Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: 07. The Bite (2)
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What had driven Flying Tiger to secretly meet a member of the Shadow Squad without his squad leader's knowledge?
Back at Captain Jeong's quarters, the two had touched on Jin Ga-yong's background toward the end of their conversation.
Surprisingly, Jin Ga-yong was the second disciple of Jo Ban-san, the leader of the faction that had resisted the Martial Qin Alliance to the bitter end.
His first disciple—and the young master of Zhao Family Manor, as well as Jo Ban-san's eldest son—the Wisdom Sword Cho Muk had marched into the duel of life and death that marked the end of the Shaanxi unification war alongside his father, and both had perished together.
However, Zhao Family Manor itself wasn't all that large to begin with, and with the fallen manor lord's only remaining blood relative being his daughter Zhao Baek-bing, Jin Ga-yong held considerable weight within Ye Mountain's Zhao Family Manor.
This was precisely why the young warriors of the Martial Qin Alliance shunned and scorned Jin Ga-yong.
For a martial artist of the rivers and lakes, avenging one's master or sect was only natural.
So how could he rampage for revenge against his deceased master's enemies? And yet, how much time had passed since their deaths for him to instead join the Martial Qin Alliance, the very foes responsible?
How could anyone see that in a good light?
Disloyal.
A traitor.
Thus, he was a warrior's disgrace, an utter scumbag not worth associating with.
This was the general assessment of Jin Ga-yong—not just from the Martial Qin Alliance side, but from the people of Shaanxi's rivers and lakes as a whole.
In contrast, Flying Tiger had no particular desire to condemn him for it. He had simply been surprised to learn that Jin Ga-yong was labeled a turncoat. But who could truly know the hearts of men, even if they could fathom the depths of the ocean?
So Flying Tiger had been mildly shocked but ready to move on—until what came next. It was this one transmitted message from Ban Choong to Flying Tiger.
-Then, have you ever heard whispers that your squad leader Jin Ga-yong might actually be the Ghost Mask?
-No.
-Whoa~ You really are clueless, aren't you? Makes sense—that's probably why Jin Ga-yong chose you. Think about it. If he wasn't a suspect, why would our Shadow Squad be secretly monitoring him?
-...Evidence?
-Heh heh heh. Interested, are you? Given the circumstances, how about we meet separately tonight? I've got a proposal for you as well.
-Hmm.
That was the full story of how Flying Tiger and Ban Choong ended up together late into the night.
"I'll say it upfront. I'm a bounty hunter who works for pay, but I make it a point to honor my credibility whenever possible."
"So you're saying it could be different if it's not 'whenever possible'?"
"......"
The two men eyed each other like they were sizing one another up as they raised their cups.
Clink~
The glasses met for the first time.
"Out with it, then. Why do you think our squad leader might be the Ghost Mask?"
"The people of Shaanxi's rivers and lakes curse Jin Ga-yong, but a few who know the full story find it puzzling. Manor Lord Jo Ban-san treasured him greatly while alive. Rumors say he passed down his core estate arts entirely to this blood outsider, and indeed, among the manor lord's six disciples, his swordsmanship was known to be the finest. Jin Ga-yong showed promise early on, becoming one of Shaanxi Province's top late-generation talents before even turning twenty."
"Ho~"
"So during that final duel of life and death, many expected the manor lord to bring his second disciple, Jin Ga-yong, to the Yeonman Plains. Not his first disciple and heir, Cho Muk."
"But against expectations, he took Cho Muk instead, and father and son both died, severing Zhao Family Manor's lineage?"
"Exactly. That's when the ugly rumors about Jin Ga-yong started swirling."
"In other words, he enjoyed high trust right up until then?"
Ban Choong nodded.
Flying Tiger pressed his counterargument.
"But isn't it common for a promising disciple to suddenly reveal their true colors and turn?"
"His past deeds must have been that impressive. Anyway, you're right. At first, claims of 'He couldn't have done it!' were just the minority opinion and nearly buried. That is, until the Ghost Mask appeared in the rivers and lakes!"
Ban Choong, parched, downed the cup Flying Tiger had refilled in one gulp and continued his explanation.
All the martial clans struck by the Ghost Mask shared one thing in common.
Traitors.
They had started out aligned with the Anti-Martial Qin Alliance before switching back to the Martial Qin Alliance side. Even the recent disaster that befell Six Jia Gate in the capital fit this pattern perfectly.
From the Anti-Martial Qin Alliance's perspective, these were even more loathsome than the Martial Qin Alliance itself.
Given all this, anyone could easily guess the Ghost Mask's origins and motives.
The Ghost Mask was someone from the Anti-Martial Qin side harboring a grudge!
His massacres were revenge!
So why Zhao Family Manor specifically—and Jin Ga-yong among them?
From Ye Mountain Zhao Family Manor's viewpoint, the story was even more tear-jerking.
In truth, they had opposed the war itself and initially stayed neutral, joining neither side. But the swamp of the rivers and lakes wouldn't leave them be. Amid relentless overtures, when the manor lord sent his younger sister to marry into a family tied to the Anti-Martial Qin Alliance, they were forced to choose.
Thus, Zhao Family Manor reluctantly entered the fray, even elevated to leadership.
Their participation briefly evened the tides that had favored their enemies, sparking faint hopes of victory. A single peak-level master like the Benevolent Righteousness Sword Jo Ban-san wielded tremendous influence on the battlefield!
If only for those damned traitorous clans...
Thus, the wise ones of the rivers and lakes say:
'......
The Martial Qin Alliance once faced crisis with Ye Mountain Zhao Family Manor's emergence but pulled off a reversal through two factors, ultimately unifying Shaanxi's martial world.
First, they expanded their reach by drawing in forces from other provinces.
Second, they aggressively recruited potential turncoats, shaking the enemy's internal unity. Already at a disadvantage, this was fatal for the clans.
...(Omitted hereafter)......'
This was why Ye Mountain Zhao Family Manor had particular reason to rage at the traitors.
Especially since among those rat bastards were sects that had wagged their tails like mad to lure the "we won't fight" Zhao Family Manor into the war—only to abandon ship at the first sign of sinking to save their own skins.
In contrast, Zhao Family Manor had stayed until the end, upholding loyalty and duty even unto death.
And the Ghost Mask's blade had fallen mostly on those very tail-waggers.
So naturally, people suspected someone from Zhao Family Manor was behind it.
The rivers and lakes folk took note of Jin Ga-yong. Many had fled the near-destroyed Zhao Family Manor like rats, making him stand out among the handful of masters who remained.
His past raised suspicions, and didn't he have the perfect motive besides!
Having heard the tale, Flying Tiger summed it up succinctly.
"So, no hard evidence, just circumstantial suspicion? That's why you've dragged it out at such length?"
"Ahem, well, yes, but......"
"And?"
"Word is, he's plenty dangerous and suspicious, so the alliance higher-ups placed him close by as Face Pursuit Squad leader to keep watch. That's why our Shadow Squad is surveilling him."
"Meaning there's someone powerful backing your Shadow Squad?"
"Indeed."
"Got it. So who is this person?"
"Well......"
"Ha~ Hard to say? And yet you expect me to buy your story without any backing?"
"My position makes it tricky to divulge freely. But once you hear who they are, you'll be convinced. Let me ask and next time we meet......"
"Forget it. Leave it."
"Huh?"
"They're not gonna approve exposing their identities to a guy like me, are you an idiot?"
"Uh......"
"Prove your power instead."
"......?"
"They say the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong I'm in launches an op the day after tomorrow. Ask. Who's the next target, and when do we move?"
"Huh? What brings this on......"
"Ban Choong, if your ops really come from alliance bigwigs and you're surveilling the squad leader because of it, then you must know this much, right?"
"Hm, but why this specifically?"
"It's high-level intel grunts like me in Face Pursuit Squad can't access. But once the op kicks off in two days, even I'll know."
Ban Choong hesitated, then whispered the answer via transmission. He earnestly warned Flying Tiger never to leak it anywhere.
'These guys, one after another... If it's such precious info, why keep leaking it to me?'
Flying Tiger chuckled inwardly. There was a petty but amusing wrinkle here.
The next target for Face Pursuit Unit Jeong differed between what Jin Ga-yong and Ban Choong had said. Meaning one of them had fed him a lie.
And there was always good reason to leak false intel through deception.
Flying Tiger refilled their empty cups to the brim and spoke.
"Fine. I'll have to verify, but for now, I'll take your word. No reason for you to go to all this trouble just to lie to me, right?"
"Of course."
The two men raised their glasses, faint smiles on their faces for their own respective reasons.
Clink~
The glasses met for the second time.
"So your proposal to me is to win your trust by keeping an eye on our squad leader from up close?"
"That's it. And......"
"You're also curious what I found investigating Ghost Mask traces with the squad leader today?"
"You're easy to talk to—love that. Spot on."
"Heh, this? But before I spill, mind if I confirm you're someone I can talk to as well?"
Flying Tiger refilled the empty cups as he spoke, and Ban Choong pulled a bulging money pouch from his bosom and plunked it on the table.
Flying Tiger picked it up; its hefty weight told him exactly how much was inside. He let out an impressed "Ho!" along with a mix of surprise and greed on his face.
Satisfied with the expression, Ban Choong smiled and said,
"No surprise there. This is just a taste."
"This is just a taste?"
"Puhuhu, yep. Bring me one solid piece of intel. I'll show you what real money tastes like."
"Looking forward to it."
Clink~
The glasses met for the third time.
An hour later, they parted ways, with Flying Tiger standing first.
Ban Choong said there might be eyes watching, so he'd linger and enjoy a bit more before leaving separately—and he'd cover the tab here, declaring it with generous flair.
......
Flying Tiger exited the pleasure house, humming as he wandered the night streets. He sorted through his thoughts along the way.
Suddenly, he glanced up at the dark sky, where a thin crescent moon hung faintly in the distance.
At the same hour, elsewhere, someone else gazed up at that distant moon.
Soon, another figure approached the one idly admiring the night view.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Not at all."
"We have results on your commission. Of the Fufeng Four Heroes who vanished, all but Pung-sam are confirmed dead."
"And Pung-sam?"
"We've got a lead. Good news within days."
"Good work. Any separate findings on Flying Tiger's movements that day?"
"Nothing at all. Aside from the street scuffle with Pung-i during the day. Witnesses confirm it—his alibi is airtight."
"Can you dig deeper?"
"You mean...?"
"Yeah. Something's nagging at me."
"Understood."
The reporting man departed, and the one left alone turned his cold gaze back to the moon in the night sky.
He was the second young master of Ye Mountain Zhao Family Manor, Jin Ga-yong.