Chapter 18: Chapter 906: Taste Some Venom (Part 1)
As if a decision had been made, Im Sobyeong finally spoke.
"You don't need to take it so seriously."
"Huh?"
When Chung Myung asked back, Im Sobyeong smiled wickedly.
"People are naturally grateful when you help them once, but if you help them ten times, they start taking it for granted. And when you don't help them for the eleventh time, they criticize and curse you."
"What do you think of people, really?"
"It's only natural, it's only natural. Don't you all agree?"
Im Sobyeong glanced around as if seeking confirmation. However, all he met were cold, resentful gazes.
"After all, you can't lie about your origins."
"I think someone might be a bandit."
"...Evil is still evil."
Im Sobyeong's eyes trembled.
"Me, only me? Am I the only one? Seriously, just me?"
"Yes."
"Huh?"
"Seems like it."
Im Sobyeong's head drooped downward.
Although the faint voice of Im Sobyeong mumbling, "Damn Taoist bastards, they just can't fit in no matter what. They always act like bigger bandits, except at times like these…" could be heard, the disciples of Mount Hua neatly ignored it as if they were deaf.
"Anyways, so what's your point?"
"Cough."
Im Sobyeong cleared his throat and continued.
"What matters is the method, the method! It's not just about stepping down, it's about making a proper declaration and stepping down."
"Declaration?"
"Yes. You remember what happens if you don't provide help the eleventh time, right?"
"You get criticized."
Im Sobyeong nodded, his eyes shining with determination.
"Yes! If you don't help them, you'll receive insults. But what if you boldly declare from now on that you won't help anymore and withdraw?"
"...Wouldn't you still get insulted the same way?"
"Hehehe. You have such small thinking. You're wrong!"
"Then?"
With a big smile, Im Sobyeong answered.
"You'll get insulted even worse. As if they want to kill you..."
"Hey, you bastard...!"
Whoosh!
Chung Myung, who flew across the air, directly stamped on Im Sobyeong's chest. Im Sobyeong cried out and fell backward. In shock, the Five Swords and Tang Gunak quickly subdued Chung Myung and dragged him away.
Chung Myung, with his eyes rolling, roared like a guard dog that had spotted a thief.
"No, I was just carried away with anger! Why are you provoking people to get angry? Protesting, are you? I'll show you how sturdy bandit leader heads are!"
"C-calm down, Chung Myung!"
"He's the Nokrim King! You can't kick him!"
"Alright, Chung Myung. He may be from the Evil Sect, but he is a person with a position. We should treat him properly."
Nevertheless, the Nokrim King was still the Nokrim King. The kicked Im Sobyeong bounced up like a spring and got back on his feet.
"Oh?"
The moment that scene unfolded, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect also nodded in agreement, saying, "He is indeed the Nokrim King."
"Let me finish... Cough! Cough! Why am I suddenly coughing... Cough!"
Im Sobyeong suddenly coughed loudly, and fresh blood spurted out of his mouth.
"Oh my mom!"
"Huh?"
After the shock had subsided, silence fell in the room. Im Sobyeong stared down at the blood pooling on the floor. Then, he weakly turned his gaze toward Chung Myung, who clicked his tongue.
"Why would he start coughing up blood from just one kick? Not even a sunfish would do that!"
'Is he human?'
'A demon.'
'Why does such a creature exist in this world? I'd rather deal with Jang Ilso, at least he's kind... Jang Ilso!'
"Are you alright, Nokrim King?" Tang Gunak asked, and Im Sobyeong nodded weakly.
"Don't worry, please don't worry... Cough! Cough!"
"..."
"More importantly...to finish what I was saying... to end it, a bit more."
Chung Myung nodded with a heavy heart.
"Sure, go ahead."
"How far... did I get? I... Cough. In any case, people would be resentful. But... Cough! we just need them to know that it's not us who should blamed."
"Should we turn the arrow towards the Ten Great Sects?"
"Oh, that's strange. Why would you... Cough! Cough! Ahem! Turn the arrow? That's a given."
Im Sobyeong chuckled.
Rather than looking triumphant, the sight of him smiling brightly with blood streaming down his face gave everyone goosebumps, but no one could bear to point out that fact.
"Well, it worked out. Thanks to the Mount Hua Sect guarding the Shaanxi region and breaking the seal, we have a legitimate reason now."
"Legitimate reason?"
"Yes. What better reason is there to return to defend your homeland than defending your own territory? If the Evil Sect is stretching its hands from Hobuk to Hanam, and from Shaanxi to Sichuan, then all you need to say is you're returning to protect your original territory."
"..."
Chung Myung looked at Im Sobyeong with a curious expression.
"Really?"
"In doing so, the direction of resentment changes. Instead of leaving because it's difficult and troublesome, you're leaving to protect something. Then, wouldn't it be expected for the remaining people to look after whom?"
"Who are you referring to?"
"Tsk, tsk. They won't be looking after other commoners traveling long distances to protect them, but rather those Taoist fellows who lock themselves behind closed doors and engage in their own amusements. Everyone else is working themselves to the bone, but you won't see these Taoists out there breaking a sweat. No, put your fist down. That fist. Cough! Cough! Here, blood, blood!"
As Im Sobyeong hastily pushed the bloody fan toward him, Chung Myung reluctantly lowered the slightly clenched fist. Nevertheless, his gaze still carried a hint of annoyance.
Swish!
Im Sobyeong unfolded the fan stained with blood.
"One should remind the villagers that, traditionally, regions have been defended by their respective sects. The Tang Family guarded Sichuan, Mount Hua guarded Shaanxi, and Wudang guarded Hobuk. If we remind them of these facts, they will naturally recall that the Tang Family had left its region to undertake extra tasks."
Hyun Young nodded, seemingly in favor of Im Sobyeong's suggestion.
"Indeed, that seems like a better approach than simply withdrawing."
However, Baek Cheon had a slightly different perspective.
"But if the Evil Sect hasn't really targeted Sichuan, isn't it a bit too much to pretend it's all under attack?"
"Haha. What are you talking about, Baek Cheon dojang? The fact is, the Evil Sect has already infiltrated Sichuan."
"Really?"
Baekcheon was surprised, his eyes widening. Even more shocked than him, Tang Gunak quickly asked Im Sobyeong.
"Is it true?"
"Yes. I don't have exact details on their identities, but members of the Evil Sect have hidden throughout various mountains in Sichuan, threatening the lives of the people there."
If the Evil Sect members were hiding in the mountains, threatening the lives of people throughout Sichuan...
"Um... So, what do you typically call such people?"
"...Bandits?"
"Hey!"
Im Sobyeong waved the fan energetically.
"Unidentified Evil Sect members. Unidentified Evil Sect members! In any case, those Evil Sect guys will cause trouble in a timely manner soon. Coincidentally, they don't kill people. Quite coincidentally!"
Baek Cheon's mouth hung open.
So, isn't Nokrim planning to disguise itself as a member of the Evil Sect and create a disturbance in Sichuan just to provide a reason for the Tang Family to leave?
"No, would they be fooled by that? There would be a difference..."
"There won't be."
"There won't."
"...Yes, there won't be. That's right."
If the Evil Sect is in the mountains, they are bandits. If they are near the river, they are pirates. And in the fields, they are horse bandits.
It's not like they have "bandit" written over their faces, so how can one tell where the Evil Sect members are from if they just change their outfits?
"Definitely..."
Tang Gunak nodded as if he had a point.
Whether the scale is big or small, if rumors spread that the Evil Sect had caused trouble in Sichuan, nobody could blame Tang Family for returning to Sichuan. After all, isn't Sichuan the Tang Family's responsibility? Who could possibly demand that they abandon Sichuan and continue to protect someone else's land?
Everyone understood and nodded in agreement, and Im Sobyeong cheerfully continued speaking.
"Hehehe, it seems you've caught on. Do you know what they call this?"
"Conspiracy."
"Sneakiness."
"Dirty tricks."
"Strategy! Ingenious strategies! It's not dirty, you Taoist bastards!"
As always, the forsaken bandit's desperate cries fell on deaf ears.
Only Chung Myung looked at Im Sobyeong as if he were impressed.
"I saved a person who was about to die and people cursed me for doing something useless. It turns out to be pretty useful."
"I almost broke my back to make money for Plum Blossom Island!"
"You probably broke your fingers from picking all the pockets."
"...If I had known it'd be like this, I would've just taken it all."
"If you did that, you would've broken more than just your fingers."
Chung Myung considered using both the Beggar's Union and Nokrim to spread rumors and ease their responsibility to some extent. However, the idea of disguising them as the Evil Sect and directly causing problems in Sichuan never crossed his mind.
"Indeed, the Evil Sect is the Evil Sect. Their level of scheming is different. Is it because they've been doing it for so long?"
"...We call it strategy."
"Tsk tsk. If water comes from a cow, it's milk, and if it comes from a snake, it's poison. The same plan, if it comes from the head of a righteous faction, is a strategy, and if it comes from the head of an evil faction, it becomes a conspiracy."
"Oh, no, I mean..."
"If you feel like it's unfair, you can join the Righteous Sect."
"Why did I become a bandit?"
"..."
Im Sobyeong fell silent, feeling like his vision was blurring.
Baek Cheon whispered to Chung Myung quietly, "Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Harsh? What's harsh about it? Is there even a single coin left when the righteous sects freeze to death? We need to take care of these things."
Well, that sounds true, but...
At that time, Tang Gunak, who thought that if things continued like this, Chung Myung would only keep verbally beating Im Sobyeong, quickly resolved the situation.
"So, by doing this, we can secure a reason for Tang Family to withdraw from Yangtze River. But I still worry about the common people who will suffer there."
To this, Chung Myung replied, "Don't worry. There's a way for that, too."
"Oh? How?"
"Well, it's limited, and we can't help everyone. But among the people living in the Yangtze River basin, there should be those who can be relocated to Sichuan with proper support."
Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung in surprise.
"To Sichuan?"
"Yes."
Chung Myung nodded lightly.
"We have to give them a chance. If they move over to Sichuan, not only the Tang Clan but also Mount Hua can provide support. The money we've accumulated over the past three years is overflowing."
This time, Im Sobyeong slapped his palm with a fan confidently.
"Indeed, money is overflowing. Even if we offer an opportunity, there won't be many who actually want to move, so it shouldn't cost much. Hahaha. This idea of giving it out as expected and pretending as expected. The devil can cry and leave..."
"This bastard keeps going on the more we want him to!"
"Hold it, Chung Myung!"
"If you hit me again, I'll die!"
After a brief struggle, Chung Myung finally calmed down and spoke.
"That way you will feel more at ease."
"Hmm."
Tang Gunak looked toward Hyun Jong as if he were seeking permission. In response, Hyun Jong offered a gentle smile and nodded.
"If the head of a family thinks about the people, how can a person who walks the path of Tao be obsessed with mere wealth?"
"Aren't you concerned?"
"You should be."
"We were beggars, Sect Leader."
"Quiet, you lot! Can't you see there are outsiders here!"
Hyun Jong, with a flushed face from his outburst, cleared his throat and spoke more calmly.
"So, do as you wish."
"Thank you, Maenju."
As Tang Gunak nodded, Im Sobyeong grinned.
"Then, along with the Tang Family, we'll withdraw from Plum Blossom Island ."
"Huh? Why Plum Blossom Island?"
"Well... Plum Blossom Island is further ahead than the Tang Family. If a war breaks out, we'll be the first to die, won't we?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
Chung Myung scratched his ear thoughtfully. "It's a bit of a waste to leave without collecting all the money we've earned... Can't we wait a bit longer?"
"But people's lives are the most important," Tang Gunak replied.
"True, but..."
Chung Myung flicked his earlobe with his finger. "Are bandits treated like people these days? It wasn't like that back in my time."
Im Sobyeong momentarily lost his words and stared at Chung Myung with a face that asked, 'Is this guy truly human?'. But Chung Myung remained unfazed.
"In any case, what's the use of surviving in this world if it won't do any good? Why not earn a bit more money?"
"I'm leaving!"
"Don't be hasty."
"Money is money, but we need to survive, don't we?"
"Apparently, people these days don't know the value of money. Tsk, it wasn't like that in my time."
"Hmm. I think that's the right thing to do, Nokrim King."
"Thank you, Maenju."
Until now, Im Sobyeong had considered Chung Myung to be the actual leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But at this moment, he was grateful to the heavens that Hyun Jong was in the master's seat.
If that devil had taken the position of the Heavenly Comrade Leader, the world... No, at the very least, the Nokrim would have definitely gone up in flames.
Once everything was roughly settled, Chung Myung began to chuckle.
"I've set the stage, so that brat will start moving too."
"...Set the stage?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Forget it. Hehehe."
With the world's happiest expression on his face, he laughed without further explanation, making everyone shiver with unease.
'You dared spy on us? You bastard!'
Cheongmyeong's mouth twisted into a smirk.
"After three years, it seems like you've forgotten who I am."
"...".
"Taste some venom. Give it a try. Hehehe! Uhuhuhu! Uhuhuhuhuh!"
"…"
Watching Chung Myung, who had suddenly gone mad, Jo Gol quietly asked Baek Cheon.
"Why's that bastard acting crazy again?"
"What can I say? He's probably plotting something in his head again."
What about the water? It turns into milk for the cow, and poison for the snake, right?
"In that case, that bastard's a snake. And a. vicious one at that."
The eyes of the vicious snake turned south.
Far, far away, towards the Yangtze River, where the chaos that would shake the world would take place.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Bagel_Seeds
Bagel_Seeds Shaanxi = Seomseo
Sichuan = Sacheon
#saveourpoorbandit
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