That's the Work of a Ten Perfect Assassin
All those present gaped in stunned silence.
"Brother!"
Hwa Cheon-un wailed as he rushed forward, but Hwa Cheon-gang raised a hand to stop him.
The sword had pierced straight through his heart, emerging from his back.
In such cases, they say even the Great Immortal of the Eastern Florescence couldn't save him.
The sudden tragedy left everyone speechless.
Hwa Cheon-gang spat up a gush of bright red blood and addressed Yong Jo-un.
"I won't ask you to sheath your blade against Cheongsu Gate for this. But give me time to uncover the true culprit!"
Yong Jo-un stared blankly at Hwa Cheon-gang before nodding.
"Understood."
With that, Hwa Cheon-gang's head drooped while he remained standing.
And so, Hwa Cheon-gang—the second lord of Cheongsu Gate and one of the Hundred Great Masters of the Central Plains—met his end.
Hwa Cheon-un wept as he supported his brother's body.
"U-cheon, hurry and fetch the carriage!"
As Hwa U-cheon ran off to summon it, Hwa Ugeuk suddenly spewed blood with a pffft.
What's his deal?
"Brother Ugeuk!"
Hwa Yeo-wol rushed to support Hwa Ugeuk.
Hwa Ugeuk's face was badly slashed from the bloody battle the night before, and he'd suffered internal injuries as well. Everyone had tried to stop him, but he'd insisted on attending his second uncle's duel. Then, when his second uncle suddenly took his own life, the shock had aggravated his wounds.
This is a mess...
Won Seung stood there, mouth agape in shock.
He'd never dreamed Hwa Cheon-gang would take his own life like that.
Hwa Cheon-gang had a heroic side to him after all!
As Hwa Cheon-gang confessed his wrongdoing before the crowd and ended his life, everyone—from the observers' seats to the spectators—fell into profound silence.
There were plenty of people in the world who committed wrongs, but true accountability was exceedingly rare.
How many would pay with their very lives?
At that moment, Deung Noya stepped forward with a heavy sigh and spoke.
"Lord Hwa Cheon-gang has shown the spirit of Sangyang's martial world. His death is tragic beyond words, but the nobility of his intent will spread throughout the jianghu. The Shipowners Association will contribute a hundred taels of silver to erect a monument here in his honor and soothe his spirit!"
The prominent figures in the observers' seats immediately voiced their intentions to contribute as well.
Won Seung eyed Deung Noya and muttered inwardly.
Think you can dodge suspicion that easily, you sly old fox?
Deung Noya's sudden intervention only deepened Won Seung's suspicions that the Shipowners Association had been involved in the death of Hwa Gyo-gyeong, father of the Hwa brothers.
The three-way duel hadn't even taken place, yet Cheongsu Gate's second lord Hwa Cheon-gang and Gwancheonbang's new gang leader Cheon Seok-san were both dead.
Yong Jo-un stood dazed, having not swung his sword once while his enemies dropped one after another.
Won Seung approached him.
"Lord Yong, you're not in the mood, but how about heading to Baekhwa Pavilion for a drink? Grilling up some tasty meat oughta lift your spirits."
"No."
Yong Jo-un shook his head and turned to Hyeol Hwa.
"Can you manage the carriage?"
Hyeol Hwa nodded, and they loaded the limping Ju Neung into it.
"I'm injured too."
Hyeol Hwa clambered aboard with some effort, and Yong Jo-un watched her briefly before climbing in himself.
Hyeol Hwa's two escorts drove the carriage away from the warehouse wharf.
Won Seung approached Hwa Yeo-wol.
Her eyes were red and swollen, twisting his heart.
Losing two uncles in a single day...
"I got no words of comfort for ya. Your second uncle's noble spirit shook me to my core. Cheongsu Gate will surely overcome this crisis."
With that, he handed her an envelope containing a hundred-tael silver note.
"This is my token of respect. Scatter it at the funeral. I'll definitely be there."
"Weren't you leaving today?"
Hwa Yeo-wol looked at him through tear-streaked eyes.
Won Seung gazed back with tender, sorrowful eyes.
"How could I just up and leave when you're going through something like this?"
He'd originally planned to leave Sangyang after the duel matchups were announced, but circumstances had changed.
The biggest threat, Cheon Seok-san, was dead, and Deung Noya had proposed reconciliation. No immediate danger to his life.
He'd lightly scratched Deung Noya's nerves during the proceedings, but...
He wouldn't hold a grudge over something that minor, right?
Won Seung watched Deung Noya's retreating figure heading toward the Shipowners Association building, hoping the old man had forgotten his "two-headed serpent of the Sang River" remark.
The crowd dispersed in all directions.
Though they hadn't witnessed the three-way duel, they'd seen the Sword King's manifestation and his devastating strike, Hwa Cheon-gang's noble resolve and suicide, and overheard two long-buried secrets from decades ago along the Sang River. They had enough gossip fodder for months.
"They won't ask for a refund on the spectator fees, right?"
The profits from selling viewing rights remained intact.
"Unbelievable. Hwa Cheon-gang committing suicide like that. You really are a Ten Perfect Assassin."
Jong Bi marveled as she popped a piece of well-cooked meat into her mouth.
She'd spent the day retrieving the two bodies, disguising them, delivering them to the Taesubu, and gathering Bi Jangno's belongings from the inn.
The two were now grilling meat they'd bought, cooking it over a portable brazier.
Won Seung chewed a piece and replied.
"I didn't kill him. The guy offed himself."
"You maneuvered him into that spot. A perfect natural death where no one knows why the dead guy died! That's the work of a Ten Perfect Assassin."
"You think so?"
Won Seung munched away, thinking it was ridiculous. No matter how thick his face was, he couldn't claim credit for that.
"Write it up that way in your report. You'll graduate top of the class."
"Ain't gonna happen."
He'd ditched the Ten Perfect Assassin nonsense ages ago.
Won Seung had an eye-opening day.
He'd been awed anew by Yong Jo-un's heroic nature and self-sacrificing ways, witnessed the Sword King's otherworldly martial prowess, and been moved by Hwa Cheon-gang's spirit.
It felt like his soul had been hammered relentlessly.
Me, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the jianghu's heroes? That pathetic Ten Perfect Assassin crap? Give it to the dogs.
A groan came from the shed.
Yu Bul-gun and U Hui, stuffed full of Soul Oblivion Pills, were feverish and moaning deliriously.
Jong Bi fetched a cloth and gagged them.
She returned to her spot by the brazier, letting out a creepy ehehehe.
Won Seung shuddered.
"You're definitely a perv. Getting off on torturing people."
"What? I'm just thrilled we can finally leave Jeokhyeolsan like this."
Won Seung briefly wondered if he should cut ties with this freak.
Anyway, with all these variables, he needed to revise his plans.
With Jong Bi "dead," he could head to the assassin training camp alone.
They weren't supposed to contact each other anyway. He'd just play the innocent rube heading into the mountains cluelessly.
Won Seung roughly outlined the cleanup.
"Once Ogu wakes up, he'll play fake Sangyang black society boss. Publicly, he's the Baekhwa Pavilion branch manager."
"What about me?"
Should I just cut her loose?
But they'd made a good team... A Ten Perfect Servant wasn't easy to find. He'd keep her around for now.
"Live as Teacher Song from Baekhwa Pavilion."
"Nah, that won't do. I finally escaped Jeokhyeolsan—time to live it up. Look, my hair's grown back nice and thick."
Jong Bi ran her fingers through her lush hair with a grin. Won Seung clicked his tongue.
"Hey, what do you mean by 'live it up'?"
"Ehehe. You're too young to get it."
Hmm. Sounds like she's planning to whore around.
You'd make a better Hwacheong Pavilion madam.
"Do whatever you want, I don't care. But... I don't wanna come back to find the accounts drained like some wastrel son."
"What're you on about? Since when do you have a son?"
You!
Won Seung glared fiercely.
"If even a single coin's missing when I return, I'll be real disappointed. Might forget those monthly antidotes."
Jong Bi scowled.
From the start, when he'd poisoned her, he'd been giving her one "antidote" pill a month. But... he was starting to suspect if it was really an antidote or just vitamins.
Next month's dose, I'll take to Gong I-gwan for analysis. See if it's legit.
Won Seung was perched atop Jong Bi's head in his mind.
Gong I-gwan'll play along. 'Miss a month and you drop dead.'
The two continued grilling and eating meat in warm camaraderie, lost in their own thoughts.
News of the deaths gradually spread.
The people of Sangyang were shocked. In just a few days, countless lives had been lost—many of them local masters.
Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-baek and Hwa Cheon-gang, Gwancheonbang's Cheon Il-hae and new gang leader Cheon... whoever that was. Sangyang's mad dog Gwan Ju-gyeon was gone, Gu Ja-ang too...
But why had Hwacheong Pavilion's Gu Ak-pyeong just drop dead mid-drink...?
There were deaths the people of Sangyang didn't know about.
In the imperial capital's Seongwangbu, the Jeok Yeom Trio of Jeok Yeom-gak had been wiped out. Geom Yak Jong elder Yang Gwan was dead, and Dosanrim's Yin-Yang Twin Killers and Three Mountain Ravagers were buried in Sangyang soil under names no one would hear again.
A few knew of Jeokhyeolsan's Fourth Elder Bi Jangno dying alongside his guard Jwa Hu.
The next morning.
Won Seung rode in Seok-bo's carriage toward the Taesubu.
The Taesu is one shady character.
Pulling strings behind the scenes during the three-way duel, then sweeping it all under the rug. Right after it ended, Sangyang's streets returned to normal patrols.
With the soldiers who'd been stationed everywhere gone, the streets buzzed with life again. Officials claimed they maintained order, but the common folk saw them as bloodsucking parasites and preferred them out of sight.
The Taesu knew how to read the public mood.
The carriage arrived at the Taesubu, met with tight security. In the wake of Sangyang's bloodbath, the area around it remained on high alert.
Won Seung stepped down and slipped some silver to the gate guard.
"Tell him Baekhwa Pavilion's Pung Un-saeng has a painting to show the Taesu."
"Wait here."
The guard replied sternly and sent a runner inside.
Moments later, Taesubu inner steward Jeong Gu-in emerged.
"The Taesu is indisposed with heavy duties. Best head back today."
"Oh dear, I picked a bad time."
Won Seung feigned regret as he spoke to Jeong Gu-in.
In truth, he had no need to see the Taesu.
He pulled Jeong Gu-in aside and whispered.
"Yesterday, I found two bodies by the Sang River, y'know? Told my servant to send 'em to the Taesubu."
"...?"
Jeong Gu-in tilted his head.
Bodies out of nowhere?
He doesn't know?
Makes sense—Jeong Gu-in handled the Taesu's personal affairs, so he'd be out of the loop on official matters.
Won Seung continued.
"Heard rogues have been brawling these past days, turning Sangyang's streets into a bloodbath. No wonder the Taesu mobilized not just patrols but the full garrison for security."
Jeong Gu-in listened blankly.
Won Seung handed him a note.
"I've written down how I found the bandits' bodies. Pass it to the right person."
The word "bandits'" stuck in Jeong Gu-in's ears.
The note detailed the "discovery" of fake U Hui and Jong Bi's bodies.
Even an idiot would connect the dots.