Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 78 : Mountain Stronghold

Mountain Stronghold

The group moved lightly on their feet.

It was an unusually upbeat mood for a party on its way to annihilate a mountain stronghold manned by dozens of martial artists.

If not for the swords strapped to their waists and their wind-like lightness skill, it would merely have looked like a group of young men on a leisurely hike.

Of the group, only Jeong-un still carried the same sword he had when he first joined the military hall.

Baek Il-gang and Jo Gwang had at some point equipped themselves with new swords.

In the martial world, it was quite common for martial artists to change their weapons. There was no particular reason for it.

Swords, after all, were more prone to breaking than one might think.

Of course, there were also quite a few martial artists who insisted on using their old swords.

Some wouldn't even replace their blade after it was worn or broken.

It was because they didn't want to lose the honed sensitivity they had developed through countless training and real battles with a single sword.

The more seasoned the sword, the more responsive it was in the hand, making it easier to bring out one's best martial skill.

A martial artist's senses were so keen that even the slightest difference in a sword's weight, length, or balance could alter the power of their technique.

This was also why famous swords with sturdy durability were highly prized.

In that sense, Jeong-un's sword was the optimal weapon for him.

The sensation of gripping the sword guard was so familiar that he could keenly feel its form even when empty-handed.

Moreover, it seemed the craftsmanship of the blacksmith Jo Yoo-hyeon spoke of was truly exquisite; the sword blade was always as sharp as a winter frost.

They said that the moment true ki is infused into a well-forged sword, the energy flows smoothly and unimpeded all the way to the tip.

Jeong-un's sword was exactly like that now.

Beyond sword-and-body-as-one, it felt almost like an extension of his own limbs.

It was no longer something he could dismiss as simply a piece of sharpened metal.

It was said that a swordsman who had stepped into the realm of a master could use even a tree branch as if it was a deadly sword.

But even those masters would inevitably reach for their blade in moments of life and death.

Ultimately, the difference in destructive power was as vast as heaven and earth.

In that sense, Tang Yerin was an unusual martial artist.

Actually, it wasn't just her; most of her clan probably didn't favor swords either.

Even now, she alone among the party had no sword at her waist.

Not every martial artist in the world wielded a sword.

In some martial families, their household spear techniques had reached incredible depths.

There were even sects like the famous Shaolin, the North Star of the martial world, which used only fists and palms to claim supremacy.

Yet, even among those, Tang's clan was particularly unique.

'I've never once seen her fight.'

Jeong-un realized he had never witnessed Tang Yerin in combat. There had simply never been an opportunity.

Rumor had it, though, that she could control dozens of throwing knives as dexterously as her own fingers.

Each of them, they said, was imbued with a keen true ki.

Judging by the power behind the arrow that had flown at them earlier, it was certainly not a martial art to be taken lightly.

'There's even a secret technique called "Sky-Filling Flower Rain".'

It was a renowned peak-level martial art that everyone had heard of, whether they wanted to or not.

Just as its name implied, countless hidden weapons would rain down in all directions, relentlessly attacking until her foes were completely felled.

It was said that all Tang clansfolk trained their entire lives to reach that level.

'Could I handle such a technique?'

While guarding the rear and keeping his vigilance up as he used his lightness skill, Jeong-un muttered inwardly.

There would be countless unknown martial arts he'd face in the martial world from here on.

Especially the ones from the Evil Faction—their techniques were even more unpredictable.

He needed to see as many as possible and learn their counters.

He made up his mind: nothing could be taken lightly. Every moment was a lesson.

As he was thinking that, Baek Il-gang, leading the way, gradually slowed his pace.

The rest followed suit and stopped walking as well.

"Are we here already?"

Jo Gwang asked in a puzzled tone.

Hogye Mountain was infamous for its rugged terrain; they were barely at the foot of the mountain.

There was no way the hidden mountain stronghold would have appeared so quickly.

"There."

Instead of answering, Baek Il-gang pointed forward with his finger.

He wasn't pointing nearby, but at some distance ahead with his forefinger.

Still, since everyone in the group had exceptional eyesight, they all realized what he was indicating.

"What on earth is that...?"

Tang Yerin knit her delicate brows, looking incredulous.

At the far end of their gaze, a man was standing.

He was standing perfectly still, as though clearly waiting for someone.

Sssht.

With swift and smooth steps, Jeong-un stepped right to the front.

His eyes were already drilling holes into the figure in the distance.

'A scholar?'

Bizarrely enough, the man standing there looked just like a scholar.

Seeing him waiting here for them, he was almost certainly part of the mountain bandits, but his appearance didn't suit the role at all.

Suddenly, the letter that had been attached to the arrow came to Jeong-un's mind.

'Is he the one who wrote it?'

Jeong-un lightly moved forward again, and in an instant, closed the distance to stand in front of the man.

"Young Hero Jeong-un!"

From behind, Tang Yerin's worried shout rang out.

She must have found it suspicious to see such a mysterious man standing alone.

Jeong-un motioned her to be at ease.

He had already expanded his sensitivity and had thoroughly scanned the surroundings.

There really was only that one man nearby.

"What are you?"

Jeong-un asked, and the man flinched.

It was as if he'd seen a ghost appear before his eyes; he looked thoroughly terrified.

Then he managed, with difficulty, to open his mouth.

"First, are you truly the warriors from the Heavenly Martial Hall...?"

"...?"

Jeong-un tilted his head silently, faintly narrowing his brows.

Even that small movement made the man immediately lower his head in fear. He was quite quick to read the mood.

"N-no. Please, just proceed. I was waiting under order from the stronghold lord to guide the guests who answered our invitation!"

Tap.

While they spoke, the rest of the party softly landed beside them.

Whether they'd overheard from a distance or not, Baek Il-gang naturally picked up the conversation.

"So you're a bandit, then?"

"Yes, yes."

When Baek Il-gang saw the man nodding madly, he turned to Jeong-un and said,

"What if we just cut him down here? We already know where the stronghold is, do we not?"

"Eek!"

Thud.

The man promptly threw himself flat to the ground and shouted,

"I—I was just captured and forced to work for them! Please, have mercy on my situation!"

"......"

Jeong-un silently looked down at the man.

He truly didn't look the part of a bandit.

He looked for all the world like a scholar who had failed the county-level civil exam several times and sunk into despair.

'Though he's probably lying.'

Jeong-un sensed it instantly. The man was being deceitful.

He could tell the man knew martial arts.

In fact, the energy he emanated was even denser than the thugs they had fought before.

Could such a man really be living under duress?

Absurd.

If he wished, he could have escaped this place long ago.

Moreover, it would be nearly impossible to track down a martial artist deliberately using lightness skill to escape in these deep mountains.

'Unless they've taken his clan hostage, maybe.'

But it was unlikely they would go to so much trouble just for the likes of him.

He didn't even seem worth that effort.

Jeong-un stared intently at the back of the man's head, then quietly commanded,

"Lead the way."

"Th-thank you!"

The man sprang to his feet hurriedly, bowing and turning to guide them ahead.

The group followed at a certain distance in silence.

"Do you believe him?"

Baek Il-gang, walking alongside, asked in a low tone.

He must have sensed something similar.

Jeong-un shook his head as he answered.

"I do not."

"Then why let him live?"

"There's always a slim possibility."

There was the faint chance that the man truly was forced to work for them by unavoidable circumstances.

It was a remote possibility, but Jeong-un allowed for it in his mind.

'If it comes down to it, he can be slain then.'

It was better to be fooled by a harmless lie than to take an innocent life.

Once someone crossed the river of death, they never returned.

He refused to cause that kind of irreversible tragedy, even by accident.

As they continued further into the deep mountain,

At last, the stronghold revealed itself.

"... Are they insane or what."

Jo Gwang's curse erupted beside him.

It was because of the horrific spectacle that came into view.

The immense wooden palisade constructed as a barrier was surprisingly grand; at a glance, it even looked imposing.

But the size was not what made Jo Gwang frown.

"They stuck human heads...?"

The bandits had stuck human heads on spears all over the palisade as a display.

There were far more than just a few. It was a grotesque and abominable hobby.

"Explain."

Jeong-un spat out, voice icy cold.

The guide flinched and turned his head.

"Yes?"

"What are they meant to signify?"

The tone was cold as glacial steel. Even his companions beside him were startled by it.

"You said you weren't one of the underlings. Explain in detail."

"Y-yes! Th-that is..."

The man shrank into his neck like a turtle under Jeong-un's frozen glare, but then stuttered out,

"It's... It's a kind of intimidation tactic. It's to show that anyone who comes here uninvited will end up like that..."

"So it's not enough just to kill people, they use them as props for such a useless purpose?"

"Yes, yes! That's right. Truly, a crime that cries out to heaven."

The man quickly nodded, eager to agree.

Jeong-un stared at the heads hanging between the palisades for a moment, then averted his gaze.

"Open the gate."

"Yes!"

The man ran up to the gates as if he'd been waiting.

"Guests have arrived!"

And immediately, the huge gates of the palisade swung inward.

Turning to Jeong-un's group, the man bowed deeply.

"Please, come inside."

Jeong-un moved forward in silence.

The man, relieved, lowered his head and led them in.

Jo Gwang, following after, muttered quietly,

"Never thought I'd live to see the day I was officially escorted through the front door into a bandit's den."

Inside, an unexpected scene unfolded.

The trees had all been cleared away to make a wide clearing.

Several barracks stood there, and many people who didn't look like bandits were visible as well.

But their faces were all gloomy. None dared even to look towards the gate.

From their appearance, they must have been local villagers forcibly brought in for chores.

"You must keep moving."

Before they knew it, several burly bandits appeared and surrounded the group.

Under their watchful eyes, they were led even further in.

Soon, a large wooden building came into view.

"This way."

The guide walked up to the door and pulled the handle.

Jeong-un followed without a moment's hesitation.

"......"

He turned his head, scanning the interior.

Baek Il-gang, who had followed close behind, gave a wry chuckle.

"Well, just as I expected."

In the center sat a man in a massive chair they'd gotten from who knows where.

He appeared to be the stronghold lord.

He looked quite young – perhaps just into his twenties.

Besides him, to the left and right of Jeong-un's group, bandits stood in rows, each holding a weapon suffused with murderous intent.

They all glared at Jeong-un's party with fierce eyes.

'They said a few dozen, but...'

Even at a glance, the number was close to a hundred.

They were facing a far larger group than anticipated.

"Stronghold lord, I've brought the guests."

Their guide stepped forward and announced.

But instead of the man in the chair, it was the one standing right beside him who spoke up.

"So you're the punks from the Heavenly Martial Hall?"

"......"

Jeong-un stared silently before parting his lips.

"I have something to confirm before that."

"What?"

In the moment the man furrowed his brow, Jeong-un spoke.

"They say this one has killed dozens here – is that true?"

"What did you say?"

The man squinted his eyes, confused by the sudden question.

Their guide widened his eyes and spun around.

"He said so himself. Said he's the stronghold's number one killer. That bandits are judged by how many heads they've taken, and he even bragged about it."

"What?"

"That bookish bastard!"

Instantly, roaring laughter broke out among the surrounding bandits.

Jeong-un's story must have been hilarious to them.

The guide's face went red, and he shouted,

"I—I never said anything like that...!"

Just then, one of the bandits barked out,

"You rascal, Yang Gae! Have you really been bluffing? You're the one who targets only women, toying with them and then killing them, aren't you?"

"Shut up! I never said anything like that!"

As fresh laughter rang out again, the man—called Yang Gae—let out a shrill yell.

He glared at Jeong-un, eyes burning with fury.

"What the hell are you playing at...!"

"You lied to me, didn't you."

"...?"

The moment he tried to twist his features into a nasty expression—

A streak of pure white light split the air like a flash.

It was a flash of the sword.

Sssht!

No scream.

His face still frozen in that flinch, his neck simply soared through the air.

"......"

Thud.

His head hit the ground.

The scent of blood thickened, and a chilling silence descended over the hall.

The bandits who had been exuding murderous intent were so stunned they could not even groan.

The idea that anyone would draw a sword in such a situation was surprising enough, but none had been able to follow Jeong-un's strike with their eyes.

Step, step.

Jeong-un strode forward slowly, already having sheathed his sword.

He fixed his eyes on the stronghold lord sitting in the chair and spoke,

"If you have anything left to say, say it now."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I thought Yang Gae was the stronghold lord pretending to be weak...

Apparently not...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】