The Yama King's Terms
Ordinarily, no one should have been in the bamboo forest at all.
The place was so remote that not even a woodcutter would ever pass through.
Rustle.
Eight orthodox martial artists of the Murim Alliance, clad in antique leather wind cloaks, stood gathered among the stalks. Gray-streaked hair and deep wrinkles marked their faces as they eyed one another sidelong. They were waiting for someone.
Thud.
At a gesture, servants moved in perfect unison, setting an oval table in the clearing at the heart of the bamboo forest. Upon it they placed rice-fire wine and nine cups. An abundant array of dishes in every variety was laid out around them.
The undergrowth on the far side stirred.
"You're late."
From deep among the lower bamboo, a black silhouette came walking. The Murim Alliance men seated to face that figure spoke.
"You look a wreck. Are you all right?"
The approaching man's clothes were torn in places, smeared with blood and dust. As he drew nearer, a raw earth-smell spread through the air. The black silhouette drew a long breath and let it out.
"The smell of food… Abundant. So this is how the orthodox live. A new atmosphere, no question."
He looked over the table and the cut of the men's clothes, turning his head this way and that.
"As expected. A man has to see the wide world. The saying that staring at only one place leads to decline—it's true."
Without the least hesitation he strode forward and took the empty place at the table.
"I'm thirsty."
A servant came and poured wine. The man looked at the cup set before him.
"Is this alcohol, by any chance?"
One of the eight Murim Alliance men across the table answered with pride.
"Rice-fire wine. Brewed from the finest rice north of the river—"
The man raised a hand. Every one of them flinched. Then he spoke. From beneath the deep-drawn hood came a voice cracked and caked with dry dust.
"Hehehe. You motherfuckers. You offered the drink so damn brazenly I was too stunned to get a word out."
Tension settled over the table. One of the Murim Alliance martial artists creased the crow's-feet at his eyes.
"Your words are harsh. I'd prefer a little manners."
"Ha. Haha."
The man gave a short laugh.
"Ah, sorry. So you're offended?"
"…"
"If you're offended, I apologize. My tongue ran a bit rough."
He bit his lower lip and drew a sharp breath.
"Martial artists who train—not even scholars—sitting around drinking wine. That lax, soft way of thinking is so unfunny I couldn't keep my face straight… Water. Give me water. I only drink water."
"Ah… water, yes. Here it is."
He snatched the teapot from the servant's hands, sniffed it roughly, and glared.
"This isn't water—it's tea. Hot tea. Do you not know the word 'water'? Want to die?"
The explosive killing intent rolling off the man's body turned the servant's face paper-white.
"…Shall I bring cold water?"
"Bring it in a big bowl I could wash my face in. Pure cold water, nothing mixed in. If I taste even a single grain of salt or sugar, I'll smash your skull. I drink only pure water."
The servant returned at the speed of light. The man slightly lifted whatever covered his face beneath the hood, set the rim of the bowl to his lips, and drank.
Gulp. Gulp.
His head tipped back. The hood pressed down to his eyes flipped with the force. What showed beneath was a plain white mask shot through with cracks.
"Hoo. Now I can live. My throat was so dry I felt myself turning to dust."
Thud.
He set the empty bowl on the table. The oldest of the men seated opposite, who had watched the whole process, spoke.
"Jeokmaryeong. You're the same as ever. Honestly, when I heard the Demonic Cult's Nine Killing Stars had started hunting you, I thought you might already be dead."
The man—Jeokmaryeong—scratched at the cracked white mask with a fingertip and chuckled.
"Is the Murim Alliance's Deputy Agency Head, Lord U-hyeon himself, worrying about a demon like me who's become a kite with its string cut?"
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon looked around in fluster.
"No matter what happens, do not use titles—"
"And a few of the faces next to you look familiar enough, fine. But there are people here I've never seen. So what the hell is going on?"
At Jeokmaryeong's words, a man in purple-and-violet leather wind robes answered.
"I am the merchant lord of the Yi group, in charge of the Gangdong trade route out of Henan."
"I am Merchant Lord Hwang."
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon spoke.
"Orthodox people who wish to form new ties with you. More work is good for you, isn't it?"
"…Ha."
Jeokmaryeong looked around. He seemed to have a great deal to say, yet he said no more.
"Yeah. More work is good. Anyway, I'm no longer a demon either."
He agreed. Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon smiled.
"Yes. A man has to put food on the table. Mutual benefit is nothing special, is it? Then, before we discuss the work, will you eat? You look half-starved."
Jeokmaryeong only stared at the food without touching the chopsticks. At that, U-hyeon sent him a restless look.
"What's wrong? Does the food not suit you?"
Jeokmaryeong picked up a single chopstick. Like a skewer he prodded the steaming dishes and the pork-fat stews set before him.
"You call this food for a martial artist? This is the sort of luxury even the Demonic Cult's top elite unit, the Chiljeollyeong, would only eat in wartime—saying it would put grease in their bellies in peacetime. Of course."
He smacked his lips.
"The only ones who could eat like this three times a day and still keep their build would be those mad battle-gods whose entire lives are life-and-death duels."
"…"
"…"
Gazes crossed. As the tension climbed, Jeokmaryeong gave a short snort of laughter.
"Haha. It's a joke. Why are your faces so dark?"
He dropped the pork leg he had speared onto the plate with a soft plop. The purple light above the white mask curved in a smile.
"Let's start the meal. I've gone four days without food, so I'm hungry."
"…Haha. You joke well, Jeokmaryeong. For a moment I thought you meant it."
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon and the rest forced awkward smiles.
Clack. Clack.
They began to eat. Jeokmaryeong lifted the plain mask just enough to free his mouth and shoveled food in without pause. Before he had finished chewing and swallowing, his hand already held the next piece; just before a bowl emptied he was already pulling the next one in front of him. Empty bowls stacked into a mountain at his side.
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon set down the single piece he had taken for the sake of form and spoke.
"You're bold, Jeokmaryeong. Even if we don't treat you as an enemy, you're from the Demonic Cult—and you're packing all that away with us orthodox seated right across from you, sworn enemies even among the righteous, demonic, and evil paths?"
"Those righteous, demonic, and evil paths are all people, and we do it to eat. What can't I do?"
Jeokmaryeong said it while tearing into an entire steamed carp. At those words one of U-hyeon's subordinates spoke roughly.
"And you even committed the madness of ripping out the throat of the Sichuan Tang Family's Guardian and killing him."
Jeokmaryeong's chewing slowed.
"Do you even know what kind of things you're going around doing? And who has to clean up after it?"
Jeokmaryeong answered as if it were nothing.
"Ah, that? That was personal. I only meant to leave a letter for someone through a merchant group, but some dayfly kept sticking to me. So I tried to fight a little and pull out, but…"
He nodded to himself as he spoke.
"The bastard was a bit strong, I got angry, so I just ripped his neck out. I didn't know he was a Guardian. The Sichuan Tang Family Guardian who split the jewel half-and-half with a woman of the same house—was that it? Well, even if he was weak, he was still a Guardian, so he must have had enough skill to scrape my temper."
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon stopped the subordinate who was about to step forward and spoke calmly.
"I have no intention of arguing further over what is already done, but mind your body. No individual beats an organization."
"There's nothing more careful I can be."
He set the finished carp down as if throwing it onto the plate. Purple light flashed from the black holes of the plain mask.
"And frankly speaking, from the Murim Alliance's point of view the present situation is something to clap and cheer for, isn't it? The Cult Leader is going mad trying to catch and kill the former captain of the Surayeomrang Squad."
U-hyeon stroked his pure-white chin beard.
"The problem is that the one tied into it is you—who is tied to us."
Jeokmaryeong snorted.
"Well, I was a bit surprised myself. I never expected the nine captains of the Nine Killing Stars to come charging out of the Ten Thousand Mountains just to catch one man. Then let's get to the point."
He wiped the seasoning from his mouth.
"What's the job this time?"
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon held out a list. Jeokmaryeong took it. U-hyeon said,
"Eliminate the people written on the list. Advance of three gold. Six gold upon confirmed completion."
"…Double the usual?"
"The targets are the maddest of mad dogs and big shots. We don't know what variables there might be."
"…"
Jeokmaryeong's eyes carefully scanned down the list.
"All good, but."
He smacked his lips. Having read to the final line, his purple eyes whirled to fix on Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon as he shook the paper.
"Is this the official position of the Murim Alliance, or your personal position as Deputy Agency Head?"
U-hyeon lifted the teapot and poured tea.
"We agreed not to ask for reasons between us."
Jeokmaryeong flipped the paper to check the back for any further writing.
"Anyone can see this is openly trying to interfere in the succession of one of the Five Great Families—the Moyong Family."
"Well, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I need even a surface reason before I move. I'm not a puppet."
Purple light flared from behind the plain mask.
"We're partners. Right?"
"…"
Sipping his tea, Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon spoke.
"There are too many wolves in the Moyong Family. They're trying to break the balance. The world needs balance to coexist, but these wolves are out of their minds. It doesn't end with them fighting among themselves; to land a decisive blow on their opponent, they devour everything around them and grow bigger by any means."
Jeokmaryeong lifted a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.
"So the rumors are true. The rumor that the Moyong Family is pushing out the other four of the Five Great Families and practically swallowing every prime business in the Central Plains. So."
He pointed at the list.
"First son Moyong Jinryong, and third son Moyong Ryu. They're at war right now. The second is a fool who only chases women. Right? Looking at this, it's quite the mess too?"
"The problem isn't that it's a mess—it's that it's a pack of wolves cunning as monsters. Right now the two wolves are evenly matched, but the moment one falls it becomes a force no one can stop. But if we think from our Murim Alliance's position…"
He ruthlessly discarded the cold tea and poured a fresh, steaming cup.
"If we succeed in putting a leash on that savage wolf that has practically unified the deep-pocketed Five Great Families before it fully grows…"
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon smiled faintly.
"The wolf will instantly transform into the finest house-guarding dog in this world."
"So you're ordering that job from a wandering beast who can die for all you care? The big money spent can be recouped and more once you take the Five Great Families."
U-hyeon changed the subject.
"By the way, what's wrong? We've been meeting and working together for over four months, yet it's rare for you to raise questions."
"There's a name on the list that bothers me."
"A name that bothers you? Aah. You mean the first son of the Moyong Family, Moyong Jinryong?"
At that, the subordinate who had been restrained earlier snorted.
"You must have skimmed the list. So it's true Demonic Cult people can't read well?"
Jeokmaryeong's brow twitched. Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon smoothly intervened.
"The name written at the very top—the first son of the Moyong Family, Moyong Jinryong—is someone we need to push, not a target for elimination."
"Isn't he one of the two wolves?"
U-hyeon stroked his beard.
"That one is quite the slippery eel himself. Rumors say he even made a secret pact with the Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult—mortal enemies at the level of righteous and demonic… But the credibility is so low we still can't know."
He set a finger on the rim of the teacup and spun it slowly.
"Still, from our position he's better than Moyong Ryu, who comes from the lowly unorthodox path. There's appearance to consider, isn't there? We have face too. And that Moyong Ryu is a bit… base by nature."
"…"
Jeokmaryeong's plain mask kept silent as he quietly regarded the Deputy Agency Head.
"And regarding Moyong Jinryong—the Sichuan Tang Family Guardian Dang Hoyeon whom you killed had formed the Covenant of the Sacred Mountain with him. The Covenant of the Sacred Mountain is an absolute pact vowing mutual safety and revenge in any matter. In the present case it becomes a yoke that makes Moyong Jinryong determined to kill you. But don't worry. The Beggars' Guild seems to have noticed to some degree, yet we can somehow pin that much on some other suitable demon. So put that side completely out of your mind and focus on the list…"
"You're mistaken. I'm not talking about Moyong Jinryong."
"Then?"
Jeokmaryeong set the list down and pointed at one of the names. Looking at it, the Deputy Agency Head said,
"Ah, Moyong Bi? You've completely got it wrong. That one is an illegitimate son."
"Illegitimate son?"
Jeokmaryeong asked back, purple light glinting.
The Deputy Agency Head nodded.
"In a way, from our position it doesn't matter much what becomes of him. Our top priority is Moyong Ryu above him. His younger brother Moyong Bi is said to be a student of Ha-mu-gwan at Cheonsubaekryeonsa. His martial skill is said to be worthless trash, and when last reported he had been cast out wandering without proper training because of a disciplinary trial—but I'm not certain."
"…Martial skill is worthless?"
Jeokmaryeong muttered.
"…Identity, estimated age range, characteristics—everything points to that bastard. And his martial skill is worthless trash?"
"Why?"
Jeokmaryeong thought for a moment.
"…Yeah. I thought he was a bastard whose eyes had gone especially crazy. So he was similar to me. Interesting."
The purple light wavered, circling the air before fixing again on the Deputy Agency Head.
"Then why is this bastard on the list? If he's a worthless illegitimate son, he shouldn't have much stake in the Moyong Family succession."
Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon shook his head as if to say no. Pointing at the name immediately below Moyong Jinryong, he said,
"Moyong Ryu. This one is the top priority for the job. For Moyong Jinryong to take the Moyong Family, he must eliminate this man. Moyong Bi is merely a nominal blood relative who follows him. That is all. An appendix-like existence. The kind you deal with when you have spare time. It would probably end with a single stroke of your hand, no?"
Jeokmaryeong gave no answer. Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon continued.
"To kill the final target Moyong Ryu, we must first deal with the most troublesome ones around him, so we selected them. This order is the order of strength, and the disposal should follow this order—"
"No. I decide the order for this job."
Riiip!
Jeokmaryeong tore the list.
"W-what is this!"
The eight orthodox martial artists could not hide their shock at that arrogant act. Among them, the subordinate who had been voicing dissatisfaction earlier was even more enraged.
"How dare you, you demon bastard worse than a worm—!"
Bang!
Jeokmaryeong kicked the table. It exploded into fragments like a firecracker. He snatched a spinning wine bottle and smashed it against the table's edge. With a sharp crash the bottle shattered, leaving a jagged edge.
"For slaughtering livestock that aren't even martial artists worth respecting, you need a tool that matches, right?"
The orthodox martial artists screamed and sprang to their feet.
"This crazy—!"
The entire bamboo forest shook as one.
"Everyone prioritize protecting Lord U-hyeon from the demon!"
With urgent shouts, guards poured out like black water from every direction among the stalks. Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon cried out in a fit of shock at the sight.
"Don't attack him!!"
But it was already too late.
The opponent is the Yama King—if we don't kill him first, we die!
Chajajak!
Seven guards interposed themselves between Jeokmaryeong and the orthodox martial artists and took guard. The rest drew their swords as one and charged him.
Purple light blazed from Jeokmaryeong's eyes. Purple flames boiled from his body.
Kugugugu!!!
Heaven and earth shook.
"U-uh!"
The guards who had drawn sword energy to block the front all staggered.
"H-hieek!"
The subordinate who had been cocky relying on Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon let out a scream as if his breath were leaving him.
Flash.
Jeokmaryeong vanished. The four charging guards tumbled with their necks slit by the bottle's edge. Two more, seized by the collar, smashed face-first into each other and died on the spot. Three had their waists completely broken by Jeokmaryeong's kicks and perished.
"U-uaaak!"
A guard swung his sword, wrapped in sword energy, at the wine bottle flying for his throat.
Zzeong!
Even that sword shattered. Realizing his beloved blade had been broken by a mere wine bottle, the guard stood dumbfounded.
"T-this crazy. This defies all common sense! Keok!"
His throat was cut and he collapsed. The whole slaughter had not lasted a single breath.
Pukaak!!
With a desperate scream a straight path of blood opened. At its end stood Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon's subordinate.
"A-ah…!"
"You've been flapping that mouth of yours carelessly from the start."
He snatched the collar of the man who tried to flee. The subordinate's feet flailed in empty air.
"S-save me! I-I'm sorry—!"
The wine bottle in Jeokmaryeong's hand flashed.
Pook! Pookpookpook!!!
The bottle drove in and out like a mad thing. The sound of belly skin being pierced rang through the bamboo forest.
"Uaaak! Uaaaak! Aaaaak!!"
A cold shudder ran through everyone watching. Neither Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon nor the surviving guards could bring themselves to attack the madly stabbing Jeokmaryeong who had left his back completely exposed.
He's deliberately avoiding every vital point!
Only after being pierced more than seventy times—after pouring out all the blood in his body to the very brink of death—was the subordinate allowed to die. Jeokmaryeong threw the rag-like corpse aside.
"Hoo. Now I can digest a bit. I ate something greasy after a long time. Ah, right. We were negotiating."
He wiped the blood splattered across his white mask and spoke to the paper-white Deputy Agency Head U-hyeon.
"Advance of three gold and six upon completion? No, no. That's too little."
Jeokmaryeong shook his head.
"Advance of five gold and ten gold upon completion. Those are my terms."
"T-that makes no sense!"
Crash!
With a languid expression Jeokmaryeong dropped the wine bottle.
"If you don't like it, die here. You rotten orthodox schemers worse than any demon."