Chapter 15
The moment Dongryong leaped...
“Hmm...?”
Dongryong immediately sensed something was off.
All four opponents who leaped after him were...
*Slow...*
Slow.
Excessively so, to a shocking degree.
At first, Dongryong thought they were probing. , intentionally moving slowly to induce carelessness and gauge his skill.
*So that's it...*
Dongryong had to decide how to respond if his opponents were indeed probing.
And he...
Whoosh—!
*Swift Victory.*
He decided to catch them off guard while they were comfortably probing, striking one of them with a decisive blow.
His target was the weakest one.
It was the Rank 5 fellow, wielding a Saber.
Since it's the beginning, I'll only use about 30% of my strength.
Since he had to face a total of four opponents, Stamina Management was crucial. So, without any ambition from the start, Dongryong lightly swung his Saber to meet his opponent's.
But then...
Clang!
“Huh?”
“...What?”
With just a single clash, not only did the fellow's Saber fly out of his grasp, but it soared high into the sky.
Both the fellow himself and Dongryong were taken aback.
*What's this bastard doing...?*
Losing his Saber with just a light swing? Is this really the behavior of someone ranked 5th?
What's more, the fellow seemed to have only just realized Dongryong had suddenly appeared before him, wearing a startled expression.
Though bewildered, Dongryong immediately kicked the fellow, sending his head flying.
Again, the fellow was sent soaring several yards away with just a very light movement.
“...”
“...”
The remaining three opponents watched with bewildered expressions. Soon after, they grasped the situation and...
“...!”
They straightened their stances and once again aimed their swords and sabers.
Their bodies were trembling, and their eyes darted wildly.
Dongryong knew well what those small actions signified.
Fear.
Those fellows were now gripped by fear.
Fear... Gripped by fear?
Why?
*Could it be... because of me?*
Only then did Dongryong recall the Leader's words.
*Believe in me, who believe in you.*
Ah.
I thought it was just silly wordplay, but did the Leader truly have such conviction?
“...”
Clench—.
Dongryong tightened his grip on the Saber.
Only now did he decide to believe in himself, and in the Leader.
I am strong.
As he thought that, the trembling fellows before his eyes seemed truly weak.
“Hey, why are you all trembling so much?”
“...”
“...”
“Why don't you come at me first? If you don't... I will.”
Whoosh—!
Before he knew it, a smile had appeared on Dongryong's face.
Dealing with the weak and manipulating them as he pleased was a joyous affair.
In just one year of Bandit life, Dongryong had realized the principle of the strong against the weak, the weak against the strong. He charged towards the fellows with a joyful heart.
“*Idiot*, he's happy.”
I chuckled, clicked my tongue, and drank my wine as I watched Dongryong take down the Muak Mountain Brotherhood fellows.
He's probably thrilled because he just realized he's stronger than those guys.
Only to realize that now, what an <F1>idiot</F1> I am!
A year ago, from the moment I first met Dongryong, his body was already perfectly structured.
The problem was his complete lack of Combat Experience, perhaps because he was severely bullied in the Noble Family he originally worked for.
However, over the past year of banditry, Combat Experience had subtly seeped into Dongryong's body.
And what? He said I taught him nothing?
I passed on the Cultivation Method I use to Dongryong. Does that fellow even know its value?
Plus, I put him through intense Physical Training! I occasionally oversaw his Sparring! And I built up his endurance like crazy!
*No... what has the Leader ever done for me...?*
*How dare he spout such nonsense to me?*
“Hmph, that ungrateful black-haired beast...”
Of course, Dongryong's transformation wasn't solely due to my help.
As I said earlier, from the moment I first met Dongryong, his body was already perfectly structured.
I know that fellow trained in Martial Arts even harder than the other subordinates, perhaps even harder than I.
Like a habit, he would be the first to rise before dawn and slowly but surely practice the Saber Art he had learned in his former Noble Family until after sunset.
And the Cultivation Method I taught Dongryong was fluid and free, synergizing with any Martial Art.
His efforts were finally bearing fruit.
Whoosh—!
Dongryong, wielding his Saber against those fellows, was like a tiger.
I had a rough idea before, but now I clearly understand what Noble Family Dongryong learned his Martial Arts from.
Dongryong's Saber Art shines brighter the more confident he is. Now that he has realized his own martial prowess, he will surely grow even further.
“Ugh...”
It was impossible for those few Bandits to defeat the current Dongryong. They couldn't even last a few exchanges, and eventually, even Eungchil, the last one, dropped his Saber and collapsed.
“Haha...”
Dongryong had defeated four members of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood, from Rank 5 to Rank 2, all at once, without showing any signs of fatigue.
Instead, he wore a joyful smile, like a child on his birthday.
In contrast...
“...”
The Muak Mountain Brotherhood fellows, their previous Aura completely gone, stared at Dongryong with their mouths agape.
Jeokyeom's expression, in particular, was a sight to behold.
“H-how...”
The fellow seemed to have forgotten the dignity of a Muak Mountain Brotherhood Leader, unable to hide his astonished expression. His gaping mouth and bewildered face were truly a spectacle.
“...”
“...”
Since the fellows were too shocked to speak, I, who was pouring wine, shouted loudly towards Jeokyeom.
“Elder Brother. Well now... my Subordinate Dongryong just wiped out all your Subordinates, didn't he?”
“...”
“He didn't just beat the Rank 2 fellow... he beat everyone from Rank 2 to Rank 5... so what should we do about Dongryong's rank?”
“...”
Jeokyeom couldn't easily respond. Could Jeokyeom himself defeat everyone from Rank 2 to Rank 5 in just a few exchanges?
He was clearly thinking the same thing.
I delivered the final blow to the fellow who seemed busy racking his brain.
“But *Reddy*! What are you going to do? I'm much stronger than Dongryong, you know?”
“You scoundrel—!!!”
Perhaps my final provocation snapped him out of it, as Jeokyeom roared loudly and grabbed his axe.
Then he commanded his Subordinates, who were standing idly by.
“Everyone, draw your weapons—! Charge at them and cut them down! Now—!!”
To capture the man who had defeated everyone from Rank 2 to Rank 5 all at once... naturally, the faces of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood Subordinates were filled with unease, but...
“Y-Yaaaaaah—!!”
Unable to disobey Leader Jeokyeom's command, they all grabbed their weapons and charged.
The sight of dozens of Bandits charging with bladed weapons was quite heart-stopping, but Dongryong, having already gained confidence, smiled as if unconcerned.
I let out a chuckle at Dongryong's rapidly changed demeanor and said to him.
“Dongryong.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“All those fellows there are going to be your Minions. Go easy on them.”
Dongryong nodded and replied with vigor.
“Of course, Leader. I'll manage them well so you won't be bothered.”
Perhaps it was because dozens of Bandits suddenly rose up, making the surroundings noisy.
The other Subordinates, still groggy, also picked up their weapons and stood.
“What...? A fight...? Hehehe, it's a fight—!”
“Kill them allll—urghhh—!”
*...Their condition seems a bit off, but they'll manage.*
The other subordinates aren't as good as Dongryong, but they can hold their own.
I relaxed and poured myself more wine.
But then...
“You scoundrel—!! You start a fight and then just drink alone? Taste my axe—!!”
“Aish...”
While I was pouring wine, Jeokyeom suddenly turned towards me.
Since I wasn't holding a weapon at the moment, I had no choice but to quickly grab the wine bottle and counter.
Smash—!
Naturally, the wine bottle, clashing with Jeokyeom's massive axe, shattered instantly.
Damn it.
How much is one bottle of this? A precious bottle of First-grade Dugangju just went to waste.
“Hah, damn it... I was just trying to drink my wine...”
“Did you think that would be possible amidst this chaos?!”
“Right... I suppose not. Alright then, let's have a Leader-to-Leader brawl.”
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!!
As I realized I was unarmed, Jeokyeom's fierce axe attacks continued relentlessly.
*Hoo...*
While I was somewhat surprised by his rather systematic and forceful attacks...
“Too many openings.”
Such attacks might work well on low-level thugs, but they seem too heavy and slow to someone of a higher caliber.
I simply struck his wrist, shoulder, and other joints with Joint Lock Techniques, disarming him of his axe, and then...
Thwack, thwack-thwack—!
“Ugh...!”
CRACK—!!
“Kuh-heok—!”
“Someone like you, I can take down with a single punch, you bastard.”
I then plunged my fist straight into his solar plexus.
Even if it was a fight between leaders, a fellow inferior to Dongryong was no match for me.
“Ugh... ugh...”
Jeokyeom, having been punched in the solar plexus, lay on the ground writhing in pain. I approached him, grabbed him by the collar, and commanded.
“*Reddy*, surrender. Shouldn't fellow Bandits avoid pointless fights?”
“Ugh... Shut up, you bastard...! Will *this Jeokyeom* surrender to a thug like you?! Just kill me instead...!”
“Hmm...? Judging by his words, he's got some guts after all.”
Jeokyeom was a fellow who lived up to his size more than I expected.
There's only one way to 'educate' guys like this.
I chuckled and asked him.
“*Reddy*. Do you know the saying *Seven Captures, Seven Releases*?”
“What...?”
*Seven Captures, Seven Releases*.
It's a Four-character Idiom meaning to capture someone seven times and release them seven times, originating from the story of Zhuge Liang genuinely winning over Meng Huo during the Southern Campaign.
In other words, it means to treat an opponent with mercy and benevolence.
Jeokyeom, realizing this, gritted his teeth instead and shouted loudly.
“*Seven Captures, Seven Releases*?! If you think that method will make me submit, you're mistaken!”
“Oh, you know your Four-character Idioms, seeing as you know the meaning of *Seven Captures, Seven Releases*.”
“Stop with the wordplay—! No matter how much you flatter me or treat me well, I'll never join you! Rather, when you have the chance, just kill me...”
Thwack—.
“Kuaaaah—!”
Before Jeokyeom could finish his sentence, I punched him in the face. Jeokyeom, taken aback, asked me.
“A-no... you said *Seven Captures, Seven Releases*! Why suddenly...!”
“I merely asked if you knew the meaning; I never said I would *perform* Seven Captures, Seven Releases.”
“This bastard is playing with words again... Ugh...”
Thwack—!
Thwack—!
Since he was talking too much, I gave Jeokyeom a few more punches to the face to quiet him down, then opened my mouth.
“You might not know this, but I actually dislike punching people.”
“Ughhh...”
“But what can I do? For a stubborn fellow like you, a beating is the only cure... Even if it pains my heart to hit you, I have no choice.”
Thwack—!
Sniffle, sniffle.
I squeezed out tears that wouldn't flow and raised my fist towards Jeokyeom once more.
“I will 'educate' you with the heart of *Weeping while Executing Ma Su*.”
“I will definitely kill you... Defini—, Aaaah—!”
Judging by his condition, it seemed the 'education' would continue all night.