Chapter 19: Who Are You to Eat It All (2)
Chapter 18 – Who Are You to Eat It All (2)
The Ghost King stared at the brat in front of him, his cheeks trembling.
A bastard who wouldn’t even suffice if he were chewed up and eaten on the spot!
When he first discovered him, he had intended to strike him dead in a single blow without asking any questions.
However, because it was so dumbfounding, he left him alone for the time being.
He was simply too curious about this preposterous audacity to just kill him.
Normally, if someone snatched another’s possession, it wouldn’t even be enough if they fled ten li away, yet he sat there, gobbled it all up, and even circulated his energy?
He certainly had guts.
Just what kind of brain did this guy have?
But… the answer that returned was spectacular.
“Wow, it’s really good to see you like this!”
The young master with peach fuzz on his face put on a crystal-clear smile.
His smile was so bright and innocent that one would almost smile along with him.
Of course, the nature of that smile was completely different.
However, the words that followed made even that smile instantly vanish.
“You pig, you’ve gotten really old, haven’t you?”
“What… the… for…”
The Ghost King’s cheeks trembled.
Along with them, the long knife scar also quivered as if dancing.
When one was too dumbfounded, even anger did not rise easily.
That was exactly the case now.
A brat whose head wasn’t even dry yet said what?
You pig, you’ve gotten really old?
What was this? Was he crazy?
When the Ghost King raised his hand and gestured, a subordinate standing behind him quickly stepped forward.
“What did this crazy young master just say?”
“Uh, that… he said… p-pig, you’ve gotten really old…”
*Thwack!*
The Ghost King smacked the back of the subordinate’s head.
As the subordinate looked at him with an aggrieved expression, the Ghost King scowled and spoke.
“I heard him too, you bastard.”
Ignoring the subordinate who looked at him as if asking why he had asked then, the Ghost King stared intently at Namgung Cheon.
Whether he knew the gravity of the situation or not, Namgung Cheon still did not wipe away his welcoming smile as he lightly spoke.
“That temper of yours is still the same, I see.”
“Ha! You bastard… where did you roll in from?!”
In the end, the Ghost King could not hold it in and roared.
“I rolled in from here and there. Though, I suppose it’s only natural you don’t recognize me?”
“This crazy bastard talking back so insolently! No, wait, did you gobble up the spirit pill that was in there first of all?”
“I ate it.”
“…”
Not only the Ghost King but also the subordinates beside him had blank expressions.
He was too audacious.
Beyond audacious, he replied as naturally as breathing.
Moreover, he spoke informally from beginning to end.
Was he truly insane?
“Why did you eat it?”
Even as he asked, the Ghost King thought it was a truly foolish question.
Of all things, asking why he ate it?
At this rate, did it not look like a child who had their candy taken away whinging, “Why did you eat mine!”
Namgung Cheon shrugged and replied with his characteristic casual attitude.
“I ate what’s mine, so why does the reason matter?”
“Yours?”
“Yeah, mine.”
“Why is that yours?”
“Who is your master?”
“We are…”
Wait, why was he sitting here answering these questions?
The Ghost King quickly snapped out of it and roared again.
“This brat has gone out of his mind! What do you think you did right, not even knowing your life is in danger…!”
*Shring!*
In an instant, at the same time he stood up, Namgung Cheon drew the Emerald Silk Sword and thrust it near the Ghost King’s neck.
It truly happened in the blink of an eye.
The sequence of movements was very smooth and natural, like flowing water.
‘Indeed, as my internal energy increases, every movement becomes lighter.’
While Namgung Cheon wore a satisfied expression, the Ghost King’s subordinates gasped in shock and drew their weapons.
“W-What is this? You bastard!”
*Clang! Clang!*
“You bastard! Drop your weapon right now!”
“Back off immediately!”
The relatively quiet room was swept into a turbulent storm, filled with killing intent and shouting.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“Do you know how much this is worth for me to drop it? I can’t do that.”
It was a tense standoff.
Namgung Cheon added.
“If all of you attack at once, you might be able to handle someone like me. But I can also slit the throat of this old pig here.”
At the clear threat, the subordinates did not act rashly anymore.
The Ghost King glared at Namgung Cheon with sharp, narrowed eyes.
“You bastard, where do you think you are…”
“It’s the Ghost King Stronghold. I know that much.”
“…!”
Not only the Ghost King but even the subordinates had startled expressions.
Namgung Cheon curled the corners of his mouth.
“You returned earlier than expected. What about the subjugation force?”
“Are you a member of the subjugation force?”
“Shh. I ask the questions.”
“If it’s the subjugation force, they must be fighting the Blood Rain Forest by now.”
“Then does that mean you are not the Blood Rain Forest?”
“We are not. Didn’t you say it yourself? We are the Ghost King Stronghold. How do you know us…”
*Smack!*
“Gasp! Chief!”
The subordinates shouted in fluster.
Smacking the Ghost King’s cheek with the flat of his sword, Namgung Cheon continued.
“Now, now. No making a fuss. You won’t die from getting slapped once.”
“T-That crazy bastard…! Not only did he eat someone else’s food, but he also slapped the Chief…!”
“Ah, I told you, it’s not someone else’s, it’s mine.”
“What nonsense is that!”
“I will ask again. Who is your master?”
While the subordinates exchanged looks, the Ghost King stared at Namgung Cheon for a moment and asked.
“By chance, are you acquainted with that person?”
“Well, something like that.”
“How is he doing?”
Hm?
Do these guys seriously not know that I died?
Namgung Cheon asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t even heard the news of the Great Killing Star’s death?”
“…!”
The Ghost King flinched and widened his eyes.
The subordinates standing behind him did the same.
Judging by their shocked expressions, they really seemed to have had no idea.
Even though several months had already passed…
‘They are no different from monks living walled off from the world.’
The Ghost King asked, straining his eyes.
“Is that true? Has the Great Killing Star truly passed away?”
“Yes. The rumors have spread far and wide, so have you been shut in a back room practicing wall-gazing meditation all this time?”
“Ahem! There were circumstances of our own. But for the Great Killing Star to pass away…”
He seemed to find it difficult to accept.
The other subordinates also clearly looked shaken.
These guys, they seemed sad because they had shared a bond at one point.
Yes, you guys. Even though I was sometimes harsh to you, we had a loyalty that could not be severed by anything…
“Bwahaha! That bastard Great Killing Star finally kicked the bucket! To think such a day would come in my lifetime!”
“Exactly! We are finally free! Ah, when I think of how we lived walking on eggshells all this time…”
“Shouldn’t we have a celebratory drink tonight? Let’s throw away managing the safe house too! We can just eat the spirit pills he left behind… Ah, that bastard already ate the spirit pill.”
Only then did the Ghost King and the subordinates look back at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon’s expression turned ice-cold.
These bastards. I thought they would have at least some loyalty…
Celebrating my death?
*Smack!*
Namgung Cheon slapped the Ghost King’s cheek with the flat of his sword again.
“Argh! Damn it! Why do you keep slapping me…!”
“Because I’m in a bad mood.”
*Smack!*
“Ugh!”
“Ch-Chief!”
Only then did the subordinates raise their killing intent to keep him in check.
After slapping the Ghost King repeatedly, Namgung Cheon let out a deep sigh.
“Let me ask. What did he do so wrong to you?”
“Hmph! I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with the Great Killing Star, but we were so oppressed by him that we can’t even begin to describe it! Well, seeing how you even stole and ate the spirit pill he hid, you two probably didn’t have a good relationship either, right?”
“Hmm. He is my father.”
“Hehe. I knew it. For that guy to have a son who is like an enemy to him… Huh? What did you say?”
The Ghost King, who had been chattering excitedly, gaped.
Well, it was understandable that he was shocked.
Since even I myself had not known that I had such a grown-up son.
The Ghost King maintained a blank expression for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Bwahaha! The brat knows how to make a joke! As if we wouldn’t know that the Great Killing Star has no children…”
“You wouldn’t know. Because I only found out recently myself.”
“Stop talking crazy! Why suddenly…”
“That sword scar on your cheek. It’s a wound you got from being cut by a dagger while double-teaming my father under a birch tree, right? And with the dagger you were wearing at your waist, no less.”
“H-How do you…?”
“And you also fell off a cliff while loitering around to set up a formation around the safe house.”
“H-How do you…?”
“Surely you haven’t forgotten that he pointed out the weakness of the Three Yang Iron Shield Skill, the unique martial art you learned, either?”
“H-How do you know that too…?”
“Hey, no other reaction? You’re a bastard with a limited vocabulary now just as you were back then.”
“S-Shut up! Are you truly the son of the Great Killing Star?”
“I told you I am. In other words, you could say I am your new master.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
*Smack!*
“Ugh! You rotten bastard…!”
As soon as the slapped Ghost King spat out a curse, Namgung Cheon continued.
“Question. When a king dies, does the next king become a vassal, or the king’s son?”
“The king’s son.”
“Right. Then if your master died, who is the next master?”
“The master’s s… Ah…”
The Ghost King stupidly agreed.
The other subordinates also nodded at the strange persuasiveness.
This was also why he liked these fellows.
Their excessive simplicity.
Indeed, since they were this simple, they must have played the role of righteous bandits.
Otherwise, who would act as a righteous bandit in a world like this?
Isn’t it a world where people are too busy filling their own bellies with grease?
Namgung Cheon continued.
“Now it is time to decide. Either we have a brawl here and draw blood, or you cleanly accept me as your new master according to the natural order of things.”
“Mmm.”
The Ghost King let out a groan with a troubled expression.
The subordinates only read his face.
In fact, the answer was already set.
Since if a fight broke out, the first one to die would be the Ghost King.
Since a cold blade was held right before his neck, he would not dare to take a risk.
However, the Ghost King also held onto his last bit of pride.
“If we follow you, Young Hero, what is in it for us?”
His tone had changed.
His form of address had also progressed from “brat” to “Young Hero.”
It was a good sign.
Namgung Cheon smirked and asked.
“Before that, are you truly not from the Blood Rain Forest?”
“Those dog-like bastards are our stronghold’s mortal enemies! I do not know if you know this, Young Hero, but our stronghold originally had over forty family members! But one day, those Blood Rain Forest dogs appeared and attacked our stronghold…”
The Ghost King clenched his fists and bit his lip until it bled.
Hmm, so that was why they only had these few subordinates?
“Then does that mean you six are all that is left?”
“Yes. Everyone was taken out by the Blood Rain Forest. The mountain stronghold was also seized by the Blood Rain Forest, so only we barely managed to escape here to live. Today, we only went out to check on the movements of the Blood Rain Forest when we saw the subjugation force.”
“I see. At this rate, the Martial Alliance will try to sweep you away as well.”
“Why? We also suffered damage from the Blood Rain Forest!”
“Because from the Martial Alliance’s perspective, a petty thief and a grand thief are both just thieves.”
“How could…”
“However, if you recognize me as your master, I might be able to help you escape somehow.”
“Is that true?”
“Of course. And here.”
Namgung Cheon casually tossed the Five-Colored Wind Horse Statue.
As the Ghost King caught it with a blank look, Namgung Cheon sheathed his sword and spoke.
“If you sell that, it will fetch quite a bit of money. It should be enough to set up a restaurant in Wuhan. Make a fresh start there.”
“Such a precious thing… Is it really alright?”
A look of deep emotion washed over the faces of the Ghost King Stronghold members.
Not only did he rescue them from danger, but he also generously handed them a treasure, so it was only natural for tears to flow.
I am this merciful and full of affection.
Finally, the martial artists of the Ghost King Stronghold knelt down in unison and clasped their fists.
“We shall serve the Young Hero as our lord!”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
“Yes, Lord!”
“Ah, by the way, once the restaurant starts generating profit, make sure to pay fifty percent of the monthly profits as tribute.”
“We will bear it in mi… Pardon?”
“Why? Did you think you’d get it for free?”
“No, it’s not that, but fifty percent is too exorbitant…”
“What was that? You want to have a go with the subjugation force? Come now, hold back. You’ll die if you do that. A person must live positively.”
“Mmm. We… understand.”
The Ghost King forced a smile.
A person who makes smiles blossom on the faces of his subordinates like this—that was indeed me.
But wait…
“Did you say you lost the stronghold to the Blood Rain Forest just now?”
“Yes, that is correct…”
“The stronghold was definitely close to Luotian County, right?”
“As expected, you know it well.”
Namgung Cheon scratched his chin and thought.
Oh-ho, then that meant the cadets were screwed?