Chapter 89: Soft (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Soft (2)
Having a guide was like using a map hack. Following Hwan Bae-ho’s directions, it didn't take long to reach their destination.
As they moved, the boy hesitantly shared his story.
He lived in a settlement so small it could barely be called a village. Martial artists had raided the place, dragging away every single inhabitant.
The boy had been playing hide-and-seek and was lucky enough to avoid capture, but the others weren't so fortunate. His parents, his friends, and even his little sister had all been taken.
When Seo-jun asked why he had only mentioned his sister when they first met, the boy’s answer was heartbreaking.
“M-my mom told me… that I have to protect my sister, no matter what…”
Ah.
Seo-jun clicked his tongue softly and gave the boy a reassuring pat on the back.
He turned his gaze toward the crude stronghold Hwan Bae-ho was pointing at. It sat halfway up a mountain, not far from where Seo-jun had fought the two Super Peak Realm experts. From the looks of it, this was a forward base established to support them.
Sweeping the area with his Qi Sensing, Seo-jun only picked up martial artists at the Peak Realm or lower. It was a surprisingly weak force for a base established so brazenly within the Righteous Faction’s territory.
Wait, maybe not? Over-investing troops in a base deep inside enemy territory might actually be riskier.
There was no point in trying to guess what smart people were thinking; that was a fool's errand. Let the tacticians handle the tactics. A martial artist like Seo-jun only needed the ability to crush whatever was put in front of him.
“Hmm…”
As Seo-jun peered at the Black Lotus Union’s base from behind a tree, Hwan Bae-ho approached him.
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“What do you intend to do? Shall we strike immediately?”
“I don’t know. With hostages inside, wouldn't a direct assault be dangerous?”
“Mmm… but dragging our feet isn't a good idea either.”
According to Hwan Bae-ho, the Black Lotus Union typically infiltrated enemy territory to abduct civilians. The kidnapped victims were then used as human sacrifices. They practiced all sorts of dark sorcery, meaning the longer they waited, the more people would die.
“All sorts of sorcery?”
“Yes. Whether it’s temporarily boosting their power or tracking a specific target, most sorcery is much easier to perform when fueled by human sacrifice.”
“Oh…”
Seo-jun scratched his head and stood up. He looked down at himself. His dust-covered martial robes, complete with torn sleeves and various rips, were actually perfect for his plan.
He unfastened the sword from his waist and handed it to Hwan Bae-ho.
“I’ll go inside. When I give the signal, you guys charge in and clean house. Got it?”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Dangerous? For me? Or for them?”
“I mean it is dangerous for you, Young Master.”
“Aha…”
He really doesn't know how to take a joke.
“It’s fine. Besides, who else is going to do it?”
The Black Lotus Union likely knew what Hwangbo Jun and Jang-geuk looked like. Both were quite famous. Hwangbo Jun, in particular, radiated the aura of a martial artist from a mile away and clearly couldn't act to save his life; he was useless for anything other than smashing things.
As for the members of the Clear Wind Unit or the Geumgang Unit, they were only at the Peak Realm. They might struggle to handle unexpected variables. Rejected.
The Green Forest bandits? Obviously rejected.
That left only him.
“Young Master. It is difficult for me to say this, but… your life alone is more important than all the hostages in that place combined. Think of the people you can save in the future, and think of the Young Lady waiting for you at the clan—”
“Now, now,” Seo-jun cut him off, stretching his limbs. “Even in this state, a bunch of Peak Realm nobodies are no match for me.”
Probably. I am Lee Seo-jun, the God of Smurfing, after all.
At those words, Hwan Bae-ho’s mouth hung open slightly, as if he had just remembered the Monster Wave.
“Ah…”
“Alright, everyone understands the plan, right? You have to move fast once I send the signal.”
Seo-jun began to stride away. Hwan Bae-ho let out a low groan as he watched the Young Master wave his hand nonchalantly without looking back.
“Ugh… First, let’s get everyone ready to storm the place at a moment’s notice.”
The Young Master's back seemed remarkably broad as he walked away.
The Young Master of the Namgung Clan.
Hwan Bae-ho prayed to the heavens that the world would not have to suffer the loss of such a man.
* * *
Seo-jun hummed to himself as he trudged toward the Black Lotus Union’s base.
He briefly recalled that his acting skills were atrocious, but he didn't think it would be a problem. After all, he actually was in pain.
“Ugh…”
He didn't hold back, letting his genuine agony show. To anyone watching, he looked exactly like a heavily injured civilian. As a staggering Seo-jun approached the base, the heavy wooden doors creaked open and two men stepped out.
“What’s this now?”
“What should we do? Kill him?”
Whoa, that would be a problem.
To salvage the situation, Seo-jun shouted.
“Dyu-tta…!”
“…What the hell is this guy saying?”
“Dyu-tta u-dya-tta dyu-tta-ya…!”
“He’s lost his mind.”
One of the men chuckled, twirling a finger near his temple.
“This retard wandered into the wrong place.”
“Should we just throw him in? We’re a bit short on sacrifices anyway.”
“Let’s do that.”
One of the men strode forward and swung his foot.
“Dyu-tta-ak…!”
Thwack!
Struck squarely in the stomach, Seo-jun rolled across the dirt.
It didn't hurt at all, but it felt incredibly insulting.
‘Should I kill him, Master?’
‘Endure it, the Dark Flame Dragon within me.’
‘Kuh…!’
As he shivered while entertaining these idle chuunibyou thoughts, the man grabbed Seo-jun by the hair and dragged him across the ground.
A sudden worry about hair loss reared its head, but the hair roots of a Super Peak Realm expert wouldn't give way to this level of force. Feeling relieved, he allowed himself to be dragged comfortably until the man casually tossed him inside.
Thud!
“Oof…!”
“This person is…”
Opening his eyes slightly, Seo-jun saw a group of people. From their ragged appearance, they were clearly the kidnapped villagers.
“A new friend has arrived, so why don't you all hold a welcoming party!”
The Black Lotus Union member cackled and slapped his comrade’s shoulder.
“Good luck with the watch.”
“Tsk. When’s the next shift? Feels like it’s been forever.”
“Two more watches to go, you idiot.”
“Dammit.”
That guy must be the guard.
Looking around, Seo-jun saw thick iron bars. Only adults were confined in the same cell as him. Shifting his gaze, he spotted the children locked in a different cage across the room.
Are they being used for different purposes?
Suddenly, his mood soured.
“Ugh…”
As Seo-jun sat up, the guard kicked the bars and barked at him.
“Hey! If you’re awake, stay quiet. I don’t want to waste energy beating you.”
“Okay…”
Shaking his head, Seo-jun scanned his cellmates.
The looks he received varied. Some stared into space with dead eyes, seemingly indifferent, while others looked at him with pity. Surprisingly, there were even a few who looked at him with outright mockery.
You’re locked up in here too. Are you an idiot?
Of course, since it was impossible to know exactly what they were thinking just from their eyes, he restrained the urge to smack them.
“Hello.”
When Seo-jun waved his hand, the people quickly looked away. One man even scoffed and grumbled.
“Great, they threw a half-wit in here.”
“Wow.”
As Seo-jun marveled at the man's audacity, an old man sitting next to him tapped his leg.
“Young man. It’s best not to speak. If you do…”
Despite the old man’s whispered warning, a wooden club swung through the bars.
Whack!
“Ouch.”
“Shut up! I told you to stay quiet!”
“Okay.”
Pouting, Seo-jun whispered to the old man.
“Is this everyone?”
“I told you, if you keep talking…”
“No, this is important. Is this everyone?”
“…This is all of our villagers.”
“Aha.”
That matched what Seo-jun was sensing with his Qi.
“I told you to shut your mouth…!”
The guard seemed quite heated as he drew his sword.
“Did I mention that it doesn't matter if a sacrifice is missing a limb or two?”
“No, you didn't.”
“Well, consider yourself informed!”
The guard thrust his sword through the bars. Seo-jun casually caught the blade with his bare hand.
“Huh?”
Seo-jun sent a surge of internal energy through the captured blade. The guard, a weakling hovering somewhere between the Second-rate and First-rate stages, couldn't offer even a hint of resistance.
Pop!
The guard's head instantly exploded like a crushed watermelon.
“Wh-what…?”
“Eek…!”
The villagers scrambled away from Seo-jun in sheer terror.
“Ah, geez.”
Seo-jun stood up and grabbed the thick iron bars. At that moment, the man who had been mocking him earlier screamed.
“Do you think those bars will bend? You crazy bastard! What have you done…!”
He was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. To run his mouth like that after seeing a man’s head explode... perhaps he was a hidden master of the wilderness?
Creeeeeak!
The iron bars bent like taffy, creating a gap wide enough for a person to easily pass through. The man’s eyes bulged out of his skull.
Seo-jun pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then pointed them at the man.
“Behave.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Apparently, he wasn't a hidden master after all.
Seo-jun stepped out of the cell and headed toward the cage where the children were held.
“Uuu…”
“Waaaaah! Mommy…!”
The children, who had been dead silent until now, burst into terrified tears as soon as Seo-jun approached. Seeing the dark bruises covering their small bodies, it was clear they had been beaten into submission to keep them quiet. Naturally, they were petrified of the man who had just made someone's head explode.
“Oh, uh… little friends? Is there a girl named So-mi here? Your brother is looking for you.”
“M-my brother…?”
A young girl hesitantly lifted her head. Her chubby cheeks were marred by angry red handprints.
“Those absolute pieces of shit.”
His anger flared, but he forcibly restrained himself. He tapped the side of his head a few times to clear his mind.
“Phew… Yeah, your brother came to find you. He’ll be here soon, so just wait a little longer, okay?”
“O-okay…”
The little girl’s eyes darted around, still unsure.
Seo-jun sighed and reached a hand toward the ceiling. A signal flare was best when it was impossible to miss.
He coated his index finger with Yin energy and his middle finger with Yang energy, then crossed them to achieve perfect unity.
Primordial Unity Sun-Moon Art.
The beam of fired energy pierced straight through the ceiling and soared high into the sky.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
It exploded brilliantly against the clouds.
Immediately, urgent presences flared from all directions. Several men rushed into the prison room to check on the sacrifices.
“Who are you…!”
The men shouted, but—
Thwip! Thwip!
They were struck by Finger Pellets, dying instantly as their heads shattered like glass.
Seo-jun looked back at the villagers, who were still sitting blankly in their cells.
“My friends will be here soon. Shall we wait just a little bit longer?”
The traumatized people could only nod vacantly.