Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Zhuge Seolji's Letter (1)
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'Eon Yong-muk should be about broken enough by now.'
The mental pillar of his life, Eon Gil-hoe, had aged a full decade in an instant and was barely clinging to life.
The pride of his fist techniques, his martial prowess, had been shattered.
Stomping him further would be child's play.
But if I broke his body or spirit any more, he'd become easy prey for the Demonic Cult bastards.
'A drowning man will clutch at a straw.'
So, I couldn't push him into utter despair.
From here on, if he stayed meek and groveled, the hope of keeping Jin River Manor and the fear of me would coexist perfectly in his current state.
'Gotta let Jin River Manor keep up appearances, too.'
Just look at all the black path scum we'd run into on the way here.
Even assuming their claims held water, that there was some unfinished business between South Flame Alliance and me.
They only strutted around in broad daylight because Jin River Manor had lost its strength.
'Rumors of infighting in the Pearl Eon Family probably didn't help.'
Anyway, Eon Yong-muk had been reined in.
Managing Jin River Manor from here on was Father's job.
"Nephew, take care on your way. I'll make sure Yong-muk doesn't harbor any foolish thoughts. Please tell the Family Head to quell his anger."
I left Jin River Manor amid the branch lord's farewell, heading back to the inn where I'd left Woo So-reung.
I still had to check on the other elders' manors.
But first priority was settling the score with South Flame Alliance.
"Hm?"
Back at the inn, the lineup of black path thugs standing punishment had shifted a bit.
I spoke up immediately.
"Wasn't that ugly bastard originally on the far left? Why are they shifted over two spots... and those two are out cold?"
Woo So-reung scratched his head and explained.
"Guess they thought I was a pushover. Once Brother Eon headed off to Jin River Manor, those two started resisting. Stirring up the others, too. I told them not to, but... It's fine if they look down on me, but you entrusted them to me, so I couldn't just let it slide."
"And?"
"I wondered what Brother Eon would do and copied that."
At So-reung's words, Master chimed in.
- Tsk tsk. Even that So-reung kid's starting to take after someone.
('?')
('?')
Pretending I hadn't heard Master, I patted Woo So-reung's back.
"Good job. Jeong-hyeon might've spouted some moralistic nonsense, but there are definitely guys in this world who respond better to a slap than a hundred words."
I strode toward the black path thugs.
Leaving out one to guide us, I backhanded the rest until they dropped.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
Grabbing the last one's collar, I spoke.
"You said it earlier, right? If we left you alone, you'd make utter fools of us?"
"Kek!"
"That much was true. You lot jump anyone you think is easy prey and squeeze them dry."
Leave scum like this alone, and every arrogant bastard would come sniffing around, looking down on me and the Pearl Eon Family.
'Parents who think the "playboy wastrel" rumors about me are their fault... I can guess how they'd handle scum like that.'
I roughly shoved the black path thug's collar away and spat my piece.
"Take us to South Flame Alliance."
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We arrived at South Flame Alliance's headquarters.
Bam!
I kicked down the front gate and hurled the guide thug inside.
The flies inside came swarming out.
"Hey! Isn't that Brother Jang-gyeon?"
"Brother Jang-gyeon got nabbed!!!"
"What? Someone in Pearl territory ballsy enough to mess with South Flame Alliance?"
Splitting the crowd came a squat man with a large mole under his right eye.
"Aigoo. Aren't these the young masters of the Pearl Eon Family?"
I sized up the newcomer quickly.
'Must be the alliance leader.'
Calluses on his knuckles marked him as a fist fighter.
His gait and aura put him among the experts.
The two flanking him like bodyguards looked seasoned for black path scum holding turf around here.
'No wonder they talked big about messing with them in Pearl territory.'
These were some thick fish in the black path pond.
Sure enough, Yong-myeong sent a transmission confirming my guess.
[That's South Flame Alliance Leader Dan Kyung-bae. Nicknamed Twin Fists Muddy Heaven. Lends money at extortionate rates—if you don't pay, he takes your house and family.]
[Father left this guy's operation in Pearl territory? Did I borrow from him or something?]
[That played a part, but...]
[Tch.]
[He's crafty about it. Usury's not illegal, and when he takes people, he frames it as marriage proposals. South Flame Alliance members are signed up with the Sa Alliance, too.]
As we exchanged transmissions, Dan Kyung-bae rubbed his hands and spoke up.
"So, what brings you esteemed young masters to our humble abode?"
He'd sent men first, but now played humble—must've sensed my aura wasn't ordinary.
I sneered at him.
"What brings us? Who sent that Jang-gyeon or Jang-chicken bastard? Said our accounts were off?"
"Haha. True, there was a snag in the accounts."
"What snag?"
At my question, Dan Kyung-bae gestured to his men.
Three of them went into the inner quarters and brought out a desk and some documents, placing them between us.
"Have a seat first."
Curious what nonsense he'd spin, I sat opposite him.
"This is the IOU where Young Master Yong-un borrowed money from me. And this is the receipt from North River Fist King saying the debt's paid."
"And?"
"Look closely at the second document. It says the Pearl Eon Family acknowledged severe punishment for the young master and settled for the principal. Now that you've been reinstated, doesn't that leave room for interpretation?"
"......"
"Of course, my underlings are idiots—probably some misunderstanding in delivery. I never meant to hassle you with this."
"Then?"
"Since we're connected, I thought South Flame Alliance might take over a few shops under Jin River Manor's management. Just chatting it over. Heh heh."
After hearing his pitch, I nodded and spoke.
"Yeah, accounts are definitely off."
"You see it too, young master?"
"Yeah. At this stage, we need to discuss medical bills, but that's missing."
"Medical bills? You gonna cover my injured men's treatment?"
"What bullshit. Obviously my medical bills."
"Did my men injure you young masters?"
"My heart took a big hit."
"......?"
I scowled and pointed at the guy called Jang-gyeon.
"Hey, Alliance Leader Dan. Look at that Jang-chicken's face. You send a thug that ugly first thing, how could I not be shocked?"
"......"
"And check yourself in a mirror. That huge mole, those warlord features—it's turning my stomach. Feels like I'm gonna puke."
"...What are you getting at?"
"Businessman with a head that empty? Memory like a sieve? I said my heart's badly hurt, so I need compensation."
"......"
"Heart ailments are tough to treat. Gonna need lots of that yellow, white, hard golden ointment. Uproot some South Flame pillars, and it'll balance out... What do you say, hand it over nice?"
Dan Kyung-bae ground his teeth in a hollow laugh.
"Ha. Joking a bit heavy there, young master?"
I laughed hollowly back.
"Joke? I'm not the Eon Yong-un who borrowed your usury anymore."
I added,
"Deaf? Haven't heard the rumors about me?"
This was bait, really.
Insecure small-timers always puff up with rumors about others to bluff.
By name-dropping myself, I baited the petty fool.
"Yep, you're the Yong-un I knew."
Dan Kyung-bae bit hard.
"You won't scare me off with rumors and bluster. Can't run this business with weak guts."
He glanced at Yong-myeong,
"Guess you picked up some false rep and got cocky. This unworthy Dan will remind you of the old days!"
He sprang up, aiming to grab me hostage.
Whoosh!
But I was faster.
Leaning back from my seat, I kicked the desk between us.
His hand sliced the innocent desk instead.
Crack!!
That sparked the brawl.
Well, "brawl" if you count his grunts swarming like flies.
I had Woo So-reung and Eon Yong-myeong.
"Brother Eon! I'll handle these guys."
"I'll take this side, brother!"
While they managed the small fry, I focused on Dan Kyung-bae.
Twin Fists Muddy Heaven.
True to his name—fists that clouded the sky—his style had the savage edge of black path brawls.
Whoosh!
But just that level.
Not my match to begin with, and his stubby limbs hobbled him.
Whirl!
Thwack! Thwack!
"Too short. Ever try a spear?"
"Kugh?!"
I parried and deflected his punches mockingly,
Then hammered his gut with Heaven-Splitting Fist honed over break.
Thud! Thud!
Thud thud thud! Thud thud!!
Dan Kyung-bae spewed dark red blood.
"Cough!"
I dodged that, too.
Grabbing his collar, I said,
"Medical bills. Pay up or...?"
"I-I'll pay."
"Don't need it!"
Too late for that.
Daring to threaten the Pearl Eon Family's eldest son in our territory and striking first? He'd cough it all up anyway.
"South Flame Alliance ends in Pearl territory today. And..."
"......?"
"That mole under your right eye's been bugging me. Throws off the balance."
Splat!!!!!!!!!!!
* * *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After smashing South Flame Alliance, I compiled documents on their crimes and methods.
"No blood on the paper—plug your nose, write straight with the brush."
I packed plenty of golden ointment for my weary, wounded heart.
"D-Done."
"Even after returning what you can to victims, plenty left over, right?"
"Yes! I know my own assets."
"Good. Here's a gift from me."
"Pardon?"
With what I wanted secured, I personally consoled the South Flame widows and stamped them eunuch blood.
"Gaaargh?!"
"Wonder how our little Bo-joon is faring."
Handling the remaining assets or handing the women to authorities? Not my job.
I sent for Chief Steward Gam and left it to him.
Then I resumed visiting the elders' manors.
No incidents at the other elders' places.
They were accepting the shift in power.
After two days touring the remaining four manors, I returned to the Pearl Eon Family.
Cheon Jang-ho and Jeong-hyeon greeted me first.
"As expected, Brother Yong-un—can't look away without trouble finding you."
"Heard from the Family Head those South Flame guys were scum. You upheld justice. Regret not being there."
"You all trained hard? Cheon Jang-ho didn't slack without me?"
"Don't worry. I made him."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Better put up with Brother Yong-un than that. So-cheon doesn't listen. Next time you leave me like this, take me along."
Parents met me from the family head's quarters.
"No injuries?"
Mother checked us over,
Father gave brief praise.
"Good work."
Handing over a letter.
"Came from the academy."
Back at Eon Yun Pavilion with my younger siblings, I checked the letter.
Sender: Zhuge Seolji.
『To Yong-un.
The horse stables are the same as always...
Should've come to Pearl.
No reason to stop in the north, right?
Perfume's popular, the foreign kind.
Way too pricey south of the Yellow River.
Send some Ma-ra-ho Initial Bullets...』
Full of trivial chatter.
"Brother, what's it say?"
"Bo-cheol, Gye-chun, O-bok. About the beggar crew in the horse stables and seniors from Mount Mosan still at the academy?"
Postscript: She felt some progress, still had to beat Jeong-hyeon before me?
But the contents made me tilt my head.
Master asked,
- Just a greeting letter. Why the face?
'Some phrases in the middle don't read right. Zhuge's no bad writer. Doesn't feel like just greetings.'
- Then?
'Pretty sure it's a cipher.'