The Maniac with Crystal-Clear Eyes
The maniac with those crystal-clear eyes suddenly closed in on me, chattering about dismemberment murders while shoving a flower in my face. The whole situation felt like some utterly unreal nightmare, so I spun on my heel and bolted.
Run first...! This fucker's completely insane!
"H-Hey, Screaming Rakshasa! Where do you think you're going?!"
The bastard gave chase after yelling that. No matter what, I had to escape. God knows what would happen if I got caught by a psycho like this.
"Aha! Luring me in to slaughter me as cruelly as possible, eh?!"
What the hell kind of nonsense is that?!
"Screaming Rakshasa! Calm down! I have no intention of fighting you!"
And why the fuck is he calling me Screaming Rakshasa? I glanced back while running, gauging the distance between us. No telling what he'd do if he caught up.
"Huh."
But damn, this guy's running skills seemed worse than mine. Hold up—is this dude not trained in lightness skill? If so, he's no master. Probably just on my level or a notch below.
With that judgment made, I slammed on the brakes. I stopped, and so did he.
"Who the hell are you?"
I turned casually and asked.
"Huff, huff! My introductions are late!"
The guy panted as he shouted.
"I'm from the Sado-ryeon subordinate—!"
Sado-ryeon?! If the righteous Murim has the Murim Alliance, the unorthodox Murim has the Sado-ryeon! That's the organization formed by all those scum—the Beggar Clan gets lumped in with the unorthodox too, right?—who gathered after brutal power struggles among the solitary experts. A den of the world's most irredeemable villains. Why the hell would they come after me?
"Branch of the branch of the branch... anyway! I'm Galbi Jong from Heuk Jeon Mun!"
"Galbi Jong of Heuk Jeon Mun?"
Not directly under Sado-ryeon, but some branch of a branch or whatever?
"We're a sect versed in finance. We lend money to people and collect interest."
In simple terms, a sect that profits from loan sharking. Obviously, even on modern Earth, illegal usury doesn't get legal protection. How much worse would it be in this Ming Dynasty? To lend money and squeeze out interest, you need real power. And to command powerful martial artists, you need a ton of cash. Naturally, their interest rates skyrocket to murderous levels.
"So... you're in the loan sharking business."
"Exactly."
I put on a grave tone, and he grinned back.
"Then what's this Sado-ryeon business?"
"Ah, that's what I wanted to talk about. First, would you take this flower?"
This asshole was still holding that thing?
"I heard rumors that you, Screaming Rakshasa, wander around holding flowers in both hands. I figured you liked them, so I brought one."
What the...? I've never walked around with flowers in both hands... wait, no. The two Murim beauties are always at my sides. Maybe the rumor got twisted from that.
This guy dug into rumors about me, which means he gathered intel and approached me on purpose. Come to think of it, his attitude with those clear eyes felt oddly friendly. Affable, even. Bringing a flower and all.
Does he want some amicable connection with me? I'm a martial artist famous enough to have a nickname. Not my first encounter like this, so it's not weird. But seriously, what's with Screaming Rakshasa? I'm Nachal Sal.
"Plant that flower there. I love nature."
"Ah! I'll do it right now!"
The guy hurriedly dug a hole, planted the flower like it was precious treasure, covered it with dirt, smoothed the ground, and beamed with satisfaction. Then, like he was showing off for me, he thrust out both hands pointing at it.
"Nice."
Of course, that flower won't grow. The stem was snapped.
"Glad you're satisfied. Anyway... Screaming Rakshasa. I want to have a close talk with you. How about a drink? My treat."
A trap? Honestly, no clue what this guy's deal is, but he's clearly approached me on purpose. Cutting him off here probably won't end it, so maybe I should flip the script and fish for info.
"Follow me."
"Thank you!"
I kept my tone heavy, and his face lit up. Gotta maintain the gravitas. Since he's calling me the vicious Screaming Rakshasa, he sees me as a top-tier expert.
We headed straight to the guesthouse where Jae Mi-son was staying. As we entered, I casually asked the errand boy to pass a message upstairs: outsider incoming, keep an eye on things. With Jae Mi-son around, he'd watch us from the second floor.
"This is where you stay?"
"Not particularly. Sit."
"Got it. Boy! Bring booze and snacks."
"Yes, sir!"
I sat facing Galbi Jong. Alright, time to hear why this loan shark came looking for me. But... should I even start? His eyes were still unsettlingly intense, brimming with bizarre friendliness. Like a cultist full of conviction.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Galbi Jong of Heuk Jeon Mun. Earlier, I mentioned Sado-ryeon—trace our branches upward, and you hit Sado-ryeon. I've come to Anhui Province on orders from them."
Pretty coherent for a madman.
"Coherent explanation."
"Ah! I get that compliment again!"
Weak to praise? Galbi Jong burst out laughing, his eyes sparkling.
"Does that mission involve me?"
"Surprisingly, yes."
"Explain."
Galbi Jong's expression turned serious.
"As I said, I'm here on a vital mission from Sado-ryeon: gathering intel on Saseon-nyeo."
"Ho, Saseon-nyeo."
Saseon-nyeo was a witch so terrifying she was called one of the Central Plains' great evils. Even the Ming imperial court hunted her. They say even Hwa-gyeong master Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang feared her—that's worse treatment than most rebels.
So Sado-ryeon was pursuing Saseon-nyeo now?
"Screaming Rakshasa. Didn't you catch Ma-du Nachal in that labyrinth? Turns out she orchestrated that mess."
"I know. Want info from me?"
"No... not that. My mission is gathering Saseon-nyeo intel around Anhui, but I don't need your testimony."
Coherent indeed. I don't know shit anyway.
"Then?"
"Whatever, to collect intel on Saseon-nyeo here, I need to form a gang or something."
"Makes sense."
"Oho! Exactly! You get it!"
I just tossed in a little agreement, and his eyes cleared up even more. This was no unorthodox martial artist's gaze. Pure as the driven snow. The kind only an untainted maniac could have.
Twinkle twinkle. So dazzling, you could believe sword aura gleamed in them.
"I'm planning to form such a gang now. And I want to recruit you, Screaming Rakshasa."
No. So he wants to invite me into his gang? But he's from a Sado-ryeon branch, so unorthodox black path.
"I know you wiped out Am-to Bang. The black path scum around here are quaking in fear."
For real?
"Your original nickname was Nachal Sal, but after this, it became the terrifying Screaming Rakshasa. The black path fears you that much. If we team up now and form a gang, we could rally those scared bastards in a flash and build something big!"
His eyes were too clear...!
"Then use that big gang to seize territory and gather Saseon-nyeo intel."
Despite the clear-eyed madness, he had a solid vision and plan. I felt a subtle shock. Weren't unorthodox martial artists supposed to be dumb, violent, evil trash? But this Galbi Jong seemed resolute and driven, even if nuts. A real man, then.
"This'll profit you too. I won't treat you like some mere thug. Screaming Rakshasa...! That ferocious nickname I admire just hearing it! If you accept, I'll serve you as big brother!"
Big brother! He'd call me big brother! Damn tempting offer. Imagining myself as a gang boss in Murim, hearing "hyungnim," had my shoulders twitching.
But I'm no yes-man yelling "okay!" I get he's smitten with my nickname and wants me for his mission gang. But he's a Sado-ryeon loan shark. Can't trust that. No clue what his gang really does. He says Saseon-nyeo hunt, but... risky. Hunting's a side gig; probably shady profit schemes mainly. As a righteous hero, I can't join that.
But voicing that might flip his friendly madness to hostility.
Twinkle twinkle. He stared at me with eyes purer than a shoujo manga heroine.