Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Losing the Home
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Having felled dozens of bandits in a single go, Eungak flashed toward the manor.
Yi Cheon Yeong and Dang Ok pulled back, their bodies soaked in crimson blood.
No matter how many they killed, the bandits kept swarming endlessly.
Yi Cheon Yeong, retreating, shouted toward Hahu Yeon.
"Hahu Yeon! Guard the manor!"
Pfbt!Thud!
Hahu Yeon, who had been skewering bandits like kebabs, leaped high into the air.
As he soared, he turned his head, and the sight of raging flames engulfing the manor filled his eyes.
Ah...
How could that manor—that place—be burning like this?
Pfbt...!
Landing on the ground, he pierced the necks of the oncoming bandits and dashed toward the manor.
Entering through the shattered main gate, he saw his squad members fighting desperately.
"Die! Die, you bastards...!"
Slash...Slash...
Kuuaak...!
Aaak...!
With every swing of Paeng Se Gi's great blade, bandits' heads tumbled to the dirt, while Eungak appeared here and there, shattering limbs.
Kuh...
Kraaak...!
Each flash of Yi Cheon Yeong's sword sent bandits crumpling amid sprays of blood.
"Ok! Link up with Sa Sa Un!"
Paeng Se Gi roared like a maddened tiger toward Dang Ok.
Having expended all her hidden weapons, she gripped her sword, clashing with the foes.
"Are you insane? What about the manor...!"
Her rage had stripped her of reason; she showed no intent to flee.
Pfbt!Thud!
After cleaving the bandits' bodies, Paeng Se Gi surveyed the blazing manor.
Of the dozens of halls, half were already engulfed, and the rest billowed black smoke from torches hurled by bandits.
"You filthy dogs...!"
Grief and fury brought tears to his eyes.
Gazing at the burning manor felt like his own body was incinerating.
"Brother...!"
He cried out for Se Yeong.
As if in answer, a lion's roar erupted from the darkness.
"Retreat...!"
Rumble...Grrumble...!
The earth-shaking bellow dislodged even the tiles from the burning halls.
"Uwaaa...!"
Thud!
Dang Ok bellowed in fury and severed a bandit's neck with her sword.
Then, without hesitation, she whirled away.
Slash...Slash...
Kraaak...!
As she vanished into the darkness first, Yi Cheon Yeong slashed throats and chests in quick succession before following suit.
Pfbt!Thud!
Hahu Yeon, piercing necks and chests, glanced up at the burning manor before melting into the shadows.
Clang!Clang...
Slash...Thud!
Paeng Se Gi slashed necks and split chests with his blade, then let out a long sigh.
Haa...
"Let's go, monk."
But Eungak silently crushed bandits' bones.
Crack!Snap!
Gurgh...!
Aaak...!
Hearing their death rattles as he pulverized bones, Eungak clasped his hands solemnly.
"Om mani padme hum."
Paeng Se Gi, about to snap at the absurd sight, shut his mouth.
Of course—the guy was human too; he had every right to be furious.
Pfbt!Thud!Pfbt...!
With each flash of the iron club, bandits' heads and chests shattered, blood gushing forth.
Cough...!
Kuuaaaak...!
As the blade bit into his waist, Se Yeong shifted and swung his iron club.
Kwaaang...!
The blade and club clashed; Aksu Deok leaped back.
"Retreat first, Young Master."
Se Yeong's words drew a shake of the head from Squad Leader Kang.
"You first, Young Master."
He was locked in combat with the burly brute.
Se Yeong fixed his gaze on the idly watching Aksu Deok.
"What's your real goal?"
From the start, there'd been no enmity or killing intent.
He was merely fending off half-heartedly.
"I but follow the Supreme One's command."
At Aksu Deok's reply, Se Yeong pushed off with his toes.
Whoosh...
Pfbt!Thud...!
Moving toward the manor, he swung; nearby bandits' heads exploded.
Squad Leader Kang shifted to the manor as well, bandits swarming after.
"Burn it all down...!"
A thunderous roar like lightning burst from the emboldened Stronghold Chief's mouth.
A blue glint flickered in Se Yeong's eyes as he entered the manor.
Every hall was now ablaze.
Not just those with kitchens—even the chicken coops behind were burning.
Unable to shake their thieving habits, bandits rushed into the infernos seeking valuables.
But there were no treasures left inside.
Aaaak...Aaak...!
"Save me...!"
"Save...!"
Bandits engulfed in flames from the halls screamed, rolling amid collapsing structures.
Rumble...Crash...!
Kuhahaha...!
"Burns nice, doesn't it."
Se Yeong turned toward the laughter.
By martial prowess or demeanor, that one was surely the bandits' leader.
Sss...
The moment fierce killing intent welled, his manor-bound form scattered like smoke left and right.
The startled Stronghold Chief frantically shifted.
Then, the iron club plummeted from above.
Kwaang...!
The falling club met the raised trident.
Kugh...
A stifled groan; unable to withstand the impact, he staggered back.
The seasoned fighter swept the trident low at his waist even as he retreated.
Kwaang...!
The club digging at his waist clashed with the trident.
Kuuugh...
His grip throbbed; his arms felt ready to tear off.
The quietly watching Aksu Deok intervened, swinging his blade.
Se Yeong swung the club with his left and drew his sword with his right.
Kwaang...!
Slash...
The club met blade; the sword carved the Stronghold Chief's chest.
Kugh...
Blood sprayed as his chest split.
But too shallow—no bone-deep cut.
Terror-stricken, the Chief tried dodging into his bandits.
"You bastard...!"
Squad Leader Kang blocked his path.
The Chief swung his jagged trident at his neck.
But Se Yeong's sword was a fraction faster.
Thud...
Finally splitting the Chief's skull, Se Yeong raised his club toward Aksu Deok.
Drip...Drip...
Congealed crimson dripped from the club to the ground.
"The Chief has fallen...!"
"Stronghold Chief is dead...!"
The boldly charging bandits wailed at his death.
The Green Forest was a ruthless world of the strong devouring the weak.
The mighty could claim chieftainship; the weak had no choice but submission.
"Wait just a moment."
Se Yeong turned the club from Aksu Deok toward the bandits.
His form scattered like smoke.
Kwaaakwaang...!
Tsk...
Aksu Deok eyed the burning halls with displeasure.
Kwaaakwaang...!Kwaang...!
Kraaak...!
Aaak...!
Auras exploded everywhere; bandits' screams rang out.
Yet he spared their deaths no thought.
They were doomed to die someday anyway.
The Supreme One had subjugated the Green Forest for the Demonic Cult war, but Aksu Deok remained uneasy.
Bandits could betray at any moment.
If the Demonic Cult proved far stronger than expected, they'd turn blades immediately.
The Supreme One knew this best.
He unwrapped the long object on his back.
Removing the cloth revealed a pitch-black iron club.
"What's that?"
Se Yeong had approached unseen, raising his own club.
"Your death."
Aksu Deok replied calmly, tossing the club into the flames.
"...What?"
As Se Yeong voiced confusion, Aksu Deok spoke.
"Han Se Yeong. How long do you think you can live so arrogantly?"
"What do you mean?"
Se Yeong shot back.
He'd only ever wanted to live freely—never arrogantly.
Aksu Deok delayed answering, hurling scattered bandit corpses into the fire.
Thump...!Flop...!
Black smoke rose from the bodies; the stench of roasting flesh filled the air.
He kept tossing them in.
"I don't fully understand it myself, but the Supreme One said this: When the Demonic Cult war erupts, you'll be the first to die. Or perhaps even before it begins."
After tossing the Chief's corpse, Aksu Deok stood.
Dozens of bodies remained strewn about despite his efforts.
"Silver Benefactor Amid Calamity. That's the Supreme One's message for you."
He met Se Yeong's eyes briefly, then turned away.
Se Yeong lowered his club.
"Tell him I'll come soon."
"I will."
Se Yeong stared vacantly at the halls crumbling to ash.
His eyes watched the blackening ruins, but his mind replayed Aksu Deok's words.
'How long can you live so arrogantly? How long...'
Perhaps the man was right.
Surviving this far had been sheer luck.
He might've died by the Alliance Leader's hand before even leaving the Murim Alliance.
Even after settling here, Heaven Dominating Blade King, Sword Empress, or Iron Fist Buddha could've ended him.
Even if he escaped them somehow, the Alliance Leader could visit anytime.
Se Yeong recalled the Strategist's parting words upon leaving the manor.
'What do you think lies behind those 500,000 nyang? The Alliance Leader won't hold back anymore.'
Perhaps that had been a warning.
Hahaha...
Laughter escaped Se Yeong's lips.
"Don't take Aksu Deok's words to heart, Young Master. You're doing plenty well as is."
Squad Leader Kang offered comfort beside him.
But Se Yeong's ears didn't hear it.
'Do I have to die, as he said?'
The squad members returned from hiding in the mine's shack.
"Those... bastards..."
Paeng Se Gi wept, staring at the charred remains of the halls.
The others wiped tears; the siblings wailed openly.
Waaah...!
Sa Sa Un headed to what had been his kitchen workplace.
That hall too was burned black, ruins only.
It had been a hellish place, yet gazing at the blackened kitchen brought tears streaming.
"Those double bastards. Do you know how much I cherished those chickens?"
Following, Paeng Se Gi muttered at the charred dead fowl.
Apparently, those snakes-and-centipedes-fed chickens meant more than the kitchen.
Sa Sa Un pitied the dead chickens too.
He'd hatched their eggs meant for meals into birds.
Gazing sadly, he gaped at Paeng Se Gi's mutter.
"Should've eaten them sooner..."
"...In this situation, that's what you say?"