Chapter v11c16: The Green Forest King

**The Green Forest King**

“Anyway, about this… Ugh!”

Bi Ryu-yeon sighed in exasperation. He and the Cheonmu Academy delegation were currently ascending Mount Dahong, the infamous territory where the Green Forest King, Im Gae, was openly conducting his “business.”

‘It really is a small world.’ He couldn’t believe it.

“What is this ragtag bunch?”

Bi Ryu-yeon was a master of delivering maximum insult with minimal words. He knew precisely how to pack a punch with a single sentence. He was also a strong believer in efficiency—why waste ten words when one would suffice?

Those who were addressed, whose ears were, of course, functional, immediately flushed red with anger at being called a “ragtag bunch.” But they couldn’t retort. They were the six young masters from the Eight Great Families who had been effortlessly defeated by Bi Ryu-yeon the night before. It seems the other two had always been absent.

They were part of the Zhongyang Escort Agency’s strategy—a rather futile investment, in retrospect. Namgung Ho and the other young masters, despite being older than twenty, were still too weak to enter Cheonmu Academy (having failed the entrance exam). They were diligently practicing their family’s martial arts, a far cry from the high standards of the academy.

As young martial artists, they had naturally planned a trip to Mount Hua to witness the prestigious Mount Hua Sect’s Hundred-Year Agreement Conference, a must-see event for any budding martial artist. Jang Woo Kang, the young leader of the Zhongyang Escort Agency, had proposed they join his escort mission, promising to cover their travel expenses and offering a handsome reward upon arrival. They accepted his offer without hesitation.

Now, their faces bruised and swollen after their failed attempt to impress a woman at Samyang, the gateway to Mount Dahong, they were trudging up the mountain like prisoners of war. They had no idea that the people they had encountered were the esteemed Cheonmu Academy delegation that they admired, the ones representing the academy at the Mount Hua Sect’s Hundred-Year Agreement Conference.

“An idle bunch with nothing better to do. Why are they rushing to Mount Hua when they should be practicing?”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s disapproving gaze dissected each of these unemployed young masters. “I just hope they don’t piss their pants and hold us back,” he said, his last comment making their faces burn with shame and anger. There was nothing they could do: no protests, no resistance, no retorts.

“The mountain is awfully noisy, even though there’s no herd of wild boars on a rampage. Yerin, can you feel it?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, glancing at the dense forest. Since that day, Na Yerin was still somewhat distant but didn’t avoid him as much.

“Yes, there’s strong malicious intent. A vicious hostility bordering on murderous intent!”

Na Yerin answered with a serious nod. Her expression was grim.

“Heh, they seem to be looking for a fight.” Yeomdo, with his eyes closed, unsheathed his sword, a fierce fighting spirit rising inside him.

“Quite a few of them,” muttered Binggeom, sensing the oppressive energy encircling them.

“They’re here!”

Yeomdo’s eyes shot open.

Screech!

The Cheonmu Academy delegation and the escort agency came to an abrupt halt.

“Halt! You shall not pass!” A hulking man with copper-colored skin blocked their path. He wore a fur coat made from a single wolf pelt, with the wolf’s head on his left shoulder baring its fangs.

His voice echoed powerfully, fortified by his internal energy. The presence of the Green Forest Stronghold was overwhelming. Jang Woo Yang, despite anticipating this encounter, couldn’t hide his nervousness. This delivery was a matter of survival for his escort agency. There was no room for mistakes.

“We acknowledge the presence of the owner of the seventy-two mountains. We are members of the Zhongyang Escort Agency. We understand that we need to pass a test to travel through the Green Forest King’s territory. We wish to take the test.”

Jang Woo Yang declared in a loud voice.

“You want to take the test?”

“Yes!”

A cold smile appeared on the burly man’s face.

“Under normal circumstances, you’d be allowed to pass after. However… !” His eyes flashed with a murderous glint. “You are an exception. None of you will leave this place alive.”

Snap!

The man with copper-colored skin raised his hand.

Boom! Rumble!

The mountain seemed to shake as if struck by thunder. It wasn’t an earthquake or thunder; it was the sound of hundreds of people moving in unison.

Just how many of them were there?

A thick black wall of men, weapons in hand, surrounded the escort mission and the delegation, forming an impenetrable barrier of flesh, steel, and murderous intent. Their weapons created a terrifying sight—a forest of swords and sabers.

Jang Woo Yang’s face turned as pale as a sheet.

“Two thousand? Or maybe… three thousand?”

Bi Ryu-yeon quickly estimated. At least five layers surrounded them, an incredible force compared to the Black Wolf Stronghold.

“Roar!”

Clang, clang, clang!

Brandishing and clashing their weapons, they roared in unison. The sound of nearly 3,000 men screaming combined with the metallic clang of their weapons was deafening. The synchronized stomping of their feet made the ground tremble, as powerful as an earthquake.

Their intimidating performance had a great impact. Most of the Zhongyang Escort Agency’s escorts and porters were trembling like leaves, their faces completely pale. The new recruits couldn’t even muster the courage to draw their swords. Prayers for survival, or at least a peaceful death, were muttered.

Some members of the Cheonmu Academy delegation, lacking real-world experience, were overwhelmed with fear and confusion. Even though their martial art skills were strong, they had never faced a true battle.

Yun Jun Ho, especially, looked frightened, his face drained of all color. He had yet to fully conquer his fear, but at least he was trying to maintain his composure.

This intimidating performance was intentional, designed to demoralize their enemies, instill fear, and create a state of chaos and panic.

The sons of the Eight Great Families, who had tagged along for the ride, were trembling, their faces pale with fear. They had never witnessed such a terrifying display of power, the shadows of death dancing before their eyes. Bi Ryu-yeon thought they deserved praise for at least not wetting their pants.

‘As expected from the Mad Wolf Stronghold, the headquarters of the Seventy-Two Strongholds,’ Bi Ryu-yeon thought. They knew how to make an entrance.

Even Yong Cheon Myong, the leader of the Gu Jeong Hoe; Cheong Heun and Baek Mu-yeong, the Three Star Swordsmen; and Maha Ryeong, the leader of the Gun ung hoe who wielded the Iron Jade Bamboo, were inwardly flustered by this unexpected situation. However, for the sake of their pride, they desperately tried to maintain their composure.

However, there were also individuals who were truly calm. Yeomdo, Binggeom, and Bi Ryu-yeon had experienced too much in their lives to be fazed by such a display. The Jujakdan members, who had gone through intensive training under them, were also unmoved.

No matter how strong the Seventy-Two Strongholds were, a martial arts battle wasn’t about numbers. A single, skilled warrior could fight a thousand men. That was the key difference between a normal war and a battle between martial artists.

“Clap, clap, clap, clap!”

A sudden applause, the source unknown, cut through the tense atmosphere, plunging the standoff into an eerie silence.

“That was a fine welcome ceremony. Excellent performance,” Bi Ryu-yeon said, his words silencing the crowd.

Thousands of eyes turned to him. ‘did he go insane with fear?’ some of the bandits wondered. Bi Ryu-yeon continued, “However, who gave you the right to take my life? Nobody! I find it truly remarkable that you even harbor such absurd desires.” His words were sharp and merciless.

“While we have no intentions of begging for a bandit’s test, what is the reason that sets us apart from everyone else? Let’s hear the reason before we ‘start.’”

What did he mean by ‘start?’

“Y-Young Master, p-please…”

Jang Woo Yang, pale with fear, tried to stop Bi Ryu-yeon. He was desperate to avoid further provocation. The situation was already precarious. There was no need to worsen it; they were already facing imminent death as it was.

“You damnable bastards! You dare question the reason?” The burly man bellowed in rage.

“Perhaps you should identify yourself first before insulting others.”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s casual remark made the man blush. He had been making demands without even introducing himself.

“I am Mo Gyeong, the leader of the Storm Wolf Thirty-Six Sabers of the Green Forest Seventy-Two Strongholds! The Storm Wolf Ghost Saber!”

The Storm Wolf Thirty-Six Sabers!

They were the strongest saber unit among the Seventy-Two Strongholds, personally trained by the Green Forest King, Im Deok Seong. As his personal guard, they were the fiercest and most violent, wolves among wolves.

The embodiment of the Green Forest King.

They were brutal and ruthless when necessary, even feared by the other Seventy-Two Strongholds. Their power was used not only against external enemies, but also internal ones. They would often eliminate any internal dissent or rebellion, further solidifying their image as a force to be feared.

They were the most terrifying adversary in the Green Forest.

“Oh, quite a celebrity, I see.” Bi Ryu-yeon, informed of their reputation, continued to smile. Even the biggest threat in the Green Forest didn’t seem to faze him.

“But we have our own fair share of celebrities. Don’t you agree, Yerin?”

“……”

Na Yerin, unsure how to respond, remained silent.

“Ugh!”

Mo Gyeong was enraged by Bi Ryu-yeon’s nonchalant attitude. Ignoring him and flirting with the woman next to him… truly there were many people in the world who deserved to die.

“Do you even know who we are? And you dare to obstruct our path knowing that?” Seeing Bi Ryu-yeon’s continued provocations, Binggeom, realizing that the situation was getting out of hand, stepped forward.

“Even if you are disciples of great sects, the price of blood must be paid in blood!” Mo Gyeong’s words were a warning, acknowledging their opponents weren’t ordinary weaklings.

“We have no knowledge of this blood debt or how it was calculated,” Binggeom replied calmly. As the chief elder of Cheonmu Academy, he found this situation incredibly unpleasant. He felt the name of Cheonmu Academy was being disregarded. There was no other explanation for such foolhardy behavior. Obstructing the path of the Cheonmu Academy delegation, the representatives chosen for the Mount Hua Sect’s Hundred-Year Agreement Conference? It was outrageous.

‘Is that shadowy group involved with this as well?’ It was a possibility he couldn’t rule out. His gaze swept over the surrounding bandits, sharp as a honed blade.

“Are you denying you know about the Black Wolf Stronghold?” Mo Gyeong barked in a furious tone.

“Black Wolf Stronghold? Of course, we know. But why would that matter to us?”

Yeomdo replied, exasperation lacing his voice. He was more confused than angry.

Mo Gyeong exploded. “You shameless, lying bastards! You destroyed the Black Wolf Stronghold, and you dare feign ignorance?”

Yeomdo, more curious than angry, asked, “What are you talking about? Why would the Black Wolf Stronghold be destroyed?”

“You monsters! We know you wiped them out! Surrender yourselves! Blood debts can only be repaid in blood.”

This was outrageous, accusing them of something they hadn’t done! The delegation members exchanged bewildered looks. Im Seong-Jin, especially, was stunned. Yeomdo was sputtering with rage.

“Are you crazy? Those bastards were alive and well just a few days ago! How could they be dead? Were they struck by lightning or something?”

Yeomdo snapped back, his temper flaring.

“Silence! We, the Seventy-Two Strongholds, collect blood debts in blood. You will die here today, and we will avenge our fallen brothers with your blood!”

It seemed they were openly trying to frame them in broad daylight.

“Let me ask you one thing. I’ve been trying to hold back, but I am just too curious—did you do this knowing we are the Cheonmu Academy delegation to the Mount Hua Sect’s Hundred-Year Agreement Conference delegation?”

Yeomdo asked with a sigh, his patience wearing thin.

“Mount Hua Sect Conference!” The bandits reacted to these words — they knew the significance of this event.

Murmurs spread through the crowd. They knew this event was for monsters who defied all common sense, individuals far stronger and more terrifying than any disciple from the prestigious sects.

Mo Gyeong’s face darkened.

‘I thought they were just some great sect’s disciples, but could it be that we’re facing the Mount Hua Sect Conference delegation?’

Things were not looking good. Even for the mighty Mad Wolf Stronghold, confronting this group meant challenging the entire righteous sect.

Just then, another voice boomed.

“Even the Cheonmu Academy delegation cannot avoid paying for their crimes! They cannot pass!”

The sound echoed through the mountain, shaking the very air itself. People covered their ears, their eardrums about to burst from the force of his voice, infused with internal energy.

Im Seong-jin’s eyes widened, and he looked toward the direction of the voice. His expression turned grim as he recognized the owner.