Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Black Wind Gang
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Thwack!
The old merchant clutched his stomach and tumbled backward.
“Urgh…….”
The man who had kicked him in the gut, his chin scarred by a blade, slowly approached and squatted down in front of the merchant.
“Wang, why can’t you get it through your thick skull? Did I say I’d pay it back right away or not?”
The merchant called Wang barely lifted his head and spoke.
“L-Look here, Bong Chun. Isn’t the money you borrowed already ten taels of silver? I really have no cash left after paying the stall fees…….”
Bong Chun scowled.
“Yeah? That’s funny. Anyone hearing this would think I’m a swindler. You said you’d pay it back after winning at the gambling den! And stall fees? You saying our gang’s taking too much?”
Wang hurriedly waved his hands.
“N-No, that’s not it!”
Three black path thugs dressed like Bong Chun glared at him.
“We protect you hard for that fee—too much, you say?”
Bong Chun, approaching Wang, paused.
“No, he’s right. The stall fees did double in the last two months.”
“B-Brother Bong, what’re you…….”
“Wang, there’s a reason for it. Our Black Wind Gang beat the White Snake Sect in that war, but we took heavy losses. Gotta look after our wounded brothers, expand the buildings…… You get it?”
“…….”
“The fees’ll go back to normal soon. So…… got any emergency stash hidden away? I’ll pay it back quick, swear.”
Wang shook his head.
“Just a few coppers from today’s sales. If I give those, my family…….”
“Tch, forget it.”
Bong Chun stood and scanned the crowd of market vendors who had gathered around.
“Anyone wanna lend me some money?”
“……!”
The merchants flinched and averted their eyes.
“Man, no loyalty here. Just two taels of silver and I’m gone, I said?”
“I’ll lend you that money.”
“Oh? Who……?”
He turned eagerly, and there stood Seol Hwa-un.
‘Huh? Doesn’t look like a Central Plains guy from his clothes…… Damn, he’s handsome.’
But money was money.
“Fine young man! No worries. I’ll pay you back soon!”
“No need to pay it back.”
Seol Hwa-un pulled two silver taels from his robe.
“Oh!”
“Here.”
He tossed one silver tael.
Whoosh!
“Huh?”
The silver tael, which had moved slowly at first, suddenly accelerated to blinding speed.
Shuuu!
Smack!
“Gah!”
Bong Chun, struck squarely on the forehead by the silver, toppled backward.
Thud!
“Guess he couldn’t even take what was given.”
“Gah!”
“B-Brother!”
The remaining three panicked, glancing between the fallen Bong Chun and Seol Hwa-un.
“You bastard! You know who we are?!”
Seol Hwa-un said coldly.
“Who else? Parasites leeching off innocent folk.”
“We’re the rulers of Hangzhou—the Black Wind Gang!”
They shouted boldly, but unlike their words, they hesitated and backed away.
They had seen the skill in Seol Hwa-un’s silver toss—they knew he was a master beyond them.
“Attack if you’re gonna. Or should I make you take the silver instead?”
As Seol Hwa-un raised the remaining silver tael, the thugs flinched involuntarily.
“Really not worth the effort.”
Whoosh!
Seol Hwa-un tossed the silver tael upward and turned away.
Watching his back, the thugs exchanged uneasy glances.
‘Hit him from behind?’
‘Didn’t you see that silver toss? We can’t match him.’
‘Damn it! Even a master doesn’t have eyes in the back of his head!’
One boldly drew the club from his belt and crept toward Seol Hwa-un’s back.
Then, something dropped onto his head.
Smack!
“Argh!”
The impact felt like his skull was shattering; he collapsed on the spot.
“Huh?!”
The remaining two clearly saw the object that had struck his head flying toward them.
“W-What’s that?!”
It was the silver tael Seol Hwa-un had tossed upward. After hitting the first head, it curved around to target the others.
Smack! Smack!
“Grah!”
“Ack!”
Seol Hwa-un turned back to them with icy eyes.
“……!”
Killing intent surged from his body.
“H-Help!”
“Urk!”
The choking pressure of his killing aura made the thugs forget their pain, their faces draining of color.
One even wet himself in terror.
“Ugh!”
“Scram. Do this again, and I’ll end you.”
The thugs, save the unconscious Bong Chun, nodded frantically.
Seol Hwa-un turned back toward the West Lake Inn. Not far off stood Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won.
“What? Worried I’d cause trouble?”
Dong Ho-won gave an awkward smile.
“N-No, sir. We trusted you. If anything…….”
“Too lenient?”
“Yes……. Thought you’d at least break some limbs.”
Considering how Seol Hwa-un had handled the bandits before, it had indeed been light.
“They’re trash, sure, but they don’t even know martial arts. Annoying how they bully commoners, but not a death sentence.”
Seol Hwa-un watched the thugs flee in terror and continued.
“There’re plenty of bad guys in the world. Kill them all, and you’re just a murderer. Gotta have clear standards.”
“Ah.”
“I’m a martial artist through and through. My line’s martial arts. No training? Then they’re commoners, even as black path thugs.”
“True enough.”
“Gives ’em a chance to reflect. Slim odds, but if they reform, they’ll need their limbs to eat.”
“Makes sense. But if they keep at the thug life…….”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes turned chilling.
“Then make ’em regret it.”
Meanwhile, among the onlookers, a man in a conical hat stared at Seol Hwa-un with a strange glint in his eye.
He nodded repeatedly, as if listening to someone.
“I see.”
From beneath the hat brim, his lips curved upward.
“Interesting fellow.”
* * *
A sharp-featured man spoke.
“Bong Chun.”
Tremble, tremble!
At the low voice, Bong Chun shook.
Before him lay the severed heads of his three former squadmates, lined up neatly.
“Not gonna answer?”
“Y-Yes! Red Wind Hall Leader!”
“What happened to make your whole squad quit the gang at once?”
“I-It’s…….”
Splat!
As Bong Chun hesitated, a sharp dart buried into his left shoulder. His mouth gaped in agony.
“……!”
“Scream, and I’ll take your head.”
“G-Guh……!”
Bong Chun desperately stifled his cry.
“No answer soon? Right shoulder next.”
“I-I’ll talk!”
He quickly recounted his encounter with Seol Hwa-un.
The Red Wind Hall Leader’s eyes changed.
“Some tourist who knows a bit of martial arts, huh.”
Shwick!
He flicked his hand, yanking the dart from Bong Chun’s shoulder.
“G-Uh!”
To the groaning man, the Red Wind Hall Leader said.
“Find out where he’s staying. Time he paid for messing with our gang.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Viscous killing intent rose in the Red Wind Hall Leader’s eyes.
“Don’t know who he is…… but I’ll show him how dangerous half-baked heroism can be.”
* * *
Seol Hwa-un’s group decided to stay at the West Lake Inn after their meal, renting the entire spacious annex in the back courtyard.
Eom Mu-hwi handled the expenses, and after paying for food and lodging, he looked shocked.
“No way…….”
Dong Ho-won asked casually.
“What? That much?”
“Not just much—over three times other places.”
“Gasp!”
Eom Mu-hwi shook his head.
“Knew Hangzhou prices were no joke…… but a month here’d wipe out our funds.”
“Funds short?”
They turned to see Seol Hwa-un standing there.
“Oh, no, not at all.”
“Hangzhou’s pricey overall, but this inn’s especially bad. If short, I’ll cover it—don’t worry.”
“Why would the Little Palace Lord…….”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“Palace Mother set some aside for me.”
“I see.”
“So…….”
He held out two pouches.
“What’re these?”
“Your shares. Go enjoy yourselves tonight.”
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won’s eyes lit up.
“Really, we can…….”
Before Eom Mu-hwi finished, Dong Ho-won snatched both pouches.
“Thank you so much, Little Palace Lord! We’ll put ’em to good use.”
He turned and bolted. Eom Mu-hwi glanced around, then hurried after.
“H-Ho-won! Why’d you grab both?!”
“I’m better at managing this stuff. Just follow.”
“You punk! Hand one over!”
Seol Hwa-un smiled warmly as the two receded.
“Youthful, as expected.”
The North Wind Brigade Leader had appeared beside him unnoticed.
“Little Palace Lord staying in? You’re younger than those two, no?”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“I’ll rest here.”
“Hoh, fiancée left at the palace weighing on your mind?”
Seol Hwa-un’s face grew troubled.
“What’re you…… Nothing’s decided yet.”
The North Wind Brigade Leader burst into rare laughter.
“Hahaha! Not like your usual cool, calm self. Good thing, though. Felt bad for the old-soul kid vibe—glad some fresh youth’s still there.”
“Is that so.”
Seol Hwa-un drew a heavy pouch from his robe.
“This…….”
“For the North Wind Brigade. That why you came, right?”
“What kinda talk…….”
“Really? Then I’ll…….”
As Seol Hwa-un reached to pocket it, the North Wind Brigade Leader snatched it.
“……I’ll make good use of it.”
“Do that. Forget guarding tonight—enjoy yourselves. I’ll be quiet here.”
After sending off the North Wind Brigade, he headed to the annex, where Dang Cheong emerged holding Dang So-gyo’s hand, looking bitter.
“Oh, Little Palace Lord.”
Seol Hwa-un glanced between them.
“Heading out?”
“Well…… So-gyo’s throwing a fit to see the night market.”
“The errand boy insisted—says it’s super famous. Brother Seol, come with!”
Dang So-gyo tugged, but Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“Sorry. Promised to stay quiet in the annex.”
“Tch!”
“Next time, definitely.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
With the Dang clan folk gone too, the spacious annex felt empty.
‘Young Master Hwangbo…….’
Too quiet—he peeked in a room. Hwangbo Young lay on the bed, out cold like he’d fainted.
‘Straight-laced kid, huh.’
From his disciplined Hwangbo family life, Hwangbo Young crashed as soon as the sun dropped.
He stepped out to the annex’s front garden.
“Been a while since I’ve been alone this quiet.”
Thought of loosening up, but held back—might damage the inn.
Instead, he looked up at the night sky. Clear weather: full moon and stars twinkling brightly.
‘Hm.’
Lost in thought. But it didn’t last.
“……?”
Noise erupted from the West Lake Inn’s main building. Curious, he focused his hearing.
“Help…….”
“……Where?!”
“B-Back courtyard…….”
Seol Hwa-un’s brow furrowed.
‘Uninvited guests.’
Sure enough, soon a group of men appeared in the courtyard—and immediately spotted him.
“Huh?”
Leading them was Bong Chun, the thug from hours ago. Spotting Seol Hwa-un, his eyes bulged.
“T-This guy! Him!”
A smile curled on the lips of the Red Wind Hall Leader following behind.
“Yeah? Found him quicker than expected.”
Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Came for me?”
“That’s right. Looks like you picked up some martial arts…… wrong opponent.”
Killing intent flickered in the Red Wind Hall Leader’s eyes.
“Daring to touch the Black Wind Gang.”
“Talking like some grand sect. Just black path thugs.”
“Don’t lump us with your average street scum.”
As if waiting, he and his ten companions surged with energy. All clearly trained martial artists.
Seol Hwa-un’s expression turned icy in an instant.
“……Right. You’ve all trained in martial arts.”
Even then, they didn’t realize. The meaning of those words.