Chapter 433: Chapter 433

"I was right," Baek Suryong muttered, gazing blankly at the shattered teacup. Just the fact that a master of the Viridian Scholar's caliber had lost his composure over a single question was enough of an answer.

"...Just what are you trying to get at?" the Viridian Scholar retorted, his gaze turning icy. A fierce wave of qi erupted from his body, making his green robes flutter.

Depending on Baek Suryong's answer, he was prepared to fight the man to the death.

Even if it means I die here.

The Azure Dragon Hero had asked if he intended to make the Viridian Forest a great sect like the Nine Sects One Gang. If that remark got out, the Yama Keep would become a target for subjugation.

He was already infamous as one of the Ten Great Villains. He couldn't give those orthodox bastards another excuse to target the Viridian Forest. It would be better if he risked his life and attacked the Azure Dragon Hero now.

There's no way I can win if he were in perfect condition, but he must be exhausted after all that wrestling. If I get lucky...

Baek Suryong placed his teacup on the table, interrupting the Viridian Scholar's thoughts. "I'm not threatening you," he elaborated, shaking his head as if he had read the bandit boss's mind. "I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious."

"...I'll ask again. What are you trying to get at? Why did you ask me that question?"

Baek Suryong smiled bitterly. "Because I, too, am someone who remembers the Bandit King's long-cherished wish."

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"One day, I'll make the Viridian Forest a prestigious sect on par with the Nine Sects One Gang."

Master Maeng often talked about his dreams and aspirations in prison. His long-cherished wish was to transform the Viridian Forest, scorned as a band of outlaws, into a great martial arts sect acknowledged by the world.

"That's the most absurd nonsense I've ever heard from you."

"Ha! You'd better get on my good side starting now, Crazy Demon. That is, unless you want the Hyonwon Clan to pay double the toll when passing through the Viridian Forest!"

"...A toll? How's that any different from robbery?" Master Crazy Demon pointed out. "You can't call yourself a proper sect if you do that! Don't you have a proper plan?"

Master Maeng scratched his head. "Eh, the smart guys under me will figure out the hard stuff like that. Anyway, once I get out of here, I'm definitely gonna make the Viridian Forest a great sect!"

"...I see I was wrong to even try to reason to you in the first place."

"Kehahaha! You make that mistake every day, though?"

Master Maeng had many enemies. Even before his imprisonment, he had boldly proclaimed his wish to the world. Unfortunately, not only did those in the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans ridicule him, but so did those in the unorthodox sects. ŕἈΝǒᛒĚＳ

If not for his peerless martial arts, he would have been slain by the orthodox long ago. In fact, countless renowned orthodox masters had challenged him, only to be sent packing with multiple fractures.

The Viridian Scholar's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "When you say you remember it, don't tell me..."

As decades passed following the sudden disappearance of the Bandit King, his wish was gradually forgotten. The once-united Viridian Forest splintered into factions, and even the name 'Viridian Forest Alliance' became meaningless.

Only now, after all this time, did the man who remembered the Bandit King's wish meet the man who sought to inherit his legacy.

"That's right." Baek Suryong nodded. "I'm a direct disciple of the Bandit King. I was taught all the complete Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest as well as the Savage Tiger Fist."

"...!!" The Viridian Scholar's jaw dropped. Stunned, he muttered haltingly, "That's...rather difficult to believe."

He's...a direct disciple of the Bandit King?

No one understood the significance of those words better than he did. Still, he wasn't naive enough to blindly trust Baek Suryong, even after witnessing him use the Bandit King's martial arts. The man could have simply picked up a secret manual somewhere.

Baek Suryong smiled knowingly. "Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter. Since you wanted to know why I asked you that question, I answered. That's all."

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"What on earth..." The Viridian Scholar stared at Baek Suryong in confusion.

If he really is the Bandit King's disciple, then doesn't that mean he's qualified to become the next Bandit King? Wait, could it be...?

He asked nervously, "...Did you come here to challenge me for the position of Bandit King?"

The Yama Keep was one of the three most powerful bandit keeps in the Viridian Forest. If Baek Suryong could make them submit, then all the keeps under them would also be his to command.

However, Baek Suryong shook his head. "I'm not qualified."

He had no intention of fulfilling Master Maeng's wish himself, because at the end of the day, he wasn't a man of the Viridian Forest.

I don't think Master Maeng would want that either. If someone else intends to inherit his wish, though, I'm more than willing to help.

The Viridian Scholar asked cautiously, "Then, where's the Bandit King now...?"

"He passed away some time ago. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the detailed circumstances right now. It's... complicated."

"I understand you don't believe that I'm his direct disciple, but will you also deny that I've inherited the Bandit King's martial arts?"

"No, I won't." The Viridian Scholar shook his head. He had seen the Azure Dragon Hero demonstrate the Bandit King's martial arts with his own eyes. He couldn't deny that fact.

Baek Suryong leaned toward him and whispered, "Honestly... revealing this brings me no benefit. It'd only tarnish my reputation."

The Azure Dragon Hero was a renowned orthodox hero. What would happen if it became known that he had inherited the martial arts of the Bandit King, a peerless unorthodox master? Nothing good would come of it. He would be lucky if scandals didn't ruin him.

"Nevertheless, I told you the truth because I sincerely desire an alliance with you. Please, reconsider."

"Hmm..." Frowning, the Viridian Scholar fell into deep thought for a long time. Finally, he said, "I understand, but could you please give me two more days to think?"

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"I depart for the unorthodox sects' assembly in two days. I'll give you my answer then."

Baek Suryong nodded. He wasn't completely satisfied with this answer, but he decided to leave it at that.

He's very cautious, so persuading him won't be easy. On the flip side, that makes him an even more valuable ally.

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"By the way, fate is truly fickle mistress. Who would've thought that your son Suhyeok would become my student?"

"Do you know how surprised I was the day my son returned home for vacation?"

The two men chuckled. The fact that two men who had learned the Bandit King's martial arts met under these circumstances was surprising enough, but the circumstances were made all the more mysterious by the fact that it was only possible because a young bandit hid his identity to enroll in the Azure Dragon Academy.

"By the way, Mr. Baek. Would you like to grab a drink? We'll have it at the most scenic spot in the Jingang Mountains."

Baek Suryong nodded readily. "That sounds good."

The two men set aside the complicated conversation, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and went outside.

The moon hung high and bright in the sky as two figures, one leading and one following, ascended the rocky cliffs.

The Viridian Scholar landed lightly on a mountaintop and headed toward the rock engraved with the Bandit King's alias, where he had first met Baek Suryong. Leaning his back against it, he sat down.

"I always come here when I've got a lot on my mind," he remarked.

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"...The view at night is quite different," Baek Suryong marveled. The scenery of the Jingang Mountains, shrouded in deep darkness, was as tranquil as an ink wash painting.

The two men drank, taking turns filling each other's cups. They didn't have any side dishes to go with the alcohol, but the moon's reflection in their cups was enough.

"Before I was born, my father had a run-in with the Bandit King," the Viridian Scholar suddenly began.

Baek Suryong's eyes lit up with interest. "What happened?"

"My father was on the run with my mother after beating a corrupt official to death in his hometown. With nowhere else to go, they took refuge in the Jingang Mountains. They were discovered by the Bandit King, who happened to be passing by. He learned their story and took them in."

"Your father must have been quite a man," Baek Suryong chuckled.

The Viridian Scholar downed another cup of liquor, a hint of embarrassment creeping across his face. "Anyway, my father became a member of the Yama Keep, and a few months later, I was born. So, in a way, I've been a member of the Viridian Forest since birth."

"Does that happen often?"

"It's not uncommon. People who have no way to make a living, who are on the run after being falsely accused, or who have nowhere else to go hide in the mountains. Some of them join our family."

"......" Baek Suryong smiled warmly. As the Viridian Scholar had said the word 'family, ' a gentle smile had formed on his lips.

"I was quite smart from a young age, so everyone encouraged me to study. After that, I took the provincial civil service exam, and guess what? I passed! I had big dreams back then. I thought that if I became a government official, I could change this absurd world, even just a little."

The Viridian Scholar paused, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "But it was impossible. To become an official, one must have a clean family background. I managed to pass the provincial exam with a fake identity, but I was caught while taking the metropolitan exam and almost got killed. In the end, I had no choice but to flee back here."

"It seems ridiculous now, but back then, I wanted to commit suicide. Despite being completely wasted, I scrambled up the rocky cliffs. Well, I lost all my fingernails, but I was lucky enough to reach this place alive." The Viridian Scholar reached out and stroked the Bandit King's rock. "Here, I discovered the martial arts and miracle herbs that the Bandit King had left behind. He must've been horribly drunk too because his handwriting was atrocious."

"...I figured as much," Baek Suryong muttered with a sigh.

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The Viridian Scholar chuckled. "My destiny changed that day. I kept my discovery a secret and ran to my father, pestering him to tell me stories about the Bandit King. Thanks to that, I also learned about his reckless dream."

Baek Suryong's heart ached. The reckless dream of making the Viridian Forest a great sect on par with the Nine Sects One Gang. The dream that everyone had laughed at.

Whether drunk on liquor or his dream, the Viridian Scholar rambled on. "Of course, there are villains in the Viridian Forest too. Scoundrels who ambush and murder innocent travelers to steal their belongings, and madmen who enjoy killing for its own sake. But not everyone's like that. At the very least, the Yama Keep isn't. We've got our own principles and rules. I know this might sound ridiculous to a righteous hero like you, but..."

"I don't think it's ridiculous."

The Viridian Scholar eyed Baek Suryong skeptically, but the instructor was gazing up at the starry night sky with a distant look.

"Everyone's got their own life to live. I've got no intention of laughing at that."

"And Suhyeok told me. He said he's proud to be the son of the Viridian Scholar."

"That kid said that, did he..." The Viridian Scholar smiled with satisfaction, then drained his cup again.

Baek Suryong refilled his empty cup. "May I ask you one thing?"

"How did you become one of the Ten Great Villains? What on earth did you do?"

The Viridian Scholar paused, then tilted his head in puzzlement. "It's a pretty famous story. Haven't you heard it before?"

Baek Suryong explained, "I know, but the version I heard is probably biased. About ten years ago, you brutally killed three prodigies from the Nine Sects One Gang. After that, you fought the martial artists from Qingcheng and Diancang who came for revenge. You inflicted heavy damage through guerrilla warfare, making them retreat... I understand you've been called one of the Ten Great Villains ever since."

"That's all correct," the Viridian Scholar nodded readily. "What isn't known, however, is that those so-called prodigies attacked and killed our Viridian Forest brothers first for no other reason than to gain real combat experience."

"I tore them to shreds to make sure they'd never set foot on this mountain again."

As he said this, the Viridian Scholar felt a slight pang of regret. No matter how justified his revenge was, he didn't think the story would sound righteous to the Azure Dragon Hero.

To his surprise, however...

"Well done!" Baek Suryong praised.

"When morons try to climb over you, you've got to stomp them down for good. Isn't it ridiculous that you're considered one of the Ten Great Villains over such a natural reaction?"

Baek Suryong clicked his tongue. "Tsk, those orthodox sects bastards. I've really gotta hand it to them for making a fuss over nothing once again."

"Pfft... Hahahaha!" The Viridian Scholar clutched his stomach and laughed for a long time. When he finally stopped, he stared at Baek Suryong curiously. "I take back my earlier words about giving you a reply in two days. If you grant me one request, I think I can make my decision sooner."

"A request? What is it?"

"Would you join us tomorrow, just for one day?"

"...What do you mean?"

"For one day, I want you to join the Viridian Forest."