Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Topsy-Turvy (1)
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‘Arson’ and ‘Tiger’s Den’ were the secret codes Chaeng-geum had passed along.
Yet those words had come from the mouth of the dead Yang Ji. That made him a spy planted by the Cho Eo-jin faction.
Which explained how every move of Go Dan-oh’s had been tracked down to the letter. It was all clearly this bastard’s doing.
But even though Flying Tiger had more or less pieced together the inside story, why had he gone and killed one of his own?
Because his antics were so laughable?
Or because he coveted his sword?
Both played a part, sure. But neither was the real answer.
He’d harbored killing intent from the start.
The reason was simple.
Flying Tiger didn’t actually want Zhao Family Manor to crumble. He just wanted to shake things up using outside forces. His plan was to achieve his goal with Jin Ga-yong amid the chaos that followed.
For that, he needed balance between Zhao Family Manor and the Cho Eo-jin faction.
But when Flying Tiger actually joined up with Cho Eo-jin, didn’t they pick that exact moment to launch a full assault on Zhao Family Manor? Meanwhile, Zhao was like a candle flickering in the wind, with rats like Yang Ji gnawing away at the pillars from within.
This wouldn’t do.
He didn’t want Zhao Family Manor to burn to the ground. And if Cho Eo-jin scored a total victory, Flying Tiger himself might never get his shot. They were after that item too, nine times out of ten.
So Flying Tiger was playing adjuster, maintaining the scales. Culling the ingredients that stuck out too much.
The rat’s been dealt with. Now what? Cho Eo-jin’s side still has too much of an edge… Hmm. Best to strike and slip away before the dust settles. Conveniently, there’s that woman. Time to tie her in.
Flying Tiger turned to Yi Jin-ok and hardened his resolve.
She lay sprawled in an unsightly heap after he’d sealed her acupoints and tossed her aside. He approached, prodding her with his foot as she pretended to be out cold.
“Hey, you’re Yi something-or-other, right? I know you’re awake. Cut the act and look at me.”
“……”
By now, Yi Jin-ok had regained some of her senses. The blocked meridians had loosened a bit too. She still couldn’t muster full strength or walk straight, but she could at least prop herself up and talk.
From her perspective, though, Flying Tiger was just as rotten as the rest. So she’d played dead in hopes he’d leave—or at least lower his guard for a decisive counterattack.
But the bastard had seen right through her.
Yi Jin-ok gave up the pretense and glared at him with venomous eyes.
“You fiend!”
“Fiend, schmend. I’ve got business to discuss with you…”
“Shut your mouth. I wouldn’t exchange a single word with scum like you even if you held a blade to my throat.”
“So you’d sooner take any death over talking to me?”
“Naturally!”
“Hmmm.”
Yi Jin-ok involuntarily followed Flying Tiger’s gaze.
There lay the corpse of Yang Ji.
She’d known he was dead, but…
Her mouth fell open.
As Flying Tiger’s eyes returned to her, she flinched.
“You sure that’s wise?”
***
Whish~
A chill gust danced wildly.
Flying Tiger had talked the woman around (or so he thought) and confirmed she’d made it safely back to Zhao Family Manor before turning back. On the way, a whisper of wind in his ear brought him to a halt.
He stared blankly up at the sky.
Night had fallen before he knew it. Darkness arrived right on cue.
Everything that begins must end.
And only with an end comes a new beginning.
“Yeah, we’ve come this far. Faster than expected, even. So tomorrow… a new dawn breaks? Assuming we live to see it.”
Three nights remained until his rendezvous with Hidden Moon.
And he’d finally seized his golden opportunity.
By bending with the countless twists and turns while relentlessly shaping his own game board.
All for this one shot.
Tonight, he’d toss every ingredient he’d gathered into the pot and cook up his perfect dish.
Time to wrap this up.
***
Flying Tiger slipped back into Jeonghae Pavilion deep into the night after breaking off from the group. From the vibe, his sudden vanishing act had kicked up quite the fuss.
Chaeng-geum and Ho Ye-hwa awaited him in the room he was summoned to, both shooting him fierce, uncomfortable glares.
“Why’re you so late?”
“What do you mean why? I was out working. Got delayed on the job.”
“What job? We nabbed the target, Mt. Yo Sword, and you were nowhere to be found.”
Flying Tiger shot Ho Ye-hwa a sneer. Ho managed an awkward smile.
He muttered under his breath,
This is why serving a chicken-brained boss wears you out. Doesn’t appreciate a damn thing.
Chaeng-geum bristled.
“There were three on their side. While four of us pinned one down, what were the rest doing?”
“They sensed the danger and pulled back on their own. Volun… tari… ly!”
“Hahaha! Who do you think made them sense it? And Chaeng-geum, while you and Lady Tang struck Mt. Yo Sword from behind, who drew their eyes? That’s right—me. Yet I did jack squat?”
“……”
Flying Tiger’s point had merit. His noisy scrap with the Martial Guest Yang Ji had indeed smoothed the way.
Chaeng-geum grudgingly conceded but kept pressing.
“Ahem! Fine, whatever. Where’d you disappear to after?”
“Told you—working my ass off. I’m not usually this diligent, but… haha, what can I say. Went the extra mile for the organization this time.”
Flying Tiger puffed up his chest and drew out the long object he’d carried wrapped in a thousand-layer cloth.
It was the Soul Spirit Sword.
Ding~ Ding-ding-ding~ Ding~
The blade sang out as if bragging in its master’s stead: Did I do good?
……!
Chaeng-geum and Ho Ye-hwa were struck dumb. What the hell? Why’s that thing here?
“Uh… what happened to its owner?”
“I’m the owner now. Looking for the old one?”
Flying Tiger grinned and mimed slitting his throat.
Dead.
Chaeng-geum raised his voice in disbelief. “How the hell—?”
Flying Tiger’s smile hardened, eyes narrowing at the rudeness.
“What’s the problem?”
“I specifically said chase off the Martial Guest—that’s it. No need to kill him.”
“Pfft! That’s your take. I had a crime to punish.”
“Crime? What’d he ever do to you?”
“The crime of flaunting a treasure beyond his station right in front of me.”
“……”
“What’s with the mood? Jealous I snagged a sword? Or was the Martial Guest a buddy of yours?”
Ho Ye-hwa scowled.
“Truth be told… the Martial Guest was one of ours. We recruited him.”
“What? That’s insane! Why not say so straight up?”
“It was classified. The fewer who know, the tighter the security, right?”
“Ha—real tight. Tight enough to get offed by an ally who didn’t know.”
Chaeng-geum seethed, sensing something off.
This prick killed and robbed him, so why are we catching all the flak?
Ho Ye-hwa chalked it up to Flying Tiger’s usual bullshit and moved on. He pointed out the real issue.
“So what about the woman with the Martial Guest? You take her out too?”
“Nah, let her go.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you want to leave one alive? Zhao Family Manor needs to hear Mt. Yo Sword got snatched. That a problem too?”
“……”
Chaeng-geum looked ready to snap. Ho Ye-hwa barely talked him down, sweating bullets as Flying Tiger’s debrief wrapped up.
But was that really the end?
***
“That bastard’s a spy from Zhao Family Manor. No doubt.”
“He’s trouble, I’ll grant you. But not that much.”
“Think about it. How many of our guys has that lunatic butchered? Unseong Chil-rang, Monk Gon Son… now the Martial Guest too. And before that, Tam Jeok-hwa and who knows how many others died by his hand.”
“Isn’t that exactly why we recruited him? This op alone? Hard to pin blame.”
“Goddamn it. Spy or not, what’s it matter? The whole op’s gonna tank before it starts. Our guys’ll be extinct thanks to him!”
“……”
“Come on, snap out of it. I get where you’re coming from, but he’s a walking disaster. Spy or otherwise, he’s wired to fuck everything up. Hell, even Face Pursuit Unit Jeong promoted him to vice captain before he flipped to our side.”
“I get some of that. Even so…”
Ho Ye-hwa kept hesitating, so Chaeng-geum cut in with a wild proposal.
“No, hear me out to the end. How about a sword and a blade? Two weapons.”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you just master dual blades? You were eyeing his sword last time. Throw in the Soul Spirit Sword—one of the Ten Great Famous Blades—and that’s a solid deal, no?”
“Ha—I’m in. Sounds great. But doesn’t feel fair to you.”
“If you think so, it’s a win. Everyone wants different things. If it still feels too good later, lend a hand once.”
“Sama Young Master’s business?”
“Who’s to say.”
Chaeng-geum’s evasiveness had Ho Ye-hwa thinking, Spot on. He let it slide. Wasn’t the point.
“Anyway, works for me. Deal. Hit me up if you need backup. Speaking of, my next move’s convincing the Shandong Elder, right?”
“Exactly. Love how we’re on the same page.”
“Damn straight. Old man’s taken a shine to that prick somehow—tough ask for you. But I’ve got this silver badge from the organization. For taking out Flying Tiger.”
Ho Ye-hwa flashed the badge from his bosom and grinned slyly.
His choice to back Flying Tiger had been spot-on. Sure, he’d be on the outs with the org after, but look at the haul: famed sword and blade. Worth it. Hell, the guy was his lucky charm.
“How we kicking this off? Need some pretext, right?”
“Hahaha—what pretext does a guy who calls holding treasure a crime need? But we can’t stoop to his level. That’s why I prepared this.”
“……?”
Chaeng-geum clapped once.
The door cracked open. In shuffled a ragged old man with a grinning face. Worlds apart from a few days ago, but those vicious, obsessive eyes hadn’t changed.
“Gon Son?”
“What do you think? The perfect opener. Even Flying Tiger’d call it karma, right?”