Even the timid and foolish have their moments of clarity in life. Jin Seok-man was having one of those moments. As soon as he entered the private room, closed the door, and sat down, he began to spill everything unprompted, his face pale.
He seemed to have decided it was better to talk now and get one less beating.
“Money! It's money.”
“What money?”
"The Black Night Gang has a lot of money. A whole lot..."
Jin Seok-man was a poor man. He'd managed to get a job at a brewery, but it was just enough to get by. Back in his hometown of Shimmering Light Village, he had elderly parents he had to support.
“I haven't even been able to marry yet.”
I didn't think a woman would be interested in a face like his, but I was wrong.
“I have a sweetheart back home. We promised our futures to each other when we were children...”
Her family had half-accepted him as a son-in-law. To become a full-fledged son-in-law, he needed money. His sweetheart's family was just as poor and deeply in debt.
If they couldn't repay it by the end of the year, she was about to be sold off as a concubine to a rich old man in a distant village. It was a situation that would make any man see red. He couldn't focus on his work.
He desperately looked for a way to get money, but the only place he could pin his hopes on was the gambling den. Without any beginner's luck, he lost what little money he had saved on tiles and dice. He even took out a loan from the Flame King House and plunged back in, only to become hopelessly indebted.
The reason he'd been surrounded by dark path men and forced to dig in the mountains on his first day back was because he couldn't pay the interest and was working it off with his body. Unable to borrow any more money, he could no longer enter the gambling den.
As Jin Seok-man, half out of his mind, blankly pulled his cart delivering alcohol, he overheard something that caught his ear. As befitting a dark path gang that controlled the back alleys of the Western Village, the Black Night Gang ran many businesses.
They collected money once every half-month, and the amount was said to be over a hundred silver taels. From what he heard the gang members say, the treasure piled up in their vault was even greater. Listening to him, I was dumbfounded.
“So you decided to rob the Black Night Gang?”
Jin Seok-man nodded firmly, his face grim.
“I can't just let that wicked old man take my sweetheart, can I? And I don't want to live a pathetic life hauling wine barrels forever. If a man is born a man, he should bet his life's fortune on one great gamble.”
Won Seo-gang chuckled, an intrigued look on his face. “That's a bold dream, but what were you planning to do? Are you a disciple of the master thief by any chance?"
“What's a master thief?" “A legendary thief. Rumor had it there was no wall he couldn't climb, nothing he couldn't steal. No one knows if he's dead or alive now.” With a long sigh, Jin Seok-man’s shoulders slumped. “Huuu, if I had that kind of skill, do you think I'd be living my life pulling a cart?” “Then, are you any good with a blade? Have you ever killed a man?” “No. Never.” "Then how were you going to take on the Black Night Gang by yourself?" "I was going to use martial artists." "Do you know any swordsmen?”
“No. But I heard you can hire swordsmen at the Wandering Swordsmen Inn over there.”
He was talking about sticking his own limbs into the mouths of starving wild dogs. At a loss for words, I spoke up instead of Won Seo-gang. “About that portrait you drew earlier.
That was Jeok Chu-yeong. Did you know?"
“... Who?"
“You don't know Jeok Chu-yeong? He's the master of the Black Night Gang you're drooling over." Jin Seok-man's jaw dropped.
“That warrior back then… was Jeok Chu-yeong?”
"You've been in and out of the Black Night Gang. You've never seen him?"
“The only places I've been to with the cart are the kitchen and the storerooms." "The Crouching Dragon Hall, where the master resides, is in the deepest part of the Black Night Gang's territory, so I wouldn't dare go near it.”
Won Seo-gang snorted derisively. “Hmph, Crouching Dragon Hall? For a piece of dark path scum, that's a rather arrogant name for a pavilion.
Does he think he's the Alliance Leader or something?" I studied Jin Seok-man's face carefully. I watched him more closely than I ever had at any gambling table, but there was no sign of awkwardness or pretense.
It seemed he truly didn't know the man he had seen was Jeok Chu-yeong.
"Was it really seven years ago you last saw him? You haven't seen him again at the Black Night Gang? If this is a trick to use me to get into the Black Night Gang..."
Jin Seok-man waved his hands frantically in denial.
“Oh, no, sir. Do I look that clever to you? You showed me the portrait, and it just happened to jog an old memory, so I told you the truth.
To think that was the master of the Black Night Gang… Could it be that the heavens sent you two to help me?" As he pleaded desperately, Jin Seok-man's eyes widened as if he'd realized something, and he looked back and forth between me and Won Seo-gang.
"Let's say you hire some martial artists. How do you plan to infiltrate the Black Night Gang? Don't tell me you're thinking of hiding in a wine jar?"
Jin Seok-man boldly pounded his chest with his fist. “You can count on me for that. While delivering alcohol to the Black Night Gang, I observed with my life on the line.
I've memorized the internal structure, the passageways, the blind spots where the lanterns don't reach, the guards' positions and numbers, and even their shift change times." “What about an internal map?” "If I got caught making something like that, I'd be a dead man.
I've put it all in here.” Jin Seok-man tapped his head with his finger. At times like this, he didn't seem so dull.
If he'd foolishly left a map behind and his companions took it, he would be of no further use and would be killed on the spot. Leaving Jin Seok-man in the room, I stepped out into the hallway. Won Seo-gang stroked his chin, a wry smile on his face.
“Looks like we're all going to be holding hands and jumping the Black Night Gang's wall together.” Jin Seok-man needed the Black Night Gang's money, I needed to meet Jeok Chu-yeong and get some answers, and Won Seo-gang wanted Ban Ho-yang's head. Our three goals were different, but our path was the same.
Was there another way to meet Jeok Chu-yeong? Charging in through the front gate would be suicide; I'd be dead and covered in blood before I even caught a glimpse of him. Since he had been in seclusion for two years, trying to contact him when he went out was also impossible.
Even if I went through the Underworld Information Clan, he probably wouldn't respond. Mentioning the incident with the Western Village residents from seven years ago would only make him more guarded. He might even send his men or assassins after me to cover up his shame.
Martial artists were the kind of people who never listened to reason. Among them, those on the dark path were black-hearted and twisted. Jeok Chu-yeong might have a decent face, but as the head of a dark path gang, I'd have to land a blow first to get the truth out of his throat.
There was no other way but to do it like a martial artist: jump the wall and settle things with a blade. “That guy doesn't seem to be lying, what do you think?” "He's an easy one to read.
I can't trust him completely, but he's useful enough.”
Won Seo-gang nodded, then stared at me intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
"Isn't it funny how things turned out? No matter how much I tried to persuade you to jump the Black Night Gang's wall, you refused flat out. But now, it looks like you have no choice but to put on a mask too, Brother Jeong."
"That's life. You never know what's just around the corner. But what's with the 'Brother Jeong' all of a sudden?"
When I tilted my head, Won Seo-gang gave a subtle smile.
“You called me Brother Won, so I thought I'd call you brother too. The title Great Hero is a bit awkward, isn't it? It's not like I've accomplished anything heroic. It feels embarrassing." "As for titles, just use whatever you're comfortable with.”
There wouldn't be a big problem with us calling each other brothers. Won Seo-gang wasn't the type to look down on me or try any funny business. The thought of infiltrating the Black Night Gang was honestly a bit daunting.
At least I wasn't alone.
“Can the two of us do it?”
Jin Seok-man, who had lived in the countryside and probably only ever caught a few chickens, was only good for guiding us through the route into the Black Night Gang and its internal layout. Fighting the bastards would be up to me and Won Seo-gang.
“It'll be tough. Even excluding the Black Night Gang's grunts, all their officers know how to use a blade properly. Especially the trio directly under the master; they are formidable masters. I looked into it through the Underworld Information Clan, and they're subordinates who have followed Jeok Chu-yeong since his time in Hunan. If his subordinates are that skilled, Jeok Chu-yeong's own martial ability must be considerable. The two of us won't be enough.”
Then there was only one way.
“We'll have to gather people discreetly.”
“We must. Martial artists who are hungry, earnest, and fearless.”
“Bringing in a bunch of riffraff will be worse than having no one.”
"Don't worry. My eye for people is better than my martial arts. I can spot the kind of scoundrels who'll stab you in the back a mile away. It's written all over their faces. I'm already in contact with a few masters as it is."
“Who?”
“It's not confirmed yet. I'll tell you when it is.”
Won Seo-gang seemed to be in a very good mood, perhaps because things were going well. "What about that monk, the house guest in the detached house? He's an incredible master.
He even took down Tang Do-hun that time, didn't he?” Without a moment's hesitation, Won Seo-gang shook his head.
“Count that damned monk out. What good is a master if you can't predict what he'll do? He's not the type to be moved by money. Let's not rush things. Let's take our time and gather the right people. The master of the Black Night Gang is holed up deep inside, and that bastard Ban Ho-yang seems to be staying there until the end of the year.”
Suddenly, I remembered meeting Ban Ho-yang at the black market. Should I tell him or not? If I brought it up, I'd have to explain why I was at the black market.
Mentioning the spiritual herb would make him realize I was training in an inner cultivation method. I couldn't casually ignore Do Gwang-il's stern warning not to tell anyone. Won Seo-gang was a trustworthy man, but I didn't want to test that trust.
"Is Ban Ho-yang still at the Black Night Gang?” Won Seo-gang's gaze became deeply thoughtful.
“He is. I confirmed it last night. Tsk, to have him right in front of me and be able to do nothing but watch...”
“About the wooden sword you used during our sparring session in the detached house.”
“Are you still fixated on the sword path?”
“Not that. You said you made it to teach someone, right? Was that for Ye Hyang?”
Won Seo-gang, who had been looking puzzled, replied nonchalantly. "You said you were her escort, so you must have seen Ye Hyang's sword.”
“Her sword path looked familiar.”
“At the pavilion master's request, I took on a disciple I never planned on having. That's all.”
Hong Hee had chosen Won Seo-gang to be the martial arts teacher for her successor. This meant Won Seo-gang was not a simple house guest. Looking back, Won Seo-gang had never called himself a house guest.
Dozens of hand-carved wooden Maitreya Buddha statues were displayed in Won Seo-gang's quarters. This meant he hadn't been staying at the Western Village branch of the Underworld Information Clan for just a day or two.
“Let's wet our throats and review. See if that guy lied about anything.”
We returned to the room and shared drinks with Jin Seok-man in a much more relaxed atmosphere than before. We got him thoroughly drunk and reconfirmed the things we had heard just moments ago.
In between slurring his words, rambling incoherently, and lamenting his fate in a fit of anger, the information Jin Seok-man provided was identical to what he'd said when sober. We laid the passed-out Jin Seok-man in a guest room and, from that day on, hired the Underworld Information Clan to tail him.
I also obtained information about the Black Killing Sword, Jeok Chu-yeong. As the leader of a dark path sect based in the same Western Village, the Underworld Information Clan had already been thoroughly investigating Jeok Chu-yeong for several years. There were no records of Jeok Chu-yeong before the age of twenty.
No one knew his hometown or which sect he came from. Like an awl piercing through a pocket, he suddenly appeared in Hunan, the stronghold of the dark paths, leading three subordinates, and cut down several high-ranking dark path masters who had earned titles.
He pushed up to Jiangxi, gathered forces, and settled down, then suddenly drifted to the Western Village where the Dragon Sky Escort Agency was established. It was impossible to know who the blade-wielding men were who had seized control of the reservoir and taken the land. Jeok Chu-yeong and his subordinates all used swords.
It could be that they were Jeok Chu-yeong's men disguised to look like other dark path members, or they could have been a genuinely different group. Even the Underworld Information Clan could not track down the whereabouts of the villagers who had disappeared after getting into a carriage prepared by Jeok Chu-yeong.
None of the residents of Shimmering Light Village knew either. Since the Western Village was surrounded by mountains and had little interaction with other villages, this was understandable. The Western Village branch of the Underworld Information Clan was only established three years after the Dragon Sky Escort Agency.
No matter how capable the Underworld Clan was, it was impossible for them to find out about events that happened before that. I immersed myself in martial arts training again.
If, after all this trouble, I finally met Jeok Chu-yeong and he was a greater master than me, I would be the one getting a blade in me and talking, not him. I had to become as strong as possible before entering the Black Night Gang.
If I didn't want to be defeated so easily by his hand, if I wanted to find out where he took the villagers. With a clear target in Jeok Chu-yeong, my fighting spirit blazed. Except for eating, relieving myself, sleeping, and circulating my qi, the long blade never left my hand.
The amount of inner energy channeled into each form increased by a few more strands. My body's movements were the same, but perhaps it was just my imagination, my senses felt a little sharper. Once every ten days, I replenished my depleted inner energy with a fifth of a pill and continued my training.
The cicadas that had cried day and night began to quiet down one by one, and the mornings and evenings grew cooler. The midday heat had also subsided, so I no longer had to escape into the mountains to avoid the scorching sun.
Swarms of dragonflies flew over the yellowing rice paddies, and the mountains and fields began to show hints of autumn colors. Summer had passed and autumn had arrived, but Do Gwang-il did not return. That old man… surely he didn't die out there somewhere...
An absolute master who could use a tremendous sword technique, inner energy, and even body-flickering techniques wouldn't be defeated so easily. Perhaps he had gone deep into the mountains to find a spiritual herb. There were tigers and bears in the mountains.
He might have fallen while trying to pick a spiritual herb growing on a cliff. Just as I was imagining a critically injured Do Gwang-il crawling into a cave and dying while leaving behind a secret manual for someone in the future, I sensed a presence from beyond the wall.
When I opened the gate, there was Do Gwang-il, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. Without any greeting, he held out his hand.
“I must check your progress.”
He grabbed my wrist and channeled his inner energy into me. As he checked my energy core and meridians, a strange light flickered in his eyes.
“It seems you haven't been idle. To think you've trained to the point where you can circulate energy like this, and yet your energy core is full. Where did you get an elixir to eat?" "I received a root for a job I did.”
“What kind of job did you do that they gave you a spiritual herb?”
"I did some work for the Underworld Information Clan."
“The Underworld Information Clan? Tsk tsk, it's a trick to get their hooks into you.”
Do Gwang-il understood the situation in an instant. It seemed he too had dealt with the Underworld Clan in the past.
“How is my progress?”
Do Gwang-il stroked his white, Daoist-like beard and was lost in thought for a moment before he spoke.
“Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the latter eighteen forms of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique.”