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Chapter 10: Do You Take Us For Fools? (1)
For a few days following Taejeong’s death, peace prevailed.
So far, the impact of his death had been entirely positive for everyone, largely because Wang Gon, who had direct ties to him, had not yet returned.
At any rate, the merchants were able to savor a long-awaited period of tranquility.
Lim Chung and Beon Saeng both had much on their minds, though neither wore their thoughts on their sleeve.
Baek Socheon’s routine likewise remained unchanged.
By day, he worked in silence; once his duties concluded, he immersed himself in his own training.
Occasionally, he engaged in special training sessions, and tonight was one of those nights.
Right now, Baek Socheon was scaling a sheer, precipitous cliff face on the tallest, most treacherous mountain near Munseong with his bare hands.
He wasn’t merely climbing. He was ascending while carrying on his back the heavy leather sack he had brought with him when posted here.
Lacking internal energy, a fall from this height would result in severe, if not fatal, injuries.
Concentrating his mind, Baek Socheon exerted force through his fingertips.
Everyone assumed Baek Socheon was broken and ruined, but Baek Socheon himself had never once abandoned the hope of restoring his martial arts.
For the past three years, he had pushed his physical body to its absolute limits, constantly expanding those boundaries. To anyone else, the intensity would have seemed recklessly reckless, but Baek Socheon carefully calibrated his training under a rigorous plan.
His physical body had already recovered to the state it was in prior to his injury. No, in fact, his body was in even better condition than before. It was a miraculous outcome born of his desperate longing to compensate for his lack of internal energy.
Building upon that hardened, resilient body, Baek Socheon continued his ascent toward the summit. Though he faced moments of crisis where he nearly slipped and plummeted, he never gave up.
Before long, Baek Socheon pulled himself up onto the top of the cliff.
Tossing the heavy leather sack to the side, he collapsed sprawled out on his back upon the clifftop.
Haaah… haaah… haaah…
Baek Socheon exhaled the breath he had been holding. As the tension drained from his entire body, a wave of deep soreness and exhaustion washed over him. Climbing this steep cliff face while loaded down with a heavy weight was practically an act of madness.
When he first rose from his sickbed and began training, he had been thoroughly captivated by the joy of his body improving and his stamina increasing. But as the relentless training went on day after day, it had become grueling beyond measure.
An agonizing struggle to surpass his limits…truly, he wanted to give up every single day. Curses naturally poured from his mouth whenever a training session ended. All the more so on days like today, when the training was accompanied by extreme danger.
Damn it! Blast it all! I’m done! I’m never training again. If I ever do this again, I’m a goddamn dog, a real hound.
How long had he been lying there like that? Eventually, Baek Socheon’s breathing stabilized.
Right at that moment, the echo of that unforgettable day resonated in Baek Socheon’s mind:
Three years will be enough. By then, you too will realize the truth of my words.
Baek Socheon snapped his eyes open, let out a barking laugh, and pushed himself up.
Don’t make me laugh. I’ll make sure to prove that your words were complete rubbish.
Springing to his feet, Baek Socheon opened the leather sack he had tossed aside.
Inside, like a treasure bag, was filled with all sorts of items.
Baek Socheon pulled out guards meant to be strapped around the wrists and shins. At a glance, they looked like protective gear worn for defense, but they were actually crafted from solid steel for weight training.
After strapping them onto his limbs, Baek Socheon moved his body this way and that to test them out.
Ugh, bloody heavy.
Now, his training was transitioning into its next phase once again.
Hardening his resolve never to take them off even if his life were in jeopardy, he then pulled a thick manual from the leather sack.
The title had been rubbed away, making it impossible to tell what secret manual it was, but its contents pertained to internal energy and heart-methods. It was worn and ragged at the edges from being read countlessly many times.
Perching himself on the edge of the cliff, Baek Socheon began to read through the manual once more.
They could’ve written it a bit easier…
At times, he grumbled.
Ah!
At times, he marveled. He diligently read through the manual he had poured over again and again for the past three years, as if reading it for the very first time.
Just then, the moon that had been hidden behind the clouds quietly revealed itself, lending a small bit of light to his unyielding determination to find a path forward.
Baek Socheon’s efforts continued until the break of dawn.
—
What? Taejeong is dead?
Returning from a trip of several days alongside Heuksu, Wang Gon was met with news of the Taejeong Faction.
Yes, Taejeong is dead, and several of his subordinates have been dragged off to prison.
At the out-of-the-blue news, Wang Gon felt more dumbfounded than shocked.
What in the world happened?
His subordinate offered an explanation, but Wang Gon still found it hard to comprehend.
So his men were arrested and brought to the Murim Alliance branch…
First off, that part alone was hard to wrap his head around. How on earth do you lock up a wolf inside a chicken coop? Fine, let’s say they managed to cram them in somehow. The part that was truly incomprehensible was what came next.
Taejeong went to retrieve his men and died? And not at the hands of the Branch Master, but some subordinate beneath him?
That is correct.
Are you certain?
Yes!
Ha, well now.
Just as rumors suggested, behind the Taejeong Faction stood the Myth Sect.
Generally, orthodox sects maintained a distance from black association criminal gangs out of concern for their prestige and dignity, but as the Myth Sect grew, it took control of regional gangs right from the start.
To major sects, the money circulating through underworld gangs might seem like pocket change, but that was a naive perspective ignorant of reality.
The money harvested by a regional gang was unexpectedly astronomical. They penetrated deep into every corner of commoners’ lives, sucking wealth like leeches. The Myth Sect had seized control of gangs across Zhejiang Province and plugged its straw deep into them.
Who killed him?
They say it was a newcomer who recently joined the branch.
A newcomer?
Yes, it was reportedly an accident. He was struck by the newcomer’s kick and fell over, dying on the spot.
Did he get smashed by a Shadowless Kick or something?
Well… it seems he fell awkwardly and hit his head.
Are you certain?
Yes, absolutely. Multiple people witnessed it.
Foolish bastard. Rotten bad luck, too!
It had taken considerable time and effort to shape Taejeong into a reliable tool. Underworld gang members didn’t offer true loyalty simply because they were subdued with force. Ruffians of the black association were always waiting for a chance to strike from behind. Just when he had become fairly dependable, a thing like this had to happen.
In the first place, why did this whole mess start?
A man named Beon Saeng at the branch arrested Taejeong Faction’s men, triggering the incident.
That bastard was behaving himself all this time, why did he suddenly do that?
I am not entirely sure about that part.
First, we need to get the Taejeong Faction back up and running. Is there anyone to replace Taejeong?
It didn’t matter who took the chief’s seat. As long as they were obedient and met their quota of tribute, even a dog tied up in the backyard could run the gang for all he cared.
The most likely candidate was the man who accompanied Taejeong to the branch, but he died alongside Taejeong. The next person capable of leading the organization is a man named Jong Bae, but he is currently detained at the Munseong Branch.
Wang Gon shook his head in irritation.
They really manage to mess up in every conceivable way.
Ah, while you were away, Branch Master Lim stopped by.
How on earth is that bastard managing his subordinates? I really don’t like him.
He should have known the moment Lim Chung acted all righteous and turned down the Century-Old Fallopia Root.
Heuksu, who had been standing by in silence, spoke up:
I will go and settle it.
Wang Gon knew full well how Heuksu would “settle” it. No doubt he would threaten Beon Saeng, and if he didn’t listen, he’d beat him half to death to force Jong Bae’s release. As much as Wang Gon wanted to tell him to do just that, current circumstances didn’t allow for it.
We shouldn’t escalate things when a major matter lies right ahead.
A grand undertaking in Munseong was fast approaching. It was the most crucial juncture in his path to advancement. He couldn’t afford to let trouble blow up right now.
Then what should we do?
Wang Gon narrowed his small eyes even further, hatching a nasty scheme.
All the more reason to handle it elegantly.
—
That afternoon, an unexpected visitor arrived at the Munseong Branch.
Oh, Sister-in-law!
The person who arrived was Madam Ju, wife of Branch Master Lim Chung. At the news of his wife’s arrival, Lim Chung stepped out of his office.
Huh? What brings you here?
His wife rarely ever visited the branch office.
I came because of this.
She held out a small wooden box. The moment Lim Chung saw the familiar container, his expression stiffened. He didn’t even need to open it to know what was inside. It was the very same Century-Old Fallopia Root that Wang Gon had tried to give him.
Someone came by the house and left this.
The person who brought the box was a fierce-looking martial artist. Anxious that she might have accepted something she shouldn’t have, she had brought it all the way here.
Seeing her husband’s hardened face, Madam Ju asked with concern,
Nothing bad is happening, right?
No. Don’t worry, go home. Leave this here.
Is everything really alright?
I said it’s fine.
Madam Ju turned back anxiously, her slow steps reflecting her intuition that something was wrong.
Whatever it is, please be careful, dear.
Right, get home safely.
Though he tried hard not to show it, Lim Chung’s rage had boiled over to his very head.
Going directly to his home was an explicit threat. Handing the Century-Old Fallopia Root to his wife was a demand to choose: Will you accept this and do as you’re told? Or will you put your family in danger?
‘You son of a bitch. I’ve been letting things slide, but…’
If there was one thing he would never forgive, it was anyone touching his family.
Beon Saeng approached and asked,
That smells quite fragrant, what is inside?
None of your business.
Lim Chung took the box and headed outside.
Where are you going?
Lim Chung left without answering. It was the first time Beon Saeng had ever seen him so agitated.
What on earth is making him so short-tempered?
Watching the scene, Baek Socheon suddenly spoke to Beon Saeng.
Are you close with the Branch Master?
Of course I am.
Then follow him.
Why?
When a martial artist gets that angry carrying a box with a Century-Old Fallopia Root inside, it means things have gone severely wrong.
Gasp! A Century-Old Fallopia Root?
Baek Socheon had identified the contents of the box accurately through smell alone.
Can you guess who gave it to him?
Beon Saeng nodded. He could guess roughly, having recently met the only person who would give such a gift. The Myth Sect had tried to bribe Lim Chung, but Lim Chung had refused it. So the Myth Sect had delivered it straight to his house.
Knowing full well that Lim Chung was a man who lived solely for his family, Beon Saeng understood why he was furious. They had dragged his family into this.
Then you probably know where the Branch Master went, too.
Yes, I think I do.
Hurry up and go, then.
Yet Beon Saeng couldn’t bring himself to step forward easily.
Even if he rushed over, what help could he possibly offer? The same went for bringing all the martial artists from the branch.
Wang Gon’s subordinates were far more numerous, and they held no fear of Murim Alliance martial artists. In particular, Heuksu, who constantly hovered beside Wang Gon, was truly terrifying.
The only person he could rely on right now was Baek Socheon before his eyes.
Brother, aren’t you going?
Why should I?
Isn’t a colleague you work with about to fall into danger?
We’ve only worked together a few days, what do you mean ‘colleague’?
You’re close with me, aren’t you?
While you’re wallowing in delusion, your Branch Master is probably falling into crisis.
Ah! Really, you’re too much!
Beon Saeng sprinted outside.
Then, the urgent sound of Beon Saeng’s receding footsteps turned right back.
Throwing the door open as he returned, Beon Saeng shouted out, having found the answer in a desperate bid to drag Baek Socheon along:
Not as your younger brother, but as your superior at the branch, this is an official order. We are deploying!
Beon Saeng pleaded with desperate eyes: Please, help me.
Only then did Baek Socheon rise from his seat.
An order, is it…? Well, as a martial artist of the Murim Alliance, I naturally ought to obey orders.
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