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Chapter 15: I Need to Control My Anger (1)
Late at night, a single carriage stood waiting in the woods near the Munseong Branch of the Murim Alliance.
Cheon Yangho, the Venomous Viper, appeared there. Only after thoroughly checking to ensure he wasn’t being followed did he board the carriage.
The person waiting inside was Wang Gon’s son, Wang Yu. Having been out of town, he had rushed back immediately upon hearing news of his father.
“Squad Leader Cheon.”
“Young Master Wang, it has been a while.”
“By what trick on earth did that bastard Lim Chung arrest my father? Did Heuksu betray him or something?”
“Heuksu is captured alongside him. His face looked quite battered.”
Wang Yu was astonished. To him, Heuksu was an invincible master.
“Who on earth managed to subdue Heuksu?”
“A fellow named Baek Socheon, who was recently assigned to the Munseong Branch.”
“What kind of person is he to do that to Heuksu?”
“He’s a former Squad Leader of the Iron Sword Unit. Heuksu didn’t know that, so he must have been caught off-guard.”
“Baek Socheon! That son of a bitch!”
Wang Yu gritted his teeth. His father had lived like a king in Munseong. Because his father was king, he had naturally lived like a prince. Just this month alone, he had beaten up three people and stolen another man’s woman. Yet, nothing had ever happened to him.
It was only possible because his father was king. And yet a mere martial artist from the Murim Alliance dared to arrest his father?
“I’m going to get rid of him.”
“You must not touch him just yet. Doing so will only complicate matters and make his release even harder. First, secure your father’s release, then deal with that fellow afterward.”
“When will my father be released?”
“I have made the necessary arrangements, so he will be released soon.”
“Thank you.”
Wang Yu handed a pouch he had prepared over to Cheon Yangho.
“I bought this on my way back.”
Inside the pouch were small animal figurines made of solid gold. Though each piece was as small as a fingernail, together they made for a gift worth a considerable sum of money.
“Haha, you shouldn’t have.”
Without even a customary polite refusal, Cheon Yangho tucked the pouch into his breast pocket.
“Then head back and wait.”
As Cheon Yangho prepared to step out of the carriage, he glanced back and let his voice trail off ambiguously.
“By the way…”
“Please, go ahead.”
“The massacre of Yang Chu’s family… it wasn’t you guys, right?”
It was a cautious question with the implied words, ‘you guys did it’, left unspoken. The Myth Sect he knew was more than capable of committing such an act.
Wang Yu snapped back testily,
“What kind of people do you take us for, saying such a thing? Of course not.”
“Right, of course it isn’t. I only mentioned it out of unnecessary concern, so don’t mind it too much. I’ll see you next time.”
Cheon Yangho stepped out of the carriage and walked back the way he had come.
‘Those bastards did it!’
Sharp-witted as he was, Cheon Yangho instantly knew from Wang Yu’s intense reaction that the Myth Sect was behind the Yang Chu incident.
‘Crazy bastards!’
While he felt a sense of fear toward the reckless and unhinged Myth Sect, he simultaneously resolved that if his suspicion was correct, he ought to use this affair to score a massive windfall for himself.
Once Cheon Yangho disappeared into the distant darkness, Wang Yu spat out coldly:
“Where does this bastard think he’s pulling a cheap trick? Tsk, bloody beggars of the Murim Alliance!”
He failed to realize that his counterpart had read his inner thoughts completely. Though, it was precisely because he lacked such awareness that he had been so easily read in the first place.
—
Early the next morning, Lim Chung summoned Beon Saeng.
“What is the matter, Branch Master?”
“I plan to release Wang Gon and Heuksu.”
It was the result of a full night of deep deliberation.
“Your safety is at stake as well, so I am informing you in advance.”
“Will we be in danger?”
“Most likely. But the same would be true even if we didn’t release them.”
“I see.”
Regrettably, punishing them under the current circumstances was no easy task.
The only evidence of the bribe was the testimony of himself and his wife. Regarding the assault charges, their side was unharmed while the opposing side was battered. The attempted murder charge fell under the exact same predicament.
Ultimately, even if they were transferred to the Zhejiang Sub-division, the probability of them being cleared of all charges there was high. Cheon Yangho, a powerful figure at the sub-division, would work tirelessly to make it so, and there were likely others besides Cheon Yangho who wished to aid the Myth Sect.
Even if by some stroke of luck Wang Gon were locked away in prison, the problem remained. Driven to malice, Wang Gon could easily instruct his subordinates outside to assassinate them.
Lim Chung judged that it was better to release him now and appease him. Of course, he had no intention of joining hands with the man. After putting his guard down, he would find evidence that Wang Gon had murdered Yang Chu. Once he found that proof, he could finish Wang Gon off once and for all.
“I didn’t realize it before, but living as a true martial artist is remarkably difficult.”
Lim Chung nodded silently at Beon Saeng’s remark.
‘Perhaps I haven’t truly lived as a martial artist until now.’
—
Around noon, Lim Chung released Wang Gon and Heuksu.
As they exited the prison, Wang Gon and Cheon Yangho crossed paths, but neither acknowledged the other.
Instead, Wang Gon directed a murderous glare at Lim Chung. He wasn’t even inclined to feign a dignified departure before seeking his heated revenge.
“I will never forget this.”
After delivering the explicit threat, Wang Gon departed. Given the intensity of Wang Gon’s resentment, there was no need to describe how palpable Heuksu’s killing intent was.
Once the two left the branch, Cheon Yangho offered Lim Chung some words of comfort:
“Do not worry too much. He talks big, but he won’t be able to make a reckless move.”
It was meant as consolation, but Lim Chung’s response was blunt and cold.
“Aren’t you going to investigate?”
“What?”
“Are you not going to investigate Hero Yang Chu’s case? You came down here for that matter, yet you only seem to care about the Myth Sect’s affairs.”
“I will. I’ll handle it properly on my own, so mind your own business.”
Cheon Yangho scoffed and walked out of the room.
Beon Saeng filled the empty spot he left behind.
“Did you see that? He’s practically beaming with joy.”
“He’ll take credit for getting them released through his own influence and score a massive payout.”
“Damned bastard. At any rate, what do we do now?”
“What else? We have to prove that Wang Gon is the culprit.”
“You’re really serious about this. Branch Master, you raise your eyebrows whenever you speak from the heart.”
“Looking at Martial Artist Baek when he beat down Wang Gon that day… it reminded me of the time when I first resolved to enter the violent world of the central plains. I wanted to become a martial artist who protects the weak and beats down evil men.”
“Are you trying to become one even now?”
“Do you think I can? You might not realize it, but I’m too late. It just brought back old memories, that’s all. What’s done is done, but even if we can’t scoop up spilt water, we should at least wipe it clean. If we don’t find the evidence, he will definitely come for revenge sooner or later.”
“Yes, let’s catch that damned bastard!”
Just then, a voice called out from behind:
“First off, it seems we should move your family to the branch, Branch Master.”
Turning around, they saw Baek Socheon standing there.
Beon Saeng asked in shock:
“Could he really try to harm the Branch Master’s family?”
Lim Chung recalled how Wang Gon had delivered the Century-Old Fallopia Root to his house. It was an explicit threat using his family as hostages.
“Right, he is more than capable of doing such a thing.”
“Rather than Wang Gon, we should do so because of Heuksu. From what I’ve gathered, he is a man of immense pride.”
“When did you even look into that?”
At Beon Saeng’s admiration, Baek Socheon replied:
“It’s an old habit. If you’re going to ignore something, ignore it completely; if you’re going to get involved, do it thoroughly. People usually get stabbed in the back because they neglect this simple rule.”
While Beon Saeng marveled, Lim Chung felt an even greater sense of urgency.
“I must bring them over right away.”
Lim Chung bolted out.
Beon Saeng shrugged his shoulders.
“At times like this, it’s convenient not having a family. By the way, big brother, do you have a family?”
Baek Socheon answered succinctly:
“No.”
—
Lim Chung brought his wife, Lady Ju, and his son, Chan, to the branch.
“Stay here for the time being.”
It was another vacant building located near Baek Socheon’s quarters.
“Dear, is everything alright?”
His wife, Lady Ju, was anxious. Receiving the box earlier was one thing, but having to leave their home to live at the branch like this was unprecedented.
Of course, she could vaguely guess the reason behind it.
The news of Wang Gon’s arrest at the Munseong Branch had already spread. Everyone she met was talking about it.
There were many rumors, but the conclusion to all of them was always similar: Lim Chung was in deep trouble now.
Sure enough, her husband had brought her and their son to the branch.
“Don’t worry.”
“Yes, I won’t worry.”
Lim Chung wished he could send his wife and son to her parents’ home in Shaanxi, but he couldn’t let the two travel such a long distance alone. Nor could he abandon his subordinates and his duty to abandon the branch.
“Rest comfortably for now.”
As he turned to leave, Lady Ju spoke to him,
“Dear.”
“What is it?”
“Whether we die, we die together; whether we live, we live together. Ever since the day I married you, I have lived with that thought in mind. So please, don’t shrink back because of us. Do what you need to do. If it comes to the worst-case scenario, we will die together.”
“That won’t happen.”
As Lim Chung left the quarters, a lump formed in his throat. He was deeply grateful to his wife for speaking such words for his sake, even though she must be terrified inside.
‘Right, that won’t happen.’
If he had a hundred lives, he intended to use every single one of them for his wife and child. His only fear was failing to save them even after using up all hundred lives.
Die together? Absolutely not. Even if it cost him his life, he would protect the two of them no matter what.
That was precisely why he felt so uneasy.
If Wang Gon made up his mind to kill them, he could go as far as attacking the branch itself.
If that happened… everyone here would truly die together.
—
Stepping outside after speaking with his wife, Lim Chung found Baek Socheon and his son Chan talking in front of the house. Lim Chung paused briefly to listen to their conversation.
“Will my father be alright?”
“Your father is not alright.”
Chan was startled. Now thirteen years old, Chan was a gentle, well-behaved child.
“Is it a dangerous situation?”
“Yes. This time, your father wiped out the underworld gang.”
Listening from behind the door, Lim Chung frowned. He wondered why Baek Socheon was telling such things to a child.
Chan’s voice echoed out again:
“I heard the rumors too. Did Father really wipe out the Taejeong Faction?”
“Yes, your father could no longer stand by and watch their evil deeds.”
“It might sound strange to say this when Father is in danger… but I think Father did a really great thing.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes. Among the people harassed by the underworld gang were my friend’s parents. Every time I saw that friend, I felt so sorry.”
Lim Chung’s heart, which had managed to settle down, surged with emotion once more.
He had never dreamed that his son had been in such a situation or held such feelings.
Baek Socheon’s voice resonated again:
“I don’t know if you realize this, but behind the underworld gang your father wiped out is another martial arts power. Your father knew this, yet he bravely eliminated them anyway. That is why he is in danger now.”
“It’s fine. I’m proud of my father. I want to become like him too.”
“To do that, you must train hard in martial arts. You have to become strong like your father to protect others.”
“Yes, I’ll work hard!”
“You can be very proud of your father. He is a man fully worthy of it.”
Behind the door, Lim Chung experienced a strange mix of emotions. He felt amazed at how much his son had grown, and deeply grateful to Baek Socheon for speaking to his son like that.
Lim Chung let out a fake cough and stepped outside.
In the eyes of his son looking at him, he could feel deep respect. Because not all of these events had been entirely of his own volition, he felt a sense of embarrassment.
“Go inside to your mother.”
“Yes, Father.”
Chan went inside.
Lim Chung and Baek Socheon stood side by side in front of the house for a moment.
“I overheard what you said to Chan when I came out.”
“Forgive me if I stepped out of line.”
“No. On the contrary, I am deeply grateful. I had no idea our boy had grown so much.”
Lim Chung suddenly thought that while parents might know their children best, they might also be the ones who understand them least.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Speak.”
“Please protect my family, if only for a short while. In the meantime, I will uncover the truth behind this incident and find evidence that he murdered Yang Chu’s family.”
“Very well.”
Because he answered so readily, Lim Chung was deeply moved.
“Is that true?”
“It’s not for your sake, but because the kid seems nice.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
In their current situation, Baek Socheon was the only one he could trust. With the level of skill Baek Socheon had displayed at the Myth Sect that day, Lim Chung felt he could leave his family in his hands and focus entirely on investigating the case.
This battle against Wang Gon had now become a matter tied to the very safety of himself and his family.
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