“Let’s head back to Sacheon City.”
“Hmm. Are you planning to stay longer in Sacheon City?”
Hyeok Gi-rin felt he had achieved his purpose for coming to Sacheon City. Whether it was due to his dignity as the Grand Priest of the Nine Great Sects or that of a royal prince of Huang Nation, he had managed to silence the bandits.
“Yes. That is correct. Despite my own tasks, I have witnessed countless suffering people among the commoners. How could I leave Sacheon City for my own comfort? I must help as much as I can.”
I nodded silently. I had a feeling from the moment I started caring for the victims at the inn that he would want to lend a hand in resolving the bandit situation.
“In the end, it seems you accomplished nothing but shutting their mouths.”
The strong momentum that had overwhelmed over five hundred bandits had vanished, leaving Hyeok Gi-rin with his head down.
Seeing this, the Black Cat spoke up, as if she was concerned.
“Hmm. Cheer up, young hero! Hyeok young hero said he would punish anyone who harms others in his name. How could those bandits even dare to lay a hand on anyone? That alone is enough reason for you to hold your head high!”
“That’s right.”
I agreed with the Black Cat.
“Let’s lift our spirits. The issue with the bandits isn’t something one person can solve.”
“…Hearing you two comfort me has recharged my spirits.”
A small smile appeared on Hyeok Gi-rin’s face. It was a relief to see him smile again; he had looked so defeated that it had affected me too.
“Exactly! Let’s stop by the inn and eat something spicy to lift our spirits.”
The Black Cat chimed in next to Hyeok Gi-rin.
“Yesterday’s meal had a good amount of spice. The Spicy Stir-fried Shrimp was excellent.”
“Ha ha, is that so? If we stop at the inn, I must try the Spicy Stir-fried Shrimp.”
I smiled subtly, creating some distance for the two to chat. I didn’t quite understand why the Black Cat was suddenly so concerned about Hyeok Gi-rin, but it was her first time getting close to someone other than me.
Was Hyeok Gi-rin’s unique situation provoking the Black Cat?
Anyway, it was a good thing for both the Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin.
I walked ahead, listening to the sounds of hooves and their chatter.
—
“I’ll just step outside for a moment.”
As soon as we arrived at the inn from yesterday, Hyeok Gi-rin disappeared.
‘It must be overwhelming for him.’
Those who had lost everything to the bandits must be desperate, wanting to grab onto anything.
Perhaps they were waiting for Okryong Sinhyeop Hyeok Gi-rin to resolve everything in one fell swoop. They might still be holding onto that hope, but once they realized there were no results, that hope could easily turn into disappointment.
Or perhaps it could shift to resentment.
Thus, it was necessary to prepare myself mentally to deliver the news to the people at the inn.
The Black Cat stared in the direction Hyeok Gi-rin had gone, muttering.
“Hmm. I wonder if Hyeok Gi-rin young hero is okay.”
“By the way, looks like you’ve become quite friendly with Hyeok Great Hero. What changed all of a sudden?”
“Thanks to an oblivious senior.”
The Black Cat shook her head vigorously. Initially, I had just interrupted because I didn’t like the sight of the two being too close, but now I found it hard to justify separating them.
In searching for a reason, I thought, ‘After all, if she’s a girl disguised as a boy, her essence is still female, and as long as I can hold onto her, that’s what matters, right?’
The Black Cat’s charm seemed to lure men but evoke wariness and rejection from women. So she tried to cut off Hwan Cheon-an’s approach by talking to Hyeok Gi-rin just before he could get uncomfortable.
Surprisingly, however, Hyeok Gi-rin engaged her in conversation without any sign of discomfort.
‘Maybe it’s because he has some kind of allure or resistance against that charm?’
It could have been because Hyeok Gi-rin was highly skilled or because of his charm. Regardless of the reason, what mattered was that he could have a pleasant conversation with the Black Cat.
While the Black Cat found Hwan Cheon-an’s nonchalance irritating, she couldn’t deny that she remembered his remark from that day: ‘One day, we must connect with people.’
The Black Cat had clearly enjoyed talking to Hyeok Gi-rin.
In the back of her mind, she wondered, ‘Is this what the senior meant about forming connections with people?’ and began to acknowledge it to some extent.
“Getting along with others isn’t a bad thing, is it?”
But seeing Hwan Cheon-an grinning in front of her frustrated her.
The Black Cat’s desire to honestly acknowledge that the foolish senior’s advice was correct faded away.
“Hmph! I only interrupted because I was frustrated watching you, senior!”
“Is that right?”
“Well, after talking, I guess it was somewhat… how shall I put it? We managed to communicate because he likes cats.”
Hwan Cheon-an, who had been chuckling while listening to the Black Cat’s murmuring, turned his head.
Hyeok Gi-rin, looking prepared and solid, had returned.
As soon as he stepped into the inn, someone shouted.
“Hyeok Gi-rin Great Hero has arrived!”
“Great Hero! What happened to the bandits?”
People rushed to Hyeok Gi-rin in an instant.
“Did the bandits retreat?”
“What happened to the wealth the bandits seized? What are they planning to do with it?”
Hyeok Gi-rin opened his mouth heavily.
“The bandits don’t seem likely to back down easily.”
“Ahh…!”
“What about our wealth? What about the wealth stolen by the bandits?”
“The whereabouts of the wealth…”
The people in this inn fell into two categories. Those who were travelers caught off guard by the news of the bandits’ arrival and those who had been robbed of their belongings, anxiously pacing in the inn.
Neither group would take Hyeok Gi-rin’s words positively.
A heavy silence settled in the inn. As if promised, everyone looked up at the sky in lament or down at the ground with a sigh.
Hwan Cheon-an observed the scene.
What pure-hearted people they were.
To single-handedly drive away the bandits. And to find out what happened to the lost wealth. These things were not tasks anyone could accomplish.
Hwan Cheon-an glanced at the Black Cat. With her arms crossed, she looked distinctly displeased.
“Why are you bowing your head when you haven’t even done anything wrong?”
Hwan Cheon-an chuckled at the Black Cat’s murmuring. That’s right.
What Hyeok Gi-rin did today was more than enough to earn him the title of hero.
If some random hero from the Central Plains were to do what Hyeok Gi-rin did, he would have rushed into the inn first, boldly declaring, “This public-minded hero stands here and declares that if any bandits harm my people, I swear in my name that I will not forgive them! I will not overlook any bandit who dares to harm the innocent!”
The inn would be filled with admiration for his heroism and courage.
“Black Cat, is Hyeok Gi-rin a hero?”
“Of course! What are you talking about, senior?! Are you implying something against Hyeok Gi-rin?”
Seeing the Black Cat jumping around, Hwan Cheon-an shook his head.
“Quite the opposite.”
Would it be hypocritical if someone came running to the inn, declaring their name and acting to stop bandits from harming people? Some would call it hypocrisy, claiming they were only masquerading good deeds to boost their reputation, while others might argue that they still stood for the people, utilizing their name for goodness.
‘What does it even matter?’
The essence of a person isn’t defined by others’ standards or arbitrary assessments.
What truly mattered was the action.
Today, Hyeok Gi-rin stood up against the bandits, declaring that they would not harm the innocent in his name. Putting one’s name on the line was no trivial matter.
If a bandit were to harm someone, it was a declaration of taking ‘responsibility’ no matter what the consequences.
The warning Hyeok Gi-rin gave to the bandits today was not something to be taken lightly.
‘Is there any martial artist in this world who would bow their head after putting their name on the line against bandits?’
To Hwan Cheon-an, Hyeok Gi-rin was a true hero deserving praise and admiration.
‘So I must ensure he gets the recognition he deserves.’
“Behold, I am the Sacheon Outcast using the mystical powers of the lord of hell!”
Hwan Cheon-an burst onto the scene, disrupting the already heavy atmosphere of the inn. The Black Cat widened her eyes in shock, and Hyeok Gi-rin looked taken aback as the people at the inn began to murmur.
“What is that guy?”
“Who knows…!”
“Hahaha! Seems like it’s a bunch of clueless folks! Have you ever heard of a Sacheon Outcast displaying their sorcery abilities before the Hwang Gold Clan?”
The murmurs grew among the patrons at the inn, bewildered by Hwan Cheon-an’s sudden announcement.
“Ha ha! Watch closely!”
Hwan Cheon-an quickly unleashed his sorcery. A coin transformed in the blink of an eye!
“Wait, how did that turn into a silver coin?!”
“Sorcery! It’s sorcery!”
“Now that I think about it, I’ve heard a rumor! An outcast who uses strange sorcery to exchange money in Sacheon City!”
“Hahaha! Seems there are some open-minded folk here!”
Hwan Cheon-an rolled up his sleeves and began to perform his sorcery act. While he didn’t have any gambling cards, he had enough concealed tools to show off his skills.
“Behold! The sight of my blade duplicating!”
“No?! Wasn’t there only one blade?! How did it become five?!”
“Sorcery! Sorcery!”
“Ha ha! Now everyone has witnessed the power of my lord!”
As the patrons of the inn became engrossed in the sorcery performance, Hwan Cheon-an stood atop a table, shouting.
“By the powers of my lord from the underworld, I assure you that everything I say from now on is the truth! If it is not, my lord shall take away my powers!”
As he spoke fervently, the people in the inn, confused yet intrigued, swallowed nervously. What would he say with such a claim?
“I am accompanying Hyeok Gi-rin Great Hero to the bandit camp today!”
The patrons instantly held their breaths. What they wanted to hear the most was news about the bandits settled atop the Jeongnam Mountain.
“The bandits have numbered over five hundred! You’ve all heard of the ruthless deeds of the Savage Green Seven, haven’t you?! The evil men that roam the remote mountain paths, spilling innocent blood and taking away their wealth!”
Most in the inn had already suffered from those bandits, and fear quickly filled the atmosphere.
While Hyeok Gi-rin wondered what Hwan Cheon-an was doing, the Black Cat blocked Hyeok Gi-rin from stepping forward.
“What’s happening here?!”
“Shhh! Just listen!”
“It was terrifying to stand amongst over five hundred deadly murderers, even as I used the mystical powers of my lord from the underworld! The bloodthirst poured over me! And just when things couldn’t get worse, the four leaders of the bandits appeared, exuding malice!”
“Oooh!”
“How dreadful…!”
“Four leaders appeared at once! I couldn’t endure it, my knees shivered! With the powers of my lord barely keeping me on my feet… just then! Hyeok Gi-rin of Okryong Sinhyeop stepped forward!”
“Truly!”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s eyes darted, unsure of the situation. He tried to speak, but the Black Cat held his shoulder, while Hwan Cheon-an continued.
Without any prior coordination, the two displayed remarkable synergy, shutting down Hyeok Gi-rin’s voice and gathering the attention of the inn’s patrons.
“Hyeok Gi-rin faced the bandit leaders, who looked as if they had crawled out of hell, and despite their gaze, he remained calm! With just a look, he suppressed their aura and declared, ‘The suffering of the people roars to the heavens and shakes the earth! Cease your wicked deeds this instant!’”
“That voice was like a frostbite, and his spirit was like the heavens’ wrath, causing the bandit leaders to tremble and plead, ‘If you harm us, our brothers from the Savage Green will cut through the innocent, spilling blood like rivers!’”
“Those vile bandit leaders!”
“Those bandit fiends would do just that!”
Having already suffered at the hands of these bandits, the patrons felt their resentment boiling, crying out against them.
Hwan Cheon-an clenched his fists, raising the people’s spirits once again.
“Hyeok Gi-rin Great Hero was enraged enough to dispense justice upon the bandits immediately! But alas! The bloodshed would disrupt the peace of the world! So, regrettably, he had to withdraw and devise a plan!”
At that moment, all eyes turned to Hyeok Gi-rin. Hwan Cheon-an seized the chance to push on.
“Yet amidst it all, Hyeok Gi-rin Great Hero never forgot his heart for the people! You wicked ones! If even a drop of innocent blood flows from this peak, I, Hyeok Gi-rin of the Jeomchang Faction, swear to pursue you to the ends of hell!”
“Oooh…!”
“The great efforts of the Great Hero will ensure that such things will no longer happen!”
“The bandits will tremble in fear, thanks to the Resoluteness of Hyeok Gi-rin! I swear upon the mystical powers of my lord that he has achieved this!”
Watching Hwan Cheon-an put the coin in the air, he swiftly caught it as it fell back to his chest.
“If there’s any falsehood in my words, my powers will vanish, and this coin will remain! But if my words are true, my powers will cause this coin to disappear!”
The crowd held their breath, watching closely as Hwan Cheon-an’s hands revealed what would unfold. Would his powers truly vanish? Did Hyeok Gi-rin really stand up to the bandits?
The truth of it all rested in Hwan Cheon-an’s hands!
“Wait, no!”
“This can’t be! I clearly saw the coin resting in his hands!”
“How could the coin vanish from his palms!”
Hwan Cheon-an raised his hands amidst the shocked exclamations of the crowd.
“Thus it is confirmed that everything I said was a fact without a single lie!”
The Sacheon Outcast wielding the mystical powers of the lord of hell! The astonishing powers shown by the Outcast began to awaken the patrons’ attention, turning toward Hyeok Gi-rin.
Some patrons who had lost wealth to the bandits lowered their heads. They had held some resentment toward Hyeok Gi-rin for not achieving more.
“Hyeok Great Hero! Thank you. And I’m sorry!”
“Ah, no. What are you saying?”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s head spun from the sudden shifts in the atmosphere. He was bewildered by the unexpected sorcery performance.
“I am ashamed to have briefly resented you for not returning my belongings. How could I feel resentment towards the very person who was the first to step up in calming the bandit crisis!”
“Oh, no. Your feelings are entirely valid. Anyone would feel anxious if their valuable possessions fell into the hands of bandits. I merely regret that I couldn’t assist you more.”
“Ah…! Great Hero!”
The patrons of the inn were moved by Hyeok Gi-rin’s sincerity. Before the Outcast had intervened, how had they treated Hyeok Gi-rin?
Hadn’t they silently resented him for not being able to resolve the crisis?
Despite this treatment, he understood their worries and offered them solace!
This is truly a noble hero!
“Okryong Sinhyeop is the true Great Hero!”
“Indeed!”
“Okryong Sinhyeop! Okryong Sinhyeop! Okryong Sinhyeop!”
“Hyeok Gi-rin! Hyeok Gi-rin!”
What was happening? Hyeok Gi-rin stared blankly at the patrons chanting his name and title, then turned his gaze to the source of this chaotic situation.
“Hyeok Gi-rin! Hyeok Gi-rin!”
Hwan Cheon-an, passionately chanting his name, was expressing his satisfaction with all his being, causing Hyeok Gi-rin to chuckle.
In an inn located halfway between Jeongnam Mountain and Sacheon City, the sounds of cheers for Hyeok Gi-rin’s name and title resonated on.
