The world's most incompetent kidnapping(1)

Chung Myung had absolutely no intention of returning to Mount Hua that night.

He had escaped the sect, found himself a comfortable little village near Hua'um, and, most importantly, discovered a tavern that served reasonably good alcohol.

It was a wonderful evening.

Until he overheard something interesting.

"That's him, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sure he is the chivalrous sword of mount hua."

"...Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Of course it'll work! I've thought everything through."

Chung Myung, who had been reaching for his cup, paused.

"Oh?"

He didn't turn around.

He merely tilted his head slightly, allowing his ears to catch the conversation from the table behind him.

"We're actually going to kidnap him? Him?"

"Keep your voice down, idiot!"

"But he's Chung Myung of Mount Hua!"

"Do you think I don't know that?"

There was a brief silence.

"...Then why are we kidnapping him?"

Another silence.

"Because someone is paying us."

Chung Myung nearly choked on his drink.

He slowly lowered his cup.

What?

Now that was interesting.

He knew his reputation wasn't particularly pleasant, but he couldn't imagine what sort of person would hire two idiots to kidnap him.

More importantly, why these two?

He discreetly glanced over his shoulder.

One was scratching his head while the other was drawing something on the table with a chopstick.

Chung Myung stared.

...Are these really the people they've chosen?

"...And then we use the sleeping powder."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we use more."

"...What if he's awake?"

"Then we knock him unconscious."

Chung Myung stared at his cup.

Amazing.

He was beginning to feel genuinely curious.

Who was behind this?

What did they want?

And how much money had they wasted hiring these two?

He considered several possibilities before finally deciding.

Well, I might as well see where this goes.

He took another sip of alcohol.

It's been a while since I've had some entertainment.

That night, the two men entered his room.

Chung Myung was lying on the bed, apparently fast asleep.

One man approached cautiously and waved a small pouch beneath his nose.

They waited.

Nothing happened.

He waved it again.

Still nothing.

"...Is he asleep?"

"How should I know?"

"Maybe we need more."

They emptied nearly half the pouch.

Chung Myung almost sneezed.

What the hell is this?

He had encountered sleeping poisons countless times throughout his life.

This particular one was so weak that he wasn't even sure it deserved to be called poison.

And they hadn't even brought an energy-dispersing poison against a martial master!

What kind of kidnapping is this?

The men finally seemed satisfied.

They tied his wrists, then his ankles, and even wrapped another length of rope around his torso.

Chung Myung silently assessed their work.

Loose.

Very loose.

Is that even a proper knot?

He could probably escape by simply moving his fingers.

But he didn't.

Instead, he relaxed his body and continued pretending to be unconscious.

In the first place ropes couldn't restrain him. Not only him, but most martial artist.

If you wanted to kidnap a normal martial artist not even a master, you had to at least bring powerful poison and chains!!

But these idiots didn't even have those.

"Done?"

"Yeah. Help me carry him."

The next thing Chung Myung knew, he was being dragged out of the inn.

He had intended to stay awake and observe their destination.

He really had.

Unfortunately, the alcohol, the comfortable night air, and the sheer boredom of listening to two idiots congratulate each other on their success had other ideas.

By the time they reached their destination, Chung Myung was genuinely asleep.

When he woke up, the first thing he noticed was the smell.

The second was the sound of insects.

And the third—

"..."

He opened one eye.

Wooden walls.

A crooked ceiling.

A rusty lock.

A prison.

He looked around.

The construction was so crude that he could see gaps between the wooden planks.

He stared at the walls for a while.

Then he looked at his restraints.

Then at the lock.

"..."

Silence.

Finally, he sat up.

What kind of place is this?

He pulled once at the ropes.

They snapped.

He looked at them.

"..."

He pushed against the wooden wall.

It creaked.

Chung Myung stopped.

He stared at the wall again.

Then, very slowly, his expression changed.

No way.

He walked to the door and examined the lock.

It wasn't even properly fitted.

He could have opened it with a little pressure.

He stood there for a moment, looking at his surroundings.

Then he laughed.

Not because it was particularly funny.

But because he was beginning to suspect that the entire affair was going to be much more entertaining than he had anticipated.

"These bastards..."

He rubbed his chin.

"Who the hell hired you?"

This prison couldn't even lock a normal person, a civilian, let alone a martial artist.

And the worst thing?

Let alone a normal person, even a crippled, malnourished beggar child could escape t

From here.

Even if he was kidnapped by his own will, he couldn't tell anyone about this.

He was sure they would make fun of him.

Even he was mocking himself, what about others?

And, just as he was considering whether to leave, he heard footsteps approaching.

"Oh! He's still asleep, right?"

"Of course! We used enough sleeping powder to knock out an ox!"

"But aren't these prisons too crude and worn down?? Are you sure you can keep him here?"

Chung Myung slowly turned towards the door.

His expression became positively delighted.

'Oh?'

He returned to the bed, lay down, and closed his eyes.

'Let's see what else these idiots have prepared.'