Chapter 61

Meeting the Green Forest (2)

Midway between Zhejiang and Anhui.

From the perspective of both the Namgung Clan and the Cheon Clan, it was an outlying area.

Geographically positioned at the boundary, even the two clans themselves found it ambiguous whether this place belonged to the Namgung Clan or the Cheon Clan.

'Of course, strictly speaking, it is Cheon Clan territory.'

Even so, the reason it had been left unattended until now was because of the Namgung Clan.

If this area were formally claimed by the Cheon Clan, there were concerns that the Namgung Clan's allied families located nearby might be shaken.

'For purely political reasons, this place was neglected....'

And taking advantage of that neglect, parasites like those bandits had begun to swarm.

The damage, of course, was borne equally by everyone.

'They really figured it out well.'

To be a villain, it seemed one had to have sharp ears as well.

Otherwise, how could they possibly prey so precisely on gaps like this?

They acted as though they were the masters of this land.

"Puahahahahahahaha!"

The breathless burst of wild laughter was nothing more than a way of flaunting their unfounded confidence.

"You dare say what?"

"Want me to repeat it? I told you to choose—get lost quietly, or get beaten and get lost."

"You brat, I don't know where you crawled out from, but listen well. We belong to the Green Forest."

"So?"

"It means this isn't a place for some country bumpkin who's never even heard of the Green Forest to run his mouth!"

The bandit leader gestured with his hand.

The men behind him began to creep toward Cheon Muyang.

"Yeah. Just stay still."

"We'll make it hurt less!"

Whoosh!

A crude fist flew forward.

However, Cheon Muyang didn't even bother looking at it, letting out a sigh instead.

"Huh?"

As always.

They struck with their fists, then planned to trample their opponent once he fell.

But something was wrong.

'Why can't I breathe?'

Breath wouldn't come properly.

It felt as though something near the chest had been displaced.

Slash.

Their heads drooped.

Drip.

Drip drip.

A sword blade had pierced through their chests and jutted out.

"Ghk!"

Before they could even speak, death claimed them in a single stride.

Thud!

The two bandits collapsed.

Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak stared at them with cold eyes.

"Y-you bastard!"

The bandit leader panicked.

'Fast—and vicious!'

He had realized that the swords of those two were no ordinary blades.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime crisis.

Faced with it, the bandit leader didn't have many choices.

"W-we'll see about this!"

He ran.

As the bandit leader fled with his tail between his legs, the remaining bandits could only stare after him in a daze.

"What are you doing?"

"Y-yes?"

"Aren't you running?"

"Ah... then, pardon us."

For bandits, they were surprisingly polite.

Thanking Cheon Muyang for his mercy, they fled in great haste—their speed truly impressive.

"They're fast."

Cheon Muyang shrugged.

Then he met the countless gazes directed at him.

"Ah, I'm Cheon Muyang."

With that single statement—

"Waaaaaah!"

"It's the Heavenly Sword, Cheon Muyang!"

"He's even more jade-like than I'd heard!"

"Such heroic bearing—truly worthy of the Cheon Clan's eldest son!"

Cheers erupted.

Among those who traveled between Zhejiang and Anhui, stories of Cheon Muyang were the most popular accompaniment.

Thus, at least among these people, Cheon Muyang's fame soared sky-high.

"Huh?"

Ironically, the one most taken aback was Cheon Muyang himself.

He hadn't expected so many people to react with such goodwill.

"Thank you."

Someone representing several merchants stepped forward.

"May I ask where the Young Lord is headed?"

"Ah, we're going to Anhui."

"To the Yongbong Gathering?"

"Yes."

"I thought as much."

Though it was a passing route, in truth, far more people were traveling from Zhejiang to Anhui.

The Yongbong Gathering was practically a festival.

With the eyes of the entire martial world focused there, it was only natural that people would gather to benefit from the occasion.

"If it's not too much trouble, would you care to travel with us?"

"Hmm...."

It went against the plan.

As Cheon Muyang hesitated, the sharp-witted merchant smiled.

"Ah, please don't feel pressured. How could we possibly force you?"

"Thank you. We're new to the Jianghu, so we wanted to experience things firsthand."

"I see."

"However, we'll accompany you until we leave this area. There's a chance the bandits may attack again."

"O-oh, thank you very much."

Clatter.

The stationary freight wagons began to move.

Cheon Muyang, who had stubbornly refused to ride a carriage, asked the merchant,

"Were bandits always this rampant?"

"No. Those fellows only started running wild quite recently."

"I see."

"Still, I'm not sure whether we should consider it fortunate that they're bandits affiliated with the Green Forest."

The Green Forest had its own rules.

Because of that, no Green Forest group could extort excessive tolls.

If they did, inspectors roaming from the Green Forest's central authority would turn around and suppress them instead.

"Fortunate, my ass! Those so-called inspectors are all cut from the same cloth! If you feed them bribes until they're stuffed, who wouldn't fold?"

Someone vented their resentment.

It was the merchant who had paid gold to the fleeing bandit leader.

He was the most critical of the Green Forest.

"In the end, they're all the same bastards."

"That may be so."

Even if wrapped in the name of the Green Forest, bandits were still bandits.

Their essence would never change.

"In the end, when things stagnate, they rot."

Nearby, Wolyeong realized something.

While Cheon Muyang was comforting the merchant, his gaze had drifted elsewhere.

'What is it?'

There was no one there.

Yet she was certain—just moments ago, someone had been present.

"Please wait just a moment."

"Pardon?"

"This is Zhejiang—Cheon Clan territory, is it not?"

Cheon Muyang knew what should have originally been the Cheon Clan's responsibility.

"I intend to settle this with the Green Forest, and if necessary, with the Namgung Clan as well. Please wait."

"Y-young Lord, that won't be easy. This involves both the Green Forest and the Namgung Clan."

The merchants tried to dissuade him instead.

It was an issue that could easily grow far too large.

"He's right. There's nothing to gain from getting tangled up with the Green Forest."

Not only the merchants, but even the Wolf King advised against it.

It seemed he truly wanted nothing to do with the Green Forest.

Which meant, conversely, that the Green Forest was so persistent that even the Wolf King was wary of them.

However, that couldn't be the Wolf King's true feelings.

"Hm. Are you afraid?"

"What did you say?"

Cheon Muyang provoked the Wolf King.

It was even easier than expected.

Cheon Muyang looked at the flaring Wolf King with his characteristic smile.

"No, it's just that you've been oddly reluctant about the Green Forest since earlier."

"Tch!"

"It's not like you owe them a debt or anything."

"...."

"Could it be that you're actually afraid of the Green Forest Saber King?"

"Y-you little—!"

The moment the Saber King was mentioned, the Wolf King vented a rage he could no longer suppress.

Crack!

Wrinkles formed on the hand gripping his saber.

"That's it."

"...?"

"That anger."

He didn't know the reason.

Even though the Wolf King could have drawn his saber, he did not.

'Anger...?'

Instead, the Wolf King glimpsed the anger hidden behind Cheon Muyang's smile.

It wasn't a raging red fury like molten lava, but rather a quietly burning blue anger.

"That's exactly how I feel right now."

Chill.

A sinister aura settled in.

A sharp presence bloomed, as if it might surge forth at any moment.

Zing!

The Wolf King felt a stabbing ache around his brow.

'Has this brat... gotten stronger again?'

Cheon Muyang continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

"If necessary, I will cut down even the Green Forest, and if necessary, I will cut down the Namgung Clan as well."

Boom!

Neung Ryeoun, Cha Myeonghak, and Wolyeong stepped up beside Cheon Muyang.

"That is the will of the Cheon Clan."

"Tch. Reckless to the end, just like a true madman."

The Wolf King clicked his tongue.

But what could he do.

As long as he was entrusted as a retainer of the Cheon Clan, he had no choice but to follow.

"Fine. Then let's chase those bastards."

"Why?"

The Wolf King grinned.

"We beat them down and draw out the Saber King."

"Ah."

Cheon Muyang agreed.

He fixed his gaze on the figures faintly visible in the distance.

"Then let's hurry."

"...."

"Now that I think about it, we didn't even get the money they extorted, and I didn't get to hit them either."

Shouldn't one keep what one says?

Cheon Muyang spoke to the merchant whose gold bars had been taken by the bandit leader.

"Please come to the Cheon Clan someday. We will return the gold bars stolen from you today."

"E-excuse me?"

Before the words had even finished—

Cheon Muyang's figure vanished like the wind.

"You brats, what are you doing? Aren't you coming?"

"...."

"Young Master! We're coming too!"

Starting with Wolyeong, Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak followed after him.

The Wolf King spoke casually to Namgung Seohee, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Tch. Child of Namgung."

"Yes."

"You may have cast aside the Namgung surname, but the world doesn't see it that way."

"...."

"You must keep your center."

"I've already made my resolve."

"What resolve? To raise your sword against your clan? Don't be foolish. You are not Cheon Seohee—you are Namgung Seohee. No matter how much you want to abandon the Namgung name."

"...."

"That boy will never bend. If this continues, the Namgung Clan and the Cheon Clan will walk a path they cannot turn back from."

The Cheon Clan had only just returned to the proper track.

If they collided with the Namgung Clan, that driving force would inevitably collapse.

Namgung Seohee knew that as well.

"Then what can I do?"

"That's for you to find. But remember this—denying what you possess does not make it disappear."

The name Namgung was like a shackle, one that would never let Namgung Seohee go.

"Find your answer."

"...."

"If you stay by that boy's side, you might come to realize something."

With those words, the Wolf King moved in the direction Cheon Muyang had disappeared.

"...."

Left alone, Namgung Seohee suddenly felt the urge to swing her sword freely.

So she headed in a different direction from where Cheon Muyang had gone.

"Huu...."

The wind blowing past was cool, yet her heart felt stifled.

Step. Step.

Her footsteps felt inexplicably heavy.

***

The bandit stronghold came into view.

'I'm saved.'

A sense of relief washed over him.

His subordinates left behind worried him, but here, he was king.

"Come out here!"

"...."

It was quiet.

The bandit leader frowned and entered the stronghold.

"You damn fools!"

He expected them to be sprawled about, drunk out of their minds.

But that was nothing more than a delusion.

"Ghk!"

All of his men were subdued, bound tightly with ropes.

Some lay collapsed, vomiting blood—there were even those who appeared dead.

"W-who did this?!"

Before them stood figures wearing grotesque masks.

However, the bandit leader's gaze was fixed behind them, unable to move.

"It seems I stayed too long at the headquarters. The stench of rot is overwhelming."

Boom!

Two axes struck the ground.

"D-don't tell me...!"

The bandit leader was struck with horror.

Only one existence—one that should never be here—rose in his mind.

"So, you do recognize me?"

That presence was like a tiger.

Just being stared at made the bandit leader wet himself.

It was instinct.

The instinct of prey that knew it could never win—

And could never escape.

"S-Saber King...!"

The Saber King.

The one known as the Green Forest Saber King was sitting on the tiger-skin chair that the bandit leader had always boasted of to his subordinates.