Chapter 5
“I will surely punish you...”
“...”
*Hmm, that's scary.*
In truth, it's even more so because she's a Heroine who will become as strong as the Protagonist in the Original Novel.
But what good is growling when she's tied up like that?
“Oh, you're so cute.”
“Eeeek—!!”
To my eyes, she just looked adorable.
When I stroked Young Lady Yu’s head, she lunged at my hand as if to bite it.
“Hey, Young Lady. Calm down and listen to me. We’ve been protecting you all this time, and now we’re going to send you home.”
“...What?”
As soon as I said that, Young Lady Yu froze in surprise. I scratched her under the chin and said,
“Still, since we’ve been protecting you, we should get a protection fee, right?”
“What are you talking about?! A protection fee?! ...Ugh.”
Young Lady Yu cried out indignantly at the mention of a protection fee, but I flicked her forehead, pushing her back.
...And if it’s a protection fee, you’ve already taken everything I own!”
“Not enough.”
“Wha—?”
Of course, if Young Lady Yu sold her belongings and sword, it would be more than enough to cover the tolls we’d collected from merchants passing through the Mountain Path.
But Young Lady Yu is a different caliber, isn’t she?
“I need 10 Gold Gwan.”
“...What do you mean?”
Her mouth dropped open at the mention of 10 Gold Gwan. *She reacted just like the reaction-rich Young Lady Yu.*
“...I don’t have that much money right now.”
“You don’t need to pay, Young Lady. The Shanxi Yu Clan will pay instead.”
“...My Family?”
I grinned in response. I didn’t have a mirror, so I couldn’t tell, but it was probably a very thuggish smile.
“You see, we Bandits are smarter and quicker with information than you think, Young Lady.”
“Smar—, what?”
“Never mind that. Right now, the Shanxi Yu Clan has no Family Head and not many Martial Artists, right?”
“H-how do you know that...!”
In fact, Bandits are quite quick with information. By extorting Merchants, we can learn about the state of the world.
Last week, the Merchants who donated fine liquor to us clearly said there had been a major movement in the Shanxi Yu Clan.
Something about the Family Head leading Martial Artists out in response to a Murim Alliance request for reinforcements?
Anyway, the Shanxi Yu Clan is as good as empty right now. It’s perfect for a burglary.
Besides, don’t I have their most Precious Child right here in my hands?
“Now, Young Lady, hurry up and make me rich.”
“I’d rather kill myself than suffer such humiliation... *Ugh*...!”
“If you’re going to say things like that, just take this gag.”
I gagged Young Lady Yu, securely tied her to my back, and went outside.
*Outside, my Subordinates, who had already finished their preparations, were waiting.*
“Leader, shall we go?”
“Alright, kids.”
No more, no less, exactly 10 Gold Gwan.
“Let’s go make some money.”
I’ll clean them out thoroughly.
...
...
But then...
“Waaah—!!”
“...Hey, why is it suddenly so noisy over there?”
“...I don’t know, boss.”
We had just arrived at the Shanxi Yu Clan, and it was incredibly noisy, as if something was happening.
Dongryong secretly climbed onto the Shanxi Yu Clan’s wall to check, then returned to me.
“L-Leader.”
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Inside, Martial Artists are fighting each other with swords.”
“...Huh? Really?”
*...This is awkward.*
*Do I need to make money, though?*
It seems there’s already a guest.
*To think there was someone else trying to pull an Empty House Robbery besides me...
Suddenly, a saying from an entertainer in my past life came to mind.
“The thoughts in your head are also in other people”s heads.’
So, the idea of an Empty House Robbery occurs to everyone on an empty place.
“Ha... *damn it*. I should’ve come earlier.”
There’s no way I can get money in that chaos... What should I do?
“Leader, what are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know... neither do I.”
*Twitch.*
Just then, I felt something thrashing behind me like a fish out of water.
It was Young Lady Yu, who had been listening to our conversation.
“*Mmph!! Mmmph!!!*”
“Ah, just be quiet for a moment... Ah, yes, alright. I’ll put you down.”
As her struggles grew more intense, I lowered her from my back and removed the gag from her mouth.
With her mouth free, Young Lady Yu asked me with a confused expression,
“What on earth is happening at my house right now?”
“I don’t know exactly, but they say Martial Artists are fighting each other inside.”
“Why...”
In an instant, the bewilderment vanished from her face, replaced only by urgency.
“...Untie this.”
“Hmph... Young Lady Yu. This isn’t the time to throw a tantrum...”
“Untie this right now—!! Inside...!”
No, now that I looked, her face seemed more desperate than urgent.
“My Older Brother is inside—!!”
“...!”
*...Older Brother?*
Only after hearing that did I recall the Original Novel in more detail.
Did Young Lady Yu have an Older Brother in the novel?
No, she didn’t, because Young Lady Yu was the Young Master of the Shanxi Yu Clan.
Come to think of it, I remembered Young Lady Yu talking to the protagonist about her older brother.
Clearly...
“She said he was killed by Demonic Cultists..., ...!”
I knew something felt off.
Now that I knew, I could feel a strange demonic energy with my senses.
A Demonic Cultist... a Demonic Heavenly Cultist... is in there.
“...”
My life’s goal is to live an ordinary life, uninvolved with the novel, the Righteous Faction, or the Heavenly Demon Cult.
But...
“Go... and never set foot here again.”
...As soon as I heard the words Heavenly Demon Cult, I couldn’t help but tremble.
“Let go of this right now!! I have to go protect my older brother!!”
*Thud.*
I untied Young Lady Yu, who was thrashing about. She widened her eyes, perhaps not expecting to be released so easily.
“You...”
“Young Lady.”
I helped her up and said,
“It seems I’ll have to charge double for the protection fee now, won’t I?”
**
*Shing—.*
“*Cough—!!*”
Wi Yongmyeong’s sword, imbued with Dark Red Aura, slashed Yu Jinmyeong’s waist.
Besides his waist, there were already sword cuts on various parts of his arms and legs.
“*Haaah*...”
With a burning pain, Yu Jinmyeong lost his balance and knelt on one knee, whereupon Wi Yongmyeong sneered down at him.
The vile sneer suited his face perfectly, as if the benevolent smile he had always worn was nothing but a lie.
“If you give up now, I’ll send you off without pain. *Heheheh*.”
“You bastard...”
Yu Jinmyeong gritted his teeth and stood up.
“Even if it costs me my life, I will never give up.”
In truth, despite his words, the situation was dire.
At a glance, the enemies outnumbered his allies, and he had sustained a leg injury.
Willow Flower Sword Art relies on speed...
Moreover, his opponent was a Veteran Expert with several times more experience than him. It seemed he was using Demonic Arts, as his sword was imbued with a Dark Red Aura, making his Aura even fiercer.
There were few chances left for victory.
*Is there no other way?*
Yu Jinmyeong decided to pour everything into one final strike.
*Swoosh—.*
“Oh?”
As Yu Jinmyeong began to imbue his sword with energy, Wi Yongmyeong sneered.
“Trying to unleash a final strike? But what can you do, Young Master? The amount of remaining energy seems quite meager.”
“...”
Yu Jinmyeong didn’t answer, but Wi Yongmyeong’s assessment was true. In reality, the amount of Internal Energy he had left was insufficient due to his other injuries.
Nevertheless, he did his best to draw out every last drop of energy.
And then... he lowered his stance.
“...!”
Yu Jinmyeong’s eyes widened, focusing solely on his opponent’s neck. As if he had lived his entire life just to sever that neck.
The moment Yu Jinmyeong stared at Wi Yongmyeong’s neck and concentrated power in his legs and hands lasted less than a second, but he crammed all the blood and sweat of his efforts into that single second.
Soon, his body leaped into the air...
From his sword, a Stance bloomed.
Willow Flower Sword Art, Willow Opening One Slash.
*Whoosh—.*
It was as if time had stopped; everything felt slow to Yu Jinmyeong.
But to others, it would have been a fleeting moment, too fast to even blink.
Even in that instant, Yu Jinmyeong’s sword steadily aimed for Wi Yongmyeong’s neck.
It’s done.
The speed of the Willow Flower Sword Art is difficult for even an average Master to react to.
From the moment the Stance connected, Yu Jinmyeong predicted his victory.
But...
*CRASH—.*
“*Ugh—!*”
His sword did not reach Wi Yongmyeong’s neck. Unable to withstand the impact, Yu Jinmyeong was sent flying several paces away.
“*Uweeegh—!!*”
And then he vomited blood. He had forcibly gathered his Internal Energy and then received a great shock, causing internal injuries from the backlash.
Yu Jinmyeong trembled from the pain of his organs being squeezed.
Wi Yongmyeong slowly approached towards him, adjusting his clothes. His appearance was like that of someone who had already claimed victory.
“The Young Master is truly foolish.”
“You bastard—! *Ugh*...”
“I have been a part of the Shanxi Yu Clan for more years than you have lived. Do you think I wouldn’t know the Countering Method for the Willow Flower Sword Art?”
“Th-that’s...”
A Countering Method for the Willow Flower Sword Art...? The fallen Yu Jinmyeong despaired. And Wi Yongmyeong kindly continued his explanation towards him.
“Those who use the Willow Flower Sword Art always foolishly aim only for the neck. When it’s so obvious where the sword will strike, what can you do if I simply brace myself with a Heavy Sword where it’s coming?”
“*Ugh*...”
In truth, this was a fact that could be easily understood with a little reasoning, but a lack of experience led to this outcome.
It might be unfair, but victory and defeat had already been decided.
Wi Yongmyeong, the victor, approached Yu Jinmyeong and raised his sword to take Yu Jinmyeong's final life.
“Well then, let’s meet in the next life.”
“Wi Yongmyeong—!!!”
And just as the sword was descending towards Yu Jinmyeong’s neck...!
*Whoosh—.*
*Thwack!*
“*Aargh!*”
Wi Yongmyeong, who was performing his final move, felt a sharp pain at the back of his head.
“Who’s there—!”
“Who do you think it is?”
*Clang—!*
And as soon as he turned around, he was met with a young man swinging a saber at him.
He was a fellow dressed in shabby clothes, like a male courtesan, but he used the rotational force of his body to push away Wi Yongmyeong’s sword...
*Thwack—.*
“*Ugh*...!”
He kicked Wi Yongmyeong squarely in the solar plexus. Wi Yongmyeong was sent tumbling several paces away.
*Wh-who is this?*
Seeing him, Yu Jinmyeong felt that the young man before him was extraordinary.
In particular, Yu Jinmyeong couldn’t help but be surprised that a complete stranger had suddenly appeared to help him.
However, he didn’t lower his guard and asked the young man,
...Who are you? Surely, you’re not allied with the Demonic Cultists?”
“You’re the Young Master, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I’m not a Demonic Cultist.”
Only at the words “I’m not a Demonic Cultist” did Yu Jinmyeong finally manage a smile.
Whoever he was, the young man before him had truly come to help him as an ally.
The young man was quite handsome, now that one looked, inspiring considerable trust...
“I’m a Bandit who lives up on Hyeongak Mountain.”
Trust... *Huh?*
“Wh-what did you say...?”
“I came to protect you.”
Yu Jinmyeong rubbed his eyes and looked up, examining the face of the young man who had saved him.
He was indeed very handsome, just as he had first appeared, but...
“Young Lady Yu promised to pay double the protection fee.”
...He seemed quite like a thug.