Chapter 23

Chapter 23
Chapter 23: When the Enemy Reaches Out (1)

“Cheon Yang-ho is dead.”

Im Choong and Beon Saeng blinked in complete disbelief as Baek So-cheon uttered the words. At first, they were convinced their ears were playing tricks on them.

“Who did you say died?”

“The Cheon Dok-sa is dead.”

Hearing the statement a second time deprived them of the chance to react with immediate shock. Beon Saeng, still wearing a stunned expression, managed to inquire,

“How did it happen?”

“I ended his life.”

A brief silence hung in the air before the reality of the situation finally settled into their minds.

“You killed Cheon Yang-ho…!”

Beon Saeng, on the verge of crying out in astonishment, hastily slapped a hand over his mouth.

“Why would you kill him?”

“He came after me last night. He claimed Wang Gon hired him for the job.”

“Good grief!”

It was astonishing to process. They were well aware of his corruption, but they had never imagined he would stoop so low as to murder a fellow martial artist for profit—especially given his standing as a branch leader of the Murim Alliance.

Beon Saeng lowered his tone significantly.

“Where is the body?”

“Directly beneath your feet.”

“Gah!”

Their gazes dropped instantly toward the earth.

“Interred right alongside Heuk Su.”

The whole matter felt profoundly surreal. Cheon Yang-ho, a man who seemed ready to pop up at any moment to cause trouble, was now nothing more than a corpse under the dirt.

“What do we do now?”

“What else can we do? We wait. With Cheon Yang-ho out of the picture, further moves will be made. Either someone else will try to take my life, or someone will attempt to recruit me. In either scenario, I simply bide my time.”

“What about the two of us?”

“Continue with your daily tasks and remain patient. Tasks will come your way soon enough.”

When considering the bigger picture, it was clear that more than just Wang Gon’s faction would be making a move.

Once Cheon Yang-ho’s missing status became public knowledge, the Jeol-gang Branch was bound to be thrown into complete chaos. The true authority of that domain had vanished without a trace.

Investigative personnel from the branch would inevitably arrive, and managing them would fall to Im Choong.

Gazing down at the dirt beneath him, Im Choong suddenly found himself pondering a dark thought:

‘Will another corpse end up buried in this very spot?’

—

“What? Cheon Yang-ho has vanished?”

Wang Gon sprang up, startled by the report of yet another disappearance.

“He isn’t at the Alliance headquarters, nor is he anywhere near his home.”

Wang Gon’s expression darkened dramatically as Wang U delivered the news. He had dispatched the man specifically to eliminate Baek So-cheon, and now he was nowhere to be found. The conclusion was undeniable.

“That miserable bastard killed him.”

Since Heuk Su had vanished in the exact same manner, the pattern was blatantly obvious.

“Is it possible he simply fled with the ten thousand nyang?”

“Ten thousand nyang is a massive fortune, but it isn’t enough to make Cheon Yang-ho abandon his entire life and position. He was undoubtedly taken down by him!”

“However, Cheon Yang-ho went thoroughly prepared for the fight.”

“Which only proves how formidable our adversary really is.”

Reflecting on it, he had poured ten thousand nyang—an enormous sum—into the effort specifically to eliminate this individual. Who else had ever required such a high price?

“Should we inform headquarters at this point?”

Wang Gon’s grimace grew deeper. His son clearly failed to grasp the full severity of their predicament.

He had lost Heuk Su, and now Cheon Yang-ho, a man he had carefully cultivated through steady bribes over several years, was gone too.

The ten thousand nyang handed to Cheon Yang-ho had been drawn from his private funds, but previous payouts had come directly from Shin-hwa-bang’s treasury. Furthermore, Heuk Su was a top-tier combatant supplied by the organization itself.

In a short span, he had lost two vital assets, and his standing had suffered a major blow following his arrest at the Murim Alliance branch. Headquarters would unequivocally hold him accountable for these failures.

Would he be stripped of his position as branch leader?

It was hard to say for certain.

His solitary leverage was the ongoing iron ore operation in Mun-seong. Removing him from his post would inevitably stall progress. Yet even that defense offered no absolute guarantee.

Even if he managed to retain his seat, this disaster would severely damage his future standing.

‘I cannot allow things to end like this!’

He had to reverse his fortunes no matter what it took.

At that moment, Wang U recalled a potential alternative.

“What if we reach out to those people…?”

“Silence.”

Wang Gon glared at him.

“Do not utter their name so casually!”

“My apologies.”

The group referred to as “those people” was the Chil-geom-hoe.

“Even if we desired to contract them, we wouldn’t be able to place an order.”

“We have the funds to cover it, regardless of the cost.”

“It isn’t a matter of payment.”

“Then what is stopping us?”

“The Chil-geom-hoe only accepts commissions from Shin-hwa-bang through Jong Teacher.”

This enigmatic figure, recognized solely as Jong Teacher, was a deeply trusted associate of the bang lord. He had handled numerous delicate operations for Shin-hwa-bang, including contracts involving the Chil-geom-hoe.

“Do they distrust our headquarters?”

“Quite the opposite.”

“What?”

“The bang lord harbors deep suspicion toward the martial artists serving beneath him in the organization. He must have established an agreement with the master of the Chil-geom-hoe: any assignments concerning us must be funneled exclusively through Jong Teacher. Furthermore, any external requests involving Shin-hwa-bang must be reported to him directly. That way, he ensures the assassins will never be turned against him.”

“Ah!”

Wang U gained a newfound appreciation for how exceptionally shrewd and cautious the Shin-hwa-bang lord truly was. At the very least, the premier assassin syndicate in the province would not be targeting him.

“If we cannot secure their assistance… what is our next move?”

The capable martial artists he personally knew were all inferior to Heuk Su. Sending them in would merely result in more bodies and escalate the conflict further.

“I will meet with Baek So-cheon directly.”

“No, Father! That is far too dangerous. He ended both Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho.”

“I have no alternative. When a predator lurks right outside your doors, do you truly believe staying inside and clutching the handle will keep you unharmed?”

“And what will you do when you face him?”

“I intend to bring him over to our side.”

Wang U stared blankly, completely thrown off by the unexpected declaration.

“After he brought about the deaths of Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho?”

“In this realm, allies and adversaries are never permanent.”

“How do you plan to win him over?”

“Using wealth.”

It was Wang Gon’s ultimate strength, the one tool he placed absolute faith in.

“Will he actually accept it?”

“Attempts to bribe fail for a single reason: an inadequate sum.”

His unshakable confidence was rooted in his immense riches. Long before associating with Shin-hwa-bang, he had been born into substantial wealth.

“I still dislike this plan.”

Wang U voiced his disapproval politely, though internally he was practically screaming in panic.

‘Father! No! Do not throw away that fortune! That money is my inheritance!’

He felt an urgent need to protect his family’s assets. Surrendering it to some obscure nobody was unacceptable. His father believed power allowed one to generate wealth at any time, but if they lost their standing, everything would collapse into ruin.

“Father! You should inform the bang lord instead!”

“Doing so would mean my immediate removal from this post.”

“It would be far better to strive for a comeback than to squander our wealth with nothing to show for it.”

“You absolute fool! Do you honestly believe a second opportunity exists once you are cast out? The bang lord will investigate every single detail of our operations, down to whether you’ve skimmed a single nyang. Are you genuinely confident nothing dirty will come to light?”

His history in Mun-seong? A simple cover-up wouldn’t suffice—he would be utterly consumed by the fallout.

“You fail to understand the nature of the bang lord. He is cold and completely heartless. Moreover, I am privy to far too many secrets belonging to Shin-hwa-bang. The moment I am demoted or cast aside, it won’t just be me—you will be eliminated as well.”

Realizing the dead seriousness of his father’s words, Wang U finally grasped the gravity of their situation.

“If we bring Baek So-cheon into our fold, we effectively wipe away all previous errors. The losses of Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho will be framed as necessary costs incurred to secure a far superior subordinate.”

“Will the lord accept such an explanation?”

Feeling partially confident yet holding onto hope, Wang Gon answered,

“He prioritizes true capability above everything else. He will agree to it.”

—

Baek So-cheon sat drinking inside a bustling market tavern.

His container was nearly drained when an individual wearing a broad bamboo hat approached his table.

“Do you mind if I take a seat?”

The man was Wang Gon.

“You certainly have nerve. What if I decide to thrash you again? What brought you here?”

Wang Gon cast a glance around their surroundings.

“Thrash me in the middle of a crowd like this? You wouldn’t be able to walk away without consequences.”

“Fair point. In a tavern, one drinks.”

Baek So-cheon filled a cup for him. Wang Gon downed the liquor.

“Here is a piece of information for you: we have chosen not to file charges against you for using excessive force.”

“How brazen. Of all people, you say that to me? You don’t honestly believe I used excessive force, do you?”

“No. It simply crossed my mind. Pay it no attention. I heard you made quite an impression in the Cheol-geom-dan?”

“I did.”

“Remarkable. Securing a spot in the Iron Sword Unit is the grand dream of every martial artist, isn’t it?”

“Do not belittle the aspirations of martial artists.”

Wang Gon emptied another cup.

‘What an annoying bastard. He refuses to let even a single statement pass. Yet no matter how grandly you carry yourself, I will prove you are no different from me.’

Concealing his irritation, Wang Gon probed in an offhand manner.

“Warrior Baek. Word has reached me that Cheon Dae-ju from the branch has gone missing. Quite tragic.”

He carefully monitored Baek So-cheon’s expression.

“Tragic? It is far too early to draw that conclusion. Perhaps he made a fortune and departed to travel.”

“A fortune?”

“That Cheon Dae-ju appeared to collect plenty of additional revenue beyond his official Alliance wages.”

Wang Gon was now completely certain.

‘He definitely eliminated him.’

And he wasn’t making any real effort to hide it. Mentioning side income was clear confirmation.

“It is true that the Central Plains offers much to behold. Do you not harbor a desire to visit those places?”

“Such a path is not in my destiny.”

“Destiny is entirely what you shape it to be.”

Wang Gon reached into his robe and retrieved a thick envelope.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“This represents your new destiny.”

Baek So-cheon inspected the interior: fifty separate notes, each worth one thousand nyang.

A total of fifty thousand nyang.

An amount an ordinary branch leader might only accumulate over forty long years of service. Furthermore, that was merely the beginning.

“Align yourself with me, and I will ensure you receive a regular payment of three thousand nyang each year. Work alongside me, and there will be abundant secondary profits as well.”

“Hmm.”

As Baek So-cheon appeared to deliberate, Wang Gon pushed another item forward.

“Accept this as well.”

He presented a container. Inside rested the century-old ha-su-o he had originally intended to offer Im Choong.

“Let us put the past behind us and work together productively moving forward.”

Baek So-cheon gave a firm nod.

“Very well.”

“Just as I anticipated! Straightforward and decisive. A toast to our agreement.”

Wang Gon lifted his cup, and Baek So-cheon clinked his against it.

“Just to be clear: should you breach this pact, you will find yourself opposing the entirety of Shin-hwa-bang.”

“That will not occur. Accepting bribes within the Murim Alliance constitutes a severe offense. An amount of this scale? A lifetime in confinement. Make sure you don’t start backing out either—promising three thousand nyang only to deliver two thousand.”

“Would I ever do such a thing? Hahaha!”

With matters proceeding seamlessly, Wang Gon let out a jovial laugh.

“Partnering with a reliable individual such as yourself feels truly fantastic.”

He maintained a wide smile, though his internal thoughts were far darker:

‘The moment this crisis is resolved, you will be the very first target I eliminate.’

He had zero intention of maintaining a long-term alliance. Furthermore, he relished the sheer power of wealth in that moment.

‘No matter how arrogant you act, you couldn’t turn down fifty thousand nyang. A fortune you’ve never even dreamed of holding, you filthy beggar.’

However, his assumption was a massive error in judgment.

Had he possessed knowledge of Baek So-cheon’s true rank across the three major battlegrounds of the Central Plains, he would have been utterly astounded.

Baek So-cheon held the esteemed Bu-gwi rank—the absolute highest tier, granted exclusively to individuals trusted to manage over one hundred thousand nyang. And he held this status across all three regions.

The wealth he had accumulated over a span of twenty years exceeded normal imagination.

He had kept precise count up to five hundred thousand nyang; beyond that threshold, he simply hadn’t bothered to keep track. Alliance wages, danger pay, special awards—and above all, astronomical bounties earned for neutralizing key figures of the Black Heaven Alliance.

“Now that you are my subordinate, answer one query for me.”

“State it.”

“What ultimately became of Cheon Yang-ho?”

“You secured my services, not my history. Simply call upon me quietly when my assistance is required.”

Baek So-cheon rose to his feet and walked away.

The glares directed at his back were full of hostility.

‘Arrogant trash!’

He desperately wanted to tear him apart on the spot, yet the man had just pocketed his precious fifty thousand nyang like it was nothing. Pressuring him immediately would yield no results; he would exploit his abilities to the maximum, dispose of him when finished, and reclaim the funds if possible.

In any case, he had successfully brought Baek So-cheon into the fold.

Now, his task was to persuade Shin-hwa-bang.

Securing a subordinate far superior to Heuk Su or Cheon Yang-ho was rationale enough to warrant a reward.

His main concern now was the identity of the representative sent from headquarters.

‘I can only hope it is someone easy to manipulate.’