Why Did It Turn Out Like This? (4)
“Waaah!”
“Hngh!”
“B-block it!”
Suddenly, the cheers of soldiers and panicked shouts from outside mixed and poured in.
Bang!
“W-what’s going on?”
Gong-ho flung open the door and yelled, but no answer came back.
The warriors, realizing the situation, had already fled.
As he tried to step outside, someone entered.
A peerlessly handsome face illuminated by moonlight.
“E-Eun Seo-ho, branch leader! What in the world is happening?”
“The Gold Guard sent by His Majesty the Emperor has entered Chunggyeong City.”
“W-what?”
He looked shocked, then quickly relaxed with relief.
“So you’ve come to get me! Everyone else ran, but you thought of me……”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
“What?”
“I’m the one who let those Gold Guard in here.”
Come to think of it, despite the urgent situation, his face was brimming with composure.
“And I came ahead like this so you, the one who orchestrated this whole thing, couldn’t escape.”
“W-what?”
“So, just give up one leg.”
To my words, Gong-ho stared at me with an incredulous expression. Then his face twisted viciously.
“From the start…… you approached me for this?”
“Of course. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Damn it all!”
He spat curses and stomped the floor.
He’d been pretending to talk while planning to flee.
As if!
I swiftly unleashed my lightness skill and grabbed the back of his neck, slamming him to the ground.
Thud!
“Urk!”
Clutching his waist, he groaned and spoke to me.
“Even Super First-rate guys couldn’t catch up to my lightness skill…… What are you?”
So that’s how this bastard escaped in the future Seo-hyang’s little girl foresaw.
His lightness skill was impressive to begin with.
He hadn’t escaped because his opponents weren’t up to it.
If I hadn’t swiped his special boots beforehand, even I might’ve lost him with my lightness skill.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside and approached Gong-ho.
“I’m pretty confident in my lightness skill too. And I knew you’d try to run.”
No need to reveal I was Super First-rate.
“Damn it! Those boots! If my One Step Thousand Ri hadn’t burned, I wouldn’t be caught like this!”
Gong-ho, still not giving up, drew his sword and charged at me.
“Die, you bastard!”
Thud!
But I wasn’t alone here. And my guard warriors were pretty skilled.
In an instant, Seo-u Warrior’s foot slammed into his chest, and Jin Yu Warrior unleashed palm force at his back.
“Cough! Cough!”
His insides churned as he rolled on the floor, begging me piteously.
“P-please, spare me! I have a wife and kids. Without me, they’ll starve to death.”
Lies.
Wife and kids? What wife and kids……
Would the Murim Alliance go mad and assign a covert operative to someone with a family?
For secrecy, they’d pick single agents only.
And those eyes weren’t those of a family man.
“When did I say I’d kill you?”
“Huh?”
“I just said I’d break one leg, right?”
“You’re handing me over to the Emperor like that! That’s as good as killing me!”
“Different. I’m not the one killing you, after all.”
“What kind of twisted logic is that! You ××× bastard!”
He hurled curses at me.
I brushed back my hair and sighed.
“Sigh, you still haven’t grasped reality. And that hurt my feelings. I was just gonna break one leg, but now I’ll shatter all four limbs.”
“Understood!”
“N-no! I was wrong……”
Crack!
Crunch!
“Aaaargh!”
I’ve got a bit of a temper.
A moment later, Gong-ho—with all his limbs broken—was being dragged along by my guards.
We’d decided to gather all the subdued ones in one place.
Soon, we arrived in front of the mansion.
Several pillars stood there, with people bound to each one.
Jin Dae-cheol and Baek Seon, plus a few traitors captured by the Gold Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The other black path martial artists were tied up and gathered together.
“Oh! You’re here?”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards welcomed me.
“Yes. You’ve all worked hard.”
“You’ve had it the hardest.”
He glanced behind me and hardened his expression.
“That’s the guy?”
“Yes. Gong-ho, the one who fed these traitors their cunning plan.”
“Bind him tight.”
“Yes.”
At my order, the guards securely tied Gong-ho to a pillar.
Only then did Jin Yeong Daehyeop notice Gong-ho’s state and ask.
“But…… he looks a mess.”
“Ah…… I only meant to break one leg at first, but it ended up like this.”
To my words, Palgap shook his head beside me.
What? That?
What’s that mean?
The might of five thousand Gold Guard was formidable.
They’d surrounded Chunggyeong City without a single gap.
Gong-ho’s martial artists and the traitors couldn’t pierce the encirclement.
Some tried hiding in civilian homes, but the people had no reason to shelter them.
Thus, half a day after the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Gold Guard entered the city, the situation ended.
I clicked my tongue at the bound figures on the pillars.
Just a few hours ago, they’d dreamed of a bright, glorious future.
But reality was, they were criminals who’d deceived the Emperor and plotted rebellion.
In my previous life, they’d pinned the crime on this city’s lord.
Preventing that wrongful death and making them pay filled me with pride.
Then, sensing someone approaching, I turned.
Kwon Jik Daehyeop was leading a group.
Behind him, Yeon Yu-mun was supporting a middle-aged man.
One arm severed, face haggard, but I recognized him instantly.
Chunggyeong City’s lord.
Kwon Jik Daehyeop said to Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
“Chunggyeong City’s lord and his family.”
“Ah! So that’s it!”
He clasped hands and bowed to the city lord.
“I’m Jin Yeong of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Are you alright? His Majesty worries greatly.”
“For this old body to receive such care…… I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s grace.”
“This is His Majesty’s decree.”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop handed him an elaborately gold-embossed scroll.
The lord received it with trembling hands; Yeon Yu-mun helped unfurl it beside him.
Tears streamed from the lord’s eyes as he read—likely a sincere apology.
“I am endlessly grateful for His Majesty’s grace!”
Yeon Yu-mun whispered something to the lord, who then turned to look at me.
Hm?
Why’s he looking at me?
The lord approached and grasped my hand with his remaining one.
“You’re Eun Seo-ho, the branch leader?”
“Ah, yes. That’s me……”
“I heard you played a big part in this. Thank you truly.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“Too modest. Kwon Daehyeop and my son already told me. Without you, I would’ve……”
Tears welled in his eyes again.
Knowing his fate from my previous life made the feeling oddly complex.
I found myself offering blessings.
“I hope you live long and enjoy peace.”
“Thank you.”
After greeting me, he turned to Kwon Jik Daehyeop.
“I have a request.”
“Speak it.”
“Those bastards…… May I give each a beating?”
The lord’s eyes blazed fiercely as he spoke.
After years of plundering and abusing the people—not to mention raping his daughter to suicide.
I’d want to beat them too.
But their punishment was the Emperor’s domain.
Unable to punish them privately, he made the request.
I said to Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
“Daehyeop, have they confessed their crimes?”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop grinned.
“Not yet.”
“Then a bit of violence during interrogation wouldn’t count as punishment, right?”
“Exactly.”
He seemed to catch my intent.
“Could you fetch a suitable club?”
“Got it!”
Palgap quickly brought one—covered in small thorns.
“Good choice?”
A thornwood club unique to Yunam.
Common in imperial punishments; its sap promoted healing, preventing festering wounds.
I handed it to the lord.
“One whack to make them confess? They’ll need about thirty to open up.”
“……”
“We overdid it catching them. Embarrassing, but we’ll need your help, city lord.”
“Then I must.”
The lord took the club; the traitors’ eyes trembled in fear.
I gently cautioned him.
“If emotions run too high, I’ll take the club. So, one careful strike at a time, please.”
“Understood.”
“Ah! Avoid vital spots. Dying here would be mercy. No need for that, right?”
“Of course.”
Thwack!
“Guhk!”
What a hearty swing.
This should ease the lord’s grudge some.
Honestly, beating them himself must feel a hundred times better than leaving it to the Emperor.
The next day.
The traitors were hung upside down one by one in the mobile prison cart.
The Emperor had ordered them transported to Beijing this way.
Thus, a special cart was prepared.
The road to Beijing was long and harsh—they’d suffer, but I felt no pity.
They deserved it.
With four thousand Gold Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard surrounding the cart, they prepared to depart.
The rest would stay to stabilize security and aid recovery.
Partly to help, partly to investigate other regions.
“Then we’ll be off.”
“Travel safely.”
“I’ll visit once you’ve recovered.”
Yesterday, the lord had thoroughly thrashed the envoy group that exploited him.
Beating takes stamina; he only stopped after stabbing every inch of their bodies with thorns.
His face looked utterly refreshed.
“Depart!”
At Jin Yeong Daehyeop’s shout, we set off.
After handling Shaolin matters and getting half-kidnapped to Yunam midway.
Finally, really heading back to the Beijing branch!
It felt emotional—tears welled up.
The journey from Yunam to Beijing was nearly traversing the empire.
Thus, quite distant.
With thousands and a prison cart, progress was glacially slow.
Honestly, my group on Zhuqiang horses could reach Beijing in a flash if we wanted.
But we matched pace for a reason.
Someone might try rescuing or assassinating Gong-ho.
His interrogation would embarrass the Murim Alliance.
If we could undermine their position or reputation, this hardship was worth it.
I glanced at the cart.
The imprisoned traitors had tried escaping at weak moments.
When the cart shook and bodies bumped, untying bonds; during meals or bathroom breaks.
I’d caught some myself.
Leopards can’t change spots—such a headache.
But Gong-ho and Jin Dae-cheol caused no trouble, which surprised everyone.
“They’re well-behaved.”
To Jin Yeong Daehyeop’s words, I replied calmly.
“Ah, as you know, I had to shatter Gong-ho’s limbs catching him—so he can’t move. And Jin Dae-cheol’s tendons are severed too, right?”
“Hm? Is that so?”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop’s eyes gleamed.
“Makes sense. No threat to life.”
They were Embroidered Uniform Guard too, yet unaware how ruthless their own were.
Inspired by me, they crushed the others’ toes and fingers.
Escape attempts ceased; the journey was peaceful.
Thus, late in the tenth month, we finally reached Beijing.
Upon arriving in Beijing, I headed straight to the Emperor.
Not the grand hall with ministers, but his private office.
Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot couldn’t reveal themselves.
“You’ve worked hard.”
The Emperor praised the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s efforts and rewarded them.
Then he turned to me. My turn.
“Well done, Eun Seo-ho, branch leader.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You handled it far better than I expected. Impressive ability.”
I expressed humility.
“Thanks to Your Majesty believing in me, I could perform.”
“With your talent, how could I not? You’ve earned great merit this time. Even saved my son’s life.”
“All due to Your Majesty’s grace.”
“No need to gild my face. As I said before, name your desire.”
Perfect!
As planned, time to ask for release.
But his next words left me speechless.
“Anything, as long as it’s not devoting yourself solely to merchant affairs or leaving my side.”
“……”
Uh, Your Majesty?
……Why are tears suddenly blurring my vision?