Vol 2 Chapter 43. I Am Indebted (3)

What ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍is a journey into the Jianghu?

To freely roam the Jianghu, punish evil to spread one's chivalrous name, and continue connections through new meetings...

Isn't that exactly the journey into the Jianghu filled with the romance of a martial artist?

Namgung Min, who grew up sheltered in the Namgung Clan, held significant expectations for his first journey into the Jianghu.

And he thought he was lucky to have met Patrick.

Himself continuing a connection with a master who has not yet revealed himself to the world.

How cool is that?

'I must become closer to him while going to Shaolin. Then father and my older brothers will see me in a new light.'

Thinking so, Namgung Min groomed himself neatly as soon as he woke up in the morning and went outside.

And what he saw was...

"Haaaap!"

Two swords flying swiftly while cutting the wind.

It was the attack of the Eldest Disciple of the Twin Dragon Sect named Mun Yul, whom he was introduced to yesterday.

Of course, the target of the attack is Patrick.

Although it is an attack too full of killing intent to be directed against an elder of the same sect...

CLANG!

The opponent completely nullified it too simply.

Just by swinging his right sword once, Mun Yul's attack turned into nothing.

However, at the moment Mun Yul bounced off.

Two disciples who had been killing their presence behind Mun Yul popped out exquisitely.

It was Yun-a and Sanghun.

The two naturally occupied Patrick's left and right blind spots and swung their swords.

"master!"

"Prepare yourself!"

SWISH!

The four swords wielded by Yun-a and Sanghun drew dizzying trajectories in the air.

While concentrated on a single target, the swords of the two people, which did not clash at all, were aiming for Patrick's vital points all over his body.

Then Patrick pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled...

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

He nullified the joint attack of the two with much faster sword movements.

The sword speed was so fast that in Namgung Min's eyes, it only looked as if Patrick's sword disappeared for an instant. And then...

THUD! BAM!

"Kugh..."

"Ugh..."

He didn't even see what they were hit with.

Just when he came to his senses, the two people folded their bodies and flew backward.

However, even the two who flew away like that landed on the ground with two feet, desperately keeping their balance.

Their eyes glaring at Patrick were still full of fighting spirit.

Toward such disciples, Patrick smirked and said.

"The attempt was good. Though you still have a loooooong way to go."

At that, Mun Yul gritted his teeth.

Does he really have to answer like he's teasing people like that?

"It's not over yet!"

And Mun Yul bravely rushed head-on at Patrick again.

Yun-a and Sanghun also moved in sync with that.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Mun Yul, the main attacker, attacks Patrick from the front, and the giant Sanghun delivers heavy attacks in between.

On top of that, Yun-a constantly circles around Patrick utilizing her light body movements, aiming for gaps.

The swords of the four people clashed without rest and collided in the air.

It was truly training reminiscent of actual combat.

Namgung Min, who was watching the scene blankly, shook his head.

'To think they do such full-scale training outside, not even in the sect.'

"Isn't it too defenseless no matter how early it is?"

To Namgung Min, who muttered inadvertently, someone's voice was heard.

"What do you mean defenseless?"

Looking at the place where the voice came from, there was...

"Ah... It is Lady Sona."

There was Persona, whose black hair like ebony and appearance wearing a white saber suited her like a painting.

Persona said to Namgung Min.

"Sona is a name called by those who have friendship with me."

"Ah......"

"You should call me Persona."

"Yes. I was rude."

Namgung Min was embarrassed.

In the case of Elione, the other peerless beauty, she is a married woman, so it can't be helped, but he knew this woman was unmarried. But...

'To treat me so coldly. This is the first time I've met such a lady.'

Handsome appearance and the background of being a son of the Namgung Clan.

For Namgung Min, who had lived receiving the favor of all women in Anhui in one body, Persona's reaction was fresh. However, Persona spoke as if she had no feelings for Namgung Min.

"What do you mean by defenseless?"

At her question asking again, Namgung Min said.

"Ahem, originally, the Jianghu is a place where you don't know what will happen."

"So?"

"Shouldn't one always sharpen their senses and ensure perfection, instead of exhausting energy with such intense training?"

"......"

"Moreover, originally, training should not be done recklessly in such an open place. It is common sense in the Jianghu that watching someone else's training recklessly also becomes a cause for quarrel."

At Namgung Min's words, Persona chuckled.

Does this kid know who he dares to spout nonsense to right now?

Why did Master allow such a kid to join the group?

"Sigh......"

Seeing Persona let out a small sigh, Namgung Min laughed coolly and said.

"Do not worry. I am a son of the Great Namgung Clan. Even if I see another sect's martial arts, I am not a shameless person who steals them."

Persona seriously pondered whether or not to shove her fist into this kid's mouth. And at that moment...

"Hey. Kid."

Patrick's voice was heard.

"Ahem, have you risen? Master Patrick."

"I did a loooooong time ago."

"......"

"Are you going to join too?"

At Patrick's words, Namgung Min shook his head and said.

"No. Our sect's martial arts cannot be shown to outsiders recklessly."

"Ah really? Then are you going to go somewhere else and do personal training?"

"Hahaha. Since this is not the sanctuary of the Namgung Clan, I cannot recklessly train the Sword of Namgung, can I?"

"So, you won't train?"

"Yes. That is correct."

Seeing Namgung Min answering very confidently, Patrick looked at the sky and muttered something.

"I... Man... If it were the old days... Ah... Really my temper..."

Seeing Patrick struggling to suppress something, the disciples furtively glanced at him and moved away.

However, Namgung Min, who had absolutely no tact, just had a bright expression with a face saying 'I have no problem?'.

Patrick let out a deep sigh.

"Okay. Then do that. We'll depart after having breakfast in a bit."

"Hahaha. Then see you in a bit."

And seeing the back of Namgung Min walking away nonchalantly, Patrick ground his teeth toward the sky and said.

"Namgung Cheon you bastard, you aren't educating your descendants properly, are you?"

Someone in the sky was making a sorry expression.

Have you ever experienced the limit of patience?

Now Patrick was experiencing it.

The descendant of an old friend.

Moreover, overlapping with the commonality of being ignored in the family as a child of a concubine, he strangely became generous.

Patrick Schneider's generosity.

This is not a common thing. But the problem is that the result of that generosity, Namgung Min is...

"So, what do you think about the current state of affairs in the Jianghu, Master?"

Doing this.

He is doing this.

"...This is a headache."

Patrick stared at him and said a word. However, Namgung Min nodded with a serious expression and said.

"The expression is radical, but I also think so. How can such an unfortunate event where the Unorthodox overwhelms the Orthodox happen?"

"Really, why is such an unfortunate event happening?"

Patrick's gaze is still fixed on Namgung Min.

"In order to break through the current deplorable situation, the Orthodox Murim must unite as one and overcome this situation..."

"master, why is it that sometimes when I try to handle things generously, things get twisted like this? Why on earth?"

"That is correct. What the Jianghu needs right now is not generous tolerance and mercy, but punishment by powerful force."

"......"

Patrick realized.

That the probability of him falling into Qi Deviation was greater than taking this kid to Shaolin.

Only the situation was the same, but his personality and actions had nothing in common with his friend Namgung Cheon.

The women following this kid had also lost all affection and were keeping a far distance.

'Good. Decided. Let's bury this kid here. And pretend this meeting never happened from the start.'

[Hey Jin Cheon. Isn't that a bit too much?]

'Shut up. Then you should have educated your descendants properly!'

At that moment when he was about to bury this kid for his precious mental health...

"Stop!"

With a loud voice, someone blocked the group's path.

Men heavily armed with spears, bows, and blades, wearing green bandanas on their foreheads.

And appeared holding flags embroidered with black scorpions on both sides.

And among them, a man with quite a formidable spirit appeared and shouted.

"This person is Hell Blade Kang Dae-mun, the Stronghold Leader of the Great Black Scorpion Stronghold."

I feel like I've heard that name somewhere...

To Patrick who was thinking that, the opponent solved the doubt.

"Among you, there must be the guy who caught my younger brother and sold him to the government office! Come forward immediately!"

"Ah... It's the brother."

The riddle was completely solved.

Kang So-mun, Kang Dae-mun.

Whoever the parents were, they named their children very insincerely. Is that why?

It seems the brothers, lacking parental attention and love, politely corrupted together and are devoted to acts of Green Forest banditry.

'Although it's none of my business...'

At that time, Kang Dae-mun discovered Patrick and said with sparks flying in his eyes.

"Twin swords and colored-eye person? You are the guy who caught my brother and handed him to the authorities."

"Huh? Not me?"

"How dare... Huh? Not you?"

The opponent was flustered.

And Patrick nodded with a serious expression and said.

"Yeah. Not me. I think you mistook the person?"

"...No, it is definitely you. Twin swords and colored-eye person, plus two peerless beauties next to you. How dare you lie?!"

"Tch, he doesn't fall for it."

The fun of deceiving Unorthodox bastards is decent, but the guy who looks like a mountain bandit, no, is actually a mountain bandit, was quicker on the uptake than expected.

Well, whether he falls for it or not, the result is the same.

In Patrick's life, there was never a history in both his past and present life where a bandit appeared before his eyes and was sent back intact.

"If you beg for forgiveness even now and offer the beauties, your life at least... Kuaack!"

BAM!

The stone Patrick lightly kicked hit the center of Kang Dae-mun's forehead accurately.

"Where does that guy dare to covet someone else's wife and talk nonsense. I feel like cutting his head off right now."

"Oh my, you really... Are you jealous?"

Amidst that, Elione seems to like Patrick. Mun Yul thought while looking at her, putting her hand on her blushing cheek.

'As expected, the Mistress is not ordinary either.'

Well, since she is not ordinary, she must have married someone like that.

And Kang Dae-mun, who was hit by the stone on his forehead, staggered up and shouted furiously.

"Kill them all!"

Simultaneously with those words falling, a rain of arrows poured down from both sides of the road.

"Gasp!"

Namgung Min was greatly flustered by the unexpected attack. He was tense seeing the bandits in front of him and focusing on them, but an arrow attack from the side?

'To think mere mountain bandits use such high-level tactics?'

At that time when Namgung Min was flustered and didn't know what to do...

"Silaphe."

As Elione lightly flicked her finger and said a word, a rough wind swirled and swept away the arrows pouring onto the group.

"Uh... Uh...?"

"What is this..."

The high-level spirit art that hides the spirit's form and uses only its power looked like the power of an immortal who freely handles the harmony of heaven and earth to the eyes of the martial artists.

The bandits were greatly flustered, and Elione gathered the daughters of martial families behind her and said.

"Young ladies, do not stray far from me. Because it is dangerous."

"Yes... Yes."

"Of course. Madam."

"We will do so."

They stuck close to Elione's side like ducklings following their mother.

'That's enough for defense.'

Patrick called the disciples with a stern voice.

"Mun Yul, Sanghun, Yun-a."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Patrick pointed at the bandits with his finger and said.

"Sweep away the lawless bandit mob in the name of the Twin Dragon Sect. Mercy is unnecessary."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The moment Patrick's order fell, three disciples of the Twin Dragon Sect bounced forward. And then...

"Kuaaak!"

"B... Block... Aack!"

"Noooo!"

They began to punish the bandits without hesitation.

Although they were only three, there was no hesitation in charging against over a hundred bandits.

Before the twin swords wielded without hesitation by the three, the bandits of the Black Scorpion Stronghold fell like autumn leaves.

It was truly an overwhelming spectacle.