Chapter 60. Isn't this a bit strange?

After the story related to the Oebongsanche and its resolution, Junja-sword Yi Yeon-ik said, "Everyone else may leave. I have something to discuss with the leaders of the sects and Young So-hyuk of Walongzhang."

The families of the Luoyang Five Heroes gradually left the guest hall.

After a while, only the leaders of the Eight Immortals Sect, Dae-yeon Sect, and Chil-yang Sect, along with Walong Swordsman Yeon Mu-baek, remained. Yi Yeon-ik then spoke.

"I hope what we discuss now remains known only to you. Last night, the Righteous Alliance contacted us. They said traces of Yumingjiao were found in Yezhou."

At the mention of Yumingjiao, everyone's faces stiffened.

"The Righteous Alliance will send the Righteous Brigade. However, as you know, Yumingjiao is a public enemy of the martial world. The Righteous Alliance hopes that the martial artists of Luoyang will take the lead in this matter."

The leader of the Eight Immortals Sect nodded and said, "That's only natural. Over twenty years ago, the martial officials of Jiangnan united to expel the evil sect. Our Eight Immortals Sect will participate."

"The Dae-yeon Sect will help too."

"The Chil-yang Sect will join as well."

The leaders of the sects looked at Yeon Mu-baek.

"The Walong Hall will participate."

Yeon Mu-baek did not hold back. He couldn't pretend to be unaware of the affairs of the Henan martial world while claiming to be a major family. If he were to absent himself from this matter, he would be ridiculed for a long time, being the son of Chanyue Swordsman Yeon Mu-ryong.

"Thank you. The Righteous Alliance will never forget the righteousness of the sects that participate in this matter."

"It's nothing."

"It's our duty."

Suddenly, the leader of the Eight Immortals Sect muttered, "Perhaps the suppression of Oebongsanche will be delayed."

"No way."

The leader of the Chil-yang Sect frowned, as if the idea was absurd, but the leader of the Dae-yeon Sect said, "Even if that happens, there's nothing we can do. Dealing with Yumingjiao must come first."

The leader of the Chil-yang Sect then looked at Yi Yeon-ik and said, "Brother Yi, isn't Oebongsanche about four days' journey from Yezhou? Once the matter in Yezhou is resolved, why don't we sweep through the Green Forest with the Righteous Brigade?"

"That's out of the question. We can't involve the Righteous Brigade in personal matters."

Yi Yeon-ik firmly rejected the leader of the Chil-yang Sect's suggestion.

It wasn't just because he was strict about public and private matters.

Yi Yeon-ik wanted to handle this matter quietly within the Luoyang Five Heroes' family. If the Righteous Brigade were involved and the news leaked out, it would be a disservice to his children.

After a moment of silence, Junja-sword Yi Yeon-ik continued, "Let's focus on Yumingjiao first. Dealing with Oebongsanche can wait. Moreover, Yumingjiao is not an opponent to be taken lightly, even if we are distracted by other matters."

Although the people didn't fully understand Yi Yeon-ik's words, they agreed. After all, Yumingjiao surviving the Righteous Alliance's assault meant they were strong.

"Then, how many people should we send as support?"

In response to the leader of the Chil-yang Sect's question, Yi Yeon-ik gave his prepared answer.

"Five elite members from each sect should be sufficient. Our Yitian Sect will send ten."

This suggested a support force of thirty.

In fact, the Righteous Brigade, composed of seven sects, had twenty members, so at least thirty were needed to maintain a balance.

The people nodded in understanding.

Five members from each sect was not a significant burden.

As long as they returned safely, that is.

***

Bofeng County.

Oebongsan.

Early in the morning, the Oebongsan Ten Heroes and Gumi-bok-sword Shim Yang-gak gathered in the Shanghua Pavilion to discuss the issue of the Luoyang Five Heroes, who were being held hostage.

Since becoming a cripple, Shim Yang-gak had been regularly invited to the meetings of the Oebongsan Ten Heroes.

However, this didn't mean Shim Yang-gak's status was equal to the Oebongsan Ten Heroes. He still addressed them with respect, and they treated him as a subordinate.

The leader and first among them, Feng Yan-chao, spoke first.

"Brother Yan, since we're among ourselves, I'd like you to speak frankly. When the hostages are released, they will come for revenge. What do you plan to do?"

"By then, we'll have accumulated a lot of money. Let's take a break."

"Take a break?"

"Let's visit our hometowns and travel to places we want to go. Once the Yitian Sect calms down, we can regroup. They won't follow us around like shadows, will they?"

"Hehe, Brother Yan is right. They can't openly show their faces due to their pride. Over time, the matter will be forgotten."

Shim Yang-gak's words gradually eased the serious expressions of the Oebongsan Ten Heroes. As the most experienced in the martial world, his words seemed plausible.

3 PM.

Chun Ji-duk pushed the hard, frozen dumplings and a water bottle into the room.

"Eat well!"

As the door closed, the Luoyang Five Heroes hastily put the dumplings in their mouths and chewed.

O Zhong-shan choked, making a 'choke choke' sound.

Seeing this, Sun Shang-ji quickly handed him the water bottle, and O Zhong-shan gulped it down.

There were only five dumplings, each the size of a child's fist.

After quickly eating the dumplings, the Luoyang Five Heroes slumped.

The third, Sun Shang-ji, leaned against the wall and muttered, "What bastards. One dumpling per meal. My stomach feels like it's stuck to my back."

In response, the second, O Zhong-shan, said, "This water makes me feel even more empty inside. By the way, that Duxin Swordsman's point striking skills are really terrifying. I can't circulate my qi at all after being struck on the first day."

Listening to his brothers, the first, Huang Dong-yeop, sighed.

"Ha! I've tried several times, but I can't feel my internal energy at all. Once we're free, I need to study point striking techniques more."

While the men idly discussed point striking techniques, Li So-min suddenly asked Yeon Seol-ju, "Yeon, how many days have we been here?"

"Seven days today."

"Ha! By now, our families must have heard about it."

"That's not all. They're probably on their way, having prepared the money. They should be around Yezhou by now."

"Ah, how can I face my family? I left secretly despite their strong opposition..."

"I'll be lucky if I don't get beaten to death by my mother."

"Is Lady Bai that scary?"

"They'll force me into marriage. They might even sell me to a wealthy merchant. I've caused them a lot of debt because of me."

"Come on, that's unlikely."

Yeon Seol-ju gave a weak laugh.

Of course, they wouldn't sell their children, but to her, it was the same.

"So, are you going to give up your dream, Yeon?"

At Li So-min's question, Yeon Seol-ju sighed deeply.

"Ha! I don't want to, but I've caused them so much debt... I can't face my family. I feel guilty for causing them so much trouble and still wanting to live my own life."

"You'll become a great female hero. Believe me."

"Ah! Thank you for your kind words."

"Let's go out and get some fresh air, shall we?"

Of course, the hostages couldn't freely go out.

Li So-min meant to go to the outhouse.

The two always went together to protect each other. For some reason, the bandits didn't prohibit women from going together.

"Sure."

Li So-min and Yeon Seol-ju stood up.

The men pretended not to notice and continued their conversation about point striking techniques.

Li So-min knocked on the door, and a voice from outside asked, "What is it?"

Li So-min pressed her lips to the door and whispered, "Let us use the restroom."

The sound of a lock being undone came from outside, and the door soon opened.

The two women stepped out, and the bandit closed and locked the door again.

After finishing their business, Li So-min and Yeon Seol-ju walked slowly.

They wanted to enjoy the fresh air as much as possible.

For the first time in days, their expressions brightened.

It felt wonderful to be out of the small room and walking around.

Seeing the children playing in the courtyard, Li So-min said, "Yeon, isn't this place a bit strange?"

"What do you mean?"

"It looks more like a village in the mountains than a bandit hideout."

Only then did Yeon Seol-ju understand Li So-min's words.

Indeed, except for the hostility towards the Luoyang Five Heroes, it was similar to the villages they had seen on the way.

"You have a point. But I haven't seen other bandit hideouts, so I can't really say. The bandits here are definitely more ruthless than those at Jifengzai, though."

Yeon Seol-ju, who had to pay a thousand taels in compensation, didn't hide her animosity towards Oebongsanche.

However, Li So-min, who had settled for a hundred taels, saw many good things about Oebongsanche.

The most notable was that they didn't touch the women. Honestly, she and Yeon Seol-ju were beautiful enough to attract attention.

In teahouses, inns, and even noodle shops, they would encounter men leering at them. If not for their brothers, they would have suffered a lot.

So when they were first captured by the bandits of Oebongsanche, she had even considered suicide. She had heard enough about how the Green Forest bandits treated women.

They said, "Rape is a given, and necrophilia is not uncommon."

Strangely, no bandit had come within a step of her. They drooled from a distance, but that was it.

Even after being struck at acupoints and weakened, she and Yeon Seol-ju felt safe walking together.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have had the leisure to appreciate the surroundings.

As the two women walked and whispered, a voice called out, "Hey, you two look like you just came to pick herbs. You're acting like you're at home, aren't you?"

Li So-min and Yeon Seol-ju were startled and turned their heads.

A young bandit was lying on a bench in the distance.

Thinking there was nothing good about meeting him, the two women quickened their pace.

However, the young bandit, who had just noticed them, had no intention of letting them go.

"Who said you could go wherever you want?"

The two women froze.

Chun Ji-duk, who was leading them, said sharply, "Go that way."

His finger pointed towards the bench.

The two women clenched their teeth and walked towards the bench.

Li So-min, trying to gauge the young bandit's mood, asked, "Little brother, do you have something to say?"

At that moment, she was so demure that her father, Junja-sword Yi Yeon-ik, would have fainted.

The young bandit, Yan Ji-ha, said with a sullen face, "Are you bored because you have nothing to do? I saw you taking a walk."

"That's not true. We were just going to the outhouse."

"Hmm, hmm, is that so? I thought it smelled terrible."

"..."

Humiliated, Li So-min and Yeon Seol-ju's faces turned red.

To hear such words from a man, and in front of them!

It was even more embarrassing because what he said might be true.

High-level martial artists have much more developed senses than ordinary people.

Having not bathed for seven days, they were sensitive to the word 'smell.'

Especially Li So-min, who had just used the outhouse, was so embarrassed she couldn't breathe.

Yan Ji-ha, looking at the women, muttered, "Should I reduce your food? It might be better than going to the smelly outhouse so often."

Yeon Seol-ju, feeling indignant, retorted, "What do you mean by reducing it? You're already giving us one dumpling the size of a child's fist per meal!"

"Hmph! A fist is huge. There are Taoists who eat only a small pill the size of a soybean per meal. Where did you get the idea of being full?"

"That's... "

Yeon Seol-ju, angry but unable to think of a good retort, sputtered.

"Are you only concerned about what goes into your mouth? If you knew what's happening at Walong Hall these days, you wouldn't be able to swallow even a dumpling."

Yan Ji-ha laughed mockingly.

Yeon Seol-ju, feeling a chill, shouted, "What are you talking about! What have you done to our Walong Hall! Was a thousand taels not enough? Tell me!"