Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Bandit vs. Bandit
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She was fighting the giant's two underlings, mainly relying on her swift lightness skill for defense.
But every single stance was so precarious, it felt like she could be sliced by their blades at any moment.
Han Ibi didn't need to think twice—he decided to burst out of the bushes to save So Eun-ri.
That's when an iron chest caught his eye.
Rumble!
Lightning flashed.
In Han Ibi's mind too!
It might be better to draw attention this way rather than directly helping So Eun-ri.
Han Ibi quickly got to his feet and approached the iron chest.
A massive padlock was on it.
He had seen one of the giant's underlings fail to break it earlier.
And the scene where they struggled with its immense weight...
After a moment's thought, Han Ibi pondered.
'I wonder if the ice attribute works well on objects too... But hey, how will I know without trying?'
He opened his inventory.
'Mysterious Frost Blade!'
He drew the ice-attribute Mysterious Frost Blade from his bosom.
Han Ibi took a deep breath and thought.
'I have to end it in one strike. There won't be a second chance.'
Then he swung the Mysterious Frost Blade straight at the padlock on the chest.
Clang!
A resounding metallic crash echoed across the battlefield.
Most of the fighters, locked in fierce combat, turned toward Han Ibi in bewilderment.
But Han Ibi ignored their reactions and swiftly drew his Hanjo Sword from his bosom.
'Hey, Hanjo Sword. Hanjo Sword. According to the DB info, you're a fine blade, so I'll leave the finishing touch to you!'
He raised the Hanjo Sword high and smashed it mercilessly down on the padlock once more.
Clang-crash!
'As expected~ Kyaa! Truly a treasure sword from the 108 Fortuitous Encounters, gifted by Master Bok!'
He swept away the shattered padlock pieces in an instant and opened the chest lid.
Of course, there was no divine blue glow like in the movies.
It was utterly ordinary.
Inside was just a leather pouch the size of an adult's palm and a not-too-thick book.
Han Ibi quickly grabbed both items.
He especially tucked the book into his bosom to protect it from the rain.
The bandits watched in stunned silence.
The flustered bandit leaders barked orders at their underlings.
"Where the hell did that bastard come from? Grab him!"
"Block him so he can't escape!"
Having already revved up, Han Ibi swiftly activated Zhongli Swift Leopard Step and began to flee.
A bold move perfect for sowing confusion among them all!
The first to give chase were the giant man, the pointed-hat guy, and his underling.
Following them were the two underlings who had been fighting Jong Ri-hyeok and Yeon Nan-ju.
Naturally, the giant's two underlings battling So Eun-ri tried to pursue as well.
Or at least, that's what they intended.
But they couldn't.
Shockingly, So Eun-ri was blocking their retreat to the end, clinging to them relentlessly.
"This... venomous bitch."
But So Eun-ri wordlessly swung her sword at them busily.
Meanwhile, Jong Ri-hyeok, finally catching his breath, gently laid Cheon Sin-u on the ground.
The pouring rain washed the bloodstains from Cheon Sin-u's body.
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"Are you alright?"
Cheon Sin-u opened his mouth. He seemed about to say he was fine, but coughed up blood instead.
Then Jong Ri-hyeok said to the stunned Yeon Nan-ju,
"Watch over him for a moment."
"Y-Yes...? Ah, yes."
With that, Jong Ri-hyeok shot toward So Eun-ri like lightning.
He had noticed she was in trouble due to being outnumbered.
In an instant, Jong Ri-hyeok plunged his sword into the back of one of the giant's underlings fighting her.
A death cry pierced through the rain once more.
He then moved to So Eun-ri's side and faced the remaining man.
And they attacked in tandem.
This joint swordsmanship was a secret technique created by the famous Qingcheng twin swordsmen Ham Du-ok and Ham Du-tae over a hundred years ago, known as the Twin Harmony Swordsmanship.
Though they had never practiced together before...
Amazingly, Jong Ri-hyeok and So Eun-ri's swords formed a perfect symmetry around the center line.
As if they had trained together all along.
It was a harmony of illusions.
The sight was so stunningly beautiful that Yeon Nan-ju felt a pang of jealousy without realizing it.
In any case, the remaining man was pushed into a defensive position by their flawless coordination and soon prepared to flee in fear.
However...
It was So Eun-ri who broke the symmetry.
The man couldn't have predicted it.
This unpredictability was the strength of the Twin Harmony Swordsmanship.
Slice.
With a grisly sound effect, So Eun-ri finally severed the man's throat.
* * *
Han Ibi was running for his life, his soles practically on fire.
He couldn't remember ever fleeing this hard in his life.
Even channeling his internal energy, he felt his breath rising to his chin.
But the weather wasn't on his side...
The muddy ground squelched, leaving clear footprints behind him.
And there was one more problem...
Han Ibi was innately a terrible sense of direction—a true 'pathfinder from hell'.
This 'pathfinder curse' had a knack for leading him astray instinctively.
Even if it was just a fork in the road...
And probably right now.
The curse was afflicting him too.
"Argh! Why here of all places?!"
Yes...
Han Ibi had backed himself into a literal cliff's edge.
This wasn't a metaphor.
He had fled along the ridge, but ended up at the end of a valley cliff.
He realized his mistake and tried to change course, but...
"You rat bastard. Heh heh. Caught you good. Try running now."
The giant man was blocking his path.
His lightness skill was surprisingly fast, despite his build.
The pointed-hat man arrived next.
Then, with some distance, the giant's underling appeared.
So now, at the muddy cliff's edge under the pouring rain, Han Ibi was surrounded.
The giant man growled,
"You dog. You dare trick us?"
Han Ibi replied,
"Trick? What did I trick you on? You stole it anyway."
The pointed-hat man said,
"You should've stayed out of it."
The giant man threatened again.
"I'll tear you to shreds right now, so don't worry. Heh heh."
Suddenly, Han Ibi pulled out the book and leather pouch, saying to the giant,
"Hey, you! Say one more word, and I'll toss this off the cliff."
"You..."
"Hey now. Do I look like I'm joking?"
Han Ibi dangled the items in the air as if ready to throw them.
The giant man finally shut his mouth.
Outwardly bluffing like this, but inwardly, Han Ibi's mind was a whirlwind on how to escape this pinch.
'As expected... I have to exploit the bad blood between these two.'
Han Ibi said,
"We're all just trying to make a living, right? Huh?"
His pursuers looked baffled at the nonsense.
Han Ibi continued,
"What's with that? You all know... Come on, I'll give you a chance. Speak up."
The pointed-hat man asked,
"What are you talking about?"
Han Ibi's eyes sparkled.
"Alliance."
The giant man cut in impatiently,
"What the hell are you saying?"
"Tell me your alliance terms."
"Alliance terms?"
"Yeah. Even if I hand over the loot, you'll just fight each other again, right?"
The pursuers were struck dumb.
They couldn't refute him.
'Good. It's starting to sink in.'
"Ally with me, and it'll be easier. Isn't that right?"
The giant man did some quick mental math.
Currently, it was him and one underling.
Pointed-hat had two underlings.
Even if they killed Han Ibi and took the loot, they'd have to fight again.
After calculating, the giant man said,
"Fine. Let's hear your terms."
Han Ibi nodded lightly as if it was obvious.
"I just want this pouch. And you want this book, right?"
The giant man grinned slyly,
"Heh heh heh. Yes. You can have the pouch."
'Just as I thought. The real treasure is this book...'
Then Han Ibi turned to the pointed-hat man,
"Your terms?"
The pointed-hat man said,
"A real man upholds righteousness."
"What?"
"Let's take him down."
"Who?"
"This guy's Bang So-dok, a vile bandit."
Bang So-dok glared murderously at the pointed-hat man.
"You... Yun Ui-seol, you bastard...!"
Han Ibi interjected,
"Hey, not my business, but isn't the trash talk a bit much between fellow bandits? Looks like six of one, half a dozen of the other to me."
Yun Ui-seol spoke again,
"I can't give you anything."
Han Ibi asked,
"What?"
"Even if you help me, no loot for you. Discern right from wrong. Choose justice. That's my alliance term."
Bang So-dok chuckled,
"That guy's always been a stuck-up prick. Better to talk to a wall. Now..."
Han Ibi glared at Yun Ui-seol,
"How do I know you're righteous?"
Yun Ui-seol shrugged,
"Well, if you don't trust me, nothing I can do."
"Hmph. No idea where you get the guts. Fine. I've made up my mind."
All eyes turned to Han Ibi.
He looked at Bang So-dok,
"I'll ally with you."
Bang So-dok laughed heartily,
"Excellent choice. Then now..."
"Hold on!"
Han Ibi raised a hand,
"Doesn't mean I trust you completely."
Bang So-dok's face darkened slightly.
"What? The pouch isn't enough? Fine."
Bang So-dok continued with a generous expression,
"I'll hook you up with a good spot too."
"What?"
"I'll find you a job."
'A bandit offering me a job?'
Han Ibi was dumbfounded, but Bang So-dok rambled on.
"This is all because this elder thinks highly of you. Be grateful..."
"Yeah, whatever..."
Han Ibi cut off the giant,
"We don't trust each other, right?"
"..."
"So let's swap and hold one each."
"What... do you mean?"
"Hey. We each need a hostage item. Like this: I'll hold the book. You hold my jewels. Then after the job's done..."
Han Ibi winked,
"We swap back. Perfect alliance. No trust issues."
Bang So-dok and Yun Ui-seol's faces crumpled simultaneously.
Yun Ui-seol spoke first,
"You brat. Looks like you're from a righteous sect..."
"Nah, don't care. What era is this? Hey! You!"
Han Ibi swung the book and pouch over the cliff toward Bang So-dok,
"What's it gonna be? In or out?"
(To be continued)