The Pioneer of the City Streets
After sending off the last customer, the pioneer of the city streets closed the shop door himself with both hands, tying up loose ends in style. Who would've thought that bastard would end up being the final patron.
Since it was the end, he'd tried to make the most of it right to the finish. That's why he'd gifted him one of the cult's signature dog-monster masks.
—If someone figures that out later, it could spell big trouble for him. In the best case, it might even take down the entire faction of the woman he serves.
That would plunge the empire into even greater chaos. Yeah, that was a golden opportunity. From the cult's perspective, the perfect moment to purge those arrogant eunuchs and imperial clans who reeked of corruption.
"…."
But as a human being, even Gwakssi couldn't shake the bitter aftertaste.
From what he'd seen hanging around the guy, Yujin seemed like a decent fellow. So yeah, it felt like a shitty decision, but what could he do? It was a sacrifice for the greater good.
Pity, but unavoidable. The shop was doomed to be abandoned anyway. Leaving it all behind, Gwakssi hurriedly grabbed only the essentials and headed out.
"Sky's clouding over."
Yeopssi, who'd tagged along behind him unnoticed, followed Gwakssi's gaze and looked up at the heavens.
"Rain's coming soon."
Yeah. Weather like this could unleash a downpour any second. Perfect for the bloody mess about to unfold—hell, it suited it just right.
'Sorry, everyone.'
—Truth be told, he wasn't even betting on success.
No matter how hard the cult's warriors fought, they had limits in numbers. The military would crush them soon enough.
What came after would be brutal. Everyone who joined the uproar would face the death penalty without mercy.
Still, it had to go forward. This mess in Jiangsu would be the spark, a small symbol. The more uprisings erupted across the Central Plains, the more cracks would form in the empire's pillars.
If they could uproot those pillars entirely and build a world of the cult, by the cult, for the cult—then a sacrifice like this was more than bearable.
—No, it had to be borne. That alone made the sacrifice worthwhile.
As he nodded quietly to himself, smoke began rising from far off in the sky. It had started—the brothers there were fighting tooth and nail to complete their martyrdom.
His heart wasn't at ease as he packed, honoring their path to sacrifice. He wanted to grab a weapon and join them, but he had his own mission.
Managing the intelligence network heading to Tianshan, overseeing the scattered organization across the Central Plains. But with recent news that the Inspectorate had exposed many of their positions, maintaining the structure was getting tough.
They had to disperse in ways that maximized benefit to the cult and burrow deeper underground. All for the greater good.
With one last look at the familiar Suzhou streets, Gwakssi vanished from the scene in a flash.
*
"What? Those punk-ass nobodies dare touch my property?"
The big showdown was right around the corner.
A little longer, and he'd have prepped a gift satisfying enough for Lord Gu Cheonse. It was the moment that decided how high he'd climb when summoned to the capital, so he'd been pouring his heart into it—only for this bucket of cold water to ruin it all. Jo Unhyeon flew into a rage.
"They say they can barely eat a meal a day themselves, yet they're hoarding rice until it rots."
"What? You'd think it was their own stash in my granary. And what's that bullshit?"
Those were gifts for Lord Gu Cheonse. Rotten rice mixed in? Jo Unhyeon sniffed out the foul play immediately.
"…Some bastard's clearly gunning for me."
Insane. Who'd pull that stunt on him, knowing the backlash later?
"What're the troops doing?"
"Clashing with the rioters."
This wasn't just personal anymore. It was a challenge to official authority—a straight-up rebellion against the empire.
"Tell Yugu Su to crush them for good."
"Yes, sir."
By the Great Ming Code, uprisings defying heaven's will demanded harsh punishment.
Especially those thug ringleaders inciting the rabble—they needed to be hunted down and torn limb from limb to vent his spleen.
"I'm pissed. Time for some stress relief today."
"Yes, we'll prepare right away."
Even in this chaos, he felt zero worry for his safety.
Sado Gate—practically his private army, the strongest faction in Nanjing and Suzhou outskirts, bar the military. Untouchable.
Yeah, it violated the taboo of officials and martial artists mingling, but who cared? As long as it didn't get out.
They weren't facing Jiangsu troops head-on, and Heuk Ung's Sado Gate disciples guarded the governor's mansion tighter than a rat's ass—no intruder stood a chance.
Just seeing Heuk Ung's solid mug beside him melted away any anxiety.
Time to blow off steam until the rioters were squashed. Heard the new girl coming in was a real looker.
"The fresh one's en route?"
"Yes, arriving soon."
"Once she's here, doll her up and bring her to the bedroom. Gonna get rough today—prep her smart."
"As you command."
*
Looking ahead, clashes between imperial troops and rebels raged across Nanjing's streets already.
Casualties mounting fast—it looked serious as hell.
Thanks to the rebels bulldozing paths with sheer numbers, though, slipping inside was a breeze. But that momentum wouldn't last.
Suzhou held Jiangsu's main forces anyway—breaching wasn't hard. Watch the rear instead.
And Nanjing, especially the governor's mansion, relied on Sado Gate under Heuk Ung for muscle.
'Bijong make it yet?'
He'd left first, before full-scale clashes, so probably there by now.
Passing a street mound, he pulled out his telescope. The mansion was close, but time to scout.
A square enclosure centered on the governor's mansion. At the forefront, one lone guy battled solo.
Six or seven warriors down behind him—fight'd been going a while.
'That's Bijong, alright. Dude's a beast.'
But hitting his limit. Wounds accumulating in the prolonged skirmish, counterattacks faltering.
'Shit, might be cutting it close.'
A few blocks to the mansion grounds.
Straight shot would've been quick, but bottlenecks everywhere—forces deadlocked, impassable.
Detours through narrow alleys? Blocked and maze-like, wasting time.
"Ah, fuck. This is gonna drive me nuts."
Can't blaze a trail—how to—
"Ah."
His eyes dropped to the cannon in hand. Then up to the stone-and-wood walls.
Knock knock.
"Anyone home?"
Knocking on a damn wall—who'd see that and not call him crazy.
But blind bombardment might piss off residents if anyone got hurt, so minimal courtesy.
"No one? Cool."
No answer—out came the iron ball for the Hyunja Chongtong, slotted with the fire arrow.
Light the fuse without hesitation.
"Fire."
—Boom!
The massive wooden arrow in direct fire shredded planks and stone pillars on impact.
A genuine siege ram, carving a man-sized passage.
"Nice."
Moving shot—diving in while reloading briskly.
"One more."
Boom!
Lucky no signs of life. No guilt trips or nightmares.
Relieved, he pressed on, soon reaching the mansion grounds per the intel.
"Paths are made by pioneers, after all."
Felt like a trailblazer. Speed bred smug satisfaction.
Glancing back, pulverized homes like a bulldozer's wake—kinda nagging.
'Emergency situation. Can't be helped.'
Picture of the commander agonizing over cleanup flashed, but he shrugged it off.
"Hey, you! What the hell—where'd you come from?!"
Entering enemy turf now.
"Hyah!"
A Sado Gate warrior drew blade from nowhere, charging straight.
Thud.
"Gah!"
These clowns think martial arts beat gunpowder? High-level masters countering was weird—these mooks were easy prey.
Dropped the linear charger with a linear shot, then loaded the last fire arrow.
Jo Unhyeon—family in the capital. That's why he ran wild at home, mostly in the annex, not main house.
Aimed at the mansion wall and annex roof.
Boom!
The huge wooden arrow exploded splinters and dust everywhere, blinding vision.
"…Jo Unhyeon, you fucking prick, where are you."
Pushing through the haze as it cleared—
"—Come out now if you don't wanna die." The compound's eyes locked on him before he knew it.