I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 58

< Check or Warning 2 >

“Hiding under the Changryong Gate, avoiding sleeping in the open, you seem to have forgotten what the real world is like. Just because they call you a great hero, do you think you’re special? How dare you speak to me like that!”

“Selling your family name and wearing the Martial Arts Alliance badge thanks to your parents’ influence, you think you’re special? You’ve got two holes in your head if you listen to everything others say. Listen carefully.”

Yeom Shin raised his hand and pointed into the room.

“Their martial arts might not be the strongest, but they’re skilled enough to withstand your family’s precious Golden Dragon Whip Technique for over a hundred moves. No, you could probably go five hundred moves easily. And these martial artists were caught off guard in their sleep?”

Tang Chaemyung couldn’t stand the criticism of his family and the belittling of his martial arts. He couldn’t endure it.

He unwound the whip from his waist and declared,

“Senior Yeom has come up with a very simple method. Fine. I’ll acknowledge your claim if you can withstand ten moves of the Golden Dragon Whip Technique. I’ll admit the murderer of the Changryong Gate disciples is an absolute master.”

Yeom Shin’s lips curled slightly as he reached for his own weapon at his waist.

“I doubt you’ll even manage ten moves. Don’t blame me if your whip snaps in two before then.”

Since everyone present was a martial artist, no one wanted to miss this spectacle, except for one person.

“Stop! What are you doing?”

Im Bonjae, the Gate Lord, shouted at the two, his expression grim.

“The bodies haven’t even been given a proper funeral yet. Instead of trying to find the culprit, you’re indulging your pride? Do you have any sense? Or none at all?”

The two slowly lowered their hands, which had been reaching for their weapons.

“We apologize.”

“We apologize for causing discomfort.”

Yeom Shin’s apology seemed sincere, but Tang Chaemyung’s was merely a formality.

He continued immediately,

“My opinion remains unchanged. The cause of death is clear, and finding the culprit will be difficult, so there’s nothing more for us to do here. Daejeonggak will be returning now.”

The ten or so Daejeonggak martial artists grabbed their reins and turned away without hesitation.

“I recently passed by here and found an inn nearby with excellent white wine. Why don’t we stop by for a snack?”

“Let’s do that. We’ve finished all the urgent business, so what’s the rush?”

The Changryong Gate martial artists gritted their teeth at the sight of them returning as if they were on a leisurely tour, but they were powerless to do anything.

Im Bonjae entered the room with slumped shoulders, and the disciples followed him.

Now they had to send the bodies back to their hometowns and hold lavish funerals.

As everyone entered the room, Yeom Shin quietly stepped back and carefully followed the Daejeonggak martial artists.

* * *

“So, you’re saying they killed three people without leaving a trace… This is…”

“What’s wrong? Is something strange?”

“Even if the Changryong Gate doesn’t boast impressive martial arts, how can there be absolutely no trace? Shouldn’t the room be at least a little disturbed?”

“If the room is messed up after dealing with three sleeping guys, then the assassin’s skills are lacking. If they were a true master…”

“That’s right. That’s exactly what I’m saying. A master!”

Muryong Hwi, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, slammed the armrest of his chair.

Pang Dongho, the second-in-command of the Habuk Pang family and the family head’s younger brother, frowned, frustrated because he couldn’t quite grasp the Alliance Leader’s train of thought.

“Brother, please speak plainly. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is that if the assassin is a master, the situation becomes serious. Why would anyone send a master to bother the Changryong Gate?”

“Pardon?”

“Of course, the Changryong Gate has grown rapidly, so they might have made enemies along the way. But is it likely that a master who can kill three martial artists without a trace would hold a grudge against the Changryong Gate? They operate in different circles.”

“Could it be that the martial arts of the three dead men were terrible, as the Daejeonggak report suggested?”

Alliance Leader Muryong Hwi shook his head.

“They were out establishing branches in other regions. Would you send incompetent guys to do important work, brother?”

“Isn’t it possible that their overall level is low enough that they had to send those kinds of guys?”

Pang Dongho’s voice grew fainter, as if he was losing confidence.

“Are you really suggesting that? The Changryong Gate may be looked down upon here in the Martial Arts Alliance, but they’re not that bad. You know that well.”

“So, what are you thinking, brother? Do you suspect someone is behind this?”

“No. It’s not Sian of Hwasan [Mount Hua Sect] or Jongnam [Mount Zhongnan Sect]. Only those two places could send that level of master, but it’s not them. There’s no reason.”

Pang Dongho became irritated as Muryong Hwi continued to pose questions.

“So, what are you suggesting? Just spit it out.”

“Why are you suddenly shouting? I’m just thinking aloud.”

“Really? Just thinking aloud?”

Muryong Hwi fiddled with the teacup in front of him.

“If we gloss over this incident, will they stay quiet? It’s clear that the assassin is a martial artist.”

“If we don’t gloss over it, what are we going to do? Is the entire Martial Arts Alliance going to offer condolences because a few kids died?”

“That’s your position, brother. My position is different.”

“Ah, right, my brother is the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, a prominent figure in the martial world. Hehehe.”

Muryong Hwi didn’t laugh at Pang Dongho’s joke.

“The Martial Arts Alliance isn’t just made up of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans. To maintain the Alliance, we need the countless minor factions that make up the vast majority. If we were just going to build a fence around the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans, we’d just have a social gathering; why create such a huge Alliance?”

“You’re saying we need to appease the kids.”

“That’s right. The Changryong Gate is a new force, but its size isn’t small. The minor factions are already subtly supporting the Changryong Gate, expecting them to represent their interests.”

“The problem is that it’s the Changryong Gate.”

“Exactly. If word gets out that the Martial Arts Alliance is even ignoring the Changryong Gate, who will step up when something big happens? No, everyone will turn their backs before that.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“There’s no choice, is there? We have to make a bit of noise. At least enough to make them think that the Martial Arts Alliance is taking care of them too.”

“How much noise are you going to make?”

“Until everyone thinks it’s enough.”

Pang Dongho understood the Alliance Leader’s intentions, but he was also a little suspicious. He felt like Muryong Hwi was unnecessarily agitated.

* * *

“I’m sorry, Gate Lord.”

“It’s not your fault, Great Hero Yeom. I think it’s fortunate that you’re safe.”

“I should have been there with you, but I happened to meet an acquaintance that day and ended up drinking until dawn…”

Poongjeongsu Yeom Shin repeatedly bowed to Jo Kwangyun.

“It’s alright; don’t blame yourself too much.”

It was unfortunate to lose three members of Hanahoe [a subordinate group], but it was a great relief not to lose someone who was more valuable than those three.

“Did Gate Lord Im return with you?”

“Yes. He asked me to see the Gate Lord and tell you because of the funeral preparations. I also have something to tell you privately.”

“Yes. Please speak freely.”

Yeom Shin briefly explained the conflict with the Martial Arts Alliance’s Daejeonggak, and Jo Kwangyun asked,

“Their words aren’t wrong, are they? And Great Hero Yeom’s words are also correct. Since there are no traces, it has become difficult to catch the culprit.”

He had already given up on the idea of finding clues at the scene. Jo Kwangyun thought it would be more beneficial to create a culprit rather than catch one in this case.

“But Gate Lord, there’s something that makes me uneasy.”

“Is there?”

“Yes. When the Daejeonggak guys returned, they stopped by an inn nearby for a drink. I followed them and confirmed it.”

Up to this point, there was nothing strange. Even if they did the job carelessly, they were on a long journey, so they could have stopped for a snack and a drink.

“But one of them already knew this inn well. Our lodging isn’t in the center of Sian, but in a somewhat remote location…”

“That’s true. But isn’t it the entrance to Sian? They could have known there was an inn while passing by.”

“That’s true, but they knew the wine was good in advance? Isn’t that a little strange? That inn isn’t a place where you would linger, filling your hungry stomach and drinking wine.”

Unless he was trying to find fault, there was nothing strange up to this point. Isn’t it common for men to have a drink whenever they get the chance?

Yeom Shin, seeing that Jo Kwangyun still hadn’t found anything strange, mentioned a crucial name.

“The person who knew that shabby inn was a descendant of the Namgoong Clan [a wealthy and influential family].”

“What? Namgoong?”

“Yes. Why would the descendant of that wealthy family go to a shabby inn when they know that there are some of the best inns and courtesan houses in Sian just a little further down the road? And when did they find out that the wine there was good?”

Now it was strange.

That place wasn’t for wealthy people who used horses. It was a place only for people who walked.

“It’s suspicious, but Namgoong… Isn’t that too far-fetched? In Shaanxi Province, which isn’t even their family’s territory?”

“I’m just telling you what I found out. If you think it’s meaningless, Gate Lord, please forget it. I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable with unnecessary words.”

“No. Just the fact that it’s suspicious is valuable enough. You did well.”

As Yeom Shin stepped back, Jo Kwangyun realized a new fact.

This incident might not be just about money.

“What on earth is going on in the Martial Arts Alliance?”

The thought that the Martial Arts Alliance might be the origin of this incident began to creep in.

* * *

“Great Master, please come with me.”

“Me? Why would I go there? No, why are you going? What business does a merchant have in the Martial Arts Alliance?”

Great Master Kwon Joongwon suspiciously questioned Jo Kwangyun, who suddenly wanted to go to the Martial Arts Alliance.

“You rascal. I don’t know what you’re up to, but that place is where a merchant with no martial arts skills could become a corpse at any moment. Don’t do anything foolish.”

The Great Master guessed why he was trying to drag him to the Martial Arts Alliance: a strong backing.

“Great Master, you can just meet old acquaintances, ask how they’re doing, and chat.”

“And safely protect your life?”

“I would be grateful if you would. Ah! I’ll also provide the fun of tasting the delicacies of the Central Plains along the way.”

“You cunning fellow. Your bait is quite tempting.”

The Great Master didn’t agree just to visit restaurants. Jo Kwangyun knew that he also had a sense of responsibility to fulfill his role.

“Thank you, Great Master. I’ll escort you comfortably in a carriage.”

“No. People have died; where would we have time to leisurely do that? Prepare a swift horse.”

Indeed. He’s a person who acts appropriately according to the situation, unlike an old man.

“Yes. I’ll hurry.”

Gate Lord Im Bonjae’s face lit up at the fact that the Great Master was also going, but he couldn’t hide his tension when he learned that Jo Kwangyun was also going.

It was because the patron was directly checking whether he had done his job well or not.

From the first day of departure to the Martial Arts Alliance, Jo Kwangyun continued to feel a strange sensation while riding his horse. After enduring it for a while, he finally moved his horse next to Kwon Joongwon.

“Great Master, am I perhaps undergoing training right now?”

“Why? Does it sting?”

“Yes. It’s uncomfortable, and I can’t concentrate.”

“Listen carefully. I will continue to send killing intent to you, and I will lower the intensity every day. You must not miss my killing intent until the last day. You must catch even the weakest one.”

Jo Kwangyun was starting to get scared after hearing these words.

“If you feel this killing intent in the Martial Arts Alliance, run away immediately.”

“Master, even if they are martial artists who are quick to fight, would they kill me in such a place? No, there’s no reason for them to kill me; isn’t this an overreaction?”

The Great Master glared at Jo Kwangyun as if he were pathetic.

“You’re right. Even if they are martial artists who are quick to fight, they are people who walk the right path. They don’t kill people carelessly.”

“Then why are you scaring me like this?”

The Great Master let out a long sigh and shouted.

“If you wag your three-inch tongue, even non-existent killing intent will arise, so that’s why I’m doing this! Do you have the confidence to keep your mouth shut in the Martial Arts Alliance? No, you don’t? So, do as I say!”

Jo Kwangyun shut his mouth tightly in front of the Great Master.

< Check or Warning 2 > End