Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 37 Jangcheon Sect (3)
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The first request.
Was it to catch the cat abuser?
As he recalled, the instructor explained.
"The sect leader wants to nab the culprit before the White Cat Parade begins."
"When is the White Cat Parade happening?"
"Who knows. I hear they're making it even grander than originally planned at the Murim Alliance's request."
I had no clue about the schedule.
"Hmm. Time might be tight."
Moyong So-hye bit her finger, and Jegal Tan stepped forward.
"I don't think so."
"Pardon?"
"Rumor has it they're using the White Cat Parade to announce the execution of the Silver Moon Bandits and boost morale."
They'd want to hold it as soon as possible.
"Ah."
Jegal Tan pressed a finger to his brow in an intellectual pose and continued his explanation.
"They're planning to ask the renowned figures attending the event to help execute the Demonic Cultists, right?"
"They're even considering specially appointing some of those luminaries as instructors."
"This is solid intel because my family got word of it too."
"The event kicks off early next month."
About twenty days and five left?
Working backward from that.
"We just need to wrap up the request in about fifteen days."
"Smart kid, huh."
At those words, Jegal Tan snapped out of his pallor.
And upon seeing the instructor's grinning lips, he turned pale again.
"Figure out the schedule yourselves. And the plan."
Why don't you just be the instructor yourself?
The worst words came out.
- You be the instructor.
Nothing good ever came from saying that.
Realizing his blunder, Jegal Tan immediately prostrated himself flat.
"How dare I presume to take the instructor's exalted position."
"Five days."
"Pardon?"
"Five days should be plenty, right?"
White Cat Parade this, whatever that— I didn't care.
"Find that bastard in five days."
Grind.
The four of them could only nod frantically at the gnashing instructor.
"Crazy. Totally crazy!"
"Right? What gave you the guts to act like a know-it-all in front of the instructor?"
Battered by the women's barrage, Jegal Tan looked glum.
"I was just trying to help in my own way."
Since the guy was half-assed about everything, he figured he'd assist with some proper knowledge.
"He's the type who subtly claims the instructor's authority in quirky ways."
"And he hates smart students."
He had nothing to say even if he had two mouths.
But Jegal Tan felt wronged.
"Weirdly, I just can't control my emotions around the instructor."
That much, they conceded.
The guy loved stirring up others' feelings at will.
Nangong Yun-ho quickly summed up the situation.
"Five days... Talk about cutting it close."
Was it even doable?
Moyong So-hye muttered gloomily.
"It has to be. He said he'd be 'looking forward to it' if we failed."
"...This is serious. No time to dilly-dally."
Smoke billowed lazily from the chimney of the Feline Wisdom Sect.
Evening had fallen.
Yet no one mentioned dinner.
"Let's move out now. We can't waste a single moment."
Nod.
The four sprang into action.
If there was a silver lining to their misfortune, it was that plenty of people readily stepped up despite the late-night request.
"We'll help."
The Feline Wisdom Sect disciples, all cat lovers to a one, gnashed their teeth at the cat abuser.
There were other helpers too.
"You must be Young Master Jegal? I've heard all about your exploits."
A plump middle-aged man in official robes. But his position was no light one.
He was the North Gate Guard Captain in charge of northern gate security.
His reason for stepping in was simple.
"The magistrate's daughter lost her pet cat too. She was a wreck for a while."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Had to pull all-nighters searching because she cried for the cat to come back."
And not just that.
The captain continued.
"High officials who lost their pets are pretty pissed."
"Complaints and reports are pouring in from everywhere. Catching the perp would be a huge relief."
"Want some guards? I can send a few."
The first day ended on a promising note.
Oddly, there were many more supporters.
According to the Feline Wisdom Sect disciples, they were all backers of the sect, scattered in every alleyway.
Now the issue was how to find the culprit.
Baek Ri-seol had an idea.
"They say criminals return to the scene. How about checking the cat graveyard?"
"Sounds good."
But the traces left by the perp long ago offered no path forward.
It was the second night of the request.
Third day.
They were swamped by endless tips.
Having many helpers was great, but the jumble of eyewitness accounts only hindered them.
"This is maddening."
"When will we get through all this?"
Horrified by the stack of suspicious person lists, they watched as the quiet Moyong So-hye stepped up.
"Let me take a look."
After skimming through, Moyong So-hye offered a surprisingly clear solution.
"Start with the most suspicious ones and go slow."
"Can we catch the perp just by looking at people?"
"Hee hee. Leave it to me."
They knew the little girl could read hearts well, but this might be tough.
"Might as well try what we can."
Better than sitting idle, right?
"Fair point."
Jegal Tan nodded at Nangong Yun-ho's words.
The results of tagging along without expectations were shocking.
"Brother Jegal. Over there."
After half a day of wandering, Moyong So-hye pointed at a man strutting arrogantly down the night street.
"I sense [murderous intent] and [joy]. Sadistic personality."
Really?
It wasn't rare for black path warriors to be sadists.
Moyong So-hye shook her head firmly.
"Wrong. He's craving and yearning for something."
She asserted, adding,
"Not normal. Deep and dark."
Baek Ri-seol hugged the slightly shuddering Moyong So-hye.
"What are you waiting for? Chase him."
At Baek Ri-seol's urging, Jegal Tan and Nangong Yun-ho reluctantly followed the man, crouching near the riverbank.
"Looks like he's boarding a boat?"
"Shh. Watch first."
How long had they hidden in the shadows of the alley walkways?
"Kekeke."
A chilling laugh came with a splash! into the water.
Not just once.
Splash! Splash!
The sounds continued for a while before ending as the man rowed away.
Rushing to the spot, the two gasped at the floating bodies.
"Definitely suspicious."
"Chickens, ducks. Even dogs."
The mangled corpses bobbed gruesomely along the river surface.
Why do something like this?
It was entering the fourth day.
Jegal Tan's background check easily identified the man.
"Boss of the Jangcheon Gang?"
"Pretty big outfit."
With three gambling dens and even a brothel, they couldn't be dismissed as mere black path riffraff.
"Interrogating won't be easy."
Storm a black path sect claiming you found their cat killer?
It'd just be a joke.
In the end, Jegal Tan opted for a scheme.
"No evidence? Make some."
Nangong Yun-ho gave a wry smile.
"Starting to resemble the instructor?"
"I'd like to deny it, but can't entirely."
Jegal Tan vanished, returning only deep into the night.
"How'd it go?"
He flashed a thumbs-up to the foot-tapping Moyong So-hye.
"You'll see tomorrow."
The next day.
Word came that the boss was on the move again.
But to a quieter spot than usual.
For some reason, Jegal Tan already knew the route and led them swiftly.
He didn't explain, but his face was grim.
"Worst possible catch."
"What do you mean?"
"Truth is, I spread a little rumor in the Jangcheon Gang. Dropped different catnip scents at each of the five walkways."
Jegal Tan counted on his fingers as they went.
"First: booze addict bait. The worse the addiction, the more euphoric. Second was poppy scent for drug fiends."
Wondering where he'd gotten that, Jegal Tan excused himself.
"Family favor. Specially made catnip."
Used occasionally to interrogate folks with unique constitutions.
"...And the fifth scent?"
Before he could finish, a Feline Wisdom Sect disciple came running from afar.
"Just as Young Master Jegal said."
He pointed one way.
"This way."
They found a gruesome scene: all sorts of animals slaughtered mercilessly.
Dogs and cats, even cows and chickens.
"Total psycho."
Baek Ri-seol was spot on.
Anyone calmly doing this couldn't be sane.
Nangong Yun-ho turned to Jegal Tan.
"What was the fifth scent?"
Grind.
Jegal Tan bit his lip and answered.
"Blood scent. Highly concentrated."
And those who react to it?
"Bloodthirsty Demonic Cultists."
Squeeeek!
The whistle brought other Feline Wisdom Sect disciples running.
Enraged at the carnage, they ground their teeth.
"Damn bastard."
They also sounded satisfied.
"Just like you said, young master."
"Official guards witnessed the scene too."
"With evidence piled up, he can't wriggle out."
Only punishment left.
But oddly.
"Let's stop here."
Jegal Tan chose to back off instead.
"Why stop?"
Moyong So-hye looked baffled.
"We found the perp and gathered proof—why drop it?"
Jegal Tan's answer was firm.
"This is the right call."
"Why?"
"Can't pressure a black path gang over some dead cats."
"He's a Demonic Cultist, though? Slap on a justification."
"Nothing concrete."
Just possibilities.
Tsking, Jegal Tan added,
"Best is to hand him to the guards. Fight with law, not martial strife."
Regrettable, but reality.
"Let's head back."
Unsatisfying end, but the client's request was fulfilled.
Fifth day. Night.
The request concluded.
Or so they thought.
"What? You actually found him?"
The instructor expressed genuine surprise in his snide tone.
"Tch. If I thought it impossible, I wouldn't have assigned it."
Moyong So-hye muttered softly, but the instructor pretended not to hear—clearly in a good mood.
"Hmm. Let me see."
Flipping through the request resolution report lackadaisically, he said,
"What? Small fry?"
"But a major black path gang. Better to leave it to the authorities than—"
"Yeah, hand off pesky stuff to the cops... Huh?"
Hold on.
The instructor's gaze halted at a corner of the document.
"Jegal."
"Yes, Instructor."
His eyes sparkled like he'd found gold on the street.
"They run gambling dens?"
"Y...yes."
"Cash cows, even."
"...Illegal, so naturally."
Crack!
Bouncing up from the bed, the instructor righteously bellowed,
"Vicious scum like this can't be handed to the cops!"
He declared ominously.
"Follow me. I'll show you how a justice-driven vigilante operates!"