Not Yet. You'll Know When the Time Comes.
With a distant glint in his eyes, Leader Jeongwon concealed his wistful gaze and changed the subject.
"By the way, Dang Team Leader is running late. Must be a lot to investigate."
"She should be here any moment."
Right on cue, Dang Seo-ha entered.
"Leader, I'm here."
"Oh! Found anything out?"
Dang Seo-ha laid out her findings in detail. Of course, she omitted yesterday's events at Cheong-ho Bang.
A moment later, Leader Jeongwon's eyes widened.
"Heavens! Remarkable. I've wandered the Central Plains far and wide, but I've never heard of saving the world and aiding the people like this. And from a black path faction leader, no less."
It went without saying that helping the common folk was admirable. But what amazed him was how they'd structured it to turn a profit at the same time.
Even Paeng Jong-ho couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"Exactly. It's a brilliant idea, but keeping it going long-term? That seems damn near impossible. The landowners, powerful families, merchant guilds—not to mention the other black path groups—they'd all hate it."
Dang Seo-ha chimed in. "You bet. From what I dug up, every outfit in Chim-ju with a bit of pull despises them. No wonder Jeok-un Mun, which oversees the black path here, sees them as a thorn in the eye."
Paeng Jong-ho's eyes bulged. "But how've they lasted three years?"
Dang Seo-ha shrugged. "Who do you think I am? I made damn sure to get the full story."
Now he knew what she was after with that pose.
"That girl! Thirsty for booze again, huh?"
"Leader, you get me!"
"Fine, fine. Spill it."
"Nailed down two things."
"Two?"
"First, they greased the officials real good. And spread some rumors just right. Clever as hell."
"Rumors? What kind?"
"They paid bribes but said it wasn't for favors—just protection from unfair treatment. And now everyone in Chim-ju knows. They leaked it on purpose."
"Ha! Killing two birds with one stone. If they're dropping that much coin without even asking for kickbacks, it's a burden on everyone else. Officials too."
Paeng Jong-ho guessed the other one easily. "The other must be the people's support."
"Spot on. They create tons of jobs so folks can eat. And unlike those usurious pawnshops, if you can't pay back, they don't take your livelihood. How great is that? So everyone jumps at the chance for Yeogwak Merchant Guild work."
Paeng Jong-ho voiced his biggest puzzle. "But they don't just handle things out in the open. If a big player stepped in, crushing a black path faction leader wouldn't be hard."
At that, Dang Seo-ha's eyes sparkled. "That's the weird part. Sure, other places might ignore it, but Jeok-un Mun? They hate 'em openly but won't touch them. Word is it's the sect leader's orders, but no one knows why. They say it'll get wiped out eventually, though."
"What about the others?"
"A few assassins showed up, but no incidents means they've got some real skill."
Paeng Jong-ho tilted his head. "If the faction leader's at the Jeol-jeong realm, that's impressive, but how's that enough?"
Dang Seo-ha's eyes gleamed brighter. "Doesn't it feel like there's more to it?"
"Hidden strength?"
"That's all I can figure."
Leader Jeongwon let out a hearty laugh. "Ha! You've got me curious too. Anyway, I was planning to meet them over this mad demon business. Might as well go see. The incantation's got me wondering too."
"I'll set up the contact."
"Do that."
The same moment, in Chim-ju's marketplace. Women and children bustled in and out of the compound—the very one Dang Seo-ha had scouted yesterday.
A gorgeously dressed woman frowned at the sight. Seol Hye-ryeon asked her younger brother, Seol Jin-gwang.
"Still booming, huh?"
She was on her way back to the main family home at Jeok-un Mun after a long absence.
"Yeah. It's grown even more lately."
"Just how long is Father gonna wait?"
Sub-sect leader Seol Jin-gwang couldn't mask his irritation.
"He said he'd let it fatten up and swallow it whole in one go."
"That's what I mean—when? What if it blows up overnight? Or hooks up with someone else?"
Seol Jin-gwang's sigh deepened. "That's my point. It's growing by the day. Leave it longer, and someone else might swoop in—or it might cling to them first."
"Any signs?"
"Nothing obvious, but who knows. Even Ha Hu Sega's eyeing it now."
"I don't get Father at all. Just kill the damn leader and it's done. Then we take over."
"You think I didn't say that? But he says we don't have the chops for it. Frustrating as hell!"
Suddenly, Seol Hye-ryeon's eyes flashed. She slyly brought up the real reason for her visit.
"Jin-gwang. If he won't, why don't we do it ourselves?"
"...Us? Who?"
"Who else? Team up with your brother-in-law."
"Brother-in-law?"
About three hundred li south of Chim-ju lay Gwangdong Soju. Seol Jin-gwang's brother-in-law was the sub-sect leader of Ha Jo Mun, a black path martial house there—one of Soju's two major evil sects alongside Wolgeom Mun.
To convince her brother, Seol Hye-ryeon had to lay out the facts.
"Truth is, the family's in a bind lately."
"Why?"
"Wolgeom Mun's getting too big. To check 'em, we need more mercenaries, but funds are short."
Seol Jin-gwang pouted and grumbled. No way he'd see his married-away sister in a good light when she was poking at his grapes.
"Sis. Even if you're family by marriage, this is too much, right? You're basically asking me to share mine."
"Hey! If your brother-in-law thrives, you benefit too—what's your problem!"
Seol Jin-gwang waved her off irritably and stormed ahead.
"Forget it. Let's just go!"
"Hey, hear me out!"
"I said forget it!"
To Seol Jin-gwang, Yeogwak Merchant Guild was already his ripe fruit. He just didn't know when to eat it. With the leader running a one-man show, killing him meant gobbling it up anytime—no reason to share.
A short while later, at the mountain outskirts beyond Chim-ju. Leader Jeongwon gave Mu Yun a subtle smile.
"Ha! Thought you might be in a tough spot, so I suggested meeting here."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Jeongwon casually broached the topic. "Must've been a shock, your first run-in with a demon. You alright?"
"Yes. Never dreamed one would come this far south."
"True. They pop up now and then in central and northern Honam, but this is a first."
"How's central-north these days?"
"Places like Jangsa or Ak-yang up north have always had demons spilling from Hobuk. Still do. But lately, even the central areas see them occasionally."
Mu Yun's gaze deepened. His hometown, Nae-yang, was mid-southern.
"Any reason?"
Jeongwon had to dodge this one. Couldn't reveal the frequent incidents around Hyeong-sanpa.
"Ha! If I knew, we wouldn't be sitting like this. We'd have rooted 'em out. No special signs."
That shut down further questions. Mu Yun shifted gears.
"Can you discern demons, Leader?"
"Discern? Why ask?"
"Wondering if there's an early detection method."
"Hm. Demonic arts vary wildly. Lately, many use just fragments, so even I don't know all. But for the usual ones, checking the body reveals it."
"What about Jeol-jeong level?"
"That's tougher. As you know, Cho-jeol-jeong can fine-tune every flow, hiding it even from me."
Mu Yun's eyes deepened. 'I could ask him to check me.'
With his displayed inner energy, he was mid-Jeol-jeong. This leader could discern him, proving his point roughly.
On the way, Dang Seo-ha mentioned heading to Gwangdong for half a year. 'By her return, maybe visit Nae-yang together.'
Time to gauge Nae-yang's situation. Meeting family was still iffy, but revealing he wasn't a demon was due. Depending, he could ask the leader for help. To ensure that, make her stop by on return.
"I wasn't sure before, so I held back, but thinking on it, the incantation seems effective. Next time you're here, I'll check more and report."
Jeongwon smiled contentedly. The biggest mystery, and good news first.
"Oh? Thought so myself. Could be huge for the world—research it well."
"I will."
"Ha! Hope for good tidings on my return. Ah, no pressure, though."
"I'll do my best."
"Counting on you. We'll be off then."
"See you next time."
Moments later, as the group departed, Dang Seo-ha doubled back slyly.
"Hey! Not my place to butt in, but..."
Mu Yun could guess.
"Then don't."
"What a petty guy. Seo-yeon's not like that. When we return, don't get emotional with her. She was shocked too."
"No grudges held. Don't worry."
"Good. Oh, but you know?"
"Know what?"
"That Danmok Clan warrior from before. The injured guy and his companion left quietly."
"Why mention it?"
Dang Seo-ha flashed a sly grin. "Just popped into my head. Thought you might care."
"Didn't peg you for the meddlesome type."
"Anyway, I'm off. Oh! That incantation—hope it works out. Put in the effort."
"I will."
"See ya later."
"Sure."
Mu Yun's gaze deepened. Anyway, the demon reacted to Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong energy. Stronger inner power might let him control it like Yeo Hwi. But that's later. Key now: discernment potential.
If a subtle probe of inner energy got a reaction... 'I'd be the only one spotting demons.'
Not foolproof in one go, but worth testing. Chanting the incantation laced with inner energy left no room for suspicion.
Useful not just for Nae-yang, but ahead too. 'Need more research.'
Days later, at Ha Jo Mun in Gwangdong Soju.
"That for real?"
"Swear it. Father's waiting to gobble it bigger, and Jin-gwang can't defy him. Scoped it close this trip—now's prime to snatch."
"Just grab the leader and done?"
"He owns eight-tenths. Stamp the land deeds, finito."
Sub-sect leader Hong Sa-jun's eyes burned. Windfall from nowhere. But confirm first.
"Ahem! Still, if Father-in-law finds out..."
Seol Hye-ryeon glared. She saw right through her husband.
"Testing me? Why bring it up then! You jerk!"
"Ahem! Fair, but worries..."
"Just don't get caught doing it. He's not gonna kill his daughter and son-in-law. Once he knows we're in, the other six-tenths holders'll panic and hand it faster. Smooth it over. If he gripes, promise help later."
"If so..."
Seol Hye-ryeon raised the practical snag. "But that bastard's past Jeol-jeong, they say. Scout and snag sneaky? Need top hands. And they can't know it's us for a while. Can you?"
Hong Sa-jun smirked. Every house has hidden cards.
"Uncle's got men for covert family jobs. Our escort guild's heading to Chim-ju—slip in a few helpers, clean sweep."
Now Seol Hye-ryeon had to say it. Obvious as day.
"Hey! But will Father approve?"
"Heh! You don't know him?"
"...!"
Husband leads, wife follows—such times too.
Next day, the escort guild to Chim-ju had extra hands.