Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: On the Way to the Academy (3)
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Physiognomy is a science.
I think there's some truth to that.
Of course, I don't blindly believe it.
For example, farmers get tanned skin from working the fields, and those who endure hardships often furrow their brows.
Those furrowed expressions become habits, etching deep, thick wrinkles into the face, which ultimately become their physiognomy.
In that sense, Wan Sam-seok's face bore a striking resemblance to Bang Cheon-deok, the brother-in-arms who must have already faced the King of Hell in a pressure interview.
A deeply creased brow that no amount of ironing could smooth out, and goblin-like eyebrows.
Birds of a feather flock together, and sure enough, his side seemed hasty and narrow-minded too.
But there was one key difference: Wan Sam-seok's jaw was more sharply angled than his younger brother's.
"...That bastard!"
Wan Sam-seok ground his angular jaw, barely suppressing his rage.
"My lord! You mustn't get agitated."
At that moment, a gap opened in the human wall of underworld martial artists surrounding him, and a shabby scholar who looked the part of a failed examinee burst through.
"The world knows Eun Jeong-gil as the one most responsible for your sworn brother's death, but according to the survivors from our Nine Flowers Stronghold who were at the scene, there were two more escorts present when the tragedy occurred."
"Is that bastard one of them?"
"Yes. Considering your sworn brother's skills, he's no mere talker. The son among the Silver Family's two fierce tigers is said to be at the peak first-rate level, verging on master territory. We must proceed with caution."
"...I'll heed the strategist's words."
And with reasonable reasoning, he even put the brakes on Wan Sam-seok's decision.
'Is that scholar the brains?'
Compared to the Northern Deer Bandit Lair, which operated on pure brute force, this group seemed to have some organization.
'It'd be easier to defend Yin Xia Lian if they come at us, but it won't be as straightforward as with the Northern Deer Bandit Lair.'
Still, just to be sure, I decided to probe their intentions one more time. I deliberately twisted my lips into a sneer.
"Pfft."
"...You're laughing?"
"No, it's just... listening to you all go on so earnestly is hilarious. Turtles hiding in the mountains, scamming common folk for a living, calling each other 'lord' and 'strategist.' Heh heh. Got any Five Tiger Generals too?"
"...!"
...Huh?
- ...Looks like they do.
'No kidding?'
Looking closer amid the mediocrity, the auras emanating from Wan Sam-seok's left and right were sharper than typical bandits—two on the left, three on the right.
'...Exactly five. And their weapons...'
Crescent blade, spear, halberd, sword, lance—evoking Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun. Even the fake Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had similar long beards.
Master was incensed by their posturing and let out a grumble.
- Such mongrels daring to call themselves the Five Tiger Generals would make the Hall of Valor Emperor weep in the heavens.
Anyway.
I continued.
"And what? 'Perished'? Isn't that for when a high official like a grandee dies? For a bandit chief like Bang Cheon-deok kicking the bucket, we say 'good riddance.'"
This time, it worked well—thick veins bulged visibly on Wan Sam-seok's forehead.
"...You wretch!!"
But at that instant.
The failed scholar intervened again.
"My lord! Don't get worked up! You'll ruin the grand undertaking!"
"A man of the underworld can't endure such an insult! Enough, strategist—hand me the Black Tiger General's giant axe!"
"Just think of those Silver Family fierce tigers behind you! Capturing those two Yin brats puts the merchant caravan in your grasp. You'll be hailed as the King of the Greenwood in no time!"
"...King of the Greenwood!"
"Yes. Isn't that why we're here—to seize the pearl that lets you clutch the dragon of the caravan by the throat?! And that big-mouth's words won't spread anyway. The ones carrying them will vanish with this rundown inn."
"...The strategist speaks true. You truly are my Zhang Liang! Ha ha ha!!!"
...Grand undertaking, Zhang Liang—talk about delusions of grandeur.
From what I could see, this bunch wouldn't charge en masse like the Northern Deer Bandit Lair dogs, leaving their leader exposed.
'Well, then I'll just go to them...'
But charging at them myself could put Yin Xia Lian at risk.
Unlike with the Northern Deer Bandit Lair, there were no wagons or carts for cover here.
Back then, even outnumbered, we had enough bodies to hold; now, excluding me, our only fighter was Yin Ha-seong.
"Why are you staring like that, brother-in-law?"
Of course, Yin Ha-seong was one step from master territory against mere bandits—a solid level.
'They call themselves Five Tiger Generals, but their auras suggest only the stronghold leader Wan Sam-seok and the fake Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stand out. The rest are below Ha-seong's level.'
Even surrounded, it was winnable. The inn blocked our rear naturally, I'd handle the front including their core forces, and if Ha-seong held his own, Yin Xia Lian would be safe.
"Why am I staring?!"
The problem was Ha-seong might not hold his own.
"Ow! Why hit me at a time like this?!"
"You're the one who tried to swallow the Silver Radiance Merchant Group whole but never even went on an escort run! Pathetic! That's why! You punk!!"
"Ow!"
I lacked real combat experience as an escort too, but Ha-seong, raised under his mother's skirts like a greenhouse flower, was utterly green.
"You punk! You punk!!"
"Ow! Owww!!!"
Recalling my past life, such inexperience often led to disaster here. I couldn't fully trust him.
But it wasn't a big issue.
I'd anticipated this when using Yin Xia Lian as bait on this journey.
So, naturally, I had an ace for it.
'Guess I have no choice but to use it.'
It took effort to make and drained inner energy, so I'd rather save it, but no other way now.
I pulled the carefully folded ace from my bosom and handed it to Yin Xia Lian.
Her eyes widened.
"...A talisman?"
"Something like it."
"...Something like it?"
Using ghost paper as base, chicken blood, cinnabar, and mercury as pigments for the incantation— it looked like a talisman to her, but strictly speaking, it wasn't.
More like a magic scroll?
Of course, as a black mage, not a regular one, it held a curse, not magic.
'Curse of Ages.'
A temporary aging curse to slow targets.
But I couldn't say "curse."
I spat out the excuse I'd prepared for using it publicly.
"Not one of those superstitious peasant talismans. It contains the intricacies of a formation."
"A formation?"
With that opener, I explained the Curse of Ages' effects to the Yin siblings while starting the process to let them activate it, as it recognized me as master.
"Tear it to activate. Everyone in range will seem slowed."
"Range and duration?"
"First time making one like this, so range is narrow—about a jang around the caster? Roughly half a watch—seven minutes?"
"I see."
"Plan's simple. I charge in, you tear it to activate. If any exploit my absence..."
"Ha-seong handles them. Got it."
"Exactly. It's meant for me only, so some steps for you. Lend your foreheads, Miss Yin. You too, Ha-seong."
It wasn't complicated.
Just temporarily making the curse recognize them as my subordinates with a bit of my blood.
'Stings.'
I nicked my middle finger with Regret.
"Bear the discomfort."
"Ah, it's not bad... Rather."
"Rather?"
"Ah, nothing."
"You too."
"I'll do it since you say so, but why so polite to sister and rough with me?"
They accepted readily, so it was quick.
"You deserve it."
Ah, seeing Ha-seong's face, fury rose at wasting a precious talisman, so I flicked his forehead.
Thwack!!
"Oww! Look at this!! Why me?! Ow!! Feels like a hole in my forehead! See, it's bleeding! Ah, your nail?"
"...Ha-seong."
"Y-yes."
"Enough fussing. Protect Miss Yin well."
Even for Ha-seong, with the cursed talisman and setup, he'd manage.
With that last worry gone, I turned.
While I handed the talisman, the bandits hadn't idled.
'Crane wing formation?'
Under the failed scholar's command, they spread into a fan shape.
'Sent the fake Ma Chao and Huang Zhong to the wings?'
Obvious ploy.
If I was stronger than expected, the fake Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Wan Sam-seok would stall while the wings grabbed Yin Xia Lian.
'Good idea.'
But they misjudged the key player.
"I was going to wait, but it's mealtime here. Can't wait for your sluggish steps or my rice'll scorch. Tricky to scrape off, so I'll come to you—stick your necks out nice."
I grinned, assumed stance, circulated Heaven-Splitting Divine Art, and kicked off.
"Charge! Hack 'em all to bits except the Silver Family wench!!!"
Wan Sam-seok's bellow signaled their rush. We met midway in a blink.
'Now!'
Meaning: in my range.
I stepped Heaven-Splitting Twelve Forms footwork and unleashed Heaven-Splitting Sword Formula's first stance: Heaven-Splitting Whirlwind.
Shrieeeek!!
Despite its sky-shattering name, it looked like a common horizontal slash from the street-taught Three Calamities Sword for a few coins.
The long-bearded fake Guan Yu strutted forward boldly.
"All that talk, thought you had skills— just penny-ante Three Calamities?! Brothers, fall b... ."
But his bravado ended short.
"...ack?"
Though it looked ordinary, infused with Reverse Heaven mysteries, amplified by Heaven-Splitting Divine Art and Twelve Forms—even I felt the strain.
A bandit who preyed on commoners scoffed and charged.
Result?
Splurt—
One slash, bisected.
"...Cough. Just... a horizontal slash."
Yeah, die thinking that.
I approached the torso-separated fake Guan Yu and mercilessly severed the head.
Tossed it at the others.
"Mr. Guan Yu's head arrived solo. Any Peach Garden Oath brothers? Busy sending you all at once—core ones first, hurry up."