Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Death (4)
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Leading seven bandits ahead of us, Gwang-u and I descended from the mountain stronghold.
The bandits walking in front were laden with loot on their backs, their hands full of more goods.
The sun was already dipping toward the western mountains.
The distance from Heavenly Mountain to Dragon Head Mountain was far, but with our lightness skills, we should have arrived by nightfall.
However, not knowing the exact location of Dragon Head Mountain precisely, we could only arrive by morning.
Gwang-u's claim that he knew where it was had been nothing but empty talk.
"You head straight home. Master must be starving."
Gwang-u, clearly worried about Master as well, had no retort.
"What about you, brother?"
"I'll stop by the village on the way back."
"Got it, brother. See you later."
As Gwang-u set off first toward Heavenly Mountain, I headed to Dragon Head Village with the bandits.
Walking under the scorching midday sun with heavy loads was grueling even for a sturdy man.
"Um... hero. It's too much. Could we rest a bit before going on?"
But I had no regard for their pleas.
"If you want to rest forever, go ahead."
"No, sir. We don't want to rest."
On the contrary, I drove them mercilessly.
"Move faster. Anyone who lags behind gets their neck snapped."
Under my urging, colder than midwinter frost, the bandits quickened their pace.
I had no intention of forgiving these scum.
No matter how harshly I pushed them, the people they'd already killed wouldn't come back to life.
I vowed never to leave regrets like that again.
The bandits collapsed to the ground the moment they reached the village, sprawling out like they'd been dropped.
They hadn't eaten for nearly two days, hadn't slept a wink, and had been forced to march with their burdens.
Ugh... heh heh heh...
The bandits on the ground could only groan faintly, unable to rise.
As I led the bandits into the village, villagers began peeking out one by one.
An elderly man I'd spoken with a few times before approached, leaning on his cane.
"What brings you here? There's been misfortune in the village lately—we can't spare any rice."
I pointed to the bandits sprawled on the ground.
"I've captured the bandits who killed villagers and plundered their goods."
At those words, the elder examined the bandits' faces in shock, and the villagers who'd been watching from hiding rushed out in a crowd.
"Oh no! It's them, it's really them!"
"Those bastards! The ones we should beat to death!"
Some villagers collapsed in sobs, while others pointed fingers or stomped on the prone bandits.
"Divide the loot they brought among the villagers."
I unpacked the bandits' burdens one by one and laid them out before the villagers.
"What should we do with them now?"
"Kill them!"
"We have to kill them!"
The villagers shouted in unison before the question even finished.
"Will you do it yourselves?"
The villagers flinched suddenly.
This was the normal reaction.
Even with blood enemies right before their eyes, ordinary folk couldn't easily strike them down.
But after a moment, some stepped forward to do it themselves.
They came with axes and seemed ready to hack at the unconscious bandits, but their hands trembled violently.
"I'll do it."
Unable to watch any longer, I snatched the axe from the villager's hand and brought it down.
By the time I got home, it was already deep into the night.
The night was late, but Gwang-u was waiting for me.
"Brother, why so late? Do you know how much I suffered because of Master? All I've done is cook and laundry up to now."
Gwang-u's complaints softened the tension on my face, if only a little.
"Have you eaten?"
"You?"
"Not yet."
"Wait a sec. I'll set the table."
As I reached for my chopsticks at the meal Gwang-u prepared, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Thanks, Gwang-u."
Feeling my sincerity, Gwang-u stood awkwardly across from me, rubbing his nose bashfully.
"No big deal. But you're acting weird, brother. Saying stuff you never say. Have you lost it a bit...?"
"Go to bed first."
Being around this guy guaranteed no good words.
After finishing my meal and washing up, I bathed and went to sleep.
"How was your first kill?"
Those were the words that slipped from the Great Heavenly Demon's mouth the moment he saw me.
"I don't know. I was moving on instinct, and then the bandits were just dead."
Heh heh heh...
"You've got the blood of a born killer. Excellent."
Not liking how overly pleased the Great Heavenly Demon seemed, I shot back.
"I have no intention of becoming a martial artist, so this won't happen again."
Kuhahaha...
But he laughed even louder.
"Do you think that's up to you? Just watch. You'll live in the jianghu for sure."
After laughing heartily, he immediately drew his sword.
"With killing intent filling your chest now, things will get even more fun from here."
"I'm not in the mood to play with you today, so hurry up and kill me."
No sooner had I spoken than the sword flew toward my neck.
Thud!
I bolted upright in bed and locked eyes with Gwang-u, whose eyes were gleaming brightly.
"Brother, you need to sleep. What are you doing?"
Ugh...
I clutched my head in agony.
I'd died too soon.
If I fell asleep again, I'd meet the Great Heavenly Demon once more.
"Brother, you okay?"
"Yeah. Good night."
Lying back down, lost in tangled thoughts, I drifted off before I knew it.
The Great Heavenly Demon was waiting for me, sword still undrawn.
"Isn't this too much?"
"It's my body to use, so I should take care of it, no? What are you doing? Draw your sword already."
"Ah... damn it. Why is my body your body?"
A year passed, and spring returned once more.
Yellow forsythia blossoms bloomed here and there, brightening the stark atmosphere.
Gwang-u, who had gone into Master's room to feed him lunch porridge, rushed back out.
"Brother. Master wants you."
Gwang-u's expression was heavier than ever.
Sensing that the day had come, I entered the room with heavy steps.
Master, who should have been bedridden, sat in the lotus position.
His complexion was brighter than before.
"Come here."
His voice didn't sound like that of a man on his deathbed.
As I approached and sat, Master gazed at me with gentle eyes.
"Do you still resent me?"
I shook my head at his question.
"I've never once resented you, Master."
"Thank you. My greatest pride in life is taking you two as disciples."
Master pointed behind Gwang-u's back.
"Bring out everything in that chest."
Gwang-u opened the chest in the corner of the room and brought out a fist-sized black iron orb and a pouch full of silver coins.
"I knew you would leave this place after I passed. Still, keep this dying master's final wish. You must settle near Heavenly Mountain to prevent the Great Heavenly Demon's revival."
"We'll keep it in mind, Master."
It was an answer contrary to my heart.
I had no intention of staying here or anywhere nearby.
But since it was Master's dying wish, I wanted to give him the response he desired.
"Thank you. Use the silver for yourselves, and give the iron orb to your senior brother."
The surface of the fist-sized iron orb was worn smooth, the engraved characters faded.
"What is this?"
"It's the final martial art of our One Immortal Sect. I had it too, but couldn't decipher it. Your senior brother will one day uncover the technique inside, so make sure to deliver it."
"I will."
Master nodded and slowly closed his eyes.
"Don't make me a grave."
Master never opened his eyes again.
"B-brother... Master really passed?"
Gwang-u, who had been watching silently from behind, dropped to his knees and asked.
"Yes."
Waaahhh!
No sooner had I answered than Gwang-u burst into loud wails.
But for some reason, no tears came from my eyes.
We piled dry firewood in the middle of the courtyard.
Gwang-u, eyes swollen from crying, placed Master's body atop the stack.
As the flames caught, Gwang-u began sobbing again.
I stared blankly at Master, engulfed in the red-hot blaze.
An old man approached a child covered in a ragged sackcloth.
In one hand, he held a rice ball.
When the elder offered it, the child bowed politely.
"Thank you."
But instead of eating the rice ball, the child wrapped it in a worn cloth and tucked it into his bosom.
"Why not eat it?"
"Mother, brother, and siblings are at home."
Oh...
The elder was deeply impressed by the child's reply.
In all his travels, he'd never met such a child.
Setting aside the child's profound filial piety and sibling love, there wasn't a trace of servility on the face of what was clearly a beggar boy.
'A deep kid. Looks like he has some learning too.'
Intrigued, the elder asked,
"May I examine your body briefly?"
The child looked at the elder for a moment, then nodded.
"Please do."
The elder gently felt the child's frame, checking his meridians and bones.
'Not bad at all.'
Satisfied, the elder withdrew his hands and asked,
"Where is Village Head Chun?"
"He has passed into eternal rest."
"Where is your home?"
The place the child led him to was a dilapidated thatched hut on the verge of collapse.
Inside were a bedridden woman, three toddling children, and one who looked about twelve.
After surveying the room, the elder took a few small silver ingots from his pouch.
"I'll give these to your family. In return, you must come with me."
The child answered without hesitation.
"I will."
"Aren't you afraid of what lies ahead?"
"I am, but for Mother, brother, and siblings, there's nothing I won't do."
The elder nodded vigorously.
"You must go to a far land in the west. They speak differently there, so learn as you go."
The ashes were scattered on the cremation mound.
After fully scattering Master's ashes there, I called Gwang-u and sat him down.
"We leave this place in three days."
"To a nearby village, right, brother?"
"No. Somewhere very far."
Gwang-u flared up defiantly.
"Brother! Forgot Master's dying wish? He told us to settle near here!"
"Then you stay and keep it. I'm leaving."
Knowing better than anyone what had become of the Great Heavenly Demon, I saw no reason to stay.
Even if I hadn't met him, I had no plans to remain.
"Brother... then let's deliver that iron orb to senior brother as per Master's wish."
Seeing I wouldn't budge, Gwang-u gave up persuading and changed tack.
"Are you crazy? Go there? That's right in the heart of the jianghu. If we go, we'll get caught by that guy and thrown into the martial world."
"Then where?"
"Somewhere very far from here. That man will surely return here. Once he learns we're gone, he'll check nearby villages first. We need to flee far away."
"Take me with you, brother. Please."