Jegal Cheongha's Choice
"Do you really think the real Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord is connected to that incident?"
Gok Wi-gang asked as he urged his horse onward with fervor.
"We can't say for sure yet. But something smells fishy, that's clear."
Jegal Cheongha replied. She was riding neck-and-neck beside him. They were en route to Hangzhou.
Once Jegal Cheongha had made up her mind, her resolve was unbreakable, leaving Gok Wi-gang with no choice but to tag along.
"Hmm, I see."
Gok Wi-gang nodded obediently for now. But inwardly, he was filled with doubt.
'That playboy really capable of something like that?'
The current Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord was infamous for openly keeping courtesans and mistresses despite having the Jiangnan’s foremost beauty as his wife, indulging in debauchery without shame.
For such a man to secretly commit such sinister and brutal massacres? If asked whether it felt right, well... it didn't quite add up.
'Of course, you never really know a person's true nature.'
Having eaten the rice of the Murim Alliance's investigation team for decades, he'd seen all sorts. Among them were those with saintly faces who turned out to be murderers or rapists behind closed doors.
Thinking of them, it wasn't impossible. But still.
'To wipe out the Sagong family manor, you'd need peak experts. Yet there's no intel on the Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord moving with any such masters.'
At best, just one bodyguard named Jang Il. No matter how strong that guard might be, the odds of him and the lord alone erasing the entire Sagong family manor overnight without a trace seemed near zero.
So, had they perhaps prepositioned experts at the Golden Dragon Battlefield's Gansu branch?
'No, that doesn't make sense. We would've detected any such movements.'
Gansu might be sparsely populated compared to other regions, but it wasn't without eyes and ears. Residents aside, informants from the two great intelligence networks—Haomen and Gaibang—were stationed there.
No matter how secretive or tight-lipped, mobilizing that level of force would've been noticed by someone.
'Ugh, no idea.'
In the end, Gok Wi-gang shook his head.
Jegal Cheongha had insight that pierced what others missed, so she might've spotted something real. But as the guy beside her, he couldn't help but remain skeptical.
'Well, we'll know when we get there.'
It was then.
"C-Captain."
One of the investigation team members trailing them called out to Gok Wi-gang in a voice like he was on his last breath.
"What is it?"
"I... I-I'm at my limit. My s-stomach's sticking to my back."
Just as he said—utterly spent. They'd skipped lunch and pushed on with this forced march.
"Ugh, m-me too, Captain."
Another team member begged pitifully.
At this point, even Gok Wi-gang couldn't stay silent. As their direct superior, he had to look after his loyal subordinates.
"Uh, Strategist Jegal."
"Yes?"
"My men are at their limit. Shouldn't we find an inn around here, grab some dinner, and rest up...?"
"Mm, sure."
Jegal Cheongha nodded readily. She'd realized pushing further would exhaust the Murim Alliance investigators completely.
And so, Jegal Cheongha's group halted and secured an inn.
That was why they inevitably fell behind Bang So-un's group, who drove their expensive four divine steeds day and night without rest.
And that gap allowed Bang So-un's party to reach Hangzhou a few days earlier.
"Whoa, we're here, young master!"
Jang Il came lumbering up in a hurry.
"Oh, really? Hand it over quick."
"Here you go."
Jang Il's massive hand proffered a pill gleaming with vibrant colors.
"What the—why's it so flashy?"
"Don't poisonous mushrooms that hit hard usually look flashy too?"
"Hmm, fair point."
Bang So-un nodded as he picked up the pill.
"So eating this'll send me straight to the brink, right?"
"Yes sir, no doubt about it. Go-eui made it."
"Kinda nervous."
"You won't die. I made him swear on it."
"Antidote?"
"He rushed the poison pill first; antidote's coming via messenger bird soon."
"Even more anxious now?"
"C'mon, it was your plan from the start. Go big or go home."
"Fine. I'm lying down."
Bang So-un popped the pill into his gaping mouth, chewed it thoroughly, and...
Gulp.
Swallowed.
"H-Huh?!"
"W-What's wrong?!"
"B-Blurgh!"
Bang So-un vomited up a full bowl of black blood. Jang Il's eyes bulged in shock.
"N-No way, already?!"
"S-Save me! Save me, Jang Il! Blurgh!"
Another gush of black blood. He looked on the verge of death—no acting needed.
Even though it was all planned, Jang Il panicked and stomped around.
"W-What do we do?!"
"S-Save... me... Bluuuugh!"
Bang So-un's face had turned ashen.
"D-Doctor! I'll fetch a doctor right now!"
Jang Il bolted out in a frenzy.
And that day, the Golden Dragon Battlefield was thrown into chaos.
"C-Captain."
"You're back? The intel?"
"Yes, well..."
The investigator who'd gathered info in Hangzhou reported. Gok Wi-gang's eyes widened at the news—clearly no ordinary update.
"...Got it. It's serious, so double-check it."
"Understood."
The investigator withdrew. Gok Wi-gang headed straight to Jegal Cheongha.
"Strategist Jegal."
"What is it?"
"One of my men brought intel, and the situation looks off."
"Off how?"
"The Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord's condition seems grave."
"Grave?"
A strange glint flickered in Jegal Cheongha's eyes.
"Yes. He's been ill lately with no improvement—it's worsened badly. He's in critical condition..."
"Critical? No way."
Jegal Cheongha stood abruptly, her face clouded with doubt.
"According to the report..."
"Let's go now."
"Pardon?"
"I need to confirm it myself."
"Ah, yes—we were prepping to leave in an hour anyway..."
"No, right now."
"Uh... yes... understood."
At last, Jegal Cheongha set foot toward the Golden Dragon Battlefield.
"Whoa, even the outskirts are buzzing already?"
"Yeah. Everyone's talking about it."
"He won't actually die, right?"
"Guy had the luck to marry into fortune, but his lifespan's this short? World's unpredictable."
"Death from overindulgence?"
"Hey, don't jinx it."
The investigators murmured among themselves in low voices. The topic was too juicy to hold back.
The Golden Dragon Battlefield held no small place in the murim world—top-tier wealth put it among the elite.
News of its young lord in critical condition was bound to draw attention.
"Strategist Jegal, looks like it's real."
Gok Wi-gang spoke up too.
"We'll confirm it ourselves."
But Jegal Cheongha wouldn't commit. She believed this needed her own eyes.
A gap between her read and reality? Rare indeed. If it existed, she had to know why—and how big.
"Mm, yes. Not much farther."
How much longer they rode, the Golden Dragon Battlefield came into view.
A grand main gate. Normally, guests would've streamed in ceaselessly. The Hangzhou headquarters was the busiest escort agency in the world, after all.
But today was different.
Chaotic, yes—but not from customers.
No business today. All customers declined.
The massive signboard said it all in bold letters.
No way they'd operate normally with the lord critical.
"Everyone looks grim, footsteps hurried in and out."
Ever the squad leader, Gok Wi-gang observed the bustling gate staff.
"Critical with no recovery—they're probably summoning every doctor in Hangzhou, and beyond. Money's no object."
Solid analysis. Desperate for a miracle, they'd call in physicians far and wide. Wealth made it possible.
But money didn't guarantee recovery. That's life.
"Mm."
Yet Jegal Cheongha still pondered deeply—baffling Gok Wi-gang and the team.
"He's clearly ill, but..."
She shook her head.
"Critical now? Hard to swallow."
"...Who knows these things? A healthy youth can drop dead the next day."
"No, there had to be signs beforehand. Yet Lady Hwang Bo left her husband to pay condolences in Anhui? Doesn't add up."
"Maybe no signs? Can't assume..."
"I need to see for myself."
Jegal Cheongha's mind was set. Gok Wi-gang panicked.
"B-But the sign says all customers declined."
"They won't refuse a Murim Alliance visitor paying sick call."
"Cr-Critical condition for visitors? Even if allowed, barging in with this many would be a huge nuisance—like crashing a funeral. The Alliance would take heat."
"Don't worry. I'll go alone."
"...Understood."
Gok Wi-gang relented. No bending her stubbornness.
"Just one favor from Hero Gok."
"Favor? Of course, name it."
"If I'm not out by dusk, contact the Murim Alliance's Hangzhou branch immediately."
From that, Gok Wi-gang realized she still suspected the Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord.
'Strategist Jegal's something else.'
Even if he were a brutal fiend, harming him now—on death's door—would be impossible. Unless the crisis was fake.
Any chance of that?
"Yes, got it."
Despite doubting it utterly, Gok Wi-gang agreed. No exit by dusk would be a problem.
"Good. I'm heading in."
At last, Jegal Cheongha walked toward the Golden Dragon Battlefield's main gate.