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Chapter 14: I Know You’re a Born Pushover, But (2)
Lim Chung immediately set off with Beon Saeng to visit the Heo Sword Manor.
The patriarch of the Heo Sword Manor was Heo Sa. Originally, the Heo Sword Manor had been the strongest sect in Zhejiang Province. However, with the sudden, meteoric rise of the Myth Sect, they had been pushed into second place.
“What brings the Branch Master here?”
“I have come to discuss something urgent.”
“Please, speak.”
“Are you, by any chance, aware of the recent tragedy concerning Hero Yang Chu?”
“Of course. It was a deeply tragic event.”
“I came to ask if you happen to know anything related to that incident.”
Heo Sa had not expected Lim Chung to visit him over that matter. In his mind, Lim Chung had always been merely a minor official barely managing to hold on to his post as a countryside branch master.
“It is regrettable, but I have no separate knowledge regarding the matter.”
Lim Chung had anticipated that Heo Sa would not open up easily. Now was the time to play his winning hand.
“To be frank with you… I believe the Myth Sect is involved in that incident.”
If Wang Gon were released as things stood, he would never let this slide. If they were destined to be targeted anyway, they had to seize the opportunity to launch a counterstrike.
At the mention of the Myth Sect, Heo Sa flinched noticeably. Under normal circumstances, it was a moment where one ought to act completely surprised; this subtle reaction hinted that he indeed knew something about the matter.
“In fact, we even arrested him today. However, due to a lack of evidence, we are in a position where we might have to release him.”
“To think such a thing happened!”
Heo Sa felt a surge of doubt. The Munseong Branch of the Murim Alliance he knew possessed neither the capability nor the guts to arrest Wang Gon.
“Is what you say truly the truth?”
“Why would I tell a lie about a matter that will inevitably come to light anyway? If it is true that the Myth Sect is involved in this affair, they will be finished.”
Heo Sa stared intently at Lim Chung. Whether he had come cornered like a trapped animal or driven by a burning sense of justice, the impression Lim Chung gave off now was distinctly different from before.
“Why have you come to see me?”
“Please help me.”
“In what way?”
Lim Chung looked at him with eyes brimming with determination to resolve the case, making his request:
“Please tell me everything you know.”
—
Upon returning to the branch, Lim Chung and Beon Saeng immediately sought out Baek Socheon.
“The Heo Sword Manor gave us information regarding Yang Chu.”
Lim Chung’s face was flushed with excitement.
“What kind of information?”
“They said Yang Chu had recently been investigating a new venture by the Myth Sect.”
“How did the Heo Sword Manor know about that?”
“They said it was a task requested by them. Upon learning that the Myth Sect was planning a major new project, Heo Sa, the patriarch of the Sword Manor, personally asked Yang Chu to look into it.”
It was undeniably a crucial piece of testimony that could serve as a breakthrough in solving the case. Murdered while conducting an investigation at the request of a rival sect? It provided reasonable grounds to suspect the Myth Sect of the crime.
“What is this new venture?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t know.”
Lim Chung explained the details of the Myth Sect’s new project in Munseong to Baek Socheon, feeling that since Baek Socheon was now deeply involved, he ought to know all the facts.
After listening to the whole story, Baek Socheon tilted his head in confusion and asked:
“Their new project is building a large-scale smithy in Munseong?”
“They said the plan is to build the largest smithy in the Central Plains.”
“If that’s the case, it’s truly strange.”
Beon Saeng chimed in:
“There’s nothing strange about it. The Myth Sect previously stated they intend to make the blacksmithing business their main axis moving forward.”
That was what they had heard from Heuksu last time.
“That’s precisely why it’s strange.”
“Huh?”
“If they build a smithy here in the southernmost part of Zhejiang Province, it will cost an enormous amount of money to transport the manufactured weapons to various parts of the Central Plains. If their intention is truly to expand the business as they claim, they should build it in Henan or Hubei, where there are geographical advantages.”
“Ah! Now that I think about it, that’s true!”
Beon Saeng looked at Lim Chung, feeling that the reasoning made complete sense.
Lim Chung offered another possibility:
“Could it be that they only plan to supply internally?”
“Isn’t the scale far too large for that to be the case?”
“Or perhaps to avoid conflict with other established smithies?”
“The Myth Sect doesn’t strike me as a sect thoughtful enough to care about such things.”
Without needing long deliberation, Lim Chung nodded in agreement.
This time, Beon Saeng spoke up,
“Alright, let’s say that’s true. But I still can’t understand it at all. Just because he investigated them starting a smithy business, is that enough reason to slaughter an entire family?”
“They likely uncovered something they weren’t supposed to know.”
The one who answered was Lim Chung.
“Then why kill the whole family instead of just Yang Chu?”
To this, Lim Chung could not provide an answer.
Seeking a solution, Beon Saeng’s gaze turned toward Baek Socheon.
“Why do you keep asking me?”
“Because we have no idea, but it feels like you’d know everything, big brother.”
“I don’t know, I really don’t. If I were a smart man, would I have picked up a sword in the first place? I would have picked up a book.”
“Even saying you aren’t smart makes you sound smart.”
“Forget it. Though, if I were to hazard one guess… they might have wanted to make this incident look like a personal grudge against Yang Chu.”
Lim Chung and Beon Saeng nodded in agreement. Exterminating an entire family was indeed often a sign of a personal vendetta. If they went so far as to kill the family for that reason, it revealed a truly vicious nature.
“Furthermore, it was a warning to whoever was behind Yang Chu, ‘If you mess around, we can slaughter all of you just like this.'”
If that was the intention, it had been undeniably effective.
It explained why Manor Leader Jo, who had been a close friend of Yang Chu, was terrified into silence, and why the Heo Sword Manor had taken a very passive stance despite providing testimony.
“The Heo Sword Manor promised to testify regarding Yang Chu once additional evidence is secured.”
“So they’ll help, but won’t step out onto the front lines.”
They had taken a step forward, but they still only had circumstantial evidence and lacked decisive proof.
Just then, another martial artist from the branch arrived to report:
“Squad Leader Cheon is looking for Martial Artist Baek.”
“Me?”
“Yes, he instructed to bring you to the interrogation room.”
At those words, Beon Saeng was startled.
“Why on earth does he want to see you in the interrogation room of all places?”
Baek Socheon immediately saw through the intention.
“He wants to put pressure on me. Judging by how he operates, Squad Leader Cheon is highly likely to be on their side.”
“You shouldn’t go! The interrogation room is a place where unnecessary pressure makes you end up saying things you shouldn’t.”
At Beon Saeng’s attempt to stop him, Baek Socheon let out a smirk. If Beon Saeng ever learned his true past, he would realize how humorous his current words were.
“It’s fine. The interrogation room is a place more familiar to me than my own bedroom. Back in the day, I had my fair share of experience being interrogated.”
“There you go bluffing again! Back in the old days, I drank wine with the Ten Great Evil Ones in the underground dungeon of the Murim Alliance!”
“All of those people are dead now, leaving only two behind. And one of those two really loved his liquor.”
“Huh? No, now is not the time to be telling wild stories!”
Baek Socheon had already stepped out of the room.
Left alone with Lim Chung, Beon Saeng asked anxiously:
“He’ll be alright, won’t he?”
“Who knows.”
Lim Chung knew for certain that Baek Socheon was a formidable fighter. However, internal political maneuvering within an organization was not something solved by martial prowess alone.
If Venomous Viper caught Baek Socheon’s weakness or used his rank to push him into a corner, problems could arise.
“Let’s hurry and go check too.”
Beon Saeng’s heart was racing with anxiety. Cheon Yangho was not a push-over who went with the flow like himself or Lim Chung. He was genuinely worried Cheon Yangho might try to harm Baek Socheon.
On the other hand, Lim Chung remained composed.
“Don’t rush so much. It doesn’t seem like your proud big brother is someone who would easily die from a viper’s bite.”
—
“You were in the Iron Sword Unit?”
It had not been difficult for Cheon Yangho to learn through the branch martial artists that Baek Socheon was involved in this incident. He had been present both when Jong Bae was arrested and when Tae Jeong died.
“That is correct.”
Although Cheon Yangho was a superior by rank, he was not Baek Socheon’s direct commander, allowing Baek Socheon to reply somewhat casually.
“And your position?”
“I was a Squad Leader.”
“A Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Unit…”
That answered a few of his questions. If he had been a squad leader in the Iron Sword Unit, the elite unit of the Murim Alliance…it made sense that he could subdue an off-guard Heuksu.
He said he was taken down in a single blow. That sounds more like he lost due to carelessness rather than a sheer gap in skill. After all, Heuksu was a master even Cheon Yangho himself would find difficult to handle.
“Why were you demoted and sent all the way down here?”
“Do I need to answer that as well?”
“Because you stand at the very center of this incident.”
“I was demoted for insubordination.”
Given his defiant attitude, it was a reason that seemed entirely fitting to Cheon Yangho.
“Fine. I’ll ask the next question. How did you know there was Century-Old Fallopia Root inside the box?”
“I knew by the smell.”
“You have quite an extraordinary sense of smell.”
“My eyesight is even better.”
“Answer only what you are asked.”
“If you say so.”
Cheon Yangho rationalized the man’s insolence through his status as a former Iron Sword Unit Squad Leader. A little arrogance is to be expected from someone like that. This very prejudice, however, was clouding his ability to accurately gauge his opponent.
“I hear your performance against the Myth Sect was quite impressive as well.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Save your thanks. They might report you for excessive force.”
“Tell them to go ahead.”
This time, Baek Socheon abruptly interjected with a question of his own:
“I have information that the Myth Sect has been bribing martial artists of the Zhejiang Sub-division. Do you happen to know anything about that?”
“No… I had no idea.”
Cheon Yangho’s voice trembled slightly. He was taken off guard by the sudden question.
This was a blind bluff on Baek Socheon’s part.
If they had tried to bribe Lim Chung, they had almost certainly bribed other martial artists as well. Considering Cheon Yangho’s desperate attempts to cover up the incident, the likelihood that he had taken bribes from them was overwhelmingly high.
“Where did you get that information?”
Baek Socheon stared fixatedly at Cheon Yangho.
“Does that matter?”
“I am merely trying to verify the facts.”
“If you want to verify the facts, you should do so by inspecting the sub-division martial artists through an audit. If you expose the informant, do you think those bastards will just sit still?”
“I suppose so.”
Cheon Yangho realized he had completely lost control of the conversation.
‘This guy is no ordinary character.’
An inexperienced martial artist would feel uncomfortable in a setting like this, unable to even meet his gaze properly.
He had summoned him to the interrogation room to exert pressure, yet he was the one currently being interrogated.
“Well, let’s stop here for today.”
Cheon Yangho stood up from his seat. He had learned what he needed, and lingering any longer would only put him at a disadvantage.
‘Hall Master Wang picked a fight with a truly troublesome bastard.’
—
As soon as Cheon Yangho walked out, Beon Saeng and Lim Chung entered the interrogation room.
“What did he say?”
“He said they might report us for excessive force.”
From behind, Lim Chung spoke up:
“That won’t happen.”
As their superior, he would make sure no harm came to Baek Socheon and Beon Saeng, no matter what it took.
Beon Saeng said worriedly:
“Judging by the atmosphere, if we don’t find concrete evidence, Wang Gon and Heuksu will end up being released.”
“Even if it costs me my position, I will stop it somehow. That will buy us at least a few days.”
Beon Saeng let out a sigh and blamed himself:
“It’s because of me. This all happened because I went after the Taejeong Faction.”
Baek Socheon, who was about to leave the interrogation room first, turned around at the door.
“I know very well that you’re a born pushover, but don’t you dare say this happened because of you. This is entirely because of those maggots.”
It was a moment where Cheon Yangho was included in the definition of “maggots.”
“They’re charging ahead looking out only for their own gain, so why are you blaming yourself for no reason? Stop at being a pushover. Don’t cross the line into being a fool.”
Though framed as a rebuke, it brought immense comfort to Beon Saeng. He gave a firm, energetic nod.
“Yes, big brother!”
Baek Socheon had already walked outside.
Beon Saeng turned to Lim Chung and said:
“Just a few days ago, could you ever have imagined we would be going through something like this?”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“If big brother hadn’t been here, we would have really struggled.”
“Probably not.”
“Pardon?”
Beon Saeng looked back at Lim Chung. Lim Chung let out a soft sigh and stood up.
“Nothing would have happened.”
Originally, an uproar like this should have occurred, but it would have just passed by without anything happening at all.
Because Baek Socheon had entered such a quiet life… both Beon Saeng and himself were now being shaken up.
However… could they truly handle such a life? He and Beon Saeng were just ordinary people like anyone else, people who were easily influenced and hurt even more easily… They were not Baek Socheon.
Lost in thought, Lim Chung exited the building and stopped in front of the interrogation room.
Beon Saeng, who followed close behind, stood alongside him. Beon Saeng could understand what Lim Chung meant when he said nothing would have happened.
“Even so… I want to use this opportunity to change my life.”
Lim Chung smiled and nodded in understanding.
In the past year they had lived together, they had never shared such a deep, heartfelt conversation. Over the last few days, the two had come to understand each other even more.
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