#188. Rewriting the Sichuan Blood Cult Incident (8)
“What in the world are you……”
The branch chief stared at me with a look like water had splashed onto his fresh new clothes from a passing cart. Well, I could understand that reaction. To those loyal to the Murim Alliance, the peace and safety of the jianghu was a value worth selling their souls to protect.
I'd been the same way in my past life. But wasn't suffering through that naive bullshit once enough?
The branch chief's face, which had been plastered with a forced smile until now, was tinged with faint contempt and disgust. Since my true feelings were already out in the open anyway, I met his gaze with shameless impudence.
“Of course, I want to protect the peace and safety of the jianghu more than anyone.”
“Then why do your words and actions not match?”
“Of course I'd love to, but sending a letter to Hero Bang isn't exactly a simple task, is it?”
“You can just use the warriors from the branch for that.”
Why is this guy so dense? If he hadn't won his position through gambling, he'd know exactly what I was getting at.
“Hero Bang doesn't particularly like Murim Alliance warriors. That's why we need a spe-cial method to send the letter. And that ain't something you can settle with pocket change.”
“What do you……”
“Ah! You wouldn't know even if I told you. It's a special method only us nokrim folks use.”
At this point, the branch chief seemed to catch on, rolling his eyes around suspiciously.
“……I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were known for your righteousness and sincerity, someone more dedicated to justice than anyone.”
But reluctant to just hand it over, he started with the personal attacks. The easiest way to provoke someone when the situation turned against you. Guess he really hadn't won the position gambling after all.
Except he was missing something. As a former Small Justice Squad member, I didn't have any “personal” vulnerabilities to attack.
“I'm just as sincere about realizing justice as anyone. Otherwise, why would I come all the way to this distant Sichuan to save academy students from the Jeomcheongpa, people who've been pretending to be my enemies until now?”
“……”
Besides, given my demonstrated feats, even the branch chief couldn't easily slander me. His face soon darkened like a sucker realizing the gambling table he sat at was rigged.
Alright, momentum had swung back my way.
“Of course, I'd love to help like a mere weed in the wind. But since sending the letter is so difficult, what can I do?”
“Hah…… A special method for the letter?”
“Yep. A very special one, so it costs a pretty penny.”
“……”
As I made a helpless expression, the branch chief asked with murderous eyes.
“What do you want?”
Perfect, he was hooked. I replied calmly.
“A thousand taels of silver and horses for my group to ride.”
“Wha—?!”
The branch chief let out a strangled gasp.
“A thousand taels…… That's absurd enough, but never mind that—what the hell do you need horses for?”
“I have to make a request to Hero Bang, but if my mind and body are uneasy, that unease will seep into the letter, won't it?”
“……”
The branch chief now stared at me openly like I was a con artist. How rude. We're all just people hoping for the jianghu's peace.
“……Are you sure you can persuade Bang Du-chil?”
“Ask the dangju about my relationship with Hero Bang.”
The Seungho Dangju, who had been watching slack-jawed, snapped out of it and spoke gravely.
“……He said he hadn't planned to come to Sichuan at all. He only stopped by because of Jin Sowoon's request……”
“……”
Even with the dangju's testimony, the branch chief didn't drop his suspicion. No need to force trust in a situation like this. Instead……
Screeech—
I stood up without hesitation.
“What, why are you suddenly getting up?”
“Doesn't this make you uncomfortable too, Branch Chief? My request to Hero Bang is quite burdensome as well. If it's not urgent, it'd be better for me if you found another way.”
Just make him convince himself to trust me.
“W-Wait!”
The branch chief grabbed my sleeve like a man desperate for the last spring painting scroll.
“Give me some time? To gather funds from the branch……”
“Eek! How could you say that? You want me to take Murim Alliance money and give it to nokrim? Absolutely not.”
“Th-Then……?”
I smiled brightly at the branch chief.
“Obviously, you'll have to dip into your own pockets, Branch Chief—someone so sincere about the jianghu's peace.”
“……”
“……Then I'll be going……”
“Ehehe! You rascal! Why so impatient? Wait a moment! I'll check the bills and be right back.”
As the branch chief bolted into the inner room, silence filled the room.
A thousand taels…… What should I spend it on? Maybe build Jang Dowon's forge bigger? Would that make the Cheokgwanggeom come out faster?
As I savored the lingering scent of the Gun-san Chamber incense, Gu Jeongryong asked.
“……What the hell are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know how hard we worked to cover up your weakness? And now you go and provoke the branch chief like this!”
To Gu Jeongryong, it must've looked like I was sticking my neck in and out of the guillotine.
“Dangju, how many times have you been passed over for promotion to daedangju?”
“What?”
Gu Jeongryong flinched at the sudden question.
“At your age, shouldn't you be daedangju by now? Or do you have too much attachment to Seungho Dang?”
“……”
Gu Jeongryong grimaced like I'd stabbed him in the side.
“If not that, then why does Seungho Dang's dangju—the pinnacle of Cheongryong Pavilion's martial prowess—keep slipping up on promotions?”
“What does this have to do with our current talk?”
Everything. It all boiled down to relationships with people.
The reason the Jeomcheong disciple branch chief was calling me “sogaib” and treating me with utmost courtesy was because he needed something important from me. If the Sichuan Blood Cult incident hadn't happened, he'd have flipped out upon hearing about my nokrim ties and thrown me in prison right away.
Even now, when he needed me, it was the same. Even if I helped him via Bang Du-chil now, would he be grateful? Once the Blood Cult mess ended, he'd use me as a stepping stone for his promotion without a second thought.
High positions in the Murim Alliance grew like trees fertilized by the blood and flesh of many.
So I couldn't just help him for free. If I did, I had to make him stick his neck out too. A ridiculous sum like a thousand taels for one letter would prevent him from backpedaling later.
To the Inspection Hall folks, would I—the one sending the letter to Bang Du-chil—look suspicious? Or would the branch chief, who handed over a thousand taels for such a request, look suspicious?
“……Hah, th-that's going too far, isn't it? A thousand taels isn't pocket change……”
“Of course not.”
“It's not an amount a branch chief's monthly salary can cover.”
I tilted my head.
“Monthly salary?”
“Then where would a Jeomcheong disciple get that kind of money?”
Wow, this guy was really naive. Didn't he know a competent branch chief could build a fifty-room palace in his first year?
No point explaining it a hundred times.
“Well…… Let's see it once.”
By the time I finished the last of the Gun-san Chamber incense, the branch chief came rushing back, panting. His hands were stuffed with crisp bills.
“Luckily, I had some exchanged bills ready. How fortunate. Now you have no issue sending the letter, right?”
I shrugged at Gu Jeongryong and replied to the branch chief.
“I know this sounds a bit odd, but you can consider the nokrim strongholds already dug tunnels and vanished.”
Bang Du-chil must've squeezed the chaju pretty hard. They'd skip their tolls just from one letter.
“Ooh! R-Really? Then no need to worry.”
“Just stretch out your legs and sleep easy—the Sichuan problem will sort itself out.”
“What a relief! It's really a relief having someone like you!”
Having shelled out the massive sum of a thousand taels, the branch chief beamed like he'd hit the jackpot. Gu Jeongryong eyed him with utter incomprehension.
So naive. I called back the branch chief, who was grinning like a child.
“Oh, and can I ask one personal favor?”
The branch chief's smile vanished, replaced by suspicious eyes.
“You're not saying the money's short now, are you?”
“Of course not.”
I glanced at Gu Jeongryong, sitting there like a sack of barley.
“I've received so much help from Seungho Dangju during this Sichuan business. But I overheard that such an excellent dangju keeps failing promotion reviews?”
Since the situation was set, time to show the Seungho Dangju a bit of “reality.” I'd gotten plenty of help this time too.
“As someone who'll soon join the Murim Alliance to protect the jianghu's peace, this seems unfair. Can't you help, Branch Chief?”
“Hmm……”
The branch chief stroked his chin, then smacked his palm with his fist.
“You're right! That absolutely can't happen! Seungho Dangju, how about a recommendation letter in my name?”
“P-Pardon? Ah, I, of course……”
“Ehei, Branch Chief! A future regional chief shouldn't be so casual.”
“Huh?”
“You are going for regional chief, right?”
The branch chief swallowed hard.
“H-How could I……”
“When I return, I'll at least meet the Mantongbu deputy chief, won't I?”
“……You might even meet the total strategist.”
“Exactly. In front of him, I'll say how your contributions prevented disaster in Sichuan.”
“Ooh?”
“I never forget those who know righteousness and justice.”
The branch chief's eyes glazed over like he'd been hit with sorcery. Even under the Blood Cult's illusion arrays, he'd probably stay more lucid.
“Contact your close branch chief buddies and get a bunch of recommendation letters.”
Gu Jeongryong's eyes bulged. The branch chief nodded eagerly, finding it plausible.
“Yes! That'll definitely boost the evaluation scores. I'll send letters right away to get those recommendations.”
The branch chief now harbored hope not just for keeping his neck but rising to regional chief.
“I'll send letters as fast as possible to pin down Sichuan's nokrim strongholds.”
“Thanks to you, things are falling into place smoothly.”
“You're too kind. It's all thanks to your earnest heart for the jianghu's peace, Branch Chief.”
“You rascal! Words just flow from you, haha! Hahahahaha!”
“Who could match you, Branch Chief! Hahahahaha!”
Everyone was happy, but Gu Jeongryong clearly couldn't adjust.
This guy's promotion's gonna be tough too.
# The academy students' return proceeded swiftly. But they faced several issues.
The first was how to transport the injured from each sect back to the academy. Though it was an Elder Council event, the elders had ditched for the Murim Alliance first, leaving the students like dogs chasing a hen—unable to advance or retreat. Jin Sowoon resolved it.
“The Medical Hall patients? They'll be transported by cart. The severe cases need treatment before moving.”
“Money? Why worry about money? The branch chief agreed to cover it.”
“Ah! It's all settled between me and the branch chief—no need to worry.”
Even within the same Jeongdohoe, factions competed over who rose and who fell. Everyone assumed only Jeomcheong disciples would get preferential treatment, but students from all sects were treated equally.
The second issue was the severe shortage of supplies for the journey. Coming to Sichuan, the Elder Council had lavished pouches of money for fine inns and leisurely boat rides. But heading back to Muhwan, provisions were gone, and no guides either. Just as they feared becoming like orphaned ducklings on the Yangtze, Jin Sowoon eased their worries.
“All academy students will ride horses back. The Mokyeop Escort Bureau will provide guides—no worries.”
“Of course no inn stops. Three meals? Naturally. We'll distribute fairly, so don't worry.”
“Horse fees and escort costs? All on the branch chief. No, me and the branch chief go way back. Don't worry! Hahahahaha!”
Thanks to him, the return burden lightened considerably. Seungho Dang, suddenly saddled with the students after the Elder Council's disappearance, had been overwhelmed. But with Jin Sowoon's help lifting that load, some even pulled out hidden liquor and bantered again.
“……Why the sudden generosity from the Chengdu branch chief?”
Gam Cheonak asked Gu Jeongryong about a puzzle his head couldn't solve.
“……”
“Dangju!”
“Uh, yeah?”
Gu Jeongryong snapped to, glancing around wildly. It was happening again. Since leaving Chengdu these past few days, his state had been off. Zoning out on horseback was routine; he'd smile vacantly mid-bite like a madman.
His condition was so weird that Gam Cheonak even asked Jin Sowoon if it was sorcery, but Jin Sowoon just chuckled and said it was nothing, repeating not to worry.
What the hell happened?
He'd been like this since returning from the branch chief's summons that day, so something must've gone down.
“I asked if you know why the Chengdu branch chief is being so overly generous.”
“Ah…… It's nothing. The branch chief owes Jin Sowoon a debt.”
“A debt……?”
A Murim Alliance branch chief's position rivaled a county magistrate's. The wealth pouring in just from sitting there was unimaginable—yet he owed a single academy student?
“He passed a request to the Sichuan Seventy-Two Nokrim Strongholds' chaju to hold back during the Alliance event.”
“……”
“According to Jin Sowoon, depending on how this Blood Cult crisis ends, the branch chief's head could roll or not.”
Gu Jeongryong mimed slicing his throat, and Gam Cheonak's face stiffened.
“……Did Jin Sowoon accept that?”
“Huh? Yeah, he did.”
“……We're fucked.”
“……Huh? Fucked how?”
Gam Cheonak lowered his voice.
“Don't we have to visit the Inspection Hall the moment we return?”
“……What are you talking about?”
“Get a grip, Dangju. The opponent's the Chengdu branch chief. You think he'll let Jin Sowoon's ties to the nokrim—especially Black Dragon Stronghold—slide?”
Gam Cheonak glanced around and continued softly.
“……Probably. The second Sichuan wraps up, Jin Sowoon'll be dragged to the Inspection Hall.”
Gu Jeongryong scowled deeply. But Gam Cheonak, not reading the mood, stayed serious.
“I thought Jin Sowoon would hide it thoroughly…… How could he be so reckless……”
“……”
“Dangju, to avoid getting dragged in, we need to go to the Inspection Hall first.”
Unaware or not of the urgency, Gu Jeongryong smacked his lips like he'd tasted bile and stared ahead.
“Dangju!”
Prodded by Gam Cheonak, Gu Jeongryong finally exploded.
“This is total bullshit!”
“……Pardon?”
“You bastard, you're gonna report Jin Sowoon to the Inspection Hall over some bullshit 'rumor' about being Black Dragon Stronghold chaju? And you think you qualify as Seungho Dang budangju?”
“……”
What the hell is this guy saying? Didn't he hear? Jin Sowoon, Black Dragon Stronghold chaju, even took command of Hwahwam Stronghold. And suddenly it's a “rumor”?
Bang Du-chil's voice had been loud enough—some in Sichuan must've heard. So why was the dangju suddenly defending Jin Sowoon?
A tongue-click sounded over Gam Cheonak's puzzled head.
“Wow…… For your own safety, comrades who shared life and death mean nothing? You'll stab me in the back someday too? Huh?”
Fuck, what the hell?
Before Gam Cheonak could process, Gu Jeongryong whipped around and yelled to the Seungho Dang members.
“Guys, this punk wants to report Jin Sowoon to the Inspection Hall.”
His voice echoed, and those who'd gone with Jin Sowoon for pasaje-ryeong charged at Gam Cheonak.
“That fucking budangju, I knew it!”
“That bastard's face screams traitor. No more sword formations with him.”
“No wonder my mom said not to hang with him.”
“Let's impeach the budangju and elect Jin Sowoon instead!”
“Elect him! Elect him!”
Gam Cheonak, struck by impeachment lightning from a clear sky, had no clue what was happening.