Chapter 139: Give Me a Reason
The office of Baek Sword Hall Master Do Won-hyeok.
The room, with nothing more than the necessary items neatly arranged in their proper places, seemed to reflect his character.
“……”
Hwang Eung Captain merely kept his mouth shut, cautiously watching for cues. Until now, among those who had held a private audience in this office, very few had walked out unscathed.
Baek Sword Hall Master, who had been observing Hwang Eung Captain, finally spoke in a low voice.
“Is it true? I heard you ignored all internal procedures and attempted to subjugate Gamri Stronghold.”
Though his tone was calm, it pressed down on Hwang Eung Captain like a blade hidden in every word.
Hwang Eung Captain felt it growing harder to breathe but forced himself to reply.
“Was it Guest Dragon who said that?”
“How would I know?”
The implication was clear.
This was not merely Baek Sword Hall Master’s concern. Someone higher was watching.
It was without a doubt Chief Strategist Sima Baek.
Hwang Eung Captain could not help but feel baffled.
‘What on earth is that Guest Dragon fellow?’
How could even someone like the Chief Strategist put such trust in the words of a martial artist barely past his youth?
Trust him enough to doubt and investigate himself, the Hall Leader of Mount Heng Sect?
“Don’t think of lying. Your assignment regarding Shui Stronghold has been revoked. I’ll personally be conducting the investigation in your stead.”
“……”
Hwang Eung Captain felt as though his heart had dropped.
If Baek Sword Hall Master himself went to Gamri Stronghold to investigate, then everything he had done would soon come to light.
To deny further would be folly. If the lie was exposed later, suspicion would only grow deeper.
Having quickly weighed the situation, Hwang Eung Captain obediently nodded and said,
“Yes, it is true.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Because I was blinded by the thought of achievements.”
“Achievements?”
With a resigned sigh, Hwang Eung Captain calmly continued.
“As you know, the situation of our Mount Heng Sect is far from good.”
“……”
“I am aware that many people gossip about me becoming Captain at such a young age. Some even say the Murim Alliance appointed me out of pity for Mount Heng Sect.”
“That could hardly be the case. You rose to the position purely through ability. The Chief Strategist is not one to appoint people based on background.”
Hwang Eung Captain gave a bitter smile.
“Yes, and so I wished to prove my ability. I wanted to make the subjugation of Shui Stronghold my achievement. That’s why I deliberately selected only members from Mount Heng Sect to accompany me. It was purely my own greed.”
Having said this, Hwang Eung Captain rose from his seat and bowed.
“I am sorry, Hall Master.”
“……”
Baek Sword Hall Master felt a strange sense of dissonance.
Hwang Eung Captain had admitted his wrongdoing and would be disciplined accordingly.
Yet, the unsettling feeling in his chest did not fade.
“Is that truly all?”
“Yes.”
Hwang Eung Captain answered firmly.
Baek Sword Hall Master nodded.
“Very well. I trust you understand what happens if you are caught lying during Baek Sword Hall’s investigation.”
“Of course.”
“From now on, you and Hwang Eung Squad will be excluded from the Murim Alliance’s missions. Until further notice, you will also be prohibited from leaving the premises.”
“……”
In other words, he would be completely cut off from the outside world and confined within the Murim Alliance.
Though curses rose within him, Hwang Eung Captain could do nothing but nod.
“Yes, I understand. But please, tell me one thing.”
“Speak.”
“Why does Guest Dragon enjoy more trust than even a Hall Leader of the Murim Alliance?”
After moistening his throat with a sip of cold water, Baek Sword Hall Master replied.
“I cannot tell you the full details, but I will say this. In the past year alone, he has taken care of six Murim Public Enemies. Three of them were First-Class, and one was Special-Class.”
“…What?”
Hwang Eung Captain blinked in stupefaction.
The Murim Alliance categorized Murim Public Enemies by level of threat.
Ordinarily, when an entire Hwang Eung Squad was dispatched, it was to apprehend a Second-Class Public Enemy. For a First-Class, two or more squads joined forces.
And Special-Class went beyond squad level—at least three or four Hall Masters had to cooperate on the mission.
Three First-Class and one Special-Class. In terms of merit alone, it would not be strange if Guest Dragon were immediately elevated to Hall Master.
‘He accomplished that alone?’
Though he had heard it with his own ears, he could hardly believe it. As Hwang Eung Captain looked at Baek Sword Hall Master in disbelief,
Baek Sword Hall Master said in a quiet voice.
“It is fortunate you claim you had no ulterior motive. From what I know, those who cross paths with Guest Dragon rarely end well. Most end up dead. Likely the same will happen this time.”
“……”
A moment of silence passed.
For some reason, a chill crept down Hwang Eung Captain’s spine as he forced himself to speak.
“…I heard he was just an innkeeper.”
“That inn has always been that way.”
There was no need to mention that even an elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s Sword Demon Heaven had crossed paths with that innkeeper and died.
Hwang Eung Captain was beginning to feel he had touched something he should not have.
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak left the Murim Alliance with relief in their hearts.
For now, the suspicious Hwang Eung Captain was bound within the Alliance, and they had received assurance that the Alliance itself would directly investigate the matter.
Since the Chief Strategist had personally confirmed it, there was nothing left to worry about.
Naturally, the three headed straight for the Red Cliff Escort Agency.
From the Murim Alliance headquarters in Wuhan, if one followed the Yangtze River upstream for half a day, they would arrive at Red Cliff.
As they walked along the riverbank, flicking the tall reeds with his fingers, Seomun Ak suddenly exclaimed as though he had realized something.
“I’ve figured it out! Listen, everyone. Isn’t it possible Hwang Eung Captain was actually in league with the Red Cliff Escort Agency? He probably tried to wipe out Shui Stronghold to cover it up!”
“……”
Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom glanced briefly at Seomun Ak, then turned their eyes back to the road ahead.
It was something they had already discussed in the Chief Strategist’s office.
“Isn’t that right? Wasn’t I rather sharp?”
“…It seems the young master’s words are correct.”
“Knew it.”
When Jin Seong-un nodded, Seomun Ak looked pleased and let out a laugh.
Seo Yu-gyeom sighed deeply and unfolded his movement arts. Jin Seong-un followed right behind him.
Seeing the two suddenly dash off, Seomun Ak thought they were jealous of his wit.
‘Maybe I’ve really grown.’
With that thought, Seomun Ak smirked and finally began to use his movement arts as well.
After running for a little more than two hours, the group arrived at the Red Cliff Escort Agency.
The gatekeeper guarding the agency’s front gate asked the three,
“Where have you come from?”
“From Seong-un Inn. We heard the Escort Master has passed away, so we came.”
“We are deeply grateful for your sentiments, but the funeral is already over.”
“I heard the body was never recovered. How was a funeral held then?”
The gatekeeper stared fixedly at Jin Seong-un.
Jin Seong-un shrugged his shoulders and said,
“I was not without ties to the Escort Master. Shortly before his death, we even spoke of meeting again. Having heard such news, I felt it my duty to come.”
The gatekeeper glanced around briefly.
Since duty had been invoked, Red Cliff Escort Agency could not turn Jin Seong-un’s group away at the door.
If they heartlessly rejected a guest who came to honor the Escort Master’s memory, they would be scorned as a dishonorable household ignorant of propriety.
“I shall report inside. Please wait a moment.”
With that, the gatekeeper went inside. It was not long before the gates opened again.
.
.
.
The one who appeared was the Chief Steward who had previously visited Seong-un Inn to deliver news of Bang Man-bok.
Recognizing Jin Seong-un, he said,
“Ah, are you not the innkeeper? What brings you all the way here…”
“Of course I had to come.”
“That is true. Please, follow me.”
The Chief Steward led the group inside.
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak walked while observing the interior of the Red Cliff Escort Agency.
“It’s enormous.”
Seomun Ak exclaimed in admiration.
He knew it was a well-known escort agency, but in terms of size, its manor far outstripped even that of the Seomun Clan.
Walking alongside him, Seo Yu-gyeom spoke.
“Escort agencies deal with a lot of cargo. Their manors are generally larger than those of clans or sects. Of course, this one is large even compared to other agencies.”
“Oh.”
Seomun Ak nodded.
This eccentric chef was surprisingly knowledgeable about nearly everything, which Seomun Ak found impressive.
As they continued chatting, they could feel eyes on them from all around.
Most were merely curious gazes.
The names Seong-un Inn and Guest Dragon were fairly famous, and the second son of the Seomun Clan was not someone easily seen either.
Yet, mixed in with those looks were occasional glints of hostility. Some showed open displeasure, while others glared at them outright.
Remembering their faces, Seo Yu-gyeom sent a voice transmission to Jin Seong-un.
Seems they don’t like that we came here.
It could be because they’re truly hiding something, or simply because outsiders have come at a time when the agency is in turmoil.
Seo Yu-gyeom nodded.
The latter reasoning also made sense.
To others, they were martial artists. And martial artists were oppressive just by breathing.
The sudden death of the Escort Master must have thrown the agency into disorder. A power vacuum always created problems.
With everyone on edge, the sudden arrival of martial artists wandering around the agency would understandably be unwelcome.
But I think there are martial artists here besides us.
Seo Yu-gyeom said this.
He was not speaking of escorts or escort leaders.
Those men carried a different air from martial artists who trained purely for the sake of martial arts.
Seo Yu-gyeom’s gaze settled on a certain pavilion. The person inside was unmistakably a martial artist—one who had reached a fairly high level.
Coincidentally, the Chief Steward stopped right in front of that pavilion.
“Escort Master, guests from Seong-un Inn have arrived.”
The Chief Steward spoke cautiously toward the inside. Then a voice came from within.
“I’m busy. Tell them to wait.”
Even though the Chief Steward had already brought the guests, the man inside said that.
Looking troubled, the Chief Steward scratched his head and glanced at the three.
Jin Seong-un shrugged his shoulders.
“We will wait.”
After all, it was they who had come without notice.
Thus, the three were guided to a guest room, where they waited.
Time passed. Half an hour, then a full hour.
No word came.
Another two hours passed, and in the end, half a day had gone by. Darkness had already fallen outside.
Nibbling candied fruits with their drinks, Seo Yu-gyeom suddenly said,
“They’re doing this on purpose. They want us to leave.”
At his words, Seomun Ak nodded in agreement. He too had treated unwelcome visitors to the Seomun Clan in the same way before.
Soon, Seomun Ak asked, baffled,
“But why? What did we do?”
“If someone dislikes us without reason, then why not give them one?”
At Seo Yu-gyeom’s suggestion, Seomun Ak nodded with satisfaction.
The two always seemed to get along best when plotting something.
Seo Yu-gyeom whispered his plan to Seomun Ak.
Seomun Ak’s expression shifted with each detail, until finally he wore a sinister grin.
Watching the two, Jin Seong-un briefly considered stopping them, but shook his head.
Waiting had grown tiresome enough.
And moments later—
Everyone in Red Cliff Escort Agency was forced to stop what they were doing.
“That’s it, you bastard, it’s you or me!”
“Fine, let’s finish this today!”
For a fight had broken out in the guest room.
And a very violent fight at that.
KWA-AAAAAANG!
The guest room exploded apart.