Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Turning Point (1)
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After a bloody power struggle, Neung Cheong Kang, who had ascended to the position of overall chief of the Eighteen Green Forest Bandit Strongholds, sank deeply into a massive chair draped in tiger skin.
Unlike his half-white hair, his bronze face was free of wrinkles, making it hard to guess his age. His firmly pressed lips, angular jaw, and the web of scars crisscrossing his face laid bare the life he had lived. His artificial eye, embedded with black obsidian, was particularly eerie in a strange way.
"Haa!"
Neung Cheong Kang let out a deep sigh and spoke listlessly.
"Handle it that way."
"Will that be alright?"
Bi Jo Hall Leader Go Eung asked cautiously.
"What if it's not? I'd love to chop off those bastards' heads myself, but that's impossible right now. Not when we haven't even fully sorted out our internal affairs. Damn it! What a disgrace, losing to those fish-stinking river rats."
Neung Cheong Kang was seething over how he'd been pushed back in a territorial dispute with the Yangtze Waterway Alliance right after becoming the overall chief.
But there was nothing to be done. The current alliance leader of the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, Cloud Mountain Light Dragon Yu Ak, had complete control over the Yangtze's water bandits for over thirty years now. In contrast, Neung Cheong Kang had only recently taken the throne. With bandit strongholds still raising flags of rebellion, it was only natural to lose ground against the alliance.
Neung Cheong Kang abruptly straightened up and gulped down liquor to cool his anger.
"Yes, Father."
The door opened, and Neung Ja Jin entered.
"What is it?"
Neung Cheong Kang, who had been trying to drown his humiliation in drink, shouted irritably.
Neung Ja Jin, stepping inside, spoke politely.
"We received word from the Haomen."
"From the Haomen? What do they want?"
"They sent their investigation results."
Neung Ja Jin handed over a letter.
"Investigation?"
Neung Cheong Kang took the letter, puzzled.
"Have you forgotten about your uncle and the youngest?"
In an instant, Neung Cheong Kang's irritated expression changed.
"Right. I got sidetracked by those river rats."
Neung Cheong Kang began reading the letter with murderous eyes. The content was extensive, so it took a while.
He crumpled the letter irritably and turned his head.
"Did you read it?"
"Yes."
"What do you think?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure."
It was less "not sure" and more "hard to believe."
Neung Cheong Kang didn't get angry at Neung Ja Jin's words. He felt the same way.
"Bi Jo Hall Leader."
"Yes, Overall Chief."
"Earlier, you mentioned suspecting those butcher shop bastards of killing the youngest. Remember?"
"Yes. I remember."
"You also said they probably weren't the culprits in the end. Though we never found the real ones."
"That's... correct."
Go Eung answered, watching Neung Cheong Kang's eyes.
"Read it."
Neung Cheong Kang tossed the crumpled letter.
Go Eung caught it before it hit the ground and hurriedly scanned it. As time passed, his hardened face paled, and his eyes shook violently.
"The Haomen says there's over an eighty percent chance those bastards are the culprits. What do you think?"
"Th-that..."
Go Eung couldn't continue.
He read the letter multiple times, but the Haomen's investigation was so logical and meticulous that he had to concede. He was even impressed that they'd approached Namgung Clan warriors and obtained information unknown to the world.
"I'm not blaming you, so no need to panic. Even if you'd pegged them as the killers, I wouldn't have believed it. It doesn't make sense that the ones who slaughtered our elders—and the youngest, for that matter—would be running a butcher shop."
"So you believe it now?"
Neung Ja Jin asked.
"Hard to believe, but I can't not believe it."
Neung Cheong Kang quietly recited the key points from the letter.
"Toppled the Golden Fox Bandit Lair, matched the Namgung Clan's proud Dark Heaven High Sword evenly, casually butchered our Green Forest elders, won the Hahu Clan's martial tournament, and even forged ties with the Sword Freak? And those guys are just running a butcher shop? Insane."
"They said the appearances were slightly different each time. Could it not be them?"
Neung Cheong Kang scoffed at Neung Ja Jin's words.
"You read it too, didn't you? Even so, the Haomen concluded it's the same guys. Eighty percent means it's almost certain. Faces can be altered easily, but changing your whole build? They noted a common point in their investigation: one guy with an unusually massive frame."
"So what will you do now?"
A chilling killing intent poured from Neung Cheong Kang's eyes.
"Pay them back in kind."
"If the letter's true, they're tied to the Hahu Clan. And lately, the Sword Freak himself is guarding the butcher shop."
"Exactly. Unless he's lost his mind."
Neung Cheong Kang shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't fathom how a world-renowned figure could be guarding a butcher shop.
"More importantly, their skills are beyond imagination. They fought evenly with the Dark Heaven High Sword, no less. The Namgung Clan are famous for their pride—no exaggeration there. Means we'll have to brace for massive sacrifices to take them down."
"Mm."
A low groan escaped Neung Cheong Kang's lips.
He'd claimed the overall chief's seat, but he hadn't fully unified the Green Forest yet. Choosing revenge in such a situation, with unpredictable costs, wasn't easy.
"How about this?"
Go Eung ventured cautiously.
"Speak."
"That Sima Geon bastard has a sick sister."
"And?"
"We use her."
Neung Cheong Kang frowned, not grasping it immediately.
"Details."
"Her condition is Heavenly Yin Divine Meridian—first I've heard of it, but it's similar to the famous Nine Yin Severed Meridians. The Haomen couldn't confirm a full cure, but there's improvement."
"Get to the point."
Neung Ja Jin subtly urged, noting Neung Cheong Kang's darkening face.
"Y-yes, sir."
Go Eung wiped cold sweat and continued hastily.
"I don't know the details of Heavenly Yin whatever, but everyone knows a woman born with Nine Yin Severed Meridians is heaven's curse—and a treasure everyone covets."
"The point!"
Neung Cheong Kang finally bellowed.
"There's this group called Hong Ik House."
Go Eung raised his voice.
"Hong Ik House?"
"Yes. One of the slave-trading outfits."
"Ah, I've heard of them. Splinters from the Yangtze Waterway Alliance, right? So?"
"They hunt anyone profitable, no holds barred. Ruthless and tenacious, with top-notch skills. What if we spread rumors of a Nine Yin girl to them? Especially if she's 'cured' and guarded by mere butcher shop trash."
"They'd go berserk."
Neung Cheong Kang immediately understood and nodded, then frowned again.
"Even if they've left the shop, with the Sword Freak there? And over one girl? Hmph! That won't satisfy them."
"Everyone knows the Yangtze Waterway Alliance backs Hong Ik House, even if on the surface they're separate."
"True. Their house leader is Cloud Mountain Light Dragon's—that mad old man's—brother."
"If it works, we could drag the alliance into it with them."
Neung Cheong Kang's eyes lit up at dragging in the Yangtze Waterway Alliance.
"Turn the blade of a man who lost his sister toward the alliance?"
"Exactly."
"Not bad. Better than I thought."
A satisfied smile crept onto Neung Cheong Kang's lips. He issued the order cheerfully.
"Draw up a proper plan."
"Ugh! I'm beat."
Cheol Woo stretched as he came down the stairs, yawning nonstop. The diners startled by his massive frame stepped back.
"You sleep that much and still tired?"
Sima Geon scolded with a displeased face.
"Dunno. Not spring fatigue, but something's off."
Cheol Woo sat on a chair, eyes half-closed, looking around.
"Why so many people this early?"
"Early? The sun's high noon."
"No way, already?"
Cheol Woo craned his neck to peer outside, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"When'd the boss come down?"
"Just now."
"Eaten?"
"Something light."
"This veggie slop for breakfast? Hey!"
Cheol Woo grimaced at the oil-fried vegetable side dishes and called the busy waiter.
"Not this. Meat."
"Quick options are mutton, pork, or chicken stir-fry. If you give a bit more time..."
"Whatever. What's good?"
"Tastes vary, but guests often order the mutton stir-fry."
"That, rice, and booze..."
Cheol Woo glanced at Sima Geon, about to hold up three fingers, then slyly dropped to two.
"One bottle. Got it. What kind of booze?"
"Popular stuff."
"Right away."
The waiter vanished like the wind. Cheol Woo exhaled.
"That kid's sharp. Young, but quick and perceptive."
"Isn't he? Unlike some dimwit with zero tact."
"That again? You're milking it too long. And I wasn't tactless—that girl was sly. Who wouldn't fall for that rush?"
As Sima Geon pointed at him, Cheol Woo snorted.
"Let's settle this for real. I just reacted fast. Even the boss fell for it."
Cheol Woo fumed, but Sima Geon sipped tea, ignoring him.
"Argh, seriously!"
Cheol Woo pounded his chest in frustration.
Apart from Blue Orchid Commander's cunning, his own mistake exposing them irked him most.
Sima Geon, who'd been chuckling at teasing him, turned at the nearby commotion.
The rowdy merchants, finishing meals, packed up and left.
Once they were gone, Sima Geon leaned in.
"Seems that cunning lady's stirring things up properly."
"Stirring? What?"
Cheol Woo asked indifferently.
"Overheard the merchants: chaos in the capital. Blood winds blowing daily."
"In the capital? Makes sense—after that mess, sitting idle would be stupid. I'd wipe 'em all out too."
"Hence the peak confusion."
"What's confusing? With the emperor backing them, what's to fear?"
"Doesn't seem that simple."
"Huh?"
Cheol Woo frowned, confused.
"Politics needs justification, they say. Even with imperial backing, no justification means can't just purge freely."
"No justification? They tried killing Il Hwang Suk. Witnesses galore."
"All dead."
"What? Bullshit."
"Escorted witnesses all died. The ambush is fact, so Il Hwang Suk's side used it to cull some foes, but couldn't touch the core."
"Ha! Bullshit harvest. Obvious situation, but justification freezes over!"
Cheol Woo downed the freshly arrived booze bottle in one go, signaling for more.
"So what's the blood wind if they can't even draw swords properly?"
"You know: hidden fights scarier than open ones sometimes."
Cheol Woo got it instantly.
"Ah, that. Right. Fights aren't just upfront. Lots dying. Poor bastards thrown in. Tsk tsk."
"But it'll end soon? The Blue Orchid Commander I saw wasn't just cunning like you said."
Sima Geon sipped tea, recalling the Blue Orchid Commander from half a month ago.
After her wits and Cheol Woo's pathetic response exposed them, he'd exchanged words with Il Hwang Suk's group unavoidably. Over time, her excellence shone. And that she, not yet public, was the core of Il Hwang Suk's power.
"Plus, knowing of the Blood Killer Cult makes her more desperate."
"Come to think, weren't they after Blue Orchid—that girl—not Il Hwang Suk?"
"Probably both. Can't ignore Il Hwang Suk, a major imperial figure..."
Sensing presence, Sima Geon's voice dropped. Cheol Woo stopped talking, focusing on food. But the conversation next door shattered his focus.