#46. A First-Rate Warrior Who Gathers People (5)
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jin Sowoon of the Tae-eul Gate."
"……."
"……."
I cupped my fists in a salute and greeted them, but the warriors assigned by the Jegal family merely nodded curtly in response.
"I'm Yeongyeong."
In stark contrast to the male warriors who had ignored me, a woman standing a short distance away from them returned the salute lightly. She was unusual—half her face, including her nose, was covered. While a thin veil was common for subtly obscuring facial contours, hers looked more like the black mask favored by thieves and bandits. Come to think of it, the twin swords peeking over her shoulders weren't particularly long either.
"I'm about to prepare for the hunt now. That all right with you?"
There was no reply, so I nodded and headed into the village to find the hunters.
"I heard you're not allowed to hire hunters."
One of the silent warriors spoke up.
"I'm not hiring them."
"Then why are you looking for hunters?"
"I need to buy something from them. You said no to that too?"
The warrior paused, then backed off.
"As long as you're not using tools or treasures, it's fine."
The Ironclad Black Nether Monk was a demonic beast, but to me right now, it wasn't all that frightening. Even without my Black Dragon Sword or Flying Dragon Claw, one strike of the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm would cleanly sever its head.
But if I did that, they'd accuse me of all sorts of nonsense—like pulling some outrageous stunt or hiding my martial arts. And if push came to shove, they'd probably make up excuses to keep Jegal Cheongi locked away no matter what.
Considering they kept him imprisoned in that golden cell for eight years, they'd do it without batting an eye.
Instead, I chose a way to throw Jegal Jeong off balance.
When I reached the house of a hunter living in one corner of the village, rabbit and fox pelts were already hanging in the yard. But hunting must have been poor lately—the lines were full, yet the number of pelts was pathetically low.
"It's all because of that damned serpent freak."
A bushy-bearded middle-aged man who could pass for either a hunter or a bandit spat as he spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"That thing treats Geummok Mountain, Bokryong Mountain, and Hwadong Mountain like its front yard, sweeping through them. No other beasts dare come out anymore."
The aftermath of the Ironclad Black Nether Monk's rampage was no small matter.
"Right now it's just raiding mountain village huts, but if this keeps up, we're in for real trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone knows beasts crave human flesh above all else. Once a tiger tastes man, it ignores all other game. This could turn into a full-blown massacre. What the hell are the Jegal family and Murim Alliance doing? They strut around like big shots when it suits them. Is that freak's martial arts for boiling soup?"
One of the warriors flinched and started forward at the hunter's words, but the hunter sprang up fearlessly, axe in hand. Luckily, another warrior held him back, averting a fight.
"By the way, do you ever catch any wild boars?"
"That's about the only thing we get. Pigs can't stand hunger and come out anyway. But even that's no fun—the serpent eats the whole boar from the traps."
"I see. Could I buy some wild boars from you?"
"Wild boars?"
"Yes. If possible, I'd like to buy all the ones other hunters have caught too. I'll pay three silver taels each."
"Three taels per boar?"
"……Yes, that's right."
I tilted my head.
"Why the sudden polite speech?"
"Oh dear, what are you saying? How could a lowly one like me not show respect to a gentleman like you?"
I let out a small scoff at his lightning-fast attitude shift and continued.
"Please tell all the hunters to sell me every wild boar they catch from today on. I need about twenty. Live or dead doesn't matter, but they have to be fresh—killed within the last day."
"Of course! And if one person catches five, do you pay full price?"
"For the fifth one, I'll add five extra taels—twenty total."
"Leave it to me!"
"Oh, and do you know any herbalists?"
# The place the hunter directed me to was a thatched hut at the base of Geummok Mountain. Dried herbs were spread out in the yard, and an elderly couple sat on the porch. They spotted us and bellowed.
"You there!"
The old man pointed his pipe at one of the warriors' feet.
The warrior's foot had stepped on herbs laid out on the ground.
"You've ruined those precious herbs—what now?!"
Unlike with Village Head Heo, the herbalist didn't cower before a sword-bearing warrior and unleashed a tirade.
"Tch. A bit of dirt doesn't ruin them. Fine, I'll pay for it. How much?"
"You punk! Apologize first! I don't need your money—get lost!"
That's when I noticed something like dried tree bark.
"Huh? Isn't this Cheon-yakdong?"
"……Huh?"
"I heard digging up Cheon-yakdong is tough enough, but getting it in such a pretty shape is rare. How'd you do it?"
"……How do you know about Cheon-yakdong?"
"As a kid, I preferred roaming hills and fields over studying, so I learned a lot from local herbalists. They said even forming it into this hard bark-like shape is tricky. How'd you manage it?"
The old herbalist stroked his beard and cleared his throat.
"Well, that's my secret—can't just tell anyone!"
"Fair enough…… Huh! Isn't this Hae-san-ja?"
I pulled out knowledge from the Complete Herbal Encyclopedia to soothe the old man's mood.
"You been an herbalist?"
"I begged the elders to teach me, but they said I was too dim."
"Exactly. Exactly. Herbalism ain't for just anyone. So, what brings you here? Not here to learn with those swords. Buying something?"
"Spot on, elder."
I listed the herbs I needed.
"Five geun of each?!"
The old man, who had been putting on airs, finally looked shocked.
"You a merchant? We already deal with a trading company."
"No worries. I'm just a sucker paying double market price."
"……?!"
The old man's jaw dropped.
"That much?"
"You said it's hard to go up the mountains because of the serpent these days. Hazard pay's only fair."
"Heh, you one of those Jegal folks too? They don't buy like this."
"How do they buy?"
"Hmph! Straight from the source, so they demand cheaper than trading companies."
"Haha, I see. I'm not from the Jegal family."
"Then?"
"Disciple of the Tae-eul Gate."
"Hmm, Tae-eul, Tae-eul. Never heard of it, but the name alone screams 'fundamentals.'"
The Jegal family warriors' faces twisted in fury, turning beet red.
# On the way back to the village.
"Senior brother, let me go make sure that old coot never badmouths the Jegal family again."
"……."
The Jegal warriors were seething. I blocked the path of one who looked ready to charge back at the herbalist.
"Did Elder Taesang order you to interfere with my task?"
"What're you talking about?"
"If not, is it standard Jegal etiquette to disrespect the locals?"
The older warrior scowled.
"They live off the Jegal family's grace. And they don't even appreciate it. You think those ingrates deserve good treatment?"
"You're misunderstanding something. No one lives alone. The Jegal family benefits the people, and the people benefit the Jegal family in return."
"Hmph. How do they benefit the Jegal family? Prove it."
"That's exactly what I'm doing right now."
# Jegal Hyeonun visited the golden cell for the first time in ages. With the elders and family watching—and especially Elder Taesang Jegal Jeong displeased—he avoided it unless absolutely necessary.
"Cheongi. You there?"
A clattering sound came soon after. He was probably buried in research or study again.
Among his three sons, Cheongi was by far the most suited to the Jegal family. He'd taught himself to read, preferred books over toys, and skipped meals countless times for study. Jegal Hyeonun had even thought Cheongi might one day lead the family.
-Yes, Father. Have you come?
Cheongi's voice came from beyond the door.
"Eaten yet?"
-Yes. I have.
"What were you doing?"
-Studying.
"What kind?"
-…….
No answer meant he was studying mechanism arrays again. That always saddened Jegal Hyeonun.
"Mechanism arrays again?"
-……I'm sorry, Father.
"That good, huh?"
-……I think it's necessary.
"Why?"
-Qimen dunjia formations require vast wealth and are hard to maintain. But mechanism arrays, once set, rarely break and are easy to manage.
That was why the Jegal family had locked Jegal Cheongi away. Two years already. It must be stifling in there, yet Cheongi's stubbornness outmatched even the elders.
-Father.
"Yes?"
-……I heard a guest came for me.
His voice brimmed with uncontainable excitement. A lifetime of rejection, and now someone sought him out—he couldn't hide his joy.
"……Sigh. Yeongyeong told you?"
-I'm sorry. I told her not to come.
"Enough. You won't meet him anyway."
-What?!
Jegal Hyeonun debated how to handle it, then calmly explained everything. Only then would Cheongi give up quickly.
-Wh-what do you mean, Father! The Ironclad Black Nether Monk?!
Clunk clunk. The door shook like it might burst open.
"Don't worry. That's why I assigned Yeongyeong. You can't chat if you're dead, right?"
-Father, this is wrong. Send warriors to help that hero now.
"Didn't you hear the condition? Help from warriors means failure."
-But…….
"Even in danger, Yeongyeong will save you. Stay put."
-Father!
Jegal Hyeonun left his pleading son and headed to his office.
"Hm?"
The family compound was in an uproar. Warriors grabbing weapons, artisans packing tools. They checked large parasols for shade and horse saddles too.
"Ah! House Lord! Here you are."
A passing steward approached.
"What's going on?"
"Elder Taesang is heading to Geummok Mountain tomorrow."
"Geummok Mountain?"
"He doubts that Tae-eul Gate youth is taking the test properly."
"What do you mean?"
"The surveillance warriors say he's just wandering the village, then holing up in the inn to eat and rest."
"Heh……."
"Elder Taesang suspects something, so he's going with the other elders."
Jegal Hyeonun gave a wry smile. That paranoid old man, insulted by a young Jin Sowoon and baffled by his odd behavior—curiosity must be killing him. But mobilizing artisans too was overkill. The cost of one artisan for a personal outing?
"Probably worried the Ironclad Black Nether Monk might ambush him."
"Pardon?"
Jegal Hyeonun told the steward,
"Tell them I'm coming too."
"Pardon?"
"I'm curious how that youth plans to catch the Ironclad Black Nether Monk."
# In the morning, after leaving the inn, I headed to the hunter's house. I hadn't told the Jegal people, but they were trailing me like shadows.
"You've come?"
"Heavens!"
Eight wild boars already lay in the hunter's yard.
"Caught all these in one day?"
"We scoured the mountains all night with every hunter in the village."
"Impressive. Anyone catch five yet?"
"Not yet."
"Too bad."
"Wait a bit. We'll get two more by tonight."
This hairy hunter seemed to have caught three of the eight.
"I'll look forward to it."
"Oh, and old man Kang from the river left herbs at dawn."
"For me?"
"Yes. The rest later."
I eyed the piled bundles of herbs.
"What do you plan to use all this for?"
"Mind if I borrow your yard?"
"As much as you want."
# A while later, large pots borrowed from the inn and eatery lined the yard. I dumped a bundle of herbs into each, added firewood, and started boiling water. The hunter went to check overnight traps, and I paid the errand boys ten coppers each to tend the fires.
Meanwhile, I slit one boar's belly and gutted it.
"What're you doing?"
The herbalist elder arrived with the rest of the herbs in a cart.
"Herbs need steaming to bring out their effects."
"Not by boiling them like idiots! Who's gonna eat that?"
"Not for people."
"Then?"
"For the serpent."
"What?!"
The old man's jaw dropped.
"Feeding those herbs to the serpent? You mad? It eats people."
"Misunderstanding. I'm feeding it herbs to catch it."
"You think this will catch the serpent?"
"Yes."
I dumped the boiled water from a pot, scooped the mushy herbs, and stuffed the gutted boar's belly full. Then I sewed it shut with silk thread and needle.
"What's that smell? Someone sick?"
"Ugh, and what's with those boars."
"Heard some guy offered three silver taels per boar yesterday. All the village men are up the mountains now."
"But they're all here."
People drawn by the smell gathered at the hunter's house.
Interestingly, none feared or cowered at the Jegal warriors. If anything, they treated them with disdain and scornful glances.
"He says he's gonna catch the serpent."
An errand boy stoking the fire spoke up, and murmurs swelled among the crowd.
"What? Catch the serpent?"
"Says stuffing them like this will do it."
"For real?"
"Nah, lie. Even the Jegal family won't touch it—how could this guy alone?"
The murmurs grew louder, turning to suspicious stares.
"Hey, you. True you're going after the serpent?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I'll show you if you help."
"……Hm. Help how?"
The skeptical middle-aged man shuffled closer.
"Stuff the boar's gut with boiled herbs like I did."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
The hesitant man started helping, and others followed one by one.
"Aigoo, sew tighter or the herbs spill. Move."
"Scrape the guts but leave some meat. This is serpent bait, right?"
"Exactly."
People pitched in, and freshly hunted boars arrived—live ones and bleeding dead ones. They'd hunted hard: twenty-five total.
"Don't kill the live ones. Separate the dead."
I paid for the boars on the spot and gave silver coins to the helpers too. As the crowd grew rowdy, more villagers joined—nearing two hundred.
Then someone shouted.
"The Jegal family!"
The festive workers froze like a band cut mid-song, staring one way.
The Jegal group arrived in full splendor—warriors and artisans. People parted, avoiding them like the plague.
"What's all this?"
"Preparing to catch the serpent."
"You were told no outside help."
"Only no warriors or hunters. This is fine, right?"
"……."
"Worried I'll catch the Ironclad Black Nether Monk with help from powerless folk?"
"Ahem……."
"So what brings you? Wait, and I'll bring you the catch."
"Your suspicious actions demanded a personal check."
"So suspicious."
Work complete, we borrowed village carts, loaded the boars, and climbed Geummok Mountain. Jegal people and villagers all followed.
"Wh-what's going on?"
Heo the village head and slash-and-burn farmers gaped.
"About to catch the serpent."
"The serpent? Finally the Jegal family stepping in?"
The herbalist elder bellowed then.
"Jegal family my ass—they're just here to watch."
"Then…… who?"
"Me."
"Y-you, warrior?"
"Yes."
"But sir…… that serpent……."
"It's fine. I know all about it—no need to explain. Instead, help me?"
"H-how?"
"Evacuate all the villagers."
"……?"
"Then tonight, no more fearing the serpent."
# I herded the Jegal group and villagers outside the slash-and-burn village. Only twenty dead boars and five live ones tied and squealing remained in the empty village.
"You should leave too. The Ironclad Black Nether Monk's vicious."
I called to Yeongyeong on the roof. Her aura flickered briefly.
-The house lord ordered me to protect you, young master.
"Unnecessary."
I nodded, grabbed a live boar's leash, and slit its throat.
Squeeeeal!
Not fully dead, it thrashed, spraying blood everywhere. After two more, the remaining pair shrieked desperately. The noise persisted, and the forest began to shake.
Rustle rustle.
Birds exploded skyward in flocks. Ancient trees swayed. The tremors headed toward the village.
I'd chosen the slash-and-burn village as its hunting ground because the beast had already marked it for prey.
"Come on."
Rumble rumble.
A massive quake reached my feet. I unleashed Heavenly Lone Walker God Step and vanished.
Moments later, the Ironclad Black Nether Monk burst from the forest, enormous body crashing through.
Shreeeeeeek!
Its house-sized maw gaped, the roar pounding my eardrums and skull. I clamped my ears shut.
Rumble rumble.
Twenty jang of iron-plated body, churning earth with every move. The legendary beast's majesty made even me quail.
No wonder people get shredded. Expecting one sword to take that down?
It scanned around, lingering on Yeongyeong's house—it sensed her. As I debated intervening, it turned back to the boars.
It snapped up a thrashing live one and swallowed whole. Despite the boar's size, it vanished traceless. Still hungry, it grabbed the next live and a dead one together.
Then it devoured relentlessly, like a banquet. As it turned to leave—
Shreeeeeeek!
It cried in agony, thrashing its neck to regurgitate the last boar.
I hurled a prepared stone without hesitation.
Thud.
It noticed me and charged.
Crunch crunch crash.
Its rampage flattened flimsy huts like paper.
Chase and evasion ensued briefly. Judging it couldn't match my speed, it tried vomiting again.
I pivoted, unleashing Cartoon Invincible Fist on its lower jaw.
Bam bam bam bam boom!
No skin damage, but it clamped shut. More chase—the beast slowed.
Gack, gack.
Desperate to expel something stuck. Shrieeek.
Red foam bubbled from its sealed jaws. The swallowed boars dissolving, herbs mixing—proof.
Graaaack! Graaaaack!
Every time it retched, I stuck close, preventing it. Soon—
Thud.
The colossal body collapsed, still.
Now.
I rushed in, activating Azure Dragon Ring. No inner core, but it brimmed with spirit energy. The ring had neutralized even the humanoid demon's poison. Its spirit and toxin would nourish me.
Without Flying Dragon Claw, I covered my forearm and absorbed.
From outside, onlookers crept closer, one by one.
"D-did he really catch it?"
"Th-this easily?"
"No way."
Fearful at first, they saw me touching it and approached.
"It's really dead."
"That damned serpent's dead!"
"The serpent's dead!"
"The warrior caught the serpent!"
"The young warrior took it down alone!"
From confirming the kill, villagers and farmers alike roared, shaking Geummok Mountain.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"