#150. Those with Black Masks (9)
With the matter settled, we decided to take our vacation as promised. The gold-silver-bronze trio—Geum Pyo, Eunho, and Dongryong—dressed in the outfits we'd prepared for the first day. The kids, who had never worn such fine clothes before, moved around stiffly with their backs ramrod straight and chests puffed out awkwardly, drawing laughs from the passersby.
Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and Hong Saryeon strolled the streets in the same dazzling, beautiful attire they'd worn before. Their outfits outshone even the vibrant night streets of Akyang, turning the heads of every man around and making them the objects of envy. A few flashy playboys approached the three women with smiles.
"If it's alright with you ladies, may I escort you tonight?"
"I'm the eldest son of the Nam family. No need to worry—I'm no shady character."
"Come on, what's the harm? Let's have some fun together."
These self-important types tried to drag them off, flaunting their status or martial prowess. But before Namgung Seonhwa or Seong Moran could reveal their backgrounds or lift a hand, the gold-silver-bronze brothers stepped in to block them.
"Get lost, you brats!"
"Who do you punks think you are?"
"Do you even know who I am?!"
The three brothers turned to me at the same time, their eyes asking what to do. I answered firmly.
"When have I ever told you to pick and choose your opponents?"
It didn't take long. The trio's simultaneous Cartoon Invincible Fists sent their foes flying three zhang through the air without any proper defense, crashing them into a nearby stall. Once we'd swatted away those flies, no more playboys buzzed around.
"Akyang feels noisier than usual tonight," Seong Moran remarked.
She was right—the atmosphere in Akyang was off. Even with the moon high in the sky, groups of warriors in martial robes moved about, and screams or the glow of fires rose from areas far from the entertainment district.
"With the mountain tiger gone, they're just fighting over the empty throne now."
Once it came out that Yuwol Gate was behind the kidnappings in Akyang, Jeomcheong's influence had shrunk overnight. They declared they wouldn't forgive anyone trying to exploit the situation for personal gain, but with their claim to ruling Akyang shattered, no one paid them any mind.
Then, centered around Heukbu Palace and Mukhyeol Hall, the unorthodox factions rose up. Their first target was, naturally, Yuwol Gate. The group had amassed a fortune under Jeomcheong's protection and effectively served as their Akyang branch, making it prime prey no black path faction could ignore.
But Jeomcheong wasn't about to let others steal their spoon. Less than a day after the incident, they raided Yuwol Gate, erasing it from history.
Deprived of that juicy meal, the black path factions turned to other prey. With even Wudang and Jeomcheong pushed out, Akyang was a power vacuum. No faction wanted to miss this chance.
"Still, it's a shame. Not just Yuwol Gate's wealth, but the chance to claim lordship over Akyang's massive trade hub."
"How about Iron Sword Sect expands into Akyang this time?"
"What? Don't talk nonsense."
Indeed, you don't bite off more than you can chew. Ignoring the commotion around us, we headed to the docks. And there, we ran into some unexpected faces.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
They looked just as flustered to see us here, staring with awkward expressions. I spoke first.
"This doesn't seem like a place for a monk."
"……."
Ilgak of Shaolin Temple. He was waiting for a boat at the docks alongside members of the Jeongdo Council, the righteous affiliates of the Murim Alliance.
# In my past life, the moments I enjoyed most were when I'd catch someone in their shame and watch them squirm. In those instants, no matter how much I mocked or sneered, they could only clench their fists helplessly. Punching me would expose their pettiness; ignoring me was as good as admitting guilt. It was the one chance a powerless me had to toy with superiors. And even after I grew strong, that thrill never faded.
"Ho ho, do monks these days spread the Dharma even in pleasure quarters?"
"……."
"Well, the Buddha's grace reaches everywhere, so I suppose there's no reason you couldn't come here. My apologies for the rudeness."
"……We're just here for a regular meeting."
"Even so, with a monk among you, you'd think they'd show some consideration…… Does the Jeongdo Council not care about Shaolin at all?"
As I spoke, the other righteous members' faces began to stiffen one by one. I savored the moment. Watching them debate whether to act or hold back was always fresh and exhilarating.
"To think the Jeongdo Council worries about Murim's future in a place like this—it must be quite the lively gathering. If I'd known, I would've joined sooner."
"……."
Ilgak's face darkened like ink. He might end up in hell at this rate.
"Monk, I have one burning question."
As I fired off my one-sided query, the righteous members' gazes gathered.
"How do you endure holding meetings in a brothel?"
"……This little shit's gone too far."
One Jeongdo member next to Ilgak stepped forward in fury. Ilgak blocked him with a stiff expression, desperately changing the subject.
"What brings the academy representative here?"
"Unlike the Jeongdo Council, we're here on vacation."
"……I see."
Ilgak tried to turn away. No way I'd let him slip off that easily.
"You didn't answer my question. Do you count brothel meetings as part of your training?"
"……."
The righteous members could bear it no longer, their killing intent rising. Our group matched it with our own hostility, turning the dockside atmosphere tense enough for battle to erupt any second.
"What a wicked tongue on this child."
A deep voice rang out, and the righteous members withdrew their killing intent in unison. Even Ilgak, with his rigid face at the front, stepped aside and bowed politely.
"They say he's a divine child raised by the black path Murim. Seems the rumors are true."
A bald middle-aged man in the same robes as Ilgak. I'd never seen him in this life, but he looked no different from my past one.
"Do you let such baseless rumors sway you, monk?"
"Do you know who I am and still speak like that?"
Geumbul Hye-seong. The current abbot's junior brother and leader of the Vajra Brigade. His influence in the Murim Alliance was immense, making him a key figure steering the Jeongdo Council.
"Who in Murim doesn't know Abbot Hye-seong?"
"Sharp eyes to match that mouth, young friend."
"Thank you for the praise."
"But you haven't answered my question. They say you're deeply tied to the black path Murim. Is that true?"
"Tae-eul Gate has been a blood ally of the Murim Alliance for five hundred years, never once straying from the 108 Peaks."
"That's precisely why it's suspicious. If you're raising spies, where better than Tae-eul Gate? Especially with your sect's martial arts advancing by leaps and bounds lately."
Hye-seong spoke with a faint smile. His unshakable mind, honed over decades, combined with Alliance politics, made him a master of mental fortitude no ordinary official could match.
'Still weak compared to the Small Justice Squad, though.' Those guys were less warriors and more criminals. I'd been rubbed raw by them for years.
I turned serious. "Are you insulting Elder Sword Breaker?"
"……Pardon?"
"Elder Sword Breaker clearly acknowledged it as the Tae-eul Sword Emperor's arts…… Yet you call it black path techniques? Moyong family won't stand for that."
"……."
Hye-seong's smile twitched.
"I'll have to send an urgent missive. Wonder if Elder Sword Breaker will let it slide."
"……You think Shaolin fears the Moyong family?"
"Would the mighty Shaolin? But you must find Elder Sword Breaker frightening, don't you?"
Laughter leaked from my group at my words. The kind you can't hold back no matter how hard you try.
Hye-seong composed himself. "Quite the brazen one."
"Thank you."
His freshly schooled expression crumpled again.
"So, you're here for a boat?"
"I promised my group the best vacation ever."
"Then why not join ours, as we discussed? The Jeongdo Council's boat has plenty of room."
He pointed to the large two-story roofed ship waiting for them—the whole thing chartered by the Council.
"Impressive clout for the Jeongdo Council. Grateful for the offer, but we'll pass. We've already chartered ours."
"Better than some dinghy, no?"
"It's no dinghy. Ah, here it comes."
I pointed to the massive cruise ship approaching the dock. Four stories tall.
"We paid top coin for it, so it'd be a waste. If you'd like, why don't the Jeongdo Council join us?"
Hye-seong's face twisted like he'd tasted shit. A truly refreshing sight.
#
Our group buzzed with excitement aboard the cruise ship, unable to calm down for a while. No other vessel on Dongting Lake shone as brilliantly, and we had it all to ourselves.
"Is this really okay, Jin Gongja?" Seong Moran asked suddenly, after sighing over Dongting Lake's night view.
"What do you mean?"
"Jeomcheong didn't face justice in the end. And the Jeongdo Council's still strutting around."
"Ah…… That. Of course it's fine."
"Pardon?"
"Everyone who needs to know already does—about this incident. That Jeomcheong was behind it."
"Right."
"And they know Yuwol Gate was sacrificed too. From now on, Jeomcheong's affiliates will play a brutal game of watch-and-wait. Stay loyal or jump ship?"
"But they still have Jeomcheong's name……."
"Sure. For now, pretending ignorance and staying put is safer. But after the second or third scandal, they'll have no reason left to cling."
"You think there'll be more?"
"Why not?"
I gazed at the star-like ships dotting Dongting Lake.
"A behemoth like Jeomcheong doesn't fall to one or two corrupt souls. It's already a massive organism."
"So what's your plan?"
"Simple. Crush it bit by bit, step by step, savoring every moment."
"Jeomcheong?"
I turned to Seong Moran. "Jeomcheong and anyone else."
"……I really can't figure you out, Jin Gongja."
She shook her head.
"Still, Yuwol Gate's hoard wasn't chump change. Sucks that Jeomcheong gobbled it all. Though it was theirs to begin with."
Namgung Seonhwa cut in swiftly as our talk wrapped up, looking uneasy like she didn't belong.
"Jin Gongja-nim. Is…… is this okay?"
She pointed at the floor.
"Feels like we're the only ones on this ship."
"Didn't I tell you? If we're gonna play, we play big."
"Even so…… this is too much. Just us on a ship this huge."
Even the great Namgung Seonhwa had never splurged like this. She was right—I'd chartered Dongting Lake's largest vessel. But we weren't entirely alone.
"Oh? Feeling left out? Forgot about me?"
Hae-ryeong appeared with those words. The gold-silver-bronze brothers, who'd been devouring food like mad after hearing there were no limits, froze and stared.
Her ornate golden crown and flowing silk robes suited the opulent ship better than anyone else's.
"Lady Hae-ryeong……."
"Manbin Hall Lord……."
"……."
Not just Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa—even Hong Saryeon, seeing her for the first time, gaped in awe.
"Everything's been handled, Jin Gongja-nim."
"As expected."
"Shall we enjoy the feast after the work's done?"
"Sounds good."
My group tilted their heads, confused by our exchange. I looked at Seong Moran.
"You said it was a shame Jeomcheong took Yuwol Gate's wealth?"
"Uh? Yeah……."
"Join us now, and you won't think that."
"Huh?"
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa exchanged puzzled glances. We headed to the ship's lower decks. Hae-ryeong led us through warehouses stacked with goods, and we followed.
After navigating the maze, we reached one storage room. The group's jaws dropped.
"……Why is that guy here?"