Chapter 121 - The Heavenly Punishment Yeon-hoo Delivered
The entrance to the city center where the Continent Merchant Group was located, stretching back ten li from there, was blanketed by a full ten thousand troops from the Golden Merchant Group. Leading them, a Black Cloak figure stared coldly into the heart of the city through the pouring rain, a smirk twisting his lips.
"They'll definitely chase after the carriage. The moment I catch even a glimpse of them, I'll tear them to shreds. Heh heh heh."
The Black Cloak's name was Garak. Though he resided at the Golden Merchant Group, the one he truly served as lord was someone else entirely. He assisted Wang-jeok only because his own faction shared a bond with the Golden Merchant Group even deeper than a blood alliance. As a secretive existence whose identity must never be exposed, Garak never stepped forward unless in extraordinary circumstances—but the kidnapping of Wang Ho was grave enough to demand his personal involvement.
Garak's close aide asked cautiously, "How can you be so certain they'll chase the carriage?"
"No matter how bold they are, they wouldn't dare risk showing themselves just to exchange the young master for money. From their perspective, targeting the carriage carrying the promissory notes offers far higher odds of success. That's why we assigned minimal escorts to Wang Bo's carriage."
"Ah... I was wondering why we'd leave a carriage loaded with five million nyang—a massive fortune—guarded by so few men. So that's the reason."
The aide nodded as understanding dawned. Garak wore a triumphant smile.
"Handle this well, and we'll earn a huge reward. Then we can present the family head with a gift that will please him. Everyone, stay sharp."
"Yes, Elder."
The word "family head" slipped from Garak's lips. It was not a reference to Wang-jeok.
"It's about time..."
Garak fixed his gaze on the road leading into the city. Soon, Wang Bo's carriage—laden with five million nyang—would emerge.
Rumble!Crack!
Thunder and lightning raged, driving back the encroaching darkness. As Garak's pupils flashed white in the reflected glare, a single carriage appeared on the official road.
It was unmistakably Wang Bo's carriage. But something was off. One door hung in tatters, nearly shattered, and the number of escorts had halved since they'd entered the city.
Garak's eyebrows twisted upward in an inverted V.
"No way..."
Thud thud thud!
The carriage barreled closer amid the chaos. As it drew near, Garak's instincts screamed that something had gone terribly wrong.
Whoosh!
He leaped from the woods, blocking the carriage's path. The driver yanked the reins in panic, halting the horses.
Garak confirmed his fears from the escorts' expressions alone.
"What happened?!"
"Well..."
No one could answer readily when Wang Jung-bo emerged from the carriage door.
"...We got hit. They were waiting for us at the Continent Merchant Group from the start."
A twitch.
"So you lost the money?"
"...Yes."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Rain sprayed wildly around Garak. His drawn sword pressed against Wang Jung-bo's throat, blood trickling down.
"You idiots... How many fiends were there that you let them take the money?!"
"Two... That's all. But they were absolute masters beyond what our escorts could handle. Even if you'd been there, the outcome wouldn't have changed."
"What?"
Flash!
Killing intent exploded from Garak's eyes. But his sword went no further. Wang Jung-bo was Wang-jeok's kin and Wang Ho's uncle by blood.
No matter that Wang-jeok had entrusted this matter to him, killing Wang Jung-bo was off-limits.
Tremble...
Garak's eyes quivered. The sword tip shook with them. Despite mobilizing ten thousand troops, they hadn't even glimpsed the fiends' tails—a bitter failure.
"Damn it all..."
* * *
Pour!
The rain had swelled into a downpour. Yeon-hoo gazed through it at the Golden Merchant Group's forces filling the official road like a black tide.
"They've prepared in force."
Yuksoon clicked his tongue in awe. A large leather pouch hung from his back, stuffed with promissory notes worth five million nyang.
Yeon-hoo had deliberately requested notes in small denominations. Easier to exchange for silver taels at the Continent Merchant Group without raising suspicion.
"How did you predict they'd come?"
"I left the deadline as 'today' to make them think we'd strike at the exchange. A miscalculation on their part."
"They fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Ha..."
"Anyone would. Exchanging money for the hostage means exposing yourself—far riskier."
"Is this really your first time pulling something like this?"
"You saying I look like a habitual criminal?"
"N-no, sir. It's just... everything went too smoothly."
Yuksoon scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
"Five million nyang in hand, Dragon's Eye Stones intact... This deal will go down in history. Haha!"
"It's not over yet."
"...Pardon?"
"You head back to him first."
"And you, my lord?"
"I have a detour."
Whoosh!
Yeon-hoo shot toward the city's western side. Yuksoon watched his receding figure, shaking his head.
"Step into this world, and he'll outrich the Golden Merchant Group in no time."
Then—
Yeon-hoo returned.
'He heard that from there?'
As Yuksoon flinched, Yeon-hoo extended his hand.
"Human Skin Mask."
"Why the Human Skin Mask...?"
"Do I need to report every detail to you?"
"N-no, sir. Here."
Donning the mask, Yeon-hoo vanished westward again. Yuksoon patted his chest in relief and flew northeast.
About two hours later, he entered a deeply secluded cave in the mountains. Wang Ho waited inside.
Seeing the leather pouch on Yuksoon's back, myriad emotions crossed Wang Ho's face. He realized the five million nyang was now theirs.
Yuksoon released his pressure points.
"...Did it work?"
"Of course."
"Why didn't he come with you?"
"He... didn't make it back during the operation."
"...!"
"That's what you'd like to hear, right?"
Thud!
Yuksoon kicked Wang Ho in the gut.
"You little shit, that's exactly the look you had."
"Urk..."
Yuksoon resealed his points and leaned against the cave wall, pulling out a bottle of liquor.
Gulp! Gulp!
"Breathe lightly. Even hearing your wheezes disgusts me."
The bottle emptied fast; Yuksoon hurled it outside and closed his eyes.
How much time passed? He dozed off.
When he awoke, he jolted upright in terror. A figure sat with its back turned.
"Who goes there?!"
Yuksoon's right hand glowed golden—Golden Diamond Wall activated.
"Lost your mind, or got guts? Snoring away in a spot like this..."
"...My lord."
It was Yeon-hoo, face and clothes completely altered. The Human Skin Mask.
"What's with the outfit?"
"Save the questions. On your feet."
"All done?"
"Yes."
"And this one...?"
Yuksoon nodded at Wang Ho, who gazed up at Yeon-hoo with pleading eyes. If unsealed, he'd beg for mercy a hundred times over.
"Honor the promise and release him."
"Pardon?"
As Yuksoon's eyes widened, Yeon-hoo looked down at Wang Ho.
"If you break our deal... I won't bother spelling out the consequences."
"Euh, euh!"
Yeon-hoo released his points, and Wang Ho cried out earnestly.
"I'll do my utmost to find the children and send them home! Believe me, please!"
"Fine. I'll trust you."
Yeon-hoo freed his pulse points too—but only enough for his upper body to move.
After days of immobility, Wang Ho dared not twitch a finger. Yeon-hoo's dominance crushed even his soul.
Yeon-hoo handed him a pitch-black pill.
"Swallow."
"..."
"Don't make me say it twice."
Gulp!
Wang Ho swallowed the black pill Yeon-hoo proffered.
"No antidote, and two months from now—first day of the third month—your organs start melting away."
"Our deal—it's not broken?!"
"Find the kids, send them home fast, and come to Wall Thunder Manor before three months are up. Bring proof, and you'll get the antidote."
"And you...?"
Wang Ho's eyes bulged. Yeon-hoo continued calmly.
"Word of warning: Don't think of seeking a skilled physician to brew your own cure. Pop the wrong pill, and even my antidote won't save you."
"...!"
"Got it?"
"Yes."
"Your lower body unlocks in two hours. Until then, reflect on how you'll live from now on, using this as a lesson."
As Yeon-hoo turned, Wang Ho shouted desperately.
"Release the restriction... please!"
"That comes with the antidote."
"...!"
"Three hours of agony a day? Call it punishment for your heaven-defying crimes. You'll endure. And one more thing... the faster you finish, the sooner the pain ends."
"Two months of that torment—how?!"
"Work harder, then."
"Please, just the restriction—now!"
Tears streamed down Wang Ho's face, but Yeon-hoo and Yuksoon left the cave without mercy.
"You bastard! Arghhh!"
Once Wang Ho's sobs and curses faded, Yuksoon asked, "Wall Thunder Manor's in for a lightning strike they deserve. But what was that black pill?"
"What."
"The pitch-black one. I've never fed anyone that poison."
"Rabbit droppings."
"...Pardon?"
"Picked it up on the way."
Yuksoon stopped dead, dumbfounded. But he caught up, asking again.
"The restriction you placed—what about undoing it?"
"I don't know how to release it either."
"...Come again?"
"Sometimes agents bite poison pills and self-terminate in critical moments. I'm researching new measures—restrictions worked, but release method's pending."
"Ah... I see."
Yuksoon pictured Wang Ho writhing in agony and tsked.
"That bastard's getting his due heavenly punishment. Tsk tsk tsk."
"Not enough."
"Pardon?"
"You'll see soon."
Moments later, Yuksoon spotted a carriage standing in the rain. As Yeon-hoo strode to the driver's seat, he asked, baffled.
"What's this carriage?"
"What he siphoned off through back channels. Didn't count, but the Diamond Stones alone are worth a fortune."
"So your 'detour' was to fetch this?"
"They dared eye our North. This is just interest."
"...!"
Yuksoon eyed the smile creeping across Yeon-hoo's lips and thought anew.
Being on this man's side is a true blessing...