If He Hadn't Changed His Mind (2)
"The Jeol-gang Branch Leader came down in person?"
Yeom Jeong-gil scowled at Baek So-cheon's report.
"He came down to investigate the disappearance of Cheon Yang-ho himself."
"Damn it, of all times."
Wang Gon, who was there with him, reacted with irritation, but inwardly he was rejoicing.
It's actually a relief.
When Yeom Jeong-gil's insane order had come down, he'd hoped Baek So-cheon would somehow pass the test.
But thinking coldly about it, the murder of the branch leader in his territory offered him no benefit whatsoever. A different kind of test would be better for him.
"Cheon Yang-ho was the real power behind the Jeol-gang Branch, wasn't he? It's enough to make the branch leader move personally."
"Isn't this all because of that bastard?"
Baek So-cheon protested under Yeom Jeong-gil's displeased glare.
"Because Cheon Yang-ho tried to kill me."
Yeom Jeong-gil glared even more fiercely, as if rebuking him for speaking out of turn, and Baek So-cheon averted his gaze with feigned fear.
Baek So-cheon's cheeky behavior was deliberate. Such words and actions drew attention to attitude rather than substance.
Wang Gon cautiously suggested.
"We should postpone eliminating Im Choong until the branch leader leaves. If the branch leader is here at the branch and the branch leader gets murdered, he'll hunt the culprit no matter what. If that happens..."
Yeom Jeong-gil cut him off decisively.
"Kill him anyway."
Wang Gon was startled, never expecting him to stick to the order even in this situation. A curse nearly escaped toward Yeom Jeong-gil.
This guy's hopeless!
Meanwhile, Baek So-cheon, the one who'd received the order, seemed almost relieved.
"Let's do it. Since it's come to this, let's make it big and bold."
Baek So-cheon turned and strode toward the door. Yeom Jeong-gil didn't stop him until then.
As he opened the door to leave, Yeom Jeong-gil finally spoke.
"How do you plan to eliminate him?"
Baek So-cheon turned back.
"Sneak into the branch leader's house at night and take him out."
"He has family, doesn't he?"
"Wipe them all out. That way, it'll look like the work of the killer who murdered Yang Chu. A brutal bastard who slaughters whole families—no one will suspect us."
Wang Gon's threat to Im Choong had come full circle, now from Baek So-cheon to Yeom Jeong-gil.
Baek So-cheon finished speaking and turned to leave again.
That was when Yeom Jeong-gil's test ended.
"Hold off on this for now."
Instead, Baek So-cheon pressed to stick to the order.
"Now that it's out..."
"This is not a suggestion—it's an order."
Only after Yeom Jeong-gil bellowed did Baek So-cheon back down.
"Understood."
Baek So-cheon left the room. As he walked away, a cold smile played on his lips.
That decision just now saved your life.
Yeom Jeong-gil had no idea, but if he hadn't changed his mind, Baek So-cheon would have killed him somehow.
The only reason he was sparing him despite the order to kill Im Choong was that he still had value as bait to draw out Teacher Jong.
Once Baek So-cheon was gone, Yeom Jeong-gil said coldly.
"What a piece of trash!"
He didn't fully trust Baek So-cheon, but he'd sensed killing intent when he'd talked about sneaking into Im Choong's house and slaughtering his family.
Killing intent without any inner power?
It meant he was a true villain.
Every little thing grated on Yeom Jeong-gil, but that's what made him believable. Someone hiding something would only try to curry favor.
Of course, that didn't erase all suspicion—just peeled back one layer of wariness toward Baek So-cheon.
"He's someone worth watching more closely."
It wasn't just for Wang Gon anymore; Yeom Jeong-gil himself was starting to feel curiosity toward Baek So-cheon.
Baek So-cheon went straight to Im Choong and relayed the news.
"The order to kill you has been put on hold."
"Ah!"
Im Choong was speechless for a moment. Even trusting Baek So-cheon, his life had hung in the balance.
"Thank you. Brother saved me again."
"Thanks? I feel bad for not going after Yeom Jeong-gil right away. I held back because I worried Shin-hwa-bang might shrink away if I half-assed it."
"You're really planning to take on the whole Shin-hwa-bang."
"I told you. Ignore them completely, or strike hard if you strike at all."
"Yes."
"Don't be scared. Guys who pull crap like this are nothing once you face them later. Flip your thinking—how worthless do they have to be to stoop to this?"
"Yes!"
Im Choong's response this time had more vigor.
"Oh, one favor."
"Anything."
Having taken their move, it was time to counter.
"You need to rattle Jeong-pung a bit."
Im Choong entered to see Jeong-pung, who had taken over his office.
"I came to discuss something."
"What is it?"
"I think we need help from a friend at headquarters to resolve this case."
Jeong-pung recoiled at the mention of headquarters.
"What help?"
"No matter how I look at it, this case is unnatural. If it's someone who killed a Murim Alliance deputy leader, headquarters should handle it."
"Listen, Branch Leader Im."
"Yes, Branch Leader."
"Cheon was one of ours. Right under me. Shouldn't we handle this at the branch level? How would headquarters see me if I can't even manage this?"
"What if it blows up?"
"You've changed."
Jeong-pung's eyes and tone turned cold as he said it.
"Pardon?"
"You weren't like this before. You're not getting cocky just because you handled one Black Society matter, are you?"
"Misunderstanding. Absolutely not."
Jeong-pung softened slightly.
"I understand your zeal to solve the case, but this is for us at the branch."
As Im Choong tried to say more, Jeong-pung gestured for him to leave.
Im Choong turned at the door after bowing.
"If you plan to resolve this, get help from Warrior Baek. He's hiding something from me, but he definitely knows more."
Soon after, Baek So-cheon entered Jeong-pung's office.
Summoning him instead of going himself was pride, of course.
Jeong-pung cut straight to it as Baek So-cheon entered.
"Do you know who the culprit in the Yang Chu case is?"
"I have my suspicions."
"Then why not say?"
"Then let me ask one. You knew the Black Society was harassing commoners, right? Why let it slide? Worried about Shin-hwa-bang behind them?"
"What are you saying!"
His voice rose from the start.
"Why should I tell you, the guy who let that happen, about the Yang Chu family massacre?"
"You have a duty to report it."
"Branch Leader Im must have told you. Yang Chu got in trouble investigating Shin-hwa-bang's new business. Heard that?"
"Yes."
"Then you should've started investigating Shin-hwa-bang. But you're calling me here preaching duty instead. And I should trust you? Be honest. You taking Shin-hwa-bang's money?"
"Shut up! You might think me incompetent, but I'm not corrupt."
His reaction suggested no bribes. But Baek So-cheon didn't fully trust him. True villains were master actors and liars, from experience.
"If you're truly innocent, investigate Shin-hwa-bang first."
"Shin-hwa-bang is a righteous sect."
"So? They couldn't do wrong? That's what you believe? Or you want to believe it to avoid the hassle?"
Closer to the latter, Jeong-pung fell silent.
"You said it yourself—I must see blood. Maybe you're right. But don't think it won't be yours. Yeah, this is a threat. So help with all you have, or go back to headquarters. Don't get in the way."
"I hate you, but I'll stay this time. For my innocence."
"Man, at least say it's to clear the dead's wrongful deaths."
Bam!
Unable to hold back, Jeong-pung slammed the desk, shattering the one Im Choong cherished.
Only after pushing him to the limit did Baek So-cheon soften.
"Fine, I'll trust your innocence and give you one piece of info. Yeom Jeong-gil is here in Mun-seong right now."
"Yeom the Great Hero?"
Jeong-pung knew him well—one of Shin-hwa-bang's Four Great Experts, who rarely stirred unless it was major.
Before leaving, Baek So-cheon drove in the final nail.
"You've watched them grow in Jeol-gang Province these past years. Ask your heart if they're a sect worth trusting."
Jeong-pung watched Baek So-cheon's retreating back without reply.
That night, Cheon-geuk visited Baek So-cheon's lodgings.
"The branch leader came down?"
"We called him."
"Knew it. It was odd for him to move personally."
In other words, she knew Jeong-pung's temperament well.
"Still digging into us?"
"Customer management."
"Not victims?"
"You don't know? How much you guys beg us. Sounds crazy, but true."
"We can't touch certain enemies ourselves. It'd provoke the Black Heaven Alliance, so we outsource to you."
"You knew."
"Fighting poison with poison. Don't compare the Murim Alliance to the likes of you."
"Hey, noble and proud Murim Alliance errand boy."
Cheon-geuk stared at Baek So-cheon for a long time.
"Called me here, now quiet?"
"Why defend the Murim Alliance so much? They abandoned you."
"Can you abandon someone without them knowing?"
"Unrequited love, maybe."
They fell silent for a moment.
Cheon-geuk didn't prod further. She knew, even if not the details, that the Murim Alliance was an object of love and hate for him.
"By the way, why'd you call me?"
"Found out who placed the contract."
"Ah!"
Cheon-geuk's face lit up.
"Shin-hwa-bang has a Teacher Jong. He placed the contract with the Seven Swords Society directly. That enough for you to handle? I kept my promise, so keep yours."
The promise was delivering Gwang-sal to her.
"Since you're helping, go all the way? If I move now, the Seven Swords might notice."
"What do I get?"
Baek So-cheon couldn't meet Gwang-sal anyway right now. Yeom Jeong-gil was on alert, and the branch leader was watching him.
"Can't you do it without conditions? How cool would that be?"
"To look cool for you?"
"Who knows? I might... give you one night."
"Nah. Pay up. One hundred thousand nyang!"
Cheon-geuk's expression hardened instantly.
"That's a huge insult!"
"Hey, one hundred thousand nyang. Value of forgoing a night with you. How's that an insult?"
Cheon-geuk was momentarily confused. It sounded so plausible.
Oh! That's what he meant?
But for the emotional impact to work, it should've been reversed.
If she'd offered the money first, and he'd asked for a night instead.
She hadn't thought that far.
"Fine, one hundred thousand nyang."
"Up to bringing Teacher Jong to you. After that, you're on your own."
"That's enough. But payment after."
"Deal."
Baek So-cheon had aimed for thirty thousand tops when quoting one hundred thousand. Her quick acceptance left him flustered.
As she left Baek So-cheon's house, she hummed.
One hundred thousand nyang... So that's the value you put on a night with me.