Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Who the Hell Are You Guys? (1)
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"What the hell is this so tough?"
The Chief Patrol Officer Neung Wi spat out the meat he'd been chewing and grabbed a bottle of liquor.
It was strong enough to burn his throat to ashes, but Neung Wi downed the entire bottle in one go.
"Kuh! That's the stuff."
Neung Wi grimaced pleasurably and turned to his subordinate roasting meat.
"How long have we been stuck here?"
"Eleven days, sir."
"Damn it, this isn't just a day or two. I'm sick of this crap."
As he reached for another bottle, Neung Wi glanced back at the man standing rigidly behind him.
"What's the situation with Golden Fox Stronghold?"
"They're currently negotiating with Juhae Escort Agency."
"I know that. I'm asking how the negotiations are going."
"No major progress yet, but the threats are ramping up bit by bit. They won't hold out much longer."
"That's good news. Once we wrap up with Juhae Escort Agency, there's no reason for me to stick around here anymore, right?"
The man hesitated, and Neung Wi scowled.
"What? Something up?"
"According to the latest report, Golden Fox Stronghold just pulled off another hit."
"Another one? These bastards think they're hot shit just because we keep praising them."
Neung Wi irritably tossed the empty bottle aside and spoke coldly.
"We've wasted enough time here—eleven days. Once Juhae Escort Agency is done, we clean up and leave."
"But, Chief Patrol Officer."
The man—Deputy Patrol Officer Yeom Heuk, Neung Wi's right-hand man—looked troubled.
"What? Problem?"
"The haul is huge."
"Huge haul? Where?"
Neung Wi asked with a disinterested face.
"Water Dragon Merchant Association."
"Hm."
A groan of dismay escaped Neung Wi's lips at the mention of Water Dragon Merchant Association.
"It's on a whole other level from Ilseong Merchant Group or Yeonhwa Escort Agency."
"I know."
Neung Wi replied curtly, smacking his lips before continuing.
"By the way, how much did they demand from Juhae Escort Agency?"
"A hundred taels of gold."
"We got fifty taels each from Ilseong Merchant Group and Yeonhwa Escort Agency, so if we squeeze the same out of them, that's two hundred. But if we successfully hit Water Dragon Merchant Association too..."
"We could pull in that much again."
"The risk is just as high. Ilseong Merchant Group, Yeonhwa Escort Agency, Juhae Escort Agency—those are no problem. But Water Dragon Merchant Association? They've got ties to major powers. They won't bend easily."
"If we pressure them like we did Yeonhwa and Juhae Escort Agencies, they won't have a choice right away. Whatever happens later, they'll cough up the cash first. The key is we have a way to clean up the mess, right?"
A sinister smile crept across Neung Wi's face at Yeom Heuk's words.
"Hand over a well-boiled, post-hunt dog, you mean?"
"Yes. Stick to the original plan—turn over Golden Fox Stronghold's chief's head to them, and we're in the clear. Everything was done by the chief alone under the guise of revenge anyway. No responsibility for the main headquarters. Hell, we even get justification for punishing those line-crossing bandits and rebuilding ties with the escort agencies."
"Not a bad plan at all."
Neung Wi nodded in satisfaction at Yeom Heuk's explanation.
No Geuk would faint if he heard this, but he'd been marked for discard from the start.
Total Bandit Chief Neung Cheon Kang had ability and ambition, but he didn't care much for No Geuk.
No Geuk's money and power had helped in clashes with other strongholds, sure. But from the pinnacle of power, No Geuk was just a pawn to use and toss.
Letting him visit the stronghold and sending the Chief Patrol along wasn't consideration for No Geuk—it was to loot the treasures Golden Fox Stronghold had hidden.
Letting No Geuk rage unchecked at the razed stronghold was just to intercept whatever cash he squeezed out. His death was inevitable.
"No helping it. We'll tough it out a few more days."
Neung Wi decided to endure the boredom a bit longer, thinking of the massive payout from extorting Water Dragon Merchant Association.
"Inform the elders too. They're as bored as I am... Ah, here they come."
Neung Wi rose as he spotted elderly men pushing through the brush.
His father led the bandits, and he held the Chief Patrol position, but the three elders of the bandit main headquarters weren't to be trifled with.
Green Forest Emperor Yu Ji Hak unified the bandits and established the main headquarters at Mokbu Mountain bordering Huguk, Hunan, and Jiangxi two hundred fifty years ago.
Many strongholds had seized power and produced chiefs since the Green Forest Emperor, but one tradition endured.
The Green Forest Emperor had no descendants.
No heir, but his mighty force remained intact. They pledged loyalty to each new chief per his will. Yet during internal power struggles—especially over the chief's seat—they strictly stayed neutral.
Over time, self-interest diluted the tradition somewhat, but the framework held.
The Elder Hall was the core upholding that tradition, so Neung Wi treading carefully was only natural.
"Hahaha! Why wild boar? Didn't you say you were hunting tigers?"
At Neung Wi's laugh, the elder trudging with a massive boar over his shoulder—Giant Strength Overlord Jang Gwal—chuckled and dropped it to the ground.
"Tell me about it. Where the hell did all the tigers go? Can't spot a whisker."
"Still, something this size has to be as ferocious as a tiger."
Neung Wi stuck out his tongue at the boar, bigger than a decent cow.
"It was ferocious. But that's all. Two punches from this guy left it like that."
Nine Mountains Woodcutter Poong Yo Sang, pipe in mouth, tapped the boar's shattered skull.
"Failing to drop it in one is my shame."
Jang Gwal's words drew a dismissive wave from Neung Sa Jong beside him.
"Something this big is a monster. Only you, Elder, could smash it bare-fisted."
Neung Sa Jong, Total Chief Neung Cheon Kang's brother, was the only stronghold man to reach elder status. But compared to Jang Gwal or Poong Yo Sang, he fell short in every way.
"Kahaha! Elder Neung's gilding my old face. But it feels good, so I guess I'm worldly too."
"Tsk tsk, only now realizing it?"
Poong Yo Sang clucked disapprovingly and turned to Neung Wi.
"How's it going? Seems about time to leave."
"Juhae Escort Agency should wrap soon, but it might take a bit more time."
Poong Yo Sang's eyes, irritated by the tedium, turned icy.
"More time? What do you mean?"
Neung Wi swallowed hard at the snake-like glare and quickly relayed his talk with Yeom Heuk.
"Water Dragon Merchant Association. Big score, but..."
Jang Gwal overheard Poong Yo Sang's mutter and clapped his shoulder.
"We've waited this long—what's a few more days? The payout's huge; it'll strengthen headquarters big time."
"If you say so. But on one condition."
"What?"
"That guy's mine."
As Poong Yo Sang licked his lips, Jang Gwal—sixty-plus with bulging muscles—flinched.
"That's..."
"Don't like it? Fine. We'll head back once Juhae Escort Agency's done."
Jang Gwal hesitated at Poong Yo Sang's uncompromising tone, but desperate Neung Wi clasped hands and bowed frantically. Jang Gwal burst into hearty laughter.
"The Chief Patrol representing the bandits doesn't bow lightly. Fine, have it your way."
Poong Yo Sang's face lit up instantly.
"Saw that No Geuk handling a sword decently before. Should be fun crushing him."
"Exactly!"
Jang Gwal raised his voice in annoyance and approached the downed boar. With one slash, he gutted it, extracted the gallbladder, and poured it into a bottle.
"A gift. Not bear bile, but from a boar this size, it'll pack a punch."
"Thank you, Elder."
Neung Wi bowed and took the bottle.
At that moment, someone approached them rapidly.
Neung Wi's men reacted swiftly but lowered weapons upon recognizing the man bursting through the brush.
"Chief Patrol Officer!"
The man knelt on one knee before Neung Wi.
"What is it?"
"A message just arrived."
He handed over a thin letter.
Neung Wi's face hardened as he scanned it.
"What happened?"
Neung Wi crumpled the letter roughly and spoke in a chilling tone.
"Nangong Clan is mobilizing. They're heading here."
"Nangong Clan?"
Jang Gwal and Poong Yo Sang exclaimed together.
"From Juhae Escort Agency?"
Neung Sa Jong asked.
"No. Looks like Yeonhwa Escort Agency pulled strings."
"Nangong Clan's no lightweight. Must be some connection we don't know about."
Poong Yo Sang shook his pipe gently at Jang Gwal's words.
"Was getting bored waiting. Better this way. Wrap it up before they arrive."
Poong Yo Sang strode off without pause.
"Whew! Nangong Clan, of all times. A few more days and we'd have had a fortune rolling in."
Neung Sa Jong patted Neung Wi's shoulder as he voiced regret.
"Don't sweat it too much. Ilseong Merchant Group and Yeonhwa Escort Agency gave plenty. And we can squeeze some from No Geuk's neck too."
"That's chump change."
Neung Wi couldn't hide his disappointment despite the consolation.
Poong Yo Sang's steps toward the stronghold were light, his expression oddly excited.
But as ruined Golden Fox Stronghold came into view, his glee vanished, eyes turning cold.
"Skip the small fry. But not No Geuk."
Jang Gwal sighed at Poong Yo Sang's declaration.
No Geuk's men had decent skills, but as Poong Yo Sang said, they were just small fry. No thrill in smashing them like a true expert.
"Got it. Just don't screw up—do it right."
Jang Gwal waved irritably.
"Screw up? Better wait for the sky to fall..."
Poong Yo Sang scoffed, then whipped his head around.
Jang Gwal followed his gaze.
Two men walked up the beast path.
Steep incline, yet their steps showed no disruption.
"Who are you?"
Poong Yo Sang demanded.
"And who's this old coot? Hm, those guys around look like bandits with 'I'm a bandit' tattooed on 'em, but you're different."
Cheol Woo, emerging first from the path, glanced at Neung Wi's men and said.
"Old coot? Ha! Funny meatbag. Last chance—who the hell are you?"
Poong Yo Sang laughed, but his killing intent scanned Cheol Woo and Sima Geon behind him coldly.
"No need for small-time shopkeepers like us to introduce ourselves. Our turn to ask—who are you, old man? Golden Fox Stronghold bandit?"
Poong Yo Sang instantly sensed from Cheol Woo's last words they had bad blood with Golden Fox Stronghold.
Strictly speaking, not enemies while after No Geuk's head—no need to pick a fight. But warrior instinct overrode reason. Especially irritating was Cheol Woo's dismissive attitude.
"What if we are?"
At Poong Yo Sang's sarcasm, Cheol Woo replied without a hint of hesitation.
"Then you die."
Cheol Woo advanced with overwhelming momentum.