Chapter 25

Chapter 25
Baek So-cheon offered a subtle, faint grin.

It was a smirk capable of deciding a person’s life or death.

“Are you asking me to take the life of Branch Manager Im?”

Do Jeong-gil nodded without hesitation at Baek So-cheon’s question.

“Indeed. Take his life.”

Even Wang Gon, standing right beside him, was caught completely off guard, having never anticipated such a sudden directive.

“And what happens if I refuse?”

When Baek So-cheon pressed further, Do Jeong-gil answered immediately, as though he had already prepared his response long before.

“Then I will end your life instead. I have no room for a subordinate who dares to disobey my commands.”

Do Jeong-gil made his lethal intent undeniably clear, radiating an intense air of slaughter.

“Understood. I will carry it out.”

Do Jeong-gil, despite issuing the order himself, revealed a look of shock at how readily the terms were accepted.

“However, doing this directly will spark massive complications.”

“Recently, he has managed to create foes on all sides. There is the feral beast responsible for slaughtering the family of Yang Chu, as well as those filthy scum from the Black Society. Grant me a brief period of time instead. If I act carelessly, even Lord Wang here will fall under heavy suspicion. I require time to construct a proper plan that will clear your name while eliminating him. Give me time.”

“Very well. You are granted ten days.”

“That is more than enough. Is there anything else?”

“Nothing.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Baek So-cheon turned around and walked out with long strides.

“The man certainly possesses immense nerves.”

To be completely honest, Wang Gon found himself thoroughly impressed. Even in a high-stakes moment like that, Baek So-cheon had actively looked out for his safety.

Do Jeong-gil, on the other hand, merely sneered at the departure of Baek So-cheon.

“Nerves? A fool who resolves to slaughter his superior before a man can even count to five is not brave—he is dangerous. When he eventually decides to eliminate you in the future, it will not even take him three counts.”

Even so, Wang Gon offered a silent, fervent prayer in his heart.

‘Kill him regardless! The only way both of us survive is if he dies!’

There was no future path forward without overcoming this trial. Ending him before counting to three? That was no concern at all. He would strike first before even reaching two.

—

Immediately after meeting with Wang Gon and making his way back, Baek So-cheon gathered Im Choong and Beon Saeng together.

“Do Jeong-gil, recognized as one of the four great martial warriors of Shin-hwa-bang, has officially come down.”

Im Choong had caught wind of that name once in the past.

“I have heard stories that he possesses quite an uncontrollable temper.”

Baek So-cheon fixed his gaze directly on Im Choong.

“He gave me a direct order to assassinate you.”

“What did you say?”

Both Im Choong and Beon Saeng stood completely frozen in shock.

“It was meant to test where my true allegiance lies, while simultaneously disposing of the person behind this whole affair.”

Im Choong swallowed hard, his throat going dry. Had anyone other than Baek So-cheon delivered such terrifying news, his knees would have buckled underneath him right then and there. Shin-hwa-bang was the kind of force that would never cease its pursuit until his corpse was cold.

“So, would you care to die by my blade just this once?”

“I think I will politely pass on that offer.”

He desperately attempted to keep his demeanor composed, but his mouth remained completely parched.

Under normal circumstances, Beon Saeng would have cracked a lighthearted joke, but his face had turned entirely pale and serious.

He gave voice to the overwhelming rage that Im Choong was too stunned to express.

“Those absolute bastards! Completely unforgivable. They treat human lives as if they are nothing more than common flies.”

First it was Heuk Su, then Cheon Yang-ho, and now Do Jeong-gil who had commanded the hit. Every single one of them viewed the lives of others as entirely worthless trash.

Baek So-cheon turned his attention back to Beon Saeng and spoke calmly,

“Two decades ago when I first entered the Murim Alliance, the following year, the present moment, next year, and even twenty years into the future—there have always been and will always be wretched trash like that. There is no point wasting your energy getting angry.”

Indeed, his words held absolute truth. Tae-jeong-pa had been actively operating six years prior as well, a reality he had willfully ignored. Beon Saeng felt a deep wave of shame over how he had lived his life up to this point.

“I have… simply been running away from reality all this time.”

“Everyone does that.”

“Not someone like you, brother.”

“Why wouldn’t I? Just because I struck down Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho? Perhaps taking their lives was merely my own personal escape from reality.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I simply selected the easier path.”

Baek So-cheon spoke with absolute, unwavering seriousness—there was not a single trace of jest in his voice.

“I… truly do not understand. And I am already twenty-six years old.”

“You will experience the exact same emotions when you reach thirty-eight. The self-loathing will only grow larger. You will think to yourself, ‘I still understand nothing at this age.'”

“Are you attempting to comfort me right now?”

“You only allow yourself to fall into deep existential delusions when Branch Manager Im is facing a dire crisis.”

Beon Saeng immediately snapped back to reality, refocusing his full attention on the grave plight facing Im Choong.

“Brother, please help us! I beg you to save our branch manager!”

Baek So-cheon addressed Im Choong directly,

“There are two distinct options available.”

Im Choong felt incredibly grateful to Beon Saeng for stepping up to plead on his behalf, and even more deeply indebted to Baek So-cheon for presenting clear paths forward during such a hopeless time.

“First, we completely eliminate Do Jeong-gil. We remove the core root of the problem. It is a very simple solution.”

“He is a famed master recognized throughout the entire Shin-hwa-bang.”

“If I set my mind on taking his life, I will find a way.”

Im Choong instantly discarded the first option. Resolving matters through blood and murder was not his way of doing things, even when dealing with a murderer who targeted his own life.

“What is the second option?”

“We construct a scenario where it becomes impossible for him to kill you.”

“In what way?”

Baek So-cheon had already mapped out both solutions during his return journey.

“The main branch is still entirely unaware that Cheon Yang-ho has vanished, correct?”

“That is correct.”

Baek So-cheon had personally killed him a few days prior and had intentionally refrained from reporting the event.

“Dispatch an urgent falcon message to headquarters immediately. Report the disappearance of Cheon Yang-ho, link it directly to the massacre of the Yang Chu household, and heavily inflate the danger of the situation. When a prominent figure from the branch vanishes, it will create massive chaos, prompting them to send high-ranking investigators down here. I can then use that as the perfect excuse—claiming there is far too much eyes on us to strike you down right now.”

“Ah! That is a brilliant plan! I will get in touch with them without delay!”

Im Choong, who was about to dash outside to execute the plan, paused, turned back, and bowed low to the ground before Baek So-cheon.

“You have my deepest gratitude.”

“Save your gratitude for your son instead.”

Im Choong let out a faint chuckle. Even in a situation involving life and death, his heart suddenly felt remarkably at ease, all thanks to Baek So-cheon. Even though the man was merely two years older than him, relying on him felt like standing in the shadow of a wise elder.

“It may be thanks to my son, but this immense favor is something I will surely repay you for.”

It was not just for him alone—his wife and child were saved as well. This was a debt of grace spanning three lives.

—

The strategic impact of the falcon message far surpassed what anyone had anticipated.

Jeol-gang Branch Leader Jeong-pung personally arrived on the scene, accompanied by a heavy contingent of branch martial artists.

“Branch Manager Im.”

“Branch Leader!”

Skipping any unnecessary pleasantries, Jeong-pung immediately demanded answers in a sharp tone.

“What in the world has occurred here?”

Jeong-pung, a man of short and stocky build, was widely recognized as a formidable master of swordsmanship.

“First Squad Leader Cheon Yang-ho completely vanished while conducting the investigation into the massacre of the Yang Chu family.”

In truth, he had not even conducted a proper investigation into the matter at all.

“He vanished?”

“He is hardly the type of person to cut off all communication for days on end. Someone must have ambushed and taken him down.”

Jeong-pung nodded slowly in thought.

“Could the culprit behind the Yang Chu slaughter be responsible for this as well?”

“That seems very likely.”

“Curse it all!”

From the gruesome incident involving Yang Chu to the sudden disappearance of Cheon Yang-ho, a continuous chain of burdensome disasters was falling directly onto his shoulders as the branch leader.

He had initially dispatched Cheon Yang-ho in the hopes of wrapping up the situation cleanly and quietly.

Now that the squad leader had been murdered, there was a high chance the matter would escalate all the way to headquarters.

That was the last outcome he desired. It would serve as absolute proof of his own incompetence.

He had to find a way to resolve this mess by his own hands, no matter what it took…

Meanwhile, Im Choong harbored deep suspicions that Jeong-pung was also accepting secret bribes from Shin-hwa-bang. If they were capable of buying off the first squad leader, what was stopping them from corrupting the branch leader as well?

“Where does the current investigation stand?”

“We have not uncovered much, but we did discover that Yang Chu was quietly digging into a new business venture belonging to Shin-hwa-bang right before he died.”

“Shin-hwa-bang?”

Jeong-pung flinched noticeably at the sudden mention of that organization. Within the boundaries of Jeol-gang Province, they were a group that required extreme caution when handling.

“Why was he digging into Shin-hwa-bang?”

“It was done at the direct request of the Heo-ssi Sword Family.”

Im Choong closely monitored every subtle shift in the man’s expression throughout the exchange.

“What kind of venture was it?”

“An iron room operation.”

“So? Are you implying that Shin-hwa-bang is directly tied to the disappearance of Cheon Yang-ho?”

“I cannot say for certain.”

On the surface, Jeong-pung appeared to share zero connections with Shin-hwa-bang. However, outward appearances were often incredibly deceiving.

“Understood. Moving forward, hand over full control of this case to the branch.”

“Understood.”

“As you head out, have the newly dispatched warrior come inside.”

“Yes, sir.”

Outside the room, an attendant warrior was busy issuing instructions to Beon Saeng.

“Set up six additional desks in this area, and secure reservations at the nearby inns ahead of time. All meals will be taken at the inns, so make sure to take note of that. Be particularly mindful when preparing the branch leader’s meals.”

This arrangement was a direct violation of standard protocol. Members of the Murim Alliance were expected to reside and dine within the official branch facilities, rather than staying at public inns.

Even so, Beon Saeng chose not to raise an objection.

“Understood.”

When Im Choong finally stepped outside, Beon Saeng leaned in and inquired in a low voice,

“Did they take over your private office as well?”

“It was unavoidable.”

“If we are forced to eat at inns, then we might as well conduct our work from there as well.”

“Try to understand. They receive this exact same treatment when dealing with headquarters.”

“That still does not make it acceptable for them to treat us this way.”

Im Choong gently patted Beon Saeng on the shoulder.

“For now, we must focus our attention on dealing with outside enemies.”

—

A few moments later, Baek So-cheon stepped into Im Choong’s former office.

Jeong-pung, who was currently occupying the main host’s seat, looked up and spoke while remaining seated,

“Warrior Baek. I am already well aware of your identity.”

That very knowledge was the exact reason why he had felt so intensely displeased upon hearing about Baek So-cheon’s assignment to the Mun-seong branch.

‘Why did it have to be him, of all people?’

While he remained unknown to the general populace, he was a figure entirely impossible to forget for those who truly knew the truth: Baek So-cheon.

“I also fought on the frontlines during the war against the Black Heaven Alliance. I caught sight of you from a distance.”

Jeong-pung had previously served within headquarters’ Blue Dragon Squad. Thanks to his position as its commander, he had managed to land the position of Jeol-gang branch head—a rare stroke of unbelievable good fortune.

“You are fully aware of how much the Murim Alliance and the righteous sects owe to your deeds. I, too, feel grateful for what you did. However, that does not give you permission to act without restraint.”

“Without restraint?”

“You went ahead and caused massive trouble immediately upon your arrival.”

“Are you referring to the lawful arrests of the Tae-jeong-pa as ‘trouble’?”

“Those were not simple arrests—you outright slaughtered them.”

“Did you actually read the official report properly? We successfully apprehended their subordinates first; Tae-jeong then took up arms and launched a full assault on the branch. He simply lost his life due to unfortunate circumstances during the clash.”

Jeong-pung let out a sharp, mocking snort.

“You ended his life entirely on purpose. That is simply the kind of monster you are. Nothing satisfies you quite like blood.”

“You seem to possess a remarkably deep understanding of me for someone who merely watched from afar.”

“Everyone talks endlessly about your deeds.”

“And what exactly do they say?”

“Would you care to hear the stories circulating back from your days with the enemy?”

“Which specific era of my past are you attempting to bring up right now?”

A sudden, heavy silence descended upon the room.

Jeong-pung was completely unaware of Baek So-cheon’s deeper involvement in the current situation. Yet one absolute truth remained clear: whether looking at the past or the present, Baek So-cheon was an existence far beyond his ability to control.

“The reason I called you in… was to warn you not to interfere with my ongoing investigation.”

He had fully intended to deliver a stern command, but ended up backing down mid-sentence.

“Consider it a simple request.”

The softer wording proved effective. Baek So-cheon gave a ready nod of agreement.

“Agreed.”

The moment Baek So-cheon stepped outside the room, Im Choong was already waiting nearby.

“What are your thoughts? Is he secretly connected to Shin-hwa-bang?”

“It is still far too early to make that call.”

“If he truly is working with them, the situation is grave.”

It would mean that the entire Jeol-gang Province had fallen completely into the palms of Shin-hwa-bang.

“Why would that be grave? We simply clean house when the time comes. Shin-hwa-bang only holds power within this specific region; if headquarters decided to take them seriously, they could wipe them out of existence in half a day. All we need to do is gather concrete evidence of their crimes.”

It was in that exact moment that Im Choong felt that strange, overwhelming sense of detachment once again.

It was not mere empty arrogance coming from a former Iron Sword Squad leader. He had already proven his terrifying capabilities far too many times before.

“I will be stepping out for a short while.”

“Where are you heading?”

“To see Do Jeong-gil.”

“May you have a safe journey.”

He offered a bow that was noticeably deeper and more respectful than usual. His very destiny hung entirely on the outcome of this single trip.