Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Trap Within a Trap
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Weve made a nice little nest egg. If we push our luck, well get caught. Lets get out of here.
Hey! You fool.
Why?
The money's finally rolling in, why would we leave now?
Tsk! Have some sense, man. Havent you noticed the mood in the village has gotten strange?
Im just saying we should fleece a few more before we go.
As the two men chuckled, the bandit standing beside them let out a deep sigh.
What was he even doing here?
If the one who sent him here wasn't the master of Mount Shandong, he would never have done this. Even bandits had their standards.
After all the grunts who did the menial tasks were crushed by the Namgung family, there was no one left to handle the chores.
Damn it all.
Thats enough, you fools.
...Yes?
Ah, no, thats
Perhaps it was the weight of their fattened purses.
The bandit sighed deeply at the two men who had lost all sense before him, their eyes blinded by greed.
It seems youve forgotten who youre messing with.
Crack, crack.
As he made a menacing sound by cracking his knuckles, the two mens faces turned pale. Only then did they realize their lives were more important than their greed.
Ive gotten what I wanted, so I should be going. Theres no reason to stay any longer.
As the bandit pushed his heavy body up, one of the men looked up and rubbed his palms together.
Why dont you stay a little longer? Hehehe.
Its not like I have nothing better to do
Its not that. You see, a new girl, just sixteen, has arrived at the new pleasure house, and her beauty is said to be breathtaking. Ill make sure to secure her for you tonight, even if it costs me everything, so why not rest here a little longer?
At the mans words, the bandit paused, seeming to consider it. The other man quickly chimed in.
It is said that a true man never refuses a woman or a drink. A hero of the mountains is a hero among heroes! How could we see such a hero and not offer our hospitality?
At those words, the corner of the bandits mouth twitched.
...Well then, since its getting late, I suppose I have no choice but to stay one more day.
The sun was still high in the sky.
Alright, where do I need to go?
The two men, inwardly cheering at the bandits reaction, immediately turned and headed for an inn called Hwayang Pavilion. They moved on, and soon, all that remained there was the bandit, holding a girl of exquisite beauty as if she were his own, and the two men, ready to drink themselves into a stupor.
And a shadow, watching it all.
...Living the good life.
Why dont you kill them?
At Black Tigers words, I shook my head.
Wait.
To get what you want, you must have patience. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
By the way, where did you send Daemyeong?
...Hes lived in Shandong longer than we have. Because of that, quite a few people seem to recognize him. I sent him to see if he could hear anything about whats going on.
And I had given him one other instruction, too.
But I saw no need to explain it in detail.
Lets meet in four hours. That should be enough time.
I could see the bandit in my sights growing more and more festive.
We searched the mountain. My uncle and I had scoured Mount Shandong for five years. We already knew it like the back of our hands. Plus, we had the warriors of the Namgung family following us.
At the news of Yumi and Namgung Gamyeongs disappearance, one hundred and fifty men had plunged into Mount Shandong at once. After twenty-two Green Forest strongholds had been wiped out, only three remained: the Red Tiger, White Tiger, and Green Tiger Strongholds.
We should have settled this long ago!
It was obvious those bastards had to be behind it, so my uncle and I charged in without hesitation.
However.
In that place we had cut our way into.
...Where did they go? Why cant I feel any presence?
The magnificent stronghold was a clear step up from the others we had seen. Judging by its grandeur, it was certain these were the masters of Mount Shandong.
It was just that the so-called masters were nowhere to be found.
Only a few low-level bandits remained. I strode forward and placed the tip of my sword at a bandits throat.
...Kuhaha, the tigers demonic tale has begun. Youll pay dearly for messing with us...!
Slash!
I sent the bandits head flying in a single strike. Leaving the limp corpse behind, I approached another bandit.
But.
...A woman? Puhahaha. If its a woman you want, shes already been defiled by hundreds of our men...
Slash!
Another head soared into the air. I moved without wasting any more time.
W-wait! Dont just kill them, wait a moment. We need to talk to them!
I heard my uncles anxious voice. With only three or four bandits left, my immediate beheadings were making him increasingly uneasy.
We found them!
Just then.
At the shout from a member of the Namgung family, my uncles head snapped around. In sync with him, warriors from all over began to shout.
Theyre here! The people!
...!
My uncle practically flew to the spot, where he found it filled with people captured from the village. The women were naked, and the men were covered in bruises and wounds.
Every one of them was emaciated as if from starvation, the shadows on their faces refusing to lift. Moreover, upon seeing the crest of the Namgung family, they didnt look relieved but stared at the tips of our swords with gazes.
...Ugh, uwaaaah.
Ah, ah-ahhh.
Aah, aahhhh.
When they opened their mouths to speak, none could form proper words.
Seeing this, Namgung Seok spoke, his expression horrified.
...Did they cut out all their tongues? To keep them from speaking.
Theyre madmen. They must be madmen.
I wont let them get away with this.
A fire ignited in the hearts of the Namgung warriors.
A fire for those who had crossed a line that should never be crossed.
A corner of the hearts of those who view evil with righteousness began to burn.
But I shook my head.
It will be of no use.
At my reaction, the Namgung warriors all turned to look at me. But one person did not stop; he continued to search the mountain.
It was my uncle. He pushed through the Namgung warriors who were draping their outer robes over the naked captives, searching for someone.
To him, I said.
...Uncle.
As if he couldn't hear me, my uncle kept looking at the faces of the hostages inside the enclosure, searching.
He was looking to see if Yumi was there. He kept looking around, searching.
Moreover, there was another person moving just like my uncle: Namgung Han.
I spoke again.
I said it would be of no use.
At those words, my uncle froze and turned to look at me. At the same time, so did Namgung Han.
Do you do you know something?
Do you know something, Great Young Lord?
I could read the desperation in both their eyes.
Of course, I do.
And from that moment.
Thud, thud.
The light sound of footsteps could be heard.
Soon, the sound of those footsteps began to fill Mount Shandong.
A surging presence.
A vibrating energy.
Only then did my uncle, Namgung Han, and the Namgung warriors realize it. Something was wrong.
We have fallen into their trap.
The entirety of Mount Shandong began to be surrounded by men filled with malice and hostility.
...Have we really fallen into a trap?
We had wondered where those who had abandoned their lairs on Mount Shandong had gone.
They had driven the one hundred and fifty members of the Namgung family to the peak of the mountain.
And those who had been staying elsewhere had all surrounded Mount Shandong at once.
It was what one would call an inescapable net.
So tightly woven.
Ensuring not a single person could escape.
We were trapped inside that inescapable net.
Three large figures ascended the stronghold.
A man with a massive frame and fists that shimmered like flames stepped forward.
A man with fists that seemed frozen with white frost was dragging a woman by the scruff of her neck.
And a man with fists that seemed to have absorbed the mountains energy, appearing almost mystical, had a young man slung over his shoulder.
A triumphant smile.
The kind of expression only victors who have already won the battle would wear.
They knew they held an absolutely advantageous position, not least because of the two hostages in their hands.
Devious despite their size, filled with greed, yet smart enough to abandon what was theirs to save their own lives.
Such men revealed themselves before my eyes.
Are you the Great Young Lord? I am Hoshan, leader of the Red Tiger Stronghold.
He was Hoshan of the Giant Spirit Fist, leader of the Red Tiger Stronghold of Mount Shandong.
I am Gwangbae. This land you have torn apart is mine.
Gwangbae of the Iron Pagoda Fist, leader of the White Tiger Stronghold of Mount Shandong, spoke next.
Khahahaha! You bastards. You acted like you owned the world, and now you all look like youre about to die. Yes, thats how it should be!
Pyogap of the River-Stirring Fist, leader of the Green Tiger Stronghold of Mount Shandong, erupted in a wild laugh, tilting his head to the sky.
Apologies for disappointing you until now. We called ourselves the scourge of the mountains but failed to live up to expectations.
At Hoshans words, Gwangbae and Pyogap nodded.
That wont happen again. Because you will all die here.
Everyone was stunned.
The aura of the three men was immense and powerful, and as they said, on a different level from the mountain evils they had seen so far.
At the same time, the number of bandits behind the three leaders, surrounding Mount Shandong in several layers and slowly closing in, was enough to inspire despair.
Where had so many bandits come from?
We had dealt with so many of them until now, yet where did all these
However.
So, youve come.
As if greeting someone who had just walked into his home,
You must have gone to a lot of trouble. A bunch of blockheads, coming up with a strategy like this.
A calm voice, like that of a homeowner addressing an uninvited guest, was heard.
But Im a little displeased. Its troublesome if youre already so drunk on victory.
With each word, the overwhelming atmosphere began to subside.
At my words, the three stronghold leaders all frowned. Then, Pyogap stepped forward, letting out a bellowing laugh.
Khahahaha! So its you. The Great Young Lord of the Namgung family.
Pyogap relentlessly unleashed his energy. That energy, from all over Mount Shandong, was directed solely at one person: the Great Young Lord.
The Great Young Lord, hit by the explosive energy, flinched and froze.
Seeing this, Pyogap smirked.
Of course.
How dare a whelp like him.
He threw the young man he was carrying to the ground and cracked his knuckles together. He would crush the face of this so-called Great Young Lord right now and massacre the Namgung lackeys.
He took a step toward the Great Young Lord, but then.
But.
The Great Young Lords mouth opened easily. He was speaking so quickly, even while being pressed by such immense energy.
His pride inexplicably wounded, Pyogap was about to say something.
Is this the best you can do?
A smirk spread across his lips.
For some reason, that smile felt unsettling. At the same time, Pyogap felt a chilling sensation on the back of his neck and heightened his senses.
And then.
...What is this?
Pyogap.
This cant be.
The bandits, who had been exuding a ferocious aura, began to fall into disarray. It was because of
G-government troops...?
A new group had begun to surround the hundreds of bandits.
They were none other than government troops.
...I am the Asura Corps Commander, Hwang Cheonho.
The familiar voice that rang out from below was an incredibly welcome sound.