The Start Of The Cleanup (3)

“So that’s what happened?”

“Yes.”

The answer came out ridiculously easy.

I’d thought they would move cautiously, but I didn’t expect them to request information from the Black Society.

“This is getting interesting.”

Plenty have ended their lives in vain by overthinking. But still, I didn’t expect things to go this smoothly.

“Which side requested for the intel?”

“They didn’t give their name or affiliation.”

“Quite a few warriors left the Abundant Prosperity Guild’s lodgings. It’d be best if it were them, but if the other Houses aren’t controlling their people, we’ll have to wait. What about the other fronts?”

“I’ll collect and return with the information within an hour.”

An hour later.

“A warrior from the Abundant Prosperity Guild stopped by both the Divine Spear House and the Black Bamboo Fort?”

“Yes. The Divine Spear House looked ready to move, but they quieted down after the man from the Abundant Prosperity Guild visited.”

“With his boy half-broken, his rage at me must have pierced the heavens.”

He’d want to make a move, but with too many eyes on him, and my martial skill, he’d be hesitating.

Even so, Jin-hyeon figured Song Cheol-gwang would come for him. It was his eldest, after all. That might not have been the case if the kid had just come back with a few broken limbs, but half-deranged and half-senseless? He would be blind with rage.

‘And yet he didn’t move readily… He swallowed it just because of onlookers? That’s none of my concern, but his son was humiliated in front of the late-generation prodigies. That had to be hard to swallow.’

And then a warrior heading for the Black Bamboo Fort besides.

Jin-hyeon’s eyes flashed.

“Now look at that…? Doesn’t that mean that more than one of them joined hands with the Lee brothers?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. From here on out, I’ll show myself in public with Lady Seol. You’ve put people with Brother Han and Yeo-wol, yes?”

“Yes.”

“If anything suspicious shows, have Yeo-wol come straight to me. Brother Han will handle himself, just back him up.”

“I will.”

After setting things in motion, Jin-hyeon went straight to Seol So-ha.

“Teacher, you’re here.”

“Shall we go eat?”

“Gladly.”

They went down to the first floor, ate, and then wandered the market.

Most passersby stole glances at Seol So-ha. They couldn’t gape openly, but admiration was plain on their faces.

“Is it burdensome?”

“Huh? Ah, a little.”

“Get used to it. You’ll only be getting more famous from here on out.”

“Me?”

“You’re cultivating strong martial arts on top of that beauty. Even if the world changes, the nature of the Murim doesn’t. People admire the strong. You’ll be loved even more.”

A faint flush touched Seol So-ha’s face.

“I only train with single-minded focus.”

“Good. ‘Getting used to people’s eyes on you’ just means you should put your mind at ease. It doesn’t mean you should grow careless or arrogant.”

Seol So-ha looked up at Jin-hyeon.

She was tall for a woman, but Jin-hyeon stood a few inches taller.

His skin was fair and clear like those of the Seol bloodline, his face handsome, and the white hair lent him a striking mystique.

“You stand out more than I do, Teacher, but strangely no one looks at you.”

“It’s because I’m suppressing my presence.”

“Huh?”

“I got the idea from Brother Han’s spell array. If I can project my presence strongly, I can also reduce it. The white hair is what it is, but I prefer not to be a spectacle, so I’m dampening it on purpose.”

Seol So-ha’s eyes widened slightly.

“Such a thing is possible?”

“It wouldn’t be impossible for you. If you refine your True Qi control further, you’ll be able to mute it unconsciously.”

“That’s remarkable.”

“Apparently everything’s remarkable to you.”

His offhand tone only made it seem more remarkable to her.

Come to think of it, nothing about what Jin-hyeon had done or shown so far was ordinary.

For the big things, he had brought down the Mighty Tiger Merchant Guild and solved a murder case. After thoroughly investigating everything in advance, he followed up with decisive action and wrapped matters up with ease. The entire process seemed perfectly natural, yet it was filled with a drive and sharp wits that few could ever display.

Even on a smaller scale, his individual prowess stood out, his perspective was different from others, and his insight was especially keen.

So when a man like that came to the Seol Clan with the Tianshan Arts in hand and bowed his head, saying he wished to repay a debt, it was only natural that anyone would be shocked.

Seol So-ha could no longer write off the Seol Clan’s meeting with Jin-hyeon as chance.

It was, in a way, a fate granted by heaven. Jin-hyeon’s demeanor, brimming with confidence yet unfailingly courteous toward the Seol Clan, was undeniably a burden, but it was also something they could only feel grateful for.

“By the way.”

“Mm?”

“Cook Han called you Patriarch.”

“Ah, that? I told the Seol Patriarch, but it seems it didn’t reach you.”

Seol So-ha’s eyes lit up.

“You intend to found a clan?”

Jin-hyeon chuckled.

“I wondered, does a clan only exist if I shout, ‘I’m founding one!’?”

“Eh?”

“I’m a man with nowhere to go. But I decided to tie myself to the Seol Clan and put down roots nearby. I serve only myself, and if one, then two people gather at my house, isn’t that a clan?”

“Ah…!”

“Of course, since I’ve trained in martial arts, you can’t say I have no ties to the Murim. If you had to classify it, I’d be counted as a martial household. I’ll grow stronger to protect my people, and I’m even thinking of building a fighting force like the Seol Clan. But that’s only the result of doing what I want, it doesn’t mean I have some grand ambition to become the founder of a great clan. I’m just a patriarch, that’s all.”

“That’s an unusual view.”

“Is it? No matter. I haven’t fixed how to shape my house. I have an outline, sure, but the world doesn’t even promise tomorrow.”

“May I hear what that outline looks like?”

“What’s this? Checking me already?”

Seol So-ha flustered.

“N-no, of course not.”

“I’m kidding. Like I told the Patriarch, there are no fences in my clan.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll act as I wish, and as my desire leads. Like the generous Seol Patriarch, I’ll beat down those who disgrace common folk and make life better for those around me. That’s goal one.”

“?!”

“To fill this world with more people like the Seol Patriarch. To sweep away what offends my eyes and leave the good people standing. Since I am, in the end, working for the sake of the good people I recognize, Patriarch Seol, and Lady Seol can, in a way, be counted as part of my clan.”

She couldn’t tell if that was grand ambition, or arrogance to the extreme.

“So your ‘clan’ is more a conceptual order than a concrete power?”

“That’s quite the misunderstanding.”

“Eh?”

“It’ll serve as a very real power. Of course, that’s only if my sketch proceeds as drawn.”

“…”

“Honestly, one day I might light up and declare I’ll build the strongest order under heaven. I plan to live as my desire leads.”

Seol So-ha found it hard to fully grasp his words.

“Enough dull talk, let’s get a skewer. They look delicious.”

“Eh? Ah, shall we?.”

Skewers in hand, they strolled the market together.

It was chilly, but the crowd kept the cold at bay.

After more than two hours of browsing like that.

One passerby brushed past Jin-hyeon and slipped a small letter into his hand.

His gaze sank low.

He quietly opened it, read, and spoke evenly.

“Lady Seol, head back and rest. The main round is tomorrow, so go and settle your mind.”

Seol So-ha’s eyes flashed.

“Have things been set in motion?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there nothing I can do to help?”

“I can’t step onto the platform in your stead. It’s your duel.”

Jin-hyeon looked up at the sky.

The sun was sinking behind the western hills.

“This night’s battle is mine.”

“Guild Master. Letters have arrived for you.”

“Bring them.”

Gu Yong-seon’s eyes sharpened as he swiftly read the three letters.

Gu Hee asked.

“What’s the content?”

“It seems true.”

“Huh?!”

“Right now, a dozen warriors are passing through a low hill to the northwest. Trailing them, one and half kilometers behind in a straight line, are fifty or so in black robes, dispersed.”

“!!”

“Those fifty wear black-painted cudgels and cords at their belts.”

Gu Hyeon’s eyes wavered.

“Constables.”

“If they can’t approach any closer, that confirms it.”

“I’ll go.”

“No, you mustn’t.”

Gu Yong-seon rose.

“Among them is a man named Mong Hyeong. He’s a master from the Heavenly Will Alliance’s Central Headquarters. He’ll be little different from your father in skill.”

“!”

“We don’t know what will happen, so I will go to that spot. Hyeon, pick a few swift men and sow confusion in the constables’ pursuit.”

Gu Hee nodded.

“I’ll go as well.”

“Be cautious. They’re elite constables.”

“If we’re caught, we’ll do as Hyeon says. Don’t worry.”

“You two won’t be enough. Move with the Black Bamboo Fort’s Second Fort Master.”

“Understood. Ah, what about the Divine Spear Patriarch?”

“I’ll stop by and bring him along. It’s on the way anyway.”

“Be careful, Father.”

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing much. If worst comes to worst, I’ll cut down Mong Hyeong and the constables.”

Killing constables of the Investigation and Defense Court was among the gravest of capital crimes. For all his nonchalance, it meant Gu Yong-seon would press beyond limits if needed.

Gu Yong-seon ran his eyes over the other two letters again. They were investigations he had requested, just in case.

‘Jin-hyeon and Seol So-ha toured the market and returned to their quarters… So they truly aren’t connected to this.’

He tucked the letters away and left the room.

Half an hour later.

“There?”

Crossing the stream at the foot of the hill with Song Cheol-gwang, Gu Yong-seon nodded.

“Yes. The branches are moving.”

Song Cheol-gwang couldn’t see it. This was proof that Gu Yong-seon’s internal energy surpassed his.

“So the constables are over there. I can’t sense a thing.”

“They’re elite. At this distance, it’s hard to catch their movement.”

“I see.”

“Come on.”

The two hurried along the path.

How long did they run?

‘Strange.’

Gu Yong-seon frowned.

They’d taken position on the only path down from the ridge.

Yet nothing came from above.

‘Are they moving cautiously? Now’s not the time. Once the constables arrive… Surely they don’t plan to settle it by force?’

He himself meant to kill the constables too, but only as the very last resort.

‘Two days on the run without contact would tire them, but the hired masters from the Oh Family Merchant House should be capable… So why?’

Then Song Cheol-gwang whispered,

“Something’s happened.”

“…”

“Shouldn’t we go see for ourselves?”

After turning it over, Gu Yong-seon nodded. If they met constables at the top, they could claim to be here to seize the Lee brothers, then strike when a chance opened.

“Let’s go.”

Just then.

Teoeong!

A sound like something being kicked rang out.

Startled by the sudden boom, the two snapped their heads aside.

Sabak.

A figure rose, cutting the moon, and alighted with a smooth motion.

Hwiing!

The wind blew, tossing his white hair.

The white hair, tinged somehow with a bluish Qi, looked eerily pale.

Song Cheol-gwang’s eyes widened.

“You!”

Straightening himself, Jin-hyeon smiled like moonlight.

Chill, pale, and razor-keen.

“A fine night, isn’t it?”