Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Cheol So-ah (1)

“A-As you command!”

Aware of Cheol So-ah’s volatile nature, Elder Do, having received his instructions, departed the premises without a moment’s delay.

Had he delayed his arrival at the rendezvous, he was certain a brutal thrashing awaited him.

Ssk.

Cheol So-ah lightly stroked the Iron Hand Gauntlets secured at her waistline.

A chilling sensation from the metal rippled across her skin.

These armaments, sculpted from Ten-Thousand-Year Soft Iron, featured razor-sharp spikes protruding from every knuckle.

A solitary strike possessed the lethality to tear a target’s flesh to ribbons.

“Whether it’s Bukgung Ri or a different adversary altogether, if they have dared to challenge the Iron God Gang, I must offer them a proper reception. In the traditional manner of the Iron God Gang.”

Following Elder Do’s departure, she spent approximately the duration of a standard meal scouring the Assorted Antique Shop, yet she failed to uncover any significant clues.

Under normal circumstances, a clash of this magnitude would inevitably yield a wealth of evidence regarding specific martial arts, Formation Dao, or Immortal Arts.

Residual marks of Sword Qi, imprints from lethal palm techniques, or the unmistakable signatures of a particular faction’s secret arts ought to have been present.

And yet…

There was absolutely nothing.

The place had been picked completely clean.

Wasn’t this absolute lack of evidence precisely what made the situation so highly suspicious?

‘No matter how deeply I consider it, that wretched Bukgung Ri must be responsible.’

If he were not behind this, no other faction within this entire River Capital possessed the audacity to strike at them so ruthlessly!

Grinding her teeth in fury, Cheol So-ah stepped out of the Assorted Antique Shop.

Her feet automatically guided her toward the 7th District.

The 7th District of the Western Road.

It was widely recognized by the public as the Commercial District.

In return for bearing a portion of the defensive burden against the Northern Yan, the Iron God Gang had earned the privilege of collecting revenue from this territory via a formal covenant with the Royal Court.

Countless establishments lined either side of the thoroughfare.

Textile bazaars trading in fine silk, medicine shops, metalworks, and sundry storefronts of every description.

During the daytime, the area thrived with the loud cries of merchants promoting their goods, while the darkness transformed it into a hub for covert transactions.

In reality, it served as the primary source of wealth for the Iron God Gang.

The Protection Tax gathered from this sector each month surpassed ten thousand silver taels.

The shopkeepers surrendered the coin with great reluctance, but such was the cost levied for conducting commerce within the River Capital.

And yet.

Upon her arrival, Cheol So-ah was struck completely dumb.

Right in the center of the avenue.

Precisely as she had directed, Elder Do and the White-Black-Yellow Investigation Corps stood waiting to receive her.

The grim reality was.

“…What in the world is this!?”

They were all sprawled across the ground, lifeless and cold.

Thirty-one individuals in total.

Ten members belonging to the White Iron Squad, ten from the Black Iron Squad, and ten representing the Yellow Iron Squad.

Most devastating of all, Elder Do lay dead among their ranks.

Several bore punctured skulls, some had been sliced cleanly through the torso, and others were mangled beyond recognition.

Cheol So-ah inspected the corpses one after another.

Suddenly, an anomaly caught her attention.

“This sensation is…”

A subtle trace of energy still hovered around the corpse of Elder Do.

A common observer would have remained completely oblivious to it, but her status as a supreme master allowed her to detect the anomaly.

A lingering force that flickered faintly, akin to starlight.

Delicate remnants that appeared to mirror the alignment of the Big Dipper.

“The Seven Star Formation Dao…”

This was the signature technique belonging exclusively to the Bukgung Family.

A high-level martial methodology and a branch of Immortal Arts that harnessed the cosmic power of the seven stars to overpower an adversary.

Though barely perceptible, it was undeniably a remnant left by the Seven Star Formation Dao.

Cheol So-ah’s visage flushed a deep crimson.

Overwhelmed by fury, the internal iron qi coursing through her form began to violently destabilize.

The ambient temperature in her immediate vicinity surged abruptly.

“You miserable wretch! Bukgung Ri!”

Her furious roar reverberated down the streets.

The entire neighborhood, encompassing the adjacent structures, shuddered intensely from the force of her voice.

I will ensure you pay for this.

Cheol So-ah was already notorious for her explosive wrath, but at this moment, her fury was so intense it felt as though a molten peak was on the verge of detonating from her skull.

Even so, she refrained from launching an immediate assault on the central base of the Seven Star Immortal Society.

An abrupt escalation of that nature might be a clever snare, an attempt to fabricate a justification to claim the Iron God Gang had instigated an all-out conflict.

Furthermore, regardless of her blinding rage, invading their territory entirely alone at this juncture would amount to throwing her life away.

For the time being, she redirected her course toward the River Capital Prefecture Office, situated along the Central Road.

Swish!

The direct path separating the Western Road from the Central Road required roughly half a quarter-hour to traverse.

To advance along a perfectly straight path? Naturally, one was required to leap across the empty airspace above the structures.

Cheol So-ah deployed her lightness technique, sprinting across the rooftops with the speed of an arrow in flight.

Her dark evening attire billowed fiercely against the wind, and ceramic roof tiles shattered beneath her boots as she ran.

The citizens walking the pathways below glanced upward, whispering among themselves.

“That figure… originates from the Iron God Gang.”

“It’s Cheol So-ah!”

“I caught word of a massive disturbance over on the Western Road a short while ago. Could this be tied to that event?”

She paid absolutely no attention to the murmurs of the populace.

Her singular focus was the Prefecture Office.

She was determined to challenge the Prefect directly regarding this atrocity.

Regardless of how lawless the River Capital might be, there remained a baseline of propriety that had to be maintained. To execute such an assault without issuing a formal challenge of war was unacceptable.

The River Capital Prefecture Office loomed as a massive monument of stone.

It stood as a three-story edifice constructed from gray granite, featuring colossal sculpted lions flanking either side of the primary entrance.

Thud.

Cheol So-ah descended gracefully upon the crown of one of the stone lions.

The sentries stationed at the portal of the Prefecture Office panicked momentarily, but they immediately scurried indoors.

Aware of Cheol So-ah’s unpredictable and dangerous temper, they acted without a second’s delay to alert their administrator.

Moments later, the sentries reappeared to guide Cheol So-ah toward the Prefect’s personal workspace.

The private quarters were situated at the terminus of the third-floor hallway.

A crimson carpet spanned the length of the passage, while representations of former regional administrators lined the walls.

The chamber she stepped into was vast.

A single wall was completely obscured by an immense bookcase, while the opposing partition displayed an expansive chart mapping the entirety of the River Capital.

Seated behind a dark ebony desk positioned in the center of the room was the Prefect himself.

He appeared to be a gentleman in his mid-fifties, dressed flawlessly in the garb of his station.

His expression conveyed a gentle demeanor, yet his eyes gleamed with sharp perception.

Prefect Yo Han-myeong.

Though he operated as a civil administrator by profession, he was likewise an individual possessing deep insight into the ways of the martial world.

And yet.

An additional visitor was already present within the room.

A youth distinguished by flowing, brilliant white locks.

He halted his dialogue with the administrator and turned his gaze around.

“Well, look who has graced us with her presence. What matter brings Young Lady Cheol to this place?”

“Society Leader… Bukgung, so you had already arrived.”

Had the administrator not been watching over the room, she would have unleashed her fury instantly.

Instead, Cheol So-ah desperately reined in her malice, stabilizing the tone of her voice.

“As you see. The Prefect requested my presence to praise this one for his accomplishments from the previous day.”

“Hmph, no doubt. It appears you have maintained an exceptionally frantic schedule yesterday and today.”

Bukgung Ri tilted his head slightly to the side.

“Today?”

“Indeed. Extending from your actions yesterday, you have remained quite active in striking our forces even today, have you not? An exceptionally brilliant ambush, I must say. Hoho.”

Detecting the immense tension underlying Cheol So-ah’s words, the Prefect stood up from his chair.

“What is the meaning behind these accusations, Corps Leader Cheol?”

Cheol So-ah’s recognized rank was Corps Leader of the Iron God Gang’s First Divine Iron Corps.

“Precisely, Your Excellency. What could the meaning possibly be? Given that Society Leader Bukgung happens to be standing right here, perhaps you might demand an explanation from him on our behalf?”

Cheol So-ah delivered her words with sharp emphasis, biting down on every single syllable.

As she shot venomous glances toward Bukgung Ri, the Prefect similarly shifted his attention to the youth.

“What explanation do you have for this, Society Leader Bukgung?”

“In truth, I am equally fascinated. I cannot help but wonder what exactly has provoked our dear Young Lady Cheol into such a magnificent rage.”

Bukgung Ri let out a soft laugh, rubbing his temple with a finger.

“Could it be that you have positioned an operative within the ranks of our Seven Star Immortal Society?”

Leaving his seat, he folded his arms across his chest and showed his teeth in a grin.

His stare was incredibly intense, reminiscent of a ravenous predator salivating at the prospect of cornering a defenseless prey.

“Do I not lose sleep every single evening filled with thoughts of you, Young Lady? Pondering exactly when you might present yourself to me. Will it occur today? Or perhaps tomorrow? I remain waiting through the dawn and dusk. If your operative provided intelligence, it must have been an incredibly… raw and unvarnished account, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Y-You! You bast—”

Clinging desperately to her remaining sanity, Cheol So-ah drew a sharp breath before pressing forward.

“Are you genuinely attempting to pretend ignorance?”

“Pretend ignorance? Quite the contrary, this Society Leader remains entirely clueless as to your meaning. What could have occurred to render you so confrontational?”

“Yesterday, the target was the Assorted Antique Shop, and today, you launched a strike against our White-Black-Yellow Investigation Corps!”

Appearing thoroughly entertained, Bukgung Ri rubbed his temple once more.

Simultaneously, a sharp crease materialized between his brows.

He then shifted his head, staring directly into the eyes of Cheol So-ah.

“I am left wondering who could have launched such an assault? The Assorted Antique Shop serves as a vital financial artery for the Iron God Gang, and the Investigation Corps functions as your primary sensory network.”

Observing Bukgung Ri’s genuine bewilderment, Cheol So-ah finally realized that her assumptions might be flawed.

Regardless of how despicable Bukgung Ri could be, he was fundamentally a transparent individual.

He was prone to mocking and instigating, but he was never one to hide behind deception.

For a man of his character to display… this specific reaction!?

‘No. The perpetrator was not Bukgung Ri.’

Bukgung Ri closed the gap separating him from the bewildered Cheol So-ah in a single, fluid motion.

He leaned forward, closing the distance until their faces were nearly touching, presenting an aura as though he intended to swallow her whole.

“I am intensely curious to discover who dared to take the initial bite of the feast I had fully intended to consume myself?”

For a tense, prolonged interval, the pair locked eyes, each attempting to decipher the hidden motives of the other.

Eventually, Bukgung Ri was the first to break the standoff, redirecting his attention back to the administrator.

“Your Excellency. It appears my desire for sustenance has vanished for the day, so I shall take my departure. I trust you and Young Lady Cheol will partake in an exquisite midday meal.”

As he stepped toward the chamber’s exit, Bukgung Ri snapped his fingers sharply and glanced back one final time.

He curled the corner of his lips into a mocking grin aimed directly at Cheol So-ah.

“Oh, and a word of caution, Young Lady Cheol. I strongly recommend you consume your meals within the safety of your own estate, if feasible.”

Immediately following those words, his whimsical demeanor vanished entirely, turning as freezing as though a century of winter frost had escaped his mouth.

His features froze into absolute ice.

“Because I remain unaware of their identity, but someone out there seems to be surreptitiously sampling the finest delicacies of the River Capital without obtaining prior consent from this Bukgung.”

“?!”

Hearing Bukgung Ri’s parting declaration, Cheol So-ah finally understood that a catastrophic situation was unfolding.

Tash!

Without offering the Prefect a single word of parting courtesy, she leaped straight out of the chamber.

In her wake, Bukgung Ri turned back toward Prefect Yo Han-myeong, his face once again sporting a whimsical grin as if no tension had transpired.

“Your Excellency.”

“Speak your mind.”

“I desire to clarify a single point prior to my exit.”

“Name it.”

“You have not violated the fundamental covenant of mutual non-intervention between the regional authorities and the Murim, correct?”

“I have kept the covenant.”

“Then all is well.”

“If that represents the reality, then it would appear an unfamiliar companion has arrived within the River Capital.”

“A new companion, you say.”

“Indeed. A completely unprecedented companion, by all indications.”

“As has always been our custom, are we permitted to resolve this matter within our own circles?”

“You are.”

“In that case, I must request your indulgence ahead of time. The River Capital is bound to become rather turbulent for the foreseeable future.”

“That causes me no concern, provided that if the Northern Yan makes an appearance, I trust I have no need to prompt you regarding your pledged obligations?”

“My responsibility was discharged yesterday. The turn belonging to the Iron God Gang is up next…”

Kkkk.

Bukgung Ri let out a muffled chuckle before continuing.

“Should they cease to exist, I imagine I shall be forced to intervene on their behalf once more. Simply ensure that I am properly reimbursed for the trouble.”

Thak.

The heavy office door clicked shut.