Chapter 136
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Green Forest King (2)
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Though it had opened its doors today, the Green Forest King's lair was right there in the mountain stronghold. And since he was receiving the king's hospitality, a few coppers wouldn't make it budge an inch. Just like tolls varied by a person's status, knowing these fluctuations was essential for doing business.
"Planning to kill him?"
"Whoa, don't say such scary things. I'm not that lacking in honor. How could I kill my benefactor? Perish the thought!"
Na-reung, Cheol-ho, and Yuk-chil swallowed dryly at the Green Forest King's theatrical deflection, clearly unimpressed. There wasn't much known about the Green Forest King, but he was undeniably the chief of all bandits. Who would take at face value a killer like him claiming murder horrified him?
"That's not what the Zhuge family would want."
"What do I care what they want? I've never liked schemers who overthink everything."
"What if word gets out that you broke your promise?"
"If it does, it does. So what?"
Mujin could see why he'd taken a liking to this guy. He was utterly pragmatic and efficient. The perfect bandit. He made great use of his reputation, too. Countless fools must have treated him like a king, only to get burned badly.
Above all, he knew where to draw the line. Life had taught Mujin that lines could be blurry. Sometimes crossing one felt like nothing, but others, even a slight step over sparked killing intent.
When in doubt, better to kill and see. Overthinking just led to headaches and counterattacks.
"So what do you want?"
"Half. Send us on our way in one piece."
"Half? Do you even know how much that is?"
"It won't be chump change."
"Looks like the Green Forest has its share of stool pigeons."
"Didn't seem like he was hiding it."
It would be a lie to say the amount wasn't substantial, even converted to gold certificates. Half of it could cover years' worth for the stronghold.
"How about a wager first?"
"A wager? You're not saying you'll go free if you win, are you?"
"A man's life is all or nothing. I'll bet everything I have, so you cough up everything you've taken."
"I was starting to like you, but you don't know your place. Why should I? I can take it all whenever I want."
"Or you could get beaten to death."
At Mujin's cold indifference, Jang Pil-do stared down at the back of his hand. A chill had raised goosebumps there. Even in his old feud with the previous chief before becoming Green Forest King, it hadn't been this intense.
Jang Pil-do faced reality quickly.
"You're scarier than you look."
"Bad news for you. I always keep my word. And just so you know, the price goes up after you take a beating."
Variables existed in any endeavor. But this scenario hadn't factored into Jang Pil-do's calculations.
"Thought you were a lucky break, but you're a disaster. Shouldn't have taken this job!"
"Cut the bullshit and act like a bandit."
The fight began.
Mujin didn't hide his thick killing intent. His domineering aura, murderous will, and inner energy erupted, unleashing formless bloodlust.
Shwaaaaa!
As his true intent spread everywhere, the forest fell eerily silent. Even the beasts and birds went quiet, enforcing the hush.
Gulp!
Na-reung, Cheol-ho, and Yuk-chil swallowed dryly at Mujin's terrifying killing intent. He showed no hesitation against the Green Forest King himself. One misstep could make enemies of all the bandits.
'So what?'
'We've seen worse.'
'Master does what he does.'
Unbeaten in battle, never retreating once fallen.
Short lives, but packed with trials.
They weren't afraid anymore. Mujin had sparked massive incidents everywhere they went. Bandits? Hardly a threat compared to the deadly paths they'd walked.
Mujin had always been more intense than this.
Haa.
For Jang Pil-do, it was an unexpected hurdle. He hadn't anticipated such ferocity. He'd planned to compromise at an acceptable line. But Mujin mocked that by flipping the board entirely.
'No ordinary guy.'
No wonder the cunning foxes of the Zhuge family had headaches with him. Schemers and madmen like this were natural opposites. You couldn't judge by appearances.
Sure, some lived up to their looks, but...
This was a novel powerhouse he'd met after claiming the king's title. The cost-benefit didn't add up. It was a crushing loss.
"Well, damn. It's been ages since someone exceeded my expectations this much, and you're the first of your kind."
Jang Pil-do scratched his head with a troubled look, as if he'd never intended to fight from the start.
"If I just say I'll leave, will you let me?"
"Gotta make a living."
A pile of money right in front of you—coveting it was human nature.
Mujin didn't hide his greed.
"You're greedier than me."
"Once the cards are down, no take-backs. Let's not be petty."
"I don't want to fight. How about this? I'll give you a hundred taels."
"A hundred taels? What, to plug my nose? You think I'm a beggar?"
"Fine. Gold bars it is."
Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil wondered if they were seeing this right. The bandit chief apologizing and offering money without a fight? It flew in the face of everything they knew about the Green Forest King.
This makes Mujin look like the villain.
That thought crossed their minds just then.
As Jang Pil-do pulled gold bars from his pouch, he lunged without warning. His thrusting fist followed at terrifying speed—like a draw from a scabbard, using the pouch as sheath to unleash the strike.
A "gift" that struck first!
The suction pulling in the surroundings peaked, turning the fist into a flash of light.
Kwaaaaaang!
Pretending to surrender!
Drawing eyes to induce carelessness. For the king of bandits, Jang Pil-do's ploy was peak sneakiness.
A fist imbued with vital energy.
It was the One Light Blood Scatter of Jang Pil-do's signature ultimate, the Blood-Mad Heavenly Demon Fist. A monstrous force meant to pulverize the foe from the start. Far from apology or surrender—it had never been the plan.
A perfect blindside attack.
But!
"He dodged?"
He'd hoped for a spray of blood, a fountain of gore! Yet the target vanished from the predicted spot.
Sensory confusion, an unfamiliar lull—this meant danger. He had to relocate fast.
Where?
Zing!
A sharp thrill pierced his vitals.
Vision lagged.
With beast-like senses, Jang Pil-do trusted instinct over reason. Unseen, but crisis loomed.
Left.
Before the wind pressure hit, a ferocious kick powered toward his head. If it connected, his skull would explode, severing head from body. Jang Pil-do twisted urgently, raising his left arm to block.
Paaaaang!
A earth-shaking clash of elite energies.
The kick's emitting force rejected Jang Pil-do's guard. Sensing he couldn't yield, he countered with the Bloodlight Demon Wall. In an instant, he erected a wall of fists. Before a breath passed, the completed fist-wall surpassed any sword barrier.
Pupupupupuk!
The crimson vital energy wall was flawless, seamless. Like a sword screen, it crushed and annihilated attacks. An all-in-one offense-defense instant-kill technique.
Craaaack!
Against lesser foes, they'd retreat at the Bloodlight Demon Wall. But Mujin, seizing the initiative, shattered it by force. It fragmented like a glass bottle on stone pavement.
Mujin's intruding fist gleamed ominously.
A fist transcending flashes.
Paaaaat!
Sensing the probing punch, he whipped up his elbow. Jang Pil-do's face twisted. He'd blocked, but his elbow throbbed. Bone-crushing pain.
But no time to savor agony.
Mujin's assault didn't stop.
"Too light, right?"
The real blow was the knee.
Damn!
Calling the fist light was a stretch. Thunderous roar, grotesque bone-grinding sounds. The ensuing fist-wind scattered beyond reason.
Taaaaang!
An instant.
Jang Pil-do spun desperately, deflecting max impact. Even so, the aftershocks tormented his body. A direct hit would've ended the fight.
Papapapap!
Unleashing Lightning Dragon Phantom, Jang Pil-do widened the gap. Direct clash again risked overload.
Haa, haa!
Ragged breaths.
Jang Pil-do glared, incredulous. Since his Mad Dragon Art reached ten stars, had his breathing ever faltered? Reality was absurd. All in three exchanges.
Zing, zing!
His body stung like struck by lightning. He'd recovered his composure in one breath, but the opponent was unreal. Countless battles, but never like this.
"Didn't expect you'd dodge that."
"Carelessness is deadly."
The higher the master, the more they valued face. Who'd guess a titled king would ambush without warning?
But the foe was Mujin.
Conversation had sparked rapport. Meaning similar temperaments.
If efficiency ruled, ambushes were essential.
"But from now on, it'll be—Guh!"
"Got you."
Mujin hadn't given time. He'd calculated the perfect range for Full-Army Guard, dominating Jang Pil-do's aerial domain.
Dirty tricks met with dirtier.
Think you can out-sneak me!
The field of prediction.
High master or low, Mujin always played his best hand. Jang Pil-do, focused on recovery, missed the encroaching net of energy. But in that split-second, his animal instincts shone—no ordinary skill.
Paaaaang!
Startling, but Mujin didn't withdraw the fist. Liking someone meant nothing in battle. Once it started, mercy was foolish. You had to be ready to sever necks. Fixating on intent dulled battle sense.
Enter every fight with killing resolve. That was the martial artist's creed.
A scrap of mercy became poison, a lifelong regret grabbing at your ankles.
Kugh!
Mujin's strikes were fierce, laced with murder. Slack off on any, and you'd die.
Jang Pil-do thrashed desperately in defense. He pushed his Mad Dragon Battle Demon Body—fusing protective energy into flesh via Mad Dragon Art—to its limit.
The counter was fiercer than imagined.
Yet Mujin didn't yield, neutralizing the savage struggles. Jang Pil-do's bursting counters were lethal. Angle-defying formless reprisals, yet Mujin parried as if foreknown. Astonishing offense-defense.
Grrrroooar!
A roar of frenzied dragon.
As Mad Dragon Art transcended limits, Jang Pil-do's pupils turned red. The Blood-Eyed Mad Dragon's secret: unconscious frenzy beyond reason's control.
Huaaaaaang!
Energy tore everywhere, shaking the area regardless of range.
Hoo.
Admiration escaped Mujin's lips.
Usually, losing reason scattered offense-defense. But Jang Pil-do optimized like a programmed war machine.
The rampaging mad dragon incarnate.
Every fist and kick became murder weapons. Normals would fear now. Stronger as you thought you won, wounds healing—daunting.
"Let's dance."
Grrrroooar!
Facing the frenzied dragon, Mujin grinned. Far from fear, he relished it. He unleashed a sliver of his hidden battle instincts.
Among foes since regression, Jang Pil-do topped pure fist-foot skill. Raw savagery and instincts unpolished.
And tough as nails.
Elders were strong, but couldn't match youthful vigor's raw power. Not that he underestimated them—countless young punks felled ignoring experience.
Papapapapapa!
Raw brawl.
Invisible speeds, close-quarters fury. Each drew their strongest weapons.
Kwaaaang!
Ground peeled, cratered. Then, ten paces away, explosion pillar of earth to sky. Thrusting fists unleashed vortex winds, whirling the area into chaos.
Huaaaaaang!
Rippling waves of destruction.
Mountains shuddered, screaming.
Whoa!
Cheol-ho, Na-reung, and Yuk-chil marveled purely. Transcendent martial arts... no, combat. Beasts wielding arts? No system, pure instinct.
Especially the Green Forest King's frenzied assault—chilling. Each a one-hit kill. Land clean or graze, death either way.
'The Green Forest King was this strong? Totally misjudged him!'
'Worthy of the murim king's title.'
'Someone who can fight Master like this actually exists!'