Silver Chopsticks and the Slaughter Decree
Namgoong Juhee was blessed with incredibly good luck when it came to wealth.
On her first day stepping into the murim world, she'd snagged the Noksu, a treasure of the world.
The next day, she'd gotten the Silver Moon Alliance.
The day after that, she'd enjoyed the heartfelt hospitality of the Wuhu Merchant Guild, feasting on every delicacy under the sun.
And now, she'd gotten her hands on yet another piece of treasure.
"Hah. This is really tempting, isn't it?"
Namgoong Juhee pulled a silver needle from each of Hyeok and Du's pouches.
Touching the bodies of these middle-aged thugs in their forties wasn't exactly pleasant.
But jewels were jewels—as long as they were in good condition, it didn't matter whose hands they'd passed through.
To Juhee's eye, these silver needles were in fine shape, so she could overlook the mild disgust.
And so, the silver needles she'd acquired were called Wa silver needles.
Not the "why" from the English word, but Wa as in that barbaric island nation even more uncivilized than the Central Plains.
Those pint-sized folks excelled at two things: pillaging and crafting silver.
For all their small stature, their hands were deft—the quality of the silver weapons they brought from their homeland was no joke.
They were worthy of being called the dwarves of the Central Plains.
And one of those dwarven masterpieces was this Wa silver needle.
Sharp yet sturdy, unbreakable, and so light it was almost unfair.
In modern units, it weighed a mere 7 grams.
Perfect as a substitute for chopsticks to carry in her pouch.
Juhee's face lit up with a grin.
She'd gotten a chance to test her training results before leaving Hefei, and as a bonus, chopstick substitutes too.
A two-birds-with-one-stone win... That was normal thinking.
But she was a step beyond normal.
Meaning her temperament was a notch more extreme than most.
"These two alone are great, but wouldn't their boss have even more loot?"
Namgoong Juhee wasn't thoughtless—just not stupid.
Her brain could outpace a normal person's if she put her mind to it.
Sudden attack by two Peak realm experts, plus the others.
This wasn't some street thug operation.
There had to be a backer, and a big organization at that.
Juhee grasped the situation in an instant.
And muttered to herself.
"Okay. Let's kill 'em all."
Spot-on analysis, weird conclusion.
A hallmark of the truly crazy.
Normal people would flee if they realized an organization was after their life.
Starting a feud could get you killed, and making new enemies was a hassle.
But Juhee decided to hunt down the organization instead.
Not out of anger—for more loot.
If she'd been born into the Demonic Cult or an unorthodox sect instead of the Namgoong family, the Central Plains would be a sea of blood by now.
Anyway.
She brushed the dirt off her knees and stood.
To wipe out every last one of the bastards who'd come for her.
"But who the hell are these guys...?"
One minor issue: she had no idea who they were.
Next time, she needed to spare one for torture and intel.
One more horrific lesson added to her repertoire.
⋯
"Kuhuhu..."
The pig-like man laughing in his chair was a sight to behold.
His flabby flesh jiggling as he stroked his pet cat—textbook villain pose.
If Namgoong Juhee saw it, she'd be moved to tears, offering him brush and paper.
"Please sign this; it'll be a family heirloom!"
Though three days later, it'd be gathering dust in a corner.
Anyway, Geumseongje was in high spirits.
Hyeok and Du.
The Black Kitchen's top aces, both dispatched.
Their exquisite hidden techniques could easily take down a young expert, so soon enough, a young Peak realm girl would be dragged before him.
Next up: the puppet technique.
A spell that kept the victim's mind intact but locked their body rigid.
Usually used on unruly courtesans.
Cheap, high-volume service, low maintenance.
Another use: ultimate humiliation.
Forced to mate with beggars, serve as a plate at high-society banquets, or sold as a sex doll to rich houses—unable to resist or even move.
But fully conscious.
Aroused by a beggar's foul breath, tingling at chopstick tips.
"Endlessly aware of their plight, yet unable to escape. Isn't that the pinnacle of humiliation? Kehkeh."
Mrrrow.
Geumseongje petted his cat while awaiting Hyeok and Du.
Grumbling that two hours had passed since his orders with no word.
Then—
"Branch Lord!"
A frantic voice from outside.
The Branch Lord grinned in triumph.
Perfect! Hyeok and Du had finally finished the job and brought the red-haired lunatic.
First, toy with her till her face flushed.
Then, have his fun.
Finally, puppet her into earning cash at the brothel.
That was Geumseongje's plan.
"Yes! Those two finally earned their keep, eh?"
"N-no... it's not that!"
"What do you mean 'not that'? Drag that bitch in here now."
"Branch Lord! Hear me out first!"
But the steward's reaction was off.
He'd half-guessed they'd lost the fox-masked maniac.
Geumseongje wasn't blind.
But that alone wouldn't make the steward this desperate.
A simple "We lost her" would suffice.
He wouldn't chew out the steward over it.
Not yet, anyway.
So, the Branch Lord sought details.
The officials were bribed, no issue there. Casinos and brothels could be rebuilt.
But the steward looked like he had a lot to say, so he'd listen.
"Fine, speak."
"Hyeok and Du are dead! No—all the warriors we sent after that fox-masked bitch are dead!"
"What... what did you say?"
Bolt from the blue.
Moment he learned rock bottom had a basement.
Lost casinos and brothels? Build new ones.
Usury to snag married women and girls, fund new gambling dens—business booms.
But that required people.
"Give me my money back!" "This whore's face sucks!" "No creampie, no pay!"—endless complainers.
Shifts included, needed at least a dozen hands.
Plus experts.
Hefei's money scent drew jackals from everywhere.
"Hey, looks good—let's share?"
Geumseongje had been burned countless times as a kid.
"Share" meant never seeing it again—law of the land.
His face darkened.
Not over yet.
"B-branch Lord?"
"Don't talk to me. Thinking."
"It's not done... the report isn't finished."
That pissed him off.
Core members wiped out—what could be bigger?
Praise him too much, and he oversteps.
"You fool! Don't you know priorities? You idiot!"
"Branch Lord! This is just as bad. The Silver Moon Merchant Group..."
Silver Moon Merchant Group?
Why bring them up now?
The Central Plains' top merchant guild.
Power rivaling one of the Eight Great Clans or Nine Great Sects.
Bad vibes only.
"What about the Silver Moon Merchant Group?"
"They're heading here with their warriors right now! Led by Yi Hayeon herself!"
"This... this is insane."
"You must flee now!"
Yi Hayeon, Silver Moon's sub-branch head.
Ranked among the strongest of the later-generation experts.
Her personal arrival meant extermination for the Black Kitchen.
Best to escape and regroup.
"......Fuck."
"Branch Lord?"
But people don't always make smart calls.
Sometimes emotion leads to stupidity—like Geumseongje now.
Not surprising.
The Black Kitchen had been expanding smoothly.
Soon, they'd rule Hefei's golden turf as a major faction.
Eventually, a powerhouse among the unorthodox sects.
But one wench ruined it all.
Ruined? The whole faction was collapsing.
Of course he'd snap.
"How many?"
"Pardon?"
"How. Many. Warriors did Yi Hayeon bring?"
"Uh... about five first-rate ones."
"Five first-rates and one Peak..."
Separately, it was a force to fear.
Same realm, but his experience was longer.
Peak vs. Peak fights often hinged on that—not entirely unfavorable.
"Gather all remaining warriors and set an ambush."
"Pardon?"
"What? Carry out the order. Time to make legend."
"Y-yes... yes!"
The steward bolted.
Tight on time before Yi Hayeon's arrival.
Geumseongje called after him.
"Turning Yi Hayeon into a puppet would rake in a fortune. Life's twists and turns—looks like luck's finally on my side."
Geumseongje cackled.
A sight Namgoong Juhee would absolutely love.