The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 60

S-So. You're saying we should strike their base first?"

"Yes. You heard me correctly."

"You said their numbers are huge. Over forty of them, can we do it with just the five of us?"

"Thirty-one, to be exact. Since we caught ten."

"Whether it's forty or thirty. It's still a lot more."

I waited for my senior brothers to talk a little more and then slyly appeared and explained what I had found out from Yeo Jong-su.

To be honest, I also thought it was still too early to have such a big fight, but on the contrary, I decided that if my senior brothers had made up their minds, experiencing something big like this would help them get used to battles more easily in the future.

"Numbers are not that important. In fact, as you may have felt in the fight earlier, the difference in skill is considerable, right? Then, if we have a proper tactic, we can win easily. And as for that proper tactic, you just have to do as I say. However."

"However...?"

"It means you have to swing your sword at people. It's something that can injure or even kill the opponent. Earlier, since the enemies rushed at us first, we had no choice but to protect our lives, so we can at least make the excuse that we killed the opponent to survive."

My senior brothers' eyes are wavering.

They all seem to have understood what I'm saying.

"But, the fight we're about to have is different. Of course, it's a very natural thing that those guys deserve to die, but it's a matter of us having to start the fight first. Are you mentally prepared for such a fight?"

"......"

"......"

None of my senior brothers could answer.

To be honest, it's not a question I asked to hear an answer that they're ready right now.

"But you have to think about this one thing. In a way, it's the most important word for us orthodox martial artists. It's 'chivalry'."

"Chivalry...?"

"This is a standard I've set for myself. It's not absolute. I've often had such thoughts. What is the difference between the orthodox and unorthodox factions? Why is it treated as a just act for an orthodox martial artist to kill an unorthodox martial artist as if they were getting rid of a bug?"

I spoke slowly.

But, clearly. I could feel my senior brothers getting more and more drawn into my story.

"That standard is chivalry. The unorthodox faction guys kill people for their own gain, or for their own fun, right? But we, the orthodox faction, are different. The reason we draw our swords is for the common people who are breathing and living around us."

"Ah...!"

"The common people!"

My intelligent senior brothers seem to have already realized what I'm saying.

Their faces are all starting to flush a little.

The righteousness and chivalry that they have been taught until their ears hurt since they were young must be cherished in their hearts.

I had touched that point correctly.

"If we don't wipe out the Geoungbang today, they will create another victim like us. Fortunately, we were stronger than them, so we didn't die, but what if their sword's tip is aimed at someone who doesn't know martial arts? And what if their martial arts level was weak, even if they knew martial arts? Then an innocent person would have died."

Everyone nods.

The Geoungbang gang had rushed at us with the intention of really killing us.

Since it must have been the first time in their lives that they had experienced such a killing intent directly with their bodies, they must still remember it clearly with their bodies.

"So, our striking the Geoungbang is not simply going to kill people, but to save the people who will be harmed by them someday. That's what I think. That is the path of a chivalrous hero."

After finishing my words, I looked back at my senior brothers, and their eyes are all alive.

The guilt of killing someone has long been replaced by the elation of having carried out chivalry.

Although it feels like I'm coaxing innocent people, what I had just said to my senior brothers is not much different from what I usually hold as my own conviction.

The reason I could sleep with my legs stretched out without any guilt even though I had killed countless unorthodox faction guys and Demonic Cult guys was because thanks to my killing them, the common people could regain their daily lives and escape from the threat to their lives.

"So. If you all have the mind to, let's go together. Of course, I... will go alone even if you senior brothers don't go."

In fact, even if I go alone, I'll be able to wipe out all those guys.

Although I haven't regained all my former strength yet, I can just repeat hitting and running and reduce their numbers one by one.

Perhaps it will be more troublesome if we go together.

Because I have to take care of not only my own life but also my senior brothers' lives, and I can't just run away alone just because it's disadvantageous.

'Then I shouldn't create a disadvantageous situation.'

If I end up fighting those guys, I think I'll have to fight with all my might from the beginning.

Because the more overwhelming my martial prowess, the easier the fight will be.

After finishing my short thoughts, I looked back at my senior brothers.

I can already see the will in my senior brothers' eyes.

It seems it wouldn't be awkward at all to call them all respectable martial artists now.

I barely held back the corners of my mouth that were about to go up without me realizing it and asked a question that I probably didn't need to hear the answer to.

"So what. Will you go with me to save people?"

***

A moment later.

We began to walk with Yeo Jong-su in the lead.

My senior brothers' answer was, of course, positive.

The words that we were not simply going to kill people, but to save innocent people, must have been decisive.

Because that is no different from the reason for the existence of an orthodox martial artist.

"T-Taoist masters. Our guild is quite far from here. It will take at least two days to walk."

"Really? Let's try to arrive in one day."

"O-One day is impossible."

"Why is it impossible? I kept you alive to make it possible. If you're not even that useful, there's no reason to keep you alive. I'll just get the location from you and kill you, and then find it myself."

"Heok... th-there is a way. A way!"

"Right? Suddenly a way just appears, doesn't it?"

Yeo Jong-su was so surprised that his eyes were about to pop out, and then he said urgently, "B-But that way can't be used now."

"Why?"

"I know a shortcut, but we have to cross a mountain peak and climb down a cliff."

"You think we can't do even that much?"

"Aigo, no. You great heroes can do it easily, of course. But the problem is me. My hands are tied now, and my movements are not easy, so I don't think I can go that way. If we don't go quickly, the ones who ran away will go back to the guild and start preparing..."

Yeo Jong-su said, rolling his eyes.

His hands are tied behind his back, and it seems he's using his head because he wants to be untied.

I let out a small laugh, took out my sword, and lightly cut from bottom to top.

"Ugh!"

Yeo Jong-su was startled by the sudden sword strike, but then he made a surprised expression.

Because I had cleanly cut only the cloth that was tying his hands.

"Junior Brother. Is it okay to untie his hands like that?"

"Of course."

I deliberately stared at Yeo Jong-su so he could hear and said in a loud voice, "His martial arts level is pathetic. He probably can't beat any of us. And I'll be watching him constantly. If he tries to attack us, I'll cut off his wrist, and if he tries to run away, I'll cut off his ankle."

"Hiik!"

At my threat, Yeo Jong-su's face turned pale.

He must have really been thinking of running away.

"Jong-su-ya."

"Yes, yes. Great hero."

"You heard me just now, right? I always do what I say I'll do. If you think you can dodge my sword, then run away."

"Wh-Who said they were trying to run away? I had no such thought at all."

Yeo Jong-su turned his back again as if nothing was wrong and started walking.

But I can see everything. Yeo Jong-su's shoulders are trembling.

"Yes. Let's move quickly. If you keep moving slowly, I'll cut off both your legs and carry you on my back, you know?"

"I'm walking diligently, great hero!"

Yeo Jong-su must be confused as to whether I'm a real Wudang disciple or a street thug.

And so we walked for a long time.

As we walked over the mountains and walked and walked, the sun set, so we decided to camp on the mountain.

Although it's only been a few days since we left Wudang, my senior brothers skillfully dug the ground and laid leaves to prepare a place to sleep.

Yeo Jong-su and I also dug the ground to make a bed and lay down.

And a night without any incident passed.

Although there was an incident where Yeo Jong-su slowly got up from his seat in the dawn and was about to go somewhere, and when I said I wasn't asleep yet, he was startled and said he was going to relieve himself, so I went with him.

And so the sun rose again, and around the time we had walked for another half a day.

"We're here, great heroes. Now, if we just go into this forest path and climb the small peak that comes out, that's where the Geoungbang is."

"You mean it's right here?"

Because we had walked for a long time, we had not only completely left Mount Wudang, but had also reached the outskirts of Banghyeon.

The boundary before entering the main Banghyeon county. That's right here.

"G-Great heroes. I'll kneel like this. Can't I just wait here? Please?"

"Why. Are you scared?"

"Yes. I'm really scared."

"What are you so scared of? You think I'll lose to your guild master?"

I had heard that the apostate monk Tae-mun had learned martial arts from Shaolin, but he hadn't reached a very high level. I thought I could win easily enough.

"Actually, rather than that concern, I'm scared that my end will be death no matter which side wins. If you great heroes lose, I'll be a traitor who betrayed the guild and brought the enemy to the base, and even if you great heroes win, I'll be useless and won't be needed anymore."

"That's right. Actually, you're useless."

"Great hero...!"

He looked at me with desperate eyes.

No matter how much I had no blood or tears in my prime, it's not like that now.

Because now I'm a merciful Taoist of the Wudang Sect.

"Take me all the way. Then I'll guarantee your life."

"Really?"

"Yes. After you take us to the Geoungbang, there's one thing you have to do."

"What is it?"

"Cheering. If I win, I'll let you live, but if we lose, as you said, you're just a traitor."

***

A moment later.

We reached a place where we could see the main gate of the Geoungbang.

We didn't run into anyone else on the way.

Because Yeo Jong-su had guided us not on the usual patrol route, but on a side path that only a few people, including himself, knew.

It seems he really sincerely wants us to win.

"What should we do now?"

"First, before we go in, I'll tell you how we'll fight when we go in."

"Yes. Good."

My senior brothers are looking at me with bright eyes.

They must have been curious about the tactic I mentioned earlier.

"First, the vanguard is Senior Brother Uncheol. Besides me, you're the most skilled in martial arts, right? You go in first and cause a disturbance."

"A disturbance?"

"You cause a disturbance, but don't go in too deep, just draw the enemies' attention properly."

"Hmm. I understand."

I said to the senior brothers Unjeong, Unsik, and Unmi behind him.

"Senior Brothers, now when Senior Brother Uncheol is causing a disturbance, you take the rear position and prevent anyone from approaching Senior Brother Uncheol's back. You are protecting Senior Brother Uncheol."

"Okay. I'll make sure no one gets near my senior brother."

"Good."

"Hwi-ya. Then what about you?"

"I'll hide my presence for now and stay hidden."

"You're hiding? You're not fighting?"

"Yes. I'll hide my body until the guild master of this place shows himself, and when he appears, I'll jump out and, if possible, in one blow... kwak!"

They all nod their heads as if they understand my strategy.

In fact, if you think about it, it's similar to what we fought yesterday. It's a tactic that starts by eliminating the leader first.

"First, I understand the tactic. What should we do now?"

"I told you to go and cause a disturbance."

"So. How?"

"Senior Brother. Do you remember when we went to room number eight to declare war?"

"I remember. At that time, you kicked the door and went in... surely...?"

I spread my palm and pointed towards the door and said, "Surely is right. Now. Let's begin."

Senior Brother Uncheol makes a slightly tearful face.

He probably never imagined that he would have to kick the door and go into a sect with dozens of martial artists alone.

I lightly ignored his expression and said to everyone, "When Senior Brother Uncheol goes in, you senior brothers follow right behind him."

"U-Uh. Okay."

"And everyone... never hesitate. Never."

At my serious tone and expression, everyone nodded with a firm face.

What I said just now is true.

If my senior brothers don't have a hesitant heart, they'll be able to wipe out this small Unorthodox Faction without a single scratch.

(End of Chapter)