“Hehe, brat. Today’s the big day. The boss plans to pay you properly if you do well on this job.” Gyeong Hyuk patted his shoulder.

“Good.” Jeung Hwan readjusted his mask as he climbed up the tree to get a better vantage point over the battle that was going to take place here soon.

“Smiley Brat! Today’s your first day and only day to prove your worth to the Falling Star Gang! If you fuck up, we will fuck you and will leave your body here to rot. But if you do well, we’ll take care of you and pay you properly for your accomplishments.” Gyeong reminded him.

“...” Hwan didn’t respond as he took out his slingshot and hid on top of a branch.

“Little bastard got some balls, haha! Ignoring me!” The bandit chuckled.

All the other bandits also got into position, hiding along the road traveled by merchant caravans and delivery escort groups. The Falling Star Gang received valuable information that a large escort service was traveling to the Sunlight Faction in Kunlun. Mae Chul, leader of the Falling Star Gang, and one of the most famous evil first-rate murim in Diancang, knew that this wasn’t a simple escort after receiving news that multiple first-class, second-class, and third-class martial artists were traveling along with the Shining Sword Escort Agency. Some were even a part of famous factions and sects, so whatever the Shining Sword Escort Agency was delivering was huge.

Mae Chul even came along to ensure the success of this job’s robbery. Falling Star Gang waited several hours before the escort service came traveling down the road. Just like the information said, there were many strong martial artists protecting each caravan. The Falling Star Gang numbered into the hundreds and so did the Shining Sword Escort Agency. But Falling Star Gang had the advantage.

As the Shining Sword Escort Agency cluelessly traveled down the road, A sharp whistle echoed out into the distance. And that’s when the Falling Star Gang attacked! With their surprise attack, they managed to cut down many martial artists that were unprepared. Those with more skill than others may have suffered small injuries but overall, their strength wasn’t affected too much.

Jeung Hwan focused his attention on those that looked the weakest. As a child who was untrained in martial arts, his strength was limited with a slingshot and metal balls. Trying to target first-class martial artists was impossible as he was now even if they were in the heat of combat. Second-class could be possible in a heated battle. Third-class were easy pickings with their attention not focused on him.

Hwan’s aim was impeccable as he fired off metal ball after metal ball. He targeted all the weak points that he had the chance to aim for. Jaws, eyes, elbows, knees, ankles, throats, groins, all of his shots hit where he aimed for. This type of aim was something he trained for but at the same time wasn’t. If he was to try and explain it, he would say that he has an advantage over people that he hasn’t been able to properly use until recently. Around the time his mother died was when he could use this advantage at will.

“Agh! What the hell did I get hit by?!” A righteous faction warrior cried out before getting cut down by a bandit.

“My eye! My fucking eye!”

“You damn cowardly bandits! Can’t even fight a one-on-one battle fairly!” A man clutching his nether regions cursed before getting chopped by a blade.

“Hahaha! Smiley Brat, I love you!” A bandit cheered as he slaughtered any injured murim he saw.

“Hack at em while they’re down!” Another bandit rose his axe and hacked away.

“There! In that tree!” Someone spotted him.

“There’s a little bandit in that tree shooting at us!” Someone else did as well.

It was time to change positions but before he does that, why not get one last shot off to help the higher-ups. Hwan rapidly fired three iron balls at the first-class martial artist the boss was somewhat struggling against. The two were completely focused on their own battle. Neither side could expect the sudden intrusion from a small boy who hasn’t practiced martial arts a day in his life. As the two were clashing with their weapons, Hwan’s iron balls came soaring from the side toward the first-class murim’s temple.

This unexpected attack forced him into a momentary lapse in focus where he was forced to dodge, giving the Falling Star Gang’s boss the opportunity to land a life-threatening slash across his chest. The first-class martial artist jumped back and was forced into calling a retreat with the remaining martial artists still alive. Unfortunately for them, their path of retreat was blocked and the boss’s right-hand man impaled his sword through the injured first-class martial artist that seemed to lead the others. Mae Chul decapitated him and rose his head in the air.

“Leave none of them alive! Hahahaha! We got a fucking great harvest!” Mae Chul loudly laughed and smacked his bulging belly.

Jeung Hwan did as he was instructed and fired at the legs of the retreating martial artists. This allowed his fellow bandits to kill them while they were down. Some didn’t understand why the martial artists tripped but others clearly saw the iron balls. Most of the Falling Star Gang wasn’t aware of Hwan’s existence since he only joined today. But after gathering all of today’s loot and learning of the person who shot those metal balls, they’ll be screaming praises for his name all day tonight.

“Hahaha! Loot! Loot everything you see! Don’t forget to bring whatever you take back to the base. Remember, Falling Star Gang rewards those who are useful! The stronger we become, the better our lives will become!” Mae Chul ordered.

Jeung Hwan began to search the corpses for useful loot. His main focus was gold, silver, anything that looked worth selling, and martial arts. In his search for goodies against the older, stronger, and bigger bandits, there wasn’t much he was able to take. He was the only young child in Falling Star Gang, which put him at an instant disadvantage against the other bandits physically.

After all the looting and killing was done, Hwan only managed to take 5 silver taels, a martial art called Wind Chasing Footwork, and three swords. Overall, he was satisfied with what he managed to get. If he was a bit stronger, he would’ve taken more swords. He could go to the blacksmith and pay them to melt it down and shape it into more ammo for his slingshot. It’s cheaper than paying upfront because the blacksmith doesn’t need to use his own metal to make them.

The sun has long gone down by the time all the looting was done. Falling Star Gang returned back to their base victorious and a lot wealthier than before. When the weak bandits were asked to show their loot, the higher-ranked bandits were ordered by Mae Chul to take a portion of their earnings before rewarding them for the job. Jeung Hwan was already aware of this because of the chattering of the bandits on the way back. Because of this, he spent all of his time memorizing the instructions and pictures in the Wind Chasing Footwork martial art. It would be useful to him to remember every part of each page of the book.

“Loot.” A second-class bandit ordered.

Jeung Hwan didn’t hide anything. He placed the five silver taels on the table, the martial art book, and the three swords. The second-class bandit took the martial arts book and 3 silver before asking him for his name.

“Smiley.” Hwan gave them the name he told the person who allowed him in the gang.

“Smiley, huh...” The bandit picked up a piece of paper before squinting very hard at it. “Here you go. For providing excellent support to the rest, you are rewarded 20 silver taels for your help today.” He read off the paper.

“Thank you.” Hwan grabbed the small bag full of silver, placed the two silver taels from before in it, and carried the three swords before leaving to return home.

Twenty silver was enough money to help buy food for him and his little sister for the next three months. If he continues his life as a bandit, then it won’t be long before he’s able to send his sister to a proper martial arts school. His mother’s wish before she passed away was for him to take good care of his sister and to face life with a smile on his face. Hwan understood he was cheating a bit by using a smiling mask but as far as he could tell, there was not much in life worth smiling for.

“Oi brat! We heard something funny about you and came to get to the bottom of it!” Min Jiwoo yelled.

“It has to be just a lie brother. How could this kid get accepted into the Falling Star Gang when we couldn’t?!” Min Kwan snorted.

“I am a part of the Falling Star Gang. Do you think an orphan like me could acquire three swords on my own?” Hwan calmly asked.

“Guh...” Jiwoo knew how much swords went for and how carefully they were treasured.

“Is it really true...?” Kwan asked again.

“Yes. They saw value in my skills with a slingshot and kindly allowed me to join and earn money for my family. If you two help make sure that no one bothers my sister or Granny Eui, I can put in a good word for you two in the gang.” Hwan respectfully bowed.

“Really!?” Kwan couldn’t believe his ears.

“You’d really do that for us as long as we watch over your sister and that old lady?” Jiwoo asked.

“I give you my word.” Hwan told the two brothers.

Hwan wasn’t able to protect or watch over his sister while he was working as a bandit. It would be helpful if he had someone that could do so when he was away. Granny Eui wouldn’t be here forever and it wasn’t like she could defend his sister if someone tried taking her away. The Min Brothers were strong low-time thugs that went around causing trouble and picking on the weak whenever they could. They didn’t know any martial arts but had strong bodies.

“Big Bro, we’ll be able to join that famous Falling Star Gang!” Kwan was too excited.

“No one will be willing to mess with us once we’re a part of them!” Jiwoo’s eyes glowed brightly as he saw himself as a respected bandit, feared by all.

“Thank you two for being so kind.” Hwan placed four silver in front of the two brothers before making his way to Granny Eui’s home to get his sister.

Their eyes glowed like shining gold as they meekly bowed towards the smiling mask boy. They could get paid in money and free recruitment into the Falling Star Gang! Their lives would truly begin to change for the better by getting on the good side of this brat! Both brothers vowed to do their best in protecting the old lady and little brat for their future.