Chapter 130

Chapter 130

By observing a fragment, you can infer the whole. Do not limit phenomena to only what’s before your eyes.

That was the mindset Seohwa first learned from Baek Riyun during the silk auction at Heuksi. A mindset about how to view the world. What to see in fragmentary facts.

She had learned it but thought there would be no occasion to use it. From Seohwa’s perspective, the method Baek Riyun used seemed impossible to employ unless you were someone who could see ahead. It seemed unusable unless you could predict everyone’s actions.

“So, you’re saying to set a fire…….”

“Yes.”

“Not setting fire to the bandit stronghold, but burning all of Makbusan?”

“Yes. Exactly that.”

Now Seohwa had realized.

People are simpler than you think, and people trapped in patterns of thought are even simpler than that!

“……Wait a moment.”

She had definitely thought she would support whatever opinion was raised.

Baek Risan, who felt dizzy after hearing Seohwa’s plan, swayed for a moment and leaned his body against a tree. The cold touch of the tree climbing up his spine.

“How did you arrive at that conclusion……?”

Fire attack.

Of course, it’s good. It would require a lot of preparation, but the effect would be certain.

Of course, considering the aftermath, setting fire to the bandit stronghold wasn’t the best plan, but it wasn’t bad for achieving the immediate goal. Since the bandits would put out the fire anyway, if they invaded the stronghold during that time and retrieved the sword, they’d see decent results.

But burning down the entire mountain is a different story, isn’t it?

“Fire attacks require a lot of supplies. For instance, oil…….”

“It hasn’t snowed recently, has it? It’s winter, so it’s dry. It’s fine. It’ll burn quite well even without oil.”

“If the fire spreads, the cleanup…….”

“The bandits will do it, right? Since it’s like their own home.”

“The damage to other people…….”

“There’s no way there would be slash-and-burn farmers or herb gatherers in a place known to have bandits, so it’s fine.”

“The damage probably won’t be that great. Look.”

After finishing speaking, Seohwa pulled out a rough map from her bosom and continued.

“According to Haun Merchant Company Leader’s information, from here to here is Jeokwangchae’s territory, right?”

“That’s true…… but.”

“Streams flow around this area. On all four sides. The stream on the southeast is narrow, but if we clear away things that burn well, I think we can burn it carefully to prevent it from spreading as much as possible. The bandits will also put it out.”

Looking at Seohwa speaking calmly, Baek Risan held his forehead and sighed. A method that’s too radical, far too radical.

“Fine. Anyway, it’s good that you’re offering an opinion.”

Better than not saying anything at all. Thinking that, Baek Risan continued speaking.

“But there are problems. Let’s say you set the fire so it doesn’t spread well as you said.”

“Yes.”

“There’s still a problem. The reason for a fire attack is to disperse the enemy’s attention, right? By setting fire to reduce the number of guards at the stronghold, and in the meantime retrieve the sword—that’s the strategy.”

“But we don’t know where the Uicheongeom is. If we can’t find the Uicheongeom while they’re running around trying to put out the fire, we’ll be isolated inside the stronghold.”

The probability of finding it is low, and even if they do find it, it’s uncertain whether they can take it. When such a valuable item enters a Nokrim stronghold, they usually either guard it thoroughly or the stronghold leader carries it around.

“Many parts of the plan rely on luck. Wouldn’t it be safer to act decisively when they’re transporting the tribute goods?”

At Baek Risan’s serious question, Seohwa was silent for a moment, then shook her head. And the answer that followed.

“I thought about it briefly. What I would do if I were a bandit.”

“Why does Jeokwangchae pay tribute to Nokrim?”

“Well, because they’re a lower stronghold of Nokrim…….”

“That’s strange, isn’t it? Nokrim strongholds don’t subjugate fellow bandits for not paying tribute. Bandit movements attract the attention of government troops.”

“They pay tribute because there’s something to gain. That’s how I see it. And that would be having a Nokrim-affiliated stronghold behind them—in other words, a kind of backing.”

It’s the same context as Gaecheon Gyoryongpa placing a request with Uicheonmun. Weak strongholds need backing to protect them, and strong strongholds benefit from more incoming revenue. However,

“Bandits have no trust, right?”

“They won’t pay tribute if you just say you’ll protect them. They’ll want something visible at least. For instance, periodically dispatching masters to inspect the situation.”

“……And that period is when they receive tribute?”

“There’s no way Nokrim strongholds can use escort agencies, and there’s nothing more troublesome than doing work twice.”

What happens if, as Seohwa assumes, a Nokrim master visits when receiving tribute?

In the best case, there would be no problem. The reason the Nokrim Chilsipichae can stand up to major sects lies in their enormous numbers and the special nature of mountainous terrain. The individual capabilities of their masters aren’t that impressive.

But in the worst case, if masters who are among the best in Nokrim appear—

Could the Uicheonmun disciples handle that and win?

“Receiving tribute from lower strongholds is quite an important duty for Nokrim strongholds. It’s work that can demonstrate influence beyond just monetary profit. And if I were them, I don’t think I’d entrust such work to just anyone.”

“If we’re going to do it, we have to do it now. Before other variables appear, while we can control the variables.”

“……Fine.”

Baek Risan, who had remained silent as if convinced by Seohwa’s words, nodded slightly and offered his opinion again.

“I understand what you’re saying. But in the end, there’s one problem. We need to clearly find out where the Uicheongeom is.”

If the problem can’t be solved, it ultimately returns to the starting point. No matter what master comes from Nokrim stronghold, it would be better than being isolated inside Jeokwangchae.

“If you can’t solve that part, we can’t execute that plan.”

What are you planning to do?

At Baek Risan asking that, Seohwa wore a playful smile resembling Baek Riyun. And the words that followed.

“We don’t need to find out.”

Breaking the framework of common sense and creating variables. Forcibly fitting those variables in a direction favorable to oneself.

That is the sum total of what Baek Riyun had shown and taught Seohwa until now. If so.

“They’ll present it themselves anyway.”

If you only do as you’ve learned, having no variables is normal. Because it’s not about making strategies to match the opponent’s actions, but making strategies to induce the opponent’s actions.

“We don’t have time.”

Time until tribute is two days. However, the date when Nokrim masters arrive is undecided. It wouldn’t be strange if they came about a day early.

They need to finish preparations quickly.

Seohwa, who finished her judgment, looked around.

Throughout her field of vision, dried fallen leaves were piled up on the ground in a rotted state.

Jeokwangchae.

“Boss. Word came from over there. Seems like they’ll arrive sometime today or tomorrow at the earliest.”

“Huh. Is that so?”

Seureurung!

At his subordinate’s words, Ma Jeok, the Jeokwangchae boss who had been swinging his blade bare-chested, exhaled and sheathed his great sword. The great sword entering the scabbard cleanly.

‘The condition is good.’

Ma Jeok, who wore a satisfied smile at his own clean sheathing posture without any roughness, nodded and asked back.

“They’re coming a bit early this time. How are the tribute goods preparations?”

“The organizing is naturally all done. What do you think? I’ve gathered everything in the center of the stronghold except for that sword we got last time.”

“You gathered them?”

“This tribute seems to have a lot of volume, so everyone’s just smacking their lips. Aren’t we paying too much tribute?”

“Tsk tsk.”

At the subordinate asking with a frown as if the tribute goods were too precious, Ma Jeok unconsciously clicked his tongue and shook his head. And the rebuttal that followed.

“You stupid fool. What do you think when you see the tribute goods piled up?”

“Well…… it’s damn precious.”

“Right? Precious, right? You don’t want to give it, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Of course giving things to others is precious. You fool. If you give so much it’s not precious, it’s meaningless.”

Ma Jeok, who brushed off his hands, sat in a chair placed next to the training ground and continued speaking.

“How many bandits do you think there are in this world?”

“A damn lot.”

“Right. A damn lot. So many you can’t count them on your hands and feet.”

Though Nokrim Chilsipichae has a large scale, its proportion of all bandits isn’t much. Just the bandits spread across this continent would easily number in the hundreds of thousands.

When the world’s economy worsens, beggars and bandits increase.

With the imperial power considerably weakened and the war between Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance continuing for quite a long period, the bandits’ power had needless to say increased. And.

That paradoxically often acted as a problem for the bandits.

Just like now.

“Even people who make a living by slash-and-burn farming become bandits with swords and farming tools when farming doesn’t work out. Weak strongholds like ours are needless to say overflowing. But you see.”

Ma Jeok, who struck his knee, paused then opened his mouth again.

“The masters that the Seventy-Two Strongholds can dispatch are limited.”

“If you listen to recent rumors, the war between Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance has ended. Then who will the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance guys who’ve now gained peace go beat up? The Demonic Cult that doesn’t even come down from Xinjiang? Or the Great Yokai lurking in Sinseon Valley?”

Neither. Whether it’s Murim Alliance or Sado Alliance, they won’t try to do things that seem to cause them immediate great harm.

The Demonic Cult hasn’t been rampant for hundreds of years. Though the yokai of Sinseon Valley periodically flow out, they never gather to plot something.

In other words, it’s asking for trouble. If left alone, it’s merely annoying, but if touched, you’ll see great bloodshed.

Neither Murim Alliance nor Sado Alliance would plan such big undertakings in the current situation where their forces are insufficient after a long war. If they were going to do it, they’d try to do something they could handle without great damage.

That includes the bandits that have recently increased like mushrooms after rain. Mainly such bandits not included in the Seventy-Two Strongholds.

“For us to survive, we need to get close to Nokrim main stronghold. We need to show sincerity as if we’ll give them our liver and gallbladder.”

Better to give generously if we’re going to give anyway. If we show a stingy appearance, we might be disliked for that, so if we’re going to do it, wouldn’t it be better to do it thoroughly?

“That’s the reason for the large tribute. Do you understand?”

“I roughly understand. You’re saying even if we starve, we need to survive first, right?”

“Yeah. Exactly right. Anyway, you have to live to do anything, right?”

Makbusan, where Jeokwangchae is located, borders Hubei above, Hunan on the left, and Jiangxi on the right, so it’s in a location with a decent strategic position. If they occasionally rob passing merchants, the problem of making a living will somehow work out.

“If you understand, organize it to look like we’re giving as much as possible. Don’t make it look shabby, but sty……”

Stylish.

Ma Jeok’s eyes, about to say that, were drawn to something dark visible in the distance. Black smoke rising high into the sky.

“……What’s that?”

“Hm? It’s smoke, isn’t it? Someone must have lit a campfire.”

Pyeok!

“Ah, why are you hitting me again!”

“You stupid fool. What kind of campfire produces smoke that big!”

It’s a forest fire.

Ma Jeok, who reflexively struck his subordinate’s head at the bad premonition, immediately rushed out of the training ground. The sight of subordinates looking at the smoke.

“Fire! Put out the fire!”

“Wh-what should we do, Boss?”

“Bring every bucket and container you can! There’s a stream to the south! Draw water from there and put it out!”

After finishing speaking, Ma Jeok, who hurriedly lifted a large wooden tub from the bathhouse, used lightness skill to run across the mountain terrain. The smoke growing larger and larger.

‘If it all burns, it’s over!’

The reason Jeokwangchae, which isn’t located on an essential route, can make a living?

Because they rob some and don’t rob others. When they rob, they rob thoroughly, but they let people live and send them off, and sometimes they pretend not to see merchants passing secretly, making people use this route thinking ‘surely I won’t get robbed.’

They periodically pretend not to see merchants. In other words, it’s like covering one’s eyes and saying “boo.”

However, even to cover your eyes and say “boo,” you need something to cover your eyes with. If the forest disappears, even that something to cover your eyes disappears.

What does that mean?

‘If the forest all burns, we’ll have to close up shop……!’

It means the path to making a living in the future becomes bleak.

“Hurry!”

Kung kung kung kung!

Ma Jeok, who drew up a full load of water from the stream located to the north, mustered even the strength he used when nursing and shouldered the water container.

“We can’t be late. First the fire……!”

And at the moment Ma Jeok was about to give instructions to the subordinates who followed.

“Do you want to put out the fire?”

Seogeok!

At the sight of the water container split in half by the flying sword energy, Ma Jeok’s eyes widened.

“Then, bring the sword.”

In the distance.

With flames as a backdrop.

“Our sect master’s sword. Right now.”

Shadows were flickering on the hilltop.