Chapter 28: Hold on Tight, We’re Moving Out
Chapter 28: Hold on Tight, We’re Moving Out
Hearing the words drifting down from the second floor, Yang Ho shouted irritably.
“Which bastard said that?”
The same voice spoke again.
“You haven’t even checked who it is, yet you’re already hurling insults?”
Then, a woman’s voice joined in.
“That isn’t courage; it’s mere recklessness.”
The woman’s voice was so melodious it perfectly captured the essence of ‘jade beads rolling on a silver tray.’ It was the kind of voice that made a man feel he wouldn't even mind being cursed at.
“I wonder what exactly is inside that head of his to make him act like that?”
“A lack of proper upbringing, most likely.”
“Then again, some children grow up well even if their parents neglect them. We can’t put all the blame on the parents.”
“You’re right about that.”
Normally, Yang Ho would have flown into a fit of rage, but he was preoccupied with other thoughts. His mind was currently clouded with lust.
Based on her voice alone, she must be a peerless beauty. If things go well today, I might spend a very passionate night!
He was already imagining crushing the man she was with and taking the woman for himself.
There was a reason he could indulge in such fearless fantasies. In Ma Clan Village, the taverns, inns, and brothels people frequented were largely determined by their status and skill.
This place, the Pungryu Tavern run by Jo Chun-bae, was a haunt for low-rate martial artists. It was a place where his father—and even his father’s subordinates, the Blade Ghosts—would never set foot.
Furthermore, Ma Clan Village wasn’t a place where passing martial artists from the Orthodox or Unorthodox factions would stop by. Naturally, he assumed his opponents were merely low-ranking members of the Cult.
Meanwhile, the conversation on the second floor continued.
“To think the son of a mere White Blade Ghost would commit such tyranny in broad daylight... the influence of the Blade Ghosts must be truly formidable.”
“It is only possible because he relies on the prestige of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.”
Yang Ho was puzzled. Not only was this the first time someone had dared to look down on his father, but the speaker had even mentioned the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“I can only imagine how he was raised since he was a child.”
“He grew up without knowing how terrifying the world can be.”
Yang Ho, listening, spoke with a sudden, feigned politeness.
“I ask that the hidden master reveal themselves and point out the faults of this foolish junior.”
But as soon as he finished that sentence, his tone flipped.
“You idiot, did you really think I’d say that? I don’t care what kind of couple you are playing at being mysterious, but if you don’t show your faces right now, you’re dead.”
At that, a man poked his head out from the second floor. Seeing how young he looked, Yang Ho’s tension vanished instantly.
“Is it you?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“And the bitch you were talking with?”
This time, the woman poked her head out. Upon seeing her, Yang Ho screamed.
“Gah! What the—?!”
“Why are you so surprised, young hero?”
“Is it really you? You’re the one?!”
The owner of the voice wasn't a peerless beauty, but a stout, heavy-set woman. His pleasant fantasies shattered, Yang Ho roared.
“You pieces of filth! If you don’t want to die, get down here right now!”
*
“Let’s head down.”
At Lee An’s words, I finished the rest of my drink.
The person drinking on the second floor was, of course, me. I had come to meet Gwak Su, the father of the victim, and ended up hooking a massive catch I hadn’t expected.
I lightly leaped from the second floor down to the ground. Lee An followed suit. Despite her large frame, she landed gracefully using a lightness technique.
Seeing our movements, Yang Ho flinched. He had thought we were third-rate martial artists, but our movements were far too agile.
I helped the fallen Gwak Su up and sat him in a chair.
“I apologize for not stepping in sooner. I had a feeling this fellow’s mouth would run wild, so I waited a bit. Thanks to that, I’ve secured a full confession.”
“Young Master Lee?”
“Oh, you recognize me.”
“Actually, I recognized your guard. She is quite famous within the Cult.”
I pouted at Lee An.
“Does this make sense? You’re more famous than I am!”
“Do you think it’s because I’m popular? It’s just because I’m so big that people recognize me instantly. Hmph!”
As we talked, Yang Ho’s face turned pale.
“You... you’re Young Master Lee?”
“Relax. I’m here today as the Huangquan Pavilion Master. Actually, wait—that means you should be even more nervous.”
Yang Ho, who had been acting as if he owned the world just moments ago, lowered his voice and spoke respectfully.
“I failed to recognize a distinguished personage of our Cult. I am young and have committed a discourtesy, so please forgive me.”
“Judging by your actions, you don’t seem young at all.”
“No, I am just a fool who knows nothing.”
Yang Ho bowed his head deeply. The brat was remarkably cunning, knowing exactly when he needed to grovel.
“May I... may I leave now?”
“Wait. I came here because I have business with you.”
“What kind of business?”
“I’ve come to investigate the assault you committed.”
“But a verdict of innocence has already been passed by the Huangquan Pavilion?”
“This case is undergoing a full reinvestigation.”
While Yang Ho was struck with shock, Gwak Su’s face brightened instantly. Jo Chun-bae, standing nearby, flinched as he almost let out a cheer before catching himself.
I began listing Yang Ho’s crimes one by one.
“Habitual extortion for taking money every day; instigating theft for forcing him to steal; attempted murder for beating a friend to the brink of death; and on top of that, assaulting the victim’s father. Your crimes are beyond atrocious. You’ll be spending at least twenty years in the Dungeon.”
“Twenty years?!”
Yang Ho turned white as a sheet. He couldn’t even handle two days, let alone twenty years.
“No! It was just a mishap during a duel!”
“Too late. You confessed right in front of the Huangquan Pavilion Master.”
Driven into a corner, Yang Ho brought up the shield that had protected him through all his misdeeds until now.
“Do you have any idea who my father is?”
“I know. The White Blade Ghost.”
“If you frame me like this, my father won’t just sit idly by!”
“Frame you? Don’t talk nonsense. Do you want me to show you what a real frame-up looks like?”
He flinched and cowered at my momentum.
“Besides, your father will be too busy to look after you. I plan to arrest him as well on charges of exerting undue influence on a Huangquan Pavilion investigator.”
The teenage Yang Ho couldn’t withstand the pressure of the situation.
“My father won’t let you get away with this! He’ll get out of the Dungeon and take revenge on you! No, he can kill you even from inside the Dungeon! So you’d better think carefully—”
Thwack!
Before he could finish, my fist slammed mercilessly into his stomach.
As Yang Ho collapsed to the floor clutching his gut, I dropped another bombshell.
“If I add the charge of threatening the Huangquan Pavilion Master, that makes it thirty years.”
Yang Ho looked up, paralyzed with terror.
“...No, please! Save me!”
“I’m feeling generous. I’ll drop that one.”
“Please, forgive me!”
“Fine. Give me just one reason why I should forgive you. And stop rambling about your father.”
“That’s...”
“Have you ever saved a life? Helped someone? No? Then tell me something even remotely close to a good deed. Try making something up if you have to.”
“...”
“You can’t even make anything up, can you? It’s hard to invent something on the spot when you’ve never done it. Why should I forgive someone like you?”
“I-I’ll live a good life from now on!”
“Sure. Go do that after you’ve paid for your crimes in the Dungeon.”
Whish, crack!
I slapped him across the face with everything I had. His jaw twisted, and he lost consciousness instantly, slumping to the ground.
“Transfer him to the Pavilion.”
I could have beaten him half to death here, but I didn’t. For a brat like him, the true hell would be being locked in the Dungeon for twenty years. It wasn’t an empty threat. I fully intended to sentence him to twenty years and throw him in.
The Cult’s Dungeon was a hellish place where human rights were utterly ignored. I could guarantee this kid wouldn’t last a month before taking his own life.
Turn over a new leaf? If he were the type to do that, he wouldn’t have committed such wicked acts in the first place.
The two lackeys by the entrance began to back away, trying to flee.
However, martial artists were already blocking the exit. They were Seo Dae-ryong and the enforcement martial artists of the Huangquan Pavilion. Unless one was a Demon Monarch, these were men known to be more terrifying than any other martial artists in the Cult.
The two boys wet themselves and collapsed on the spot.
“We only did what we were told!”
“Please spare us!”
Punishment was punishment, but they had a role to play first.
“If you don’t spill everything exactly as it happened, you two will take the fall for all of it.”
“We’ll tell you everything!”
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”
I spoke in a tone that suggested they might be forgiven if they testified, but that was far from the truth. Once they testified, they were headed for the Dungeon too. Their sentences would be lighter than Yang Ho’s, who led the atrocities, but I planned to throw them in for at least five years.
If I made an example of these boys, would anyone in the martial arts halls or academies dare to bully their peers again?
“Take them to the interrogation room and get their statements!”
“Yes, sir!”
The enforcement martial artists neutralized their pressure points and transported the three of them back to the Cult.
One of the customers who had been watching couldn’t contain himself and started clapping.
Clap, clap, clap!
Then, the rest of the crowd erupted in cheers. Jo Chun-bae finally let out the shout of joy he had been holding back.
If it hadn’t been for me, this kind of reaction probably wouldn’t have happened. But wasn’t I the son of the Heavenly Demon? It was a situation where they felt safe enough to cheer.
I spoke loudly to them.
“If you suffer any injustices in the future, report them to the Huangquan Pavilion. As long as I am the Pavilion Master, no outside pressure will work.”
The applause grew even louder. Since I didn’t fear the Demon Lords, why would they think any other pressure would work?
I ended with a joke.
“If someone tries to scare you by saying they’ll call their father, like that brat just did, I’ll call my father too!”
Laughter erupted from all sides.
Just then, a subordinate arrived and delivered a message. I immediately shared the good news with Gwak Su.
“Before I came here, the Demon Doctor treated your son.”
“Is that true? That esteemed person treated my son?”
“To me, your son is more precious. And I’ve just heard he has regained consciousness, so you should go to him at once.”
“Aaaah!”
Gwak Su let out a cry of pure shock and relief.
“Ah! Dong-a, Dong-a! You’re alive! My son is alive!”
Jo Chun-bae, the tavern owner, hugged him tight.
“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”
People who knew the two of them flocked over to offer their congratulations. Gwak Su wept tears of overwhelming gratitude.
“I will never forget this grace.”
I stopped him as he tried to perform a deep kowtow.
“Have you not dedicated your entire life to the Cult? It is only natural that the Cult should protect you.”
It was because of people like him, who silently dedicated themselves somewhere within the Cult, that the organization could be maintained. In the current Cult, this natural sense of gratitude had vanished.
“The Cult is grateful to you.”
I bowed my head to him in respect. Feeling the sincerity in my heart, Gwak Su’s tears fell.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You should hurry and see your son.”
“Yes, I’ll be going now.”
He rushed off to see his son. Jo Chun-bae, the tavern owner, said to me:
“Whenever you visit, the drinks and food will be on the house.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll come back another time to take you up on that drink.”
“It would be my honor.”
Jo Chun-bae bowed deeply. The other customers followed suit. For them, a moment as cathartic as today was likely a first.
Once they had all paid their respects and stepped back, Lee An and Seo Dae-ryong walked over to me. Seo Dae-ryong asked cautiously, his face etched with worry.
“But... will it really be alright?”
By arresting not just Yang Ho but also his father, the White Blade Ghost, I would once again be severely provoking the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Will it be alright? There’s going to be another uproar, obviously.”
“I’m worried.”
“This is the case you brought to me, isn’t it? To bury me under the Blade Demon’s great blade.”
“Well, that’s true, but...”
Seo Dae-ryong sighed. The regret of whether he should have withheld this case was plain on his face.
To Seo Dae-ryong, who desperately dreamed of change, and to Lee An, who still feared it, I spoke with conviction.
“We haven’t even officially started yet. So don’t let your hearts waver, and hold on tight!”