Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Tigers of the Black Mountain
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After the elder's death, the battle resumed.
*Swish!*
The fierce, bloody struggle ended as Geum Pil-dae's golden sword energy grazed the neck of a man from the Dark Sect.
Among the remaining enemies, there were no masters capable of stopping Geum Geuk and me, leading to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion.
Of course, it had not been an easy fight.
The only ones left standing were twenty warriors from the Gold Dragon Hall and fewer than ten members of the Hanzhong branch's strike team.
Two-thirds of the personnel who set out from Hanzhong were either dead or had collapsed from grievous wounds.
“Hahh! Hahh!”
Geum Pil-dae, who had delivered the final sword strike, drooled as he gasped for breath.
Geum Geuk, the head of the martial world's largest financial enterprise, had forgotten all sense of decorum and slumped to the ground, circulating his energy.
It was clear that none of them had an ounce of strength left.
Having recovered a bit of my stamina, I chewed on a medicinal pill and spoke.
“That armor the elder is wearing is mine. Don't touch it.”
Having achieved my primary goal of protecting Geum Geuk, it was now time to defend Hanzhong.
As I stood up alone, all eyes fell on me.
“Where are you going?”
I gave a simple answer to Geum Pil-dae's questioning voice.
“Hanzhong is in danger.”
It was an explanation devoid of context, but he understood perfectly and rose to his feet.
“...I'll go with you.”
“Don't bother. What can a man in your condition do?”
Geum Geuk's eyes flashed open as he grasped his sword.
“Everyone, on your feet. We owe him our lives, and it's time to repay that debt.”
With a great shuffle, the members of the Gold Dragon Hall brushed themselves off and stood at his words.
“I said it's fine... No, you there, with the broken leg, just stay seated, will you? Hey, see? I told you it was a bad idea. Hey! You with the broken arm, just lie down. You're going to get seriously hurt.”
Despite my protests, they moved in silence.
Their bodies were battered from the fierce battle, but their eyes were all filled with resolve.
With Geum Geuk's next words, I gave up trying to stop them.
“The Gold Dragon Hall does not let its debts linger.”
“...”
“You risked your life for us, so now we will risk ours.”
It was so cheesy I could barely stand it...
Still.
“Ahem, well, if you insist...”
It wasn't half bad.
“Then I'll go on ahead. Hall Master, please tend to the injured and follow.”
“Understood.”
And so, feeling like the great Admiral Yi Sun-sin routing Japanese pirates with only twelve ships, I returned to Hanzhong.
“What is this?”
I witnessed a baffling sight.
Hanzhong, which I had expected to be in the throes of battle, was peaceful.
In fact, there wasn't a single trace of a fight.
*'That woman, seriously?!'*
For a moment, a fiery rage surged within me toward Yang-ryeong, who had given me false information.
Just in case, I focused my vision and scanned Hanzhong once more.
It was possible that a strategic genius on par with myself existed among the enemy, one who might have disguised their forces as allies and laid a trap.
However, seeing Yuk Hak sprawled out on the fortress wall, enjoying a nap, that didn't seem likely.
Once I confirmed everything, the indignation of nearly getting myself killed for nothing exploded.
*'That bitch Yang-ryeong! I won't let her get away with this!'*
Soon after, the warriors of the Gold Dragon Hall arrived, their eyes blazing with killing intent as they searched for the enemy. But after my explanation, they all sheathed their swords with looks of anticlimax.
Geum Geuk let out a hearty laugh and said,
“No one died, so isn't this a good thing?”
I suppressed my anger toward Yang-ryeong and replied,
“Ahem! Indeed, it is. Haha. Hah, but I must say, it's a shame. I was hoping to use this opportunity to show you the mighty power of the Hanzhong branch.”
After all, I had to maintain my dignity as a member of the martial world's upper class.
A short while later.
I guided everyone from the Gold Dragon Hall to the inn where I was staying.
It was so Cheong So-so could treat them.
“Sigh... What a pain...”
She pouted, but what could I do?
“Hey, see that man over there? He's the Gold Dragon Hall Master. You know, from the greatest bank in the world? I've already told him to pay you generously for the treatment, so hurry up and go.”
*Scurry.*
Before the might of capitalism, all are equal.
As I watched Cheong So-so's back while she hastily gathered her medical tools and ran off, I heard a plaintive voice.
“Squad Leader!”
It was Myo Hyang.
*Whoosh!*
With a tear-streaked face, she ran up and threw herself into my arms.
*Mmph.*
*'Th-this is...!'*
I could feel her warm heart against my chest.
“I was so worried when I heard you went alone!”
*Thump, thump.*
Myo Hyang pounded on my wounds with her delicate hands, but I felt no pain.
Instead, I only felt the warmth of her heart.
“This might be good in its own way...”
“What did you say?!”
“Ah, no, I just meant it's nice that you were so worried about me...”
“Hmph! So please, stop making me worry!”
Myo Hyang pulled away from my embrace and spoke coyly. I barely managed to hide my disappointment and smiled at her.
“Huh? Why do you have that look on your face?”
“Hm? What look?”
“You look... disappointed. Creepy perverts often make that face.”
“Hah, a pervert! What an impudent girl! You may not know it, but I am a renowned figure in the martial world!”
“If you're not, you're not. Why are you getting so angry?”
I was about to retort to Myo Hyang's dumbfounded reaction, but her next words made my jaw drop.
“Besides, do you have any idea how shocked I was when those bastards from the Ten Demon Alliance invaded while you were gone?”
“What?!”
There were no traces of a battle. And no casualties, either.
“They came and then just left?”
That meant they had simply retreated.
“This is what happened. Right after you left...”
Myo Hyang explained that as if on cue, two hundred demons from the Ten Demon Alliance swarmed in right after I departed.
In particular, their vanguard was led by a widely-known supreme master.
“The Twin Axe Killing Demon, Jo Gwang?”
The Third Elder of the Killing Sect, the very one who attacked the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion.
He was a high-tier supreme master, one we had barely managed to defeat before by combining the strength of the entire Seventeenth Squad.
“Yes, Great Hero Yuk recognized him, saying he had fought and defeated him before.”
Then it must have been him. Of course, the part about Yuk Hak winning was probably a lie.
The puzzling part was how Hanzhong's meager forces could have defeated two hundred demons led by such a supreme master.
Myo Hyang's subsequent explanation was utterly absurd.
“What?”
“It's true. The beggar—I mean, the gentleman beggar—who was panhandling in front of the market went out, said a few words, and they just turned back.”
“No, how does that make any sense? Do you know what kind of people the Ten Demon Alliance are...?”
With their infamous cruelty and overwhelming numbers, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the Zerg of this era. That's the Ten Demon Alliance.
It was hard to imagine that such people would flee after just a few words, without even putting up a fight.
“I was curious too, so I asked Great Hero Yuk, and guess what? He said that beggar was the War King.”
*'No way, the plot can't just fall apart like this, can it?'*
“Ha, hahaha.”
The absurdity of it all made me let out an empty laugh.
The War King, of all people.
A man who is always mentioned when discussing the ten greatest masters. A supreme master who, despite nothing concrete being known about him, was considered on par with the Lord of the Martial Emperor Fortress in any debate over who was the strongest under heaven.
For someone whose identity wasn't even known to be ranked joint first in the martial world... considering how much the people of the Central Plains love to nitpick over origins, that was a feat more difficult than a song climbing back up the Billboard charts.
And to think such a person was in Hanzhong, disguised as a beggar, playing the role of an undercover boss.
“Are you sure?”
“Well, I'm just taking Great Hero Yuk's word for it. Still...”
Myo Hyang lowered her voice and continued.
“It must be because he's someone of that caliber that the Ten Demon Alliance retreated so meekly, right?”
*'I suppose...'*
How many people in the martial world could drive away two hundred demons led by a supreme master with just a few words?
“So, where is he now?”
“After chasing off the Ten Demon Alliance, he left right away.”
Damn, he could have at least stayed for a meal...
I owe him such a great debt, and I didn't even get to say thank you.
***
After grasping the situation, I began to tackle the mountain of tasks at the branch.
The first thing I did was lift the mobilization order.
After all, it was common courtesy to end any activity with the word 'mobilization' in it as quickly as possible.
*'The mere thought of it is dreadful.'*
Recalling the mobilization training from my past life made my body shudder involuntarily.
“Understood. I will dismiss them at once.”
Of course, there was another matter just as important as lifting the mobilization order.
“How many of them fled?”
“Just under fifty men from eight different sects.”
“Write down all their names and take the list to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild. Tell them that anyone caught selling goods to those men will face the consequences.”
It was time to bring the hammer down on those who had deserted the sacred mobilization order.
If they couldn't buy any supplies, including food and clothing, they would have no choice but to leave Hanzhong.
“...Are you serious?”
“Should I do it for pretend? Oh, and don't forget to thoroughly investigate them and their surroundings. If even a single illegal element is discovered, confiscate all their assets and distribute them among those who participated in the mobilization.”
“I believe this is too excessive. Complaints may arise from all over.”
“So you're saying we should just let it go?”
“They too are citizens of Hanzhong, so perhaps lowering the severity...”
“Ja-hwan.”
“Yes.”
“The men who were standing in the training grounds until just now came out ready to risk their lives to protect Hanzhong. The ones who fled ran away because they valued their own lives more.”
“...”
“But if we treat both groups the same, who will take up arms the next time a mobilization order is issued?”
Only then did Geum Ja-hwan seem to understand, and he nodded his head.
“I will carry out your orders as stated.”
“I'm glad you understand.”
After that, I continued to handle the mountain of work at the branch, and before I knew it, the sun was setting.
“Whew, being in charge is not a job for just anyone...”
Having fought for a full day and night, I was overcome with an exhaustion so profound I felt I could collapse at any moment.
To make matters worse, my body was a wreck, suffering from all sorts of injuries including internal damage, burns, and cuts.
“After all this, don't I deserve some kind of bonus?”
I risked my life to protect the Gold Dragon Hall Master. It's only right that they name me Dragon of the Month, isn't it?
“First, let's get some sleep.”
***
The next afternoon.
Geum Geuk, his two sons, and the members of the Gold Dragon Hall prepared to depart.
“You're leaving already? You should at least finish your treatment before you go...”
Even for martial artists, traveling a thousand leagues while injured is no easy task.
If things go wrong, the injuries could worsen, forcing them to recuperate for months.
“I'd like to, but I have far too much work piled up.”
At Geum Geuk's explanation, I could only nod.
As the head of the martial world's only major financial group, he likely lived his life counting every second.
After all, don't they say that the heads of modern conglomerates sleep only four or five hours a day and devote the rest to their work?
As I nodded in admiration, thinking, *'Impressive,'* Geum Geuk chuckled and patted my shoulder.
“I'm deeply indebted to you. I won't forget it.”
His tone was much more relaxed than when we first met.
It seemed we were now comrades-in-arms who had fought side-by-side, risking our lives.
“And about that... the thing you mentioned last time?”
“Don't worry. I'll show you something beyond your wildest imagination.”
“Wha-! Worry? This Jin Mujeon has always had faith in you, Hall Master. Hehehe.”
As I replied, rubbing my hands together eagerly, Geum Geuk frowned.
“Hm? What's the matter all of a sudden?”
Then, he suddenly leaned in and whispered softly.
“From now on, I will be your backer. You no longer need to hide your claws with foolish acts. It's time to reveal your true self with confidence.”
It seemed he was gravely mistaken about something.
In any case, after seeing off the Gold Dragon Hall, whom I had once considered unwelcome guests, I headed to the branch office with a light heart.
Having resolved the mountain of problems in Hanzhong, all that was left was to kick back and relax for the remainder of my term.
Excited by the prospect of becoming a grand salary thief, I walked with a spring in my step.
“...”
But the moment I entered the branch, the sight before me instantly extinguished my joyful mood.
“It's been a while. Heh heh.”
The Tigers of the Black Mountain.
Thirty members of the Black Mountain Tigers had appeared before me, all in tattered condition.
And they brought unexpected news.
“We've returned after burning down the Ten Demon Alliance's Gansu branch.”
“Pardon?”
Are these guys insane?