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Chapter 60: Don’t You Find It Strange Here?
Finally, when the discussion about matters related to Five Peaks Mountain ended, the Virtue Swordsman Lee Yeonik spoke.
“The others may leave. I have matters to discuss privately with the sect leaders and the young master Yeon of Waryong Manor.”
The families of the Five Heroes of Luoyang began to leave the reception hall one by one.
Soon after, only the leaders of Palseon, Daeyeon, and Chilyang remained, along with the Waryong Swordsman Yeon Mubaek. It was then that Lee Yeonik resumed speaking.
“I would prefer what we discuss now to remain between us. Last night, we received an urgent message from the Justice Alliance. Traces of the Yoomyung Cult have been found in Yeoju.”
The name of the Yoomyung Cult caused everyone's faces to tense.
“The Justice Alliance will send the Justice Division. However, as you know, the Yoomyung Cult is the public enemy of Murim. The Justice Alliance hopes that the warriors of Luoyang will join this cause.”
The leader of Palseon nodded as he responded.
“Of course. Twenty years ago, the warriors of Jiangnan united to expel that sect. Palseon will participate.”
“Daeyeon will also help.”
“Chilyang will join the cause.”
The sect leaders looked at Yeon Mubaek.
“Waryong Manor will also participate.”
Yeon Mubaek did not hesitate to commit.
He could not ignore the affairs of Murim when he aspired to be a family of Murim. If the son of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman Yeon Muryong did not get involved, he would be mocked forever.
“Thank you. The Justice Alliance will not forget the bravery of the sects participating in this mission.”
“You're welcome.”
“It is our duty.”
Suddenly, the leader of Palseon murmured.
“Perhaps the attack on Five Peaks Mountain will be delayed.”
“That cannot be.”
The leader of Chilyang frowned in disbelief as the leader of Daeyeon intervened.
“If that happens, we have no choice. The priority is to deal with the Yoomyung Cult.”
Then, the leader of Chilyang looked at Lee Yeonik and said:
“Virtue Swordsman, Five Peaks Mountain is about three or four days from Yeoju, isn't it? After finishing in Yeoju, why not join the Justice Division and take down the Nokrim bandits?”
“That cannot be. We cannot involve the Justice Division in personal matters.”
Lee Yeonik firmly rejected the leader of Chilyang’s proposal.
It was not just because of his strict separation between public and private matters.
Lee Yeonik wanted the families of the Five Heroes of Luoyang to handle the hostage situation discreetly. If he involved the Justice Division and the news leaked, it would be humiliating for their children.
After a moment of silence, the Virtue Swordsman Lee Yeonik continued.
“Let’s focus on the Yoomyung Cult first. We can take care of Five Peaks Mountain afterward. And don't forget that the Yoomyung Cult is not an easy opponent.”
Although they did not fully understand Lee Yeonik’s words, they nodded in agreement. The fact that the Yoomyung Cult had survived the offensive of the Justice Alliance indicated its power.
“Then, how many should we send?”
At the leader of Chilyang’s question, Lee Yeonik gave his prepared response.
“I think it would be enough to send five of the best from each sect. Uicheon Sect will send ten.”
This meant that the support group would be thirty.
Given that the Justice Division, formed by the seven great sects, was composed of twenty members, at least thirty was a reasonable number.
Everyone nodded understandingly.
For each sect, five was not too large a number.
As long as they returned safely.
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Bobong County.
Five Peaks Mountain.
Since the morning, the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain and the Immortal Sword Demon Shim Yanggak had gathered at the Pavilion of Harmony and Peace. They were discussing the hostage issue of the Five Heroes of Luoyang.
Since he became an invalid, Shim Yanggak had been regularly invited to the meetings of the Ten Heroes.
However, that did not mean his position was equal to that of the Ten Heroes. Shim Yanggak still spoke to them with respect, and they treated him as a subordinate.
The boss and first member, Pung Yeoncho, spoke first.
“Yeon, since we are among ourselves, I would like you to speak frankly. When we release the hostages, they will come for revenge. What do you plan to do?”
“By then, we will have gathered a lot of money. Let's rest a bit.”
“Really?”
“Let’s visit our hometowns, travel a little. I don't think they will chase us forever.”
“Ha, Yeon is right. They cannot do it openly for their honor. Over time, everything will be forgotten.”
Shim Yanggak's words, the most experienced in Murim, seemed reasonable and relaxed the faces of the Ten Heroes.
At 3 PM.
Cheon Gidok brusquely threw dumplings and a bottle of water into the hostages' lodging.
“Eat well!”
When the door closed, the Five Heroes of Luoyang pounced on the dumplings and began devouring them.
Eating quickly, Oh Jungsan choked and started coughing.
Son Sanggeuk hurriedly handed him the bottle of water, and Oh Jungsan drank eagerly.
The dumplings, the size of a child's fist, were only five.
Devoured in an instant, the Five Heroes of Luoyang lay exhausted.
The third, Son Sanggeuk, leaned against the wall and murmured.
“Those bastards. One dumpling per meal. I feel like my stomach will stick to my back.”
In response, the second, Oh Jungsan, said.
“The water makes me feel emptier. And that guy's acupuncture technique is really terrifying. Since he sealed my points on the first day, I can't circulate my energy.”
Hearing his brothers, the first, Hwang Dongyeop, let out a long sigh.
“Ha! I also tried several times, but I can't feel my energy. When we get out, I will study more about acupuncture.”
While the men discussed acupuncture to pass the time, Lee Somin suddenly asked Yeon Seolju.
“Yeon, how long have we been here?”
“Today is the seventh day.”
“Ha! I suppose our families already know.”
“Not just that. They are probably gathering the money and already on their way. They will be arriving in Yeoju.”
“How will I face my family? I snuck out when everyone was against it...”
“I just hope my mother doesn't beat me to death.”
“Is Dame Baek that terrifying?”
“She will try to marry me off by force. She might sell me to some rich merchant. They have incurred a great debt because of me.”
“Come on, that can't be.”
Yeon Seolju gave a weak smile.
Sure, it was not that they would really sell her, but to her, it was the same.
“Then, will you give up on your dreams?”
At Lee Somin's question, Yeon Seolju sighed deeply.
“Ha! I don't want to, but the debt we have incurred is enormous... I can't look my family in the face. After causing them so much harm, how could I continue my life as if nothing happened?”
“Yeon, you will be a great heroine. Trust me.”
“Ah! Thank you for your words.”
“In that case, shall we get some fresh air?”
Of course, the hostages cannot freely go for a walk.
What Lee Somin meant was going to the bathroom.
They always went to the bathroom together to take care of each other. For some reason, the bandits did not prohibit women from going together.
“Alright.”
Lee Somin and Yeon Seolju stood up.
The men pretended not to notice and continued their conversation about acupuncture.
When Lee Somin knocked on the door, a voice was heard from outside: “What's the matter?”
Lee Somin approached the door and whispered.
“Let us out for a moment.”
The sound of a lock was heard, and the door opened.
The two women stepped out, and the bandit closed the door and secured it again with the lock.
After relieving themselves, Lee Somin and Yeon Seolju walked slowly.
They wanted to make the most of their time outside.
Their faces were unusually bright.
After being locked up all day, getting out for a walk was a real relief.
Looking at the children playing in the yard, Lee Somin commented.
“Yeon, don’t you find it strange here?”
“What do you mean?”
“This seems more like a mountain village than a bandit camp.”
Yeon Seolju finally understood what Lee Somin meant.
Indeed, apart from the hostility towards the Five Heroes of Luoyang, the place looked very much like the villages they had seen on their way.
“Maybe. But I've never seen another bandit camp, so I can't compare. What is certain is that these bandits are much crueler than the previous ones.”
The debt of a thousand silver pieces had generated a strong resentment in Yeon Seolju towards Five Peaks Mountain.
However, Lee Somin, who had settled for only a hundred pieces, saw certain positive aspects in the camp.
The most notable was that they did not bother the women.
She and Yeon Seolju were beautiful enough to attract attention anywhere.
In taverns, inns, and even disreputable inns, there were always men leering at them. If not for their brothers, they would have suffered constant harassment.
When they were captured by the bandits, they had contemplated suicide.
They had heard countless stories about how Nokrim treated women.
It was said that the Nokrim bandits not only raped but did not hesitate to commit necrophilia.
However, so far, no bandit had approached them. Although they looked at them with desire from afar, they did nothing.
Despite being weakened by acupuncture, they did not feel unsafe walking together.
If not for that, they would not have had the peace of mind to observe the scenery.
While walking and talking quietly, someone commented:
“Wow, they look like two women strolling through the countryside. They behave as if they were at home.”
Lee Somin and Yeon Seolju were startled and looked around.
In the distance, a young bandit was reclining on a bench.
The two women, thinking they would gain nothing by confronting him, quickened their pace.
But Yeon Jeokha, seeing them, had no intention of letting them go.
“Who gave you permission to leave when I'm talking to you?”
The two women stopped as if frozen.
Cheon Gidok, who was escorting them, briefly indicated:
“Go over there.”
He pointed to the bench.
With clenched teeth, the two women walked to the bench.
Lee Somin, trying to decipher Yeon Jeokha's intention, carefully asked:
“Young master, do you have something to say to us?”
At that moment, she was so docile that her father, the Virtue Swordsman Lee Yeonik, would have fainted from the shock.
Yeon Jeokha responded with a serious face.
“It seems that you are bored with nothing to do. Strolling around as if nothing.”
“No, it’s not that. We were just going to the bathroom.”
“Ha, really? Now I understand the bad smell.”
“……”
Embarrassed, the faces of Lee Somin and Yeon Seolju turned red.
Hearing such words, and from a man, was humiliating.
Perhaps the most embarrassing thing was that it could be true.
Martial arts experts usually have sharper senses than normal people.
They had not been able to bathe in seven days and immediately reacted to the word “smell.”
Especially Lee Somin, who had just come out of the bathroom, could barely breathe.
Yeon Jeokha stared at them and murmured:
“Should I reduce your food? That would prevent you from having to go to the smelly bathroom.”
Indignant, Yeon Seolju immediately retorted.
“Hey! They give us only one dumpling the size of a child's fist per meal, and you want to give us less!”
“Wow! A fist-sized dumpling is quite large. There are Taoists who only eat a pea-sized pill per meal. What are you complaining about?”
“That... that is...”
Although furious, Yeon Seolju could not find a good reply.
“You only think about what you eat, right? If you knew what was happening in Waryong Manor, you wouldn't be able to swallow the dumpling.”
Yeon Jeokha laughed mockingly.
With a sinking heart, Yeon Seolju shouted:
“What do you mean? What have you done to Waryong Manor? Weren't the thousand silver pieces enough? Speak!”