Book 11 Chapter 13

Greenwood King, Im Deok-seong

"By the way, these… Sigh!"

Bi Ryu-yeon let out a sigh of exasperation. Bi Ryu-yeon and the delegation were currently climbing Mount Daehong, the very mountain where Greenwood King Im Deok-seong had set up a sign and was openly doing business.

Bi Ryu-yeon felt that the world was indeed a small place.

"What are these ragtag bunch?"

Bi Ryu-yeon knew how to deliver the ultimate insult with the shortest words. Therefore, he could inflict the most severe insult upon them with a single, short phrase.

Bi Ryu-yeon understood the meaning of economy. When others needed ten words to reach a certain point, he could resolve it with just one word, so how could it not be economical?

It goes without saying that their faces, who clearly had their ears open and were referred to as a ragtag bunch by Bi Ryu-yeon, turned red and blue the moment they heard his words. However, they had no choice but to remain silent. They were the six sons and daughters of the Eight Great Families who had been defeated and scattered by Bi Ryu-yeon the previous evening. It seemed the remaining two were absent from the start.

This was likely one of Zhongyang Express's calculated moves. Looking back now, it was a meaningless investment. These ragtag individuals, including Namgung Ho, were twenty years old but still lacked the skill (in a word, were too weak) to enter Cheonmu Academy. They were diligently learning the family martial arts passed down from their clans or sects. Although the barrier to Cheonmu Academy was high, they were capable of making a name for themselves in the martial arts world with just their family martial arts.

As young martial artists, they had planned a trip to Mount Hua to witness the upcoming Hua Mountain Treaty Convention. This was an unmissable spectacle for them. At this time, Jang Woo-gang, the young master of Zhongyang Express, with whom they had a certain acquaintance, had requested their company on an escort mission, promising full support and grand hospitality. With the condition that all travel expenses would be covered and a handsome reward promised upon safe arrival, Jang Woo-gang's offer was too good to refuse.

The six members of this ragtag group quickly agreed to Jang Woo-gang's proposal and accompanied him this far. Then, trying to act sophisticated, they flirted with a woman at Samyang, the entrance to Mount Daehong, and were thoroughly thrashed, their faces completely bruised. Now, they were trudging up the mountain path like prisoners of war.

They never dreamed that the place where they had picked a fight would be their cherished destination, the delegation of the Cheonmu Academy Hua Mountain Treaty Convention, where their respected seniors and elders belonged.

"Such idle youths. How much time do they intend to waste before hurrying to Mount Hua?"

Bi Ryu-yeon's displeased gaze dissected the unemployed members of the ragtag group one by one.

"Forget about hindering us, I just hope they don't wet themselves."

At Bi Ryu-yeon's final assessment, the young men's faces flushed with utter rage and shame. But there was nothing they could do. Protest, resistance, rebuttal – none of it was allowed.

"It's not like a herd of wild boars is rummaging around here, but the mountain is quite noisy. Do you feel it, Ye-rin?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said, looking around the lush green forest. Na Ye-rin, still a bit awkward since that day, was no longer avoiding Bi Ryu-yeon.

"Yes, but I feel a considerable amount of malice in their movements. A terrible malice, close to murderous intent!"

Her face, as she nodded in agreement, was far from cheerful.

"Heh heh, are you trying to fight?"

Yeom Do calmly closed his eyes and stroked his sword. His fighting spirit ignited.

"There are quite a few of them."

Bing Geom muttered, feeling unpleasant about the oppressive aura surrounding them.

"They're here!"

Yeom Do's eyes, which had been closed, snapped open.

*Screech!*

The delegation and the escort party stopped simultaneously.

"Stop! You cannot go any further."

A burly man with a tanned complexion blocked their path in the middle of the road, forcing them to halt. The man was wearing a blood-red robe made from a whole wolf's skin. The wolf's face adorning his left shoulder glinted with white teeth, as if ready to bite someone at any moment.

His voice echoed through the mountain, indicating that he was speaking with considerable internal energy. Indeed, the aura of the Greenwood General Gathering was vastly different from other places. Although already anticipated, Jang Woo-yang could not hide his nervousness. He was currently escorting this mission with the fate of the express company at stake. Any minor mistake was unacceptable.

"We know that the master of these seventy-two mountains is here. We are from Zhongyang Express. We know that we must pass a test to cross the Greenwood King's hunting grounds. We wish to undergo the test."

Jang Woo-yang shouted loudly.

"You wish to undergo the test?"

"That's right!"

Then, a sneer flickered across the burly man's lips.

"Of course, normally, if you pass the test, we would let you go peacefully. But…!"

A chilling killing intent exploded from the giant's eyes.

"You are an exception. Not a single one of you will leave this place alive."

*Thwack!*

The tanned man's hand was raised.

*Kukukukung! Ureureureung!*

Suddenly, the mountain began to vibrate with the sound of thunder. It wasn't an earthquake. It wasn't thunder. It felt that way because countless people moved in perfect unison in an instant.

Just how many people were moving?

Regaining his senses and looking around, a dense black wall of people surrounded the escort party and the delegation, layered multiple times. The various menacing weapons they held made it look like a mountain of swords and a forest of blades had sprung up around the delegation.

Jang Woo-yang's face turned pale.

"Two thousand? No… is it three thousand?"

Bi Ryu-yeon made a rough estimate. At least five layers of barriers surrounded them. It was an overwhelming number and immense aura, incomparable to Black Wolf Fort.

"Uooooooh!"

*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!*

They raised their weapons simultaneously, sometimes clashing them, and let out a deafening roar. The mountain seemed to cry out as nearly three thousand people roared in unison and their weapons clashed, and the mountain vibrated as if experiencing an earthquake with their synchronized stomping. This action brought about a tremendous effect.

The majority of Zhongyang Express escorts and carriers turned pale and trembled at their terrifying aura. The new escorts dared not even draw their swords. It was even more so for the carriers, who were no different from porters. Prayers for survival, or a peaceful afterlife if they didn't survive, could be heard from somewhere.

Even some of the Cheonmu Academy delegation members, who had little martial arts experience, were at a loss due to fear and confusion. While their learned martial arts might be strong, a considerable number of them had no experience in the martial world.

Among them, Yoon Jun-ho's complexion was particularly pale. It seemed he hadn't fully shed his cowardice yet. His effort to feign composure was commendable.

The group action of the mountain bandits was precisely this effect: to crush the enemy's morale and cause mental confusion amidst immense fear, leading to a collective frenzy.

As an added bonus, the young masters of the Eight Great Families, who had come along, turned pale and trembled, clearly not expecting the enemy's aura to be this strong. They had witnessed the shadow of death dancing before their very eyes. In Bi Ryu-yeon's view, they deserved praise for not wetting themselves.

Indeed, it was an immense display of power, befitting Molang Fort, one of the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts.

The sect leader of Gujeong, Yong Cheon-myeong, the Three Swords of Flying Dragon, Cheong Heun, the Earth Dragon, Baek Mu-yeong, and the leader of the Heroes' Gathering, Iron Jade Cicada, Ma Ha-ryeong, were inwardly flustered by this unexpected situation, which they were experiencing for the first time in their lives, but they forced themselves to appear composed out of pride. However, they couldn't entirely hide their bewilderment.

Yet, there were those who were truly unfazed. Yeom Do, Bing Geom, and Bi Ryu-yeon had experienced too much to be completely thrown off by such an incident. The Vermilion Bird Squad, who had rigorously trained under them, was the same.

No matter how great the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts were, fights in the martial world were not about numbers. One master could play the role of a thousand. That was the difference between the fights of martial artists and ordinary wars. And the group currently facing Molang Fort was, arguably, the most powerful traveling group in the entire martial world.

*Clap, clap, clap, clap!*

The sudden sound of applause from an unknown source plunged the tense and dangerous atmosphere into silent stillness.

"I enjoyed the grand welcoming ceremony. It was a splendid spectacle."

Thousands of eyes simultaneously turned to this fearless individual. "Has he gone mad from fear?" it was understandable for some of the bandits to think so. The person who spoke was Bi Ryu-yeon, the one who had lost all fear. After a brief pause, Bi Ryu-yeon continued.

"But who gave you the right to take my life without my permission? WHOSE RIGHT! I am amazed that you would harbor such a preposterous desire."

It was a sharp, unsparing word from Bi Ryu-yeon.

"We have no intention of begging for a test from mere bandits, but why is it that everyone else can and we cannot? Let's start by knowing the reason."

What… what are they going to start?

"M-Master! P-please!"

Jang Woo-yang, with a pale face, frantically waved his hand, trying to stop Bi Ryu-yeon. He desperately wanted to avoid provoking the intensely murderous bandits any further. The situation was already disadvantageous enough. Without any further aggravation, it was more than enough to feel threatened for their lives.

"You damned bastards! Do you truly not know the reason?"

The giant roared again. His voice was filled with rage.

"Before you curse others, I think it would be proper to reveal your identity first."

At Bi Ryu-yeon's words, the giant's face turned crimson. Only then did he realize that he had been spouting off without even stating his name.

"I am Mo Gyeong, the leader of the Thirty-Six Blades of the Violent Wolves, one of the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts!"

Thirty-Six Blades of the Violent Wolves!

This was the strongest group of swordsmen in the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts, directly trained by Greenwood King Kwangpungmarang Im Deok-seong. They were like Im Deok-seong's personal guards, comprised of the fiercest and most violent wolves.

It was no exaggeration to say they were Im Deok-seong's alter egos.

They were the ones who could be the fiercest and most brutal when necessary, and it was said that many within the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts feared them. This was because their power extended not only to external enemies but also to internal disciplinary actions. In particular, their suppression of internal impure elements or unrest almost always resulted in extermination, making them a source of terror for other forts. Thus, they had always reigned as one of the symbols of power in the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts through strength and fear.

In other words, they were the most terrifying enemies in the Greenwood if provoked.

"Ho, it seems you're quite famous."

Only then, after receiving an explanation from his surroundings, did Bi Ryu-yeon, who had learned the fact, still maintain his smile. Even the greatest fear of the Greenwood seemed to evoke no emotion in him.

"However, it's not enough to be intimidated by mere fame; the famous individuals positioned on this side are not to be underestimated either. Isn't that right, Ye-rin?"

"…"

Na Ye-rin, not knowing how to respond, answered with silence.

"Kkkeuueu!"

Bi Ryu-yeon's actions of chatting with the woman next to him, completely ignoring him, ignited a blaze of anger in Mo Gyeong's heart. He thought to himself that there were still many despicable people in the world who deserved to be killed.

"By the way, do you even know who we are? Are you blocking our path even after knowing that?"

Bing Geom stepped forward, judging that Bi Ryu-yeon's continued intervention would only worsen the situation.

"Even if you are the sons and daughters of prestigious sects, the price of blood must be paid with blood."

Mo Gyeong's words implied that, with their accumulated experience, they knew these people were not ordinary.

"We do not know by what calculation method the price of that blood was determined."

Bing Geom said calmly. As the chief elder of Cheonmu Academy, he found the situation extremely unpleasant. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Cheonmu Academy's name was being disrespected. Otherwise, they wouldn't have committed such a foolish act. Blocking the path of the Cheonmu Academy Hua Mountain Treaty Convention delegation! This was an unthinkable act of defiance.

'Could the dark shadow of etiquette be involved in this as well?'

It was a hypothesis that could not be dismissed. Bing Geom observed the scene with a sharp gaze.

"Are you going to deny knowing about Black Wolf Fort now?"

Mo Gyeong shouted in an enraged voice.

"Black Wolf Fort? Of course, we know. But what does that have to do with anything?"

Yeom Do retorted with annoyance. The burning anger in Mo Gyeong's chest erupted like a thunderclap.

"Shut up! You shameless wretches! Are you still trying to deny it? You exterminated all of Black Wolf Fort, and you still intend to feign ignorance?"

Upon hearing this, Yeom Do, more bewildered than angered by the insults, asked again.

"What are you talking about? Why was Black Wolf Fort exterminated?"

"You damned bastards! We know you exterminated Black Wolf Fort. Hand over your heads willingly! The blood debt can only be repaid with blood."

It was an outrageous accusation. The delegation members exchanged glances, exchanging opinions at this unexpected turn of events. It felt unreal. Im Seong-jin, in particular, was deeply shocked. They were holding innocent people and demanding the return of stolen treasure bags, which was infuriating for the hot-tempered Yeom Do.

"Now you're outright lying. The ones who were alive and well just a few days ago, why would they be dead? Were they struck by lightning from the sky?"

Yeom Do's reaction was extremely agitated.

"Shut up! We, the Seventy-Two Greenwood Forts, collect blood debts with blood. All of you must be buried here today. Your blood will appease the souls of the Black Wolf Fort brothers."

Yeom Do thought they were now making baseless accusations in broad daylight.

"Let me ask just one thing. I've tried to hold back, but I can't help but be curious. Are you doing this even though you know we are the Cheonmu Academy Hua Mountain Treaty Convention delegation?"

Yeom Do asked with an annoyed tone.

"H-Hua Mountain Branch!"

As martial artists, they were well aware of how important this Hua Mountain Treaty Convention was.

*Murmur, murmur, murmur!*

An unseen ripple of unease spread through the crowd in an instant. They knew what monstrous figures, beyond common sense, were participating in the Hua Mountain Treaty Convention. Only monsters, who were in a different league than disciples of prestigious orthodox sects, were eligible to participate in the Hua Mountain Treaty Convention.

Mo Gyeong's expression immediately turned grim.

'I thought they were just a group of disciples from the Nine Great Sects, but I didn't expect them to be the Hua Mountain Branch delegation.'

The situation was not good. No matter how imposing the Greenwood General Gathering was, picking a fight with them was equivalent to picking a fight with the entire orthodox sects. He couldn't make a hasty decision. He couldn't grasp the right judgment.

It was at that very moment.

"Even if you are the Cheonmu Academy delegation, you cannot pass here without paying the blood debt!"

A roar that echoed through the entire mountain. The lush leaves rustled. Some people couldn't withstand the internal energy in the roar and covered their ears. It was so painful it felt like their eardrums would burst.

Upon hearing that voice, Im Seong-jin's face hardened. His agitated gaze turned towards the direction of the sound.