Choice
“I don’t remember telling you to sit.”
A frigid silence wrapped the room.
Honestly, it made me a little tense.
In my previous life I wouldn’t have spared a woman like Yeo Mong a second glance, but the situation now was different.
Yeo Mong’s cultivation is at least Peak, by my rough estimate.
My own realm, by contrast, was so shallow it barely deserved the name. True, I possessed the supreme White Dragon Sword Scripture and one-and-a-half cycles of internal energy, yet the opponent was an elite of the underworld. The Black King Sect did not fight by any gentleman’s rules.
Besides, even I had almost no information on Yeo Mong’s martial arts.
Of course, she couldn’t touch me to begin with.
The proof was right in front of me: that short-tempered woman was barely restraining her fury, three deep lines carved between her brows.
“You’re… not joking with me, are you?”
Yeo Mong barely managed to strangle the explosion building inside her.
“Shall I stand back up, Young Master?”
She rose halfway in an awkward half-bow, an artificial smile pasted on her lips.
Amusing.
“Since you’ve already sat, stay.”
“……”
“You really came running the moment I called, didn’t you?”
I picked up the last piece of candy on the table and shoved it into my mouth. Sweet. So very sweet.
“Be honest. You rushed here because you were curious too, right?”
“……”
She had. Yeo Mong had come in a genuine hurry. First, because I had discovered that Geungnakru was a Black King Sect establishment she personally ran. Second, because the one who discovered it was the Ju Family. Third, because that person was a direct descendant of the Ju Family.
Is this pressure from the Ju Family? Or did this idiot simply stumble onto the truth and decide to use it as blackmail?
Yeo Mong had come in person to find out.
“I heard you wish to make a direct deal with me?”
She forced her rage down and smoothed her tone. No matter how powerful the Black King Sect was in Gangseo Province, openly antagonizing the Ju Family’s inner sanctum was impossible. Her current reaction was the complete opposite of the bold woman who had strode in earlier.
“Will you listen?”
“I wouldn’t have rushed here in person if I didn’t intend to, Young Master.”
Yeo Mong spoke with a strained smile. In contrast, I maintained an utterly relaxed attitude. After all, I was the one holding this woman’s lifeline.
You’re already a dead woman walking. You won’t last five years.
In my previous life, Yeo Mong had died miserably before the enraged Sword Saint without even thinking of escape. I knew the Black King Sect’s future.
“You know exactly how much money I poured into Geungnakru, don’t you?”
“……”
The amount was staggering—enough to buy several decent manors. If anyone asked why I had so much money… well, the fortune I received from my mother’s side had been enormous.
“You’re not here to ask for it back, are you? Not when the young master in front of me has plenty of his own. Correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then what is this about? Stop circling and get to the point.”
“I want one thing.”
Yeo Mong tensed instantly. A rich, monstrously guarded, and brazen young master would not ask for anything trivial.
“The Black King Sect.”
“……”
For a moment she thought she had misheard.
“What… did you just say, Young Master Ju?”
Her lips began to tremble.
“I said I want the Black King Sect.”
She was dealing with a madman. This boy was simply insane.
The smile that had been precariously clinging to Yeo Mong’s lips vanished completely.
If he had only stayed within reasonable bounds, she might have pretended to yield. If he had only drawn a proper line.
“Is this a new form of suicide? Even if you are the spoiled youngest of the Ju Family who knows nothing of the world, I thought you at least understood that this is a clear declaration of war against the Black King Sect.”
Her aura surged without restraint.
“Of course not. I told you—we’re making a deal.”
“Ha. Young Master, if you’re drunk, I’ll let you leave quietly. Go home.”
“I haven’t touched a drop. And I’m completely serious.”
I leaned forward smoothly until I was close to Yeo Mong and lowered my voice with a meaningful smile.
At that moment, her expression froze solid.
After Ju Woo-jin left, Yeo Mong sat lost in thought. She tapped the table with her index finger, organizing the chaos in her mind.
“This makes no sense…”
She had assumed Ju Woo-jin was nothing more than a rich wastrel who loved alcohol, women, and spending money.
“So blood tells after all? He really is the Sword Saint’s descendant.”
Her evaluation had changed. He was no fool.
Yeo Gwak. I know where your missing older brother is. Is that enough to make you want to deal?
The moment those words left his mouth, she had been too stunned to speak. Ju Woo-jin had simply grinned, stood up, and left.
You’ll need time to think, I suppose. Once I finish my business, I’ll come find you again. I’m not asking for the entire Black King Sect—just the parts I can use. Think it over carefully.
Yeo Mong gave a bitter smile.
“This is…”
It was an offer she could not refuse. Somehow, Ju Woo-jin had learned that she had been frantically searching for her vanished brother. Perhaps the answer had already been decided.
The carriage headed for Heukgak as planned. From Nanchang we would pass through Namdan and Guangdong before entering Guangxi territory. Naturally, this route had been my decision.
My youngest uncle had vehemently opposed it. The reason was simple: it was dangerous.
South of the Yangtze is already infested with underworld forces. And you want to go straight into Guangdong?
But my thinking was different. Going through Honam would take far too long. Worse, the gossips would chew on the story for years—saying the Ju Family’s youngest had been so afraid of a few underworld rats that he took the long way around.
I can’t allow that.
It might seem like petty pride, but reputation mattered more than people realized. Therefore I had deliberately chosen to march straight into territory crawling with the Black King Sect.
The carriage arrived at Sogang Village, essentially the first proper settlement after entering Guangdong.
“Shall we rest here for a while?”
We had spent three full days crossing mountain roads. The driver still looked energetic. He was the same coachman who had safely taken me from the Qinghai region to Kunlun Mountain last time. His skill with the reins had been so impressive that I had hired him exclusively for the Ju Family.
“Hmm.”
I thought for a moment. After three days of hard travel, a short break was reasonable.
“All right. Let’s rest.”
At my permission the carriage rolled directly into Sogang Village. We bypassed the bustling streets and looked for the quietest corner. Guangdong had almost no orthodox sects or clans worth mentioning. Starting trouble in a crowded area would be pointless.
“Fortunately they have an empty room. We can stay the night and leave tomorrow.”
The driver guided us to an inn with vacancies. It was a shabby place, not particularly large. I nodded and stepped inside.
Perhaps the driver had already spoken to them; the interior was empty of guests. An old man who appeared to be the owner was setting water cups and chopsticks on a table.
“Business must have been bad for a long time. There’s dust on the tables…”
Muyoung whispered so only I could hear. I ran a finger across the table; sure enough, it came away gray. An inn this poorly kept. Maybe coming here had been a mistake.
“What should we do?”
Muyoung looked equally uncomfortable. I glanced around.
Hmm.
The atmosphere was distinctly unpleasant. No customers, and the owner kept stealing glances our way as if he recognized me…?
Recognized me?
This was my first time here.
“Hm. Looks like we’re late.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems someone was waiting for me.”
The moment the words left my mouth, Muyoung shot to his feet and drew his sword. But it was already too late.
BANG!
The door burst open so violently it nearly shattered. A man with the face of a thug who practically screamed “I am a villain” stormed inside, followed by a swarm of men radiating unpleasant auras. They quickly surrounded us in a circle, murderous intent rolling off them in waves.
“Is it you? The bastard from the Ju Family they call a spoiled dog?”
Oh? The rumor had spread even here? That put me in a foul mood.
“Looks like it. Heh heh. Do you know who I am, boy?”
“Should I?”
“Of course you should! Because of your damn family’s Sword Saint, my business was ruined and I had to hide in this backwater hellhole!”
He roared and brought his sword down. The table in front of him split cleanly in two. A rather neat strike.
“I’ll humor you. Who are you?”
I stopped Muyoung from stepping forward and asked calmly. His identity didn’t really matter. At best he was a First-rate novice—nothing more, nothing less. Trash.
“This great one is called Chu Mil. If the Sword Saint of your house hadn’t destroyed my operations, you would have heard my name even in Nanchang…”
“Ah, so you’re the one who got crushed by the Family Head and ran all the way out here?”
“Ahem, well, that’s not entirely wrong… Wait, no! Who the hell said I ran?!”
“You literally just said it yourself.”
What an idiot. The kind who could only hold one thought in his head at a time.
“Don’t tell me you came all this way just to get revenge on me for that?”
“That’s right. If I don’t cut off at least one of your limbs, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”
“Anyone listening would think you’d become a vengeful ghost. How ridiculous.”
I gave a scornful laugh and looked at Muyoung. He wore the same expression of utter disbelief.
I didn’t remember the name. Which meant he was one of the countless insignificant worms. How many underworld rats had fled the Ju Family’s pressure? There was no need to memorize every single one. If he had been forced to run from Nanchang like a dog with its tail between its legs, the Ju Family must have marked him thoroughly.
“Do I look that easy to you?”
“Mm. A little, yes.”
My face twisted at Muyoung’s answer.
“Of course, that would change once they realize your true worth, just as I and the Red Dragon Unit Commander did.”
“Hah. You’ve even learned how to joke.”
Muyoung’s growth was rather entertaining. Only now was I discovering the true nature of this loyal guard. In my previous life I really must have been a bastard who deserved every curse thrown at him.
“These bastards dare to speak like this right in front of me…!”
Chu Mil threw a tantrum. I glanced around and asked Muyoung.
“Can you handle them all?”
“Of course. Just give the order.”
Muyoung lowered his stance and took a ready position, ready to draw at any moment.
“Kill them all.”
“As you command… Pardon?”
Muyoung, who had been about to step forward, froze. He turned to look at me.
“Why?”
“You want me to kill them all? They haven’t actually done anything yet…”
“He said he’s going to cut off my limbs.”
“Still, is it necessary to stain your eyes with the blood of these low-class, crude, and vulgar creatures?”
Ha. That hesitation. It looked like I would have to completely remake Muyoung’s way of thinking soon.
“That kind of cheap mercy never ends well. Look at him. The Family Head spared his life, yet he shows no gratitude and wants to chop off my arms and legs.”
“……”
Muyoung’s expression changed instantly.
“My thinking was shortsighted.”
A shadow guard’s duty was the safety of his lord. Eliminating anyone who threatened that lord was both his duty and his very reason for existing.
“Are you done talking?”
Chu Mil, who had been watching until now, finally bellowed.
“Get them!”
“Uwaaaah!”
The mob—too pathetic to even call a proper sect—charged at Muyoung all at once.
Sring!
Muyoung’s blade finally left its sheath.