Chapter 192 : Retribution Must Be Thorough. -03
Chapter 192: Retribution Must Be Thorough. -03
At the barely forced shout, the atmosphere shifted in an instant.
The faces of the bandits, which had been fierce just moments ago, all turned pale at once.
Then, without exception, they scattered in all directions.
Not a single one of them dared to entertain the thought of fighting Ban Hojin.
“R-Run!”
“Why did he come all the way here……!”
“I told you we should’ve stayed quiet! You damned Stronghold Master bastard!”
The reason Ban Hojin had come was obvious.
The Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds had stabbed him in the back in Shaanxi Province, so it was clear he had come for revenge.
That was why the bandits did not hesitate to flee.
They knew full well that fighting would only mean a dog’s death.
Fweeeeet!
Some of them even ran without grabbing their weapons.
Normally, they would have tried to take their valuables no matter what, but they did not have the luxury now.
The moment they hesitated, they would surely be caught by Ban Hojin, so the bandits ran with all their might.
“What a mess.”
“Of course it is. You came personally, Oppa. Even that guy who just became the new Stronghold Master is running. He used to be the Deputy Stronghold Master. But when the Stronghold Master died in Shaanxi Province, he was promoted this time.”
“Gah!”
“S-Spare me……!”
Though they did not know the exact location of the mountain stronghold, they had a general idea, and once the Hao Sect’s tracking techniques were added, Ban Hojin was able to arrive here without difficulty.
He had reached the place comfortably, without even needing to search the surroundings.
Moreover, the Hao Sect had carefully selected martial artists to form a siege, and the number of fleeing bandits began to decrease rapidly.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
“The only place you’re headed is the afterlife!”
When Seo Joun and the others began rampaging as well, wails echoed from all directions.
A few quick-witted bandits surrendered, but no one spared them.
Even if they were allowed to live, they would only bring harm to the world and were highly likely to stab them in the back again later, so the group showed no mercy and struck them down.
“He’s the best of the lot, at least.”
“According to what our Main Sect has assessed, he’s only just stepped into the Peak Realm. What do you think, Oppa?”
“That sounds right.”
“Hieeeek!”
Listening to Nan Hui-ju’s explanation, Ban Hojin walked at a leisurely pace.
Bandits sprang up here and there like grasshoppers, but Ban Hojin did not bother reacting to each one.
He knew well that the minor ones would be handled by the others.
Some of the bandits turned deathly pale the moment they saw him, but that expression did not last long.
Slash.
The instant they so much as hesitated, Seo Joun’s sword flashed, and the result was death.
And perhaps because Nan Hui-ju was by Ban Hojin’s side, Baekseol was also gaining real combat experience to her heart’s content for the first time in a while.
“It doesn’t even look like you’ll need to step in.”
“Seems that way. I only showed my face.”
“Hehe! That’s the biggest part. Didn’t you see earlier? The moment they saw your face, they were terrified.”
“Looks like my Facial Profile Notice is selling quite well?”
“Ah, u-um.”
At the unexpected remark, Nan Hui-ju flustered.
It was true, so she found herself at a loss for words.
“I’m not petty enough to make a fuss over something like that. I know you’re the Rumor Lord, but it’s impossible to control everything one by one. Where there’s demand, there’s supply.”
“I did try to control it in my own way, but it didn’t work very well.”
“I understand. So don’t mind it. Even if the Sect Leader gave an order, it probably wouldn’t work. There are information merchants too.”
“Still, I’m sorry. And thank you for understanding.”
“But everyone’s working hard. They don’t need to go that far.”
Seeing how overly cautious Nan Hui-ju looked, Ban Hojin naturally changed the subject.
In truth, even a hundred members of the Hao Sect were fighting as if it were their own battle.
Strictly speaking, it was Ban Hojin and his group who had come for revenge, yet the Hao Sect members cut down the bandits as though they were avenging an irreconcilable enemy.
“You could say this is real combat experience too. And there aren’t many chances to gain real combat experience this safely. Besides, since there’s something to be received, we have to put in even more effort.”
“They don’t have to go that far.”
“And we’ve accumulated quite a bit ourselves. It’s not just the Geum Family Estate that’s troubled by bandits.”
“Well, I’ll make sure the wages are paid properly. First priority is returning things to their rightful owners, though.”
“We’ll sweep out everything they’ve hidden too. You know we specialize in this sort of thing, right?”
Nan Hui-ju smiled confidently.
Although Sama Uiseong was well-versed in mechanism formation arrays, finding hidden spaces was a different matter.
It was a deep field in its own right, and there were specialists for it.
That was why Nan Hui-ju was confident.
‘If there are things worth using, we can purchase them first.’
Her mind spun quickly.
True to her clever nature, she did not miss what could be secured.
‘We’ve done business several times already, so it won’t be hard to bring it up.’
Her smile deepened.
Contrary to expectations, there might be nothing useful, but from her standpoint, it was no loss at all.
She had already obtained what she wanted, so whatever they gained from the mountain stronghold was merely extra compensation.
“Reassuring.”
“Just trust me. We specialize in this sort of thing. We’ll sweep up all the documents too. We’ll take everything we can.”
“If possible, I’d like you to do it together with Uiseong.”
“That much is more than possible.”
“Good.”
Ban Hojin smiled in satisfaction.
Though a genius, Sama Uiseong was still young and lacked experience.
He thought this would be a good opportunity for him to gain some.
Even if he did not delve deeply into it, simply knowing about it would surely help in the future.
“But the four of them are really impressive. Compared to when I first saw them, they’ve become unbelievably strong.”
Nan Hui-ju watched the four sweeping through the bandits as if in a realm of their own and clicked her tongue in admiration.
Like cranes among chickens, they stood out unmistakably.
But she was not admiring them merely because they were skilled.
She had seen their growth from beginning to end.
“They worked hard. Just like you.”
“Do you have to suddenly say something like that?”
“Why are you getting embarrassed?”
“I-I’m not!”
At the sudden praise, Nan Hui-ju’s face turned red.
But her heart pounded.
It felt as though Ban Hojin had acknowledged her efforts.
“Everyone is working hard in their own place, in their own way. That’s why the results are good.”
“Even so, their rate of growth feels absurd. Though I suppose Young Master Murong and Young Master Seo have their reasons.”
“Having great talent and fully awakening the talent you possess are completely different things. Just because someone starts ahead doesn’t mean the finish line is necessarily closer.”
“That’s a hopeful thing to say. It sounds like you’re saying even ordinary people can make it with effort.”
“Though that path is by no means easy.”
The difference in innate talent could not be helped.
Moreover, if both sides worked equally hard, the gap would likely widen rather than remain the same.
But if one did not make the effort, nothing would change.
At least, that was how Ban Hojin saw it.
“No one is unaware of that.”
“You have talent too.”
“Thanks for recognizing it. Hehe!”
Nan Hui-ju wore an uncharacteristically shy expression.
She had not expected to hear such words from Ban Hojin.
Perhaps because of that, her heart, which had already been beating a little hard, now raced even faster.
“I got him! This one’s the Stronghold Master!”
“Ah, what a shame. I lost to Joun.”
“Hahaha! I’m first place!”
While Ban Hojin watched leisurely, the Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master were captured.
Their abilities were about the same, so Seo Joun and Murong Cheok subdued them without difficulty.
Meanwhile, the others slaughtered the remaining bandits.
They thought that once the Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master were taken alive, the rest were unnecessary.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
“Chase them to the end!”
Though it had never truly been a fight to begin with, there had been quite a number stationed at the mountain stronghold, so they could not capture every bandit who had scattered in all directions.
Had they charged, it might have been different, but since they had chosen to flee from the start, many had escaped the stronghold. Yet the Hao Sect members did not give up on them.
Forming teams centered around those skilled in tracking, they pursued the fleeing bandits.
As if determined not to let even one slip away.
Thud! Thud!
Meanwhile, Seo Joun and Murong Cheok brought the captured Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master before Ban Hojin.
Their condition was far from good.
Anyone could see they had been beaten to within an inch of their lives—just not killed.
“Ugh…….”
“Blegh! Urk!”
“Can you speak?”
Looking down at the two who had been forced to kneel, Ban Hojin let out a faint chuckle.
They looked as though they could die at any moment.
“Their teeth are intact!”
“Hey now. It’s not like this is our first time. We’re professionals now.”
“That something to brag about?”
Ban Hojin wore a baffled expression.
But the Hao Sect members watching had different expressions.
Their eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at the two and the rest of the group.
Like Nan Hui-ju, they had either witnessed or heard of the group’s growth firsthand, and every one of them watched with sparkling eyes.
“It just means we’ve grown this much.”
“That’s right!”
“Well, we have gained a lot of experience.”
After glancing at the two proudly wiping beneath their noses, Ban Hojin lowered his hands from behind his back and slowly approached.
But at the approaching presence, the Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master, who had barely lifted their heads, began to convulse.
As Ban Hojin came closer himself, they frothed at the mouth and desperately tried to retreat.
“Hieek! Hiiik!”
“Uuu! Uaaah!”
“Guess he looks like Yama King to them.”
“That’s understandable. In truth, Hojin has inflicted the most damage on the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.”
At the sight of the two spewing foam as though truly about to die, Nan Hui-ju and Seonwu Bang let out soft laughs.
It was another reminder of Ban Hojin’s standing.
“Can we even have a conversation like this?”
“Isn’t there someone in the Hao Sect who specializes in torture?”
Seeing the pitiful state of the Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master, Sama Uiseong looked toward Nan Hui-ju.
He figured she would have brought a torture specialist.
“There is.”
“W-We’ll tell you anything! J-Just spare our lives!”
“I know more! If you spare me……!”
At the word torture, the two snapped to their senses.
Though they were bloodied to the point that it would not be an exaggeration to say they were half-dead, they were still alive.
So both desperately tried to grasp at a lifeline.
Most of their subordinates had died, but they still clung to a sliver of hope.
“Let’s hear them out first. It won’t be too late to decide after listening.”
Though the former Stronghold Master and Deputy Stronghold Master were sobbing and sniffling, Sama Uiseong did not blink once.
He knew too well that the tears they showed now were false.
In the first place, he had no intention of letting them live, so after merely hearing them speak, Sama Uiseong killed them both.
“Alright! Everyone, move!”
“Yes!”
Nan Hui-ju clapped her hands and issued orders.
Though the bandits had all been dealt with, the work was not yet finished.
“The pursuit teams?”
“All eliminated!”
“Good. Then we move immediately.”
“Understood!”
At Nan Hui-ju’s command, the Hao Sect members moved in perfect unison.
Ban Hojin’s group followed behind them.
“Looks like Uiseong’s about to get a taste for money too.”
Seeing Sama Uiseong’s excited expression, Seo Joun teased him.
His face made it obvious what he was thinking.
“A taste for money? You’re making me out to be some vulgar guy.”
“But the stronghold wasn’t that big. I wonder how much there’ll be.”