Chapter 397: Caught in a Sinister Plot
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 397: Caught in a Sinister Plot
"Sigh."
Kang Ha-yoon let out a deep sigh.
The investigation had hit a dead end.
A few days ago, the Blue Water Sword Hero, Cheongsu, had been brutally murdered. Exactly three days later, the case was closed, and a suspect was identified.
The person named as the suspect was Ja So-ryeong, a member of the Phoenix Unit who had gone missing a few days prior.
When the suspect was first revealed, Ha-yoon didn't believe it. She knew Ja So-ryeong’s character all too well.
Born into a small, insignificant martial family, Ja So-ryeong was an incredibly hard worker. Despite her lack of martial arts foundation, her meager talent, and even her frail physical frame, she was someone who had pushed past her limits as a woman through sheer effort just to join the Phoenix Unit.
The idea that such a woman had seduced and murdered the Blue Water Sword Hero, the Vice Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall, was enough to make even a passing dog laugh.
They say you can know the depth of ten fathoms of water but not the single fathom of a person's heart, yet Ha-yoon was certain she couldn't be the culprit.
This was a woman who didn't even know the basics of makeup and always walked around with a clean, bare face. This was a woman who had never held a man's hand other than her father's.
How could such a person seduce and then murder the Blue Water Sword Hero? It would have been more believable if she had challenged him to a fair duel and killed him with martial arts.
There were too many strange things about this case—from the conflicting statements of her husband and Alliance Leader, Lee Jae-won, to the Law Enforcement Hall's slipshod investigation.
It was as if they were blatantly trying to cover something up.
Everything was suspicious. She knew she shouldn't feel this way as a wife, but she doubted Lee Jae-won, and she doubted the Law Enforcement Hall, which had processed everything with lightning speed based solely on Lee Jae-won's testimony.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Her anxiety deepened as time passed because no answers were forthcoming.
The Law Enforcement Hall, having closed the case, immediately cremated Gal Mu-ryang’s body. Their excuse was that they needed to purify the Demonic Energy. Consequently, any autopsy or cause of death reports had to rely on the records the Law Enforcement Hall made before the cremation.
But in a state of total distrust toward the Law Enforcement Hall, there was no way she could believe their records. If the investigation proceeded based on their findings, Ja So-ryeong would inevitably be solidified as the culprit.
"Dammit."
Kang Ha-yoon felt a headache coming on. She couldn't think of a single viable solution.
She felt a tightness in her chest. The thought that she had no way to clear her precious subordinate of these false charges made her feel suffocated.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of someone rapping on her door began to echo in her ears.
"Who is it?" Ha-yoon asked in a calm tone.
"It is Paeng Ga-ryeon."
A woman's voice drifted in from outside the door.
Ha-yoon’s brow furrowed instantly. It was a voice she truly did not want to hear.
"Come in."
Creak.
The door opened almost as soon as permission was granted, revealing Paeng Ga-ryeon. But she wasn't alone. Beside her stood the White Tiger Hall Master, the man known as the Sword King, Gal Ji-cheon.
"What brings the White Tiger Hall Master here with the Law Enforcement Hall Master?"
Ha-yoon asked with a look of bewilderment. It was a suspicious combination that didn't suit the occasion at all.
"I asked the White Tiger Hall Master to accompany me to the Phoenix Hall Master's quarters."
"And why is that?"
"To prepare for any potential physical confrontation," Paeng Ga-ryeon replied calmly.
The air in the room turned icy in an instant. Those were words that couldn't simply be laughed off.
"A physical confrontation... exactly what are you implying?" Ha-yoon asked, her eyes turning cold as she stared at Paeng Ga-ryeon.
"I'm referring to the possibility of the Phoenix Hall Master running amok."
"Then am I to assume you've brought news that would make me want to run amok?" Ha-yoon said, her aura beginning to flare.
"You could say that."
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke, barely managing to withstand the pressure of Ha-yoon's aura.
"Then go ahead and bark. Depending on what you say, I might actually run amok."
"By all means."
Paeng Ga-ryeon glared back, refusing to back down.
"Criminal Kang Ha-yoon, listen! You have used your high position as the Phoenix Hall Master to receive solicitations and demand or accept bribes. Furthermore, you have dishonestly executed your public duties for personal greed, dragging the honor of the Cheonmu Alliance through the mud! Therefore, I, Paeng Ga-ryeon, Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, order the criminal Kang Ha-yoon to appear before the Law Enforcement Hall to stand trial!"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a firm, powerful voice, looking directly at Ha-yoon.
"..."
Ha-yoon remained silent, her mouth pressed into a thin line. She was processing the sudden situation in her head.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
"This is insane."
Having grasped the situation, Ha-yoon frowned. She knew Paeng Ga-ryeon harbored ill will toward her, but she hadn't expected her to try and screw her over like this.
"Look, Paeng Ga-ryeon. Do you really have to go this far?"
Ha-yoon dropped the honorifics and spat the words out harshly.
"I don't know what you mean," Paeng Ga-ryeon replied, feigning ignorance.
"I'm asking if you really want to take this to the bitter end," Ha-yoon said, her expression turning hollow.
"I don't understand what you're talking about. Why don't you just make a choice? Will you be bound quietly by the arrest ropes? Or will you resist and be subdued disgracefully?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a triumphant look. She had the Sword King, Gal Ji-cheon, by her side. And behind her, she had the support of Lee Jae-won. There was no reason for her to fear someone like Kang Ha-yoon.
"..."
Ha-yoon fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, as if she had made a decision, she spoke slowly.
"I'll go with you."
She spoke in a flat tone.
"A wise decision."
Paeng Ga-ryeon smiled, pleased with the choice. She approached Ha-yoon, holding the arrest ropes, intending to bind her in a humiliating fashion.
But as she reached point-blank range, she felt a strange sense of foreboding.
"Right after I bash your damn jaw in!"
Ha-yoon roared and threw a punch straight at Paeng Ga-ryeon’s face.
Thwack!
Whoosh!
The fist connected squarely, and Paeng Ga-ryeon was sent flying backward.
CRASH!
She slammed into the wall and stayed there.
"Hmph."
Ha-yoon snorted. She was irritated that a nobody was running her mouth.
Rumble.
"You crazy bitch!"
A moment later, Paeng Ga-ryeon pulled herself from the wall, spewing curses. She was livid at the unexpected assault.
"You must really want to die! Do you have any idea what you just did?!"
"Not really," Ha-yoon replied shamelessly.
"You just assaulted the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall! You struck the head of the organization that upholds the law and justice of the Cheonmu Alliance!"
"Then add it to the charges," Ha-yoon said calmly.
"What?!"
"You've already secured all the evidence and witnesses anyway, haven't you?" Ha-yoon glared at Paeng Ga-ryeon. "You wouldn't have bared your teeth at me without that. It's obvious that no matter how much I protest my innocence, no one will listen, and my dismissal or demotion is already a done deal."
Ha-yoon continued to calmly deduce her own situation.
"..."
Paeng Ga-ryeon fell silent. Ha-yoon wasn't wrong.
"In a situation like this, what can I do? Should I beg the Alliance Leader and tell him it's unfair? Should I gather people and start a rebellion? Or should I beat everyone down and run away?"
"..."
"I can't do anything. Except vent my frustration on you."
Ha-yoon’s eyes flashed.
"So just take the beating quietly. That first one was a light tap."
She spoke with a demonic smile and began walking toward Paeng Ga-ryeon.
Step, step.
Paeng Ga-ryeon felt a chill run down her spine. She realized Ha-yoon was dead serious.
"White Tiger Hall Master! Help me!"
Swish.
Gal Ji-cheon quickly stepped in front of Ha-yoon.
"Move. I have no grudge against you," Ha-yoon said, her eyes cold.
"I refuse. How can I stand by and watch you harm the Law Enforcement Hall Master?" Gal Ji-cheon replied calmly. "Furthermore, I don't have a very high opinion of the Phoenix Hall Master myself."
Vroooom.
Gal Ji-cheon began to radiate internal energy.
"Not when you continue to protect that wicked woman who undoubtedly killed my brother!"
A massive amount of murderous aura erupted from Gal Ji-cheon, filling the room. He despised Kang Ha-yoon. The culprit had already been identified, so why was she stubbornly insisting otherwise? To him, Ha-yoon’s actions looked like nothing more than protecting one of her own.
How could he like such a woman? How could she shield the woman who killed his comrade? Gal Ji-cheon was consumed by rage. Along with his fury, a fierce murderous intent began to swirl.
"Do whatever you want. I'm only going to beat that bitch," Ha-yoon said, pointing a finger at Paeng Ga-ryeon.
"You think you can get past me!"
"Let's find out!"
A massive amount of internal energy began to billow from Ha-yoon’s body. Then, her form vanished like a streak of light, lunging toward Paeng Ga-ryeon.
Gal Ji-cheon moved just as quickly to intercept her.
BOOM!
Ha-yoon’s fist collided with Gal Ji-cheon’s sword, creating a thunderous explosion.
"Don't get in my way!" Ha-yoon shouted, her face contorted.
"You'll have to go through me first!" Gal Ji-cheon roared back.
BOOM!
CRASH!
The battle between the two absolute masters intensified, and the sound of their clashes echoed like thunder.
"Abuse of authority, bribery and embezzlement, property damage due to the collapse of the Bi-yeon and Yu-seong Pavilions—which are assets of the Cheonmu Alliance—and assault and battery causing serious injury to the Law Enforcement Hall Master and the White Tiger Hall Master."
Lee Jae-won spoke in a measured tone.
"Furthermore, you have committed defamation by dragging the honor of the Cheonmu Alliance through the dirt as the Phoenix Hall Master. You have committed countless crimes, Hall Master Kang."
Lee Jae-won looked at Ha-yoon, who was now bound in arrest ropes.
"I can overlook the bribery and abuse of power, but you absolutely demolished the White Tiger Hall Master."
Lee Jae-won clicked his tongue.
"A fractured skull, a broken nose, missing teeth, a cervical sprain, a fractured left collarbone, a broken right arm, a broken left arm, fractures in the left fingers and elbow, a completely shattered wrist, multiple compound fractures in the right ribs, fractured left ribs... you turned the man into a complete invalid."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a look of feigned distress. He had only intended to send her away until the Blue Water Sword Hero's case was settled. She had been an obstacle, constantly opposing him. That was why he had framed her for minor crimes like bribery and embezzlement—so he could reinstate her whenever he felt enough time had passed.
But with these charges, the story changed. She had pulverized the head of the White Tiger Hall, the man known as the Sword King, Gal Ji-cheon. She had inflicted permanent damage. Fortunately, he was found in time to save his life, but his life as a martial artist was likely over forever.
Lee Jae-won felt a massive headache coming on.
‘Why the hell is this bitch so strong?’
He had never expected Kang Ha-yoon to be this powerful. Gal Ji-cheon was a top-tier master who had reached the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm. He was a master who had few rivals even within the Cheonmu Alliance.
And yet, he had been one-sidedly beaten. What did this mean? It meant that Kang Ha-yoon had reached a level far beyond a typical master of the Upper Transcendent Realm.
‘Could she be in the Profound Realm?’
Lee Jae-won peered at Ha-yoon with a heavy gaze. The thought that she might have reached the Profound Realm crossed his mind. But he soon shook his head. His observation told him she hadn't reached the Profound Realm yet. She seemed to be positioned right on the boundary between the Transcendent and Profound Realms.
‘This is problematic...’
Lee Jae-won thought. It was very problematic. What was supposed to be a minor affair had grown far too large. It was no longer a matter of a temporary demotion; she had to be sent to prison immediately.
He was torn. No matter the circumstances, he didn't want to send his own wife—a master on the verge of the Profound Realm—to prison.
‘What to do, what to do, what to do...’
His mind raced, searching for the best possible outcome.
After a long silence, Lee Jae-won finally spoke, his expression grim.
"Criminal Kang Ha-yoon, listen!"
He glared at her with a terrifying intensity.