Episode 14. Will you shed blood? Will you sacrifice your wealth?
Wang In-geol’s face darkened as he saw the stick stuck in the tree and shaking.
It looks like there are a few more people hiding in the forest.
‘This must be scarier than the road.’
He spoke calmly, emptying his mind of the contempt he had shown toward his opponent.
“Now that I look at it, you’re Senior Poong. It seems that Obongsanchae has made a name for himself in Nokrim?”
“Yes. But are you going to stand there all day and just talk? Show some sincerity right now! Or I’ll kill you all!”
As if they had planned it out in advance, the bandits all drew their weapons at once.
As soon as the bandits showed their weapons, the atmosphere turned ominous in an instant.
The position of Yeonjeokha, who first followed along on the hike, was at the very back.
Practice and real life are different.
The moment I pulled out the sword following the instructions, my heart started pounding and I felt dizzy. As I quickly recited the Buddhist scriptures of the Nine Thousand-Yeo-Il-Jin-Gyeong, my blurred vision gradually became clearer.
As the situation became tense, Wang In-geol, the leader of the Wind and Cloud Alliance, raised one hand.
“Senior Poong, please wait a moment. I will ask Master Haengsu.”
After finishing speaking, he took a step back and stood next to the Im-o County Governor.
“Master Haengsu, I don’t think it’s right to just let it go. It looks like they’re asking for a toll. What are you going to do?”
“What does the Lord think? Do we have a chance of winning?”
“Because not all enemies are visible… … Honestly, I don’t know how much sacrifice there will be.”
At those words, Im-O-Gun’s expression darkened.
If we lose our escorts here, this expedition will be over.
“Ha! Then let’s try to compromise on an appropriate line.”
In the end, Im-O-Gun bowed his head.
After that, things progressed at a rapid pace.
The thieves of O Bong San Chae received thirty nyang of silver from Wang In Geol and quietly withdrew.
Wang In-geol secretly let out a long sigh.
Regardless of whether it is advantageous or disadvantageous, it is better to avoid fighting.
The work ended well, but I felt a little sorry for Im-O-Gun, who had spent the money.
But what is this?
Even though he had to pay a toll to the thieves, Im-O-gun looked delighted.
Wang In-geol, who was curious, asked cautiously.
“I paid an unexpected toll. Is that okay?”
“I thought they would ask for a few hundred nyang. But thirty nyang… … If you pay the merchants, that amount is nothing.”
“That’s true, but.”
He must have felt hurt because he had to pay a toll for a mountain vegetable that was not even in his family register.
just as expected?
“This time, you came without a plan and we bowed our heads… … . This won’t happen again. The main branch in Nanyang won’t just sit back and watch.”
“Should I get into a fight with O Bong San Chae?”
“Why don’t we watch the situation in Nokrim for now and then take a stab at it when the time comes?”
Wang In-geol’s heart was heavy.
If a fight broke out between O Bong San Chae and Poong Yun Dae, it was obvious that they would take the lead.
‘To see blood on this beautiful mountain… … .’
I hope that day never comes, but somehow I have a feeling it will turn out just as Im-O-Gun predicted.
***
O Bong San Chae was in a complete festive mood.
Because the mountain hike I took with the newbies was a huge success.
The average annual income of a mountaineer is 100 nyang. It is understandable that he earned 30% of his annual income from just one mountain hike today.
The drinking party started in broad daylight.
The happy-looking Pungyeoncho continued to chatter without stopping.
“Did you guys see that guy called Wang In-geol? Hey! When that kid started laughing at first, I thought, ‘Should I see blood?’ … … . Shit! One arrow and the atmosphere just disappeared! Wait, who shot that arrow? He wasn’t even told to.”
The bandits’ gaze turned towards Cheon Gi-deok and Han Chae-yeon.
Han Chae-yeon said with an embarrassed face.
“I was so nervous that I made a mistake. I pulled the bowstring too early and lost all my strength… … . At least I didn’t get hit in the face… … .”
Han Chae-yeon shivered as if it was terrifying just thinking about it.
The wind chimes burst into laughter.
“Puhahaha! Youngest! But thanks to that, didn’t you earn thirty nyang? Good job. Good job.”
“Hehehe!”
Han Chae-yeon smiled awkwardly.
Then Tak Go-myeong gave a subtle warning.
“Don’t laugh, you bitch. You got lucky this time, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get lucky next time. Never fire an arrow until you’ve wielded your sword. Got it?”
“yes yes.”
This time, Poongyeoncho turned his gaze to Yeonjeokha.
“Hey, what do you think of the hike you went on today? Is it worth it?”
“yes.”
The sixth person, Jang So-bong, intervened.
“Big brother, this guy is not shaking at all and is doing quite well. Should I keep taking him with me from now on? He needs to gain some experience before the Green Forest Competition?”
“Yeah, I thought about that too. Don’t get caught up in mountain climbing in the future.”
“yes!”
I was touched by the consideration of my older brothers. I have never received such interest and encouragement before. Naturally, his answer was full of enthusiasm.
***
Has it been three or four days since Yeonjeokha went on his first mountain hike?
Chaeju Pungyeoncho, who had been playing around for a few days, called out to the thieves in the morning.
“They say that the merchants of Mansu Sangbang stopped by Hajangchon. They say that they will pass by Mt. Obong today… … . We should prepare to welcome the guests.”
Hajangchon is a village near Mt. Obong, and the gangsters there often sell information about the upper world.
The debtor, Tak Go-myeong, asked with a worried face.
“Chaeju, if it’s Mansu Sangbang, isn’t it in Sujuhyeon?”
“okay.”
“Your bodyguards are known for being skilled and rough… … . Will that be okay?”
“What if it’s not okay? We are Nokrim.”
Poongyeoncho, who had enjoyed the fun of Nanyangsangbang, did not bend his will.
As Tak Go-myeong hesitated, Poong Yeon-cho continued speaking.
“If we let it slide like this and let it slide like that, rumors will spread that we are being picky with our customers. The gangsters of Hajangchon might look down on us. In this world, once you get caught, you have to live in silence until you die.”
“……All right.”
Since Poongyeoncho’s words were not wrong, Takgo Myung no longer objected.
Once the decision was made, Tak Go-myeong shouted loudly at his subordinates.
“You heard what Chaeju said! Get your gear together and gather again. Let’s do this properly today.”
“yes!”
The bandits of Mt. Obong scattered to their respective huts.
Yeonjeokhado took the sword he had received a while ago and went out into the yard.
As the thieves gathered, Poongyeoncho spoke to Cheon Gi-deok and Han Chae-yeon.
“Like last time, you two hide and prepare to shoot your arrows. This time, don’t make any mistakes.”
When Han Chae-yeon answered with a strong ‘Yes!’, a smile appeared on Poongyeoncho’s lips.
***
When the sun rose high in the sky, about forty people entered Mt. Obong.
It was a fairly large-scale trade with seven horse-drawn carriages carrying merchants and escorting warriors from Mansu Sangbang.
Gwak Im-saeng, a messenger sitting in the lead carriage, glanced at the peak of Mt. Obong and spoke.
“I had a rough night’s sleep… … . Are you sure everything is ok?”
Then, the middle-aged man walking next to her, Seomjeongeom Kang Mu-deok, laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! If it’s because of the thieves of Mt. Obong, don’t worry. If it’s the Baekrangdae of Mansu Sangbang, wouldn’t the Haeryongchae under the tower also yield to it?”
A faint smile appeared on Kwak Im-saeng’s face.
Haeryongchae is a green forest suchae that lives off of fishing in the tributaries of the Saha River. It was true that the guards of Mansu Sangbang were strong enough to make even the green forest thieves take notice.
“Haha. I feel reassured when I have the great swordsman Kang Daehyeop by my side.”
“Yes, don’t worry about it. If any thieves are wandering around, I will catch them and break their limbs. Do you hear? If you see any thieves wandering around, catch them immediately!”
To Daeju Kang Mu-deok’s words, the Baekrangdae warriors answered with a loud ‘Yes!’
Only then did Kwak Im-saeng take his time and admire the surrounding scenery.
In fact, in the past five years of commuting to and from Jeongju, there has never been an accident on Mt. Obong.
After that, about thirty minutes had passed?
Kwak Im-saeng, who was wiping the sweat from his forehead with his collar, tilted his head.
“huh?”
A tree with its trunk cut off is blocking the road.
The oxcarts stopped one by one.
The escort warriors approached the log, cautiously looking around.
That’s right then.
Whew. Boom.
A spear flew into the middle of the log and lodged itself.
The green flag hanging from the mast shook violently in reaction.
In that moment, Kang Moo-deok, who had a wealth of experience in martial arts, raised his right hand.
Then, twelve warriors quickly lined up on the left and right of the cart.
Merchants who realized the situation late hastily gathered around Dalguji.
Kang Moo-deok, who had finished preparing, shouted loudly.
“I am Kang Mu-deok, who is in charge of guarding Mansu Sangbang! I did not know that the heroes of the Green Forest were here on Mt. Obong! If you tell me the name of the Great Sage, I will pay you the proper respect!”
After a while, eight bandits slowly walked out of the forest on both sides.
Chae Ju-in, Pungyeon-cho, spoke with a slightly stiff face.
“This is the territory of Daebyeolsanchae and Obongsanchae, which are brothers. If you want to pass through, you must offer up something!”
Poongyeoncho, overwhelmed by the confident momentum of Gangmudeok, put forward the name of Daebyeolsanchae.
Meanwhile, the corners of Kang Moo-deok’s mouth slightly went up as he confirmed the identity of the thieves.
It seems that he was desperate to increase his power in the forest and even brought in thieves.
“Ah! You are the Obongsanchae. This body is called Seomjeongeom by the martial arts community. What is your nickname?”
“I am Poongyeoncho, the owner of Obongsanchae.”
“Is Pungyeoncho your nickname? That’s a very unique nickname.”
Kang Moo-deok looked at Pungyeoncho with a big smile.
Poongyeoncho, who realized that she was being teased, snapped with a red and blue face.
“Would you rather see blood or give money?”
Then Kang Moo-deok withdrew his smile and spoke with a cold face.
“How dare you, a thief like you, threaten us by impersonating the Nokrim! If you want to live, get on your knees and bow your head immediately!”
Kang Moo-deok was afraid of Nok-rim’s revenge, so he pushed him to commit fraud. Later, if Nok-rim said anything, he could just say, “I did it because I didn’t know,” and that would be the end of it.
Poongyeoncho looked at the debt collector Tak Gomyeong with a bewildered face.
Tak Go-myeong, who was biting his lips with a nervous expression, shook his head.
If you decide to live here, it’s obvious that the green forest won’t leave you alone.
Sweat ran down Poongyeoncho’s face.
Now, we have no choice but to fight, whether it means death or life.
The opponent is thirteen.
However, if we can just deal with that guy named Kang Mu-deok, it seems like we might have a chance of winning.
As if heaven had helped, Kang Moo-deok happened to be close to Cheon Gi-deok and Han Chae-yeon. If the two people waiting in hiding had heads, they would have shot Kang Moo-deok first.
As I thought about it that way, my dark eyes began to brighten up a little.
Finally, Poongyeoncho pulled out his sword and shouted.
“Shoot!”
Shhh. Shhh.
As if they had been waiting, two arrows flew from the forest.
Could it be that the hearts of three people are connected?
Two arrows were aimed at Kang Mu-deok.
But even after that, things did not go according to Poongyeoncho’s plan.
Kang Moo-deok’s nickname is Seomjeongeom.
Knock. Knock.
Two black lines flashed in front of Kang Mu-deok, and then the arrow was cut off.
Poongyeoncho’s mouth opened wide in surprise at the overwhelming force.
Cut down a flying arrow?
I have never seen such fast and accurate swordsmanship in my life.
Wuxia,
