Chapter 15: Seven Captures and Seven Releases, Weeping While Beheading Ma Su

The moment Dongryong leaped…

“Hmm…?”

Dongryong immediately sensed something strange.

All four opponents who leaped after him…

‘Slow…’

They were slow.

Extremely slow.

At first, Dongryong thought they were probing him. Deliberately moving slowly to make him lower his guard and gauge his skills.

‘Is that it…’

If the opponents were probing, Dongryong had to decide how to respond.

And he…

Swoosh-!

‘I need to end this quickly.’

He decided to strike one of them with a Single Strike while they were comfortably probing.

The target was the weakest one.

The one ranked 5th holding a Blade.

‘Since it’s the beginning, I’ll use only 30% of my strength.’

Since he had to face four opponents, managing his stamina was crucial. So, without any greed, Dongryong lightly swung his Blade to meet the opponent’s Blade.

But then…

Clang!

“Huh?”

“…What?”

With just one clash, the opponent’s Blade not only got dislodged but also flew high into the sky.

Both Dongryong and the opponent were taken aback.

‘What is this guy doing…?’

Losing his Blade with just a light swing, was this the behavior of someone ranked 5th?

Moreover, the opponent seemed to have just noticed Dongryong in front of him, showing a surprised expression.

Though bewildered, Dongryong kicked the opponent’s head away.

Again, with just a light movement, the opponent flew several meters away.

“……”

“……”

The remaining three opponents had bewildered expressions. Then, realizing the situation…

“…!”

They quickly adjusted their stances and pointed their Swords and Blades again.

Their bodies were trembling, and their pupils were shaking violently.

Dongryong knew well what those small actions meant.

Fear.

They were terrified.

Fear… They were terrified?

Why?

Could it be… because of me?

Only then did Dongryong recall the Boss’s words.

‘Believe in the me who believes in you.’

Ah.

He thought it was just a joke, but the Boss was really confident.

“……”

Clench-.

Dongryong gripped his Blade tightly.

Only now did he decide to believe in himself and the Boss.

‘I am strong.’

Thinking that way, the trembling opponents in front of him looked very weak.

“Hey, why are you trembling so much?”

“……”

“……”

“Why don’t you come first? If you don’t… I’ll come to you.”

Swoosh-!

At some point, a smile appeared on Dongryong’s face.

Facing and dealing with the weak was enjoyable.

After a year of living as a Mountain Bandit, Dongryong realized the principle of the strong preying on the weak. He charged at the opponent with a joyful heart.

**

“Fool, he’s enjoying it.”

I clicked my tongue and drank while watching Dongryong take down the Brotherhood of Mount Muak members.

He must be excited realizing he’s stronger than his opponents.

It’s foolish that he only realized it now.

A year ago, from the moment I first met Dongryong, his body was already well-built.

The problem was that he had no real combat experience, probably because he was severely bullied in the prestigious family he originally worked for.

But over the past year, while living as a Mountain Bandit, real combat experience had gradually seeped into Dongryong’s body.

And, what? I didn’t teach him anything?

I taught Dongryong the Cultivation Technique I use. Does he know the value of that Cultivation Technique?

Moreover, I made him undergo rigorous physical training! Occasionally sparred with him! Built up his endurance extremely well!

“No… What did you ever teach me, boss…?”

How dare he say such things to me?

“Sigh, an ungrateful black-haired beast…”

Of course, it wasn’t just my help that made Dongryong what he is now.

As I said earlier, from the moment I first met Dongryong, his body was already well-built.

I know that he trained in martial arts more diligently than any other subordinate, even more than me.

Like a habit, he would wake up first before dawn and practice the Blade Technique he learned from his prestigious family slowly but surely until after sunset.

And the Cultivation Technique I taught Dongryong is soft and free, synergizing with any martial arts.

His efforts are now bearing fruit.

Whoosh-!

Dongryong, wielding his Blade against the opponents, looked like a tiger.

I had a rough idea before, but now I was sure which prestigious family Dongryong had learned martial arts from.

Dongryong’s Blade Technique shines more the more confident he is. Now that he has realized his own Martial Prowess, Dongryong will grow even more.

“Ugh…”

There was no way those Mountain Bandit guys could beat the current Dongryong. They couldn’t last a few moves and eventually, even the last one, Eung-chil, dropped his Blade and fell.

“Haha…”

Dongryong, having taken down the 5th to 2nd ranked members of the Brotherhood of Mount Muak, showed no signs of fatigue.

Rather, he had a joyful smile like a child on their birthday.

In contrast…

“……”

The members of the Brotherhood of Mount Muak, who had been so confident until now, were all staring at Dongryong with their mouths wide open.

Especially, the expression of Crimson Beard Axe was priceless.

“H-how…”

He couldn’t hide his surprised expression, forgetting his dignity as the Boss of the Brotherhood of Mount Muak. His gaping mouth and bewildered expression were quite a sight.

“……”

“……”

As they were too shocked to say anything, I poured myself a drink and shouted loudly at Crimson Beard Axe.

“Big Brother. This… It seems my subordinate, Dongryong, has beaten all your subordinates?”

“……”

“Not just the 2nd ranked one… He beat the 2nd to 5th ranked ones… How should we rank Dongryong?”

“……”

Crimson Beard Axe couldn’t easily speak. Could he defeat someone who beat the 2nd to 5th ranked members in just a few moves?

He was clearly thinking about that.

I delivered the final blow to the busy-minded Crimson Beard Axe.

“But Redhead! What should we do? I’m much stronger than Dongryong.”

“You bastard-!!!”

Perhaps my last provocation snapped him out of it, as Crimson Beard Axe shouted loudly and raised his axe.

Then he ordered his subordinates, who were standing around dumbfounded.

“Everyone, pick up your weapons-! Charge and cut them down! Now-!!”

Telling them to catch someone who beat the 2nd to 5th ranked members at once… Naturally, the faces of the Brotherhood of Mount Muak members were filled with anxiety…

“Y-Yaaaah-!!”

But they couldn’t disobey the Boss’s order, so they all picked up their weapons and charged.

The sight of dozens of Mountain Bandits charging with weapons was quite a thrilling scene, but Dongryong, who had already gained confidence, seemed fine and was smiling.

Seeing Dongryong’s attitude change so quickly, I chuckled and spoke to him.

“Dongryong.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“All those guys over there will be your subordinates. Handle them gently.”

Dongryong nodded and answered energetically.

“Of course, Boss. I’ll manage them well so you won’t be troubled.”

Perhaps because the sudden uprising of dozens of Mountain Bandits made the surroundings noisy.

Other subordinates, still groggy, picked up their weapons and stood up.

“What…? A fight…? Haha, it’s a fight-!”

“Kill them all-!!”

…They seemed to be in bad shape, but well, they’ll manage.

Other subordinates weren’t as good as Dongryong, but they were decent enough.

I relaxed and poured myself another drink.

But then…

“You bastard-!! Do you think you can just drink while a fight is going on? Taste my axe-!!”

“Damn it…”

While I was pouring a drink, Crimson Beard Axe suddenly turned towards me.

Since I wasn’t holding a weapon at the moment, I had no choice but to use the bottle to counter.

Crash-!

Naturally, the bottle shattered upon impact with Crimson Beard Axe’s huge axe.

Damn it.

How much does this cost? A precious bottle of Top-notch Dukang Wine was wasted.

“Damn it… I just wanted to drink…”

“Did you think that would be possible in this chaos!”

“Yeah… I guess not. Fine, let’s have a fight between Bosses.”

Whoosh-! Whoosh-!!

Crimson Beard Axe’s fierce axe attacks continued, knowing I was unarmed.

‘Hmm…’

I was quite surprised by his systematic and forceful attacks, but…

“There are too many openings.”

Such attacks might work well against low-level opponents, but they seemed too heavy and slow against higher-level ones.

I struck his joints, like the wrist and shoulder, to disarm him…

Tap, tap-!

“Ugh…!”

Bang-!!

“Ugh-!”

“I can take you down with just my Fist. Bastard.”

I punched him in the solar plexus.

Even if it was a fight between Bosses, someone weaker than Dongryong couldn’t be my opponent.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Crimson Beard Axe, hit in the solar plexus, writhed in pain on the ground. I grabbed his collar and commanded.

“Redhead, surrender. We should avoid unnecessary fights among Mountain Bandits, right?”

“Ugh… Shut up, you…! This Crimson Beard Axe won’t surrender to a Rogue like you! Just kill me…!”

“Hmm…? You have some guts, huh.”

Crimson Beard Axe was more resilient than I thought.

There’s a way to educate such guys.

I chuckled and asked him.

“Redhead. Do you know are you familiar with the expression ‘Seven Captures and Seven Releases’?”

“What…?”

Seven Captures and Seven Releases.

A term from the story of Zhuge Liang who conquered the Southern Tribes and made Meng Huo truly submit by capturing and releasing him seven times.

In other words, it means treating the opponent with mercy and compassion.

Realizing this, Crimson Beard Axe gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Seven Captures and Seven Releases! If you think you can make me submit with that method, you’re mistaken!”

“Oh, you know some idioms. Knowing the meaning of Seven Captures and Seven Releases.”

“Stop the wordplay-! No matter how much you flatter and treat me well, I will never join you! I’d rather you kill my…”

Smack-.

“Argh-!”

Before Crimson Beard Axe could finish, I punched him in the face. He asked in surprise.

“W-What… But you said Seven Captures and Seven Releases! Why…!”

“I asked if you knew the meaning, not that I would do it.”

“You bastard, playing with words again… Ugh…”

Smack-!

Smack-!

Since he was talking too much, I punched him a few more times in the face to shut him up and then spoke.

“You don’t know, but I actually hate hitting people.”

“Ugh…”

“But what can I do? For someone who doesn’t listen, a beating is the best medicine… Even if it pains me to hit you.”

Smack-!

Sniff.

I pretended to squeeze out non-existent tears and raised my fist towards Crimson Beard Axe again.

“With the heart of Weeping While Beheading Ma Su, I will educate you.”

“I will definitely kill you… Defini… Argh-!”

Judging by his state, it seemed the education would continue all night.

“Weeping While Beheading Ma Su” refers to a historical event from the Three Kingdoms period in China. Ma Su was a general under Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of the Shu Han state. Despite being a talented strategist, Ma Su disobeyed Zhuge Liang’s orders during a critical military campaign, leading to a significant defeat.
Zhuge Liang, known for his wisdom and strict adherence to military discipline, had no choice but to execute Ma Su to maintain order and discipline within the ranks. However, Zhuge Liang was deeply saddened by this decision, as he had a close relationship with Ma Su. The phrase “Weeping While Beheading Ma Su” symbolizes the painful duty of enforcing discipline and justice, even when it involves punishing someone dear.
Muyeon is obviously being a hypocrite here.