Chapter 30
“…Who are you guys?”
Eun Sowol did her best to stay calm.
She had learned from Dok Go-ryong that when facing dangerous people, she should not cry or get agitated.
‘And now that I know my uncle is strong, these kinds of people don’t scare me as much.’
“We are the Six Thieves of Bashu Village, the ones even the great tiger, Daho, trembles before!”
“This is Bashu’s territory.”
“If you want to rest here, you’ll have to pay the toll and seat fees. Who said you could just lay down and rest here?”
“Is this your land, sir?”
“Yes! It’s better to hand over the money while I’m still being nice.”
“We don’t usually mess with kids, but we’re in a bad mood today.”
“Where’s your dad? I saw you with him earlier.”
“He’s not my dad, he’s my uncle.”
The six bandits, who had been trying to sound menacing, were taken aback by the calmness in Eun Sowol’s tone.
Usually, by this point, even adults would be crying and begging for their lives, but this little kid was acting so composed.
The leader of the group gave a quick glance at his subordinates.
Seeing the little kid playing with the blade like it was nothing, and noticing his subordinates hitting their shoulders with thick clubs, the leader realized that this child wasn’t just an ordinary kid.
“Show us proof that this is your land. Then I’ll admit I’m trespassing.”
Instead of showing fear, Eun Sowol boldly demanded proof of ownership, leaving the bandits stunned.
“…Proof? Do we even have that?”
“Maybe the chief has it?”
“Does the chief own this mountain? That’s a rich chief.”
“You idiots! We don’t have land deeds! The one who occupies it owns it!”
The bandits were bumbling fools who believed everything they were told, and the leader, seeing how naive they were, couldn’t help but shudder.
“If we’re the owners, we’re the owners, so shut up, kid!”
Finally, the remaining bandits snapped back into action, adopting threatening postures.
The bandits exuded real malice, and Eun Sowol instinctively shrank back.
“Enough of this. Toll and seat fees, plus the insult for mocking us. All in all, pay a hundred silver coins. If you can’t—”
The leader pressed a rusty, broken sword to Eun Sowol’s neck.
“We’ll make you pay with your body.”
The bandits already seemed to be thinking of selling her off, commenting amongst themselves.
“She’s a bit skinny, but she looks pretty cute.”
“Her clothes look expensive, too.”
Eun Sowol swallowed hard as she felt the blade against her skin.
‘If this blade cuts me, I might not just die—I’ll get tetanus too!’
As she desperately searched for a way out, something caught her attention behind the bandits.
Her eyes widened, and a smile slowly spread across her face.
“Uncle, I don’t have money. My uncle has it.”
“Where’s your uncle now?”
“He went to get food. Ah, here he comes!”
The bandits turned around at the direction she pointed.
They had been thinking of using her as leverage for easy extortion, but when they turned to look, what they saw was… a huge bear being dragged by a man in black clothes.
“W-what?”
The leader and his subordinates stopped laughing and froze.
The massive bear, known as the Red Beast, ruled the Dragon Gate Mountain, its fur stained red with the blood of many unfortunate souls.
It was feared by everyone, and the sight of it had always made people run for their lives.
And yet, here it was, being dragged around like a carcass by a mysterious man.
“What is this nonsense?”
Dok Go-ryong muttered, and all the bandits immediately shuddered.
If he hadn’t brought the Red Beast with him, one of the bandits might have already stepped forward to confront him.
‘Who the hell called us father and daughter just now?’
‘They’re not normal travelers! Who wears black like that?’
‘What if it’s a Black Cloak?’
‘So what if they’re a Black Cloak? We’re Bashu’s bandits! Don’t be scared, you idiots!’
Eun Sowol watched the bandits’ eyes shift nervously and then quickly shouted.
“Uncle! These guys want money!”
“…Money?”
“Yes! They say this is their land, so they’re asking for a toll, a seat fee, and… oh! A penalty fee too.”
“Penalty fee, what’s that?”
“I don’t know. They suddenly got angry and are asking for a penalty fee too.”
It was obvious they were just trying to scam her and take everything they could.
“So, how much are they asking for?”
“One hundred silver coins! Is that a lot?”
Dok Go-ryong’s expression didn’t change, but he looked up. As he raised his head, his face, hidden until now by the bear, came into full view.
His eyes curved softly with amusement, but the gaze beneath them was as cold as frost in the middle of winter.
The leader of the bandits, meeting his eyes, could feel an icy killing intent wrapping around him like a huge snake.
“A hundred silver coins… did they really say that?”
Thud!
Dok Go-ryong slammed the bear’s rear foot onto the ground, shaking the earth.
“Let me hear again what nonsense you were talking.”
With each turn of his neck, the cracking sound echoed ominously, and the bandits involuntarily swallowed hard.
Meanwhile…
A few days ago, in Bashu Village’s central mountains, the chief of the village, Go Tae-hong, had received some shocking news.
It was about a proposal that came out of nowhere, one that could significantly change his position and solve the financial issues that had plagued them for months.
“I don’t know… it seems like a good deal, but…” Go Tae-hong said, deep in thought.
