The Power of True Confessions
Gwak Yeon knew it all too well.
Among the *mimyeongyao*, there existed a special sedative known as the confession drug that could coax even the strongest prisoners into revealing their true identities and secrets.
He had served in the Geumuiwi, and even within the Murim Alliance, he was fully aware that such drugs were routinely employed during interrogations of criminals.
“What is your name?”
“Ma… Guan… Yue…”
“What is your age?”
“Forty… three…”
“What is the name of the group you lead?”
“Hon… cheon… gang…”
The effects of the power he had witnessed today were no less formidable than the best confession drugs he had seen in his previous life.
Blink. Blink.
Ma Guan Yue blinked slowly, his eyes hazy with confusion, as if lost in a dream.
He answered every single question Gwak Yeon posed without the slightest hesitation.
Flash.
It was the intense red glow in Gwak Yeon’s eyes.
Exactly five times.
For those five heartbeats, Gwak Yeon had focused his inner vision, drawing upon the sensation of blood moving through his body, and stared straight into his opponent’s eyes.
“Last time, when I looked at you, what sensation did you feel?”
“Flash… to… see… it… felt… like… being drunk… hazy… dreamy…”
“Still now?”
“Yes… it… feels… like… a dream…”
With that alone, he had completely hypnotized Ma Guan Yue.
From his movements and inner energy, Ma Guan Yue was clearly a capable expert within the Black Road gang.
“How ridiculous.”
Even Gwak Yeon himself found the power monstrous.
Of course, there was one drawback.
It took a certain amount of time for the drug to fully take hold.
“Five times.”
In truth, he had counted them throughout the entire fight. Between each count, he had glared at the Black Road members, his eyes flashing with that special glow. That was why Ma Guan Yue’s subordinates had felt the same flash when the battle raged between them and Gwak Yeon.
“Using it against the Jusan Baek family was a little troublesome.”
He had not been hypnotized when counting one. Nor when counting two or three. In a real fight against a master, one mistake could cost him his life.
So.
It was not suitable for use during combat, only afterward.
Thus, among the two powers he had experimented on today, none were practical for his duel with Baek Jung-hyeok of the Jusan Baek family… yet he felt no disappointment.
“I cannot rely on tricks.”
Gwak Yeon had full confidence in his own strength.
Of course, it would be far less effective than fighting Gwak Ho-shin.
The reason he had easily gained the upper hand was because he had already read every feint in the other man’s *Manhyeong-geom* techniques.
Still, there would be no loss.
Although he had not yet fully recovered his previous-life strength… he was still a top-tier expert from the Central Plains.
More importantly.
“While I live.”
Right now, gathering information was the priority.
“Have you ever seen a power similar to the one I demonstrated in front of you today? The one you called *saju*.”
“This… kind… is… the… first… time…”
“How did you come to call it *saju*?”
“Something… different… about the feeling…”
“Have you ever experienced anything like this? I do not mind if it is not the same as what I showed you today.”
“No… I… have… not…”
“So it was just a gut feeling?”
“Yes…”
“Damn it.”
Ma Guan Yue, who had not yet been broken, continued the questions.
“Have you heard of the *Ilwolgyo*?”
“First… time… hearing… it…”
“The *Muyeongnoga*? Anything about the *Muyeongdan*?”
“I… do… not… know…”
“Stories about martial arts using blood, or people who possess blood-drinking abilities?”
“I… do… not… know…”
“How stupid.”
He had not gathered a single piece of useful information.
He had wanted to hear about hidden forces related to vampires like himself or the *Muyeongnoga*, but…
“…It is probably not that easy to obtain.”
Gwak Yeon sighed.
In the end, he decided he would have to proceed step by step.
He opened his mouth once more.
“How long have you been committing crimes in this city?”
“Five… years… or so…”
“Then you must know the major Black Road gangs in Hangzhou.”
“To… some… extent… yes…”
“Can you list them in order of greatest danger and power?”
“Yes… I… can…”
“Speak. All of them.”
* * *
How much time had passed?
“Is this the end?”
“What… I… know… is… this… everything…”
“There are quite a few intriguing things.”
When Gwak Yeon lowered his head, he saw a red figure on the stone floor.
It was what he had recorded while interrogating Ma Guan Yue.
A Black Road gang map drawn in blood.
The web of power connections was far more intricate than he had imagined.
“I will have to memorize the dangerous ones first.”
By eliminating the likes of this Honcheon gang, and then questioning the rumors that spread through the underworld, he would eventually learn about at least some hidden forces.
“Hoo. Roughly sorted. Oh right, you are all the ones who are still here?”
“Jang… Po… except…”
“Ever since earlier you have been shouting ‘Jang Po, Jang Po.’ What kind of person is that guy?”
“Monster…”
“Stronger than me?”
“I… do… not… know…”
“What? For certain?”
“That guy… does… not… use… *saju*…”
He could not even answer immediately?
Although he had not yet fully recovered his previous-life martial prowess and inner energy, this man had already seen a vampire’s power.
Curiosity suddenly struck him.
“Where is he now?”
“I… do… not… know…”
“You guys are partners, right? How could you not know?”
“Only… a week… has… passed… since… recruitment…”
“Is he like you? A killer of commoners?”
“No… he… is… just… an… idiot…”
“An idiot?”
“Yes…”
“An idiot who is a monster?”
“No… weakness… visible…”
“How did someone like that come under your command?”
“Peach… Inn-jung Jang-po…”
“What nonsense. Inn-jung Yeo-po?”
“No… it… is… Inn-jung… Jang-po… when… you… say… it… makes… the… girl… scream…”
That was when.
The moment Ma Guan Yue’s answer slowed.
A wave of dizziness struck.
Pain as if his head would shatter, then—
Paaak!
Blood spurted from his nose.
“Cough!”
The instant Gwak Yeon relaxed his eyes, Ma Guan Yue collapsed forward with a thud.
“Uwaaaak!”
Gwak Yeon gagged.
Damn it.
He had used the power too long.
Intuitively, he realized he had consumed the blood of the wolves stored in the dantian beside his lower abdomen.
Moreover, because he had also used his own blood, his entire body felt drained like last time.
“Blood… blood…”
He placed his hand on the neck of the fallen Ma Guan Yue.
His pulse was extremely weak, confirming that a deep wound had been inflicted and he had been under the influence of the power during the interrogation.
He was already at death’s door.
Additional questioning was impossible.
In that case.
He simply pressed his palm against the neck and absorbed the blood just as before.
The flowing blood, gurgling.
This time the recipient was human, not a wolf, yet Gwak Yeon felt no guilt.
“This kind of thing… is like using the flesh of a beast.”
A moment later.
Gwak Yeon had once more filled his blood pouch.
He would have liked to store far more at once, but the capacity limit was clear.
“Hoo.”
Having regained his vitality, he surveyed the surroundings.
The only ones left in this place were the Honcheon gang members who had either died or lay barely breathing.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Gwak Yeon walked among them and ended all their lives.
Then.
Following Ma Guan Yue’s instructions from before, he disposed of the bodies.
“Truly, there was strength.”
Without hesitation, he cast all of them into the river.
Splash!
He felt no guilt whatsoever.
In the jianghu, life-and-death duels were one matter, but he had always believed that such villains should disappear from the world as quickly as possible.
“……”
He dusted his hands.
Gwak Yeon looked up at the moon hanging in the night sky.
What thoughts were going through his mind?
Hah.
He suddenly laughed, turned his head, and walked on.
The night was far from over.
There was still a place to go.
Thus.
Returning to the shop he had visited earlier to conclude today’s work, Gwak Yeon.
“……Y-you… are… really… here?”
“To prevent any doubt, I have brought it directly.”
“What is this?”
“The clothes and accessories Ma Guan Yue was wearing. I have already handled all the bodies, so you need not worry.”
“……!”
“These will never trouble the shop owner again. If you do not believe me, I can add another day tomorrow—”
“Ah, aaaaah—!”
Thud!
Suddenly screaming, he dropped to his knees.
Tears streamed down the merchant’s face, the tears he had held back for so long.
“Truly… truly… thank you, Great Hero! I… I… did not think I would live to see the day… From now on, every single day! Every single day, I will kowtow toward the Seoho Gwak family!”
“Haha, no need for that.”
“Uwaaaaah!”
The merchant’s emotions burst forth, enough to relieve even the observer.
Joy, rage, relief, liberation—how long had they poured out? Until his body went limp, he wailed and cried, then finally looked at Gwak Yeon with a weary face.
“How… how can I repay this kindness…”
Slurp. Slurp slurp.
Someone who had barely opened their eyes after being silenced rubbed their head, then suddenly jolted awake and looked around in alarm.
It was Cheon Gang.
“Khh… next… next…?”
“Awake?”
“Uwa?! I was not drunk at all! What nonsense! This… this time I drank maishu from the place recommended by the young master…”
“That is it.”
“Here…? What… did you drink?!”
“Our shop’s noodles are especially delicious! With the liquor I personally brewed, it is endless!”
The shop owner wiped his swollen eyes in a hurry. He had already turned to face Gwak Yeon and Cheon Gang, then smiled slyly.
“Ha, one cup, please! Owner!”
Cheon Gang nodded vigorously at the order and headed toward the kitchen.
“Understood at once!”
“Ooh.”
“Kuh… I’m… drunk…!”
“Good.”
And then, matching the rhythm like before when he had slain the Honcheon gang, Gwak Yeon replied to Cheon Gang’s drunken ramble.
“Good. Very good.”
Repeating the last word, he thought.
Yes. At least the situation was not bad.
He had not obtained any other information about the Ilwolgyo or vampires, but he had learned the effects of the new power and the situation of the Black Road gangs in this city.
With this ability.
He could crush the trash from the underworld who spread the news of such major evils.
“Still time remains.”
And in the duel with Baek Jung-hyeok of the Jusan Baek family one month from now, if he won, he would be able to hear some information about the hidden forces from the family head.
Of course.
He would also need to train diligently for a month to surpass his previous-life realm for that duel…
“Hushang training too? Heh?! Rest when you rest! Run around again!”
…Just as Cheon Gang muttered.
Rest was also a form of training.
Since the fight with the other man had ended only yesterday, resting was not a bad idea at all.
More importantly.
“Come, come! The food is ready, Great Heroes!”
Has he not killed those disgusting Black Road thugs and restored the smiles of the commoners?
In this state.
He thought that this had been quite a fine night without any training.
“Shop owner.”
“Yes.”
“Would the shop owner also like a drink?”
With a smile, Gwak Yeon picked up the wine bottle on the table.
* * *
The meeting of the major families continued until late into the night.
“……W-what did you say?!”
The head steward shouted near a scream.
Here was a gathering of powerful clan heads, including the family head Gwak Seo-ryong. Even as a steward, it was difficult to raise one’s voice in such a place, yet no one dared criticize him.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Because the information the family head Gwak Seo-ryong had just delivered was far too shocking.
Amid everyone’s shock, the family head of the Seoho Gwak family slowly opened his mouth.
“As heard.”
He swept his gaze over everyone and emphasized once more.
“The ones we are pursuing.”
It was the confidential information his older brother had sent with his life only moments ago.
“…Apparently they are connected to one of the Seven Great Families in the Central Plains.”
(in case this is needed for verification, but following strict output rules, the final response contains ZERO source text)