Episode 28. How can you tolerate that?
Southern part of Hanam Province.
A nameless mountain.
About a day’s walk from Mt. Obong, there are about twenty people huddled together. They are the thieves who ran away after abandoning Mt. Obong.
They crossed the mountains and rivers to Gihyeon and were returning when they heard the rumor. However, their opinions were divided as Mt. Obong was nearby.
Muyeongsintu Baekgyo suggested, “Instead of treating the incompetent Chaeju as your older brother, let’s move to Jeokpungchae in Pyeongjeongsan.” Pyeongjeongsan is about two days away from Obongsan. He was suggesting that they move to the house next door since they didn’t like the landlord.
Baek-gyo, whose nose was sunken, asked the thieves.
“Is there anyone who wants to go to Jeokpungchae in Pyeongjeongsan with me?”
Five people, including Cheon Il-bo and Yeom Sa-ung, moved towards Baekgyo.
However, the majority of the thieves still remained around the Gumilbokgeom Simyanggak.
Baek-gyo’s face slightly distorted with hurt pride.
“Brother Shim, are you really thinking of going back to Obongsanchae?”
“Hyung Baek also heard the rumor. That the suppression of Mansu Sangbang ended without a hitch. I don’t know why they suddenly stopped the suppression, but now that the danger has passed, isn’t it natural to go back?”
“How can you tolerate the mistreatment of those who follow Feng Chae-ju?”
“It doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to say anything in front of me anyway.”
“Ugh, let’s part ways here. Whenever I think about that young bastard Yeon-ga and the other half-bloods around him, my teeth grind in my sleep.”
“Let’s do that.”
Sim Yang-gak answered with an indifferent expression.
Meeting and parting ways with thieves was a common occurrence, so it wasn’t anything new.
Baek-gyo hesitated for a moment and then led the five men north.
As soon as Baek-gyo and his party disappeared from sight, Sim Yang-gak burst out in laughter.
“Huh! You’re like a thief who knows one thing but doesn’t know the other. Do you think the Red Wind Village will welcome you? Who likes those who abandoned the mountain village when it was in danger? Did you eat your age through your asshole? Tsk tsk! Pathetic, pathetic.”
Hwang Yeo-myeong, the poisonous snake that had been watching the situation, quickly started to play along.
“That’s right. I know a guy who works in Jeokpungchae, and he’s said to have a really bad temper. Compared to him, Yeonga is nothing.”
“Hehehe. You’re still sharp. Let’s go back. My stomach is about to stick to my back.”
“Yes, yes.”
The fifteen thieves, who had decided to return, began to walk south.
***
The next day, Sim Yang-gak and the fifteen thieves entered Ha-ga-chon with iron plates covering their faces. The atmosphere in Ha-ga-chon was similar to that of two weeks ago.
If there’s anything different from before, it’s that the number of merchants coming and going seems to have increased somewhat?
The bandits who had been peeking at the surrounding merchants with eyes full of delicious food rushed to Sahaeru. They wanted to take care of their weakened bodies from not eating properly for a while.
They ordered food and ate until their stomachs were about to burst for the first time in a while.
The bandits, who had finished rinsing their lips with cool tea, rose from their seats one by one.
The owner hurriedly chased after the bandits who had eaten their fill and then just left.
“Excuse me, great heroes. Who will pay for the food?”
I asked because I thought the thieves of O Bong San Chae had forgotten to pay for it since they always ate it at a high price.
Sim Yang-gak pretended not to hear and walked away.
Huang Yeoming scratched his head with a puzzled expression.
I had spent all the money I had on the way to and from Gihyeon, so I had nothing to give him even if I wanted to.
“Hmm, don’t you know who we are? We’ll tell you later.”
“Oh, yes, yes… … .”
The innkeeper, who recognized Huang Yeomyeong’s face, smiled awkwardly and bowed.
“By the way, did the Five Bongsipgeol come with you too?”
Since there were so many thieves, the inn owner naturally assumed that there would be five thieves as well.
Thinking, ‘Warriors like the Five Bongsipgeol wouldn’t steal food money.’
“Huh? Huh.”
Hwang Yeo-myeong knew that it referred to the bandits who had remained in Mt. Obong, so he just brushed it off. It was an action he took because the names of the Ten Heroes of Mt. Obong were not known anyway.
“Oh my! It’s an honor. Take a look.”
“Okay. Thanks for your hard work.”
As the master bowed his head, Huang Yaoming walked away in a good mood. I will pay you back later when I have money. Of course, if you forget, there is nothing you can do.
***
Simyanggak stopped in front of the mountain vegetables.
His keen eye caught something strange.
‘what?’
There were strange marks on the road, as if the ground had been plowed and then restored. They had not been there a fortnight ago.
Huang Yeomyeong, who was following his gaze, said in amazement.
“Phew! It looks like some idiot was plowing a field without realizing he was in front of a mountain village and got kicked out.”
You’re saying you’re going to make a field in a place where you can clearly see the wild vegetables?
It was a ridiculous guess, but I couldn’t help but think that way.
Sim Yang-gak, who had been tilting his head, strode into the mountain village.
The inside looked exactly the same as when we left.
In the yard, children were running around playing, and carpenters and handymen were busy building houses.
We encountered some bandits, but they ignored each other.
The Simyanggak and the bandits covered their faces with iron plates and scattered to the hut where they were staying.
Cheon Gi-deok, who entered his room, immediately frowned.
This was because in the middle of the room, there was an old monk sitting cross-legged.
‘What? Did you accept a new wandering Taoist?’
I guess that’s how it is.
Cheon Gi-deok threw his bundle into a corner and went outside.
I plan to hear about what happened from my friend Lee Cheol-san, who stayed here.
“What? Ten of them became sworn brothers?”
Cheon Gi-deok looked at Lee Cheol-san with surprised eyes.
Perhaps because he had connections with the powerful figures in the mountain vegetable industry, Lee Cheol-san’s face was filled with confidence.
“Oh, now I’m the eighth of the mountain family.”
“Then you’re right below Brother Yeon?”
“that’s right.”
“Brother Shim won’t stay still, right?”
“Yanggak? If you don’t stay still, what am I going to do?”
Lee Cheol-san called Madu Simyanggak by his name as if he were calling a neighborhood dog.
“Hey, hey… … .”
Cheon Gi-deok, who was trying to quickly cover his friend’s mouth, realized later that there was no need to do so and slowly lowered his hand. There was no way Sim Yang-gak would touch Yeon Jeok-ha’s sworn brother!
Cheon Gi-deok changed the subject with a bitter expression on his face.
“Oh, right. There’s an old Taoist priest in our room. Is he a new family member?”
“no.”
“But why are you in our room?”
“Brother Yeon, you are a guest.”
“Oh no. Someone who knows Yeon-hyung came to see you?”
Lee Cheol-san, who had been looking around for a moment, quickly whispered in Cheon Gi-deok’s ear.
“Only you know. That person is a genius.”
“Huh! What?”
Cheon Gi-deok, startled, shouted without realizing it.
“Be quiet, Inma.”
“Uh, uh… … Really?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Why is that Taoist monk in the mountains? I heard he never even came to Mt. Obong.”
“Who said that? He’s been sitting there all alone since he got beat up by our older brother.”
“Ba, smash? Brother Yeon defeated the Heavenly Merchant?”
“Yeah, Inma.”
Lee Cheol-san shrugged his shoulders as if he had won. Then he told Cheon Gi-deok, who was still half in doubt, a summary of what had happened.
“The five Bongsipgeol became sworn brothers and even learned martial arts from Brother Yeon?”
“Oh. I also learned the Baekjagugyeol and Ilchosik swordsmanship. If you master this, it’s no joke. They say the dragon fist wind comes out of the sword.”
“Really?”
“It’s a secret, but I heard that Brother Yeon used this sword technique to cleanly… …cleanse the Heavenly Merchant.”
There was no other way for Lee Cheol-san to describe the scene at that time.
“Teach me too.”
“Don’t teach it to others. If you do, both the person who taught it and the person who learned it will suffer… .”
Lee Cheol-san stopped talking and pretended to cut his throat with the edge of his hand.
In fact, I was worried about the wary dragon that was my enemy, so I told him not to tell anyone else.
Cheon Gi-deok looked at his friend with envious eyes.
I don’t believe everything he says, but it seems like I learned something from Yeonjeokha.
‘Fuck! If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have stayed then… … .’
My body has suffered a lot, but I have gained nothing. What kind of a damn thing is this? Cheon Gi-deok, depressed, sighed as if the ground was falling apart.
***
About three days passed after that?
Han Chae-yeon, who had gone down to Ha-ga-chon with Hasobaek around lunchtime, returned grumbling.
The two women went to Sanghwagak to find Chaeju Pungyeoncho.
“Brother! Some crazy thieves were walking around in Ha-ga-chon pretending to be our sworn brothers!”
“What does that mean?”
Poongyeoncho, who was practicing swordsmanship with the debt collector Tak Gomyeong, asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
How dare you impersonate the Five Fist Fighters?
The Five Bong Ten Heroes are not just the ten bandits in the Five Bong Mountain Cave. They refer to the fearsome master Yeon Jeok-ha and his nine sworn brothers.
If you weren’t delusional and trying to die, why would you do something like that in Hagachon?
“I went to Sahaeru with Sobaek a while ago. We were just leaving after eating well when the owner said, ‘Three days ago, the five-legged thugs and the Sanchae family came in droves, ate, and left.’ Three days ago was the day those shameless guys came back. They impersonated us and even ate without paying! Oh, I’m so embarrassed that I can’t even show my face!”
As soon as he heard the story, Poongyeoncho went outside and roughly struck the bell hanging under the eaves of Sanghwagak.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
The thieves who had been huddled here and there rushed to Sanghwagak at the sound of the annoying bell.
Chaeju Poongyeoncho looked at the thieves with cold eyes.
When I see the shameless faces of the thieves who crawled in a few days ago, I want to run and beat them up. If I had the ability, I would have done it already.
For a long time, Poongyeoncho did not say anything, but the thieves did not grumble. Considering their shameless actions, it was not a big deal to wait a little.
Finally, Yeonjeokha, soaking wet with sweat, came in slowly and took a seat. He was the latest to arrive, having been at the top of Mt. Obongsan with Cheonjisangin.
After confirming that Yeonjeokha was sitting, Poongyeoncho opened her mouth.
“They say that today our ninth and tenth children went to Hagachon and heard an amazing story.”
Thirdly, Ma Hyung-do spoke while rubbing his ears.
“Why? Which superior is invading again?”
“That would be better. Someone was walking around in Ha-ga-chon pretending to be the Obong-sip-geol.”
“… … .”
A heavy silence swept over Sanghwagak.
The returning thieves glanced at each other with surprised eyes.
They now know the meaning of the Five Bongsipgeol. No one in their right mind would dare to say that Yeonjeokha and I are sworn brothers. What kind of crazy people would do such a thing?
Then, the angry voice of Poongyeoncho echoed throughout Daejeon.
“Who are those guys who ate their fill at Sahaeru three days ago and opened a credit ledger in the name of Oh Bong-sip-geol?”
He was asking who it was, but his gaze was directed towards Simyanggak.
Sim Yang-gak, who was taken aback, quickly glared at Huang Yao-ming.
I remember him staying behind and talking to the innkeeper who asked for money.
For a moment, the color drained from Huang Yeoming’s face.
The events of that day, which I had completely forgotten, came back to me belatedly.
This time, the debt collector Tak Go-myeong shouted at Sim Yang-gak and the bandits around him.
“Looking at your surprised faces, it must have been you guys who did it! You guys who ran away, abandoning the mountain vegetables! Don’t you know shame and dare to sell the name of the Five Fengshi? Can you call yourself a man after doing that?”
Sim Yang-gak’s cheeks trembled as the shame poured in like a flood.
I have to hear such things from a rude junior, and even from someone like Tak Go-myeong who doesn’t even have any martial arts skills!
What on earth make those guys who can’t even make eye contact believe and run wild like that!
Wuxia,
