Chapter 7: Exoneration

“Is he here?”

“Huh?”

Sumi looked at me with a confused expression, not understanding.

My physical condition wasn’t bad.

Although the meridians were not fully opened and there were still internal injuries,

I could say this was the best condition I had since becoming this body.

Before I could finish my thoughts, the door slammed open and Chiri rushed in.

“Cheon Sojin! That is…”

“Let’s go.”

I didn’t need to hear more.

I already knew.

When we arrived at Baekhwalu, Majin greeted me politely and warmly.

Considering what happened yesterday, it was almost laughable how obedient he was.

“Did you arrive, brother?”

‘Just stalling for time.’

But it was much more efficient than painstakingly picking them out one by one.

I needed to go to the Jeongdo Martial Arts Academy, and I had to rest as well.

Without even meeting my gaze, Majin lowered his head with a submissive look in his eyes.

“Bring me the alcohol.”

“Understood.”

I quickly climbed to the second floor and found a seat.

Majin silently followed and sat on the opposite side.

“Brother, have you had some sort of fortune? I don’t know when you became so strong.”

I filled his glass and said,

“Drink up first.”

“Yes.”

“Where is Menma?”

“He should be here soon.”

I watched as Majin drank, then raised my own glass.

“Majin, there is a time for everything. Do you know why I spared you and sent you away?”

“Isn’t it because you remembered our past, brother? I am sorry… I am only grateful for your great kindness.”

Would he really do such a thing?

His act of peeling pumpkin seeds was top-notch.

The submissive facial expressions, too, would surely deceive anyone who didn’t know him.

“Brother, you are the hero of the world!”

I tried to recall how Majin died in the novel.

In fact, he was just an extra in the early parts, and all I could remember was that he was killed.

But one thing was certain.

Majin was probably a fool who got caught and killed.

“If you help me, brother, not only will we expand our influence in Shanxi, but we will reach Sichuan and Gansu as well!!”

I drank silently.

Majin was wasting time, spewing nonsense.

“If only we could cooperate with the righteous or evil factions…”

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“So, when are the men waiting below going to strike?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean, brother?”

“Majin, think for once. The one with the sharpest mind still can’t grasp the situation?”

I stared at Majin for a while.

He looked at me with wide eyes.

Had he sold his intelligence when he bought Baekhwalu? His face looked dazed.

If not, he still must be seeing me as some fool.

“Did you know?”

He didn’t speak,

His attitude suggested there was no value in answering.

“…Heh heh heh, brother, surrender. I’ll let you go painlessly, remembering our past.”

Majin tried to hide his expression but still wore a sly grin.

Life is a series of choices.

That phrase means that eventually, the moment comes when you have to make the final choice.

For Majin, that moment is today.

“I don’t know what gives you such confidence, but with just a pathetic martial skill, there’s no way you’ll escape. Behind me is ‘that person.’”

Oh boy…

I don’t care who that ‘person’ is to him.

What matters to me is that it doesn’t matter.

“So, when are you bringing Menma?”

“Did you not hear me? You’re about to die…”

He was a fool who couldn’t understand even after one warning.

“Hey? Brother, please wait… Let go, you idiot!! Let go!!”

Everyone was gathered, and it was time to remove the poisonous weeds.

Boom!!

I threw Majin into the hall on the first floor.

The sight of him crashing onto the wooden floor was quite impressive.

“What, what’s happening?”

“Majin fell from the second floor!”

“Bring the leader!!”

“Draw your swords!!”

The sound of swords being drawn echoed violently from all directions.

I quickly downed the remaining alcohol and walked downstairs.

“Do you know who we are?”

“If you’d just stayed quiet, you might have lived until the leader arrives, but you chose to be stupid.”

“Stop right there. If you come any closer, we’ll have no choice but to subdue you.”

From the way they moved, they seemed like they had learned some martial arts.

They were so full of themselves that they didn’t even think of hiding their faces.

Given the way they appeared, they weren’t just any random group…

“What, what’s going on? You’re not stopping?”

That was all.

Swish—

Screech—

With a bang, people holding swords or axes stormed into Baekhwalu.

“Wh-why are there no cuts… Ugh!”

A life-and-death battle was unfolding in the hall. The one holding a sword was Majin, and the other person was…

“Is that a chopstick?”

Whoosh!

Thud!

“Majin!”

“Ugh, ugh!”

─It was Sojin.

Majin’s body was riddled with holes, like a rag.

I exchanged glances with the man in purple robes standing at the front.

“1”

I drove a metal chopstick into Majin’s forehead, who was lying helplessly on the ground.

I had never planned to spare him from the beginning.

That was the end of it.

Clap, clap, clap-

“Impressive! You took down Majin like a child, but now you consider me your enemy..”

“Do you think you’re any different?”

“How arrogant… You rookie, I am the master of the mountain. Someone like you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, I spoke up.

“Of course. I am the World’s Greatest Sword (天下第一劍). No time to waste.”

It seems even mountain bandits these days claim to be masters and leaders.

The Shanxi region is clearly controlled by the righteous faction,

Yet, seeing even common bandits acting like this, the righteous factions are slowly losing power.

It might seem like trivial information, but this is the most important kind of information.

The eyes of the surrounding thugs widened, and a heavy silence settled in.

“You’re not just some crazy man. Attack!”

The provocation seemed to have worked, as the leader immediately charged forward.

“Die!!”

Bang!

As I kicked open the door and stepped out of Baekhwalu, Majin’s remaining followers were waiting outside.

“That person came out alone?! Where’s Majin? Where’s the leader?”

“Idiot, be quiet! Can’t you understand the situation? Look at the blood on his clothes!”

“Even so, to take on that many people…?”

They were hesitating, clearly finding the situation hard to believe.

As expected, they were nothing more than a disorganized rabble under Majin’s command, avoiding eye contact and looking away.

A few quickly ran inside to check on the bodies lying on the floor.

“Ha, huff! They’re all dead!!”

“They were all martial artists… and he did this alone? Is that even possible?”

As I moved, the crowd parted like the sea.

In the center of the path, I slowly raised my hand.

When their attention was fully focused, and the noise quieted down,

“From now on, you are all my subordinates. If anyone disagrees, speak now.”

“…….”

No one spoke.

“Good.”

The silence was so intense, you could hear a pin drop.

“This is an order. Bring Menma.”

“Y-Yes.”

As insurance, Majin had brought her along.

Just as they were about to scatter in an orderly fashion, someone spoke up.

“…Isn’t that guy just an idiot?”

The voice echoed loudly as the surrounding silence made it stand out.

They hesitated,

The eyes gathered.

They were all focused on the man who stood at the center.

He gave a light nod.

“Right. You say you’re an idiot who was kicked out of the Jin family, and now, why suddenly have you gained courage?”

“Whoever wants to keep Majin company on his way to the afterlife, come forward.”

As expected, no one stepped forward.

They had their backs turned, standing defenseless, yet no one moved.

If they had that kind of courage, they wouldn’t be acting as Majin’s lackeys.

“If no one else, let’s begin.”

“Yes!! Understood!”

Their voices were loud, filled with determination.

After that, things moved quickly.

The next day, the truth was spread through the clever helpers of the Clever Guild and the Dirty Guild, so soon my innocence would be known across the central plains.

“Menma, considering your situation, I’ll spare your life.”

She had been threatened with her younger sister as a hostage.

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

She lay flat on the ground, trembling.

Nothing had changed.

It was just that her sister’s life had shifted from Majin’s hands to mine.

Looking around, the villagers and martial artists were watching us closely.

It was, so to speak, a showy production.

“Oh, is that person the hero from Jin who drove Majin and Chaeju out?”

“Oh my, he’s really handsome too.”

“I don’t know much about martial arts, but the fact that those cruel people are dead makes life seem worth living again. What were the Jin family thinking when they chased off the evil ones?”

“Look at how merciful he is. If he were from the righteous faction, he would have killed everyone involved.”

Martial artists are always concerned with rumors.

They love stories about who’s what and what’s what.

Cheon Sojin overlooked that fact, but I am different.

Although I may not have the Sword King, my start was better than Cheon Sojin’s.

‘Lucky me.’

The fact that Menma was still alive had played a major role.

If I had been a little later, it might have been irreversible.

Life is a series of choices.

Those who made the wrong choices are buried beneath the ground, while I survived.

“Go.”

“Yes, yes… thank you for sparing me. Thank you so much.”

Menma repeatedly expressed her thanks as she left.

It was just a show for appearances,

But there were eyes watching,

And soon the support of the Martial Alliance would arrive in the village, so it would be right to keep her alive for a while.

After some time, even if she was found dead downstream of the Yellow River, no one would care.

“Sumi, are you sure this small inn is alright?”

“Of course. I only feel grateful.”

She smiled brightly.

Her youthful smile was charming.

“A large wine house like Baekhwalu is too much for me to handle.”

I had disposed of Marjin, Chaeju’s gang’s property, and Baekhwalu properly and gave a small inn to Sumi and Chiri.

Their assets served as a good initial fund.

I had originally planned to give them Baekhwalu, but since she strongly refused, I honored her wish.

I always return things in double, whether it’s a favor or an enemy.

This is a reward for her kind intentions to help.

I don’t know if this will be enough compensation for Sumi, but…

She can always visit often in the future.

Sumi fidgeted with her hands and raised her head.

Her face was red, perhaps due to fever or embarrassment.

“Chiri, listen to Sumi from now on.”

“Leave it to me!”

I don’t know if Chiri understands, but Sumi has played a huge role in keeping her alive.

After all, they spent time together during their days as outcasts,

and it seems that Chiri has grown quite fond of her.

That’s why Sumi didn’t want Chiri to face any harsh treatment.

Chiri seemed to be enjoying my departure.

She had a full smile on her face.

How cheeky.

“Are you leaving?”

“I have to go now.”

“Where are you going?”

He was silent, saying nothing.

“I’m leaving now. Don’t catch a cold.”

Sumi silently watched his back as he turned and walked away.

She kept watching until he disappeared beyond the hill.

A week passed after he left, and one night…

“Is this really okay? If Sojin comes back…”

“You idiot. Of course, we kill that orphan and run away. He definitely gave a lot of money before he left!”

“Yeah, think of how much money Marjin and Chaeju stashed away.”

“That idiot from Jin’ga has caused the righteous sects to come to this village soon. We’ll have to run away anyway.”

Clank, clank!

“Damn, this lock isn’t opening!”

“Move over. This is how you do it!”

Click, screech—

“It’s open. Listen carefully. Kill the woman, take the money, and run. We’ll split it evenly among ten of us.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go in right away!”

Crash!

The rough man kicked the door open and immediately swung a knife at the bed.

Soon, blood would spill, and screams would follow.

Ping!

“Huh? That sound was a bit off.”

Someone was holding the blade.

That was…

“Ha, these bastards never stray from my expectations.”