Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Puppy and the Tiger
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"I got tired of waiting and came looking for you. Why is Seok Yang-ho still perfectly fine?"
A sharp voice came through the small hole.
But the old man didn't know the details.
All he knew was that a few days ago, the assassins had set out to deal with the hunters and the head of the Seok Family.
Still, he couldn't very well say he had no idea where the assassins were.
"The Black Moon operatives are already in the village. They're biding their time, so please wait just a little longer."
"That's music to my ears. Very well, I'll wait."
As the presence on the other side of the wall receded, the old man rose from his spot and stepped out into the dark passage.
"Still no word at all?"
A young man bowed his head low and replied.
"This lowly one scoured the hills near where the hunters live, but found no traces whatsoever. What's more, it rained two days ago, so even if they left any tracks, they'd all be washed away by now."
"Even the weather's against us."
The old man stepped outside, suppressing his impatience as he walked.
'If the assassins have gone missing this time too, the master of Black Moon Gate will step in next...'
He'd heard the master of Black Moon Gate was very different from the other assassins.
Just rumors, but they'd say his kills were never botched.
He'd infiltrate the tightest security, finish the job, and slip out without the target even realizing an assassin had been there—even after death.
Plenty of martial experts in the world had fallen to him, but there was never solid proof or witnesses pinning it on him.
'The problem is those guys.'
Once could be chalked up to coincidence, but repeated coincidences become inevitability.
He should've realized the first time he saw that guy chopping wood that he was trained in martial arts.
Mistake to assume he was just some brute with raw strength.
No matter how strong, no ordinary guy could take on multiple assassins at once.
'If even the Black Moon Gate's sect leader vanishes there, the assassin sects will be in an uproar.'
The rice was gone again.
What should last others two months, that kid polished off in a mere twenty days.
With things like this, who could blame him for worrying?
Feeding that bottomless pit wasn't easy.
"Hey! Go buy some rice."
Gwang-u took the two nyang of silver and asked,
"Brother, no meat?"
"If there's no meat, just eat grass."
Gwang-u rolled his big eyes pitifully.
"We're not goats, brother. Let's have some meat."
"Buy rice with one nyang, and with the other, get whatever you want. But if you hit the brothel again, you'll eat my fist and die."
"C'mon, you think I'm stupid? Two nyang won't even get me a drink there."
Excited, Gwang-u bolted out the gate, shouting,
"I'll be right back, brother!"
Racing to the village, Gwang-u hit the butcher shop first.
"Uncle, slice up all the beef, pork, and lamb you've got."
The butcher grinned and replied,
"Back again? How much?"
Gwang-u held out one nyang of silver.
The butcher knew Gwang-u.
At first, that massive build scared him half to death, but the kid was as honest as they come—nothing like his looks.
The butcher hauled down a pig from the hook.
As he raised his knife to split it, he spotted someone approaching the shop and froze, trembling.
Gwang-u noticed the butcher's shock and turned.
Through the crowd, a familiar young man approached.
'Where do I know him from? Oh... the guy who took a punch to the gut from me and passed out.'
Gwang-u's temper flared; he clenched his fist.
He'd clearly warned the guy never to show his face again.
But the man's reaction was weird.
"Oh, brother! Fancy meeting you here. Come for meat?"
The man bowed deeply, greeting him warmly.
"What're you doing? I told you to stay out of my sight."
"Brother, please, just this once. One more hit from your fist, and this poor little brother drops dead right here."
The young man made such a pathetic show of dying that Gwang-u couldn't just lash out blindly.
As Gwang-u's expression softened a bit, the man sidled closer.
"To apologize for last time, I've got food and drinks ready. Come join me."
"Drinks, you say?"
Seeing Gwang-u perk up, the man laid it on thicker.
"And plenty of meat, too."
"Yeah? Well... alright, let's go."
As the young man led Gwang-u away, the butcher fretted deeply.
"Oh no... what are those bastards up to now? Should just beat 'em to death."
Puhahaha...
Gwang-u tore into the meat and chugged booze with glee.
Surrounded by black thugs toasting him, he was soon nicely buzzed.
"So, brother, you've been hunting in the mountains all this time, honing your martial arts?"
"Yeah, yeah. Thought I was gonna die from the grind."
"Then your brother must've trained too, right?"
Puhahaha...
With booze loosening his tongue, Gwang-u spilled everything.
"That brother of mine? Used to take beatings from me and live. I'd challenge him to spar, and he'd just run like hell."
"You're the man, brother. Have another."
Gwang-u gulped from the huge cup with gusto.
"Kugh... good stuff. I don't talk much, but you don't know the half of how tough it is living because of him. Possessed or something—can't even sleep right at night... Sometimes I just wanna smack him. The house we're in now? I stepped up and got it. Without me, we'd be sleeping in the streets. And he doesn't even appreciate it—just nags me every day."
Gwang-u lamented his lot after draining his cup.
The black crew, who'd been waiting for an opening, pounced on the chance.
"From where we're sitting, he doesn't even deserve to call you brother."
Puhaha...
"Right, right. You guys know how to judge people."
As Gwang-u chowed down, gleefully agreeing, Mu Tae's voice reached his ear.
"Brother Gwang-u. Why not join us instead? Meat and booze every day, women on tap."
The tantalizing offer made Gwang-u swallow his chew hard.
"Booze and meat every day? Women too?"
"Of course, brother."
Mu Tae stood, dropped to his knees, and bowed low.
"Take me as your little brother."
Mu Tae was at least ten years older.
But he claimed the junior role without hesitation.
As Mu Tae prostrated, the rest of the black thugs followed suit.
"Take us as your little brothers, brother!"
Caught off guard, Gwang-u hesitated.
He knew they weren't good folk, but they didn't seem totally rotten either.
But 'brotherhood' was another matter.
"I-I'll think about it."
Mu Tae sensed Gwang-u wavering.
"If you won't take us, we won't get up from here."
With things like that, Gwang-u caved.
"Fine. Whatever."
"Thank you, brother Gwang-u. From now on, you're like blood to me."
"Thanks, brother. I'll lay down my life for you."
The thugs rejoiced, but Gwang-u grew uneasy.
Mu Tae even teared up as he refilled Gwang-u's cup.
"Now we're sworn brothers. Here's a toast from your little brother. To brotherhood."
"Uh, uh... thanks, little brother."
"This place is your home now. Sleep here starting tonight. What're you lot doing? Get him new clothes."
The crew brought out prepped silk robes and fussed over dressing Gwang-u.
"Brother, arms out."
"Brother, fits like it was tailored. Perfect."
As Gwang-u sat in the silk, Mu Tae piled on the flattery.
"Dressed like that, brother, you look like the greatest hero under heaven."
Feeling off, Gwang-u brushed it aside.
"Thanks."
Judging the plan nearly sealed, Mu Tae drew his hidden dagger.
"Listen to this little brother, yeah? I'd throw my life away for brotherhood in a heartbeat. But the guy trying to be your big brother? He ain't fit. If you hang with us, he'll chew you out, and it'll eat at you. For your sake, best to clean up loose ends."
Gwang-u didn't quite follow.
But "clean up loose ends" stuck.
"Clean up loose ends? You mean... kill him?"
"Yes, brother. Harsh, but you gotta decide—for your own good. If it's too tough for you, we'll handle it."
Suddenly, the world spun before Gwang-u's eyes.
He saw his senior brother's fist looming, then a sword.
The fist hammered jaw, chest, gut without mercy; the sword lopped off his head.
It hurt. Hurt like hell.
Gwang-u's buzz snapped clear.
"So... you're telling me to kill my brother? That it?"
Mu Tae replied with conviction to the dazed Gwang-u.
"All for you, brother. Time to decide."
Slap! Crash!
Urk!
Mu Tae flew into the corner from Gwang-u's backhand.
"So that's it—you set this up to kill me too, you bastards."
The massive figure rose.
"I ate your food, so I won't say more. But don't let me see you again. Or I'll really kill you."
Stunned by the sudden turn, the thugs just gawked.
Gwang-u headed for the door.
Then Mu Tae scrambled up from the corner and charged Gwang-u's back, dagger in hand.
But Gwang-u sensed the killing intent closing fast and spun.
Crack!
Gwang-u seized Mu Tae's dagger wrist and twisted it outward.
Arrrgh!
Mu Tae's scream tore the air.
"Brother!"
The panicked thugs shouted for him, then rushed to grab weapons from the wall.
"This how you wanna play?"
Gwang-u's eyes blazed with murder.
He'd spared them for the food, but now backstabbing and swarming to kill.
They'd planned this from the start to off his brother.
Uncontrollable rage surged through him.
Crack!
Gwang-u snapped Mu Tae's neck and hurled him aside, then charged the black thugs.