Chapter 39: Detention
He leaped back up to the third floor through the hole in the roof. Gang Ryong and Gwak Yeonyong greeted him.
"Young master. Where have you been? And who is that woman···?"
Yi Jinpyeong glanced down at the woman tucked under his arm. Too lazy to explain, he gave a vague reply.
"Something like that."
"No way. Young master! Your brothers haven't even gone yet, and you're already thinking of getting married···!"
"Brother Gang. Get a grip. She looks like a courtesan at first glance—what marriage are you talking about?"
"If your hearts match, what does occupation matter? Besides, this man Gang Ryong can tell at a glance! That slender figure, that graceful neckline—she's undoubtedly a peerless beauty!"
While his two subordinates bickered, Yi Jinpyeong set the woman down on the floor. The black gauze veil slipped off smoothly, revealing her face. He'd carefully readjusted the skin mask, worried it might cause issues if her real face was exposed.
Gang Ryong and Gwak Yeonyong stared at that face. They exchanged glances and let out deep groans.
"Young master. Is your taste perhaps···?"
"···"
Yi Jinpyeong rubbed his throbbing temples. He eyed the two idiots looking at him with concern.
"Have you ever heard of factions that use demonic arts?"
"Pardon? Demonic arts?"
"Yeah. Like the old Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
Gwak Yeonyong, the chief steward, wore a confused expression. Gang Ryong looked just as baffled.
"I've vaguely heard of them··· but weren't they wiped out a hundred years ago? Why are you suddenly asking about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
"...Never mind if you don't know."
Gwak Yeonyong was fairly sharp and knowledgeable, but he was still just a guy who'd circled around Dongjeong Lake his whole life. No way he'd know about the Demonic Cult, based far off in the western regions. Besides, they'd been brutally crushed by the Orthodox Alliance a century ago and vanished without a trace.
Yi Gyeol had played a pivotal role in that back in his youth, which was why Yi Jinpyeong knew so much about demonic arts.
Still, how does this woman know demonic arts? Is the Demonic Cult stirring again?
It was demonic arts, sure, but only at the initial stage. From her reactions, she seemed like someone's underling. He wasn't certain if the Dongbeonhoe was truly tied to the Demonic Cult.
This isn't something to brush off lightly.
Whether the Demonic Cult was truly reviving or just remnants lingered—interrogating her would uncover some clues. And if the Demonic Cult was rising again? He'd just crush them once more. Simple as that.
"By the way, what happened to that Yeom Dal bastard? There was a pretty loud thud earlier. Did he really die?"
"Ah, he just fainted briefly. Worried he might run again, we tied him up tight downstairs."
"Good. That's unfortunate for him—and fortunate for us."
"Yes."
Gwak Yeonyong asked, "How do you plan to handle Pung Gaekru? Are you really taking half the shares?"
"Gwak Yeonyong. What do you think?"
The bucktoothed steward pondered briefly before replying cautiously. "From how you handled Hwang Sabang, I took it you dislike the Yi Family being publicly tied to these kinds of businesses."
By "these kinds," he meant shady ventures like gambling dens and brothels.
Yi Jinpyeong nodded. "Right."
"Then how about I negotiate—or threaten—Yeom Dal to squeeze out assets equivalent to half the shares and cut ties cleanly? They won't have that much in liquid funds, so we might recover a bit less than expected."
"Less money? That's a problem."
"If Pung Gaekru grows further, we'd miss out, but avoiding the Yi Family name linking to a brothel makes sense now. We also have to consider Chwi Hwa Bang in the middle."
"Why should I care about Chwi Hwa Bang?"
Yi Jinpyeong scowled. He'd been thinking of swallowing Chwi Hwa Bang in one go if the chance arose. He couldn't fathom why Gwak Yeonyong, who seemed to understand him well, would bring them up.
The steward bowed his head hastily. "I absolutely trust your martial prowess, young master. My only concern is··· you're clashing with too many factions too quickly."
"Hm···"
"Dongbeonhoe and Jang Gapae still aren't fully settled. Chwi Hwa Bang isn't pushovers either. And with rumors about you spreading, more challengers will come to the Yi Family. Even if you're unconcerned, the rest of us can't back you up properly. How can you roam the Central Plains freely like that?"
Yi Jinpyeong nodded. The steward's worries aligned with his own past concerns. Of course, he prioritized rapid growth over nitpicking details right now···
"Knowing when to push speed and when to be cautious is crucial. Damn hard too. If a guy like Gang Dal were a bit more reliable, we wouldn't need these headaches."
"Y-Yes! I'll get stronger soon!"
Gang Ryong stiffened under the sudden icy glare, straightening his back ramrod straight.
"Anyway, tell me everything you know about the Chwi Hwa Bang leader."
"The Chwi Hwa Bang leader is Nak Pung-hyeon. Born and raised in these back alleys. From birth to now, he's been tangled with courtesans, booze peddlers, and thugs—back-alley incarnate. But his temperament differs from typical street rats. As I mentioned before, his martial skill aside, he's sharp in business and draws people effortlessly. Just look at how Pung Gaekru exploded under Chwi Hwa Bang's wing—from a nothing tavern to this."
"Hmph. Still just a guy pimping out women with nowhere else to go."
"It's his birthplace, so he followed the path naturally. From what I've heard, he's no one content to stay in the shadows."
Yi Jinpyeong stroked his chin. First time hearing Gwak Yeonyong praise someone like this.
Fair enough. Not every back-alley rat is rotten to the core.
Gwak Yeonyong and Gang Ryong were ex-Hwang Sabang, third-rate gambling crew. Even those three Chwi Hwa Bang warriors who'd jumped him earlier had decent talent and attitude.
"Gwak Yeonyong. We'll do it your way this time. No seizing Pung Gaekru by force."
"Thank you."
The steward bowed deeply.
"Anyway, squeeze Yeom Dal for all he's worth. How much you get determines how strong the Yi Family grows. Gang Ryong needs a taste of spirit pills too."
"Uwaaaah! This man finally gets spirit pills!"
Gang Ryong's eyes bulged as he thundered down the stairs. Gwak Yeonyong scrambled after him.
"Brother Gang! W-Wait! You can't just threaten recklessly!"
Alone on the third floor, Yi Jinpyeong sat and sipped his drink. The room was trashed from dozens of warriors clashing, but that didn't ruin the booze.
"You look lonely. Need a drinking buddy?"
The woman he'd thought unconscious spoke up. Her voice had softened from its earlier venom.
"Don't try any tricks."
"With my legs shattered, how could I?"
"You'd find a way. Poison the drink, blow a hidden weapon in my ear."
"You really lack trust in people."
"I trust the trustworthy. Not you. And you're ruining the taste—shut it."
She actually shut up. From downstairs came Gang Ryong's bellows, Gwak Yeonyong pounding the table, Yeom Dal sniveling. Perfect side dish; the booze tasted great.
She spoke again. "Good subordinates you've got."
"'Cause I'm a good boss."
Kick. She laughed. Short, but pleasant.
"You're a strange one··· Boyish on the outside, but you handle people like a seasoned beast."
"You see right. So don't get cocky."
"Beating a beautiful woman's face without mercy. First man to treat me like this."
"Spouting third-rate romance novel lines. One more word of nonsense and—"
"Except the man who taught me demonic arts and sent me to Dongjeong Lake."
Yi Jinpyeong paused mid-sip. He turned to her. Her eyes, veiled in translucent black gauze, stared straight back.
"So Dongbeonhoe isn't your real affiliation. Who is it? That man."
"Curious? Tell me first. How do you know that martial art? How'd you spot it instantly?"
"You're mistaken. I hold the hilt."
"Whoever holds it, I'm not saying a word till you do. You can kill me, but not break me—you know that now."
True enough. She'd taken the beating, broken bones and all, without a whimper. If she didn't want to talk, what could he do?
But he couldn't just let her go.
"Fine. Dongbeonhoe or whatever—you're detained at the Yi Family for now."
"Perfect timing. I didn't wanna go back like this anyway."
Yi Jinpyeong sighed in exasperation. One worry nagged.
"Just so you know. Don't even think of messing with my brothers."
"Hmph. Your brothers—the two White Bone Heroes? Sorry, but I have tastes too."
"···"
Yi Jinpyeong felt oddly sorry for his bewildered brothers.