The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 87

For a very long time.

 

They had to live within this household while enduring constant beatings. They had to bear humiliations that could not be put into words. 

 

Even while watching a young child who couldn’t even speak properly being beaten and persecuted without reason.

 

They had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

 

However.

 

“Neither I… nor the servants and slaves here are people you can look down on, whip, and treat recklessly without cause just because our status is low.” 

 

Years passed, and the moment that child returned as a grown man and spoke those words. 

 

It felt as if cold water had been poured over their heads; it brought them to their senses.

 

It was a profound shock.

 

Step, step…

 

The slaves began to step backward. They had no wealth to take, no luggage to carry.

 

Only one thing remained.

 

The singular heart that told them they must follow the young master who had departed. 

 

“Let’s go!”

 

The moment someone shouted, those words became the signal flare. 

 

The slaves turned their backs all at once and began to run.

 

“Where—where do you think you are going! You b*stards!! Halt right there! Catch them immediately! Even slitting their throats wouldn’t be enough…!”

 

As the slaves suddenly fled, Lord Kim Junmo screamed at the top of his lungs.

 

“Oh my goooodness! You creatures lower than dogs! You deserve to be beaten to death!”

 

His wife was the same.

 

She poured out curses hard to put into speech, heaping imprecations upon those who were running away.

 

And then.

 

Thwack-!

 

One of the slaves who hadn’t left yet picked up a stone and struck the lord’s head.

 

“Who do you think you are to curse at us?!”

 

“You, you b*st…!”

 

Thwack-!

 

Blood trickled down from the Lord’s forehead after being struck a second time by a stone. 

 

“Y-you! You damn b*stards! Aaaah! Aaaah… Ack!”

 

Someone grabbed his wife’s hair and threw her with all their might.

 

She fell helplessly to the ground. Once one person stepped forward, the other slaves, who had been gauging the situation, began to approach one by one. 

 

The eyes that had endured long years of persecution shone with a fierce light. 

 

And finally.

 

“Aaagh, aaaaak!” 

 

Along with the sounds of beating, Lord Kim Junmo’s agonizing screams echoed throughout the house.

 

* * *

 

“Are you sure your words are true?”

 

At the heavy question, the woman who had been bowing her head sharply looked up.

 

With her face slightly flushed and eyes sparkling, she was none other than the tavern owner.

 

“It is the absolute truth, My Lord.”

 

As she nodded her head violently and spoke, the sound of a rustling followed.

 

A man who had been sitting behind a bamboo blind pushed it aside and stepped out.

 

His beard and hair were much whiter than before, and his wrinkles deeper. However, the eeriness and murderous intent in his eyes had grown even thicker.

 

It was Prime Minister Park Jutaek.

 

“Right. You said you definitely saw a child with a mark on the top of their foot?”

 

He scanned the woman from head to toe and drew the sword at his waist.

 

The tavern owner gasped, “Eek!”, trembling in surprise as she lowered her head again.

 

“Y-yes. That’s right… However, she was dressed as a boy. I almost didn’t recognize her. If you hadn’t put up the wanted poster…”

 

“Since considerable time has passed and they were posing as a boy, it wouldn’t have been easy to recognize them immediately. But if you confirmed the royal insignia on the top of the foot, then there is no mistake.” 

 

As the Prime Minister made a brief gesture, a warrior standing behind him took out a heavy pouch of money from his pocket and tossed it in front of her.

 

“Oh my, oh my, thank you! Thank you so much, My Lord!”

 

She hugged the pouch tightly with both hands and bowed repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

 

‘It was worth it to post the wanted posters with features and use money to tempt people.’

 

Concluding that it was difficult to find Kim Gangdu in the rugged mountains, the Prime Minister changed his strategy.

 

He aimed for the time when he would come down from the mountain.

 

He placed a bounty and distributed wanted posters.

 

The targets were Kim Gangdu and the mixed-blood child he briefly took in, Gaon.

 

He had a painter draw their faces and exploited the psychology of the common people, who would crumble before money.

 

And the tavern owner was also one of those swayed by that ‘money’.

 

“Go to this woman’s tavern immediately and confirm if it is indeed that child.”

 

“Should we capture her alive if confirmed?”

 

“Yes. You must bring that child before me. Without fail.”

 

With a face full of murderous intent, the Prime Minister spoke as if chewing on every single word.

 

“Move immediately.”

 

“Yes, My Lord!”

 

“And to ensure there is no chance of them escaping like last time, blockade the mountain entrance. Do you understand?” 

 

“I shall follow your command!” 

 

The leader of the private soldiers knelt and spoke before exiting the door with the tavern mistress. 

 

The Prime Minister let out a long breath and gripped his teacup tightly until it creaked.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile.

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

A boy who had been listening to all these words outside the door stood with his mouth covered tightly.

 

It was Park Dohyul, a beautiful boy with a much more mature appearance.

 

He raised his head sharply.

 

‘That child has returned.’

 

And.

 

‘She might be in danger again because of my father.’

 

Meeting that child felt like a very long time ago. Since then, Dohyul had to endure countless hours alone.

 

He had tried to fight and resist many times.

 

But all he experienced was oppression, violence, and endless frustration.

 

“Ho—how about using their blood relation!” 

 

The strategy he barely managed to come up with at the end of it all was to use Gaon.

 

He had seen Gaon fleeing from afar.

 

He was a very swift and strong person. If it were someone like that… he wanted to believe he wouldn’t easily crumble over mere blood ties.

 

‘What if that child gets hurt again because of me…’

 

Enduring that fear and anxiety day by day, Dohyul trained and trained.

 

Thinking that if he were to meet that child again one day. 

 

If she kept her promise and returned.

 

He vowed that this time, he would definitely protect that child, even if it meant risking everything. 

 

And now.

 

‘I have to go.’

 

Dohyul instinctively felt that the time had come.

 

* * *

 

“Uncle.”

 

“Mhm?”

 

As evening approached.

 

I was waiting for Gaon, poking my head out the window.

 

And, startled by the sight that entered my vision, I called Uncle Gaeddong.

 

Uncle Gaeddong, who had just fallen asleep, rubbed his eyes and got up.

 

“Uncle, hurry! Look over there!”

 

I gestured urgently and called my uncle. Something was wrong.

 

Armed warriors were flocking in this direction.

 

“Wh-why are they comin’ this way?”

 

Doubting his eyes, Uncle Gaeddong shook his head and checked again, but the scene remained unchanged.

 

“L-let’s go, Yeong.”

 

Realizing the situation belatedly, Uncle Gaeddong hastily picked up the sword he had placed beside him, grabbed my hand, and tried to step out the door.

 

However.

 

Crash—!

 

“Ugh?!”

 

It was already too late.

 

Just as the thick mist seemed to clear, the door was smashed to pieces, and a group of soldiers strode across the threshold. 

 

They glared at us with a murderous intensity. 

 

Like an instinct, Uncle Gaeddong drew his sword and pulled me behind him.

 

At that moment.

 

A warrior with a deep, vivid scar on his face tilted his head and scanned me from head to toe, slowly curling the corners of his mouth. 

 

“Found her.”