First Mission
Yi Jinpyeong returned to the inner courtyard. He couldn't help but snort in amusement.
It was because he saw the Hwang Sabang warriors still kowtowing on the ground without fleeing. He'd glimpsed it earlier in passing but hadn't paid much mind. But now it was different. The sight of them lined up in perfect rows and columns, heads to the dirt, was quite the spectacle.
Leading them at the front was Gang Ryong. The intent behind his uncommanded action was clear—even in his tattered state, worse off than anyone else.
"Rise."
At his word, they all sprang to their feet. Sweat dripped from their bodies, and those who'd been wounded by him were covered head to toe in blood. But Yi Jinpyeong's voice remained ice-cold.
"Who told you lot to stand?"
Everyone but one dropped back to their knees in an instant. Gang Ryong, left awkwardly standing alone, made a miserable face and spoke.
"Young master. The truth is, these guys—"
"Enough."
Yi Jinpyeong cut him off. He glanced toward the wide-open middle gate. A thick stench of blood wafted from the dozens of sprawled corpses inside. Amid the carnage, his brothers slept soundly.
"If I'd set my mind to it, none of you would've scaled that wall. But I didn't."
The Hwang Sabang warriors didn't dare reply. His words rang with undeniable truth—especially after witnessing how he'd moved inside, slaughtering their comrades.
"Do you know why you're still alive?"
"......"
"Because you're mediocre."
Yi Jinpyeong continued. He'd killed off anyone even remotely threatening early on—the first to charge, the first to flee, the vicious ones, even those trying to coast by watching and waiting. Anyone who'd dared lay a hand on his brothers amid the chaos? They'd died in agony.
"...So you survived because you're average. Mediocre skill, middling loyalty. No courage to charge first, no cowardice to bolt at the start. Even your escape was half-assed. And now here you are, kowtowing to that bear of a man."
Cold sweat trickled down Gang Ryong's back. He couldn't predict where this unpredictable young master's words would lead.
"But surviving on mediocrity ends today."
"....!"
"Yi Gajang will become the greatest under heaven once more, just as it was in the distant past. Mediocrity has no place in the world's top clan. You must grow stronger than anyone, bond tighter than anyone. I don't care how you've scraped by until now—steel yourselves from here on."
With that, Yi Jinpyeong brushed past them into the corpse-strewn courtyard.
Gang Ryong blinked. He didn't fully grasp the words, but it was clear the young master had no intention of killing the men who'd trusted him enough to kowtow.
Yi Jinpyeong's voice echoed from beyond the wall.
"Clean this up!"
"Yes, sir!"
Gang Ryong bellowed back. He waved his hand, rousing his remaining subordinates. As they scrambled into the compound...
One bucktoothed youth grabbed his arm and asked cautiously.
"Supervisor. Does this mean we're part of Yi Gajang now?"
"What're you on about?"
"That... that guy just said to steel ourselves from now on..."
Gang Ryong got it. Ah. So that's what he meant.
"Guess so."
"'Guess so'? Just like that, all willy-nilly?"
"You got a better option, punk?"
"...No."
"Then hustle!"
The hairy warrior Gang Ryong glanced back before stepping into the courtyard. Traces of his former boss, the Hwang Sabang leader, crawling and begging for his life.
A man's man, Gang Ryong. He'd upheld his loyalty—no regrets.
He steeled himself and strode forward.
Jingang and Jinun. His two brothers were still unconscious. They blacked out for a full half-day from a single hit—truly frail and frustrating.
But right now, it was a blessing. No good would come from them seeing the corpses and bloodstains everywhere.
The former Hwang Sabang men (now willy-nilly Yi Gajang family) moved with surprising efficiency. He'd ordered them to scrub every corner of the compound while they were at it, then told Gang Ryong to fetch the sharpest mind among the survivors.
Soon enough, Gang Ryong dragged in a skinny bucktoothed kid.
Yi Jinpyeong eyed the bowing youth with displeasure.
"You look young. How old?"
"Seventeen!"
"Hey. You bring the right guy? Kid looks like the blood on his scalp's still wet."
Gang Ryong blinked.
"Huh. You just thought, 'He's barely out of diapers himself...'"
"N-no, sir! And he's the smartest in Hwang Sabang!"
"...Yeah?"
"No doubt. The old chief steward couldn't have done squat without him. But they just used him up because of his age, then strutted around taking all the credit."
"Good. You're Yi Gajang's acting chief steward from now on."
The bucktoothed youth froze, clearly flustered at the sudden appointment. Swallowing Hwang Sabang whole was haphazard enough—now this too?
Gang Ryong, equally thrown, piped up.
"Wait, then the chain of command's messed up. What about me...?"
"You keep doing whatever dodu-or-thief thing you do. Handle the muscle and the kids. Let this one deal with the brainy stuff. You're not the thinking type, right?"
"Misunderstanding! This man Gang Ryong's got some smarts too—"
"Bucktooth. Your take?"
"Spot-on insight. Supervisor Gang's got action and loyalty in spades. The rest... not so much."
"See? Even his word choice is classy. You're hired."
Yi Jinpyeong sat them down and grilled them on Hwang Sabang's power structure, assets, everything. The sun was already dipping low. His pathetic body screamed exhaustion, but he had no intention of slacking or delaying.
According to the bucktoothed kid, Hwang Sabang ranked around 70th-80th among the hundred-odd factions on Dongjeong Lake. Leader Seo Dongrip wielded absolute power, backed by a handful of skilled retainers besides Supervisor Gang Ryong.
Yi Jinpyeong skimmed their profiles—yep, the first to charge him, the vicious ones, the sleazy types who'd targeted his brothers. All cold corpses now...
The core leadership wiped out? Perfect for him. No messy takeovers needed.
Out of sixty-plus members, over thirty dead. Half stayed with Gang Ryong, now Yi Gajang men.
The debrief dragged on. Yi Jinpyeong frowned at the main business: a few gambling dens.
"Gambling joints. Not fitting for Yi Gajang's dignity."
No time for pride, but no reason to keep those either. The other assets and the downtown back-alley HQ? Meh.
He needed different things right now.
"Bucktooth. What's your name?"
"Gwak Yeonyong."
"Good. Acting Chief Steward Gwak Yeonyong—your first mission. Head back to Hwang Sabang now and liquidate all assets."
"All assets... right now?"
"Yeah. Wrap it by tonight."
Gwak Yeonyong and Gang Ryong gaped. Swallow a whole faction, then dump its hard-built businesses overnight?
The bucktoothed youth rolled his eyes, then ventured carefully.
"Tricky. Finding buyers that fast is hard, and rushing means big losses."
"Your problem. Show me what a chief steward can do."
Gwak Yeonyong was speechless. The young master's face said no joke.
"Don't care if you take a hit. Time's the issue. Sell everything by midnight, then snag an elixir by morning."
"Elixir? For inner energy?"
"Yeah. Black market dives must have a couple. Jinwon Sogi Dan ideal, but probably not. Something decent like Ikgihwan or Cheonggi Dan works. Use every coin—get the top-grade stuff."
"...Understood."
"Might be risky, so go with Gang Ryong. Supervisor Gang—up for it?"
"Yessir!"
Gang Ryong boomed, despite being battered from the boss's beating. No whining about orders. Exactly why Yi Jinpyeong wanted him in Yi Gajang.
The perfect type for his busy path.
Gang Ryong and Gwak Yeonyong set off with determined faces for their first mission—or errand.
"Wait—one thing I forgot."
Yi Jinpyeong called them back gravely. Gwak Yeonyong tensed. Haphazard family or not, they'd been enemies moments ago. No oaths, no initiation. Entrusting them with this? Insane. What if they plotted, pocketed the cash, and bolted? Threats to kill hostages? Feed them slow-acting gu poison?
But Yi Jinpyeong, utterly unfazed as if betrayal was impossible, puffed deeply on the pipe (once Gang Ryong's) and said casually,
"If there's change, grab some fine tobacco. This stuff's garbage."
"...Yes, sir."
The round puff of smoke from Yi Jinpyeong nudged their backs.
Yi Gajang's new Supervisor Gang Ryong. Acting Chief Steward Gwak Yeonyong. Off on their first mission—or errand.