Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: If You're Weak, You'll Be Eaten (5)
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As he walked toward the main gate, Murong Bi thought to himself.
'Feels like I could float away.'
It was truly refreshing.
The stomach pain that shook like an earthquake couldn't be felt even in this moment.
'Not just around 100,000 nyang. Even a rough count puts it at about 130,000 nyang.'
Choi Ho's wealth was probably even greater. If a small fry like Ga Hang had buried embezzled funds, how could Choi Ho not have any?
But he didn't get greedy beyond that. Overdoing anything leads to indigestion, and the money he'd squeezed from Ga Hang and Choi Ho alone was enough to run the family without major issues going forward.
...No, honestly, he was tempted.
He'd lived without worrying about money his whole life, but now that the family was in this state, he realized just how important it was.
'Enough. Poking around everywhere will just cause trouble. This amount is perfect for now.'
One of Murong Bi's strengths.
He might seem to act on impulse at first glance, but he knew when to advance and when to stop.
Whether it was war, politics, or the family revival plan, it all came down to people in the end. Eliminating enemies, forging alliances, building power—it all happened within a certain framework.
Murong Bi's instincts worked well, backed by experience.
'Now comes the real test.'
The immediate money problem was solved, and even the mess caused by Jongjason was cleaned up. From here on, he could live solely for the family's revival without second-guessing.
'There'll be plenty of obstacles. I'd love for things to go smoothly, but in this turbulent jianghu, that's wishful thinking.'
Murong Bi patted his chest.
'Just having this is trouble enough.'
The red ledger.
The Black Tiger Gang was smashed, its leader dead, and even the leader's quarters burned to the ground.
Naturally, the people listed in this ledger would start sniffing around, whether they knew of it or not. They'd act assuming it existed.
Unlike his refreshed mood, the current situation was fairly dangerous.
Especially the sects in Wunan that fancied themselves as something.
'Damn it!'
He couldn't help the twist in his gut, even knowing full well.
'Having to scrap with nobodies that didn't even exist twenty years ago—it's frustrating as hell.'
If he still had his skills from his Alliance Leader days, he'd have stormed in right now and smashed them all without a second thought.
But what could he do? Reality was reality.
Back then, he could cow major sects with a single shout, but now? Against no-name warriors from mid-tier sects, he'd be stripped bare and ridiculed even if he flailed around.
'I can handle it, but Sujing and Suhyang...'
Could those two girls hold up?
'They'll endure. But it won't be easy.'
Murong Bi's eyes gleamed.
That's why he was openly carrying the bundle of IOUs.
He'd seen the crowd gathering when he smashed the Black Tiger Gang's main gate. By now, their numbers were at least in the hundreds.
Word would spread like wildfire.
'If it's going to happen anyway, better I control it. Time to paint the picture.'
That's when it happened.
"Hm?"
"Who are you?"
In front of the broken main gate.
A young woman who looked familiar stood there with a swordsman in his mid-thirties.
Murong Bi tilted his head.
'Where have I seen her...?'
Suddenly, he remembered the first time he'd woken up in Jongjason's body.
'Ah! That Lady Hwang from the Ten Sword Sect?!'
Lady Hwang Inhwa was equally shocked.
"Young Master Murong?!"
Myeong couldn't help but be stunned. The Murong Bi he'd known was always irritable and timid—a weakling who couldn't even withstand a girl's punch, hardly a warrior.
But now, look at Murong Bi.
'His posture is straight.'
A bit slouched, but his center of gravity felt perfectly balanced in a subtle way.
It wasn't from bulking up muscles. That upright stance just looked natural on him.
"No way..."
Lady Hwang Inhwa asked in disbelief.
"Did you... turn the Black Tiger Gang into this mess, Young Master Murong?"
Murong Bi didn't answer.
Not out of disdain—he genuinely hadn't heard her.
'These guys?'
When he'd seen it in the ledger, it was just "oh, okay," but now that the girl was here in person, it clicked.
'So the drunken fool Jongjason borrowed money from the Black Tiger Gang because of that little vixen?'
Over half the tribute records in the red ledger were for the Ten Sword Sect.
Half the entries, but nearly eighty percent of the amount. Even scraping together all the bribes to others wouldn't reach thirty percent of what went to the Ten Sword Sect.
In other words, the Ten Sword Sect was the real backer of the Black Tiger Gang.
Of course, the sect leader's daughter would know.
'Kid's young, but already learned all the rotten tricks.'
He wanted to smash her right there, but with the crowd visible in the distance, he couldn't.
"Got something to say?"
"Pardon?"
"If not, step aside. Let me pass."
Murong Bi's voice was curt.
It had to be. Even if the idiot Jongjason had been played, he couldn't look kindly on the one who'd whispered in his ear.
Lady Hwang Inhwa's face hardened.
"Hey, Young Master Murong."
"Not moving?"
"...What did you say?"
Murong Bi silently picked up a rolling wooden staff.
Myeong instinctively drew his sword.
Tsclang!
The hastily drawn blade hummed faintly.
A clean draw. Whatever his skill, he'd at least learned the sword properly.
Of course, it didn't impress Murong Bi.
"Daring to attack the Ten Sword Sect's precious daughter..."
"Who said anything about attacking?"
"...?!"
"If you don't move, I'll 'clear you out,' but no attacking. So get your dimwitted master out of the way. I'm busy as hell—why block the road?"
Myeong's jaw dropped. Lady Hwang Inhwa was the same.
'Wh-what's with that tone?'
It wasn't like the Murong family heir—it was like talking to a Black Tiger Gang debt collector.
Not subtle vulgarity, but outright coarseness. And mixed in was an inexplicable pressure that muddled their expressions.
One thing was clear: it was nothing like the Murong Bi they'd known.
Whatever it was, Lady Hwang Inhwa couldn't let it slide.
"Young Master Murong, you've gotten awfully aggressive since we last met."
"When did we ever meet?"
"What?"
"I've seen some fortune-teller type who kindly directed me to King Yama Debt Gang for a loan, but never a pretty young miss like you."
"...?!"
"Am I misremembering? Were you that fortune-teller?"
Lady Hwang Inhwa's face flushed red.
"Hey!"
Irritation filled Murong Bi's face.
"Move. Before I do it myself."
"Are you insane?"
Myeong's face paled.
"Miss!"
Unlike her appearance, the lady showed impulsive, hot-blooded tendencies when excited—something else they'd forgotten.
That Murong Bi might be the one who trashed the Black Tiger Gang.
And they felt it soon enough.
Whoosh!
Lady Hwang Inhwa, about to snap back, went pale as a ghost.
Not just her. Myeong also dropped into a stance in shock.
'This...!'
It wasn't just cold sweat.
He felt like a rabbit caught in a trap, facing a starving tiger.
Too vicious for fighting spirit, too wild for killing intent.
It was fury bordering on madness.
"See, the thing is."
Dark haze seemed to rise around Murong Bi as he pressed his temples and stepped forward, one step at a time.
Sizzle!
The two even heard the sound of hot steam rising. Murong Bi's aura was inducing hallucinations.
"I've got some innate mental issues. Short temper, quick to irritation."
Not fast steps, yet Myeong couldn't retreat or attack.
'Huge!'
A person walking, but it looked like a monster spewing black smoke.
Myeong's vision darkened.
As a warrior, crumbling under an enemy's aura without swinging once was the ultimate shame. But against this monster, even shame didn't register.
He just wanted to run. He'd throw away his sword if it meant escape.
Still, he tried to hold on.
What sustained him was the conviction of a rigorously trained bodyguard.
"I used to have some self-control, but lately, starting from scratch means once it ignites, it doesn't go out easy."
Thud!
Lady Hwang Inhwa collapsed on the spot.
Her legs gave out before Murong Bi's primal ferocity.
"So don't piss me off before it lights up. Got it?"
Myeong nodded frantically without thinking.
Murong Bi wordlessly swung the staff side to side.
The intent was clear. Myeong immediately dragged the fallen Lady Hwang Inhwa aside.
Only then did Murong Bi release the amplified aura from his Brain Gate Heart Technique.
Fwooo!
A cold wind cooled their heads.
"Hah!"
"Heok!"
Now they could breathe properly.
Myeong looked at Murong Bi with fear.
'Impossible. Is that really the Murong Bi I knew?'
Then, Murong Bi stopped.
"Oh, and."
He turned and looked at Lady Hwang Inhwa.
She swallowed hard, gasping. Drool escaped her lips unnoticed.
"Tell that fortune-teller we have business to discuss in private."
"...?!"
"Or you can stand in if he's not available."
He planned to dig into what Jongjason and Lady Hwang Inhwa had schemed with that 100 nyang.
But more pressing matters came first. Beating answers out of her would be easy, but too many eyes.
And one more thing.
Murong Bi grinned and pulled out the red ledger.
"This has some fun stuff written in it too. The gang leader kept meticulous records."
"...!!"
"See you later."
Lady Hwang Inhwa's ashen face turned pitch black.
'The ledger?!'
What could be in the ledger from Choi Ho's quarters?
The answer was obvious.
"W-wait! Young Master Murong!"
Ignoring her, Murong Bi passed through the gate.
A huge crowd buzzed. Many recognized him and gasped loudly.
"Gasp! Th-that young man!"
"Hey! That's Murong Bi of the Murong family!"
"What? Murong Bi?!"
"But the Murong heir has no martial arts..."
Then, Murong Bi waved his hand casually in the air.
The crowd fell silent in an instant at the offhand gesture.
Drawing the crowd's focus with a mere gesture, no words. Even with all eyes on him, silencing so many with one motion was no small feat.
The presence of the Martial Alliance Leader who'd lorded over countless jianghu folk for twenty years.
When needed, his dignity shone through. Such qualities must be innate.
Murong Bi got straight to the point.
"As of today, the Black Tiger Gang is finished."
Shock rippled across the crowd's faces.
"And."
Murong Bi held up the bundle of IOUs.
"These hundreds of promissory notes? I'll burn them right here."