Chapter 709: The Stench is Pervasive
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 709: The Stench is Pervasive
Click. Clack.
A beautiful noblewoman, exuding elegance and grace with every movement, began to walk.
Her stride was perfectly measured, a clear indication to any observer that she was a master who had reached a formidable level of cultivation.
Click. Clack.
After walking for some time, she came to a sudden halt.
She stood before the office of the Law Enforcement Hall Master.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
She tapped gently on the door.
"Who is it?"
A familiar woman’s voice drifted from inside. It was the voice of Paeng Ga-ryeon, the Law Enforcement Hall Master.
"It’s me."
Upon hearing Paeng Ga-ryeon’s voice, the woman outside spoke in a soft, melodic tone.
"…Please, come in."
Paeng Ga-ryeon’s voice returned, now sounding exceptionally polite.
Creeeeeak.
As soon as permission was granted, the woman pushed the door open without a moment's hesitation.
"I greet the Great Matriarch."
As she entered the room, Paeng Ga-ryeon bowed deeply and respectfully. It was clearly the posture of a subordinate addressing a superior.
"It’s good to see you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"
The Great Matriarch, Joo So-yang, received the greeting with a gentle smile.
"…To what do I owe the honor of this unannounced visit…?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a look of bewilderment. She was puzzled by Joo So-yang’s sudden appearance without any prior notice.
" I simply came to share a pleasant conversation after so long."
Joo So-yang let out a refreshing smile. It was a beautiful expression that made anyone who saw it feel her innate nobility.
"…I… I see."
Paeng Ga-ryeon responded with a stiff expression. She felt uncomfortable. She knew all too well that the noble, refreshing woman smiling before her—this incomparably beautiful lady—was also incredibly ruthless and cruel.
Sshhhhhhh!
Suddenly, Joo So-yang released her internal energy. In an instant, a Qi barrier began to envelop the entire room.
"Paeng Ga-ryeon."
Having sealed the room, Joo So-yang called out in a cold voice.
"Ye-Yes!"
Paeng Ga-ryeon jumped, startled. She was shaken by the sudden shift in the other woman’s aura.
"It seems you’ve forgotten to report on the recent developments."
Joo So-yang’s eyes flashed with a chilling light.
"I believe I made myself clear. You were to report the situation to me immediately after the meeting concluded… Do you find my words amusing?"
Joo So-yang continued to speak with a soft smile. Her appearance was the picture of warmth and benevolence, but the thorns hidden within her words were razor-sharp.
Flinch.
Paeng Ga-ryeon’s body trembled. She had instinctively recoiled under the weight of Joo So-yang’s piercing words.
"T-That could never be the case. How could I ever… Madam…"
"Your actions contradict your words. Why did you skip the report? It’s quite unpleasant."
"…I apologize… I’ve had so many tasks to handle lately…"
"So, your priorities shifted? Even though this involves our lovely Master, and not some trivial matter?"
Joo So-yang spoke with a look of disbelief. Her tone made it crystal clear that she intended to berate her.
"…I am sorry."
Paeng Ga-ryeon apologized immediately. She realized that, in this situation, an apology was her only recourse.
"Is a simple 'sorry' enough to end this? If Sun-woo suffers any harm because the situation wasn't assessed in time, can you take responsibility for that?"
"…I am sorry."
"Always 'sorry, sorry'… Does everything just end because you’re sorry? Hall Master Paeng, you even tried to kill Sun-woo once and thought a 'sorry' would settle it, didn't you? You certainly live an easy life. A few tears and a couple of apologies, and you get to live in such comfort."
Joo So-yang began to criticize her scathingly. She did not like Paeng Ga-ryeon. The fact that this woman was the primary reason her beloved Master’s life had been turned upside down filled her with unbearable nausea and rage.
"……"
Paeng Ga-ryeon had no choice but to accept the criticism. Part of her wanted to snap back and point out that Joo So-yang had also tried to kill Sun-woo once, but things were different now. Joo So-yang was the one who had saved Sun-woo’s life and become his official wife, finding her place in the light. She stood in a position far higher than Paeng Ga-ryeon, who had merely settled her sins with an apology. There was no room for rebuttal.
"I’ll be watching you."
Joo So-yang glared at her with sharp eyes. She wanted to tear into her further until she was a sobbing mess, but assessing the situation came first.
"Tell me. What kind of bullshit did they pull today?"
Joo So-yang looked at Paeng Ga-ryeon with suspicious eyes.
"…There was a report regarding the fake Jang Sam who revealed himself recently."
"The man whose head was crushed in an instant summary judgment?"
Joo So-yang recalled the incident.
"Yes… The report was based on the testimony he gave."
"Tell me the details."
"…He testified that the mastermind behind the fake Jang Sams appearing simultaneously in various locations is the real Jang Sam himself."
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a grave expression.
"The real Jang Sam is the mastermind?"
"…Yes. He claimed that Jang Sam used the Great Void One-Qi Art as bait to lure greedy individuals into posting large-character posters criticizing the Cheonmu Alliance Leader."
"The Great Void One-Qi Art, I see…"
The Great Void One-Qi Art was the signature martial art of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, the man renowned as the World's Greatest Martial Artist. If such a technique was offered as bait, it was only natural that greedy fools would flock to it, regardless of the risk. It wasn't entirely implausible.
‘I smell something.’
However, something felt off. Specifically, the fact that they had created fake Jang Sams in the first place.
The Jang Sam who had appeared previously possessed enough skill to evade the Black Tortoise Hall Master. Why would such a person suddenly introduce fakes to cause chaos within the Cheonmu Alliance? And why would he do it by selling his own lifeblood—his martial arts?
It stank. It was the foul stench of a conspiracy so rotten it could make one's nose fall off.
"I’m curious. Did the leadership actually accept that at face value?"
"…Yes. Given the Cheonmu Alliance’s current circumstances… interpreting it that way is a more favorable choice for them…"
"They’re trash."
She didn't hold back her scathing criticism. To ignore the truth for the sake of political standing—how could such disgusting humans exist?
"…What do you think?"
Joo So-yang asked Paeng Ga-ryeon, curious if she also smelled the same rot.
"…I think it’s far too contrived," Paeng Ga-ryeon stated her honest opinion calmly. "The situation has turned out far too conveniently for the Cheonmu Alliance."
Paeng Ga-ryeon’s eyes glinted with suspicion. After the fake Jang Sams appeared simultaneously, the Cheonmu Alliance had faced a political crisis. It had planted seeds of doubt that the Jang Sam who had previously appeared and killed the Black Tortoise Unit members might also be a fake.
But then, one of these fake Jang Sams was captured and gave testimony that was incredibly advantageous to the Alliance. He had implicated the real Jang Sam.
It was contrived. It was just too perfect. That was why she doubted it. She wondered if his testimony was based on truth, or if it was merely bullshit fed to him by someone else.
"A convenient situation… You mean implicating the real Jang Sam among the fakes?"
"Yes. But beyond that, there are too many suspicious circumstances."
When she thought about it, every single detail was questionable. Would someone so weak that his head could be crushed in a single blow really be foolish enough to show his face in Jinan? How could he pour out such convenient words so fluently? Especially while public opinion was turning against the Alliance. And why, of all times, was the Black Tortoise Hall Master passing by that exact spot?
"I think… I need to check for myself."
Joo So-yang spoke with a heavy expression.
"Whether this incident was a case of perjury or not."
Her cold eyes flashed. If this incident was fabricated—if it was a staged event cooked up by the Cheonmu Alliance—she had no intention of letting it slide. She would hunt down the truth and expose it, dealing an irreparable blow to everyone involved.
‘Those bastards… How dare they… use Sun-woo…’
A cold fury began to radiate from her entire body. These bastards had used the Master she loved, respected, and admired. There was no way she would let this go.
"What do you plan to do?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon asked, curious how she intended to uncover the truth of the perjury.
"First, I plan to look into the fake Jang Sam whose head was crushed. I want to see if he really did it because he was blinded by martial arts, or if he was merely a sacrificial lamb manipulated by those in power."
Joo So-yang’s eyes glinted with cold logic.
"I assume a background check has been done?"
"Ah, yes."
Rustle, rustle.
At her words, Paeng Ga-ryeon hurriedly began to search through her documents.
"Here it is."
She soon handed a single sheet of paper to Joo So-yang.
"Is this one page all there is?"
Joo So-yang asked, sounding puzzled.
"Yes. It seems he didn't lead a very eventful life."
"…That makes it even more suspicious."
Joo So-yang took the document and began to read it slowly.
"Hwang Sam, is it…?"
She muttered the name softly. It was a name that felt heavy with the potential for injustice.
‘I suppose the name "Sam" is cursed.’
Joo So-yang stood up abruptly. Now that she had the background information, she felt there was no time to waste.
"Where are you going?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon asked.
"I intend to meet Hwang Sam’s family first. I’ll be able to learn more about the situation that way."
Joo So-yang spoke in a calm tone. There was a stark difference between reading a profile on paper and hearing about a person in real life. While the former was clean and easy to grasp at a glance, it condensed a person's life so much that details were inevitably lost. Therefore, she had to meet them—the people who knew Hwang Sam best.
Click. Clack. Click.
Joo So-yang began to walk away with grace. Her movements were filled with the elegance befitting the Great Matriarch. Paeng Ga-ryeon stared blankly at Joo So-yang’s retreating figure—at the back of a woman whose nobility felt untouchable.
*
Crash!
Crunch!
Bang! Bang!
Four or five sturdy men were ransacking a house, smashing everything in sight.
"Stop! Please, stop!"
A woman cried out piteously.
Crack!
Thud!
Thud!
Despite the woman’s wails, the men did not cease their destruction. They smashed walls, broke floorboards, and hurled furniture. After some time, the once neatly kept home had been turned into a ruin.
"Ugh… huff… huff…"
The woman began to sob sorrowfully. This was a house she had barely managed to afford by scraping together every bit of money she had. Though old, she had bought it without hesitation because she loved its clean, orderly feel. Now, that home was in shambles. A sense of profound sorrow washed over her.
"Why are you doing this?!" the woman screamed through her tears.
"Didn't we tell you to pay back the money?" a man with a menacing face said with a smirk.
"How can I pay back money that was never borrowed?!"
"I told you, your husband borrowed it before he died. Look at this. This is the promissory note your husband signed."
The man held up a document.
"My husband’s hand wasn't that big!" the woman shrieked in desperation.
From the shape of the handprint to the size, nothing matched. And yet, they were suddenly demanding she repay a debt? What kind of nonsense was this?
"I’m telling you, it’s your husband’s. Maybe you spent so much time touching your husband’s dick that you forgot what his hands looked like."
The man mocked her with a lewd comment.
"I have no intention of accepting such a ridiculous promissory note, so get out! If you don't leave, I’ll report you!"
"Hehehehe."
The man began to chuckle at her words. Her futile resistance seemed cute to him.
"Lady, open your ears and listen well. There is no one who will help you. Who would help the wife of a bastard who consorted with a Public Enemy of the Murim?"
"……"
"So just pay the money quietly."
"…I can't pay it…"
"Then I guess there’s no choice. We’ll just have to take the money by force…"
The man spoke with a voice laced with mock pity. He then signaled to the men on either side of him.
"Wha—What do you mean by that!"
Grab!
Grab!
Suddenly, the men grabbed her arms and legs, pinning her down.
"Wh-What are you trying to do?!"
"Your beauty isn't bad. And your breasts are quite plump."
The menacing man continued with a disgusting smile.
Rip! Riiip!
He reached out and tore her clothes to shreds. The voluptuous and mature body of the middle-aged beauty was exposed.
"No… stop! Stop it!"
The woman let out a piercing scream as she realized the man’s intention.
"Don't worry. I’ll pay a high price for your pussy. How about half a silver tael for every time I cum? Since you owe a thousand taels, you’ll be debt-free after you take my semen about two thousand times."
The menacing man pulled out his dick right then and there. The men holding her forced her legs apart, making it easier for him to thrust into her. Her pussy was laid bare.
"You haven't been keeping up with your grooming."
The man continued with a repulsive grin.
"Please… please… my son will be home from the academy soon…"
The woman began to beg. She was terrified that her son would see her like this.
"Then you can give your son a good sex education. As his mother."
The man casually ignored her pleas. What did he care if her son came home? He only intended to satisfy his own lust.
"Now… here is your new husband’s cock. Take it well."
The man gripped his dick and prepared to thrust it slowly into the mature woman’s pussy.
BAM!
Suddenly, the door was thrown open with a deafening roar.
"Wh-What?!"
Startled, the man stopped his advance. He hurriedly turned around.
And there he saw her. A noblewoman so beautiful she was dazzling.
Skin as white as jade. Soft, downcast eyes. A perfectly straight, sharp nose. Pink lips that stirred lust just by looking at them. A figure that wasn't just voluptuous, but explosive. And an aura that could only be described as noble.
She was a woman so beautiful that one could only stare in a daze.
Gulp.
The man swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on her.
"The stench is pervasive."
The woman spoke slowly.
"The stench of parasites sucking the lifeblood of the weak."
A frost-like energy began to radiate from her.