Wolf’s Den (4)

Seomun Hoe felt goosebumps rise.

The voice was no different from before, yet the force in it had changed. Just hearing it made the nape ache.

He forced himself to keep a blank face.

“It is simple. It’s evident that the Black Tiger Fist Sect has acquaintances in the Sichuan Branch. Word will have spread until they learned the Five Tigers Merchant Guild led this affair.”

“So they did this out of revenge.”

“Most likely.”

“Before that. They were one of the sects that ran illegal ventures with Mighty Tiger. Are they still untouched?”

“They appealed for leniency saying the deals were coercive. They claimed they did not really know the business.”

Jin-hyeon was speechless.

“Sects of Murim pleading that they could not resist a guild’s threats and traded under coercion. Are they in their right mind?”

It was an absurd excuse and something a Murim sect’s pride should not allow.

Seomun Hoe shook his head.

“In corruption probes they come down hard on officials under the Heavenly Will Alliance. They rarely touch local sects. There is history and tradition. They think it pays more to shackle and moderate.”

“Of course they do.”

It was also how old states ruled local gentry.

“So the Main Office Martial Examiner and the rest talk big yet are all in one boat.”

He was entangled in the affair so they should have summoned him. Yet there was no word. It meant they had dressed it up and closed the case.

“The Black Tiger Fist Sect’s excuse serves as the pretext. A named sect bowed that far so they could not avoid letting them off.”

“They thrashed.”

“The Sichuan Branch issued an order to refrain them from martial world activity for now.”

“That’s covering the eyes and pretending.”

“They mean to follow form only.”

“They do everything possible, truly.”

One wonders how they ever unified the world like this.

General Commander Oh Byung-chan had been right. The Heavenly Will Alliance as it is could fall at any time.

Reading the displeasure, Seomun Hoe clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Outside Central Headquarters, Sichuan has unusually strong branch power. Elsewhere a branch can hardly tell a sect anything. They likely side together and live well.”

“If I hear more my blood pressure will pop. So?”

“In any case this affair was shameful for the Black Tiger Fist Sect too. They keep quiet yet keep watching the Five Tigers Merchant Guild.”

“Even if they watch, do they even notice buying a house and land?”

“The owner here is the Sect Master’s wife’s brother.”

Jin-hyeon’s eyes narrowed.

“Do not tell me you are pulling a job because you took my investment?”

“Yes. I thought you might misunderstand. It is too coincidental.”

“Damn.”

Do-min rolled her eyes round and round.

She did not know who Seomun Hoe was. He sounded like someone of the Five Tigers Merchant Guild, yet from how he spoke he did not seem a man who made trade his work.

‘Investment. Misunderstanding. What is all this?’

Jin-hyeon patted Do-min’s head.

“I hear your head rolling like thunder. Just space out.”

“Yes.”

Jin-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“Then it is over, is it not? If they say they will not sell, what can we do? It’s not like we can threaten them with a blade.”

“I think we can.”

“What?”

“The owner here hates the Black Tiger Fist Sect.”

That makes the talk interesting again.

“He aged fast under his sister’s and brother-in-law’s pressure. They say they stripped him of much money. All he has left is this land. He tried to sell and leave, then they leashed and threatened him.”

“What kind of messed-up family is that?”

“Worse families than this fill the land.”

“True.”

Jin-hyeon folded his arms.

“So, what this means is that it is hard to resolve this under the Five Tigers Merchant Guild’s name?”

“If we were settled maybe, but now it is hard. We cannot send assassins either.”

“Wind down the assassin business.”

“I intend to.”

Seomun Hoe spoke frankly.

“If you wish, we can resolve it in the dark. If not, we must give this up. Bringing you here means you should see and decide yourself.”

Resolving in the dark meant an Unorthodox way. Assassination, abduction, threats, robbery.

Jin-hyeon shook his head.

“If we go like that, it cannot proceed as in the business plan you showed me.”

“We would have to try somehow.”

“Effort cannot guarantee results.”

“Then shall we look again?”

Jin-hyeon looked around.

It was truly a fine place even on second look.

“Min, how is it here?”

“Eh. What do you mean.”

Her eyes were truly vacant as if she had spaced out.

Clicking his tongue, Jin-hyeon asked.

“How is this site? I am thinking to move the house here.”

“There is no other peach blossom spring. Living here would make every worry vanish.”

“As expected.”

“But Master, you are broke.”

Seomun Hoe was startled and looked at Do-min.

Jin-hyeon shouted.

“I have a lot of money!”

“If you have a lot then you have a lot. Why shout.”

It was hard to tell if this was a quarrel.

Jin-hyeon gave a wry smile and Seomun Hoe truly marveled at Do-min’s strong heart.

“In any case I like it here too. Decisively….”

Jin-hyeon looked around.

“It feels like it links southern Sichuan and the center.”

“Exactly. The Black Tiger Fist Sect may grip this place to block the Five Tigers Merchant Guild’s advance.”

“It looks more like they’re just doing it out of spite.”

“It could be that.”

“The construction?”

“They will proceed once the deal fully closes. We must pay for the delay as well.”

Jin-hyeon made a decision.

“Guide me to the landowner.”

“Ah.”

“So I came in person without the broker.”

A man who looked in his early forties sighed.

“I am sorry. We even fixed the date, yet…”

Jin-hyeon looked at the man’s hair.

It was not for a white-haired man to say, yet he had many white strands.

‘I heard he was thirty-three.’

He had suffered so much that the white hair and wrinkles made him look ten years older.

Jin-hyeon spoke straight.

“I heard you have ties with a Fist Sect.”

“Where did you hear that…?.”

“Those who know will know.”

The man, Jang Pyeong, sighed.

“That is true.”

It seemed he did not know the brokered side was from the Five Tigers Merchant Guild.

Jin-hyeon continued.

“Let’s set aside each side’s circumstances and speak only of the matter.”

“There is hardly a matter to speak of. The Black Tiger Fist Sect is among the top ten sects in Sichuan. Even the Heavenly Will Alliance’s Sichuan Branch does not touch them. What can we do?”

He was rather simple.

In Jang Pyeong’s eyes, their might would exceed the branch. Sichuan was flipped upside down from Mighty Tiger’s corruption yet they were unscathed, so it was understandable for him to think so.

In a low voice, Jin-hyeon asked.

“Let’s confirm a few things. Do you want to sell this land?”

“Of course. I can no longer live in Sichuan.”

“One more. This is because of the Sect Master’s influence, not your sister who is his wife, correct?”

Sparks lit in Jang Pyeong’s eyes.

“To my eyes they are the same riffraff.”

He was simple, yet had a temper.

“I did not think she of all people would be like that. I piggybacked and raised her in our parents’ stead. How can blood do this?”

“I see.”

“Only my younger sister and I knew of the hidden assets. It seems my sister tipped the Sect Master. They came together and threatened me for investment money.”

Jang Pyeong buried his face in both hands.

“I cannot forget my sister’s scornful eyes.”

He cursed her yet since he had raised her on his back. The wound in his heart seemed greater than the money taken.

Jin-hyeon nodded.

“You did not sign a separate written contract with the Fist Sect then?.”

“I did not.”

“Then it is settled. Sell to me.”

With a tired face, Jang Pyeong shook his head.

“I cannot.”

“It is fine.”

“Though I care for myself, you will be harmed as well. I do not want needless blood spilled because of me.”

Simple with a temper and kind on top. Not bad.

“It will be safe. Rather.”

It was then.

“Master.”

“Yes. I heard it too.”

Jin-hyeon looked out the window.

The crossbar at the gate broke with a crack. If they broke the bar and came in without even calling for it to be opened, they were not normal by any means.

Jang Pyeong’s face turned ashen.

“Hurry and flee. They are the Fist Sect’s warriors.”

“Where would we go if we fled now.”

“Jump the wall. Hurry and flee.”

“Wouldn’t they have heard everything if you shouted like that?”

“Heuk.”

From farther away a young man’s voice was heard.

“Maternal uncle, your lovely nephew has come. Will you not even show your face.”

He mixed internal energy in his voice. The resonance was considerable.

“Who is it?”

“The Sect Master’s second son.”

“Your younger sister’s boy is already that grown. Then what of the first.”

“My sibling is the Sect Master’s second wife.”

That meant stepmother.

Jang Pyeong rose.

“I will buy time. Hurry and flee.”

The youth’s voice came again.

“Who are you whispering to send away like that. Are you womanizing behind your nephew’s back? Is it because you are ashamed?”

The warriors with him snickered.

Jang Pyeong hurriedly opened the door and stepped out.

“What brings you here again.”

“Oh. Your white hair has increased since we met.”

“I asked what brings you.”

“Why are you so low before your nephew? You may carry yourself like an uncle.”

Jang Pyeong’s face twisted.

If he treated him like a nephew as he said, curses and punches would fly. It had happened several times already.

He spoke with forced calm.

“State your business.”

“You’ve gotten scary since we last met. It looks like needles might spring from your eyes.”

Needles?

Jin-hyeon pressed the window frame with his thumb. With a crack he held sharp wood splinters.

“I told you to state your business.”

“You must be in a tangled mood. Well then, your nephew is busy too so I cannot play more.”

“…”

“I heard that a man and a girl came in. Let me see who.”

“H-how do you know that?”

“Rumor travels faster than words. Enough. Let us see the faces of those shivering hidden in that room.”

This was a wastrel through and through.

Do-min’s gaze turned cold. She looked ready to rush out and punch.

Jin-hyeon pressed her shoulder to seat her and opened the door.

“Huh? What? A grandpa? What is with your hair?”

He spoke like a joke yet looked at Jin-hyeon’s hair with real curiosity.

The youth stood six foot tall with a solid build. Even in the cold he wore sleeveless clothes and his arm muscles were substantial.

He was Wi Seong-woo, second son of the Black Tiger Fist Sect.

Jang Pyeong felt his vision go dark.

“I told you to flee, why on earth…!”

“The contract is done.”

“…?!”

Jang Pyeong looked back at Jin-hyeon in confusion.

By contrast, Wi Seong-woo and the five warriors’ faces went cold.

Jin-hyeon patted Jang Pyeong’s shoulder.

“You have suffered much in this trash of a place. Forget it all and live at ease.”

“H-hey.”

Then Wi Seong-woo cut in.

“Hey, uncle. Is what that white-hair said true?”

“N-no, that is not…!”

“I asked if it is true?”

Jin-hyeon pressed Jang Pyeong’s shoulder.

In that moment he sat without knowing. No force was used, yet his legs folded under him.

Jin-hyeon nodded.

“It is true.”

“And who are you? Do not tell me you made a contract with that uncle bastard without knowing who we—”

Pueok!

Wi Seong-woo’s words cut off.

Mouth agape, he shuddered and folded at the waist. His face went pale and veins bulged in his neck.

It was a kick delivered across three meters of distance. The tip of the foot planted dead center in the abdomen.

The warriors were shocked.

“Y-young Master.”

They did not know why he suddenly bent. Jin-hyeon’s kick was so fast it could not be seen from behind.

Wi Seong-woo flailed his hands.

The instant the warriors moved to support him.

Peobeok!

In a breath, Jin-hyeon closed the distance and fired three left punches.

The faces of the three warriors who took one each crumpled. They thrashed and dropped limp.

The two remaining gaped.

“Min.”

Seuk.

Do-min drifted to his side like a ghost.

“You called, Master.”

“Are two enough?”

“Just right.”

“Then give the two a lecture. The subject is What is fist technique.”

“I heed your command.”

Paak!

Before the words ended, Do-min’s fists flew viciously.

Jin-hyeon’s foot hacked at Wi Seong-woo’s knee.

Ppaggak!

The knee buckled yet there was no scream. His breath hitched hard.

As Wi Seong-woo fell off balance, Jin-hyeon pressed an acupuncture point and crouched with a knee on his abdomen.

“Needles will spring from the eyes, you said.”

Jin-hyeon shook the sharp wood splinters.

Each was thinner than a needle.

“Show me what that is like.”

Wi Seong-woo opened and closed his mouth. Words still did not come.

Jin-hyeon held his face with deliberate posture.

“If they are to spring out, they must be stored first. Do not blink.”