Book 6 Chapter 23

The Iron Eagle Fortress is almost ruined.

Belonging to the Seven-Two Fortress of the Green Forest,

The giant mountain fortresses usually adopted a

Non-violent negotiation and sales method

When dealing with quite large groups.

No fool dared to challenge such a large mountain fortress.

Paying passage was the custom. Moreover, directly clashing with such a huge and powerful mountain fortress would clearly result in not only casualties but also damage to at least one or two items.

A decline in credit, payment of damages, a decrease in work, and so on. If handled carelessly, one could be completely ruined!

Shou Zhanghai was not so hot-blooded as to take such a dangerous risk.

'But… but….'

Whose work was this unbelievable reality unfolding before Shou Zhanghai's eyes?

Who was this monster, playing with a sharpened blade on the throat of Makjeok, the fortress lord of Iron Eagle Fortress, in delight? Moreover, this time, a friend had also brought the deputy fortress lord as if playing a game.

However, Shou Zhanghai was not at all happy.

"Why, why did you capture me too?"

Bangcheon, who had suddenly become a hostage, asked in bewilderment.

"Huh? Of course, two hostages are more effective than one. Don't you know the saying that more hostages are better?"

Bangcheon was astonished by Muriyun's nonchalant reply.

With the fortress lord and deputy fortress lord captured, Iron Eagle Fortress was like a bear without its head.

"…How much do you want?"

"Heh… are you confident you can meet whatever I ask for?"

His smirking smile was somehow ominous.

'S-surely they are human too, they must have some conscience!'

This was Bangcheon's thought, who had considered his business to be quite conscientious until now.

"If it's an amount that's not impossible, I will."

Knowing he was from the Cheonmu Academy, he couldn't speak informally even to these youngsters.

"Really? If you say so, then I'll be conscientious too. Give me half of what you have! The rest you'll need to operate the fortress."

"Ah… alright! Everyone, open your purses!"

As Bangcheon commanded, everyone was about to untie their purses when Muriyun asked in surprise.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

"As you can see, we're opening our purses to give you half of what we have!"

His tone implied, 'Why ask when you know?' Then, with a look of disbelief, Muriyun said,

"Are you out of your mind? Who said to give half of what you have? Go bring half of the assets in the fortress warehouse. We can't even communicate like this…!"

"Huk!"

At Muriyun's words, everyone, regardless of friend or foe, widened their eyes and opened their mouths. Wasn't this the behavior of a complete thief?

"Th-that's too excessive a demand! That's impossible."

Bangcheon flatly refused.

"Ho? Is that so?"

Instantly, the sword aimed at Makjeok's throat began to emit a sharp gleam. This was an omen that would make even the person offering his neck helplessly, and Bangcheon, who was watching, tremble.

"…Dao Gang!"

Indeed, the reputation of Cheonmu Academy was not unfounded. The chillingly sharp sword energy was perfect for intimidation.

"They say they can't give it. What should we do about this, huh? Huh, uncle?"

Muriyun asked Makjeok, playfully fiddling with the sword emitting a sharp gleam. Makjeok was so tense that cold sweat was streaming down his face. Whether he was aware of it or not, if he played with it once, it guaranteed immediate passage to the afterlife. The power of a sword infused with sword energy and one without was worlds apart.

"Please spare us just this once. We have our pride."

Bangcheon, held by Hyoryong, pleaded with all his might.

"Why would bandits need pride? What good is it?"

"M-master! Please bear with us just this once!"

Shou Zhanghai, with a grim expression, stepped forward to stop Muriyun. He wasn't the type to listen to reason, but he had to try at least.

"Why are you like this? Uncle?"

A-uncle?

He felt an instant surge of displeasure, but now was not the time to worry about such things. If things went this way, the Jungyang Escort Agency and Iron Eagle Fortress would become sworn enemies.

Next time, they might have to fight until one side's foundation was completely destroyed.

"Wouldn't it be best to end it here? They are just trying to make a living. It's not good to casually break the customs of the martial world."

Wiping away the cold sweat, he began his persuasive efforts.

"Hahaha, isn't this karma?"

Shou Zhanghai's face turned pale at Muriyun's indifferent tone. If this continued, their Jungyang Escort Agency might face karma from the bandits in the future.

'Damn it!'

"Young Master Bi, please forgive them just this once. For the sake of this humiliation and the Jungyang Escort Agency, please show them leniency just once, only once. I will reward you when I return."

"Reward?"

At Shou Zhanghai's mention of a reward, Muriyun's ears perked up. Seeing Muriyun's interest, Shou Zhanghai seized the opportunity and began to appease him.

"That's right. I will reward you handsomely. So, please forgive their rudeness just this once."

"Shall I? Hmm…"

As things progressed, Muriyun seemed to be contemplating. Shou Zhanghai and Makjeok, watching his contemplation, were drying up from anxiety.

"Hmm! If Director Shu says so, then I have no choice. Then, you won't bother the Jungyang Escort Agency here in the future, right? The fact that Iron Eagle Fortress is safe today is all thanks to Director Shu's efforts."

"Of-of course!"

"Can you swear to it?"

"I-I swear."

"Then I'll just take what you have now. Think of it as a lesson fee. A lesson fee to never make such a mistake again."

"Yes, yes! Of course!"

Makjeok shouted quickly with a servile smile. One never knew when Muriyun's mood might change again.

"Everyone, open your purses and give them to Young Master Li!"

Makjeok yelled. The bandits of Iron Eagle Fortress had to empty their entire fortunes and hand them over to Muriyun. They had plundered countless times, but this was the first time they had been plundered so thoroughly. Muriyun and his party, collecting all the money bags, calmly passed by them.

From that day on, Iron Eagle Fortress had to tighten its belt for a month to make up for the lost money.

"Ah! Has ill fortune fallen upon my luck? Is my neck still attached?"

Gangchang stroked his neck as if to confirm.

The ambush on the river was enough to cause him a great fright. To experience something similar twice seemed like a reasonable point to question the fairness of heaven. The representative of the Jungyang Escort Agency, Gangchang, was now in deep doubt and distrust of heaven's fairness.

Even the talisman he bought from a famous fortune-teller when he stopped by Wuhan after disembarking from the ship seemed to have little effect. The current situation spoke for itself.

When the bags of money handed over by the robbers were given to the young man named Muriyun, Gangchang closed his eyes in despair. The upcoming journey to Huguang escort seemed bleak.

"What about this swindler fortune-teller? He said if I had this, my luck would be overflowing and all danger would pass me by! Just let me meet you again alive! I'll break both your legs and smash your mouth so you can never lie again!"

Representative Gangchang roared to the heavens with fury, grinding his teeth.

"Perhaps I should just quit this life…"

If this was heaven's way of telling him to experience mountain warfare after having experienced underwater combat, he absolutely wanted to decline. This was too much meddling.

He desperately wanted to quit, but the thought of his cunning wife and rabbit-like children flashed before his eyes, making it impossible to go through with it.

'Two days left.'

He earnestly wished to reach Mount Wudang in two days and end his ties with them. His simple wish was for the next two days to pass without incident.

Gangchang spread out the 'Saseonyeodo' he had obtained with the branch manager in Wuhan and began to pray earnestly.