Chapter 24

Chapter 24
“You took that money?”

Im Choong and Beon Saeng were left speechlessly stunned.

“I did. I dropped by the Continental Battlefield on my way back and handed it off.”

“Why did you take it? That is straightforward bribery!”

“It went down smoothly and tasted sweet. I guess that’s why everyone takes the bait.”

This time, Im Choong took a step forward.

“Didn’t you tell me I did the right thing by turning it down?”

“That was because you couldn’t handle the consequences.”

“Even for you, brother, accepting bribes could cause serious problems.”

“Bribery means doing a favor in exchange for the cash. All I have in store for that bastard is total ruin—what is he actually going to get out of it?”

The word ruin made both men flinch. Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho were already buried side by side in the courtyard. This was not a joke or a metaphor; it was the literal truth.

“We settle things before they turn into actual problems.”

Bribe or no bribe, Wang Gon would be dealt with soon enough.

“Besides, he never truly intended to take me on as a genuine subordinate.”

“Then why give you the silver?”

“To escape his current mess. He is using my ’employment’ from headquarters to cover for losing Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho.”

Surprisingly, Baek So-cheon had pinpointed the enemy’s true intention with complete accuracy.

“I plan to use Wang Gon to discover who commissioned the Seven Swords Society. If we secure the person who placed the order on behalf of the Shin-hwa-bang Lord’s command, we will have absolute proof that the Seven Swords Society pulled this off.”

Extracting a confession from the culprit was Nam-su Yeon-maeng’s specialty. Making someone spill the truth was their domain.

“Ah, so that was your deeper intention.”

However, there was even more to the plan.

Baek So-cheon turned his gaze to Im Choong.

“As long as I am working alongside Wang Gon, they will not dare lay a hand on your family.”

Im Choong felt a sudden surge of relief and deep gratitude, realizing that his family’s safety was part of the reason Baek So-cheon had aligned himself with Wang Gon.

“Thank you, brother.”

“Save your thanks for your son. I am only watching out for him because he is cute.”

Beon Saeng chimed in slyly.

“You know, brother acts completely shameless, saying whatever he wants, but he is terrible at taking credit.”

“Is that an insult or a compliment? It sounds like an insult with that ‘shameless’ part.”

“A compliment, obviously a compliment.”

Im Choong scolded the chuckling Beon Saeng.

“You punk, stop messing around with brother.”

“‘Brother’ coming out of the branch chief’s mouth sounds far more natural than when I say it now.”

Im Choong could not deny the truth in that, so he simply smirked. Truth be told, when he had first heard Beon Saeng swear loyalty to Baek So-cheon as his brother, he had thought it was pathetic.

Now here he was, saying the exact same thing.

“What do we do next?”

“You two just keep doing what you’re doing. Wang Gon is far too fixated on me to bother either of you.”

“We will help as well. Just give us the word.”

Im Choong and Beon Saeng exchanged resolute glances, steeling their determination. The war against Shin-hwa-bang had truly begun.

“Yes, sir.”

As the two of them departed, the room fell into a quiet stillness, transforming from marketplace clamor to a temple hush.

Today was meant for recovery, so Baek So-cheon pulled a manual from his satchel and began reading quietly. Only the bright moonlight witnessed his relentless efforts to restore his dantian—and just how far he had come.

Two days later, an urgent summons arrived from Wang Gon.

Someone from headquarters had arrived in Mun-seong, prompting Wang Gon to call Baek So-cheon in great haste.

“Aren’t you tired of dragging an important official around like this?”

Wang Gon was furious. Was this really the attitude of someone who had pocketed such a massive sum of silver?

However, now was not the time to nitpick Baek So-cheon’s casual demeanor.

“I called you here for something crucial.”

“What is all the fuss about?”

“Someone important is arriving soon. I plan to introduce you.”

“Who?”

“Yeom Jeong-gil, the great hero. One of the four great warriors of headquarters.”

Wang Gon froze stiff. He had anticipated an investigator, but certainly not Yeom Jeong-gil.

Of all people, it had to be him!

The single individual he least wanted to see had arrived.

While most inspectors were hot-tempered and careless, Yeom Jeong-gil was meticulous to a fault.

Local probes usually dispatched junior officials, not someone of his stature. Sending Yeom Jeong-gil meant headquarters viewed this situation with extreme gravity.

It was likely over the iron ore business.

Regardless, he had to convince Yeom Jeong-gil that Baek So-cheon was far more valuable than Heuk Su or Cheon Yang-ho. His entire future hinged on this encounter.

“Are you scared?”

“He is no ordinary man. Make one slip, and you are finished.”

Baek So-cheon spotted an opportunity within Wang Gon’s obvious anxiety.

“Fine. I wouldn’t go out of my way to pick a fight with someone like that anyway. But I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you wipe out Yang Chu’s entire family? I have been dying to know.”

Wang Gon flinched visibly.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Heuk Su spilled everything before he died. He said you massacred them.”

Baek So-cheon pinned the source directly on Heuk Su.

Wang Gon’s face twisted in rage.

That foolish bastard!

Desperate to survive, he had blabbed about everything.

“Shut your mouth! Say that again, and you are dead.”

It was both a warning and a clear admission of guilt.

“Who is going to kill me?”

“Who? Do you think headquarters will just stand by and let you run your mouth?”

It would be seen as severe negligence in managing his subordinates, which would splash right back onto Wang Gon as well.

“Where would I blab? Only right here.”

“Not even here!”

“You are awfully jumpy. Don’t you trust me?”

“I do. But not with something like this.”

“I cannot stand unresolved mysteries. What if I get drunk and it accidentally slips out?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes.”

As footsteps faded outside, Wang Gon muttered under his breath.

“We will talk about this later.”

“Should I ask in front of Great Hero Yeom? Or should I just ask him directly?”

Wang Gon nearly roared aloud.

You insane bastard!

However, with Yeom Jeong-gil present, sheer urgency overrode his anger.

“Not right now. We cannot keep him waiting.”

“When you act like this, it only makes me stubborn. I guess I will tag along.”

Baek So-cheon emphasized that it was mere stubbornness rather than an ulterior motive.

“Are you actively trying to die?”

“Kill me then.”

Panicked, Wang Gon had no choice but to yield.

The pressure mounted even further as another shout rang out from outside.

“You really should hurry.”

Yeom Jeong-gil’s temper was already flaring from being kept waiting.

Baek So-cheon feigned backing off.

“Fine, if the reason is top secret, then just tell me who actually did the killing.”

Was the underlying reason truly the only secret? Regardless, Wang Gon was completely desperate. If Yeom Jeong-gil exploded in anger, it could ruin everything.

Finally, a specific name slipped from Wang Gon’s lips.

“The Seven Swords Society.”

“Did you commission them directly?”

“I don’t know his name. Whenever Shin-hwa-bang has issues that need resolving, Teacher Jong handles it. Are you satisfied now? Let’s go.”

“It feels great to get that off my chest. Why hold back on something so simple?”

Wang Gon swallowed his boiling rage and bolted outside.

Damn you! I will kill you for sure!

Baek So-cheon followed right behind him, whistling cheerfully.

Teacher Jong.

He had finally unmasked the true commissioner.

Wang Gon left Baek So-cheon waiting outside and entered the guest hall alone.

Yeom Jeong-gil’s icy aura chilled the room like bitter frost.

“You must be exceptionally busy.”

“My apologies. An urgent matter came up.”

“The Murim Alliance arrested some of your people? Heuk Su has gone missing, and Tae-jeong of Tae-jeong-pa is dead as well.”

As expected, there were no polite pleasantries—he got straight to the point.

“Tae-jeong-pa will be taken care of soon.”

“Is Cheon Yang-ho missing as well?”

“Yes.”

“A complete mess. How exactly have you been running this branch?”

“My deepest apologies.”

Wang Gon bowed his head in humble admission. Once Yeom Jeong-gil calmed down, he would make his pitch regarding Baek So-cheon.

“What happened to the two who went missing?”

“They were killed.”

“By whom?”

“A powerhouse dispatched to the Murim Alliance’s Mun-seong branch. A warrior of incredible skill.”

“He killed both Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho? Impressive.”

“I have already handled him.”

“Handled him? You killed him?”

“No.”

Wang Gon called out loudly toward the back.

“Come inside.”

The doors slid open, and Baek So-cheon stepped into the room.

Baek So-cheon offered a respectful cupped-fist salute to Yeom Jeong-gil.

“This is our first time meeting. I am Baek So-cheon.”

Many elder masters recognized that name. Yeom Jeong-gil knew it as well—the top hero of the Orthodoxy-Great War. However, following the war, rumors surrounding him had completely faded.

He was a forgotten legend.

Having never seen him in person, Yeom Jeong-gil could not possibly link this youth in his twenties to that legendary figure. Even if he had aged, he would never expect the real Baek So-cheon to be standing right here.

Either way, the killer of Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho entering the room shocked Yeom Jeong-gil. And even greater shock was yet to follow.

“This warrior Baek has pledged to serve me and headquarters from this day forward.”

Without asking a single question, Yeom Jeong-gil dismissed Baek So-cheon immediately.

“Wait outside.”

Once he had departed, Yeom Jeong-gil glared fiercely at Wang Gon.

“Have you gone completely insane?”

“He is far too valuable to lose.”

“You know who he is and you still recruited him?”

“I thoroughly checked his background through my Murim Alliance contacts before Cheon Yang-ho died. His identity is completely solid.”

“Would you stake your life on it?”

“Yes! I stake my life on it.”

Wang Gon declared boldly. Having already played the Baek So-cheon card, showing any weakness was no longer an option.

With a life on the line, Yeom Jeong-gil cooled down slightly. He was not one to bulldoze blindly without reason. If Wang Gon was pushing this hard, proper verification was necessary.

“Where is he from within the Murim Alliance?”

“He is a former Cheol-geom-dan squad leader.”

“The Cheol-geom-dan!”

That name alone was enough to intimidate experienced warriors.

“Why is someone like that coming all the way out here?”

“He was top talent, but his dantian was severely damaged—so he was demoted here.”

“His dantian is injured?”

“Yes.”

“And he still managed to kill Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho?”

“That is precisely why I recruited him. He is a true powerhouse. He will be of great aid to headquarters.”

“Did he use hidden weapons or poison?”

“No.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

He was not entirely certain. However, Cheon Yang-ho had hyped Baek So-cheon’s martial skill so much that Wang Gon simply assumed no underhanded tricks were involved.

“Handling something of this magnitude without reporting to your superiors first?”

“I was just about to, but then I heard you were coming. I waited so I could tell you in person.”

Wang Gon maintained a deferential yet firm posture.

“We can easily test whether he is useful or not.”

If he proved useless, Wang Gon would bear sole responsibility, compounding his prior errors with severe punishment being inevitable.

Baek So-cheon, it is all up to you now.

Yeom Jeong-gil and Wang Gon stepped outside together.

Without any preamble, Yeom Jeong-gil grabbed Baek So-cheon’s wrist meridian, instantly confirming the complete absence of inner power.

“No inner power, confirmed.”

There was no deception on that front; Yeom Jeong-gil eased his guard just a fraction.

Staring intently at Baek So-cheon, Yeom Jeong-gil spoke.

“If you are truly one of us, prove it.”

“Awaiting your command.”

“Kill someone. Succeed, and I will trust you.”

“Who?”

Then, an unexpected name fell from Yeom Jeong-gil’s mouth.

“The Murim Alliance Mun-seong branch chief, Im Choong.”