Chapter 153 : Chapter 153

Chapter 153. Destiny (3)

We collected the treasures that had not been caught in the forest fire, as well as the weapons used by the Nine Dragons Fortress bandits, and descended the mountain.

Since the number of people with us was considerable, it didn't take long to pack our luggage and come down.

On the way down the mountain to the nearest village.

As I approached the Beggar’s Gang member, they all clasped their hands in a fist salute to me.

“Thank you very much!”

The beggar who had negotiated with me stepped forward and added.

“As you said, Great Hero, it seems all the beggars in this area will be able to eat their fill.”

The look in his eyes was somehow different from when he first saw me.

Since it didn't particularly matter, I said what I had intended to say.

“Beggars are beggars, but the wealth of the Nine Dragons Fortress was accumulated by exploiting the common people of this area. Even if some is distributed to the beggars, the rest must be returned to its original owners.”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry! Our Beggar’s Gang is not that shameless.”

“Then please help me distribute the wealth.”

“Ah. Are you planning to stay here longer?”

When I nodded, the Beggar’s Gang member looked at me as if he were surprised.

“I heard that you, Great Hero, come and go like the wind, but this is unexpected.”

“I was originally planning to just leave, but I’m planning to stay for a while because of that one.”

As I said that and pointed at Hwangbo Ak, the Beggar’s Gang member made a puzzled expression.

After arriving at a nearby village, we began to distribute the treasures of the Nine Dragons Fortress to the residents.

“The Nine Dragons Fortress has fallen!”

The news that the Nine Dragons Fortress had been subjugated. On top of that, we were distributing wealth, so all the villagers flocked to us.

The villagers’ gazes were mostly on the treasures, but occasionally they would turn to one place.

Towards Hwangbo Ak.

It wasn't because of Hwangbo Ak’s fierce face.

It was because of the flagpole on his back, and the flag hanging on it.

Five characters were written there.

[From Nine Dragons Fortress]

The face of Hwangbo Ak, who was carrying that flag on his back, was flushed red as if it would burst.

It was none of my business.

Since there were many commoners who couldn't read, I immediately shouted.

“This person is from the Third Leader of the Nine Dragons Fortress, who has taken your wealth and harassed your families! If there is anyone who has a grudge against this person, please step forward now!”

People smiled awkwardly, and some reacted with hesitation.

Just in case, I added.

“This person will not resist! So those who have a grudge, please step forward!”

Only then did an old man step forward.

But his face was not angry.

The old man asked me.

“I know that person was the Third Leader of the Nine Dragons Fortress……. But wasn’t he one of the people who fought against the Nine Dragons Fortress this time?”

When we were moving to attack the Nine Dragons Fortress, Hwangbo Ak was also with us, so everyone seemed to recognize him.

“That’s right.”

“In any case, didn’t that person also fight against the Nine Dragons Fortress and avenge us? And although not all, we have received back some of what was taken, so we are fine.”

“Hasn’t that person harassed you while being a bandit?”

“That……. He actually stopped other bandits when they were harassing us…….”

Wondering what this was about, I looked back and forth, and the old man added.

“He said that harassing the weak was no fun, and that he would rather have a duel with him and dragged them away.”

“…….”

A hollow laugh almost escaped, so I kept my mouth shut.

I turned my head and looked at Hwangbo Ak.

I thought that a guy crazy about fighting like him would say something like that.

At that moment, Hwangbo Ak, who was looking around with a flushed face, suddenly knelt.

Thud.

“I have realized how foolish this Hwangbo was! This Hwangbo was picked up by the Fortress Leader when he was young, and grew up with the bandits. I lived thinking that banditry was a natural thing to do!”

It seemed that guy didn't just have his head for decoration.

“But it wasn’t! I have realized how vile a group of people bandits are!”

In the few days it took for him to be betrayed by the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader and get his revenge, he seemed to have had all sorts of thoughts in his head.

“But even if I have realized my mistake, the sins I have committed will not disappear!”

As he said that, Hwangbo Ak’s gaze turned towards me.

“The reason Brother Jin prepared this place is undoubtedly to make me pay for my sins! So I will kneel and earnestly ask! I will never engage in banditry again! So please, just this once, forgive this Hwangbo!”

With his final shout, Hwangbo Ak even bowed his head.

At that, everyone who had gathered around made troubled expressions.

Should I call it a fortune or a misfortune?

It seemed there was no need to kill that guy.

The people also seemed to be in no mood to further question his sins.

I also thought that you never know about people.

Jo Ryeong and Brother Sama. Although they were in similar situations, they chose completely different paths.

In the end, I wondered if everyone has their own destiny.

But that guy was different.

In his past life, that guy was betrayed by the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, but in the end, he still engaged in banditry.

Not only that, but he even went around bragging about his stupid alias, Green Forest Fighting King.

On the other hand, in this life, he was showing a reformed appearance.

Unlike the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, who died from poison in both his past life and this life.

As I was thinking that and observing Hwangbo Ak and the surrounding residents for a moment.

I felt a subtle presence from the side, so I turned my head.

Senior Sister Choyeon was scribbling something on a piece of cloth.

“Senior Sister Choyeon. What are you doing?”

At my question, Senior Sister Choyeon crumpled the cloth and stood up.

And Senior Sister Choyeon unfurled the cloth and held it out to me.

Four characters were written there.

[Ex-Assassin]

“…….”

I was at a loss for words, so I looked at the piece of cloth for a moment and then opened my mouth.

“Why did you write that?”

“I’m thinking of wearing it.”

“……Why would you wear that?”

“I remembered what Mr. Dang said. Just as that person is a sinner, I am also a sinner, so I must pay for my sins.”

At that, the Tang Clan guy was startled and approached Senior Sister Choyeon.

“N, no. That wasn’t what I meant!”

Senior Sister Choyeon, who was trying to wear the cloth with ‘Ex-Assassin’ written on it like a headband, and the Tang Clan guy, who was trying to stop her, started to struggle.

A chuckle escaped me.

It wasn't because it was funny.

“There are those who change, and there are those who don’t.”

Because I was like that, and so were the people with me.

The Vajra Dog, who grew up as the loyal dog of the Steel Sinew Sect Leader and harassed innocent people.

The Lust Disaster, who suffered from extreme misandry after being sold by her father and experiencing a terrible ordeal.

The Poison Immortal, who suffered from mistrust of humans and lived alone in the mountains his entire life.

The Killing Demon, who grew up to be the worst assassin after receiving terrible training at an assassin training center.

And the Green Forest Hegemonic King, who had only been a bandit his entire life.

Now, such people no longer remained in this world.

Well, I couldn't completely conclude that Senior Sister Choyeon was the Killing Demon yet.

***

That night, we rested for a day at an inn.

I also had to treat the wounds I had received from the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader while fighting him, as well as the wounds I had received from the Tang Clan guy’s needles.

After telling everyone to rest in their own rooms, I was immersed in Circulating Energy to Heal Injuries instead of training in my room for a while.

A presence was felt at the door.

“Come in.”

Soon, the door opened carefully, and Senior Sister Baek Hyang came in.

Perhaps because it was late at night, her expression looked inexplicably dark.

“Is something bothering you?”

“It’s not so much a worry, but I came just in case, Senior Brother.”

“Is it because of Hwangbo Ak?”

My Senior Sister shook her head.

“It’s a problem related to Senior Sister Choyeon.”

As I looked at my Senior Sister with a puzzled expression, she calmly opened her mouth.

“Actually, I saw a strange sight when we were fighting at the Nine Dragons Fortress today.”

“What kind of sight?”

“The moment Senior Sister Choyeon pierced a bandit’s heart, for a moment, it looked as if the blood from the heart was being absorbed through Senior Sister Choyeon’s sword.”

This was a rather serious matter.

“Is that true?”

At my question, my Senior Sister answered carefully.

“Well……. It was a sight I saw while fighting, and I only saw it once, so I’m not sure. But I thought I should tell you, Senior Brother.”

After hearing my Senior Sister’s story, something suddenly came to mind.

The day I first met Hwangbo Ak.

While thinking about the future Seven Evils, I had realized a question.

Senior Sister Choyeon, whose talent had not yet blossomed because her internal energy was still lacking.

If Senior Sister Choyeon was indeed the Killing Demon, how on earth did she acquire such a powerful martial prowess in the future?

Furthermore, the question of why there were so many peak masters in the Red Moon Falling Flowers.

It was a question I had set aside because the matter of the Nine Dragons Fortress was more urgent, but it suddenly came to mind after hearing my Senior Sister’s words.

Because the two were connected.

It made sense if she killed people and gained internal energy through a kind of blood-sucking art.

After organizing my thoughts, I stood up.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go and talk to Senior Sister Choyeon.”

At this, my Senior Sister, who had hesitated for a moment, clasped her hands in a fist salute.

“I will do so, Senior Brother.”

I nodded and started walking.

I approached Senior Sister Choyeon’s room and made a presence, and after a moment, the door opened.

“What is it, Senior Brother?”

“I have something to ask you.”

“Please ask.”

First, I stepped into the room and then asked honestly.

“Among the martial arts you have learned, is there one that absorbs human blood?”

At that, my Senior Sister replied with her usual indifferent face.

“There is.”

“Why did you hide it until now?”

“I did not hide it.”

“What do you mean by that? You didn’t hide it?”

At my question, Senior Sister Choyeon’s indifferent expression wavered.

Somehow. Her face looked confused.

“Didn’t you say, Senior Brother? That it is not the martial art that is important, but how it is used.”

“Ah…….”

Only then did the memory come to mind.

The day Senior Sister Choyeon decided to join us.

We had a brief conversation about her martial arts.

Senior Sister Choyeon asked if she should abandon the martial arts of an assassin.

To this, I gave the same answer I had given to the Tang Clan guy.

Whether you kill with poison or with hidden weapons, if you kill innocent people, it is an evil act, and conversely, if you kill trash, it is a chivalrous act.

The martial arts of an assassin were the same. She just had to use those martial arts not to kill people as an assassin, but to kill trash.

But at that time, I hadn't even thought that the martial art Senior Sister Choyeon had learned would be a blood-sucking art.

I just thought of the martial arts that assassins usually learn. Fast and stealthy techniques.

Although I tend to despise those who change their words whenever it suits them, it seemed I had to change my words this time.

“From tomorrow, I will teach you the martial arts I have learned. So from now on, erase the martial arts you have learned from the Red Moon Falling Flowers from your mind.”

“How do I erase them from my mind? Do I have to gouge out my brain?”

It was my mistake to use a figurative expression.

“I just meant don’t practice them.”

“I will do so.”

Her calm reply overlapped with the image of her confused face from a moment ago.

Perhaps because I myself felt awkward about changing my words, I added.

“Do you know why I am telling you not to practice that martial art?”

“I do not know.”

“Things like the Absorption Art or blood-sucking arts are demonic arts that gain power by killing others.”

“I know.”

“At first, you might be able to control yourself, but if you continue to practice such demonic arts, you will eventually be consumed by greed.”

This was also the reason why I didn't learn demonic arts.

I wanted to kill trashy bastards as I found them. I wanted to become strong quickly.

In that sense, the Absorption Art was a very strong temptation for me, who had no talent.

But in the end, I didn't dare to learn it.

Because I couldn't trust myself.

The image of myself slaughtering commoners, saying that I had to gain the power to kill trash, kept appearing in my mind.

Right. Like that lust demon I killed last time.

Because he was also raping innocent girls under the pretext of avenging his family.

As I was thinking about that lust demon, I realized something strange.

“Hmm?”

Ninety-nine out of a hundred who learn blood-sucking arts or the Absorption Art would have their eyes go crazy with greed.

No. Except for one person, the future Lust Disaster, there was no one who was not intoxicated by the power of demonic arts.

But to teach this to assassins?

It didn't make sense.

Assassins always had to be cool-headed. Furthermore, most assassins were close to being consumables from the perspective of an assassin group.

Consumables that had to do exactly what they were told.

But teaching a demonic art that would inevitably make their eyes go crazy with greed was a contradiction in itself.

After frowning and being lost in thought for a moment.

“…….”

I saw my Senior Sister standing still with her mouth shut and an indifferent face.

Then, a possibility suddenly came to mind.

“Senior Sister. Recite the chant of the martial art you are currently practicing from beginning to end right now.”