Chapter 454: A Man of Extraordinary Spirit

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A sudden silence descended.

One of Han-jong’s eyebrows wriggled upward like a worm.

“Hu, an interesting fellow.”

From that heavy and cold voice, thick killing intent and fighting spirit seemed to pour out.

Thus, the atmosphere inside the tavern became savage due to Bai Chu’s sudden remark.

Only he alone remained of those who had stayed.

The rest of the customers had all disappeared outside before anyone noticed.

The terrified courtesans each held their breath at the unexpected situation.

Everyone considered what he had suddenly done as recklessness.

Indeed, it was perfectly natural.

Who was Han-jong?

Wasn’t he a person famous for his violent disposition among the Generals under the king who ruled this place?

Moreover, as his martial prowess was also outstanding, he had handled the vanguard role through countless battlefields, and in the world, he was even called ‘a tiger in human form.’

SEUREUNG, SEUREUREUNG… !

Two soldiers who had drawn their swords side by side emitted fierce eye light.

“How dare you say such rude words with that face……”

“It seems your liver has swelled beyond your belly from drunkenness. Do you know who this person is, fellow?”

In that midst, Cho-hui’s gaze rested on Bai Chu’s face.

He had handsome features.

Only his attire was shabby; it was an appearance that wouldn’t be excessive even if called a dragon among men.

‘Who on earth is that man? It seems he wants to help us, But that would rather be making trouble for no reason……’

Looking at the dark long sword hung at his waist, he must certainly be a warrior, but setting aside the martial prowess of one body, it was currently a situation of being heavily outnumbered.

On the other hand.

Han-jong’s discerning eye and intuition, honed through countless battlefields, were far more excellent than hers.

He realized at once.

That the nameless young warrior was no ordinary swordsman.

That moved his heart.

‘If I put him under me……’

It was an age of chaos where war had devoured everything.

Due to such continued battles, every country was increasingly lacking in troop mobilization capacity.

Because of that, the thirst and desire for talent to be used on battlefields surged up from within his heart.

Though he himself was famous for his violent temperament, nominally as a military officer, he wasn’t without the sense to weigh what was right.

So he judged that if it was a man with good strength who handled a sword well, and if even his age was young, it would be more profitable to first win him over with nice words.

“Stop.”

At the brief sound Han-jong let out, those two soldiers immediately stepped back a few paces.

Right then, Bai Chu quietly came to stand near him.

Wordless eye contact briefly passed between the two men.

Han-jong, watching that sight, spoke with a smirk.

“Looking at your build, you’re a born martial bone (??).”

“……”

“Let me ask. Are you a wandering warrior from a fallen nation…… Or a mercenary who drifts from country to country avoiding the chaos and makes a living by participating in battlefields?”

“Neither.”

Hearing Bai Chu’s dry reply, Han-jong struggled to suppress the displeasure in his chest and smirked again.

“Hu-hut. Insolent…… Fine, you must have some kind of story.”

“……”

“At any rate, the sight of you not being cowed even before this body, who has experienced all hardships of war, is truly impressive. I am General Han-jong of this country. You’ve heard the name at least once?”

“I know.”

“I thought so. You’re surely a Pearl hidden in the mud. Different from the rabble of ordinary soldiers here. I’ve discovered many warriors all this time, and raised them into battle-hardened Generals too. You can’t deceive my eyes. Even the scent of blood ingrained in your body that’s unique to warriors…… Others might not be able to smell it, But I can well discern it.”

“……”

“Setting that aside, your words were quite insolent, But…… I’ll personally give you an opportunity for rise and success.”

“An opportunity for rise and success?”

“That’s right. Come under me. Then you’ll no longer need to wander for a living, and depending on future merits, you’ll be able to run down the Road to success. It’s really a simple choice. If you think about what’s profitable.”

“……”

“Now, don’t invite death through pointless bravado…… Put down that Sword and prostrate yourself in respect. From that moment on, I promise there will absolutely be no censure for this matter. Going further, after returning to the main camp and testing your skill, I’ll even bestow appropriate rewards and positions. That independent authority to appoint is something his majesty has already permitted. So……”

“One, two, three, Four, Five, Six, Seven……”

Bai Chu abruptly cut off his words and counted the number of personnel on the other side.

“A total of fifteen. A suitable number to warm up with.”

“What?”

KKAAAAAANG… !

As soon as a metallic sound suddenly burst, Han-jong was sent flying backward.

WAJIKKEU!

He who had slammed his back into a pillar inside the tavern let out a groan in that instant.

CHYUHAK, CHYUHAAK, CHYUHAK… !

Bai Chu’s sword simultaneously severed the necks of the three soldiers who had been holding Cho-hui.

It was truly extreme-speed skill.

“Eok!”

“That……!”

While the surrounding soldiers were aghast, Bai Chu fiercely charged toward them and shouted.

“Move to one side!”

At that sound, the courtesans who had snapped to their senses took Cho-hui and the madam and moved to a secluded space.

In the meanwhile, Bai Chu’s sword slew three more soldiers.

“Keok!”

“Kkeukeuk……!”

“Ak!”

A one-sided and overwhelming slaughter.

In literally an instant, the number of soldiers, which had been fourteen, was reduced to eight.

And again.

SEOGEOK… SEOGEOUK… !

Two heads were swiftly cut off and rolled across the glossy wooden floor while spraying blood.

The remaining six soldiers lost their fighting spirit and ran toward the tavern door, fleeing for their lives.

But that was the last movement of their lives.

PUHAK, PUHAAK, PUHAK… !

Bai Chu, who had moved even more swiftly than them, wielded his sword fiercely and sent all the soldiers to the afterlife.

Thus, the inside of the tavern transformed into a hellish sea of blood.

Right at that moment.

“Gal!”

Han-jong, having burst out with an angry shout, approached Bai Chu’s back while swinging a large sword.

Kakang, kang… Kakang… Kang, kakang… !

The two men exchanged over a dozen exchanges in the blink of an eye, and then locked blades in a contest of strength.

KKIKKEUT, KKEUT, KKIKKEUT……

While the scraping sounds of metal continuously leaked out, Han-jong widened his eyes and spoke.

“Fellow…… No matter how much I let my guard down, your skill is truly no ordinary thing!”

“Be grateful you lived thanks to that Armor. However, this place will be your grave in any case.”

“That blow from before was surely swordplay using energy cultivation! You’re almost certainly a high General of another country! Speak, who are you and where did you come from?”

“Bai Chu.”

At that quiet utterance, Han-jong’s complexion suddenly hardened.

“……!”

His heart dropped.

To think he could be Bai Chu, the brave general who had emerged as the talk of the town and one of the foremost brave generals of the continent.

A lifetime’s greatest formidable enemy had appeared, younger in age than himself but with a higher martial reputation.

The madam, the courtesans, and Cho-hui who had evacuated to a corner together were also startled upon hearing that name.

‘Ah! Bai Chu! To think that famous general was him……’

Abruptly, the two who had been locked in a contest of strength while pressing their blades together PAK! Pulled apart, then immediately clashed again to exchange blows, and after exchanging a dozen more exchanges like that, the outcome of the fight became clear.

KKWAJIJIK… PPUDEUDEU!

The chilling sound of steel breaking and flesh being pierced.

Han-jong, called ‘ tiger in human form,’ met his end by Bai Chu’s sword piercing through his breast armor.

“Huuu.”

Bai Chu, having briefly regulated his breathing, quietly sheathed his sword and then approached the corner where Cho-hui and the others were gathered.

“Are you all alright?”

The courtesans nodding their heads still had thoroughly frightened expressions.

In that midst, Cho-hui stepped forward a pace and bowed her head.

“Thank you. For saving our lives……”

Hearing those words, Bai Chu waved his hand lightly with an indifferent expression.

“Lives? Nonsense, it wasn’t that much. I merely helped you escape a difficult situation……”

“No. That’s exactly right.”

“……?”

“A woman’s upright integrity…… Is as valuable as her life. Since Sir has enabled me to protect it, if that isn’t bestowing a Life-Saving grace, What else could it be?”

Bai Chu’s complexion changed.

His expression seemed somehow moved by those words.

Only then did he examine Cho-hui’s face closely.

Eyes as clear as the sky, a nose rising sleekly like a crescent moon, red lips as if burning like the sunset……

Her jade countenance, which he had deliberately not looked at since he was just planning to quietly drink alone and leave… Was truly so beautiful it couldn’t be put into words.

She was so pretty that he felt even his breath was being choked.

A beauty of heavenly fragrance.

A well that truly gathered all the beauty of the world, perhaps.

If there were a beauty that appeared perhaps once in several hundred years, it would probably be her.

“And your name is……?”

“I’m…… Called Seosi. It’s a stage name, not my real name. Because we don’t use our real names here.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I’ve long heard of Lord Bai’s name. But…… How did you come to set foot in this country alone? Even at risk of danger.”

“Hmmm, I’m sorry, But I can’t answer that.”

“Perhaps you’ve secretly infiltrated to carry out a reconnaissance mission? To observe the political situation before fighting this country……”

“……”

“My guess was right. Please don’t misunderstand. Experiencing the harsh winds of the world has simply made me quick to pick up on things. It’s an ability naturally cultivated when living as a courtesan for survival.”

As Cho-hui thus struck to the point, Bai Chu showed a smile for the first time.

“Hu…… Impressive.”

Then he immediately went out to check the situation outside the door, returned, and opened his mouth with a resolute expression.

“What will you do now? If there’s no word from Han-jong, other troops will come to scout. You all can’t continue living here?”

“That means……”

“Will you come with me? If you make a decision now, I promise to take responsibility and safely bring you to our country. This situation is partly my responsibility too……”

“No, sir has no responsibility whatsoever. All of this is something that happened due to the king’s filthy lust. I don’t think it’s a matter of blaming anyone else. I’m simply grateful to you, sir. Then may I shamelessly…… Ask you to help us relocate? Life’s direction won’t change just because the country changes, but still, for now we must escape this crisis. The injured madam and all our family……”

When Cho-hui said so, the other courtesans also actively agreed.

“Understood. Everyone, wait here just a moment.”

Bai Chu calmed everyone with a composed voice, then swiftly went outside and returned pulling two shabby-looking carriages.

Thus Cho-hui and the others reluctantly left Lizhou, which had been their home.

The first two days were fine.

But on the third day as they neared the border, the group faced a great crisis.

The king, having learned of Han-jong’s death along with his subordinate troops, became enraged and dispatched a small elite cavalry unit he had specially trained.

That group’s tracking skills were better than expected.

-Dududududu, dududududu, dududududu……

From behind the two carriages racing down the forest road, a series of hoofbeats rapidly approached.

‘They’ve already caught up!’

Bai Chu, sensing by intuition that it was a pursuit squad sent by the king, hurriedly gathered the horses to the very front and tied them together, then also connected the carriages as one.

Immediately after, he mounted a horse he had set aside separately and made a request to Cho-hui, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Don’t stop and keep driving the carriage! Just follow this Road!”

“And you, Sir……?”

“Don’t worry! I’ll shake off the enemy’s pursuit and then follow!”

“What? No! It’s dangerous!”

“It’s fine! I’ve been through situations worse than this! Now, hurry and go!”

Along with that shout, Bai Chu raced rapidly toward the rear, and Cho-hui also set the carriage moving while holding an anxious heart and gripping the reins tightly with both hands.

In that midst.

‘Lord Bai!’

Cho-hui felt somehow choked up inside.

Honestly speaking, currently she and the courtesans were no different from burdensome baggage to Bai Chu.

He could just leave them and flee alone.

Indeed, that would have been safer.

But Bai Chu had gone to fight the approaching enemy as if not even caring for his own life.

Is there another man like that?

It’s easy to say but absolutely not easy to put into action.

‘If it’s a country where a man overflowing with such spirit stands at the center of the military…… Wouldn’t it be alright to hope for a new world? Not merely pursuing power, But a world where the wisdom and benevolence of a Virtuous King (??), who looks after the lives of all people, reaches everywhere…… Lord Bai, is the world you dream of perhaps such a thing too? Please…… Return safely! I want to watch together, The establishment of such a country on this land……’

Somehow it seemed possible.

If at the side of the new king who would settle this war in the future, a loyal figure like Bai Chu existed as a minister.

Even the horses pulling the carriage quickened their speed as if they too wished to see that world quickly, racing forward.