Talk About Killing Two Birds with One Stone
Gripping him by the collar, I kept hammering punches into his face. He brought his arms up in desperate defense.
"S-Stop...!!"
"Stop what, you piece of shit? Block again and I hit twice as hard, got it?"
Thwack! Wham!
He had a bit of a reputation, so he was enduring it better than I expected. I drove a fist straight into his solar plexus with everything I had.
Crack!
"If I hit you somewhere else, what the hell are you gonna do about it?"
"Guh-urk! Hack! W-What are all of you doing...?! Attack him this instant...!!"
I glanced over my shoulder, only to see his men scrambling backward with terror-stricken faces. It was so pathetic I almost laughed.
"Must have been fun playing little pirate king with a crew like that, huh? Don't worry, I'll beat some manners into you right now."
"N-No, wait...!!"
Without a shred of mercy, I went right back to whaling on him. The bandits who had been watching me with suspicion just moments ago were now roaring in wild enthusiasm.
"Waaaaaah!"
"Beat him into paste!"
"Who the hell told him he could talk back?!"
"I knew you had our backs, dammit!"
I kept raining blows down, but tapping into my internal energy earlier was starting to catch up to me. My breath was turning ragged.
One look at the bastard's face told me his spirit wasn't fully broken yet.
Now what? If I keep this up, I'm the one who's going to collapse from exhaustion...
Then, a brilliant idea hit me.
A far more efficient way to give this punk the thrashing of his life.
"Heh-heh-heh."
"Guh... What are you scheming now...?"
I hoisted him up and hurled him straight into the middle of the bandits.
Flump.
"W-What is the meaning of th—wait, what?"
The bandits immediately closed in around him like a wall.
"Your hands were itching too, right?" I called out. "Beat him until he begs for mercy and promises never to show his ugly mug again."
The bandits smacked their lips in unison, glaring down at him. Panicking, the man sputtered whatever desperate boast came to mind, but it was utterly useless.
"You insolent curs...!! Do you have any idea who I am?! I am Chieftain Gil of the Yangtze River Waterway League—"
Whatever title he wanted to flaunt was drowned out by the thudding rain of fists and boots, accompanied by his agonizing shrieks.
Smack! Thud! Crunch!
"Aaaaaaaaargh!!"
Right on cue, I spotted Hocheol waving his arm in the distance.
Behind him marched at least a hundred men.
Sure, they were just common bandits, but they were vital pieces for what I had in mind.
Alright, time to wrap things up here.
"Pace yourselves so he doesn't die. If he passes out, start beating the lackeys over there instead."
As I turned to walk away, his water-bandit subordinates rushed toward me, dropping to their knees and begging for their lives.
"P-Please, spare us...!!"
"We were only... following our boss's orders, that's all...!"
Seeing his underlings betray him on the spot, the battered chieftain stared blankly in profound shock.
"Hmm. So you're saying you only came along for the ride because he told you to?"
"Yes! Exactly—"
"Tsk, water bandits through and through. Quicker to turn traitor than flip a coin. Hey, give these bastards a taste of the fist too."
"W-Wait, plea—Gwaaaargh!"
As I turned to leave again, the beaten chieftain slammed his forehead hard against the ground.
Thwack!
"...I am deeply sorry, Supreme Chieftain. I will never set foot in this region again, so please, I beg of you, show mercy...!"
The bandits paused their beating and looked back at me.
The chieftain slowly raised his head, blood streaming down his brow. His expression looked genuinely contrite; he wasn't faking it.
"*Sigh.* Fine. I'll accept your apology. But I'm a busy man, so I'll be on my way."
"W-Wait! Supreme Chieftain, you explicitly said you'd let me off if I apologized...!!"
"Ah, that? I was just saying whatever came to mind."
"...Excuse me?"
"Think about it from my shoes. If you were me, would you honestly accept an apology from scumbags like you? Really, man... tsk, tsk."
The guy stared vacantly into the open air, completely drained.
For some reason, the rest of the bandits were looking at me as if I were absolute human garbage. What nerve.
Did these knuckleheads forget they were bandits? Look who's calling who garbage.
"What are you all standing around staring for? If you feel that bad for him, step up and take the beating in his place!!"
Only then did they frantically resume swinging their fists.
With no time to waste, I walked straight over to Hocheol.
"Hey. Round up the boys and start hauling the escort cargo."
"Wait, why the cargo all of a sudden...?"
"Didn't I tell you to just answer when I ask? Or do you want to get pummeled by the hundred guys behind you like those bastards over there?"
"N-No, of course not...!!"
"You never listen the first time when someone speaks nicely. Good grief. Oh, and bring a bunch of ropes. Around a hundred and fifty should do."
"Yes, big brother..."
Look at this grown-ass man pouting just because he got scolded once. How is this guy in his forties?
Now, you might be asking: why bother hauling all those ropes when we only need to secure the cargo?
Tsk, tsk. People see the tree but miss the whole damn forest.
Sure, bringing back just the cargo would be easy. I'd fulfill my responsibility, get a modest reward, and pocket the two gold ingots I was promised.
But... what happens if I tie up every single one of these bastards and drag them straight to the clan?
Do you think it's just about a little extra cash?
Cash is just the baseline. The Black Sky Escort Agency is the biggest escort outfit in Hubei province. A bounty payout from them is on an entirely different scale.
We're talking deeds to land, or maybe a cushy honorary post within a great clan. The possibilities are endless.
In other words, every single one of those bandits hauling boxes right now is a walking sack of silver for me. Heh-heh-heh.
Think I'm too much of a scumbag?
It might look that way on the surface, but consider this: if I leave these thugs running wild here, think of how many innocent people will suffer down the line. Even a meticulous guy like me got swindled out of his savings by Hocheol back in the day; imagine what these lowlifes do to ordinary folk.
Besides, while I repay kindness twice over, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't rest until I've repaid a grudge a hundredfold.
I get my revenge and line my pockets. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Bwahahaha!
"H-Hey, watch it! I told you to carry that one carefully! Grab the back properly, will you? Ugh, why the hell did I just get a sudden chill? Is it just me?"
Hocheol shivered, utterly bewildered by the creeping dread running down his spine.
Another day passed. The moment the two returned to the Jegal Clan estate, they headed straight for the Clan Head's chamber.
On the way, Cheon-ryong spoke.
"So-yeong, I promise you won't regret this decision."
"Just keep your promise."
"Heh, of course."
When they stepped inside, Jegal Yeo-ryong and the Lord of the Black Sky Escort Agency, Yu Gwak, were already waiting for them.
"You have arrived. Both of you, come and sit."
"Yes, Clan Head."
"...Yes, Father."
Once they took their seats, Jegal Yeo-ryong spoke.
"I have heard the general outline of the situation. Jeong Ho-yeon, that man, set out to retrieve the stolen cargo?"
As if on cue, Yu Gwak let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, what does a little lost cargo matter at a time like this? Today, our two young people have forged a wonderful bond. Wouldn't you agree?"
Judging by the relaxed atmosphere, the discussion regarding the betrothal had already concluded before they even stepped foot in the room.
So-yeong remained silent, staring down at the floor as her fists clenched tightly.
The Clan Head observed his daughter intently before gently breaking the silence.
"However, So-yeong, if this is not what you desire, you need not go through with it."
"C-Clan Head! What on earth are you—"
"As your father, I will never force your hand against your will. Speak your honest heart."
After a moment of agonizing hesitation, she parted her lips.
"I..."
For a fleeting second, the urge to confess the whole truth and plead for help crossed her mind. Her father wielded immense authority; even if Jeong Ho-yeon failed, he might step in to save him for her sake.
Yet another thought immediately held her back.
What if I only end up putting Father in a terrible bind...?
In the end, her answer came out softly.
"...I will proceed with the engagement."
Yu Gwak, who had been watching with bated breath, let out a massive sigh of relief.
"Whew."
"...If that is indeed your wish, then so be it. However, should your mind change, you may tell me at any time."
"Yes, Father..."
Refusing to let the opportunity slip away, Yu Gwak immediately pressed forward on the wedding arrangements.
"Since the engagement is settled, why don't we set the date right here and—"
At that very instant, someone shouted frantically from the corridor.
"C-Clan Head!! You must come outside at once...!!"
"...What has happened to warrant such an undignified commotion?"
The words that followed stunned not only So-yeong, but everyone present in the hall.
"T-That is... Master Jeong Ho-yeon, the Young Lady's master, has arrived!"
"What?"
So-yeong sprang to her feet. Grabbing the scout's sleeve, she shook him with a trembling voice.
"I-Is that true? Master has returned...?!"
"Yes, he has. However... for reasons unknown, he did not just bring back the cargo. He has brought over a hundred men bound in tow behind him...!"
Cheon-ryong's face instantly twisted into pure, rotting venom.
Crunch.
"Jeong Ho-yeon...!"
Meanwhile, Ho-yeon was waiting leisurely in the courtyard of the Jegal Clan estate.
"Uh, big brother... isn't having us all tied up in ropes like this going to cause a misunderstanding...?"
"*Sigh.* Think about it, idiot. If I brought you all waltzing in loose, do you think those armed escort guards over there would welcome you with open arms?"
"I-Is that so...?"
"Obviously, you moron. Try using that brain of yours for once in your life. How old are you, anyway?"
"..."
Hocheol kept his mouth shut, though he was easily ten years older than Ho-yeon.
"Anyway, just stay on your knees over there. I'll read the room and put in a good word to get you untied. You trust your big brother, right?"
"O-Of course! Everyone, stay on your knees right there!!"
As they waited in place, the Clan Head strode into the courtyard alongside several figures.
Among them was So-yeong.
"Master...!!"
The Clan Head stared at the crowd of bandits, who were obediently kneeling with bright, hopeful expressions, before turning to Ho-yeon with a baffled look.
"Just who are all these men?"
"Ah, about these fellows..."
Hocheol and the bandits leaned forward, hanging on his every word.
In their minds, visions of an easy, prosperous future where they'd never have to worry about money danced merrily.
Too bad for them. None of them had realized the fundamental truth.
Jeong Ho-yeon was not, and had never been, the kind-hearted savior they imagined.
"Not only did I retrieve the stolen cargo, but I also completely rounded up and captured the thieves responsible! I present them all as a gift to the Agency Lord and the Young Lord!!"
—...Huuuh?!