Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Night in Soheung (3)
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“You’ve arrived?”
Wang Ho Chung, the one manipulating the Blood Guard Faction from the shadows after they crushed the Heart Harmony Society and seized control of Soheung’s night markets, bowed his head with extreme fear and reverence.
If Wang Ho Chung was acting this way, then Mak So Dong, the Blood Guard Faction’s leader prostrating flat on the ground with his forehead pressed to the floor, didn’t dare lift his head at all.
Ja Ryong glanced briefly at Mak So Dong’s servile form before asking Wang Ho Chung,
“Where is it?”
“I’ll guide you.”
Wang Ho Chung raised his head and hurried forward.
He led Ja Ryong’s group to the most secluded hall in the Blood Guard Faction’s compound.
Even before stepping inside, a thick incense scent wafted out. Ja Ryong, who particularly despised strong smells, furrowed his brow. But he didn’t make an issue of it.
Incense was burned to mourn the dead, but also to mask foul odors. Given the situation, it was likely the latter. The faint stench mixed into the incense proved it.
“What day is it today?”
Jeon Il Geuk, following behind, answered Ja Ryong’s question.
“Five days have passed, Boss.”
“Five days... The condition won’t be good.”
Considering the sweltering weather, five days meant decay would have set in considerably.
As the hall’s doors opened, an even thicker wave of incense assaulted their noses.
“Hm.”
A groan escaped Ja Ryong’s lips as he eyed the two large wooden coffins in the center.
“Open them.”
At Ja Ryong’s command, Wang Ho Chung and Mak So Dong lifted the lids. Instantly, a nauseating stench incomparable to before filled the hall.
Wang Ho Chung and Mak So Dong desperately fought back their rising bile, but Ja Ryong, Jeon Il Geuk, and the others merely frowned lightly.
“Let’s confirm... No.”
Shaking his head, Ja Ryong moved closer to inspect the corpses himself.
The two bodies showed signs of decay but were still recognizable.
“Hm.”
Another groan leaked from Ja Ryong’s mouth. But this one carried a completely different meaning. The previous had been regret over his cherished subordinates’ deaths; this was shock at the cause.
“It... It looks like they were taken out in one blow.”
Jeon Il Geuk, examining the bodies beside him, spoke with an incredulous expression.
“Yeah.”
Ja Ryong nodded and continued, his sharp gaze fixed on the wounds that had crushed Ma Jeong and Gong Neung’s chests.
“Their ribcages are shattered like dry twigs, and their hearts and lungs burst from the impact. That’s not just decay.”
With a heavy expression, Ja Ryong pointed to the two men’s hearts and lungs, now oozing like pus.
“Same cause of death for both. A single strike to the chest. But what’s most shocking is the terror on their faces.”
“Ah!”
An exclamation of astonishment burst from Jeon Il Geuk.
As shadows of Yeongho Family’s young master Yeongho Jangcheon, raised in the Hidden Dragon Squad, death was routine for them.
Countless comrades had died in training, and far more vanished in the shadows.
To the Hidden Dragon Squad, death wasn’t terror or fear—it was the injustice of weakness, of failing to overcome the foe. Exceptions existed, but most fallen comrades had felt that way.
Yet the expressions on Ma Jeong and Gong Neung’s faces were different. Extreme terror. Not of death, but of an opponent they couldn’t even touch.
“Was there an expert of this caliber in Soheung? And why did it end with these two? If connected to the Heart Harmony Society, it shouldn’t have stopped there.”
As Ja Ryong glanced at Wang Ho Chung and Mak So Dong, Jeon Il Geuk shook his head firmly.
“Soheung has some renowned, skilled fighters, but these were top Hidden Dragon Squad members. No one here could push them this far. I’d stake my life on it.”
“What do you think, then?”
Jeon Il Geuk hesitated, sighed, and shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Normally, he’d berate such a limp response, but Ja Ryong felt the same.
“Wang Ho Chung.”
Ja Ryong called to the fidgeting man.
“Yes.”
“Have you fully pacified Soheung’s night markets?”
Wang Ho Chung’s gaze flicked to Mak So Dong, who stepped forward and bowed.
“A few small fry are causing trouble, but we’ll crush them soon.”
“Don’t get cocky just because you’ve taken the night markets. As you see, an expert evaded our eyes. Until we confirm who—or what they are—avoid trouble and focus on solidifying your hold.”
“Understood.”
As Mak So Dong shouted and bowed, Ja Ryong eyed him skeptically before turning to Wang Ho Chung.
“We’ll hold a simple funeral here. Prepare it.”
“Yes, sir.”
With a casual wave, Ja Ryong dismissed Wang Ho Chung and Mak So Dong from the hall. He then spoke to Jeon Il Geuk.
“Check the surroundings discreetly. See if it’s just an accident or if someone’s plotting more.”
Noticing Ja Ryong’s grave expression, Jeon Il Geuk lowered his voice.
“Any leads?”
“Nothing specific, but something nags at me.”
“What?”
“Black Ox Squad.”
“Pardon?”
Jeon Il Geuk’s eyes widened in surprise.
“They’re hiding it well, but it seems they really were wiped out.”
“Heh heh heh! I had a feeling.”
Hidden Dragon Squad and Black Ox Squad were sworn enemies. A smile crept onto Jeon Il Geuk’s lips.
“The problem is they were annihilated here in Soheung. Not confirmed, but it seems likely.”
“Then the ones who crushed Black Ox Squad...”
“Yeah. Could be the same person—or force.”
Jeon Il Geuk’s face hardened. His instincts flashed a warning.
“Investigate carefully and discreetly. One slip, and you could all get hurt.”
At Ja Ryong’s warning, Jeon Il Geuk and the Hidden Dragon Squad members said nothing. They just stared grimly at their comrades’ mangled bodies in the coffins.
The battle that turned Soheung’s night markets upside down had erupted ten days ago.
The Blood Guard Faction had won, but people recalled the Heart Harmony Society’s long dominance and expected a massive counterattack.
However, with their deputy leader and most key figures dead in the Guanji Temple fight, and even their main base raided—killing the leader himself—the remnants could do nothing.
As the Bi Do Society’s pawns, the Blood Guard Faction used carrots and sticks to systematically subdue the remnants. They had two choices: submit or leave the night markets.
Most bowed to the Blood Guard Faction; some fled.
“You’re back?”
Cheol Woo, butchering meat, waved his bloodied knife at Sima Ho shuffling in listlessly.
“Yeah. Where’s Big Bro?”
Sima Ho glanced around. His broken arm still splinted, but his leg wound had nearly healed.
“At the slaughterhouse. Big order last night—busy as hell.”
“Big order?”
“Yeah. First real one since opening the butcher shop. Three cows, ten pigs. Huge, right?”
“Sure is.”
Sima Ho nodded, but his face showed no interest. Irked, Cheol Woo slammed his knife into the board.
“Still hung up on it?”
Sima Ho flinched and turned away.
“Damn. Anyone’d think you were the leader, not a grunt. Act like a grunt. Thrashing around won’t revive the crushed Heart Harmony Society.”
“Who’s thrashing?”
Sima Ho snapped back, but got only a snort.
“Then what? Why’re you moping like a whipped dog?”
“...”
“Wanna hear something fun? That order? From the Blood Guard Faction.”
Sima Ho whipped around.
Cheol Woo hurled a hunk of pig fat at his furious glare. Sima Ho dodged in surprise, but too late—it smacked his face.
“You dare glare at your brother?”
Cheol Woo glared. Sima Ho shrank, bowing his head.
“Sorry.”
His pathetic, drenched-puppy look deflated Cheol Woo’s anger into embarrassment.
“Sigh. I shouldn’t say it. As a grunt, shouldn’t you plot your own survival? What’s wrong? Too sentimental? Or righteous?”
Then—a sharp pain stabbed his side.
His diamond-indestructible body shrugged off blades, but this agony ripped a scream from him.
“Argh!”
Cheol Woo twisted in shock. Sima Jin stood there, glaring daggers, her delicate, jewel-like hand viciously twisting his side flesh.
Dying dramatically, Cheol Woo gasped,
“Little sis. Why... why?”
“Why pick on someone already down, Cheol Woo oppa?”
“What’d I do?”
“Can’t comfort, so don’t rub salt in wounds.”
“That was comfort. Think I’d salt him if he were fine?”
Cheol Woo deftly pried her hand off, rubbing his twisted flesh with a sigh.
“What hands so spicy? Diamond body neutralized like that. Anyway, our little sis is the best.”
He flashed a thumbs-up theatrically.
“Hopeless.”
Sima Jin smiled unwittingly, then turned to Sima Ho’s bitter expression.
“Still hurting? Over that Cheon guy?”
Sima Ho jumped at her question.
“How’d you...”
“How not to? You rambled nonsense every night.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. The one who helped you escape? Took a blade for it?”
Sima Ho nodded. Tears welled in his eyes.
Cheon Woo Hwang, who’d taken the blade for him, had treated Sima Ho like a little brother since joining the Heart Harmony Society—always looking out for him.
Sima Ho had favored him over his rival brother Sima Hyeon, like a real big bro. Losing him like that hit harder than imaginable.
“What can we do?”
The sudden voice drew all eyes back.
Sima Geon, back from slaughtering, shed his work clothes and asked again.
“Want revenge?”
“W-Well...”
Meeting Sima Geon’s eyes, Sima Ho mumbled. He wanted to scream yes, but something said no.
“If you want, I’ll do it.”
Cheol Woo was most shocked by Sima Geon’s words.
“For real?”
He stared blankly. Sima Geon ignored the reactions, fixing on Sima Ho.
“If you want revenge, I’ll make it happen. Do you?”
“I-I...”
Sima Ho hesitated, then shook his head.
He knew his brothers and Cheol Woo had been mercenaries. They downplayed it, but he didn’t buy the “peaceful” line.
Heart Harmony had ex-mercs too. They said no easy merc life—survivors were rare. They’d endured unimaginable trials.
When Little Bro was kidnapped, they’d mobilized friends to hit bandits—revenge might be possible.
‘But...’
Sima Ho recalled the Bi Do Society’s brutal dismantling of the Heart Harmony Society at Guanji Temple, gritting his teeth.
Plus, Bi Do had slaughtered the leader and his elite guards—two men did it. Rumors said mutual destruction, but who knew how many more experts they had?
He couldn’t drag his hard-returned brothers back into bloodshed.
“No. It’s done.”
Sima Ho shook his head.
Sima Jin exhaled in relief; Cheol Woo sighed differently.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, then.”
Sima Geon smiled softly, patting Sima Ho’s shoulder.
“What’s this vibe?”
Sima Hyeon, back from delivering processed meat to the Blood Guard Faction, flinched at the heavy mood.
“Delivery go well?”
Cheol Woo asked.
“Smooth. More to take. But what’s up?”
Sima Hyeon squirmed in the gloom.
“Nothing. Little Bro was down, so we comforted him. He’s good now.”
Sima Jin forced cheer.
“Oh, right! Sima Ho!”
Sima Hyeon bellowed suddenly. All stared, startled.
Sima Jin yanked his sleeve, fearing he’d upset Sima Ho again.
“Ugh, you idiot! You’re driving me nuts.”
Sima Hyeon pounded his chest in frustration.
“Hey! Why you too?”
Even Cheol Woo tried stopping him.
“Shut it! Look who’s here.”
Sima Ho followed Sima Hyeon’s pointing hand.
A man entered the butcher shop, backlit by sun—shadow familiar.
“Heard you were hurt—worried sick. Looking fine, though.”
The man’s bright smile and wave made Sima Ho’s eyes bulge impossibly.
“H-Hyung? Why’re you here?”
“Argh!”
Sima Hyeon could hold back no longer, smacking Sima Ho’s head.
“All that fuss over a healthy guy. Worried sick what you’d do—ugh!”
Sima Hyeon’s fist trembled.
“Hold on.”
Cheol Woo wedged between them, awkward smile pointing to the newcomer.
“So this is the Cheon whatever guy?”
“Yeah. Idiot moped without knowing.”
“Ha! Haha!”
Cheol Woo’s laugh deflated.
Meeting Cheol Woo’s turning gaze, Sima Ho paled and backed away fearfully. But murderous intent halted him after steps.
“Idiot!”
Sima Jin roared, charging like a beast.
Her ferocity even stopped Cheol Woo.