Chapter 118
**
I crossed the Shen River.
That meant I had completely escaped the territory of the Demon Cult. How many days did it take just to cross the Shen River?
From now on, every action of mine would be recorded in the righteous faction’s territory. Therefore, I had to extremely limit my use of inner power.
I must hide my skills. Otherwise, I would be suspected.
However, there was still something that couldn’t be concealed. That was my outward appearance.
As I reached the level of Huaxing, it became even more pronounced. While the rest could all be concealed with Cheongeop, the writhing muscles were impossible to hide.
So, I made a resolution.
I wouldn’t use any of my inner power at all.
I’ve heard of people without innate inner power, training only their external martial skills.
Such people are rare, but they do exist. I decided to use the same excuse. Since I could make my inner power completely invisible with Cheongeop…
I focused solely on training my physique.
That was who I am now. Moreover, all the martial arts I had learned so far laid a strong foundation for me.
Now, the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword, which had naturally melted into my body, lacked any flashy techniques from the start.
And the movement technique, Ghostly Spirit Step, also was derived from simple and brute force.
As long as I hide my inner power, my appearance would be enough to look like an ordinary warrior. Moreover, as I roughly concealed my body with the Wind Shield, I looked unmistakably like a wandering swordsman.
Of course, I couldn’t hide my build.
“…….”
Therefore, I could understand.
To others, I would look like an ordinary warrior.
But then again, who would have thought there would be such side effects?
I stared blankly at the row of bandits that appeared.
“…Surrender everything you have!”
“Y-yeah! Hand it all over, or I’ll slit your throat!”
“…Hmm.”
Well, this is convenient.
I needed to check if I could use the sword style I had carelessly swung during practice in an actual fight.
—Swish.
Moreover, there was something else I needed to practice. The Ear Sword Black Pearl. Getting used to that.
At the tip of the newly drawn Black Pearl sword, flames flickered. Compared to the Ear Sword Bai Ya, it had a much lower growl echoing within my ears.
An untamed beast. That rough sensation.
But I had to handle it.
That way, I would have one more method to defeat the betrayer, Seven Demons.
I had heard from Ilma that Huaxing was essentially the endpoint that every warrior could realistically reach, and within that, it was divided into three stages.
The entrance to Huaxing. The stage where one has just started handling Yi-hyeong Ki.
The maturity of Huaxing. The stage where one has started to fully master Yi-hyeong Ki.
The peak of Huaxing. The stage where one begins to grasp the essence of Heart Sword beyond Yi-hyeong Ki.
I was only standing at the entrance. My Yi-hyeong Ki was incomplete, and I could not maintain it for long.
Each stage inside Huaxing was higher than the walls I had broken through. I couldn’t tell how long it would take to reach the end.
The Seven Demons would probably be at the very edge of that end. Perhaps even beyond that.
Yet, I still intended to surpass it.
To do so, I would have to pull something out.
I drastically limited the heat of the Ear Sword Black Pearl. Yet, despite that, flames clung to the sword body.
I had to deal with this immediately. Black Pearl was inherently a wild one, and its temperament was fiercer than Bai Ya.
Endless flames were sticking to the black sword body.
It was nothing short of a spectacle just to look at. It was certainly not a weapon one would expect a third-rate spy from the Martial Alliance to carry around.
At least, if I could control the heat and the ghostly energy, the sword’s appearance would be seen as unique…
Let’s aim for that until I reach the Martial Alliance.
“W-what kind of sword is that?!”
“F-flames?! H-hold on, he’s definitely a warrior! There’s no doubt about it! He must have learned martial arts related to fire!”
“Isn’t this different from what you said, brother?! What are we gonna do?!”
“Ah, damn it…! Why did that one warrior have to get caught?!”
“You’re responsible, brother!”
“Wait! Don’t push me!”
“…….?”
Even though I hadn’t unsheathed my sword, the most seasoned-looking one among their disheveled group stepped forward.
His rolling eyes scanned me. The bandit promptly knelt down.
“I-I’m sorry! Great Person! I misjudged you! We’re just really foolish!”
“…….?”
“P-please spare my life!”
What in the world is happening here?
His instincts were too keen; it made me not want to draw my sword. I put the Ear Sword Black Pearl back at my waist.
Instead, I drew out the scabbard and hung it on my shoulder.
I met the bandit’s gaze.
“Why should I spare you? If I didn’t have power, I would have been robbed of everything…”
“Great Person! But we are really! Really! This is our first time!”
“Everyone says that.”
“No, I really mean it! The only thing we’ve received until now has been the toll!”
“Toll? Did you make a road here?”
“Exactly! We made the roads around here ourselves!”
“…….?”
What in the world is this.
“You made a road…?”
“Yes! Not just that! We even maintained them ourselves! This place is practically our own masterpiece!”
“I planted that tree!”
“I take care of that flower over there!”
“I-I haven’t done much but… anyway, I’m watering it very diligently! Yes!”
I quickly glanced around. Indeed, the trees and flowers planted here had an artificial feel to them.
Bandits… are doing landscaping? Why?
“Are you the leader?”
“Y-yes…? Oh, yes, that’s me! I’m the leader…!”
“Then, who’s that dude over there?”
“Hey! Watch it!”
So, there’s another head amongst them.
I stood up and rummaged through my pockets.
“How much is the toll?”
“N-no need! Just pass by!”
“I asked how much it is.”
“Um… then, pay whatever you think is fair…”
I dropped a silver coin. The bandit’s eyes trembled.
“Th-thank you! Great Person! Thank you so much!”
“Lead the way.”
“…Huh?”
I intended to verify the truth behind what they had said through their leader.
I understood the toll. But I couldn’t grasp the fact they wanted to rob me of everything.
If what they said was a lie, and if they had been doing this for a long time…
I’d be willing to lend a hand. A stick is the remedy for a dog that bites.
However, if I just walked away, they might lie out of fear like others.
“Bind my hands and take me to your leader.”
“W-what…?”
“I intend to discover the truth of the matter.”
The bandits gulped nervously. I lowered my voice.
“Bind me. If you don’t want to die.”
“Yikes…!”
…
Their mountain stronghold wasn’t far from where we were.
In the depths of the mountains stood buildings sparsely erected. The buildings themselves were crude—just piles of nearby trees molded into a crude house.
It didn’t look like there was… much money.
“G-great person… so…”
“Change your tone. Right now, I’m a captive. Act properly.”
“Khruk…”
The bandit led me to the building in the center.
As the door opened, a woman lounging leisurely turned her head.
“Gwangyang. Oh, you’re here? I was about to go out…”
Our eyes met.
The woman’s expression twisted.
“Hey, you crazy bastard! Not only did you steal money, but you’re also trying to sell my body?! There should be some decency even among bandits… are you really going as low as human trafficking?!”
“W-wait, no, sis… it’s not like that…”
“Get lost! Let him in!”
“Sis, just talk for a moment…”
“Don’t you dare?! Do you want to die?!”
Having chased away the bandits, she approached me. She personally untied the ropes around my hands.
Scratching my head awkwardly.
“Sorry. Really. How much was stolen?”
“……?”
“Not too much, right? It should be a manageable amount…”
She pulled out a money pouch from her possession. She handed it to me.
“I’m really sorry… But could you let this go?”
“Why are you giving this to me…?”
“I had money stolen from our kids. No, I mean… this isn’t who we are, but we’ve been frustrated lately and… we did this to show off? That’s how it went down.”
“…….”
“You don’t understand? Anyway, I’m truly sorry. I’ll give you the difference later. Just pretend you were robbed and continue down the road. Got it?”
She suddenly flung the door open.
“Let them out! You crazy fools!”
“Sis! If you say something strange…”
“What do you mean strange! Just let them out! H-honestly… if I’m doing this, I might as well do it myself!”
“Sis!”
With all the noise, I sighed. Was this not what I feared?
They were trying to repay what they had stolen…
A showcase to manage public sentiment? It seemed a lot of complicated matters were entangled here.
“About the toll…”
“Did those crazy fools really charge that too?! Was robbery not enough?!”
“Why do you charge that?”
“Huh? Well, we made the road. We maintain it ourselves.”
“Why…?”
“Once you make a road, you don’t have to work on it anymore.”
The woman asked as if it was obvious.
“We can live off the toll alone. Of course, the side dishes might be less, but… it feels awkward swindling people.”
“…….”
Her expression didn’t seem to mix with falsehood. Perhaps she was different in personality from the subordinates below.
At least it was clear she was a person.
I stepped down. A bandit whom our eyes met trembled.
“W-wait, great person… So…”
“Bring my things.”
“Y-yes! I’ll get the things!”
“…What things? What’s going on?”
“What’s your name?”
“W-me? I’m Narin…?”
“Narin. Live like that from now on. Since you’re managing and maintaining the road, I won’t say anything about the toll.”
The bandits brought my belongings. After shouldering my bag, I turned back toward her.
“But refrain from plundering. That’s behavior below even a beast.”
“Well, that’s obvious, but… who are you?”
“Just a passing warrior.”
“What? A warrior? Don’t rob a warrior?! You boasted about being able to rob a warrior?! Are you out of your mind?! Gwangyang?!”
“I didn’t act knowing who he was! It just happened by coincidence…!”
I turned my head. I placed my hand on the Ear Sword.
A presence. I could sense it. My sensitivity wasn’t particularly great, but since reaching Huaxing, I had some grasp of outlines.
I could rapidly perceive what others could not hear or see. I nodded towards Narin.
“Do you have more subordinates?”
“Subordinates…? These guys are all we have here?”
Narin lifted her head sharply.
“…What the…?”
She had something as well. She certainly did not appear to be a mere bandit.
Before long, more presences gathered. In this chaotic situation, a group of bandits entered.
There were many of them.
Counting simply, there were over thirty.
“Is this a mountain stronghold? What the hell is this garbage you’re calling a stronghold?”
A booming voice. A sight of an incredible giant.
The bandit in front of the group grinned widely.
“Still, what can I say? The leader looks good at least. Let’s have a chat inside.”
“…Who are you?”
“How dare you ask the name of a member of the Green Forest? Your eyes must be blind! Hahaha! I am Han Gi-bok! I came to register a small mountain stronghold around here!”
He waved his hand. One of Narin’s subordinates rushed ahead.
“W-how did you get here so quickly…?”
“I’m not the patient type. I heard the story and came to register immediately. Bring everyone who agreed to join over. I have no intention of spilling blood.”
“W-what?!”
“Hyung, didn’t I tell you? We need to switch allegiances before it’s too late! Of course, I knew it would happen quickly, but… you should grab your chance now! Let’s hurry!”
Narin bit her lip.
“…Betray? You told them where our stronghold is? These crazy fools…”
“Hyung! Hurry!”
“Get lost! You fools! Sis, escape! I’ll buy you some time!”
“What heartfelt loyalty! But now that I’ve set my eyes on you, you’re mine. Do you think you can escape?”
Stuck in the middle, I rubbed my temples.
Was this a bandit matter? My feet started moving.
Gwangyang desperately grabbed me.
“G-great person! Please help!”
“Why should I?”
If I were an ordinary person, I would help. It wasn’t right.
But this wasn’t the matter of an ordinary person; it was about bandits. People who live by backstabbing others. I didn’t want to pull my sword without knowing the details.
Even if their quality seemed better, they were still bandits. The fact they tried to grab my belongings was enough to tell me both sides were villains. Why should I choose a side?
I turned my head. I noticed Narin’s fleeing subordinates hurriedly moving away.
Except for Gwangyang, they all had betrayed her. Comparatively, it seemed only natural given the disparity in numbers.
Still, I pulled my feet back. I turned my back on Gwangyang.
I had no reason to step in. He who ties must untie.
They had become bandits for their own reasons, and they must bear that responsibility.
But a giant blocked my path.
“Where do you think you’re going without permission?”
“…….”
“You have two choices, either join or die.”
“I’ll say one thing not related to me. Step aside. Then I can quietly pass. You should do your own thing. I have no intention of intruding into the bandit’s affairs. I haven’t seen what you did, so let this one slide quietly. But if you swing that, things will change.”
“You cheeky brat, babbling… I’ll split your head in two if you keep talking!”
—Boom!!!
An axe crashed down onto my head like thunder. Dust swirled from the rushing wind.
“Kaha! If only you had listened sooner…”
The man who had been laughing heartily found his voice cut short.
I stared at the axe above my head.
Keen with murderous intent. The brute strength extending from the giant.
If I hadn’t lifted my hand, my skull would’ve been smashed.
“…W-what?! I could hold your axe with my fingertip?!”
I moved the hand I had raised.
The caught axe wobbled along.
“You have ears, but you can’t hear.”
—Crash!
The fragments of the broken axe scattered in all directions from my fingertips.
“No need to keep it hanging.”
