The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 40

 

This time it was Namgung Bin.

 

He cautiously moved forward and examined the path that Cheoldoo had tried to pass by pretending not to notice.

 

Below the grass, he spotted a string cleverly installed.

 

Wei Zibai approached Cheoldoo and sneered.

 

“You say you lack food, yet you risked danger for money?”

 

“Th-that’s right. Everything we had was taken away…”

 

“What did you bastards ever buy and eat with honest money?”

 

Ha. What would these guys whose lives were in danger buy and eat with money?

 

Besides, such small-scale bandits wouldn’t just stay in mountain retreats.

 

Usually they’d base themselves in villages and target wealthy travelers.

 

Namgung Seol looked around and continued.

 

“Though Tougui and Gwanghwa are treated as madmen, they’re certainly not foolish people. What did they trust about you to send you on this task?”

 

“Th-that’s… th-they have hostages at the mountain retreat.”

 

“Hmph. So even scum like you care about loyalty.”

 

Wei Zibai suddenly interjected.

 

Of course they’d care about it. However, he’d never seen loyalty worth risking one’s life for in the Black Dao.

 

Moreover, regardless of the other companions, Namgung Bin and Namgung Seol were clearly people who shouldn’t be touched.

 

Such people were attacked by mere bandits numbering only about ten, not even the Nolim?

 

It didn’t make sense.

 

“Tougui and Gwanghwa are in a hurry to go their way. There’s no reason for them to stay for days in such a shabby mountain retreat in these remote mountains.”

 

Namgung Bin looked at his companions and nodded.

 

It was still quiet. This string must have been the signal.

 

Cheoldoo muttered.

 

“Y-you know… so why?”

 

“I don’t know how they realized our presence, but this works out well.”

 

Namgung Bin’s eyes gleamed.

 

That meant they were indeed there.

 

“We attack in reverse.”

 

***

 

Cheoldoo was tied up with his pressure points sealed.

 

Xie Baowei stepped forward to scout the path.

 

There were small traps, but they were quite crude, likely set by the original bandits.

 

They could be avoided without much effort.

 

“Skillful.”

 

“I have experience.”

 

Wei Zibai spoke as if surprised.

 

His reluctance to speak due to the Yingying incident had also faded recently.

 

He spoke again.

 

“I’ll get to see the skills of the Mad Dog Fox.”

 

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

“Didn’t you know? They say whenever your wife is mentioned, you become a mad dog, but you fight like a fox. Hence, Hwangbo Son-in-law, Wife-mad, Mad Dog Fox. Those are your new nicknames.”

 

Damn it.

 

Xie Baowei turned his head.

 

“Some say you were equal to Tougui, others say Tougui went easy on you… I just can’t tell. As far as I know, Sandong Daeyun is…”

 

“Enough.”

 

Wei Zibai was grinning.

 

Namgung Bin cut off the conversation that was getting lengthy.

 

Xie Baowei looked at Namgung Bin, but Namgung Bin had only done so because the enemy position came into view.

 

Wei Zibai just shrugged and followed behind Namgung Bin.

 

Below the cliff where they stood, huts and shacks were visible.

 

“It’s not that high.”

 

“Will you be alright?”

 

It was a steep cliff, but as Wei Zibai said, it wasn’t that high.

 

For martial artists of their level, climbing walls wasn’t difficult.

 

Namgung Bin looked back at Xie Baowei and asked.

 

Xie Baowei tied one end of a long rope to a tree and wrapped the other end around his waist as he looked up.

 

“I’ll be fine.”

 

“When did you prepare that?”

 

“Mind your own business.”

 

“This is strange.”

 

The mountain retreat wasn’t very large.

 

There were just under twenty roughly built shacks.

 

There seemed to have been some conflict, as more than half of them had collapsed and were scattered on the ground.

 

If they had come unknowing, they might have thought it was an abandoned slash-and-burn farming village.

 

“It’s definitely strange.”

 

Namgung Bin agreed with Namgung Seol’s words.

 

There were no people.

 

“It’s a trap.”

 

Tougui and Gwanghwa had used the bandit’s lair as bait to move the bandits.

 

Was even that a lie?

 

Xie Baowei’s face hardened.

 

“Yingying is in danger.”

 

However they had anticipated pursuers, if they weren’t here, where would they be?

 

Wei Zibai stopped Xie Baowei who was about to rush out immediately.

 

“Calm down. They might have tied up loose ends and fled.”

 

That made sense. If those guys had merely intimidated the bandits, they would have bought another day or two.

 

But no.

 

“Then there would be no reason for the bandits to obediently listen to them.”

 

Namgung Seol shook her head and stood up.

 

She too seemed anxious as she turned her head.

 

The empty mountain retreat, the inexplicable actions of those guys, Huashen and Yingying left alone.

 

First, they needed to reunite with Huashen.

 

Namgung Bin nodded.

 

“We return quickly.”

 

Namgung Seol rushed forward. Wei Zibai followed next, then Xie Baowei, with Namgung Bin bringing up the rear.

 

It was instantaneous.

 

-Neigh!

 

Before they had taken even a few steps after climbing the cliff, they heard a horse’s whinny.

 

Soon came shouts of “Giddy up!” followed by rough galloping and the sound of hoofbeats.

 

Then, a familiar large horse silhouette suddenly revealed itself.

 

“Huashen!”

 

“Yingying!”

 

“Whoa. Brother Jin, what is this horse? Really.”

 

Xie Baowei quickly ran over and caught Yingying.

 

Huashen handed over the boy and marveled.

 

“What happened!”

 

“Phew. Damn, there was an ambush, and they weren’t ordinary guys. They all used swords like absolute demons. If it weren’t for this horse, we would have died for sure.”

 

Huashen patted Chun-gil’s neck affectionately.

 

Chun-gil snorted as if it was nothing special.

 

His body was covered with wounds here and there, yet Yingying’s body remained unharmed.

 

Xie Baowei examined the boy’s body and looked at Huashen with gratitude.

 

Namgung Bin pressed his forehead.

 

Those bastards who use swords like ghosts.

 

Damn it.

 

“How did you know to come here?”

 

“Well. I left it to this fellow, and while fleeing from enemies…”

 

“Oh no.”

 

They met each other’s eyes.

 

“We’ve been herded.”

 

Upon realization, each drew their swords.

 

Soon, figures emerged one by one from the forest.

 

Black clothes, straight swords.

 

Extraordinary presence.

 

“Geomhoe.”

 

Namgung Bin spoke as if dismayed.

 

Besides them, soldiers in plain clothes were also visible.

 

They must be those belonging to Yukgwi.

 

With each step the enemies took forward, the group stepped back.

 

They couldn’t retreat indefinitely.

 

Behind them was a cliff.

 

“Can we break through?”

 

“…No.”

 

Wei Zibai asked. Namgung Bin shook his head.

 

The one called Nam Gilin had an expression that looked far too shaken.

 

He spat out the words bitterly.

 

Familiar figures lurked among the shadows of the forest.

 

“Gwanghwa, Tougui and… Shihui.”

 

Shihui is a monster whose cannibalism explains everything.

 

If Tougui was famous for fighting, this one was said to have no match with just his monstrous strength alone.

 

However, that wasn’t the end of it.

 

“…Was it a trap?”

 

“Oh my. I didn’t know someone like Nam Gilin would fall for it.”

 

Was Gwanghwa and Tougui’s journey to Sichuan itself a trap?

 

Another member of Yukgwi answered Namgung Bin’s words.

 

It was a very unexpected person.

 

“Cheoldoo?”

 

“Please call me Lim Junggeol.”

 

“Qitian!”

 

Qitian, Lim Junggeol giggled like Cheoldoo. Then he laughed heartily and chuckled.

 

Each time he laughed, he seemed like a different person.

 

“Being chased by someone is quite an unpleasant affair, wouldn’t you say?”

 

“…I heard you headed to Fujian.”

 

“Yueyan and Geomhon worked hard for us. But well, how difficult could it be to fool a three-headed dog?”

 

This time he smiled sweetly, seeming like a completely different person.

 

That face probably wasn’t real either.

 

“Is that your real face?”

 

“Ah. The power of glue and makeup. Quite useful, isn’t it?”

 

Even to Xie Baowei’s sudden question, Qitian answered kindly.

 

They said everyone who saw him described a different person, and not only his makeup but his acting and demeanor itself were ghostly.

 

Namgung Bin glanced at Xie Baowei once and asked again.

 

“The group of merchants who passed before us must have been you.”

 

“Isn’t it right to hide a tree in a forest?”

 

“How did you know we were following?”

 

“Easy. The route was obvious, the direction was obvious. We deliberately showed our movements, and it would have been disappointing if you hadn’t come. But honestly, I didn’t know you’d be such big fish. So I’m pondering. If we kill you, there might be an uproar…”

 

Qitian stroked his chin.

 

If it were Namgung Bin and Namgung Seol, two direct descendants of the Namgung Clan Head, all of the Central Plains would rise up.

 

“Well. What can we do? Your luck was bad. Do it.”

 

If we hide well, it’ll work out somehow, Qitian said as he looked around the forest.

 

If they died like this, they’d be buried in this mountain and their bodies would never be found.

 

The group’s spines went cold.

 

“A cliff behind and enemies ahead. We’re recreating the story of the Marquis of Huaiyin.”

 

Namgung Bin raised his sword with a stern expression and aimed it.

 

Beside him stood Namgung Seol and Wei Zibai.

 

Huashen watched for an opening while still mounted on Chun-gil. He was prepared to grab someone and flee if necessary.

 

He hadn’t decided who that would be yet.

 

Xie Baowei stood at the very back and strapped Yingying tightly to his back.

 

“Don’t lift your head, and hold on tight.”

 

Then he sheathed the Black Swallow he had drawn and pulled out a long pole from the luggage tied to Chun-gil’s back.

 

There was a long groove at its end, and when he drew his usual half-sword and fitted the handle into it, it fit perfectly.

 

Next, he connected the crossguard—the barrier between blade and handle—to the string attached to the groove and tied it tight.

 

The process was completed in an instant, as smooth as a craftsman who did nothing but that work after eating.

 

Only then did Xie Baowei grip the shaft and lower his stance, and a long sword-spear protruded between Namgung Bin and Namgung Seol.

 

Tougui saw this and flinched, taking half a step forward.

 

“As I thought. I wondered why you carried that pole around.”

 

“Shut your mouth and watch the front.”

 

Behind Wei Zibai’s mockery, a deadly aura rose from them.

 

It seemed like even Yukgwi wouldn’t dare rush at them easily with such presence.

 

At this, Qitian grinned and looked back.

 

Whoosh.

 

“Gwanghwa.”

 

Oh no.

 

Before Qitian called Gwanghwa’s name, no, even before he turned around, something had already flown toward them.

 

“Jump!”

 

Thud. Hiss.

 

-Bang!

 

The three warriors leaped like the wind.

 

Though it looked like a cliff with no footing, they somehow found places to step and after leaping several times, reached the bottom.

 

Xie Baowei also grabbed the rope he had just tied and jumped down.

 

His palms burned with pain, but there was no choice.

 

Looking down, Chun-gil was running down the steep cliff as if it were flat ground.

 

Huashen, mounted on his back, held tight to Chun-gil’s neck and endured.

 

“Ugh. What is this horse, really?”

 

Those who had rolled down the cliff looked up. Qitian stood leisurely at the edge.

 

“Damn it.”

 

Coming down, it wasn’t easy either.

 

The shacks that had seemed randomly scattered from above were cleverly blocking the paths when viewed from below.

 

Even trying to leap out in all directions, large logs and furniture got in the way.

 

If enemies came down here, they would be caught helplessly.

 

But before that, Xie Baowei frowned.

 

“…The smell of gunpowder and oil.”

 

Damn it.

 

So that’s why the enemies weren’t approaching.

 

“We’re all going to die here.”

 

Wei Zibai spoke as if in despair.

 

Namgung Bin hardened his face and looked up at the cliff again.

 

The members of Yukgwi were standing firm guard.

 

Still, they had to break through.

 

“We charge through in one go.”

 

Everyone gritted their teeth and tensed their legs.

 

Qitian, who had been standing at the edge of the cliff constantly fanning himself with his hand, looked down at them and spoke.

 

“Uh. Wait a moment.”

 

There was nothing more to hear from that wicked tongue. Four warriors and one horse kicked off the ground.

 

Qitian raised his hand.

 

“Whew. This is *cough*. Stop before throwing.”

 

In that brief moment, Namgung Bin, who had climbed halfway up the cliff, leaped back down.

 

The others did the same.

 

They obediently returned to their original positions.

 

A fire bomb was visible in Qitian’s hand.

 

Just throwing it would have been problematic anyway.

 

They had to listen to what he had to say first.

 

“What is it?”

 

Namgung Bin spoke while looking at the fire bomb.

 

Behind his back, he sent brief hand signals.

 

When signaled, scatter in all directions.

 

As long as one survives, that’s enough.

 

He could only desperately pray that the one would be his younger brother.

 

He would charge forward.

 

But Qitian’s eyes were fixed on someone behind Xie Baowei.

 

“You, where did you come from?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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