jung-gwang's words, Old Three shrugged his shoulders.
"Ahem. Something like that."
And my master, who had turned back to his waist, radiated displeasure.
- Tch. That beggar bastard is slyly acting like I'm his master? When I'm just a casual instructor who taught him a few mimic-earthworm tricks.
'...Please let that slide.'
Meanwhile, Do Jung-gwang continued.
"Now I see—you're that Eon family scoundrel who's snatched the top spot among the current generation, your name even reaching the bandit forests lately?"
"I've heard my lowly name being tossed around like that."
"I don't hate guys like you. But you gotta settle accounts straight."
"Exactly. Accounts must be settled properly."
Having brought up settling accounts properly, Do Jung-gwang pointed at the knocked-out bandits and spoke.
"Alright. According to my men, you lot beat the food carriers half to death, sparking the mess. And since that seemed on par with the guy who suddenly went berserk earlier, I figured an apology was fair pay. Any flaw in that math?"
I shot back without yielding.
"Two misunderstandings. First, they look bad with blood pouring, but a little bleeding isn't dangerous. A pooled hematoma in the head would be worse. Saliva on the wounds, and strong pressure on the acupoints—they'll all wake up after some time."
Do Jung-gwang stroked his chin and tossed the next question.
"Fine, let's say that's that. What's the other misunderstanding?"
"Among those who got hit later, they came at us swinging without a word, so that's how it went down. Ask that Twin Ghost guy when he wakes up."
"And the first ones hit?"
"Those two... not sure if I should say this, but they had it coming. They mocked us."
With that opener, I pointed at the bandit Eok Sam I'd set up earlier and continued.
"There were actually three carrying the food at first. Yet Brother Eok Sam over there is standing fine. Why do you think that is?"
At my words, Eok Sam was promptly summoned.
A stern voice leaked from Do Jung-gwang's mouth.
"Confess truthfully what happened while carrying the food."
At Do Jung-gwang's command, Eok Sam's eyes rolled around.
He was pondering his best survival option.
Do Jung-gwang, already reading the answer in those rolling eyes, spoke.
"Looks like our guys really did the mocking, huh? Your words check out."
At Do Jung-gwang's tone, the bandit Eok Sam flattened himself to the ground.
"...Those bastards always get thrashed by the stronghold lord for their screw-loose antics even during toll collection. They ran their mouths this time too. But I absolutely didn't."
That was it.
I barely suppressed my twitching lips and sent a transmission to Do Jung-gwang.
[The rest of the story might be awkward for you, senior. What do you think?]
[...Talk separately with Wild Wind Maniac later.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And so, at the mountaintop lodge—the highest point in Jinseong Stronghold—Do Jung-gwang tossed me two heavy pouches and spoke.
"Stuffed as much as possible. Combined every pouch from me and the guys I brought."
Clink-
Clink-
"They call me Bandit King, but unlike real kings with their royal treasuries, I don't have feudal ties with the other stronghold lords, so I can't just raid this place's stores. Do that, and these bandits who've been following rules would turn into a real bandit horde. Neither you nor Wild Wind Maniac want that, right?"
I nodded at Do Jung-gwang's words and quickly tucked the pouches into my sleeve folds.
Watching me, Do Jung-gwang let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha. Can't remember the last time someone squeezed money out of me. Haha. Hurt feelings? Hiss. That kid's brain works just like one of ours."
Old Three raised his voice in response.
"You thief, don't even think of coveting what's not yours! Where you spitting that saliva!"
"No way that kid's abandoning sunny White Path martial world for our cold, damp hills. Why foam at the mouth preemptively? And that's why I'm Bandit King—I don't even know phrases like 'don't even think'."
"Bragging, you punk."
"Beggar or bandit, same difference. Think about your own temper, Wild Wind Maniac. One slip in life, and you'd be one of us."
"Wanna settle it life-or-death today?"
Watching that exchange,
I decided to share the Demonic Cult info I'd gotten from Eok Sam with Do Jung-gwang too.
'Too good a guy to withhold Demonic Cult threat info just to nudge the original plot.'
The Black Path was easy to dive into as a warrior but dozens of times harder to survive long-term than the White Path martial world.
'No room for looking out for others when survival's this brutal.'
That lack of leeway piles up karma, forcing future actions.
Once the mindset of 'that's just how we live' sets in, only black-hearted schemes fill the chest.
'Or you die to some blind blade first.'
So those with even a shred of conscience were rare.
Even rarer were those seeking coexistence with the White Path.
And one in a high seat? Harder than a camel through a needle's eye.
'But Do Jung-gwang's in that category.'
In the original, the Demonic Cult seizes the bandits and water fortresses, halting riverside logistics—the martial world's blood vessels.
No prequel scenes, so can't say for sure.
But the prelude's probably Do Jung-gwang's death?
'Story's already twisting anyway.'
So I decided to share Eok Sam's intel with Do Jung-gwang and opened my mouth.
"Actually, I have more to tell you both."
With that opener, I spilled what Eok Sam had begged me to keep secret: his Taiyuan rendezvous with Demonic Cult lackeys.
"...That's what happened, he said. Eok Sam was probably just focused on the errand out of fear of the stronghold lord's wrath, but that Hong Sik who went feral weirdly must've taken or learned something from those shady guys."
At my words, Old Three and Do Jung-gwang's faces turned grave simultaneously.
Do Jung-gwang spoke first.
"Our rank-and-file don't wield much influence in the martial world. Why target the bottom rung?"
"Not sure on details, but aren't they easy to tempt?"
"...Hm."
"Some might've feared Hong Sik when he rampaged like a beast, but others would wonder how a so-so comrade from yesterday suddenly got that strong—sparking curiosity."
"...True. Back when I was a grunt, I'd have been tempted too."
Do Jung-gwang nodded thoughtfully for a moment, then visibly furrowed his brow and stroked his chin.
"Hold on. Aren't we bandits being treated like complete prey here?"
"Seems that way."
His 'prey' label was spot on.
'Even White Path warriors have hypocrites dipping into demonic arts now and then.'
But to protect face, lineage, and the Righteous banner—even if feigned—they had baseline resistance.
Black Path bandits like these? Much weaker resistance.
Do Jung-gwang sighed.
"...This isn't something we can police internally."
Spot-on analysis.
As he'd said while handing over the pouches,
He might be called Bandit King, but the Green Forest operated on loose feudal lines.
'Like individual businesses in modern terms.'
Do Jung-gwang provided baseline deterrence against unprovoked stomps from other sects—White or Black—in exchange for tribute.
Unless personal ties like Jinseong Stronghold, he couldn't meddle in grunt management.
'Could rally all under his banner, though.'
But White Path wouldn't sit idle for a bandit alliance, and the foe—Demonic Cult—lacked solid form yet.
Do Jung-gwang clearly got that and spoke to us.
"What the hell was the Martial Alliance doing while trash like that cropped up in the martial world?"
His opening was rough.
"Thief barking about the Martial Alliance now that fire's on your foot. Do Jung-gwang, you got standing to name-drop them?"
"None. Me neither. Not a single guy out there does. But a handful of us got swept by worldly waves into these hills."
The end was solemn.
Do Jung-gwang showed the bearing of Jinseong's seventy-two stronghold lords and cupped his fists again.
"Find a way. Unlike our private chat earlier, I'll help unconditionally on this."
At Do Jung-gwang's words,
Old Three scratched his chin irritably, narrowed his brow briefly,
"Hiss. Looks like those demon spawn are rampaging."
Maybe because I'd appointed him student rep of the civilian aid squad?
He asked me how to proceed.
"Should we halt here, head to Luoyang, and make this public?"
I shook my head firmly and spoke.
"Several reasons not to, but..."
The original scene of Jeonghyeon and Eon family heirs visiting Taiyuan was gone.
Even setting that aside, business preps at Azure Bamboo Pavilion would snag.
But bigger point for Old Three:
"Main reason: Publicizing would make the leads we have vanish."
"...Khm."
"A group handling things this sloppy would burrow deeper the second it's league news. Methods get sneakier. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's gone."
That was when.
As I insisted on pushing to Taiyuan.
Old Three gave an awkward smile and praised me.
"You're better than me."
At his words, I humbly replied.
"You're too kind."
But Old Three shook his head firmly and turned to Do Jung-gwang.
"No. I was definitely short-sighted. Listen, Do Jung-gwang."
"Speak."
"Here's the plan. I'll chase the shady bastards. You just gag Jinseong bandits on today's mess."
"Easy enough. That all?"
"Yeah. Other strongholds might have dupes, but prodding them leaks talk without results. Gotta draw out the main body."
The summit with Bandit King Do Jung-gwang ended like that.
We stayed the night in Jinseong Stronghold.
No one buzzed around ignoring his apology's authority.
We spent a fairly comfortable night in lodgings.
Come next morning.
Do Jung-gwang handed us travel permits.
"Wild Wind Maniac. I'd ordered underlings to snag small traveler groups from south of Huguang for your invite, but show these for the rest of the trip—no hassles."
With the Demonic Cult lead and Bandit King's travel pass in hand, we gripped the carriage reins toward Taiyuan once more.