The Invincible Commander – Chapter 11

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HwasanSect

[Translator: Chyluck]

[Proofreader: Chyluck]

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Chapter 11

Cheon Sinwoo turned toward the Huangdu Gang.

“Hoo.”

Calming his ragged breaths, he glared at them.

He was exhausted.

He’d used his strength recklessly to return quickly.

Another reason to regain his former skills soon.

“Who’s Huangdu?”

No one answered.

His murderous aura stunned them.

But unlike when Myunghwan came, their eyes already pointed to Huangdu.

“You.”

“…”

Huangdu’s eyes widened like saucers.

He’d already dealt with the archers outside?

His gaze fell on a fallen thug, head crushed into his shoulders.

Dead or alive, it was hard to tell.

Huangdu swallowed hard.

Resistance was futile.

He should’ve fled with his wealth.

Or begged Wutaishan for help.

But it was too late.

He’d done it.

Wasting time on that idiot Woosaeng, now they’d die.

“I’m impressed. I was planning to wipe you out, but you saved me the trip. Thanks. But because of you, my lady and young master nearly died.”

“…”

“I’d love to make you suffer long, but count yourself lucky I don’t have time.”

Cheon Sinwoo’s menacing eyes cracked his knuckles with a pop.

Huangdu flinched, as if his own bones were breaking.

Lucky?

Death stared him in the face.

“Let’s end this quick. I’m worried about Woosaeng, stabbed and all.”

Cheon Sinwoo’s mouth tore into a grotesque grin, his killing intent surging. Huangdu screamed in desperation.

“Attack! Kill him!”

A startled thug swung his cleaver wildly.

Dodging with a backflip, Cheon Sinwoo lunged, throwing a punch.

Boom!

A heavy thud.

The thug, struck in the face, spun and collapsed.

Dead, probably.

He’d hit to kill.

The dead don’t hold grudges.

But Huangdu turned and fled.

“The boss uses his men as shields to escape?”

Muttering with a laugh, Cheon Sinwoo’s steps quickened.

“D-Don’t come!”

The thugs, trembling, swung their blades, but fear slowed them.

Idiots.

They didn’t even realize they were cannon fodder.

Cheon Sinwoo swayed like a willow in the wind, dodging attacks. Each punch and kick, thrown with full force, left bodies on the ground.

They were no match.

His enraged fists were deadlier than their cleavers.

Soon, only Huangdu remained.

Thud!

Cheon Sinwoo stomped the ground, his form shooting forward.

Crack!

His kick slammed Huangdu’s head, sending him rolling across the dirt.

“Urgh…”

Terrified, Huangdu flailed, unable to stand.

The swaggering alley thug was gone, replaced by a cowering dog.

“S-Spare me…”

“You think you would?”

“…?”

“Spare me?”

Grinning ear to ear, Cheon Sinwoo stared at Huangdu.

It was a joyful day.

Sohyang had finally opened her heart, accepting him as a servant.

He could stay by her side.

A moment worth celebrating, ruined by this Huangdu.

His resolve to change, to live differently, was shattered by this scum.

Sohyang and Chang were nearly harmed. Woosaeng, tied to the Seoga family, was gravely injured.

Huangdu wouldn’t die easily.

Grab.

Cheon Sinwoo seized a fallen cleaver.

Crunch.

Channeling energy, he twisted the blade.

The bent, broken edge turned grotesque.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Ever been cut by a dull blade?”

“What?”

“I have. Hurts like hell.”

He knew from experience.

Clashing blades dull, turning saw-like.

Such a blade doesn’t cut—it tears.

That’s how he’d kill him.

As painfully as possible.

“Urgh, aaagh!”

Huangdu scrambled to flee the manor.

“Bastard…”

Cheon Sinwoo smirked, stomping the ground to close the gap instantly.

The jagged cleaver swept low across the ground.

Huangdu’s heel was sliced, and he tumbled again.

“Argh…”

Boom!

Cheon Sinwoo’s fist smashed into his screaming mouth.

“Shut up.”

He grinned, as if enjoying it.

Huangdu, soul-shaken, clawed the ground to escape.

Crack.

Grabbing his hair, Cheon Sinwoo dragged him outside the manor.

Not here.

It’d be too gruesome.

Blood pooling and flesh scattering in the yard would be unsightly.

Even in rage, he chose his killing ground wisely.

Not long after, Cheon Sinwoo returned to the manor, dragging the fallen thugs outside.

He stabbed holes in them with the cleaver.

No loose ends.

In the past, he’d let enemies return to fight again, but now he knew sparing them could endanger Sohyang and Chang.

Creak.

Opening the kitchen door, he met the silent stares of those inside.

“My lady, I’m taking Woosaeng to the physician.”

“What?”

“The three of you, go to your rooms and rest.”

“…”

Rest?

An absurdly calm request.

Their hearts hadn’t settled…

“The Huangdu Gang?”

“They’re gone. You’re safe. I’ll be back soon.”

Cheon Sinwoo hoisted Woosaeng.

“Save my boy. Please, I beg you,” Jeongyang’s wife sobbed.

Of course he’d save him.

He saved Sohyang and Chang’s lives.

He was family now.

Someone to protect and care for.

“Don’t worry.”

Smiling to reassure her, Cheon Sinwoo carried Woosaeng and dashed out.

Sohyang, staring blankly at the gate, collapsed, her legs giving out.

The yard was empty.

Only traces of battle remained.

Her hands trembled.

Cheon Sinwoo.

She’d accepted him, but was letting a martial artist into their home the right choice?

Then Chang took her hand.

“Mother.”

“…”

“It’s okay now.”

Chang smiled oddly brightly.

Was he not scared?

“How is he?”

“What’s with you? Waking me in the middle of the night…” the physician grumbled, yawning, but his hands worked, bandaging Woosaeng.

He was the one who treated Cheon Sinwoo when he woke.

The only physician he knew.

“Will that do? The knife went deep…”

“Knife? It’s nothing.”

“What?”

“Pure luck. His size left room in his gut, and the knife missed his organs. The cuts are shallow too. His muscles are thick as hell. Apply medicine daily. He’ll scar, but a guy like him will heal fast.”

Slap!

The physician smacked Woosaeng’s cheek.

What!

A physician hitting a patient?

How could he treat life so lightly?

But—

“Gah!”

Woosaeng jolted upright.

“Huangdu! Huangdu… huh? Big brother?”

Blinking wide-eyed, he scanned the room, then went blank.

“Where… am I?”

“See? He’s fine. A born beast.”

He was.

Worrying was pointless.

His resilience was unreal.

Shaolin monks beat their bodies to train daily.

If he learned external martial arts, he could rule the world… hmm, should I teach him?

The thought lingered.

If another crisis came in his absence, they needed a shield to protect Sohyang and Chang.

Worth considering.

He might have talent like Cheon Sinwoo’s past self, but lacked opportunity.

Probably too dumb to find his own path.

And he had hair.

Relieved at Woosaeng’s recovery, Cheon Sinwoo glanced at the physician.

“Wasn’t this guy with the Huangdu Gang?”

“Things happened, and he’s now my lady Sohyang’s servant.”

“Oh? If the lady accepted him, so be it.”

The physician nodded, satisfied.

Treatment done, time to pay.

“Physician, I don’t have money right now…”

“Forget it. Money?”

“What?”

“I heard you’re the lady’s servant.”

“Well, yeah…”

“They say you can’t forget a debt of gratitude, so you’re sticking by her to repay it.”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“What about the Huangdu Gang? Merchants whispered that Myunghwan, who went to the Seoga manor, ended up a corpse.”

Woosaeng, not Cheon Sinwoo, answered.

“Yeah, big brother smashed them. Then Huangdu shot flaming arrows, threatening the young master and my lady…”

The physician’s eyes narrowed at Woosaeng’s words.

“You damn punk! Eating gutter scraps? I treat you, and you speak so casually?!”

As expected.

Woosaeng messed up.

Cheon Sinwoo knew this physician was sensitive about informal speech.

Glaring, he grabbed a small mortar to threaten Woosaeng, who quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, right, big brother! What happened to Huangdu? How’d you bring me here?”

Desperate, Woosaeng fired questions, and the physician looked to Cheon Sinwoo for answers.

“Just… sent him somewhere he can’t return from.”

“Huh? Where? Far? That’s bad. He’ll come back and cause trouble.”

Woosaeng looked worried.

This guy…

Unbelievable.

How dense is he?

Most would catch the hint, but he took it literally.

“Good enough. Take this healthy guy and go. Woken up for a healthy guy, what a hassle.”

“We need an undertaker.”

“What?”

“There’s some bodies at the Seoga manor.”

“Huangdu’s men?”

“Yes.”

“Damn pests. Fine, get out.”

The physician handed over salve and shoved them out.

Bang!

The door slammed.

“Grumpy old man,” Woosaeng muttered.

Cheon Sinwoo gave a wry smile.

Grumpy but kind.

He didn’t charge again.

Their meager means made his generosity welcome.

Likely because it involved Sohyang.

“Big brother, will it really be okay? Huangdu’s a real bad guy. What if he comes back with a new crew?”

This guy’s relentless.

But he’d done too great a deed to scold.

“Don’t worry. I made sure he won’t return.”

“Good then.”

“By the way, you know where the Huangdu Gang’s hideout is, right?”

“Of course. I was one of them.”

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“Hurry. We need to handle it tonight.”

“…Wait, you’re sending the rest of them far away too?”

“Hm?”

“Phew, I know you’re strong, but will they listen to reason?”

No need to answer.

What to do with this guy?

The thought of teaching him martial arts started to fade.

There was one reason to hit the Huangdu Gang’s hideout.

Their hoarded wealth, like a squirrel prepping for winter.

Protection fees, usury, gambling dens.

Money from illegal deeds was now ownerless with Huangdu dead.

First come, first served.

This wasn’t robbery or theft—it was perfectly legal, like picking up money off the ground.

No problem at all.

People extorted?

Debtors?

Not his concern.

Once Huangdu’s death spread, someone would go for that money.

Surviving thugs or oppressed merchants.

He couldn’t let others profit.

Sohyang couldn’t know.

Her kind heart would demand giving it to victims.

He had to stash it away.

For whatever the future held.

“Woosaeng, hurry.”

“Ugh, they’re stubborn guys… reasoning won’t work.”

Woosaeng grumbled, quickening his pace, frustrated.

I’m the frustrated one.

Because of you.