Chapter 61: Deliver to the Sect Master
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Deliver to the Sect Master
The VIP Room in the club's basement.
A place where only those whose wealth and identity had been thoroughly verified could enter.
Thus, rumors abounded about what was traded within, but very few knew the true details.
"These are the goods that just arrived."
Sturdy Martial Artists in suits stood guard on either side of a refrigerated showcase that occupied one wall of the VIP Room.
Across from them, buyers who had come to purchase the goods were meticulously examining the products.
A middle-aged man with a stylish mustache tore his gaze from the showcase and clicked his tongue.
"The freshness is worse than before. And the grade doesn't seem very high..."
"President Yang. What's wrong with the goods?"
"Do you think we'll buy just anything because we're regulars?"
The other buyers were no different.
To ordinary people, they might all look like the same organs, but the discerning eyes of the picky buyers sharply distinguished the differences.
The man called President Yang soothed the buyers with an awkward smile.
He was a man in a deep wine-colored suit, wearing a luxury watch worth tens of millions of won.
"Gentlemen. As you know, sourcing goods has been a bit difficult lately. It's not like we can just slice it up like raw fish and get it anywhere, is it? We went through a lot of trouble to get these."
The belief that a Martial Artist's organs were far stronger and healthier than an ordinary person's fueled the demand.
Because of this, they were several, even dozens, of times more expensive than ordinary organs, yet orders were so numerous that they couldn't keep them in stock.
However, acquiring the goods was just as difficult.
It was a business impossible to even attempt without considerable connections, financial power, and martial prowess.
"We understand the circumstances, but do you think we live by eating dirt? We need decent goods to buy them."
"President Yang. Just because we've done business for a long time, you don't think we'll only buy from here, do you?"
"I heard the goods from the Blood Tiger Gang lately are quite good..."
However, like most who made a living in the Underworld, the organ trafficking buyers were not easy people to deal with.
They nitpicked the condition of the products, citing all sorts of reasons to drive down prices, and acted as if they could switch to another supplier at any moment.
But President Yang was also a seasoned veteran in this industry.
"The Blood Tiger Gang... How long do you think they'll last?"
President Yang smiled quietly, and the buyers flinched.
True to those living in the Underworld, they had all learned a bit of martial arts, but before the refined Killing Intent of a true master, they were like frogs before a snake.
"A few months at most. You know how those types pop up for a bit and then disappear, don't you?"
"..."
More precisely, how they were eliminated.
Most of those who dared to try and muscle in on the Great Heaven Sect's business were "recycled" right there in the VIP Room.
Some of the buyers had even witnessed the process firsthand.
"Gentlemen."
President Yang persuaded the buyers, whose expressions had soured, with a gentle voice.
He approached them amicably, smiling and feigning helplessness.
"Next time, I'll set aside only the highest quality goods for you. So, please bear with me this once..."
Just as he was coaxing and appeasing them, trying to finalize the difficult deal.
Bang! Crash-smash!
President Yang's brow furrowed at the tumultuous sounds coming from outside the VIP Room.
He asked his subordinate behind him.
"What's going on out there?"
"It seems a fight has broken out. I'll instruct them to deal with it immediately."
However, the subordinate tried to radio outside the VIP Room, but no one answered.
Instead, the commotion outside grew louder.
Screams!
Run!
The buyers' expressions also turned anxious at the screams coming from outside the VIP Room.
President Yang frowned and instructed his subordinate.
"Go out and find out what's happening."
"Yes, sir!"
A moment later, the subordinate returned, his face pale after assessing the situation.
He whispered into President Yang's ear.
"Grandmaster. It's an attack. Two individuals, who appear to be considerable masters, are causing a ruckus."
"..."
President Yang, who was in charge of the club's VIP Room, also known as the 'Butcher Shop,' was the Grandmaster of the Great Heaven Sect's secret combat unit and the Sect Master's cousin.
As someone in charge of the Underworld business, he appeared smooth on the surface, but in reality, he was known for his cruel methods and cunning personality.
As he fell silent in thought, the buyers, who had been watching him nervously, spoke up.
"W-well, we should probably leave for now. We can come back another time if the opportunity arises..."
"Oh, gentlemen! It's nothing serious!"
President Yang smiled brightly at the anxious buyers and said.
"Just stay here for a moment. I'll go out and take care of it myself."
When President Yang said he would handle it personally, the buyers looked at each other and nodded.
They knew that the Great Heaven Sect stood behind President Yang.
Though it had never been openly declared, there were ways for everyone to find out.
"Well, if President Yang is going to step in..."
"Then we can rest easy."
"Yes, yes. Just stay calm~ and I'll be back after sorting it out. We can resume our business then."
President Yang, who had smiled brightly at the buyers, turned around, his expression turning as cold as ice.
"Perfect timing, actually. Now we have a way to procure fresh goods for our esteemed clients right here on site."
With a cruel smile, President Yang reached for the door to exit.
"Hm?"
At that moment, President Yang sensed something amiss and leaped back from the door just as a series of powerful impacts struck it.
CRASH! BANG! SMASH!
With several attacks, the dented iron door groaned, then collapsed inward with a thud, and beyond it, two figures walked in.
"Hmph. Damn sturdy, wasn't it?"
Sizzle-hiss—
A bandaged monster, spewing flames from its body, dragged its saber across the floor as it entered.
Whoosh—
A young man, his body enveloped in pure white wind, surveyed the VIP Room with indifferent eyes.
Ki Mu-hyeok's eyes narrowed as he spotted the refrigerated showcase.
"So this is the 'Butcher Shop'..."
"Ugh! Hey, that's what I think it is, right?"
"Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."
Ki Mu-hyeok had seen countless worse sights during his Vagrant days, but Shin Kang-heon's face turned ashen, as if he was about to vomit, at the sight inside the refrigerated showcase.
Witnessing firsthand what he had only heard about seemed to ignite even greater fury within him.
Shin Kang-heon's hand tightened around his saber hilt, gripping it with immense force.
"Scum. I'll make sure you can never do this kind of thing again."
"..."
President Yang quietly watched the two men, then gestured to a subordinate beside him.
It was a signal for a proper sword, not the hand-axe he usually carried.
'Both are masters.'
President Yang was a master who had reached the initial stage of the Peak Master realm.
After finding enjoyment in business, he had focused more on client management than cultivation, but he had never considered his own skills to have rusted.
His enemies appeared to be masters as well, but he was confident he could handle them himself.
"It seems you're not just any riff-raff. Who might you be, to visit our establishment in such a crude manner?"
"Why? So you can run to your mommy and tattle?"
"Hahahaha...!"
Ki Mu-hyeok knew well how to provoke such individuals.
Cockroaches of the Orthodox Faction, hiding in the Underworld and pretending to be kings.
They were pathetic fools who mistakenly believed that the moment they revealed their true identities and power, everyone would tremble and kneel before them.
Sure enough.
"You, do you even know where this is, to be acting so brazen... Hmph!"
Whoosh!
Ki Mu-hyeok's sword, launched in a surprise attack, aimed for President Yang's neck.
President Yang hastily retreated, his tie half-severed.
Having narrowly avoided disaster, he shouted, his face beet red.
"An ambush in the middle of a conversation! Do Martial Artists have no basic etiquette?!"
Shing.
The sword slid from its sheath, radiating a chilling sharpness.
The viscous Killing Intent unleashed by the Peak Master approached, threatening to ensnare their entire bodies.
However, Ki Mu-hyeok seemed utterly unaffected by his opponent's Killing Intent; instead, he scoffed and sneered.
"A Martial Artist, engaging in organ trafficking? Etiquette? Perhaps we failed to recognize a notorious master of the Unorthodox Faction?"
"...You, you know exactly who I am."
President Yang's eyes, gleaming with Killing Intent, were utterly unlike those of an Orthodox Faction member.
"I won't kill you immediately. It's freshest when dissected alive."
President Yang licked his sword with his tongue, then lunged at Ki Mu-hyeok with lightning speed.
Ki Mu-hyeok did not evade, meeting the sword with his own.
Clang-clang-clang!
Swords clashed, sending sparks flying in all directions.
The aftermath of the collision became a fierce gale, raging in every direction.
'Ice Art?'
President Yang felt his body gradually stiffen.
Each time the pure white aura clinging to Ki Mu-hyeok's sword traveled up his own, he felt a chilling energy seep into his very bones.
It was by no means a clumsy Ice Art.
'Moreover, the bandaged saber-wielder who came with him is emitting flames hot enough to scorch skin...'
Naturally, the name of a major Martial Sect, famous for its Ice Art and Yang Energy Faction martial arts, came to President Yang's mind.
'Could it be the Sun Moon Sect?'
He was a formidable expert, trusted by the Great Heaven Sect to handle such dangerous business.
He was quick-witted and skilled in social maneuvering.
Noticing President Yang's change in expression, Ki Mu-hyeok smiled faintly and said.
"You're not entirely clueless, are you?"
"W-what in the world are you thinking?! If you pull a stunt like this, we won't just stand by..."
"And if you don't stand by? What can a mere Great Heaven Sect do?"
"..."
At the arrogant remark, as if the Great Heaven Sect was beneath his feet, President Yang's suspicion solidified into certainty.
To make matters worse, from behind President Yang, who was gritting his teeth in apparent fury, Shin Kang-heon's low, modulated voice was heard.
"I've finished up here."
While Ki Mu-hyeok fought President Yang, Shin Kang-heon had subdued all the buyers and subordinates who tried to escape, then joined the fight.
Whoosh!
The saber, engulfed in flames, aimed for President Yang's waist.
In a situation where his body could be split in two, President Yang barely managed to twist his sword and block the attack.
CRACK!
"Kugh! What power...!"
Ki Mu-hyeok pursued him as he was pushed back.
President Yang pulled out a hidden dagger, his trump card, and threw it, but Ki Mu-hyeok simply tilted his head to easily dodge it.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Thinking he was cornered, President Yang bit down on a pill he had hidden between his molars.
It was a drug that explosively increased Internal Energy in a short amount of time.
As President Yang's eyes turned bloodshot, Shin Kang-heon flinched and asked.
"Shouldn't we be careful?"
"Just beat him quickly before the drug fully kicks in."
"Simple enough!"
With Shin Kang-heon joining, the subsequent fight was one-sided.
The surroundings were repeatedly scorched, frozen, and then melted.
Even with the drug's help, President Yang couldn't gain the upper hand and was thoroughly beaten for a long time.
Thwack!
Finally, President Yang dropped his sword and collapsed, beaten to a pulp.
His luxury brand suit, once without a single wrinkle, was torn to shreds, and his face was so bruised and bloody it was unrecognizable.
Ki Mu-hyeok squatted in front of him and said.
"Deliver this message to your Sect Master: shut down all the businesses you've extended into this area."
"W-why are you doing this? You had no complaints, did you?!"
President Yang felt so wronged he could go mad.
This business had originally started with the cooperation of the Sun Moon Sect.
Because it was impossible for the Great Heaven Sect alone to consistently procure so many Martial Artists' organs.
Naturally, a significant portion of the profits from the business was handed over to the Sun Moon Sect...
"Well, it wasn't bad."
"Then why?!"
"That's why I figured it'd be better to handle the distribution ourselves, rather than going through you."
"..."
Ki Mu-hyeok grinned, then drove a kick imbued with Internal Energy deep into President Yang's Dantian.
Thud!
The energy-infused strike penetrated his body, shattering his Dantian.
Excruciating pain, enough to make his eyes roll back, followed.
"Kugh...! Sun Moon Sect, you bastards...!"
President Yang lost consciousness amidst the horrific pain, cursing the Sun Moon Sect for reducing him to this state.