Chapter 15

After firmly tying the wrists of the bandits from the Iron Blood Gang with ropes, I wrapped another layer around their necks.

I eliminated the dantian of those who possessed even a meager amount of internal energy, and since I had thoroughly beaten them to give them a taste of h*ll, they couldn’t even dream of resisting and followed me and the Dongdong brothers.

Thus, we formed ‘Jin So-cheon and the 100 Thieves.’

Jin So-cheon and the 100 Thieves walked in a long procession through the city. The sight of 100 burly men walking around with leashes on their necks like dogs made the citizens widen their eyes and utter a word or two each.

Huh!

What is all that?

They look like criminals…… Are only three people escorting that many?

As the murmurs of the people brushed past my ears, the bandits, needless to say, and even the Dongdong brothers seemed embarrassed.

But I didn’t care.

Their embarrassment is their business, and I’m not someone who cares about the gazes of others.

That’s how I am.

Having lived as an assassin in my past life, the evaluation of others wasn’t important to me.

I was only recognized if I completed the assigned mission, and since those missions were mostly assassinations where I had to twist the target’s neck without anyone knowing, there was no reason to care about the public’s attention.

“……Sir. What exactly is this procession?”

Then, in the middle of the marketplace, an old man asked in a cautious voice.

Since I was escorting those who were clearly criminals, did he think I was a constable from the government office? He even used honorifics and bowed.

“These are bandits who were committing robbery. Since these ruffians formed a bandit group and committed robbery, they are vicious criminals who have done all sorts of evil deeds.”

“Ah…… I see, sir.”

“Please don’t call me ‘sir.’ I’m not a government official.”

“You’re not a government official, but you’re handling these scoundrels…… Are you perhaps a martial artist?”

“I’m not a martial artist either.”

“What? You’re not a government official, and you’re not a martial artist…… How?!”

This is absurd.

Can’t I catch bandits if I’m not a government official or a martial artist?

I wanted to ask back, but I refrained because I thought the conversation would get longer.

To be honest, I feel a bit embarrassed whenever I get this question.

Who am I?

Am I Jin So-cheon, the former top-class assassin of the Demonic Cult who became a reincarnator?

Or am I Jin So-cheon, the hunter and So-yun’s father?

At that moment.

I recalled the answer I gave to my housekeeper, Ye-rin.

“Old man.”

“Yes?”

“……Let’s just say I’m a good person with evil intentions.”

Of course, the old man, who couldn’t understand what I meant, tilted his head, but since there was nothing more to say, I just went on my way.

It seems I need to quickly establish my identity completely and get away from these cringe-worthy lines.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Oh, no, what is this!”

“What’s the problem?”

“N, no, it’s nothing. It’s just so absurd.”

“The point is simple. I want to hand over the bandits to the authorities and receive the bounty, so please give me the money first.”

“……???”

Upon arriving at the government office, I immediately stated my purpose.

The constable, with a dumbfounded expression, looked at me, the Dongdong brothers, and the 100 bandits, then said in a trembling voice.

“……Look here. I can’t handle this matter on my own, so please wait. I’ll quickly report to the Inspector.”

“Don’t make me wait too long. I’m a busy person.”

“Huh…… Alright.”

After the conversation, the constable hurriedly left the government office, and I handed over the bandits to the police officers, then sat down in the reception room with the Dongdong brothers and sipped tea.

But……

For some reason, the gazes of Il-dong, Yi-dong, and Sam-dong towards me were unusual.

“Why? What are you looking at me like that for?”

“B, brother.”

“Big brother…… The more I see you, the more amazed I am.”

“I’ve never seen a manly man like you in my life!”

I was taken aback by their sudden outburst, but I think I knew why, so I chuckled and asked.

“In what way do you find me so amazing?”

Then, Il-dong shook his head.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? You drag around 100 men with leashes on their necks, you demand the bounty from the constable right away…… And on top of that, you declare that you’re busy and shouldn’t be kept waiting. This is, really…… Heh heh. It’s so cool that I can’t help but laugh.”

Then, as if Yi-dong and Sam-dong also felt the same way, they added their own words.

“Is that all? The most amazing thing is So-cheon’s martial arts. I knew you were a genius in fighting, but this incident made me see you in a whole new light. You’re definitely on par with top-class martial artists.”

“Yi-dong, So-cheon is not just on par with top-class martial artists, he’s comparable to peak-level experts!”

Just like that, the Dongdong brothers started beating their own drums and letting their imaginations run wild.

I chuckled again at their antics and asked.

“Have you guys ever seen a peak-level expert?”

“Ah, not exactly, but……”

“But when we were in the Green Gang, we did encounter some quite famous Black Path experts.”

“Are martial arts experts really that big of a deal? With your skills, you’ll definitely wipe them all out!”

As expected……

It’s clear that the Dongdong brothers have never actually seen a peak-level expert.

Of course, the concept of a peak-level expert is subjective and cannot be specifically defined.

Generally, those who can emit Sword Aura are considered peak-level experts, but this is not a clear standard either. And things like peak, super peak, Transcendent Realm, and Profound Realm are just illusions, delusions, and concepts created by humans who like to categorize things. That’s what I think.

I realized one truth while committing countless murders in my past life.

That is, in a life-or-death battle, ‘level’ can never be an absolute factor.

In reality, fights are not decided solely by the level of martial arts.

Of course, those who have reached a higher level are relatively more advantageous, but the outcome of a fight depends more on the physical condition of the day, the compatibility between the martial arts learned by each other, and the will to win at all costs.

As a relevant example, in my past life, I assassinated the sect leader of the Mount Hua Sect, who was at a higher level than me, and I annihilated 120 members of the Heavenly Demon Sword Squad, the Demonic Cult’s most elite unit. I also faced the Four Guardians of the Demonic Path, known as the Four Heavenly Kings, alone, and twisted the Blue Demon King’s neck.

I was able to do those things because of my unwavering determination.

I’ve been through countless near-death experiences in my past life.

My life itself was on the borderline between life and death, and I always lived with the word ‘death’ in mind, so my mindset when approaching a ‘fight’ was different from the start.

Come to think of it……

I’m starting to think that my past self was quite amazing.

How did I k*ll 120 members of the Heavenly Demon Sword Squad alone?

It’s still a mystery to me, but anyway……

Past me, you’re awesome.

“Il-dong, Yi-dong, Sam-dong. A peak-level expert is not just anyone. At least a first-generation disciple of the Nine Great Sects would be considered a peak-level expert. Comparing me to a peak-level expert is a good way to get labeled as crazy, so be careful.”

“But brother! I can’t imagine you losing to anyone. Are peak-level experts really that amazing? To the point where even you can’t beat them?”

“Ah, of course not.”

“What?”

“Whether it’s a peak-level expert or whatever, if I fight, I’ll win somehow.”

“What are you talking about? You just said that peak-level experts are more amazing.”

“Anyway, just know that. It’s a waste of time explaining it to you now, it’ll go in one ear and out the other. When you guys train like dogs under me, you’ll understand someday. Fighting isn’t just about having high-level martial arts.”

Il-dong, Yi-dong, and Sam-dong seemed puzzled by my words, but they didn’t ask any more insensitive questions.

I guess their current state of mind is something like, ‘I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know, so I’d better just shut up.’ They’re probably confused, but someday they’ll understand my philosophy.

“E, excuse me!”

At that moment.

The constable who had run out of the government office came back into the reception room and spoke urgently.

“Why are you making such a fuss? What’s going on?”

“Phew…… The Provincial Governor has arrived. Please come out and greet him.”

The Provincial Governor……

He must be a high-ranking official.

I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know, so I’d better just shut up…… No, I should do as I’m told.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Are you really not a martial artist?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ll ask again. I’m not asking if you’re part of a large sect like the Nine Great Sects or the Eight Great Families. Are you really saying that you are pure civilians who don’t belong to any martial arts school? Are you really?”

“That’s correct.”

“Huh! I know because I’ve trained in martial arts myself. Unless you’re a skilled expert, you can’t arrest 100 bandits like that in an instant. But are you really saying that you, ordinary people, caught them? Just to receive the bounty?”

The Provincial Governor had a bad habit of repeating the same questions.

He looks about my age, so maybe he passed the civil service exam at a young age and became a high-ranking official.

Maybe because he lacks experience in the world, he’s a short-sighted person who can’t believe anything outside of his common sense?

But I just told him the truth as it was.

I told him that I drifted into Shaanxi from another region, that I came to lead the Dongdong brothers, who were former ruffians, that I was raising a daughter, and that I climbed Golden Tiger Lodge because I was desperate to make a living and planned to exploit bandits, robbers, pirates, and all sorts of bad guys.

Meanwhile, the Dongdong brothers’ faces turned pale, and the eyes of the administrators, investigators, inspectors, constables, and police officers standing beside the Provincial Governor were filled with astonishment. But in my opinion, it wasn’t a big deal, and I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I explained the situation calmly.

“Hmm…… That’s truly amazing. To be honest, when I heard that 100 bandits from the Iron Blood Gang had been arrested, I assumed that experts from Mount Hua or Mount Zhongnan Sects had worked hard to maintain regional security.”

Ah.

So the Provincial Governor came here to make connections, thinking that me and the Dongdong brothers might be prominent martial artists from sects like Mount Hua or Mount Zhongnan?

But is he disappointed because we’re not?

“Are you disappointed because we’re not?”

“Disappointed? That’s not it at all. I was just curious. Whether it was Mount Hua or Mount Zhongnan, or their affiliated martial arts schools or families, I heard they were busy with Martial Alliance matters. But as expected, it was someone else.”

“You don’t have to be a famous martial artist from a sect to catch bad guys. I’ll visit you often. I plan to arrest the bad guys in Chang’an and the entire Shaanxi Province and hand them over to the authorities.”

“Huh! I’m grateful, but are you really confident you can do that?”

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”

“……???”

“Anyway, Provincial Governor. As of this moment, I’m handing over all the bandits from the Iron Blood Gang to the authorities.”

“I’m grateful that you’ve done such a great deed in a time when regional security is deteriorating day by day. I express my respect for the chivalry of the three heroes under Jin Dae-hyeop.”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Haha. There’s no need to be so humble. Jin Dae-hyeop has truly accomplished a great……”

“I’m telling you it’s really not like that.”

“……???”

I immediately cut off the Provincial Governor’s flattery and the strange atmosphere that was flowing through the room.

I was worried that such flowery nonsense would drag on and obscure my purpose.

“Provincial Governor. The reason I arrested those vicious criminals and brought them here is not to walk the path of a chivalrous hero or to uphold righteousness.”

“Then……”

“Please give me the bounty quickly.”