Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Price of Clothes
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The night deepens.
The lanterns that once brightly lit the alleyways have been extinguished, and the shops have closed their doors.
The path back was filled with nothing but darkness, with no need to tell anyone to step aside.
“Agh! I'm so pissed!”
Neung Un-bi, who had been pretending to stagger and leaning on Ju Seung for support until they were a good distance from the tavern, snapped and shook off his hand.
The second one, Yeo Jin-gang.
He had only existed in memory; this was the first time seeing him in person.
When he awoke in Neung Un-bi's body, Yeo Jin-gang had already left the main estate under the pretext of an inspection to consolidate his power.
His intuition had been right.
Unlike the favorable memories Neung Un-bi held, the man was hiding dozens of snakes... no, he was just a snake himself.
Behind his smiling face, he hid his dark intentions, constantly testing the waters.
Anyway, this is why I hate smart-asses. There's no sincerity in their words.
But I held back well. If I'd had my way, I would have smashed his face in...
Just thinking about him made me angry all over again.
Dammit, and there was still half a bottle of Heavenly Mountain Snow Wine left.
Still, the silver lining was that since we left early, he was going to get stuck with our tab as well.
A small form of revenge, I suppose?
Since I can't reveal my true self, that's enough for now.
Well, it's not like it would be a huge loss for a rich young master.
But what do I do now?
The strange glint in his eyes as he tried to read my intentions was still vivid.
His suspicions toward me would undoubtedly deepen.
“Haa, a really annoying guy has latched onto me.”
Just as he was grumbling to himself, yet vowing to be more careful from now on,
“Um, my lord?”
“What!”
Neung Un-bi replied irritably to Wang Cheon's voice.
He was suddenly furious because the rumors Wang Cheon had spread must have played a part in Yeo Jin-gang's suspicions.
“...I need to piss.”
“…”
“It's urgent...”
*Haa, really, at a time like this.*
Neung Un-bi sighed deeply and waved his hand dismissively.
What could he do?
The man was squirming, clutching his groin with both hands.
“Then! I'll take care of it quickly and follow you!”
“…”
As soon as he got permission, Wang Cheon turned back the way they came and disappeared into an alley.
I couldn't tell if he thought it was rude to do it in front of his lord, or if the Guard Captain's pride was at stake, having to pee in front of the men.
*Hmph, whatever.*
Neung Un-bi turned his head sharply and strode away.
“Ju Seung.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Do you know any other place besides that one from before?”
“Shall I escort you there?”
“No, send a few of the men to buy some. Get some snacks too. I'll just drink at Sakwol Pavilion.”
“Understood.”
“Ah! And on your way, get a ball.”
“…A ball?”
“I made a promise, remember? Bring it to them tomorrow morning. And apologize politely.”
“Ah! Understood. I will see to it immediately.”
“Aish, really.”
Neung Un-bi headed for the inner city where Sakwol Pavilion was located, and Ju Seung ordered a few guards to carry out his commands.
* * *
*Swoosh.*
Night, shrouded in darkness.
Five martial artists ran through the alley like the wind, their footsteps silenced.
Chu Seong-gyun and the warriors under his command. They
were now secretly tailing Neung Un-bi on Yeo Jin-gang's orders.
It wasn't a particularly difficult mission.
There was only one path from the tavern to the inner city. It was laughable to even call it tracking. They just had to follow from a distance and check his condition.
However.
“Oh? And who might this be? I was just on my way back to the tavern, since I had something to say.”
“...!”
The voice from the alley entrance brought Chu Seong-gyun and his subordinates to a dead stop.
There was no need to ask who it was.
The voice was all too familiar.
“Wang Cheon.”
“Yeah, it's me.”
“…”
“So, were you following us?”
As he asked in a swaggering tone, Chu Seong-gyun's expression stiffened slightly.
“Second Young Master's orders, right?”
“…”
“It's fine, man. You don't have to answer. But I'm a little disappointed. I thought the Second Young Master was different, you know?”
Wang Cheon shook his head and laughed. It was a hollow laugh, thick with disappointment.
“Well, I guess it can't be helped. We were bound to be rivals in the end.”
“…”
“I just hoped it wouldn't come to this. If even the Second Young Master, who has been friendly until now, turns his back on him... our lord will be too lonely. He already has nowhere to turn, with everyone in the Cult against him except for the Snow Mountain Manor...”
The bitterness in Wang Cheon's voice blended perfectly with the surrounding darkness.
“What are you trying to say, Wang Cheon?”
“What do you mean? It is what it is. Just think of it as me venting my disappointment.”
“…”
Seeing Wang Cheon wave his hands dismissively, Chu Seong-gyun glanced toward the alley leading to the inner city.
The mission from Yeo Jin-gang.
If Neung Un-bi entered the inner city, it would be difficult to complete.
So, he had to confirm it before then.
“Step aside, Wang Cheon.”
“Why should I?”
“We are... carrying out our lord's orders.”
“Who said you weren't?”
“We don't intend to harm the Third Young Master.”
“Pfft! You think you have the skills?”
“…”
Angered by Wang Cheon's blatant mockery, Chu Seong-gyun could only scowl, unable to retort.
There was Wang Cheon, but there was also Ju Seung, the other warrior protecting Neung Un-bi.
He was affiliated with the Snow Mountain Manor's Black Panther Division, and because he'd been fighting invaders in the northern lands, his reputation wasn't widely known.
But anyone who had tried to win over the Snow Mountain Manor would have heard his name.
The strongest warrior among those of the Panther Division.
As long as he stood guard, there weren't many who could harm Neung Un-bi.
The moment they approached with killing intent, they would be cut down.
“We have no intention of harming him or fighting.”
“Then why are you following him?”
“That's…”
Chu Seong-gyun hesitated to answer Wang Cheon's question, who asked with his head tilted.
“Well, it doesn't matter. I have no intention of letting you guys go right now.”
“Are you saying... you intend to interfere with the Second Young Master's orders?”
“Nope.”
“What?”
“I'm just here to hold someone accountable.”
“…Accountable?”
“Yup.”
Wang Cheon nodded kindly, interlaced his fingers, and cracked his knuckles.
Perhaps because of the silent night, the sound was especially clear.
“Frankly, whatever the Second Young Master says or plots is none of my business. But you're a different story, aren't you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ha, playing dumb now?”
“…”
“But what can you do? I saw it.”
“Wh-what are you talking about? What did you see?”
“Hey, we all know what's going on. Why are you acting like this?”
“…”
“I'm talking about the Six Seizing Hands you tried to use when you reached out to support our lord as he staggered at the tavern.”
“...!”
“That's not right. A son of a bitch who's just a guard trying to bite our lord.”
“B-bite? Who?”
“What do you mean? If our lord hadn't stopped me back then, you'd be dead.”
“I was just trying to support the Third Young Master.”
“Ah, so you were trying to catch him safely with a grappling art in case he fell? Is that the bullshit you're spouting?”
“…”
“But you know, how am I supposed to know if you were trying to support him or injure him?”
As the playfulness in Wang Cheon's eyes instantly cooled, Chu Seong-gyun couldn't hide his bewilderment.
“W-Wang Cheon! Stop. Are you trying to start a war?”
“This guy, this guy. You've started talking strange since I last saw you. Didn't you hear me before? I said I was holding someone accountable. You, the bastard who tried to harm my lord.”
“…”
“And did you think I'd get scared if you threatened war?”
A strange smile on his face, Wang Cheon's eyes gleamed white.
“Maybe in the past, but now that our Snow Mountain Manor has decided to help, we have nothing to lose. Why would I be scared? Right?”
“…”
“So get over here. It seemed like our lord didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so I'll just teach you how you should treat him from now on and be on my way.”
*Step.*
The moment Wang Cheon took a step forward.
*Chaaang!*
Reacting to Wang Cheon's killing intent, the Second Young Master's guards with Chu Seong-gyun all drew their swords at once.
“Huh? What's this all about?”
“Stand back!”
“…”
Four of them in total.
Wang Cheon grinned at them as they stood with their swords pointed at him.
“Ah, are they new? Do they not know who I am? Seong-gyun, didn't you tell your boys about me?”
“Th-this is a mistake! So, let's stop here and back off, Wang Cheon! You guys, put your swords away! Now!”
Chu Seong-gyun tried to de-escalate the situation in a panic.
Wang Cheon, the First Young Master of the Snow Mountain Manor. Even though they were both guards, his lineage was different from his own.
Besides, where would the blood of the belligerent So Seol-ok-su, who was aggressive enough to grab the Cult Leader by the collar, have gone?
There was a time when they had trained together as guards under the Great Protector.
Back then, Wang Cheon was... a mad leopard, no, a mad dog.
And now, that dog's eyes had gone completely wild.
“Seong-gyun, how is this a mistake? Once swords are drawn, it's over.”
Wang Cheon smiled and took a second step.
*Step.*
In the moonlight, a white frost could be clearly seen forming where Wang Cheon's foot had landed.
*Crack, crackle.*
Soon, the chill from his footprint spread in all directions.
An unseasonable winter had come to the dark alley.
Believing the situation was now irreversible, Chu Seong-gyun's face contorted as he shouted.
“Dammit, attack!”
With his shout, hazy white trajectories and the glint of swords mingled, filling the alley.
*Thwack! Crack! Splat!*
The domain of the Demonic Cult.
A place where fights broke out almost daily. The sounds of impact filling the alley were just another part of the usual noise.
*Crrrack!*
The sound of teeth being forcibly broken.
“Kuaaaargh!”
The horrifying screams didn't attract anyone's attention.
And in the now-quiet alley stood Wang Cheon, his clothes torn to shreds like rags from a sword graze, and before him, five martial artists groaning on the ground.
“Haa, and this was my favorite outfit...”
Muttering with a regretful expression, Wang Cheon approached Chu Seong-gyun, who was leaning against a wall, breathing heavily.
“...Seong-gyun.”
“You bastard, after doing this...”
“If you feel wronged, go tattle. I've got plenty to say myself.”
“…”
Wang Cheon was right.
No matter what anyone said, it was a fact that Chu Seong-gyun had used a grappling art on Neung Un-bi.
He had even tailed him in secret. Wang Cheon had simply held him accountable, just as he'd said.
Furthermore, there would be no repercussions.
It was unlikely that Hyesimjeong, the faction he belonged to, would start a war with the Snow Mountain Manor just because a guard captain and a few guards were injured.
Of course, Yeo Jin-gang, who gave the order, wouldn't take responsibility either.
It would simply be written off as his own rash action, born from excessive loyalty to his master.
As Chu Seong-gyun frowned and hung his head low,
*Grab.*
Wang Cheon, crouching in front of him, seized his arm.
“Why...?”
But the answer was already written on his face.
The mad dog's eyes hadn't returned to normal yet.
And Wang Cheon smiled and uttered just one sentence.
“I'll be taking payment for my clothes.”
*Crrrrunch!*
“Kuaaaaaargh!”
His arm was twisted, and Chu Seong-gyun's agonized scream once again filled the alley.
Of course, it was just another ordinary day in the Demonic Cult.
* * *
“Hey, you said you were going to take a piss. What took you so long?”
“Ah, well...”
Neung Un-bi grumbled at the just-returned Wang Cheon.
“Huh? And why'd you change your clothes?”
“Ah, well...”
They were torn by a sword, so he had no choice.
But he didn't feel the need to say it.
He felt like it would make him sad. He might already know, but he didn't want to say that even the Second Young Master had turned his back on him.
“What's with all the 'well...'? Did you...?”
“…”
Neung Un-bi squinted and looked at Wang Cheon.
“Did you piss yourself?”
“...Excuse me?”
“You did. You pissed yourself. You looked like you were in a hurry... So clumsy.”
Seeing Neung Un-bi shake his head, Wang Cheon let out a small laugh.
“My goodness, I was too embarrassed to say anything, and you just had to call me out on it. By the way, when did you get more wine?”
“I had Ju Seung get it.”
“Ah! Then pour me a cup, too.”
Wang Cheon smiled brightly, approached the lively drinking party, grabbed a cup, and held it out.
At that, Neung Un-bi flinched and backed away.
“Get away. You probably got some on your hands, right? Gross.”
“...I washed them, you know.”
“Still, get away.”
Neung Un-bi moved farther and farther away.
“Haa, really... you're impossible. Ju Seung, you at least...”
Sighing deeply at the mischievous Neung Un-bi, Wang Cheon held his cup out toward Ju Seung.
…He also moved away.