Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Beyond the Divine River
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I had crossed the Divine River.
That meant I had completely left the territory of the demonic cults. It had taken days just to cross it.
From here on, every action would be recorded in the realm of the righteous factions. Because of that, I severely restricted my use of internal energy.
I had to hide my skills. Otherwise, I'd draw suspicion.
But there was one thing I couldn't hide no matter what. My outward physique.
It had grown even more pronounced after reaching the Manifestation Realm. Even if I could disguise everything else with Heavenly Tribulation, I couldn't conceal the writhing muscles.
So I made a decision.
I wouldn't use my internal energy at all.
I'd heard of people born without innate energy who trained only in external martial arts.
Such people were rare, but they existed. I decided to use the same excuse. With Heavenly Tribulation, I could completely mask my internal energy aura...
A warrior focused solely on tempering his body.
That was me now. Besides, all the martial arts I'd learned so far had built that foundation.
The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword, now naturally fused into my body, was a technique without flashy maneuvers to begin with.
And its footwork, Ghost Spirit Step, stemmed from a brutally straightforward method of use.
As long as I concealed my internal energy, I looked like an ordinary warrior on the surface. With the Featherwind Cloak roughly covering my frame, I even passed for a ronin.
Of course, I couldn't hide my size.
"......"
So I could understand it.
To others, I'd look like a plain warrior.
But who knew it would have this side effect.
I stared silently at the bandits who had lined up before me.
"...Hand over everything you've got?"
"Y-yeah! Hand it all over and scram! Or I'll slit your throat."
"...Hmm."
Perfect timing.
I needed to test if the Three Disasters Swordsmanship-which I'd swung around thoughtlessly in practice-would hold up in real combat.
---Shing.
And there was something else to practice. The Ghost Sword Black Crow. Getting used to it.
Flames flickered at the tip of the newly drawn Black Crow's blade. Compared to the Ghost Sword White Night, a low, endless growl echoed in my ears.
An untamed beast. That savage sensation.
But I had to control it.
Only then would I gain one more way to take down the traitor Seventh Demon.
The First Demon had told me that the Manifestation Realm was the practical limit any warrior could reach, divided into three stages within.
Entry to the Manifestation Realm. The stage where one begins handling Projected Aura Qi.
Maturity in the Manifestation Realm. The stage where one perfectly handles Projected Aura Qi.
Peak of the Manifestation Realm. The stage where one begins grasping the sense of Sword Heart beyond Projected Aura Qi.
I stood only at the entrance. My Projected Aura Qi was imperfect and couldn't be sustained for long.
Each stage within the Manifestation Realm was a higher wall than any I'd broken through. I had no idea how long it would take to reach the end.
The Seventh Demon was probably at that peak. Maybe even beyond.
Even so, I intended to surpass her.
To do that, I needed to draw out one more thing.
I severely restricted the heat from the Ghost Sword Black Crow. Even so, flames erupted along the blade.
I had to deal with this first. Black Crow was inherently wild, its nature fiercer than White Night's.
Endless flames clung to the black blade.
It was wondrous just to look at. No third-rate Murim Alliance spy would carry a weapon like this.
If I could at least control the heat and ghostly energy, it would pass as a sword with an unusual blade...
That would be my goal until I reached the Murim Alliance.
"W-what sword is that...?!"
"F-flames?! B-brother, he's a warrior! Definitely a warrior! One who's learned fire-related martial arts!"
"This isn't what brother described! What do we do?!"
"Damn it...! Out of everyone, we get the one warrior!"
"You take responsibility, brother!"
"W-wait! Don't push!"
".......?"
I hadn't even thrust out yet, and the most seasoned-looking one from their chaotic group stepped forward.
His eyes darted around, scanning me up and down, before the bandit prostrated himself flat.
"S-sorry! Sir! We didn't recognize you! We're just idiots...!"
".......?"
"P-please spare us!"
What was this now.
His instincts were too sharp; I didn't even feel like drawing my sword. I sheathed the Ghost Sword Black Crow back at my waist.
Instead, I slung it over my shoulder scabbard and all.
I met his gaze. The bandit's.
"Why should I spare you? If I were weak, you'd have taken everything I had..."
"S-sir! But we really! Reaaaally! This was our first time!"
"Everyone says that."
"No, really, it was our first! We've only taken tolls until now!"
"Tolls? Did you pave the road or something?"
"Yes! We cleared and maintain this path!"
".......?"
What was this now.
"You...cleared the road?"
"Yes! And we even shaped it ourselves! This place is like our own sculpture!"
"I planted that tree!"
"I tend those flowers over there!"
"I-I didn't do much... but I water diligently! Yes!"
I glanced around. Sure enough, the trees and flowers had an artificial feel to them.
Bandits... doing landscaping? Why?
"Are you the leader?"
"Y-yes...? Oh, yes, I am! I'm the leader...!"
"Brother? Isn't the boss a woman?"
"You bastard! Shut up!"
So there's another head on top.
I stood up. I rummaged in my robes and pulled out a pouch.
"How much for the toll?"
"N-none needed! Just go ahead!"
"I asked how much."
"Uh... then whatever you deem fair..."
I flicked out a single silver coin. The bandit's eyes trembled.
"Th-thank you! Sir! Truly, thank you!"
"Guide me."
"...Pardon?"
I planned to verify the truth of their words from their leader.
I understood the toll. But trying to rob all my belongings? That didn't sit right.
If their words were lies and they'd been doing this long...
I'd teach them a lesson. A beating cures a dog that bites people.
But if I just left, they might lie out of fear, like these ones.
"Bind my hands and take me to your leader."
"H-how could we..."
"I want to learn the truth."
The bandits gulped. I lowered my voice.
"Bind me. If you don't want to die."
"Eek...!"
...
Their bandit lair wasn't far.
Buildings sparsely erected in the depths of the mountains. Crude structures, nothing more than logs shaped into huts.
Doesn't look like they have much money.
"S-sir... um..."
"Fix your tone. I'm your prisoner right now. Act properly."
"Ugh..."
The bandit led me to the central building.
As the door opened, a woman lounging inside turned her head.
"Gwangyang. Yeah, you're back? I'm heading out for a-"
Our eyes met.
Her expression twisted.
"You crazy bastard! Not content with robbing his money, you drag him here to sell his body too?! Even bandits have standards... blinded by greed, turning to human trafficking now?!"
"N-nunim... it's not like that..."
"Scram! Bring him inside!"
"N-nunim, just hear me out..."
"You wanna die? Get out!"
She chased off the bandits and approached me. She untied the ropes binding my hands herself.
I scratched my head awkwardly.
"Sorry. Really. Uh... how much did they take?"
"......?"
"It wasn't too much, right? It has to be an amount I can afford..."
She rummaged in her bosom and pulled out a money pouch. Handed it to me.
"Sorry... really sorry, but could you make do with this?"
"Why give this to me...?"
"My kids robbed you. We don't usually do this, but lately complaints have piled up... so, y'know, for show? That's the vibe. Anyway, really sorry. I'll cover the difference later. For now, pretend you got robbed and keep going down the road. Got it?"
She flung the door open.
"Let the guy go! You lunatics!"
"N-nunim! Did he say something weird...?"
"What weird? Hurry and let him go! Ugh, seriously... if that's how it is, all of you scram! I'll handle things myself!"
"N-nunim!"
In the growing commotion, I sighed. Not what I'd feared.
Repaying what was taken...
A show to manage morale? Seems various circumstances at play.
"About the toll."
"Those crazy bastards didn't hit you up for that too, did they?! On top of taking your luggage?!"
"Why do you charge it?"
"Huh? 'Cause we cleared the road. We shape and maintain it ourselves."
"Why...?"
"Once the road's cleared, no more work needed."
She countered as if it were obvious.
"We live off tolls alone. Sure, side dishes get sparse... but scamming folks feels dirty."
"......."
No lies in her expression. She's a different breed from her underlings.
At least she's human.
I strode down. The bandit whose eyes met mine trembled.
"S-sir... um..."
"Bring my luggage."
"Y-yes! Bring the luggage!"
"...Luggage? What's going on?"
"What's your name."
"Me? Na-rin...?"
"Na-rin. Keep living like that. You clear and maintain the road, so I won't complain about tolls."
The bandits brought my luggage. I shouldered it and turned to her.
"But no plundering. It's worse than scavenging from beasts."
"Well, obviously... wait, who are you?"
"A passing warrior."
"What? Warrior? You idiots try to rob a warrior?! All that boasting, and you touch a warrior?! Are you insane?! Gwangyang?!"
"I-I didn't know! It just happened...!"
I turned my head. My hand rested on the Ghost Sword.
A presence. I sensed it. My perception wasn't exceptional, but since reaching the Manifestation Realm, I'd gained some clarity.
I could quickly detect what others missed or failed to see. I nodded to Na-rin.
"More underlings?"
"Underlings...? These guys are all I have?"
Na-rin whipped her head up.
"...What...?"
She has something too. She didn't seem like ordinary bandits.
It didn't take long for presences to swarm in. Amid the chaos, a group of bandits stepped forward.
A lot of them.
Over thirty, even counting roughly.
"This a bandit lair? What dump you calling a lair?"
A booming voice. An unusually massive build.
The bandit at the group's front grinned.
"Still, the boss looks prime. Worth checking inside."
"...Who are you?"
"Daring to ask who from a Green Forest member! Blind are ya! Ha! I'm Han Gi-bok! Heard there's a little lair here, so I came to take over!"
He beckoned. One of Na-rin's underlings rushed forward.
"H-how'd you get here so fast..."
"I'm not patient. Heard the story, came straight to claim it. Drag over everyone who agreed to switch. No need to spill their blood."
"You bastard?!"
"B-brother! I told you! Switch before it's too late! I-I didn't expect it this quick... but grab the line now! Hurry!"
Na-rin bit her lip.
"...Betrayal? You sold out the lair's location too? You crazy bastards..."
"Sister! Hurry!"
"Scram! You punks! Sister, you escape! I'll buy time!"
"Touching loyalty. But once you're in my sights, you're my woman. Think you can run?"
Caught in the middle, I pinched my brow.
Bandit infighting. I moved to leave.
Gwangyang desperately grabbed me.
"S-sir! Help us!"
"Why should I?"
If they were civilians, I'd help. It's unjust.
But this was between bandits, not civilians. Folks who prey on others. I didn't know details and had no urge to draw my sword.
Even if one side seemed slightly better, they're bandits. They tried to take my luggage. Both seem villains; no interest in picking a side.
I turned. I saw Na-rin's underlings hastily switching sides, gauging the mood.
All but Gwangyang betrayed her. With that numbers gap, it's natural.
Still, I withdrew. Turned my back on Gwangyang.
No reason to help them. What they sow, they reap.
Whatever reason made them bandits, they bear the responsibility themselves.
But the giant blocked my path.
"Where you going without my permission?"
"......."
"Join or die. Those your only choices."
"...This doesn't concern me, so one word: step aside. Then I pass quietly. Do your thing. I won't meddle in bandit business. Haven't seen what you've done, so I'll let this slide. But swing that thing, and it changes."
"Cheeky punk yapping... Guess I gotta split that skull myself to shut you up!"
---Kwang!!!
Lightning-fast, an axe slammed toward my head. Dust swirled in the gust.
"Kuhahaha! Should've listened ear-"
The man's boisterous laugh trailed off.
I stared blankly at the axe above my head.
A killing strike infused with malice. Brutal grip strength from that hulking frame.
If I hadn't raised my hand, my skull would've shattered.
"...W-what?! My axe with fingers?!"
I moved my raised hand.
The gripped axe shook along.
"You have ears but don't listen."
---Kwachang!
Axe fragments shattered from my fingertips, scattering everywhere.
"No need to hold onto it."