Chapter 44
"If you have something to say, go ahead."
They were returning to the Peng Family estate after leaving the village and descending the mountain.
The White Wolf Unit's attitude towards Yeo Un-hwi had completely changed compared to when they were heading to the village.
This was only natural. How could they remain the same after witnessing such an incredible sight with their own eyes?
That's why they kept stealing glances at Yeo Un-hwi without even realizing it.
This was true for O Chae-mu, Gu Tae-san, the twin brothers, Do-gyeong, and everyone else.
In response to Yeo Un-hwi's words, O Chae-mu cautiously opened his mouth:
"Does the Family Head also know about you, Commander?"
O Chae-mu no longer hesitated to call Yeo Un-hwi "Commander."
In the world of martial artists, one could gain great recognition simply by being strong in martial arts.
Moreover, Yeo Un-hwi had saved the entire White Wolf Unit from certain death.
And he had done so by fighting and beheading the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, one of the Absolute Great Evils.
So how could O Chae-mu and the other White Wolf Unit members deny Yeo Un-hwi?
Though their excessive uprightness had always been a problem, they were equally simple-minded in the opposite direction.
Yeo Un-hwi was their benefactor.
"He doesn't know."
"Then what about Young Lady?"
Yeo Un-hwi shook his head.
"You mean to say no one knows? Could it be that the martial arts you've learned are from the Demonic Faction, or demonic arts, or something like that...?"
"Haha! Did it seem that way?"
"No, it didn't seem that way."
This time O Chae-mu shook his head.
"Right. It's not like that."
"Then why on earth..."
"The truth is, until now there was no particular reason or situation to reveal it. Above all, I absolutely hate troublesome things."
Though it wasn't quite a sufficient answer, O Chae-mu nodded vaguely and looked at Yeo Un-hwi again with an uncomprehending expression.
"Then Commander, why this time...?"
"Well, having just become the commander, I couldn't just stand by and watch my men die at the hands of a demonic leader."
*My men.*
Those words moved all the White Wolf Unit members, including O Chae-mu.
At the same time, they thought it was incredible.
They had already heard about how Yeo Un-hwi had been treated since coming to the main family.
He had been called a useless scholar who only knew books, enduring all sorts of ridicule and contempt. Yet he had willingly revealed that power he had kept hidden until the end for their sake.
Even though they too had shown such obvious dislike and disregard for Yeo Un-hwi.
Wasn't this mission also created to torment Yeo Un-hwi and drive him out?
And then they had nearly all died after encountering the Great Demonic Master.
The more they heard Yeo Un-hwi's story, the more the White Wolf Unit wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Moreover, the White Wolf Unit already knew that the martial arts Yeo Un-hwi used were not of the Demonic Faction or demonic arts.
They would have immediately recognized the wicked energy emanating from such martial arts when used.
Of course they would have noticed right away.
In any case, one way or another, Yeo Un-hwi was now undoubtedly the benefactor of the entire White Wolf Unit.
And the White Wolf Unit never forgets debts of gratitude.
"Oh, and let's say the entire White Wolf Unit worked together to catch the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon. Since there's a difference in martial arts realms, we'll say he had been injured by someone and was recuperating in the mountain stronghold when we happened to encounter him. How's that?"
"Huh?"
Not just O Chae-mu, but the entire White Wolf Unit responded with surprised voices.
"But why on earth are you doing this?"
Gu Tae-san, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from behind, cut in and asked.
He wasn't the only one.
Everyone had incomprehensible looks on their faces.
It was only natural.
For martial artists, the best opportunity to make a name for oneself was beheading a demonic leader.
Moreover, if that opponent was the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, one of the Absolute Great Evils, this was an incredible chance to truly elevate one's name that no one would want to give up.
Yet why would he give up his own merit to these subordinates who had brought him all the way to this deep mountain village to torment and drive him out?
"We absolutely cannot do that."
O Chae-mu said very firmly.
"You faced him alone and beheaded him, Commander. We absolutely do not want to steal your achievement."
The other White Wolf Unit members seemed to feel the same way.
Yeo Un-hwi grinned and said:
"It's fine. When you think about it, it was all thanks to you, so it's okay to do this."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
"You all decided to take on this dangerous task in the first place, which is why we came here. Well, I'm sure a big part of it was to torment me, but still."
"Ah, you knew about that?"
"Of course. I'm not a fool, you know. Haha."
O Chae-mu and the others made embarrassed faces.
"Ahem, we're sorry."
"No, it's fine. I think it's understandable. I know what you were thinking. And I didn't bring it up to blame you, so don't worry about it."
Yeo Un-hwi shook his head.
"Anyway, the fact is that decision ended up saving many villagers. Isn't that right?"
"Haha... I suppose that's true."
"Of course! You all brought me here, which is how I was able to behead the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon."
It seemed both true and not quite true at the same time.
"And above all, if this gets out exactly as it happened, I think it'll be too troublesome for me. So I'd like everyone's help with this."
Help? What was he saying?
If anything, they should be bowing a hundred or thousand times and it still wouldn't be enough.
How could they refuse the request of a man who had saved his subordinates' lives and was now so selflessly giving up his own achievement?
After he had gone this far!
"Well, well. This is something."
To think the day would come when they'd be begged to accept credit.
O Chae-mu exchanged glances with the other White Wolf Unit members, then let out a deep sigh and nodded.
"If demonic leaders start lining up wanting to test the skills of those who defeated the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon..."
"I'll kick their behinds in an instant."
"You say such terrifying things so casually."
"Haha. Did I?"
"Well, since you've made that promise... fine, we'll do it."
Though the feeling that this wasn't right still lingered, they had agreed so they couldn't take it back now.
O Chae-mu looked at the White Wolf Unit members and said:
"Everyone prepare yourselves. From now on, we'll be known as the ones who beheaded the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon!"
"Yes sir!"
Though the White Wolf Unit members also looked dazed, they answered energetically.
Well, it would work out somehow.
Their horses galloped even faster towards the Peng Family estate.
"Hey, did you hear that story?"
Someone burst into the tavern excitedly and called out to his close friends.
The people drinking turned to look at him curiously.
"What story?"
"About the White Wolf Unit!"
"The White Wolf Unit? Where was that again?"
"Ah, you mean that military unit of the Peng Family? The ones always causing trouble?"
"That's right. Them."
"Why, did the White Wolf Unit cause trouble again? Didn't they get put on probation last time for beating the son of a rich man to a pulp for harassing a woman on the street?"
"Huh? They did the right thing, so why were they put on probation?"
"I heard they broke both his legs and arms so badly he couldn't move for a whole year. They went too far, apparently."
"Haha. Those people are really something."
"No! That's not the important part right now!"
"The White Wolf Unit went to subjugate some bandits and ran into the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon..."
"What? The Extreme Evil Laughing Demon? You mean that Great Demonic Master?"
"Oh no, are they all dead then? They may have caused a lot of trouble, but they were people with strong chivalry."
"No, that's not it. They beheaded him."
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about? Who beheaded who?"
"The White Wolf Unit beheaded the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon!"
"What?!"
The White Wolf Unit returned to the Hebei Peng Family.
And news of their exploits had spread throughout Hebei even before their return.
The news that they had beheaded the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, one of the Great Demonic Masters called an Absolute Great Evil, was truly shocking.
And for good reason. Who was the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon?
He was a being who had terrorized the martial world.
In the current martial world, those who could properly face him were probably limited to the Twelve Venerables of the World or the Ten Great Masters.
That's how formidable the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon's power was.
But who had beheaded whom?
No wonder the majority of those who heard the news laughed it off as a false rumor.
But those who saw the White Wolf Unit return with the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon's head couldn't deny it.
Furthermore, when the story spread that the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon had actually been severely injured fighting someone else and was hiding in a mountain stronghold when they happened to discover him, barely managing to behead him with all their might, people came to believe the story was true.
"Hahaha!"
In the Family Head's Hall of the Hebei Peng Family.
Laughter poured out incessantly.
"Well done! You've worked hard!"
Family Head Peng Mugang looked at the White Wolf Unit standing before him with a very satisfied smile.
"I thought you only ever caused trouble, but to bring back the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon's head! Splendid! Splendid! My heart is truly content. You've accomplished something truly remarkable!"
"Thank you, Family Head."
O Chae-mu bowed his head.
And beside him, Yeo Un-hwi stood with a small smile.
Normally, such reports would be made by the commander.
But since Yeo Un-hwi had just been appointed commander and joined them, he was still in the process of taking over from O Chae-mu for this mission, so he just quietly watched from the side.
"I'm in a very good mood today. Haha!"
It was understandable that Peng Mugang was making such an uncharacteristic fuss.
The Extreme Evil Laughing Demon was someone that even the Murim Alliance and Demonic Alliance had tried desperately to catch for years without success.
Moreover, he was a master so strong that even Peng Mugang couldn't confidently guarantee victory against him.
Even if he had been injured, he would certainly have still been formidable.
Yet the White Wolf Unit had beheaded the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon without losing a single member. How could he not praise them?
Of course, this incident greatly raised the prestige of the Peng Family.
Above all, since this merit was achieved by the White Wolf Unit, known as troublemakers not just in Hebei but throughout the martial world, it was an incredibly encouraging event for the Peng Family.
Well, attacking an injured person in a group might generally be considered cowardly.
But the opponent was a Great Demonic Master and serial killer who was a target for elimination as an enemy of the martial world, so it was actually praiseworthy.
If the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon hadn't died this time, it was impossible to predict how many more lives would have been lost because of him.
So everyone gave their acclaim to the White Wolf Unit.
They had truly accomplished a remarkable feat.
"By the way, Family Head."
As the atmosphere was becoming quite pleasant, one of the elders stepped forward slightly.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"It's nothing much, but having accomplished such a feat, the White Wolf Unit's name will now be frequently mentioned throughout the martial world. They may even receive invitations from various places."
"That may be so."
"Of course, this is a very good thing for us. However..."
For some reason, the elder with a sly smile on his face was named Peng Gyeong-ho.
He was a figure known for his great ambition.
He glanced at Yeo Un-hwi and continued speaking:
"It seems the current commander of the White Wolf Unit won't be able to handle such important matters."
At his words, the atmosphere of the entire White Wolf Unit instantly turned cold.