#120: The Fallen Ones (3) — The Patriarch of Sichuan

Once Jin-hyeon came outside, he returned straight to Han Cheol-sang.

Han Cheol-sang looked at the Patriarch’s face. His expression was calm, and his eyes were sharp.

Seureuk.

Without either leading, their figures melted into the shadows.

“…Phew.”

Only after they entered an alley where the estate’s outer wall was visible did the two finally stop moving.

“It was vicious.”

Han Cheol-sang’s face was quite cautious.

“While waiting, I quietly expanded my senses. I don’t think I’ve ever extended them this finely since learning martial arts.”

“Did you catch anything?”

“It was incredibly dense. Around the Patriarch’s Hall, there were hidden watchers scouting outward, but beyond them were people watching the Patriarch’s Hall itself. Just the ones I counted were well over twenty-two.”

“How strong were they?”

“That’s the crazy part. Is this really a merchant house? They weren’t quite on the level of the Gold Pillar, Seomun’s guards, but they didn’t feel far off either.”

People wouldn’t know how many assassins there were in the world.

Some were nobodies, and some belonged to groups that trained assassins professionally.

Because there were so many, truly skilled assassins were only a tiny few. And those training grounds were hidden thoroughly to avoid the Heavenly Will Alliance’s eyes, so they were hard to eradicate.

‘They must be Gyeong Do-cheon’s close men.’

He had heard a lot from Gyeong In-geol.

‘If what Patriarch Gyeong said is true, he wouldn’t have gathered men of that level in a rush. He must have been turning them into his people little by little for a long time.’

Jin-hyeon rubbed his chin.

‘Parricide. I should say it suits him.’

Then Han Cheol-sang asked bluntly.

“How was it on the Patriarch’s side?”

“Hm?”

“Well… either way, you’re not on terms where you can smile at each other.”

They had grown close, but even between close people, this kind of thing demanded caution.

Jin-hyeon let out a short laugh.

“It was nothing.”

That was right. It really was nothing.

Seeing him with death right in front of him had shaken his heart, and the word ‘Father’ had slipped out without him realizing.

That was all.

A father who could be neither tender nor cruel recognized his changed adopted son. He acknowledged the past where he had stood by and watched his real son, and he didn’t deny his own cowardice.

The adopted son who returned from death settled the old debts. The favor was accounted for, and the grudge had never existed in the first place.

With that, the tie between them ended. Their private tie ended like that.

“I made a deal.”

“A deal? With whom?”

“With Patriarch Gyeong.”

Han Cheol-sang’s expression turned awkward for an instant.

He knew the hidden story of the Divine Iron Merchant House from what he’d heard, but it was startling that Jin-hyeon called the man he had served as an adoptive father for over ten years ‘Patriarch Gyeong’ without hesitation.

If he were being cold on purpose to forget the past tie, he could understand. But he could tell. The Patriarch had truly sorted out his heart.

‘He really is like a blade.’

He would take care of his own people even if he had to push himself, but once a tie ended, he didn’t look back. That was how Jin-hyeon lived.

“What deal did you make?”

“He asked me to protect the clan.”

Han Cheol-sang frowned.

He was surprised at Jin-hyeon’s coldness, but to begin with, he didn’t think well of Gyeong In-geol.

There were many cases of taking in an adopted child out of necessity. Among them were countless perverts who took in pretty girls as adopted daughters and made them into playthings.

You couldn’t compare him to that, but that didn’t make Gyeong In-geol a good person. Coveting Jin-hyeon’s talent was one thing, but slighting him as time passed was clearly petty.

‘If so, he should’ve taken him in as a worker, not an adopted son.’

He probably did it because he didn’t want him taken by another iron guild.

“How shameless.”

There was nothing to weigh in words. Han Cheol-sang showed what he felt without holding back.

“That just means he’s that desperate. That man got done in by that bastard Gyeong Do-cheon.”

“Eh?”

Jin-hyeon told him everything he had discussed with Gyeong In-geol.

“What kind of insane son of a bitch does that?”

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes went wide, and he flared up as if it were his own affair.

Jin-hyeon gave a bitter smile.

“Right.”

“No matter how strong his lust for power is, still, wouldn’t the Patriarch’s seat have ended up in his hands later anyway?”

“Seems there was conflict while pushing to turn it into a full-fledged merchant house. I heard it’s been like that for a few years. Well, only they know the exact circumstances.”

Jin-hyeon rubbed his chin.

“What matters isn’t their family business. It’s what we gain from this deal.”

“What did Patriarch Gyeong put up as the trade item?”

“Freedom.”

“Huh?”

At Jin-hyeon’s continued explanation, Han Cheol-sang tilted his head.

“He accepted that contradictory situation?”

“He did.”

Han Cheol-sang couldn’t understand Gyeong In-geol’s heart.

But if he thought about it differently, it wasn’t completely incomprehensible either. No one in the world would want a red line left in their records.

“Either way, if it’s decided, we can proceed right away. And settle your grudge as well.”

Han Cheol-sang pointed with his chin toward the Divine Iron Merchant House.

“Let’s go. That bastard Gyeong Do-cheon should be inside, right?”

“He isn’t.”

“Huh?”

Jin-hyeon said blandly.

“If he were, I’d have torn off all his limbs. Why would I have come out like this?”

Thinking about it, it was true.

“Where is he?”

“Fragrant Brocade Merchant Guild.”

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes widened.

Back when Mighty Tiger was still strong, Fragrant Brocade and Divine Iron together were called the Three Great Merchant Guilds of Sichuan.

Now that Mighty Tiger was gone, the Divine Iron Merchant House and the Fragrant Brocade Merchant Guild were like the two-horse carriage of Sichuan commerce. Of course, the Five Tigers Merchant Guild was chasing behind them without anyone knowing.

“Why there?”

“Enough. First, I need to find one person.”

“Who?”

Jin-hyeon scratched his head.

“The person who started passing the head’s seat of the Divine Iron Merchant House by blood instead of ability.”

The next day.

“Teacher.”

Jin-hyeon was startled when he arrived at the lodging.

“Patriarch?”

Seol Hong-baek was there.

As always, he welcomed Jin-hyeon with a generous smile.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard So-ha was injured and rushed here at once. I arrived this morning.”

“I see.”

No matter how weighty the clan’s affairs were, could they be more important than one’s child?

He didn’t want to, but Jin-hyeon couldn’t help comparing the Seol Clan and the Divine Iron House.

A father and daughter who cherished each other deeply even in an atmosphere strict beyond measure. A father and son who formed a relationship built on need, and became entangled in parricide when conflict escalated.

Even if he settled debts and cut the tie, the life he had lived didn’t vanish. Jin-hyeon couldn’t help but like the Seol father and daughter.

“How much trouble have you had, being with that immature child?”

“Immature? Where would you find an old-souled child like Lady Seol?”

There was nothing he wouldn’t say in front of a man’s father. Han Cheol-sang, standing beside them, was horrified.

Seol Hong-baek burst into hearty laughter.

“Since Teacher looked after my daughter so well, I don’t even know how to show my thanks.”

“I came because I wanted to. Anyway, have you seen Lady Seol?”

“I have.”

Seol Hong-baek’s face was unexpectedly calm.

“The measures were perfect. The physician said she would likely open her eyes by tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“That’s a relief.”

Jin-hyeon smiled bitterly.

“That winner bastard was pretty vicious.”

“That’s what I heard.”

A similar smile appeared on Seol Hong-baek’s face.

“Living in the Kangho, worse injuries than this are bound to happen, are they not? So-ha must have learned greatly from this bout. I decided to think only of that.”

Even someone with an iron heart would find it hard to stay cold when it involved their child.

He spoke like this, but he must have been crying tears of blood inside. It was only because the other party was Jin-hyeon. Otherwise, he would have wanted to drink himself senseless.

As Jin-hyeon nodded in silence, he suddenly looked at Han Cheol-sang, Im Yeo-wol, and Do Il-gang.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced my people yet. You’ve seen Yeo-wol, right?”

He introduced the three one by one.

Seol Hong-baek also bowed his waist toward the three as they bowed and greeted him.

“I am Hong-baek, who leads a modest clan in Sichuan. Since I revere Teacher as my lifelong benefactor, all three of you are like honored guests to me. If you have any difficulty, speak at any time.”

The three felt their bodies stiffen without realizing.

As the Patriarch of the White Sword Seol Clan, he could treat anyone lightly and it wouldn’t be strange. Yet he bowed so politely that it became embarrassing instead.

After the introductions ended, Seol Hong-baek said,

“Teacher, do you have a moment?”

“Let’s go. I know a place that’s good for walking.”

After a while, the two walked along a small forest path.

“I came because of So-ha, but in truth, I also had business with Teacher.”

“Go on.”

Seol Hong-baek stopped walking.

“The leader of the Five Tigers Merchant Guild has formally requested a meeting.”

“I see.”

Jin-hyeon wasn’t surprised.

Meeting through him would be best, but even if not, it wasn’t a problem. As long as the Five Tigers Merchant Guild didn’t force a blunder, it could still be a good meeting.

“They regard Teacher as a great benefactor.”

Jin-hyeon snorted.

“Benefactor, my ass. They probably wish I’d die sooner. The money I invested isn’t small.”

Seol Hong-baek smiled.

He didn’t ask where that money came from. He had his guesses, and he didn’t want to trouble the other party with sensitive personal matters.

“Just hearing you say that, I can tell it’s a close relationship.”

It was true it was a close relationship. He was the major investor.

“I’ll only know the details once we meet, but it seems they want to make a deal with terms favorable to our house. They mentioned Teacher’s name in that regard as well.”

“They’re crawling on their own to you, Patriarch. I never asked them to favor you.”

“Heh.”

He only laughed, but Seol Hong-baek knew. Jin-hyeon had put in a lot of effort for both sides’ dealings.

“Since I receive help like this every time, it only feels daunting when I’ll ever repay the favor.”

“It goes both ways. That aside.”

Jin-hyeon asked evenly.

“What is it you want to say to me?”

After pausing briefly, Seol Hong-baek asked bluntly.

“Black Bamboo Fort was dealt with by the Black Tiger Fist Sect. Did you know?”

Jin-hyeon nodded.

“I do.”

“Not long ago, I heard through the Hundred Ears Corps that Teacher has conflict with the Black Tiger Fist Sect.”

“…”

“Perhaps, in this matter…”

“That’s right.”

Jin-hyeon looked straight at Seol Hong-baek.

“I used the Black Tiger Fist Sect Leader like a puppet and crushed Black Bamboo Fort.”

“!”

“Furthermore, I struck down all the leadership of the Divine Spear Clan, Abundant Prosperity Guild, and Black Bamboo Fort who participated in the Radiant Sword Festival.”

“…”

“And now, I think I’ll settle my personal grudge as well.”

He conveyed what he hadn’t said until now, one by one, without hiding anything, plainly.

Seol Hong-baek, looking at Jin-hyeon with trembling eyes, let out a sigh.

“Truly, I’ve lived like a blind man with eyes open.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand.”

“No, I’m not blaming Teacher. What right do I have to blame you? I only feel sorry instead.”

“There’s no reason for you to feel sorry, Patriarch…”

“Teacher has been fighting a difficult battle alone, and I could not help at all.”

Jin-hyeon’s eyes trembled no less than Seol Hong-baek’s.

“You don’t know, Patriarch. The reason why I attacked them.”

“Whether I know or not doesn’t matter. Because I trust Teacher.”