.jpeg){kind=tracking}
Episode 56. So What Now?
Suddenly, the bushes rustled heavily, and an old man covered in blood emerged from them.
The old man was breathing heavily, raising and lowering his shoulders while looking around restlessly. It was Baek Gyo, known for his Phantom Fist technique.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man, Im Wonyeong, appeared, limping visibly.
“Damn it! What the hell is this? All this for just five people! Damn it!”
Baek Gyo, noticing that there was no one chasing them anymore, sheathed his sword.
“Hah, hah. Sir, we’ve crossed two mountains; it should be enough, right?”
Im Wonyeong collapsed on the ground, exhausted. He had lost his sword at some point and was unarmed.
Baek Gyo, who had been listening like a wary herbivore, also sat down on a nearby rock.
“Phew! Where is Yeom Ga?”
Despite everything, he seemed worried about the safety of Yeom Sawoong, whom he had brought along for the past year.
“He’s dead.”
“That damn fool. He should have never tried to fight. Do you think I ran away because I don’t know how to fight?”
Baek Gyo had skillfully escaped, attacking only the Chamber of Commerce guards and avoiding the Five Heroes of Luoyang. Even though he knew he could have defeated the guards, he feared facing the heroes directly.
If Jeokpungchae had decided to fight to the end, they could have achieved a stalemate or at least avoided a one-sided massacre. However, the decision of Jeokpungchae’s leader to order a retreat was the right one. Although they had lost nearly half their men, they didn’t have to fear retaliation.
“Sir, what do we do now?”
“Today is dangerous; let’s rest and head back to the camp tomorrow.”
Baek Gyo looked at the blue sky with empty eyes. Surviving in Nokrim had never been as difficult as it was these days.
The boss, Jang Hanwi, had taken almost all the loot from the past years. In the last year, Baek Gyo had barely touched ten taels of silver. He had to earn the favor of the second-in-command, Yo Beom, to get anything.
“Maybe I should go back to Five Peaks Mountain.”
The Boss of Five Peaks Mountain, Pung Yeoncho, was known for taking good care of his subordinates.
Today, Baek Gyo envied Shim Yanggak, who had returned to Five Peaks Mountain.
“Do you have any money?”
“I have about one tael of silver.”
Baek Gyo looked at Im Wonyeong with envy. He didn’t understand how he had saved that money.
“Well, with that, we could survive a day in Bobong County. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Im Wonyeong quickly got up and limped to the front.
-----------------
Five Peaks Mountain
The Five Heroes of Luoyang were busy receiving thanks from the merchants and guards of the Hwayang Chamber of Commerce.
“Thank you. You have relieved us of a great burden.”
“The name of the Five Heroes of Luoyang will resonate around the world.”
“We will never forget this debt.”
“You are true heroes.”
Lee Somin nodded with a satisfied expression. Seeing the happy faces of the common people, she felt moved. She now understood why the Murim heroes punished wrongdoers.
After a round of thanks, the caravan set off again.
Yang Mugi, the leader of the Divine Division, naturally approached the Five Heroes of Luoyang.
“Ha ha! Good job. Although it’s your first time in combat, you seemed like experts. When your feat reaches Luoyang, your families will be very proud.”
For a moment, the faces of the Five Heroes of Luoyang showed discomfort. They knew this was not an officially approved expedition.
“In two days, we’ll reach Five Peaks Mountain. There’s another Nokrim camp there.”
Hwang Dongyeop looked at Yang Mugi.
“How big is the camp?”
Hwang Dongyeop was willing to avoid it if he considered it too dangerous. He had heard enough about dealing with Nokrim.
Yang Mugi responded indifferently.
“It’s smaller than Jeokpungchae, and they are more peaceful. The toll fees they demand are insignificant compared to other Nokrim camps.”
Yeon Seolju, who had been listening silently, commented.
“Even so, stealing other people’s money is a despicable act.”
“You’re right. They are still bandits. However...”
Yang Mugi hesitated.
Lee Somin, intrigued, asked.
“Is there a problem?”
“There’s something that worries me.”
Yang Mugi revealed a story he had heard from his predecessor.
“It’s unclear if the Sage of Heaven and Earth actually went to Five Peaks Mountain. Mansu Chamber of Commerce hasn’t explained the situation. I understand, as it affects many people.”
“Are you saying that the skills of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain might be greater than we think?”
Yang Mugi nodded at Hwang Dongyeop’s question.
“Many caravans have tried to eradicate Five Peaks Mountain, but none have succeeded. They have almost an undefeated record. Even though they are only small caravans, it’s impressive.”
Lee Somin commented disdainfully.
“Have they defeated one of the Seven Great Sects? Saying they are undefeated against small caravans is an exaggeration. They are nothing more than bandits.”
“I think so too. My predecessor lost against them, and he was an expert from the Heavenly Wind Sect. It cannot be compared to the Seven Great Sects.”
Yang Mugi showed his pride for the Seven Great Sects in front of Lee Somin.
The other Heroes of Luoyang pretended not to notice the provocation. Although their pride was hurt, they didn’t show it.
Yeon Seolju, who seemed annoyed, intervened.
“Come on! Let’s show those bandits that we are stronger.”
“I agree, Yeon. Let’s defeat the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain. What kind of bandits call themselves heroes?”
With Lee Somin’s support, the mood shifted towards combat.
Once decided, Hwang Dongyeop made a formal request to Yang Mugi.
“Sir Yang, please guide us to Five Peaks Mountain.”
The Heroes of Luoyang, who were in their early twenties, respectfully called Yang Mugi “Sir,” who was in his thirties. He was too old to be called “brother.”
“Ha ha! Very well. When they know who you are, they will flee in panic.”
Yang Mugi laughed with the brave young people. He remembered his own expeditions from twenty years ago.
------------
Bobong County
Five Peaks Mountain.
After lunch in Haga Village, Hwayang Chamber of Commerce calmly headed towards Five Peaks Mountain.
The merchants, reassured after confirming the presence of the Heroes of Luoyang, enjoyed the scenery.
However, Yang Mugi remained alert. He knew that even in an easy fight, a mistake could be fatal.
“Stop!”
With a shout, about twenty bandits blocked the road.
The Warriors of the Divine Division, who had annihilated forty bandits two days earlier, chuckled. It was a situation worthy of the expression “a mantis trying to stop a cart.”
Twenty bandits blocking fifteen warriors of the Divine Division and the Heroes of Luoyang? Ridiculous.
The Poisonous Wanderer, Hwang Yomyeong, inspected the group and spoke.
“Chief Yang, how many merchants do you have this time? Let’s get something out of it.”
Yang Mugi responded with a grim expression.
“Damn you! Do you rely on the name of the Ten Heroes to act so arrogantly? If you knew who was at Five Peaks Mountain today, you wouldn’t speak like that.”
At that moment, Hwang Yomyeong realized something was wrong. He noticed that even the warriors of the Chamber of Commerce showed their murderous intentions, unlike before.
But he was not someone who was easily frightened.
“Have you gone mad, Yang Mugi? Have you forgotten who’s in charge here? Do you think you can intimidate us just because the Boss of the Mountain has been lenient with you?”
At that moment, Yeon Seolju stepped forward.
“Do you really think this place is yours? Did you buy the Five Peaks Mountain? We don’t need to talk anymore. Who are the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain? The Heroes of Luoyang have come personally to see them, so come out!”
“Damn it! Do you think you can mention the name of the Ten Heroes like that and get away with it? Heroes of Luoyang? I don’t know where they come from, but today is their funeral day.”
“What, what did you say?”
For the first time, Yeon Seolju trembled with rage at such an insult.
Before the situation could escalate further, Yang Mugi intervened.
“Damn it! Do you know who the Heroes of Luoyang are? They are the main disciples of the Uicheon Sect, Waryong Manor, Palseon Sect, Daeyeon Sect, and Chilyang Sect. Do you think you can face them?”
Hwang Yomyeong, although surprised by the mention of Uicheon, did not back down.
“So what, fool? Here, the Ten Heroes are the kings!”
‘Hmm...’
Hwang Dongyeop, who was observing, was surprised by the bandits’ audacity.
Even though names like Uicheon and Waryong Manor were mentioned, the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain showed not a hint of fear. Even with half the numbers of the Jeokpungchae bandits, they were equally fierce.
For the first time, Hwang Dongyeop felt a chill.
It was evident that these twenty men in front of them were more dangerous than the forty who had fled.
Moreover, if they were so confident in their own ability, how strong must they be?
While Hwang Dongyeop felt his mouth dry from the tension, Yeon Seolju, unable to bear it any longer, drew her sword.
“How dare you call me crazy?! I’ll kill you!”
With those words, Yeon Seolju charged forward.
It was a surge of anger and loss of control that led her to action.
Almost instinctively, the Heroes of Luoyang followed her.
Yang Mugi, surprised, ordered the warriors of the Divine Division.
“Attack!”
Waiting for this signal, the fifteen warriors advanced quickly.
Soon, a great fight broke out.
The fight ended faster than expected.
Despite their bravado, the bandits’ skills were mediocre.
Five bandits died, and the rest were captured and tied up.
Although the fight was easy, Yang Mugi had a grim expression.
Surprisingly, not a single bandit tried to flee. Even now, captured, their eyes were full of hatred.
Two of the warriors of the Divine Division had died.
Five more were injured.
Compared to the fight against Jeokpungchae, where there were only three minor injuries, the result was alarming.
Yang Mugi glanced at the Heroes of Luoyang.
They were proud and pleased, assessing their performance in the fight.
‘This doesn’t look good.’
Yang Mugi sighed.
If these were just the followers, how formidable would the Ten Heroes be?
He didn’t think they would lose, but he worried that these bandits could harm the daughter of Uicheon.
How could these bandits ignore the power structure of the martial community?
In this situation, both parties were unfortunate. Neither the bandits understood their place, nor the Heroes of Luoyang knew who they were facing.
Despite everything, there was no turning back.
Although things were getting complicated, he still believed there was no cause for alarm.
The Hwayang Chamber of Commerce caravan, with the bandits tied up as prisoners, advanced towards the bandit base.
The road was clear.
Maybe there hadn’t been recent threats, or perhaps the bandits were too confident.
They reached the front yard of the base without resistance.
When they arrived, Yang Mugi and the Heroes of Luoyang hesitated, not knowing what to do.
They expected miserable huts, but what they found was different.
In a wide yard, a dozen children were running and playing. Behind, there were large buildings and several well-built houses.
Seeing the tied-up bandits, the children scattered like fish.
Soon, an elderly man with an uncomfortable appearance approached the group.