Forest Of Bewilderment

Daljin drew his treasured sword and took a stance. I also readied my Serpent-Sheep Broadsword and waited for the bandits to appear. Then, rough-looking men carrying weapons appeared one after another.

“What the hell are you?”

One of the bandits raised his voice when he saw us holding our weapons ready.

“What are you, then?”

Though he already knew the answer, Daljin asked.

“Hmph, so you’re not merchants. Tch, kill them and strip them of everything they have.”

They did not answer the question, but they were definitely bandits. There were nine bandits. It was a number that a small group of merchants would not be able to handle. A small caravan could only hire about two bodyguards.

“If you attack us, I will show no mercy.”

When I said that, the bandits burst out laughing.

“This brat’s funny.”

“He’s so funny it pisses me off.”

The bandit who said that gripped his sword and attacked. His attack was full of openings. I stepped sideways to dodge the sword that swung down, then slammed my Serpent-Sheep Broadsword into the bandit’s neck. In that instant, the bandit’s head flew off.

Something bitter rose from deep in my chest, but I firmly endured it and turned my eyes toward the remaining bandits. Then one of the bandits wore an expression of rage.

“What the hell did you do?!”

The angry bandit shouted and attacked. I slowly raised my Serpent-Sheep Broadsword, and the instant he entered my range, I swung it down. The second bandit tried to block the Serpent-Sheep Broadsword’s attack with the shaft of his spear. However, the blade of the Serpent-Sheep Broadsword sliced through the spear shaft and stopped after biting into his head.

The bandits who saw that froze.

“That guy isn’t normal.”

“Could he be a Taoist practitioner?”

“Then attacking one at a time won’t work. Attack him all at once.”

Saying that, four of them headed toward me, while the remaining three went toward Daljin.

I put pressure on the Floating Yang Qi circulating through my body and entered the state of Moment of Foam. Time stretched out, and the movements of the four bandits slowed.

Here, I applied Swallowtail Swordsmanship’s Eight-Flash Sword and unleashed four high-speed slashes with my Serpent-Sheep Broadsword. They did not reach the level of the true Eight-Flash Sword, but in an instant, the four bandits sprayed blood and collapsed.

When I looked toward Daljin, he had defeated one and was fighting the remaining two. I thought about helping, but he glared sharply at me. He was probably saying that he did not need assistance.

In my previous life as a detective, I had shot and killed the boss of a fraud group. Of course, it had been self-defense, but the experience of killing a person was a heavy thing. However, perhaps because I had become a Taoist practitioner, I had become mentally stronger, and the burden on my mind seemed lighter than when I had been Japanese.

At last, Daljin defeated the bandits. After confirming that, Chai, the guide, returned. It seemed he had been hiding in the shade of a tree and watching during the fight.

“You are both strong. With this, yōma should be no problem.”

Daljin made a stern face.

“No, the strong one is Lord Kou. I keenly felt how immature I am.”

It seemed he had enough breadth of mind to recognize reality and admit it. I had seen Daljin’s Nine Lotus Sword, and it was slightly similar to the Peach Blossom Sword. He seemed to be strengthening his physical abilities by using refined qi, but his level was probably around the Fifth Tier.

That was enough to pass as an inner disciple, but considering that I had reached the Fifth Tier when I was ten, there was a high chance that Daljin was mistaken in his qi training method. He was probably the same as Shunlin and Zengu, training in a still art despite being a moving-art type.

I had no intention of instructing a stranger I had no connection to, so without saying anything, I began cleaning up the bandits’ bodies. Though by cleaning up, I only meant moving them to the side of the road. After that, we would have no choice but to inform the officials in Rugol and have them deal with the bodies.

“Lord Kou’s martial arts are splendid.”

“That is because the martial arts of Gyorei Cave are splendid.”

“Is that so…? Hah, if only I were a little younger, I would have entered Gyorei Cave…”

After that, we crossed the mountain and arrived at Rugol. There, Daljin reported the bandits to an official. The official said he wanted us to guide him to the place where we had left the bandits’ bodies.

“We are going to the Forest of Bewilderment by royal command. Do you mean to obstruct that?”

Since the king’s name came up, the official was startled.

“I-I did not know. Leave the bandits to us and fulfill the royal command.”

That day, we decided to stay one night in Rugol.

Early the next morning, we departed and hurried onward. The Forest of Bewilderment was about three hours on foot from Rugol. We arrived at the Forest of Bewilderment during the morning and entered the forest together. I considered leaving Chai, the guide, behind, but apparently one could be attacked by yōma even without entering the forest, so we decided to bring him with us.

“Lord Kou, will we really be all right?”

Chai asked with an anxious expression.

“I heard that the strongest yōma here is a Red-Eyed Bear, so there is nothing to worry about.”

That was what I said, but Chai seemed unable to understand why there was nothing to worry about despite there being Red-Eyed Bears. Well, that might be normal.

Once we entered the forest, I began using Lone Awakening Eye, probing for traces of demonic qi and sensing the presence of yōma. In that state, we proceeded toward the lake. Chai looked anxious. When I looked toward Daljin, his face was tense as well, and he was gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

After we had advanced for about twenty minutes, I sensed the presence of a yōma ahead.

“There is a yōma ahead. Chai-san, please do not move away from me.”

When I readied my Serpent-Sheep Broadsword, an Iron-Claw Bear emerged from the grass ahead. Daljin drew his treasured sword and stepped forward.

“Please leave this one to me.”