The Ball-Crushing Mad Wolf

There are many kinds of natural disasters, but roughly speaking, they can be divided into two categories.

Those that are predictable, occurring at expected times, like typhoons and floods.

And those that are entirely unpredictable, like earthquakes and tsunamis.

The so-called Incident of the Night Lord, which recently occurred at Seungguanru by the shores of Hamga Lake in Changsha, was a disaster that struck without warning, much like an earthquake or tsunami.

As the name suggested, the Incident of the Night Lord referred to the event where Ji Dong-tak—commonly known as the 'Night Lord,' who had ruled the night of Changsha—met a gruesome death overnight.

In a world where countless people died every day, those who questioned why the death of a single wealthy man was causing such a fuss quickly shut their mouths upon seeing the devastation at the scene.

This was because Seungguanru, a four-story building and the largest brothel in Changsha, had completely collapsed, and the numerous subordinates who followed him had been wiped out all at once.

Anyone who set foot in Changsha was deeply shocked by the incident.

Astonishingly, all of this was a 'man-made disaster' caused by a single person.

Jegal Jeok-un.

"We must punish him severely!"

"Indeed! That is absolutely correct!"

Sadocheon was in an uproar.

Naturally, it was because of the Incident of the Night Lord.

"That crazy lunatic who doesn't know his place! Jegal Jeok-un must be severely punished!"

"Exactly! That madman caused this catastrophe and is now fast asleep in his quarters, dead drunk!"

Among them, some argued that Jegal Jeok-un, who had instigated this situation, should be disciplined harshly.

They claimed that the Incident of the Night Lord had caused immense chaos and damage to Sadocheon.

"Seungguanru, a landmark of Changsha, has collapsed, and its owner is dead! Even the innocent workers there were all killed!"

"Not only that! This lunatic killed my subordinates, who did absolutely nothing wrong!"

Those pushing hardest for severe punishment were the Vice Lord's faction, led by the Leader of the Black Ghost Squad.

The Vice Lord's faction argued, "Jegal Jeok-un must be heavily punished for killing Ji Dong-tak, an innocent civilian, for no reason."

"The Night Lord may have had a grand title, but he was just an innocent commoner living in Changsha."

"Do you even know how much tribute he has paid to our Sadocheon over the years?"

"Ha! Our budget was already cut to a quarter when the Golden Moon Squad was disbanded, and now this... This is treason! Treason!"

"Furthermore, he swallowed up all of the Night Lord's businesses as if they were his own! It's so envious—ah, no, I mean, it's absolutely terrible!"

Moreover, they were practically foaming at the mouth upon hearing that Jeok-un had taken over all of the Night Lord's businesses.

When these petitions and appeals reached the Leader of the Law Enforcement Division, Hu Seong replied without a change in expression.

"The matter is under investigation. Wait."

He said.

But as the complaints persisted, Hu Seong spoke in a voice as cold as ice.

"According to the Law Enforcement Division's investigation, the relationship between the Black Ghost Squad, along with several other Outer Squads, and the owner of Seungguanru was closer to that of master and servant."

"Furthermore, the Vice Leader of the Black Ghost Squad, Woo Dun, attempted to forcibly take a member of the White Night Squad on the orders of the owner of Seungguanru."

"Reports show that this was the source of conflict with the Leader of the White Night Squad. Is such a person truly an innocent commoner beyond all suspicion?"

"..."

With the collusion between the Night Lord and the Outer Squads—which had been hidden under the Vice Lord's influence—exposed, the Vice Lord's faction could only flinch.

As the situation dragged on in a stalemate.

New information about Ji Dong-tak was revealed by the coroners performing the autopsy, causing the situation to take another sudden turn.

"The 'innocent commoner' Ji Dong-tak has been identified as the Fox Lecher, Ji Jung-young. Do you still intend to defend him to the end?"

"..."

None of the members of the Vice Lord's faction could open their mouths.

While there were many differences between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, they shared one commonality.

There was a minimum line that could not be crossed.

They did not abandon their humanity or exploit the essence of others for the sake of martial arts.

Such individuals were called 'demons' and were despised and hunted down by both Orthodox and Unorthodox factions alike.

And lechers were the least respected even among those demons.

"Of all the people to shield, you shield a lecher!"

"I'd rather starve! I don't want to eat rice bought with a lecher's money!"

As soon as the news spread that the Night Lord was a former lecher, the members of the neutral faction, who had remained quiet until now, rose up.

Most of the neutral faction members were stubborn eccentrics who cared nothing for factional squabbles or power.

However, they all shared a deep loathing for anything that tarnished their pride as members of the Unorthodox path.

With the neutral faction joining the fray, the assembly turned into utter chaos. In the confusion, Ji Dong-tak's assets were quietly transferred entirely to Jeok-un, leaving the Vice Lord's faction with absolutely nothing.

...But not everyone was left in disarray.

I need to investigate the mastermind behind Ji Jung-young.

Because of this incident, Hu Seong, the Leader of the Law Enforcement Division, had set his sights on the corrupt undercurrents within Sadocheon.

Just like within Sadocheon, opinions and reactions to the Incident of the Night Lord varied wildly across Changsha.

Yet, the reaction of the commoners who had worked under the Night Lord was largely unanimous.

If things just stay like this from now on, we'll actually be able to make a living...!

I'm so happy!

It was overwhelming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠positivity.

"...But did they really say we only have to pay this much tribute?"

"I'm telling you! The youngest young master of the Go Family Manor, who works under the Leader of the White Night Squad, collected the money. He took less than half of what we used to pay!"

"Oh, what a blessing! Truly a blessing!"

"Whew, I'm just glad I don't have to hide my daughter every time tribute day comes around..."

All the businesses managed by the Night Lord had fallen into Jeok-un's hands, and Jeok-un had cut the tribute they had to pay nearly in half.

The merchants and commoners of Changsha, who had suffered under the Night Lord's extortion, were dazed but deeply moved.

However, the reactions of the martial artists were split right down the middle.

"Bwahaha! Did you say his name is Jeok-un? I heard he's from the Orthodox faction, but he's got quite a bold streak!"

"I was there too, and watching him beat down the Night Lord was incredibly satisfying!"

Those who knew of the atrocities committed by the Night Lord, and those who had witnessed Jeok-un crushing him and collapsing Seungguanru, acknowledged Jeok-un.

Though his methods were somewhat rash and brutal, he carried the distinct scent of an unorthodox martial artist, just like them.

Yet, there were just as many who clicked their tongues in disapproval.

"Tsk, tsk. What a bunch of simpletons. Calling a lunatic's rampage 'bold' or whatever."

"Do they even know how much damage he caused to Sadocheon?"

"He probably threw a tantrum because the Night Lord didn't treat him with enough respect. Bold, my foot."

Pessimistic views were bound to exist.

Since he had tortured the Night Lord to death in broad daylight, his madness felt like a bomb that could detonate at any moment.

But whether they liked Jeok-un or disliked and feared him, there was one thing everyone agreed on.

"Heh, seeing how brutally he trampled Ji Jung-young to death, he must really despise lechers."

"Obviously. Why else would he crush both of his balls?"

"Puhaha! Right! And it wasn't just the balls—he crushed his rod too and shoved it down his throat!"

It was the fact that Jeok-un absolutely loathed lechers.

"The Leader of the White Night Squad is vicious. He sealed the guy's acupoints so he couldn't pass out, forced him to swallow it all, made him taste the absolute limit of pain, and then killed him!"

"Ah, it feels like a years-old clog has finally been cleared!"

"Alright! Let's drink! To the Ball-Crushing Mad Wolf who brought heaven's wrath upon that piece of trash, the Night Lord! Cheers!"

"To the Night Lord's severed lower half and his crushed balls! Cheers!"

"Puhahaha!"

Before anyone knew it, Jeok-un's moniker had changed.

It was no longer the Tyrant Dragon Jegal.

But the Ball-Crushing Mad Wolf.

While the public laughed and gossiped about the Night Lord's miserable death over drinks.

A notice was posted on the walls of Sadocheon.

Contrary to expectations that he would suffer greatly being locked up in the dungeon again, Jeok-un was extremely peaceful.

Good. For now, this matter is mostly wrapped up.

He lay comfortably inside the cell, lost in thought.

Unlike before, when all his limbs had been bound, there was only a single chain around his right leg.

This was partly because the guards were too terrified of Jeok-un to approach him, and partly because of orders from above to keep him loosely confined, knowing he had the strength to break out on his own anyway.

Now that the secret of the Night Lord being the Fox Lecher is out, Hu Seong must have caught the scent. It won't be long before he uncovers the link to the Vice Lord.

Jeok-un paid no mind to his imprisonment, accurately predicting the actions of Hu Seong, the Leader of the Law Enforcement Division.

He knew his confinement was merely a show to save face.

A clumsy farce designed to give the Vice Lord's faction a way to back down.

Within two days, Dok-go Cheon would summon him and release him completely unscathed.

"……Leader? You're listening to me, right, Leader?"

Huh?

Just then, Go Bok-gil's desperate voice drifted in.

Turning his head, he saw the tearful face of the fellow outside the iron bars.

"Of course I'm listening."

"Sob. Ah, seriously, please assign just one assistant to me. It's too hard for me to manage all these businesses by myself..."

All of the Night Lord's businesses that Jeok-un had seized were being managed by Go Bok-gil.

As expected of someone who had ruled the night of Changsha, there were quite a few dirty and shady operations, but they took them all in without discrimination.

Because if I don't take control, another Night Lord will just appear.

If they didn't, it was obvious the Vice Lord would plant another Ji Dong-tak.

Thus, after putting Go Bok-gil in charge, Jeok-un reduced the tribute to a purely symbolic amount.

He had absolutely no intention of extorting money by tormenting ordinary commoners.

"Just wait a bit. Soon, you'll have an assistant."

"R-really? Who is it?"

"You'll see, kid."

Jeok-un asked Go Bok-gil, whose eyes had lit up.

"By the way, how did you manage to get in here? Did you bribe the guard?"

"No, sir."

"Oh? Then how?"

"One of the guards guarding this place stepped up to help."

"Hmm?"

Jeok-un looked puzzled at Go Bok-gil's explanation.

There was absolutely no reason for a guard to help them.

At that, Go Bok-gil scratched the back of his head and spoke.

"It seems... the guard's family suffered terrible things at the hands of the Night Lord years ago."

"……!"

"Before I could even ask, he stepped aside and told me to get in quickly."

"……I see."

Jeok-un smiled bitterly.

If only he could have regressed a little earlier.

Regret lingered clearly on his face.

Seeing the genuine emotion in his eyes, Go Bok-gil also felt a lump in his throat.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

...Man, he really is a completely different person compared to when he was crushing the Night Lord.

Meanwhile, Go Bok-gil quickly changed the subject.

"Ahem. By the way, how did you really know?"

Go Bok-gil whispered secretly.

Although no one was listening, it was such a massive matter that he instinctively spoke with caution.

Jeok-un also returned to his usual demeanor and spoke.

"Was it really there?"

"Yes, it was insane. It made the confiscated wealth of the Noh clan look like pocket change."

During the commotion, Jeok-un had given Go Bok-gil an order.

To secretly go to a certain location and retrieve what he had described.

"They are completely laundered. There won't be any issues even if you use them right away."

"They're all bank notes, right?"

"Yes, they were all issued by the Ten Thousand Gold Bank."

The Ten Thousand Gold Bank was the most trusted bank in the Central Plains.

Some even valued its notes higher than actual silver due to the ease of storage and circulation; such was the level of trust the bank commanded.

"But whose secret fund is this?"

"Who knows."

At Go Bok-gil's question, Jeok-un smirked.

Do Ye-cheon is going to cry tears of blood.

Indeed. These bank notes were all part of the secret fund amassed by Do Ye-cheon.

The place where Jeok-un had sent Go Bok-gil was a vault known only to the Night Lord and Do Ye-cheon.

Since he embezzled Sadocheon's blood money, it is only right that I, who will soon become the Lord of Sadocheon, reclaim it.

Thanks to his memories from before his regression, Jeok-un knew the exact location of the vault, which was disguised as an ordinary shop in the marketplace of Changsha.

Do Ye-cheon himself had told him right before dying by his hand, so there was no room for error.

Good, I've met the Blood Sovereign and secured all the initial funds.

"Now I can begin in earnest."

"……Huh? Begin what?"

Go Bok-gil tilted his head in confusion.

Jeok-un grinned and replied.

"Taking all the wealth of Sadocheon and Changsha into my hands."

"!!"

Go Bok-gil could only blink in shock.

But he would be even more astonished in the future.

For through the abandoned mines he had purchased, he would sweep in a fortune far greater than anything the Go Family Manor had ever amassed.

"B-but Leader, with this much money stolen, will the guy who lost it just sit still?"

"Tsk. Bok-gil, you always ruin the mood at the most crucial moments."

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Look. Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives."

"Huh? Cao Cao? Why would that widow-snatcher... *Hic!*"

Go Bok-gil's voice trailed off.

Or rather, he swallowed his words.

But he had no choice.

The moment Cao Cao was mentioned.

Swoosh!

Rumble!

A powerful energy suddenly swept through the underground dungeon like a crashing wave.

Under the weight of that overwhelming aura, Go Bok-gil's face turned paper-white, drained of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all color.

Jeok-un slowly turned his head to look down the dark corridor.

There, a figure was gradually taking shape in the shadows.

"I did not expect us to meet like this—"

As a voice tightly suppressing deep rage echoed through the space.

The crafty hero of a chaotic era.

And the undisputed second-in-command of Sadocheon.

"Pleasure to meet you, Leader of the White Night Squad."

The Vice Lord, Do Ye-cheon, stood there, fully unleashing his overwhelming presence.