Eun Manor Escort Request (3)
The middle-aged warrior from Eun Manor, their overall leader, stepped forward first.
A middle-aged man facing off against five bandits. Behind him waited more than thirty warriors from Eun Manor, along with the Haomen Gold Token holder.
Including me.
"Who the hell are you?"
He asked in a deep, resonant voice.
It was the kind of question you'd expect from an upright white path warrior, a model of righteousness—but the bandits showed no reaction whatsoever.
They'd probably ambushed us after spotting the carriage, only to freak out when they saw our overwhelming escort force.
Or maybe they just had no intention of chatting with men they planned to kill soon. Overconfident for bandits, though.
The middle-aged man frowned and lowered his sword slightly.
"We are the procession of Eun Manor. Bandits of Gangseo Province couldn't possibly be unaware of us. As warriors walking the white path, we have a duty to guide scum like you onto the righteous way, but today, I'll turn a blind eye. Retreat now, and we won't pursue."
The middle-aged man seemed intent on talking the bandits down.
With our forces so overwhelmingly superior, his choice probably meant the cargo in that carriage was that precious.
Avoiding unnecessary friction to eliminate variables. I had no idea what was inside, though.
White path righteousness, showing mercy to bandits.
It wasn't an everyday opportunity, but those five bandits—
"……."
—had apparently lost all sense of fear, remaining utterly silent.
"You won't seize the chance even when it's given. Fine, then. Have it your way. Everyone, draw your weapons!"
The middle-aged man bellowed at the Eun Manor warriors.
Shing!
The sound of dozens of swords being drawn echoed through the mountains.
Even the beasts that had been watching the spectacle curiously scattered in fright at the noise.
Only then did the bandits finally speak.
More precisely, the one at the front who looked like their leader. He was slimmer than your typical bandit, but whatever.
"The ones we must kill are from Eun Manor."
Damn, nice voice for a bandit.
The middle-aged man scowled furiously at the bold declaration, but the bandit continued impassively.
"No one else."
Kill the Eun Manor folks, spare the rest.
The only non-Eun Manor person here was me.
For a split second, it felt like our eyes met through the bandit's mask.
For the record, I was the only one in a black changpo robe amid all the white-clad Eun Manor warriors.
I'd bought the baggy robe to avoid standing out, but here, it drew eyes instead.
Anyway, in my time wandering as a ronin in Gangseo Province, I'd run into plenty of bandits, but this was the first time any had uttered "no killing" like this.
Hell, were they even bandits?
Whatever. I drew my sword and prepared for battle.
I was getting paid a whopping five gold nyang. Unless I'd sold my conscience to the black path, I had to earn it.
This time, my eyes met the middle-aged man's. He nodded toward the carriage with his gaze.
No words were exchanged, but I nodded back in understanding.
And then—
"Kill them all."
The middle-aged man's ruthless command toward the bandits followed.
#6.
When a large group faces a small one, there's a standard strategy. Especially if that large group consists of white path warriors.
The Joint Strike Formation.
The way Eun Manor was currently encircling the bandits was a form of it.
More precisely, the setup phase.
The funny part? The Joint Strike Formation was typically for a large group of weaker fighters to take on a small group of stronger ones—but here, it was the reverse.
Thirty elite Eun Manor warriors deploying it against five black path bandit nobodies.
It was ridiculous, but it showed Eun Manor's sincerity.
Even against mere bandits, no complacency. Whatever they were transporting must be that valuable.
So what was I doing?
Thud.
I'd plopped down on top of the carriage, watching the Eun Manor warriors and bandits like it was a show.
You could ask if taking five gold nyang didn't prick my conscience, but this was my job.
My role was to protect Eun Manor's cargo, not their warriors.
Didn't you see that eye signal earlier? Even the overall leader wanted it this way.
If someone snatched the cargo while they were distracted by the bandits, it'd be a disaster for them.
I sat on the carriage roof, swinging my legs back and forth as I watched the Eun Manor warriors.
A white path Joint Strike Formation.
Not an everyday sight. Better take it in while I could.
How would Eun Manor handle these bandits? I was getting excited to watch—
Rustle.
—when I heard movement from the opposite side of the standoff, right behind me.
My long ears perked up.
The wild animals had already fled. This was definitely human.
"Come out."
I said quietly, and they finally revealed themselves.
Matching outfits to the five over there. All masked, like they'd coordinated.
But there were three of them.
"Thought I'd slip by quietly, huh."
I grumbled pointlessly and hopped down from the carriage.
Figured as much. The five bandits draw the Eun Manor warriors' attention, while the remaining three hit the carriage.
Smart play for bandits.
Though failing to account for guards on the carriage was a blunder.
Or maybe they were that confident the three of them could punch through a typical escort.
I glanced regretfully at the other side.
I really wanted to see that Joint Strike Formation.
But duty first. Fail to protect this, and there goes my gold.
I crooked a finger at the bandits.
"Come on in. Let's make this quick."
The three bandits whispered among themselves, then drew their swords in unison and charged me.
I raised my sword to meet them.
No need for the sword qi that had overwhelmed the Bone-Breaking Ghost.
That guy was a first-rate warrior despite his antics—a solid black path fighter—so I'd led with sword qi. These guys were suspicious, sure, but bandits all the same.
Using sword qi here would be maximally inefficient.
Or so I'd thought—
Clang!
—until our swords met, and I realized something was wrong.
"……Are you guys seriously bandits?"
In a year and a half grinding in the murim world, I'd built up a decent arsenal of martial arts. Honestly, I had some confidence.
A year and a half was laughably short by murim standards, but this world was a game at its core.
And I was the protagonist.
Bandits should drop after one swing, sword qi or no.
Yet this bandit wasn't just blocking my sword—he was cleverly dispersing the force, turning it into a contest of strength.
Meanwhile, the other two thrust from my blind spots.
No choice—I kicked the bandit locking swords with me and leaped back.
The three casually reset their stances. No, these were at least first-rate warriors.
Before I knew it, ashen energy was flickering from my blade.
They weren't pushovers.
The bandits didn't flinch at the sight of my sword qi, unlike the Bone-Breaking Ghost who'd crumpled immediately.
They regripped their swords and charged.
Same pattern. One blocks head-on, the other two hit the flanks.
They even seemed to know about sword qi, avoiding direct clashes.
A seamless linkage, like they were one body. Flowing like water.
……Who knew I'd see the Joint Strike Formation I'd hoped for from Eun Manor here.
Finishing the one deflecting my sword first? The other two get in the way.
Pull back? Just endless stalemate.
The method for the many weak against the few strong. That was the essence of the Joint Strike Formation.
But did that mean I should just stand there and take it?
"Nah."
I muttered to the air, and the bandits' expressions turned weird mid-clash. Probably thought I'd lost it.
I smirked and regripped my sword.
Year and a half in the murim world.
I'd faced crises worse than this countless times—and survived every one.
Tap!
This time, I charged first.
They didn't panic, smoothly preparing their joint strike like pros.
If it went like before, one would block my swing, the other two stab—but—
My sword tip quivered oddly for an instant. Ashen haze spread along the blade.
The simple, predictable slash suddenly layered over itself, again and again.
To the bandit who had to block, it would look like multiple blade paths overlapping.
No telling which to parry.
A perk of being the protagonist in a wuxia game.
The reason he'd blocked my strikes so far? They were too straightforward.
Sword qi had the power to cleave a steel blade in two, but without solid swordsmanship to back it, it was useless.
Simple meant easy to deflect.
The subtlety of softness overcoming hardness—softness controls strength.
But not this time.
My sword was no longer simple, and a flurry of emotions crossed the bandit's eyes.
In the end—
Slash!
The ashen-energized blade sliced through the bandit's sword, hand, and right arm holding it.
Thud—the arm hit the ground, splattering blood onto my veil.
"Guhk!"
He'd failed to block.
The other two bandits' swords aimed for my side, but I'd already achieved my goal—dodge and done.
I kicked off the ground and retreated.
The pair could only protect their one-armed comrade's life.
Now just two left who could fight. The irritating balance of their Joint Strike Formation shattered in an instant.
I crooked a finger at them.
"What're you waiting for? Let's end this quick."