Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 228
>Chapter Title: Rehabilitation (3)
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A few days later. A group on horseback approached the foot of Kongtong Mountain.
They were like-minded travelers who had banded together to visit famous mountains and rivers of the jianghu, indulging in the pleasures of the wanderer’s life.
No self-respecting group could pass by Kongtong Mountain, once renowned as a sacred peak, so they gazed toward its base with faces full of anticipation and excitement.
“I wonder if its scenery truly lives up to the legends.”
“You’ve already scaled all Five Great Mountains, Brother Jang, so I worry you might find Kongtong disappointing.”
“Hahaha. Every mountain has its own charm, doesn’t it?”
They exchanged flattery and swapped tales of scenic spots they’d visited.
“Hm? Isn’t that something over there?”
The man leading on horseback pointed ahead and called out.
Sure enough, as he said, several wooden structures stood at the foot of Kongtong Mountain.
“Kongtong… Emporium?”
The odd signboards marked them as makeshift roadside stalls and a stable.
Before long, they arrived near this so-called Kongtong Emporium.
“Can we stable our horses here?”
In response to the lead rider’s question, a man from the stable stepped forward.
“Hahaha. Of course! Few folks walk up from here, so we set up the stable for those who want to leave their horses or carts behind worry-free.”
At the stablehand’s explanation, they exchanged glances.
Their eyes debated whether it was safe to leave their mounts here.
Horses weren’t cheap, so if this stablehand had ill intentions, it could spell big trouble.
Yet they hesitated for the same reason—they’d have to guard the horses themselves otherwise.
They’d planned to leave one person behind at the base with the mounts.
But if they could stable them here, no one had to skip the climb.
Climb together, or leave one behind because they couldn’t trust these people?
As they wrestled with the dilemma,
“Hm? Looks like someone else is coming.”
From the opposite direction they’d come, a cart came racing up.
It soon halted in front of the Kongtong Emporium.
A few beggars and an ordinary-looking couple disembarked.
The couple casually began hiking up Kongtong Mountain, while one beggar approached the stall owner carrying some cargo.
“Here’s the stuff you ordered.”
“Oh, thank you!”
The beggar nodded as the stall owner bowed deeply, then ordered his fellows,
“Let’s head up.”
The beggars unleashed lightness skill and bounded up the mountain.
Each carried heavy packs on their backs.
“…….”
The would-be hikers watched the bizarre scene—like a storm had swept through—in stunned silence, staring at each other.
Then,
The stablehand casually led the cart horse toward the stable. One man asked,
“That cart comes here often?”
“Of course. It’s the public cart, running regular routes between Kongtong Mountain and Pyeongnyang County every day.”
“Public cart?”
At the man’s puzzled echo, the stablehand gave a quick rundown: schedules between the two spots, fares, and such.
After hearing him out, they nodded to one another.
“If they’re running a cart service, they’ve got no reason to eye our horses.”
“Always leaving someone behind was a hassle anyway. This works out.”
In the end, they handed their horses to the stablehand.
Not for free, of course.
After paying a fair price, the stablehand grinned and asked,
“Since you’re climbing anyway, how about grabbing some snacks or water from over there?”
He pointed to the stalls.
They headed there and bought drinks, jerky, and rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves.
“Hmm. It’s… subtle.”
“Yeah. Pricier than in town, but not unreasonably so.”
At their comment, the stall owner smiled and replied,
“Well, think of the cost to haul it all up here. We’re selling as cheap as we can.”
“Hm, fair enough.”
Convinced, they pocketed their snacks and began the ascent.
Not long after starting up, they overtook the couple who’d gone ahead.
“Hmm. Climbing with nothing at all.”
“Probably just going a short way and coming back down.”
“Hahaha. What a shame. If you’re climbing, you’ve got to reach the summit.”
Kongtong Mountain was quite tall.
Starting in the afternoon like this, the sun would set before they reached the top.
Especially since descending in the dark was dangerous, they planned to camp around sunset.
Unlike that couple, each carried a pack for overnighting.
As they climbed, chatting about the unprepared pair,
“Hm?”
About an hour earlier, the beggars who’d raced up using lightness skill came bounding down.
Their heavy packs were gone.
“Enjoy your hike!”
After a brief greeting, the beggars vanished below. The hikers’ suspicions grew.
“What on earth was in those packs?”
“I figured it was camping gear like ours.”
Their curiosity resolved itself an hour later.
As sunset approached and they prepared to camp,
A familiar signboard appeared atop a gate ahead.
[Kongtong Emporium]
Puzzled, they passed through.
Several buildings came into view.
“Welcome!”
Along with some hawking cries.
“It’s getting late—climbing farther must be tough. How about resting the night at our Kongtong Inn?”
They hadn’t expected an inn midway up the mountain. They exchanged bewildered looks.
But sleeping indoors beat camping.
“Got rooms available?”
They decided to stay the night at the Kongtong Inn.
“Hahaha. What’ll it be for dinner, then? Ah, the dining hall’s this way.”
Led by a waiter, they entered the inn.
Not expecting food too, they ended up ordering meals. They even sold liquor.
Enjoying the mountain charm with drinks and food, just before full dark, the couple they’d passed arrived at the inn.
Only then did they realize why the couple carried no gear.
“Hey, when did this inn open?”
Curious, one man asked the waiter, who beamed back,
“Just a few days ago. We’ve even got a vegetable patch out back, but it’s too new for a harvest. So our Beggar Clan elders haul ingredients daily from Pyeongnyang County. Yes, sir.”
Now it clicked—the beggars hauling loads up the mountain.
“That gate sign matches the base. You run those stalls and stable too?”
“Technically, the Maitreya Divine Cult runs them. They gave jobs to us beggars.”
“Maitreya Divine Cult?”
At the unfamiliar name, they looked puzzled. The waiter eagerly praised the cult.
After explaining how wonderful they were, he added,
“They gave us jobs, and most profits go to helping Pyeongnyang County’s poor. Oh! While you’re at Kongtong, visit Pyeongnyang too. Lots to see. Hahaha.”
His words naturally sparked their interest in Pyeongnyang County.
They stayed the night, then resumed climbing early morning.
They lunched on inn snacks at the summit, then descended.
Room and board at Kongtong Inn cost more than in a typical county.
But with no alternatives, and considering the labor to haul food midway up—like the stall owner said—it seemed fair.
Having started at dawn, they reached the base near late afternoon (申時, 3-5pm).
After paying and reclaiming their horses, they briefly debated and decided to visit Pyeongnyang County.
“Ride that way about half an hour, and you’ll be there.”
Heading the stablehand’s direction, they arrived as sunset began.
Wandering the quiet streets of Pyeongnyang County,
They finally spotted a crowd.
Drawn by curiosity, they approached and heard someone unfurling a fan and shouting.
“The bold bandit lord who conquered Mount Gireon, the greenwood hero who silences crying children! The Fierce Murder Dual Axes, whom even the magistrate’s soldiers dare not touch, has arrived!”
As the man finished, women behind began playing instruments.
Fierce, savage tones.
Matching the rhythm, a vicious-looking brute advanced, swinging twin axes wildly.
“Uahaha! Today I’ll fill my belly with your blood!”
“Eek!”
Some in the crowd recoiled in fear at the awkward Fierce Murder Dual Axes’ roar.
“The Blue Sword Hero will save us!”
Others shouted defiance against him.
In response, the middle-aged introducer flapped his fan again.
“The last true knight in this degenerate age of jianghu justice! Here to stop the Fierce Murder Dual Axes—the Blue Sword Great Hero!”
Again, the women played—elegant, atmospheric notes unlike before.
“You fiend! As long as I draw breath, you won’t harm a hair on these people!”
The resonant-voiced Blue Sword Hero pointed his sword at the axes-wielder.
“Die!!”
“Haat!”
The two men’s heated spar began.
The group, who’d stumbled into Pyeongnyang on a whim, watched with half-dazed faces.
The Fierce Murder Dual Axes and Blue Sword Hero moved with dazzling flair.
Clang!
The axes whirled madly, pressing the hero.
Clang!
Pushed back, the hero flipped airborne, spinning three full turns before landing gracefully.
In real combat, spinning like that would get you butchered midair, but that missed the point.
Clang!
Each time they clashed in grand, flashy moves,
“Aaah! Fierce Murder Dual Axes’ Hell Whirlwind Strike!! Relentless axe barrage like a typhoon!! Blue Sword Hero in peril!!”
The middle-aged announcer from before commentated like a madman.
Perhaps due to the spectacle and his passionate cries.
“Blue Sword Hero, seize the chance! Ooooh! There it is! Blue Sword Hero’s Life-Saving Flash—Clear Wind Wave-Heaven Palm!!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Ooooh! Blue Sword Hero!!”
The visitors, who’d come to Pyeongnyang without much thought, soon found themselves cheering alongside the locals.