A Just Cause (1)

“Lord Divine Eye Gold Pillar.”

“Mhm.”

Seomun Hoe raised his cup and asked,

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“And the client?”

“He is at the Mighty Tiger Merchant Guild. According to the Black Society members, he has taken Guild Master Lee Ho-gon and Madam Oh Jeong-hae, and everyone else has been forced to kneel before the inner yard.”

Seomun Hoe gave a faint laugh.

“He’s a man who knows how to make it fun, as expected.”

“That aside, it makes the job easier. The eldest son, second son, and most of the guards are away on business, so it’s the perfect chance to strike.”

In other words, the entire outer yard was left bare.

Seomun Hoe drained his cup and nodded.

“Send the Four Hands of the Dark Soul and the Black Scarves to the Mighty Tiger’s main guildhall.”

“Yes.”

“Make sure the rumor spreads to every corner of Sichuan.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, have the Divine Iron and Fragrant Brocade merchant guilds been informed?”

“Of course. We spread the rumors around them yesterday.”

“They’ll move on their own. Still, keep an eye on their side just in case.”

“Yes.”

“And…”

Seomun Hoe’s eyes turned cold.

“There should be a register of those connected to the Sichuan branch of the Alliance of Heavenly Will. We couldn’t find it in our search, so the only place left is the main guildhall.”

“I’ll seize it without fail.”

“No. That won’t do.”

“Sir?”

“That list must be delivered to the client.”

“R-Really?”

“If we take it and try to wield it ourselves now, it will backfire. It will provoke the Alliance of Heavenly Will and could bring down the Black Society of Sichuan.”

“!”

“Take what should be taken, discard what should be discarded. Since the White Sword Seol Clan is close to the client, better to use that to make sure Mighty Tiger is destroyed.”

“I see.”

“What we seek is money and influence in the shadows. Never forget that.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“However—”

Seomun Hoe refilled his cup and said,

“If there’s a list of bribes spread to Sichuan’s prestigious houses, that we may take. If we find it, explain to the client and bring it back.”

“Explain it to the client?”

“Never handle things behind the client’s back. We don’t know how things will unfold, but for now, we must not crack the trust between us.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Good.”

Seomun Hoe emptied his cup with relish.

“If everything is ready, raise the curtain on the festival.”

Sitting on the steps with his chin in hand, Jin-hyeon’s face was full of satisfaction.

“Good.”

Before him, some seventy guards and fifty servants knelt twenty one meters away. It was truly a sight to behold.

It was reminiscent of when the Leader of the Eight Wastes Alliance first crushed the Ghost-Summoning Hall and accepted its surrender. Back then too, more than a hundred and fifty martial artists and servants had knelt with heads bowed.

These here didn’t bow their heads, but it was more than enough to bring back that feeling.

Unfortunately, Guest Three had lost his life, having lost his mind at the sight of Guest One and Two’s corpses and charged. The guards had no choice but to clear away the three masters’ and Man Gok’s bodies as soon as they entered the inner courtyard.

“If your legs cramp and you break posture, I’ll be mad. Stay kneeling politely. Keep your mouths shut too.”

The guards didn’t dare make a sound. Their captain was dead, the madam’s shocking words had shaken them, and they were left powerless. With the guards in such a state, the servants and maids could do nothing but sit in terrified silence.

Thanks to that, the Mighty Tiger Merchant Guild was quieter than ever.

Even as he enjoyed the sight, Jin-hyeon felt a twinge of doubt.

‘Are sects these days all like this?’

Before he had founded the Eight Wastes Alliance, the world had been nothing but chaos.

Martial artists’ lives were always short, but those days had been fierce. As many cowards as there were, there had also been men proud of their allegiance, and when they fought to the death, they fought brutally.

‘Well, this is a merchant guild, not a sect.’

Even so, their behavior was pathetic.

Jin-hyeon thought of the Seol Clan.

‘If the Patriarch of the Seol Clan were ever taken hostage…?’

They would all risk their lives to save him. Though knowing Seol Hong-baek’s nature…

‘Well, pointless speculation.’

Imagination was always fun, but there was no need to indulge it now. Whatever the case, the White Sword Seol Clan would show a completely different face than this.

After checking Lee Ho-gon and Oh Jeong-hae’s state, Jin-hyeon went down to where Lee Yong-do lay straight beneath the steps.

“Let’s see.”

Lee Yong-do was unconscious, his two legs twisted grotesquely.

Though the weather wasn’t cold, his teeth chattered, his face pale and his body shivering. The chill of the Body-Refining Bone-Press Art he had been infused with had spread through his whole body.

Especially in his lower body, many nerves were dead. He was practically a living corpse.

Jin-hyeon’s eyes grew cold.

“You bastard. Snoring away so well, aren’t you.”

He placed a hand on Lee Yong-do’s chest.

Wooong.

He infused him with Body-Refining Qi, then returned to the steps, one above where Lee Ho-gon and Oh Jeong-hae lay.

After a moment—

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

Lee Yong-do coughed and opened his eyes.

“Haah! Haah! C-Cold!”

He looked around wildly.

“What? Where is this? Blanket, bring me a blanket, you bastards. The floor’s too hard. Blanket—Heuk!”

Lee Yong-do, babbling like a fool, went pale.

Jin-hyeon smiled and waved.

“Hello.”

“…Grrrk.”

Frothing at the mouth, Lee Yong-do fainted again.

Jin-hyeon chuckled.

“I fix him so he’ll live longer, and he faints straightaway.”

He had halted the progression of the Bone-Press with Body-Refining Qi. It wouldn’t kill him.

In fact, for Lee Yong-do, living crippled was a greater hell. Besides, others would deal with his fate.

Jin-hyeon folded his arms and closed his eyes without a word. Now he only had to wait.

How much time passed like that?

“Haah!”

When Lee Ho-gon opened his eyes, a sharp pain seared his tongue. He had bitten it badly while fainted.

“Urgh.”

He was completely paralyzed below his neck and couldn’t move at all. He felt pain all over, yet could not move. It was maddening.

Panting as he checked himself, Lee Ho-gon suddenly jolted.

“Wh-What? Why are you here…?”

“Quiet.”

At Jin-hyeon’s voice, chills ran all through him.

‘Could it be this bastard?!’

Was it the pain? His head felt oddly clear.

Seeing the state of the guards, servants, Lee Yong-do, and Oh Jeong-hae, Lee Ho-gon asked in a calm voice,

“Sir.”

“…….”

“If you have demands, tell me.”

“And if I do? Will you listen?”

“Of course. So…….”

“What I want now is for you to shut up. So close your mouth and reflect on your life.”

Lee Ho-gon gnashed his teeth.

The anger and bitterness he had struggled to suppress began to seep out.

“What, what have I done so wrong? Is it a sin for a man to be greedy? What about the other sects? The other merchant guilds? Why me?!”

“…….”

“I only wanted to do well, to survive! I did the same as everyone else! Is that such a crime?!”

Jin-hyeon’s lips curled into a wicked grin.

“And so you’re ruined now, because you ran into someone stronger. I too am doing the exact same thing.”

“?!”

“If you went on a rampage to fill your belly, you should’ve known you’d be on the other end someday. What? It’s fine for you, but not for me?”

“I-I…….”

“And you cry injustice before me, you blockheaded bastard? I ought to rip your tongue out.”

Lee Ho-gon’s body trembled.

He was furious but dared not curse, and pleading was useless.

Nor did he have a righteous cause. He had appealed emotionally, but with that reply, there was nothing left to say.

Tears streamed down Lee Ho-gon’s face.

Jin-hyeon looked back up at the sky. The moon and stars shone clear that night.

How much time passed like that?

Rumble!

From afar in the outer courtyard came the sounds of hooves and wagon wheels.

As the guards turned their startled eyes—

“Keep your heads fixed. Who said you could move?”

At the chilling threat, the guards flinched and snapped their gazes forward again.

Moments later—

Thoom!

The gate linking inner and outer courtyards swung open, and four hooded masked men entered with four large wagons.

One of the masked men bowed.

“We greet Sir Jin.”

Jin-hyeon nodded.

“Is everything prepared?”

“Of course.”

Jin-hyeon spoke to the guards and servants.

“Clear the way, left and right.”

Over a hundred and twenty people shuffled sideways on their knees.

By then, Oh Jeong-hae too had come to her senses.

She gaped at the gathered guards and servants, at her fainted son beneath the steps, and then at the masked men and massive wagons.

Oh Jeong-hae’s eyes darted madly. She had no idea what was happening.

The masked men stepped up before Jin-hyeon and bowed.

“Shall we begin?”

“Yes. Take everything worth taking.”

“Ah, and the Gold Pillar instructed us to arrange matters regarding the registers.”

Jin-hyeon’s eyes gleamed.

“What did he say?”

“If the register concerns the Alliance of Heavenly Will, deliver it to you. If it concerns corrupt dealings with nearby sects or noble clans, retrieve it with explanation.”

Jin-hyeon smiled.

“He chose well. Knows where to be greedy, and where not to.”

“What shall we do?”

“Do as he said. But would this conniving bastard really keep such registers here?”

“They say they’ve scoured every suspicious place these past three days and found nothing. The most likely hiding place is the main guildhall.”

“Good thoroughness. Truly, men move best when there’s something to gain.”

“Then shall we begin now?”

“Do it.”

“With your leave.”

Two masked men in the rear split left and right, untying small pouches.

Amazingly, as soon as the pouches opened, the guards began to collapse. Several servants and maids behind them followed.

Jin-hyeon’s eyes gleamed.

“Is that sleeping powder?”

“An improved version. Those with shallow cultivation can’t withstand it.”

With the wind blowing toward the guards, its effect spread quickly.

It struck him as thorough. And indeed, not knowing how long this would take, such preparations were only proper.

‘Still, with such efficacy… Hm. Must be a rare item.’

Clunk.

More masked men descended from the wagons.

They swept through the Mighty Tiger Merchant Guild’s inner courtyard, searching every place of value. From their precision, it seemed they had memorized the layout by heart.

Watching in fear, Oh Jeong-hae pleaded with Jin-hyeon.

“G-Great Hero, if you’ve gotten what you want, then please let us—”

“Will you play the Red Hare for me?”

“Y-Yes! Anything…!”

“Then shut up a moment.”

Jin-hyeon nudged Lee Ho-gon with his foot.

“Hey. You made a register, didn’t you? Say no and I’ll kill you.”

Lee Ho-gon clamped his mouth shut. Already wretched enough, hearing the registers mentioned made his chest burn black.

Just as Jin-hyeon’s eyes turned cold—

“I know!”

“Mm?”

“I know exactly where he hid the registers! I know everything! There’s also plenty of money in his private vault too!”

Lee Ho-gon stared at Oh Jeong-hae, eyes bulging like saucers.

Oh Jeong-hae, tearful, said,

“I’ll tell you everything. I’ll show you everything! Just please spare my life.”

“You damned bitch!”

Jin-hyeon seized Lee Ho-gon’s nape to shut him up, and grinned broadly at her.

“Well, look at that—you’re playing the Red Hare just fine. That’s how you do it.”

“Thank you! Thank you, Great Hero!”

Jin-hyeon beckoned one of the Four Hands of the Dark Soul.

“Take this woman. She says she knows where the registers are.”

“Yes, sir.”

Released from her pressure point, Oh Jeong-hae was dragged off by the masked man.

Jin-hyeon rose and stretched wide.

“Ahh, this is refreshing.”

“…Sir.”

Lee Ho-gon bit his lips.

“The registers must not be touched. One wrong move and we’ll all die!”

“Whose life are you worried for? Yours? Or mine?”

“?!”

“If it’s yours, there’s no point. If it’s mine, don’t bother.”

Descending the steps, Jin-hyeon gazed up at the sky.

For some reason, the moon seemed brighter than before.

“What a truly rewarding day it is today.”