Chapter 30
In the deepest part of Mount Heng, known for its rugged terrain.
After the fall of the prestigious Hengshan Sect decades ago, Inwangchae, the main base of the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds, took its place.
Eighteen burly men were gathered there.
“You were defeated by some unknown brat?”
“I have no excuse.”
Surprisingly, the person sitting at the head of the table was the smallest man in stature.
Although he had a sturdy build, he was shorter and thinner compared to the others.
However, his eyes shone more brightly than anyone else’s.
And the man bowing in front of him was none other than Lee Jagwang, the leader of Asochae.
“You fool. You don’t even know who he is!”
“…Yes.”
Lee Jagwang thought of Eunho at Jin Sacheok’s rebuke but didn’t mention him.
The reason Lee Jagwang, who rarely attended the general meetings, was present today was different.
“Who dares to defy the Green Forest…!”
“Chief.”
Lee Jagwang’s heavy voice lowered.
The Green King looked at Lee Jagwang with displeasure without responding.
Everyone knew about the recent conflict between the two.
Originally, Lee Jagwang was a loyal and skilled warrior whom Jin Sacheok cherished, and he had been with Jin Sacheok the longest among the leaders of the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds.
The other leaders respected Lee Jagwang as much as they respected Jin Sacheok. However, their relationship had rapidly deteriorated since Jin Sacheok began meddling in the Changsha region’s trade.
Lee Jagwang opposed everything Jin Sacheok did.
He felt that the Green Forest was drifting further away from what he envisioned.
Despite receiving no response, Lee Jagwang firmly conveyed his thoughts.
“I’ll say this one last time, do not abandon the traditions of the Green Forest. Wasn’t the Green Forest started by those who had nowhere else to go, gathering in a small mountain stronghold? Aren’t we men who seek strength within the protective embrace of the mountain that shelters everyone?”
At Lee Jagwang’s question, Jin Sacheok’s thick sword eyebrows twitched.
It seemed like a loud argument could break out at any moment.
Sensing this, the other leaders lowered their heads, avoiding the two.
Normally, they would have already been shouting, but Jin Sacheok, despite his rough breathing, remained silent.
Today, Lee Jagwang’s demeanor was quite different from usual.
Lee Jagwang raised his head and glared at the Green King.
“Since when did the Green Forest become merchants!”
Crack!
The armrest of the chair Jin Sacheok was holding crumbled into powder.
There was no trace of old affection in his eyes as he looked at Lee Jagwang.
Jin Sacheok was that kind of person.
If something bothered him, the time they had known each other meant nothing.
His patience had run out.
“Unbelievable. So, are you planning a rebellion?”
“…If the Chief continues down this wrong path, I will leave the Green Forest. I have never wanted to be a merchant.”
The leaders’ eyes widened in shock.
They never expected Lee Jagwang to say he would leave the Green Forest.
Everyone was busy watching the two.
The Green King, who had brought the Green Forest to its peak as one of the Twenty-Four Lords, and Lee Jagwang, the man closest to him.
“Get lost.”
The Green King was resolute.
The other leaders, who were close to Lee Jagwang, wanted to stop the Green King but couldn’t step forward.
They felt that if they intervened now, they would face the Green King’s wrath.
Lee Jagwang raised his head and looked at the other leaders.
They were all terrified.
‘Huh, since when did the Green Forest become like this.’
The Chief of the Green Forest should be an object of respect, not fear.
“This is my final farewell to you, brother.”
Lee Jagwang bowed deeply to the Green King and walked out.
Silence filled the large mountain stronghold, with only the sound of Lee Jagwang’s heavy footsteps echoing. At that moment, Jin Sacheok’s aura surged.
Feeling the blatant killing intent from behind, Lee Jagwang turned around.
Bang-!
He was slammed to the ground.
The Green King had attacked Lee Jagwang from behind.
“Chief!”
The other leaders were alarmed and tried to stop Jin Sacheok, but his fierce gaze swept over them.
“The Green Forest does not spare traitors. Anyone who interferes now will also be considered a traitor.”
The leaders flinched and stopped moving.
It was clearly unreasonable.
Everyone here knew of Lee Jagwang’s loyalty and affection for the Green Forest.
Yet, no one had the courage to speak up.
Even the leaders were only at the peak level, while the Green King before them was a master of the Peak Realm, one of the Twenty-Four Masters.
Bang! Bang!
Relentless kicks rained down on the back of Lee Jagwang’s head as he lay on the ground. He was being beaten like a dog without any particular technique.
Being brutally beaten in front of his juniors, Lee Jagwang was furious.
He was so enraged that he wanted to kill the Green King and restore the Green Forest to its original state.
But he had no strength.
Lee Jagwang, who hadn’t even reached the peak level, could do nothing against Jin Sacheok.
Some leaders who respected Lee Jagwang couldn’t bear to watch and turned their heads away.
At that moment, a man who had been watching from a dark corner stood up and approached Jin Sacheok.
“That’s enough.”
His voice was filled with regret.
He didn’t know much about the Green Forest’s situation, but he knew that Lee Jagwang was a loyal man.
Above all, he felt that it was too much to humiliate him in front of his juniors.
“Sawang, are you planning to interfere in the Green Forest’s affairs?”
At the Green King’s rebuke, Sawang Cheolmusong clicked his tongue and let go of his shoulder.
Even though they were old friends, the Green Forest was clearly the Green King’s domain.
He had no reason or justification to interfere.
The Green King’s beating continued for a long time.
Even though he could kill with a single blow, he cruelly beat him just enough to keep him alive.
He was showing everyone what happens if you defy him.
“S-stop…”
Lee Jagwang’s voice was faint, as if it could cut off at any moment.
Yet, the Green King did not stop.
“This is what you brought upon yourself….”
Bang-!
Suddenly, a loud noise from outside interrupted the Green King’s words.
He frowned and spoke to one of the leaders.
“Go see what’s happening….”
Bang! Bang!
The explosions continued.
They were even getting closer.
As everyone looked around in confusion, Sawang’s face hardened.
He had definitely experienced this before.
Boom-!
The explosions got closer until they were right at the door….
Bang-!
The door burst open, and Eunho appeared.
Sawang’s expression turned from hard to pale as he watched.
Eunho, who had boldly broken down the door, looked around.
The first thing he saw was Lee Jagwang lying haphazardly on the ground.
“Oh! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
It was a strange greeting for someone half-dead, but Eunho wasn’t the type to care about such things.
The Green King’s expression twisted in anger.
A guy who suddenly broke down the door and acted like he knew Lee Jagwang?
“Lee Jagwang! Were you really planning a rebellion?”
On the other hand, Lee Jagwang was bewildered.
His swollen eyes were half-closed, but Eunho’s face was strangely clear.
Of course, he had never thought of rebellion, and he didn’t know why Eunho was here.
“N-no, I never thought of….”
“Shut up! Then how do you explain this situation?”
Jin Sacheok raised his aura and faced Eunho.
First, he planned to kill the arrogant guy in front of him and then find out the truth about Lee Jagwang, whether by beating him or some other means.
Eun-ho tilted his head and looked at Nokwang.
“Was it you? The one who killed our men?”
Eunho wouldn’t usually get involved in ordinary fights.
Such fights were common.
The problem was that three people from Cheonhajang were killed.
Even if one had guts, there should be a limit.
“Why are you here…?”
The one who reacted most violently was Sawang.
He had abandoned the Unorthodox Alliance and hid in Nokrim out of fear of Eunho.
But now that Eunho suddenly appeared, he couldn’t believe it. No, he didn’t want to believe it.
“Ah. Part of the reason I’m here is because of you, so wait your turn. Don’t even think about running away. The mountain stronghold is blocked by a formation, and The Fist King is waiting outside.”
“The Fist King!?”
At the mention of the Fist King, not only Sawang and Nokwang but also the other leaders were agitated.
“Why is he here! Don’t talk nonsense!”
Sawang shouted in disbelief.
Handling Eunho alone was already overwhelming, but the Fist King coming too?
The Fist King was truly Sawang’s nemesis.
Not only was his martial prowess superior, but unlike others, he didn’t care about the face of the Unorthodox Alliance.
While the other Twenty-Four Masters moved with justification, the crazy Fist King would attack the Unorthodox Alliance without hesitation if provoked.
Sawang glared with distrust, but Eunho didn’t flinch.
“Then go out and see for yourself.”
As Eunho confidently stepped out, Sawang cautiously extended his senses. There was indeed a massive presence outside the mountain stronghold.
He wasn’t sure if it was the Fist King, but it was definitely on the same level as the Twenty-Four Masters.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem to have any intention of moving, which was a relief.
While Sawang watched Eunho nervously, Nokwang was utterly enraged. It was already arrogant enough to invade, but he was too relaxed.
It felt as if he was being ignored.
“You brat!”
Nokwang’s shout echoed through the mountain stronghold.
In fact, Eunho had never ignored Nokwang.
He was actually deep in thought.
Seeing Nokwang in person was even more disappointing.
He had thought Sawang was the weakest among the Twenty-Four Masters, but Nokwang seemed similar.
Honestly, he felt he could kill him in one blow.
The problem was that there were other leaders here.
If the person they served, whom they believed to be an absolute strongman, died instantly, wouldn’t the shock be too great?
If they became lethargic and despondent from the shock, wouldn’t that be a pity?
They were just simple bandits who begged for food on the road.
As Eunho stood there thinking, Nokwang laughed arrogantly.
“Seeing me in person, you got scared. Don’t worry. I’ll kill you before you even feel death.”
Sawang approached Nokwang and grabbed his shoulder.
“What is it?”
“Just kneel.”
After thinking it over, if the one outside was really the Fist King and they couldn’t escape, that was the best option.
He knew Eunho’s strength from experience. He couldn’t win.
Honestly, even if he and Nokwang fought together, he couldn’t guarantee victory.
When uncertain, the best strategy was not to fight.
“Huh, Sawang, have you gone mad?”
Nokwang felt like Sawang was mocking him.
Telling him to kneel to such a brat.
While the two were bickering, Eunho finished his thoughts.
He came up with a good solution.
Before killing Nokwang, he would first knock out the other leaders.
Having decided, he didn’t hesitate in his actions.
Just like he had taken down the elite of the Unorthodox Alliance, Eunho’s finger pointed at the leaders.
Swoosh. Swish.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The leaders fell one by one like wooden dolls.
The two kings watched with dazed eyes.
“Oh, by the way, I’ll give you a chance to repent, but that guy will just be killed.”
Eunho was resolute.
In the meantime, a brief flush of color appeared on the hardened face of the Fourth King.
“A chance means…”
“It means I’ll beat you just enough so you won’t die. I’ll drag you to the market in front of the Unorthodox Alliance and beat you like a dog. Then I’ll hand you over to the Murim Alliance.”
The Fourth King’s expression hardened again.
After much deliberation, he raised his spirits.
He could endure being hit by Eunho.
Survival was the priority.
But going to the Murim Alliance was a different story.
There were countless people there who wanted to kill him.
Going to the Murim Alliance with a justification to be killed was nothing short of suicide.
The energy emanating from the two Twenty-Four Masters was truly formidable.
Even the Fist King, who was waiting outside, felt his blood boil.
If it weren’t for Eunho’s request not to enter, he would have rushed in to fight immediately.
Eunho was satisfied as he faced the energy of the two.
“Good. Good choice. All the leaders have fainted… Oh, that guy.”
The tattered Asoche Lee Jagwang was visible.
“Well, it should be fine.”
Eunho raised his spirits. The energy of the three collided fiercely.
The mountain stronghold should have collapsed, but it only shook violently and held firm. It wasn’t because it was built sturdily.
“These crazy people!”
Cold sweat dripped from the forehead of Lee Ryang, who surrounded the mountain stronghold with a formation.
If it weren’t for his formation, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the entire mountain had collapsed.
