Chapter 272 – Outside Of Beijing (2)

On the road leading into Xi’an, there stood Mount Jin.

It was at the entrance of Mount Jin where the valuables of Chang’an Escort Agency were stolen.

Upon hearing that, the faces of the people, including Pil Hwan, showed utter disbelief once more.

“That close…?”

Mount Jin was practically within arm’s reach.

They had been robbed right before entering Xi’an City.

Clearly, someone had stolen from the Baek Noble Clan’s doorstep, and retaliation was inevitable.

Pil Hwan clicked his tongue.

“Yi Mu-seok, Jeung Cheon. Gather about 20 of the guys who are on standby.”

“I’ll call for three teams.”

Meanwhile, Baek Ha-jun asked quietly, “The number?”

The escort chief stammered as he answered, “There were about ten or so, but three of them were Peak masters.”

“They said it was Green Forest bandits, right? What affiliation do they have?”

“They identified themselves as Three Lights Fort.”

“That’s not one of the Thirty-Six Forts. Did they take anything besides the valuables?”

“They took the horses as well.”

Baek Ha-jun asked a few more questions.

The head of Chang’an Escort Agency alternated his gaze between Ha-jun and the Biyeon Squad warriors.

Ha-jun’s barrage of questions suddenly stopped.

“…I see.”

Baek Ha-jun tied up his considerably long hair that had grown over time.

He glanced briefly at Pil Hwan and said, “I’ll go search on my own.”

“Pardon? You’re not taking anyone with you?”

“It’s fine.”

Baek Ha-jun had now officially become the Young Clan Head of the Baek Noble Clan.

Since then, all the retainers, including those from the Biyeon Squad, treated him with utmost respect.

Ha-jun quietly said, “My father will return soon, so we must find it before then.”

“We will definitely retrieve the items and capture the culprits.”

Pil Hwan bowed deeply, performing a formal salute.

With light, graceful movements, Ha-jun demonstrated his light footwork and left.

It wasn’t in the direction of Mount Jin.

The head of Chang’an Escort Agency couldn’t hide his confusion.

“Huh…”

Although he had lost the valuables, the escort chief was an expert when it came to thieves.

There were two types of thieves who stole valuables.

The first type were those who were truly desperate and poor, who attacked without thinking about the consequences.

In most cases, they were easily repelled by the escorts protecting the goods.

The second type was dangerous.

They were the ones who seriously took on the risk of facing the Baek Noble Clan’s retaliation.

Among those bandits, there were three Peak martial masters.

It didn’t seem like they planned the robbery in advance, but they were at least confident they could escape.

“Uh… Will he be alright going alone?” the escort chief asked cautiously.

What method would the Young Clan Head have to find those who were determined to flee from the start?

Even the renowned successors of the martial world’s younger generation wouldn’t be able to pull that off.

But Pil Hwan waved his hand dismissively.

“We’ll search as well, so don’t worry.”

“Ah…”

However, the escort chief had something else he couldn’t say.

If the Young Clan Head found them, wouldn’t that lead to an even bigger problem? If things went wrong…

“Will he not be in danger?”

“I told you not to worry.”

Pil Hwan clicked his tongue and glared at the escort chief.

“You’ll need to stay here for now. We need to hear the situation in full detail.”

“…Understood.”

Faced with Pil Hwan’s intense stare, the escort chief could only lower his head quietly.

It wasn’t the time to worry about others.

All he could do was hope that the Baek Noble Clan would recover the stolen goods.

Though, the chances were slim.

A man with an axe strapped to his waist smacked the back of his struggling subordinate’s head.

Thwack—!

The impact was so sharp that it seemed like the man’s skull might have cracked.

The man, who had been trying to pry open a massive lacquered box, clutched his head and sat down.

“Hey, you idiot. Is it going to take all day just to open one box?”

“Ugh… The box is too sturdy.”

“At the end of the day, it’s just a wooden box!”

The warriors were known by the impersonal nickname “Three Hawks of Heshuo.”

Yi-eung, the second among them, kicked his subordinate hard.

Then, taking over the wooden box they had just stolen, he exerted his strength.

“Hmmph!”

However, the heavy box that had given them trouble even when they snatched it from the escorts didn’t budge.

“Ha! What are you doing, second brother?”

Il-eung, the eldest, laughed at the sight.

Yi-eung, panting heavily, let go of the box.

“Why is this so sturdy?!”

He then pulled out his axe.

Originally, Yi-eung’s preferred weapon wasn’t an axe but a Yamato blade imported from the eastern sea.

However, after their gang was destroyed by the Baek Noble Clan’s Red Dragon Corps, he had hidden his identity and now carried an axe.

“Be careful. We don’t know what’s inside.”

“Don’t worry, older brother! Ugh-sha!”

Crack!

No matter how sturdy the box was, it couldn’t withstand the gleaming strike of the axe.

The Three Hawks of Heshuo were notorious as local bandit lords in their territory.

The axe had precisely split only the outer part of the box.

“What… what is this?”

Yi-eung pulled out something from the inside of the split box.

Inside was yet another box.

However, this time the reaction was different.

Everyone in the room, including Il-eung and Sam-eung, jumped to their feet.

“What is that?! Is that gold?!”

“Uh, it looks like gold!”

It was a heavy golden box.

Yi-eung picked up the box and bit into it to see if it would leave teeth marks.

It was unmistakably solid gold.

“Heaven has given us a chance!”

Their decision to rob the Baek Noble Clan’s goods had been a very impulsive one.

The Three Hawks of Heshuo had recently suffered greatly in the ongoing conflict between the Unorthodox Union and the Murim Alliance.

They had been defeated by the Baek Noble Clan’s Red Dragon Corps, the clan’s martial unit.

A few months ago, they had disguised themselves and fled, grinding their teeth in frustration.

Lingering around Xi’an, they were contemplating how they could exact revenge.

Of course, there was no way they could take revenge on the Baek Noble Clan with their own strength.

“This is heavy… It must weigh at least 20 jian.”

“Twenty jian of gold…!”

In the midst of this, they had spotted the goods heading towards the Baek Noble Clan and, knowing they would have to flee, impulsively decided to rob them.

Pretending to be part of the Green Forest was also a way to conceal their identity.

But who could have imagined that the stolen goods would be such a treasure?

If it weren’t a covert shipment, the goods would normally have been guarded by at least three top-tier martial masters.

“Just selling the box alone would be enough to start a new sect!”

“What kind of amazing thing must be inside the box?”

However, frustratingly enough, the golden box had another lock on it.

It didn’t seem like it required a key, so there must be a specific way to open it.

Il-eung, who was about to split the golden box open, was stopped by the youngest.

“There’s a letter attached. Let’s read it first.”

“Go on. What are you waiting for? You’re the only one here who can read, aren’t you?”

“Ugh…”

Even Sam-eung, the youngest, wasn’t great at reading. He slowly stumbled through the text.

“Baek Yi-gang… Personal letter.”

…Never open it in front of others, and make sure to open it in a safe place when you have ample time.

Since I can’t get my hands on a special-grade elixir, this should have a similar value to something like Man-Shaped Snow Ginseng or Pure Sky Oil.

Even the Three Hawks of Heshuo could only scoff at this.

“Whoever this rich person is, they sure know how to boast.”

“Man-Shaped Snow Ginseng and Pure Sky Oil? Ha ha.”

The examples given were legendary elixirs, the existence of which was not even certain.

To the Three Hawks of Heshuo, that was common knowledge.

Your friend,

Gye-yeong.

They couldn’t have imagined that the name Gye-yeong referred to the imperial family member, King Gye-yeong.

“Well, there must be something valuable inside.”

Il-eung, the eldest, infused his zhanmadao blade with blade energy.

He didn’t care about the contents of the letter and was determined to break open the box in one go.

Just as he raised his sword, greed flickering in everyone’s eyes…

Creak—

The door opened.

Il-eung turned to the door with an annoyed expression.

“…Who’s this brat?”

The person who appeared wasn’t exactly someone you would call a brat.

Ha-jun had now grown into a fully developed young man.

He was about a hand taller than Yi-gang, who wasn’t short himself.

Yet, his face still remained gentle.

Even though his features and eyebrows were sharp, the sparkle in his eyes still retained a youthful innocence.

“Who are you all?”

“Huh?”

Instead of an answer, Ha-jun responded with a question.

Il-eung let out an incredulous laugh.

“I believe I asked first.”

Though he spoke with a threatening tone, something immediately felt off.

This place wasn’t deep in the mountains but a farmhouse near Mount Jin.

They had killed the original owner, buried him, and turned the place into a temporary base. Naturally, there should have been subordinates standing guard outside.

Yet, there hadn’t been a single hint of anyone approaching until now.

Ha-jun, appearing visibly irritated, gestured with his eyes.

“Put that down. That item belongs to my brother.”

“What…?”

The faces of the Three Hawks of Heshuo, which had been filled with confusion, hardened.

Through those words, they realized Ha-jun’s true identity.

“Damn it! Could it be, they’re already here?!”

They immediately drew their weapons.

If the Young Clan Head of the Baek Noble Clan had arrived, surely the clan’s warriors would have already surrounded the area.

Thinking this, they tensed up, but nothing happened.

“…”

“…What the… could it be?”

There were no shouts of warriors charging with swords, nor did black-clad warriors leap down from the ceiling.

Ha-jun simply stood there, without even drawing his sword.

Il-eung, after a long moment of silence, asked for confirmation, “…Are you alone?”

“That’s right.”

Ha-jun nodded, and another brief silence followed.

Soon, a loud burst of laughter erupted.

“Ha ha ha! You’re insane!”

“We finally get the chance to avenge ourselves on Baek Ryu-san!”

The Three Hawks of Heshuo held a deep grudge against Baek Ryu-san, who had sent the Red Dragon Corps after them.

That was why they had stolen the goods in their petty attempt at revenge.

To think that Baek Ryu-san’s son, the Young Clan Head of the Baek Noble Clan, would come here.

“Tsk, tsk… This is why inexperienced orthodox brats are always a problem.”

“They can’t tell heaven from earth and walk right into the jaws of a tiger.”

Ha-jun was a Peak master. And the Three Hawks of Heshuo, all three of them, were also Peak masters.

With their subordinates present as well, Ha-jun’s fate seemed as precarious as a candle in the wind.

“Were you trying to follow in your brother’s footsteps since he’s made quite a name for himself?”

“Heh, they say no younger brother matches up to the elder. For a Young Clan Head, you’re nothing compared to him.”

The Three Hawks of Heshuo probably said this to insult Baek Ha-jun.

After all, rivalries were common between brothers of prestigious clans.

But Ha-jun only opened his mouth slightly, caught off guard.

“Such words… Hmm. I see.”

‘No younger brother compares to the elder.’ Yi-gang and Ha-jun had been compared countless times before, but most of those comparisons were made to criticize Yi-gang.

Of course, after Yi-gang straightened himself out, such talk stopped, but now to find himself in the opposite position…

The insult from the Three Hawks of Heshuo actually lifted Ha-jun’s spirits a bit.

“Since you’ve given me such words, I’ll give you a chance.”

“…What?”

“I’ll count to three. Put the box down and step back. I won’t chase after those who retreat… no.”

If it were Yi-gang, he would have made a quick decision in this situation, but Ha-jun still lacked confidence in himself.

“I’ll tie you up and deliver you to the clan so they can judge your crimes. You won’t die immediately.”

“Crazy bastard.”

“Three.”

If they were handed over to the Baek Noble Clan, the fate of the Three Hawks of Heshuo would be clear.

“Two.”

But Ha-jun didn’t give them a chance.

The subordinates of the Three Hawks lunged at Ha-jun first.

“Die, you lunatic!”

The world, and even the Baek Noble Clan’s members, were mistaken about Ha-jun.

They thought he was the perfect Young Clan Head.

He was known for his exceptional martial arts talent, brilliant mind, and kind, merciful nature. That was the reputation he had.

However, that wasn’t true.

Ha-jun knew it himself—he wasn’t that gentle.

As his brother had once pointed out, when he lost his temper, he became blinded by rage.

But this wasn’t a case of recklessly swinging his sword out of anger. That’s something a true swordsman would never do.

‘Should I cut them all down?’

The only question was how far he should go with the punishment. Should he behead them, cut off a limb or two, or simply intimidate them and end it there?

He found it difficult to make such decisions.

His judgment was severely lacking compared to his brother.

When he asked Yi-gang seriously, Yi-gang had given him this advice.

“Follow the judgment of someone you trust.”

If Father is nearby, follow his advice.

If Yi-gang is nearby, follow his advice.

If the time comes when you have to make decisions as the clan head, follow the advice of loyal retainers.

And if no one is around, make the decision yourself.

“Even if your judgment is wrong, as long as you’re alive, it doesn’t matter much, does it?”

Ha-jun decided to take those words as his golden rule.

So, when the unorthodox sect members who had stolen the Baek Noble Clan’s goods rushed at him, Ha-jun didn’t hesitate to swing his sword.

They were people whose necks could be cut without guilt.

With a swift slash, one head flew off.

When an axe came flying at him from behind, he only slightly moved his head to dodge, causing the axe to embed itself in the face of the man approaching from the front.

Blood almost splattered into his eyes, but he slightly twisted his sword to block the droplets.

And so, he fought in a state of selflessness.

Puk!

He pierced the chest of one of the stronger ones.

A furious scream erupted.

“Krraaa! Y-youngest!”

Il-eung’s enraged zhanmadao blade came slashing down from above.

Ha-jun pulled the impaled Sam-eung toward him using an absorption technique.

The zhanmadao blade embedded itself in Sam-eung’s collarbone instead of Ha-jun’s.

“A-Aaagh!”

That was likely the end for Sam-eung.

Il-eung, having just killed his own sworn brother, was consumed by rage, but there was nothing he could do.

‘A Peak master, just like me…’

The Three Hawks of Heshuo had their fair share of experience in Jianghu, but their arrogance had clouded their judgment.

Ha-jun was far from a sheltered, inexperienced youth.

He was a sharp needle, merely hidden under fine silk.

“Dieeeeee!”

Il-eung charged recklessly, abandoning defense, determined to take Ha-jun down with him.

At that moment, Ha-jun realized he hadn’t finished counting.

So he said, “One.”

Puk!

Il-eung froze in place.

“…Krrgh.”

Ha-jun’s sword pierced through Sam-eung’s back and impaled Il-eung’s throat.

This time, even Ha-jun couldn’t avoid getting blood splattered on his face.

The shouts and screams completely ceased.

Outside, a man with his head half-shaved was fanning himself repeatedly.

Beside him lay the warrior who had been guarding the Three Hawks of Heshuo’s hideout until recently.

He was the one Ha-jun had swiftly slit the throat of moments earlier.

The man waiting for Ha-jun was named Jeong Gu.

He was the Hall Chief of the Xi’an branch of the Low Down Sect.

Creak—

The door opened, and Ha-jun walked out.

Jeong Gu asked the usual formal questions, inquiring if Ha-jun was injured.

“Thank you, Hall Chief Jeong.”

“No, not at all. I only reached the position of Hall Chief thanks to you, Young Master Ha-jun. There’s no need for such words.”

Ha-jun had been able to locate the Three Hawks of Heshuo so quickly thanks to the assistance of the Low Down Sect.

It was a connection formed during his childhood outings with Yi-gang.

Following Yi-gang’s orders, Ha-jun never severed ties with the Low Down Sect.

“And… Young Master Ha-jun’s ability to grasp the clues and give directions was remarkable. It made things easier.”

In addition, Ha-jun wasn’t just skilled in martial arts.

He gathered various pieces of information from the escort chief agency. Information about how the thieves disguised themselves as part of the Green Forest bandits, how there were three Peak masters, and how they had stolen the horses.

With that information, combined with the help of the Low Down Sect, he figured out that instead of fleeing, they had hidden in Xi’an City Road.

“Has Father returned?”

“He should have passed through the city gates a short while ago.”

“Lend me a horse.”

“It’s ready for you.”

Ha-jun mounted the horse that Jeong Gu had prepared.

In his hand was the golden box he had recovered.

“I’ll inform the Biyeon Squad warriors.”

“Take care on your way back.”

As Ha-jun rode off into the distance, Jeong Gu bowed deeply.

He thought to himself.

‘The Baek Noble Clan has given birth to two dragons.’

The world would soon realize this.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep