The Hero's Reason (3)
Seomun Hwan had spent the past two days mobilizing every connection and resource at his disposal to investigate.
Who exactly had initiated that special request from the Murim Alliance? What hidden purpose lay behind it? And was someone deliberately targeting the Seomun Clan?
Yet the results proved utterly hollow.
Even after deploying the entire Hao Gate, not a single clue, trace, or circumstance had surfaced.
That's precisely why I'm even more certain.
It was too clean. So flawless that it only deepened his suspicions.
This was no ordinary incident. It wasn't even a half-hearted scheme meant to test the Seomun Clan.
His instincts told him someone was orchestrating events from the shadows.
The fact that even the Hao Gate—with its unrivaled intelligence network across the Jianghu—hadn't caught the slightest scent meant a truly secretive player had entered the game.
There was definitely someone out there, someone with a grand and relentless objective.
And right now, it felt as though they were all dancing in the palm of that person's hand.
I can't simply let myself be dragged along. That would only lead to the conclusion he desires.
So he made his decision.
He would expand the board instead.
Rumors were leaked that the Seomun Clan would be transporting a precious treasure for the Murim Alliance. Subtly, through taverns, street vendors, and storytellers.
It was the Hao Gate's specialty.
The Fierce Horned Ghost had simply swallowed the sweet bait.
The real hunt began now.
If I move openly, they'll grow wary.
The name Seomun Hwan had already become far too notorious.
So he donned a mask.
Concealing both his name and origins, he cloaked himself in the identity of a masked wanderer.
He would remain at his brother's side and naturally blend into the flow of events.
That was how the current situation had come about.
The Fierce Horned Ghost had moved faster than anyone, determined to seize the treasure.
But these mere bandits dared to target my brother?
Even though he had orchestrated the encounter, the fact that they had aimed for his brother's life remained unchanged.
Harboring murderous intent alone was a crime deserving death.
A crimson sunset was staining the earth.
The reed field swayed blood-red, and at its center stood the Iron Face Guest—no, Seomun Hwan.
Beneath the black mask, a chilling aura flowed outward.
The wind tugged at his robes, carrying the metallic scent of blood.
The price for targeting my brother. I'll make you understand it personally.
The moment those words left him...
Boom!
The ground shook.
Seomun Hwan had merely taken one step, yet the impact reverberated across the entire field.
“……!”
The Green Forest experts preparing their assault collectively held their breath.
Even the Fierce Horned Ghost, gripping his shattered club, felt cold sweat trickle down his spine.
“He’s an expert! Form the formation! Fight with the resolve to die—!”
Before the Fierce Horned Ghost could finish his command, Seomun Hwan’s shadow moved.
Thud!
Crunch!
Boom!
It was a speed beyond sight.
He flowed like a shadow, vanished like the wind.
In an instant, three men crumpled and fell. Ribs caved inward. Necks twisted as bodies slammed into the reeds.
“M-monster!”
Before the scream could fully escape, Seomun Hwan had already closed ten strides in a single leap.
He twisted the arm of a bandit launching poison needles, then unleashed a kick that sent three men flying at once.
Baaang!
With a heavy crash, the reed field surged like a wave. Uprooted stalks filled the air as bandits were hurled helplessly away.
The Green Forest was no ordinary bandit rabble. Like any proper Murim sect, they trained systematically in martial arts.
Those under the Fierce Horned Ghost were especially elite—high-level martial artists with rich combat experience.
Even in this sudden crisis, they did not forget to counter.
“He’s alone! Kill him!”
“Use poison and hidden weapons!”
The bandits hurled concealed projectiles and poison pouches. Hidden weapons and toxic qi tore through the air from every direction.
Killing intent blanketed the field so thickly that nothing within arm’s reach was visible.
Yet Seomun Hwan’s response was merely indifferent.
“Sloppy.”
A single murmur from behind the mask.
In that instant, the world inverted.
Swoooosh!
His sword stirred the wind.
That wind became blades—shredding poison qi, killing intent, and hidden weapons alike into nothingness.
The entire field was swept clean in a heartbeat.
Steel helmets were torn apart.
Hidden weapons shattered into fragments.
Bandits’ bodies were launched skyward.
Crunch! Boom! Crunch!
There wasn’t even time to scream.
The Fierce Horned Ghost ground his teeth.
“Th-this is impossible! How could an expert of this caliber be escorting a mere merchant caravan…”
The Fierce Horned Ghost was a name that had shaken the Jianghu. He had crossed blades with countless masters and survived innumerable life-or-death battles.
Yet before this Iron Face Guest, he couldn’t even trade a single strike.
The man’s very existence was overwhelming.
“Kuuht!”
The Fierce Horned Ghost desperately raised his qi. His forearms swelled crimson, veins bulging as if ready to burst.
“Die! Mad Killing Waves!”
He charged forward, detonating every ounce of energy in his body.
But Seomun Hwan merely tilted his head slightly.
“Is that the extent of your final struggle?”
Then, with a light flick of his wrist, he swung his sword.
Shaaaak!
Dozens of sword lights poured forth. The Fierce Horned Ghost’s clothes were shredded to ribbons as he split the air and dropped to his knees.
“Kuaaa…!”
The Fierce Horned Ghost trembled, both hands pressed against the ground.
He could no longer fight.
No—he no longer possessed the will to fight.
He was simply no match.
The outcome had been decided from the beginning.
Realizing this, the Fierce Horned Ghost lost all fighting spirit.
Only one path remained.
“P-please!”
He crawled forward through the reeds and slammed his head before Seomun Hwan.
“S-spare us! We were wrong! Please, at least our lives…”
As expected of a bandit, he had cast aside every last shred of pride.
“Hah!”
Seomun Hwan snorted and leveled the tip of his sword at the man’s forehead.
This is the perfect chance to set an example.
From the start, the Fierce Horned Ghost’s death had been part of the plan.
If a Superlative expert like him died so pathetically, the news would spread like wildfire.
A cold killing intent swirled in Seomun Hwan’s eyes.
Sensing his impending death, the Fierce Horned Ghost—tears and snot streaming down his face—now turned toward Seomun Jin-gang and wailed.
“Great Hero! Esteemed Hero! Please, at least spare our lives…!”
No amount of pitiful begging would sway Seomun Hwan’s resolve.
But at that moment, the watching Seomun Jin-gang shouted urgently.
“Wait, sir! Please stay your sword!”
Seomun Hwan paused mid-swing and turned to look at his brother.
“These men tried to attack the caravan. Wouldn’t it be better to chop them into pieces and feed them to the mountain beasts?”
“Hiiik!”
The Fierce Horned Ghost screamed at Seomun Hwan’s words while Seomun Jin-gang wore a troubled expression.
After a moment of contemplation, Seomun Jin-gang spoke calmly.
“We have already spilled too much blood.”
Understanding the implication, Seomun Hwan tilted his head and replied.
“They are worse than beasts. Killing them now would eliminate any future threats, wouldn’t it?”
This was the way of his previous life as the Phantom Demon.
But Seomun Jin-gang thought differently.
“They may possess the hearts of beasts, yet even beasts value their lives. If we are dealing with people, we should leave them a path to retreat.”
Seomun Hwan tilted his head in apparent confusion, but eventually lowered his sword.
“As you wish.”
After all, someone like the Fierce Horned Ghost was nothing more than a small fry.
The reason Seomun Hwan had traveled this far was not to deal with the likes of him.
Leaving him alive might spread the rumor even faster.
Bandits were notoriously loose-lipped. Knowing their nature well, Seomun Hwan changed his mind.
He turned toward the Fierce Horned Ghost and spoke in a low, dry voice.
“You should be grateful for the mercy of the Seomun caravan leader. I will spare you this once. But if you ever raise your blade against us again…”
The gaze behind the mask gleamed with icy light.
“Then no one will be able to stop me.”
The bloodied Fierce Horned Ghost nodded frantically.
“I-I will remember this. Thank you for sparing my life.”
He bowed repeatedly to both Seomun Hwan and Seomun Jin-gang before scrambling away in a desperate flight.
Once the bandit leader had vanished, Seomun Jin-gang quietly bowed to Seomun Hwan.
“I am deeply grateful for your mercy, Great Hero.”
Seomun Jin-gang’s voice overflowed with sincere respect.
“Thanks to you, we prevented further bloodshed, and the caravan members can finally find peace.”
Seomun Hwan offered no reply and simply continued forward.
The strings of his mask swayed gently in the night breeze.
Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
The next day had arrived.
A leaky roof dripped both inside and outside the house. Despite going to bed early, Seomun Hwan was the last to wake.
Sensing a presence, he opened his eyes to find Seomun Jin-gang and the other guards standing awkwardly nearby.
Seomun Hwan spoke in a low voice.
“What is it?”
Seomun Jin-gang gave a short laugh before his expression quickly turned serious.
Guard Captain No Gye-baek stepped forward.
“Great Hero, forgive us. We had no intention of disturbing your rest, but an important matter requires discussion.”
Before he could finish, Seomun Jin-gang spoke carefully.
“We reached a decision during the night. We felt it necessary to inform you, so we came.”
Seomun Hwan sat up slightly and nodded for them to continue.
“We have decided to continue the journey,” Seomun Jin-gang said. His tone was calm, yet it carried deep resolve.
“From the traces and words left by the bandits last night, it’s clear the rumor that the Seomun Merchant Group is transporting a treasure has already spread throughout the Hebei region. Turning back now won’t guarantee we can avoid another ambush along the road.”
No Gye-baek continued quietly from the side.
“Returning is dangerous. Advancing is dangerous. But if we turn back, the contract is broken and the merchant group’s credibility collapses.”
Seomun Jin-gang looked directly at Seomun Hwan.
“In the end, we had to choose. If we cannot avoid it, we will fulfill our responsibility and press forward.”
Those words carried the determination of a man leading a merchant caravan—less stubbornness than a sense of duty.
And to fulfill that duty, they desperately needed the help of the powerful expert before them.
Seomun Hwan raised a single eyebrow.
As expected.
This too had been within his predictions.
Unaware of that fact, Seomun Jin-gang watched him anxiously, fearing rejection.
“We cannot abandon the deal even if it means taking risks. However, we judged the current situation too dangerous… and concluded we must recruit an expert.”
No Gye-baek continued.
“We heard you are a wanderer, Great Hero. If you have no prior contracts, our Seomun Merchant Group would like to officially hire you.”
Everyone held their breath, awaiting his response.
Seomun Hwan deliberately stroked his chin, pretending to ponder deeply.
Then he nodded slowly.
“I was simply wandering with nothing particular to do. I’ll join you—to grow familiar with the road and enjoy the sights.”
He added with a faint smile.
“As long as the compensation is generous, that’s reason enough to exert myself.”
At those words, Seomun Jin-gang’s expression softened while No Gye-baek let out a sigh of relief and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Great Hero. We will provide ample compensation.”
“Call me Cheolmeongaek.”
And so, Seomun Hwan officially joined the caravan.