Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Exposed
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The retainers who returned from the Four Directions Clan couldn't hide their shock at the sight of their family head.
His feet had been perfectly fine when they set out from the estate, but now, upon returning from the Four Directions Clan, he sat with his right foot wrapped in layers of cloth.
The uncle was equally astonished.
"Did... did you make it back safely, Uncle?"
They had assumed the uncle and the retainers had been captured and killed by Hwang Moo Yeong, so it was only natural they'd react this way upon seeing him unscathed.
"What in the world happened, Family Head?"
When the uncle pressed him, Yi Dae In bowed his head and shed tears.
"Hwang Moo Yeong suddenly stormed in... and cut off all the toes on my right foot. That bastard knew I'd gone to the Four Directions Clan for help."
"How could he possibly know that?"
The uncle's face filled with doubt.
"Now... even I have no idea."
He let out a sigh at the sight of the family head wiping away his tears.
Haa...
"In any case, the Four Directions Clan promised to send a truly formidable expert, so just hold on a little longer."
At the uncle's words, a flash of realization struck the family head.
'So that's it. That's what happened. The Four Directions Clan's expert must have arrived here before my uncle and beaten us to confronting Hwang Moo Yeong.'
This whole mess had unfolded due to a perfect storm of mishaps.
The Four Directions Clan's expert had moved faster than the uncle and retainers, who had been delayed on their return journey.
The biggest blunder was the Four Directions Clan underestimating Hwang Moo Yeong and sending only a middling expert.
"Uncle, did you truly emphasize just how profound Hwang Moo Yeong's martial arts are?"
Yi Dae In asked, his voice laced with subtle anger.
"Of course I did. I didn't just mention Hwang Moo Yeong—I told them about his companions as well. If anything, they seemed deeply intrigued by him and grilled me with questions."
They showed interest in Hwang Moo Yeong, yet still didn't send a top-tier expert?
"Did you meet with the White Master?"
"I didn't even catch a glimpse of him. The one I spoke to was a man who looked to be in his early thirties."
As expected—a man in his early thirties wouldn't hold much sway in the Four Directions Clan.
Yi Dae In shed tears once more in utter despair.
He'd lost his wealth and now his toes—how could he not weep?
'This year is cursed with calamity, no doubt.'
Thick logs, soaked in saltwater and dried, were hauled into the estate by horses.
The estate workers sawed them to match the height of the other pillars.
Screeech... screeech...
Thud! Clang...!
Amid the clamor of sawing and hammering, Se Yeong asked the lumberyard owner,
"How much?"
"Twenty silver taels. A special discount for you, young master."
Twenty silver taels for two thick log pillars?
Il Hwa, who had been tilting her head in confusion, jumped in angrily.
"Hey, mister, what makes two logs so expensive? Five silver taels should cover it easy."
The lumberyard owner frowned.
"Don't say such things. These aren't ordinary trees—they're precious pear trees, pear trees. You won't find this quality at this price anywhere else. Plus, we held a ritual before cutting them."
"You didn't hold the ritual yourself, mister. The loggers did. You just bought the wood."
As Il Hwa kept pressing, the owner scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'll knock off two taels."
"Looking forward to doing business again."
Se Yeong counted out the silver and handed it over. The owner bowed deeply.
"Just say the word. I'll procure anything you need, young master."
After the lumberyard owner left, Se Yeong turned to Il Hwa.
"You holding up okay?"
"Of course."
She answered spiritedly.
But contrary to her words, martial arts training was no easy feat.
The hardest part was dashing to the distant, hazy mountains visible in the morning and back.
On the first day, she'd collapsed multiple times from exhaustion, vomiting blood.
Each time, Yeong Gak had circulated her qi beside her, and only by lunchtime did she barely make it back to the estate.
And then Sa Sa Un's sharp voice would follow.
"Why are you so late! If you're going to dawdle like this, forget about training!"
He yelled because he had to prepare lunch alone.
The siblings felt wronged to the point of tears but endured steadfastly.
"Keep at it. I went through the same when I was young."
Encouraging the siblings, Se Yeong headed to the training ground.
His chest wound hadn't fully healed, making intense sparring impossible.
'With the Black-Faced Ghost Lord unable to return, the Four Directions Clan will send more experts.'
Se Yeong's worry wasn't the incoming experts—it was his identity being exposed.
'Should I prepare for that possibility?'
As Se Yeong pondered deeply, Paeng Se Gi approached.
"Something troubling you, brother?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Se Yeong looked up at him.
"Starting tomorrow, let's set up a formation."
"A formation? Out of nowhere?"
"To guard against enemy raids."
Se Yeong knew the principles of formations but couldn't deploy an advanced one.
Still, fooling the enemy and pinning them in place seemed feasible enough.
No one knew where the rumor originated.
Yet it spread through the martial world like wildfire, as if it had wings.
"Han Se Yeong is hiding in Geumcheon!"
The rumor, which seemed deliberately spread, reached the ears of experts scouring Sichuan for him.
Those in Sichuan began heading to Geumcheon.
And the rumor reached Geumcheon too.
Se Yeong spotted the inn's young errand boy racing toward them from afar.
'Something's up.'
He'd seized the village entrance inn precisely to hear martial world news first.
When the innkeeper came to greet him, Se Yeong had reduced the monthly rent.
In exchange, he was to report any rumors immediately.
The crew, shifting large boulders for the formation, also recognized the boy.
"What's that kid running so hard for?"
Yi Cheon Yeong went out to meet the panting errand boy.
"What is it?"
Gasping for breath, face flushed red, the boy replied,
"The master said... huff huff... run quick and tell you... huff huff... there's a martial world criminal... named Han Se Yeong... hiding in our village."
Hearing this, the crew's faces darkened in unison.
'It's out.'
Their worst fear had come true.
Se Yeong approached the boy and pressed five coins into his hand.
"Good work. Head back now."
"Thanks, mister!"
The boy bowed and dashed off gleefully.
"What now?"
Instructor Kang voiced his concern first.
"We'll defend as long as we can."
"It won't be easy. Perhaps..."
He wanted to urge Se Yeong to become the new master of the Demonic Cult.
But he couldn't force it.
A subordinate follows his master's will.
"Come on. Let's hurry with the formation."
Se Yeong rushed the setup.
If his mother were here, the estate and surrounding area would be shrouded in thick fog.
'Should've learned more deeply back then.'
Regretting the past was pointless now.
He could only do what was possible at the moment.
"I knew it. I knew that's how it'd be."
For the first time in ages, color returned to Yi Dae In's face.
Kuhahaha...!
"Hwang Moo Yeong is Han Se Yeong. Hwang Moo Yeong was Han Se Yeong all along...!"
Overjoyed, he even shouted aloud.
A young expert like Hwang Moo Yeong couldn't have appeared out of thin air.
Yi Dae In had long suspected as much but dismissed it upon hearing Han Se Yeong was in Sichuan.
Yet his suspicion proved spot on.
Now, he could seek aid from martial clans and sects without offering tribute.
No—he wouldn't even need to ask.
"He's done for. That bastard's finally done for."
Kuhahaha...!
So elated, Yi Dae In even danced awkwardly despite his uncooperative body.
'But I need to reclaim the estate and land he stole...'
Mid-dance, he glanced at his severed fingers and toes.
'If I claim he chopped off my fingers and toes and seized it by force...'
A scheme dawning, Yi Dae In limped outside.
"Anyone around?"
Retainers rushed over at his call.
"You summoned us, Family Head?"
"Go to the big village right now and spread the word: Han Se Yeong plundered the Yi Family estate and lands in Geumcheon!"
The retainers grasped his intent immediately.
"Understood!"
About two hundred li from Geumcheon stood a fairly large mountain called Dragon Horn Mountain.
Originally Sheep Horn Mountain, a local official had renamed it upon arrival.
Sheep horns were considered unlucky, hindering advancement.
Though its shape hardly resembled a dragon's horn.
In any case, the official was promoted to the capital, and the name stuck.
Its rugged terrain saw only occasional herb gatherers.
But about a year ago, bandits established a stronghold there.
They began collecting tolls without raiding villages, quietly enough that even the Murim Alliance ignored them.
Yet their chief was a renowned expert.
Green Earth Twin Axes, U Bal Cho.
He gathered his men, his face etched with displeasure.
"Why did we set up here?"
The bandits chorused,
"To be as far from Yellow Gate Mountain as possible."
U Bal Cho asked again.
"Why did we set up here?"
They replied in unison,
"Because there are plenty of travelers."
The chief nodded gravely.
"Exactly. It was the perfect spot to build our forces without worry."
While imprisoned on Yellow Gate Mountain for three years, the Green Forest had changed drastically.
The five strongholds he'd managed were all handed to the Green Forest Chief.
He had no choice but to start over.
Dragon Horn Mountain was ideal: ample travelers meant no need for raids, and only minor strongholds nearby.
Until one martial world rumor ruined it all.
That damn Han Se Yeong.
How could he forget that name?
Two hundred li was close if you thought of it that way, far if otherwise.
"If we just collect tolls quietly, the young master—no, Han Se Yeong—won't even know we're here."
The subordinate was right.
But the unease lingered.
"Is this Han Se Yeong really that formidable?"
The chief voiced his doubt.
He was the chief of a stronghold a hundred li north, whom U Bal Cho had subdued four months prior and made deputy due to his profound skills.
Once known as a vicious rogue, the Ghost of the Ledger.
"The martial world doesn't yet grasp his brutality. They'll regret it after dying. From now on, scrutinize toll payers. If you see a young man with an iron club approaching from afar, run without looking back."
"What if he chases?"
"Kneel and beg. Swear off banditry, and he might spare you. Though a few bones will break."
The bandits shuddered, recalling Yellow Gate Mountain.
They never wanted to relive that nightmare.