Debt Relations (6)
Jin Yeo-rip's utterly relaxed expression made the corners of Yang Taek's eyes twitch violently.
...Something useful? He already knew that nothing related to Tak Sobak could serve as evidence threatening him. In other words, there was no proof that he was behind the attack.
But why that smug look on his face?
He glanced at Yang Imsu, but his son wore the same clueless expression.
His gut boiled. He couldn't read the hand Jin Yeo-rip was holding.
Yet Yang Taek kept his composure, flashing a smile as he asked, "Hoho, what surprise does Young Master Jin have in store this time? I'm already on edge. Go on, then—show me this 'useful' thing."
"Ugh, I'm tense too, wondering if my prepared gift will hit the mark."
"Don't hold back—speak freely. Even if it doesn't please me, I won't show it."
"Thank you. Well, then..."
Jin Yeo-rip grinned, pausing just a beat as if catching his breath, before asking lightly, "Do you know a man named Kwon Il-su?"
"Kwon Il-su?"
It was a name he'd never heard before. Yang Taek tilted his head, and Jin Yeo-rip nodded as if he'd expected that.
"Not someone the branch lord would know. He's just a lowlife thug running small-time loan shark rackets in the taverns of Mongeum County."
"My apologies—I don't keep up with that sort of thing..."
"Of course not. How could a noble figure like you know the name of such scum? The guy's utterly vile. But get this—while investigating him, it turns out he killed someone while collecting on a debt."
"Killed?"
"Yes."
"But how does that...?"
"Just hear me out first."
Cutting Yang Taek off, Jin Yeo-rip continued excitedly. "He dumped the body by the lakeside, but lo and behold, it got spotted by the county patrol guards."
"..."
"So he scraped together every coin he had and finally found a lifeline—a guy named Byeon Uk."
Yang Taek was merely puzzled. Kwon Il-su and Byeon Uk. He'd promised something useful, but so far it was just stories about nobodies.
"Here's where it gets fun. Turns out this Byeon Uk is a distant relative of Gong Se-chan."
"Gong Se-chan?"
"Ah, judging by your surprise, a familiar name has finally dropped."
It was always like that. Running your hand along a plain railing, you prick your nail bed on a sudden protruding thorn, startling yourself without realizing. And while the pain under the nail isn't deadly, it infuriates you just as much.
"That's right. The chief accountant handling payouts at Saihai Money House. I'm sure the grand chief accountant knows him well—you keep him on your payroll. Oh, and he's a distant relative of our family's grand elder too."
Jin Yeo-rip was thrilled, while Yang Taek and Yang Imsu clamped their mouths shut.
"Anyway, Byeon Uk pulled strings with Gong Se-chan, who greased some palms in Mongeum County officials. To cover up the murder, the bribe... was it fifty taels? I can't recall the exact amount."
"I-Is this true?"
"Of course. What do you take me for?"
"Any witnesses?"
"Plenty. Evidence of Kwon Il-su paying Byeon Uk, and Byeon Uk passing it to Gong Se-chan—it's overflowing."
"Kuhum."
Jin Yeo-rip wouldn't bring half-baked intel. If it wasn't airtight, he wouldn't have shown up. Who would've thought such a thing happened?
If word got out, Gong Se-chan's head would roll in an instant.
Yang Taek glared at his son, but Yang Imsu looked as shocked as if hearing it for the first time.
"So that's how it was. Thanks to you, Young Master Jin, I've learned of corruption in my own house..."
"Pardon?"
"Hm?"
"Ugh, you think that's all?"
"What? There's more...?"
"Oh, plenty. So much I don't even know where to start."
Jin Yeo-rip laughed wickedly.
For the past month, this was what Jin Yeo-rip had prepared to strike at Yang Taek. He couldn't find proof tying him to the attack. A frontal assault was impossible. But in digging around, sins of Gong Se-chan and his ilk surfaced? Perfect.
If straight punches wouldn't land, he'd go for the flanks. At his request, So Hye had completely shifted the investigation—gathering dirt not just on Yang Taek, but everyone around him. Thorns under every fingernail, every toenail.
"Oh, right—Yang Geon."
"..."
"And a guy named Gu Eung-cho."
With each name from Jin Yeo-rip's lips, Yang Imsu's face darkened like a corpse's, while Yang Taek's expression shifted wildly.
"Are those... all of them?"
"What? No way. There are too many—mind if I wet my throat and continue?"
"..."
"Damn, trying to rattle them off from memory, and half are slipping away. Should've brought my notes."
Yang Taek unconsciously swallowed hard at Jin Yeo-rip's regretful look and asked, "There's more?"
"Of course. What I mentioned is barely half."
"...Half?"
The names so far were key figures at Saihai Money House. Removing them all would paralyze operations overnight. And there were more?
These damn curs! Yang Taek's insides were rotting away.
Of course, watching that expression was pure bliss for Jin Yeo-rip.
Who knew? The ruler is the root of the people. If the root is clear, the flow is clear; if the root is turbid, the flow is turbid. From Xunzi's Discourse on the Ruler. He'd only learned it after coming here. Reading wasn't a demon possession—it was just habit ingrained deep.
Anyway, that was Saihai Money House now. A branch lord who'd commission murder without hesitation for his goals—what could you expect from his underlings? Same dirt, same rice; they learned evil by watching and imitating. And they'd seen him thrive on it countless times.
"Whew, whatever the case, it's troubling."
"..."
"If I report all these to the authorities, who knows what'll become of Saihai Money House? But letting them slide? None of their crimes are light. What a dilemma. A real dilemma."
Jin Yeo-rip furrowed his brow and grumbled.
"Oh, and you made a big mistake."
"Mistake?"
"Yes."
"What mistake do you mean?"
Visibly furious, Yang Taek glared at Jin Yeo-rip, enunciating each word. "The handling of Tak Sobak's corpse was a mess."
"..."
"You claim you banished him, but he'd been your subordinate for a while. And you disposed of him like that?"
Yang Taek's eyes twitched nonstop at Jin Yeo-rip's concerned facade.
"What if rumors spread that 'the branch lord fed him to the beasts for failing to assassinate Cheongeumbang's young master'?"
"..."
"Ugh, no way that hasn't happened already. Tavern gossip's like that—truth doesn't matter; one exaggeration, and it snowballs everywhere."
Shaking his head with a sigh, Jin Yeo-rip prompted Yang Taek to clamp his mouth shut and snort through his nose. He couldn't speak. Any words now would shatter his calm and unleash a torrent of curses.
"It's worrying. If those rumors reach murim ears, how will they judge Saihai Money House? And the warriors in your employ? Think about it. Death by beast fodder for a failed mission—who'd follow you? No matter how good the pay."
It was the final nail.
What difference from openly threatening to spread the rumors? And with that faux-sympathetic smile—his rage boiled over.
Only then did Yang Taek grasp the true nature of Jin Yeo-rip's "gift." Sever the limbs, erode the reputation. He hadn't come to pin the attack on him at all. While Yang Taek fixated there, Jin Yeo-rip had prepared the unexpected—for maximum damage to Saihai.
His own crimes might stay hidden, but the whole house could become known as a den of criminals. No doubt Jin Yeo-rip would make it so.
This was shit-slinging at its finest.
Gnashing his teeth, Yang Taek glared at Jin Yeo-rip, his eyes bloodshot—a sight to behold.
Should've let Unjeong Pavilion's folk in after all. Good things are meant to be shared.
"What do you want?"
"Want? What do you mean? I'm just speaking out of pure concern for Saihai Money House."
"Playing games at this juncture?"
Yang Taek's voice turned icy. Time to ease off—push too far, and you get bitten. No point burning the rice while waiting.
Wiping the smile from his face, Jin Yeo-rip met Yang Taek's eyes coolly. "It was one hundred taels of gold, right?"
"..."
"The money you gave Tak Sobak as his 'life price.'"
Yang Taek didn't deny it anymore.
"So? Think a hundred taels will settle this?"
"Throw in Dokbi Yeo Jeokgwang and Tanggu's heads too, and I'll be more than satisfied. Someone's desperately looking for them."
He didn't deliberate long.
"Done. That enough for you?"
"Sufficient for now."
"Then, hand over all the investigation records to me."
Jin Yeo-rip smirked and shook his head at Yang Taek's demand.
"That can't be bought with money."
"Can't be bought with money?"
"I need leverage too. Who knows when you'll come for my head again."
"You bastard..."
Yang Taek trailed off, his fist on the table trembling with rage.
"Fine. But remember this: if even one of those names you mentioned today leaks to the world, that's your funeral."
"Don't worry—I keep my promises."
Yang Taek glared a while longer before rising abruptly and ordering Yang Imsu, "Pay the hundred taels."
"...Understood."
With that, Yang Taek stormed out of Hudeok Hall. The resounding door slam was downright refreshing.
This would do. He knew toppling him outright was impossible. No need to prod further.
For now, a hundred taels of gold would suffice. Plus seeing Yang Taek's face pale like shit-smeared yellow? Plenty.
Leverage wouldn't last forever anyway. It was just to buy time from the start. With Yang Taek's temper, he'd never stomach it. From now on, he'd tear Saihai apart—interrogating the guilty, brutally punishing those who'd aided his defeat.
But most were top brass. After their heads rolled, normalizing operations would take ages.
And during that time, no plots against him. Less meddling with Cheongeumbang too.
Perfect window to build strength and prepare for war.
Too bad Father couldn't see this. How thrilled he'd be.
I'll tell him later—subtly, like a brag. To lift his spirits.
As Jin Yeo-rip basked inwardly, Yang Imsu approached.
"Young Master Jin."
"Yes?"
"You've taught me a lesson today."
"Glad to hear it."
Yang Imsu ground his teeth at Jin Yeo-rip's words—that immature boyish look from their first meeting.
But he wasn't fooled anymore.
"Shall I send the money to Cheongeumbang?"
"Pardon? What are you talking about?"
"...?"
"Ugh, it's not one lesson—you've got a long way to go. Obviously to my personal account."
Yang Imsu gnashed harder at Jin Yeo-rip's sigh, laced with condescension.
"Then open an account at Saihai Money House and—"
"What? In this situation, how could I trust Saihai? I'll pick my own exchange house and give you the account details. Pay there. No funny business, got it?"
Jin Yeo-rip winked and sauntered out of Hudeok Hall.
Watching his retreating back, Yang Imsu ground his teeth audibly.
That damn dog... scraping his nerves to the end.