Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Pulling a Scam
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Cheon Taesan decided to imitate the scam techniques occasionally employed by quack doctors.
"Drink the decoction I prepare for you for about ten days. And I'll keep administering acupuncture treatments. Once the medicine and needles get your blood flowing properly, you'll be able to circulate your qi. As you know, this is a technique I learned from a strange medical text I found in the secret archives while I was at the Murim Alliance."
"Is this a reliable form of treatment?"
"I've saved several people who were on the brink of death with it."
Even when he spoke like one of those scam acupuncturists hawked in the marketplace, Mak Jimong believed him without question.
It was a scam technique that preyed on desperation.
"Oh! Is that really true?"
Simply absorbing ten years' worth of spiritual medicine energy into his Secondary Dantian would loosen the energy blocking Mak Jimong's meridians.
But if he did that with no visible signs, it would look like he hadn't done anything at all—that was the problem.
So Cheon Taesan planned to make a show of it by having him drink decoctions and undergo acupuncture, pretending it was grueling work.
That way, Mak Jimong would believe it.
Who would trust a cure that required no apparent treatment whatsoever?
It was all a scam to earn the patient's trust.
"How about we start right away today?"
"I need to prepare the herbs first, so not yet. It won't be too late to begin once we arrive at Ho Hyun Manor. In the meantime, steel yourself mentally. And no circulating qi until the treatment's done."
"Got it. Who else would I listen to but my doctor?"
Mak Jimong was already slowly emerging from his madness.
Excited by the prospect of escaping his misfortune, he was beginning to see things with a normal perspective.
Myeong Ujong was also unable to sleep until late into the night.
As I approached, he made room for me beside him.
"We'll arrive at Ho Hyun Manor tomorrow. Who knows what might happen then, so you should get some rest tonight."
"Yes... But sleep just won't come."
"Inspector Myeong, do you know why the Demonic Cult is attacking Ho Hyun Manor?"
"I checked through the Nanchang government offices, but nothing concrete turned up. All I know is that masked assailants keep attacking. Though one thing does come to mind."
"What is it?"
"I know Ho Hyun Manor's ancestral mountain is in Payang County. They own several peaks there, and they boast about the rare herbs that grow on them."
"If rare herbs are abundant on mountains in Payang County, it might connect the dots somewhat, but I'm doubtful it's enough to involve the Demonic Cult."
"I think the same. But what if those herbs are something martial artists prize highly?"
I nodded.
"You're right. If they're herbs that boost inner power, that changes everything. We'll know for sure once we get to Ho Hyun Manor anyway."
I asked what had been on my mind.
"By the way, Inspector Myeong, you call him a close friend, but why risk your life to help him?"
"Ho Hyunjun is my sworn brother, and on top of that, I owe him my life. Long ago, a prisoner I'd thrown in jail tried to kill me, and he saved me. When a sworn brother like that is in trouble, how can I not rush to his aid?"
Myeong Ujong's feelings mirrored my own.
I was the same way with Ho Hyunbyeok, the only sworn brother in my life.
It was impossible to turn a blind eye when your brother was in peril.
A night when everyone except the night watchmen was asleep.
I extracted the Secondary Dantian from inside Mak Jinyul's body.
I wanted to recover it before we reached Nanchang tomorrow.
I cleansed the Secondary Dantian thoroughly and swallowed it.
My inner power had grown, and I was satisfied.
Upon arriving in Nanchang, unease began to creep in.
Mak Jimong now followed my words obediently, but Mak Jinyul was the problem.
"No way! I'm going to Ho Hyun Manor too. I'm a first-rate expert. What's wrong with you? I'm strong. I can fight."
Taking Mak Jinyul to Ho Hyun Manor was too risky, so I planned to leave her at a nearby evil faction sect.
Ho Hyun Manor was likely to become a battlefield.
Leaving Mak Yeoheun's precious daughter in a place like that was far too dangerous.
When I told her to stay somewhere else because fighting might break out, she threw a fit like this.
"If you want to go, you'll have to obey me. Otherwise, head back to Present Heaven Gate right now, or go to one of the evil faction sects here in Nanchang."
I said to Mak Jinyul, whose face was flushing red with anger.
"You can't have everything your way. Gwanghwa, this is my last nagging as your master. If you don't live as you think, you'll end up thinking as you live. Consider whether the way you're living now is the former or the latter."
Was it the influence of the Secondary Dantian?
Or my final piece of advice?
About the time it takes to burn a joss stick, Mak Jinyul asked Gwan Ryongjin.
"Branch Leader, is there a suitable sect around here where I could stay?"
Gwan Ryongjin replied.
"If it's close to Ho Hyun Manor, there's one. It's Ilji Gate, the sect of Unbokseong, the head of the main branch's Disciplinary Hall."
"Is it decent?"
"It's a fine place. They fancy themselves righteous bandits of the evil factions, and in my opinion, no one in the evil factions upholds the code quite like them. That's why not only the Disciplinary Hall but even the Finance Hall is staffed by people from Ilji Gate."
"That good? But why Ilji Gate? The name sounds kinda lame. All the evil sects go for stuff like Sa Dragon, Brain Dragon, Blood Dragon—y'know, something with punch."
Yu Seong, the successor of Brain Dragon Gate standing nearby, looked embarrassed.
Most evil faction sect names were cringeworthy.
Gwan Ryongjin didn't know about that part.
"I know the story. Want to hear it?"
"If I'm going to impose on them, I should know some background. I'll listen especially carefully."
Even when asking a favor, Mak Jinyul had to puff up her pride first.
"Ilji Gate was originally a sect aligned with the orthodox factions. But long ago, they got into a fight with one orthodox sect and nearly faced total annihilation. That's when they came to Jiangxi and joined under Present Heaven Gate. If not, they might really have been wiped out."
"Orthodox faction hypocrites as always. So, why Ilji Gate?"
"At the time, the gate leader declared that a false righteousness isn't righteousness at all, and pulled the 'one' radical—the one at the top of 'zheng'—to found the new sect. That's how it became Ilji Gate."
"Ah, so that's the story behind the name."
Gwan Ryongjin nodded in admiration, as if hearing it for the first time.
"How do you know that?"
"I'm smart, that's how."
"People always say I'm unlucky. Hearing that from someone as unlucky as you is the ultimate insult, you know?"
I let her snide remark go in one ear and out the other as I spoke.
"Good thinking. Ilji Gate will welcome you with open arms. You're the Supreme Lord's precious gem, after all."
"Anywhere in the world would treat me better than you do."
"Stay there until our business is done. Great Hero Gwan Ryong, please escort her to Ilji Gate and come back. I'll head to Ho Hyun Manor first."
"Understood."
"Young Hero Yu, stay with Mak Sojeo as well."
Since Mak Jinyul had obeyed me, I promoted her from Gwanghwa to Sojeo.
She flinched at the words.
"Wait, actually, I came along because I thought there might be fighting. Can't I go to Ho Hyun Manor too?"
I knew why Yu Seong had given up on the martial tournament to come.
With the energy of the Heavenly Killing Star in him, he must have missed the battlefield where he could take lives.
"Escort Mak Sojeo there, then return with Great Hero Gwan Ryongjin."
Yu Seong replied in a cheerful voice.
"Yes, sir! I'll carry out the orders!"
Mak Jinyul shrieked at his playful tone.
"Where do you think you're going? You're supposed to attend to me!"
Gwan Ryongjin took ten subordinates and left with Mak Jinyul.
"Ilji Gate won't see a quiet day for a while. I might have done something wicked. At least it'll lighten my load."
Several people nodded in agreement at my mutterings.
Ho Hyun Manor was a family that had lived in Nanchang longer than Present Heaven Gate, thriving like tigers among foxes.
When evil factions gained dominance in Jiangxi and Nanchang, Ho Hyun Manor shifted from a martial house to a scholarly one.
If one had to classify them among orthodox, evil, or demonic, they were closest to orthodox—which was why they didn't want to draw the ire of the evil factions.
And by sending many into government service, they maintained their status as a scholarly house rather than a martial one.
Entering Ho Hyun Manor was like stepping into a chaotic marketplace.
From those treating the wounded to martial artists coming and going, servants rushed about frantically.
Ho Hyunbyeok immediately scolded me the moment he saw me.
"You rascal. What brings you here without a word?"
Even after so long apart, there was no awkwardness, as if we'd met yesterday.
That was the power of sworn brotherhood.
A sworn brother was a friend whose hearts aligned so closely he could take your place in death.
"Friends show up when they miss you."
Currently, Ho Hyunbyeok was leading his household.
His father, uncles, and elders had all either died in battle or lay bedridden from severe wounds.
"But who are these people?"
"I heard your family was in trouble, so I brought some martial artists."
"Thank you, but now that you're here, I can't send you off right away. Stay the night, and leave at dawn. It's dangerous here."
"What are you saying? I came to help you."
"I don't want to see you get hurt. The masked ones are all experts. First-rate or better, and they keep coming."
Ho Hyunbyeok was small in stature but had thick eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, earning him the moniker Tiger-Eyed Scholar Sword in Nanchang.
"First, I'll pay my respects to Steward Chun and Madam Ja."
"No, you fool. If you do that, they won't let you leave. Just go. I'll explain later."
Ho Hyunbyeok spoke out of genuine concern for me.
"I'm planning to send out any maids or servants who want to go. If a large-scale attack comes, we won't hold."
He was frank about the situation.
"The government won't help?"
"I've begged several times, but they flat-out said it's a murim matter and they're staying out of it."
"The enemy must have moved to keep the government sidelined. But don't worry. The ones I brought aren't ordinary martial artists."
Ho Hyunbyeok vaguely knew the attackers' purpose and identity, so he tried to dissuade me strongly.
"No one should come. It's too dangerous."
"Eggs are eggs, but some are tougher than others. Do you know who that young master over there is?"
"Who?"
"Mak Jimong, the only son of Evil Faction Supreme Lord Mak Yeoheun. And more are coming soon. Those warriors there are elites of the Present Heaven Asura Squad."
Ho Hyunbyeok must have heard his ears' worth about Mak Yeoheun and Present Heaven Gate living in Nanchang.
Anyone who didn't know that would be deaf and blind.
"So, doesn't this earn me a seat to sip the tea you offer while I hear you out? And don't send away the maids or servants. We'll win this fight."
"You... really!"
Ho Hyunbyeok seemed moved, as if he'd never lived in vain.
"And do you recognize this gentleman here?"
I pushed Myeong Ujong forward.
"My eyes are too dim to know such a noble guest. Please enlighten me."
"I am Myeong Ujong, sworn brother to your elder brother Ho Hyunjun."
"Ah, I've heard my brother speak of Inspector Myeong Ujong often. He called you his one and only sworn brother and smiled every time."
"Then from now on, don't think of me as an outsider—think of me as your own brother."
"Do you have news of my brother?"
"You don't know either? He went missing, so we're here looking for him."
I cut in.
"Let's not stand here—go inside and talk details. Do we have rooms to stay in?"
"Plenty. Half the main household is dead. Empty rooms galore."
Ho Hyunbyeok replied bitterly and led us to an annex of Ho Hyun Manor.
Gal Woohun tilted his head upon confirming that Scholar Cheon and his group had entered Ho Hyun Manor.
"Go find out what's happening at Ho Hyun Manor. And dig into Scholar Cheon's connection to them. Ask the Hao Clan in Nanchang or the Beggars' Gang rats—bring back whatever info you can."
He had come with Mak Jimong and Mak Jinyul to Ho Hyun Manor, a place he'd only heard of by name.
Gal Woohun had heard Scholar Cheon was leaving Present Heaven Gate and gathered his men to follow, planning to ambush if the chance arose.
But spotting Mak Jimong and Mak Jinyul in the group, he hadn't dared make a move.
Which was how he'd trailed them all the way to Nanchang.
"Ho Hyun Manor, huh..."
It was a manor with no ties to his Gal Clan, having operated more as a scholarly house than a martial one.
But he knew they weren't to be underestimated.
They had plenty of first-rate experts and many officials in the local government.
"The more complicated, the better. Chaos leaves room for me to wedge in."
Black flames flickered in Gal Woohun's eyes.
The fire of vengeance in his chest showed no sign of dying down—instead, it blazed ever wilder, like a spreading wildfire.