0054 : Demon Subduing Hall
I headed towards Guanzhong without looking back. It was there that my martial journey began, at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. I forcefully pushed aside all the chaotic thoughts of Changling Valley, Horrific Scenes, and Luoyang, focusing solely on advancing to the martial arts hall. Until now, I had somewhat drifted because of the benefits of my rebirth, but experiencing Mangnyang’s death had evidently brought about a change in me.
Swish!
As I concentrated solely on running, my agility reached a speed akin to that of a Flying Tiger, and I didn’t pause even once. Ignoring the limits imposed by the human body, I ran as my straw sandals broke five times, without ever feeling fatigued. Whenever my muscles began to tire, I instantly rejuvenated, as if using some sort of super regeneration.
Whirl!
I leaped to the peak of a mountain, just half a day’s distance from the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in Guanzhong. From here onward, I wouldn’t need to take a shortcut across the mountain path. Instead, traveling along the official road would prevent unnecessary misunderstandings later. Breathing in the crisp mountain air, I gazed into the distance at the horizon, lost in thought.
‘What could that tremendous downpour have been about?’
It was strange.
Artificial.
I had been so preoccupied with my meeting with Mangnyang that I hadn’t contemplated the ominous storm that had invaded while I was on my way to Jinlang Valley; it was clearly out of the ordinary. Even after living eight lives, I had never encountered such a heavy rainfall. There must have been some ‘reason’ behind such a drastic change in weather.
In my retrogression, the fundamental premise of [if there is a cause, the past changes] was evidently present.
So what could that reason be?
I felt a fleeting urge to ask Mangnyang, even just briefly, but I quickly dismissed the thought. There was no guarantee that Mangnyang would know the answer, and I didn’t want to be distracted by other matters any longer. Having already prepared for death, I could always seek answers later.
‘Hmm. There really are a lot of bandits and robbers around here…’
It felt like a death trap for any traveler.
“Please, spare me!”
“Ha ha ha!!”
Standing at the mountain peak, I spotted a few bandits attacking passersby with their blades, intent on killing them along the quiet mountain path. It was about forty paces away, so I thought I could act quickly. I used my internal energy to kick a pebble at them.
Thwack!
“Gaaah!”
The heads of two bandits shattered upon impact with the stone. Given the force, it was likely they suffered fatal concussions. Startled by the sudden turn of events, the remaining two bandits hesitated, allowing me to kick another stone.
Splat!
“Gaaah!!”
The others collapsed, blood spilling as they fell. I had eliminated four bandits in an instant, yet felt no sense of guilt. Thanks to my actions, that passerby’s life was saved. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling, experienced throughout my past lives, that this area was notoriously rife with highway robbers and murderous thugs.
Why were there so many bandits wandering about?
I murmured to myself before soon encountering a single bandit within the forest, already preparing for a robbery with a blade in hand. He seemed sturdy and confident in his solo efforts.
“Heh heh… Kid, hand over everything you’ve got…”
The bandit revealed his teeth with a grin, pleased at finding an easy target. However, just moments later, after receiving two swift blows from me, he knelt, trembling in fear. I extended my fist towards him and said,
“Sorry. All I have is my fist.”
“S-So… Little Hero… I’m sorry… please spare my life…”
I had already killed four bandits today. They were all deserving of death, but the thought of mindlessly slaughtering one more felt uncomfortable. I nodded and asked,
“Hey. Why do the mountain paths around here teem with robbers and thieves? It’s been strange for a while.”
“D-Do you not reside around here, Little Hero?”
“That’s right. If you have a reason, explain it to me. If you satisfy my curiosity, I’ll let you go.”
“Oh, let me tell you! I know full well!!”
Rubbing his hands together, the bandit, with a cowardly expression, began to explain fluently.
“It seems you are a martial artist, Little Hero. Have you heard of the 72 Houses of the Green Forest?”
I replied nonchalantly,
“I’ve heard of it. Just a gathering of Green Forest trash.”
72 Houses of the Green Forest.
This refers to the fact that there are a total of 72 bandit strongholds belonging to the people of the Green Forest, a collective term for bandits. Of course, it’s not a precise number—it’s a sarcastic expression indicating that bandit groups are rampant throughout the Central Plains. In reality, well-known bandit strongholds are often swiftly dealt with by the Imperial Army.
“Oh dear… While you may think that, there’s nothing I can do about it… But the 18 Houses of the Green Forest are completely real! I believe there are five of them just in this Guanzhong area.”
“What? The 18 Houses of the Green Forest?”
“Indeed, indeed. Although I’m not one of their members, those with some strength tend to gather there and act as subordinates…”
“Hmmm…”
I felt a strong sense of disbelief.
‘So, Guanzhong during my childhood was a lawless place.’
During my time as a traveling merchant, there were indeed formal houses of the Green Forest, and the residents there learned formal martial arts equivalent to that of a merchant. However, they mostly operated independently and were not commonly referred to as the 18 Houses. Curiosity piqued, I asked,
“Even if there are no decent martial sects in Guanzhong, don’t the martial artists hunt down these so-called 18 Houses? Especially the orthodox sects would have the perfect opportunity to make a name for themselves.”
“Well… that’s because the 18 Houses don’t operate separately; they often act in unison. Moreover, their leaders are said to be formidable fighters, even stronger than many martial artists. After a few martial artists have had a tough time with them, there’s been a prevailing atmosphere of avoidance.”
“……”
Bandits are generally composed of serfs or refugees who left due to excessive taxation or the tyranny of landlords. Among them, many are often firewood farmers or runaway slaves. Thus, there are many violent robbers, and they tend to stick together haphazardly. I have often witnessed them bickering and killing each other during my time in the merchant business.
In short – they are usually a disorganized rabble.
Yet, the bandits of this era exhibit an unusually strong force.
Certainly, even in the time I was active as a traveling merchant, bandits were known to practice martial arts. However, they were not perceived as particularly powerful. In the case of moderately strong bandit groups, traveling merchants would pay them a toll, but if merchants fought back with all their might, the bandits often suffered significant losses.
Finding a bandit whose martial arts skills exceeded that of a merchant was an exceedingly rare occurrence. Those who possessed exceptional skills often drifted into evil sects or the Eight Gates of Demons, eventually becoming middle-level leaders. There was simply no reason for those with extraordinary martial skills to waste their time in banditry.
However, now with eighteen bandit houses operating independently and even attacking minor orthodox sects attempting to suppress them is beyond my imagination. No matter how much a bandit trains in martial arts, it’s hard to believe they can match those formally trained in martial arts sects.
‘Could it be that the bandits have learned ascending martial skills?’
That was the only conclusion I could draw. The leaders of these houses at least possess martial skills at a merchant’s level, which would account for their ability to maintain such power. Given that, it’s understandable why the Imperial Army hesitates to engage in suppression.
I became curious and asked,
“Is there someone who commands these 18 Houses altogether?”
“Hmm… I’ve heard rumors of someone claiming to be the Green Forest King. However, it’s merely gossip, so I don’t know the details.”
“Green Forest King?”
“I’ve heard he wears a tiger skin and wields a blade. It’s said that his stronghold, the Tiger King’s Stronghold, is the most powerful among the 18 Houses…”
I thought that this so-called Green Forest King must have a high level of personal martial prowess for such rumors to circulate. I figured that I would find a use for this information someday. After all, gathering more intel at this time would only be beneficial.
“Alright, you may leave now.”
“Ugh, thank you, Little Hero…!!”
I watched as he departed.
“Hand over your money!”
“Eek!”
After a while of secretly observing from a hidden spot, I saw that the bandit was attempting to brandish a knife at another passerby. I sighed.
‘Bandits really are all the same.’
Why are there so many talkative robbers? But, considering the hardships they face in making a living through robbery, discussing human values with them is futile. After spending nearly half my life dealing with bandits while being a traveling merchant, I knew better than anyone how despicable their character could be.
I flicked a small stone no bigger than my thumb.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
The stone struck his index finger, which was holding the sword, causing him to drop it. The bandit quickly picked up the sword again, but by then, he realized I was watching him from my hiding spot. He looked around nervously and said in a sneaky voice,
“Ah… just go away.”
“Eek!”
I didn’t want to see that pathetic sight any longer, so I simply withdrew. And I thought to myself,
‘I must capture this bandit king someday. It’s because of such scum that innocent people suffer.’
Soon, I was able to enter Guanzhong city.
Guanzhong city was as bustling as ever. Since this was my third time entering, I wasn’t too nervous. Instead, I began to comfortably wash up and rest with the toll money I had obtained from subduing a few bandits. My clothes and straw sandals were filthy, so I decided to buy new ones.
While I was leisurely resting in the second-floor guesthouse, gazing at the sky outside, I felt the presence of several elite masters of the Jianghu.
‘Hmm… Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong Yeon, along with top Jianghu masters secretly tracking them.’
It was indeed such a scenario.
The incident of the Heavenly Yin Body!
If someone were to forcefully violate the breathtaking beauty Mo Yong Yeon of the Mo Yong clan, renowned for her Heavenly Yin Body, it was rumored they would gain immense inner power, causing Namgung Hwan and Mo Yong Yeon to be pursued, ultimately forcing Namgung Hwan to seek help from his older brother, Jin So Cheong.
It seemed I had arrived just in time for that event. This was likely an inevitable occurrence that would happen unless there were any unforeseen troubles. I could choose to assist Namgung Hwan if I wanted, but I didn’t feel the need to do so.
From the start, this situation had entirely arisen from Namgung Hwan’s reckless words, and it was of no great concern to me, offering no benefit whatsoever. Furthermore, bringing in an older brother would mean such fools wouldn’t even stand a chance. I decided to focus on preparing myself to smoothly enter the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School the following day.
After a hearty meal and a good rest, I made my way to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. There, I saw familiar faces: the Bang Il brothers. They were Bang Il and Bang Guk, disciples of the second line at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, and I especially remembered Bang Il well due to our past connections. Not the best of encounters, but not exactly a bad one either.
I smiled broadly and said,
“I’ve come to take the entrance exam for the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”
This marked the third time saying that. It was a nostalgic feeling.
“Entrance exam? Hahaha, what a funny fellow.”
I had heard that from Bang Il three times now. Seeing Bang Il laughing heartily, I thought as expected.
I didn’t resist the flow and began to recreate the moment along with the psychological atmosphere at that time.
Boom!
Eventually, Bang Il and I engaged in an arm wrestling match, and as I won, he led me to the Waryong Hall.
As I walked with Bang Il towards the Waryong Hall, curiosity got the better of me. So, I decided to ask a question I had never asked before.
“Bang Il, older brother.”
“Hmph, already calling me older brother? What a cheeky fellow.”
He was gruff, but there was no sting in his words. Bang Il was indeed not skilled at expressing himself. I chuckled inwardly and continued,
“Did you join the martial school to become a master of the Jianghu?”
“Hah? Why do you ask such obvious things! If I were a first-line disciple, it would be different, but starting from the second line, you need firm dedication; otherwise, it’s unattainable. Reaching the third line means you’ve staked your life on it.”
“If one works hard enough like that, is becoming a master truly possible?”
Bang Il snorted.
“Of course, we believe so. The Sect Leader and the Grandmaster, along with our two instructors, have outstanding martial skills. If we work hard, we can achieve that too.”
“I see.”
I nodded as if I understood, but inside, I felt a touch of bitterness.
‘No, no. Bang Il, you’re mistaken.’
Bang Il did not possess outstanding talent. At best, he was at a similar level to me.
As far as I knew, Bang Il had struggled for five years without reaching first-class standards, barely scraping by. While that would suffice to manage the norms of most toll stations, it was disgraceful given he had poured his youth into it. Even during my time as an instructor, I occasionally felt pity for Bang Il and refrained from picking fights with him. His skills were too lacking to ever hope for a position as an instructor at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
He came in with dreams of becoming a master, but later, he often found himself in despair, frequently heading out to drink. Just thinking that I would have been no different from Bang Il if it weren’t for the power of the Heavenly Hidden Secret gave me chills.
How many people like Bang Il are there in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School? A good half of the second-line disciples, who sweat and toil every day, are likely no different from him. Among the third-line disciples, only a few might barely recover their investments.
I could only lament the harsh reality of talent.
What is effort?
What is talent?
When I suddenly halted in my tracks, Bang Il turned to me, puzzled.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and follow me.”
“Bang Il, older brother. I look forward to your guidance moving forward.”
He then shouted, somewhat embarrassed,
“Ay, you rascal! Just come along. Don’t jump to conclusions when nothing is set in stone yet…”
I couldn’t help but smile at his grumbling. After living a few lives, such incidents now seemed trivial. I decided that I wouldn’t provoke Bang Il if I could help it during this lifetime, and I walked behind him.
Eventually, I arrived at the front of the Waryong Hall.
“Sect Leader, this is Bang Il from the second line, and I’ve brought a candidate for the entrance exam.”
“Come in.”
We entered a somewhat spacious area where the Sect Leader of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School was seated. Nearby was a study, and he appeared to be reading.
The impression of the Sect Leader had remained unchanged. After briefly looking at me with clear eyes, he spoke.
“Bang Il, what is this child’s name?”
“Um… well…”
As Bang Il fumbled and looked at me, I introduced myself.
“My name is Baek Woong.”
I knew the flow of the conversation.
“Alright… Bang Il, you may leave now.”
“Yes.”
Creaking, he closed the door behind him, and the Sect Leader, Samjeol Lee Kwang, observed me in silence for quite a while. Then he suddenly said,
“Baek Woong. Do you come from the White Lotus Sect?”
In the past, this question would have left me utterly flustered, desperately making various excuses to save my life. I felt that back then, I was gambling with my life. However, I kept my composure this time and answered calmly.
“No, I wish to demonstrate my martial arts skills to the Sect Leader. I believe that will suffice to convince you of my potential.”
“Hooh.”
“Is there a good spear or sword in the training hall?”
Seeing me ask so nonchalantly, Samjeol Lee Kwang looked intrigued. Having received his teachings for several years, I recognized that twinkle in his eyes—a sign of curiosity piqued.
“Of course, we have them. Show me your skills.”
“Then.”
Swish!
I activated the Thunder Shadow Step with all my might and rushed outside. A faint shadow seemed to overlap multiple times, and Samjeol Lee Kwang appeared quite surprised by it.
I proceeded to pick up the spears and swords arranged in the training hall, sequentially displaying the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, and Thunder Cloud Forms.
Finally, the powerful energy of the Thunder Cloud Form echoed throughout the entire training hall.
Samjeol Lee Kwang, who had been quietly watching in front of the Waryong Hall, sent a soft transmission to my ears.
[Are you a disciple of the Thunder Spirit Sect? An impressive level of skill.]
This time, it was Samjeol Lee Kwang who didn’t harbor any doubts with trivial talk about the White Lotus Sect or Holy Lotus. As a transmitter of the Thunder Spirit Sect, he recognized that my martial arts demonstration and the application of the Thunder Spirit had reached a mature level. I nodded and said,
“I would like to discuss the details inside.”
I could see a pleased smile on Samjeol Lee Kwang’s face. He exhibited no sign of suspicion whatsoever.
“What a fortunate day to witness the Thunder Spirit Sect’s skills. Should I bring out some liquor?”
I realized that my third attempt to join had succeeded brilliantly.
Bringing out the liquor –
It was an act performed by Samjeol Lee Kwang when he was genuinely pleased and had trusted guests present.
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