Chapter 163 : The Sole Tyrant of the Great Desert. -01
Chapter 163: The Sole Tyrant of the Great Desert. -01
Ban Hojin casually tossed out a single remark.
At those words, everyone’s mouths fell open.
That one sentence, arrogant to the extreme, left them utterly speechless.
Yet not a single person refuted him.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I went with you? I think someone should at least guard your back, Brother.”
“It’s fine. And since you came all this way because of me, we should at least receive our guests properly. Isn’t that basic courtesy to those who came knocking?”
Unlike Jeong Iryong, who was filled with worry, Ban Hojin was brimming with ease.
If it were the Lord of the Ironblood Fortress, that would be another matter—but bandits were still bandits, no matter how many there were.
The bandits knew that as well.
From the start, their appearance had merely been to shake the Orthodox Martial World psychologically.
“Stay here and guard this place. Until I return.”
“Please be careful, Brother.”
“Of course.”
Knowing nothing would change no matter what he said, Jeong Iryong spoke with heavy concern.
It was not that he doubted Ban Hojin’s strength. But seeing the bandits come out like this, he felt they must have something they were relying on.
“I’ll be watching as well.”
“Focus only on the Ironblood Fortress. They moved the bandits to scatter your attention.”
“But still……”
“You don’t think I’d fall to mere bandits, do you?”
“…Understood.”
Sama Uiseong nodded.
At this point, refusing would have been discourteous.
And with Jeong Iryong here as well, Sama Uiseong turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
“See you in a bit.”
Fweeeet!
With a brief farewell, Ban Hojin shot forward.
But as he advanced, a group gathered at his side.
“We’ll lend our strength as well!”
“Ah, that’s not necessary……”
Ban Hojin showed hesitation at the sight of the Beggars’ Sect members rushing over, each gripping wooden clubs.
He appreciated their hearts, but he did not want innocent people getting hurt.
Yet despite his concern, the gathered Beggars’ Sect members thumped their chests and grinned.
“The bandits may have numbers, but when it comes to numbers, isn’t that our specialty? And bandits are meant to be beaten down with clubs!”
“That’s right!”
Even as they spoke, more members of the Beggars’ Sect quickly converged.
To ensure the Special Operations Unit carried out its mission perfectly, Sama Uiseong had stationed Beggars’ Sect members throughout the area.
It was to obstruct the intelligence agents of the Ironblood Fortress from grasping the movements of the Special Operations Unit.
Yet now those very numbers were gathering at Ban Hojin’s side.
“Leave the rear to us!”
“We’ll handle the small fry!”
“…Very well.”
Seeing that they would not leave even if he told them to, Ban Hojin had no choice but to nod.
Still, his original thoughts did not change.
Just because they joined him did not mean they all had to move together.
Thus Ban Hojin surged ahead alone toward the bandits.
“Follow Great Hero Ban!”
“Close the distance!”
As the gap widened in an instant, the Beggars’ Sect members ran at full speed.
They meant to match Ban Hojin’s pace.
“So we finally meet!”
“Avenge the Chief Stronghold Master!”
“This will be your grave!”
“Tear him to pieces!”
Soon Ban Hojin stood before the bandits.
Men who would not have dared meet his gaze alone now flashed killing intent in their eyes simply because they had numbers.
To Ban Hojin, they were mere brats—but in the Jianghu, they were fighters who could at least throw their weight around. Those at the front were no weaklings.
The problem was that whether they were Chief Stronghold Masters or Deputy Stronghold Masters of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds, to Ban Hojin they were all the same.
Swooooosh!
Dozens of streams of Force Energy and thousands of strands of sword energy, blade energy, and axe energy poured down at once—yet the man at the center, Ban Hojin, remained calm.
Amid the dazzling spectacle filling the air, he wore his usual indifferent expression as his hand moved to the sword hilt.
In the next instant, a single streak of brilliance burst from his hand and split the world in two.
Craaaack!
The countless attacks that had surged forward with terrifying momentum were cleaved in half as if by illusion.
Sword energy, Sword Force—everything was split and annihilated by Ban Hojin’s Single Sword Strike.
Amazingly, that one stroke devoured it all.
Not only that, it bisected dozens of bandits charging boldly at the forefront in a single slash.
Thud. Thud-thud-thud!
Without even time to scream, dozens of bandits fell to the ground in two pieces.
Some had not even closed their eyes.
At the sight, the Beggars’ Sect members who had hurried after Ban Hojin gaped.
They were horrified by a scene they could scarcely believe even as they witnessed it.
At the same time, they understood anew why Ban Hojin was respected by the Blade King and the Yama King.
Faced with a strength that even the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven could not help but acknowledge, the Beggars’ Sect members belatedly let out cries of awe.
“Th-this is insane……!”
“That bastard was this strong?”
“H-how is this possible?!”
Meanwhile, shock swept through the Green Forest bandits as well.
In some ways, it struck them even harder than the Beggars’ Sect.
The Beggars’ Sect could admire him freely as allies—but the bandits could not.
They had to face Ban Hojin as enemies, and their bodies trembled.
“If you’re already like this, that won’t do. It’s only just beginning.”
Sssssss—
Looking over the stiffened bandits, Ban Hojin swung his sword once more.
It was the same Single Sword Strike as before.
At the sight, the bandits panicked and leapt in all directions.
Like frogs, they sprang wildly, trying to avoid his slash at any cost.
“Is that all you’ve got!”
“Hmph!”
Of course, not all of them fled.
Those confident in their own martial arts did not run; instead, they struck back.
As if to say they could withstand an attack of this level, they boldly unleashed Blade Force or Protective Energy.
However, the result was no different from before.
Craack!
The thin line released from Ban Hojin’s sword cut through everything—whether it was Sword Force or Protective Energy.
Anything that stood in its path was split in two.
As a result, once again, dozens were turned into lumps of flesh without even a scream.
Clang. Thud.
At the sight of their comrades being split in half in an instant, several bandits dropped their weapons, faces drained of color.
The martial prowess Ban Hojin displayed was that overwhelming.
They had thought that with numbers like this, even Ban Hojin could be taken down.
Now they realized just how grave a delusion that had been.
“You fools! Will you not stop?!”
At that moment, a rough roar tore across the battlefield.
At the same time, a group revealed themselves between Ban Hojin and the bandits.
There were roughly twenty of them, and when Ban Hojin saw the man standing at the very front, his pupils widened for a brief instant.
He was startled by the appearance of someone he had never expected.
“Uh… isn’t the atmosphere a bit strange?”
“Y-yeah, it is.”
The Middle-Aged Man who had suddenly stepped into the battlefield wore a bewildered expression at his son’s words.
The scene before him was entirely different from what he had anticipated.
Thus, he did not even notice that Ban Hojin was staring at him.
“Estate Lord?”
“Great Hero Ban!”
“What brings you here?”
The relaxed Ban Hojin moved swiftly.
He approached the Middle-Aged Man in preparation for any unforeseen situation.
“From our estate, this place is practically next door. Joun is fighting, so it did not seem right to remain still. I came hoping to be of at least some help. On the way, I heard the bandits’ movements were unusual and hurried over… but it seems I came for nothing.”
Seo I-gyeong, who had hastily crossed into Shaanxi Province with what little forces he had, laughed awkwardly.
No matter how he looked at it, it felt like he had come unnecessarily.
“Not at all. Your presence alone is reassuring. Joun will be delighted. He’s been wanting to see you.”
“Hahaha.”
Hearing news of his youngest son through Ban Hojin’s mouth, Seo I-gyeong smiled warmly.
They exchanged letters regularly, but that could not compare to seeing him in person.
Coming here to offer even a bit of support seemed to have been the right decision.
“Let’s finish this conversation after we deal with the bandits.”
“We will fight as well.”
“Very well.”
Seo I-gyeong’s expression changed at once.
The gentle smile vanished, replaced by a look filled with fighting spirit. Ban Hojin nodded.
He knew what feelings had driven Seo I-gyeong to bring his household retainers, so he did not stop him.
And, in truth, he was curious to see the swordsmanship of the Seo Family Estate that Seo Joun had refined.
“We’re here too!”
The Beggars’ Sect members also shouted loudly.
Having come this far, they had no intention of merely watching.
“Shall we clean up, then?”
Shhk.
Ban Hojin’s gaze turned once more to the bandits.
Those upon whom his eyes fell trembled.
Even that brief exchange of looks made their knees weaken.
Especially since the Single Sword Strike that none had been able to stop was vividly etched in their minds, some even began to step backward.
“Do not be afraid! They’re not even fifty in number!”
“We far outnumber them! Remember Chief Escort Slayer!”
“Have you forgotten our oath?!”
As the atmosphere sank at a single glance from Ban Hojin, several bandits screamed hoarsely.
At this rate, they felt they would lose before even fighting properly.
And none had come here unaware of Ban Hojin’s strength.
They had known—and still came, driven solely by the resolve for revenge. So the bandits forced their momentum back up.
“That’s a good mindset. If you run, it only makes things more troublesome for me. Since we’re here, fight to the end. That way, I can properly wipe you all out.”
“Charge!”
“Kill him!”
“Attack!”
Enraged by Ban Hojin’s open disdain, the bandits rushed forward.
Yet their directions were peculiar.
They spoke as if they would tear Ban Hojin limb from limb—but none actually charged at him.
Almost all of them rushed toward the Seo Family Estate and the Beggars’ Sect members instead.
Shaaak!
Among them, one shadow stood out.
It was very small—but incredibly fast.
Like a streak of lightning, the small shadow shot toward Seo I-gyeong.
“Not so fast.”
“Tch!”
Seeing through the ploy instantly, Ban Hojin swung his sword.
Yet the small shadow evaded the slash that no one had managed to avoid until now.
“Child Fiend.”
“Damn it! Sharp-eyed bastard.”
“I’ve always been perceptive. I even know where Thief Fiend is.”
“Damn you!”
Unlike Ban Hojin’s relaxed tone, curses burst from the figure erupting from the ground.
He had deliberately done nothing to avoid detection, yet Ban Hojin had sensed him as if by instinct.
Whirrr—
Dodging the Wind Blade aimed precisely at him, Thief Fiend twisted direction midair.
He lunged toward Seo I-gyeong—the original target of Child Fiend.
“Chaah!”
At the same time, Child Fiend rushed at Ban Hojin.
He meant to draw Ban Hojin’s attention so that Thief Fiend could capture Seo I-gyeong.
“Still as pathetic as ever.”
Clicking his tongue at Child Fiend—who, despite being over sixty, still looked like a child—Ban Hojin spoke disdainfully.
Their intentions were transparent.
“Hmph!”
Yet Child Fiend’s expression did not change at the mockery.
No matter the method, victory was what mattered.
The dead told no tales.
Child Fiend focused on only one thing—
how to stall Ban Hojin.
Shhk.
But that thought went no further.
The moment he sensed something flash, his mind turned blank white.
Thud!
“C-Child Fiend!”
Thief Fiend’s face went pale as he saw Child Fiend collapse—split cleanly in two while still in the posture of charging Ban Hojin.
He had never imagined that the infamous Child Fiend would die so easily.
Child Fiend had possessed the finest movement technique among the Eight Evils.
Yet he had died without even being able to resist.
An alarm bell rang loudly in Thief Fiend’s mind.
‘We’re screwed!’