As I escaped the long corridor of the prison, I found myself in the midst of chaos.
The Green Forest members had all gathered, wearing red hoods and waiting for me.
“Leader! Please ascend to the platform!”
I momentarily left Lady Tang behind and followed the green-haired officer up to a makeshift stage prepared for me.
Once on the stage, I could see the sea of red hoods clearly. As I stood there, they all sat down, gripping their weapons, focused entirely on me.
From the fresh-faced youth just out of adolescence to the middle-aged man showing hints of gray in his beard, every single one of them was waiting for my words.
Today is the day of reckoning.
Today is the day of revolution.
Soon, Chaeyoo and Bucheoju will finish their tasks and return. This place will transform into a battlefield.
The Green Forest members, who have risked their lives to join the revolution—what should I say to them?
After taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth with the power of the Small Wheel Mental Image Technique.
“It’s the day of revolution, everyone!”
In a low yet powerful voice, one that could ignite the bubbling energy within them.
“Heaven has made us this way! A filthy and treacherous heaven has forced us into the mountains, making us grip these weapons! All this time, we have unknowingly been fed the tears of the people, deceived by this world!”
I would start by placing all the blame on the heavens.
No normal person would become a bandit. But that doesn’t change the fact that they are sinners. Let’s pardon their sins with words first.
“If this is! The command that heaven has given us! Must we follow it!?”
I shouted loudly, asking them.
“No! We have been deceived by heaven!”
“We can no longer eat the tears of the people!”
A few Green Forest members answered my call with passionate faces. Model students—they would get perfect attendance points if only they didn’t ask questions just before the class ends.
“Today! We will change! The command given to us by heaven! Today we will incite a revolution!”
I extended my arms to emphasize that they were all here for the revolution.
“Chaeyoo is the bourgeois (Rich Tear Drinker). Chaeyoo is a harmful Green Forest member! He and his subordinates, who drink the tears of wealth like wine, will never accept our ideology until the end. Therefore! Today we will defeat! The bourgeois!”
While I spoke to them, a mass of people without hoods approached, led by a man wearing a red hood.
“As you instructed! We’ve broken the chains of the prisoners! We’ve collected all of them!”
They were the postal workers kept captive for not paying tolls, or those who had been trapped over the past few days.
Fortunately, they followed well. Right now, the power structure of the Black Tiger Society was 5 to 5.
The numbers might be even, but they had Chaeyoo and Bucheoju, powerful martial arts weapons on their side. So I came up with a Joker pick—the prisoners.
Although the postal workers had been individually beaten by the Green Forest members, gathering them all together could allow us to stand against Chaeyoo’s faction.
“Prisoners! Put on the red hoods! Grip your weapons! If you don’t have weapons, take hoes and hammers! Today, no one will survive without a red hood in this mountain hideout! What you lose today is your chains! What you gain is the Green Forest! Join the revolution!”
Since I wanted this revolution to succeed, I had to inspire them. Even those who’ve split the world in half with just hoes and hammers can do it; if they have no weapons, they should join quickly with farming tools.
The Green Forest members followed my words and helped the prisoners don red hoods, distributing weapons or farming tools like sickles and hammers amongst them.
Once everyone donned their red hoods and took their seats, I received a red hood from an officer.
“We are the ones who do not discriminate based on status, origin, or hair color! We shall wear these red hoods in honor of the spirit of Hong Gildong!”
With pride, I wore the red hood in front of them, tightening it on my head.
As I donned the red hood, the resolve in the bandits’ eyes ignited.
Now, let’s light the fire in their hearts.
“Within our hearts! We have but one party! The world! Heaven! Will not call us the Black Tiger Society but the Hwalbindang!”
I pointed to the sky, as if declaring that we would reject the fate handed to us.
“We are… Hwalbindang!”
“What if the kids shout, ‘Mom, when I grow up, I want to be in Hwalbindang!’?”
“Leader! We will become Hwalbindang!”
This felt like a fervent cult gathering.
“Now! Let’s defeat the bourgeois! Let’s create the trickle-down effect! Let’s transform this Green Forest into the true Hwalbindang! Everyone! Stand up!”
Let’s wrap this vibrant energy up with a bang.
“Everything is!!!”
I placed a fist over my left chest, demanding from them a single answer that resided in their hearts.
“Everything is for the sake of one party!!!”
“Everything is for the sake of one party!!!”
“Everything is for the sake of one party!!!”
Everyone raised their fists to their hearts and shouted the answer I sought.
“O members of the Green Forest, unite!!!”
Let’s go! To the revolution!
“Waaahhhhh!!!!”
I’m headed to Yichang!
————————–
“For Hwalbindang!!!”
“For Leader Kang Mo!!!”
“For Brother Hong Gildong!!!”
“What the hell are these guys!?”
What awaited Chaeyoo and his forces upon returning from their tasks was the fierce revolt!
“Ah-rin! Kill all those who don’t wear the red hood!”
I grabbed Lady Tang’s hand and dashed through the revolutionary streets.
“Are we running towards Chaeyoo? Are we finally completing the revolution?”
What’s wrong with this kid?
“No! We’re escaping!”
“What!?”
Despite her confused phone voice, I dragged her straight to the stable.
Upon reaching the stable, a green-haired officer was waiting for me.
“Leader! Just as you said, I brought you the best horse! Your luggage and necessary travel expenses for a long journey are packed!”
The officer pointed to an impressive horse with all the saddlebags attached.
“Good work! It seems like a fine steed!”
“It’s a three-time champion’s offspring. It’s rumored to be so smart it understands human speech!”
That sounds like an amazing horse. Could it be worth billions like a luxury car?
“Puhuhing!”
“What’s with it now?”
As I tried to mount, the horse brayed violently.
“…It has a bit of an attitude, so it doesn’t want to be ridden.”
Then why did you choose such a horse? I shot the officer a bewildered glare; he looked at me as if it was all according to plan.
No time to fight with a horse; should I grab another one to move my bags?
“Puhihihihing!”
Suddenly, the horse screamed, causing me to jump and look back, where Lady Tang was standing beside the horse, holding some needles.
“Who do you think you are, talking back to us? If you don’t let us ride, I swear I’ll keep stabbing your behind with these needles!”
Ah-rin, will it understand that? I need to tell it to unpack soon.
“Puhihing….”
Looks like it got the message.
The horse surrendered as if to say, “I won’t let it get to me, the audacity of a horse!”
Now we just need to escape.
“Leader, are you really going like this?”
The officer, having watched the exchange, spoke with a worried tone.
“Didn’t I say? Even if the revolution succeeds, Hwalbindang needs a brain. If I stay here, I’ll just become bourgeois like Chaeyoo. I want to remain a symbol like Hong Gildong for them.”
“If you leave, we will lose our way.”
“Don’t lose your way, Jeokrin. I heard you’ve been taking notes on everything I said.”
I reminded the officer Jeokrin, my fervent fan, who could read and had written down everything I’d said till now.
“I can’t say that I’ve noted everything you’ve said, but I do have some.”
“That’s enough. With you knowing my words and seeing them daily, I won’t worry. Jeokrin, lead Hwalbindang!”
Hey, I don’t have time to argue with you. You be the captain; I don’t care about that stuff.
“Me, a captain? A filthy loser like me…”
Slap! I unleashed my frustration on the one dragging the conversation out, slapping him with all my strength.
“How dare! You wear a red hood! And call yourself filthy! Have you forgotten the words of Brother Hong Gildong, who said all people are equal?”
As I yelled, Jeokrin gasped, holding his cheek in shock, then knelt down, tears streaming down his face.
“Leader! I’m so afraid I won’t be able to properly lead them or uphold the values of Hwalbindang!”
It doesn’t matter how you lead; it won’t matter. I can’t let him talk me out of escaping, so I need to say something assuring.
I grabbed Jeokrin by the shoulders and spoke earnestly.
“Jeokrin. I’ll become a symbol, but if Hwalbindang ever feels lost, I’ll return. So until then, lead Hwalbindang.”
I looked at him with the hope that he would pull through.
“…… Leader! Until the day you return, I will lead Hwalbindang!”
Jeokrin gazed at me for a moment, then changed his expression to one of determination and bowed.
No, don’t make me come back. You’re not a mobile game publisher who runs into issues every time you take charge!
Since I developed it, you should manage the distribution well!
I looked at Jeokrin with a slightly anxious gaze before mounting the horse with Lady Tang.
“Take care of Hwalbindang! Let’s go!”
With me holding the reins and taking Lady Tang behind me, we burst out of the stable.
——-
“Let’s defeat the bourgeois! Chaeyoo is the harmful Green Forest!”
“Are you listening! The songs of the angry Green Forest!”
“For Brother Hong Gildong! For the Leader!”
“We are no longer the Black Tiger Society! We are Hwalbindang!”
“Join the revolution! You too!”
It was chaos all around.
As we burst out of the stable, the surrounding area had turned into a battlefield.
“…Hey, Yoon-ho.”
Lady Tang clung to me, trembling with anxiety.
I knew this would happen. This was the audience of opportunity. Could we break through and escape the Black Tiger Society? No time to think about it.
It’s time to use the horse-riding skills of the Joseon unruly youth, Kang Yoon-ho.
“Hold tight! We’re off!”
I shouted to Lady Tang, tight grip on the reins, and started galloping away.
A golden opportunity—the chance of a lifetime!
We’re getting away just like this!
