What Kind of Bandit Is This? (2)
“Hwahahahahahahaha!”
At the Green Forest King’s boisterous laughter, the disciples of Mount Hua exchanged strange looks with one another.
That massive build. That intimidating face. And even the presence he radiated—under normal circumstances, a laugh like that ought to have made their bones rattle.
And yet…
I miss him.
Did Palace Lord get back safely?
It’s a long trip even to the Southern Barbarian lands.
Instead, the disciples of Mount Hua found themselves feeling an odd, unexpected nostalgia.
Even the Green Forest King, after laughing heartily for a while, seemed to notice their reaction and awkwardly reined in his laughter.
“...Hm.”
A faint embarrassment flickered in his eyes. The disciples of Mount Hua understood that as well.
Of course.
This is probably the first time anyone’s ever reacted to him like this.
Of course, if Mount Hua’s disciples had met a man like him for the first time, they would have reacted differently too. Just like when they first met Beast Palace Lord Maeng So.
“Ahem.”
The Green Forest King cleared his throat loudly before speaking in a deep voice.
“Which one of you is the Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”
“That’d be me.”
“Hmm. You?”
The Green Forest King looked Chung Myung up and down.
“You don’t seem very strong.”
“Yeah. Funny, I was thinking the same thing!”
“...What did you say?”
“I said we’re on the same page. I think we’ll get along pretty well, actually.”
Chung Myung grinned. The Green Forest King stared at him with a peculiar look.
“Just as I heard. You are an insolent brat.”
“Oh? You heard about me?”
“There’s been quite a stir across the world about the Mount Hua Divine Dragon lately. I couldn’t avoid hearing it, even if I wanted to. The rumors are so noisy they’ve practically spread all the way up these mountains.”
“Heheh. I’m not that amazing, though.”
Don’t enjoy that!
What, did some ghost die from never being praised in his past life and possess him or something?
Then the Green Forest King’s eyes gradually cooled. The smile that had been hanging on his face had long since vanished.
He’s angry.
Well, I’d be angry too.
“So. I hear you told people that if they wanted to keep doing bandit business, they should come to you?”
“Me?”
“That’s what I heard.”
Chung Myung turned to look at Baek Cheon and the others, then tilted his head.
“Did I say that?”
“...”
“...”
“Hmm. I feel like I might remember...”
The tip of the Green Forest King’s beard began to tremble.
“You little punk. You think you can humiliate me?”
The Green Forest King roared. The sound was so loud the building itself shook, shedding dust all around them.
“I was prepared to look kindly on you because you knocked those Maninbang bastards flat, but this? This is too far!”
“Ah, come on. Calm down a little. People can forget things.”
“...You brat?”
“Why does it matter whether I said it or not? What matters is that I’ve got something to say to you.”
The Green Forest King looked ready to leap up and tear him apart. But Chung Myung met that gaze head-on, his expression completely unshaken.
After a moment, the Green Forest King let out a breath and released his killing intent.
“...You’ve got some backbone.”
Then he settled back into his enormous chair.
“Fine. What is it you want to say? I’ll hear you out, considering what you’ve done.”
“It’s nothing that huge. But it is something that might interest you.”
“Hmm?”
“How would you feel about making some money?”
“Money?”
“Yes, money. You’re interested, aren’t you? The Green Forest is doing all this in the end to make money, after all.”
“Hmmm.”
“So, what I’m saying is...”
“Wait.”
“Huh?”
The Green Forest King waved a hand with a bored expression.
“If that’s the kind of story you’re here to tell, then you shouldn’t be talking to me. Ryu Sobyeong!”
“Yes, sir!”
Hm?
Chung Myung turned toward the voice. The door flew open and a man hurried in.
“You called... Cough! Cough! Damn this cough! Cough!”
Halfway through his rush, the man clapped a hand over his mouth and coughed violently over and over.
“Cough! Aigoo. Ah-choo!”
Chung Myung stared at him blankly.
What the hell was this guy?
He was clearly someone who didn’t belong in a bandit stronghold like this.
The scholar’s robe he wore was a little old, but it was so cleanly maintained that not a speck of dirt clung to it. The fan in his hand was tattered, and yet somehow it still fluttered with elegant grace.
The official cap on his head was slightly crumpled, which was a bit of an eyesore, but not a single strand of hair had come loose…
“Ah-choo!”
Ah. Never mind. Hair’s coming loose.
Still, he was neat overall.
What stood out even more was his complexion, so pale it looked as though there wasn’t a trace of blood in him, and the dark shadows beneath his eyes.
“...Are you sick?”
“Cough, cough! Don’t mind me. I’ve always been a bit weak-bodied...”
“...”
He really did look so frail he might not even be able to twist a chicken’s neck. Still, apart from that, he looked like your typical failed examination candidate who’d missed the imperial civil service exam.
“You called for me!”
“These guys are talking about money and whatnot. I hate troublesome things, so you handle it.”
“Yes, sir! That kind of thing is my specialty! I’ll have you know I’m well versed in arithmetic, astronomy, and the calendar, and...”
“Shut up! Stop spouting useless nonsense and get to work!”
“Yes, sir.”
The man looked a little dejected as he turned toward Mount Hua’s disciples. Then, as if flipping a switch, he broke into a bright smile.
“My goodness! It’s an honor to meet the heroes of Mount Hua, ladies and gentlemen. You have no idea how thrilled I was when I heard the rumors about you! In fact, when I heard you’d beaten those damn Maninbang bastards to a pulp, I nearly wet myself from excitement!”
And yet that charm was being annihilated by his servile attitude and sly grin. The constantly bowed waist, the slightly hunched legs, and the tightly clasped hands that looked practically desperate made everyone watching feel tired on his behalf.
“...You don’t look like someone who ought to be here.”
At Baek Cheon’s words, Ryu Sobyeong made a slightly forlorn face and glanced toward the small window off to the side.
“...Well, isn’t everyone in the world carrying some kind of story?”
“Stories my ass.”
The Green Forest King snorted from behind him.
“I saved this guy when he was about to hang himself because he failed the exams, and now he’s going on about having a story.”
“...No, I told you to keep that a secret...”
“Enough chatter and get to work!”
“Yes, sir! Of course!”
The disciples of Mount Hua squeezed their eyes shut.
This place is doomed too.
What a mess.
So this wasn’t exactly a proper sect either.
“Right. So you want to do business with us?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Hmm. Hm. I’ve always heard Mount Hua is a place where noble daoists live, so the fact that you want to do business with riffraff like us is rather strange.”
“Riffraff?”
The Green Forest King glared at him, and Ryu Sobyeong flinched and looked back over his shoulder.
“Hehe. I only meant it as a figure of speech, a figure of speech.”
“Have you really not been hit enough?”
“...My apologies.”
With a downcast expression, Ryu Sobyeong asked Chung Myung again.
“...Anyway, business, you say?”
Chung Myung shrugged and opened his mouth.
“We’re planning to set up a transport business.”
“Transport? A transport business? You’re opening a courier office in Mount Hua? We happen to maintain excellent relations with courier offices. After all, is there not friendship in the money that passes between people?”
“Ah, it’s not quite a courier office. It’s transport in the literal sense. The goal is to quickly deliver small items.”
At once, Ryu Sobyeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Small items... quickly, you say. Oh?”
Then he smirked.
“That’s a rather interesting idea. From the sound of it, your aim is to deliver goods over long distances as quickly as possible.”
“Oh! You got it immediately. That’s right!”
“Hmm. Then Mount Hua’s people would be the ones transporting them directly?”
“Someone else will do the moving.”
Ryu Sobyeong frowned, surprised.
“If speed is what matters for such goods, why wouldn’t you handle it yourselves?”
“We’ve prepared people whose lightness skills are really fast.”
“Ah. Of course! Of course!”
Ryu Sobyeong nodded repeatedly.
“I understand. So, in order to travel the shortest possible distance, you’d ignore roads and paths and cut straight across mountains and rivers—but because our territory is scattered in between, you’re worried trouble might arise?”
“You’re reading my mind!”
“I’m the one who’s surprised. Good heavens, what a brilliant idea. No doubt this is a business aimed at officials and rich merchants.”
Chung Myung looked at Ryu Sobyeong as if he were genuinely impressed.
“Wow. You’re really smart.”
“Hahahaha. Just average, just average.”
Ryu Sobyeong lifted his chin a little, looking pleased with himself. Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed as if he were about to applaud.
“Wow. I like you. You ever think about quitting banditry and coming to Mount Hua? I can pay you a better salary.”
“Hahaha. I appreciate the offer, but I know my place. Pine caterpillars have to eat pine needles, as they say. I do have a debt of gratitude to the Green Forest.”
“I could give you a gold coin a month, though.”
Ryu Sobyeong lunged forward and seized Chung Myung’s hand in both of his.
“How could I eat only pine needles? Sometimes one must eat other things as well. Shall we leave right away?”
“You bastard!”
Unable to bear it any longer, the Green Forest King shot up from his seat and shouted.
“How can you not do your job properly before I beat you senseless!”
“S-sorry.”
With his shoulders hunched high, Ryu Sobyeong whispered to Chung Myung.
“My apologies. He’s a little short-tempered.”
“...It’s amazing he hasn’t been beaten to death already.”
“Those were hard years.”
Ryu Sobyeong stared into the distance with misty eyes.
Meanwhile, Baek Cheon, who had been watching the two of them, suddenly shivered at the chill creeping up his spine.
What is this?
What the hell was with those two? Why did they click so well?
Looking around, the other disciples seemed to be feeling much the same.
It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone match Chung Myung that well.
They’re practically a perfect pair.
This is different from Beast Palace Lord too.
If Beast Palace Lord had matched Chung Myung in terms of sheer boisterousness, this one was more like… a perfect fit in terms of shamelessness.
“So... cough! Damn it, again... cough! Cough! Hey! This cursed cough, cough, damn it!”
Ryu Sobyeong, who had been coughing continuously, grabbed the gourd behind him and gulped down some water.
“Kaaah! Cold water is the best.”
“...”
The muscles at the corner of Baek Cheon’s eye twitched. At this point, was it even impossible to believe they were brothers?
“Anyway!”
Ryu Sobyeong grinned and said to Chung Myung,
“So you’re saying you want the Green Forest’s consent for this business, am I right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Good, good. Honestly, what’s the difference? Green Forest business is just about protecting people so they can pass safely through dangerous mountains swarming with wild beasts, isn’t it?”
“...Protecting?”
“Let’s just call it that. Ah, why be so finicky about the details?”
Ryu Sobyeong shrugged and spoke glibly.
“As long as you pay the protection fee, we can help you as much as you like. So how much are you planning to pay? To make sure you can pass through all the seventy-two forts spread across the world, and even the smaller strongholds not counted among them, without incident... whew, this won’t come cheap, I’m afraid.”
His gaze at Chung Myung carried a meaningful glint.
“Looks to me like you’ll be making quite a pretty profit from this.”
At that, Chung Myung gave a crooked smile.
“Well, does money really matter that much?”
“Of course, of course. As the Master said, when a gentleman makes friends, he doesn’t speak of money! Cough! Exactly that! It’s been ages since I met someone with a broad mind. This humble military scholar feels refreshed just... urk, cough! Cough!”
The military scholar, coughing as though he might spit up his innards, wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief and muttered,
“Tsk tsk. If this keeps up, I’ll die. I’ll die like this.”
Carefully folding the handkerchief, the scholar’s eyes lit up again.
“Now, now. Go ahead and make your offer. Since I’ve met someone with whom I’m so much in sync, I’d love to make this cheap for you, but as you know, I’m employed to serve the Green Forest King, so I can’t slash the price just however I please.”
“Hmm.”
Then Chung Myung looked at him with a faintly amused smile.
“I’ve changed my mind a little.”
“Pardon?”
“I was thinking of stuffing you with some money and telling you not to bother us, but seeing how things are going, I think we can make this a little bigger.”
“Oh?”
The scholar smiled as though he liked the sound of that and flicked his fan lightly.
“Bigger stakes are always welcome. So, what sort of scale are you talking about?”
The corners of Chung Myung’s mouth curled higher.
“But this doesn’t seem like something I should be discussing with some mere military scholar. I think I need to speak with the Green Forest King.”
“Ah... well, our Green Forest King is rather weak in this sort of matter...”
“I think you’ve misunderstood me.”
“Pardon?”
Ryu Sobyeong folded the fan he’d been waving and tilted his head.
“I said I want to speak with the Green Forest King. The Green Forest King.”
At Chung Myung’s unwavering words, Ryu Sobyeong’s smile vanished, and he stared at him intently.
“The Green Forest King?”
“Yes.”
“You know what you’re saying?”
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
“A little while ago?”
Ryu Sobyeong let out a long sigh, shoved the fan back into his cap, and scratched his head roughly.
“Ha, that’s odd. Usually people don’t realize.”
The disciples of Mount Hua could only stare blankly at the unfolding scene, completely lost.
What are they talking about?
Suddenly, none of it made any sense.
Then Ryu Sobyeong spun around and strode toward the seat where the Green Forest King was sitting.
The Green Forest King glared.
“You bastard! I clearly told you to wrap things up...”
“Hey. You’ve been found out, idiot! Stop screwing around and come out!”
“What the hell are you...”
“I said you’ve been found out, you bastard! Come out!”
Ryu Sobyeong kicked the Green Forest King right in the ass.
“Aaaagh!”
The massive Green Forest King was sent flying off the chair and rolled across the floor.
“Seriously, now.”
Ryu Sobyeong grumbled and threw the cap he’d been wearing to the floor. His hair cascaded down in a rush, spilling wild and untidy over his shoulders.
Thud.
And then, seated on the tiger-skin-draped chair, his small body began to radiate a completely different presence from before.
“Allow me to introduce myself again.”
The disciples of Mount Hua swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Then this man is...
Nothing about him had actually changed.
And yet Ryu Sobyeong, sitting with one leg crossed atop the throne-like chair, no longer seemed like the same man they’d seen a moment ago. Just a single change in expression, a single shift in posture—and a person could become so different.
Ryu Sobyeong declared in a voice full of authority,
“I am the Green Forest King, Im Sobyeong, lord of the Green Forest Seventy-Two Forts. You little disciples of Mount Hua... cough! Cough! Aaaa-choo! Damn it, I’m really dying here! This cursed cough! Cough! Hey, hey! Water! Bring me water, water!”
“...”
Baek Cheon looked at Im Sobyeong with half-lidded eyes.
I knew it.
Of course it wasn’t going to go smoothly.
He sighed.