Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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I offered Gwangyang a seat in one corner when he showed up early that evening.
His stories came pouring out about Narin. It seemed like a deep bond; the way he held nothing back rang with genuine sincerity.
"...Sister doesn't belong anywhere. Her body can't build internal energy to become a martial artist... and as an ordinary person, her innate strength is too much, so no one around her wanted to get close."
"......"
"That's why I'm asking. Aren't you different, my lord? You've cultivated external strength to that level, so unlike the other martial artists she's met, you must have a way. I beg you, my lord. Please take her in... take Narin under your wing."
What the hell was this?
I rubbed my face. Gwangyang jumped in alarm, sweat beading on his brow.
"O-Of course, it's not just a plea. If it's money you're lacking, I'll scrape it together somehow."
"...What?"
"I-I'm not saying I'll rob for it! Farming or whatever... I'll do it all! Yes!"
"You expect me... to believe that?"
"I-I'm not asking you to take me in! My lord! Just sister... just take sister in!"
"Why go that far?"
"Because... sister and I are different."
Gwangyang trembled violently.
"The plundering was my idea. Sister... sister told me not to do it over and over, but I pushed her into it."
"Why?"
"...The place I lived was right here."
Gwangyang glanced out the window.
"Cheonghae Castle. I grew up here. At first, it was just... petty theft. Nowhere to lean on, you know. Later, when I got some brains, I even posed as a servant in rich houses. Kept food in my belly that way. But then an accident hit. Got burned. Wasn't my fault. The young master poured scalding water on my back as a prank... but they blamed it all on me. Scar's still there on my back."
Gwangyang shed his clothes. A nasty scar marred his broad back.
"Couldn't move right, so they tossed me out. No severance, nothing. Born low, opened my mouth once and got beaten before they kicked me to the curb. As a kid, I could beg okay, but grown up? Not even that worked. Needed work, but couldn't handle real jobs. Hit up old contacts for a day or two, then even they dried up."
"......."
"So to survive, I tried peddling. Didn't wanna starve, scraped every coin I had and hawked goods in Cheonghae. But fuck. You know the taxes Kunlun Sect squeezes out of Cheonghae? They wear martial artist robes, but they're bandits through and through."
"So that's why you turned to robbing others?"
"...Yeah! That's how it went! Selling goods was already a loss- what was I supposed to do?! Farming?! Only landowners pull that off. Had nothing, couldn't wait for seeds to fruit! That shitty burn got me labeled a mouthy servant... nobody'd hire me... I just... wanted to live!"
Gwangyang's face contorted.
"Picked up a blade for it. To live! But... fuck... ha! First try bombed big time! Gathered a few guys, plotted to hit travelers, but heaven sent a tiger to punish us. Thought I was done for. Sister saved us."
"......."
"After that... like I said. Pushed sister to try banditry at least, but she wanted to stick to paths and tolls. Truth is... I didn't love stealing either. Who the hell enjoys that? Followed her lead anyway... but numbers kept dropping? Paths need managing. Sit all day to collect tolls, short-handed and assholes skip paying left and right!"
"......."
"Open multiple paths, but no collectors? No overseers? So I pitched to sister: boost morale, rob just once!"
"You think what you're spouting is justified?"
"No way! I know! Know it's wrong! But... sister ain't like a fuckup like me, right?! Right?! She's just caught in my mess! Talent's real- just no internal energy! Strength's legit! Barehands tigers! Teach her right, she'll be gold!"
Gwangyang heaved for breath. Paused to catch it, words weighing heavy.
"...My lord... I can't. Been by her side, know I can't. We're not equals. Still... she's family to me. Owe her my life, three years together... natural, right? Call her sister, but she's like a little sis really. Know her inside out. What spills out when she's drunk."
"......."
"Sister needs an equal. I ain't it. Just a lackey. Can't match her. Weak, no talent. Picked banditry 'cause no other roads. Don't know different paths, so... retard move from a retard. That's me. Sister? Young, full of potential... can do anything, right?"
"......."
"Just... don't want her turning like me. She's got options I don't. So begging you, my lord. Please."
-Bam!
Forehead crashed floor.
Repeated thuds ended with blood pooling red.
"You're the first martial artist not to pity her. So... please... can't you... somehow?"
"...Tch."
Tongue clicked on instinct. Sigh sank to the floorboards.
Gazed at the man, forehead glued down, unlifted.
Truth of the tale? Hard to say.
But sincerity? Crystal clear.
Most of all, no trace of him in Gwangyang's words. Only Narin.
Mind tangled. Stared out window.
What to say?
Doubts deepened. Not the kind to spit out quick.
"Go."
"...My l-lord..."
"Told you to go."
Need more thought.
Too heavy to swallow whole.
Gwangyang clenched teeth. Ignored blood trickling forehead, dipped waist slight.
Snatched clothes, backed off. I eyed the burn scar etched on his back, silent.
Didn't know other paths.
...Not just another's tale.
...
"Gwangyang? What happened to your forehead?"
"Fell drunk."
"Ease up on the booze."
Shabby inn. Narin propped at window, nursing her drink.
Gwangyang sighed. Who drank more, him preaching that?
But no lecturing her.
Knew her weird constitution.
"What's your plan?"
"Back to the stronghold. Hated the grind... no choice. I'll pitch in special."
"Keep up the bandit life?"
"Promised I wouldn't. Promise holds even if she's gone from sight. No more bandits. Tolls still... uh... landscapers? Fits perfect."
Narin grinned. Gwangyang caught the bitter edge, head down.
"Sorry."
"For what? I ain't innocent. Got swept up too."
"...Still."
"Drop it. Past is past. Live like old days? No shake-up means steady, yeah? Kinda like it honest. Slacking drew eyes... and strutting as 'cool bandits'- embarrassing as hell."
"......."
"Back home, no more shame! That's win enough. Hate forcing it... yeah. So let's head back. Gwangyang."
Bubbly vibe. Words rare for her.
Gwangyang read the undercurrent in each.
「Thanks for help- crash one night? Blew my savings, stone broke.」
Watched her since day one. Sister by mouth, clumsy sis in heart.
Knew it well.
Disappointment in eyes. Gut-punch regret.
"......."
Got help. Hers.
Beyond bare life. Glimpsed more.
...Hated it, truth be told.
Scraping by on theft.
Fought hard against it, yet life blocked every turn.
No skills, ignorant drifter- farming off-limits too.
Least in his Cheonghae Castle world.
Kunlun turf starved folks aplenty for it.
Gov aid? Nah. Kunlun owned the officials.
So sword it was. For survival.
Yet she kept that sword sheathed.
Who blazed first trails? Hunted upkeep tricks?
Lazy now, sure- but she birthed the hustle. Her grind let him stay clean.
Sis and savior.
To him, at least... she was.
Repay her. Anyhow. Whatever it took.
Keep her gifts from burning vain.
...Tomorrow.
Hit him up once more.
Gwangyang vowed it, watching her drink under moonlight.
Had the door held.
-Kaboom!!!
"Wh-what?!"
Shattered door framed thugs. Robed fighter chin-nodded.
"These the ones?"
"Y-yes! Them! For sure! Hanged with that bastard!"
"You filth! Thought harassing innocents let you sleep sound?!"
Bark hid faces he knew. Stronghold raiders. Flash suits, bandit cores.
Narin rose. Bottle clattered floor.
"...The fuck you punks want?"
"Bitch! Mind your tongue! Heard it all! Robbing innocents' cash wasn't enough- wrecked their bodies too! Atrocities in Kunlun turf, thought you'd slip away?!"
"Bullshit? They're bandits..."
"Lies! Identities checked! Brazen bullshit- viler than we figured!"
Kunlun blade hissed free. Gwangyang clocked the smirks behind.
Innocents?
Bull. Outlaw bandits, faces infamous- locals all knew 'em.
Kunlun spouting that...
"...Colluding?"
Had to be.
"One more hiding! Where?! Truth gets mercy!"
"...Waste of breath. Gwangyang. Bolt."
"Huh?! Sister?!"
"Go. You'll hinder."
Narin smashed wall. Tore chunk free, hissed.
"Tell him: scram this dump fast. You tail him."
"S-sister!"
"Gwangyang."
Nape snagged. Airborne instant- dumped opposite ground.
"Thanks for humoring my crap."
-Thud!
Tumbled dirt. Gasping up, Gwangyang whipped back.
Clangs rang. Shouts laced steel. Half-turned, snapped away.
No dice. Real deal fighters.
Beyond him.
Save sister. One shot.
F-first... flee...!
"My l-lord...!"
"...What now?"
Legs burned distance again, found him- froze.
Spill it. All. Beg again.
...B-but... then...
He'd tangle with Kunlun...
"My l-lord..."
"Out with it."
"W-well..."
...Human.
Humans need shame, no?
Begged once. Head-smashed, forced it.
Life debt. Mob-blocked for him.
Even from his would-be killer.
"...W-well..."
Fuck. Gwangyang.
Gwangyang. Please.
One word- he'd fix it maybe. Sister danger.
Right to beg. Right.
"We-well...."
...Know it's right... so why...
"It's..."
Stuck. Throat-locked.
Knew... wrong road.
Not like 'no choice' crimes despite wanting better.
Speak- all crumbles.
Helper dragged to Kunlun doom.
Strong or not, lone fighter.
Sect? No win.
Human. Benefactor...
No burdening.
"...Gwangyang?"
"N-nothing."
Fuck.
Shitty world.
Why shit on me so hard! Fuuuuck!!
Starve proper meals, death's door.
Back scarred forever, trash rumors fly.
Gouge cash filthy, peddle seed gone.
Now snatch the rest?! Why?!
My fault living wrong? Huh?
Still... never robbed real.
Meant to, never did. Fake bandits.
You... you beasted me.
No other way.
...
...B-but...
Fuck... bastards...
"...Nothing."
Corner me how you will...
Wrong's wrong... this really... wrong...
"My lord."
Gwangyang rose. Unbound arm rag, scabbed forehead veiled.
Turned. Axe-grip familiar, teeth ground.
"Dawn departure tomorrow."
"What talk?"
"Just... take it as is."
Stepped off. Homeward bound.
Handle it. Somehow. Solo.
"Stay safe. My lord."
Life wager- save sister at least. Caught? Lips sealed.
Behind him...
No ties ever.
Gwangyang trembled forward.
Man worth name... real man...
Line to hold, yeah?
This time, no break.
Wanted that choice once. At least.