69 - I Spent the Night with the Youngest Daughter of the Martial Arts Leader

The Outskirts of Fujian Province. Located on the edge of the continent, with most of its area consisting of mountainous regions. In combination with its tropical climate, it was a harsh place for people to live. The environment was difficult even for farming. Nevertheless, there are always those who are willing to settle in such inhospitable places. A place where people who have trouble registering their residence gather one by one, forming a community. People called it the city of the Ronin. Ronin. The term could be confusing to many, given its various meanings, but in Fujian, its meaning was clear. Warriors unconstrained by affiliation. To them, the past was a residue buried in memory. Whether they were offspring of prestigious families, held government office, were disciples of major sects, criminals, or of beggar origin, it mattered not to the Ronin. Even if labeled as traitors. No one pried into each other's pasts, and no one revealed their history. That was the unwritten rule among the Ronin. They pursued freedom. They refused to be shackled by anything. That was the sole identity of the Ronin. The only law they followed was simple. Execute assignments and receive payment. They’d do anything as long as they were paid. Stories didn't matter. If asked to lick the ground, they would; if asked to kill, they did. Mercenaries who did anything within their capability. Living recklessly, without restraint. That's why the city of Ronin, Fujian, was practically a lawless area. It's best not to approach unless you have an assignment to handle. The reason we ventured all the way to such a place was, of course, due to a mission given by the White Lotus Union. "It's noisier than expected from the start." "It's that kind of place." Indeed, Fujian. As soon as we entered the city, we were greeted by Ronin exchanging deadly glares and engaging in brawls. A truly desolate sight. Groups throwing punches, groups sharing blades, groups spitting arguments. Each focused on their own matters, behaving as if invisible walls separated them. A peculiar scene, yet typical of the Ronin city. "It's even more savage than I'd heard." "Junior, they're glaring at us over there." "Ignore it. They're wary because we're outsiders." "Then why are they heading this way?" So it comes to this. The Ronin, who had been ignoring each other while fighting, stopped their quarreling when they noticed us and began to approach. Step by step. Though slow, they did not halt their stride. The one-eyed man leading them spoke first. "Who are you?" "? "Judging by your attire, you don't seem to be in the same line of work. What brings you to such a remote place?" He asked, scanning us from head to toe. Both Jegal Yeong and Hwangbo Seyul wore simple martial attires. However, to the Ronin, these appeared excessively luxurious. It was something for them to fret over. "We wish to meet the King of Ronin." "Do you think that's some pet’s name? Just because you want to see him, doesn’t mean you can." "Must I explain?" "Don’t feel like it?" "I've heard Ronin are reluctant to ask questions." "Secrets, sure. Secrets are nice." "Then......" "But that rule applies only among Ronin. I need to hear why you want to meet him." Jegal Yeong asked politely, unfazed by the shabby appearance of the one-eyed man. But such manners were unlikely to work. The basic nature of Ronin is to do as they please. Sclang, Without exception, the Ronin drew their swords. "Do you know what it means to draw your sword?" "Senior. These guys don't communicate through words. Leave it to me." Despite the situation, you're attempting conversation. Truly remarkable, Senior. I stepped forward before her. "Showing off in front of a woman? I'll give you the time to draw your sword." "My fists will suffice." "Cheeky brat." "Why not keep that one good eye of yours intact?" "Guys, attack!" With the one-eyed man's shout, the Ronin charged. There were seven enemies. First, I struck the faces of the two who rushed ahead. "Ugh!" "Argh!" One punch each to the nose. The ones struck by my fist lost consciousness. And as two fell without even swinging their swords, the rest hesitated slightly. From then on, it was smooth sailing. These guys prioritized self-preservation. There was no way they could execute a proper coordinated attack. It seemed the one-eyed man's voice had its power for a reason, as he persisted, rolling on the ground.... But it didn’t take long for him to fall. "Ugh, a master......" "Now are you willing to have a conversation?" "Damn. If you want to ask something, ask my corpse." This is why I dislike Ronin. Even with a knife at their throats, they refuse to yield. I'd rather deal with those who are full of themselves. Because after a few hits, proper communication becomes possible. Click. That was when it happened. The one-eyed man, who had been lying helplessly, pulled out a red pellet from his bosom and swallowed it. "Kwaaah!" His eyes glowed red. With a roar, the one-eyed man rose, his energy unimaginable compared to moments earlier when he was stumbling. His empty eyes approached with jerking movements. "Uhhh!" His momentum was different. The one-eyed man, who was barely second-rate, now charged at me with a speed his original skills couldn’t reach. VnJ3dTNyRXdaNE9POGIxQ2ZRWWZwQ3NsYlZwMm5hQ0Zma01FZi9FcUlTZGtBVzdoQk9VNXg2MXNIU2RtOTA0ZA Wham, smash! I struck his jaw, philtrum, and temple all at once. Stopped in his tracks, unable to withstand the impact, the one-eyed man. But only for a moment. ‘It’s certain he’s lost consciousness.’ Those were points that would knock out anyone with a single hit. Yet he moved, indicating that from the moment he took that pellet, he had already lost consciousness. As I distanced myself a bit, I noticed that the aggression exhibited by the one-eyed man seemed to lack any clear target, as he turned his attention back to the seniors. 'Shall I check one more thing?' This time, I targeted his limbs. Specifically, his elbows and knees. Crack! I destroyed his joints. Nearby vital points were severed, rendering them useless. The one-eyed man could no longer support himself and collapsed. Despite this, his body struggled to move. The motion was creaky, like a rusted chain, but he flailed his limbs desperately. An unnatural movement, as if being controlled by invisible strings. At this point, it was certain. "Senior, it seems like we hit the jackpot from the start." * Our mission this time. To investigate the crimson pill causing chaos in the south. Blood Pill. Just from the name, it reeked of something not to be consumed. Rumored that a single pill grants temporary transcendent martial prowess, it was being fervently distributed, particularly in the southern continent. "Turns out, it’s a pill that explodes latent energy." "To think that he'd still try to move even with severed tendons…" "It seems to rob them of reason and awareness of pain. It's a nastier item than expected." He must have squeezed out even his innate energy. Transcendent martial strength is not something acquired effortlessly. Moreover, there was a viciousness that disregarded and turned against everything around them, including their own bodies. I felt the malicious intent of its creator. "It must be evident that consuming it would render one a wreck, right?" "You say that because you don't know Ronin well. They close their eyes and swallow it, thinking they can score big once and then live leisurely... That's quite a typical thought for them." It's no wonder the Blood Pill prospers around Fujian. Ronin live without a future. They’re just lives waiting to die lying in the gutter. They'd rather wield knives and risk it all than die penniless. If they survive somehow, all the better. "You have an oddly deep understanding of Ronin?" "I used to roam rough places here and there back in the day. When you traverse the world, you'll inevitably encounter Ronin." "For someone who has just encountered them, you seem overly detailed. Almost like you've lived among them." "Sigh, seems I have to share now. A lengthy tale of a boy who once aspired to the throne of Ronin King..." "You always evade like that." Jegal Yeong let go of the subject as I began to ramble nonsense. She always understood when I'm not giving a straightforward answer. Though she must be curious. I appreciated her consideration, not prying further. I didn’t really want to revisit those memories. "At least he’s alive, it seems." “Well, it’s as good as being alive, I suppose." Hwangbo Seyul assessed the one-eyed man. Although his entire essence conduits were ruptured, leaving him half-paralyzed, he was, albeit barely, alive. They also mentioned that having exhausted all his innate energy, he's finished as a martial artist. "The Alliance has reason to suspect the Demonic Sect's involvement." "..." "No sane person could have concocted such a drug." It was a reasonable assumption. The red gleam in his eyes was near symbolic of demonic arts. Its function ignored the user’s well-being entirely. Focusing solely on amplifying power, it was obvious. But it felt insufficient to me. 'Could those bastards stop at something like this?' Having hidden like rodents, there was a tendency for people to estimate the misdeeds of cult extremists like the Sun-Moon Sect at a normal scale. If the ones who made this drug were indeed Blood Demons, this level of side effect would be nothing more than a courtesy. 'Sure, he’s still alive?' Fanatics who claim to find the greatest fulfillment in burning their own lives. If this was truly their concoction, the one-eyed man would already be dead. Burst tendons? That's an uncharacteristically tame end for those who see their bodies as living bombs. 'I can't jump to conclusions just yet.' He’s just a wandering Ronin at the outskirts of Fujian. The pill he got his hands on might be nothing but a cheap knock-off. If the subpar quality caused the limited performance, it made sense. Further investigation will provide definitive answers. "First, we need to meet the Ronin King." "I'm not sure the Ronin King will cooperate easily." "One can hope." I wanted to oppose. I thought it’d be better to quietly investigate from the outskirts. But what can you do? Our leader is Jegal Yeong. I’d better follow her lead. We’ll learn more once we meet directly.