#76. Black Flame Dragon Leaping Over the Pass (4)
The feast began, and all the villagers who'd been dragged off to Ssangmak Stronghold were mobilized. Men and women alike, every one of them was skin and bones, covered in wounds and bruises without exception.
Our group forgot we were surrounded by the stronghold's bandits as we ground our teeth at the sight.
"Ahem."
"Cough."
In the midst of it, some of Bang Du-chil's subordinates started turning pale. They had stiffened up completely, exposed to a sudden wave of killing intent.
The source was none other than Dongryong. It was hard to believe such murderous aura could come from a kid who hadn't even shed his baby fat.
I approached Dongryong and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. We'll get them out."
"...Ah, yes. Of course. I believe you, senior brother."
Dongryong seemed unaware he'd just exuded such thick killing intent.
"... ."
Geum Pyo, who knew about Dongryong's innate killer nature, looked at me with worried eyes.
It's fine. The kid's got a righteous personality and a soft heart, so as long as he doesn't let the killer instinct take over, there won't be any issues. Once his mastery of the Tae-eul True Scripture deepens, he'll be immune to its influence.
I reminded him of what I'd explained a few nights ago, and Geum Pyo nodded despite the anxiety in his eyes.
*
With around five hundred people rushing to prepare the food at once, the feast was ready in no time.
The bandits, steam rising from the hot meals in front of them, ignored the starving villagers and focused solely on eating and drinking among themselves.
"Take them as promised."
At Dok-an Blood Lord's words, the clustered villagers' expressions turned blank.
"I hope we can continue these fruitful dealings."
I offered a cupped-fist salute, and Dok-an Blood Lord and Gold-Faced Demon started devouring food and chattering as if they couldn't care less.
"Everyone, come with us back to the village."
"...Pardon? What do you... ."
Even after I spoke, the villagers hesitated to move, glancing nervously at Dok-an Blood Lord and Gold-Faced Demon.
"The deal's done. Let's head home together."
"... ."
The five hundred or so people trembled violently at my words but kept stealing looks at the two leaders.
After a long bout of raucous talk, the pair glanced at the villagers, sneered dismissively, and waved them off irritably.
Only then did people start collapsing to the ground one by one, their legs giving out.
"Sniff... Are we really going home?"
"Thank you, warrior! Thank you so much."
"I'll never forget this kindness."
The villagers sat weeping openly toward us.
Behind them stood Gold-Faced Demon and Dok-an Blood Lord, mocking the scene.
Many of the feasting bandits grinned slyly too, as if privy to some sinister plan.
"Save the thanks for when you're home. Don't you all want to leave this place as soon as possible?"
At my words, the slumped villagers sprang up and moved with desperate speed, eager not to linger a moment longer.
#
Leading the villagers down, I stopped at the gathered wagons and spoke to Bang Du-chil.
"Brother Bang, take that path down. I'll go back the way we came."
"... ."
Bang Du-chil scowled without answering.
Finally, Baek So-ryeong stepped in from where she'd been watching.
"Young Master Jin, what do you mean by that?"
"There's only one path off Cheonmok Mountain. The bandits have no choice but to use it if they flee. I'll handle this side, so your group takes the opposite."
"Flee?"
Baek So-ryeong tilted her head in confusion.
"I'm setting the whole mountain ablaze."
Her and Bang Du-chil's jaws dropped at the mention of fire.
"...That would... But why so hastily? At least let the villagers evacuate first... ."
"Didn't you notice Ssangmak Stronghold's leaders and key figures missing?"
"Pardon?"
"They didn't touch a drop of alcohol during the feast. They won't drag this out."
"...Even so... ."
"And we can't let the chance to strike slip past today."
"...Huh?"
"Just wait, and the bandits will come down that path. No matter how many, Brother Bang can handle them in the narrow defile, right?"
Bang Du-chil, arms crossed, finally spoke gravely.
"Bandits are good at mountains. That's why they bandit."
"Even mountain-savvy bandits can't climb a flame mountain—the kind where fire never dies, like the one the Ox Demon King lived on."
"... ."
#
Gold-Faced Demon's eyebrow shot up as he tore into his meat.
"What?"
"Unknown figures have been pouring oil all over Cheonmok Mountain's nooks and crannies."
"Oil? Who the hell are they?"
"Unfortunately, they were too quick on their feet."
"You damned fool!"
Gold-Faced Demon hurled his half-eaten meat away.
"Why keep a scout like you around if that's all you got? Might as well tie a dog to a post."
"My apologies."
Dok-an Blood Lord, who'd been observing, chuckled dryly.
"Brother Song, it's obvious, isn't it?"
"Obvious? You suspect someone?"
"Who else but that Jin Sowoon from Tae-eul Gate?"
"That kid from earlier?"
Gold-Faced Demon cocked his head. The guy had clearly wanted no beef with Ssangmak Stronghold. So why the oil?
"The scout who led them up reported the guy pretended to spill liquor barrels, sprinkling oil along the paths as he climbed."
"What? No way."
"They're planning to torch the place."
"That ungrateful bastard. Even if we can't trust the righteous sects... We just made a deal, and now this backstab?"
Dok-an Blood Lord grinned slyly at Gold-Faced Demon's outrage.
"We were gonna wrap things up quick anyway with everyone gathered. He's handed us the perfect excuse—better for us."
"Heh, idiot. Could've just paid up and left."
They'd never intended to release the villagers in the first place.
Nearly a thousand illiterate bandits? The villagers cooked, mended, handled all the chores. Laughable otherwise.
Ssangmak Stronghold on Cheonmok Mountain couldn't function without them.
And paying them off? Out of the question.
"Was gonna let them reunite with family for old times' sake, but they're grabbing their own ankles."
"Heh heh, works in our favor. No need to twiddle thumbs a day or two."
"Everyone! Prepare!"
Gold-Faced Demon's booming shout echoed across the hills. Bandits who'd been eating meat and sipping water instead of booze drew weapons in unison.
#
Village head Heo couldn't wrap his head around the people standing before him.
"Sang-gu!"
He'd ignored warnings not to, prepared something anyway, and now brought back everyone kidnapped by Ssangmak Stronghold.
Forgetting fears of reprisal, Village Head Heo wept at seeing his son and daughter-in-law after a year.
*
The released hostages bolted toward their homes. As commotion grew at the village entrance, residents rushed out, bursting into tears upon recognizing them.
Embraces everywhere, snot and tears flowing freely.
My client's grandfather, Village Head Heo, clutched his returned child and spouse, tears cascading like a waterfall.
"Sniff. Sob. Hic."
Dongryong beside me was unconsciously tearing up too.
"Senior brother, I really admire you. Sob."
Geum Pyo and Eunho nodded at Dongryong's words.
"Yeah. But this is just the start. Stay sharp."
"You mentioned setting fires earlier. Will that catch them?"
"That should... ."
As I started to answer the gold-silver-bronze brothers, Village Head Heo approached.
"Thank you. Truly. And sorry. With even the officials and Murim Alliance turning us away, we couldn't trust anyone—not even ourselves."
His face full of guilt as he gripped my hand.
I pulled away only to clasp his again.
"How's that your fault, Village Head? Blame those who wouldn't stand for the weak."
"... ."
Village Head Heo's wrinkled face crumpled further, on the verge of fresh tears.
"Not the time for crying, elder."
"Right... Time to smile. A feast! I'll prepare a feast."
I shook my head.
"Not feast time either."
"Huh?"
"Can you lead everyone away and hide?"
"What're you saying?"
"Ssangmak Stronghold will come crashing down soon."
"Huh?"
The name sent Village Head Heo and the villagers jumping in shock.
"We paid, but they never planned to let you go."
"Th-then what? We've lived here our whole lives. Nowhere else to go."
"Just evacuate the village for now and hide. We'll handle it."
"... ."
Doubt filled their eyes—understandably, with Bang Du-chil's group headed to the other side of Cheonmok Mountain, leaving us just four.
I wouldn't buy it either.
"Take this."
I pulled out the 5,000-nyang bill of exchange meant for Yang Gun-baek.
"...I-is this real?"
Village Head Heo gawked, seeing such a sum for the first time.
"Head to Hangzhou first and watch events. If we lose, use it to start over. If we win, buy supplies to return—the village will need plenty to rebuild."
"... ."
"... ."
The listening villagers clamped mouths shut, staring with complex eyes. They had something to say.
Village Head Heo finally spoke.
"Why... why go this far? We've never even met you... ."
Lifelong loners like them suspected kindness on instinct.
I knew, having been the same.
No need for long explanations.
"Because I'm different."
"What... ."
"Different from the Murim Alliance, other warriors. That's all."
"... ."
As Village Head Heo and I talked, Yang Gun-baek arrived with fifty Haomen members.
"Young Master Sowoon... ."
Clothes dirtied with leaves and soil—they'd gone to do my bidding.
"Sorry. Ssangmak spotted us."
"I see."
I'd asked them to sprinkle oil across Cheonmok Mountain. But the mountain was vast, lower areas visible from above, so things hadn't gone smoothly.
"Best to flee now. Ssangmak's arming up to descend."
I turned to Village Head Heo.
"Hear that? Clear out so we can fight freely."
"Ah, got it."
At news of Ssangmak coming, villagers fled without grabbing possessions.
"Young Master Sowoon, you flee too. I get the fire attack, but igniting the whole mountain's tricky."
Cheonmok was overgrown from bandit terror keeping loggers away, but riddled with valleys and springs. I knew that well.
I scanned the sky instead of answering.
Clouds were moving faster.
"Prepare fire arrows?"
"...You mean to calm the winds?"
Oil was just kindling, after all.
"Yes. Today, Ssangmak burns entirely."
"... ."
"Light the fires, then go."
"...How could we? We'll leave together."
At my stubbornness, Yang Gun-baek nodded to his Haomen folk, who readied fire arrows.
"Waaaaah!"
From the peak, a packed mass descended the path, weapons gleaming.
"Loose!"
Yang Gun-baek's cry sent fire arrows arcing across Cheonmok, sparking small blazes everywhere.
"Senior brother... You're burning the whole mountain with that?"
"This area's had bad droughts since two years back—especially this year, scorching hot."
"Pardon?"
"And fall's the season to fear wildfires most."
I pulled the Zhejiang Hangzhou branch report from my mental library—the one where Bang Du-chil's hostage rescue omission had annoyed me.
Couldn't be helped; reports always had subjective views.
But some facts were objective.
Gyeongja Month, Gapin Day.
Weather - Sudden fierce northwest winds sparked natural wildfires across Zhejiang Province.
Whoosh.
An ominous gale swept the area. Those in loose training robes staggered mere steps in the blast.
"Oil's just the spark."
Black smoke began curling from where fire arrows landed in the woods.
"But a small spark with strong winds can burn a whole mountain easy."
The blaze spread in seconds. Woods with faint smoke turned inferno instantly.
Yang Gun-baek gaped at the faster-than-expected flames, eyes on me.
"Young Master Sowoon... Did you... ."
Boom! Boom boom!
Oil barrels Yang Gun-baek had hidden ignited too, fueling the blaze wildly.
Descending bandits faltered at the acrid smoke surging up.
"You idiots hesitating? Break through!"
Under repeated bellows, a few bandits pushed through the smoke.
"Gah!"
"Flames already?"
"C-can't pass!"
But beyond smoke loomed massive fire walls.
Roarrr.
"Senior brother... That's where... ."
Eunho stared at me in disbelief, recognizing the shattered oil barrels from our wagons.