Book 11 Chapter 7

Bilyeon's Old Tale

- Proposal (請婚)

Bilyeon and the delegation from Cheonmu Academy were walking along the only mountain path on Gugungsan (九宮山).

Anyone who wanted to cross Gugungsan had to pass this way.

There was no other path.

As they walked along the mountain path, they were naturally ascending the mountain. Of course, they could also descend, but as the clouds above gradually drew closer, it was certain they were climbing to the summit.

Due to the nature of the mountain, the higher they went, the rougher the path became, and the more lush the greenery grew. Trees nearly ten *jang* tall surrounded the path on all sides.

On such solitary, rugged paths, there were usually people who took advantage of the geographical advantage to conduct business. For them, leaving such a naturally endowed location unattended would be a crime. Bilyeon was meticulously trimming his fingernails as if something had gotten under them. He appeared extremely leisurely and unconcerned. Then, as if remembering something, he called out to Gungsang in a low voice.

"Gungsang!"

"Yes, Eldest Brother!"

While answering with a start, Namgungsang felt most uneasy at times like these for no clear reason.

'Did I do something wrong again?' he asked himself, but he found no answers. He was innocent. Yet, an inexplicable sense of anxiety gripped his heart. It was now a sickness.

"You must be bored, right? Shall I tell you an interesting story?"

"A, a story?"

Even if lightning struck from a clear sky, it wouldn't have been this surprising. Namgungsang was flustered by Bilyeon's unexpected words. Bilyeon nodded with a gentle smile.

"Yes, not only is it very interesting, but it also offers a great lesson. You'll probably find it helpful for a long time if you listen."

From the start, Namgungsang's right to refuse did not exist in this world. Bilyeon, while focusing on trimming his nails, began a story.

"Once upon a time, in the days when tigers smoked tobacco, sixteen disobedient troublemakers came to a certain teacher. Because they were troublemakers, or perhaps because they were immature, these sixteen students were not students who listened well to their teacher. Moreover, despite having nothing—if they had had any skill, the teacher wouldn't have looked at them so pitifully—they acted as if they were great people. It was pathetic, but still, despite that, the teacher found them endearing. So, he resolved to make them excellent people, even if it meant sacrificing himself."

"Y-yes…"

Namgungsang, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head. The story felt strangely familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before. And as he continued to listen, it felt as though it wasn't someone else's story. Unconcerned by Namgungsang's feelings, Bilyeon continued his story, like a grandfather telling a tale to his grandson.

"But unfortunately, these sixteen students were very rebellious. They weren't humanly mature enough to accept the teacher's teachings silently. Unaware of the teacher's boundless compassion, these foolish students finally rebelled. What's more, they even attempted an organized rebellion. Tsk tsk, isn't it natural for learning to be difficult?"

"O-of course."

Namgungsang replied with a strangely contorted expression. He was suffering from the intangible pressure emanating from Bilyeon and the discomfort it caused.

"However, the students lacked patience. They weren't prepared to become stronger by overcoming hardships and trials. In other words, they lacked the basics. Still, this excellent teacher didn't give up on the students. In his eyes, the students had a sliver, a tiny bit of potential. What a wonderful person, right? The teacher wanted his students to become strong in the shortest possible time. He could not tolerate the fact that his students were weak. So, he taught them the fastest way to become strong. And he guided them with all his heart. But the students were still foolish. Despite the teacher's tearful efforts, the students rebelled against the teacher, claiming he was only teaching them trivial things and not the essentials. What wretched people. Huh? Why is your expression like that?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Namgungsang, sweating coldly with a face like he'd chewed sour plums, stammered in embarrassment.

"So, what do you think happened?"

*Tap tap!*

Bilyeon asked, still engrossed in trimming his nails.

"What are you asking about?"

"The students' fate!"

"I, I don't really know."

He suddenly thought that he might know the ending of the story very well. But he quickly stopped thinking further. He felt that delving any deeper would bring about an immensely miserable feeling.

"The teacher was someone who still remembered the old adage, 'The cane is a panacea.' The teacher had no choice. So, he had to show his authority with it. He believed there was no future without fundamental human reform. He didn't want to be a teacher who ruined his disciples' futures."

Namgungsang, who had been listening quietly to Bilyeon's words, quickly spoke up.

"Weren't there other methods? There are many ways to show authority besides the cane, aren't there? Surely there were peaceful and non-violent methods?"

Bilyeon glanced at Namgungsang with a look of displeasure for a moment, then continued.

"There wasn't enough time for that. Moreover, the students dared to stir up the spirit of rebellion, an act that would anger heaven itself. The teacher had no other choice. They felt they were learning but didn't realize they were learning. They didn't notice they were becoming incredibly strong. That's why they made such a mistake… Understand?"

"Y-yes…"

Namgungsang's face, covered in cold sweat, was pale, as if all the blood had been drained to the ground.

'This, this story…'

Suddenly, the hellish life he had experienced on Amisan vividly flashed in Namgungsang's mind. That hot summer, the hellish heat, the swirling dust, the dripping sweat, and…

Interrupting his thoughts, Bilyeon's story continued.

"The teacher had to think of a way. He knew well that if the fire of discontent continued to spread, it would be difficult to extinguish later. The teacher's tender heart could no longer bear to see his disciples fall into the wrong path…"

Bilyeon's words continued, indifferent to Namgungsang's ever-changing expression as he listened. However, when the phrase 'tender heart' was mentioned, the metaphysical facial contortions he made were truly a spectacle.

"So, the teacher needed an example. An ex-am-ple! Coincidentally, that example had committed many sins. That child thought that if they stopped talking, it was a great sin. Of course, constant complaints about the teacher poured out of that child's mouth. Encouraged by the agreement of those around him, the child finally voiced his complaints to his teacher, who was like heaven itself. He was caught! That child became a sacrifice for public indoctrination. The teacher beat the child until all the complaints and rebellious spirit turned to white ash. Of course, the teacher's heart ached, but he had no choice. His chicks had never known true fear until then. The teacher needed to fill the students' deficiencies. That student, by sacrificing himself, enlightened the remaining fifteen friends, so perhaps he had no regrets. After that incident, those sixteen children became truly good students. So, the benevolent teacher found teaching much easier. A beautiful learning atmosphere was created where students learned diligently and the teacher taught diligently. How was my story, interesting?"

"O-of course."

But despite his answer, Namgungsang's back was already drenched in cold sweat. His face was as pale as if it had been painted white. Namgungsang would probably never forget the story he heard today. How could he erase such a terrifying ghost story from his memory!

"Oh, right. This story has a short sequel! It's a kind of side story."

As if he had just remembered, Bilyeon clapped his hands.

"W-what is it?"

Why was his heart so uneasy? Namgungsang felt as if his heart were being crushed.

"That teacher had a disciple he took in before the sixteen students. In other words, he was like the Eldest Brother to those sixteen students. He was said to be a very excellent person."

Namgungsang's face turned ashen once again, but Bilyeon paid no mind.

"One day, the Eldest Brother suddenly felt like meeting his junior disciples. So, he decided to set off on a journey."

'He shouldn't have decided…'

Namgungsang only thought his wish, never committing the foolish act of speaking it aloud. This was the result of the diligent training he had received from Bilyeon.

"When the teacher met the Eldest Brother, who was setting off to find his disciples, he earnestly implored him. 'If your disciples do not listen and are rebellious, do as I did in the past.'"

For a moment, Namgungsang felt a cold dread envelop his entire body as if he had caught a chill.

"I-I see."

"Huh? Are you catching a cold? Why are you shaking so much?"

"N-no. I'm fine. Please continue!"

Namgungsang's teeth chattered uncontrollably as he spoke.

"Really? And unfortunately, the teacher's prophecy came true. At the emotional reunion scene between the Eldest Brother and his disciples, the disciples did not show respect to the Eldest Brother whom they met for the first time. They lorded their few years of seniority over him. They didn't recognize that in this world, the senior brother is heaven. At that moment, the Eldest Brother must have felt deep doubt about the lack of respect prevalent in the martial world and was heartbroken."

Namgungsang cried out with pity.

"Th-that's impossible! Surely those disciples would have shown immense respect to the Eldest Brother. Are there really such scoundrels in this world who would ignore someone as great as the Eldest Brother? The Eldest Brother must have been mistaken. Perhaps there was a slight misunderstanding."

"Is that so?"

It was as if he was asking, 'I don't know anything, so you answer for me.'

"Of course."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He nodded with firm conviction. His voice was filled with desperation, as if he would die if he yielded here.

"Hmm…"

Despite Namgungsang's firm answer, Bilyeon's face still showed lingering doubt.

"Perhaps the disciples were so overwhelmed with emotion that they were flustered. It's fine if it stays that way forever."

"Then, for now, let's say it was my misunderstanding, or rather, the Eldest Brother's misunderstanding."

Only then did Namgungsang feel like he could sleep soundly tonight.

"Anyway, so the Eldest Brother did as the teacher taught. And surprisingly, the teacher's teachings worked very well. So, he became at ease again, just as his teacher had been in the past. After that, the Eldest Brother was happy because the disciples listened well."

Namgungsang continued to speak for his life, feeling a sense of relief akin to a prisoner pardoned on the execution grounds.

"That's fortunate. The disciples didn't have to disturb the mood of their respected Eldest Brother any further."

"Of course. That was a great fortune for the disciples, not the Eldest Brother."

*Tap tap!*

Bilyeon was still diligently trimming his nails, not even looking at Namgungsang. It seemed that trimming his nails was the most important thing in the world to him at the moment.

"…"

Namgungsang was speechless for a moment.

"Do you know why?"

Bilyeon asked in a nonchalant tone.

"I, I don't really know. Please explain."

Despite not really knowing, goosebumps rose on his back. It was a strange phenomenon, as if he were sick.

"Heh heh… That's because, if the disciples had continued to climb up further, even the Eldest Brother himself couldn't guarantee what terrible things would have happened. So, they were lucky."

*Thump!*

The cold sweat on Namgungsang's forehead dripped down his cheek, to his chin, and then to the ground.

*Drip, drip, drip!*

Soon, the dewdrops of sweat on his forehead fell to the ground like rain. His back was also completely soaked in sweat.

"So, do you understand the lesson this story conveys?"

"Of course. So, you should serve your heavenly teacher and Eldest Brother with utmost respect…"

*Crack!*

At that moment, a walnut-sized knot hit the top of Namgungsang's head. Bilyeon looked at Namgungsang with a pitying gaze.

"When did you become so dull?"

"Huh?"

Namgungsang felt wronged.

"Of course, what you said is also true, but there is another lesson. You mustn't miss it. Especially at a time like this! Don't simply think there's only one lesson from a story, simply!"

Bilyeon pointed his meticulously trimmed finger around. Surrounding their group, burly men had formed a human barrier in two layers, encircling them. Namgungsang turned to look at Bilyeon. His Eldest Brother nodded.

"Do you understand now?"

Namgungsang nodded.

'I didn't even notice such movement beforehand… I was too complacent.'

It was clear they had been ambushed in advance. However, unless they had learned professional concealment techniques, signs would have been revealed. Yet, he hadn't noticed them until they were within ten *jang* of him. Namgungsang felt ashamed of his inexperience.

The front of the human curtain, which surrounded the delegation in two layers, parted to the left and right, and a middle-aged man walked forward.

Unlike the majority of the fierce-looking men, he was a middle-aged man with an extremely ordinary face. However, surrounded by fierce men, his ordinariness seemed extraordinary. Moreover, his status did not seem low.

"Who are you?"

A cantankerous old man, one of the delegation leaders, stepped forward and asked gruffly. The middle-aged man then bowed politely with a folded fist salute. It seemed as though the roles of the two men were reversed.

"Ho ho ho, hello. I am Lee Song, who is humbly serving as the deputy leader of a small mountain stronghold under the Noksarim 72 Strongholds. I am very pleased to meet you all on this bright, verdant day."

"Ah! Is that so?"

The cantankerous old man involuntarily returned the greeting. His tone was too polite for a mountain bandit. It made one doubt if he was truly a bandit. However, it was not as if he could say, 'Oh, is that so? Then, without any trouble, what should we give you and go?'

At the name 'Noksarim 72 Strongholds,' Im Seongjin's expression twisted severely, but no one noticed.

"What is your business?"

The cantankerous old man asked briefly and gruffly.

"Ah! It's simple. The person in charge of our stronghold is suddenly attempting something foolish that is unbecoming of his age. I apologize, but I wish for you to cooperate with this matter as much as possible. I don't particularly want to do this, but my position dictates it. Ah, he's acting shamefully, not living up to his age… Tsk tsk!"

Lee Song clicked his tongue as if pitying him. It was then.

"Hey, you ink-stained idiot! Who are you calling foolish? Have you contributed anything to my aging?"

Seeing a man pushing through the crowd, shouting at the top of his lungs, the delegation members seemed to have the same thought. 'Ink-stained' was apparently the nickname of the person who introduced himself as Lee Song. Of course, not everyone thought the same. Yeom Do had thought his nickname might be 'Gobsmacker' or 'Big Mouth,' but his prediction was wrong.

'Yes! This is what a bandit should look like!'

Black beard as stiff as steel needles, a thick scar across the corner of his right eye, piercing eyes, bushy eyebrows like caterpillars, and a menacing black axe hanging from his broad back.

By any measure, he was a perfectly normal mountain bandit. He was a stark contrast to the impeccably clean deputy leader, who was not at all like a bandit. Because of this, he looked extremely like a bandit.

"And who are you?"

Wolgi Han's question was actually unnecessary. With such a fierce face, there was only one person superior to the deputy leader. Without needing to ask, he was the leader of this bandit group.

"Then, let us hear the rest of your business, which we didn't get to hear earlier."

Wolgi Han and the rest of the delegation members could not hear Lee Song's business to the end due to the sudden appearance of the bandit leader. The bandit leader's face suddenly turned red.

'Gasp! Is he blushing right now? That… that terrible deed…'

A terrifying thought briefly crossed people's minds. With his face red, he nudged his deputy leader, Lee Song, with his elbow.

'Stop itttt!'

Everyone present felt like they were drowning in a wave of disgust. Looking around at the faces of the other bandits, they too looked pale and uncomfortable.

'How ashamed they must be, witnessing their leader's outrageous misconduct!'

The delegation members suddenly felt a surge of sympathy for the bandits. His bizarre behavior had gone beyond a crime and was even terrifying. Therefore, they were even more afraid to hear their business.

"Wh-what?"

Yeom Do's jaw dropped. His wide eyes, as if about to roll out, were filled with disbelief. He turned to Noh Hak standing beside him and shouted.

"Hey, Noh Hak! Are my ears faulty right now?"

Noh Hak's expression was also telling. His expression indicated that he was not the only one experiencing auditory problems. Seonpunggeomryong Wi Jicheon was raging, breathing fire from his eyes, and the female escorts all had faces as if they had seen a bug. And they were angry that one of women's happy dreams had been invaded by ruffians.

"Ar-are you saying… that you want to take that child there as your wife?"

The cantankerous old man's fingertips trembled visibly as he asked. It was an uncharacteristic display for him, who was known for his cruelty. However, it was unclear whether the trembling was due to absurdity or anger.

"It is embarrassing, but your words are not wrong in the slightest."

The deputy leader Lee Song, who replied, was filled with shame and embarrassment. He seemed to still have a conscience, as he knew how embarrassing and foolish this request was. He was a decent person for a bandit. Lee Song slightly raised his eyes to look at where the cantankerous old man's fingertip was pointing. He suddenly felt his face flush.

'Heh heh, I've lived fifty years, but I've never seen such mystical beauty. It makes even my dried-up heart, like an old tree, beat… It's no wonder the leader makes such a foolish request.'

However, the leader's request felt like a desecration of that beauty. Where Wolgi Han was pointing stood Na Yerin, Bingbaengbong, dressed in snow-white robes, a beauty who could not be considered of this world. Even in this absurd situation, she did not show any emotion on her face.

In place of Na Yerin, her junior sister, Dokanbong Dokgo Ryeong, was emitting both anger and murderous intent from her entire body. She seemed unable to contain herself unless she drew her sword immediately and cut that lunatic in half.

"Are you crazy?"

The cantankerous old man summarized the current situation in a single, clear sentence. Lee Song shook his head.

"Sigh, I wish I were. But what can I do when reality is like this? I didn't doubt the leader had become insane… but I cannot disobey the orders of a superior as a subordinate. Please understand."

"What? Who's crazy? I'm normal, normal! Perfectly fine!"

The leader, Im Gae, who had been listening quietly beside them, exclaimed indignantly.

"As you can see, he is normal."

Lee Song said, shrugging his shoulders. His attitude could be interpreted as, 'As far as I can see, he's definitely crazy, but since he claims he's not, I have no choice but to state the situation as it is.'

"Impossible!"

The voice was low but possessed the power to captivate everyone. The owner of the voice was none other than Bilyeon.

"Who do you think you are?"

The leader, Im Gae, asked in a growling voice. He was clearly displeased with the uninvited guest who had suddenly interfered in his lifelong plan.

"I don't have a name to give to a lunatic."

Bilyeon replied with a sarcastic tone. How could he not be angry when someone was brazenly asking for what belonged to another?

"What? You insolent brat! When the elders are talking, you little brat should go to the corner and stay there!"

Im Gae, who didn't know that Bilyeon's smile was most terrifying when he was angry, unleashed insults without hesitation. A smile, as if drawn, appeared on Bilyeon's lips. At that moment, the Jujakdan and Yeom Do and Bing Geom flinched. They worried about getting caught in the crossfire, as if a supremely wicked madman was playing with fire next to a warehouse.

"Heh heh, I thought you only had madness, but now I see you're blind too. You seem fine on the outside, but it's truly a pity."

"You impertinent brat! How dare you speak so rudely when you're just a child? You're a mere youngster whose blood hasn't even dried yet, so why are you blabbering carelessly? I didn't want to deal with a child, but I will personally correct your manners."

The Jujakdan and Yeom Do wanted to shut the mouth of this rough mountain bandit as soon as possible. They feared that the situation would spiral out of control.

"This trip seems more interesting than I thought. That's good! Kuk kuk kuk!"

Seeing Bilyeon's chuckling laughter, the faces of the Jujakdan members suddenly turned pale.

'Gasp! He's angry! He's angry!'

'What should we do? What should we do?'

'I don't know! I don't know!'

They fell into a state of collective confusion at Bilyeon's single chuckle. Their ultimate goal became to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and stop that incredibly dangerous and terrifying chuckle from lingering on his lips. Otherwise, there was no way to escape this fear.

"What are you doing? Are you all talk? Hurry up and attack!"

Im Gae, who was completely unaware of the severity of the situation, shouted.

"I don't want to dirty my hands with a lowly runt like you. These people and their friends will deal with you."

The person Bilyeon designated was Namgungsang.

[E-Eldest Brother!]

Namgungsang called out in thought transmission, flustered, lest anyone else hear the term Eldest Brother.

[Why?]

Bilyeon retorted, as if asking why he was calling. Namgungsang ultimately couldn't say anything.

[Gungsang!]

Bilyeon called out in a subtle tone.

[Yes, Eldest Brother!]

[After I've said this much, do I have to become even more bothersome? Do I have to step in for such a trivial matter?]

Namgungsang flinched at Bilyeon's subtle tone. He knew from experience that Bilyeon spoke in such a tone when he was displeased with something. If he delayed any further, he would face consequences.

[No. We will handle it among ourselves.]

[It seems like a perfect pre-meal exercise.]

[Th-that's right.]

Sweat trickled down his forehead.

[Gungsang! Do you remember what I said earlier? Lessons exist to be applied to reality. Unfortunately, sometimes examples are necessary in this world.]

Namgungsang, terrified by the word 'example,' quickly replied.

[I understand perfectly what you mean. Please don't worry, Eldest Brother!]

[Your perception has improved considerably now. I'm relieved that you won't get beaten up for being insensitive anymore.]

[It's all thanks to you, Eldest Brother.]

Namgungsang replied with an anxious smile. In reality, there was only one person in the world who would do such a thing to him. Besides Bilyeon, he could not think of anyone else who would do such a thing.

"Then go quickly!"

Namgungsang had no right to refuse.

After finishing his secret conversation with Bilyeon, Namgungsang first walked towards Yeom Do. To fight these people, he first needed to obtain permission from their leader, Yeom Do. Could a delegation from Cheonmu Academy really pass by offering the most beautiful woman in Cheonmu Academy as a toll to mountain bandits? It was an absurd idea. Yeom Do nodded without much thought.

"Take care of them for me! And… I'm hungry."

With Yeom Do's order, he felt he had to speed up the process a bit. After obtaining Yeom Do's permission, he walked to Bing Geom again. It was a matter of courtesy to get permission from more than just Yeom Do.

'This process is quite complicated.'

Bilyeon muttered to himself. While Namgungsang bustled around, the mountain bandits could only watch blankly, with their hands tied. They were the first he had met who were so nonchalant even after meeting them. An inexplicable sense of unease crept up Im Gae's neck. There was no need to mention how unpleasant he felt.

"Hey, Ink-stain! What the hell is that?"

Im Gae asked in a voice full of displeasure. Ink-stain was the nickname of his aide and the deputy leader of the stronghold, Junjado (君子盜: what a ridiculous nickname. What does a thief have to do with being a gentleman?).

"I'm not sure? It seems to be a procedural step, perhaps for formality."

Lee Song, the deputy leader, had read a lot, unlike a typical Noksarim bandit. Im Gae didn't particularly like him for acting knowledgeable. Wasn't there any need to speak difficult words when simple ones would suffice! Sometimes, when he used words he couldn't understand, and then berated him, asking, 'Don't you even know that?', he would feel the urge to twist Lee Song's neck so he could never utter another word.

'You're lucky to have met a merciful leader like me!'

However, there was a critical flaw: if he were gone, there would be no one to handle administrative matters, and the stronghold's work would come to a complete halt. His Black Wolf Stronghold was different in scale from other strongholds, so an administrative person was essential. The reason the deputy leader, Junjado Lee Song, had been able to speak so freely was not so much due to Im Gae's overflowing mercy as it was to these administrative difficulties.

The five hundred Noksarim bandits of the Black Wolf Stronghold had to endure a tedious wait as Namgungsang passed through Yeom Do, then Bing Geom, then the cantankerous old man, and finally reached Wolgi Han.

"Yawn… Are you done?"

Im Gae, yawning, asked Namgungsang, who had separated from the group and stood between the Noksarim and the delegation. Behind Namgungsang, fifteen Jujakdan members stood in a horizontal line.

"It's done."

Namgungsang nodded indifferently. The flustered look he had shown to Bilyeon moments before had vanished, replaced by a sharpness like a honed sword.

Huh! The atmosphere felt unusual.

'Did I touch something wrong?'

The fact that six of the fifteen women in the horizontal line were all beauties was very pleasing, but their composure, even with them standing so close, instilled a great sense of unease in his heart. However, once he had started the operation, backing down was out of the question.

'Ah! It wasn't an operation, it was a proposal (請婚)! They say habits are scary… But why are these guys so calm?'

No matter how he looked around, not a single person seemed nervous or flustered. His pride had been greatly wounded today because of this matter. Several delegation members had already set up mats and gathered in small groups, preparing to watch. As Namgungsang had declared, only the Jujakdan members had stepped forward for this task.

Namgungsang spoke first.

"First, I offer my respects to your ignorance, recklessness, and courage in blocking our path. Now, you will pay the price."

"What? You murderous bastards!"

At Namgungsang's polite greeting, Im Gae immediately flared up. He was a person who had no connection with patience, even from a past life.

"Leader, you shouldn't fall for the enemy's initial feint. Restrain yourself."

Deputy leader Lee Song advised in a low voice.

"Wh-what? A closet… what did you say?"

"Sigh, just don't get angry just because the opponent is provoking you."

Lee Song had no choice but to explain in simpler terms. However, Im Gae repaid his kindness with enmity.

"Did you just mock me?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Lee Song shrugged, feigning ignorance.

"Hey! You darned idiot! Why use difficult words when there are easy ones?"

Did he lack the organ to sense kindness in his head? It seemed Im Gae's efforts to improve Lee Song's education were always in vain.

"I think it would be proper to introduce ourselves first."

Namgungsang found the discord and infighting between the leader and deputy leader quite interesting, but with someone urging him because he was hungry, he decided to proceed quickly. Above all, Bilyeon was extremely displeased. If they didn't finish the task quickly, the consequences might fall upon them.

He was no longer a beginner at such matters.

"Alas, I forgot to introduce ourselves formally. I am Lee Song, the deputy leader in charge of administrative affairs for this mountain's owner, the Black Wolf Stronghold. And this is the leader of our Black Wolf Stronghold."

After the introduction, Im Gae stepped forward with a haughty gait.

"I am the owner of this mountain. If you wish to descend the mountain peacefully, hand over that woman as my wife!"

It was a declaration so simple and clear it was vulgar. Lee Song turned away, feeling as if his education had been insulted. Several members of the delegation twitched their eyebrows at the mention of the Black Wolf Stronghold. It was a name they were very familiar with. Im Seongjin was so surprised he almost dropped the *gon* he was holding. Bilyeon also remembered hearing of it during the old man's lecture on 'The Distribution of Martial Arts Powers.'

"Noksarim Five Hegemons!"

Yeom Do muttered in a small voice. But no one failed to hear him.

"I knew they had an unusual presence… so they're not just any band of mountain bandits."

Bing Geom had also heard of the fame of the Noksarim Five Hegemons long ago. He had seen the leader and deputy leader joking around like a comedic duo and thought they were nothing special, but they seemed to be no ordinary bandits, despite their ordinary appearance.

Noksarim Five Hegemons referred to the five strongest strongholds among the Noksarim 72 Strongholds. They were on a different level from other undisciplined, wild dog-like bandit groups. They were the central pillars of power that maintained the reputation of the Noksarim 72 Strongholds.

"Then, you must be Im Gae, the Black Wolf Axe of the Black Wolf Stronghold."

Namgungsang stared at the burly man with eyes that seemed to have re-evaluated him.

"Kwahahaha! It's commendable that you know this elder's name!"

Im Gae burst into laughter. Did he think his fame echoed throughout the four seas?

"Well, even if you don't know who we are, you must have known we are martial artists, so it's natural to expect this much."

Bing Geom could finally understand their inexplicable confidence. However, no matter how he looked at it, it was absurd.

"Do you still have the courage to resist after hearing this elder's name?"

Im Gae said boastfully, puffing out his chest. Namgungsang didn't feel it was worth a reply.

"You can take the money. Today is a joyous day for my wedding, so I'll show you that much magnanimity!"

"Who is the bride?"

"Of course, it's that woman!"

The person he pointed to was Na Yerin. Once again, everyone wore an expression of disbelief. Lee Song's words earlier were not a joke.

"It wasn't a joke?"

Namgungsang asked again.

"Then you must be insane."

It seemed Im Gae's primary goal today was to get married. Since his appearance, his entire attention had been fixed on Na Yerin. So, even though Namgungsang called him insane, he paid no mind and only gazed at Na Yerin with an ecstatic expression.

'Th-truly…'

Im Gae felt like his soul was leaving his body. It was exactly as his scout had reported. A celestial fairy had descended to this earth. He had slapped the scout for saying such nonsense, but now he felt he should reward him for his keen observation. He had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life, whose beauty made his eyes spin.

The moment he saw her, he fell in love. He felt as if his soul were being drawn into her elegant presence. Even now, he felt like he was floating on clouds. Lee Song decided to act with loyalty towards her dazed, almost vacant appearance. He raised his hand, spread his palm, and waved it up and down in front of the leader's eyes. However, Im Gae's eyes, fixed on Na Yerin, showed no intention of returning to their place. Im Gae was irresistible to Na Yerin's captivating magic, which drew people in every time he looked at her.

Na Yerin momentarily frowned at the unpleasant and lewd gaze directed at her. Although it wasn't the first time she had experienced it, she hadn't become immune. Bilyeon didn't miss her expression.

"Wipe your drool first. You look pathetic."

Namgungsang said as a warning.

However, Im Gae, staring at Na Yerin, and Lee Song, looking at his leader with pity, didn't even respond. Namgungsang's expression slightly creased as he realized his words had been completely ignored.

"We have a long way to go, so let's finish this quickly. I challenge you. I will verify with my strength whether you have the right to make such an absurd demand in front of us."

With a clear *ching* sound, Namgungsang's sword was drawn from its scabbard.

"Huh? A runt like you wants to face me, Im Gae of the Black Wolf Clan? Kwahahaha!"

"Uwahahahaha!"

"Kkik kkkkk!"

At Im Gae's explosive laughter, his subordinates, who had surrounded them, burst into laughter together. They were clearly blinded by their lust for women and made no effort to find out who these people were.

*Swish!*

Namgungsang raised his hand.

*Swoosh swoosh!*

The speed was dazzling. The bandits, who had surrounded the delegation in two layers, were all astonished by the figure that suddenly appeared before them.

'Did something flash?' was the only thought that briefly crossed their minds. But this was the absolute truth, without any trickery. As Namgungsang signaled, the Jujakdan members dispersed in all directions with a speed that was difficult for the eye to catch.

"Wh-what?"

Im Gae asked, flustered, pointing his finger.

'Damn it!'

Lee Song cursed inwardly. The premonition was not good.

"I am Namgungsang, the legitimate grandson of the Namgung family and a fourth-year student at Cheonmu Academy. Do you think this is enough qualification to fight you?"

Lee Song felt as if his vision had gone dark.

'We're doomed!'

It seemed he had chosen the wrong opponent. It was a mistake unlike himself, who always boasted that reason came before action. However, now that the operation had begun, he could not back down for the sake of his pride. He could only hope that the opponents would save face for them, but judging by their absurd demands, that seemed impossible.

"Namgung family…"

Im Gae muttered. It was a background that could not be taken lightly. And it was wise not to make them enemies under any circumstances. It was better to avoid accumulating grudges. However, his pride would not allow him to back down just by hearing the name. His Black Wolf Stronghold was, after all, one of the Noksarim Five Hegemons.

But the name Namgungsang kept echoing in his mind. It was not only surprising that this seemingly frail scholar was the legitimate grandson of the Namgung family, but the name itself was not unfamiliar.

"Where did I hear that? Namgungsang? Namgungsang? Namgungsang… Sang! Gungsang!"

Im Gae's eyes snapped open.

"Th-the Noksarim Heavenly Enemy (綠林天敵), those damn Jujakdan?"

"That's right! Though they don't taste very good if you bite them."

There was no reason to hide it, so Namgungsang readily admitted it. However, he had no idea when they had become the Noksarim Heavenly Enemy. It seemed they had gained fame in an unexpected place without their knowledge.

"Th-this is impossible."

Suddenly, silence and stillness descended upon the bandits. The air that instantly enveloped them was the air named fear.

"Why are they afraid of our seniors? And how did they know they were the Jujakdan just by the name Namgungsang?"

Hyoryong's question to Im Seongjin was natural.

"Well… probably because of their brilliant past achievements. And it also means that Noksarim hasn't forgotten what happened two years ago."

Two years ago!

It was around the time the Jujakdan returned to Cheonmu Academy after completing their special summer training at Amisan.

*Clang!*

Before Im Seongjin and Hyoryong's conversation could finish, with a clear ringing of the sword, Namgungsang leaped towards Im Gae. A white flash descended from the sky like a single, dividing force towards Im Gae.

*Clang!*

The sound of the sword and axe clashing violently echoed throughout the mountain. It was the sound of Im Gae's axe blocking Namgungsang's powerful sword energy, which seemed to split the earth in two.

Namgungsang's white sword energy, which seemed about to split Im Gae in half, was blocked by the black wall of the Black Wolf Clan, unable to penetrate it.

"Th-this is impossible!"

Namgungsang, who took five steps back upon collision, felt his self-confidence crumble. His single sword strike, a technique from the ancient and long-standing Namgung sword family, was lightly blocked by the handle of a mountain bandit whose origin was unknown… He couldn't believe it.

He had lightly thought that even if they were Noksarim Five Hegemons, mountain bandits were still mountain bandits. Namgungsang had no memory of swinging his sword a second time against a mountain bandit. However, unfortunately, today he was forced to break that record.

He stared, dumbfounded, at his sword and at Im Gae's axe that had blocked it. Im Gae possessed a natural strength befitting his imposing physique. However, Namgungsang was not the only one who was surprised. Im Gae was equally taken aback.

'Th-that guy! He looks like a gentle scholar, but he has this much skill… Is this the power of the Namgung family?'

He had narrowly avoided being split in half from head to groin. His skull had almost split open like a watermelon. While he had quickly raised his axe and instinctively blocked the lightning-fast sword energy, not only could he not break the opponent's sword, which was much lighter than his axe, but his own axe blade had suffered a significant injury. The edge had large, jagged tooth-like marks.

"As expected of the Noksarim Five Hegemons!"

Namgungsang exclaimed in admiration. Underestimating them might have been his mistake.

"You too!"

The leaders of the Noksarim Five Hegemons had all received martial arts instruction directly from the Noksarim King, Kwangpung Marang (狂風魔狼) Im Deokseong. It was absurd to treat them the same as ordinary mountain bandits. It seemed impossible to subdue them with simple, unadorned techniques. With each swing of his axe, the wind whistled. Each strike, though simple, felt imbued with immense power.

"That must be the Black Wolf Twelve Axes, a variation of the Noksarim King's 'Gwangpung Marang Axe Technique.' It certainly feels fierce, like a wolf stalking its prey."

Jang Hong exclaimed in admiration of his ferocity.

"If we clash head-on, we'll just end up ruining our swords unnecessarily."

Hyoryong also shook his head. It was foolish to confront such brute force directly. In such cases, it was advisable to avoid direct confrontation and attack indirectly.

"Black Wolf Twin Fang Strike (黑狼雙牙擊)!"

Im Gae, impatient with Namgungsang constantly evading and not counterattacking, ferociously swung his axe in all directions and charged. Two streaks of light attacked Namgungsang from the left and right.

"White Light Whirlwind (白光廻旋)!"

For now, defense was paramount. Namgungsang parried the side of the axe with his sword, deflecting the immense force contained within it. His supporting foot dug into the ground, tracing a large arc. Even deflecting it was not easy.

'But!'

Bilyeon's eyes sparkled as he watched.

'The larger and heavier the weapon, the greater the opening when the attack fails.'

In that regard, Im Gae was too foolish, reckless, and lacking in attention.

"Black Wolf Claw, Mount Tai Split (黑狼爪 泰山兩分)!"

The axe fell from above like splitting firewood. This was the final variation of this move. An axe is a weapon that overwhelms the opponent with its weight and power. Therefore, a straight downward chop was the most fearsome move. However, Namgungsang, without showing any fear even as the strike flew towards his head, continued to face it and slightly twisted his body. His body movements, honed by several days of continuous physical conditioning and complex reinforcement training, had become incredibly fluid.

*Kwak kwak kwak kowang!*

The sound of the foolish attack, imbued with a strong will to split the earth in two, vibrated through the mountain. But even the most powerful technique is useless if it doesn't hit. Im Gae's grand plan to split Namgungsang's sword in two and then sever his neck and torso had failed. His tactics had failed. He had already been read by his opponent. Im Gae tried to overpower the technique with strength, but Namgungsang's speed and technique were far superior to Im Gae's.

Im Gae had to pour all his strength into supporting his Black Wolf Axe, which was being pulled towards the ground. This left his head, torso, and arms completely defenseless. It was a golden opportunity. And Namgungsang had never been trained to miss a golden opportunity from Bilyeon. Namgungsang thrust his sword into the exposed opening. No complex technique was needed at this moment.

He just needed to cut.

"It's over!"

Yeom Do remarked as he saw Im Gae's axe fall straight down from the sky, and Bing Geom nodded in agreement. They knew that once such a large opening was exposed, it was almost impossible to recover.

Unless a peak master intervened to help Im Gae!

"Not yet!"

Bilyeon's short remark.

*Swish!*

At that moment, a sword flowed from around Im Gae's neck, deflecting Namgungsang's sharply thrusting sword.

Sword Transformation Flow (劍化 류)

An intruder who appeared out of nowhere. Namgungsang's sword was deflected sideways along the intruder's sword, as if sliding on ice. Thanks to this, Im Gae narrowly avoided a fatal injury and saved his life. However, upon seeing the face of the rescuer, Im Gae thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, seeing a vision.

*Stare…*

Shock (驚愕)! Disbelief (不信)! Despair (虛脫)!

Namgungsang looked at Im Gae again with surprised eyes. Or rather, he looked at the owner of the sword that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere right in front of Im Gae. It was not easy for a swordsman of Namgungsang's skill level to so lightly deflect such sword energy, even if it was simple—simple attacks are powerful—with almost no resistance. It was something that only a peak master could do, yet a mere mountain bandit deputy leader had achieved it.

The entire delegation was equally shocked. No matter what, the match was already over. Only the final judgment remained.

"See! You wasted your effort because you hesitated! I told you to be careful, but you didn't listen. I told you not to hesitate when swinging your sword… If you hadn't hesitated, it would have been over without anyone intervening. Tsk tsk tsk!"

Namgungsang's face turned red at Yeom Do's scolding.