Gotta Control My Anger (2)
"These bastards! I'll grind them up and drink them down!"
Wang Gon returned home burning with vengeance.
Every time the physician touched his face during treatment, the pain was excruciating, like he was on the verge of death. While he'd been locked up, rage had drowned out the hurt, but now with proper care underway, it hurt like hell.
His face was so swollen it was unrecognizable, and speaking sent headaches crashing through him like his skull was shaking. On top of that, his teeth were shattered, making him look like a grotesque monster in the bronze mirror.
But the real torment wasn't physical.
It was the dread of what would happen when Shin-hwa-bang's head branch learned of this.
The Bang Lord valued ability above all. Personality, character, humanity, connections—none of that mattered. Only skill counted, and if you fell short, you were replaced on the spot. With so many eager to take the Tang Lord's seat in Shin-hwa-bang, one mistake meant he was gone.
When the Bang Lord—or more likely, his emissary—asked what happened, he needed an answer that wouldn't raise eyebrows.
"I'll go wipe them all out myself."
Heuk Su's line wasn't it.
On a faction level, they didn't want to escalate into open conflict with the Murim Alliance.
Heuk Su, blind to such politics, was driven purely by emotion.
This fucker—I'll kill him for sure.
He was furious to his core.
With his broken nose wrapped in bandages, the deepest wound was to his pride.
He couldn't believe he'd lost to some squad leader kicked from Cheol-geom-dan. In just one exchange, no less. That made it unacceptable. If they'd truly clashed, he could've taken even the unit commander.
"I got careless!"
"Of course you did."
Wang Gon was pissed at Heuk Su.
Idiot! Can't even handle one guy. Waste of my money.
But he couldn't show it. Heuk Su was still his best man.
"This time, no mistakes. I'll finish it clean."
Deep down, Wang Gon wanted to unleash Heuk Su to slaughter them all.
But he couldn't.
If he and Heuk Su hadn't been caught, they could've pinned Yang Chu's family's massacre on the killer. But now, with bad blood between them, mindless killing risked everything.
"Hold off for now."
One wrong move, and it was over for good. He wasn't the Bang Lord—just a southern Jeol-gang Province Tang Lord. This mess was already too big for even the Bang Lord to clean up easily.
"Even if you slipped up, that guy's no ordinary punk."
There had been that overwhelming pressure he'd exuded. Beyond mere brute force—it was pure dominance.
"We need to learn who he is first. Don't move until then. Got it?"
Heuk Su grudgingly agreed under Wang Gon's stern glare.
"Understood."
From that moment, a war raged inside Heuk Su.
Loyalty versus his anger issues.
Im Choong visited Hwang the physician, who had handled Yang Chu's autopsy.
The exam was done days ago, but back-to-back incidents with Tae-jeong-pa and Wang Gon had delayed him until now.
"Single killer. Look here."
Hwang pointed out the cause of death on Yang Chu's body, explaining.
"One strike. Not slashed—pierced straight through the heart. In all my years seeing corpses, this is the cleanest kill I've witnessed."
"Had to be a master, superior to Great Hero Yang, right?"
"Exactly."
"Or someone he knew, maybe."
Possibilities abounded. A surprise attack during a lapse in guard, perhaps.
"Either way, the killer wields a sword like no other."
"Same method for the rest of the family?"
"Yes. One strike each. No hesitation—killed them all without a flinch."
Killing a fighting warrior versus helpless innocents was night and day, despite both being "murder."
"Ruthless killer, unafraid to take lives. Any other traces? Special sword as the weapon? Poison?"
"None. Utterly ordinary."
"Got it. Thank you."
As Im Choong turned to leave, Hwang urged him.
"Catch him. Don't let a maniac like this roam free."
Before these events, he'd have brushed it off. Responded half-jokingly, half-resignedly.
—Sure, we'll nab the psycho, the villains, the lot.
That was the old Mun-seong branch chief Im Choong.
But now? He meant it.
"We'll do our utmost."
Instead of heading to the branch despite the late hour, Im Choong went to Yang Chu's house.
Maybe some clue lingered.
Stepping inside, he startled. Someone was in the courtyard.
"Who goes there!"
Im Choong drew his sword, shouting.
The figure spun around in surprise—Beon Saeng.
"Whoa! It's me, Branch Chief!"
"What brings you here?"
"Thought maybe a clue was left behind."
"Great minds, huh?"
Seeing Beon Saeng here eased his tension unexpectedly.
"Weren't you scared alone?"
"Kinda thought I would be, but nah—not really."
The dead here were the pitiful ones. He felt sorry for failing to catch their killer.
"Two kids, too?"
"Yeah."
"What kind of monster slaughters children?"
Beon Saeng reflected deeply. Day one, he'd skipped even this mourning—delivering Im Choong the message about Wang Gon took priority.
I'm truly sorry.
An apology to the restless spirits.
"We'll catch the bastard for sure."
Im Choong nodded solemnly.
"Find anything?"
"Looked everywhere—no dice. You head back first. I'll check once more."
"Let's search together."
"Go on. Your wife's probably worried."
"Baek's guarding them."
"You trust Baek-hyung now, eh?"
Im Choong pondered his own heart. True trust? Or necessity?
"Even if another master were around, he'd entrust his family to Baek-hyung."
Im Choong figured as much.
Conversation ended; they scoured inside and out. Fresh resolve yielded nothing.
Whoever it was, their cleanup matched their merciless skill—flawless.
"Let's call it."
They left. No gains, but coming back felt right.
A masked figure silently vaulted the Mun-seong branch wall.
Moving nimbly, he reached Im Choong's wife Ju-ssi and son's quarters.
As he slipped in, a voice from behind:
"Nobody's home."
The intruder halted, turning.
Baek So-cheon stood there.
"Can't let maggots into a house with kids."
The mask came off with a cold laugh. Sunken nose, hideous—Heuk Su.
"Knew I'd come, huh?"
"Checked you out. You're that kind of scum."
As Baek So-cheon predicted, anger crushed loyalty handily.
Heuk Su couldn't hold back. Especially with pain surging from his broken nose.
He'd tried, but at the tavern, he'd overheard.
—Heard Heuk Su lost to the new guy at the branch?
—Got smashed flat.
—What kinda master's there that Heuk Su lost?
—His bubble finally burst.
Almost butchered them then.
But held off. Smash Baek So-cheon first, make 'em admit they were wrong. Kill later.
Straight from the tavern, over the wall. Booze breath explained.
"Kill you, then when Im Choong returns, rape his wife in front of him and skin the kid alive."
Heuk Su's killing intent was raw, vulgar—and real.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why act like a total psycho?"
"You pretending not to know?"
"Beat by me? Fine, revenge on me. Why drag in the branch chief's family?"
"Not enough. My pride's already in shreds."
"Fragile ego bruised? So you gotta go this insane to feel better? Seen your type plenty... still can't get used to it."
"What the fuck? You crazy shit! You'll die the most painful death."
Baek So-cheon raised a hand, halting the charging Heuk Su.
"Hold up. One last question: You kill Yang Chu's family too?"
Heuk Su said nothing, but his smirking lips screamed yes. He wasn't one to hide emotions—hence his presence here.
"You handle it personally?"
"Think I'm some dirty blade? This fight's for my honor."
Heuk Su drew his sword.
Fueled by booze and rage, he didn't rush blindly—lesson learned. Kept distance, exploiting Baek's bare hands.
Shick! Shick!
Baek So-cheon dodged the flurry. Skill-wise, Heuk Su was legit—Cheol-geom-dan squad leader level, not commander-killer, but solid.
Baek held back, treating it like training.
Shieeeek.
Dodged a heart thrust; blade curved diagonally for the throat.
Peeit!
It grazed past his face.
Heuk Su dropped low, slashing at the thigh.
Gotcha!
Certainty—yet it missed by a hair.
Thrusts, slashes, overheads, sweeps—Heuk Su unleashed everything.
But it was like Baek read his mind. Every attack whiffed perilously close.
Ah!
Damn!
So close!
Exclamations burst out.
Heuk Su felt the frustration, not the precision: Baek dodged at exact finger-width margins, every time. No inner power made it masterful.
The bout deepened; suddenly, Heuk Su froze.
...!
He'd slipped into a trance—unprecedented.
Not by choice; induced. Unthinkable.
Awakening that instant sealed his fate.
Baek, who'd only evaded, surged in—at the perfect really, now? moment.
Thwack!
Elbow pulverized Heuk Su's nose—already broken, now mush.
"Gaaahhhh!"
Heuk Su screamed madly.
Thud!
Baek's kick shattered his jaw.
Yet masterful—he swung back while falling.
But focus shattered, the blade flailed uselessly.
Shadow-like, Baek gripped and twisted his wrist.
Crack.
Inner power resisted further twist; Baek's fist struck the throat.
Crack!
Power disrupted—
Grrrind!
Wrist crushed under raw strength.
"Gyyyaaaaah!"
Screaming agony. Baek knew inner arts cold: power flows, acupoints, disruption points.
Thump!
Fist hammered ribs.
Heuk Su crumpled.
"Ughhhh."
In pain, new terror: Baek's indifferent gaze chilled him.
"Rape the wife, kill the kid—in front of the dad?"
Baek flew up, fist slamming chest.
Thump!
Ribs pierced organs.
Gaaahhh!
Pain trapped the scream inside.
Thump.
Smashed the broken ribs again.
"Hup!"
Heuk Su's eyes bulged. Unbearable torment. Death would've been mercy—but ribs spared the heart, deliberate or luck?
Please stop!
True hell.
Baek seemed to relish it.
"This feels good? Lived by sword so long, never knew bare-knuckle thrill."
Thud! Thump! Thud!
Each body blow brought indescribable agony.
"Ughhhh... p-ple...ase... s-spare... m-me..."
Baek struck again.
Crunch!
"Kraaaagh!"
Blood sprayed like a fountain.
As limits broke and eyes rolled back, Baek's final blow: leaped, heel-stomped the chest.
Boom! Crunnnch!
Ribs obliterated—instant death.
Somewhere, soft moonlight bathed lovers' whispers. Tonight, it fell coldly on Heuk Su's corpse, matching Baek So-cheon's gaze.
"You conscienceless prick—threaten innocents, but beg for life? Leave that shit at home."