Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Buried in the Earth
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"It's been a while since we caught a tiger... Bro, what are you gonna do once we earn that silver this time?"
Gwang-u seemed deeply reluctant to hand over the tiger he'd caught to the Seok Family.
"Gotta buy a boat. And some nets too."
"You planning to become a fisherman?"
"Doesn't matter what it is, long as it puts food on the table."
"Bro, why not try doing business instead? You'd make a killing and get rich quick."
I had no idea what to do with this simpleton.
"You ever done business before?"
"No. You?"
"Me neither. If you don't wanna blow every last bit of silver we've got left, don't even dream about it. And I hate dealing with crowds of people anyway."
If I really wanted to, I could become filthy rich right now.
Just like the Great Heavenly Demon said, if I stole people's wealth and forced them to kneel at my feet, I could make it happen in an instant.
"Bro, but why do you hate murim folk so much? We learned martial arts too, you know."
I didn't answer.
Gwang-u pouted and pressed me again.
"You deaf? Why don't you wanna live as a murim warrior?"
I figured I'd have to give him an answer.
"Gwang-u, what'd it feel like your first time hunting? Did you kill the prey right away?"
"Nah, I hesitated and let it get away."
"I killed mine without a second thought. Same when I took out those bandits."
Gwang-u's steps faltered as he trudged along with the heavy tiger on his back.
He didn't say a word after that.
"Come on, let's hurry. We gotta get home before nightfall."
The streets were deserted, likely due to the late hour—no one else in sight.
Gwang-u and I left the village and followed the path along the riverbank back home.
We dropped the tiger in the yard, headed down to the river for a bath, then sat on the porch sharing dried meat and drinks.
"Bro, think they'll give us a hundred taels of silver?"
"Yeah."
Back when we lived on Heavenly Mountain, a tiger that size would've fetched seventy or eighty taels in the village.
But the head of the Seok Family would surely pay at least a hundred.
As I tilted my cup with Gwang-u, I sensed a stealthy presence and frowned.
This wasn't the presence of a human.
It was like a wolf or fox creeping silently toward prey right in front of us.
But there was something slightly different about it from a wolf or fox.
Gwang-u tilted his head, sensing the same thing.
"Weird. Haven't seen any foxes around here... Well, whatever. Good timing anyway— we're out of meat."
"Not a fox. It's people."
Gwang-u's eyes went wide in shock.
In the moonlight reflecting in his pupils, I spotted a single black shadow.
"Gwang-u."
No sooner had I spoken than Gwang-u shot straight up into the air from his seat.
Puk! Puk-puk!Puk!
Keurk!Kuk!Kuk! ……!
Thud, thud……!
Five silhouettes plummeted from the sky and crashed into the ground.
The ones sprawled on the dirt all wore black masks concealing their faces, dressed head to toe in black.
Each gripped a blade shorter than a longsword but longer than a dagger.
I had a vague idea who they were.
'Assassins? Why would assassins come after us...?'
I could guess their identity, but not why they'd targeted us.
Kuh...
Still seated on the porch, I looked down at the assassins groaning in pain.
"Why'd you attack us?"
The assassins only groaned, refusing to speak.
"Step on them."
Gwang-u asked at my words.
"Bro, where?"
"Anywhere. Ah, start with their hands."
Kwajik!
Arghhh!
Gwang-u stomped down on the limp assassin's hand.
"Why'd you attack us?"
I asked again.
Still no answer.
"Now their feet."
Kwajik!
Kaaaagh!
The assassin's shrill scream echoed through the night sky.
"Next time, I'll smash every hand and foot on all of you. Why'd you attack us?"
Ughhh...
"W-We... We'll tell you. We weren't after you—it was the tiger we wanted to steal."
"After killing us first, right? Why target the tiger?"
The assassin clamped his mouth shut.
Kwajik! Kwajik! ……!
Kaaaagh!
Gwang-u crushed the assassins' hands without hesitation.
"To assassinate... the head of the Seok Family."
Even the tight-lipped had to crack eventually.
I knew that better than anyone, getting it from the Great Heavenly Demon every night.
"How?"
"We'd... deliver the tiger. Hide a sword in its belly and use it to assassinate the Seok Family head..."
"Who hired you?"
"W-We... We're just assassins for hire. Don't know the client."
I pondered what to do with them for a moment.
But the answer was already clear.
If I let them go, they'd learn about me and Gwang-u.
Then we'd have no choice but to live as murim folk.
"Gwang-u, grab the Blue River Sword from the room."
Gwang-u hesitated before speaking up awkwardly.
"Bro... I'll do it. You don't move."
His hesitation didn't last—he stomped down on their necks.
Kwajik!
Puk! Puk! Puk! ……!
As Gwang-u dug the hole, he grumbled.
"Bro, why drag the bodies all the way out here? Can't we just bury 'em near the house?"
"If we bury them close and the bodies are ever found, we'll be suspects."
"Oh, right. You're so smart, bro."
After digging the hole and burying the bodies, Gwang-u and I scattered the excess dirt to level the ground.
Then we scraped over dry soil, topped it with dead leaves.
Job done, I jumped into the river and watched Gwang-u wash up.
The guy dunked deep then surfaced, apparently thinking that counted as a bath as he crawled ashore.
That was Gwang-u for you.
At least he'd gotten wet—that was something.
Gwang-u headed inside, and I lay down on the porch in the yard.
Gwang-u had choked out the tiger by throttling its neck with his armpit, but I'd been chasing it for days without sleep, so I was exhausted too.
I fell asleep in no time.
"I thought you were clever, but you're just a fool after all."
It was the Great Heavenly Demon's first words after days.
"Never thought I was clever."
Tsk tsk tsk……
"Burying those assassins won't help. More will come. They'll seek revenge and kill you both."
"They might not figure out it was us."
"They will."
"Don't jinx it."
Tsk tsk tsk……
"Who do you think hired them to kill the Seok Family head?"
I stayed silent, and the Great Heavenly Demon nodded slowly.
"Just as you suspect—the Si Family."
"No idea."
"Sly fox."
For some reason, the Great Heavenly Demon's face was full of mirth today.
"What's so funny?"
Tsk tsk tsk……
"Realizing you're no different from me."
"Bullshit."
Even at my harsh words, the Great Heavenly Demon didn't get angry.
"Talked about buying a boat and nets? Want me to teach you fishing techniques?"
"No thanks."
The mirth faded from his face, returning to normal.
"You know how hard it is to train martial arts underwater? Try it."
"I said no. I mean it!"
Whether I refused or not, he ignored me.
I knew that, so I moved first.
Shing.
In an instant, the Great Heavenly Demon's head was severed.
But he wouldn't go down that easy.
Before I knew it, his iron-like fingers were clamping my nape.
My body, split into dozens, thrashed to escape his grip.
But I was already caught and hurled toward the river.
Cough! Cough! ……!
Spitting water, I opened my eyes to Gwang-u looking down at me pitifully.
"Bro, wanna become a water ghost? Why'd you dive into the river and thrash around like that?"
I'd just died underwater.
Last sensation: everything was harder in the water.
My body wouldn't obey, everything slowed.
"Gwang-u."
"Yeah, bro?"
"From now on, train your martial arts underwater."
Gwang-u scowled at me.
"Bro, you know how much I hate water?"
True.
The guy despised water.
That's why he hated bathing too.
If I hadn't forced him these past few years, he still wouldn't bother.
"You'll stink, and women hate that."
"No women around anyway."
No other arguments came to mind.
Honestly, didn't feel the need to convince him.
We weren't living in the murim world.
Crowds poured into the streets to gawk at me and Gwang-u.
No, not us—they stared at the tiger on Gwang-u's back.
"Heavens, how'd they catch a tiger that huge?"
"Look at that young buck's build. Built like he could crush a tiger in one go. If my man had a body like that..."
Hahaha…….
Drowned out by the women's chatter and giggles, we walked on until the Seok Family gates loomed ahead.
They'd already gotten word—retainers swarmed out to greet us, the tiger, and all.
"The family head's been eagerly awaiting you. Come inside."
The gates swung wide, and for the first time, we stepped into a martial clan's compound.
First sight: a vast courtyard blooming with vibrant flowers and plants along the edges.
Behind it stood a majestic two-story hall, grand beyond words.
Flanking it were open training grounds, and beyond them, more halls.
At the front of the courtyard, Seok Yang-ho waited with attendants and welcomed us warmly.
Hahaha.
"Good to see you again. I was certain you'd bring back a tiger."
"Ah... Yes. Good to see you too."
I bowed awkwardly to Seok Yang-ho.
The ones making me uneasy weren't him, but the figures lined up on either side.
They looked like murim warriors, eyeing me and Gwang-u sharply.
Gwang-u set the tiger down in the courtyard center, drawing awed crowds from the household.
"Biggest tiger I've ever seen."
"Incredible. Even the former head would be thrilled."
"Pelt's spotless. How'd they keep it so clean?"
Seok Yang-ho stepped forward at the retainers' questions.
"How'd you take it down without a single wound?"
"Gwang-u choked it out by throttling its neck in his armpit."
Whoa...
Not just Seok Yang-ho—the retainers gaped at Gwang-u too.
Under the stares, Gwang-u blushed shyly.
"What a monster."
"No one in the world could match that strength."
Seok Yang-ho ordered retainers to move the tiger.
"Prepare a lavish feast. I'll host these two myself."