Do You Think We're a Joke? (2)
Wang Gon sipped his tea in his room, gazing out the window at the sturdy subordinates marching across the training grounds.
At least in the southern reaches of Jeol-gang Province, he was king. But he couldn't settle for that. His grand ambition was to claw his way up and claim the seat of Shin-hwa Bang's leader.
Just you wait. I'll crush anyone to get there.
He'd already committed far too many vile acts—and was in the midst of more—so "whatever it takes" was no mere hypothetical.
No matter the injustices or the lives lost in the process, he lived well, ate heartily.
Karma? Divine retribution? This languid afternoon proved such nonsense didn't exist.
Crush them before they crush you.
Heuk Su entered just as his ambitions burned brighter.
"I'm back."
"How'd it go?"
"Five out of the six landowners agreed to sell."
"The holdout?"
"Some young punk digging in his heels, says it's his father's legacy. But we'll sort him out soon enough. Guy's got three kids."
Wang Gon amplified the sinister edge in Heuk Su's meaningful grin.
"Handle it quietly, no fuss."
"Don't worry."
"Oh, the tribute?"
"Dropped it off with Im Choong's wife on the way. Any man with brains won't refuse now."
"Good."
Wang Gon flashed a satisfied smile.
Give extra rice cakes to the ones you hate, and someday you'll get invited to their funeral feast.
A subordinate arrived with a report.
"Im Choong's here."
Wang Gon shot Heuk Su a toothy grin.
"Bribe's kicking in fast."
Im Choong waited in the guest hall, his face flushed red.
No matter how he tried to steady himself, his rage wouldn't subside.
This bastard! Dares come to my home?
Scheming or threats had limits. Touching family crossed the line.
Wang Gon entered then.
"Branch Leader Im. Welcome."
"I trust you're well?"
"Not especially. You know why."
He avoided naming Tae-jeong-pa outright. Officially, Shin-hwa Bang had no ties to them.
"My apologies."
"No need. I get it. Hard keeping subordinates in line, eh?"
Im Choong thought to himself:
Compared to dealing with you?
Of course, he kept it hidden.
"Yes, not easy at all."
"Plans for the captives?"
"Sending them to headquarters for judgment."
"Has to be that way? Hold 'em a few days, cut loose. Their leader's dead—they'll wise up."
"I'll consider it."
Im Choong sidestepped the Tae-jeong-pa issue. That wasn't why he'd come.
He proffered the box containing the Baek-nyeon Ha-su-o first.
"Here to return this."
Wang Gon's expression hardened instantly. He'd assumed a token refusal followed by grudging thanks.
Stubborn mule to the end!
Suppressing his surging fury, Wang Gon forced a congenial tone.
"Come now, is this any way to spurn a man's sincerity?"
"Didn't I say before I'd accept the gesture alone?"
"Gesture? What's a gesture without substance? I'd be the world's saint if thoughts sufficed—I could give those endlessly."
"Then keep your thoughts and take this back."
"Branch Leader, is it excessive integrity... or sheer bullheadedness?"
"I'm no paragon of virtue. Nor particularly stubborn."
Wang Gon exploded.
"Then take it, you bastard!"
As he dropped the pretense, Im Choong clenched his jaw. Village branch head or not, he was still a Murim Alliance official.
"Take it!"
"No."
"For your son, right? Not blood-related, maybe?"
"Hey! Branch Leader Wang! Mind your tongue!"
This time Im Choong bellowed. Mentioning his son snapped his restraint.
Im Choong slammed the box to the floor.
"Don't send this crap again. Do, and you won't hear the end of it."
"Won't hear the end? Threatening me now?"
"Warning you."
Any other matter, he'd swallow it ten, a hundred times. But family? Unendurable. Better draw the line now.
Wang Gon felt the same.
Heuk Su advanced slowly from the side, watching.
"Warnings go from the strong to the weak."
He didn't bother hiding his blatant killing intent.
Im Choong gripped his sword hilt and shouted.
"Halt! I order you as Murim Alliance branch leader. Stay put."
Heuk Su quickened his pace instead. Nose-to-nose, he sneered.
"There. Defied your precious branch leader. What now?"
Im Choong's sword-gripping hand trembled.
Heuk Su piled on the provocation.
"Saw your wife when dropping off the tribute. Quite the beauty."
"You son of a—!"
Ching.
The blade slid partway from its sheath.
"Draw it! Why hesitate? Hate the kids and the wife, huh?"
Im Choong's hand shook violently. He knew it was deliberate baiting.
But unsheathing meant death. Dump the body somewhere—who'd prove Heuk Su did it? No one. A dog's death.
Yet enduring the humiliation, the mockery of his wife and son, made him want to fight to the death right there.
Just then.
Commotion erupted outside.
The door flew open. A Shin-hwa Bang warrior rushed in with a report.
"Branch warriors have arrived."
Two men followed him in: Baek So-cheon and Beon Saeng.
"Branch Leader! You alright?"
Beon Saeng dashed to stand beside Im Choong.
"What brings you here?"
Sensing the hall's tense air, Beon Saeng blurted quickly.
"Emergency at the branch. Here to fetch you. Let's go."
Priority: get Im Choong out.
But Wang Gon had no intention of letting them slip away. Conflict had erupted—time to shatter Im Choong's spirit for good.
These bastards! Crush 'em now, and they'll never rise again.
He signaled Heuk Su with his eyes.
Heuk Su unleashed raw killing intent and bellowed.
"You half-grown brats barge in like it's nothing! You two newbies—kneel in the corner!"
Beon Saeng knew Heuk Su's reputation too well to retort.
Instead, Im Choong stepped forward, warning Wang Gon.
"You mean to defy the Murim Alliance?"
"That damn Alliance, Alliance! Yeah, it's your only leverage. Reason I'm even offering Baek-nyeon Ha-su-o to trash like you."
Wang Gon bared his true colors unfiltered, pushing further to show his nature.
"Can't grasp it? Let me spell it out kindly. Hypothetical: our trigger-happy warriors lose it in a sword clash, kill you by 'accident.' Your branch had a 'mishap' death recently, right? Say it happens. Who gets blamed? Oh yeah—Yang Chu's family massacre. You're investigating that. A killer brutal enough for a whole clan... wouldn't he silence pursuers?"
Long-winded, but simple: We'll slaughter you and pin it on Yang Chu's murderer.
"What next?"
No answer. Wang Gon grinned eagerly.
"No next. It's over. New branch leader and warriors arrive. They chase the 'fiend' for a month or two—fail, of course. Things quiet down, I bribe the new guy with the gift you refused. Think he'll take it? Fun scenario, no?"
In that moment, Im Choong's instincts screamed.
He's the one who killed Yang Chu.
But voicing it crossed the point of no return.
Heuk Su closed in threateningly.
"So, shall we resume our chat?"
Beon Saeng blocked his path.
"Stop!"
Heuk Su shoved him sprawling, then stomped his chest. The skill gap was vast—Beon Saeng couldn't challenge him.
"Enough!"
Im Choong moved to intervene, but Heuk Su drew his sword to Beon Saeng's throat.
"One more step, he dies."
Im Choong froze. He knew Heuk Su's type: words matched deeds, especially against the weak—to prove it.
He eyed Wang Gon. No intervention—just arrogant disdain. Clear demand: total submission.
Kneel. Apologize. Crush him utterly this time.
Im Choong's gaze shifted to Beon Saeng, crushed and anguished underfoot.
Fine. Endure. I'll kneel.
Save Beon Saeng. Himself. His family.
As Im Choong bent to kneel—a voice echoed through the hall.
"Shall I arrest them?"
The unexpected speaker was Baek So-cheon, standing at the rear. So focused on the crisis, Im Choong had forgotten he was there.
All eyes turned. Baek So-cheon spoke again.
"Assault on an Alliance warrior, threats, bribery. That's plenty for an arrest."
Im Choong, Beon Saeng, Wang Gon, Heuk Su—stunned, incredulous.
Heuk Su shattered the silence.
"Hahahahaha!"
Heuk Su's mad laughter dragged Wang Gon in.
Amid the derisive guffaws, Im Choong saw it clearly: Baek So-cheon gazing calmly, utterly serious.
Does he even have the skill?
Im Choong recalled asking Baek So-cheon about his prowess once: great in the past, dismal lately.
"Didn't you say you can't fight worth a damn anymore?"
"By my standards. Not comparing to these maggots."
Wang Gon and Heuk Su's smirks vanished.
First time in life compared to maggots.
Wang Gon glanced at Heuk Su to confirm he'd heard right. The twisted face said yes.
Baek So-cheon delivered the killing blow.
"Wherever you look, old maggot. Yeah, talking to you."