Chapter 19: Indeed, it’s the Hebei Pang Family.

Tuuwaaang!

It was merely the release of a crude energy, not even something that could be called a proper technique, but clearing the obstacles was no trouble at all.

“Wow! That huge rock…”

“You’re amazing!!”

“…Ah! Now we can see the village!”

The women’s eyes widened in surprise, and they cheered loudly.

From the way their faces flushed, it seemed…

“…Let’s go.”

“Cheon Daehyeop, although it’s late, thank you for saving us.”

She, Pang Gayun, raised her hand gracefully, as befitting a daughter of a prestigious family.

“Seoje, I was asked to do this, so please don’t worry about it.”

“Still…”

“It’s fine. Master and Grandfather are worried, so just think about returning quickly.”

She slowly nodded.

I too was busy.

Once I return, I’ll receive the Gangjin Dan and other assignments, and I need to raise my level.

In the treacherous world of Jianghu, the only thing you can truly trust is your own strength.

I can’t afford to be caught up in this for too long.

“Someone’s coming?”

“Everyone, come out!”

After leading the women back to the village, people began to gather from everywhere.

Being a small village, the entrance was soon filled with people.

“No way? How?”

“Our… our daughter, she’s… back!”

“Hey! Daeshi! Come out here! Your daughter’s back!”

As soon as they confirmed her face, voices of shock and surprise echoed.

Tears of emotion were also heard…

“This… this person helped us.”

“When we were saved, we were so happy…”

It was understandable.

They had made it out alive from the infamous mountain lair of the Green Forest bandits.

“Sniff… thank you so much! Daehyeop, I don’t know how to thank you…”

“Great person! Really, really thank you! I thought I’d never see you again…”

The villagers could hardly finish their sentences due to their choked voices.

To the bandits, they were just insignificant toys, but to someone, they were precious family.

Soon, the village was engulfed in tears.

“Don’t mind it.”

Although this was a typical line, I didn’t want to spoil the emotional reunion.

I wasn’t that tactless.

I just needed to take Pang Gayun, the granddaughter of the disciple, and leave.

“Sniff… this is really moving…”

She had already started wiping her tears with her sleeve.

Tears, like droplets of dew, gathered in Pang Gayun’s eyes.

I still had some composure, so I waited silently until she stopped sobbing.

“…I’ve shown a disgraceful side.”

“It’s a family reunion, isn’t it? I understand.”

Pang Gayun lifted her head and smiled gently.

“Pang Sojeo, now that the commoners have been safely rescued, we must leave. Let’s go.”

However, she did not move and shook her head.

My headache started to gradually worsen.

This should have been enough.

“No. We must eliminate the remaining bandits to prevent future troubles.”

We were supposed to rescue only the commoners,
but somewhere along the way, the mission had changed to exterminating the bandits.

“You are under a restriction, Sojeo, so it’s dangerous for you.”

If she was saying that based on my strength, she deserved a small knock on the head,
but by now, the forces of the Green Forest, including the leader, should have been wiped out,
and the bandit alliance would likely be fighting amongst themselves due to internal disputes.

Pang Gayun hadn’t considered that.

However,
seeing her confident expression, I knew she must have a hidden card up her sleeve.

“Hmph! Do you think I’m a fool? Of course, I’ve already sent a support request to the Wulin Alliance.”

“A support request? Did you use the Zhengdao Yiling (正道移令)?”

“Exactly. Ahem!”

She placed both hands on her hips and proudly lifted her chin.

The blonde girl in front of me was a direct descendant of the Pang family,
the Pang family of Hebei, a prestigious clan.

As for me, I was exiled, so it had no bearing on me.

But the direct descendants of the eight great sects, like the Pang family, could formally request the dispatch of a support team to the Wulin Alliance.

“Excessive, but still, I suppose the righteous faction is still the righteous faction.”

Normally, this sort of request isn’t used; it’s more common when requesting escorts or driving away demonic forces.

When Pang Gayun proudly squared her shoulders,
her voluminous chest swayed greatly.

As a daughter of the Hebei Pang family, she was using her authority for the right reasons.

‘Impressive.’

I was slightly surprised.

I had assumed she was thoughtless.

That was my mistake, judging her hastily based on the Pang family name alone.

Prejudices are scary.

As the granddaughter of the “Five Tiger Knife Emperor” Pang Shen’an, she was unlike other Pang family members—she was sharp.

‘If she sent a message to the Gansu branch of the Wulin Alliance before being captured… support should arrive within half a day.’

I needed to revise my opinion of her.

She was a “capable woman.”

‘If she’s going this far… I might not be unable to help.’

Not just anyone can get away with manipulating the system.

As expected, it’s the Hebei Pang family.

As the granddaughter of a prestigious family that had built its reputation over a long period, even if it looked reckless at first glance, she had already prepared for it.

“It shouldn’t take long for support from the Gansu branch. Pang Sojeo, in that case, let’s get ready to meet the Wulin Alliance’s support team.”

I might be able to fulfill the qualifications for the martial arts competition by officially requesting support.

It won’t take more than half a day.

I could also secure additional compensation—this was a win for me.

“Eh? Ah… well…”

Pang Gayun, who had been confidently lifting her chin just moments ago, suddenly avoided eye contact and began to shuffle her feet.

Seeing her fidgeting with her index finger,
one possibility flashed in my mind like lightning.

Looking back, I wonder if I overestimated her too much.

She’s from the ‘Hebei Pang family’, right?

I stared at her with cold eyes.

After fidgeting for a while, Pang Gayun glanced at me with side glances and then spoke in a voice that seemed to crawl out.

“I didn’t request it from the Gansu branch… I actually requested it from the Huashan branch…?”

As expected, it’s the Hebei Pang family.

The bloodline known for its thick-headedness, there’s no way it would be any different.

The traditional martial arts setting is firmly in place.

I was the fool for expecting anything different.

If it’s the Huashan branch, it would take 3 to 4 days…

If Pang Gayun believed that and entered the Green Forest bandits’ lair, she would either be killed by the time help arrived, or used as a pawn repeatedly.

“Sigh…”

I thought about taking another trip to Zhongyuan…

A natural sigh escaped me.

“…Cheon Daehyeop? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Wait here.”

“Huh? Huh?! Oh, Ch, Cheon Daehyeop!”

She quickly dashed out of the village.

How foolish of me to expect something from that woman.

In any case, the Wulin Alliance support team would reach this village within 3 days.

Once the main bandits are all dead, the remaining ones will either scatter or not dare to come down.

It was only a short time before I reached the foot of the mountain.

Along with the wind, a heavy scent of blood flew in the air.

“Die!!”

“Persistent bastards…!”

“If we defeat you, we will be the masters of this mountain range!!”

“Stop talking nonsense! Go!!”

By the time the battle was almost over, only a handful of bandits remained.

Sticky blood clung to my shoes.

So many have died.

Through the bodies, I saw the familiar face of Cheju.

The phrase ‘catching a windfall’ exists for a reason.

Slish-

I slowly drew my sword.

The final victor is me.

“Ugh… Damn it! I’m so frustrated!”

She kicked a rock that was lying by the roadside.

As if it were that man’s face…

It was because of that incident that had been stuck in her head for the past few days.

Crack-

She gritted her teeth again.

Of course, if I were to pinpoint the cause…

‘How dare he do that… How despicable!’

It’s because of Cheon Sojin.

‘How could he frame me like that?’

Looking back now, I should have held back. A late regret washed over me.

He probably teased me just to set that up.

“Hey? Look, is that Gu Yang Jihee?”

“Shh… Hey, shut up. You want to fall too? Do you want to die? She was just lucky.”

“Thanks. Phew… I almost got caught too.”

“Let’s quickly get out of here…”

Can you hear me?

They probably thought they were whispering, but it clearly reached her ears.

Once again, I kicked a stone on the roadside, and my eyes met those of the young woman in front of me.

“Are you alright?”

“Hi, hii! S-sorry, Jihee! I didn’t mean to stand there…”

“What’s this? Gu Yang Jihee, now you’re even bullying the regular students?”

“Shh, be quiet.”

It’s all because of that man.

That bastard…

“I’ll forgive you, you know?”

“As long as you apologize here.”

The day I sent that man flying with Gu Yang,
the medical center was filled with countless people.

They all came under the guise of visiting Cheon Sojin,
but hardly anyone came with sincere concern.

They must have come to see this.

“Wh-what, do you think I’ll do it?”

“Do whatever you want. Wouldn’t it be a sight to see if the daughter of the Gu Yang family couldn’t even leave for her first mission and was locked up in a corner?”

There was no way around it then.

Because that was the truth.

“What? I didn’t catch that.”

“…Sorry.”

I apologized despite the embarrassment,

“But isn’t your posture wrong? Shouldn’t you at least bow your head?”

“If you don’t like it, forget it.”

Cheon Sojin… He really was a bastard.

After dealing with the remaining bandits,
there were many people waiting at the village entrance.

“You are our village’s benefactor!”

The village chief bowed deeply.

When the old village chief, with his hair white as snow, bowed, the villagers started to follow suit one by one.

“Thank you… Daehyeop.”

“Thank you so much…”

This was a bit awkward.

“Why are you all doing this? This is embarrassing. Everyone, please stand up.”

“No… If you hadn’t stepped in, even if the Wulin Alliance support team came, I don’t think the children would still be alive…”

Saving them and bringing them out wasn’t easy.

If the situation turned bad during the battle, the women would literally have been discarded.

“Please, it’s really fine. You can stand up now. Could you call for a carriage?”

“Isn’t that what a benefactor would say? I’ll prepare the best carriage in the village!!”

The village chief hurried off.

“Pang Sojeo, are you at ease now? Let’s head back.”

If I just take Pang Gayun back, everything will be perfect.

I’ll get the mission… And if I’m lucky, I might be able to bloom two flowers.

“Yes…”

She, who had been glancing at me with side glances, blushed like an apple.