Chapter 217: May I Step In?
Chapter 217: May I Step In?
“Manor Lord Yang, didn't I warn you? You can't go through life only looking for profit. Sometimes, you have to be willing to take a loss. But what did you do? You went crying to the Murim Alliance for help just because you lost a few paltry coins? Is the Murim Alliance your personal errand boy? You run to them at the slightest provocation. Those bastards are busy enough as it is, mostly with lining their own pockets. Don't ever let this happen again. Understood?”
However, the man addressed as Manor Lord Yang, currently sprawled on the floor, offered no response. He was already dead. The person nagging the corpse—knowing full well the man was a breath away from cold—was the Golden Pig, Ji-saeng.
He wore a look of perpetual irritation. Contrary to his nickname, Golden Pig, he was nothing but skin and bones. Because he never tolerated even the slightest mistake, his subordinates found it difficult to even breathe in his presence.
“Ransack this man’s manor and clear out everything of value. Eliminate anyone who might become a problem later.”
“Yes, sir!”
The subordinate who received the order hurried out. As was their custom, they would make the scene look like a raid by wandering ronin before setting the entire place ablaze.
For the time being, they had to squeeze the surrounding territories dry. It was all because of that damned Immortal’s Debt.
Ji-saeng turned his ire toward another subordinate.
“Did you find them yet?”
“Not yet, sir. We’ve deployed more men, so we expect news shortly.”
The bastards in charge of the Immortal’s Debt had vanished along with all the assets, causing a massive disruption in their cash flow.
According to the investigation, the 1st and 2nd Immortals, who had been managing the debt, had personally gone to the bank to withdraw the funds. They had liquidated every asset they could touch before disappearing into thin air. Just thinking about them made Ji-saeng’s blood boil.
Stupid bastards!
If they had just stayed loyal and kept working under him, they could have made far more money in the long run.
He hadn't expected the 1st Immortal to be so short-sighted as to lose the greater for the lesser; the man was usually clever and cautious. He couldn't fathom their motives. Perhaps they had turned on each other, or some other complication had arisen. It was even possible they had been intercepted by another party.
The scent of money was like the scent of blood; it was bound to attract packs of jackals. Regardless of the reason, Ji-saeng intended to tear them apart alive once they were caught. Even if they were already dead, he would find a way to kill them again.
“Find them no matter what! If you fail, you’re dead.”
“Yes! Understood!”
Knowing it was no idle threat, the subordinate turned pale and scrambled out.
Just then, another messenger arrived to report.
“Dae-ryong of the Iron Sword Four Tigers is waiting at the West Manor.”
The Iron Sword Four Tigers.
Ji-saeng had recruited these men, who were quite infamous within the Unorthodox Faction. He intended to put them in charge of the Immortal’s Debt.
It would have been better to use his direct subordinates, but the nature of the Immortal’s Debt didn't allow for that. To prepare for any potential legal trouble, the managers had to be people with absolutely no official connection to the Unorthodox Path Alliance. It would be a massive headache if the Murim Alliance ever decided to take issue with the business.
Ji-saeng left the building and walked toward a waiting carriage. A man with a round, unremarkable face sat on the driver's seat, gazing up at the sky.
As Ji-saeng emerged, the driver bowed politely.
“To West Lake Hall.”
The carriage set off, followed by a retinue of subordinates on horseback.
Ji-saeng sent a Voice Transmission to the man on the driver's seat.
— Please see for yourself if the Iron Sword Four Tigers are suitable, Elder.
His tone was exceedingly humble and respectful.
The man pretending to be the driver was the real Golden Pig, Ji-saeng.
Previously, the 2nd Immortal had told Geom Mu-geuk that he had seen a specific tattoo on Ji-saeng’s driver; that man was this very driver.
— Haven't you become a good judge of character yourself by now?
— I haven't even learned a hundredth of your insight, Elder.
— Excessive humility is merely flattery.
— My apologies, Elder.
— Trust your own eyes and make the judgment.
The man in the carriage had lived as the fake Ji-saeng for over ten years. He thought like Ji-saeng and lived like Ji-saeng. Sometimes, he even felt as though he truly was the real Ji-saeng.
Throughout those years, there had never been a crisis dangerous enough to threaten his life. One might think it was time for the real Ji-saeng to reveal himself, but the master remained thoroughly hidden.
The fake thought the real Ji-saeng was truly remarkable. From what he knew alone, Ji-saeng had amassed a fortune so vast he could never spend it all in a lifetime. If it were him, he could never endure playing the role of a driver in such shabby clothes.
— How is the financial situation for this month?
— We are still twenty thousand taels short of the amount to be sent to the upper management.
He couldn't simply report that the monthly tribute couldn't be sent because of "circumstances."
That’s your problem.
That was always the stance of the higher-ups.
— Do not worry. I will handle it so that there is no disruption for the upper management or for you, Elder.
— See that you do.
Whenever such a situation arose, the real Ji-saeng never once offered to settle it with his own personal reserves. While he usually seemed like a great man, the fake Ji-saeng felt disappointed by this aspect. Did he really have to be so obsessed with money?
Then again, in a sense, even this was impressive. He was a man with a firm philosophy regarding wealth. He lived for the joy of earning and hoarding it. To him, money was everything.
That was why the fake had asked him once before: “Why don't you become independent?”
He believed that with the real Ji-saeng’s intellect, he could amass incredible wealth anywhere. Currently, more than two-thirds of the money earned was paid as tribute to Ya Yul-han.
At that time, the real Ji-saeng had replied: “No matter how much money you earn, in the end, it will all be snatched away by someone like me.”
He meant it would eventually be taken by someone with a more powerful backer.
“Excessive greed leads to ruin.”
Hearing the greediest person he knew say such a thing gave the fake Ji-saeng a strange feeling. If excessive greed truly led to ruin, then this man was ruin incarnate.
The carriage arrived at West Lake Hall.
The fake Ji-saeng and the subordinates entered first, and then the real Ji-saeng stepped down from the carriage. In truth, this was the moment he enjoyed most, second only to making money.
Watching the world while hiding his true identity.
The strange thrill that came from no one recognizing his true self. The joy of acting like a god, manipulating humans like pieces on a game board.
The real Ji-saeng began to stroll around the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
*
The person waiting for Ji-saeng in the guest hall was Dae-ryong, the eldest of the Iron Sword Four Tigers.
A screen set up by the subordinates hung between them. It was a special screen that allowed Ji-saeng’s side to see through, while the other side saw only a shadow.
“It is an honor to meet such a distinguished person.”
This was the moment the fake Ji-saeng had to become the real one.
The fake also felt a strange thrill. This was the moment he became Ji-saeng, one of the Four Handsome Men under Ya Yul-han, the second-in-command of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. Everyone bowed their heads before him, and he wished for the pleasure power provided to last forever.
“Thank you for coming such a long way.”
“When the Elder calls, I would run ten thousand li in a single breath.”
Ji-saeng looked at the man sitting before him and was inwardly pleased.
Perfect.
He was the candidate Ji-saeng had liked most from the start. In Ji-saeng’s eyes, the man looked less like a tiger and more like a wild dog. That was exactly why he was perfect.
A person with a sound mind could not carry out a task like the Immortal’s Debt. It was a job that could only be done by those who felt not a shred of guilt even while destroying a person's soul. Thus, it was a job for wild dogs, not tigers.
In that regard, the Iron Sword Four Tigers were suitable in many ways. Their past lives proved it. They were men who had committed all sorts of unspeakable atrocities.
“I will be honest with you. The people who previously handled this task harbored ulterior motives, so I dealt with them personally.”
The fact that those men had run off with the money must never be revealed.
“Betrayal means death.”
“I will offer my loyalty until the day I die.”
“Once the work begins in earnest, even mentioning the Alliance will mean death.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“As long as you follow those two rules, you will be able to earn a great deal of money.”
“I will work as hard as an ox.”
Dae-ryong laughed. His laughter revealed a vulgarity that could never be hidden.
“And I would like to see your brothers sometime soon.”
“They are here with me. Please contact us whenever you wish.”
“I will send word soon.”
“Understood.”
With a polite bow, Dae-ryong withdrew.
After he left West Lake Hall, the fake Ji-saeng emerged from the building and boarded the carriage.
— What do you think?
— His face is full of greed and pettiness, but at least he doesn't look like the type to betray easily. He seems suitable for this task.
— Then I shall proceed.
With that, the carriage also departed.
*
Dae-ryong returned to his quarters.
He was in a good mood. Though he had called himself a villain since birth, he was starting to grow tired of his misdeeds. He had been thinking of pulling off one big job and retiring when Ji-saeng chose them.
“Hey, you rascals! We did it!”
The moment Dae-ryong opened the door and stepped inside, he flinched in surprise.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tigers were sitting in a row of chairs, seemingly asleep. And between them sat a young man he had never seen before.
At first, he thought it was a youth his brothers had invited.
I told them not to bring in outsiders.
But then a thought immediately struck him. They invited someone over and then fell asleep? Or were they trying to play a prank on him? Doing something they had never done in their lives?
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Dae-ryong’s hesitation didn't last long. Just as he tried to turn and flee as fast as a lightning bolt, his entire body froze.
A man wearing a white mask was standing behind him; he hadn't even noticed when the man had arrived. The moment his eyes met the icy, frozen gaze behind the mask, his body locked up. He had met all sorts of villains, but he had never encountered such a terrifying gaze.
The Smiling Demon slowly reached out and lightly suppressed Dae-ryong’s internal energy. Though Dae-ryong was a veteran of the Murim, he couldn't even twitch a finger as the opponent placed a hand over the acupoint of his dantian.
Two more men entered from behind the Smiling Demon. They were the Poison King and Seo Dae-ryong.
“I’m not going to interfere; I’m just here to watch,” the Poison King said. He walked past Dae-ryong and perched on the desk, while Seo Dae-ryong closed the door.
Geom Mu-geuk called out to Dae-ryong.
“Come closer.”
Dae-ryong walked slowly toward Geom Mu-geuk.
I have to keep my wits about me to survive! That was his only thought.
When he got close to Geom Mu-geuk, he could finally see the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tigers clearly. Their bodies were already stiff.
They’re all dead!
Dae-ryong’s heart sank. There were no wounds on their bodies, yet it looked as though they had been taken down without even being able to draw their swords. Just who were these people?
“Do you know who we are to be doing this?”
“The Iron Sword Four Tigers. You’re the eldest, Dae-ryong.”
When Geom Mu-geuk identified them accurately, Dae-ryong spoke quickly.
“We have been entrusted with an important task. You are making a big mistake.”
“Taking over the Immortal’s Debt from the Unorthodox Path Alliance? What’s so great about that?”
Dae-ryong was shocked by Geom Mu-geuk’s words.
“You’re doing this even though you know who is behind us?”
At that moment, the Smiling Demon stepped forward, stared intently at Dae-ryong, and spoke.
“Don't waste time. Give me just fifteen minutes. I’ll turn him into an obedient dog for you.”
The hair on Dae-ryong’s body stood on end, and he began to tremble.
Then, the Poison King spoke politely to the Smiling Demon.
“May I step in?”
The Smiling Demon looked at the Poison King. The Poison King couldn't meet the Smiling Demon’s eyes, but the Smiling Demon nodded readily and took a step back.
“By all means.”
It was the first moment of mutual understanding between the two since leaving the Main Cult.
The Poison King rummaged through his bag, pulled out a medicine bottle, and spoke to Geom Mu-geuk.
“How can you trust a human like that to get things done? On the other hand, you can definitely trust Gu poison.”
A hideous insect was wriggling inside the bottle.
“Once this thing settles in his brain, he’ll cut off his own arm if I tell him to.”
Dae-ryong turned pale. Just thinking about that disgusting thing entering his head made him feel nauseous.
Geom Mu-geuk smiled and asked the Poison King, “I thought you said you wouldn't interfere?”
“Seeing him in person made me want to test it out. It’s been a while since I’ve tested it on a human.”
“Unfortunately, we don't have time to test the Gu poison.”
“Then make him swallow this, at least.” The Poison King pulled another bottle from his bag. “It’s a poison that will melt his internal organs and kill him unless he takes the antidote every day. Tell him to try betraying us if he wants.”
“You must make sure no poison remains later.”
“Whose poison do you think this is? Why worry about that?”
“Then this is perfect!”
In the next moment, Dae-ryong shouted desperately.
“Please spare me! What do I have to do?”
The four pairs of eyes turned toward Dae-ryong. He was shaking uncontrollably. It was a bizarre combination of people who seemed neither like villains nor heroes. He had experienced all kinds of villains until now, but these were the first who evoked such primal fear. They were opponents against whom no trickery would ever work.
Geom Mu-geuk approached him and spoke in a soft tone.
“Big Brother, I look forward to working with you.”
The moment he heard those words, Dae-ryong understood. These men intended to play the roles of his brothers. That was why they had already killed his three younger siblings.
Geom Mu-geuk held out the Poison King’s medicine to him.
“Big Brother, let’s drink this first and then talk about what needs to be done.”
“I don't need to drink it! I’ll do whatever you say if you just spare me! I swear on my name, on my parents—no, I’ll swear to the gods of heaven and earth! If I don't keep my word, may I be struck by lightning!”
Geom Mu-geuk pried his mouth open and poured the medicine in.
“I don't believe you. Now, bottoms up!”