Chapter 90. I Am the Ten-Battle Sparrow
Acting Gang Leader Cheon Seok-san returned to Gwancheonbang alongside the gang members.
The gang leader had taken his own life, and the chief steward and elders lay dead. Morale among the gang members had plummeted to rock bottom.
"What do we do now?"
"Are we disbanding the gang?"
Their murmuring eyes brimmed with unease.
They'd strutted around relying on Gwancheonbang's prestige... If the gang fell apart, the enemies seeking revenge wouldn't be few and far between.
Just finding their next meal was a worry.
They had to bolt first. If Cheongsu Gate came charging in, it was game over. Everyone had to look out for themselves.
A flurry of faces bustled about handling the aftermath, each weighed down by their own thoughts.
Pyeong In-gang, formerly of the Peace Guards, couldn't fail to notice. He approached Cheon Seok-san quietly and said,
"The gang members are anxious, Acting Gang Leader. You need to rally their spirits."
"Huh? Yeah, you're right. Gather everyone."
The Gwancheonbang members assembled in the spacious courtyard before the grand hall.
Seeing over a hundred armed men before him bolstered Cheon Seok-san's confidence.
Just like that, a hundred blades had fallen under his command.
'With three hundred, even the Fist King wouldn't worry me.'
Cheon Seok-san stood on the steps before the hall, speaking in a solemn tone as such thoughts crossed his mind.
"The righteous warriors of the jianghu call me One Fist Shaking Heaven... You've probably never heard of me, since I've been in seclusion for so long."
How could they? Few even knew of One Fist Mountain Breaker, let alone One Fist Shaking Heaven.
The true bearer of that moniker had been a master from a century ago.
"My brother called me here... I never imagined he'd make such an extreme choice..."
He bowed his head for a moment, clearing his throat with a heavy sniffle. The Gwancheonbang members fell silent in reverence.
Cheon Seok-san lifted his head and continued.
"He must have foreseen a day like this and summoned me. I'll honor his dying wish and protect Gwancheonbang. Anyone who eyes our gang from now on..."
Whoosh!
Cheon Seok-san's form vanished in an instant, reappearing before a man-sized boulder at the edge of the courtyard.
"Hah!"
With a shout, he unleashed a single fist strike.
Boom!
The boulder shattered into powder, and in a blink, Cheon Seok-san was back atop the steps.
"...will end up like this."
Cheon Seok-san shrugged his shoulders.
"Whoa!"
"Wooah!"
The Gwancheonbang members erupted in cheers.
Smashing a man-sized boulder with his bare fist!
U Pyeong, captain of Cheon Il-hae's bodyguard, muttered to himself.
'His martial prowess seems stronger than Gang Leader Cheon's.'
To martial artists, power was everything.
With his display of might, the gang members' faces brightened considerably.
Satisfied by the fervent response, Cheon Seok-san turned to Pyeong In-gang and U Pyeong.
"Elder Pyeong, tighten security inside and out. Captain U, prepare mourning halls for the gang leader and fallen warriors, and tend to the wounded."
U Pyeong, who had received the orders, asked,
"Should we prepare one for the chief steward too?"
He hadn't forgotten how Cheon Il-hae, in his final moments, had branded the chief steward a traitor and ordered his capture. The gang members didn't know yet, but the acting gang leader should. He drew close and reported the incident.
Cheon Seok-san pondered briefly before declaring firmly,
"He played a part in taking down that Geom Yak Jong master, didn't he? Just set it up."
On the way back, Cheon Seok-san had heard the full details from Pyeong In-gang about Yang Gwan's death. If Gu Ja-ang hadn't stomped on Yang Gwan's instep, not only Gwan Ju-gyeon but the entire dog pack would have been wiped out.
Cheon Seok-san's gaze shifted to the dog pack. Having lost their master, they looked utterly dejected, as if on the verge of death.
'Poor bastards... I get how they feel.'
Cheon Seok-san had lost his parents young and spent long years as an outcast in the jianghu. The past eight years, he'd been a freeloader at his clan's house, eating scraps.
"You there—did you say you caught the Geom Yak Jong master?"
Cheon Seok-san pointed at the dog pack's leader. He'd clung to Yang Gwan's waist, only to take a kick to the gut, but his hefty belly had saved him by sheer luck. Still, his pallid face screamed internal injuries.
"What's your name?"
"Jo Choong-gyeon, sir."
Oh ho, a dog pack indeed... Even his name meant "loyal hound." The characters differed, but the pronunciation matched choong-gyeon. And Gwan Ju-gyeon sounded like ju-gyeon, turning him into a "running mad dog."
"Good. From now on, you're the leader of the dog pack—the second patrol captain of Upper Sangyang! You caught a master, so here's your reward."
He then turned to the crowd and bellowed,
"Despite this sudden crisis, you all held strong. Every gang member gets five taels of silver. Those who fought the enemy get an extra five. Families of the fallen will receive ten more."
"Hooray!"
The Gwancheonbang members roared at the unexpected bonuses.
Cheon Seok-san's mood soared, and he went one step further. With Gwancheonbang's millions in wealth now in his grasp, this was pocket change.
"Squad leaders get an extra three taels of silver, and division captains get five more. The dog pack that nabbed the master? Twenty taels each."
"Gaaah!"
The dog pack howled like beasts struck by a silver bomb.
"Long live the new gang leader!"
"Our utmost loyalty!"
Money moved people, indeed. Splash enough silver around, and acting gang leader became full-fledged new gang leader in a heartbeat.
Cheon Seok-san, beaming with satisfaction, said,
"While we're at it, let's distribute it now. Where's the steward?"
A man with a goatee stepped forward.
"I'm the finance steward, sir."
"Pay it out as I said. Right away."
"Well..."
The finance steward looked troubled.
"The vault's in the former gang leader's chambers. He managed it personally."
"Hmph. Figures?"
Typical of the tightfisted Cheon Il-hae, whom no one trusted.
Cheon Seok-san nodded and addressed the gang members.
"We'll do the official rewards tomorrow morning. For now, get back to your duties."
"Yes, sir!"
The gang members replied in thunderous unison.
Cheon Seok-san headed to Cheon Il-hae's residence. The maids greeted the new gang leader with polite bows.
Seeing the uniformly beautiful maids warmed his heart.
Wealth and women both...
The maids guided him through the residence.
"Mm. You lot, wait outside."
Reaching the private chambers, Cheon Il-hae entered alone. How much was in there? The vault took up an entire room. But... it was locked tight.
Only then did he realize he needed the key and summoned a maid to fetch it.
While the maid was gone, Cheon Seok-san poked around. A lavish bedroom with an attached bath, a parlor dripping with opulence, priceless vases and ornaments everywhere...
Sudden fortune had him reeling. All this was his now...
Snooping further, Cheon Seok-san entered Cheon Il-hae's training hall.
One wall held gleaming precious swords; the opposite bore altars to Confucian sages, Buddhas, and the Three Pure Ones of Taoism.
"All those gods couldn't protect my brother, huh."
Muttering at the statues, his eye caught a jade box before the incense burner. A small vessel carved from white jade.
Opening it released a fragrant aroma. Inside lay a single white pill radiating refreshing energy at a glance.
Clearly a premium elixir.
"Tsk, leaving something this precious behind..."
No wonder he couldn't let go on his way to the afterlife.
Cheon Seok-san popped the pill into his mouth. From years of freeloading scraps, he knew: eat the good stuff on the spot.
'Hoard it, and it just turns to shit.'
A cool energy spread from his chest to his dantian.
Sitting on a silk cushion, he circulated his qi in meditation. As it flowed through the Governing and Conception Vessels, his body felt light as if it might float away.
His inner power had seemingly doubled in an instant.
In truth, the elixir was one Cheon Il-hae had prepared for the three-way duel. It doubled one's power for twelve hours and maximized the body's latent potential.
"Kahahaha!"
Cheon Seok-san burst into laughter. Money, beauties, and an elixir to boot... What insane luck. He couldn't hold back the guffaws.
Then, an emergency signal blared, and a maid rushed in.
"Enemies! Enemies are attacking!"
"What?!"
Cheon Seok-san's face twisted.
"Cheongsu Gate?"
"I-I don't know."
Cheon Seok-san hurried to the grand hall. Gang members clutching swords swarmed toward the main gate.
"What's going on?"
He grabbed a passing gang member.
"Some bastards are coming at us."
Ferocious light flared in Cheon Seok-san's eyes.
"Which fuckers dare..."
Ruining his good mood.
The Red Flame Trio were all masters of exceptional lightness skills. They glided through the darkness like fish in water, utterly silent.
Behind them, the black society's dark path warriors chased desperately. Despite their caution, their clumsy footfalls were unavoidable.
Gang Chun-mok, leading ahead, scowled.
With officials everywhere... Trailing these guys risked detection.
Gang Chun-mok halted the black society followers.
"You lot, follow slower."
Shaking off the black society group, the Red Flame Squad flew onward in silence.
Officials guarded spots and patrolled, but they posed no obstacle.
Won Seung trailed them like a shadow.
'?'
Dashing from shadow to shadow, Won Seung paused near Cheongsu Gate. A hulking figure passing a dim alley looked familiar.
'The Taesu's bodyguard captain?'
Hand Captain or something? The one who'd escorted the Taesu to Baekhwa Pavilion once.
Only one reason for the Taesu bodyguard captain here: the Taesu himself.
Won Seung furrowed his brow and melted deeper into the shadows, scanning the area.
The visible officials on streets and patrols were mere decoys... Most forces lurked in the dark.
'The Taesu stepping in personally...'
He couldn't help but be shocked.
From this street, they could reach Cheongsu Gate in a heartbeat if needed.
Here to back Cheongsu Gate?
He couldn't predict how the night would unfold.
As Cheongsu Gate came into distant view, Gang Chun-mok halted and signaled with hand signs. The Red Flame Squad dispersed into the shadows.
At his glance, the nearby liaison cupped hands to mouth and blew.
Toooo, tooooo!
Soon, a subordinate sent to scout Cheongsu Gate crawled back from the darkness.
Gang Chun-mok asked in a low voice,
"Situation?"
"...High-level experts are clashing right now."
Gang Chun-mok perked his ears.
Faint bursts of energy and clashing weapons echoed from Cheongsu Gate.
Gang Chun-mok pondered.
'Gwancheonbang's leader and masters are dead, so we can take it easily. Cheongsu Gate's messier.'
Dosanrim experts versus the Hwa brothers—did they need to jump in now?
Glancing at the time: roughly the first watch of the in-si hour.
'Wait till dawn and strike.'
Won Seung slipped past the Red Flame Squad, drawing near Cheongsu Gate. He climbed to a second-floor railing of a shop and checked behind.
'Red Flame Sparrows over there... Taesu Sparrows everywhere.'
He mapped the shadows' positions for escape routes in emergencies.
Dosanrim mantises battling Cheongsu Gate cicadas, watched by Red Flame Sparrows, encircled by the Taesu Sparrows' men.
'I am the Ten-Battle Sparrow.'
Won Seung muttered inwardly and crawled through a waterway in the western wall. He knew Cheongsu Gate's layout better than its own warriors.
Clang!
Bang!
The vivid clamor of fierce battle rang out. Won Seung infiltrated toward the rear garden where the sounds came from.