The Bandits Of Mount Iriga

We ended up heading off to subjugate the bandits of Mount Iriga, so that day we only made preparations, went to sleep early, and readied ourselves for the next day.

The next day, we left Gyorei Cave early in the morning. I carried the leather bag containing my Serpent-Goat Broadsword on my back, and on top of that, a backpack containing changes of clothes, a poncho, a tarp, and other things. Inside that backpack, I also had my qi bullet gun in its holster. I entrusted the black steel short sword and the Lightning Sting Hammer to Haoxuen and Seiran.

This time, we were going farther than the royal capital, so I decided to bring more changes of clothes.

“Depart.”

At the voice of Ryuuho, the oldest among us, we left Gyorei Cave. There was one thing I found strange about this journey. Why had Elder Shanshi chosen Yulong?

With Yulong’s ability, I thought he could defeat ordinary bandits, but if his opponent was Dumin, he seemed likely to be defeated in one blow instead. I did not really understand it, but had Elder Shanshi thought to let Yulong gain experience?

“Why is Kou with us too?”

Yulong complained. I was the one who wanted to complain.

“Kou’s ability is certain. That must be how troublesome Senior Brother Dumin is.”

Kanru seemed to know Dumin personally, and called him “Senior Brother Dumin.”

“Kanru, do not call him Senior Brother. Dumin has been expelled.”

Ryuuho warned him.

“I understand.”

The journey went smoothly, and we arrived at the royal capital four days later. After resting in the royal capital for a day, we headed north. That afternoon, it began to rain. Of course, I took out my poncho and put it on. To my surprise, Kanru had also prepared a poncho. And it was a poncho made of silver goat thread.

Yulong was looking enviously at Kanru’s silver poncho. Yulong and Ryuuho only had conical hats, so after walking for about twenty minutes, they became soaked.

“Kou, this poncho really is a good thing.”

Kanru called out to me.

“Yes. If the material weren’t silver goat fur, we could make a huge profit.”

Hearing that, Kanru laughed.

“That may be true.”

“By the way, is this bandit named Dumin strong?”

“Yes. When he was still in Gyorei Cave, he competed with the late Senior Brother Daaren. However, that was many years ago. When one stops training, one’s skills decline. Elder Shanshi said that even I could defeat him now.”

“If he truly hasn’t trained, that may be so. But what do you think would happen if he had continued training?”

Kanru frowned. Then Ryuuho cut in.

“Do not worry. If Kanru and I are there, Dumin can be defeated.”

I looked at Ryuuho’s long, narrow face and felt uneasy. I thought Ryuuho had talent when it came to qi. However, his talent for martial arts was ordinary. Elder Shanshi had said that Kanru and Ryuuho were the ones who could defeat Dumin, but he had probably said that out of consideration for Ryuuho’s dignity.

I had fought mock battles with Ryuuho before, so I acknowledged Ryuuho’s overall ability. However, his attacks were faithful to the basics, so I could somehow predict them. I was not saying that keeping to the basics was bad. I just thought he needed more ingenuity of his own.

Four days later, we arrived in the town of Toban near Mount Iriga. Toban was a post town. Many travelers from the regions spreading north of the royal capital passed through Toban on their way to the royal capital. And it was those travelers whom the bandits targeted.

Toban was a town lined with Chinese-style inns on both sides of the highway. They were wooden buildings like those from Japan’s Edo period, but the four corners of the roofs curved upward, and the window designs and the structure that allowed people to enter with shoes on were different.

After choosing an inn and putting our luggage down in our rooms, we decided to ask the county magistrate who governed the town for information. We had heard that this county magistrate had reported the matter of Dumin to the royal capital, and that the report had then reached Gyorei Cave from the royal capital.

The county magistrate here was a man named Han, and the inn staff told us he was working at the government office. So I, the youngest, went to the office as an advance messenger and told the gate guard there that Taoist practitioners of Gyorei Cave wished to meet County Magistrate Han.

When I gave the name of Gyorei Cave to the gate guard, he called for a man named Assistant Pao. A county assistant seemed to be a post like an aide to the county magistrate.

“Are you the Taoist practitioner from Gyorei Cave?”

“I am Kou, an inner disciple. My senior brothers say they wish to meet County Magistrate Han regarding the bandit matter. Please relay the message.”

I did not know whether my wording was appropriate to the etiquette. I had never learned etiquette, so it could not be helped. After hearing my request, Assistant Pao arranged an appointment for us to meet the county magistrate two hours later.

Two hours later, we were speaking with County Magistrate Han in a room like a conference room at the government office.

“You have come regarding Dumin, who has become a member of the bandit gang, correct?”

At County Magistrate Han’s words, Ryuuho nodded.

“That is correct. Elder Shanshi instructed us to slay Dumin.”

“That is welcome news. But is it only Dumin?”

“Of course, we will defeat any bandits who interfere.”

County Magistrate Han smiled.

“Very well. We will cooperate as well.”

Assistant Pao, who was present with us, began explaining the bandits of Mount Iriga. Apparently, the bandit group numbered about thirty people. As a former detective, I wanted to ask about the circumstances that had allowed them to be left alone until they reached that size.

“We also sent soldiers to subjugate the bandits, but we failed because of Dumin.”

Assistant Pao said that with a dark expression. The bandits had apparently established a hideout halfway up Mount Iriga. There was only one road leading to that hideout, and the subjugation force had been ambushed and fled back.

Now that we understood the situation, we returned to the inn and discussed it.

“We should go openly and honorably to the hideout and subjugate the bandits.”

Yulong gave his opinion. Hearing that, Kanru nodded, and I frowned.

“The county magistrate’s subjugation force did the same thing and was defeated in return. I think we would meet the same fate.”

“You cannot equate that subjugation force with Taoist practitioners of Gyorei Cave.”

Kanru said that. Kanru was the muscle-brained type, so he did not think deeply. Hearing that, Ryuuho seemed to feel uneasy about Kanru and Yulong’s opinions.

“Wait. Let us hear Kou’s opinion as well.”