Chapter 73 - The Black Flame Dragon Who Surpasses the Gate

As we crossed beyond Anhui Province and Mount Cheonmok came into view, Eunho's face began to turn pale.

"Senior Brother, do you really plan to take the First Gate exam at the Ssangmak Stronghold?"

"Yeah."

"... Could the Taiyi True Scripture have a side effect that causes one to lose their mind..."

Ultimately, Eunho got smacked in the back of the head.

"The more time passes, the more this punk loses his filter when talking to his Eldest Senior Brother."

"No, but honestly, isn't it true? Why are you risking your life to go to a place the Murim Alliance explicitly told us to avoid?"

In this hellish standard exam, the strongholds designated by the Murim Alliance sporadically appear and disappear, whereas the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods settle in major regions of Jianghu, giving them a strong tendency to act as regional overlords. For this reason, no one steps up to subjugate the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods for their First Gate exam.

Furthermore, true to its name, the Ssangmak Stronghold consists of two different strongholds established around Mount Cheonmok.

In short, it means we have to face two strongholds at once.

"Exactly. I'm asking why you're going out of your way to poke a beehive."

Despite that, the reason I targeted the Ssangmak Stronghold was that it would be easier to handle than the other four thousand strongholds.

'To be precise, the bear does the tricks, but I'm the one who takes the money.'

Eunho was looking at me with eyes that showed he wasn't convinced at all.

"Sometimes, things that seem difficult might not be so difficult after all."

How could a mere sparrow understand the deep intentions of the Great Peng? I ignored Eunho's grumbling and kept riding until we arrived at our destination, Mokgi County.

"Senior Brother, it looks like a war broke out here..."

The state of Mokgi County was more dreadful than the contents of the report I had seen in my past life.

"It's more serious than I thought."

Collapsing houses lined the area, and most of the places that showed signs of business had their doors closed.

On the side of the road, there were only emaciated old men weaving straw in the sun and grubby children wandering around.

"..."

The three brothers, who had been chattering all the way to the village entrance, were overwhelmed by the bizarre atmosphere of the village and kept their mouths shut tight.

When we entered a guest house we barely managed to find to grab a meal, there was no clerk; only a sharp-looking old man came out from the kitchen, wiping his hands.

"Order."

"We've been sleeping rough for a few days. Do you have any food that's ready right now?"

"If you want food, go to West Lake or Hangzhou. We only serve noodles here."

"... Then please give us that."

The old man who took the order went into the kitchen without a reply, and I looked around to see if the person I was looking for had arrived, but the only people sitting inside the guest house were also old folks.

'They should definitely have arrived in Mokgi County today.'

The three brothers remained silent, overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

Only after a long while did Eunho speak, as if he had realized something.

"Senior Brother, there are no young people in the village. Did they all go to the city to make money?"

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

"Don't speak so carelessly in this village. To those who have nothing left to lose, a martial artist's sword is meaningless."

"..."

Eunho was struck dumb by the old man's sharp reaction.

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

According to the Mantong Bureau's records, this village called Mokgi County was always an affluent place thanks to the goods and people heading toward Hangzhou and West Lake.

However, as the generation changed in the Ssangmak Stronghold and new stronghold leaders stepped in, the exploitation of nearby villages became unspeakably severe.

As a result, all the young men and women in the village died, leaving only the elderly and children. In addition, merchants no longer traveled this path due to Mount Cheonmok's toll, which had tripled from its previous rate.

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

'There is a person who will put a stop to this and take over the Ssangmak Stronghold.'

BANG!

The old door opened so roughly it seemed like it would break.

I slowly turned around at the mighty qi wave I felt behind my back.

"Hey, owner!"

A man walked in, leading a group. His booming voice echoed loudly through the chilly guest house.

He had arrived at the exact date and exact time, just as the records stated.

"Bring us Five-Spice Sliced Meat and Baekhwaju!"

A man with a massive frame, forearms as thick as an ordinary woman's waist, and a rugged face like a bandit.

"Darling, do you think we can eat Five-Spice Sliced Meat in a place like this?"

And the beautiful woman embraced in his arms.

They were none other than the future Green Woods Alliance Leader, the Mountain King Bang Duchil, and the Green Woods Alliance's tactician, Baek Soryeong.

The brow of the old man coming out of the kitchen furrowed deeply.

"Five-Spice Sliced Meat? If you want to eat crap like that, go to West Lake or Hangzhou."

I clicked my tongue at the old man's relentless bluntness.

He truly seemed like an old man with nothing to lose.

It was one thing for him to act like that to us, who had faces around the age of twenty, but Bang Duchil's outward appearance alone gave off an incredible sense of intimidation. Yet the old man was acting equally cantankerous to everyone, as if he truly didn't fear death.

Who was Bang Duchil?

A man with the strength to uproot mountains and a spirit to conquer the world.

Called the second coming of Xiang Yu, this man was born with the Heavenly Dipper Limitless Body and was a Heaven-beyond-Heaven existence who reached the Super Peak Realm without any special training.

Without a sect, taking the Murim Academy's standard exam with only his lover and comrades, he subjugated the Ssangmak Stronghold after receiving a 'one silver tael' request from a child.

During this time, his Dantian was damaged, so he ultimately couldn't finish the Murim Academy's standard exam, but even with that damaged Dantian, he was the figure who later united the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods, formed the Green Woods Alliance, and rose to the position of Mountain King.

He was a truly fearless old man.

"Kuhahahaha! What a cranky old man. Alright. Then what can we eat?"

"Noodles."

"Is that so? Then bring us all the noodles you have."

"... Wait."

In my past life, I had cooperated with him several times to fight against the Demonic Cult. He was the true King of the Green Woods who ruled the Green Woods for the first time, but as the anecdote of the 'one silver tael request' showed, he was a man overflowing with righteousness and affection.

If only the injuries he sustained in the battle against the Ssangmak Stronghold hadn't worsened, causing him to die at a young age, and if only the Murim Alliance had properly cooperated with the Green Woods Alliance, they would have been able to keep the Demonic Cult tied down in Jiangnan. That was the thought of Zhuge Cheongi, the strategist of the Minor Orthodox Unit.

Of course, there was a question.

The question of how someone with the Heavenly Dipper Limitless Body could suffer unrecoverable damage to his Dantian.

I had asked him a few times during our drinking sessions, but he only ever said it was because he was inexperienced.

"Owner, is this it?"

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

"This is it. More importantly, do you have money?"

When the old man looked at Bang Duchil with a suspicious expression, Baek Soryeong smiled and pulled out a silver coin, handing it to him.

"If you have alcohol, could we ask for that as well?"

"... Sure."

It seemed that no matter how cranky one's disposition was, it was useless against Baek Soryeong's smiling face. Just as the old man cleared his throat and was about to go back inside the kitchen.

"Here, thanks for the meal."

I held out the money for the noodles.

"..."

The old man stared blankly at the single silver coin I handed him before furrowing his brow.

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

"Keep the change."

"..."

For some reason, the old man had a guilty look on his face.

"Things look very difficult for you. Are you going to be alright?"

I subtly brought up the subject to connect Bang Duchil and the old man.

"... The drought has persisted this year. We need a bit of snow in the winter if we're to survive the spring famine."

Unfortunately, it won't snow in Zhejiang Province this winter. According to the reports from the Murim Alliance branches in West Lake and Hangzhou, the drought that started the year before last continued through the winter, causing a famine across all of Zhejiang Province. The Mount Cheonmok area, in particular, had so many people starving to death that even the corrupt county magistrate opened his own storehouses.

"Is it by any chance because of the Ssangmak Stronghold?!"

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

"What?"

"I'm asking if the village is struggling like this because of the exploitation by the Ssangmak Stronghold."

The old man's eyes sank.

"I told you earlier, don't speak so carelessly about that in this village."

"From what I know, Mokgi County is a village you must pass through when heading to West Lake and Hangzhou, so I heard it's always overflowing with goods and people."

"... That's all in the past."

"If the exploitation is that severe, haven't you tried asking the Murim Alliance for help?"

Eunho shouted in anger as if he had experienced it himself, and the old man's face gradually flushed red as well.

"We tried! We did! But when has the Murim Alliance ever stepped up for powerless and penniless people like us?"

"... How, how could that..."

While the three brothers had their mouths hanging open in shock at reality.

Bang Duchil's group, who had been noisily eating their noodles, were also quietly focusing on our side.

"Hah... You guys shouldn't stay in this village. Hurry up and go on your way."

The old man left the silver coin he received on the table and cleared away all the half-eaten bowls of noodles.

"Sir...! Please, let's talk a bit more..."

At the old man's order to leave, I stood up first. However, I left the silver coin right where it was.

"Thanks for the meal."

"... But Senior Brother!"

"The old man is right. Let's get up."

"But Senior Brother, you definitely..."

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

-Now is not the time to talk. I have a way to resolve everything, so just get up for now.

Just as the Geum-eun-dong brothers drooped their shoulders and were about to get up, a booming voice rang out from a corner of the restaurant.

"Owner! I'm a bit more curious about that story. Tell me about it."

Bang Duchil and his group had begun to wonder about the old man's story.

'For now, my job here is done.'

The old man spun around and glared at Bang Duchil with blazing eyes.

"Didn't you hear what I just said? Even the Murim Alliance gave up on this! And it's none of your business anyway! Either get out right now or shut up and eat your noodles."

"No! I need to hear this story!"

Bang Duchil hoisted his massive body up.

"Let's go."

Meanwhile, I led the three brothers outside.

"Senior Brother! This is different from what you said earlier."

Unlike the morning when he turned pale at the mention of subjugating the Ssangmak Stronghold, Eunho couldn't hold back his indignation after seeing the state of the village.

"I have a plan, so just wait a little."

Honestly, the idea of the four of us taking on the Ssangmak Stronghold was preposterous, but my thought was that if Bang Duchil and Baek Soryeong stepped up and his subordinates tried to subjugate the stronghold, simply lending them a hand would be more than doable.

I didn't know if it was an inherent trait of people born with the Heavenly Dipper Limitless Body, but Bang Duchil was someone who considered honor and justice to be the most important virtues.

Whether he became the King of the Green Woods like in my past life or things changed and he joined the Murim Alliance, opposing the Demonic Cult was his definite fate.

The moment I stepped out of the guest house, satisfied with my actions.

A youthful voice rang out.

"Mister... Are you Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon?"

The state of the grubby little kid made it seem like he hadn't received a parent's care in a long time.

In contrast to my deeply furrowed brow, Dongryong couldn't hide his laughter and answered instead.

"How did you know?"

The kid pointed at my sword.

"I heard he wears all-black clothes, carries an all-black sword, and has a despicable face."

"...?"

What the hell? Didn't a strange word slip in at the very end there?

"Mister, are you Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon?"

"It seems a strange rumor has spread. I am called Black... that."

The kid suddenly held out what he was tightly clutching in both hands.

"Then please save my mom and dad. Grandpa said they went to the Kunlun Mountains to make money. But that's all a lie. My mom and dad are being held captive in the Ssangmak Stronghold."

What the kid held out was a grimy, dirt-stained single silver tael.

"Huh?"

Why is he giving this to me? And what on earth does he mean his parents are alive?

"I also heard you saved a whole lot of people. Please save my mom and dad."

"..."

It seems things have gotten seriously tangled up.

"Kid, are you sure your parents are alive?"

"... Whoa."

"How could you ask such a question..."

"... Wow."

The three Geum-eun-dong brothers shot me disappointed looks.

I couldn't help it.

The report from the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou Branch clearly stated that the child asked for revenge in exchange for 'one silver tael', and Bang Duchil, who wanted to show off his strength, used it as an excuse to step up.

'Don't tell me... these bastards...'

Up until the Orthodox-Demonic Great War broke out, the emotional rift between the Underworld and the Orthodox faction was quite deep.

They weren't pleased with the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Woods uniting under the name of the Green Woods Alliance, so considering they might have written the report to undermine their opponents...

"Those damn... bastards..."

No matter how much you want to devalue an opponent, there are things you should do and things you shouldn't.

"Yes?"

While I was briefly lost in thought, the kid was shaking like a leaf after seeing my face.

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

"Wow... Senior Brother, really..."

"Hold on a second. We need to hear the whole story, don't we?"

Tearing up at the thought of his parents, the kid spoke.

"I saw them at Mount Cheonmok. My dad was digging in the ground, and my mom was washing dishes. Il-sung's parents and Jeong-jeong's dad are all there too."

"Hmm..."

A complete overhaul of the plan is necessary.

Even if the Mountain King possessed an inhuman constitution, he couldn't act freely with hostages right in front of him.

'Furthermore, considering the personality of his I saw in my past life... If hostages were being held captive...'

Only now did the pieces I hadn't understood in the past start falling into place.

The reason why a Heaven-beyond-Heaven existence who shouldn't have been able to get injured in the first place had suffered unrecoverable damage.

"It was because of the hostages."

I looked at the kid for a moment.

If hostages were being held, this couldn't proceed the same way it did in my past life.

"Do you live alone?"

"With my grandpa here."

The cranky old man from earlier was this kid's grandfather.