Chapter 45 - Debts Are Repaid Tenfold
A few days later, at Wall Thunder Manor. Wi Yeon Gwang's face was flushed with rage as he tilted his cup with his close aides. The atmosphere in the room hung heavy.
It stemmed from the fallout of their failed plan to disguise themselves as bandits and strike the outskirts of Northern Murim. Many had died, and one division leader had even been captured alive. It was no small loss, and the Elder Council had begun pressing Wi Yeon Gwang with moral accountability.
That wasn't all. To placate the families of the fallen warriors and their affiliated factions, he had to pour out a fortune. The amount spent came to a staggering twenty thousand nyang in silver.
What infuriated him most was repeatedly losing to that brat Yeon-hoo, whom he dismissed as a mere greenhorn.
Did I underestimate him too much?
Thinking of Yeon-hoo reignited his fury.
"Liquor!"
"Yes."
Pour.
Wi Yeon Gwang downed three cups in quick succession and turned to his aides.
"Still no word from the Blood Ghost Group?"
"It seems to be taking longer than expected. Just wait a bit more, and good news will come."
"They're tight-lipped, right?"
"No need to worry. In the world of assassins, once trust is lost, their place vanishes forever. Even if they fail, they won't breathe a word about our commission."
"Exactly. The others don't even know our connection, aside from their leader Geon Jung. No way the Blood Ghost Group's leader—who's said to be stronger than even the Killing Gate's master—gets captured."
Despite his aides' confident assurances, Wi Yeon Gwang felt an uneasy twinge. Then—
Creak.
Someone burst through the door. It was the man in charge of intelligence for Wall Thunder Manor. With a grim expression, he set down a large wooden box he carried.
"What's that?"
"...The head of Blood Ghost Group leader Geon Jung."
"What?"
"What the hell?!"
Everyone shot to their feet.
"This came with it."
Wi Yeon Gwang unfolded the paper the intelligence head offered. On the bloodstained sheet, tiny letters read:
Since you owe a debt, shouldn't I repay it about tenfold?
I'm feeling generous, after all.
Hahaha.
His hands trembled.
No name was signed, but Wi Yeon Gwang could clearly picture Yeon-hoo sneering at him.
Tenfold...
A flicker of dread crossed his mind. He bellowed at the room.
"Cheon Hwa! Check if Cheon Hwa is safe! Hurry!"
"The young lord is with his friends at his residence. I saw him on my way here—no need to worry."
Wi Yeon Gwang sighed in relief. Then—
"My lord!"
A blue-robed man rushed in. Relief turned to unease in Wi Yeon Gwang's eyes.
And sure enough—
"The Elder Council Chairman... has passed!"
"...!"
A mountaintop overlooking Wall Thunder Manor. The opulent pavilion, harmonizing perfectly with the scenery like a painting, had become a chamber of death.
Wi Yeon Gwang, who had descended like a hawk, trembled at the gruesome sight.
Perched on the pavilion railing was unmistakably the Elder Council Chairman's severed head. Behind it lay two more corpses, and around the pavilion, five others lay mangled and scattered.
"Only one guard survived... and it looks like they were deliberately spared to deliver the news."
"Bring him."
"I already have him here to explain what happened."
At the blue-robed man's gesture, a warrior stepped forward. One of the chairman's guards, surprisingly unscathed.
"Tell us everything you saw."
"I went into the woods for a quick break and heard screams on my way back. By then, it was already..."
Twitch.
"So you saw nothing?"
"...Yes."
The others gasped in disbelief. Wall Thunder Manor's Elder Council Chairman was a renowned expert. The idea that he fell in such a short time was inconceivable.
Wi Yeon Gwang felt the same. He knew the chairman's skills better than anyone.
One aide spoke in disbelief. "Even if he let his guard down, this shouldn't be possible. Something we're missing— we need a thorough investigation."
Then, a middle-aged man examining the scene muttered lowly.
"Poisoned."
"...!"
"Traces in the food, liquor—even the chopsticks."
Wi Yeon Gwang's eyes flashed with killing intent. Poison in the food meant the enemy had struck before ascending.
"Round up every kitchen staff and cook in the Elder Council quarters immediately! If anyone's slipped away, unleash the blood ghosts to drag them back!"
"Yes!"
Everyone rushed down the mountain. Wi Yeon Gwang gazed north. The sky was unusually clear and blue today.
But to him, it gleamed red as spilled blood.
This bastard really...
In the northern mountains of Northwest Murim, three figures cut through the terrain: Cheol-u, and two youths in white and blue robes.
Cheol-u's long robe was soaked in blood. The blue-robed youth frowned.
"That wound looks deep. We've put some distance—treat it first before we go."
"It's nothing. Don't fuss."
"You took a hit from a master swordsman and call it nothing? Sit down before it festers."
"Stop being stubborn, brother."
Only after the other youth chimed in did Cheol-u halt and perch on a rock by the woods.
The blue-robed youth shook his head, pulling out golden wound salve and cloth.
"Told you to stick together, but you go solo. Nearly lost an arm."
"Shut up and apply it."
Stripping off his top revealed a gash from shoulder to elbow, bone peeking through. As the youth said, a bit deeper and amputation would've been certain.
"This salve's special—it's gonna hurt like hell."
"Apply it."
"Your temper..."
Thwack!
"Kuh!"
The blue-robed youth rubbed his shin and began applying the salve. Cheol-u's expression didn't flicker amid the agony.
He glanced at the white-robed youth staring in awe and asked flatly.
"Cleanup done right?"
"Of course. They'll find the poison soon and assume a traitor, causing chaos. Unless someone's a poison expert—they'd realize it was post-mortem and calm down quick."
"Tie it tight. Don't skimp."
Squeeze.
Twitch.
Cheol-u's eye twitched faintly; the white-robed youth grinned.
"Even the great brother can't handle pain, huh?"
Thwack!
"Gah!"
"You two."
"Yes?"
"Grab some spot on the way back and smash it flat."
"Lord's orders?"
"I'm pissed."
"You're starting to take after the lord, brother."
As Cheol-u raised his foot, the white-robed youth dodged back with a grin.
"Got it. Over that mountain's a decent sect in Northwest Murim—we'll wreck it tonight. Leave it to us; rest easy."
"Got any Demon Fog Pills?"
"Why?"
"I'm coming too."
"No way. They dull pain but don't heal. It'll fester for real."
"Hand 'em over."
"..."
The white-robed youth reluctantly gave a small pill. A narcotic-like drug specialized for pain relief.
Cheol-u popped it and donned his robe. The blue-robed youth said worriedly.
"Like he said, leave it to us. Still don't trust us?"
"Once you're more seasoned."
"Damn."
Thwack!
"Urk!"
A messenger pigeon soared into Iron Blood Manor. The letter reached Yeon-hoo immediately.
Mission Success.
All safe.
Whoosh.
Yeon-hoo smirked coldly at the ashes.
Sowing poison to stir chaos... he's improved.
Imagining Wi Yeon Gwang's blood-boiling rage satisfied him.
Now, spread the rumor across the land.
He had a plan: leak it through the Beggars' Sect.
Wall Thunder Manor ambushed an Iron Blood elder but failed, receiving bloody retribution in turn. Iron Blood Family's patriarch and new lord of Northern Murim would exact blood vengeance on provocateurs—tenfold the cost.
Songyeong asked, "How'd it go?"
Seobaek smacked the back of his head.
Smack!
"Can't tell when the lord's smiling?"
Yeon-hoo sipped his tea and addressed them.
"Songyeong, go to the Beggars' Sect now and relay my instructions."
"Really spread the rumor? What if White Night Cartel calls us out?"
"Deny it's baseless gossip—that's it. No worries."
"Will White Night Cartel buy our denial? Could blow up..."
Yeon-hoo wasn't concerned. Wi Yeon Gwang was the type whose pride pierced the heavens.
"He'll deny it himself. Admitting it crushes his dignity before the world."
"Ah..."
"Oho!"
"Stop gawking and move."
"Yes sir!"
Songyeong jumped up. Yeon-hoo finished his tea and rose.
Seobaek stood too. "To the Martial Hall?"
"Time to get started."