Chapter 114 - I Will Devour You All
A full moon hung high in the dead of night. Yeon-hoo gazed down at the darkened streets through the window of his lodgings, recalling Songyeong's words.
To get full value, my lord must act more precious than the Dragon's Eye Jewel itself.
'Bounce the price as high as it'll go...'
That was no difficult task. The real issue was how to meet Wang-jeok, the master of the Golden Merchant Group. Selling directly to him rather than underlings would ensure the proper price.
Wang-jeok was notoriously picky, but if it was something he wanted, he'd pay any fortune to claim it.
Yeon-hoo regretted not bringing Songyeong along. If not for the urgent matters piling up after absorbing the Jecheon Army's forty thousand troops, he would have dragged the man here without question.
"Huff... huff... huff!"
"Ahhh..."
From the room to his right came a man's ragged breaths and a woman's sultry moans.
Yeon-hoo furrowed his brow.
'Of all rooms, they had to pick this one...'
Then, Yuksoon's voice drifted from the left room.
"...My apologies. These Miao tribesfolk must be extra loud. I'll secure different rooms at first light."
"Want to take a look?"
"Yes."
Moments later, Yuksoon entered, scratching his head sheepishly.
"Forgot to mention... Book the most expensive rooms, money no object."
"I asked earlier—they want thirty taels of silver per night, so I passed."
"Book them anyway."
"How many nights?"
"Five should suffice."
"Understood."
As Yuksoon withdrew, Yeon-hoo closed the window and lay on the bed. But the noises from next door only grew louder, forcing him to throw on an outer robe and step out.
Yuksoon appeared like a ghost, peeking from his door.
"Where to, my lord?"
"Just getting some air. Go to sleep."
"I'll accompany you."
"No need."
Yeon-hoo left the inn and strolled north toward the market street. Despite the late hour, several inns remained open, filled with rowdy drunks. Miao tribesfolk and locals mingled boisterously over drinks—a common sight by now.
Yeon-hoo walked leisurely, savoring the cool night air. How long had he wandered when a conversation that halted his steps drifted from somewhere nearby?
"The massive investments in the North have gone up in smoke, and the cartel master's mood is beyond foul."
"Because Jang Cheon failed?"
"Has to be. The Division Leader's been backing Jang Cheon as the North's overlord for years. But instead of claiming lordship, he got killed by his own son..."
"His son killed him?"
"Yeah. Right inside the Jecheon Army camp, they say. Jang Cheon's failure was bad enough, but then his son Jang So took the Jecheon Army—we'd poured funds into them—and fled to the Northwest Murim. That tangled everything worse. The money sunk into those bastards was astronomical."
"Hmph. No wonder the cartel master's furious."
"Furious is an understatement. Another escort caravan got hit last night—total wipeout, including the chief, from what I hear. Atmosphere's tense, so watch your tongues, everyone."
Yeon-hoo glanced toward the voices. They came from inside a closed cloth shop.
'The Golden Merchant Group backed Jang Cheon...'
When he'd first encountered the Jecheon Army marching north under Jang Un, he'd wondered how they'd raised and sustained a hundred thousand troops. And now, the rumors of their close ties to the White Night Cartel's Eight Great Families proved true.
Yeon-hoo narrowed his eyes at the Golden Merchant Group's massive headquarters looming like a beast in the darkness.
'Not to my liking, on multiple fronts.'
Then—
"Got an escort run tomorrow, so I'm off. Drink up and head home."
"Watch the roads at night."
The shop door opened, and a man in yellow robes emerged.
'Someone privy to such details can't be low-ranking.'
Yeon-hoo decided to tail him, keeping a safe distance. After about fifteen minutes, they reached a deserted area. Yeon-hoo swiftly subdued the man.
How many in the world could detect him with full stealth arts deployed? Certainly not this yellow-robe.
Yeon-hoo hoisted the man over his shoulder and headed for a secluded spot. Leaving the center, the path led straight to the hills, where a roadside shrine stood nearby.
Inside, Yeon-hoo released the man's pressure points.
"Wh-who are you?!"
"Hold on."
Yeon-hoo picked up a stick and sharpened its tip by hand. In moments, it became needle-like, making the yellow-robe's eyes tremble.
"Answer truthfully, and you'll wake tomorrow as if nothing happened. Otherwise..."
Yeon-hoo pressed the sharpened twig against one of the man's eyes. Nothing terrified like seeing fear approach.
"Shall we begin?"
"...!"
"I need to sell something pricey to your Golden Merchant Group—a jewel worth a million taels in silver. Obviously, that requires the cartel master himself."
"F-for that sum, yes."
"So how do I meet him?"
"Th-that's..."
The man didn't just answer—he spilled unasked details. Yeon-hoo probed further at the end.
"Anyone in the Iron Blood Family tied to your group?"
"Jang Cheon was... but he died recently."
"You bet everything on just Jang Cheon?"
"The cartel master and top brass were convinced he'd rule the North. Until that Yeon-hoo appeared, anyone would have thought the same."
Emboldened as fear faded, the man stared at Yeon-hoo.
"Who are you? Why pry so deeply into the North?"
"Yi Yeon-hoo."
"...!"
The man's eyes bulged in shock, despair crashing into his pupils. He realized what Yeon-hoo's revelation meant.
He would never be allowed to live.
His body shuddered violently.
"Y-you said you'd spare me?!"
"Sometimes lies are necessary to get what I want."
"And you call yourself the North's lord?!"
"This is why I'm the North's lord. To protect it, I can be hundreds of times more vile and cruel."
Yeon-hoo's palm pressed against the man's chest.
"As thanks for chattering so freely over drinks about vital matters, I'll kill you painlessly."
Thud!
A hole punched through the yellow-robe's chest. Heart pierced, he died instantly.
Yeon-hoo gazed down briefly, then drew a dagger from his bosom. He began peeling the man's face.
"You're dead, but your comrades will soon see you alive."
Shlick.
Soon, the face was fully skinned. Yeon-hoo froze it solid with sound arts, pocketed it, and exited the shrine.
Whoosh!
Flames engulfed the shrine. No skinned corpse could be found—he had to erase traces.
Yeon-hoo overlooked the Golden Merchant Group's hulking headquarters crouched in shadow.
Now aware of their plot to devour the North via Jang Cheon, the empire of wealth felt utterly alien.
"Wait. I will devour you."
The next morning, Yuksoon rubbed his eyes and stepped out.
"Damn them. How many rounds all night?"
Just then, a man and woman emerged from Yeon-hoo's neighboring room—a Central Plains man and a Miao woman.
Yuksoon fought the urge to deck them and entered Yeon-hoo's room.
Something whooshed at him the instant he opened the door.
Thwack.
"This is..."
Recognizing the frozen human face skin, Yuksoon's eyes widened.
"Make it into a human-skin mask. Ensure no smell."
"You went strolling last night for this?"
"More like stumbled upon it."
"...Understood. I'll fetch herbs for the mask after breakfast. Shall we head down?"
"Have it sent up."
"Well... Non-top-tier guests eat on the first floor communally. My apologies. Top suites from tonight."
Yeon-hoo splashed water on his face and donned an outer robe. Downstairs was packed, but a corner table stood empty.
"What a bizarre place. They say pick whatever you want."
Indeed, folks lined up at one side, piling food onto plates and bowls. Newcomers rushed fearing shortages.
"Grab something."
"Yes."
As Yuksoon fetched food, Yeon-hoo peered outside.
Patterss...
Rain fell.
Then, a group of young men in Golden Merchant garb entered.
Yeon-hoo's eyes sharpened.
The innkeeper greeted them.
"What brings you lads at this hour?"
"Don't ask. Some lunatic torched a shrine last night—fire spread huge. We slaved till dawn putting it out. Good thing rain hit early, or it'd have been disaster."
"Heavens... Who burns a shrine of all places?"
"Exhausted from firefighting—no energy to talk. We'll be in the back yard. Bring booze and heaps of food."
"Got it, just wait."
The youths passed Yeon-hoo's table. Reeking of smoke from all-night efforts, just like they claimed.
Yuksoon returned with two heaping plates.
"Luckily, some of your favorites. Dig in."
Clink!
Yeon-hoo downed cold water and gripped chopsticks.
Then a man in blue robes entered. A youth who'd been chatting with the innkeeper bowed hastily.
"Greetings, Chief!"
"Mobilize now—everyone out."
"Pardon? We just came for food after firefighting..."
"Bandits who hit Cartel Master Wang's escort appeared south of town. Orders from above to catch them fast—assemble!"
"...Yes."
Yuksoon paused mid-chopstick and eyed Yeon-hoo.
Innocent folks seem to be getting framed as culprits.
"Ignore it. Eat."
As Yeon-hoo shoveled food into his mouth—
Because of you lot, innocents might spill blood as the culprits—think you can swallow your food?
A thread of transmitted voice flowed into Yeon-hoo's ear.