Chapter 37: Peerless. -02
After hearing his trusted subordinate’s report, Geum Sang-ryong, who had been riding in a four-man palanquin, stroked his chin.
There was nothing else that particularly ca to mind.
“Or did he prepare money?”
Although Ban Hojin, called the Shaolin Divine Dragon, was said to possess considerable reputation, that was all.
Along with talk that he was one of the more notable rising juniors, his na was only gradually spreading throughout the Central Plains, but the Shaolin Divine Dragon was by no ans a truly formidable master.
It was true that he was a rising junior with a promising future, yet Ban Hojin was a martial artist who could not even stand against Wall-Severing Blade, let alone the Green Forest Great Lord.
“I believe that possibility exists as well.”
“He said his baggage was simple, didn’t he?”
“There is no palanquin or horse. Still, there is no need for transactions to be conducted strictly in physical goods, is there?”
“There are promissory notes, after all.”
Geum Sang-ryong nodded slowly.
However, if the intent was to et the Green Forest Great Lord’s conditions, there was no need to mobilize as many as five hundred n.
Although the amount of escort goods that had been seized was considerable, if they were martial artists rather than porters, about fifty would have been sufficient to transport them.
If so, there was only one answer.
“That ans the sly bastard ca aiming for two things.”
“Isn’t that the most likely scenario?”
“Even if nothing remains, if I fail and reclaim the escort goods, it’s not an enormous loss from his perspective. If things go well, he could even get rid of . By using the Green Forest Great Lord, that is.”
Geum Sang-ryong tapped the handle of the palanquin with his finger.
Thinking it over, the possibility was more than sufficient.
But the solution to that was simple.
He rely had to succeed.
“If we think about it calmly, it seems that the only thing this Second Young Lord can do right now is wait.”
“That’s right. Whether it ends in mutual destruction or my death, there has to be a conclusion first before that bastard can say anything. But put another way, if I finish it, he won’t be able to do a thing.”
“That is correct.”
At the sight of his subordinate agreeing so readily, Geum Sang-ryong wore a satisfied expression.
His gaze then turned toward the three martial artists ahead.
Unlike Geum Hoyeon, who had brought along rising juniors no different from infants in the martial world, before Geum Sang-ryong stood two elders from the Peng Family of Hebei and the Gongdong Sect, as well as the Red King called the Wolf King.
“But it’s strange. He definitely didn’t bring the mysterious master who killed the Iron King that the third one recruited.”
“There is a possibility that he is following secretly.”
“Even so, it’s impossible for that man alone to overturn the battle. The Iron King may have been formidable, but even so, he was only the Wolf King.”
Geum Sang-ryong sneered as he thought of his half-brother.
Even with his intelligence network, he had not been able to uncover the identity of the mysterious master who killed the Iron King Samugung, but there was one thing he knew for certain.
No matter how formidable that mysterious master was, he would not asure up to the three n before his eyes.
‘I will prove my capabilities to everyone and end this tireso succession struggle. And then I’ll crush that bastard as well.’
The long, drawn-out succession struggle was finally coming into view.
Geum Sang-ryong was exceedingly pleased.
It felt as though it had taken far too long to take into his hands what had been his from the very beginning.
“I can see the stronghold!”
“I see it too. Looks like all the key figures are out.”
As he stared at Taeho Stronghold, which used an entire cliff like a fortress wall, Geum Sang-ryong spoke.
The height of the cliff, rising vertically as if it had been carved, was impressive enough, but there were also quite a few figures visible in the holes drilled throughout it.
Moreover, since this was effectively the front courtyard of Taeho Stronghold, it was a place that could only be advantageous to the bandits no matter what anyone said.
“So you refused the wine of respect and chose the wine of punishnt in the end!”
Perhaps having noticed Geum Sang-ryong coming to a halt, Wall-Severing Blade Jo Yang-hyeok shouted while infusing his voice with inner energy.
His voice then rang thunderously through the surroundings.
“The demands were far too excessive.”
“Excessive?”
Although he had not formally learned martial arts, the cultivation Geum Sang-ryong possessed was by no ans small.
He had learned inner energy cultivation thods for the sake of his health, and having consud no small number of spirit dicines since childhood, even if his martial level was low, he was still capable of infusing his voice with inner energy as he did now.
“Do you think those conditions make any sense at all?”
“Kuahahaha!”
At the sight of Geum Sang-ryong speaking in informal tones from the outset, Jo Yang-hyeok burst into hearty laughter.
He had heard that the man was arrogant, but he had never imagined that he would be this blatantly insolent right in front of him.
Moreover, beside him now stood the Green Forest Great Lord, the chief stronghold master of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds and his sworn brother.
“You didn’t expect it from the start either, did you?”
“Audacious little bastard. Well, that must be why you chose the wine of punishnt.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m the one who pours the wine of punishnt and the wine of respect. Not you. Ah, this works out nicely. While we’re at it, it wouldn’t be bad for
to pour the wine of respect. If you don’t want to die, bring out the escort goods of mine that you took and have been storing.”
“Keuk! Kuahahaha!”
This ti, laughter burst from the Green Forest Great Lord.
It was the first ti since he had risen to the position of Chief Escort Leader that anyone had spoken to him in such a manner.
Yet, unlike his mad laughter, the Green Forest Great Lord’s eyes were not smiling at all.
“It seems you’re trusting those three.”
“This should be enough. You may have the numbers, but against masters, the number of underlings is aningless.”
Geum Sang-ryong said calmly.
Though the Green Forest Great Lord was formidable, he believed that with the forces he had brought, they could be swept away without issue.
He possessed that level of reputation, and the funds he had poured into this matter were imnse.
Thus, the outco he desired absolutely had to co to pass.
“Hunwon Palm and Jeokseongdo. And the Red King as well. You managed to recruit so fairly decent martial artists in a short ti. But tell —have you never thought about this? If you could sweep us away with just those three, why would you have left the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds alone all this ti?”
Papapapat!
No sooner had the Green Forest Great Lord finished speaking than the stronghold masters nearby launched themselves forward.
Yet among them, Wall-Severing Blade was absent.
It was the other stronghold masters of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds who had stepped in.
“Keuk!”
“Hheup!”
And not seventeen of them, but only six advanced.
They attacked the three n in pairs, and the result was astonishing.
Those whom Geum Sang-ryong had dismissed as re bandit rabble were not cut down by the three n; instead, they held them to a deadlock.
Perhaps the three were surprised as well, for all of them widened their eyes.
“Still a bit lacking, huh. Then we just add more.”
Sssssk!
The Green Forest Great Lord muttered in an unconcerned tone.
At his words, Jo Yang-hyeok raised his hand, and once again six n hurled themselves down from the cliff.
“Keuheuk!”
“Such nonsense……!”
As the number of enemies increased to three, not only did the two elders falter, but even the movents of the sole woman, the Red King, grew unsteady.
It was because the abilities of the three opponents were all far from trivial.
“If you’re startled by just this much, doesn’t that undermine the confidence you showed a mont ago? If you have any hidden trump cards, hurry up and take them out. That way, I can at least enjoy the spectacle, can’t I?”
Flinch!
The Green Forest Great Lord spoke with a relaxed smile.
However, Geum Sang-ryong could not smile.
At the completely unexpected sight before him, no words ca out.
Instead, his entire body trembled.
“Hoo, is this really all? Then I’m disappointed. The eldest son of the Geum Family prepared only this much? Haven’t you taken
for too much of a fool?”
“Why not break his limbs first and then ask him, elder brother.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“Bring him.”
Jo Yang-hyeok said with a sneer.
He said it while staring straight at Geum Sang-ryong.
At the sa ti, the elite of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds who had been lying in wait all over the cliff leapt into action at once.
They charged ferociously, like ferocious beasts hunting their prey.
“W-we attack too!”
“Wipe them all out!”
At the sight of the bandits rushing in with murderous intent, the warriors of the Geum Family were montarily flustered, but only briefly.
After all, they had co this far to wipe out the bandits, so the Geum Family warriors also gripped their weapons tightly and charged forward.
Peopeopeopung!
Yet the result was shocking.
Not only Geum Sang-ryong, but all of the Geum Family warriors had believed that although they might be inferior in numbers, they were vastly superior in quality.
However, once the lid was opened, the outco was different.
In terms of quality as well, the bandits did not fall far behind.
“Kuaaagh!”
“Keheok!”
As if to prove they were not called the elite of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds for nothing, the bandits’ martial prowess was formidable.
Moreover, this place was effectively the bandits’ front courtyard.
Fighting in the mountains could only favor the bandits.
“T-this… what is this! This makes no sense!”
At the scene, Geum Sang-ryong roared in a trembling voice.
Seeing the carefully selected subordinates being cut down helplessly was simply unbelievable.
Above all, the fact that the three masters he had trusted were unable to exert much strength was the greatest shock to Geum Sang-ryong.
“E-eldest young master! We need to withdraw for now…….”
Toward Geum Sang-ryong, who was unable to co to his senses from the shock, his trusted aide and Head of the Escort Unit spoke urgently.
Looking at the battlefield, it seed difficult to turn the tide.
In that case, at the very least, Geum Sang-ryong had to escape safely.
Since planning for the future was only possible if one stayed alive, the Head of the Escort Unit swallowed dryly and spoke.
“……Withdraw?”
“Yes! It’s dangerous to continue like this! How about pulling back for now and preparing again? Fortunately, isn’t the Second Young Lord following behind us? If we use the Second Young Lord’s camp as bait, we can escape without difficulty.”
“Use that bastard?”
Focus returned to Geum Sang-ryong’s previously vacant eyes.
Hearing it, it did not seem like a bad plan.
If he was going to flee anyway, Geum Hoyeon had to fail as well.
Only then could he sche for the future.
“There’s no ti!”
“……Withdraw.”
Still, the blow to his pride was unavoidable.
He had believed victory was assured, so the shock was all the greater.
However, since survival ca first, Geum Sang-ryong clenched his teeth and made the decision.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Coming is up to you, young master, but leaving is not allowed.”
“The only place you can go in peace is the underworld!”
“A-already!”
The Head of the Escort Unit’s expression went pale.
It was because nearly twenty figures who appeared to be deputy stronghold masters were charging in.
The number was fewer than the escort unit Geum Sang-ryong always kept by his side, but the problem was the waves of energy each of them was releasing.
Since not a single one of them could be taken lightly, the Head of the Escort Unit shut his eyes tightly.
“Arrived at just the right ti.”
“Huh?”
Puseok.
Like a beast grinning as it looked upon prey already caught, one of the deputy stronghold masters had his neck snapped.
With an expression that showed he did not even understand why he had died.
“W-what is it!”
“What do you think. An enemy.”
“Keuk!”
Appearing on the battlefield together with Geum Hoyeon, Ban Hojin twisted the neck of one of the deputy stronghold masters who had been surrounding Geum Sang-ryong.
It was a light gesture, as if crushing an insect, yet the problem was that not a single person reacted to that movent.
They were not just ordinary bandits, but a crowd of deputy-stronghold-level figures, yet no one managed to respond.
“T-the Second Young Lord has appeared!”
“Enemy!”
“For now, please observe.”
Ban Hojin’s appearance itself was shocking, but what drew attention even more was Geum Hoyeon, who stood slightly behind.
Unlike his half-brother Geum Sang-ryong, he was walking side by side with Seonwu Bang and Seo Joun, and at Ban Hojin’s words, he raised his left hand.
It was a hand signal telling them not to move and to wait.
“Understood.”
“Then shall we go.”
Everywhere else except this spot where Geum Sang-ryong stood, chaotic lee and confused fighting were unfolding.
Without even knowing who had appeared, they were simply fighting to survive.
Among them were the elders of the Peng Family of Hebei and the Gongdong Sect.
“Who are you!”
“No need to know.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)