Chapter 710
Chapter 710
Chapter 710. The Shandong Ak Family (2)
It was true that I had been startled when they said they had a master of the Transformation Realm.
Warrior Seowoo and I are at the transcendent peak, but we are still not enough to handle a master of the Transformation Realm.
That is how much of a different class of existence a master of the Transformation Realm is.
But I did not feel any pressure or fear from the opponent.
Until now, whenever I had faced a master of the Transformation Realm, I had always felt that sort of sensation.
The reason was simple.
Because that man was not in the Transformation Realm, nor even at the transcendent peak, but only at the peak level.
For Green Forest Bandits, even the peak level is certainly an impressive skill, but considering the martial prowess of our group...
Still, seeing those Green Forest Bandits believe and follow him as a master of the Transformation Realm, there must be some reason for it.
I decided to act afraid.
“Oh, no! The realm of Transformation! It seems this place is our grave.” (Eun Seoho)
And I sent a telepathic message to the others.
* For now, please play along a little. And that man appears to be around the peak level, so Warrior Jin-yu, please observe him, and if you see anything strange, handle it. (Eun Seoho)
At this, Warrior Seowoo bit his lip and said.
“Liege. We will at least save your life.” (Warrior Seowoo)
“Liege, you must return alive no matter what.” (Warrior Seowoo)
At this, the Green Forest Bandits mocked us.
“Oh my, how tearjerking. How tearjerking.” (Green Forest Bandit)
“There is no need for that. All of you will die here today anyway.” (Green Forest Bandit)
And the man who had revealed himself as being in the Transformation Realm said.
“Are your farewells over? Then... die!” (Man)
The moment he swung his sword toward us, the sword that had left his hand flew through the air.
It was the Sword Levitation Technique, which only one who had reached the Transformation Realm could use.
“Waaaah!”
“So that is the Sword Levitation Technique!”
The Green Forest Bandits admired it as they watched.
On the other hand, I felt something strange and narrowed my brow.
The Sword Levitation Technique is controlling a sword with qi.
In other words, it means that qi must be connected between the swordsman and the sword, even if invisible to the eye.
But my senses felt nothing like that at all.
It was then.
Thud.
The sword flying through the air suddenly fell to the ground.
“...!”
At this, the Green Forest Bandits looked at the man they called elder brother with startled eyes, and although the man had a flustered expression, he quickly managed his face and said.
“I am in a good mood today, so I shall show mercy. I will not take your lives, so leave behind everything you have and go.”
A bluff.
I know it well because I have seen quite a few bastards who bluff.
“Why are you not moving at once...” (Man)
His words could not continue any further.
Thud.
Because a man had been thrown down between the Green Forest Bandits and us.
“Uuugh...” (Man)
The one who had thrown him down as he groaned, seemingly in quite a lot of pain, was Warrior Jin-yu.
“When I searched the surroundings, this man was controlling that sword with invisible thread.” (Warrior Jin-yu)
“So this man was the secret behind the Sword Levitation Technique.” (Eun Seoho)
At this, the one called elder brother shouted.
“Shut up! To slander my levitating sword—what kind of absurd false accusation is that!” (Man)
He charged at me in anger, but.
Thwack!
Kugh!
After being stabbed in the stomach by my scabbard, he groaned and collapsed.
“I know that your skill is at the peak level. I merely acted a little because I was curious what gave you the confidence to pretend to be in the Transformation Realm.” (Eun Seoho)
I swept up the hair on my forehead with my hand and said.
“Then let us deal with them.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes!” (Warriors)
Dealing with those Green Forest Bandits took only an instant.
And after breaking their wrist bones, we bound their limbs and hung them dangling from a tree.
Since there had also been a peak warrior, we took measures so they could not use inner arts.
Palgap said to them.
“Still, it’s only this much because you came before we warmed the dumplings, sir. If you had come before he ate the heated dumplings and they had gotten cold or covered in dirt, you would have suffered something worse than this, sir.” (Palgap)
That’s not true.
Mm, or is it? Palgap might be right.
I asked them.
“So, where is the mountain keep you bastards belong to?” (Eun Seoho)
“Th-that is...” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Were you perhaps driven out of your mountain keep?” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, they flinched.
Green Forest Bandits are those who belong to a mountain keep under the rule of the Green King, and they mainly operate by collecting tolls.
There are occasional cases where they plunder goods, but as much as possible, they do not harm people.
If they steal something too valuable or kill someone, it could cause trouble later, so they operate while keeping to a reasonable line.
Because if things go badly, they might be subjugated.
In any case, what is there for those who were driven out of a mountain keep for this or that reason to do?
They say theft is what one learns, so they gather in groups of three or five and go back to acting as Green Forest Bandits.
And it is Green Forest Banditry without any reasonable line.
And since that means they have invaded the territory of other Green Forest Bandits, they must be being chased by the existing mountain keep of this area.
“I thought something was strange, and sure enough, that is the case.” (Eun Seoho)
I asked again.
“So, in the past few days, how many people have you killed?” (Eun Seoho)
“...” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Shall I let you know how hot that campfire is?” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, they exchanged glances, and soon one Green Forest Bandit answered.
“E-eight people.” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Tell me by date.” (Eun Seoho)
“Th-that is, two people two days ago, then one after that, and four yesterday, two who looked like father and son, and three today.” (Green Forest Bandit)
I thought for a moment, then said to the guards.
“Let us burn one leg each on those men.” (Eun Seoho)
“Aaaargh! Why are you doing this?” (Green Forest Bandit)
“We told you what you wanted!” (Green Forest Bandit)
“According to what you said, that makes twelve people. You said you killed eight.” (Eun Seoho)
“...” (Green Forest Bandit)
“You lied, so unless you feel the price for that with your body, you will not stop lying, will you?” (Eun Seoho)
Warrior Yeo Eung-am approached them with a burning piece of firewood.
“Kkaaaaargh!” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Kkeuuuup!” (Green Forest Bandit)
Why do people never speak obediently when asked nicely?
On top of that, they told a stupid lie that would be found out immediately...
It may be because they want to test just how much backbone they have, but even with people like that, giving pain to someone is not something that feels good.
But something truthful has to come out of them for us to do anything, so that is why I am doing this.
“Now, let us start the conversation again. Where is your base?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is...” (Green Forest Bandit)
“There is plenty of firewood. So I would like it if you told me before both legs burn, if possible. After that, you know, right?” (Eun Seoho)
At this, their pupils shook violently.
“I-it is a cave to the east from here!” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Warrior Yeo Eung-am.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes!” (Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
“Go confirm it.” (Eun Seoho)
The instant Warrior Yeo Eung-am answered, he launched himself away.
“Yes! I receive your command.” (Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
I turned my head and asked them again.
“So, what you just said is not a lie, is it? If it is a lie, well... you know what the price for that is.” (Eun Seoho)
“...” (Green Forest Bandit)
A little later, Warrior Yeo Eung-am returned.
“I found a cave that appears to be their base.” (Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
“Then only Warrior Seowoo and Warrior Yeo Eung-am will come with me, and the rest of you, please watch those bastards.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Warrior)
“Ah, if they try anything foolish, it would not be bad to remind them again how hot burning firewood is.” (Eun Seoho)
At that moment, Palgap said.
“We already broke their wrist bones, did we not, sir?” (Palgap)
“Still, you never know.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true, sir.” (Palgap)
I took Warrior Yeo Eung-am and Warrior Seowoo and headed for their base.
When I looked up at the sky, I could see dawn breaking far in the distance.
Whew, I’m hungry.
Still, let us endure just a little.
As Warrior Yeo Eung-am had confirmed, there was a cave to the east.
It is a rather decent cave to use as a hideout.
When we went inside, quite a few items were piled up in the corner.
Among them were things that seemed to have been taken recently.
Clothes and various personal belongings.
Among them were things a woman might use and things that appeared to belong to a child, so I could tell there were also women and children among the victims.
These fucking bastards.
Whew, calm down.
I said to Geumryeong.
“Geumryeong. Can you find the owner of this item?” (Eun Seoho)
They had not been dead for very long, and the distance was not far, so Geumryeong should be able to find them sufficiently.
Perhaps because Geumryeong also understood the seriousness of the situation, he smelled the item without complaint.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
And he told us to follow, so we followed Geumryeong.
When we had gone about two gak.
Geumryeong pointed ahead with his front paw.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
As we approached that place, insects were buzzing.
I released my energy, and at this, the insects lost their wits and hurriedly fled.
Tsk, they really buried them roughly.
Well, these men must be in a position where they are being chased by the Green Forest Bandits of this area.
Since they had to commit the deed and hurry away from that place, they must have had no time to burn the bodies, so they roughly buried them and left.
When Warrior Yeo Eung-am and Warrior Seowoo dug up that place with shovels, several corpses came out.
It is fortunate that wild animals had not touched them.
The reason we are looking for the corpses of the dead is to find their identity plaques.
Only then can we identify the victims and convey the news or do something of that sort.
There is nothing quite as frustrating as someone going missing and being unable to know what happened to them.
There have been cases like that in our trading company as well, so I know that feeling to some degree.
So by taking just this little effort, we can form a new connection.
If we say that the Eunhae Trading Company found the remains of the missing, caught the culprit, and even avenged them, how grateful would they be?
Then unless something unusual happens, they will buy or use our trading company’s goods.
It is things like this, gathered one by one, that create the greatest trading company under heaven.
We began searching the corpses for identity plaques.
At that moment, a faint energy I felt in my senses.
Could it be?
“Please wait.” (Eun Seoho)
I stopped the two warriors for a moment.
“What is the matter?” (Warrior Seowoo)
“Someone is alive.” (Eun Seoho)
“Is that true?” (Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
I immediately searched among the corpses for the one I guessed was alive.
He was a young man.
His chest had been stabbed by a sword, but because it had avoided a fatal spot, it seemed he had not died instantly.
“He is still breathing, though faintly.” (Eun Seoho)
I immediately took out a bottle in which I had stored Geumryeong’s saliva and applied it to his wound.
Then I opened his mouth and fed him Geumryeong’s saliva.
Perhaps thanks to his survival instinct, he swallowed Geumryeong’s saliva.
Geumryeong’s saliva is an immediate remedy for external wounds like this.
Perhaps because of that, his pulse was slowly returning.
“We must find this man’s identity plaque.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Warrior Seowoo)
At my words, the two warriors searched the surroundings and found the identity plaque.
“Here, there is an identity plaque.” (Warrior Seowoo)
“Judging from his age, the identity plaque with this birth year must belong to him.” (Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
I had expected there would be identity plaques, and fortunately, there were.
That is because even vicious fiends who slaughter people are afraid of vengeful spirits, so they bury victims together with their identity plaques.
There is that superstition that if one burns or takes a victim’s identity plaque, their vengeful spirit will attach itself to you.
So identity plaques are usually just buried in the ground, and fortunately, it seems they were buried together.
“What shall we do with this man?” (Warrior Seowoo)
“First, let us move him to the place where we were staying. After that, we will collect the bodies.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Warrior Seowoo)
We carefully brought him to the place where we had camped for the night.
When we brought back the survivor, the Green Forest Bandits who saw him flinched.
I glared at them and said to Warrior Myeongjong and Warrior Changwoon.
“You two, go immediately to the mountain keep near here and tell them that I am requesting their cooperation. If you give my alias, they will say they will cooperate.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Warrior Myeongjong)
At my words, the Green Forest Bandits began to wriggle.
They had gags in their mouths, so they could not speak, but strangely, I felt as though I knew what they were saying.
They were saying that if they were caught by the mountain keep in charge of this area, they would die, so please spare them.
I rebuked them coldly.
“Shut up. You bastards do not even have the right to make such a request.” (Eun Seoho)
One shijin later.
I saw a group of people approaching the place where I was.
They were the Green Forest Bandits of the mountain keep in charge of this area.
The reason I requested cooperation from the Green Forest Bandits rather than the county office was because it was quite far from here to the county office.
It was more efficient to receive the cooperation of the Green Forest Bandits.
This place is close to the capital, Beijing, and nearby are the Shandong Ak Family and the Jinju Eon Family as well.
The fact that they operate as Green Forest Bandits in a place like this means they are people who do not cross the line.
So there is no way they would attack me even after knowing my identity.
If they do attack, I can just make them the same as these men.
I approached them.
Seeing that the air around the man in the center was extraordinary, he must be the Boss.
“This humble merchant, Eun Seoho, greets the Tiger of the Forest.” (Eun Seoho)
“I am the Boss of the mountain keep here. Just call me Mad Axe.” (Mad Axe)
So it means crazy axe.
“You must be Master Immortal Hero Beauty. I heard that you caught those who were operating near here without our knowledge.” (Mad Axe)
I pointed at those hanging from the tree and said.
“Yes. It is them.” (Eun Seoho)
“So, what do you want us to help with? Slaughtering them is something we have to do anyway.” (Mad Axe)
“No. I will take them to the county office.” (Eun Seoho)
“To the county office?” (Mad Axe)
“That way, they will confess their crimes with their own mouths, will they not?” (Eun Seoho)
Saying that, I tossed over a money pouch I had prepared in advance.
“This should be enough as payment.” (Eun Seoho)
Boss Mad Axe took the pouch I handed over, opened it, and grinned as he said.
“Well, do as you like with them, whether you steam them or roast them.” (Mad Axe)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then why did you call us?” (Mad Axe)
“They killed people who had to detour because of a landslide and stole their goods. If the authorities learn of this, whose doing do you think they will believe it was?” (Eun Seoho)
“What?” (Mad Axe)
“These fucking bastards!” (Green Forest Bandit)
“Of course they would think it was us!” (Green Forest Bandit)
“We almost had that crime pinned on us! These fucking bastards!” (Green Forest Bandit)
I grinned and asked.
“But since we caught those bastards, it is something you should be grateful for, yes?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true.” (Mad Axe)
So work.