Episode 135. The Sound of Martial Merits Down the Drain

I looked at the faces of the four kneeling men.

Their faces were as thoroughly wrecked as Junior Brother Geumhae's, which made for a welcome sight. I squatted down and deliberately maintained silence for a moment. Sure enough, one of them spoke to me in a cautious tone.

“Can you handle the Namak League Lord?”

“Is that a threat? You’re not exactly in a position to threaten me.”

I blew on my finger, then flicked the one who'd threatened me square on the forehead.

With a sharp thwack— the guy toppled over and passed out immediately.

The remaining three seemed to have the sense not to open their mouths, and fell silent.

“You worked hard paving that road, and I appreciate the effort. But taking one-tenth as a toll isn't right. I'll pay you back step by step for kidnapping, beating, and starving my martial brother. You bandits seem confused because you have numbers on your side, but I could storm the entire Namak Green Forest League alone and fight you all. Do you look down on us because we're Haomun? Did we name our sect wrong? Should we have swapped out the 'Ha' character for 'Sang'? Didn't it occur to you that we're a powerful sect, seeing as we destroyed the Paegeomhoe? If you were so greedy for the Paegeomhoe's money, you should have attacked and looted it yourselves. Why are these pathetic bastards coming to me and bitching about paying up? What do you think, envoys of the Green Forest League?”

“….”

I blew on my finger again.

“Haah….”

One of the guys spoke.

“We're sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

I flicked the guy who'd apologized on the forehead. He let out a short shriek and fell backward, passing out immediately.

I looked at the next one.

“You're the one who patted my martial brother's head earlier, right? That leisurely attitude of yours, I enjoyed it. I thought a hidden expert had appeared, you son of a bitch. But the hidden expert they speak of in the martial world was me all along. Haomun looked like a crippled sect because my reputation hasn't spread yet?”

“Yes.”

“Honest.”

I blew hard on my finger and flicked him.

This time, with a dull thud— the kneeling man toppled backward and fainted.

“Did he pass out? Is he dead?”

Sogunpyeong quickly checked the fallen man's neck and answered.

“He's still breathing.”

“Then he's lucky. He must have trained his forehead.”

“His forehead burst.”

“Moving on.”

I looked at the last one.

“….”

“How many days did it take you to get here from Namak?”

“It took four days.”

“Really? So four days for you to return, three or four days for the Namak League to wonder why you haven't come back, and four more days for them to send new envoys here. I've bought at least twelve days?”

“….”

“I'll show you how we train during those twelve days. We are not people that mere toll-gouging bandits can dare attack relying on numbers alone. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“You don't seem to understand.”

“Now I understand.”

“Do you bandits usually flatter your League Lord a lot? I don't feel any sincerity. You collect tolls from the weak, and when famous experts pass by, you just hide and watch, don't you? For you, touching Haomun is no different from touching merchants, pack merchants, and laborers. In any case, I'll properly deal with the Namak Green Forest League so that they can never again extort tolls from the weak. Bring it.”

“….”

I blew a long breath on my finger.

“Haah….”

While I was blowing, the Green Forest League envoy suddenly foamed at the mouth and fainted while still kneeling.

I watched and said.

“…That trick won't work, you bastard. He fainted on his own. Fine. I'll keep flicking him until his skull cracks.”

The man who had fainted opened his eyes wide and replied.

“…I'm sorry.”

“You bastards have a habit of doing something sorry-worthy first, then apologizing after the fact. How about just not doing sorry-worthy things in the first place? Who taught you such bad habits? Was it a mountain spirit, or your League Lord?”

I gave him the most powerful forehead flick yet.

Thwack—!

I stood up and addressed my subordinates.

“Tie them to the plum blossom trees. We'll continue training until the next Green Forest League envoys arrive. Geumhae, you'll keep a special eye on these bastards.”

Geumhae answered.

“Yes.”

“Don't give them food or water. Only let the ones about to die wet their throats. Give them one meal after three days. Then starve them again. Every mealtime, eat in front of them. Even during external arts training, do it while looking at their faces. They are Haomun's enemies. My enemies. The ones who hit Junior Brother Geumhae. Your enemies. They're pathetic bandit bastards who collect absurd tolls when passing through ownerless green mountains and rivers, so show them no mercy in the future.”

“Yes.”

“Drag them away. Strip their clothes off first, then tie them up.”

The subordinates dragged the unconscious men away, and the officers looked at me.

I looked around at the officers and spoke.

“No strategy. Training is the strategy. Intensive training as usual. The martial world is all about strength anyway. Let's train.”

“Understood. Shall we call only the experts from the other branches?”

“Not necessary. Too many numbers make the heart grow complacent like a bandit's. We'll face them as we are, so don't call anyone.”

“Yes.”

I specifically spoke to Baek In, Sogunpyeong, and Cha Seongtae.

“If I suddenly dash out while training, stop me. I might run off to Mount Namak alone.”

“Understood.”

* * *

One day I trained in the Geumgu Soyogong, the next day in the Wollyeong Mujeonggong, and on the third day I came out to the inner garden again and looked at the bandits tied beneath the plum blossom trees.

“Hey, long time no see, my bandit friends. Doing well?”

“….”

“Who am I talking to?”

“We haven't been doing well.”

The bandits, who hadn't eaten for three days, looked at me with skin-and-bones appearances. Holding fast to the plum blossom tree, I did monkey pull-ups as I watched them.

Suddenly my subordinates approached, smiling, and hung from the plum blossom trees here and there to start doing pull-ups.

I warned my subordinates.

“Don't laugh. Laughing saps your strength.”

“Yes.”

From behind, Geumhae came carrying a small table and asked me.

“Eldest Martial Brother, sorry to ask, but may I eat here?”

“Yeah, sure. Eat comfortably.”

“Thank you.”

Geumhae set down a table in front of the prisoners, and after the maids neatly arranged the food they had brought on top of the table, he sat down in a chair.

Geumhae spoke to me as if apologetic.

“Eldest Martial Brother, I will join the training after I recover a bit. Before that, I shall eat plenty.”

“Understood. If there is anything you want to eat, tell the maids to prepare it. If the maids cannot manage it, buying it from outside is fine as well. Eat your fill. Eating is the only gain.”

“Thank you.”

The smell of the food on the table suddenly pierced my nose, so I spoke while doing monkey pull-ups.

“Whoa, that smells incredible.”

“Eldest Martial Brother, will you not eat together?”

“No. I will eat later.”

“Yes.”

As I continued doing monkey pull-ups, switching arms with my subordinates, I looked around and saw that several of my men had started doing one-armed pull-ups like me.

Beside me, Geumhae began eating, smacking his lips.

Smack, slurp, slurp, sip, burp…

Geumhae had always been a man who ate a lot and ate well. Perhaps he had gained weight because he knew how to savor his food. He ate the food prepared by the maids very heartily and neatly.

Geumhae grabbed a piece of chicken dripping with grease using his chopsticks and held it out toward the bandits.

“Anyone want to eat? First come, first served. One person.”

“Me.”

“Me.”

“…….”

“Me too….”

Geumhae asked me.

“Eldest Martial Brother, may I give it to them?”

I replied while doing pull-ups.

“No.”

“I obey your command.”

“Indeed. Looking at the bandits’ expressions, hunger is a frightening thing. Those bastards who rob others of their money just to live with full bellies shamelessly ask for food. It is absurd. Is today their feeding day?”

The subordinates replied.

“Yes.”

“Cancel it and give them only water. Food is too precious.”

“Understood.”

Geumhae spoke while chewing the chicken.

“Eldest Martial Brother, when we strike the Nokrim Alliance this time, I would like to mobilize some of the merchant group’s troops. Please permit me.”

“Many will be injured, so there is no need.”

“Yes.”

“Let us fight on our own. You seem quite angry.”

Geumhae replied while looking at the bandits.

“Yes. If only you permit me, Eldest Martial Brother, I will slaughter these bastards right here on the spot and grill their flesh on a brazier.”

“Junior Brother, that I cannot allow. If we were to eat human flesh, what would people say of Haomun in the future?”

“I spoke out of turn.”

“If you are truly angry, you may beat them to death anytime. That much I shall permit.”

“Understood.”

“They are useless anyway. Trash. Even trash has its standards. Those who cannot be gathered and put to use can only be killed.”

I came down from the plum blossom tree and glared at the prisoners while loosening my body. Someone’s voice could be heard from the main gate.

As I waited, loosening up, a subordinate entered the inner courtyard and reported to me.

“My Lord, a messenger has arrived from the Martial Alliance. He says he wishes to see you.”

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

All the subordinates in the inner courtyard stopped their movements or dropped down from the plum blossom trees and walls.

“…….”

Geumhae also wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and stood up.

* * *

Even the prisoners turned their heads toward the inner courtyard gate all at once.

A young martial artist who had come from the Martial Alliance cupped his fists lightly in the inner courtyard and spoke while looking around.

“I have come to see the Lord of Haomun.”

The subordinates pointed at me.

“He is right there.”

The Martial Alliance member straightened himself again before me.

“My Lord, I am Sim Segeon, a messenger belonging to the Biyeong Pavilion of the Martial Alliance. The Alliance Lord commanded me to deliver a letter, so I have come to see you.”

“Welcome.”

Sim Segeon took out a letter from his breast and held it out to me. I checked the condition of the letter with my eyes before taking it.

Sim Segeon spoke.

“May I explain it here?”

“It matters not.”

“The Mokryeong Stronghold of the Ghost Blade, which has unified the waterway strongholds of Jangsa, Ryuyang, and Sangdam, and the Namak Nokrim Alliance, which raided the Jangga Merchant Group and caused unrest, have joined hands and are operating in defiance of Alliance Lord Im’s warnings and summons. The Alliance Lord has sent letters to friendly forces to inform them of the tyranny of these two powers and to request their participation in the punitive expedition. If you read the letter, the tyranny of the two powers is briefly recorded within. There are also words of request written in the Alliance Lord’s own hand. He emphasized that this is absolutely not a coercive demand upon friendly forces.”

I replied briefly.

“Where is the rally point?”

“It is the Hyeongsan branch of the Martial Alliance. Threatened by the Mokryeong Stronghold from the north and the Namak Nokrim Alliance from the south, Alliance Lord Im has also departed for Hyeongsan. His plan is to inspect the branch first and then decide on the advance.”

“Messenger Sim, let us meet again at Hyeongsan. Take care on your way.”

Sim Segeon cupped his fists toward me.

“My Lord, thank you. I shall see you at Hyeongsan.”

I nodded and then looked at Geumhae.

“Junior Brother Geumhae.”

“Yes.”

Geumhae poured water from the pitcher he had been about to drink and personally held it out to Sim Segeon.

“Messenger Sim, you have worked hard.”

Sim Segeon replied.

“Ah, thank you.”

After drinking the water refreshingly, Sim Segeon clasped his hands and moved them about toward me and the subordinates before speaking.

“I will see you again.”

“Take care on your way.”

Sim Segeon turned and walked, only then discovering the prisoners tied up in a wretched state beneath the plum blossom tree. He flinched in surprise and asked me.

“Ah, my Lord. Who are these….”

“Nothing to concern yourself with. They are messengers from the Nokrim Alliance….”

“Ah, is that so? Why are they here?”

“They came to shake me down for money and ended up like that.”

Sim Segeon stopped for a moment and examined the prisoners carefully.

“They are clearly bandits. I shall see you again.”

The bandits spoke to the passing Martial Alliance member.

“…Please save us.”

“Please take us to the Martial Alliance!”

Sim Segeon replied as he strode toward the main gate.

“Shut up. We’re going through all this because of you lot.”

I read Alliance Leader Im’s letter after Sim Segeon disappeared. Its contents weren’t much different from what Sim Segeon had said.

I folded the letter for a moment and thought.

‘At this rate, becoming a public enemy of the Murim is out the window…….’

I looked at the prisoners with my arms crossed, then tilted my head.

“……At this rate, I’ll end up becoming a chivalrous hero. Ah, that’s a bit much.”