Chapter 53: Obtaining a Plausible Sobriquet (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: Obtaining a Plausible Sobriquet (1)
We stopped at a tavern called ‘Chu-hyang’ for lunch.
Judging by the fact that the other shops shared the same name as the tavern’s sign, it seemed to be the name of the district itself.
Poison Wolf Ibu and the Smiling Face Sword had suggested skipping lunch to head straight for the Ilguk Sect, but I stood my ground and insisted on stopping at the tavern.
I persuaded them with a simple logic: “There is nothing more foolish than dying in battle because you lacked the strength from skipping a meal.”
For us small fries, eating is the only way to build up stamina.
Just as our group of twenty finished eating and stood up to leave, a martial artist drenched in blood burst into the tavern and screamed.
“Help! Our men are currently engaged with the Blood Lamas! The warriors of the Demon Subjugation Group are fighting, but they’re being pushed back! Everyone, we need reinforcements!”
There were quite a few armed martial artists in the tavern.
However, not a single person acted as if they had heard him. Everyone already knew what kind of monsters the Blood Lamas were; they weren't about to throw their lives away on a whim of bravado.
Doyeon approached the man and asked, “Where is the battle taking place?”
The warrior stammered in response to her beauty. “If you head west out of this district, there is a small temple called Yubulsa. A fierce battle is raging there.”
“How many Blood Lamas are there?”
“About ten.”
At those words, we all let out a collective sigh.
Unless there were masters of equal caliber on the scene, most of the warriors fighting there would likely not survive.
However, my two subordinates, overflowing with righteous spirit, didn't seem to share that sentiment.
Po Zhongyin shouted, “Do not worry! Once the Demon Subjugation Group led by our lord arrives, they will all be wiped out!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
This bastard is dragging me straight into a pit of death.
My subordinates were all low on skill but high on spirit, seemingly eager to find a place to die. While the "lord" was busy thinking of ways to escape, the "vassals" were only thinking of ways to fight. My chest felt tight with frustration.
“The Demon Subjugation Group? From where…?”
Xing Youzheng puffed out his chest and answered.
“The Demon Subjugation Group of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress. Our leader is the Silent Star Throwing Sword, the Red Sword Hero himself, who stands right here.”
At that, the martial artists who had been burying their faces in their drinks and food all turned toward me, letting out small gasps of admiration.
“Oh! You mean Young Hero Eo Ja-seo? The hero of Sichuan who slew the Blood Luo Living Jiangshi and saved the Seong Estate two days ago?”
It seemed the news of the battle at the Seong Estate had already spread throughout the region.
The Seven Heroes, clearly enjoying the attention, stepped forward and shouted.
“That’s right! Our lord killed three of those Blood Luo Living Jiangshi—creatures no one else could even touch—in a single move! The Blood Lamas didn't stand a chance!”
These guys were blabbering away without a hint of shame.
They were clearly so proud of the fact that I was their leader that they couldn't help but brag. I understood the feeling—I felt the same way back when I was an attendant to a master—but they were grown men; they should at least know how to be embarrassed.
“Whoa! Then let’s go take down those Blood Lamas!”
The martial artists in the tavern dropped their meals and stood up, grabbing their weapons.
Sensing that I was about to be swept away into another battle, I raised my hand and spoke.
“Calm yourselves! Every one of those Blood Lamas is a master, and their bizarre martial arts make them difficult opponents. If you all rush in, you will only make things harder for the warriors already fighting. I recognize your righteous spirit, but charging in without the necessary skill is no different from a moth flying into a flame. Even if it isn't the Blood Lamas, evil forces will surely rise again. For that day, I ask that you focus on cultivating your strength so you can stop them then. You may feel indignant now, but please, leave this to us. If you cannot endure your resentment today, who will be there to stop the villains of tomorrow?”
At my words, the martial artists who had been rising in a frenzy bowed their heads.
Thinking I had successfully managed the situation, I turned to the owner.
“Innkeeper, how much do we owe?”
The owner stepped forward and offered a deep bow.
“How could I possibly take money for a meal from Young Hero Eo, the Great Small Hero and hero of Sichuan? It is an honor simply to have had you grace my tavern. Please, I beg of you, drive those Blood Lama bastards out of this region.”
The owner then barked some orders to the servers.
Soon, the servers brought out a significant amount of beef jerky.
“This is our tavern’s special beef jerky and some water. I prepared this so you may eat while on the move.”
They handed out a bottle of water and enough jerky to feed our entire group for at least two days.
I grasped the owner’s hand. At times like this, a bit of dramatic acting was necessary.
“Though you do not wear a blade, your spirit is no different from that of a warrior. The fact that our Murim has not yet perished is thanks to people like you. I shall not forget your kindness.”
One might think I was overreacting over some beef jerky, but I said it with the future in mind.
If word got out that the Hero of Sichuan, Eo Ja-seo, was deeply grateful for a meal, what inn or tavern would dare charge me in the future?
In short, if I could eat and drink for free, I was willing to perform this act hundreds of times.
I cupped my fists toward the owner and commanded the group.
“Let us move!”
I shouted gallantly and led the way out of the tavern.
Then, I steered my horse in a completely different direction from Yubulsa, where the battle was supposedly happening.
Why? Why wasn't I going to Yubulsa to fight?
Why wasn't I using the powerful Scattering Light Red Sun Flash I had worked so hard to learn?
Because I didn't want to use it once, deplete my internal energy, and then sit there waiting for death.
Fighting is about endurance.
There is no such thing as a fight decided in a single instant—unless you're an absolute master whose battles are settled in one move. For everyone else, it’s a messy struggle of clinging on and biting back. I couldn't afford to die after performing just one technique.
Elder Third Rate once told me that it’s best to jump into a fight only when you're confident you can kill at least dozens of enemies.
Right now, I believed those words with all my heart.
“Leader Eo. This isn't the way to Yubulsa, is it?”
After riding for a while, the Smiling Face Sword spoke up, sensing something was off. The others had been looking at me in confusion but waited for him to speak first.
I pulled my horse to a stop and delivered the excuse I had already prepared.
“Even if we go to Yubulsa now, the Blood Lamas will likely be gone. Think about it, Brother Gu. We’ve fought them; we know how strong they are. Unless there’s a master there who surpasses them, the battle is surely already over. Therefore, I believe it is better to get ahead of them and wait in ambush.”
“Ah!”
“Of course!”
“Young Hero Eo’s judgment of the situation is truly on another level.”
The members of the group marveled.
We hid ourselves in the thickets along the main road leading away from Yubulsa.
“We will strike them when they pass through here.”
As I said it, I laughed inwardly.
What kind of crazy Blood Lama would take the main road while traveling?
They were currently congregating at the Ilguk Sect, and there were plenty of shortcuts through the mountain paths besides this road. They were almost certainly taking those.
I was just using the "ambush" as an excuse to kill time here. If they didn't show up, I could just come up with another excuse later.
“Still, we are the Demon Subjugation Group. Attacking from the shadows feels a bit…”
One of the men muttered.
I knew someone would say that. These guys had zero skill but were overflowing with pride.
In a fight, it’s always the ones with high egos and low skills who end up getting others killed along with themselves.
“I also dislike the idea of hiding here for an ambush. However, I am the leader responsible for attacking the enemy most efficiently and ensuring the fewest casualties. Furthermore, to be perfectly honest, if we were to face the Blood Lamas in a head-on confrontation, no one here would survive except for Fairy Doyeon and myself.”
My words immediately silenced their complaints.
It was a realistic assessment. Moreover, since they had already experienced the Blood Lamas firsthand, they couldn't utter a word of protest.
And so, I sat leisurely in the bushes, waiting for time to pass. The others, however, were wide-eyed and alert, waiting for the Blood Lamas to appear.
Wait all you want. See if a single Blood Lama shows up.
I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.
It was then.
“The Blood Lamas are coming.”
Someone whispered.
Startled, I bolted upright and looked down the road toward Yubulsa.
This is bad. If real Blood Lamas show up, we’re all dead.
The group was acting bold because they believed I could kill them.
As I watched the road intently, three Blood Lamas actually appeared.
But they weren't just traveling; they were covered in wounds and bleeding profusely. And behind them, dozens of martial artists from the Demon Subjugation Group were in hot pursuit.
Wait, what the hell is going on?
The situation was so unexpected that it left me utterly confused.
The group chasing the Blood Lamas didn't look like absolute masters. They were small fries, around the same level as the people I’d seen in the tavern.
It made no sense for Blood Lamas to be chased by such people.
Sensing they couldn't run much further, the Blood Lamas stopped and unleashed their Poison Blood Palms at the pursuers.
“Aaaagh!”
In an instant, three warriors were turned into bloody messes and collapsed.
Seeing that, it was clear they weren't fakes.
The warriors surrounded the Blood Lamas and attacked. Despite their bleeding wounds, the Blood Lamas refused to fall, killing the attacking warriors one by one.
If there were ten Blood Lamas, even hundreds of small fries shouldn't have been able to kill even one. So why are these three fleeing? Does this mean the others were killed?
Regardless, the situation wasn't unfavorable for us, so I stepped out of the bushes and approached the Blood Lamas.
Our sudden appearance startled the warriors attacking the Blood Lamas, and they looked at us warily.
Seeing this, Poison Wolf Ibu shouted.
“We are the Demon Subjugation Group from Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress!”
“Ah, I see.”
One of the warriors responded to Ibu.
“But why are you here?”
“We calculated that these bastards would pass through here and were waiting in ambush.”
The warrior nodded.
“I see. By the way, if you're the group from Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, is Young Hero Eo your leader?”
“That is correct.”
“And Fairy Doyeon is the deputy leader?”
“She is.”
The warrior seemed quite well-informed about our group, likely having heard the rumors.
“In that case, please head to Yubulsa to provide support.”
“Yubulsa?”
When Ibu asked for clarification, the warrior spoke quickly.
“We were on the verge of annihilation when the masters of the Emei Sect and a young master appeared. They were the ones who managed to drive these bastards into this state.”
At the mention of the Emei Sect, Doyeon’s eyes widened.
“Are the Emei masters still fighting the Blood Lamas?”
“Most likely. But do not worry. Among the Emei masters is Bullyong (Fire Dragon), one of the Four Dragons of Sichuan, and another young master of similar caliber. They have likely wiped out the rest of the Blood Lamas by now. We only followed these three when they fled.”
Doyeon turned to me.
“I am sorry, Leader. I must head to Yubulsa first.”
With those words, she spurred her horse toward the temple.
“Wait!”
I also turned my horse and gave orders to Poison Wolf Ibu and the Smiling Face Sword.
“The two of you lead the group and finish these bastards off.”
The Smiling Face Sword looked at me.
“What about you, Leader?”
I replied, “I’m going to Yubulsa to deal with the remaining Blood Lamas. Since we don't know the situation there, I need to provide support.”
“Understood. We’ll head to Yubulsa as soon as we’re done here. Go on ahead, Leader Eo.”
The three Blood Lamas were clearly losing their strength and were being overwhelmed by the warriors.
Seeing that, I wasn't too worried. In that state, I figured they would be dead soon.
“You two, do not be the first to attack. Wait until they are so exhausted they can barely walk before you strike. Otherwise, our group will suffer heavy losses.”
The two of them understood my point and nodded.
“Don't worry, Leader. We’re veterans of many battles ourselves.”
Their smiles put me at ease.
“Then, I’ll see you.”
I galloped off in the direction Doyeon had vanished.
The Twin Heroes of Guiyang and the Seven Heroes followed behind me.
I pulled my horse to a stop and spoke to the Seven Heroes.
“You seven stay here and help deal with the Blood Lamas.”
I could take the Twin Heroes, but I couldn't bring the Seven Heroes along. I couldn't drag a whole entourage with me, and frankly, they were still a bit of a burden.
When they looked disappointed, I added, “You are the only ones I can truly trust here. We have Ibu, the Smiling Face Sword, Sim, and So, but above all, you seven are the ones who received my Acupoint Striking and have experience fighting together. You are the only ones fit to face the Blood Lamas.”
I couldn't tell if they were just incredibly naive or if I was just that good at talking.
“Do not worry, Lord. We will kill them.”
“Just don't overdo it.”
They seemed moved by my apparent concern, their eyes growing moist.
“We will not disappoint you, Lord.”
“I’ll see you later, then.”
Hwang Chu slunk along behind me, and I pretended not to notice. Since I was carrying his Ghost Sword and bell, it made sense that he’d be worried enough to follow.
And so, with only the Twin Heroes and Hwang Chu, I headed for Yubulsa.
Now, some might be suspicious. Why was I heading toward Yubulsa, where the battle was at its peak, when I had been hiding to avoid the Blood Lamas?
It was because a place filled with masters who could beat Blood Lamas to that extent was actually the safest place to be.
Back here, these small fries relied on me and pushed me to the front whenever a fight broke out. After all, I was technically the strongest one among them.
But in a place full of real masters, I wouldn't have to do a thing. They’d handle everything themselves.
Besides, one of the Four Dragons of Sichuan, Bullyong, was there. It was the safest place on earth.
Among the Four Dragons, Pung-hyeon of the Emei Sect was a genius whose skill with the blade was unrivaled. He was the first male disciple to seize the position of Emei’s top master, a spot usually reserved for the nuns.
While Emei was a sect where nuns held the most power, the monks also formed a significant pillar of the sect.
Because Emei consistently produced brilliant nuns, their martial arts had evolved to be easier for women to learn, but there were also many techniques created by famous Zen masters specifically for the monks.
Among them, Pung-hyeon was deeply versed in Emei’s blade techniques.
He was known as Bullyong (Fire Dragon) for his mastery of the Subduing Tiger Sword and the Shadowless Killing Technique, earning him a place among the Four Dragons of Sichuan.