Chapter 184: A Maddening Brat (1)
Chapter 184: A Maddening Brat (1)
The Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon.
He was currently kneeling, looking utterly cowed.
Anxiety was etched clearly across his face, and while the cold sweat trickling down his forehead bothered him, he didn't dare wipe it away. He was terrified that such a trivial movement might further offend the person standing before him.
It was a truly rare sight.
No matter how vast the world was, there was only one person capable of making this madman shrink back like this.
"Cheon..."
The Leader of the Twin Dragon Sect and Jincheon’s Master.
He called out to his disciple.
"Yes, Master."
His voice wasn't angry.
The emotion vibrating in the Master’s voice wasn't rage, but sorrow. It was the mournful tone of a parent looking at a son who had returned home after committing a grave mistake. It was the only voice in the world that could unsettle the Radiant Dragon Hero, a man who feared nothing under heaven.
I’d rather he just get angry.
Jincheon could endure shouting or a scolding, but he couldn't stand this.
With a somber expression, the Master asked, "Why did you do it?"
Jincheon hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. In the face of his Master’s current mood, he didn't have the nerve to make up excuses.
"I thought it was a good opportunity."
"A good opportunity?"
"Yes. I thought I could resolve a conflict and help our sect at the same time."
"Hoooooo..."
The circumstances were as follows.
There was a business called the Namseong Escort Agency. Originally, they operated with an Unorthodox sect called the Blood Sand Sect as their backer. However, when the leader of the Blood Sand Sect fell, the Namseong Escort Agency sought a new patron.
That patron was the Seven Evils Sect.
Enraged by this, the Blood Sand Sect labeled the agency’s actions as a betrayal and sought bloody vengeance. Naturally, the Seven Evils Sect attacked the Blood Sand Sect for encroaching on their territory, and the Namseong Escort Agency, caught in the middle, was being slaughtered and suffering immense losses. And so...
[Radiant Dragon Hero, please help us. At this rate, everyone in our agency will be killed.]
The head of the Namseong Escort Agency had personally sought out Jincheon to beg for help.
Upon hearing this, Jincheon took action.
The Blood Sand Sect? The Seven Evils Sect?
Such minor evils could never hope to defeat a true power. The moment the Radiant Dragon Hero stepped in, the leaders of both sects came to him personally, begged for forgiveness, and promised never to set foot near the Namseong Escort Agency again.
Thus, the Namseong Escort Agency was freed. And then...
[You are truly magnificent, Radiant Dragon Hero. Would you be willing to lend your name to our agency in the future as well?]
[My name?]
As Jincheon reacted with indifference, the head of the agency continued.
[If you allow it, we will regularly pay a protection fee to the Twin Dragon Sect.]
[A protection fee?]
Jincheon was intrigued.
As his fame grew, the Twin Dragon Sect had gained more members, but their financial situation remained the same. No, it was actually worse. It was only natural, as there were now more mouths to feed and more bodies to clothe.
[How much will you pay?]
And so, the Namseong Escort Agency began its business under the protection of the Twin Dragon Sect.
When word of this reached the Master, he summoned Jincheon, leading to their current confrontation.
"Cheon, did you know that the Namseong Escort Agency is an organization that engages in illegal business?"
"...Yes."
Of course he knew.
In the first place, why would a legitimate escort agency need Unorthodox sects as backers? A proper agency would conduct its business with a reputable Orthodox sect behind it.
The Namseong Escort Agency, however, was a place that dealt in shadows. There were rampant rumors of salt smuggling and illicit trade with the nomadic tribes of the far north—dangerous ventures, but ones that could yield massive profits in a single transaction.
He wasn't ignorant of this. However...
"Master, I looked into it, and they aren't the type to engage in inhumane acts like high-interest moneylending or human trafficking. They just... don't follow the law strictly."
No matter how starved for funds Jincheon was, he would never join hands with human traffickers or loan sharks. He was, after all, a member of the Orthodox Faction and a Great Hero.
I have that much discernment, Master, Jincheon grumbled inwardly.
The Master let out a long sigh and spoke.
"Cheon, I have already entrusted the affairs of the sect to you. That is because I trust you."
"Yes, Master."
"So, please listen to what I am about to say as nothing more than the concerns of an old man."
"..."
"I understand your intent. Sometimes, compromises are necessary for the sake of reality."
"..."
"But the reason we are the Orthodox Faction is that we always pursue what is right. If we lose our Righteous Heart, how can we proudly call ourselves members of the Orthodox Faction?"
"..."
"Even if you act in hopes of a good result, if there is hesitation or shame in the process, then it is not the right path. You must not forget that."
"...Yes, Master."
"Good. I shall trust you."
As Jincheon left his Master’s room, his juniors and disciples swarmed him immediately.
"Sihyeong, what did the Master say?"
"Sasuk, what should we do? Should we withdraw the disciples we dispatched?"
To their questions, the Radiant Dragon Hero replied:
"He expressed concern, but he did not forbid it. Therefore..."
Jincheon hesitated for a moment. He didn't feel good about proceeding with something his Master viewed negatively. However...
I need money to feed and clothe these bastards.
He couldn't ignore the practical reality.
Having made up his mind, Jincheon spoke.
"Continue to dispatch disciples to the Namseong Escort Agency."
"Yes, Sihyeong!"
"That’s a relief."
The juniors and disciples let out sighs of relief. If things had gone poorly, they might have had to return the advance payment from the agency, let alone lose a steady source of income. Knowing the dire straits of their impoverished sect, their hearts must have been in their throats.
Looking at them, Jincheon thought to himself.
Yes. This is right.
Of course, his Master was right. He was always right. Jincheon had never doubted that for a single moment.
But... what was the result of pursuing only what was right?
The Twin Dragon Sect was still treated with contempt, called a third-rate sect.
Why did they have to be the only ones?
The owner of a luxurious brothel in Hyangju was a secular disciple of the Wudang Sect. The money earned from selling the smiles of courtesans and alcohol was funneled to the Wudang priests, who were considered the most noble in the world.
The owner of a massive gambling den in Henan was the sworn brother of a secular disciple of Shaolin. The money he earned was passed to his sworn brother, who then passed it to Shaolin. With that money, the so-called high priests of Shaolin draped themselves in expensive silk robes and received the world's respect.
Even those considered the most noble and respected masters of the Jianghu revealed such sides when one looked behind the curtain.
So why only them?
Couldn't they compromise just a little and turn a blind eye?
Once they used the protection fees from the Namseong Escort Agency to renovate the sect and establish a foundation, his Master would surely understand later.
Yes. I'm sure he will.
That was what he thought back then.
However, two years later.
CRASH!
The main gate of the Namseong Escort Agency was smashed into splinters.
A man overflowing with murderous intent stepped over the debris of the destroyed gate, his teeth clenched.
The terrified head of the agency screamed.
"Stop... Stop him! I said stop him!"
"Aaaaah!"
"Die!"
The escort warriors rushed forward with crazed eyes at his command, but the outcome was far too obvious.
"Get... out... of... my... way!"
A voice that sounded as if it were squeezing out pure rage.
The moment those words ended, a brilliant flash of light erupted...
BOOM!
Everything was settled.
Escort warriors were sent flying in all directions, and the agency was reduced to ruins. Walking through the wreckage, the Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon, was radiating a terrifying aura of death.
The head of the Namseong Escort Agency, his legs trembling violently, forced himself to speak.
"D-Daehyeop. Please, calm down. Calm down and... listen to me..."
Slash! Slash!
Two flashes of light. They carved a cross into the body of the agency head.
"Uh... Uhhh..."
"I don't want to hear a single word out of your mouth."
"Argh... Ugh..."
"Just apologize to my juniors in hell."
The agency head’s body split open, spilling his entrails as he collapsed.
That day, the Namseong Escort Agency vanished, leaving not even a single foundation stone behind.
There was a reason Jincheon had personally stepped in to annihilate the agency.
Originally, the Namseong Escort Agency had dealt in smuggling and illicit salt, but on a small scale. Because they lacked power, they had earned their bribes secretly within a manageable limit.
But that was when their backing was weak.
After the Twin Dragon Sect—specifically, the Radiant Dragon Hero—became their patron, they were able to expand their business with ease.
The scale of their smuggling, which involved providing food to northern nomadic tribes in exchange for horses, grew steadily until they even touched gunpowder, which was strictly forbidden by the state.
Furthermore, they ran high-interest moneylending operations within their territory and sold the families of those who couldn't pay as slaves to the north.
It was a business they had kept hidden, but as the scale grew, it was eventually discovered by the Twin Dragon disciples who had been dispatched there.
[Hahaha. Please, calm down. This is all a misunderstanding. And starting next month, we will double—no, triple—the tribute we pay to the Twin Dragon Sect.]
At first, they tried to silence them with money. However...
[What nonsense is this? Do you not fear heaven's punishment!]
[Now, don't be like that...]
[I will definitely report this to my Sihyeong. Be prepared!]
Money didn't work. The disciples of the Twin Dragon Sect were utterly uncompromising.
But those mouths had to be shut.
And so, the head of the Namseong Escort Agency attacked the Twin Dragon disciples. He intended to silence them with death.
It was a sudden ambush. The Twin Dragon disciples fought with everything they had, but they couldn't overcome the numerical disadvantage. In the first place, excluding the monster known as the Radiant Dragon Hero, the martial arts level of the Twin Dragon Sect wasn't particularly high. However...
[Go! Go and tell Sihyeong the truth!]
[Sasuk!]
[Hurry! Run!]
Even in the midst of the chaotic battle, they desperately managed to help the youngest disciple escape.
This was the result.
The Master appeared behind Jincheon, who was staring blankly at the burning Namseong Escort Agency.
"Cheon."
"Master."
"..."
The Master patted the back of Jincheon, who looked as if he were about to cry.
To the world, he was the greatest hero under heaven and the finest swordsman of the Orthodox Faction, but to the Master, Jincheon was still just a child. He was still that pitiful boy who knew nothing but how to growl and howl because the wounds he received from the world were too painful.
The Master patted Jincheon soothingly and spoke.
"Do not blame yourself."
"Master... Master, did you know? Did you know it would turn out like this? If so..."
Jincheon bit his lip hard as he spoke.
If so, why didn't you stop me, even by force? Then my juniors wouldn't have died.
Why didn't you sternly scold this foolish disciple? Why, in the world, why?
He couldn't bring himself to voice the resentment swirling in his mouth. In the end, hadn't everything been his own choice?
To Jincheon, the Master said:
"I did not foresee this exact outcome either."
"..."
"I simply felt that ignoring the process for the sake of a good result is not the Righteous Path."
At the Master’s words, Jincheon gritted his teeth and asked:
"But Master, if we live like that, won't we remain a third-rate sect for the rest of our lives? Are you really okay with that?"
"Of course I am not 'okay' with it. I, too, wish for our Twin Dragon Sect to flourish. That is only natural."
"Then..."
"Cheon."
The Master called his disciple’s name softly, as if teaching him. He stroked Jincheon’s head and said:
"You don't have to do it all yourself."
"Master..."
"No matter how brilliant you are, you don't need to carry everything. You only need to do as much as you can."
"..."
"If what you do is right and the process is honorable, someone will follow in your footsteps. And then someone else will walk behind them, and if they fall, another will take their place."
"..."
"That is how humans live, leaving their footprints upon the world."
The result was not what mattered.
How straight, how upright, and how honorable were those footprints?
That was the value of life his Master had taught him.
* * *
Patrick gazed steadily at Sierion, whose expression was frozen.
His gaze was neither rushing nor threatening; it was simply calm. Yet, meeting that gaze, Sierion instinctively felt how foolish and disastrous it would be to lie.
Therefore...
"It was an unavoidable choice."
He spoke the truth.
"You don't deny it."
"Because I know it wouldn't work on you."
"..."
"In fact, I'd like to ask. How did you know? There was no way for information to leak outside."
To Sierion’s question, Patrick also gave the truth.
"My senses are sharp."
"What does that..."
"I can clearly feel that disgusting aura of dark magic settled inside you."
Patrick had dealt with dark mages in the past. Had that not been the case, he might have mistaken it for someone who had learned Demonic Arts, but Demonic Arts did not exist in this world.
Thus, the conclusion was clear. The realm this man named Sierion had achieved was reached by borrowing the power of dark mages.
"I see. So that was it. Information hadn't leaked."
Sierion nodded, looking almost relieved. He then spoke to Patrick, who was glaring at him.
"You truly are a genius. It's incredible. I'm almost envious."
"..."
"It's not just you. Garcia Reinardo, the grandson of the Sword Saint; Antorius Denar of the Holy Kingdom; and even Riman Sierra of the Tower of Truth over there..."
"..."
"All of you possess magnificent talent."
"So what?"
Patrick snapped back sharply, and Sierion continued.
"I have no talent. Therefore, I didn't have the luxury of choosing my means like you all did."
"..."
"Is that what you want to say?"
Having his point pierced, Sierion bit his lip.
Patrick’s eyes widened as he spat out:
"You pathetic bastard."
"You can say whatever you like."
"What?"
"Because it's the truth."
Seeing Sierion speak so bitterly, Patrick lashed out fiercely.
"It's not just you. Most of your subordinates are hiding dark magic in their Aura Halls."
"That's right."
"Do they even know what kind of power is inside their bodies?"
"...They do."
"Then do they also know how that power is created?"
"..."
Sierion, who had been answering smoothly, couldn't bring himself to answer this question and squeezed his eyes shut.
Patrick then spoke the cruel truth that Sierion least wanted to hear.
"A few years ago, dark mages were active all over the continent."
"Stop it."
"They used bandits and assassins to slaughter people in mass. Simultaneously, across the entire continent."
"I said stop."
"Something similar happened in my hometown. When I interrogated the dark mage I caught back then, he was doing something filthy and disgusting."
"That's enough. I know, so stop."
"Back then, those bastards were killing people and taking their souls—"
"STOP IT!"
Sierion roared.
Only then did Patrick fall silent.
Sierion slowly brought both hands to cover his face. He let out a deep sigh, struggling to control his emotions.
Yes. He knew. He knew exactly what kind of power this was. He knew exactly what price had been paid to create it.
And knowing that, he had accepted it into his own body. He had made his subordinates accept it as well. He had simply ordered them to keep it a secret that they had joined hands with dark mages.
He couldn't bring himself to tell them the whole truth. He couldn't make them share in that sin...
Looking at Sierion, who had his eyes tightly shut, Patrick spoke.
"You stood up for the weak in the East?"
"..."
"You did?"
It was an intense, blatant display of contempt.
Sierion lifted his head, gritting his teeth.
"I needed power."
"Filthy and disgusting."
"Because if I didn't do at least that much, there was no hope for us!"
Patrick fell silent at Sierion’s outburst. However, his gaze still held nothing but contempt.
Sierion swung his arms, shouting in an agitated voice.
"Choose honorable means and slowly build strength to escape this garbage reality? That's impossible. It's impossible!"
"..."
"I don't care what means I use. I don't care if I burn in hell after I die. If I can just protect the people of my country who are alive right now... if I can just change this garbage reality where the strong prosper through the blood and death of the weak, I will do anything. Anything! Anything! Anything!"
"..."
"That is my duty!"
Perhaps exhausted from pouring out his emotions, he let out a sigh and spoke in a hollow voice.
"Help me."
"..."
"Please..."
There was no logic. There was no grand cause. There was only a plea.
To that, Patrick slowly opened his mouth.
"I..."