Chapter 119 - The Darkest Place is Under the Lamp
“Huff... huff... huff!”
The warriors arrived at the rendezvous point, gasping for breath. Cheong-gong caught his breath and took stock. Six were missing from the original strike team. Among the unseen was one he had particularly cherished. Despite the overwhelming success, Cheong-gong could not rejoice. Jin-myeong felt the same. Mudang Sect had lost five as well.
Cheong-gong approached Jin-myeong, who sat to one side with a grim expression he could not shake.
“A sacrifice for justice. Our fallen comrades would have departed with smiles.”
Jin-myeong said nothing. Beyond this mission, several more had perished before. Cheong-gong judged further comfort would only reopen wounds and returned to his disciples.
Cheong-myeong approached.
“Will he come?”
He meant Yeon-hoo.
“He won’t.”
“Then he played us for fools?”
Cheong-myeong was furious. He believed they had been used by Yeon-hoo.
“We accomplished what we set out to do. And we owe him our lives. That’s enough—calm yourself and prepare to depart.”
“Even so, to take what he wanted and abandon us mid-battle... Black-haired beasts can’t be trusted after all.”
“His subordinate aided us. Without him handling the Golden Merchant Group’s elites, our losses would have been greater. Enough.”
Bam!
Unable to contain his rage, Cheong-myeong stomped the ground and returned to his disciples. Then Jin-myeong approached.
“Will you return to Hwasan?”
“First, we must hold rites for the fallen. After recovery, we’ll begin anew.”
“Honestly, doubt creeps in now. No one in the world will acknowledge us, nor will it change... Lately, the faces of our lost disciples haunt me.”
Cheong-gong smiled faintly.
“We didn’t start this for recognition, did we? As Taoists pursuing the Way, as warriors of the jianghu, nothing is nobler than opposing injustice. Let that satisfy us, Sect Leader.”
Even Cheong-gong’s words failed to soothe Jin-myeong. Doubt lingered, but betrayal by Yeon-hoo—more precisely, by humanity—tormented him most. Mere passing acquaintance should mean little, yet that first impression had been too profound. Emptiness gnawed too. What had drawn him so to Yeon-hoo?
Damnable bastard...
Soon after, Cheong-gong and Hwasan Sect departed first. Jin-myeong turned sorrowfully toward Mudang Mountain with his sect brothers.
* * *
The observatory shrine north of the city center. Yuksoon scanned the surroundings before entering. Yeon-hoo was already there. Wang-ho lay sprawled like baggage amid stacked straw.
“The results?”
“Quite successful. But disappointment will be heavy...”
“Because of me?”
“They all seemed to trust you greatly, my lord. Especially Mudang’s Taoists.”
“We each got what we wanted. No room for regret.”
“True enough. What of this one?”
“We’ll collect ransom.”
“Any specific plan?”
“I’ll think of one now.”
“Ah... yes.”
Yuksoon scratched his head and sat beside Yeon-hoo. Yeon-hoo turned to him.
“Catch your breath, then head to the city and finish the human-skin mask. Make more poison while you’re at it.”
“Understood. But shouldn’t we move? This place is too risky with him here.”
“Once the mask is done. I’ll rest—hurry back.”
“Yes, I’ll be off.”
As Yuksoon left, Yeon-hoo reclined against the dusty straw bales.
“Ugh... mm... uh...”
His pressure points sealed, Wang-ho could neither speak nor twitch a finger. He glared at Yeon-hoo, mumbling incoherently. Yeon-hoo released only his mute point with a flick of energy.
“You bastard! You think you’ll get away with th—gack!”
Slap!
A red welt bloomed on Wang-ho’s cheek.
“Grasp your situation. You’ve been kidnapped by me—a far more terrifying man than you imagine. Doubt me? Shall I start by severing an arm?”
Wang-ho’s eyes widened as Yeon-hoo’s icy gaze fixed on his right arm.
“Sp-spare my life! M-money? I’ll give as much as you want!”
A lightning shift in demeanor. Yeon-hoo smirked.
“How much can you offer?”
“...How much do you need?”
“Haven’t decided yet. But I expect your father will pay handsomely to save you.”
“He’ll grant any demand. Promise my life first—I’ll convince him myself!”
“We’ll discuss that later...”
Tap-tap-tap!
Yeon-hoo struck several points. Wang-ho writhed like a squid on a grill, face flushing crimson.
“Grrrr...”
Yeon-hoo resealed the mute point.
“A taste. Feel the agony.”
“Grraaaah...”
Wang-ho howled like a beast, foaming at the mouth. It passed in seconds. Yeon-hoo watched leisurely, releasing the bind as breath faltered.
“Huff... huff...”
“Once set, it strikes four times daily, an hour each, until I release it. Endure a lifetime if you defy me. But if not, obey. Note: only I can undo this acupoint technique.”
“M-money’s no issue!”
“That’s a given.”
“Th-then what else?!”
“The children you sold. Scour the world and return them all home. If even one’s missing upon verification, you’ll suffer that pain eternally.”
“Th-that’s...”
Tap-tap-tap!
“Gaaaah!”
Wang-ho beast-roared again. Yeon-hoo released as breath failed.
“I-I understand! I’ll use every resource... bring them all back! Huff... huff...”
Tears streamed down Wang-ho’s face. How could one so pampered endure such brutality? Yeon-hoo knew recovering all was impossible—but this maximized the odds.
“One more question.”
“A-ask.”
“Secret pockets behind your father’s back?”
“Wh-why...”
“You do. How much?”
“...”
Hesitating, Wang-ho yelped as Yeon-hoo raised a hand.
“Tw-twenty thousand nyang!”
Twitch.
“Twenty thousand now?”
“In gold!”
“...!”
Yeon-hoo was speechless. Not silver—pure gold. An unimaginable fortune.
“From selling children, that’s all?”
“...I-I have some diamonds too.”
Diamonds as well.
They hoard the world’s wealth.
Beyond shock lay emptiness. Grateful for Jin-myeong too—without him, no kidnapping.
“Remember every word from now.”
Yeon-hoo detailed Wang-ho’s tasks. Wang-ho squeezed eyes shut, gnashed teeth, reactions varied. At end, he asked weakly.
“How did you know I was in that carriage? We switched several times post-departure—no one outside our group knew...”
“Watched the strongest foes at attack’s start. They moved not to the decoy, but yours. Protecting you was priority—any child could deduce it.”
“Hoo...”
Wang-ho sighed deeply.
“You’ll be busy. Rest well.”
Thwack!
Struck behind the head, Wang-ho collapsed unconscious into the straw. Yeon-hoo pillowed his head on straw, pondering as he awaited Yuksoon. Two hours passed swiftly in planning.
A presence outside. Yuksoon entered.
“Complete.”
He handed the human-skin mask.
“Poison?”
“Gathered materials—two hours suffice. A moment.”
“City mood?”
“Your carriage threat worked—no stir. Golden Merchant Group must be in chaos by now?”
“Chaos isn’t enough. More turmoil yields more gains. Now, the poison.”
“Yes!”
Yuksoon crouched in a corner, brewing. Two hours later, he stood, dusting hands.
Pat-pat!
“Where to now?”
“At dusk, book a room near Golden Merchant Group headquarters.”
“...Pardon?”
“The darkest place is under the lamp.”
* * *
Two hours prior, Golden Merchant Group.
In the empire—or kingdom—of gold, key figures filled the grand hall. Thirty strong, yet silence weighed heavier than breaths. All glanced at the dais three jang high. A massively corpulent middle-aged man seemed buried in the throne, heaving ragged breaths. Was it even human?
Wang-jeok. Golden Merchant Group’s master, the world’s richest, incarnation of ambition. His bloodshot eyes blazed fury; blood dripped from hands gripping the armrests. Moments ago, he had torn out a subordinate’s throat—with bare hands, swordless—for reporting son Wang-ho’s abduction.
All held breath. One wrong word could doom any. Wang-jeok slew in rage, and all knew it best. With precious son kidnapped, caution was paramount.
Save one.
“Wait for the ransom demand.”
Voices turned. Gaunt frame, hollow eyes evoked illness—but flickering azure gaze evoked terror beyond dread. A huipo master.
Wang-jeok opened sealed eyes.
“I entrust it to you. Return my son safely... and any wish is yours.”
“Understood.”
A strange smile curled the bowing huipo master’s lips.