Building My Own Faction
I came to a decision. Let's make use of that guy called Galbi Jong.
"I've been thinking... maybe I can build my own force by using him."
"A force, you say...?"
"Yeah. If it's something I can't avoid, I need to prepare for it. Sure, I can't trust the bastard, but that depends on how I use him."
Galbi Jong was a madman, but I'd seen through him—he had ambition and drive. Plus, he needed my help, and he was looking at me with eyes full of envy. Trust? There was none, but they wouldn't trust me either. So using him was fine.
"It'd start with just gathering up some black path riffraff, but isn't that how everything begins?"
The current emperor, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, had started as a Red Turban rebel. A mere bandit scum like him had become emperor. It wouldn't be bad for me to gather these thug-like guys and form my own faction.
"Hmm, so you're saying you'll make the first move before getting dragged into something weirder?"
"Exactly."
I praised Ha-young's neat summary, and Serin shot me a look.
"Geun-hyeop. No matter what, we can't go unorthodox. If we're doing this, it has to be orthodox."
Of course, I planned to go orthodox.
"Duh. You think I'm crazy enough to go unorthodox? I'm a righteous hero of the orthodox sects. If I make one, it'll be an orthodox faction."
"Haa... honestly."
Serin let out a sigh.
"I get the flow of the conversation... but how did you even come to this decision? Geun-hyeop, it's incredibly dangerous. Forming a faction? It's reckless."
There wasn't some grand trigger. The situation called for it, and Jae Mi-son's words had opened my eyes. He'd said that with fame and grudges, I'd get dragged into stuff like this anytime. So I needed to set my own firm path and charge forward. That's why I'd face this unavoidable mess head-on. And the best way was to turn the situation to my advantage.
"Feels like removing or shaking off Galbi Jong would be tough. So I'll use the situation—in a way that benefits me."
"..."
Serin nodded.
"Your resolve is firm, Geun-hyeop. In that case, I'll help you."
"Ooh! I'd appreciate that!"
With a peak expert like Serin helping, it was perfect!
"What, it's not like I'm kowtowing or anything... Of course I'd do it if you're doing it. Still, thinking about it again, it's not a bad idea. Organizing and running a faction from a young age would be valuable experience in itself. It'll broaden your horizons no matter what."
It did sound like good experience. Whatever happened, I'd gain new levels from this and grow. The risk was worth it.
"I get why you're thinking this. Fine, if you've decided, I'll follow."
"Ha-young...!"
My little wife, as expected!
"But that guy's from an unorthodox usury ring, right? If he was sent on a mission, it seems like they're reaching into this area."
I focused on Ha-young's words.
"If we take out Galbi Jong from this side and swallow up the orthodox stuff wholesale, wouldn't we get tangled in grudges?"
"Spot on, Ha-young."
They might get pissed off big time, but I figured it'd be fine. This wasn't their territory to begin with. It was Anhui Province, and they'd sent a guy like Galbi Jong to lay the groundwork. If a mere black path faction could encroach on another region at will, the world would already be unorthodox murim territory. If I struck first and seized the faction here, I could handle the fallout. Plus, I had massive fame: winning the hearts of the Murim Four Beauties. It screamed orthodox, and with that, I could build connections with local orthodox sects. I had that much planned.
I laid out the plan for them right then, and they both nodded.
"Worst case, we can get help from the Namgung Family. Sounds okay."
Help from the Namgung Family, huh.
"Ah, that might be difficult."
"Huh?"
Serin shook her head.
"Truth be told, there were some complications when I left home. I stormed out on my own, so I can't expect family support."
"...What? For real? You got disowned?"
"Yes."
"So you're not a Namgung lady anymore? Just some random murim wanderer?"
"You could put it that way."
"Whoa, hold up. Maybe rethink this? We can't use the Namgung Family anymore."
It didn't matter much. Help from them would be nice, but I wasn't counting on it. Going to my future father-in-law Namgung Cheon right now might get me killed.
"What? Treating the Namgung Family like a convenient tool. If you're saying that, Wi Ha-young, aren't you in a position to ask the Maosan Sect for help?"
"Uh, well..."
Ha-young hesitated.
"Truth is, I'm kinda in the same boat."
"Pardon?"
"Yodan research is banned in the Maosan Sect, right? I'm doing it on the sly. Kinda awkward to ask for help. Feels guilty seeing their faces."
"Is that so...? Well, whatever. With my strength and skills, making a small faction is a breeze."
Confidence shone from Serin. This was plenty.
"Then, Geun-hyeop, let's plan the strategy. The grand ideal of gathering hidden black path groups in this county and walking the righteous path is excellent. But as grand as it is, we'll need a lot, so we must prepare well from now."
"Of course! Ha-young! You're already key personnel, so join the strategy fully!"
"Sigh. Can't be helped."
And so, we sat together and hashed out plans for founding the faction.
"Guiding black path thugs will be tough. But since you're called the Screaming Rakshasa over there and inspire fear... we can suppress them with terror for starters."
"That's where I'm really confident. Last time, I made an Open Pavilion branch head kneel with just a shout."
"Really?"
Truth be told, that incident was a big reason I decided on this plan. I'd overwhelmed a gang leader with sheer presence and got what I wanted. An Open Pavilion branch head—the average black path faction—was under me now. Why fear those guys? Plus, with Jae Mi-son, I'd wiped out Yeonmi Plains and razed Amto Bang. For someone like me, making a faction was nothing.
I explained it in detail.
"I see... That must've given you the resolve. Excellent, Geun-hyeop. A true murim man needs that kind of grit."
Serin patted my head, looking proud.
"For something like that, I heard you suffered after. You okay?"
"Of course. Those wounds honed me and made me stronger."
"Kukuku, spouting nonsense to act cool."
"It was actually cool!"
Anyway, no real need to "guide" the black path guys. What does a faction do? Make money. Mostly underground economy. Black path or not, it's not glamorous. They do shady jobs besides labor to earn cash—that's black path. Just pay them salaries, and no guiding needed.
"I'll seize the underground interests where those black path guys lurk and dress it up orthodox. For that, I need to survey the bottom market first... Perfect, the Open Pavilion branch head's my errand boy now. Time to use him. And while moving with Galbi Jong, I'll size him up."
Serin nodded.
"Understood. I'll escort you in case of trouble."
"Me too?"
"That'd be great."
Whatever, time to move. First, track down that Open Pavilion branch head.
"Screaming Rakshasa! What brings you...!"
The Open Pavilion branch head jumped like he'd seen a ghost at the sight of me, then yelled "Screaming Rakshasa!" this and that.
But hearing that made my blood boil for some reason. This punk knew I was Rakshasa Killer, right? So why switch nicknames all of a sudden? Ah, no way.
Did this guy change it?
"Branch head... My title is Rakshasa Killer. You didn't forget, did you?"
"N-no, I didn't. But why?"
"Then why call me Screaming Rakshasa?"
"That's..."
"Doesn't that make me sound like some unorthodox demon? Me, a righteous hero. Why call me that?" I demanded.
"I-I heard rumors. They say you're called that lately..."
"Those rumors."
I cut him off and stepped forward.
"Where'd you hear them?"
"Just... rumors..."
"Don't lie to me!!!"
"Ack!"
I grabbed my sword hilt, tears streaming down my face.
"You made it up! You turned me into the Screaming Rakshasa!!!"
"A-ah...!"
It felt a bit embarrassing to reveal now, but before coming to this murim world, I'd dreamed of acting—an arts and physical prodigy. With real drive, I'd even done bit parts as an unknown actor. I was a method actor for supporting roles, proving my skills. For me, playing a mad unorthodox demon with titles like Screaming Rakshasa or Wailing Mad Killer was child's play.
"You!!! You made me the Screaming Rakshasa!!! You did it, h-heuk! K-kkheuk!!!"
"Hwaaaaaah!!!"
The branch head collapsed, crawling away in terror. I chased him, sobbing.