Chapter 434: Chapter 434

"...I can't believe I'm suddenly playing bandit," Baek Suryong sighed as he put on the sleeveless beast-hide vest the Yama Keep had prepared for him. This was his work uniform for the day. "Who dresses in fucking autumn?"

Truthfully, the cold didn't matter to Baek Suryong, who had achieved Extreme Temperature Immunity from his training in the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest.

The weird ones are the Yama Keep bandits who walk around in just a thin vest despite the freezing autumn mountain air!

The Divine Azure Dragon Sword vibrated at his waist. [For someone complaining so much, you look good. Somehow, those clothes suit you just right...]

Baek Suryong tapped the blade with his finger. "My creed is to do my best at whatever I do, even if its banditry. Besides, an alliance is on the line, so I have to give this my all."

He took a final look in the mirror and changed his features using the bone contortion art. He sharpened his eyes, straightened his mouth into a line, and made his jaw more angular.

"The last time I used this face was during summer vacation, huh?"

[...Need me to turn you hair white?]

Baek Suryong chuckled and shook his head, but his features had turned so harsh that even a faint smile looked like a chilling sneer. "This isn't the North Sea. I don't need to stand out that much."

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After finishing his preparations, he left the room. As he walked, he recalled his conversation with the Viridian Scholar the previous night.

"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."

It wasn't hard to make his decision. He was already planning to go to the unorthodox sects' meeting with the Viridian Scholar, and a one-day bandit experience sounded a lot more fun than lazing around the Yama Keep all day.

I also want to see how the Yama Keep does business.

In his past life, Master Maeng had told him stories about the Viridian Forest until he was sick of hearing them. Now, though, those stories were decades old. The Viridian Forest had surely changed a lot since then. Rà₦Ọ𝐛Ęṥ

"I'll earn my keep today and make it impossible for them to refuse."

Baek Suryong steeled his resolve and stepped outside.

The waiting bandits bowed their heads.

""Good morning, Hyung-nim!""

After wrestling with Baek Suryong the previous night, they respectfully called him Hyung-nim without hesitation. His face had changed, but they already knew he would use disguise himself. The source of thɪs content is ⓝovelFire.net

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Baek Suryong nodded in acknowledgement, as if this was completely natural. However, as he looked around, he realized one thing. He was the only fair-skinned man among the tanned bandits, and that made him stand out like a sore thumb.

Well, there's nothing I can do about that.

Smiling, he asked the bandits, "Did you all sleep well?"

"You bastards. I'm glad to see you're all so full of energy so early in the morning, but is the Viridian Forest always this diligent?"

Of course, only the morning shift was awake, but Baek Suryong was still surprised that the Yama Keep bandits were up at dawn, contrary to the stereotype that they would sleep in after a night of drinking.

A large bandit approached Baek Suryong. "I've been assigned to assist you today, Hyung-nim."

Baek Suryong remembered this man. He was the one who had charged at him first last night, only to be sent flying. "Your name was Jang Geol, right?"

"Yes! I'm honored that you remember my name! I'll do my best to guide you today to ensure you have a smooth experience!" Jang Geol replied loudly, but he couldn't hide the anxiety in his voice.

Baek Suryong patted Jang Geol's shoulder. "Don't worry about me and just do what you normally do. I'll cooperate as much as I can."

"Thank you, Hyung-nim! So, uh... are you gonna keep using that fancy sword?"

"What's wrong with that?" Baek Suryong tilted his head, puzzled. Unless a master on the level of the Ten Supremes invaded the Yama Keep, he shouldn't even need to draw his sword.

So why's he asking about my weapon?

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[...I think he's saying that I don't fit your image,] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword said sharply.

"...?" Baek Suryong was a little taken aback that she now completely identified as a sword, but he didn't say anything.

Jang Geol frowned, looking troubled. "No, it's not that... I know you're incredibly strong, Hyung-nim, but our work is all about intimidation. To do that, we need to make a strong first impression..."

Baek Suryong nodded. "Ah, I understand! I was being shortsighted."

To put it simply, he needed to look as menacing as possible. Besides, it was strange for a mere bandit to carry a treasured sword. Although his scabbard was plain and dark as it was made from the horn of the One-Horned Demon Dragon, there was always a chance that a sharp-eyed merchant might recognize it as a treasure.

He wrapped the Divine Azure Dragon Sword in cloth and slung it across his back, then said to Jang Geol, "Please bring me a suitably large and vicious-looking weapon."

"Leave it to me, Hyung-nim!"

Moments later, Jang Geol returned carrying a large executioner's sword with a jagged, sawtooth blade. The weapon looked vicious, but it was extremely poorly maintained, and was caked with dirt and dried blood.

Baek Suryong scowled. "What happened to weapon maintenance? Is this supposed to be a sword or a club?"

"We left it like that on purpose. We rarely have to swing our weapons, so all you have to do is rest it on your shoulder. It's also good for use as a tool, like a shovel or a saw, when we're working."

"...A tool?" Baek Suryong tilted his head. The Viridian Forest's 'business' seemed very different from what he had imagined. "Let me see it."

He took the thick executioner's sword from Jang Geol, casually slung it over his shoulder, and stood with his weight on one leg.

The bandits started clapping, praising his perfect posture.

"Not bad." Baek Suryong nodded, already liking his new weapon. He grinned at Jang Geol. "Okay, let's get to work now!"

Baek Suryong's steps were incredibly light as he walked shoulder to shoulder with the bandits down the mountain.

[He's not gonna settle down here, is he...] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword muttered worriedly, but her voice was quickly drowned out by the bandits' boisterous laughter.

The Yama Keep's business was surprisingly systematic.

"We've got a total of three business locations. We call them the main road, the middle road, and the small road. First, we'll go to the middle road."

"Why aren't we going to the main road?" Baek Suryong asked. The main road was the safest and best-maintained path, used mainly by trading companies or escort agencies with carriages.

"There aren't many customers on the main road. It's safe and comfortable, but the path isn't that fast and the toll is expensive, so most customers use the middle road, making it our main source of income."

Baek Suryong nodded in understanding. Large trading companies or escort agencies likely only passed through the mountains once or twice every three days.

He, Jang Geol, and a few other bandits descended the mountainside to the middle road. The path was wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side. A steep drop flanked the left side, but a fence had been installed to prevent accidents.

Baek Suryong stomped on the firmly packed ground and examined the fence. "Did you guys put up this fence?"

Jang Geol nodded proudly. "If the number of customers decreases, it'd be hard for us to make a living, wouldn't it? After we put up the fence, the number of falls decreased significantly, and the number of customers increased."

"Who came up with this idea?"

"That was Big Bro's, no, Boss's idea, of course."

Baek Suryong glanced around. A pavilion stood in a small clearing next to the path, serving as both a guard post and a resting area. An assortment of shovels, pickaxes, and axes were piled in one corner.

Eager to brag, Jang Geol explained, "Since this is a frequently used path, we have to maintain it well. Otherwise, the customers complain."

"...Are you guys really bandits?"

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

Baek Suryong felt a little deflated. These people aren't bandits... they're fucking forest rangers! Those thick, chiseled muscles were built from shoveling and chopping wood, not fighting!

He had steeled his resolve, but seeing the 'business site' in person was anticlimactic. Based on his talk with the Viridian Scholar, he knew the Yama Keep didn't recklessly kill people and steal their possessions, but this was mind-boggling even to him.

"Most of the customers who pass through here are small-time peddlers with one or two donkeys... It's early, but our first customer will probably arrive soon... Oh, here he is!"

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Just as Jang Geol was speaking, the first customer appeared in the distance. He was a middle-aged man holding the reins of an old mule, with sweat beading on his forehead.

The man's face lit up when he saw Jang Geol. "Jang-hyung!"

"Hahaha! If it isn't Lim-hyung! Good morning, you're our first customer today!"

Jang Geol strode down and helped carry the man's luggage. They seemed familiar with each other.

He poked the man in the side and casually asked, "You've got a full load today too? Business must be good, huh?"

The peddler called Lim-hyung groaned. "If it were that good, I'd have bought a carriage and taken the main road. Sigh, this is killing me. I don't know how much longer I can keep working this job..." He gently tugged the reins of the mule following him and sighed again. "This one's getting old, too. In a few years, I don't think it'll be able to climb the mountain. So, about that, can't you give me a little discount on the toll?"

Baek Suryong was dumbfounded. Holy shit, a merchant is trying to haggle with a bandit?

Jang Geol snorted. He was a seasoned bandit. There was no way he would fall for a bluff so easily. "Hey, you shameless old man. You already get a fifty percent discount as our first customer of the day, yet you want another discount on top of that? If you're that stingy, take the small road!"

"No, I was just grumbling about my situation..." The peddler reached the top of the path, unloaded his pack mule, and casually sat on the bench in the pavilion.

Jang Geol handed him a waterskin. "How are things going in town? Any interesting rumors?"

"These days, people are mostly talking about the Blood Cult. Oh, have you heard of the Azure Dragon Hero? He's a peerless master who appeared out of nowhere. Apparently, he's been going around beating up the Blood Cult. You should be careful, too, Jang-hyung. A guy like that isn't likely to leave the Viridian Forest alone."

"Ahem! The weather's nice today!"

"What are you talking about? It's cloudy as hell..."

"Ahem-hem-hem!" Jang Geol coughed strangely.

The peddler tilted his head, finally noticing Baek Suryong standing behind Jang Geol. "Is the fellow behind you a new recruit? I haven't seen his face before."

"Uh, yeah... something like that," Jang Geol replied, glancing nervously at Baek Suryong.

Namgung Su is mad at you for feeding a thief. You are not allowed to eat his cooking anymore.

Baek Suryong nodded silently.

The peddler took out a few pieces of dried fruit. He shared them with the two men and ate some himself. "He isn't that big, but he's got a really menacing vibe. Still, aren't you a bit too thin for someone from the Yama Keep?"

"...That's because I only joined recently," Baek Suryong answered vaguely.

The peddler clicked his tongue and gave him a few more pieces of dried fruit, seeming to think the newcomer wasn't eating properly. "Well, I'll be on my way then. Thanks for today."

The peddler loaded his goods back onto his mule, left the toll on the pavilion bench, then continued down the path.

Baek Suryong watched him for a moment, then asked Jang Geol, "Are you generally that friendly with the customers?"

Jang Geol scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. "Only the merchants we're close to. We show no mercy to the newcomers."

However, most of the peddlers who came next seemed to be regulars.

"Look who it is! Bok-hyung!"

"Jeong-hyung! How are you? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Oh my, Manchil! I heard from Bok-hyung that your father passed away recently. My condolences. The toll? Forget it. Just go, you punk."

People asked about each other's lives, shared rumors, rested, and then continued on their way. Not once were voices raised or swords swung.

"What the hell...!?" Baek Suryong was stunned speechless at the unexpectedly peaceful scene.

In the end, he stuck to the middle road until lunchtime. After that, Jang Geol informed him that the next shift would be arriving soon and politely asked if he wanted to check out another location.

"Hyung-nim, would you like to see the small road, too?"

"Do you normally switch shifts this often?"

"Not usually, but Big Bro told me to show you everything."

Baek Suryong nodded obediently, and the two of them ascended the mountain together.

As it turned out, the small road was certainly rougher and less maintained than the middle road. The guard post was also smaller, with only three bandits stationed there.

"This path is mainly used by herbalists and hunters. It's a bit dangerous, but the toll is the cheapest, so a surprising number of people come and go..." Jang Geol's voice trailed off, and his expression darkened as he stared down the path.

Jang Geol sighed, "Fuck, not this again..."

Baek Suryong's heart pounded with excitement. Thinking he could finally earn his keep, he lowered the executioner's sword with a flourish and stabbed it into the ground.

With eyes as sharp as a hawk's, he glared down the mountain path.