Meng Hu Dai's Seething Rage
Meng Hu Dai had been roaming the Central Plains at the Murim Alliance's command, carrying out countless operations. They'd unilaterally slaughtered droves of black path fiends, raising their name high, and smashed several factions that hindered the Alliance, earning its trust in the process. The Meng Hu Dai members took immense pride in their growing fame and the Alliance's recognition. With youthful hot blood mixed in, the bonds between them grew unbreakable. They'd exaggerate each other's merits and cover for any faults. That was Meng Hu Dai's virtue. Along with glory, they'd gained brothers they'd never have again.
And Geuk-hyeon, the leader of Meng Hu Dai, saw the group itself as an extension of himself. The bigger Meng Hu Dai grew, the greater the thrill. Their achievements proved his own prowess. Back in Hwasan Sect, he'd always been compared and found wanting by comparison. But not here. Only after leaving Hwasan did he truly spread his wings. Which made this incident impossible to overlook.
Okhwa Geom...! His mind filled with thoughts of the Jade Flower Sword.
Meng Hu Dai—no, Geuk-hyeon himself—had never been so openly humiliated before. And by a woman, no less: Okhwa Geom, one of the Murim's Four Beauties. He'd only ever heard praise while leading Meng Hu Dai. He'd never failed, and he'd monopolize the Alliance's trust by proving his worth, rising to the top eventually.
But now that was crumbling. A trivial incident could spark complaints from Namgung Family. Meng Hu Dai might even be branded as a vulgar mob that toyed with women.
Damn it! How dare she humiliate me like that...!
Irritation boiled over uncontrollably. Meng Hu Dai had come here on Murim Alliance orders in the first place. Sure, they were support for an incident in Anhui Province, but even if Gong Son-tan had done something stupid, this was too much.
Ungrateful bitch! Who in the world snaps at rescuers? It was an outrage against heaven and earth. Okhwa Geom's idiocy had stained Meng Hu Dai's banner.
Deep down, Geuk-hyeon had thought a heroine like Okhwa Geom suited a capable, wise hero like himself best. Yet she'd spread her legs for some other bastard like a whore and even turned hostile. Unforgivable.
I'll make her pay dearly.
In front of all his men, she'd made him lose face like a fool. Okhwa Geom deserved the same—and more. He wanted her groveling in submission. Come to think of it, Namgung Family hadn't provided any combat troops to the Alliance. That irked him too. He could spin this incident to force Okhwa Geom into Meng Hu Dai, bending her to his will.
"Leader! I've got news!"
As he stewed in rage, that idiot Gong Son-tan brought word. But the fool was unreliable and reckless. Geuk-hyeon needed solid intel, not his drivel.
"Yeah? You there—report."
"Yes, sir!"
Geuk-hyeon pointed at the member he'd assigned to shadow Gong Son-tan.
"No, Leader! I'll tell you myself!"
"Vice Leader. Quiet down. You think a man of your station can't keep some dignity?"
"Ah... yes. Understood."
Gong Son-tan submitted instantly. Idiot.
Geuk-hyeon swept a hand over his face and heard the report.
"We looked into Okhwa Geom. Well, actually, the guy next to her."
"Yeah? Who the hell is he?"
What kind of bastard had claimed a Murim Beauty? Geuk-hyeon couldn't help being curious.
"He's a rising warrior called the Screaming Rakshasa."
"What...?"
Screaming Rakshasa? Black path scum?
He'd killed plenty of fiends, but never one with such a vicious moniker. A rakshasa in the name? Even demon heads wouldn't claim that.
"Word is, he massacred black path gangs and founded something called Nachal Bang. They say he did it to uphold orthodox righteousness by clearing out the unorthodox."
"..."
Geuk-hyeon clenched his fist. Some nobody. Why the hell did Okhwa Geom fall for trash like that? Absurd. A Murim Beauty smitten with a lowlife fiend? No pride?
So how should I punish these bitches? Ah, right—he 'upheld orthodox righteousness'? That means he's saying our orthodox pride's in the dirt. The nerve of that punk... What right does a fiend have to trash our standing? Unforgivable.
After a moment's thought, Geuk-hyeon had a brilliant idea.
Decided. They humiliated us, so we'll humiliate them back. Make them offend us, then punish them publicly. Blame it all on Namgung Family.
Just needed a scheme. As he plotted darkly, Gong Son-tan wailed desperately.
"Leader! Okhwa Geom's been deceived by that black path scum and ruined her body! We must save her now!"
The others shuddered and roared in agreement.
"He's right!"
"Leader!"
"We have to save Okhwa Geom!"
The hot-blooded Meng Hu Dai shared Gong Son-tan's view. They knew they had no right to meddle in a heroine's love life, no matter how many warriors pined for her. Painful, but they'd endure. But if an orthodox beauty had been duped by a fiend? That changed everything. They had to save her, facts be damned. As orthodox Murim folk, they couldn't stomach it.
If we rescue Okhwa Geom... I'll be the one by her side! I'll heal her body, defiled by that fiend! Most thought that way. Meng Hu Dai had never failed, earning women's adoration. Courtesans fawned over them on sight. So of course they'd snag Okhwa Geom.
Geuk-hyeon saw through their delusions. Alliance elites, mooning over women.
"If we dawdle, Okhwa Geom might defect to the unorthodox! We can't let that happen!"
"Gasp...! No!"
"Protect Okhwa Geom from the fiends!"
That sealed it. Meng Hu Dai concluded: Screaming Rakshasa was a vile fiend; Okhwa Geom was blinded and defiled by him. This was Murim's crisis. They'd fix it.
"Understood. We'll do it."
"Leader!!!"
The men cheered his resolve. Yes... Screaming Rakshasa of Nachal Bang. He apes the orthodox, but he's a wicked fiend. Okhwa Geom's eyes are clouded by that worm. Kill the fiend, rescue her—that's all.
Of course, in the process, the deluded Okhwa Geom would rampage and gravely offend them. Geuk-hyeon would ensure it.
Damn bitch... I'll force her into Meng Hu Dai. I'll personally break her in.
He licked his lips sinisterly.
"Good. Time to launch the operation."
"Yes, sir!"
Time to move. First, the mission from the Imperial Guards. I can use that.
No matter what, he'd restore Meng Hu Dai's honor.
"Those guys are total psychos, right? What the hell?"
"Tell me about it."
"Man, if I'd been there too, it would've been a disaster. Lucky Okhwa Geom—the Second Beauty—was around. If it was me, Gyeop Hwa Bu Yong the First, kyaah!"
A pale hand sliced playfully at Ha-young's ample chest.
"Quiet down, Wi Ha-young."
"What was that?!"
Ha-young clutched her breasts and protested. "Who keeps calling me Second? I'm Number One."
Was that the point? I stroked the head of the attacked Ha-young.
"Anyway, they were complete lunatics. But that Geuk-hyeon guy, being leader and all? He sized up the situation and backed off quick. At least he's got some sense."
"Huh, from what I heard, maybe. But that Gong Son-tan idiot's the vice leader? Leaders appoint vices, so if the vice is that messed up, the leader's probably nuts too, right?"
"You think?"
Thinking about it, yeah, probably. Meng Hu Dai—the Alliance's combat unit—was all hot-blooded juniors. Translation: immature kids. Brains not fully baked. Mental age of rowdy teens. They couldn't think straight around Okhwa Geom. Brats gonna brat.
Instead of proper training, they'd swung swords, killing folks. No wonder they're fucked up. In modern terms, middle-schoolers drunk on bikes, robbing gold shops, joyriding—with blades. Not normal.
Orthodox chivalry and justice? I'd learned otherwise here, but this era's version felt off. Murderers shouting it was just creepy. Maybe orthodox vs. unorthodox was just who held power.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"The difference between orthodox and unorthodox."
"Kukuku, funny talk. Ahh, sleepy. Shall we head out?"
Splash.
Ha-young rose from the tub. Hot water cascaded off like a dress, revealing her pristine, voluptuous figure. Steamy and picturesque, always breathtaking.
"Nngh, ahn, oof. Kukuku."
Not just rising—she shook her breasts and hips teasingly, like she was putting on a show for me...!
"Tch, Geun-hyeop. Eyes up here."
"Gahk!"
Splash!
Serin yanked me into her embrace, rubbing my face into her chest. We were done bathing—time to go!
"Whew!"
After frolicking with the two beauties, we emerged. There, under the front door: a letter.
"Page must've slipped it in. What's this?"
I snatched it up and read.
"Hey, it's from Meng Hu Dai."
"What does it say?"
Reconnaissance operation commences tomorrow.
Report to the hall before sunrise.