Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Reckless (2)
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“Cough! Cough!”
The coughing fit dragged on for more than half a gak.
No blood came up, but her stomach churned, and her raw throat ached terribly.
“Huff! Huff!”
Every time she tried to steady her ragged breathing, she feared it would scrape her throat and trigger more coughing. In the end, Murong Sujing had no choice but to recover her breath on her own.
Another full gak passed like that before she finally found some stability.
Is the seizure getting worse?
No, it couldn't be. Lately, the coughing spells had been less frequent, and she hadn't spat blood unless it was something serious.
But whenever her mind wavered...
It's a lack of discipline. Always keep your mind and spirit firm, Sujing.
Pep-talking herself, Murong Sujing sat back down in her chair.
That was when it happened.
“Acting Patriarch.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Seok Ung entered.
“Why aren't you sleeping?”
“How could I sleep with all this going on?”
“Don't worry.”
“Acting Patriarch, I'm the chief steward of the main house. Naturally, I know our finances better than anyone.”
A shadow fell over Seok Ung's face.
“We could scrape together that money right away, but... it might mean scrapping the fabric business we've been preparing for a whole year.”
Murong Sujing shook her head.
“If it could be derailed this easily, we wouldn't have prepared so diligently. You know that.”
“I know a fair bit about the Black Tiger Gang too. Once they mark their prey, they never let go.”
“Isn't it just a matter of paying the money?”
“That would be ideal. But the Black Tiger Gang? They're the type to use our new venture as an excuse to demand even more, citing our reputation.”
“......”
“It's a tactic those infamous King Yama Debt Gang types pull all the time.”
Even if their prestige had plummeted, the Murong house still carried the weight of its storied past as a renowned clan.
For such a family to borrow from the Black Tiger Gang? Business partners had every reason to question their reliability.
Seok Ung sighed.
“This is on a different level from the scrapes Young Master has gotten into before. One wrong move, and it could be a real disaster.”
“We can't just not pay them back.”
“Of course not.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Seok Ung hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“I've saved up a little money over the years. Why not add that to the pot and settle it cleanly?”
A faint flicker crossed the usually composed Murong Sujing's eyes.
Chief Steward.
She knew him well.
Seok Ung couldn't possibly have that kind of money. They gave him his monthly stipend regularly, but it was a pittance.
Even if he'd scrimped and saved, he was the type to quietly funnel it back into the main house where no one would notice.
He was probably planning to borrow more from somewhere she didn't know about to resolve this.
“If we follow your advice and the Black Tiger Gang is that kind of outfit—paying extra to shut them up—won't they watch us even closer? They'll think we're good for squeezing whenever they feel like it.”
It was a sharp analysis.
Seok Ung countered immediately.
“At least we'd have time to make the business a success before they open their mouths again.”
“That would be deceiving our business partners.”
“Acting Patriarch.”
“I know. Business isn't always clean and straightforward.”
Murong Sujing rarely smiled, but she did now.
“Don't worry. It'll work out.”
“......If you're set on this, grant me just one request.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow, when we go to pay them back, let me go in person.”
“That's...”
“And I'll change the debtor's name from Young Master to mine.”
Murong Sujing's face turned icy in an instant.
“Absolutely not.”
“Be rational. If word gets out that Murong blood is tangled with a King Yama Debt Gang, our house's reputation will sink without bottom.”
“Still no.”
“Acting Patriarch!”
“Sometimes you have to endure even when you see the right thing to do, and sometimes you can't turn away from hardship and adversity that's all but guaranteed. This is the latter.”
“Young Master aside, it'll drag the main house's standing down further.”
“Is there any prestige left to lose?”
Seok Ung felt his words catch in his throat.
Murong Sujing shook her head firmly once more.
“Absolutely not. That's an order as Acting Patriarch.”
“......Understood.”
In the end, all that came out was a sigh, and all that grew was worry.
Murong Sujing spoke apologetically.
“I've just been saying no over and over, but honestly, I'm a bit at a loss too. If you can't sleep, why don't we talk about how to get through this?”
Seok Ung managed a smile. It was forced, but better than a gloomy frown.
“As chief steward, it's my duty.”
“Thank you.”
“And in a way, it's a relief. The youngest lady went to watch the Flower Sword Squad's mountain training, so it's best she doesn't know about this.”
That much was truly fortunate. She already despised her brother; she might have lost it entirely.
“Just in case, we should send someone to the Flower Sword Squad too.”
“Agreed.”
The two were deep in discussion about countermeasures against the Black Tiger Gang when...
“A-Acting Patriarch! Big trouble!”
Gwak No's frantic voice rang out from beyond the door.
Murong Sujing shot to her feet.
“What is it?”
“Young Master—he's gone missing!”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Whew, what did he do to make chasing him around at night such a pain?”
Ga Hang, who had tossed his sword carelessly, flopped down into a chair covered in tiger hide.
“You all did good work. Go rest now. No drowning in booze tonight.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Jang Gu.”
“Yes!”
Ga Hang's eyes twitched.
“Did that Murong Bi punk really beat you up?”
“S-Sorry!”
“I asked if it's true, not for an apology.”
“......It is.”
Killing intent surged in Ga Hang's eyes.
“How do you lose to a scrawny little shit like that?”
He wasn't top-tier, but Ga Hang was a martial artist who had trained in internal energy methods. That was why he'd risen to a decent rank in the Black Tiger Gang.
To him, Murong Bi looked like he'd snap if you poked him. He'd seen him before, but just to be sure, he'd gone himself—and the kid looked even skinnier than last time.
Jang Gu slammed his forehead to the floor and shouted.
“I don't get it either! But it's true!”
“Even giving you every benefit of the doubt and saying he dodged your pathetic punches—does it make sense that he nearly killed you with girl-weak fists?”
“Urk! This is unfair, boss!”
Ga Hang clicked his tongue.
For all his words, he actually favored Jang Gu and Jang Sam quite a bit. The Murong name might have hit rock bottom, but he'd assigned them to the punk out of real trust.
“When this is over, you two better brace yourselves.”
“......Yes, sir.”
Ga Hang grimaced and waved him off.
As the dejected Jang Gu withdrew, he propped his feet on the table.
Hmm, speaking of which.
Ga Hang's thoughts drifted to Murong Sujing.
Was her beauty always that striking?
He'd glimpsed her passing by on the street a few times before, but never spoken to her. She was the eldest daughter of the Murong house, after all.
But seeing her up close this time? Her looks were no joke. And that calm voice of hers was just as captivating.
He licked his lips instinctively.
What a shame.
If the Hong Sword Clan brat hadn't set his sights on her, he might've made a play.
They say the younger one's pretty easy on the eyes too.
Officially, he'd gone for business, but he'd hoped to sneak a peek at the sisters' beauties.
He hadn't seen the little one, but Murong Sujing's allure was confirmation enough. Hell, now he had regrets for even looking.
Ga Hang let out a deep sigh.
Well, even without that, she's no easy mark.
Rumors only, but he'd heard the Murong eldest and second daughters had trained in fairly advanced martial arts.
Nothing confirmed, of course. The house had a handful of warriors left, and as Acting Patriarch, Murong Sujing oversaw them—so she'd learned something.
Is her skill beyond my level? That would be impressive.
Ga Hang felt his heart race.
The thought that she might know martial arts made her seem even more mysterious.
But that passed quickly.
“Dream on, you idiot.”
Knowing the Hong Sword Clan son was eyeing her like a hawk, she was forbidden fruit to him.
“Forget it. The world's not short on women.”
Still, it left him restless.
He'd meant to just crash, but he couldn't resist pulling out the booze bottle stashed in the corner. No way he'd sleep otherwise.
Five shots in, his face flushed red.
Maybe it wouldn't be impossible. They say the Hong kid won't touch used goods.
By the tenth shot, his mind started shifting.
Why not give it a shot?
You never know. Maybe she was into his type. Not that he'd ever cared about tastes before.
Finishing the bottle, his eyelids grew heavy as lead.
Enough dumb fantasies. Sleep. Gotta make money tomorrow.
Work had piled up lately. Especially from the Hong Sword Clan, and he'd handled most of it himself.
Damn this life.
Ga Hang sprawled on the bed and started snoring.
How much time passed?
Swish.
Hm?
Ga Hang cracked his eyes and furrowed his brow.
What was that?
Some irritating noise from somewhere?
“Groan.”
Exhausted and boozed up, he didn't even want to sit up.
He rolled over and closed his eyes again.
That was when it happened.
Twitch!
The moment something touched his lower back, Ga Hang's eyes snapped open.
“Who—!”
He couldn't even finish before gulping dry air.
He reflexively tried to rise, but his upper body was rigid—he couldn't move.
And it wasn't just that. Like ink spreading drop by drop in clear water, sensation was fading from his lumbar down.
“Wha—?!”
Then, something pressed against his throat.
Ga Hang instinctively clamped his mouth shut. A chill made every hair stand on end.
“For a lowlife thug, you carry a decent blade.”
The low voice dripped with icy menace.
Ga Hang swallowed hard and rasped.
“Wh-who are you?”
“Forgot already?”
He'd heard it before, but with his body locked and steel at his neck, nothing came to mind.
Ga Hang slowly rolled his eyes.
Gasp!
A pair of eyes glared down at him.
Two orbs wrapped in blue energy. That piercing gaze was ghostly, spine-chilling.
Terror squeezed his heart; a spurt of urine escaped. Staring into those nameless eyes, the only word that surfaced was 'death'.
“You look like a frightened little girl now. Different from earlier.”
“Wh-who...?”
“Didn't want to be seen in broad daylight, so I came at night. Better for both of us.”
Only then did Ga Hang realize who it was.
“Murong Bi?!”
Murong Bi tightened his grip on the sword.
“Ready to pay up?”