Chapter 25
When the Enemy Extends a Hand (2)
“You accepted the money?”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng stared at him in shock.
“I did. I stopped by Daereuk Bank on the way back and deposited it.”
“Why would you accept it? It’s a bribe!”
“I swallowed it, and it tasted pretty good. I guess this is why everyone takes them.”
This time, Im Chung spoke up.
“Didn’t you tell me I had done well by refusing it?”
“That was because you couldn’t handle the consequences.”
“Even for you, Hyung-nim, accepting a bribe could become a problem.”
“It only counts as a bribe if I do something for him in return. The only thing I’m going to give that bastard is ruin.”
The word ruin made both men flinch.
Cheuk Su and Cheon Yangho were already buried side by side in the courtyard. The word had not been used as a joke or a metaphor. Baek Socheon meant it in the most literal sense.
“This will all be settled before it can become a problem.”
In other words, bribe or no bribe, Wang Gon would soon be dealt with as well.
“Besides, he has no genuine intention of taking me in as a subordinate.”
“Then why did he give you the money?”
“He’s trying to weather the current crisis. He’ll claim that he recruited me into the Shinhwa Gang and use that achievement to make up for losing Cheuk Su and Cheon Yangho.”
Remarkably, Baek Socheon had seen through the other man’s intentions perfectly.
“I intend to use Wang Gon to discover who commissioned the Seven Swords Society. Once we secure the person who directly hired them under the Shinhwa Gang Leader’s orders, we’ll have evidence that the Seven Swords Society was behind this.”
It was the fastest and most reliable way to keep his promise to Cheon Geuk.
Getting a confession out of the captured culprit would be Cheon Geuk’s responsibility. Among all the various alliances of the martial world, none was better at making someone speak the truth than the Assassins’ Alliance.
“Ah, so you had such a profound reason behind it.”
But that was not the only reason.
Baek Socheon turned to Im Chung.
“As long as Wang Gon believes I’m working with him, they won’t touch your family.”
Realizing that the safety of his family had also been part of Baek Socheon’s reasoning, Im Chung felt both relieved and deeply moved.
“Thank you, Hyung-nim.”
“Thank your son. I’m only looking out for you because that little rascal is adorable.”
Beon Saeng casually remarked,
“When you look closely, our Hyung-nim seems shameless enough to say whatever he wants, but he’s strangely bad at taking credit for what he does.”
“Was that an insult or a compliment? It sounded like you called me shameless.”
“It was a compliment. Of course it was a compliment.”
Im Chung scolded Beon Saeng, who was snickering.
“You brat, stop fooling around with Hyung-nim.”
“Now the word ‘Hyung-nim’ sounds more natural coming from the Branch Chief than it does from me.”
Unable to deny it, Im Chung merely chuckled.
In truth, when he had first heard that Beon Saeng had decided to treat Baek Socheon as his elder brother, he had thought it utterly pathetic.
Yet now, he himself was speaking to Baek Socheon in the same way.
“What should we do from now on?”
“You two should carry on as usual. Wang Gon is completely preoccupied with me, so he won’t have the attention to cause you any trouble.”
“We’ll help as well. Give us any task you need done.”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng exchanged looks and steeled their resolve.
The battle against the Shinhwa Gang was now beginning in earnest.
“I need to rest. You can leave.”
“Yes.”
Once the two men left, the room, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, became as quiet as a mountain temple.
Today was meant to be a day of rest, so Baek Socheon took a secret manual from his leather pouch and began reading in silence.
Only the bright moonlight illuminating his relentless struggle to restore his dantian knew how far his progress and enlightenment had advanced.
***
An urgent message from Wang Gon arrived two days later.
Someone from the Shinhwa Gang’s upper ranks had arrived in Munseong, and Wang Gon immediately summoned Baek Socheon.
“You shouldn’t keep ordering a busy public official to come and go whenever you please.”
Wang Gon was furious.
Was that truly an appropriate attitude for a man who had pocketed fifty thousand taels?
But this was not the time to take issue with Baek Socheon’s behavior.
“I called you here for something extremely important.”
“What is it that has you making such a fuss?”
“Someone will be arriving here shortly. I intend to introduce you to him.”
“Who?”
“Hero Yeom Jeong-gil. He is a master counted among the Four Great Martial Warriors of our gang.”
Wang Gon’s entire body was tense.
He had known that someone would be sent to investigate the incident, but he had never expected Yeom Jeong-gil himself to come.
Of all people, why did it have to be him?
Of all the possible men they could have sent, Yeom Jeong-gil was the one Wang Gon had least wanted to see.
Usually, people with fiery and violent tempers tended to lack attention to detail. Yeom Jeong-gil, however, was also exceptionally strict and meticulous.
When someone was dispatched to investigate a regional branch, it was generally a subordinate of Yeom Jeong-gil who came. Sending Yeom Jeong-gil himself meant that the upper ranks considered this matter particularly important.
It must be because of the ironworks project.
Whatever the case, Wang Gon had to convince Yeom Jeong-gil that Baek Socheon was more useful than Cheuk Su or Cheon Yangho had ever been.
His own future depended on it.
“I know you’re an extraordinary man, but you must be extremely careful about your words and actions in front of Hero Yeom.”
“Why are you so frightened?”
“Hero Yeom has a very unusual temperament. One careless remark could bring you terrible trouble.”
Seeing Wang Gon’s anxiety, Baek Socheon spotted an opportunity.
“Very well. I’m not confident I could defeat a man like that in a fight anyway. But let me ask you one thing.”
“What?”
“Why did your people kill Yang Chu and his entire family? I can’t stop wondering about it.”
Wang Gon flinched.
“What are you talking about?”
“Cheuk Su told me everything before he died. He said your people massacred them.”
Baek Socheon placed all the blame on Cheuk Su.
Wang Gon’s expression twisted.
That stupid bastard!
It appeared that Cheuk Su had blurted out everything in a desperate attempt to survive.
“Quiet! If you ever say that aloud again, you’ll die.”
It was both a warning and an unmistakable admission.
“And who exactly is going to kill me?”
“Who do you think? Do you really believe the Shinhwa Gang would stand by while you go around spouting such things?”
Moreover, Wang Gon himself could be implicated for failing to control his subordinate.
“I’m not going around spouting it anywhere. I’m only saying it here.”
“I’m telling you, you can’t even say it here!”
“You’re surprisingly timid. Don’t you trust me?”
“I do. I trust you. But this matter is different.”
“I can’t stand not knowing something that interests me. What will you do if my curiosity keeps building until I get drunk and accidentally blurt everything out?”
“Are you threatening me?”
At that moment, a subordinate reported from outside the door.
“Hero Yeom has arrived.”
“Escort him to the guest hall.”
“Yes, sir.”
Listening to the footsteps recede, Wang Gon spoke in a low voice.
“We’ll discuss this later.”
“Do you mean I should ask in front of Hero Yeom? Or are you telling me to ask Hero Yeom himself?”
Wang Gon almost screamed.
“You crazy bastard!”
But the news of Yeom Jeong-gil’s arrival left him in a desperate hurry.
“This isn’t the time for this. We cannot keep Hero Yeom waiting.”
“The way you’re acting is bringing out my stubborn side. I need to hear the answer.”
Baek Socheon emphasized that he was pressing the issue not for some hidden purpose, but simply because of his own stubbornness.
“Do you truly have a death wish?”
“Then kill me.”
With his mind in turmoil, Wang Gon was dragged along by Baek Socheon’s pace.
The pressure increased further when the subordinate’s voice sounded again from outside.
“You should come at once.”
It seemed Yeom Jeong-gil’s fiery temper had already erupted after being made to wait.
Baek Socheon pretended to compromise.
“Fine. You say the reason is top secret, so I’ll let that go. Just tell me who carried out the killing.”
Of course, the killer’s identity was just as confidential as the motive.
But Wang Gon was desperate. If Yeom Jeong-gil exploded in anger, the entire matter could be ruined.
At last, a name emerged from Wang Gon’s mouth.
“The Seven Swords Society.”
“Did you commission them yourself?”
Now that he had already started talking, the next answer came quickly.
“No. Mister Jong handled it.”
“Mister Jong?”
“I don’t know his real name. Whenever a problem arises within the Shinhwa Gang, a man called Mister Jong steps forward and takes care of it. There, satisfied? Now hurry up.”
“I feel much better. Why were you so reluctant to answer something so simple?”
Suppressing his boiling rage, Wang Gon rushed outside.
Damn bastard! I swear I’ll kill you!
Wearing an expression that suggested he might start humming, Baek Socheon followed him.
Mister Jong.
At last, he had learned the name of the man who had arranged the contract.
Wang Gon left Baek Socheon standing outside and entered the guest hall alone.
The frigid atmosphere inside made it perfectly clear how offended Yeom Jeong-gil was.
“You must be very busy.”
“I apologize. Something urgent required my attention.”
“I heard you were arrested by the Martial Alliance. Cheuk Su disappeared, and Tae Jeong of the Tae Jeong Sect was killed.”
As expected, the conversation began badly.
The fact that Yeom Jeong-gil went straight to the main issue without even exchanging a few formal pleasantries was proof enough.
“The Tae Jeong Sect can be brought back under control soon.”
“I also heard Cheon Yangho disappeared.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“What a complete mess. How have you been managing this hall?”
“I apologize.”
For the moment, Wang Gon lowered his head and admitted fault.
He planned to bring up Baek Socheon once Yeom Jeong-gil’s fierce temper had subsided somewhat.
“What happened to the two missing men?”
“They appear to be dead.”
“Killed by whom?”
“A man recently dispatched to the Munseong Branch of the Martial Alliance. His martial skills are exceptional.”
“He killed both Cheuk Su and Cheon Yangho? Then he must indeed be formidable.”
“I have already dealt with him.”
“Dealt with him? You mean you killed him?”
“No.”
Wang Gon looked toward the rear and called loudly,
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Baek Socheon stepped inside.
He respectfully cupped his fists toward Yeom Jeong-gil.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Baek Socheon.”
Many older masters knew the name Baek Socheon.
Yeom Jeong-gil had heard it as well.
The greatest hero of the Great Orthodox-Unorthodox War.
However, no rumors about Baek Socheon had circulated since the war ended.
He was now a forgotten hero.
Since Yeom Jeong-gil had never seen him personally, he did not connect the young man in his twenties standing before him with that legendary figure.
Even if Baek Socheon had appeared elderly, Yeom Jeong-gil would never have imagined that the famous Baek Socheon could be in a place like this.
In any case, Yeom Jeong-gil was startled when the man who had supposedly killed Cheuk Su and Cheon Yangho entered the room.
Then Wang Gon said something even more astonishing.
“Martial Warrior Baek has agreed to devote himself to me and to the Shinhwa Gang from now on.”
Without asking Baek Socheon a single question, Yeom Jeong-gil ordered him out.
“Wait outside.”
Once Baek Socheon had left, Yeom Jeong-gil narrowed his eyes at Wang Gon.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“He is far too skilled to simply discard.”
“Do you even know what kind of man he is before accepting him so carelessly?”
“Before Cheon Yangho died, I used his connections within the Martial Alliance to investigate him. His identity is legitimate.”
“Hall Master Wang, can you take responsibility for him?”
“I can.”
“Even if it costs you your life?”
“Yes. I can stake my life on it.”
Wang Gon answered boldly.
Since he had already gambled everything on Baek Socheon, he could not afford to appear weak now.
Once Wang Gon put his life on the line, Yeom Jeong-gil calmed down slightly.
This was no longer something he could reject without consideration. If Wang Gon was willing to go this far, then it was worth verifying the man’s abilities at least once.
“Which division of the Martial Alliance did he belong to?”
“He was formerly a squad leader in the Iron Sword Corps.”
“The Iron Sword Corps!”
The name alone carried tremendous weight among martial artists.
“Why would a man like that end up all the way out here?”
“He was a highly capable martial artist, but an injury to his dantian drove him to this place.”
“His dantian was injured?”
“That is correct.”
“And despite that, he killed Cheuk Su and Cheon Yangho?”
“That is precisely why I recruited him. He is an extraordinary fighter. He will be a tremendous asset to our gang.”
“Did he use hidden weapons or poison?”
“No.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Wang Gon had not personally witnessed the fights, so he could not truly be certain.
However, based on his own experience with Baek Socheon and the circumstances surrounding Cheuk Su’s disappearance, he was convinced that Baek Socheon had not relied on hidden weapons or poison.
“You handled such an important matter independently without even reporting it to the upper ranks.”
“I was preparing to report it when I heard that you were coming. I waited so I could explain it to you personally.”
Wang Gon tried to remain as respectful yet confident as possible.
“There is a way to determine whether that man is useful.”
Wang Gon immediately realized that Yeom Jeong-gil intended to test Baek Socheon.
If Yeom Jeong-gil concluded that Baek Socheon was useless, Wang Gon would also have to bear responsibility for acting on his own authority.
With this incident added to his earlier failures, escaping severe punishment would be difficult.
Baek Socheon, everything depends on you.
Yeom Jeong-gil and Wang Gon went outside.
Without warning, Yeom Jeong-gil seized the acupoint on Baek Socheon’s wrist. He then examined him and confirmed that there was no internal energy anywhere in his body.
“It is true that you possess no internal energy.”
Having confirmed that there was at least no deception involved, Yeom Jeong-gil lowered his guard slightly.
He stared at Baek Socheon and said,
“If you have become one of us, you must prove it.”
“Give me your command.”
“I want you to kill someone. Complete this task, and I will trust you.”
“Who must I kill?”
An utterly unexpected name emerged from Yeom Jeong-gil’s mouth.
“Im Chung, Branch Chief of the Martial Alliance’s Munseong Branch.”