Had His Heart Not Changed (1)
Baek So-cheon smiled faintly.
A smile that might decide someone's fate.
"Are you telling me to kill Branch Manager Im?"
Do Jeong-gil nodded at Baek So-cheon's question.
"That's right. Kill him."
Even Wang Gon, who was there with him, was startled, never expecting such an order.
"What if I refuse?"
When Baek So-cheon asked back, Do Jeong-gil responded without hesitation, as if he'd anticipated it.
"Then I'll kill you. I can't keep a subordinate who defies orders."
Do Jeong-gil made his intent clear, radiating killing intent.
"Very well. I'll do it."
Do Jeong-gil, the one who'd given the order, looked surprised at the ready agreement.
"This will cause big problems."
"Lately, he's made enemies everywhere. There's the beast who massacred Yang Chu's family, and those filthy Black Society scum. Give me some time instead. Even Lord Wang here will come under suspicion, so I need to devise a plan to clear your name while taking him out. I need time."
"Fine. You have ten days."
"That's plenty. Anything else?"
"No."
"Then I'm off."
Baek So-cheon strode out.
"He's got some guts."
Honestly, Wang Gon was impressed. Even in that moment, Baek So-cheon had looked out for him.
Do Jeong-gil, on the other hand, sneered at Baek So-cheon.
"Guts? A man who decides to kill his superior before he can even count to five has guts? When he decides to kill you later, it won't even take three."
Still, Wang Gon secretly hoped fervently.
'Kill him anyway! We both live only if he dies!'
There was no next step without passing this test. Kill him before three? No worry. He'd strike first by two.
After meeting Wang Gon and returning, Baek So-cheon immediately summoned Im Choong and Beon Saeng.
"One of Shin-hwa-bang's four great warriors, Do Jeong-gil, came down."
Im Choong had heard of him once before.
"I hear he's got quite the temper."
Baek So-cheon looked at Im Choong.
"He ordered me to kill you."
"What?"
Im Choong and Beon Saeng were stunned.
"To test my loyalty and handle the mastermind behind this incident."
Im Choong swallowed hard. If anyone but Baek So-cheon had delivered the news, his legs would have buckled right then. Shin-hwa-bang wouldn't stop until he was dead.
"So, want to die by my hand once?"
"I'll politely decline."
He tried to act calm, but his mouth was bone-dry.
Normally, Beon Saeng would crack a joke, but his face was stone serious.
He voiced the anger Im Choong should have felt.
"Those bastards! Unforgivable. Treating human lives like flies."
Heuk Su, Cheon Yang-ho, and now Do Jeong-gil who'd issued the order. They all treated others' lives as worthless.
Baek So-cheon said to Beon Saeng,
"Twenty years ago when I joined the Murim Alliance, the next year, now, next year, and twenty years from now—there have always been and always will be scum like that. No need to get mad."
Right, he was correct. Tae-jeong-pa had existed six years ago too, the one he'd ignored. Beon Saeng felt ashamed of his life.
"I've... just been running from reality."
"Everyone does."
"Not you, brother."
"Why not? Because I killed Heuk Su and Cheon Yang-ho? Maybe that was my escape from reality."
"What do you mean?"
"I chose the easier path."
Baek So-cheon was utterly serious—no joke.
"I... don't get it. And I'm twenty-six."
"You'll feel the same at thirty-eight. Even greater self-loathing. 'Still don't know at this age.'"
"You're comforting me?"
"You only fall into delusions when Branch Manager Im is in crisis."
Beon Saeng refocused on Im Choong's plight.
"Brother, help us! Please save our branch manager."
Baek So-cheon said to Im Choong,
"Two options."
Im Choong was grateful to Beon Saeng for pleading in his stead, and even more to Baek So-cheon for offering choices in this desperate moment.
"First, eliminate Do Jeong-gil. Remove the source. Simple solution."
"He's a renowned master even in Shin-hwa-bang."
"If I decide to kill him, there's a way."
Im Choong dismissed the first. Solving by killing wasn't his way, even against someone targeting him.
"Second?"
"Create a situation where he can't kill you."
"How?"
Baek So-cheon had already planned both on the way back.
"The branch doesn't know Cheon Yang-ho's missing yet, right?"
"Yes."
Baek So-cheon had killed him just days ago and hadn't reported it deliberately.
"Send an urgent falcon message to the branch now. Report Cheon Yang-ho's disappearance, tie it to the Yang Chu massacre, exaggerate the severity. With a branch bigwig gone, it'll cause an uproar, and investigators will come down. Then I can make excuses—too much attention to kill you now."
"Ah! Great idea. I'll contact them right away."
Im Choong, about to rush out, turned and bowed deeply to Baek So-cheon.
"Thank you."
"Save the thanks for your son."
Im Choong chuckled. Life-or-death, yet his heart felt at ease. Thanks to Baek So-cheon. Just two years older, but it felt like leaning on an elder.
'Thanks to my son, but this debt I'll repay you.'
Not just him—wife and son too. Grace for three lives.
The falcon message's effect exceeded expectations.
Jeol-gang Branch Leader Jeong-pung arrived personally with branch warriors.
"Branch Manager Im."
"Leader!"
No time for greetings—Jeong-pung asked urgently.
"What the hell happened?"
Jeong-pung, short and stocky, was a swordsmanship master.
"First Squad Leader Cheon Yang-ho vanished during the Yang Chu family massacre investigation."
Though he hadn't even investigated it properly.
"Vanished?"
"He's not one to go silent for days. Someone must have gotten him."
Jeong-pung nodded.
"Could the Yang Chu killer be behind it?"
"Likely."
"Damn it!"
From Yang Chu's case to Cheon Yang-ho's disappearance.
A chain of events burdensome for him as branch leader.
He'd sent Cheon Yang-ho hoping for a clean resolution.
Now with him murdered, it could escalate to headquarters.
Not what he wanted. It'd prove him incompetent.
He had to resolve it himself somehow...
Meanwhile, Im Choong suspected Jeong-pung took Shin-hwa-bang bribes too. If they bought the first squad leader, why not the branch leader?
"Where's the investigation at?"
"Not much. But we learned Yang Chu was probing Shin-hwa-bang's new venture before dying."
"Shin-hwa-bang?"
Jeong-pung startled at the name. In Jeol-gang Province, it was one to handle carefully.
"Why probe Shin-hwa-bang?"
"At Heo-ssi Sword Family's request."
Im Choong watched his reactions closely during the talk.
"What venture?"
"Iron room business."
"So? You think Shin-hwa-bang's involved in Cheon Yang-ho's disappearance?"
"Not sure."
Outwardly, Jeong-pung seemed unconnected to Shin-hwa-bang. But appearances could deceive.
"Got it. From now, hand the case to the branch."
"Understood."
"On your way out, send in the new dispatched warrior."
"Yes."
Outside, the attendant warrior was instructing Beon Saeng.
"Add six more desks here, book nearby inns ahead. Meals at inns, so note that. Especially be careful with the leader's meals."
This violated rules. Alliance members should stay and eat at branches, not inns.
But Beon Saeng didn't protest.
"Got it."
When Im Choong emerged, Beon Saeng asked quietly,
"They took your office too?"
"Have to."
"Eating at inns, then work there too."
"Understand. They get this treatment from headquarters too."
"Doesn't make it right for us."
Im Choong patted Beon Saeng's shoulder.
"First, deal with external enemies."
Moments later, Baek So-cheon entered Im Choong's office.
Jeong-pung, occupying the owner's seat, said while seated,
"Warrior Baek. I know about you."
That's why he'd been displeased at Baek So-cheon's dispatch to Mun-seong branch.
'Why him, of all people.'
Unknown to most, unforgettable to those who knew: Baek So-cheon.
"I fought in the Black Heaven Alliance war too. Saw you from afar."
Jeong-pung was from headquarters' Blue Dragon Squad. As its leader, he'd luckily become Jeol-gang branch head. A rare stroke of fortune.
"You know how much the Murim Alliance and our righteous sects owe you. I'm grateful too. But that doesn't mean you can act recklessly."
"Recklessly?"
"Caused trouble right after arriving."
"Calling the Tae-jeong-pa arrests 'trouble'?"
"Not arrests—you killed them."
"Did you read the report properly? We arrested their underlings first; Tae-jeong armed himself and attacked the branch. He died unluckily in the process."
Jeong-pung snorted.
"You killed him on purpose. That's who you are. Blood satisfies you."
"You know me well for seeing from afar."
"Everyone talks about you."
"What do they say?"
"Want to hear from your enemy days?"
"Which era of me do you want to bring up?"
Silence fell briefly.
Jeong-pung didn't know Baek So-cheon's involvement here. But one thing was clear: past or present, Baek So-cheon was beyond him.
"I called you to say... don't interfere with my investigation."
He'd meant to warn, but backed off.
"A request."
The softer word worked. Baek So-cheon agreed readily.
"Agreed."
When Baek So-cheon exited, Im Choong waited.
"What do you think? Tied to Shin-hwa-bang?"
"Too soon to tell."
"If he is, it's serious."
It'd mean Jeol-gang Province fully in Shin-hwa-bang's grasp.
"What's serious? Clean house now. Shin-hwa-bang's big only here; headquarters could wipe them in half a day if serious. We just need evidence of their crimes."
Im Choong felt that odd disconnect then.
Not mere bravado from an ex-Iron Sword Squad leader. Too much proven already.
"Heading out briefly."
"Where to?"
"To Do Jeong-gil."
"Safe travels."
He bowed more deeply than usual. His fate hung on this outing.