*** Read Only At Thunderscans.com ***
Chapter 6: If We Don’t Protect Them, Who Will? (1)
No.
Baek Socheon rejected him flatly and turned away.
Beon Saeng scrambled forward to block his path.
Please, let me serve you as my Big Brother.
Beon Saeng’s decision was purely impulsive. Up until he arrived here, he hadn’t intended to do anything of the sort.
There were many reasons behind this.
First, he was intoxicated in a highly emotional state; second, he was stimulated by the sight of Baek Socheon training; and third, the man was old enough to serve as an elder brother. On top of that, Baek Socheon was a martial artist who had belonged to the Iron Sword Squad, Beon Saeng’s lifelong dream.
Though less than a day had passed since they met, Baek Socheon was more extraordinary than any martial artist he had ever encountered.
Does one need to drink the entire ocean to know it is salty? Even a single sip was enough to tell that Baek Socheon was no ordinary plain water like himself.
From now on, I’ll do all your chores, Big Brother. Not just the branch work, but laundry, cleaning, and running errands, I’ll do it all.
That sounds like a servant, not a younger brother.
It is my absolute loyalty.
Go on back. If I accepted everyone like this, I’d have over a thousand younger brothers by now.
I don’t care if I’m the thousandth brother.
At that moment, Beon Saeng thought to himself:
A thousand? That’s no ordinary boast.
Of course, to Beon Saeng right now, even that seemed like a touch of human warmth.
Even if you don’t accept me, I will still serve you as my Big Brother. That’s my freedom, isn’t it?
Baek Socheon stared at Beon Saeng in silence.
Why do you want to be my younger brother so badly?
His speech had softened. Seeing this as an opportunity, Beon Saeng revealed his honest feelings.
Since I was young, my dream was to join the Iron Sword Squad. Right now, I’m living pathetically here, but I consider meeting you, Big Brother, a chance given to me by Heaven. I want to change my life starting today.
…Changing your life isn’t an easy thing.
I’ll work hard.
Even if you work hard, it won’t go easily.
I’ll work twice as hard, three times as hard.
Hmm… when you sober up, you’ll definitely regret this.
Noticing that his heart had softened somewhat, Beon Saeng pushed forward recklessly.
I definitely won’t! Then I’ll take that as your permission. Thank you, Big Brother! Hahaha.
Sensing that Baek Socheon was about to say no again, Beon Saeng even made a promise he couldn’t back up.
First thing tomorrow, I’ll handle all those Taejeong Faction bastards with my own hands!
—
The next morning, Beon Saeng sat at the branch office clutching his head. It wasn’t just because of a pounding hangover.
Ah, I must be crazy! I need to quit drinking as soon as possible!
Beon Saeng regretted everything. To think he took a newly arrived junior as his Big Brother, and after seeing him for just one day! What? Taking meeting him as an opportunity to change his life?
Ugh, you crazy fool!
To make matters worse, he had even boasted that he would do all of Baek Socheon’s room cleaning and laundry. What kind of foolish behavior was that?
*Hey, you idiot, clean your own room first.*
If someone saw his room, they’d think a grand formation array had been set up inside it.
Beon Saeng banged his head repeatedly against his desk.
Ah! I wish this was all just a dream.
It felt like walking down the street, seeing a medicine salesman, and thinking, ‘Let’s see what tricks this scammer pulls,’ only to snap back to reality moments later holding both hands full of bought medicine. What on earth had possessed him?
Should I say it was a joke? Or should I just play dumb and deny it outright?
Just then, a voice came from behind.
What are you muttering to yourself about?
Startled, he turned around to find Lim Chung.
Did you establish proper discipline?
Beon Saeng raised a fist into the air and said, “Of course! You haven’t seen my fighting skills yet, have you? I was once an Iron Sword Squad hopeful myself!”
Just in time, Baek Socheon walked in, offering a polite greeting.
Seeing his completely unblemished appearance, Lim Chung whispered into Beon Saeng’s ear.
He looks totally fine, though?
Beon Saeng lowered his voice even further. “He must be suffering from deep internal injuries.”
Good job.
Lim Chung chuckled and went into his private office. Of course, he didn’t believe a word Beon Saeng said.
He should be glad if he didn’t get beaten up. Anyway, it’s a relief that nothing bad happened.
Once Lim Chung went inside, Baek Socheon pointed to the stack of documents on the desk and spoke.
Aren’t you going to take these?
Huh? Pardon?
Didn’t you say you’d do all my work too? You should take these tasks and do them.
That is…
Beon Saeng stammered, hesitating on how to answer.
Baek Socheon said with a faint sneer, “Didn’t I say you’d regret it once you sobered up?”
Those words flew like hidden weapons, piercing right into Beon Saeng’s pride.
Beon Saeng sprang up from his seat.
I am a man who keeps his promises! Don’t look down on me!
Beon Saeng stomped over, grabbed Baek Socheon’s documents, and brought them to his own desk. However, before he even sat down, he was already regretting it.
Ah, you crazy fool. This isn’t right! You couldn’t hold back for just a moment and brought this over? You should’ve just said it was a joke!
When he actually faced Baek Socheon, things didn’t go as planned. There was a unique aura about Baek Socheon, a subtle quality that provoked a person’s pride and emotions.
What about your promise?
What promise?
You said you’d handle all those underworld thugs today.
Beon Saeng was startled.
Me?
Though he feigned ignorance, he remembered it vividly. At that single moment last night, he had felt as though he could beat up all the thugs by himself.
Taking over the paperwork was one thing, but taking down an underworld gang was an entirely different story.
Baek Socheon walked over to Beon Saeng and took his documents back.
Forget it. Anyone can say things like that under the influence.
If he had called him pathetic or insulted him, it might have been one thing, but having him politely drop the matter made Beon Saeng’s blood boil once more.
Beon Saeng’s lips trembled.
It had always pained his heart that he couldn’t help the people being harassed. Fine, damn it, let’s just do it.
‘I’ll handle all those underworld thugs myself! I’ll keep that promise too!’
The twenty-six-year-old Beon Saeng’s heart blazed, and those words welled up to his throat.
However, another Beon Saeng inside him stopped him.
‘Hey, are you insane? You know how cruel the Taejeong Faction chief is! Fine, let’s say by some stroke of luck you capture him. What if he orders his men outside to kill you? And what about the Myth Sect behind him? Someone like you would be kicked out of the Murim Alliance overnight!’
Then, yet another Beon Saeng offered courage:
‘The fact that those words came out first under the influence means it’s what you’ve wanted to do most all along! You coward. Do the right thing just once! Isn’t that why you became a martial artist?’
‘And if you die a meaningless death, do you think that guy will shed a single tear for you?’
‘I’m not doing it for him! I’m doing it for the people who are suffering. This has meaning. Even if I die, it has meaning!’
Truly, if he had been regulating his internal energy, he would have suffered a qi deviation.
At that moment, the door to the Branch Master’s office opened, and Lim Chung stepped out.
Squad Leader Beon, follow me. There’s a place we need to go together.
—
Leaving the branch office, Beon Saeng spoke in a dejected voice.
Thank you.
For what?
I know. I know you could hear everything inside.
He had intentionally spoken loudly so Lim Chung would hear him, hoping the Branch Master would stop him.
You crafty bastard. Even in the middle of all that, you were looking for an exit. You really are irredeemable garbage, total garbage.
Lim Chung offered him comfort.
Why are you letting yourself be dragged around by the newcomer?
Tell me about it. I shouldn’t have offered to serve him as my Big Brother.
You offered to serve him as your Big Brother?
…Yes.
And you usually act so smart.
…
Pausing his steps for a moment, Beon Saeng asked carefully, “Is there really no way to handle the Taejeong Faction? Even if we get support from the sub-division?”
And what would you do after that?
The real issue was the Myth Sect backing them. If it were only the Taejeong Faction, Lim Chung wouldn’t have let them run rampant like this either.
Beon Saeng wasn’t ignorant of this either.
Yeah, the Branch Master must be feeling just as upset.
Feeling apologetic, Beon Saeng took the initiative to change the subject.
By the way, where are we going?
You ask that now? We are going to Cho Manor.
—
Lim Chung and Beon Saeng arrived at Cho Manor.
It was to investigate the incident regarding Yang Chu’s family. The person closest to Yang Chu during his life was none other than the Master of Cho Manor.
Manor Master Cho must know something.
With that thought, they walked through the guest reception hall under the guidance of a servant.
Just then, two men were walking out from the opposite direction.
To their shock, the two were Wang Gon and Black Hand.
Branch Master Lim, what brings you here?
Meeting Wang Gon in such an unexpected place caught Lim Chung completely off guard.
There was a murder incident yesterday. I am on my way to visit Manor Master Cho to investigate the matter.
I heard as well. A tragic affair indeed. Make sure to catch whoever did it.
I will do my utmost.
Ah, and we still have unfinished business to catch up on, so let us gather for a drink soon.
Yes, until next time.
Wang Gon and Black Hand brushed past them. Unlike Wang Gon, who walked by with a smile, Black Hand glared at the two with a sneering look.
Once they had disappeared into the distance, Beon Saeng spoke up.
That damned bastard, did you see the look in his eyes?
I saw it.
Every signal sent by the man named Black Hand was laced with ridicule and contempt.
He’s a mongrel who feels pure ecstasy only when he crushes others under his power.
Lim Chung resumed his steps.
The problem is that there are far too many such bastards in this world.
—
I never dreamed in my wildest imagination that my dear friend would suffer such a tragic fate.
Cho Jin, Master of Cho Manor, looked exhausted and haggard.
You must be deeply grieved.
Yang Chu and I knew each other for thirty years.
He must have been like blood family to you.
Indeed. Our bond was deeper than blood.
After expressing his regret and condolences regarding Yang Chu’s death, Lim Chung launched into his primary questions.
When was the last time you met Great Hero Yang?
A month ago.
Was there anything unusual about him?
No, nothing.
Do you recall anything he said?
We merely shared casual chatter as usual before parting ways.
Lim Chung could feel it: Cho Jin’s voice was trembling. He was definitely different from usual. Then again, if someone maintained total composure after their closest friend’s entire family was massacred, that would be stranger.
Has there been anyone who held a grudge against Great Hero Yang recently?
The answer came after a long pause.
I have heard of no such thing.
Whether he was intentionally making it obvious or simply failing to conceal it, one thing was certain:
He’s hiding something.
As someone close to Yang Chu, he ought to share anything to help catch the culprit.
What on earth was he hiding? A man of Cho Manor Master’s standing should have nothing to fear.
At that moment, Wang Gon’s face suddenly crossed his mind.
It struck him as strange that they had bumped into him here of all places today.
I ran into Hall Master Wang on my way in.
At the sudden mention, Cho Jin flinched slightly.
I also saw him for the first time in a while.
He is someone who works hard for our region.
Indeed.
At the mention of Hall Master Wang, Cho Jin’s eyes shook even more violently, and he couldn’t meet Lim Chung’s eyes directly.
Could it be? Is he connected to that side?
There were very few people in Zhejiang Province with enough power to silence the Master of Cho Manor, and the Myth Sect was undoubtedly among them.
Could the person Yang Chu had bad blood with recently be Wang Gon? Could it be the Myth Sect?
In such a situation, the thought occurred to him that Wang Gon might have come a step ahead to threaten Cho Jin. No, there wouldn’t even have been a need for an outright threat. His presence alone would be a sufficient threat.
Then why did he visit at the exact time Lim Chung himself came here? Was it a coincidence?
Could he have anticipated that I would visit?
Since Lim Chung had sent word to Cho Manor in advance to set an appointment, it was entirely possible that Wang Gon had matched his visit to this specific time intentionally.
If so, this wasn’t just a threat toward the Master of Cho Manor.
It was a threat aimed directly at himself as well.
Lim Chung soon shook his head. An entire family had been wiped out.
Still, they are nominally a righteous faction… that couldn’t be.
—
Leaving Cho Manor, the two returned to the branch office.
When they neared the premises, Lim Chung spoke to Beon Saeng.
I’ll explain the matter regarding the underworld gang to Baek Socheon myself.
No. I’ll handle it.
Can you do it?
I started it, so I should clean it up.
His pride would take a hit in the process, but it would be better than leaving it to someone else just to avoid the moment, only to regret it later.
Upon returning to the branch, Beon Saeng spoke to Baek Socheon.
There’s something I need to tell you. Let’s have a drink together later.
Sure.
All day long, Beon Saeng couldn’t focus on his work. He felt regret for promising to wipe out the Taejeong Faction for no good reason, felt sorry toward the merchants, and felt angry that things had turned out this way when he had wanted to impress Baek Socheon enough to make him his Big Brother.
Let’s just speak openly and frankly.
Beon Saeng made up his mind.
After finishing their daily duties, Baek Socheon and Beon Saeng headed out to the marketplace.
In front of the inn they were heading toward, a loud shattering sound echoed from a nearby hardware shop.
Checking the location and the men standing in front of it, Beon Saeng let out a lamentation.
Ah!
What kind of cruel joke of fate was this?
The men surrounding the entrance of the hardware shop were the thugs of the Taejeong Faction. And the owner of the shop was none other than Old Man Go, the very person who had submitted the public complaint this time.
Why must Heaven test me with such a trial?
He felt resentful toward the heavens. He wanted to turn around and walk away. If he were alone, he would have turned back.
Just then, Baek Socheon spoke in a gentle tone.
Shall we have that drink next time?
If Baek Socheon had told him to go help, Beon Saeng would have hesitated instead, making one excuse after another.
However, at Baek Socheon’s consideration, which was almost certainly an intentional provocation…Beon Saeng’s blood surged without fail.
Instead of an answer, Beon Saeng shouted toward the thugs of the Taejeong Faction,
Hey, you bastards! Stop right there!
—
Comment