Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Fixer (2)
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'This can't be happening!'
In the midst of being pushed back in such an unsightly manner, he unleashed his sure-kill strike.
It was the Nine Lives Severing Strike, which had felled countless foes up to now.
Only when the sword energy shot forth like a beam of light and grazed Cheol Woo's nape could he finally breathe easy.
He figured it would at least land a fatal wound, even if not outright death. Yet the attack that had pierced through even his protective aura yielded nothing more than a minor scratch and a few drops of blood.
"It's been a while."
Cheol Woo scooped up a droplet of blood from the wound with his finger, brought it to his mouth, spat out the crimson saliva with a splat, and grinned.
The Nangong Clan warriors, watching on bated breath, shuddered uncontrollably at the murderous intent laced into his smile.
"Protect the Elder!"
At Nangong Hwang's shout, the Nangong Clan warriors snapped into action as if their earlier terror had been an illusion.
Cheol Woo looked at the Nangong Clan warriors encircling him and smirked derisively.
"The weak ones always try to overwhelm with numbers. But you need to learn that it doesn't work on everyone."
Just as Cheol Woo bared his teeth in a feral grin and moved to strike, Nangong Gyeong—who had already regained his composure—shouted toward Nangong Hwang's back.
"Fall back. It's not over yet."
"But..."
"Are you trying to tarnish the Nangong Clan's honor? Withdraw at once."
At Nangong Gyeong's stern command, the Nangong Clan warriors let their swords droop limply. Only then did Nangong Gyeong relax his fierce gaze and level his sword at Cheol Woo.
"You've got quite the sturdy frame there."
Nangong Gyeong smiled softly as he drew up his aura. It was the look of a man acknowledging his foe and steeling his resolve—though to Cheol Woo, it just seemed like bravado, twisting his lips into a sneer.
"What bullshit."
With that dismissive spit, Cheol Woo snorted hot breath and lunged forward.
"Hold on."
Sima Geon kicked the limp body of No Geuk between Cheol Woo and Nangong Gyeong as he approached.
"Huh? Boss?"
Cheol Woo's eyes widened at Sima Geon drawing near.
Sima Geon's face had changed completely in the interim.
His cheekbones protruded sharply, and a long scar ran from under his left eye down to his jaw. It was enough to make him look like an entirely different person.
"Your face..."
Sima Geon reached out and clamped a hand over Cheol Woo's mouth, then eyed the vigilant Nangong Clan warriors.
"Are you from the Nangong Clan?"
His polite and courteous demeanor left Nangong Gyeong puzzled, but he nodded.
"Indeed. I am Nangong Gyeong."
"I see. My apologies for not recognizing you."
As Sima Geon gave a slight bow, Nangong Gyeong's expression shifted oddly.
He wasn't one for overconfidence, but the name Nangong Gyeong carried weight in the martial world.
Not just because of the Nangong Clan backing, but he'd built a solid reputation with his skills since youth. Anyone with ties to the jianghu would know it, barring the utterly obscure.
Yet this man seemed utterly clueless about him—not mocking, but genuinely ignorant.
"Forgive me, but may I ask why the Nangong Clan has come here?"
Sima Geon inquired with utmost courtesy.
Nangong Gyeong glanced at No Geuk, who was still twitching faintly with life.
"Is that man the Bandit Chief of the Golden Fox Bandit Lair?"
"Yes."
"As expected. This puts us in a bit of a pickle. Recently, he attacked the Yeonhwa Escort Agency, injuring people and stealing goods. Afterward, he extorted hefty ransoms from the captives and their belongings. It's par for the course between bandits and escort agencies, but this time it went too far. Moreover, the head of the Yeonhwa Escort Agency shares deep ties with our main house. We came to hold him accountable, only to learn another escort agency had fallen to him en route. That agency was..."
Nangong Gyeong turned his head, and Nangong Hwang quickly replied.
"The Juhae Escort Agency."
"Right. The Juhae Escort Agency."
Nangong Gyeong nodded and continued.
"We came for vengeance on behalf of the Yeonhwa Escort Agency and to rescue the Juhae Escort Agency's families. But who might you be? Why have you come here?"
To Nangong Gyeong's counterquestion, Sima Geon replied with a slightly troubled look.
"We came here targeting him as well. Not personal grudges, but we've received... numerous requests from various places."
Sima Geon quickly rephrased, but Nangong Gyeong latched onto the word "requests."
'Requests mean someone hired them to kill him. Assassins? But they're too crude for that. Contract fixers, maybe? For men of that caliber to play fixer... Hmm, intriguing.'
As Nangong Gyeong furrowed his brow at the fidgeting Cheol Woo, Sima Geon pressed his foot down on No Geuk's throat.
"Not just the escort agencies—the man's villainy ran deep, it seems. So many came begging us to handle it."
As pressure built underfoot, the life faded rapidly from No Geuk's bulging eyes.
"Stop."
Nangong Gyeong urgently cried out—he still needed to confirm the captives' whereabouts—but Sima Geon ignored him and bore down harder.
"Begging us to make him pay for his crimes. With his life."
Crack!
With a gruesome snap, No Geuk's neck broke clean.
Death brought peace to No Geuk's face.
The torment he'd endured since falling to Sima Geon—and up until Nangong Gyeong's arrival, though brief—defied imagination. Death was the sole mercy releasing him from it.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Nangong Gyeong bellowed in fury.
"Just collecting on his debts."
Nangong Gyeong looked exasperated at Sima Geon's cool retort.
"Who doesn't know that? But we needed to confirm the whereabouts of the captives he took. It looks like you've wiped out every bandit here."
"Ah, no worries on that front. He begged for his life and spilled the secret spot where he stashed the loot. And when he prattled on about captives, it sounded like the ones you're looking for, senior."
It was a lie. When Sima Geon had previously razed the Golden Fox Bandit Lair, he'd already uncovered their hidden chambers.
"Ah! Is that so?"
Nangong Gyeong let out a relieved sigh, masking his growing embarrassment as he asked,
"Where is it?"
"See that big tree next to the collapsed building over there?"
"I do."
"He said there's an underground chamber behind it. Go check."
No sooner had he spoken than the Nangong Clan disciples rushed to the spot he indicated.
Moments later, excited voices rang out.
"It's here! A hidden chamber!"
Cheers followed.
"The captives are here too!"
At the news of the captives, not only Nangong Gyeong but even Nangong Hwang, who'd been tensely braced for worsening odds, saw his rigid expression soften.
"You were right. My thanks."
Nangong Gyeong offered sincere gratitude.
"No need. We merely handled what we were asked to do. And with the Nangong Clan stepping in, they'd have been safe regardless."
A smile tugged at Nangong Gyeong's lips at Sima Geon's refined manner.
"In any case, we'll take our leave."
"Shouldn't you at least see the people you saved?"
"We didn't come here intending to do that, so no need. Just a happy coincidence. Farewell."
Sima Geon gave a light bow and turned away. Cheol Woo, standing by with a sour face, dipped his head curtly and followed.
Nangong Hwang seethed at Cheol Woo's rudeness but held his tongue.
"What kind of people were they?"
"No idea. Never heard of anyone like that in the jianghu."
"They mentioned requests, so probably fixers..."
As Nangong Hwang trailed off, Nangong Gyeong chuckled.
"Too masterful in their arts for mere fixers."
"Yes. I was stunned seeing that brute shrug off your single stroke, Granduncle."
"I felt the same. He's likely achieved Vajra Indestructibility or maximized his external arts to that level. A pity we couldn't see it through to the end."
He paused, staring wistfully in the direction Sima Geon and Cheol Woo had vanished, then murmured as he clenched his fist.
"Though my odds weren't great."
"Why'd you do it, Boss?"
"Do what?"
"Change your face like that. Gave me a real scare."
Cheol Woo jabbed at the protruding cheekbone. Only then did Sima Geon realize he was still altered, lightly stroking his face. The jutting cheekbone and the scar beneath his eye vanished without a trace.
"Too much hassle otherwise."
Cheol Woo blinked in confusion, and Sima Geon explained with a sigh.
"We won't cross paths with them again, but you never know with people. Better safe than sorry. Imagine word spreading that a couple of backwater butchers wiped out the Golden Fox Bandit Lair and tangled with a Nangong Clan master. What then?"
"Yeah, sounds like a headache."
Cheol Woo nodded readily.
"More than a headache. And if our past deeds came out in the process?"
At "past deeds," Cheol Woo halted.
"The world's full of fools who freak at demon path mentions. No telling what trouble it'd stir—dragging us into needless messes, maybe even endangering the kids. So I changed just in case."
"What about me? Changing solo won't help much."
"No choice. Would've been great if I could include you, but it was too late. Just lowering the odds a bit."
"Heh heh! Still, for a rush job, it was pretty convincing."
"Yeah. Who knew the half-baked Bone Shrinking Technique from Black Dragon Valley would come in handy like this."
Sima Geon chuckled, facing Cheol Woo, then abruptly shifted topics.
"By the way, that old timer you tangled with."
"Nangong Gyeong or whatever?"
"Yeah. What do you make of his skills?"
"Strong, yeah. Way above those bandit geezers. That nape strike honestly surprised me."
Cheol Woo unconsciously rubbed his neck as he continued.
"Still, if we'd kept going, I'd have won."
"Obviously, but it wouldn't have been easy. Could've gotten dicey."
Cheol Woo looked shocked at Sima Geon's words.
"That serious?"
"Yeah. If my gut's right. He clocked your indestructible body and was surprised, but no fear in his eyes. Pure confidence, even. Felt like staring down the One-Handed Ghost Hound."
"One-Handed Ghost Hound? Damn that unlucky bastard!"
Cheol Woo gnashed his teeth.
The One-Handed Ghost Hound was the toughest mark among the many Cheol Woo had dropped.
He'd toppled stronger experts, but the Ghost Hound was a master of Internal Heavy Hand arts—a natural counter to external art practitioners. After a grueling fight, Cheol Woo had barely ended him, but not without grave injuries requiring months of recovery from those heavy hands.
"You know the Internal Heavy Hand isn't just for show."
"No Retreat Master said as much."
"If my instincts hold, that Nangong elder knew it too. And from a master like him..."
"I get it. No walking away unscathed."
Cheol Woo's face grew heavy.
"So quit charging in blindly. Tough body's great, but caution's key against real threats."
"Heh heh! Tough sell, Boss. Dodging and weaving ain't my style. Whether they shatter or I do—smashing head-on, that's a real fight. You know that."
"Sigh. Fine, whatever."
Sima Geon waved irritably.
Conversations like this weren't new.
Since the One-Handed Ghost Hound bout, he'd warned Cheol Woo whenever possible. Yet Cheol Woo never listened. Nor would he in the future.