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Several rumors trailed Bukgung Family’s third son, the Lord of the Ghost Cave, Bukgung Dam-deok.
There were rumors he was a demon with horns and a tail, rumors he massacred anyone who met his gaze on the road, rumors he drank virgins’ blood and bathed in water filled with corpses, and so on….
In any case, to Yeon Mujin they were ridiculous rumors only idiots would believe.
But he hadn’t expected those idiots to be among his subordinates.
“The third son is more ordinary than I thought.”
“No horns on his head either….”
“And he doesn’t go around slaughtering people….”
“What kind of obvious nonsense are you spouting?”
Yeon Mujin shot a rebuke at Yang Gwan-wol and Pyo Kang-hyeok, who were babbling pitifully.
“Well, the rumors that follow the third son are so ominous.”
“They say he’s a madman, that his temperament is unbearably cruel….”
“Does he look like that to you?”
Yeon Mujin asked, pointing to the third son walking ahead.
“Aagh!”
Just then Bukgung Dam-deok caught his foot on a rock and fell down miserably.
“Young master!”
Hwan Bija, who stood by him, was startled and hurried to lift Bukgung Dam-deok up.
“….”
The third son as seen in person was nothing like the madman in the rumors.
He was timid, sloppy, and even a little pitiable.
If it weren’t for the four men guarding his side, someone might have rushed to help him.
“Still, the third son’s guards are terrifying, just like the rumors said.”
The third son always traveled accompanied by four men.
They were the four brothers called Ai Ja, Bi Mokja, Gyu Guja, and Hwan Bija.
Their names were cumbersome, so people usually called them A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan.
Those who disliked or insulted A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan sometimes called them ‘Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose’ instead.
Why? Because, as the name suggested, their facial features were an A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan.
Each of the four A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan had ears, eyes, mouth, or nose abnormally large compared to others, as if each had been stung by a bee and swollen in one spot.
“Those are the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan who guard the Lord of the Ghost Cave.”
“But they show no sign of having learned martial arts at all?”
The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan were all frail-looking men.
Their complexions were sallow, weak, and they gave off a gloomy vibe, but that was all. They wouldn’t look out of place as brothel owners in a town’s back alley.
But.
“Don’t make eye contact for no reason. If you catch their eye you’ll be in trouble.”
“Why’s that?”
“They’re under the protection of strange powers and monstrous strength.”
Yeon Mujin never underestimated the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan just because they looked weak.
They were the very embodiment of what one must be most wary of in the martial world.
He only hoped the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan would behave quietly while they traveled to Hundred Ghosts Mountain Manor.
‘It’s nearly impossible, though.’
“Bah, still — we’re going at the Lord of the Ghost Valley Manor’s request; what harm would they do to us?”
Yeon Mujin stared intently at Yang Gwan-wol’s face as he said that.
“Why, why do you look like that?”
“Somehow I think you, Gwan-wol, are the one to be most careful with. Ghosts can tell right away who fears them.”
“….”
The party of the Lord of the Ghost Cave and Flying Swallow Manor behaved like different groups while heading to Hundred Ghosts Mountain Manor.
They didn’t exchange a single word and even ate separately. When moving they kept some distance between them.
They even booked separate lodgings for the night. That was all Yeon Mujin’s plan.
He tried, as much as possible, to avoid being entangled with the third son and the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan.
But they couldn’t maintain that for the entire long journey.
“No inn available?”
“Yes. It’s a small village, so there’s only one place left.”
“This is a big problem.”
Ha Do-yeop asked the troubled Yeon Mujin.
“Captain, what’s so big a problem?”
“We have to sleep under the same roof as the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan.”
“…Do you really think they’ll go after the Lord?”
“No. The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan obey the Ghost Valley Manor Lord to the letter. They wouldn’t so much as touch a hair on his head.”
“Uh… then what’s the problem?”
“What the Ghost Valley Manor Lord needs is our Manor Lord, not us, right?”
The External Protection Troops members still didn’t quite understand his reaction.
“You think they’ll attack us?”
“What would they gain by attacking us?”
“I never said ‘attack’.”
“Then what?”
Yeon Mujin spoke to the troops with a seriousness they’d never seen before.
“A prank.”
“…Yes?”
“The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s pranks are going to begin.”
The External Protection Troops had to wonder whether he was joking or serious.
Yu Se-gwang offered a sensible answer.
“Can’t we just refuse to play along with them?”
“Se-gwang.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever suddenly woken up in the middle of the night and felt your whole body frozen like stone, unable to move?”
“Oh! I have!”
“And then saw something strange?”
“Yes! Exactly! I heard noises or saw whitish shapes flitting at the edge of my vision.”
“That’s all the work of ghosts. Do you think a ghost will avoid you just because you refuse to play along?”
“Uh….”
At the word ‘ghost,’ Yang Gwan-wol’s face went white in an instant.
Frightened, Yang Gwan-wol quickly spoke to Yeon Mujin.
“I’ll sleep out for a night, Captain.”
“Abandon the manor lord?”
“Can’t we all sleep out together? Including the Manor Lord, of course.”
“Because of your pea-sized courage, the Manor Lord has to rough it outdoors?”
Yang Gwan-wol grabbed his head with both hands.
He was torn between his duty as a guard and his fear of ghosts.
“You’re lying, right? You’re teasing me? What living person would be involved with ghosts?”
“Gwan-wol, don’t worry.”
“Right? It’s a lie, isn’t it?”
“Just keep your wits about you and your life will be fine.”
Aagh! Yang Gwan-wol let out a scream.
Yeon Mujin teased Yang Gwan-wol a little more with a few words, then addressed the External Protection Troops.
“Everyone, be on full alert tonight. Don’t be fooled by the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s pranks.”
“We’ve come a long way without introductions. This old man’s name is Bi Mokja.”
At dinner in the inn, Bi Mokja extended his hand toward the External Protection Troops.
Bi Mokja was slight and squat, a man who looked very much like a mole.
The only thing that set him apart from a mole was the bulging ridges around his eyes, as if his face would spill forward if you struck the back of his head.
Yang Gwan-wol answered on high alert.
“I’m Yang Gwan-wol, deputy captain of Flying Swallow Manor’s External Protection Troops.”
When Yang Gwan-wol took his offered hand, Bi Mokja’s mouth curled into a grin.
Squeeeze!
Bi Mokja began to apply pressure to the clasped hand.
‘Look at this. How dare he try to test his strength against me?’
Yang Gwan-wol was one of the bigger and stronger men in the External Protection Troops—easily among the top three.
If he lost face here he’d be looked down on for a long time; he thought this was his chance to prove his strength.
But,
Squeeeze!
Even as veins bulged on Yang Gwan-wol’s forearm and his face flushed red with effort, Bi Mokja didn’t budge.
He looked at Yang Gwan-wol with a composed expression.
It was a look that said, ‘Is that all you’ve got?’
‘What kind of strength is this…!’
“Puhah!”
When Bi Mokja released his hand, Yang Gwan-wol let out the held breath in a big exhale.
It had been brief, but beads of sweat dotted his brow.
Bi Mokja didn’t stop there; he shook hands with each of the External Protection Troops men one by one.
“Bi Mokja here.”
“I’m Yu Se-gwang.”
“Bi Mokja here.”
“I am Pyo Kang-hyeok.”
“Bi Mokja here.”
“…Ha Do-yeop.”
Everyone gauged Yang Gwan-wol and then understood how the situation was unfolding.
They braced themselves and tried to contest strength, but not a single person could beat Bi Mokja.
At last it was Yeon Mujin’s turn.
“I’m Yeon Mujin.”
“So you’re the famed leader of the External Protection Troops.”
Bi Mokja extended his hand again.
Yeon Mujin looked at the hand Bi Mokja offered with quiet attention, then—
“Waja!”
He suddenly thrust both hands forward and lunged at Bi Mokja.
Startled, Bi Mokja spread both hands to grab Yeon Mujin’s.
The two grasped each other’s arms and began a test of strength.
Squeeeze!
Bi Mokja applied force.
Yeon Mujin braced as well.
“Leader of the External Protection Troops, why did you suddenly lunge?”
“Seemed like you liked tests of strength?”
Bukgung Yoon watched, wondering what strange stunt Yeon Mujin might be up to, and everyone else watched the two as well.
Bi Mokja could not lose, especially with his three brothers and Bukgung Dam-deok watching!
“I love tests of strength!”
The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan roared with laughter as Bi Mokja began to exert his strength.
The third was a man born with brave strength.
They had never once seen the third lose a strength contest.
Bi Mokja was the strongest man in the martial arts world!
“Take it easy, third brother.”
“If you knock everyone out by yourself, what will become of Flying Swallow Manor’s reputation?”
“Warriors are proud folk, you know.”
But even with their warnings, Yeon Mujin did not fall.
This time the situation was the exact opposite of before.
Sweat streamed from Bi Mokja’s head like rain.
“What?!”
In contrast, Yeon Mujin’s expression was perfectly calm.
He asked the flushed Bi Mokja.
“Is this your limit?”
“…You fellow!”
Bi Mokja summoned every last ounce of strength and tried to wrench Yeon Mujin’s arm.
Their arms trembled and sank slowly as the two locked eyes.
It wasn’t Bi Mokja who twisted the arm—it was Yeon Mujin.
“Aagh!”
When Bi Mokja screamed, Yeon Mujin released his arm.
Bi Mokja clutched both his arms and fell backward onto his butt. The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan exclaimed in surprise.
“How did the third get pushed back?”
“That fellow used internal qi.”
“He couldn’t have beaten the third without using internal qi.”
“Cowardly using internal qi to deal with him?”
Yeon Mujin listened to the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s accusations and then spoke.
“I did not use internal qi.”
“Don’t lie!”
“Ask Bi Mokja yourself.”
Bi Mokja groaned and answered.
“He did not use internal qi.”
“That can’t be!”
They had never imagined they would find someone stronger than Bi Mokja in their lifetimes.
“He’s so slight?”
“Bi Mokja is actually smaller.”
It was thanks to the power of the Travelling Swallow Qi Technique, honed over seven lifetimes, though the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan had no way of knowing that.
“Ai Ja, Bi Mokja, Gyu Guja, Hwan Bija.”
Yeon Mujin called the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s names in turn.
“I’ve long heard of your notoriety. You’re said to be cantankerous and to take pleasure in tormenting the weak. We’re accompanying the Ghost Valley Manor Lord at his invitation, so show some courtesy. Don’t go flaunting strength for no reason.”
The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan were angry, but had nothing to say in reply.
“If you insist on testing your abilities, test them on me. Don’t go picking on our External Protection Troops. I am the External Protection Troops’ leader of Flying Swallow Manor.”
“….”
“Did you hear what that fellow said earlier, elder brothers?”
Gyu Guja spoke in a grave tone.
“Not only did he bother our third, but he claims we’re cantankerous and ugly before us?”
“It’s been a long time since someone was that insolent in front of us.”
“His strength was something else. Where does such strength come from…”
Ai Ja and Bi Mokja chimed in with comments.
These A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan were people of great pride.
Because they dealt in monstrous strength and strange powers, they often inspired fear wherever they went.
Yet someone had just crushed their pride right in front of them?
If the young master hadn’t been present, they would have torn him to pieces and fed him to the ghosts.
“Originally we thought to play some pranks on the entire External Protection Troops tonight, but….”
Ai Ja took something from his bosom and said.
“This won’t do. Forget the others—let’s give that Yeon Mujin a harsh punishment.”
The object was Dream Soul Incense. He burned Dream Soul Incense to trap people in nightmares.
“Big brother, you’ll permit this, won’t you?”
Ai Ja glanced at Hwan Bija as he asked.
Among the A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan, Hwan Bija was the eldest.
“….”
Hwan Bija closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.
—What misunderstanding? They left out half the story and yet complain. Tell me, can you say Hundred Ghosts Mountain Manor is a safe place?
That fellow Yeon Mujin had been a rotten sort from the beginning.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Let’s make it a vicious one.”
At that, Ai Ja smiled a long smile and said,
“You mean a vicious one?”
“Yes.”
“What if one in ten goes mad?”
Pleased by the response, Hwan Bija also smiled and replied.
“That too would be his own doing.”
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