The Black Market Incident (2)

This incident began when Ma Jong-hwan, known as the Living-Dead Eccentric and one of the great physicians of the era, was commissioned by Go Ju-yong, the Black-Market Traveler and master of the Black Market, ruler of the southwest of Guizhou and one of the Guizhou Eight Generals, to concoct an elixir.

Promised a great reward, Ma Jong-hwan produced an elixir of excellent quality, befitting his reputation. His skills were so outstanding that Go Ju-yong offered him a place in the Black Market.

But to Ma Jong-hwan, once hailed as the foremost of the wandering physicians in the martial world, the Black Market—merely a local power in Guizhou’s backwater—was hardly worthy of notice.

Naturally, he refused, and so Go Ju-yong bore a grudge against him.

Seeking leverage, Go Ju-yong investigated him and discovered that Ma Jong-hwan was recently preparing to create a unique spirit pill of his own design.

The truth was that Ma Jong-hwan had accepted Go Ju-yong’s commission only to fund the materials for his spirit pill.

Of course, once Go Ju-yong found out, he would not sit idly by. He secretly shadowed Ma Jong-hwan until the spirit pill was complete, then ambushed him.

Although Ma Jong-hwan’s martial arts were not weak, and he managed to escape with the pill, he could not save his two children.

His two daughters—though some rumors claimed it was a son and a daughter—were captured by Go Ju-yong.

Naturally, Go Ju-yong used them as hostages to threaten him. Hand over the pill quietly, if he wished his children to live.

In such circumstances, most fathers would have tearfully exchanged the pill for their children. But Ma Jong-hwan was not an ordinary father.

His temper was so eccentric that even his epithet bore the word “Eccentric”.

Rather than surrender his spirit pill, he flew into a rage and instead offered a bounty to the entire martial world.

To whoever would slay Go Ju-yong, he promised five of his spirit pills—surpassing even Summoning Pills in worth.

Shocked, Go Ju-yong hurriedly mobilized the entire might of the Black Market to hunt him down.

If things went wrong, his life could be claimed by any master lured by the bounty.

From that moment, catching Ma Jong-hwan quickly became essential for his own survival.

When I finished explaining this much, Bi Sayoung frowned and asked, displeased,

“I get your story, but what does that have to do with us, sneaking around the Black Market’s walls on our hard-earned leave?”

At that, I rebuked him with a stern face.

“Sayoung! As a disciple of the righteous and prestigious Bijong Sect, how can your blood not boil after hearing such injustice?! I can’t help but be disappointed in you! All this time, I was proud knowing you were learning the noble spirit of the righteous and prestigious Bijong Sect, yet how could you…!”

Before I could finish, Bi Sayoung squeezed his eyes shut in surrender.

“Fine! Enough already! I’ll do it, I said I’ll do it!”

When Bae Jonggwan opened his mouth to say something, I solemnly cut in first.

“As for you, Jonggwan, disciple of the righteous and prestigious Golden Vajra Sect, trained in the Vajra Indestructible Heart Technique—surely you agree with my cause, do you not?”

His mouth half open, Bae Jonggwan closed it again, drooping as he nodded.

At that moment, Captain Seol Pung muttered with a resigned face,

“Well, I’m not particularly from the righteous sects….”

“Anyway! That’s why we’re here—to set true justice upon this unrighteous and inhumane matter!”

Of course, after restoring justice, I intended to pocket a few spirit pills—but that wasn’t the main point.

The important thing was justice, after all.

Though Captain Seol Pung muttered something like, “I only came because you promised me good hospitality,” I chose to ignore it.

Then Bi Sayoung asked,

“But still, shouldn’t we have gone to find this Ma Jong-hwan fellow and helped him directly? Why are we here instead?”

I wagged my finger at him.

“Think, Sayoung. Why didn’t Ma Jong-hwan trade his spirit pill for his children, but instead placed a bounty on Go Ju-yong’s head?”

“Um… because his temper was eccentric?”

Not entirely wrong. Everyone in the martial world believed that, after all.

And without the memories of my past life, I would have thought the same.

But knowing the future, I quietly countered,

“If Ma Jong-hwan had given him the pill, would Go Ju-yong really have released him and his daughters? We’re not just talking about a few pills—Ma Jong-hwan could create them continuously.”

“…Huh?”

“Ahhh!”

“That’s true!”

Even Go Ju-yong, who had betrayed a man he had just traded with, would never have kept his promise.

Realization dawned on Bi Sayoung.

“So, Ma Jong-hwan already knew Go Ju-yong wouldn’t keep his word?”

“Exactly. And another point—by doing this, he made Go Ju-yong lose interest in his daughters as hostages. He shifted all attention solely onto the spirit pills.”

“Ahh, I see.”

“Indeed. Now his daughters would fade from public concern, leaving only the spirit pills and Go Ju-yong at the center of everyone’s focus.”

Both Seol Pung and Bi Sayoung nodded in admiration.

Bae Jonggwan looked confused, but I let it go.

It wasn’t critical for him to understand just yet.

In truth, in my past life Ma Jong-hwan’s gamble half-succeeded.

A master, lured by the true spirit pills, annihilated Go Ju-yong and his forces.

But when Go Ju-yong was slain, his furious son Go Mu-sang killed Ma Jong-hwan’s two daughters, ending it all in tragedy.

Ma Jong-hwan, in his grief, swore to serve for life anyone who could utterly destroy the Black Market.

And that oath was fulfilled when the Black Market was eventually wiped out.

Now Captain Seol Pung spoke seriously,

“Then our task is first to rescue Ma Jong-hwan’s daughters.”

As expected of a captain.

I smiled and nodded.

“Correct, Captain.”

Then Bi Sayoung asked,

“But how? The Black Market is one of the Guizhou Eight Generals, one of the greatest sects in all Guizhou! Can we really manage this on our own? Do we even know where they’re held?”

A good question. That’s why I had just stopped by the Hao Clan’s branch to find out.

“Normally, yes, it would be impossible. But right now, Go Ju-yong has taken most of his forces out in pursuit. In other words, this place is practically empty. Plus, I got the Hao Clan to investigate possible locations. There are three likely spots: the dungeon, the warehouse, and a secret chamber in Go Ju-yong’s quarters. We’ll split up and hit them all.”

On the dirt floor, I sketched a rough layout of the Black Market, marking the three sites.

“The dungeon will likely be the most heavily guarded, so Captain, that’s for you. The warehouse is said to be least guarded, so Sayoung, that’s yours. I’ll take the secret chamber in Go Ju-yong’s quarters.”

At my words, both the captain and Sayoung nodded, their eyes gleaming. Then Bae Jonggwan nervously asked,

“Uh, then what about me? What do I do?”

I stared at him warmly and replied,

“A fine question, Jonggwan. You’ll handle the most important task—the one only you can do.”

“T-the most important task?”

At the Black Market’s front gate, eight warriors in armor stood guard, yawning.

“Two nights of consecutive duty… my whole body aches.”

“And tomorrow again, right? If that Ma Jong-hwan fellow isn’t caught, we’ll be stuck here forever.”

“Just thinking of it makes me sick. All this because of that raccoon-like bastard. I wish they’d just catch him already.”

“Hmph! Strictly speaking, it’s not even his fault. It’s the Master’s greed for his pills. And dragging out all our men just to catch one guy—that was the Master’s choice too.”

“Shh! Are you mad? What if someone hears you?!”

“Who’d hear? It’s only us. Anyway, I heard that eccentric’s kids are real beauties. Maybe we should sneak a taste while no one’s around—”

“Kh-heh-heh! You’re insane.”

As they chatted, a huge shadow appeared in the open space before them.

“Wait! What’s that?!”

“Huh?!”

The gate guards tensed as they saw a massive, muscular figure approaching.

Step by step, the towering man walked straight toward the Black Market’s gate.

Certain now of his destination, one guard shouted,

“Stop! State your name and business! What brings you to the Black Market at this hour?!”

The giant halted and declared,

“I am Bae Jonggwan of the Golden Vajra Sect! Having long admired the Black Market, I came straight here from the mountains to join! Take me to your Master at once!”

The absurd request left the guards dumbfounded.

“Golden… what? Golden Vajra Sect?”

“You came to join? At midnight?”

“And want to meet the Master straight away? Is this guy insane?”

But under Jin Seonu’s strict instructions to act shameless, Bae Jonggwan ignored them completely.

Instead, he raised his voice louder.

“I’ve traveled far to reach this place! Bring me to your Master now!”

His booming voice made one guard frown as he tried to reason with him.

“Listen. If you want to join, come back in daylight. Stirring trouble at midnight will only cause suspicion. And how could you expect to see the Master straight away? Even we rarely meet him.”

The logic was sound.

Normally, Bae Jonggwan would have struggled to respond.

But Jin Seonu had told him in advance: ignore complicated questions.

So he shouted again, even louder,

“I am Bae Jonggwan of the Golden Vajra Sect! Bring me to your Master immediately!”

Now the guards realized something was wrong.

Their expressions darkened as they threatened him.

“Silence! Come back in daylight if you truly want to join. Cause any more trouble and we’ll cut you down!”

At that, Bae Jonggwan scoffed.

“Cut me down? You? Kh-hahaha! Don’t make me laugh!”

His mocking laughter enraged the Black Market warriors.

As demonic sect fighters, patience was not their virtue.

“This bastard! You’ll only learn after you bleed!”

One of them charged with a blade.

“Haaaap!”

But the next moment, he realized something was terribly wrong.

CLANG!

“Urgh?!”

The sensation was strange—like striking an iron pillar. Pain throbbed in his hands as his blade vibrated madly.

Bae Jonggwan glared and growled,

“You really tried to cut me?!”

With one hand, he seized the man, lifted him like a toy, and hurled him straight into the gate.

“Uwaaaagh!”

CRAAASH!

The gate shook violently with a thunderous crash. The guard slid down, flattened like a frog.

A body hard as steel, arms hurling men like stones—

The other guards dared not take him lightly now.

Blades rang out as they surrounded him.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

“Don’t move!”

“How dare you cause trouble at the Black Market’s gate!”

But Bae Jonggwan shouted in protest,

“Who caused trouble?! He drew his blade on me first!”

Just then, the gate opened and Yo Jeoksam, the Black Market’s Patrol Hall Chief, appeared.

“What’s all this racket?!”

The guards brightened at his appearance.

But before they could explain, Bae Jonggwan quickly spoke first,

“I am Bae Jonggwan of the Golden Vajra Sect! I came to join the Black Market, but they suddenly drew their blades on me without cause!”

This too was Jin Seonu’s instruction: if someone important appeared, claim he was unjustly attacked.

Yo Jeoksam’s eyes widened, and he turned to the guards.

“Is this true?!”

Sweating profusely, the guards stammered excuses.

“N-no… that’s not….”

In the quiet night air, distant shouts and crashing echoed faintly.

Bae Jonggwan had begun his distraction.

I glanced around and spoke briefly.

“Let’s go!”

Clad in black, we vaulted the wall like soaring birds, slipping over as silently as night cats.

Not a sound betrayed us.

We signaled each other with our eyes, then split off to our assigned targets.

I headed toward the front.

Moving between buildings, I met almost no one.

It was plain the Black Market was emptied of people.

When I did encounter someone, I slipped past unseen, until at last I reached a heavily guarded three-story pavilion.

That had to be the Master’s residence.

Four guards stood at the gate, with four more circling the building on patrol.

The defense was tight, so instead of the gate, I crept to the rear, biding my time.

But the patrols left no blind spots, moving like interlocking gears.

I recalled books from Father’s library, some even on assassin tactics—stealth and infiltration methods.

One strategy had said: the best ruse for infiltration is the “sound in the east, strike in the west.”

Slipping away, I climbed onto the roof of another quiet building, then returned after setting a trap.

I waited.

When the grass stem I had used to suspend a roof tile finally snapped—

PLUNK!

“There! What was that?!”

“Who goes there?!”

The patrol ran toward the sound.

“It’s just a fallen tile?”

“Why would a sound tile drop?”

“Maybe damaged in the last storm. Report it for repair later.”

“Scared me. Especially with that ruckus at the gate.”

By the time they finished inspecting, I was already inside, having slipped in through a second-floor window.

The latch had been cut silently by a thin blade of sword energy.

The second floor was empty.

I crept up the stairs to the third floor.

As expected, it was silent.

Go Ju-yong was known to hate anyone approaching his quarters—no one dared come near.

Satisfied, I smiled as I quietly opened the door to his room.

And froze.

Inside, seated bare-skinned on the bed, was a young man.

Our eyes met.

“Gasp!”

Both of us widened our eyes in shock.