Chapter 76 :

Chapter 76. The Black Flame Dragon Leaping Over the Gate (4)

Once the feast began, all the villagers who had been dragged away to Twin Curtain Stronghold were mobilized.

Men and women alike, every single one of those dragged there was skin and bones, and not one of them was without wounds or bruises.

Our group forgot that we were surrounded by the bandits of Twin Curtain Stronghold and ground our teeth as we looked at them.

“Ahem.”

“Ahem.”

In the meantime, some of Bang Duchil’s subordinates began turning pale.

Their whole bodies had gone stiff after being exposed to a sudden killing intent.

Its source was none other than Dongryong.

They seemed unable to believe that such killing intent could be coming from a child whose face had not even lost its youthful blush yet.

I walked over to Dongryong and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s all right. We’ll save them.”

“..Ah, yes. Of course. I believe in you, Senior Brother.” Dongryong did not seem to even realize that he had been emitting such thick killing intent.

“.......”

Geumpyo, who knew about Dongryong’s Heavenly Slaughter Star, was looking at me with worried eyes.

—It’s all right. His character is upright, and his heart is tender, so as long as his awareness isn’t stolen by his murderous star, there should be no problem. Once his achievement in the Taeul True Scripture rises later on, he’ll no longer become intoxicated by the murderous star either.

When I reminded him once more of what I had told him a few nights ago, Geumpyo nodded despite the unease in his eyes.

*

When nearly five hundred people rushed in all at once to prepare the food, the feast preparations were finished in no time.

With steaming food in front of them, the bandits paid no attention to the starving villagers and were absorbed in eating and drinking among themselves.

“You may take them, as promised.”

At the One-Eyed Blood Axe’s words, the expressions of the villagers gathered in one place turned blank.

“Then I hope we can continue having good transactions in the future.”

When I cupped my fist in salute, the One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber became busy eating and chatting, as though they had no further interest.

“Everyone, you may return to the village with us.”

“..What? What in the world does that mean......”

Even though I had spoken, the villagers did not easily move their feet and instead watched the expressions of the One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber.

“The matter has already been settled. Please return home with us.”

The eyes of the nearly five hundred people trembled violently at my words, yet they continued to watch the One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Saber the entire time.

The two men, who had been chatting loudly for a long while, looked at the villagers, let out a mocking snicker, and waved their hands as if annoyed.

Only then did people begin collapsing to the ground one by one, as though the strength had left their legs.

“Sob, are we finally going back?”

“Thank you, warrior! Thank you.”

“I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life.”

The villagers sank to the ground before us and shed tears.

And behind them, I could see the Golden-Faced Buddha Saber and the One-Eyed Blood Axe mocking those villagers.

Many of the bandits enjoying the feast were also wearing sneers, as though they were hiding some sinister intention.

“Why don’t you give your thanks after returning home? Don’t you no longer wish to stay here?”

At my words, the people who had weakly collapsed rose all at once and began moving quickly, as though they did not want to remain here for even a moment longer.

#

After leading the villagers down, I spoke to Bang Duchil at the place where the carts had been gathered.

“Great Hero Bang, please go down through that road. I’ll return by the way we came.”

“.......”

Bang Duchil only frowned without answering.

In the end, Baek Soryeong, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward.

“Young Master Jin, what do you mean by that?”

“There is only one road on Mount Tianmu. If the bandits want to flee from the mountain, they’ll have no choice but to use this road, won’t they? I’ll take this side. Great Hero Bang and your party, please take the opposite side.”

“Flee?”

Baek Soryeong tilted her head, as if she did not understand.

“I’m going to set all of Mount Tianmu on fire.”

At the words “set it on fire,” Baek Soryeong and Bang Duchil’s mouths fell open.

“...If that’s the case..... even so, is there any reason to do it this urgently? At the very least, after evacuating the villagers first....”

“Didn’t you see the chiefs and key figures of Twin Curtain Stronghold?”

“Yes?”

“They didn’t drink a single cup of wine while the feast was underway. They probably won’t drag things out for long.”

“...Even so.....”

“Also, the time for us to attack must not pass beyond today.”

“....Huh?”

“In any case, if you wait, the bandits will come down along the road. No matter how many of them there are, Great Hero Bang should be able to handle them on a narrow road, right?”

When I spoke while looking at Bang Duchil, he crossed his arms and spoke heavily.

“Bandits are good at climbing mountains. That’s why they become bandits.”

“No matter how good bandits are at climbing mountains, they can’t climb over a Flaming Mountain.”

“....”

#

The Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s eyebrow rose as he was tearing into meat.

“What?”

“Unknown people were scattering oil all over Mount Tianmu.”

“Oil? Who are they?”

“Unfortunately, they were fast on their feet.”

“These damned bastards!”

The Golden-Faced Buddha Saber threw away the meat he had been eating.

“If you’re going to make a report like that, why did I even put you there? I’d have been better off releasing a dog.”

“I’m sorry.”

The One-Eyed Blood Axe, who had been observing the situation, chuckled.

“Brother Song. Isn’t it obvious?”

“Obvious? Do you suspect something?”

“Wouldn’t it be the work of that Jin Sowoon brat from the Taeul Sect?”

“That brat from earlier?”

The Golden-Faced Buddha Saber tilted his head. The brat had clearly not wanted to become hostile with Twin Curtain Stronghold.

So for what reason would that brat be scattering oil?

“I heard the report from the one who first guided them. Apparently, while the brat was coming up, he pretended to spill wine barrels and scattered oil along the roads.”

“What? No way.”

“Isn’t he thinking of setting a fire?”

“Have you ever seen such an ungrateful bastard? I knew those righteous faction bastards couldn’t be trusted, but..... he makes a promise just now and stabs us in the back?”

At the Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s reaction, the One-Eyed Blood Axe wore a playful expression.

“Since we had gathered anyway, weren’t we planning to finish this quickly? He has given us a justification, so we should be happier instead.”

“Keukeuk, stupid bastard. He should’ve just handed over all the money and left.”

From the beginning, they had no intention of releasing those they had brought from the village.

A thousand ignorant bandit bastards. The idea that those bastards would cook food, mend clothes, and help with everyday life was something even a dog would laugh at.

From the start, the Twin Curtain Strongholds of Mount Tianmu were structured so that they could not maintain daily life without the villagers. But neither could they give them money.

“I had intended to let them spend a little time reuniting with their families after so long, yet they’re tripping themselves up.”

“Keukeukeuk. Isn’t it actually good for us? We don’t have to wait around for a bothersome day or two.”

“Everyone! Prepare yourselves!”

The Golden-Faced Buddha Saber’s thunderous shout spread across the entire hill.

The bandits, who had been eating meat and drinking water instead of wine, all drew their weapons at once.

#

Village Chief Heo could not come to his senses because of the people standing before his eyes.

“Sanggu!”

They had ignored his words telling them not to do it and had been preparing something, and in the end, they had brought back all the people dragged away to Twin Curtain Stronghold.

Setting aside for a moment his worry that Twin Curtain Stronghold would retaliate, Village Chief Heo burst into tears at the sight of his son and daughter-in-law for the first time in a year.

*

The hostages who had come down to the village each began running toward their own homes.

As the commotion grew at the entrance of the village, people who had come out after hearing the noise saw the hostages who had come down from Twin Curtain Stronghold and burst into tears as they ran over.

Here and there, people embraced one another and shed tears and snot.

Village Chief Heo, my client’s grandfather, also held his returned child and daughter-in-law in his arms and wept like a waterfall.

“Sniff. Huuuk. Sob.”

Dongryong, who was beside me, was shedding tears without realizing it.

“Senior Brother, I truly respect you. Sob.”

Geumpyo and Eunho nodded at Dongryong’s words.

“Yes. But for us, it starts now. Don’t let your guard down.”

“You said earlier that you were going to set a fire. Can we catch them with that?”

“As for that......”

Just as I was about to answer the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, Village Chief Heo approached.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you. And I’m sorry. Since both the government troops and the Martial Alliance turned away from us, even we ourselves couldn’t trust anyone.”

Village Chief Heo’s face was full of guilt as he grasped my hand.

I pulled my hand away and then held his again.

“How could that be your fault, Village Chief? It is the fault of those who did not step forward for the weak.”

Village Chief Heo crumpled his wrinkled face and was about to burst into tears once more.

“Now isn’t the time to cry, elder.”

“That’s right..... now is the time to laugh. A feast! I’ll prepare a feast.”

I shook my head.

“It isn’t the time for a feast either.”

“Hm?”

“Could you lead the people away from this place for now?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Twin Curtain Stronghold will likely come charging in soon.”

“Hm?”

At the words Twin Curtain Stronghold, Village Chief Heo and the villagers were startled out of their wits.

“Although we paid the amount, they probably had no intention of letting you go from the start.”

“T-then what are we supposed to do? We’ve lived here our entire lives. We can’t go anywhere else.”

“So please empty the village and hide for just a while. We will handle this.”

“.......”

Village Chief Heo and the villagers’ eyes were full of distrust.

That was only natural. With Bang Duchil and his party having gone to the opposite side of Mount Tianmu, only four of us remained. Even I wouldn’t believe such a story.

“Please take this.”

I took out from my bosom the promissory note worth five thousand gold nyang that I had intended to give to Yang Gunbaek.

“......, is this real?”

Seeing a promissory note worth five thousand gold nyang for the first time in his life, Village Chief Heo looked dazed.

“For now, please go to Hangzhou and watch how the situation develops. If we lose, use this money to find a new place to settle. If we win, use this money to buy the necessary goods and return. If the village comes back to life, won’t there be many things you’ll need?”

“......”

“......”

The villagers who were listening to me also kept their mouths tightly shut like mutes and looked at me with complicated eyes.

Their eyes seemed to have something to say.

In the end, Village Chief Heo opened his mouth.

“Why...... why are you going this far for us? We..... have never even seen you before......”

Those who had spent their entire lives wanting to lean on someone but had never had even a hill to lean on naturally began with suspicion when kindness was offered to them.

I knew that well because I had been the same. At times like this, many words were unnecessary.

“Because I’m different.”

“..What does that......”

“I’m different from the Martial Alliance and from other warriors. That is all.”

“.......”

While Village Chief Heo and I were speaking, Yang Gunbaek came running over with fifty Haomun disciples.

“Lord Sowoon.......”

Their clothes were covered with leaves and traces of dirt.

They had gone to handle the task I had asked of them.

“I’m sorry. We ended up being discovered by Twin Curtain Stronghold.”

“I see.”

I had asked them to scatter oil all over Mount Tianmu.

However, the mountain itself was so large, and its structure allowed those above to see all the way down below, so it seemed things had not gone smoothly.

“I think it would be best to flee for now. Twin Curtain Stronghold is now trying to come down from the mountain with weapons in hand.”

At Yang Gunbaek’s words, I looked at Village Chief Heo and said,

“You heard him, didn’t you? Please clear the area so we can fight freely.”

“A-all right.”

At the sound that Twin Curtain Stronghold was coming down, the villagers began running in a rush without even having time to gather their belongings.

“Lord Sowoon, you should avoid them for now too. I understand that you were aiming for a fire attack, but from the beginning, Mount Tianmu’s structure isn’t suited to setting the entire mountain on fire.”

Because of Twin Curtain Stronghold’s tyranny, people had been unable to gather firewood on Mount Tianmu, so the forest was dense. However, there were many valleys and springs.

I knew that well too.

Instead of answering, I looked up at the sky.

The clouds were moving faster and faster.

“Could you prepare fire arrows?”

“..Are you truly thinking of doing it?”

From the beginning, the oil was nothing more than a small spark.

“Yes. Today, I plan to throw all of Twin Curtain Stronghold into a pit of fire.”

“......”

“After lighting the fire, you may return.”

“.How could we do that? When we return, we return together.”

At my stubbornness, Yang Gunbaek eventually looked at the Haomun disciples and nodded, and they all began preparing fire arrows.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!”

From the summit, people filling the road could be clearly seen coming down with weapons in hand.

“Fire!”

At Yang Gunbaek’s shout, fire arrows fell all over Mount Tianmu and began creating small sparks.

“Senior Brother..... are you planning to burn Mount Tianmu with that fire?”

“This area has suffered an especially severe drought since the year before last. This year in particular has been unusually worse.”

“What?”

“And the thing one must be most careful of in autumn is a mountain fire.”

I pulled out the report from the Martial Alliance’s Hangzhou branch from the library in my head.

It was the damned report that had made things difficult for me because it left out the story of Bang Duchil saving the hostages.

But it couldn’t be helped. It was only natural for the subjective opinions of the person writing a report to enter it.

However, there were still parts where subjective opinions could not be written.

[Martial Alliance Hangzhou Branch Daily Report. Gyeongja Month, Gapin Day.]

[Weather - A sudden, fierce northwesterly wind blew, causing natural mountain fires throughout Zhejiang Province.]

Whoooosh.

An ominous wind swept through the area. It was such a strong wind that those wearing wide martial uniforms were swept by the wind and could only barely move a few steps.

“Oil is nothing more than a spark.”

Black smoke began rising from the forest where the fire arrows had landed.

“But even a small spark, when it meets a strong wind, can easily burn down an entire mountain.”

The flames spread in an instant. The forest, where only faint black smoke had been rising, turned into a sea of fire in a single moment.

Looking at the flames spreading faster than expected, Yang Gunbaek looked at me with startled eyes.

“Lord Sowoon.. don’t tell me.....”

Boom!

Boom, boom, boom!

In addition, as the oil barrels Yang Gunbaek’s men had hidden all over Mount Tianmu caught fire, they further spurred on the mountain fire.

The bandits coming down along the road began hesitating at the sudden acrid smoke rising before them.

“You stupid bastards, what are you hesitating for! Break through!”

At the repeated shouting, one or two bandits pushed through the smoke.

“Urgh!”

“The flames are already?”

“W-we can’t pass through this!”

But once they passed through the smoke, a massive blaze stood blocking their path.

Fwoooosh.

“Senior Brother.... that place is......”

Eunho, recognizing the place where the barrels that had fallen from the cart they had been transporting had shattered, looked at me with disbelief in his eyes.