Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Self-Inflicted Trap (2)
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'Were you trying to rob trash like these?'
Jang Geumtak stuck out his tongue at the gruesome scene unfolding before him. They hadn't even gotten a chance to lift a finger. His own crew had just been there to stand guard around the perimeter.
Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil had ambushed the three Bisal Squad members the moment they returned, seizing the upper hand. But even in a straight-up fight, the Bisal Squad wouldn't have stood a chance. They got utterly crushed. In less than half a kaku, they were reduced to bloody rags.
'What the hell are these guys?'
It gave Jang Geumtak a new way to interpret what the Tang Clan VIP meant. If it was as plain as it looked, the Tang Clan's guest of honor wasn't just strong—he had the heart of a demon.
'Those are the merchant bastards.'
Their faces were mangled beyond recognition, but they were familiar. They were the ones who had hidden among the merchants and porters, badmouthing the Tang Clan. He'd wondered because they claimed to be from the Zhuge Clan, but the monster had been right. They'd deliberately provoked the Tang Clan VIP into attacking, all to turn him against the bandits.
"You think you can get away with this... Guhuk!"
"Who told you to talk!"
Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil showed no mercy. Any nonsense out of their mouths brought fists and feet flying without hesitation. No vital spots on their faces or bodies were left untouched. Even the battle-hardened Bisal Squad screamed like madmen. Normally, you'd subdue them around this point and call it quits, but for some reason, these guys were dragging it out.
"You guys are as good as dead... Guhuk!"
"Told you not to talk!"
They said shut up, but they kept giving them openings to speak. It looked deliberate, like they were baiting them to talk just so they could beat them more. He'd suspected as much, but seeing them grinning confirmed it.
"...!"
"Why aren't you talking now! You think we're a joke!"
At this point, even the ones getting pummeled had the sense to shut up, but they didn't let it slide. Talk, and they'd get hit for talking. Stay quiet, and they'd get hit for ignoring them.
'What kind of crazy bastards are these!'
'Are they really righteous sect guys?'
'They act like pure evil demons!'
The bandits wondered just how much resentment it took to turn someone that vicious. The monster who tore people apart alive was one thing—these were the types you never tangled with.
'Why not just kill them cleanly!'
'That's not living or dead.'
'Shouldn't we run?'
If they could escape this spot, they'd swear off banditry forever, but the monster was right there. Running wouldn't end it. The Green Forest wouldn't say it outright, but running off alone without loyalty meant they wouldn't let you live.
Pow pow pow pow pow!
Just when it seemed to quiet down, violence erupted again. The guy who looked well over forty went berserk.
"What's wrong with my face! You ain't mocking my looks. And at my age, I'm plenty manly!"
"Cheol-ho, hold it in!"
"These punks cursed out a teenager!"
What the hell did we just hear?
The bandits tilted their heads in confusion. He clearly looked older than them, but a teenager? It had seemed off when Yuk-chil and Na-reung bantered with him like equals. Why talk down to an elder? A teen made sense, but that face?
'His mug's peak bandit!'
'The ultimate bandit face!'
'That face, that power, that mindset!'
Was there ever a bandit born more perfect for the role?
Most bandits turned to it out of circumstance, but Cheol-ho was a born bandit. He could aim for next Green Forest King. Maybe even the strongest mug in history.
'Damn it all.'
Jang Geumtak, who had been polite earlier, frowned deeply. A kid young enough to still have milk on his lips had a face pushing past forty, confusing everyone. No wonder he'd been so formal. But bantering casually felt awkward now. He'd seen the temper firsthand.
'Looks like a big bro, but he's just a damn brat!'
It was a blow to his meager pride. As lord of Black Ox Stronghold, he had to maintain his reputation. The looks from his men felt weird. Once this wrapped up, he'd have to crack down to restore discipline.
"Hey, grab these guys and bring 'em over."
"Yes, bro...?"
That damn face of his!
Even casual talk felt off!
The Bisal Squad might be beaten to rags, but they still had pride for their clan. They'd been trained not to spill even facing death.
Kraaaaaagh!
A bloodcurdling scream echoed miserably through the stronghold. It dwarfed their earlier cries. It was the raw, desperate wail of someone pushed to the brink.
"Some people spill easily with a little pain, but everyone's different. So I gave you special treatment—consider it an honor."
Mujin unleashed Bone-Shattering Grip and Soul-Piercing Demonic Eye at once. He amplified physical agony and mental terror simultaneously.
The horror of this method was that it prevented fainting. Every time they wanted to let go, crushing fear bore down on their minds. It forced them to endure both without escape.
Giving up brings relief. As if you'd get relief!
It was a technique that tormented even in death.
Brrr brrr brrr!
Foam spewed from their mouths nonstop, but they couldn't pass out. They had to endure the extreme pain. Terror seeped into them bit by bit. They'd have begged for death, but their bodies wouldn't obey.
"...Please!"
"We'll tell you everything!"
The Bisal Squad finally broke under the torment of body and soul, spilling everything they knew. Their original goal, past deeds—all of it. If this leaked out, the Zhuge Clan would take a hit.
"That should do it, right?"
"How the hell did you do that?"
"My special technique. Won't tell you even if you ask. So don't. I'm tired."
"I don't even want to learn it!"
Hong Mu-gae got chills at Mujin's casual way of utterly breaking people. Mujin scared him way more than the Bisal Squad's crimes. He always seemed to lack something, but in moments like this, he was crueler than any demonic cultist.
'Handled it well?'
-I'm the Demon King. This is child's play.
'Cold porridge this time?'
-Shut up!
While torturing them, Mujin subtly wove in mind manipulation. A touch of memory tweaking was needed. It worked best that way. Twist things in my favor. They're scum anyway—no need to play fair.
If they come at me dirty, I go dirtier.
But he didn't overhaul their memories completely. Too obvious. Base it on facts, add timely spice for maximum effect.
Considering how they'd be handled, the answer was clear. Ramble about stuff I never did, and no one cares. But exaggerate what I did? Different story.
"Now spill the beans properly."
"You think I'm some rumor mill?!"
"Isn't the Beggar Order the rumor factory?"
"Sigh, fine."
Huh?
Why's this guy so compliant?
Mujin knew Hong Mu-gae's temperament inside out. Back as Lone Eye Ghost, he'd snarled like a beast—Mujin thought he was begging for death. For that guy to obey without a fight felt off.
"Just take good care of my master, though."
"Who's your master?"
Hong Mu-gae nearly choked. Even without interest in the martial world, you'd know. This idiot lived clueless. What chaos if he learned the master's fame? The bastard had a knack for riling people up.
"You really don't know?"
"Kidding."
He'd gotten a rundown on major figures from Yuk-chil before. Just a brief forget. Minor fame meant no memory slot.
-Chwi-seon was poisoned.
'When?'
-Right before the Demon God War. Don't know who. But inferring from Tang Clan incident, high chance of Formless Poison.
'Formless Poison wasn't developed.'
-Demonic Cult poison master might've.
Demon King wouldn't have predicted without the Tang Clan's Mahgu find. Poison Master had abandoned his clan, maybe Tang blood.
But just informed speculation, not certain. Tang issues resolved didn't guarantee history on track.
'Solve one thing, another pops up.'
-Life's like that.
Leaving Tangs alone would've been trouble too. Now Beggar Order tripped him up. Hard to predict Chwi-seon's poisoning method now.
'Plant a seed?'
-He'd notice.
Na-reung wouldn't matter, but implanting defeat in Chwi-seon was risky. Could create double enemies. Intentional suspicion amplified endlessly. Build trust without planting doubt.
'Good for the body, shame.'
-Bad for mental health.
Hard to judge Chwi-seon's survival now. He'd said to come anytime, so decide then.
"Fine, I'll go easy. Happy?"
"...!"
Not quite a no, but accepting grated. Sword Emperor meant no malice, but intent was clear. You got screwed, now you too. Friendship via shared pain.
"I don't kill casually. No need to worry. That's what good friends do."
"Don't want your damn comfort! Who asked!"
Every word from this bastard shook his nerves. And this was the guy who'd sent dozens to the afterlife an hour ago, now playing nice.
Haa.
Hong Mu-gae took a deep breath. Get caught in his rhythm, and it'd never end. He needed to regain control first.
"Zhuge Clan won't buckle from these alone."
"Knew they'd be shameless. Don't ignore it, though. I'm just stirring the pot."
"Could blow up too big."
"So limit to Zhuge Clan and Green Forest. Package it pretty. Heavenly scum pairing's bonus."
Hong Mu-gae's head throbbed. Should've ignored Yuk-chil's letter. Why suffer like this for glory?
"Take one, hand one to bandits. Useless after."
"I'll take both."
As Mujin moved to crush the last one's Tianling acupoint without hesitation, Hong Mu-gae hurriedly stopped him. Once he labeled enemy, lives meant nothing like flies. Even scum shouldn't die like this.
"Don't worry about Zhuge Clan. I'll handle neatly."
"Go easy."
Hong Mu-gae grew anxious. Mujin vs. Zhuge head? Unpredictable chaos. Even heaven's brainiac couldn't foresee this loose cannon. He'd stir up the martial world regardless.
'Not brainless.'
His twisted brilliantly toward evil.