Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 465

465. A Fair Trade

Deep in the night, a remote mountain at the edge of the Giryeon Mountain Range.

A desolate place where even trees struggled to grow was the location of a bandit stronghold.

A large bonfire blazed in the center of the stronghold, with torches hung here and there, but no one was moving.

It was because all the bandits, numbering over a hundred, were lying dead, covered in blood.

The stronghold, which had been noisy with drinking and feasting until early evening, was now filled only with the stench of blood.

“Hee, kukuku, kahahahaha.”

A man with sharp eyes, Gobulsoong, laughed maniacally.

He was the owner of this stronghold and the leader of the bandit gang.

And he was also the one who killed the bandits.

The longsword in Gobulsoong’s hand had taken the lives of his own men.

“Hehe…”

Laughing, he looked around at the fallen bandits with keen eyes.

None had escaped alive.

The sleep-inducing drug in the alcohol had taken full effect, and no one knew about the strange power that had instantly elevated Gobulsoong’s martial prowess to its peak.

Swish.

Gobulsoong turned his sword halfway around and gripped it in reverse.

Then, without hesitation, he plunged it into the corpse at his feet.

Thud.

His sword pierced the heart of the fallen bandit, one who had once been his subordinate.

At that moment, Gobulsoong felt a strange ecstasy.

A stimulation he had never experienced before.

“Hee…”

Swish.

Gobulsoong grinned wryly and pulled out his sword.

Then, he went around stabbing the corpses of the already dead bandits one by one.

It was a cruel act, but Gobulsoong’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.

His pupils, gleaming in the firelight, were like those of a snake.

Thud.

After dealing with the last bandit, Gobulsoong stood up.

At that moment, the large bonfire burning in the center began to die down.

Whoosh.

Suddenly, the wind blew.

Sandstorms were common in this place, but this was different.

The torches that had been lighting up the area quickly dimmed, and a jet-black smoke began to gather in front of Gobulsoong.

Gobulsoong’s eyes gleamed.

The strange man who had instigated all of this was reappearing.

Thud.

A man walked out of the smoke.

A middle-aged man with intense eyes, dressed in jet-black clothes.

The middle-aged man looked down at Gobulsoong with an arrogant expression.

“Your ambition has been proven.”

His voice was rough and hoarse.

“As promised, I will grant you the power of our cult.”

Gobulsoong’s eyes seethed with joy.

Swish.

The middle-aged man stretched out his hand without a word.

Gobulsoong hesitated for a moment but soon knelt on one knee and lowered his head.

A gaunt, withered hand, unlike his face, rested on Gobulsoong’s head.

Wince.

Gobulsoong shuddered involuntarily.

But soon, a strange power poured into him through his head.

Whoosh.

“Heehee, euheuheu.”

Gobulsoong let out a sound that was a mix of laughter and groans.

His eyes gradually rolled back until he finally began to scream.

“Keueu, aaaaaah, keuaaaaaaak!”

Gobulsoong frantically tried to pull the middle-aged man’s hand away.

But the middle-aged man’s gaunt hand remained firmly in place as if stuck.

And soon, Gobulsoong’s convulsions stopped.

The middle-aged man withdrew his hand.

Thud.

Gobulsoong lost consciousness and fell.

“Tsk.”

The middle-aged man clicked his tongue as he watched.

His intense eyes were filled with disappointment.

‘…Not this time either.’

Gobulsoong was praised as a local hero among the nearby bandits.

He had great ambition and never intended to remain a mere bandit. He also possessed the cruelty and decisiveness to cut down all his loyal subordinates.

He was interesting enough to warrant attention.

But the result was disappointing.

The Demon Lord was not satisfied with Gobulsoong’s level of ambition.

The sacrifices were only numerous, and the hundred or so subordinates meant nothing to Gobulsoong from the start.

“Awaken.”

The middle-aged man said with a cold gaze.

Gobulsoong opened his eyes sharply.

As if he had never convulsed, Gobulsoong immediately knelt on one knee before the middle-aged man and lowered his head.

His eyes were dyed black.

“I greet the esteemed one.”

Gobulsoong’s courtesy was extremely respectful, unlike before.

However, the middle-aged man’s expression was not good as he received the greeting.

Even with the maximum amplification of demonic energy, his potential was only that of a high-grade demon soldier.

A high-grade demon soldier was more skilled than other demon soldiers and could command thousands of low-grade demon soldiers.

But in the eyes of the middle-aged man, it was insufficient.

The middle-aged man looked down at the high-grade demon soldier, who used to be Gobulsoong, and said.

“I am Hwanma (幻魔) [Illusion Demon], a protector of the Cheonma Shin-gyo (天魔神教) [Heavenly Demon Divine Church] and one who awaits the reincarnation of Cheonma [Heavenly Demon]. From now on, you shall obey me.”

“As you command.”

The high-grade demon soldier replied without hesitation.

Hwanma said nothing.

It was then.

Swish.

The high-grade demon soldier turned his head with sharp eyes.

“Enemy.”

“No.”

Hwanma said.

He looked up and said quietly.

“Come out. You must have seen enough.”

Rustle.

A woman appeared from nowhere.

With flamboyant and revealing clothes and captivating beauty, she was Dogyo.

However, unlike her seductive appearance, her face was devoid of any expression.

Swish.

Dogyo bent her waist and bowed.

“Dogyo greets Hwanma, the protector of the Demonic Sect.”

It was a soft voice, but Hwanma’s face was expressionless.

He knew that her courtesy was not sincere at all.

“Did the Merchant send you?”

“Of course not.”

Dogyo said in a calm voice.

“The Merchant doesn’t even care about you. I came here just on a whim.”

“A whim.”

Hwanma smirked.

“Are you saying you disrupted a major event of our cult on a whim?”

“A major event?”

Dogyo wore a sneer.

“Are you talking about a mere demon soldier?”

Hwanma’s thick eyebrows twitched.

Dogyo looked down at the kneeling high-grade demon soldier.

The high-grade demon soldier’s black eyes were flashing with murderous intent, but Dogyo didn’t bat an eye.

“Why don’t you gouge out his eyes? That would make him look more threatening.”

Grind.

The high-grade demon soldier gritted his teeth at the blatant mockery.

But Dogyo didn’t care.

She raised her eyes.

“But why don’t you go to Gangbuk [north of the river] or Gangnam [south of the river]?”

Dogyo said, staring intently at Hwanma.

Her eyes were truly bewitching.

“The greed of the haves is greater and more intense than the desires of the have-nots. If they are consumed by unfulfilled greed and unattainable desires…”

Dogyo said, moving her red lips.

“They would be willing to sacrifice even their own blood relatives.”

“What about you?”

Hwanma suddenly asked.

“What can you sacrifice for your desires?”

His eyes and voice seemed to shake Dogyo’s heart.

Dogyo said without hesitation.

“Well? Unfortunately, I have no family, no relatives, nothing. But for that person…”

Flare.

Instantly, Dogyo’s eyes blazed with complete desire.

A meltingly sweet voice flowed from her bright red lips.

“I would gladly sacrifice the entire world.”

She didn’t care about Hwanma or the high-grade demon soldier in front of her.

Just thinking of the Il Dae Merchant [Great Merchant] made Dogyo seem to see nothing else.

“Hehehe.”

Hwanma chuckled.

With him, Dogyo’s eyes returned to normal.

Swish.

Dogyo looked at Hwanma and said.

“So, do you have any plans to go to Gangbuk and Gangnam?”

“I am already moving.”

Hwanma replied.

His attitude was clearly softer than before.

“But I am experiencing difficulties.”

The Demonic Sect had just begun to regain its strength.

It was difficult to find someone worthy of becoming a Demon Lord, let alone the desired Demon God, and they were not well-versed in the affairs of the world.

It was too early for the Demonic Sect to advance into Gangbuk and Gangnam, where the control of the government was still alive.

Whether covertly or openly.

“Hearing that, I might be of some help.”

Rustle.

Dogyo took out a book from her bosom.

“This book was left by Munwang [a wise advisor].”

Dogyo said, stroking the book with her long, white fingers.

“It contains detailed records of all the circumstances in Gangbuk and Gangnam, including the court officials, as well as the major sects, noble families, and major merchant groups. Especially about which people are greedy and full of dissatisfaction.”

Hwanma’s eyes lit up.

If Dogyo’s words were true, this book would surely greatly advance the Demonic Sect’s conquest of the Jianghu [martial arts world].

“I will hand this over to you. But I can’t do that without a price.”

“What do you want?”

Hwanma asked without hesitation.

It was not just because he wanted the book.

Swish.

Dogyo looked down at the high-grade demon soldier.

“Kill him.”

Hwanma frowned.

Dogyo’s request was sudden and incomprehensible.

“High-grade demon soldiers are rare. It won’t benefit you. Besides…”

Swish.

Hwanma’s withered hand rested on the high-grade demon soldier’s head.

“Cough!”

Instantly, the demon soldier’s eyes widened.

An enormous pain was pouring into his head.

But the demon soldier could not even offer a proper resistance.

“Keueueueu.”

The demon soldier trembled, drooling like a helpless beast.

But Hwanma didn’t even look at the demon soldier.

“Do you know how much of a loss it is to recover power in this way?”

Hwanma said, looking at Dogyo.

But unlike his words, there was even a faint smile on his lips.

Thud.

The demon soldier fell to the ground without even screaming.

The demon soldier, who was once Gobulsoong, was already dead, withered and gaunt like a twig.

“I certainly received the price. So this is a fair trade.”

Rustle.

Dogyo bowed lightly.

And she held out the book with both hands.

Hwanma received the book and tucked it into his bosom.

Casually, as if it were nothing.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Someday.”

Hwanma suddenly said.

“There will come a day when you need power. Find me then.”

It was an unexpected remark.

Dogyo frowned slightly.

But soon she smiled brightly and said.

“Unfortunately, that will never happen. I already have enough.”

Rustle.

Dogyo did not hesitate.

As soon as she stepped, she immediately flew into the air.

Flutter.

Dogyo’s figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.

But Hwanma wore a sneer.

“Is that so?”

Hwanma continued, looking into the darkness.

“Didn’t you say that the greed of the haves is more intense than the desires of the have-nots?”

Dogyo was no longer visible, but the sneer did not disappear from Hwanma’s lips.

Crack.

Suddenly, something broke under Hwanma’s feet.

The corpse of the dead Gobulsoong had finally broken.

But Hwanma didn’t care.

Whooooosh.

A bleak wind blew, and black darkness began to bloom.

And when the darkness disappeared, Hwanma’s figure was no longer visible.

Crackle, crackle.

The bonfire flared up again, illuminating the mountain stronghold.

But all that remained were the dead bodies and the debris scattering and breaking apart.