Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Four Factions of Ak-an County
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Baek Clan Manor was located in Ak-an County, Muju, Gangseo Province.
Like other parts of Gangseo Province, Muju sustained itself on the modest yields from its vast plains, supplemented by trade along the rivers and canals branching out everywhere. But Ak-an County was different.
It sat right next to Liuhang Lake, one of Gangseo's most famous scenic spots.
Tourists, sightseers, and loafers flocked to see Liuhang Lake in staggering numbers every year, turning Ak-an County's taverns, inns, and brothels into booming businesses.
In other words, there was plenty of easy money to be made.
"Every corner of the martial world has its quirks, but Ak-an County is crawling with martial sects—especially black dao gangs. Even excluding the shady outfits without official plaques, four names stand out."
"Crimson Gang. Blue Serpent Gang. Protection Assembly. Advance Teaching Gang."
The old man spat out the four names as if it were obvious. No, it was Yeo Un-jeok.
Yeah, I figured he'd looked into at least this much. This'll speed things up.
"The four factions that rule Ak-an County. Among them, the Crimson Gang's leader wants to become the county's overlord."
The key was the Crimson Gang leader's ambitions, but Yeo Un-jeok focused elsewhere.
"You're lumping the Protection Assembly in with those thugs? Aren't they a righteous faction?"
The Protection Assembly was a coalition of sects forced into "righteous" businesses like martial schools and escort services.
'They just pretend to be white dao.'
Baek Yang-hui shrugged and continued.
"Does it matter? Anyway, Ak-an County's full of martial sects—especially black dao riffraff—constantly merging and splitting over what used to be our Baek Clan's territory."
Ak-an County had indeed developed around Liuhang Lake, but the Baek family had laid the foundations fair and square.
The Baek Clan Manor's position at the county's heart proved it.
"So what are you getting at, Young Master?"
Baek Yang-hui withdrew the dagger he'd been holding to Yeo Un-jeok's throat and plopped down.
"My legs ache in my old age. Since this'll take a while, let's sit and talk."
"……."
Was that something to say in front of an elder?
"I just want you comfortable, old timer. No need to stand if we don't have to, right?"
Yeo Un-jeok quietly sat on the ridge of the roof.
In the meantime, Baek Yang-hui mentally reviewed his pitch to persuade Yeo Un-jeok one last time.
'The moment Rang-rang got poisoned, you and the Crimson Gang leader became irreconcilable under the same sky.'
Fake Deer for Horse Yeo Un-jeok would never side with the Crimson Gang.
So he needed to turn Yeo Un-jeok into an ally for the Baek Clan—and weaken Ak-an County's black dao factions in the process.
'And achieve the main goal of letting Rang-rang and Gu-ak live happily ever after.'
"Young Master, out with it. What do you want to do together?"
"Simple. Topple the Crimson Gang leader, who's standing in the way of Rang-rang's happiness."
Yeo Un-jeok's eyes deepened.
"Any method will stir up chaos. The Baek Clan will have a chance to profit. You didn't orchestrate the whole thing, did you?"
Baek Yang-hui inwardly clicked his tongue.
This is why you have to be careful with old martial world veterans.
He had no intention of hiding it anyway, so he admitted boldly.
"Correct. But it's not just for profit. You might not know this, but Rang-rang's true love is a sworn brother of mine."
"……First, I have a question. How did you know who I am?"
'Because in my past life, you caused a bloodbath and the rumors spread.'
He couldn't say that.
"Do you know I used to be a beggar before joining the clan?"
"I do."
"One thing beggars do when they've got time on their hands is memorize the faces and details of wanted criminals with bounties."
It was true. The Beggars' Sect even sent periodic updates.
That was excuse enough.
"I'm in disguise right now, though."
Ah, so this wasn't his real face? That was new.
"You gave the alias Yeo Un-hyeok. Cloud 'un' and crimson 'hyeok.' People tend to tweak their real names slightly when making up aliases on the spot."
He added more to make it convincing.
"Plus, Rang-rang's jade plaque. Not just anyone could craft something so exquisite with such special functions. Fake Deer for Horse naturally came to mind, so I took a stab."
"……And confirmed it from my reaction."
"Exactly."
Yeo Un-jeok laughed hollowly.
"I lived my whole life in caution, but I let my guard down because you were a kid."
"Not your mistake, old timer. There's a saying to beware women, elders, and children because those three are easy to underestimate."
"True…… It's less my error and more your brilliance beyond your years. But you do have a flaw. Did you know whose man Ah-rang's father is to target me like this?"
Age really sharpened the senses. He hadn't missed the tiniest slip-up; it was razor-sharp.
"Truth be told, your appearance is a variable for me. My original plan was different. Never mind that—it's not important. So, how about it? Care to hear the scheme of this prodigy far beyond his years?"
Yeo Un-jeok stared at Baek Yang-hui's shameless grin for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Your stubbornness tells me I won't get what I want without hearing you out. Speak."
"First off, let's establish the grand goal of my scheme: Rang-rang's happiness. I promise it as a scion of the upright Baek Clan—you can trust that much."
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Fair enough. Cutting to the chase: I plan to sow discord and make the black dao factions tear each other apart."
"You skipped too much. What exactly?"
Baek Yang-hui pulled from his thirty years of future memories.
'Yeo Un-jeok. In my past life, you…… You dragged the reason you became a martial world criminal into it and unleashed a bloodbath on the Crimson Gang.'
Originally, Fake Deer for Horse Yeo Un-jeok wasn't a martial artist. He made his living restoring ancient books and relics.
But restoration and forgery were a hair's breadth apart, and he had the skill to make fresh books look centuries old.
That talent brought ruin to his life.
Twenty-odd years ago, he got tangled in the Sword King's Grave Massacre.
'You forged dozens of fake wanted posters for a huge fee, thinking it was for rich kids' entertainment. Never knowing the culprits were the Blood Slaughter Union.'
The Blood Slaughter Union, top evil sect ruling Guizhou Province.
They were locked in fierce turf wars with righteous sects like the Hwangbo Clan in Honam.
Their scheme? Lure righteous martial artists into traps with fake wanted posters and slaughter them. It was a resounding success, later dubbed the Sword King's Grave Bloodbath.
'It toppled the Hwangbo Clan—one of the Five Great Clans—and left Honam's righteous sects in ruins to this day. And you became a wanted man.'
In a way, a pitiable old man. He'd just taken money for a job without knowing better and drew the righteous sects' wrath.
Lost his wife, separated from his young daughter.
'In my past life, you died in that bloodbath. This time, I'll help you spend your remaining days happily with your daughter. In return, aid the Baek Clan.'
"We'll spread secret manuals."
"Secret manuals?"
Yeo Un-jeok's face hardened.
"You seem to guess why I became a criminal, but I don't know any martial arts worth using as bait."
"Doesn't matter. The manuals you forge and distribute won't contain martial arts—they'll hold counters."
In his past life, Baek Yang-hui had studied countless arts to refine his family's techniques.
That included the black dao gangs' arts in Ak-an County.
'Fought them endlessly, figured out every trick. Crafting counters is child's play.'
Baek Yang-hui grinned.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Seven days later.
Baek Clan Manor received an uninvited guest in broad daylight.
"Gu-hyung, our Baek Clan Manor is a proper righteous sect. Isn't this visit a bit too frequent?"
"Little brother! After waiting ten days past our promised three, you won't even praise my patience—instead, that's what you say?!"
Watching his face turn beet red with rage, Baek Yang-hui wondered if his nickname should have been Blood Face instead of Blood Lord.
"Anyway, good to see you. I have something to tell you."
Baek Yang-hui led Gu-ak to Rang-rang's quarters.
"Clan heir!"
"Gu-ak!"
After fully savoring their reunion after ten days, Gu-ak took Rang-rang's hand and looked at Baek Yang-hui.
"So, how's your scheme coming along, little brother? When does the peak expert we agreed on show up?!"
"Hm? I never said I'd bring a peak expert."
"What?!"
Before Gu-ak could explode—forgetting Rang-rang was there—Baek Yang-hui quickly continued.
"I said I'd bring someone who can kill a peak expert."
"Isn't that the same?!"
"Ways to kill aren't limited to martial arts. There's poison, money—plenty of methods. Oh, speaking of which, you two chat for a bit."
Once outside where Rang-rang couldn't hear, Baek Yang-hui continued to Gu-ak.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"Judging by the question, you didn't. Rang-nuna's been poisoned."
Gu-ak's face twisted like a wrathful demon.
"Whoa, whoa. Hear me out before raging. You know my clan's matriarch—my mother—has health issues, so doctors visit regularly."
"My patience is thin. Spit it out."
What a temper. Baek Yang-hui pressed on.
"Rang-nuna looked especially pale, so I had her checked. The doctor said she's poisoned. Call your own if you want confirmation."
"……Rang-rang was really poisoned?"
"The toxin itself is mild, but repeated doses lead to a chronic poison that kills. Understandable you missed it."
Even Gu-ak hadn't noticed during tea together in her quarters.
The poison was so subtle that Baek Yang-hui's unusually sharp senses had barely caught it.
"The one who ordered it…… No need to look far."
"……."
Gu-ak couldn't continue.
There was only one who could poison Rang-rang.
His own father, the Crimson Gang leader.
"Father…… How could Father……."
"Probably saw her as an obstacle, wanted to clear her out and push your marriage. Or maybe use her as a hostage to control you."
Gu-ak was the Crimson Gang leader's only child to reach first-rate realm.
Not even twenty, yet first-rate—with potential to break into peak.
And since ancient times, a king's greatest rival was his son.
"Ha, hahaha."
Gu-ak's hollow laugh. The emptiness on his face morphed into something else.
Something deeper, hotter: rage.
'Perfect. Now Gu-ak's on my side.'
"Gu-hyung. Now's not the time to win the Crimson Gang leader's approval for Rang-nuna."
"Yeah…… You're right."
"Want to protect Rang-nuna?"
Gu-ak turned to gaze at Rang-rang's quarters.
Desperation filled his eyes.
"Rang-rang…… She was the driving force that got me through those suffocating hellish days. For her…… I'd do anything."
I'd thought he'd fallen for her after growing up and visiting brothels, but there was an even more poignant backstory.
'Maybe Gu-ak's decent heart for a black dao thug is thanks to Rang-rang.'
With that thought, Baek Yang-hui continued.
"Gu-hyung. Then there's only one way."