Chapter 40
40.
Be Good When I'm Smiling.
Red Monkey was utterly immobilized, his Blood Points sealed and his entire body bound tightly with ropes.
What's more, the location was a truly wretched shed.
Rather than fear, a sigh escaped him. If he had grasped his opponent's personality from the start, he would have fled long ago.
Even in this situation, he ceaselessly pondered what words he could use to appease the unidentified man posing as the Black Cat Clan Leader if he appeared. However, no brilliant ideas came to mind. He had felt a strange sensation when he looked into the unfamiliar eyes up close.
'He doesn't seem like your average madman.'
It was the first time Red Monkey had sensed such extraordinary madness just from looking at someone's eyes. It was also strange that the feeling didn't seem like simple madness.
There was an arrogant feeling mixed with confidence and pride.
There was also a stubborn feeling of someone who wouldn't listen to others.
And that wasn't all. An ambiguity, making it unclear whether he was joking or serious, was mixed not only in his eyes but also in his tone of voice.
In short, Red Monkey's conclusion was that he was no ordinary madman. This wasn't just a judgment based on his eyes; it was a conclusion drawn from having exchanged blows and conversed with him.
However, the one who suddenly appeared in the shed a little later wasn't the fake Black Cat Clan Leader, but Byeok Chief Manager, whom he had seen several times.
Red Monkey felt a sense of foreboding as he opened his mouth.
"Byeok Chief Manager, why are you here?"
Byeok Chief Manager entered and replied.
"Well, I'm here on the Leader's orders. Please forgive my discourtesy."
"If you know it's discourteous, shouldn't you just get lost?"
"Can someone who receives orders do that? I have to do what I'm told."
Following him, people came in, placed a small desk and chair, and then disappeared. Byeok Chief Manager took his seat and took out a thin brush and paper.
Red Monkey asked, startled, "What are you doing?"
Byeok Chief Manager grinned, holding the brush.
"He told me to draw a detailed portrait of Red Monkey Divine General's face. What power does an old man like me have? If I'm told to draw, I have to draw. He's more terrifying than you expect. I'm just carrying out orders, so don't hate me too much."
Red Monkey shouted, "Why my face!"
Suddenly, Byeok Chief Manager looked like a perverted old man to Red Monkey.
Byeok Chief Manager held out the brush, gauging the composition as if to measure it, and replied, "If the Divine General suddenly runs away or doesn't cooperate with the Black Cat Clan's affairs, he says he'll hand over the Appearance Sketch I'm making to the Murim Alliance. Have you heard of the informant system in the Murim Alliance? He'll send it there. I heard you've made a name for yourself as a thief? Stay still. I'll draw you in detail. By the way, I don't know if I should say this..."
"What?"
"Your figure is truly magnificent."
"Shut up!"
Byeok Chief Manager laughed like a Mad Blade, holding the brush.
"Hehehe, I mean as an artistic subject. Don't misunderstand. I'll start now."
"Where are you looking!"
"How can I draw without looking? Just as I draw a mountain when I see a mountain, and water when I see water, I will draw the Divine General."
Red Monkey felt goosebumps all over at Byeok Chief Manager's nonsense.
"Byeok Chief Manager, call Master Myo."
"He's taking a nap and will come when it's time. Don't rush him."
"Hey!"
"Even though you're a Divine General on par with the Leader, I don't feel good about being spoken to informally by someone who's like a granddaughter to me. It's very unpleasant."
"What are you going to do if it's unpleasant?"
Red Monkey blurted out the words according to his temper, then realized his mistake. Byeok Chief Manager threatened Red Monkey with a pitiful expression.
"Shall I draw the Appearance Sketch in the nude?"
"......"
Red Monkey finally shut his mouth. Then Byeok Chief Manager grinned.
"Good. Just kidding. I'll draw it quickly, so don't hate me too much. I have no choice if I want to live."
Byeok Chief Manager held the brush again, carefully examining him as if measuring the lengths, and said, "From the perspective of someone who's lived a long life, let me give you a piece of advice."
"I don't need it."
Even though he said he didn't need it, Byeok Chief Manager chuckled and whispered to Red Monkey in a small voice.
"As you've probably noticed, the Leader you originally served is dead."
Red Monkey swallowed hard and listened to Byeok Chief Manager's words. Byeok Chief Manager's voice sounded eerie, like an eccentric old man guarding an abandoned shrine alone.
"He couldn't even put up a proper resistance and was sent flying into a wall, dying with all the bones in his limbs crushed. There wasn't even time to mourn. Well, I wasn't that sad. I didn't like and serve him that much either. By the way, I saw you got slapped just once earlier... Listen carefully when he's smiling. I haven't figured out the new Leader's personality yet either. To be honest, I expected Red Monkey Divine General to be torn apart and killed. Be good when he's smiling."
Byeok Chief Manager took his eyes off the drawing and stared at Red Monkey.
"Do you understand?"
Red Monkey barely nodded once. Byeok Chief Manager measured the composition again with the thin brush and said in his normal voice, "Good. The pose is perfect. Stay still."
* * *
I had been taking a nap when I woke up to the loud wailing echoing from the training ground. I immediately gave So Gun-pyeong an order and then strode towards the shed.
Red Monkey was sitting there wearing the Black Robe I had given him, with a half-dazed expression.
I looked at Red Monkey and Byeok Chief Manager and said, "What's this? Why is she like this? Did she steal something again?"
Red Monkey replied, "I didn't steal anything. Master, you've arrived."
"Yes."
When I glanced at Byeok Chief Manager's drawing, Byeok Chief Manager asked with a pleased expression, "Leader, what do you think?"
I nodded vigorously.
"You've perfectly captured Hong Sahyung in the drawing. Haha."
"Thank you."
"If Hong Samae acts impudently, make several copies of this drawing and send them not only to the Murim Alliance but also to any sects or families rumored to be catching thieves. A bounty will be placed on her head."
"Of course. I will do so."
"Good. Go see to your work."
"Yes, Leader."
I squatted down and made eye contact with Red Monkey.
"Should I untie you?"
"Yes."
"The Gyeonjeong Blood Point will be released soon anyway, so I can't do that."
Red Monkey said in a resigned tone, "By the way, who are you? Your Martial arts trajectory is different, the characteristics of your movements are different, your voice is different, and your personality is different. Above all, your eyes, the shape of your pupils, and even the corners of your eyes are different from Myo Sahyung."
"Is it because you're a thief? Your observational skills are impressive."
"You can't hide your identity with just a mask. Who are you to be so rude to Daenachal's disciples? Can you handle our Master's wrath?"
"If I were afraid of Daenachal, I wouldn't have started this in the first place. Hong Samae."
"Don't call me Samae."
"You thief."
"Call me Samae. Anyway, fake Sahyung, you're keeping me alive because you want something from me, right? Money is the most important thing in my life. If the amount is sufficient, I can certainly cooperate with fake Sahyung's business."
With those words, Red Monkey smiled coquettishly. I wasn't one to beat around the bush, so I got straight to the point.
"I'm thinking of killing Daenachal."
"......"
Red Monkey's expression suddenly turned dark.
"Daenachal Sabeom is strong. Stronger than the people of the Martial World know. He's hidden his skills well behind his notoriety. I think fake Sahyung's skills are a bit lacking."
"Well, I'll take that minor information into consideration. I'm an honest man. I just need to confirm whether you have any intention of betraying Daenachal or not. I wouldn't believe you even if you said you would betray him right here and now."
"Then what do you want me to do? If you won't believe me even if I say I'll betray him."
"What else? Kill all of the Twelve Divine Generals, or lock them up in this shed and then strike Daenachal. Isn't it right to cut off his limbs first and then carry out the plan?"
"Like Myo Sahyung?"
I stood up and replied, "Should I send you to Rabbit's side too?"
"No. By the way, how long are you going to keep me locked up like this?"
"So Chieftain will soon manufacture a poison and bring it here. I wonder who will eat this poison. Of course, our Hong Samae will eat it."
Red Monkey, whose face had turned pale, tried to appease me.
"Sahyung, please don't do this. Just give me orders instead. I will carry them out thoroughly without betraying you. You've already drawn my Appearance Sketch anyway."
"Yeah. I don't believe you."
After all, you shouldn't trust Heukdo, and you can't trust them. Especially a woman with a thieving habit like this; I knew that every word she uttered was a lie.
At that moment, So Gun-pyeong came in with a black pill placed on a white cloth.
"Leader, this is the Purple Haze Gu Poison you mentioned."
"Feed it to her."
So Gun-pyeong approached without a word, opened Red Monkey's mouth with his hand, and put the Purple Haze Gu Poison in. So Gun-pyeong looked at Red Monkey and asked me, "She's not swallowing it. What should I do?"
"Beat her until she swallows it."
As soon as I finished speaking, Red Monkey swallowed the Purple Haze Gu Poison. Red Monkey said to me with a resigned expression, "Tell me. What do you want?"
Based on what I remembered from the Twelve Divine Generals strategy guide and what I knew from my past life, I gave her an order.
"I'll give you ten days. Come back by then to take the antidote. Kill Baekja, Hwang-o, and Noksul. Why do you think I'm telling you to kill only these three?"
Red Monkey naturally knew the commonality of the three Twelve Divine Generals.
"They're the Divine Generals who have gained notoriety for their atrocities, murder, and robbery. But killing three people within ten days is impossible. Just kill me now."
"Don't say things you don't mean. With your skills, one is enough."
"One person?"
"If you bring me the head of one of the three within ten days, I'll give you the antidote. Let's continue our conversation then. Untie her."
So Gun-pyeong approached and untied the tightly bound ropes. I approached Red Monkey, who was still stiff because I hadn't released his Blood Points, and said, "You've learned thievery, so you know the basics of assassination. Honestly, if you put your mind to it, ten days is enough. Since the Twelve Divine Generals are allowed to have Life-or-Death Martial Duels with each other anyway, you won't be committing a crime worthy of death to Daenachal."
"If Sahyung's skills are sufficient, why don't you kill them yourself?"
"It's inefficient for the commander-in-chief to do what a general can do. Of course, Samae should do it."
I finally released Red Monkey's Blood Points. Red Monkey moved his neck from side to side and replied, "By the way, please tell me your identity. I really have no idea who you are. Did you perhaps come from the Murim Alliance?"
"I'm a Shop Assistant from the neighborhood next door."
So Gun-pyeong, thinking that I had revealed my identity too quickly, quickly looked at me.
"......!"
Red Monkey replied, "You don't intend to tell me. I understand. I'll kill at least one of them and come back, so let's talk again then."
This time, So Gun-pyeong quickly looked at Red Monkey with surprised eyes as Red Monkey gave an unexpected answer.
"......!"
I called out to Red Monkey, who was trying to quickly escape the shed.
"Samae."
"Yes."
"Do you like gambling?"
"I do."
"When is the most thrilling moment in gambling?"
"When you win with long odds."
I tied Red Monkey's interests and life's direction to the long odds of gambling.
"Even though you've eaten the Purple Haze Gu Poison, the decision is yours. You can stick with Daenachal as you are, get the antidote, and reveal my identity. But winning a war against me won't be that rewarding."
Red Monkey turned to look at me.
"What do I gain if fake Sahyung wins?"
"Nothing much."
"There's nothing much, so why should I side with fake Sahyung?"
"You won't have to see the pathetic sight of an old Master asking his disciples to bring him young women, bring him money, kill someone, or steal something anymore."
"It'll be hard to kill them because of the Four Divine Generals and the guards."
I poked Red Monkey's forehead with my finger and said, "That's why...it's long odds. Think about it carefully for ten days."
"I'm leaving."
Red Monkey took a few steps from the shed, then suddenly used his lightness skill and sprinted, leaping over the wall and disappearing in an instant.
So Gun-pyeong asked me with a sullen expression, "Is it okay that I made the Purple Haze Gu Poison so carelessly?"
"What did you make it with?"
"I just mixed some diarrhea medicine and digestive medicine roughly and rubbed it with my hands. She might end up shitting herself while running."
"As expected of our So Chieftain, meticulous."
"What if she realizes it's not Gu Poison?"
I lifted my mask and grinned.
"It's okay. To a gambler, long odds will be the real Gu Poison."