Chapter 76 - The Black Flame Dragon Who Surpasses the Gate (4)

As the banquet began, all the villagers who had been dragged to the Ssangmak Stronghold were mobilized.

Regardless of whether they were men or women, all those dragged here were skin and bones, and not a single one was without wounds and bruises on their bodies.

Our group ground our teeth at the sight, forgetting that we were surrounded by the Ssangmak Stronghold's bandits.

"Ahem."

"Ahem."

In the midst of this, some of Bang Duchil's subordinates began to turn pale.

Exposed to a sudden burst of killing intent, their entire bodies had stiffened up.

The source of it was none other than Dongryong.

They looked as if they couldn't believe such killing intent was leaking from a child who hadn't even outgrown his youthful looks yet.

I approached Dongryong and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright. We will save them."

"... Ah, yes. Of course. I believe in you, Eldest Senior Brother."

Dongryong didn't even seem to realize that he had been exuding such thick killing intent.

"..."

Knowing of Dongryong's Heavenly Murderous Star, Geumpyo was looking at me with worried eyes.

"-It's fine. His character is upright, and his heart is tender, so as long as his mind isn't consumed by his murderous nature, there won't be a problem. Later, once his mastery of the Taiyi True Scripture deepens, he will no longer be intoxicated by his murderous nature."

When I reminded him of what I had told him a few nights ago, Geumpyo nodded despite the anxiety still lingering in his eyes.

* * *

With a staggering number of nearly five hundred people rushing to prepare the food all at once, the banquet preparations were finished in no time.

With steaming food set before them, the bandits were entirely absorbed in eating and drinking among themselves, paying absolutely no mind to the starving villagers.

"You may take them as promised."

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

"Then, I hope we can continue to have good transactions in the future."

When I offered a martial salute, One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Blade turned their attention to eating and chatting, as if they had no further interest in us.

"Everyone, you may simply return to the village with us."

"... Pardon? What on earth do you mean..."

Despite my words, the villagers did not easily take a step, constantly glancing at One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Blade.

"The discussion is already over. Let us return home together."

"..."

The nearly five hundred people had their eyes trembling violently at my words, yet they consistently kept glancing at One-Eyed Blood Axe and Golden-Faced Buddha Blade.

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

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

"*Sob*, are we finally going back?"

"Thank you, warrior! Thank you."

"We will never forget this grace for the rest of our lives."

The villagers slumped to the ground, shedding heavy tears toward us.

And behind them, I could see Golden-Faced Buddha Blade and One-Eyed Blood Axe sneering at the villagers.

Many of the bandits enjoying the banquet were also sporting sneers, as if harboring some sinister ulterior motive.

"How about expressing your thanks after we return home? Don't you all want to leave this place immediately?"

At my words, the people who had slumped over lifelessly began to move quickly in unison, as if they didn't want to stay here for even a second longer.

* * *

Having led the villagers down, I spoke to Bang Duchil at the place where the carts were gathered.

"Great Warrior Bang, please head down that path. I will return the way I came."

"..."

Bang Duchil just scowled without answering.

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

"Young Master Jin, what do you mean by that?"

"This is the only path on Mount Cheonmok. If the bandits are to flee from the mountain, wouldn't they have to use this path? I will take this side. Great Warrior Bang and your group, please take the opposite side."

"Flee?"

Baek Soryeong tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand.

"I'm going to set fire to the entirety of Mount Cheonmok."

At the mention of setting a fire, Baek Soryeong and Bang Duchil's jaws dropped.

"... If that's the case... Even so, is there a reason to rush it like this? We should at least wait until the villagers have been evacuated..."

"Did you not see the Stronghold Masters and key figures of the Ssangmak Stronghold?"

"Pardon?"

"They didn't drink a single cup of alcohol while the banquet was taking place. They probably won't drag this out for long."

"... Even so..."

"Furthermore, our window to attack must not extend past today."

"... Huh?"

"Anyway, if you wait, the bandits will head down the path. No matter how many there are, if it's on a narrow path, surely Great Warrior Bang can handle them?"

When I addressed Bang Duchil, he spoke up heavily with his arms crossed.

"Bandits are good at traversing mountains. That's why they do banditry."

"No matter how well they traverse mountains, even bandits cannot cross the Flaming Mountain (the unextinguishable mountain where the Bull Demon King lived)."

"..."

* * *

Golden-Faced Buddha Blade's eyebrows shot up as he tore into some meat.

"What?"

"Unidentified individuals were sprinkling oil all over Mount Cheonmok."

"Oil? What is their identity?"

"Unfortunately, they were fast on their feet..."

"God damn it!"

Golden-Faced Buddha Blade forcefully threw down the meat he had been eating.

"If that's the kind of report you're going to bring, why do I even have you stationed there! I might as well go release a dog."

"I apologize."

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

"Brother Song. Isn't it obvious?"

"Obvious? Is there something you suspect?"

"It must be the doing of that Jin Sowoon brat from the Taiyi Sect."

"That guy from earlier?"

Golden-Faced Buddha Blade tilted his head. The guy had clearly shown that he didn't want any hostility with the Ssangmak Stronghold.

So for what possible reason would he be sprinkling oil?

"I heard a report from the guy who initially guided them up. He said that on their way up, the guy pretended to spill a barrel of alcohol and sprinkled oil all over the path."

"What? You don't mean..."

"Isn't he planning to set a fire?"

"Have you ever seen such an ungrateful bastard? I know those Orthodox faction bastards can't be trusted, but... stabbing us in the back right after making a promise?"

At Golden-Faced Buddha Blade's reaction, One-Eyed Blood Axe made a mischievous expression.

"We were planning to end things quickly anyway, taking advantage of them gathering. We should be glad he gave us a justification."

"Heh heh, stupid bastard. He should've just handed over all the money and left."

They never had any intention of letting the people they dragged from the village go in the first place.

A whopping thousand ignorant bandits. The idea of them cooking rice, mending clothes, and managing their own daily livelihoods? It was enough to make a dog laugh.

From the start, the Ssangmak Strongholds on Mount Cheonmok were structured in a way where they couldn't maintain their daily lives without the villagers. And they certainly couldn't just pay them for it.

"I was going to let them enjoy a brief reunion with their families after so long, but they're shooting themselves in the foot."

"Heh heh heh. It's actually better for us. We won't have to bother waiting a day or two."

"Everyone! Prepare yourselves!"

Golden-Faced Buddha Blade's booming shout echoed across the entire hill.

The bandits, who had been eating meat and drinking water instead of alcohol, drew their weapons in unison.

* * *

Village Chief Heo couldn't gather his senses at the figures standing before him.

"Sang-gu!"

Ignoring his pleas not to do it, the young man had prepared something and ultimately brought back everyone who had been dragged off to the Ssangmak Stronghold.

Briefly setting aside his fears that the Ssangmak Stronghold would harm them again, Village Chief Heo shed tears at the sight of his son and daughter-in-law, whom he hadn't seen 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, the people who came out after hearing the noise burst into tears and ran toward the hostages descending from the Ssangmak Stronghold.

Here and there, they embraced one another, shedding tears and snot.

Village Chief Heo, my client's grandfather, also hugged his returning son and daughter-in-law, crying tears like a waterfall.

"*Sniff*. *Hic*. *Sob*."

Beside me, Dongryong was shedding tears without even realizing it.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I truly respect you. *Sob*."

Geumpyo and Eunho nodded at Dongryong's words.

"Right. But for us, it starts now. Do not let go of your tension."

"You mentioned setting a fire earlier. Will we be able to catch them with that?"

"About that..."

Just as I was about to answer the Geum-eun-dong Brothers, Village Chief Heo approached.

"Thank you. Truly, thank you. And I am sorry. Because both the government troops and the Murim Alliance turned a blind eye to us, even we couldn't trust anyone."

Village Chief Heo's face, as he grasped my hand, was filled with guilt.

I slipped my hand out and then took his hand once more.

"How is that your fault, Village Chief? It's the fault of those who didn't step forward for the weak."

"..."

Village Chief Heo crumpled his deeply wrinkled face, looking as though he was about to burst into tears once more.

"Now is not the time to cry, elder."

"Right... now is the time to smile. A banquet! I will prepare a banquet."

I shook my head.

"It isn't the time for a banquet, either."

"Hmm?"

"Could you please lead the people and clear the area right now?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Ssangmak Stronghold will probably storm this place soon."

"What?"

At the mention of the Ssangmak Stronghold, Village Chief Heo and the villagers were deeply startled.

"Although we paid the fee, they likely had no intention of letting you all go in the first place."

"T-Then what are we to do? We have lived here our entire lives. We have nowhere else to go."

"That is why you must vacate the village and stay hidden for a moment. We will handle it."

"..."

Village Chief Heo and the villagers' eyes were filled with distrust.

It was understandable. Especially since Bang Duchil and his group had headed to the opposite side of Mount Cheonmok, leaving just the four of us behind. Even I wouldn't believe it.

"Please take this."

I took out the bank note for five thousand taels of gold from my chest that I had intended to give to Yang Gunbaek.

"... I-Is this real?"

Seeing a bank note for five thousand taels of gold for the first time in his life, Village Chief Heo had a dumbfounded expression.

"For now, go to Hangzhou and observe the situation. If we lose, use this money to establish a new home. If we win, use this money to buy the necessary supplies and return. When the village is revived, won't there be many things you need?"

"..."

"..."

The villagers who were listening to my words also clamped their mouths shut like mutes and looked at me with complex eyes.

Their eyes seemed to say they had something to speak about.

Eventually, Village Chief Heo spoke up.

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

For people who never had a shoulder to lean on even when they wanted to rely on someone their entire lives, it was only natural for them to default to suspicion when shown goodwill.

Because I had been like that too, I understood it well. At times like this, many words weren't needed.

"Because I am different."

"... What do you..."

"Because I am different from the Murim Alliance, and from the other warriors. That is all."

"..."

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

"Sir Sowoon..."

Their clothes were covered in leaves and dirt stains.

They had gone to handle the task I requested.

"I apologize. We ended up being spotted by the Ssangmak Stronghold."

"I see."

I had asked them to sprinkle oil all over Mount Cheonmok.

However, the mountain itself was massive, and since its structure allowed those at the top to look down on the bottom, it seemed things hadn't gone as smoothly as planned.

"I think it would be best to flee for now. The Ssangmak Stronghold is currently preparing to descend the mountain with their weapons."

At Yang Gunbaek's words, I looked at Village Chief Heo and spoke.

"You heard him, right? Please clear the area so we can fight freely."

"U-Understood."

At the news that the Ssangmak Stronghold was coming down, the villagers began to run away in a stampede, not even having the time to pack their belongings.

"Sir Sowoon, you should also take shelter for now. I know you're aiming for a fire attack, but structurally, it's not feasible to set the entirety of Mount Cheonmok ablaze in the first place."

Because of the Ssangmak Stronghold's tyranny, people hadn't been able to chop wood, leaving the forest on Mount Cheonmok densely packed, but it also had many valleys and springs.

I was well aware of that fact too.

Instead of answering, I observed the sky.

The movement of the clouds was gradually speeding up.

"Could you prepare some fire arrows?"

"... Are you seriously planning to go through with this?"

In the grand scheme, the oil was merely a small ember.

"Yes. I plan to toss the entire Ssangmak Stronghold into a pit of fire today."

"..."

"Once you light the fires, you are free to return."

"... How could I do that? When we return, let's return together."

At my stubbornness, Yang Gunbaek eventually looked at the Haomun disciples and nodded, prompting everyone to start preparing their fire arrows.

"WAAAAAAAGH!"

I could clearly see the people filling the path from the mountain peak, charging down with their weapons drawn.

"Fire!"

With Yang Gunbaek's shout, fire arrows fell all over Mount Cheonmok and began to create small embers.

"Senior Brother... do you plan to burn Mount Cheonmok with those fires?"

"This region has suffered an unusually severe drought since the year before last, and this year is exceptionally worse."

"Pardon?"

"And the thing you have to be most careful of in autumn is forest fires."

I retrieved the report from the Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province Branch out of the library in my mind.

The damn report that had given me such a hard time by omitting the detail that Bang Duchil had rescued the hostages.

But it couldn't be helped. The writer's subjective views slipping into a report was something that naturally happened.

However, even so, there were parts where subjective views couldn't be applied.

[Murim Alliance Hangzhou Branch Daily Report. Metal Rat Month, Wood Tiger Day.]

[Weather - Sudden fierce northwest winds blew, causing natural forest fires to break out all across Zhejiang Province.]

SWOOSH.

An unusual wind swept through the area. It was a gale so strong that those wearing baggy martial arts uniforms were swept up by the wind, barely managing to move a few steps.

"Oil is merely an ember."

Plumes of black smoke began to rise from the parts of the forest where the fire arrows had struck.

"But when a small ember meets a strong wind, it can easily burn down a large mountain."

The flames spread in an instant. The forest, which had only been letting out faint black smoke, transformed into a sea of fire in a flash.

Seeing the flames spread faster than expected, Yang Gunbaek looked at me with wide eyes.

"Sir Sowoon... don't tell me..."

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Furthermore, as the oil barrels Yang Gunbaek had hidden all over Mount Cheonmok caught fire, it spurred the forest fire on even more.

The bandits coming down the path began to falter at the suddenly rising acrid smoke.

"You stupid bastards, what are you hesitating for! Break through it!"

Driven by the repeated shouts, the bandits broke through the smoke one by one.

"Aargh!"

"The flames are already here?"

"W-We can't get past this!"

However, once they passed the smoke, a massive wall of fire blocked their path.

CRACKLE.

"Eldest Senior Brother... over there..."

Recognizing the spot where the barrels that had fallen off the carts they were moving had shattered, Eunho looked at me with eyes full of disbelief.