Monopolizing Fortunes (169)
Monopolizing Fortunes (169)
Even the strong scent of tea couldn't mask the smell of ink.
"It seems the Young Society Leader has been working very hard."
Won Jin-u gave Do Tong-dal a puzzled look at his words.
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
"How else would the room be so steeped in the smell of ink?"
He tried not to show it, but if his fluster were rated from one to ten, it was around an eight or nine.
"There's far more than one or two things to handle. Anyway, how did the matter with Mount Hua Sect go?"
Do Tong-dal let out a long sigh.
"I should have cracked that Mount Hua elder's skull open, but of all people, the Beggars' Sect leader showed up and ruined everything."
"I heard that news as well. The leader stayed for quite a while, didn't he?"
Do Tong-dal chuckled.
"He was absolutely mad for liquor. As it turns out, quite a few sects will likely take part in the Righteous Chivalry Sect's founding ceremony."
Do Tong-dal briefly recounted what had happened with Baek So-gu.
"That's good. If the Beggars' Sect takes our side, it will be a great help in settling in as an orthodox sect. If only the matter with Mount Hua Sect had gone well too......"
For Won Jin-u, the fact that a fight with Mount Hua Sect hadn't broken out was deeply regrettable.
"I've already tossed in the spark, so all we have to do is wait. I looked into it, and that elder named Yeom Je-cheong is thoroughly scheming. There's no way Mount Hua Sect will let it slide. So, about that—have you prepared the forces to dispatch to the Righteous Chivalry Sect?"
"I've gathered them just in case. Would you like to see them?"
They walked to the open ground in the center of the village.
"I hear you've called in the Hwangdae Merchant Company's household members this time."
Do Tong-dal answered Won Jin-u's casually tossed question as if it were nothing.
"Everyone was worried sick, and now that we're roughly settled, of course we should live together. We're family."
Jang Bu-ok, who was walking with them, spoke up.
"I should go meet the Hwangdae Merchant Company people who stayed behind here. If I go, I'll be like a sack of barley they've already stitched up."
"Go ahead."
Won Jin-u readily gave his permission. The work the Hwangdae Merchant Company people did here was mostly paperwork.
In a place where martial artists were the majority, handling miscellaneous paperwork was surprisingly important. In fact, thanks to the Hwangdae Merchant Company people staying at the main society, minor tasks ran far more smoothly.
When they entered the main society's document office, familiar faces rushed over to greet them.
"Just bear with it a little longer. You'll be able to return to the merchant company soon. And I have good news for you all. The families you were separated from have all returned to the Hwangdae Merchant Company."
"Is that true?"
"Is there no more danger to our families now?"
"Of course. No matter what happens, I will protect your families, so rest assured."
Jang Bu-ok's gaze lingered on Byeon Hui-song as he spoke. Jang Bu-ok walked over to the desk and talked with the Hwangdae Merchant Company people one by one.
And finally, he stood before Byeon Hui-song. Their seats were far enough apart that as long as he lowered his voice, there was no worry of being overheard.
—You have to steel your heart. If Byeon Hui-song isn't truly frightened, we'll be the ones in danger.
Recalling Do Tong-dal's instructions, Jang Bu-ok spoke to Byeon Hui-song.
"Your wife is still a beauty, and your two sons are very sharp."
Byeon Hui-song smiled awkwardly.
"They're my reason for living. Thank you once again, Company Head."
Jang Bu-ok lowered his voice.
"Well. I think it's too early for thanks."
"Pardon?"
"You could say you've gone from the wolf's mouth into the tiger's jaws."
"What do you......!"
"Keep your voice down."
Byeon Hui-song glanced around and shut his mouth.
"Protector Bae asked me to pass this along. The truth is, your family is in Protector Bae's hands. I can guarantee you, Protector Bae is not someone who knows mercy. He's the type who keeps his word no matter what. If you don't want to see your family's headless corpses, do as Protector Bae says."
Even to his own ears, Jang Bu-ok's voice was chilling. Jang Bu-ok slipped the envelope containing the letter between some documents and patted Byeon Hui-song on the shoulder.
"Your family has been waiting for you. You'll see them soon. Heh heh heh!"
Byeon Hui-song's hands trembled as he held the documents. He had followed the Revenge Society's orders because his family had been taken hostage, and now his family had fallen into the Hwangdae Merchant Company's clutches.
'Damn it all!'
While Jang Bu-ok was doing his part, Do Tong-dal was looking at the Revenge Society warriors who would be assigned to the Righteous Chivalry Sect.
"One hundred and eighteen men."
They were all young men in their mid-twenties to early thirties. Do Tong-dal's gaze, which had been scanning them, stopped at one spot.
"You're sending them too?"
At the end of Do Tong-dal's gaze stood the Blood Spirit Three Swords.
"I told you. I would send the best forces."
If the Blood Spirit Three Swords were included, Won Jin-u's boast was no empty claim. As far as he could tell, each one of them was likely at least on par with an elder of the Nine Great Sects.
"And the other promise?"
Won Jin-u raised his voice toward the warriors.
"From now on, you belong to the Righteous Chivalry Sect! Forget the Revenge Society! Just as you followed me, from today obey the orders of Protector Bae here! Understood!"
"Yes! Understood!"
The warriors' ringing voices scattered into several echoes. They answered vigorously, but Do Tong-dal was not naive enough to take those words at face value.
'At their age, they're not originally Won Merchant Company people—they're ones the Revenge Society raised.'
If so, there was ample possibility of reshaping them to be loyal to the Righteous Chivalry Sect rather than the Revenge Society.
Do Tong-dal scratched his head and made a troubled expression.
"Judging by their age, their martial arts don't seem like they'd be all that impressive."
"Shall we test them?"
"May I?"
"Of course."
Do Tong-dal approached the warriors. His finger pointed at the three directly in front.
"Come out."
Three men in their mid-twenties came out and stood at a distance of one jang from Do Tong-dal.
"Draw your swords."
They followed his orders up to that point. Do Tong-dal also took the blade strapped to his back in his hand.
"If you kill me, I'll grant each of you one wish."
"What?"
They stared at Won Jin-u with bewildered faces. Do Tong-dal's thunderous shout fell upon them.
"Where are you looking! I am your master now!"
The three warriors flinched and fixed their eyes on Do Tong-dal.
"If you can't kill me, you might die instead."
He spoke while gathering a thick killing intent, and tension settled over the three warriors' faces.
"Come."
The three warriors exchanged glances and then rushed Do Tong-dal simultaneously. From the way they gripped their swords and their attacking stances, it was clear all three had trained in swift sword techniques.
Do Tong-dal went all out from the start. Part of it was to test their martial arts, but he also needed to show them that their new master was by no means weak.
With internal energy exceeding three gapja, the ultimate techniques of the Three Severings Blade Art unfolded. Having fought dozens of sparring matches that were as good as real combat, his blade art was proficient.
The three warriors aimed for Do Tong-dal's upper, middle, and lower body simultaneously, as if following a textbook. Their predictable movements made the fight easy for Do Tong-dal.
The Mujung Manbyeon Steps, deployed a beat earlier, deflected all three attacks to the side at once.
His blade moved immediately, striking the back of the neck of the warrior who had aimed for his throat. The warrior hit by the flat of the blade collapsed with a short scream and couldn't move again.
Because he had resolved to go all out from the beginning, Do Tong-dal's next attack followed without pause.
The warrior on the left barely managed to deflect the blade coming at his chest. Do Tong-dal had used his full strength, while the warrior had blocked in a fluster, so the difference in power was clear.
As the warrior grimaced from the pain in his wrist, Do Tong-dal's next attack came far faster than expected.
The blade digging into his side was too sudden to block.
With a thud, the warrior collapsed, and Do Tong-dal's instep slammed into his face.
The last, third warrior held out for three more moves after that, but his momentum was already broken, and he couldn't even display his proper skill.
Do Tong-dal watched the warrior fall after being struck on the temple by the flat of the blade, then turned his gaze to Won Jin-u.
Won Jin-u tried not to show it, but he was surprised by Do Tong-dal's martial arts. He had expected him to be a master, but he hadn't known he could defeat three of the Revenge Society's elites so easily.
The thought, 'I can use this chance to gauge Bae Cheong-dong's martial arts,' was rendered moot as it ended in an instant.
"Is this the level of all the warriors gathered here?"
"There are some stronger, but most will be about the same."
"They're useful."
It was an unexpected answer.
"The fight ended in an instant. Aren't you disappointed?"
"Their movements were decent. I'll take them and refine them further."
In truth, Do Tong-dal hadn't precisely gauged the warriors' level either; he had simply beaten them with full force. The reason he had deliberately fought three of them was to show his martial arts to the warriors heading to the Righteous Chivalry Sect.
People of the martial world were like Wang Du-sik—they disliked serving under someone weak.
Just then, Jang Bu-ok came out after finishing his business.
"Did you greet everyone properly?"
At Do Tong-dal's question, Jang Bu-ok smiled and nodded.
"Yes. They were very worried about their families."
* * *
Since moving over a hundred people at once would draw attention, they decided that only Do Tong-dal and Jang Bu-ok would go first, and the rest would come to the Righteous Chivalry Sect in separate groups.
After returning to the Righteous Chivalry Sect, Do Tong-dal went into his room alone.
'Hmm. Should I try this or not?'
He was deliberating, but the conclusion was inevitably going to be that he had to do it. The forces from the Revenge Society were essential not only for the Righteous Chivalry Sect but also until the Revenge Society was taken over later.
Won Jin-u had told the young warriors that they now belonged to the Righteous Chivalry Sect, and they had answered vigorously, but that was absolutely not sincere.
It was easy to read in Won Jin-u's expression and the warriors' demeanor. If the Righteous Chivalry Sect ever became the Revenge Society's enemy, they would not hesitate to point their swords at the sect.
So their minds had to be changed to be loyal to the Righteous Chivalry Sect. Brainwashing people wasn't that difficult if you knew the method—as long as you had enough time and effort.
Laziness grabbed Do Tong-dal by the hair and dragged him toward the thought, 'I just want to use them as shields in the fight against Mount Hua Sect.'
Shaking off that temptation, Do Tong-dal called for Ha Tae-seong, the former steward of the Hwangdae Merchant Company. Ha Tae-seong had stayed behind for the time being to help the Righteous Chivalry Sect.
"Please build three rooms of five pyeong each. Make it so they can eat, sleep, and even relieve themselves inside."
No one questioned the things Do Tong-dal ordered. They believed that whatever he did, he had a reason for it.
The capable Ha Tae-seong knocked together three rooms before the day was over. Meanwhile, the warriors sent from the Revenge Society arrived one by one.
The first to arrive were the Blood Spirit Three Swords. Do Tong-dal assigned the three newly built rooms to the Blood Spirit Three Swords.
"From today, you are not to take a single step out of these rooms."
"What? Are you imprisoning us?"
"You could see it that way."
"We are not criminals."
"This isn't a prison either. The time you need to be in here is ten days. Depending on your condition, it could be sooner or later."
The Ice Sword asked.
"Why are you locking us up?"
"Because I need to erase your loyalty to the Revenge Society."
The Fire Sword protested.
"We belong to the Righteous Chivalry Sect now!"
"Do you really? Are you loyal to the Righteous Chivalry Sect the way you were to the Revenge Society?"
Their lips moved, but the answer "yes" didn't come out. That was a good sign. At least they weren't deceiving themselves.
"Are you going to torture us?"
At the Lightning Sword's question, Do Tong-dal chuckled.
"It will be a time more painful than torture."
Do Tong-dal shoved the Blood Spirit Three Swords into the three rooms. There were no locks, so they could come out whenever they wanted.
As he stepped outside, Do Tong-dal let out a long sigh. It wasn't just the Blood Spirit Three Swords—he had to build loyalty to the Righteous Chivalry Sect in the remaining one hundred and fifteen as well.
It wouldn't be as difficult as with the Blood Spirit Three Swords, but it was clearly going to be annoying and exhausting work.
"For my disciple, a master should at least do this much."
From that day on, Do Tong-dal began brainwashing the Blood Spirit Three Swords and the one hundred and fifteen. Since they had already been brainwashed by the Revenge Society, he first needed to find out what they had been brainwashed with.
There was no special method. It was all just sitting them down in front of him, talking, and listening.
"So you're saying the Society Leader holds your life."
* * *