Chapter 41 — There Are Rules Even in a Bandit Stronghold (1)
"...Huh!"
Cheongun, who had been staring blankly after Donggu and Bangul, suddenly realized that the situation might escalate into a violent confrontation.
He wanted to avoid conflict with the bandits.
There was a reason for that.
Cheongun had business with their leader.
I clearly heard that after Hong Gil unified the bandits, he prohibited indiscriminate plundering.
So what is going on?
No. First, I need to calm things down.
Cheongun cautiously tested Doyul.
"Scholar, what will you do now?"
"The bandits may attack again, so I think we should wait for Donggu and Bangul first."
"...Ghh. I see."
I'm sure... I heard the bandits weren't villains.
Then what happened?
Doyul was wondering the same thing.
But after a brief moment of confusion, he quickly regained his composure.
There's no need to rush into a conclusion.
We can reorganize first and think calmly afterward.
Doyul checked on his companions.
Fortunately, no one seemed injured.
However, two people looked troubled.
He approached Kang Bokman first.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm perfectly fine. I'm just... worried about Bangul."
Excuse me?
Why Bangul?
Nureungi was the one who had been whipped and frightened into running away.
Bangul had gone after him to rescue him.
"Bangul is such a timid and delicate creature that I'm worried sick. What if he gets hungry and eats some strange grass? Haah..."
Doyul nearly asked whether Kang Bokman had somehow failed to see Bangul smash his harness apart before charging off.
"...I'm sure he'll be fine, so don't worry too much."
"Phew. You're probably right... You must be worried yourself, Yulli. Thank you for comforting me."
The other person who looked troubled was Yeoni.
"Yeoni, are you hurt?"
"..."
Nod, nod.
But the bandit attack wasn't why she looked uneasy.
She had been trying desperately to hide her emotions because she didn't want to become a burden.
Yet the closer they came to Daegu, the harder it became for her to remain calm.
Doyul realized that her expression had nothing to do with the attack.
"As long as you're not hurt, that's enough."
Nod, nod.
"...And don't worry too much."
"...What?"
"Nothing will happen."
"I..."
"Hm?"
Shake, shake!
Yeoni stopped herself before she could speak.
Then she lightly tapped her own mouth several times before scurrying to a corner and crouching down.
What was she about to say?
...She'll be all right.
Yeoni is a smart child.
"Hmm."
Cheongun had been quietly observing everything Doyul did.
Despite having a substantial amount of money stolen, Doyul had not lost his composure.
Instead, he carefully checked on everyone around him first.
Cheongun liked what he saw.
Even after being attacked by bandits, he thinks of the people around him before himself.
He has both rational judgment and compassion.
No wonder Master values him so highly.
He'll make an excellent official one day.
The more Cheongun watched Doyul, the more his thoughts changed.
If he's like this, then perhaps I can tell him about Hong Gil.
"Scholar, there's something I need to tell you."
"You're not going to suggest another wager even in a situation like this, are you?"
Cheongun grinned.
"No, no."
"It's about the bandits."
"...What?"
"Sniff, sniff! This way!"
"Tch!"
With his superhuman physical ability, Donggu caught up to the bandits.
The men dropped the bundle they were carrying and glared at him.
"Ghh... What kind of servant climbs mountains this well?"
"Get lost if you don't want to regret it!"
"That's right! Our leader showed you mercy by taking only a toll!"
"If you value your life, turn around and leave!"
There was a reason the bandits had stolen only one cart before fleeing.
"Only rob the wealthy and wicked."
"If you truly have no choice but to steal in order to survive, then take only a toll from those who have plenty."
"Never strip someone of everything they own."
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"And avoid violence whenever possible."
"L-Leader, what are you..."
"That's an order."
These were the commands of the legendary leader who had appeared like a comet, defeated the former chief Gwidol in an instant, and unified every bandit group throughout the eight provinces of Joseon.
Tch. What a joke.
What kind of bandit chooses who he's allowed to rob?
Aside from Gwidol, none of the bandits around Yeongsan had ever personally seen the leader.
Because of that, many were dissatisfied with the orders of the legendary great thief.
But even the terrifying Gwidol obeyed without protest.
No one else dared rebel.
"Come any closer and we won't use words!"
"I'm warning you one last time."
"If you value your life, get lost!"
Shing!
The bandits all drew their swords at once.
Donggu grinned.
"Now it's fine."
"...What?"
Crack. Crack.
"Young Master gave me a condition."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Donggu remembered a conversation with Doyul.
"Donggu, you can't just hit people whenever you want."
"I did what Young Master said. Only hit bad people."
"No, that's not exactly..."
Doyul had thought for a moment before giving him a standard.
"All right. There's something called self-defense..."
Donggu had listened very carefully.
"Young Master said if someone draws a sword, I'm allowed to hit them."
"What?"
Admittedly, he had remembered the lesson rather selectively.
"What the hell are you talking about? If someone draws a sword, you're supposed to run away! Why would you hit them...?"
Donggu's figure suddenly blurred.
Then he appeared directly in front of one of the bandits.
"G-Gasp! A movement technique!"
"Don't use difficult words."
Until now, even when someone was a terrible person, they had still been a villager.
So Donggu had always held back as much as possible.
These people, however, were much worse.
So this time...
He put just a little more strength into his punch.
BOOM!
The sound that exploded from Donggu's fist resembled a cannon.
"G-Gyaaaaaaaaaagh!"
"Don't exaggerate."
The bandit dropped after a single knock to the head.
Naturally, the remaining bandits went pale.
"A movement technique... and monstrous strength beyond that of a human!"
