WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Chapter 65: When Water Is Too Clear, There Are No Fish (13)

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Ma Gukdo, the First Chieftain of Heavenly Road Mountain, was in a very bad mood.

"Isn't Yi Yubaek completely fucking insane?"

The more he thought about it, the more unfair and infuriating it felt.

"Did I ever do anything wrong to that bastard? What kind of grudge does he have against me that he keeps pulling this shit? He even killed his own sworn younger brother just to catch me. Tell me that doesn't make him crazy."

The lesser chieftains of Heavenly Road Mountain loudly chimed in.

"That's because you've been too soft on that bastard Yi Yubaek, Brother!"

"That's right! Even if it cost us, we should've sent men long ago to turn Windflow Martial Academy upside down!"

They thought they were catering to Ma Gukdo's mood, but they only made him feel worse.

"So you're saying I was wrong? With the Shinheung County magistrate watching us with both eyes open, I should've stormed in there and burned Windflow Martial Academy down? Why stop there? Why don't we pick a fight with the government troops and occupy Shinheung County while we're at it?"

"Brother, that's not what we meant..."

"Shut up, you fucking idiots."

"..."

"Ha. Damn it, Hang Inwoo. At least he was clever and quick on the uptake, so he was useful. Nothing's going my way."

As he spoke, Ma Gukdo cautiously glanced at the man seated beside him.

A huge man, whose shoulders seemed twice as broad as anyone else's, sat heavily in his chair.

He carried the presence of both a bear and a tiger. Yet his jaw was clean-shaven, not a single hair in sight, his hair was neatly tied and coiled atop his head, and a faint scent of juniper clung to him.

He possessed the distinguished air of someone who ought to be seated in the estate of a powerful general, not in a mountain stronghold like this.

The man was Yong Useok, who until recently had served as chieftain of Iron Dragon Stronghold, the lowest-ranked of the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds.

After losing his mountain in a power struggle with another stronghold and being driven out of the Eighteen Strongholds, he had returned to his home province of Guangdong, dreaming of making a comeback. He was a martial artist of the peak realm.

He and Ma Gukdo had also run the back alleys together since childhood.

"Brother."

Ma Gukdo called to him carefully.

Yong Useok, who had been quietly drinking, slowly turned his head.

"You know how they say to avoid a sudden downpour, don't you? That bastard Yi Yubaek is gathering martial artists from all across Guangdong, and the momentum doesn't look normal. What if we leave the stronghold for a while and come back later?"

Yong Useok stared at him without a word, so Ma Gukdo hurriedly added an excuse.

"It's not because I'm scared. Even if we win, I think we'd still take serious losses. Everyone in Heavenly Road Mountain agreed to join forces under you, Brother. If too many of us die here, wouldn't that be bad for you too?"

"Gukdo."

Yong Useok tossed back his drink.

The slender woman pressed close to his side trembled as she filled his cup to the brim again.

"Say something sensible, Gukdo. You want me to run because I'm afraid of a few rural martial artists? What would that do to my reputation? Are you trying to throw me into shit?"

"No. Of course not."

"And don't worry so much. I faced countless challenges while leading Iron Dragon Stronghold. Worthless orthodox schools. Government troops. Do you think none of them were enemies strong enough to overwhelm Iron Dragon Stronghold? No. There were many. A great many."

Ma Gukdo's eyes shone as he swallowed hard.

Yong Useok had always been the man he admired.

A genuine man of the Jianghu, who had left Guangdong's martial world for the Central Plains and become one of the eighteen chieftains of the renowned Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds.

Among so many martial artists, he had been acknowledged as someone who stood atop a peak through martial prowess alone. He reigned above even the first-rate fighters who thought themselves exceptional.

Leaving aside immortals who had practically transcended humanity and monstrous beings, he had reached the absolute limit a human could attain through martial arts.

Peak realm.

A martial artist of the peak realm.

As Yong Useok calmly spoke of his experiences, Ma Gukdo's chest swelled as though he were lost in a dream.

"But did Iron Dragon Stronghold fall? No, Gukdo. Bandits don't lose in the mountains. I was driven out like this only because my enemy was also a bandit."

"As expected..."

"Day after day, however long it takes, we run through these vast mountains, strike here and there, break them apart little by little, and swallow them up. It's delicious. This is our own backyard. Places that aren't paths to them are paths to us."

Thud!

Yong Useok drove a massive saber into the floor. Dust billowed up from the wooden boards.

"And what are you worried about? I'm here. I, Yong Useok, am here. If it really comes to the point where we need to abandon the stronghold and run, I'll block the entrance myself. I can buy enough time for every one of you to escape."

"Brother..."

"What's the rush? There are a lot of them, so once they start moving, they'll leave traces. Besides, the spies we planted in Shinheung County will give us information before then. We can watch what happens and decide slowly. It won't be too late."

"Yes! You're right."

"That's it, Gukdo. Once we've dealt with Shinheung County, let's head for a bigger pond together. We'll leave only a branch here. Understand, little brother?"

"Yes, Brother!"

It had been a short conversation, but Ma Gukdo felt lighter and happier than he had in a long time.

'That's right. It's time for me to head for bigger waters too.'

Trials always followed those who held dreams.

Once Yi Yubaek was dead, all of this would become a fine tale of heroism.

"What are you doing? Music!"

At his shout, the subordinates outside dragged in women who had been carefully washed and dressed, along with men carrying instruments.

Soon, the room filled with trembling music played by shaking hands and songs sung in quavering voices.

They might have been in the mountains, but they lived like kings.

The feeling of superiority that came from looking down on others.

The bandits were in excellent spirits.

* * *

After the Shinheung County Martial Assembly ended successfully, Yeon Sowol chatted with Mo Cheong.

"Mo Cheong, what do you think is left before the Heavenly Road Mountain Expedition?"

"Who knows? We just divided the units, so the unit commanders and members will probably get to know each other and work on their coordination."

"Training, basically?"

"Something like that."

"Then it'll take another half month."

"At least."

"The Heavenly Road Mountain Expedition isn't easy."

"There's a reason nobody's been able to touch those fucking bastards until now."

"True. If it were easy, they would've cleaned them up ages ago."

Yeon Sowol felt overwhelmed.

Back on Earth, bandits in games or novels got wiped out in half a day. Now that it was real, the whole thing was unbelievably troublesome and difficult.

"Anyway, we might get busy again starting tomorrow, so Unit Commander Yeon Sowol should get some sleep too."

"Huh?"

Yeon Sowol gave Mo Cheong a strange look.

"Why am I a unit commander? We're all in the special detachment. Calling it a special detachment is just a fancy way of saying we act on our own."

"Sure. But who's the most influential person in the special detachment right now?"

"...Great Hero Noh Huideok?"

"Right. And who does Great Hero Noh Huideok faithfully follow?"

"Come on."

Yeon Sowol threw a punch. Mo Cheong tried to casually dodge it, but failed and got hit around the shoulder.

Smack!

"Ow! Damn, I can't dodge even when I see it coming now."

"What can you do? That's the difference between first-rate and second-rate."

"Wow... You. You ate a spiritual elixir and got stronger, and now... Wow. Wow..."

"Give me a break. You've hit me way more times than I've hit you."

"Hm. That's true. I'll admit it."

Mo Cheong snickered as he rose from his seat.

"Anyway, I'm half joking and half serious. Just because we're acting independently doesn't mean we'll move as if we're strangers. You really do have influence, so keep everyone together until the expedition. Keep the mood up. I'll help beside you."

"All right. Let's do that."

"Yeah. Get some rest. We'll be busy again tomorrow."

"You too."

Mo Cheong waved and disappeared.

Yeon Sowol changed clothes and washed up.

Maybe it was because the martial assembly had gone well. In his refreshed mood, he quickly fell into a sweet sleep.

How much time passed after that?

"Sowol."

Feeling someone's presence at the door, Yeon Sowol sat up.

'What time is it...?'

It was pitch-black.

There were no personal watches in this world, so Yeon Sowol had no way of knowing the hour. All he knew was that it was deep in the night.

Perhaps Yi Yubaek had guessed that much, because he spoke from outside the door.

"The hour of the Ox is ending. It is nearly the hour of the Tiger."

About three in the morning by Earth's standards.

Blinking his bleary eyes, Yeon Sowol opened the door and greeted Yi Yubaek.

"Yes, Father. What brings you here so early?"

Under the dim light, Yi Yubaek wore a fitted black martial wanderer's outfit, a sword at his waist.

"We march."

"..."

Sleep vanished from Yeon Sowol's face.

"I will lead the main force out first. Exactly one hour later, wake the special detachment and follow behind us."

"Is this... the real thing?"

"Yes."

Yesterday, they had held the martial assembly.

Yesterday, they had divided the units.

And today, before dawn, they marched.

Yi Yubaek bared his teeth in a smile.

"No one will expect us to march at this point. It's unfortunate that we haven't had time to coordinate beforehand, but we're overwhelming them in basic strength, so it doesn't matter. Follow behind us with spirit. I'll go on ahead."

Tap.

Yi Yubaek patted Yeon Sowol's shoulder once and walked past him.

Feeling the heavy weight of that hand, Yeon Sowol answered Yi Yubaek's retreating back a beat late.

"Yes!"

Then he hurried into motion.

There was no time to wash today. He splashed cold water over his face, threw on his black martial wanderer's outfit, grabbed the Demon-Severing Sword, and headed outside.

Kang Muhyeok was already waiting there. Soon afterward, Seon Jehun and Mo Cheong appeared as well.

All of them looked somewhat flustered and very tense.

Even so, they radiated fighting spirit so taut it felt as if one could touch it.

Kang Muhyeok was the only one who did not look surprised.

Having heard today's plan in advance, he calmly handed Yeon Sowol and his two junior brothers a sheet of paper each.

"These are the names and lodgings of the martial artists in the special detachment. Memorize them, then go wake them when this lantern burns out."

Kang Muhyeok shook the lantern in his hand.

"When we reach the mountain entrance, herb gatherers will be waiting for us. Master has been preparing them for a long time. They found the location of Cheonro Mountain Stronghold and every position where those bastards stand watch long ago. We'll follow their guidance straight in, seal off the paths, and cut down everyone we see. That's all."

Yeon Sowol's eyes widened.

He had only just learned that such preparations had been made.

Noticing his expression, Kang Muhyeok smiled faintly.

"Master told us many times, didn't he? He has prepared for this for a very, very long time. Longer than you, the martial artists of Shinheung County, or even the bandits of Heavenly Road Mountain could imagine. He was serious about it."

As they quietly talked, the lantern Kang Muhyeok held gradually dimmed before suddenly going out.

Tossing the extinguished lantern to the ground, Kang Muhyeok spoke.

"Special detachment, assemble. You have fifteen minutes."

"Yes!"

The four of them activated Windborne Drift at once, kicked off the ground, and shot away.

East, west, south, and north.

Into Shinheung County's martial world, deep in sleep.

Footnotes:

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