Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 73 : Preparation

Preparation

The Black Dragon Stronghold was one of the most influential mountain strongholds among the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Green Forest.

It had completely seized control of a main passage connecting Hogwang Province and Jiangxi Province.

As it was the fastest and most convenient route, countless merchant guilds traveled through there.

It had existed for a very long time. By now, its size could even be compared to that of a village.

Scale meant strength.

The Black Dragon Stronghold had entered into amicable contracts with the local merchant guilds through moderate shows of force.

The merchant guilds would even voluntarily pay their tolls without the need to draw swords.

In fact, the heads of the larger merchant guilds would greet them personally and exchange pleasantries.

To celebrate the New Year, the Black Dragon Stronghold even sent gifts to the guilds first.

This was a cheeky way of saying: "We live well thanks to you."

—Operating a mountain stronghold is no different from running a business.

This was what Byuk Dae-gwang, the son of the Black Dragon Stronghold's deputy leader, had heard so often since childhood that it rang in his ears.

His father, Byuk Ja-yang, was not much of a martial artist, but he was incredibly sharp-witted.

His leadership—relying on his exceptional intellect, which compensated for the strong but not-so-bright mountain lord—had raised the Black Dragon Stronghold to its current status.

It could be said that the strong influence of the Black Dragon Stronghold at the general assembly of mountain lords presided over directly by the King of the Green Forest was primarily due to his efforts.

Yet, even for one so powerful in such a vast organization, there was sorrow.

After all, the Dark Path was the Dark Path.

If your martial arts were not high-level, you would always be looked down upon.

Even as his subordinates carried out his orders, they covertly belittled him.

In a society where the strong and the weak were clearly demarcated, that was only natural.

'I won't become like my father.'

Byuk Dae-gwang made this vow from childhood. Fortunately, his father wished for the same.

He did not want his son to suffer the same humiliations.

He poured all sorts of elixirs and secret manuals into his son's training.

Knowing Dae-gwang was not especially gifted—just like himself—he applied even greater effort.

Whether thanks to those efforts, Byuk Dae-gwang managed to build up quite powerful martial arts.

Furthermore, Byuk Ja-yang did not want his son to have a weak will, as he did.

In Dae-gwang's thirteenth year, he made him personally behead a man.

In a duel, he broke the ankle of one of the strongest in the stronghold.

The man became a cripple. Everyone in the stronghold witnessed it.

After reaching adulthood, Dae-gwang made a name for himself with many exploits.

If any merchant dared resist even a little, he would mercilessly behead them and tear them limb from limb.

Thanks to his particularly brutal methods, word of him spread quickly.

No one looked down on him or his father anymore. He had obtained what he desired.

But then another problem arose.

—Keep your mouth shut.

He was now allowed to attend stronghold meetings, but no remarks were permitted.

The stronghold lord never looked his way. Even after great achievements, he was thoroughly ignored.

Despite greater displays of loyalty, the cold treatment never changed.

At last, Byuk Dae-gwang realized—the lord saw him as a threat.

—Why?

He understood very well that the Green Forest was a thoroughly Darwinian society.

So he tried all the more to obey the stronghold lord's orders faithfully—killing countless people and stealing their wealth as offerings.

But even so, the lord was wary of him.

At this point, he had to admit that his very existence was regarded as a threat to the lord.

Finally, his father spoke.

—Leave.

No elaborate explanation was given. That single word sufficed.

If he stayed, he'd be killed.

Or he would have to kill the stronghold lord, but the man's strength was monstrous—far beyond his own reach.

So he took a few loyal men and left.

The stronghold lord gave permission without hesitation, even seeming pleased.

Seeing that expression, Byuk Dae-gwang made a vow.

He would one day return to this place and take the bastard's head.

So, he wandered far and wide for a time.

Whenever he saw anyone, he killed them, took their goods and food, and lived that way.

Once, he even burned down an entire village. It had been an enjoyable time.

When he began to think it was time to establish his own base and grow his forces, he found this place.

Beside a vast, towering mountain range sat a large village.

The people there did business with other villages through only a few routes.

It was perfect geography for banditry. Without further thought, he settled right there.

From then on, everything was easy. He blocked the path and killed everyone coming and going, taking their goods.

He made sure not to let a single one go free.

When you first establish a stronghold, that's how you have to do things.

Otherwise, people would underestimate you and scheme behind your back.

"—Chief, some unfamiliar folks have shown up."

"—Unfamiliar folks?"

One day, a group of young martial artists appeared in the village.

They all wore black uniforms, but color meant little—the issue was their affiliation.

"—Heavenly Martial Hall, you say?"

"—Yes, one of the Jeongmu Sect members overheard someone talking near the village and caught it for sure."

Heavenly Martial Hall.

He already knew the name.

It was said a group of young elites of the orthodox martial world traveled around, acting like grim reapers—deciding whom to punish and delivering retribution without mercy, as they saw fit.

"—Just watch them for now."

He gave that order to his men.

Like his father, Byuk Dae-gwang was quick-witted—unlike his cruel methods, he could think fast.

In truth, had he only possessed moderately good martial skills and a vicious streak, the Black Dragon Stronghold lord would've already split his head open.

He judged that these people wouldn't stay here long.

They were wanderers moving from one base to another around Hanyang Prefecture.

If they kept quiet for a bit, they would likely see things settle and return.

That was what he thought.

However, the group showed no sign of leaving.

Instead, they patrolled near the village, and word was they were exploring all over the mountains.

"—Chief, are we just going to keep waiting? Now they openly move through the mountain paths as they please. Is it right to leave them be?"

Byuk Dae-gwang looked at the face of a subordinate who couldn't hide his dissatisfaction.

He was one of those who had followed him since leaving the Black Dragon Stronghold.

The Green Forest as a group was like this. They had no understanding of the effect of patience.

He was certain that eventually, the group would grow weary and leave on their own.

Then he could resume operations and, once the villagers were completely cornered, negotiate as he pleased.

After that, he'd control them at will.

However, out of his fifty-some subordinates, not a single one understood this.

They were all simple types, drawn by admiration for his martial prowess.

"—Phwak!"

He drew his sword and swung it.

The grumbling one's head flew off.

The faces of those standing beside quickly turned pale.

Byuk Dae-gwang scanned their faces and spoke:

"—Once the merchants leave the village and fully cross the mountain, go after them and kill them."

Their expressions brightened at that. None asked why they had to wait for the merchants to cross the mountain.

After all, the blood pouring from the head rolling in the dirt was still warm.

'Let's see how you act this time.'

Byuk Dae-gwang muttered, suppressing his men's discontent that way.

* * *

The next merchant caravan was scheduled for two days later. Jeong-un explained his plan to the Jeongmu Sect's Gate Leader.

The leader's eyes grew wide when he heard that Jeong-un's group would wear Jeongmu Sect uniforms for disguise.

"What do you stand to gain by going that far?"

"They're already on guard against us—enough so to stage attacks from a distance,"

Jeong-un replied calmly.

"So we intend to exploit the fact that they're only targeting your disciples."

"... Exploit?"

"Until now, the Jeongmu Sect has never managed to repel them, so the bandits are probably confident their martial strength is superior to yours. So they'll strike when only Jeongmu Sect disciples are guarding the caravan. But if we mix in, they'll be on guard and won't approach. They're not fools—they'll inevitably think this way."

"..."

The Gate Leader's face clouded. They were an established sect in the region, after all.

It wasn't pleasant to hear from someone else that their school was considered weak.

'It can't be helped.'

But Jeong-un's face remained impassive.

If the reality couldn't be accepted, there was no point in making plans to begin with.

Besides, even though the Jeongmu Sect paid tribute to the Murim Alliance, Jeong-un's group had come to help them.

There was no reason to soften his words out of deference to the leader.

"So we'll disguise ourselves as Jeongmu Sect disciples and act as guards. That way, the bandits will approach without suspicion."

"Fine. What do you need me to prepare?"

"Let us borrow your uniforms. That will suffice."

Disguising wouldn't take much. In the first place, rural sects like this didn't even have distinctive attire.

After finishing the conversation, Jeong-un returned to the guest hall and addressed his companions.

"Young Hero Baek and I will guard the next merchant caravan. The other two, please stay behind and patrol the village."

"Why?"

At the mention that she would stay behind again, Tang Yerin widened her eyes in surprise, her tone of objection rather sharp.

It was only natural—after seeing the corpses of people wrongfully killed just the day before, she would want to act directly.

"These are craftier foes than expected. They're probably watching us from a distance. If the patrollers suddenly disappeared, it'd make them suspicious, so two should remain and keep things as usual."

"I could go instead. Why Young Hero Baek?" she pressed.

Jeong-un shook his head.

"There are no women in the Jeongmu Sect. If a woman appears in their uniform, it will draw suspicion."

"..."

Tang Yerin fell silent. He wasn't wrong. Whatever the task, it was right to prepare thoroughly.

Any hint of complacency could ruin things. More than anything, it was an order from a two-striped warrior.

Even if it was hard to accept, she had to obey.

Young Hero Baek, grinning, chimed in, "Don't worry. If I meet them, I'll cut off their heads so you won't feel you missed out. Just make sure this fellow doesn't do anything foolish while I'm gone."

"What!?"

Jo Gwang shouted, eyes wide, but Baek Il-gang strolled out into the yard as if he hadn't heard. Jo Gwang followed after, fuming.

"Young Hero Yu,"

Tang Yerin called softly.

"As you've probably sensed, these bandits are odd. I thought they'd immediately pick a fight, since they claim to be Green Forest members, but... it hasn't happened."

She trailed off, voice filled with concern. She must have sensed this was no ordinary mission.

'She's right.'

Jeong-un silently agreed. He had unconsciously regarded it as a simple job, just because they were bandits.

But work in the martial world was usually like this—a long battle of attrition, not the dynamic life-and-death struggles the rumors made them out to be.

Martial artists and commoners alike valued their lives.

'Anyway.'

Since there was an organization, there must be a leader. Undoubtedly, he would be leading the others.

That meant he had to meet him. If the leader wouldn't come to him, then he would just have to go to him.

That was the resolve Jeong-un made.