Chapter 28. How can you endure it?

Southern Henan Province.

An unnamed hill.

About a day's journey from Mount Ohbong, over twenty people huddled together. They were the bandits who had fled from Mount Ohbong not long ago.

They had gone as far as Gihyun, only to turn back upon hearing the news belatedly. However, as they approached Mount Ohbong, their opinions diverged.

The blind swordsman Baekgyo had been coaxing them, saying, "Why follow the incompetent Chief Feng when we can go to Red Wind Hall on Mount Pyeongjeong?" Mount Pyeongjeong was about two days' journey from Mount Ohbong. It was like saying they should move to the next house because they didn't like the current landlord.

Baekgyo, with his sunken nose, asked the bandits, "Is there anyone who will go with me to Red Wind Hall on Mount Pyeongjeong?"

Five people, including Cheonilbo and Yeomsawoong, moved to Baekgyo's side.

However, the majority of the bandits remained around Gumiubokjeom Shimyanggak.

Baekgyo's face, wounded by pride, slightly distorted.

"Shim, are you really planning to return to Mount Ohbong?"

"Baek, you haven't heard the news. The suppression of Mansu Commercial Guild has been called off. I don't know why they suddenly stopped, but since the danger is gone, it's only natural to return, isn't it?"

"The followers of Chief Feng will treat you poorly. How can you endure it?"

"It doesn't matter. They won't dare to say anything to my face anyway."

"Tsk, then let's part ways here. Just thinking about that young Yen and the half-breeds around him makes my teeth grind even in my sleep."

"Agreed."

Shimyanggak replied with a nonchalant face.

Meeting and parting ways with bandits was a daily occurrence, so it wasn't particularly unusual.

After a moment's hesitation, Baekgyo led the five northward.

As Baekgyo's group disappeared from sight, Shimyanggak immediately sneered.

"Hmph! You thieves know only one thing and are ignorant of the rest. Do you think Red Wind Hall will welcome you? Who would like those who abandoned the mountain when it was in danger? Have you eaten so much that you've forgotten your age? Tsk, tsk! Pitiful, so pitiful."

Tongshinrangin Hwangyomyeong, who had been watching, quickly chimed in.

"That's right. I know someone at Red Wind Hall, and the chief there has a terrible temper. Compared to him, Yen is nothing."

"Hehe. You're sharp, at least in one aspect. Let's go back. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

"Yes, yes."

The fifteen bandits, having decided to return, set off southward.

***

The next day, Shimyanggak and the fifteen bandits entered Haga Village with a bold face. The atmosphere in Haga Village was similar to what it had been a fortnight ago.

The only difference was that the number of merchants coming and going seemed to have increased slightly.

The bandits, eyeing the merchants like tasty prey, flocked to Sahae Pavilion. They were eager to replenish their weakened bodies, which had been malnourished from lack of proper food.

They ordered and ate as much food as they could, stuffing themselves to the point of bursting.

After refreshing their palates with a cool drink, the bandits began to get up one by one.

The owner hurriedly chased after the bandits who had eaten their fill and were about to leave.

"Excuse me, great heroes. Who will pay for the food?"

He asked, thinking they might have forgotten, as the bandits from Mount Ohbong always paid for their meals.

Shimyanggak pretended not to hear and walked away slowly.

Hwangyomyeong scratched his head, looking perplexed.

They had spent all their money on the journey to Gihyun and had nothing to pay with, even if they wanted to.

"Hmph, don't you know who we are? We'll pay you later."

"Ah, yes, yes..."

The innkeeper, recognizing Hwangyomyeong's face, awkwardly smiled and bowed.

"By the way, did the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong come with you?"

The innkeeper assumed the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong must be among them because of the large number of bandits.

Thinking that such heroes wouldn't eat without paying, he asked.

"Huh? Oh, oh."

Hwangyomyeong knew the term referred to the bandits who had remained on Mount Ohbong and vaguely brushed it off. After all, the name of the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong wasn't widely known.

"Wow! What an honor. Please enjoy your stay."

"Sure. Good work."

The innkeeper bowed, and Hwangyomyeong walked away, feeling pleased. He planned to pay back the debt when he had money, but if he forgot, there was nothing he could do about it.

***

Shimyanggak stopped in front of the mountain stronghold.

His sharp eyes caught something unusual.

'What is it?'

There were strange marks on the road, as if someone had plowed the ground and then restored it. These marks had not been there a fortnight ago.

Hwangyomyeong, following his gaze, said in disbelief.

"Hehe! Some fool must have tried to farm in front of the mountain stronghold and got chased away."

Creating a field in a place where the stronghold was clearly visible?

It was an absurd assumption, but he couldn't think of anything else.

Shimyanggak, tilting his head, walked confidently into the stronghold.

The inside looked exactly the same as when they left.

Children were playing in the courtyard, and carpenters and laborers were busy building houses.

They encountered a few bandits, but they ignored each other.

Shimyanggak and the bandits boldly scattered to the huts where they had stayed.

Cheongideok, entering his room, immediately frowned.

In the center of the room, an old Taoist priest was sitting cross-legged.

'What is this? Did they take in a wandering Taoist?'

It seemed so.

Cheongideok threw his belongings in a corner and went outside.

He intended to hear about recent events from his friend, Lee Cheolsan, who had stayed behind.

"What? Ten of them formed a brotherhood?"

Cheongideok looked at Lee Cheolsan in surprise.

Lee Cheolsan's face was full of confidence, perhaps because of his connections with the stronghold's influential figures.

"Yeah, I'm the eighth now."

"So you're right below Brother Yen?"

"Exactly."

"Shim won't just sit by, will he?"

"Yanggak? What can I do if he doesn't sit by?"

Lee Cheolsan spoke the name of the feared Madou Shimyanggak as if it were a neighborhood dog.

"Hey, hey..."

Cheongideok, trying to cover his friend's mouth, realized it was unnecessary and slowly lowered his hand. Shimyanggak wouldn't dare to touch the brothers of Yen!

Cheongideok, with a bitter expression, changed the subject.

"Oh, right. There's an old Taoist priest in our room. Is he a new member?"

"No."

"If not, why is he in our room?"

"He's a guest of Brother Yen."

"Wow, someone who knows Brother Yen came to visit?"

After a brief look around, Lee Cheolsan quickly whispered in Cheongideok's ear.

"Only you know. That person is a Heavenly Merchant."

"Whoa! What?"

Cheongideok exclaimed in shock.

"Be quiet. Damn it."

"Is, is that true?"

"Of course."

"Why is the Taoist priest here? I heard he didn't even come to Mount Ohbong."

"Who said that? He's been staying here ever since he was defeated by Brother Yen."

"Be, beaten? Brother Yen defeated the Heavenly Merchant?"

"Yeah, damn it."

Lee Cheolsan shrugged as if he had won himself. He then summarized the recent events for Cheongideok, who was still skeptical.

"The Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong formed a brotherhood and learned martial arts from Brother Yen?"

"Yeah. I also learned the White Jade Formula and a single sword technique. When I master it, it will be incredible. The Dragon Whirlwind will rise from the sword."

"R, really?"

"This is a secret, but Brother Yen used this sword technique to defeat the Heavenly Merchant very... cleanly."

Lee Cheolsan couldn't describe the scene any other way.

"Teach me too."

"Don't teach it to others. If you get caught, both the teacher and the student will..."

Lee Cheolsan made a gesture of cutting his throat.

In fact, he said this because he was worried about the attention from Walong Zhang, but that was beside the point.

Cheongideok looked at his friend enviously.

He didn't believe everything his friend said, but it seemed Yen had taught him something.

'Damn! If I had known this would happen, I would have stayed...'

He had suffered physically and gained nothing. What a damn situation. Cheongideok sighed deeply, as if the ground were about to swallow him.

***

A few days later, around noon, Han Chae-yeon, who had gone down to Haga Village with Xiaobai, returned fuming.

The two women went to Shanghua Pavilion to find the chief, Feng Yanchao.

"Brother! Some crazy thieves are impersonating our brotherhood in Haga Village!"

"What do you mean?"

Feng Yanchao, who had been practicing sword techniques with the deputy chief, Tack Gomyeong, asked in disbelief.

Impersonating the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong?

The Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong were not just ten bandits on Mount Ohbong. They referred to the formidable expert Yen Jieha and his nine sworn brothers.

Who would dare to do such a thing in Haga Village unless they were insane?

"Just now, Xiaobai and I went to Sahae Pavilion. We were about to leave after a good meal when the owner said that four days ago, the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong and the stronghold members came in a group, ate, and left without paying. Four days ago was the day those shameless guys returned. They were impersonating us and eating for free! I'm so embarrassed I can't even show my face!"

Upon hearing the story, Feng Yanchao rushed outside and struck the bell hanging under the eaves of Shanghua Pavilion.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

The nervous bell tolls brought the bandits, who had been scattered around, to Shanghua Pavilion.

Feng Yanchao, with a cold gaze, scanned the bandits.

He wanted to rush over and beat the shameless faces of the bandits who had crawled back a few days ago. If he had the ability, he would have done so already.

Although Feng Yanchao remained silent for a long time, the bandits did not grumble. Considering their own shameless actions, waiting a little longer was nothing.

Finally, Yen Jieha, drenched in sweat, slowly entered and took his seat. He had been on the highest peak of Mount Ohbong with the Heavenly Merchant, so he was the last to arrive.

After confirming that Yen Jieha was seated, Feng Yanchao spoke.

"Today, our ninth and tenth brothers returned from Haga Village with a shocking story."

The third brother, Ma Hengdo, scratched his ear and asked.

"Why? Is another commercial guild attacking us?"

"It would be better if that were the case. Someone in Haga Village has been impersonating the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong."

"..."

A heavy silence enveloped Shanghua Pavilion.

The returned bandits exchanged shocked glances.

They now understood the significance of the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong. No one in their right mind would claim to be Yen Jieha's sworn brother. Who were these crazy people?

Feng Yanchao's angry voice then echoed through the hall.

"Who are the ones who ate their fill at Sahae Pavilion four days ago and left a tab in the name of the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong?"

Although he asked who, his gaze was directed at Shimyanggak.

Shimyanggak, pale with shock, quickly glared at Hwangyomyeong.

He remembered Hwangyomyeong staying behind to talk to the innkeeper who had asked for money.

Hwangyomyeong's face drained of color.

The incident he had forgotten about suddenly came back to him.

Then, Deputy Chief Tack Gomyeong roared at Shimyanggak and the bandits around him.

"Your shocked faces show that you did it! You, who abandoned the stronghold and fled! How can you have the nerve to use the name of the Ten Heroes of Mount Ohbong? Can you still call yourselves men after doing such a thing?"

The humiliation washed over Shimyanggak, causing his cheeks to twitch.

To be spoken to like this by a junior, a mere nobody like Tack Gomyeong!

How could these people, who couldn't even look him in the eye, have the nerve to speak to him like that!