Chapter 73 :

Black Flame Dragon Leaping Over the Gate (1)

After we crossed Anhui Province and Mount Tianmu began to come into view, Eunho’s face began turning pale.

“Senior brother, are you seriously planning to take the first-gate exam with Twin Curtain Stronghold?”

“Yes.”

“……Could there perhaps be a side effect in the Taeul True Scripture that makes one lose reason……?”

In the end, Eunho was struck once on the back of the head.

“This brat has less and less he cannot say to his eldest senior brother the farther we go.”

“No, honestly, is that not true? Why are you risking your life to enter a place even the Murim Alliance tells people not to go to?”

In this Hell Official Exam, the mountain strongholds designated by the Murim Alliance appeared and disappeared sporadically, while the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds were established in major regions of the murim world, making them strongly resemble regional rulers.

That was why no one stepped forward saying they would subjugate one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds for the first-gate exam.

Moreover, just as its name suggested, Twin Curtain Stronghold consisted of two separate mountain strongholds established around Mount Tianmu.

In other words, it meant we would have to face two mountain strongholds at once.

“Exactly. Why are you deliberately trying to poke a beehive?”

Even so, the reason I had chosen Twin Curtain Stronghold as the target was that it was easier to deal with than the other four thousand mountain strongholds.

‘To be precise, the bear will perform the trick, and I will collect the money.’

Eunho was looking at me with eyes that said he could not understand at all.

“Sometimes, something that looks difficult may not actually be that difficult.”

How could a mere sparrow understand the deep will of a great roc?

Ignoring Eunho’s grumbling, we ran on and arrived at our destination, Mokgi County.

“Senior brother, it looks like a war broke out somewhere…….”

The state of Mokgi County was more miserable than the contents I had seen in the report from my previous life.

“It is worse than I expected.”

Houses on the verge of collapse lined the area, and most places that had traces of having once done business were closed.

Along the roadside, there were only gaunt old men sitting in the sun and weaving straw, and children wandering around in shabby appearances.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The three brothers, who had been chattering until we reached the entrance of the village, were overwhelmed by the village’s strange atmosphere and shut their mouths tightly.

When we entered an inn we barely found in order to have a meal, there was not even a clerk.

Only an old man with a sharp-looking face came out from the kitchen while wiping his hands.

“Order.”

“We have been sleeping outside for several days. Is there any food you can make right away?”

“If you want food, go to West Lake or Hangzhou. We only have noodles.”

“……Then please give us that.”

The old man who took the order went back into the kitchen without answering.

I looked around to see whether the person I was looking for had arrived, but even the people sitting inside the inn were all old.

‘He should definitely have arrived in Mokgi County today.’

The three brothers, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, remained silent.

Only after quite some time had passed did Eunho seem to realize something and speak.

“Senior brother, there are no young people in the village. Did they all go to the city to earn money?”

The old man, who was coming out with noodles and water, roughly set the food down.

“Do not say such things carelessly in this village. To those who have nothing left to lose, a martial artist’s sword does not even enter their eyes.”

“…….”

At the old man’s sharp reaction, Eunho became mute as if he had eaten honey.

I could understand the old man’s reaction to some extent.

According to the records of the Ten Thousand Information Department, this village called Mokgi County had always been prosperous thanks to the goods and people heading to Hangzhou and West Lake.

However, after the generational change in Twin Curtain Stronghold and new stronghold chiefs took over, their exploitation of nearby villages became unbelievably severe.

Because of that, all the young men and women of the village died, leaving only old people and children.

On top of that, because the toll for Mount Tianmu had risen to three times the original amount, merchants no longer used this route either.

When the villagers, having lost even the will and hope to live, were simply waiting for death.

‘There is someone who stops that and takes over Twin Curtain Stronghold.’

Clatter!

The old door opened roughly as if it would break.

Feeling a powerful wave of energy behind me, I slowly turned around.

“Owner!”

A man entered while leading a group.

His hearty voice rang loudly through the chilly inn.

He had arrived on the exact date and at the exact time, just as recorded.

“Bring out spiced sliced pork and Baekhwa Wine!”

A man with a massive build and a rough face like a mountain bandit, whose arms were as thick as an ordinary woman’s waist.

“Dear, do you think they can serve spiced sliced pork in a place like this?”

And a beautiful woman held in his embrace.

They were the future leader of the Green Forest Alliance, Mountain King Bang Duchil, and the strategist of the Green Forest Alliance, Baek Soryeong.

The old man who came out of the kitchen furrowed his brow deeply.

“Spiced sliced pork? If you want to eat that kind of thing, go to West Lake or Hangzhou.”

At the old man’s unstoppable charge, I clicked my tongue.

He truly seemed like an old man who feared nothing before his eyes.

In our case, our faces looked around the age of young adults, so that was understandable.

But Bang Duchil looked intimidating from the outside alone.

Even so, the old man treated everyone equally stubbornly, as if he truly did not fear death.

Who was Bang Duchil?

A man whose strength could pull up mountains and whose spirit could cover the world.

This man, called the reincarnation of Xiang Yu, was born with the Heavenly Astral Boundless Body and was a heaven-beyond-heaven existence who reached the super-peak level without any special training.

While taking the Martial Academy official exam with only his lover and comrades, without even having a sect, he accepted a child’s “one silver coin” request and subjugated Twin Curtain Stronghold.

During that, his dantian was damaged, and he ultimately could not take the Martial Academy official exam.

Yet even with that damaged dantian, he later unified all Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds, created the Green Forest Alliance, and rose to the position of Mountain King.

The old man truly had no fear.

“Kwahahahahaha! What a nasty old man you are. Fine. Then what can we eat?”

“Noodles.”

“Is that so? Then bring all the noodles you have.”

“……Wait.”

I had fought alongside him several times against the Demon Cult in my previous life.

He was the true Green Forest King who first ruled the Green Forest, but as the anecdote of the “one silver coin request” showed, he was a man full of spirit and affection.

If the wound he suffered in the battle with Twin Curtain Stronghold had not worsened and caused him to die young, and if the Murim Alliance had properly cooperated with the Green Forest Alliance, then according to Zhuge Cheongi, the strategist of the Small Elite Unit, the Demon Cult could have been pinned down in Jiangnan.

Of course, there was one question.

The question of how someone with the Heavenly Astral Boundless Body had suffered irreparable damage to his dantian.

I had asked him several times while drinking with him, but he had only said it was because he had been inexperienced.

“Owner, is this all?”

The old man brought out enough noodles to fill the table, but Bang Duchil and his subordinates did not look very pleased.

“This is all. More importantly, do you have money?”

When the old man looked at Bang Duchil suspiciously, Baek Soryeong smiled and took out a silver coin, handing it to him.

“If you have wine, could we ask for that as well?”

“……Very well.”

Perhaps even the most foul-tempered heart could do nothing before Baek Soryeong’s smiling face.

The old man cleared his throat and was about to go back into the restaurant.

“We ate well.”

I held out payment for the noodles.

“…….”

The old man stared blankly at the silver coin I gave him, then frowned.

“Who pays a silver coin after eating four bowls of noodles?”

“You can keep the change.”

“…….”

For some reason, the old man looked guilty.

“You seem to be in very difficult circumstances. Are you all right?”

I subtly opened the topic in order to connect Bang Duchil and the old man.

“……The drought continued this year. If only snow comes in winter, perhaps we can at least get through the spring famine.”

Unfortunately, it would not snow in Zhejiang Province this winter.

According to reports from the Murim Alliance branches in West Lake and Hangzhou, the drought that started the year before last continued all the way into winter, causing famine throughout Zhejiang Province.

The area around Mount Tianmu had so many deaths from starvation in particular that even the corrupt county magistrate opened his storehouses.

“Is it because of Twin Curtain Stronghold?!”

At Eunho’s sudden words, the old man’s eyebrows shot up.

“What?”

“I am asking whether the village is suffering this much because of Twin Curtain Stronghold’s exploitation.”

The old man’s eyes sank.

“I told you earlier, but do not speak carelessly of such things in this village.”

“As far as I know, Mokgi County is a village one must pass through when going to West Lake and Hangzhou, so I heard it was always overflowing with goods and people.”

“……That is all in the past.”

“If the exploitation is that severe, have you not asked the Murim Alliance for help?”

Eunho shouted as if enraged as though he had experienced it himself, and the old man’s face slowly turned red.

“We did! We did! But when has the Murim Alliance ever stepped forward for powerless and penniless people like us?”

“……How could such a thing…….”

While the three brothers opened their mouths wide in shock at reality.

Bang Duchil’s group, who had been noisily eating noodles, also quietly focused on this side.

“Haa…… You people should not stay in this village. Hurry and go on your way.”

The old man placed the silver coin he had received on the table and took away all the bowls of noodles, though we had not finished eating.

“Elder……! Please, let us talk a little more…….”

At the old man’s order to leave, I stood up first.

However, I left the silver coin where it was.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“……But senior brother!”

“The elder is right. Let’s get up.”

“But senior brother clearly…….”

Seeing Eunho about to say something, I quickly sent him a voice transmission.

—This is not something to discuss now. There is a way to resolve everything, so get up for now.

Just as the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers were about to stand with their shoulders drooping, a booming voice rang out from one corner of the restaurant.

“Owner! I am curious about that story. Tell me.”

Bang Duchil and his group had begun taking interest in the old man’s story.

‘I have done everything I need to do for now.’

The old man whipped around and shot back at Bang Duchil with blazing eyes.

“Did you not hear what I just said? Even the Murim Alliance has given up on this matter! And it is not something you people need to care about! Either get out right now or quietly eat your noodles. Choose one.”

“No! I must hear the story!”

Bang Duchil stood up with his huge body.

“Let’s go.”

In the meantime, I led the three brothers outside.

“Senior brother! This is different from what you said earlier.”

Unlike that morning, when his face had turned pale at the mention of subjugating Twin Curtain Stronghold, Eunho could not hold back his anger after seeing the state of the village.

“There is a way, so wait a little.”

In truth, how could the four of us possibly face Twin Curtain Stronghold?

However, I believed that if Bang Duchil and Baek Soryeong stepped forward and his subordinates tried to subjugate Twin Curtain Stronghold, then lending a hand on one side would be more than possible.

I did not know whether it was a trait of those born with the Heavenly Astral Boundless Body, but Bang Duchil was a person who valued loyalty and justice above all else.

Whether he became the Green Forest King as in my previous life, or things changed and he came to the Murim Alliance, his fate was certain to oppose the Demon Cult.

Just as I left the inn, satisfied with my own actions.

A young voice suddenly reached my ears.

“Mister…… Are you the Black Flame Dragon hero?”

The child looked shabby, as if he had received no care from his parents at all.

Unlike me, whose brow furrowed deeply, Dongryong could not hide his smile and answered in my place.

“How did you know?”

The child pointed at my sword.

“I heard he had a black sword and black clothes, and a vile face.”

“……?”

What was that?

Did a strange word just slip in at the end?

“Mister, are you the Black Flame Dragon hero?”

“It seems some strange rumors have spread. I am called Black…… that, yes.”

The child suddenly held out what he had been tightly gripping in both hands.

“Then please save my mom and dad. Grandpa said Mom and Dad went to Mount Kunlun to earn money, but that is all a lie. Mom and Dad are being held captive by Twin Curtain Stronghold.”

What the child held out was a dirty silver coin stained with grime.

“Huh?”

Why was he giving this to me?

And what on earth did he mean, his parents were alive?

“I also heard you saved a great many people. Please save my mom and dad.”

“…….”

Something seemed to have become badly tangled.

“Little one, are you certain your parents are alive?”

“……Whoa.”

“How could you ask that…….”

“……Wow.”

The Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers looked at me with disappointed eyes.

It could not be helped.

According to the report from the Murim Alliance Hangzhou branch, when he asked for revenge in exchange for “one silver coin,” Bang Duchil, wanting to overestimate his own power, used it as an excuse to act.

‘Could it be…… those bastards…….’

Until just before the Great War of Orthodox and Demon broke out, the emotional divide between the black path and the white path was quite deep.

They would not have welcomed the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds uniting under the name of the Green Forest Alliance, so if they wrote the report to belittle the other party…….

“Those damned…… bastards…….”

Even if they wanted to underrate the other party, there were things one should and should not do.

“What?”

While I had briefly fallen into thought, the child was trembling as he looked at my face.

“Ah, sorry. But are you sure your parents were kidnapped?”

“Wow…… Senior brother, seriously…….”

“Stay still. We need to hear the story properly.”

The child, whose eyes were filling with tears at the thought of his parents, spoke.

“I saw them on Mount Tianmu. Dad was digging the ground, and Mom was washing dishes. Ilseong’s parents and Jeongjeong’s dad are all there too.”

“Hmm…….”

A complete revision of the plan was needed.

Even if the Mountain King possessed an inhuman physique, he could not move freely with hostages in front of him.

‘Moreover, considering the character I saw in him in my previous life, if hostages had been taken…….’

Only now did the pieces I had not known in the past begin to fit together.

The reason a heaven-beyond-heaven existence, who should not have been able to suffer injuries in the first place, had received irreparable damage.

“It was because of the hostages.”

I looked at the child for a moment.

If hostages were being held, this could not proceed the same way as in my previous life.

“Do you live alone?”

“With Grandpa here.”

The nasty old man from earlier was the child’s grandfather.

I held the child’s hand and went back inside the inn.

“Please take this.”

The child insisted on giving me the silver coin.

“No. I am not the one who should receive this money.”

“Then who?”

“Among the people inside here…….”

I opened the door, went inside, and pointed at Bang Duchil.

“The person you should give the money to is that scary-looking…….”

I could not finish my words.

Bang Duchil was performing a shoulder throw on the old man.