You Humiliated Me
Caught entirely off guard by Ho-yeon's sudden betrayal, Hocheol stammered in a trembling, bewildered voice.
"W-Wait, Big Brother! What in the world are you saying...?! Just a moment ago, you said that to us—"
"Silence! Who dares call me your brother?! That was nothing more than an elaborate stratagem to lure you vermin straight into this trap! What staggering delusion!"
"What do you mean...?"
Why can't you just die quietly on your own instead of dragging me down with you? It's your fault for dreaming of a bright future when you're a filthy bandit, not mine for tricking you!
"Did you personally haul these criminals here, Master Jeong?"
"Indeed, Clan Head! Furthermore, that loudmouth blabbering over there is none other than the Supreme Chieftain of the Green Forest himself!"
At the mention of "Supreme Chieftain," everyone present looked visibly stunned.
"Hahaha! It appears you have accomplished an extraordinary feat, Master Jeong. I shall ensure you are handsomely rewarded for this."
Finally, it worked...!! Farewell to the days of fretting over every copper coin!!
"Flying Dragon Squad, march them all off to the magistrate's office at once!"
"Understood!"
Feeling bitterly wronged, the bandits spewed a vicious torrent of curses at me the entire way out, but it all went in one ear and out the other. Not my problem anyway.
Amidst the commotion, Hocheol’s agonized howl pierced through the courtyard.
"You bastard!! I trusted you, and this is how you stab me in the back?!"
I turned my head slightly, flashed a mocking smirk, and silently mouthed the words.
Did. You. Really. Fall. For. That? Pffft.
Mother. They say a gentleman's revenge takes ten years, but I pulled it off in five...!!
Of course, I don't actually have a mother, but when else would I get an excuse to dramatically invoke one?
Once the bandits were dragged away, So-yeong suddenly sprinted toward me and threw herself straight into my chest.
Oof—!
"W-Wait... So-yeong, clinging to me in front of everyone is a bit..."
"Sniff... No! Master, just hush for a second."
"You have to let go of me so I can hush—"
Squeeze—!
"Ugh."
The slender arms wrapped around my waist tightened with bone-crushing force. Seeing she had zero intention of letting go, I cast a pathetic, pleading glance toward the clan head for rescue—yet for some reason, the man was merely beaming at us with a warm smile.
Hey, your daughter is latching onto an unrelated man in broad daylight, and you're smiling right now? If she keeps this up, what happens to my money... wait, no, what about our Young Bureau Head over there? Anyone with eyes can see his face has turned completely rotten.
Perhaps finally grasping the meaning behind my desperate stare, Jegal Yeo-ryong cleared his throat.
"So-yeong. Is your mind still unchanged regarding your decision?"
What decision is he suddenly talking about?
She finally loosened her grip, turned around, and spoke in a soft murmur.
"I won't do it. I just want to..."
Her voice trailed off as her eyes darted toward me, the tips of her ears flushing a delicate shade of crimson.
Yet even in this romanticized moment, my brain processed the entire interaction through a completely warped filter.
D-Don't tell me... is she saying she wants to quit studying under me? Wait, what did I do wrong? Weren't things totally fine literally two seconds ago?!
"Very well. I shall grant your wish."
Wait, what do you mean by that?! What about my opinion?! Excuse me, Clan Head! You literally promised to give me a separate reward just a second ago, and now you're pulling the rug out from under me...?!
Strangely enough, however, someone else objected far more fiercely than I did.
"C-Clan Head! There was never any mention of this when we spoke earlier!! You are breaking your promise!!"
Huh...? Why is he going so far on my behalf? Wait, who cares why! What matters is that the Young Bureau Head is on my side right now. Keep fighting, Young Bureau Head!!
"Haha. The escorted cargo has been recovered, and since So-yeong has expressed her refusal, there is no longer any reason to proceed with the betrothal."
"B-But just a moment ago, you—"
The clan head’s jovial demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a chilling glare.
"That is enough. If you press this matter any further, not even you will be forgiven."
"...I... understand."
Yu Cheon-ryong backed down, but none of that fixed my looming unemployment crisis.
While I was wallowing in utter despair, So-yeong gazed up at me with a radiant, sunny smile. My fist almost flew up on pure reflex.
Is this brat mocking me right now...?
"We shall conclude this matter here. Master Jeong, you have laboured hard today, so you may return to the detached pavilion and rest. Ah, and as for your reward for today's accomplishments, I shall summon you separately to bestow it."
"Yes, Clan Head..."
Giving a polite bow, I dragged myself straight back to the detached pavilion and collapsed face-first onto the bed.
"Seriously, is there any valid reason for me to get fired?! Her rotten temper has improved heaps! Why on earth would I get sacked?!"
You ask if beating her to a pulp makes it obvious? Back in my day, things were ten times worse, so what nonsense is that?! Has she ever been force-fed a Gu worm, or beaten to the brink of death on a daily basis?!
I'm so furious I could lose my mind. Just let someone cross my path today—I'll beat them within an inch of their life.
Hours drifted by until deep night settled over the estate, broken only by a sudden rapping against my door.
Knock, knock—
"Fine, let's just grab a massive pile of cash and beat it."
Assuming it was a servant summoned to bring me my money, I swung the door open, only to find an entirely unexpected visitor: Jegal San.
"San? What are you doing here—"
"...Let us speak inside."
He scanned the surrounding courtyard with darting, paranoid eyes. It clearly wasn't a casual social call. Stepping inside the room, he blurted out in an urgent whisper.
"An order has been handed down... We are to assassinate key figures of the Jegal Clan... and in particular, the directive insists that you must be eliminated without fail."
Before San could even finish his sentence, Ho-yeon was already furiously throwing his belongings into a travel bundle.
"Hey, why the hell are you only telling me this in the dead of night...?! Damn it all, I refuse to die like a stray dog in some foreign ditch!"
Even if I have to skip town, I'm taking my severance pay with me! If I collect my cash right now and bolt, I'll manage somehow.
"Right, you take care of yourself too. I'm a very busy man, so farewell."
"W-Wait a moment! I gave you vital intelligence, so you must give me the antidote for my Gu worm...!!"
I fished a small wooden casket from my robes and shoved it into his hands.
"Satisfied? Ah, and by the way, the venomous fumes might be fierce, so don't open it until later."
"I-I understand."
Kicking the door open, Ho-yeon bolted toward the clan head's study.
At that very moment, in Jegal So-yeong's chambers.
She had wrapped herself tightly in her silk quilt, kicking her bedsheets in a fit of ecstatic squirming.
"What if Master misinterprets this as a confession?! W-Wait, wouldn't that actually be better...?! Eeeeek!!"
Watching her young mistress writhing about in romantic delirium, Yeon-hui wore an utterly exhausted expression.
"...My Lady, you have been repeating that exact same line on loop. If you're that restless, why don't you just go to the clan head's study?"
"Why Father's study?"
"The clan head said he would grant Master Jeong a reward for today's achievements, remember? So naturally, Master Jeong will head there."
Before the maid could even finish speaking, So-yeong sprang upright from the mattress and yelled frantically.
"Hurry, bring me something pretty to wear...!!"
"Right away, My Lady~"
Several fine dresses were laid out, but indecision paralyzed her.
"Is this one too plain? No, maybe this one looks prettier? Hehe. I need to pick fast and go!"
Having not the faintest inkling of the bloody storm gathering in the shadows, her heart fluttered purely with the giddy anticipation of seeing Ho-yeon again.
Meanwhile, Ho-yeon arrived outside the clan head's study.
"Clan Head, Master Jeong has arrived to see you."
"Let him in."
Stepping inside, I found Jegal Yeo-ryong welcoming me warmly.
"I was just about to summon you. Come in."
When I stared back at him with an uncharacteristically solemn expression, he immediately read the room.
"Withdraw all guards and attendants from the vicinity of the study until I command otherwise."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Once the heavy doors shut and only the two of us remained, he inquired calmly.
"...Something has occurred, I presume."
I suppose he isn't the Supreme Strategist of the Murim Alliance for nothing.
I produced a wooden box from my chest and offered it forward.
"What is this?"
"A Gu worm. The exact same variety fed to the Fifth Elder."
Yet despite hearing those words, he remained remarkably composed.
...Did he already know? Well, considering the bond we've built, I should at least give him this much of a heads-up.
"The Black Death Gate will soon storm this manor. You would do well to prepare."
"And what do you intend to do?"
Run like hell, obviously. They literally put me at the top of the kill list.
Just as I parted my lips to answer, he spoke ahead of me.
"You have come to bid farewell before departing tonight, haven't you? I do not know how this may sound to you, but I have looked into your background. You possess an astonishing past. You came here knowing full well such an event would transpire, did you not?"
What in the world are you rambling about? I literally just found out from Jegal San ten minutes ago. And who on earth did you confuse me with to say I have an 'astonishing past'? It can't possibly be about losing my entire life savings to gambling.
"...Could it be that you are leaving like this out of fear that So-yeong might be put in harm's way?"
Struck speechless by the sheer absurdity of his misunderstanding, I stood there dumbfounded—at which point he let out a chuckle and handed over a pouch.
"I, Jegal Yeo-ryong, Clan Head of the Jegal Clan, shall forever regard you as an eternal honored guest of our house."
Even a glance told me the pouch was heavy, bulging with substantial gold.
...Maybe a little misunderstanding isn't so bad after all?
"Much obliged. Well then, I shall take my lea—"
Patter, patter—
Suddenly, the hurried sound of scurrying footsteps echoed from beyond the corridor.
"It seems So-yeong has overheard our conversation. Time is of the essence, so make haste."
I cupped my fists in a swift salute.
"Then I shall take my leave, Clan Head."
"Take care of yourself."
As I stepped out into the night air, she was waiting right outside.
Knowing any conversation would only drag things out, I tried to brush past her, but her hand clamped onto my forearm.
"M-Master... I'll convince Father, so please... please don't leave..."
She looked genuinely pitiful, but what was that to me? As long as I got paid, my job was done.
"...Hm? Ah, I'm perfectly fine, so don't worry about me. Well, farewell."
Besides, my neck is literally on the chopping block. Would you stay put if you were me?
"W-Wait...!!"
Step, step—
Tears weltered in So-yeong’s eyes as she watched Ho-yeon pull his arm away and stride into the night—firmly believing he was abandoning everything solely to keep her safe from the shadows haunting him.
Having sprinted a fair distance away from the Jegal Clan manor, Ho-yeon surveyed his surroundings.
"Have they not reached this far yet? What a reli—"
Thwip—!
"Guh!"
A throwing dagger grazed past my right arm and dug deep into the stone ground.
Close enough that I didn't sense it coming...? Who the hell—
Moments later, masked figures clad in black materialized along the rooftops.
"Tch. All these men just to dispose of little old me?"
"Hardly. It takes this much precisely because it's you, Jeong Ho-yeon."
The voice sounded distinctly familiar.
Stepping into the moonlight before me was none other than Yu Cheon-ryong.
"Y-You...? Cough!"
All at once, the world spun violently around me.
Was the blade coated in poison...?!
I swiftly jabbed my acupoints to halt the venom’s spread through my meridians.
"Hah... Why the hell are you doing this? What did I ever do to you...?"
"You humiliated me. Therefore, you must die tonight."
My vision grew increasingly hazy.
There appeared to be nearly ten figures perched above, and every single one felt like a first-rate Peak-Realm expert. At this rate, I really might end up dead.
...I swore never to touch it again after that day ten years ago.
Do I truly have no choice but to unseal it...?