Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Bandits of Mount Qinghua
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“You curs! On your knees, now!”
“…”
The man who called himself Jeon Il-seok roared his command.
At his call, men emerged from all over the forest, tightening their encirclement.
But… is that a uniform?
It wasn’t as if they were issued one upon becoming a bandit, so why were they all wearing animal hides instead of perfectly good cloth?
Judging by their numbers, it seemed the local wildlife must have been hunted to extinction.
“Ha! Look at these fools. Are your ears plugged? Or do you find my words amusing?”
“…”
As the man scowled threateningly, Neung Un-bi’s party exchanged calm remarks.
“Bandits.”
“They’re bandits.”
It was unanimous. For once, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung were in agreement.
Even the merchant leader, Odeung, showed little reaction.
Normally, he would have dropped to his knees and offered a tribute as a toll, but right now, didn’t he have reliable protection?
The Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult and his escort, plus Daoist Un Hak, who could be considered the future of Mount Hua.
And Neung Un-bi did not betray that trust.
“So, bandits, you say?”
Neung Un-bi stepped forward, faster than anyone, to face Jeon Il-seok.
Perfect timing.
He was already frustrated to death because of that damn Daoist, so wasn't it a stroke of luck that these bandits appeared just in time?
They were bad guys, so no one could complain if he beat them to a pulp.
*You damn bastards, I’ll enact a bloody revenge on behalf of the animals you’ve turned into clothes.*
“Hey! Did you say your name was Jeon Il-seok?”
“…?”
“How much have you lot stolen over the years? Done a lot of wicked things, haven’t you? Killed people and all that? Huh?”
Neung Un-bi fired off questions without giving him a chance to answer, cracking the knuckles of his clasped hands.
It was a show for Un Hak.
*I don’t know what other secret orders you received from the Orthodox Murim Alliance, but they attacked first.*
*So no matter what happens, even if this forest becomes a bloodbath, don’t you dare hold it against me.*
However, Jeon Il-seok, who had been staring at Neung Un-bi with a look of disbelief, casually slung the greatsword in his hand over his shoulder and snickered.
“What’s this? A snot-nosed brat who’s still wet behind the ears?”
“Snot-nosed… brat?”
“Looks like you’re a guard for the merchant group… Listen, kid, it’s fine to act tough with youthful bravado, but you could get hurt.”
“Aha? Is that so?”
“There, there, what a cute little fella. Go drink some more of your mommy’s milk and come back.”
“…”
At the mockery from Jeon Il-seok, who clearly didn’t grasp the situation, a demonic aura began to shimmer around Neung Un-bi like a heat haze.
The grin that split his face was no different from that of a harbinger of death.
“That bastard!”
“Give the order, sir. I will flay the skin from these bandits!”
“No, I’ll do it! That damn scoundrel! What did he say? Does he have any idea who this is?!”
It wasn’t just Wang Cheon and Ju Seung. Even the warriors of the Crescent Moon Brigade raised their chins and drew their swords at the insult to Neung Un-bi.
“Hey!”
“…”
“All of you, shut up!”
Neung Un-bi whipped his head around and bellowed, and everyone fell silent as if they’d been struck dumb.
Who did they think they were, trying to step in?
You had to know your place before you acted.
Even cold water has a top and a bottom; the same hierarchy had to apply even when it came to thrashing bandits to blow off steam!
“They’re mine. Got it?”
“Yep!”
As Neung Un-bi’s eyes, glinting with demonic energy, flashed, Wang Cheon and the Crescent Moon Brigade quickly stepped back.
“Hah, these guys… In all my life, I’ve never seen such audacious fools. As a merchant group, you should know this is Mount Qinghua, and if bandits appear, you should know we’re the Qinghua Gang. But instead of a toll, what’s all this? Yours? Since when has the reputation of our Qinghua Gang fallen so low? Tsk, tsk.”
Jeon Il-seok shook his head, lamenting his fate at Neung Un-bi’s words, which treated them as less than dog droppings on the street.
The Qinghua Gang? And his name was… Jeon Il-seok, was it?
The combination sounded vaguely familiar, and Un Hak frowned deeply, tilting his head.
Mount Qinghua, Mount Qinghua…
It was a mountain located on the border of Gansu and Shaanxi.
Jeon Il-seok of Mount Qinghua…
“Ah!”
Then, their identity suddenly struck him.
“The… The Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest!”
Un Hak shouted in surprise.
The Green Forest. A term for bands of bandits.
But not all bandits were called the Green Forest.
How many mountains were there in the world, and how many bandits had made them their home?
Among them, only eighteen strongholds, known as the best of the best, were worthy of the name.
The sworn brothers of the King of the Green Forest, Seok Il-hae.
And if the giant before him was Jeon Il-seok of the Qinghua Gang?
It meant he was one of those sworn brothers.
His unimpressive demeanor was merely due to his crude way of speaking and the prejudice associated with the name ‘bandit.’
But he was one of the figures that bandits across the land looked up to as an idol.
A renowned master even within the Unorthodox Faction. He was surely a master who had achieved a high level of cultivation.
His eyes wide with shock, Un Hak urgently looked at Neung Un-bi.
“Khuhuhu, you cute little bandit. Today, I’ll tear your body to shreds and feed it piece by piece to the beasts.”
“…”
He had lost it. It was clear he was spoiling for a serious fight.
If that happened?
A clash between the Unorthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult?
This was not good.
What was the reason he had insisted on sticking with Neung Un-bi’s group?
To monitor them and prevent them from causing trouble.
To mediate and stop members of the Orthodox or Unorthodox Factions from picking fights with him.
But if he were to fight here, not just any bandit, but a renowned master of the Unorthodox Faction and a sworn brother of the King of the Green Forest?
“D-Damn it all!”
He didn’t even want to imagine the aftermath.
Of all the luck, to take a wrong shortcut and run into the Qinghua Gang?
How could his luck be this bad!
He had to stop it. This wasn’t just another routine bandit subjugation.
Jeon Il-seok of Mount Qinghua wasn’t just any bandit, was he?
This could easily escalate into a conflict with the King of the Green Forest.
“W-Wait! Wait a moment! He is the King of the Green Forest’s…”
Just as Un Hak was about to reveal his own identity and try to resolve the situation amicably…
*Fwoosh!*
Neung Un-bi’s figure shot forward with a speed that put lightning to shame.
“You motherfucking bandits! In the name of justice, I’ll beat you all to death!”
“…”
Un Hak’s hand, which had reached out to grab Neung Un-bi, remained frozen in mid-air as he stared blankly.
In the name of… what?
And how could his movement art be so fast?
For a moment, he couldn’t even see him move.
He had intended to grab him, but not only did his hand grasp empty air, but the instant Neung Un-bi seemed to take a step, he was already in front of Jeon Il-seok.
“Huk! Y-You bastard!”
Jeon Il-seok was just as shocked.
He hadn’t even blinked, yet the brat was already in his face, swinging a fist.
“You son of a bitch!”
Deeming it too late to dodge, Jeon Il-seok frantically swung the greatsword he had slung over his shoulder.
*Thwump!*
A dull thud.
Neung Un-bi’s fist slammed into the flat of the greatsword.
“Kugh!”
Staggering backward, Jeon Il-seok quickly grabbed a tree to steady himself and glanced at his weapon.
A deep dent marred the flat of the blade, imprinted with the shape of Neung Un-bi’s fist like an engraving.
“Oh? You bandit boss! You blocked it? You blocked it, did you?!”
“…?!”
*Fwoooosh!*
As Neung Un-bi’s fists flew at him again with a bizarre expression, Jeon Il-seok couldn’t regain his senses.
*Crash! Cra-crash!*
“Kuuugh!”
Neung Un-bi continued to add more fist-shaped engravings to the frantically swung greatsword.
“This damned brat! Hooo-ah!!”
Jeon Il-seok, who had been pushed back relentlessly, took a deep breath and gripped his greatsword with both hands.
*Wooooong!*
Energy gathered in an instant, causing the greatsword to vibrate and glow.
“Die!”
Following the powerful swing of Jeon Il-seok’s hands, a crescent-shaped blade of energy shot out fiercely.
*Slice, scrunch!*
The brutal sound of trees being cut down.
And the distinct image of Neung Un-bi’s body being split in two.
“N-No!”
Un Hak’s eyes looked as if they were about to tear.
Jeon Il-seok being defeated was a problem, but what if Neung Un-bi died or was injured here?
Wasn’t he said to be favored by the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?
Then what about the Orthodox Murim Alliance’s position?
What about him, who had been sent to prevent any unfortunate incidents?
And what about Mount Hua?
“Son of a bitch!”
Even for a Daoist, he couldn’t help but curse.
Interfering in another’s fight was extremely dangerous, but he had no choice.
He had to stop this, even if it meant using the name of Mount Hua, no, the name of the Orthodox Murim Alliance…
“…Huh?”
He thought so and stomped his foot.
When he stomped his foot, his body should have shot forward with a whoosh…
Something was wrong.
His stomping foot had gouged a long trench in the ground, but his body had stopped dead in its tracks.
What?
Un Hak looked down at his body, unable to hide his bewilderment.
His internal energy… was fine.
Then why was his robe being pulled?
“You shouldn’t interfere in a warrior’s fight.”
“…”
More bewilderment washed over Un Hak’s face.
The one holding his robe, speaking calmly, and even kindly shaking her head… was the maid.
The one who always stuck to Neung Un-bi’s side, brewing tea and preparing drinks…
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Look at him. He’s enjoying it.”
“What?”
“He’s having a blast. You shouldn’t stop him when he’s like that. Besides, they’re just bandits, right? Like you said, it’s just killing those who deserve to die.”
“…”
The maid smiled sweetly.
The way her cheeks dimpled slightly as she smiled was incredibly radiant.
Like a plum blossom in spring… no!
This crazy maid! Who did she think she was, lecturing him!
“Let go of my hand!”
Un Hak exclaimed in annoyance, yanking his robe.
*Yank!*
“…?”
*Yank! Yank!*
But it was strange.
The fabric pulled taut, but it wouldn't come free.
The hem of his robe was still caught between two of the maid’s fingers.
What the?
“You’ll tear your robe if you keep doing that.”
“…Hmph?”
“If you keep trying to interfere, I’ll knock you out.”
“…”
As the maid, Hyang-i, raised a dainty fist, Un Hak let out a deep sigh.
*Sigh*, arguing with a mere maid in such a critical situation.
*Yank, yank-yank!*
But the robe absolutely would not come free, and Hyang-i was still smiling.
“Goddammit! Seriously!”
“…Hmph, I guess there’s no other way.”
The moment Hyang-i’s smile turned into a frown, Un Hak felt something strike his throat.
*Thwack!*
“Keuk!”
With a single cry, Un Hak’s eyes shot wide open, and he clearly saw it.
The maid’s outstretched hand… no, he couldn’t have been hit by that.
Who was he?
He was a disciple of the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, a genius who had earned the title of Plum Blossom Sword Master in his youth, a rising star destined to lead Mount Hua.
What he was seeing must be an illusion.
Surely, while he was bickering with the maid, a sneak attack came from somewhere…
But his thoughts went no further.
*Thud.*
Un Hak lost consciousness and pitched forward.
Right into Hyang-i’s arms.
But Hyang-i had no intention of catching him and simply stepped aside, letting Un Hak’s face plant directly into the dirt.
“Phew, I almost bumped into that Daoist. How unlucky. I told him not to do it.”
*Clang! Clang-clang-clang!*
The sound of clashing metal filled her ears.
Turning her head, she saw the battle between Neung Un-bi and Jeon Il-seok was in full swing.
“That bandit is pretty good. The Third Young Master’s skills are nothing to scoff at, either…”
Watching their fight with narrowed eyes, Hyang-i casually glanced over at Wang Cheon and Ju Seung.
“Shouldn’t we clean up the rest beforehand?”
“Pardon?”
“It doesn’t look like the Third Young Master will lose, but it seems like it’ll take some time. It’d be best to take care of the small fry, wouldn’t it?”
At Hyang-i’s words, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung looked at each other in a bind.
“Well, that’s… the master told us not to interfere.”
“Hmph, since when were you two so good at following orders… Should I do it then?”
“…!”
When a hint of displeasure crossed Hyang-i’s face, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung flinched and drew their swords.
“Not at all! We’ll do it, of course.”
“That’s right, Mistress Maid! We can’t let you exert yourself.”
Replying in unison, Ju Seung and Wang Cheon immediately issued orders to their surroundings.
“Crescent Moon Brigade! Annihilate the bandits! In the name of justice!”
“Yes, sir!”
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung charged forward first, followed by the Crescent Moon Brigade, who launched themselves at the bandits surrounding them.
Watching this from the side, Odeung tilted his head in confusion.
Mistress Maid…?
Was ‘maid’ a higher rank than Guard Captain and Crescent Moon Brigade Commander?
Hmm… Then again, didn’t large households have positions like ‘Head Maid’ that even the retainers treated with respect?
He felt like he should probably get on her good side.
“Mistress Maid!”
“…?”
“Please, sit here and watch.”
“…Ah, thank you.”
Hyang-i smiled sweetly and sat down comfortably in the spot Odeung offered.
Let them all fight.