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Chapter 66: Turning It into a Good Memory
Sahaeru.
A famous restaurant in Haga Village, frequented by both ordinary customers and the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain.
At an early hour for dinner, an old man and a young woman entered Sahaeru. They were the Great Swordmaster Lee Euijung and his granddaughter Lee Somin, from the Uicheon Sect.
The half-asleep waiter quickly ran to guide them to an empty table.
After ordering their food, the two remained silent, sipping their tea.
Lee Somin kept her eyes down, drinking her tea.
At first, she had followed her grandfather to see the bandits get their due punishment.
But upon arriving in Haga, her heart started pounding, and she even felt dizzy.
For a moment, she wondered if she had made the right decision in coming.
Lee Euijung, silently observing his granddaughter, smiled faintly and spoke.
“You don't seem at ease.”
“...No.”
Lee Somin didn't hide her feelings.
She knew that her grandfather, the person she trusted most in the world, would understand her.
“I too, in my younger years, suffered a great defeat in Nanjing while traveling through Murim. After that, I felt so bad that I didn’t return to Nanjing for a long time.”
“Really?”
“Yes. This old man was not always strong.”
“What did you do afterward?”
“Ten years later, I returned to Nanjing and avenged myself. Since then, Nanjing has become a good memory.”
“Hehe.”
The expression "became a good memory" made Lee Somin laugh.
“Now, you feel uncomfortable here. You only have bad memories of this place, so it's natural. Your grandfather will turn this into a good memory soon. I don't think I’ll live another ten years.”
“No, Grandpa. Even if it takes ten years, it's okay. By then, that bandit will have improved his skills even more, and you can avenge me.”
“Hehe, I don’t have the patience to wait ten years. I must take care of him right away.”
“Oh, Grandpa! Can’t you wait ten years for your beloved granddaughter?”
“Hahaha, is that what you want?”
As the two joked lightly, the door to Sahaeru suddenly opened and three men entered.
The waiter hurriedly greeted them enthusiastically.
“Oh! Heroes, welcome! There’s a nice spot by the window. This way, please.”
The only ones called "heroes" in Haga Village were the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain. It was no wonder the waiter welcomed them warmly, as these bandits didn’t rob the restaurant.
The waiter led the three men to a table, took their orders, and quickly left.
One of the bandits, Gado, glanced around the restaurant, and his eyes met Lee Somin's.
‘Huh?’
Gado frowned.
The young woman was familiar.
It was hard to forget a beauty like Lee Somin. However, with her elegant attire and light makeup, he didn’t recognize her immediately.
Gado nudged Osam, who was sitting next to him.
“What?”
“That girl, isn’t she one of the Five Heroes of Luoyang?”
Upon hearing that, Osam looked surprised.
Although they were bandits, they knew what was happening in the world.
All the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain knew that the sects of the Five Heroes of Luoyang had been attacked by the Yoomyung Cult, and many had celebrated.
They were happy that, at least for a while, the Virtue Swordsman couldn't pay attention to them. But why was one of the Five Heroes of Luoyang wandering around Haga?
Osam, glancing at the young woman, felt a chill.
The proud-faced young woman was Lee Somin, the daughter of the Uicheon Sect Leader.
‘Damn it! We were relaxed because we thought the Virtue Swordsman was out of commission. And who is that old man?’
He didn't associate the old man with the Great Swordmaster Lee Euijung. To the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain, the Ten Great Masters were like legendary figures.
Even so, Osam became nervous.
Except for the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain, the other bandits were little more than decorations.
Even if they disregarded the old man, that girl alone could take down the three of them.
Finally, Wang Qing, who had also grasped the situation, cowered.
It was clear that a proud swordswoman from an orthodox sect had come seeking revenge.
The three exchanged glances and slowly got up from their chairs.
That was when Lee Euijung spoke.
“Sit down.”
At the same time, an intense murderous aura crushed them.
The Great Swordmaster's power, at the level of “Killing a Person with the Intent to Kill,” made them fall back into their chairs. They clutched their throats, unable to breathe.
Gado and Wang Qing soon fell unconscious, foaming at the mouth.
Osam gritted his teeth and endured.
After a while, the suffocating pressure disappeared.
“P-Please forgive me!”
Osam jumped up and knelt, banging his head on the floor.
Lee Euijung’s low voice resonated in Osam's ears.
“What is the highest peak of Five Peaks Mountain?”
“The, the Main Peak.”
“Go and tell the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain that the Great Swordmaster summons them to the Main Peak by dawn tomorrow. If one of them flees, I will kill these two first and then hunt down and kill them all.”
Upon hearing the words "Great Swordmaster," Osam trembled.
The Ten Great Masters were living legends and the heavens of Murim.
“Y-Yes, I will.”
Osam banged his head on the floor again.
The energy emanating from Lee Euijung's body was as overwhelming as a mountain, making it impossible for him to lift his head.
When Lee Euijung waved his hand, the two unconscious bandits slid into a corner.
Osam slowly backed out and ran out of Sahaeru.
The customers in Sahaeru dared not breathe loudly, carefully watching the situation.
However, Lee Euijung and Lee Somin began to eat as if nothing had happened when their food arrived.
-------------------
Bobong County.
Camp of Five Peaks Mountain.
Osam ran back to the camp and met Pung Yeoncho in the yard, delivering the Great Swordmaster’s message.
Soon, the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain gathered in the Pavilion of Harmony and Peace.
Pung Yeoncho looked at Yeon Jeokha and the other Heroes with a worried expression.
“Haa! Everyone must have heard more or less what happened on the way. The Great Swordmaster has Gado and Wang Qing as hostages. If we don’t show up at the Main Peak of Five Peaks Mountain by dawn tomorrow, he will kill them and then come after the rest of us to kill us too. What should we do?”
The gazes of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain turned to Yeon Jeokha.
Yeon Jeokha, with an uncomfortable expression, scratched the back of his neck and spoke.
“Since he’s coming for me, I’ll go alone.”
“Brother, but isn’t it dangerous to face one of the Ten Great Masters of the World? Can’t we just run away?” said Ha Sobaek.
Sim Yanggak intervened.
“If he is a person of that position, he will keep his word for honor. He will hunt down and kill our camp members one by one. Even if he can’t kill us all, many of us will die.”
Sim Yanggak’s words plunged the Ten Heroes into silence.
Frankly, no one had thought of such an outcome.
“It’s okay. I’ll go and resolve it. He’s coming for revenge against me, right? If I go, he won’t kill the others.”
“What if something happens to you, Brother?” said Ha Sobaek, his face about to cry.
Yeon Jeokha smiled slightly.
“Will I die? Even if he is one of the Ten Great Masters, it won’t be easy to kill me. If things go wrong, I’ll just run away.”
Han Chaeyeon commented cautiously.
“But if the Great Swordmaster gets angry and wants to kill the others, should we run away beforehand?”
Sim Yanggak intervened again.
“He won’t be able to do that. After fighting with the young master Yeon, he will also have to worry about his own family. If he finds that the young master Yeon is not an easy opponent, the camp of Five Peaks Mountain will be safe. That’s how the Murim world works.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Of course. The more things he has to protect, the less likely he is to kill thoughtlessly. And more so if the enemy is strong. The consequences would be too severe. Even in Five Peaks Mountain, the life of one of their own is more valuable than ten enemies.”
“Ah!”
Han Chaeyeon exclaimed in understanding.
If Yeon Jeokha faced him, the Great Swordmaster would be the one who had to worry about revenge.
“Then, if Brother Yeon survives, will we all be safe?”
“That’s right. Even if he loses, as long as he can escape, it’s like he won. In fact, the young master Yeon escaping from the hands of the Great Swordmaster is already impressive at his age. The Great Swordmaster must have that level of discernment.”
Ha Sobaek raised his fist towards Yeon Jeokha.
“Brother! Did you hear that? Don’t do anything reckless and escape well. Don’t worry about us.”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Sim Yanggak with new eyes.
“Wow, Old Sim! You’re really impressive. How do you think of things like that?”
“Hehe. It’s nothing. These things are learned automatically after spending so much time in the Murim world. It’s what they call survival wisdom.”
Pung Yeoncho murmured softly.
“Tsk! Survival wisdom? Isn’t that right, Gomyung?”
But Tak Gomyung didn’t respond.
In fact, he was deeply impressed by Sim Yanggak’s words, considering their desperate situation.
“Brother, we must recognize what it is. Sim’s mind is different from ours.”
“Damn it! Now you talk about wisdom?”
Pung Yeoncho shook his head resignedly.
It seemed that his words had only added more trouble.
As dinner time approached, the bandits watched the Ten Heroes cautiously. It seemed they wanted to flee if the Heroes did.
But the Ten Heroes acted as if everything was normal.
Only then did the bandits, who had been nervous, begin to relax.
They spent the night worried and sighing.
The next morning, after breakfast, the bandits of Five Peaks Mountain camp gathered at the Pavilion of Harmony and Peace without being called.
The Ten Heroes didn’t disperse them.
After bidding farewell to the Ten Heroes, Yeon Jeokha slowly ascended the Main Peak of Five Peaks Mountain.
Although it was a familiar path, today it felt different.
Perhaps because of the impending confrontation with one of the Ten Great Masters, his sword felt heavier than usual.
It was a different feeling from when he faced the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord Seok Muhae.
Perhaps this was the difference between a duel and a real battle.
Step by step, Yeon Jeokha recalled his fight with the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord. Somehow, this eased his mind a bit.
In reality, he didn’t fear the Great Swordmaster.
Losing and dying are two different things.
Even losing has different degrees of risk. He didn’t feel his life was in danger.
While consoling himself with these thoughts, he reached the Main Peak of Five Peaks Mountain.
At the edge of the forest, he saw Gado and Wang Qing kneeling.
When they saw him, their faces lit up as if they had seen a savior in hell.
Further up, he saw an old man with a sage-like air and a beautiful young woman.
They were the Great Swordmaster and Lee Somin.
Lee Somin, in her traveling clothes, looked even more feminine.
Lee Euijung turned his gaze to Yeon Jeokha.
For a moment, his eyes sparkled with interest.
At Lee Euijung’s level, he could see much more than most people.
He could notice the pure energy emanating from Yeon Jeokha, his steady step, and his calm gaze without a trace of fear.
“Wow! This is not a simple bandit...”
He thought Yeon Jeokha was just a strong bandit, but upon seeing him, he felt as if he were seeing himself in his youth.
After leaving Shaolin, Lee Euijung had spent many years training in Taoist Sects. That’s why the training method of Uicheon Sect was named "Eight Extremes of Heaven."
A Taoist master like Lee Euijung felt aversion towards masters of demonic techniques, but he found comfort and joy in Taoists.
All of this might seem like prejudice, but this is how his body reacted.