Do You Think They'll Come Just Because You Call?
There were two ways to bolster your forces when they fell short.
Cut down the enemy's strength, or build up your own.
The method that popped into Jeong Gwang's mind was the latter.
Send these people to Gansu Province to fight the Mongol army!
Recycle the world's useless scum!
The stronger they were, the better!
How about it?
"Excellent! Splendid! If it goes as planned, it couldn't be better! I'll send a messenger to the Governor of Gansu right away to smooth things over!"
The city lord approved immediately and sought permission from the Kunlun Taoists.
"...For these reasons, we're asking Jeong Gwang to handle this. It would be a great help if you sirs could assist as well."
"Turning evildoers to good use... It's for the sake of the world, so of course."
Things proceeded smoothly.
Jeong Gwang sought out the men locked in the Baek Merchant Group's warehouse.
"Let's go. I'll line up some jobs for you."
Ji Jae-won and his subordinates looked baffled.
"G-go where all of a sudden...?"
"You planning to stick around Qinghai forever? Kinda seems that way."
It was true enough.
Forced into bandit retirement by Jeong Gwang, then stripped of their escort roles by the same man—how could they show their faces in Qinghai?
No, until their broken shoulders healed, they'd need someone's protection anyway.
'Follow Kunlun to somewhere else and start fresh? Tempting...'
The problem was the one making the offer: Jeong Gwang.
"...No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem right to burden the Jade Dragon with this. We should handle our own affairs—that's the proper way."
"Suit yourself. I'm fine with it, so whatever."
"No, that's not—"
"Want me to rub your legs too?"
"We're going! We were too ashamed to ask, but that's exactly what we wanted!"
Having wrapped up the persuasion in no time, Jeong Gwang set off under the city lord's send-off.
"This way."
The official assigned by the city lord guided them. After walking for a while, they arrived at a manor near the market.
"What's this place called?"
The official bowed politely at Jeong Gwang's question.
"Poison Snake Faction."
"Straightforward. I like it."
"They're vicious scum, so please be careful."
"Got it."
A moment later, the Poison Snake Faction lay in ruins.
"Where's this one?"
"Iron Ox Faction."
"Oh. Kinda tough-sounding?"
They were soft and squishy.
"This place?"
"Dark Soul Society."
"And here?"
"Righteous Blood Corps."
Under the official's guidance, Jeong Gwang's group swept through Xining's four major unorthodox factions.
Baek Seung-mu watched with a dark expression and offered cautious advice.
"Sajae. It's righteous, but this isn't great for the local commoners."
"Why not?"
"Others will move in soon and rampage. Folks will suffer even more."
Jeong Gwang shook his head.
This was the problem with the orthodox sects.
"Saje. Ever weeded before?"
"...No."
"Me neither. Anyway, weeds grow like crazy if you leave 'em. So, what do you do?"
"...Pull them periodically? But they keep coming back, right?"
"Nah. Why do it that way? Make sure they can't grow at all."
"Huh? What does that—"
"Man, you're dense. Hold on."
Jeong Gwang dragged the four faction leaders into a dark alley.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later.
He emerged with them in tow.
Their clothes were soaked in sweat, pants wet with piss.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"......"
"What, cat got your tongue?"
The leaders' eyes bulged. As they gesticulated wildly, Jeong Gwang nodded.
"Oh. Forgot to unseal your mute points."
The moment their acupoints released, they screamed.
"We'll take only a tenth of what we've extorted so far!"
"If other villains eye Xining, we'll stop them cold!"
"Anyone into usury, human trafficking, or prostitution rings— we'll stake our lives to wipe them out!"
"All the loot we've taken? Back to the original owners!"
-What about our cut?
"...Pardon?"
-Telepathically. We're short on travel funds—spare some change?
-Yes! Right away!
Jeong Gwang glared at the four.
"You know what happens if you break those promises, right?"
They shuddered but bellowed.
"Of course!"
"Doesn't matter. I can remind you."
"No need! It's burned into our bones!"
Jeong Gwang shrugged at Baek Seung-mu.
"They say that. Good now?"
"...How did you...?"
"Sincerity gets through. Let's go."
He left ten subordinates each with the faction leaders.
"Sajae. Why leave them?"
"Need a minimum crew to keep outsiders from creeping in."
"Ah!"
Prevent wild rampages while keeping their lifelines intact—block other powers from encroaching.
Same trick he'd used on the Blood Sand Wind in the Taklamakan.
'But is this fitting for an upright orthodox sect?'
Baek Seung-mu eyed the Kunlun Taoists. They looked puzzled at his gaze.
"What's wrong?"
At Heo Cheong's words, Baek Seung-mu hesitated, then mustered courage.
"It feels chaotic. Is this okay?"
"Okay how?"
"...Tormenting them for oaths?"
"What? Hahaha."
Thinking he'd misspoke, Baek Seung-mu fidgeted. Heo Cheong explained patiently.
"Jeong Gwang's methods are rough, sure. But he's never harmed the innocent. Besides, the city lord asked him to handle this. We should back his play."
"Even for villains, this way..."
"Our sect's fought the Demonic Cult since ancient times. Learned a thing or two."
"...?"
"Evildoers don't care about means or methods. How do you fight that? Not saying fight dirty, but some flexibility's needed."
"What if it tarnishes our upright name?"
"You think we fought the Demonic Cult to build fame?"
"...!"
A mountain-like solemn aura rose from Heo Cheong.
Overwhelmed, Baek Seung-mu fell silent.
Heo Cheong's words etched deep into his heart.
"If the powerful fret over empty fame, the powerless just suffer."
By the time Jeong Gwang's group crossed into Gansu, they numbered nearly five hundred. They'd swept up every unorthodox faction, bandit, and pirate without mercy.
Kunlun's coffers swelled accordingly, but one issue remained.
'Decent headcount, but too weak.'
In Jeong Gwang's eyes, anyway.
Bound in ropes and dragged along, they'd have wept in injustice. It wasn't them being weak—Jeong Gwang was just too strong!
'Against Mongol cavalry? They'd barely serve as arrow fodder. Need to scrape up more?'
He called Baek Seung-mu.
Tensing for whatever scheme, the young man gaped at his words.
"Know any bad guys? Strong ones preferably."
"...There are some."
"Far?"
"Bit of a detour."
"Hmm. Gotta squeeze the Gansu Governor extra for the time. Who's it?"
"Qilian Stronghold. Heard of it?"
"Nope. Name screams bandits. Beggars can't be choosers—grab 'em."
"...Sajae. Not ordinary bandits. One of the Green Forest Seventy-Two Strongholds. The stronghold lord's a notorious master."
"Perfect. Let's go."
"...You're picking a fight with the Seventy-Two?"
Jeong Gwang grinned wide at Baek Seung-mu's worry.
"Any others nearby? How many?"
"...None. Let's go."
Hwang Ung scratched his bristly beard like a porcupine and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk. How we gonna eat like this? Hey, strategist! Answer me. Who sticks that in their mouth? Huh?"
"My apologies, Stronghold Lord."
"Days of hitting nothing but pack peddlers. 'Sorry' fix it? Just roll over?"
"My fault! Forgive me!"
"Oh ho. Strategist flops instead of solutions? I'll gut you—stick out your belly. Hurry!"
"Eek! Spare me! I beg you!"
Seo Do-han prostrated, slamming his forehead into the dirt.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Blood welled from his brow before Hwang Ung relented.
"Enough. What sin did I commit last life to serve trash like you as strategist?"
Seo Do-han flushed in shame.
But inside, he seethed.
'Stupid stronghold lord bastard! Income drop my fault? Blame the Baek Merchant Group!'
Caravans rerouted through Qinghai for the Western routes. What could he do?
"Starve or dance with swords. Round up the boys! We hit Baek!"
At Hwang Ung's nonsense, prostrate Seo Do-han shot up.
"No way! We'll all die!"
"Think I'll lose to those punks?"
"Kunlun backs them!"
"Moldy Taoists munching pine needles? Don't compare me to that trash!"
Even amid fury, Seo Do-han admired him.
'This mad bastard! Never dreamed you were this crazy!'
Hwang Ung was a top master.
Wasted in the lowliest of the Seventy-Two.
'Still, picking a fight with Kunlun—one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang? Insane.'
Not just him.
"Lord. Calm down. Kunlun's no joke."
"Twin Blades. You got smashed, so I will too? Wanna die?"
Twin Blade Flying Tiger's brows twitched.
He'd ruled the Tanggula Mountains—when had he endured such abuse?
Temporary refuge or not, he wasn't for this treatment.
But.
"Oh? Eyes up?"
"Sorry!"
Hwang Ung was too strong. He dropped his gaze, hands clasped.
"No reliable bastards! All flop here! I'll hit Qinghai solo for some action!"
As Hwang Ung shouldered his massive nine-ring saber to leave, Seo Do-han clung to his leg.
"Lord! Please calm down!"
"You punk! I could solo Kunlun! Doubt me?"
"I believe! Of course! But you going personally? Beneath your station. Call them here!"
"...Huh. Good point. Yeah, do that."
At Hwang Ung biting the offhand bait, Seo Do-han sighed inwardly.
'Do you think they'll come just because you call, you lunatic? Grab the loot and bail. Sorry for the company—never again!'
He'd sworn it before, but hadn't left.
Arrogant hothead, but no total fool. Cooled down, he could think.
"Hm. Thinking it over, multiple Taoists'd be annoying."
"Exactly!"
"Damn, pisses me off just thinking. One-on-one, anyone fine."
"Doesn't look it."
"What? How many times I gotta—... Huh?"
Hwang Ung blinked.
A dazzlingly handsome young Taoist stood before him.
"...Who're you?"
Ignoring him, the youth eyed Twin Blade Flying Tiger.
"Oh, here you are. Perfect. Subordinates too?"
"J-Ja... "
"Yeah?"
Twin Blade Flying Tiger, face drained white and stammering, shrieked.
"Ja-Jade Dragon!"
Seo Do-han's face turned ashen.
Hwang Ung smiled instead.
"You Kunlun brat?"
"Kunlun, yeah."
"Heh heh heh."
Hwang Ung gripped his nine-ring saber two-handed. His massive frame exploded forward blindingly fast.
"Die!"
Slash.