Chapter 40 - 39: Arrival at Mount Hua (14)

Since it was already too late at night, Wolryung didn’t complain too much or demand anything. He and Jin Ho just sat there in silence, eating the foods the bandits had prepared.

A feast of four dishes was served at the table. Surprisingly enough, the bandits really went all out and spared no effort in preparing the food.

‘Chicken?! Even Dumplings!’

Seeing the dishes which Wolryung didn’t expect to see here made him surprised.

Considering the fact that the bandits barely left the mountain, these kinds of foods shouldn’t be found here. And these bastards didn’t even leave the mountain yet. Thus...

‘Do these bandits raise livestock or something?’

That seems to be the case. Well, it didn’t matter. No matter how they prepared these foods, since Wolryung could have some delicious meals for the first time in days, it was all good.

Wolryung wiped a bit of drool from his chin as he smiled mischievously.

‘Hehe...’

Without thinking too much, Wolryung devoured the meals like some starved beasts while Jin Ho ate with quiet dignity. Once finished, wasting no time, they went straight to their carriage.

Just like that, another night slipped by.

***

The next morning...

Inside the shabby hut, Wolryung sat at a wooden chair with one leg over the other. Beside him Jin Ho stood straight, his hands clasped behind his back. And in the front, all the bandits along with Cho Heon sat on the ground with troubled faces.

“I’ll get straight to the point. How much wealth do you guys have?”

“...?”

“Pardon?”

At Wolryung’s question, all of them tilted their heads, completely dumbfounded. While Jin Ho looked no different from before as if he already knew this was gonna happen.

“Can’t you hear me? I said how much money do you guys have.”

“...Uh. Why do you ask, young warrior?”

Cho Heon asked with a confused face. For some reason he was having a bad feeling about this.

Wolryung started talking again with a casual tone.

“First off, you guys blocked our way yesterday, right?”

“...”

At those words all the bandits’ mouths snapped shut. However, Cho Heon answered.

“Y-Yes...”

“Then I tried to settle the matter by talking but you guys didn’t like it and threatened us, am I correct?”

“...Yes, sir.”

“And then you guys attacked us despite knowing we didn’t want to fight, is that also right?”

“...”

What is his problem? Why is he repeating what happened yesterday? Everybody here knows about it.

‘Does he want to beat us again?’

Didn’t he already beat them senseless just the day before?

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“...Um, Yes. We did that. We deeply apologize. We weren’t in our right mind.”

The bandits bowed deeply as they apologized repeatedly.

“Ah! What are you guys doing? You don’t need to apologize. It happens. Aren’t we all human? We can make mistakes.”

“...”

What the hell was this bastard saying now? Did he already forgive them? Him? The Ma Wolryung? Did the sun rise from the west today?

Even Jin Ho was shocked by Wolryung’s words.

However, the bandits, who didn’t know Wolryung’s true nature lifted their heads to see his face. And as soon as they did, they saw a bright face sitting in front of them.

With confused faces they stared at him for a moment. Then Cho Heon finally asked.

“Are you gonna forgive us?”

“What are you talking about? What is there to forgive? I told you humans can make mistakes. So, it’s ok.”

‘Then why the hell did you beat me like some animal yesterday, you bastard?!’

If what he was saying was true then why would Wolryung beat him like that? Cho Heon was even screaming for his life back then. But this bastard didn’t show an ounce of pity.

Cho Heon’s face dropped like a saddened puppy as he felt betrayed by Wolryung’s words. However, his expression changed after a moment. Since Wolryung was saying it was ok then it was all good, right? The past was past. Since he wasn’t blaming them anymore in the present it didn’t matter if he had taken some beating.

‘It seems preparing those foods paid off handsomely.’

But he still needed to confirm it. So, Cho Heon looked at Wolryung and asked again.

“Then you won’t beat us again?”

“Why would I beat you? I’m a gentleman, you know.”

Wolryung answered, still maintaining that bright face of his.

“...”

Cho Heon was hearing it clearly but he still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Wolryung was saying he won’t blame them or beat them again. So, it was really good, right? Then...

‘Why am I having a bad feeling like this?’

Was it just his imagination?

‘Urgh... Whatever. If he doesn’t beat us again then it’s all good.’

However, what came out of Wolryung’s mouth next, made all the bandits’ faces stiffen.

“But you’ll need to compensate me.”

“...”

“Pardon? C-Compensate?”

On the other hand, Jin Ho was wearing an expression that clearly said, ‘I knew it was bound to end up like this.’