Inside the mountain beyond the village, everything was peaceful. Small and towering trees covered in lush green leaves stretched in every direction, creating a beautiful landscape. The chirping of birds echoed through the mountain, and the fresh scent of nature filled the air.
Truly a peaceful place.
However, for someone, it was rather frustrating.
“...”
“The heck is going on here!”
It’s been almost three days since Musan got the information about the bandits. And for two days he was wandering around the mountain. However, he couldn’t see a single trace of any bandits here.
“Did I enter the wrong mountain or something? Why can’t I find a single bandit here?”
‘But I definitely heard this is the only mountain beyond the village. So...’
He was definitely on the right mountain. But then why couldn’t he find a single bandit?
‘Did they get news about me coming here and ran away?’
Yep, it had to be the case. Otherwise why wouldn’t he find a single bandit here? But on the other hand, he also didn’t see any place where people could live. Surely, even if the bandits ran away, they wouldn’t be able to take their home with them, right?
What kind of question is that? It’s obvious they won’t do that.
Well, that’s that. But...
There was one important thing Musan had overlooked. Him arriving at the mountain and not finding a bandit... To that point it was all correct. But the problem was that... Without even realizing it, he had been walking in circles around the same part of the mountain.
Feeling totally frustrated, Musan started rubbing his hair wildly. His scream echoed through the mountain.
“Uh...! Please just come in front of me, you damn bandits!”
He had left the Mount Hua Sect promising the Sect Leader and the Elders of the Sect that he would go back with great achievements. After the great war with the Evil Faction, the Mount Hua Sect was now on the brink of collapse. And since Musan was the best among the second-generation disciples and was likely to become the next Sect Leader, the Sect Leader, the elders, and the junior disciples all had high expectations of him. They sent him out to see the outside world with the expectation that he would bring back the glory of the past Mount Hua. It had already been five months since he left the sect, and during that time he had wandered across many places. However, forget about a great achievement, he couldn’t find a single opportunity to earn even a little praise.
Was it his luck that was bad or was the Jianghu always this peaceful?
After wandering around the Jianghu for five months, he had finally found a chance to shine and bring back the glory of the past Mount Hua. And here he couldn’t even find the bandits’ base.
How pathetic!
“Hey, stop right there!”
Suddenly a shout came from behind. For the first time in two days, hearing a human voice, Musan looked excited and turned back in an instant.
“...”
However, his excitement vanished just as quickly when he saw who they were.
Wearing rough robes that seemed like they didn’t get a wash for several months. No, forget about their clothing, seeing their faces it seemed like they didn’t even wash themselves for quite a few days. Rough beards, messy hair. Holding swords, axes, and greatswords, some had their weapons resting on the ground while others carried them over their shoulders. And lastly, those arrogant looks on their faces... There was no doubt about it.
“Take out the toll fee this instant or...”
Yup. These were the mountain bandits he had been searching for.
“...You can’t leave this mountain alive.”
“...”
He was searching for these bandits for two whole days. So, now that he encountered some of them, he should’ve been happy or excited. But that wasn’t the case at all. Musan looked really pissed after seeing the bandits’ faces. Why was that?
Hm... The answer was pretty simple though. Musan was just hungry. He couldn’t eat anything for the past two days. Since he was from a sect that seeks taoism, he couldn’t eat meat. So, killing animals was out of the question. And this damn mountain had so many trees but didn’t have a single tree with edible fruits. Hmph! Cursed mountain!
Grrrr!
Seeing Musan glaring at them like that and gritting his teeth so hard, the bandits felt a bit uncomfortable.
“...”
Now that they gave more attention to his appearance... Robe with a plum blossom symbol and plum blossom symbol embedded on his sword.
‘Mount Hua?!’
What was a Mount Hua disciple doing here?
Cold sweat began to form on the bandits’ foreheads.
“Uh... Young warrior. We...”
“You bastard bandits!”
“...”
‘Did we piss him off or something? Why is he so angry?’
Man... Take it easy will ya?
“Haha... Let’s settle it with talk, young warrior.”
However, Musan wasn’t in his right mind to hear them. Without caring about whatsoever Musan charged at them with his sword unsheathing.
“Die, you bastards!”
Uh, what’s with that language of yours? You are a taoist. Please act like one.
With how things turned out, it looked like this young man from Mount Hua won’t hear a single thing. So, without any other choice the bandits started running back.
Dut... dut... dut...
The bandits were in the front and Musan chased them from behind with an enraged face.
But some of the bandits were a bit confused. Why were they running from a single young man?
“T-Team leader. We have five of us here and he is all alone. Shouldn’t we try to fight him?”
“Fight him my ass! Can’t you see he is from the Mount Hua Sect, you dumbass! If we fight him we are dead!”
Sure, the Mount Hua Sect had lost much of its former glory and had stayed hidden within its mountain for a long time. But no matter, it was still the Mount Hua Sect we are talking about here. Even after losing much of its former strength, the Mount Hua Sect was still far beyond the likes of fake Green Mountain Bandits who barely knew the basics of martial arts.
But who would explain that to these dumbheads?!
“...”
‘But he is alone.’
The other bandit wanted to say it outloud. But...
Never mind.
Dut... dut... dut...
“Ahhhhh! Why is he so fast?!”
It looked like Musan was faster than them and was closing the distance slowly.
“At this rate he will catch up to us!”
“Throw your weapons toward him, you idiots!”
“Yes, team leader!”
Swoosh!
With the order of the team leader all the other bandits started throwing their weapons toward Musan.
Swoosh! Clack! Thud!
Clang... Clang... Clang!
And Musan, while running, blocked the weapons, swinging his sword at them. Well, it at least made him a bit slower.
“Great! Let’s run with all our might!”
“Yes, team leader!”
Dut... dut... dut...
However, after a while...
“Ugh! This bastard is closing the distance again! What does he eat?! Why is this bastard so fast?!”
“I heard taoist sect like Mount Hua eats only grass.”
“...”
All the other bandits looked at the one who said it just now with wide eyes. A huge murderous intent came from them which caused cold sweat to form on the bandit’s forehead.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
Seeing the bandits acting like that the team leader shouted.
“What the hell are you fools doing?! He will catch everyone at this rate! Run, you bastards!”
“...”
At that time another one shouted.
“T-Team leader! We are almost there! We can see our base!”
!
Hearing that, everyone sped up even more.
Dut... dut... dut...
The more they were reaching the base the more their distance with Musan was closing. At some point they were almost about to reach the base. On the other hand Musan was also too close. It looked like he would catch them in no time.
“Ahhhhh! We are almost there!”
“Just a little! Just a little!”
Grab!
“...”
Musan caught one of the bandits.
“...”
The bandit who was caught slowly turned his head behind.
“...?”
‘Am I gonna die?’
Musan looked like he had totally lost it. And the aura he was exuding...
‘I’m surely dead.’
The bandit couldn’t even speak to ask for mercy. He looked forward. However no one paid attention to the fact that one of them was caught. If anything, they just looked relieved that they got the time to run.
‘You traitors! If I die I’ll haunt all of you as a ghost until the day you die!’
However...
“What’s going on?”
Hearing a familiar voice, the bandit felt relieved. He looked from where the sound came from.
Rough beard and messy hair, wearing a green robe with a green leaf symbol on the chest. Yep, it was their leader with all the other bandits.
“L-Leader!”
The bandit on Musan’s grip seemed touched by the scene and let out tears of happiness.
“You ca...”
Thud!
As Musan let go of the bandit he fell on the ground.
“G-Green mountain bandits?”
No matter how secluded someone was, who wouldn’t know about the Green Mountain bandit group?
“Leader, this bastard from Mount Hua attacked us out of nowhere!”
The bandits who were running from Musan a moment ago let out a crying scream.
The bandit leader, Cho Heon, glowered at Musan.
“When did the Mount Hua Sect get the courage to attack one of the Green Mountain Bandit groups? And you came here alone at that. You have guts, huh?”
Musan’s furious face was already gone the moment he saw the green mountain bandit symbol.
‘What should I do now?’
They were the green mountain bandits. There is no way he would be alive if he fought them.
‘Nobody told me the bandits in this mountain were the green mountain bandits.’
Don’t blame them, man. You didn’t give them the time to explain properly.
Now Musan felt like crying. However he maintained his calm somehow and bowed slightly in apology.
“My sincere apology, sir. It looks like there was some misunderstanding.”
Cho Heon raised one of his eyebrows.
“Misunderstanding?”
While the other bandits looked very angry.
‘Look at this bastard. A moment ago he was chasing us like a mad dog and now acting all polite!’
“Yes, sir. I didn’t know you guys were the green mountain bandits.”
“And?”
“...”
Musan lifted his head in confusion.
‘It didn’t work?’
Of course it won’t work you dumbass! You attack people out of nowhere and then apologize? You think they are fools?
“So, you are saying if we weren’t the green mountain bandits you would’ve done whatever you wanted with us, huh?”
“...”
“Then what should we do with you?”
Uh, please just let me go, man. I’m already crazy enough from hunger.
Feeling a bit helpless, Musan bowed lightly again.
“Please spare me, sir.”
‘Ah, my dignity! Bowing my head in front of some bandits... How will I show my face to the sect leader?!’
“And if we don’t?”
“...”
Musan lifted his face again, gripping his sword tightly.
“Then...”
The bandits also took the stance to attack him any moment.
“Then?”
“I’ll just run!”
Putting his sword on his sheath, Musan started running with all his might.
“Catch that bastard!”
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