BXBX NOVEL Chapter 145: The Connection Of Murim's Public Enemies
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I laid a mat under the plum tree and took a nap when, suddenly, I woke up to a groan.
I speak in a languid tone.
“…Who moaned? Which bastard disturbed my beauty sleep?”
“I apologize, sir.”
“You can’t even do a hundred push-ups, but you want to learn martial arts?”
I was too lazy to get up, so I turn to the side and look ahead.
As I was looking at him in a lying position, my eyes meet the bandits who are smashing their heads to the ground.
Head on the ground, hands on the waist. The bandits are now in excellent head-smashing positions.
I hear So Gun-pyeong’s voice nearby.
“Stand up.”
When the bandits scramble to their feet, the bandits’ faces disappear from my sight.
I close my eyes again and So Gun-pyeong voice resonates.
“…You don’t want to work at the inn. Not the blacksmith. Not the Architectural Sect. You just hate work, don’t you? That’s fine. But I won’t accept you making a fool out of Black Rabbit Union. I look funny to you since the leader took you in, right? You scumbags who ambush and rob people in the mountains?”
“No, it’s not!”
“Is it because you’re thieving bastards? Is this all you’re able to yell? Smash your head.”
I beckon So Gun-pyeong’s words.
“He’s right, you’re doing great. Smash your heads.”
Once again, thumping sounds echo, and the bandits stomp their heads on the ground.
So Gun-pyeong says,
“Leader is sleeping next to you. See if you dare to wake the Leader up with your groans. You’ll be hitting your head all night.”
I answer in my sleep.
“Yes, let me get some sleep.”
No one asked why I had to sleep here of all places.
In fact, strangely, I easily fell asleep as I watched my men get tormented in training. Sometimes I woke up to someone screaming, but those were the times when it was fun to watch, so I would open my eyes and watch them train.
As I look at them with drowsy eyes, I watch the faces of Jang San, ignorant Gwa Woo-chun, Jo Ga-sung, Goo Jun, and Gu-pyeong brothers, who are hitting their heads on the floor.
The reason why they are smashing their heads is because they said that they would remain in Kangho.
I ask the bandits the question that I ask them every time.
“Hey, you guys who don’t want to hit your head, fuck off to Ilyang. Go dig some dirt. Don’t stir up a fuss here.”
Jang San replies in a sullen tone.
“No, sir.”
“So Gun-pyeong isn’t in charge because he’s free. You punks take up someone else’s time and don’t even know how to be grateful. So Gun-pyeong.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“Train them harder. Kick the wacky ones to Ilyang.”
“I understand.”
“If any member of the Low-Down causes trouble in Ilyang, the sacred place of the Low-Down Sect, I will be sentenced to immediate death. Take note.”
More than 30 people remained in Black Rabbit Union.
The rest of the bandits were sent to Dragon Head Smithy and Architectural Sect on the first day of returning to Black Rabbit Union. Those who said they would stay in Kangho even if they died are now smashing their heads.
In short, So Gun-pyeong is controlling the military spirit.
When I revealed they would join the Black Rabbit Union on the first day, the spirit seemed to be lacking.
First of all, So Gun-pyeong is not an easy opponent.
“Hold up a leg. Whoever puts down his leg will be beaten like yesterday. I’ll give you another chance. Those who want to work can get up and leave the courtyard. Know your place and live a normal life. What kind of wise life do you think you rotten bandits can live? You should know your place. No?”
I lie down with one hand on the back of my head and say to So Gun-pyeong.
“Chief So.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“I fought with the Alliance this time, and I experienced a lot of new things. We first invaded to Namak Sect in a One Sword Formation.”
“Yes.”
“And the commander was Alliance Leader.”
So Gun-pyeong’s eyes widen.
“Wow, really?”
“The rest of us formed a sword formation in the form of a breakthrough and followed Leader Im. I was at the rear. What’s interesting, however, was that the guards, swordsmen, and elders, found their positions naturally without any explanation, and advanced fiercely. Perhaps Leader Im ordered them to advance until Namak Sect Leader’s neck no matter what. It was very impressive that they could charge as one, from elders to the youngest swordsman. How long does that kind of training take?”
So Gun-pyeong replies,
“It is an incredible sword formation. And Leader Im is a great commander.”
“There’s truly no man like him. Seeing the alliance members fighting in Namak, it made me think that Nanming Society under us would be no match at all. Personally, I think Nanming Society is the strongest among our affiliates.”
So Gun-pyeong replies,
“What about Black Rabbit Union?”
I contemplate for a moment and answer honestly.
“Nanming Society is the strongest. The rest is meaningless. Similar to Black Hurricane Castle.”
Suddenly, I lie down to watch the First Squadron monkeys of Black Rabbit Union. Still, the monkeys must be hanging somewhere, doing monkey chin-ups.
Now that all drowsiness is gone, I sit against the plum tree and look at the bandits ramming their heads.
“Our bandit friends, are you sure you’re comfortable training and dying in Kangho? It’s way better to stay in the Low Down as working people. To survive in Kangho, you must at least train like Black Rabbit Union warriors. Every day.”
The bandits answer at the same time.
“Yes, Leader.”
So Gun-pyeong says to the bandits,
“Thieving bastards, stand up.”
With clambering noises, the bandits stand up and watch So Gun-pyeong.
So Gun-pyeong says,
“32 people. I shall accept you as Black Rabbit Union Second Squadron monkeys. All the First Squadron monkeys are your seniors. Jang San.”
Jang San replies,
“Yes, Chief So.”
“If you’re confident, pick someone from the first squad and fight.”
“No, sir.”
Yesterday, Jang San challenged a seemingly easy subordinate of the Black Rabbit Union but was brutally beaten and fainted. Jang San may win in terms of natural strength, but he can’t beat the monkeys that lead a tough life in Black Rabbit Union.
I say to the bandits,
“Now that you’ve mentally prepared yourself and entered Black Rabbit Union, if I ever hear about you guys confronting the First Squadron monkeys or rebelling against Chief So, who will supervise the training, I will kindly send you to accompany the deceased Namak Sect Leader. Understood?”
“Yes, Leader.”
I call out to Cha Sung-tae who is walking out of the main hall.
“Manager Cha, tell Manager Byuk to manage these 32 people in Black Rabbit Union.”
“Yes.”
“Also, send those outside the courtyard to the Architectural Sect. Report back if anyone shows even the slightest dislike towards Yeon Ja-seong. These are the people for who I had to put up a fight with Leader Sima for. It’s an insult to me. Inform them I will beat them up if they don’t do their job properly.”
“Of course.”
“We will hire well-adjusted and hard-working people and make them the inn manager or pavilion manager in the future. Before that, shouldn’t I also figure out who is hardworking and who is sly?”
“That’s right.”
“So, I will send them as helpers for now. Remember to explain this to Yeon Ja-seong.”
“Yes.”
By the way, I slept too much since returning. I don’t feel sleepy anymore. If I stay up all night again to do Qi Circulation, my body clock will naturally get messed up again.
In the midst of the last yawn of the day, So Gun-pyeong and the men direct their eyes toward the wall opposite me all at once.
A young man with wet, oily hair suddenly appears on the wall and is looking around Black Rabbit Union.
So Gun-pyeong yells,
“Who are you?”
All the subordinates who were doing monkey chin-ups jump off and stare at the wall. At this time, propped up on the wall, the intruder smiles wickedly and looks at me.
“Are you the Low-Down Sect Leader?”
As soon as I see his expression, outfit, and atmosphere, I frown and say to my subordinates.
“He’s a guest, don’t mind him.”
So Gun-pyeong replies,
“What?”
“Go in and have dinner. Don’t mind us.”
As soon as I finish my sentence, the guy on the wall giggles.
I think to myself.
‘Crazy bastard, did he smell the money?’
I was confused due to his young appearance, but the guy on the wall is probably the youngest of the Gold Silver Seven Insects (金銀七虫).
The Gold-Silver Seven Insects isn’t that great of a nickname. It just means seven bugs.
If Chil Chung is here means Il Chung (一虫) is nearby.
In summary, they are money-hungry pests.
Problem is, these Gold Silver Seven Insects, named by the servants, are orthodox masters and later become included in the Wanted List alongside me.
The method of determining the ranking depends on the bounty price offered by the Alliance. Naturally, the higher the reward, the higher the ranking. The owner of those bugs was a serious attention seeker, so the higher my public ranking, the more they regarded me as competition and caused more ruckus.
Whether it’s then or now, I’m also an attention seeker.
In short, I can conclude that the sudden appearance of the orthodox’s Seven Insects is as follows:
Pests are showing up now that I’m good at earning money.
Perhaps the rumor that the Low-Down Sect Leader makes quite the dime spread in the orthodox sphere. While So Gun-pyeong was taking the bandits and subordinates in, I ask Chil Chung sitting on the wall.
“What’s your business?”
When Chil Chung grinned, I could see sparsely missing teeth.
“I heard that Leader is famous these days.”
“Crazy fucker.”
If I kill Chil Chung, of course, Yook Chung (六虫) would come out. If you kill Yook Chung, the next bug appears.
I know their faces because all seven of them have died in my hands.
I got lost in thought as I looked at Chil Chung.
Is there a difference between controllable and uncontrollable fate?
Killing more than a hundred bandits was a fate that had not existed in my previous life.
I knew that the karma Im So-baek should’ve bore was brought upon me and the consequent aftermath or incident would soon follow, but I didn’t expect those that I killed in my previous lives to appear so soon.
Chil Chung says,
“Master Yukhap said he wants to have a talk with you. If you could make time today or tomorrow evening, Master Yukhap will visit in person, Low-Down Sect Leader.”
“Tell him to come tomorrow evening.”
“Thank you.”
Chil Chung disappeared from the wall. Similarly, the sound of rats running from the roof sounded outside and was moving away from Black Rabbit Union with other bugs.
So Gun-pyeong sticks out his head from the main hall and asks,
“Is Master Yukhap coming? Are they the money worms?”
“I think so.”
“Shall we gather and kill tomorrow?”
I look at So Gun-pyeong.
“Can you kill Master Yukhap?”
“Actually, I have only heard his name, I don’t know how strong he is.”
“We’ll treat him over for dinner tomorrow, so just leave him be.”
“I understand.”
Sometimes, there’s a guy like that in Kangho.
A man known for his vulgarity, childishness, and obnoxiousness.
Master Yukhap is an orthodox master famous for his vulgarity. The problem is no one has been able to gauge Master Yukhap’s skills. It was the same in my previous life.
Later on, Master Yukhap changed his nickname to Ghost of Yukhap.
When Ghost of Yukhap was once again involved in multiple cases of Kangho, his name then changed to Yukhap Ghost Demon (六合鬼魔).
When the alliance announced that he was on the wanted list and would go on a manhunt, the word Yukhap was removed, and they simply marked him as Ghost Demon.
Hence…
Ghost Demon, Crazy Demon, Poison Demon, and Pervert Demon were the people in question on the list. The four were classified as the individualistic Four Demons.
Tying with the Five Evils named by the alliance, they became the Five Evils Four Demons (五惡四魔). This leaves the missing ‘tenth’ (十) person who completes the numbers.
And the guy who’s been in that position for a long time.
He was a man named the Evilest in the World (天下第一惡).
In addition to being at the top most wanted list, he also became the symbolic leader of the Ten Most Evil (十大惡人) where the Five Evils Four Demons conceded the number one position.
First Disaster (一災), who paid no heed to the Alliance and the orthodox faction.
In other words, he was a member of the Three Disasters.
The man was up on the Wanted List of the Alliance, but he did not actively try to do anything.
No news about this person is a blessing both to Kangho and to me.
I’ve only heard rumors, but I’ve never seen them.
If I had seen him, I would have died before getting trapped in the Demon Cult’s Heaven Net.
When Ghost Demon said he wanted to come to see me after a long time…
The bad guys in my previous life came to mind.
With my arms folded under the plum tree, I slowly began to replay the unresolved fight with Ghost Demon. I killed all the bugs and then fought Ghost Demon, but we couldn’t kill each other.
So even if he’s still in his Master Yukhap days….
First of all, I should be prepared.
What do the bandits who sweat while ramming their heads on the ground know?
Surviving in Kangho is not easy in the past or present life.