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Chapter 7: If We Don’t Protect Them, Who Will? (2)
I heard you submitted another complaint this time?
Jong Bae was the action captain of the Taejeong Faction. Flashy tattoos, scar marks scattered everywhere, and a terrifying demeano, he was a figure of fear just to look at, yet Old Man Go showed no fear.
Yeah, I submitted it, you damned bastards! I’ll keep submitting them until the day I die!
No matter how hard he worked to earn money, the Taejeong Faction thugs extorted a staggering thirty percent of his profits under the guise of protection fees. What had started at ten percent had tripled by this year.
This was not an amount any merchant could bear. It was practically working oneself to the bone just to feed those Taejeong Faction thugs.
Yeah, go ahead and submit it. Keep submitting it.
Jong Bae hit Old Man Go on the back of his head multiple times in a nasty, humiliating manner.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Though the blows were meant to mock and humiliate rather than knock him down, the elderly Old Man Go staggered under the force.
Submit it, you old bastard. Let’s go together and submit it. Submit it right in front of my eyes!
Thwack! Thwack!
The strikes to the back of his head grew increasingly forceful, until Old Man Go finally slumped to the ground.
Jong Bae raised his foot threateningly, as if about to stomp on Old Man Go’s head.
Ugh, I can’t even stomp this to pieces.
Old Man Go remained collapsed on the ground, his head bowed low. He felt pain, injustice, and deep sorrow.
He had endured and lived quietly until now, but he could tolerate it no longer. In any case, he didn’t have many years left to live.
Desiring to sacrifice himself for the marketplace merchants one last time before he died, he had begun submitting complaints. Because the local government officials, long since in collusion with the underworld gangs…failed to do their jobs, he had submitted his grievances to the Murim Alliance branch. Yet despite submitting them multiple times, there had been no action whatsoever.
Jong Bae squatted down beside Old Man Go and spoke in a patronizing, soothing tone.
Why is someone who has lived long enough acting like this? Stop being greedy for money and let’s live quietly with a heart to help the younger generation.
What? Greed for money?
Old Man Go grabbed Jong Bae by the collar.
You bastard, do you call those words? Is that something that should come out of your mouth?
Jong Bae roughly shoved Old Man Go away and stood up.
Listen here, old man. You can file those complaints for a hundred days, but see if those branch bastards even show their faces.
If the branch won’t do it, I’ll go directly to the main headquarters and file it!
This damned old man! You won’t listen when I speak nicely, huh? Do you want to die?
Just kill me then. Kill me already!
You think I won’t kill you? That’s why you’re pulling this shit.
Thwack!
Jong Bae kicked Old Man Go ruthlessly in the face.
Old Man Go was thrown backward and collapsed.
The other thugs began smashing the shop’s goods in earnest.
The surrounding merchants stamped their feet in anxiety, but none dared step forward to stop the bloodthirsty Taejeong Faction thugs.
Right at that moment, a shout echoed from afar.
Hey, you bastards! Stop right there!
The eyes of the Taejeong Faction thugs turned in unison toward the origin of the voice.
The man running over was none other than Beon Saeng.
Recognizing Beon Saeng, Jong Bae stepped forward with a smirk.
Oh my, if it isn’t our Squad Leader Beon!
Jong Bae walked over and slung his arm around Beon Saeng’s shoulders in a friendly manner.
Your complexion looks radiant since I last saw you. Who’s that rookie? A new subordinate? Oh, our Squad Leader Beon gets to walk around with subordinates now—how stylish.
Take your hand off me.
Why are you in such a bad mood today?
I said take your hand off, you bastard.
Beon Saeng shoved Jong Bae’s hand away irritably and helped Old Man Go up.
Are you all right?
I’m fine.
But he was not fine. One of his eyes was so swollen he couldn’t open it, and blood trickled continuously from the corner of his mouth.
When Beon Saeng tried to lead him away, the Taejeong Faction thugs blocked their path.
Where do you think you’re going?
Jong Bae was in a foul mood because Beon Saeng had just shoved him away in annoyance. The lifeblood of underworld members was bravado, acting tough, acting ruthless, acting merciless. Especially in front of subordinates who constantly eyed his position.
Where else? I’m taking him to the physician.
The old man doesn’t look that hurt. Move aside. I’ll tell the boys to wipe the blood off him.
I told you to move.
When polite words failed to work, Jong Bae stepped close to Beon Saeng and whispered with a raspy voice.
If you don’t want to be humiliated in front of everyone, quietly get the hell out of here.
Though unheard by others, it reached the ears of Old Man Go standing right beside them.
Old Man Go said to Beon Saeng, “I’ll be fine. Don’t step in and bring harm upon yourself.”
He meant it for Beon Saeng’s sake, but those words completely shattered Beon Saeng’s already tattered pride.
Beon Saeng seated Old Man Go on a chair behind him, then turned to Jong Bae and the Taejeong Faction thugs, shouting in a booming voice:
You are all under arrest for violence and extortion. Drop all weapons you carry and get down on your knees!
Jong Bae, as well as all the Taejeong Faction lackeys, wore looks of utter disbelief.
What did you just say?
I said you’re all under arrest. Drop your swords immediately and get on your knees.
Jong Bae was not scared in the slightest. Instead, he stepped up to Beon Saeng and threatened him.
Squad Leader Beon, can you handle the fallout of this?
Can you handle me?
Beon Saeng’s fist slammed straight into Jong Bae’s face.
Thwack!
At the sudden blow, Jong Bae tumbled onto the ground. Before he could even get up, he screamed at the top of his lungs:
Kill that bastard!
Now that he had been beaten in front of his subordinates, it was a matter of all or nothing.
The Taejeong Faction thugs drew their weapons all at once.
Flames sparked in Beon Saeng’s eyes.
You bastards dare draw steel against a martial artist of the Murim Alliance?
Beon Saeng drew his sword and charged forward.
His first target was Jong Bae. Beon Saeng leapt into the air and kicked Jong Bae ruthlessly in the face just as he was picking himself up and drawing his sword.
Thwack!
Jong Bae sprawled back onto the ground once more.
A burly man nearby swung a broadsword wildly. Beon Saeng swiftly dodged the clumsy, downward strike and slashed his sword.
Swish, slash!
Beon Saeng’s blade sliced through the man’s thigh.
Spurt!
The thigh gaped open, spraying blood into the air. Suffering such a severe wound for the first time, the burly man fell into shock and shrieked in agony.
There was a clear gap in skill. None of the Taejeong Faction thugs present had properly learned martial arts. At best, they were thugs who had attended a martial arts hall for a few months, a year or two at most.
In contrast, Beon Saeng had trained since childhood and was a formal martial artist who had officially joined the Murim Alliance.
Another thug charged from the opposite side, thrusting his sword with a fairly decent posture. This one had a year of training under his belt.
Clang!
Beon Saeng parried the man’s sword swiftly and accurately. The moment the opponent staggered from the impact, Beon Saeng slashed the man’s arm mercilessly.
Spurt!
Aaaargh! It hurts! Aaaaaagh!
Clutching his arm, the man screamed as if he was dying. As blood gushed from his arm, the thug standing beside him lost all strength in his legs and collapsed onto his knees on the spot.
Even amidst all this, Beon Saeng kept in mind that he shouldn’t kill his opponents.
You bastards! Drop your swords! Drop them!
Although he held the upper hand in skill, Beon Saeng was also in a heightened state of excitement. In truth, this was his very first time slashing a real person with a blade. Where in this backwater branch would he ever have had a chance for real combat? Even the great war had passed over this place quietly.
Watch your back!
At someone’s warning, Beon Saeng twisted his body to dodge. Jong Bae, who had been lying on the ground, had launched a surprise attack from behind. As he barely dodged the man’s blade, blood splattered across his shoulder. The realization that he had almost died made Beon Saeng’s eyes turn wild.
You bastard!
Beon Saeng lunged at Jong Bae and thrust his sword forward.
Thrust! His enraged blade pierced through Jong Bae’s shoulder.
Aaaargh!
Clutching his shoulder as blood spouted out, Jong Bae rolled across the ground. Beon Saeng pursued him relentlessly.
You son of a bitch, I’ll kill you!
Swish!
Beon Saeng’s excited blade flew toward the neck of Jong Bae, who lay sprawled on the ground.
Tap.
The sword stopped inches away from Jong Bae’s throat.
Baek Socheon had grabbed his wrist and restrained him. He was also the person who had warned him to watch his back a moment ago.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not stopping you to spare his life. He tried to kill you from behind, so you’re well within your rights to kill him.
Guided by Baek Socheon holding his wrist, Beon Saeng’s sword lightly pricked Jong Bae’s neck.
Puncture.
As the blade entered lightly, a trickle of blood flowed down.
Now, it was actually Beon Saeng who held back his strength to prevent the blade from stabbing deeper into the neck.
Terrified, Jong Bae pleaded desperately, “S-Spare me! I’ll live honestly from now on!”
Still holding Beon Saeng’s wrist, Baek Socheon spoke up.
Do you really think that bastard will live honestly? It’s all lies. He’ll just seek revenge later.
Beon Saeng’s sword trembled violently with excitement. If he exerted just a tiny bit of force right now, the man would die.
With every tremor of the sword, blood trickled down Jong Bae’s neck.
Baek Socheon released his grip on Beon Saeng’s wrist.
It’s fine to kill him, but I stopped you so you’d kill him by your own will, not out of blind rage. This looks like your first kill. You should give your reason a choice as well.
Listening to Baek Socheon’s calm advice, Beon Saeng’s wildly agitated mind began to settle.
Finally, he could see his surroundings.
In front of him, Jong Bae was looking up at him with a terrified face, blood gushing from his shoulder.
The area was a bloodbath. Men slashed by swords lay scattered about groaning in pain, while the rest stood frozen with swords in hand, paralyzed with fear. Since the toughest among them had all been brought down, the rest didn’t dare attack.
Beon Saeng let out a long breath and said, “This is enough.”
With that, he slowly pulled his sword away from Jong Bae’s neck.
In his heart, he wanted to wipe them all out, but he was strictly a martial artist bound by the laws of the Murim Alliance.
Baek Socheon gave him a subtle nod, then turned to the remaining thugs standing hesitatingly with swords in hand.
Drop your weapons and kneel on the spot. One, two…
Before he could count to three, the remaining thugs dropped their swords in unison and dropped to their knees.
Baek Socheon asked Beon Saeng, “Do you regret it?”
Beon Saeng looked around once more. Thugs lying down screaming in pain, those applying pressure to stop their companions’ bleeding, those kneeling with heads bowed, and those who knelt yet glared with fierce hatred. If this shambolic scene were all there was, he would have undoubtedly said he regretted it.
However, beyond them, he saw the merchants.
They were rejoicing. Their flushed faces radiated a vitality he had never seen before.
After being harassed by those thugs every single day, seeing them beaten so thoroughly gave them a cathartic joy that made them want to dance. Hope bloomed in their eyes—a hope that they might finally be free from this torment.
Old Man Go walked over with his one usable eye open and wrapped a white cloth around the wound on Beon Saeng’s shoulder.
Are you all right?
I’m fine, old man. Go wipe your own blood. Your face is completely ruined.
Ah, my young friend, what does it matter if an old body destined for the grave gets a little beat up? Your body, with a long life ahead, is far more precious.
Saying so, he finished tying the bandage.
…Thank you for helping us.
The moment he heard those words, something hot surged inside Beon Saeng’s heart.
…No. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry for helping you only now.
Naturally, his gaze shifted to Old Man Go’s hands. Those thin, wrinkled hands wrapping his wound were the very hands he had deliberately turned a blind eye to and ignored for the past six years.
Right. This is the kind of work I became a martial artist for.
Looking at Baek Socheon, Beon Saeng offered a belated answer.
I don’t regret it.
Baek Socheon smiled faintly. It was merely a smirk, but it was the first smile he had shown since meeting Beon Saeng.
Now you actually look like a martial artist of the Murim Alliance. Well, since we’ve started, we ought to wrap things up properly.
At the mention of wrapping things up, Beon Saeng snapped back to awareness.
Right. This isn’t the end.
Far from over, this was only the beginning.
Jong Bae was merely an action captain of the Taejeong Faction. If the subsequent matters weren’t handled properly, not only himself, but Old Man Go and the merchants might face retaliation. Problems could also arise for the Branch Master and the branch office itself. The Taejeong Faction would naturally step in, and even the Myth Sect might make a move.
As those worries flooded in, his legs began to tremble belatedly.
This fight had also started because of Baek Socheon.
It wasn’t that he had pushed him to do it, but nevertheless, it had begun because of him.
Though they had only met a few days ago, Beon Saeng had gotten overly excited and insisted on serving him as his Big Brother, and had even promised to wipe out the underworld gang without being asked. Today, too, if he had wanted to avoid it, he could have turned a blind eye and walked away, yet he had jumped in anyway. Playing the drum and playing the gong all by himself, calling it a total mess would be an understatement.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him:
It felt like walking up to a scammer holding both hands full of medicine bags to demand an explanation, only to end up buying even more expensive medicine to carry home.
…Why did you do that back then?
It would be fine if someone else said those words, because a part of his own heart was already asking the same thing.
However, he feared that Baek Socheon might say it, feared that the man might deny everything when it had all started because of him. He feared that while Baek Socheon was merely a passing breeze in his life, he alone was acting like a madman starring in a dramatic storm.
Whether he knew Beon Saeng’s complex inner feelings or not, Baek Socheon squatted down beside the Taejeong Faction thugs who were trying to stop their bleeding.
Is this your first time getting cut by a blade? It hurts a lot, doesn’t it? If you press right here, it hurts even more.
Press.
Aggggggggh!
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