Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Ak’an County of Muju, situated within Jiangxi Province, served as the seat of the Baek Estate.
Muju, like much of the surrounding province, drew its prosperity from sprawling fertile fields and the bustling commerce moving through its network of waterways. Yet Ak’an County remained distinct from the rest of the region. Bordering its edge lay Yuhang Lake, celebrated throughout Jiangxi for its breathtaking vistas.
Because an endless stream of sightseers, refined dilettantes, and wandering travelers converged upon Yuhang Lake season after season, the county saw an explosive rise in drinking houses, guest inns, and entertainment quarters.
Put plainly, it was a paradise for those looking to line their pockets.
“The wider jianghu may be no different, but Ak’an County fairly teems with martial factions, particularly those of the dark path. Even setting aside the petty rabble parading their names on storefronts, four prominent powers still divide the territory.”
“The Honggyo Gang. The Cheongsa Gang. The Suho Alliance. The Gyojin Gang.”
The elder reeled off the quartet of syndicates without hesitation. Or rather, Yeo Unjuk did.
Naturally. He wouldn’t have set foot here without gathering that much basic intelligence beforehand. That will spare us some time.
“Those four syndicates command Ak’an County. Chief among them is the leader of the Honggyo Gang, who hungers to bring the entire region under his sole dominion.”
While the paramount concern was the overarching ambition of the Honggyo Gang’s patriarch, Yeo Unjuk’s attention snagged on an entirely different point.
“You classify even the Suho Alliance alongside cutthroats and street thugs? Are they not recognized as members of the orthodox path?”
The Suho Alliance indeed operated as a coalition managing armed escort columns and private guard details—enterprises that practically demanded they uphold the veneer of righteousness.
Mere pretenders who wrap themselves in chivalry to mask their greed.
Yanghwi offered an indifferent shrug and pressed on.
“Does a label change what they are? In any case, the various martial bands of Ak’an County, particularly the dark-path syndicates, constantly forge pacts and betray each other. And all of it takes place on grounds that originally belonged to my clan.”
Though modern Ak’an County flourished around Yuhang Lake, its true cornerstone had been laid by none other than the founding forefather of the Baek clan.
The sheer placement of the Baek Estate manor, planted squarely in the heart of Ak’an County, stood as undeniable proof.
“And what conclusion are you driving toward, young master?”
Yanghwi at last lowered the long pipe aimed directly at Yeo Unjuk’s throat and seated himself comfortably on the rooftop.
“My joints ache as though I were aged. Since this discussion is bound to drag on, I might as well converse from a sitting posture.”
“……”
Perhaps dropping a complaint about aging bones directly before an actual elder missed the mark of propriety?
“I merely intended to ease the tension, sir. Provided we have no immediate plans to draw steel, why endure unnecessary discomfort?”
Without a word, Yeo Unjuk mirrored the gesture and settled onto the roof tiles.
Meanwhile, Yanghwi rapidly ordered his thoughts, refining the arguments needed to sway the veteran.
From the second Sister Rang ingested that poison, any reconciliation between this elder and the Honggyo Gang leader became an utter impossibility.
That guaranteed that Yeo Unjuk, the man who alters deer into horses, would never throw his weight behind the Honggyo Gang.
The task, therefore, was to construct a strategy that bound Yeo Unjuk securely to the Baek clan while simultaneously bleeding the dark-path powers of Ak’an County dry.
All while achieving the initial objective: securing a tranquil, shared future for Sister Rang and Brother Gu.
“Speak your piece, young master. What undertaking do you propose we pursue side by side?”
“The matter is direct. We eliminate the leader of the Honggyo Gang, the sole impediment to Sister Rang’s lasting peace.”
Yeo Unjuk narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning piercingly intense.
“Whatever course is taken, turmoil will inevitably swallow the district. When it does, the Baek house will certainly reap the spoils. Are you telling me, young master, that this entire game board was laid out by your hand alone?”
Yanghwi marveled inwardly at the old man’s acumen.
This is precisely why maneuvering around seasoned veterans of the jianghu demands absolute vigilance.
Since concealing his motives had never been his intention anyway, he answered with total candor.
“Your assessment is accurate. Even so, personal gain is not my exclusive motive. You might be unaware, but the man who holds Sister Rang’s heart is a martial brother to whom I have pledged solemn vows of fraternity.”
“……Before we proceed, humor a question. Through what means did you discern this old man’s true identity?”
Because news of the butchery you unleashed spread to every corner of the realm in my previous lifetime.
A truth that could never cross his lips.
“Are you aware that I wandered as a street mendicant prior to being taken into my current family?“
“I have heard as much.“
“When beggar factions seek pastimes to while away the idle hours, they occupy themselves with memorizing the features and histories of notorious outlaws bearing heavy bounties.”
That was the plain truth. Representatives from the Beggars’ Sect routinely dispatched couriers to ensure the vagrants remained informed.
As a cover story, it was airtight.
“Yet I am presently veiled behind a disguise.”
So that appearance is fabricated? That detail escaped me.
“You introduced yourself under the alias Yeo Unhyeok. The character un for mist, and hyeok denoting crimson. Human nature tends toward predictable habits; when fabricating an identity on the spot, most individuals merely alter a single syllable of their true name.”
He layered on further reasoning to cement the fabrication.
“Additionally, consider the jade medallion worn by Sister Rang. An artifact crafted with such unmatched refinement and peculiar traits could not have originated from a common artisan. The renowned title of the man who alters deer into horses crossed my thoughts instinctively, so I cast a line to test the waters.”
“……And my immediate reaction provided the confirmation you required.”
“Precisely.”
A dry, self-deprecating chuckle escaped Yeo Unjuk’s lips.
“A lifetime spent walking upon thin ice, only to cast aside my vigilance because my adversary was a mere youth.”
“Do not fault yourself, sir. It is a well-worn maxim in our world to stay wary of women, elders, and young boys, specifically because those three groups disarm one’s natural suspicions so effectively.”
“Indeed…… Perhaps it was not negligence on my part, but rather that you possess a cunning far beyond your tender years, young master. Even so, your scheme was not entirely seamless. What possessed you to distribute such a provocative notice without even verifying the identity of Arang’s sire?”
Decades of surviving the jianghu certainly counted for something. Refusing to overlook even the slimmest oversight, the old craftsman was exceptionally sharp.
“To be entirely candid, your presence was an unforeseen variable, sir. My original arrangement took a different shape. Yet that deviation is inconsequential now, so let us set it aside. What say you? Are you inclined to entertain the scheme of an uncommonly gifted prodigy who exceeds his years?”
Yeo Unjuk studied Yanghwi’s unabashed grin for several silent heartbeats.
Eventually, a resigned breath slipped past his lips.
“Observing your sheer tenacity, it seems this old man will leave empty-handed unless I hear you out. Continue.”
“To begin, allow me to state unequivocally that the ultimate aim of my design is Sister Rang’s safety and happiness. You may take that as a sacred guarantee, pledged on the honor of a scion belonging to a righteous martial family.”
“I shall determine the worth of that vow myself.”
“Suit yourself. Stated plainly, I intend to turn the dark-path syndicates against each other through calculated discord.”
“You have stripped away all the meat of the plan. What exact steps do you intend to execute?”
Yanghwi delved into the thirty years of future recollections preserved within his spirit.
Yeo Unjuk. In my past existence, you…… wielded the very craft that branded you a pariah across the martial realm to orchestrate a slaughter against the Honggyo Gang.
By trade, Yeo Unjuk, the man who alters deer into horses, was never an orthodox martial artist. He was a master conservator whose life had been dedicated to the restoration of weathered historical records and century-old artifacts.
Yet the boundary separating meticulous restoration from untraceable forgery was razor-thin, and his hands possessed the uncanny knack to make freshly written paper appear centuries old.
That miraculous mastery had been the very curse that shattered his existence.
He found himself swept into the catastrophe of the Sword King’s Tomb, an atrocity that unfolded roughly two decades ago.
He had undertaken a lucrative commission under the guise that the documents were meant as playthings for wealthy young nobles, fabricating numerous ancient treasure charts. He never suspected that the entity pulling the strings was the infamous Blood Serpent Sect.
The Blood Serpent Sect reigned as the uncontested sovereign of the unorthodox path, holding absolute dominion across Guizhou Province.
During that period, the Blood Serpent Sect was locked in a brutal contest of will against several righteous organizations based in Hunan, prominently featuring the Huangbo noble house.
Seeking an absolute advantage, the Blood Serpent Sect conceived a trap using spurious treasure charts to draw the orthodox warriors into an ambush and butcher them wholesale. The scheme succeeded entirely, etched into history as the Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath.
In its wake, the Huangbo noble house—once counted among the Five Great Houses—crumbled into ruin, leaving the martial sects of Hunan shattered and divided to this very day. And Yeo Unjuk was branded a universal enemy of the martial world.
In truth, he was a tragic figure. He had simply accepted payment for his trade in total ignorance, only to incur the unbridled fury of the righteous path and become an outcast hunted by all.
That misfortune cost him his wife and forced an agonizing separation from his daughter during her youth.
In my prior life, you perished beside your enemies during that vengeful slaughter. In this life, I will ensure you spend your twilight years in peace alongside your child. In exchange, you will place your talents at the disposal of the Baek house.
“I plan to circulate martial manuals.”
“Martial manuals?”
Yeo Unjuk’s features instantly chilled.
“You appear to be drawing conclusions from the scandal that made me a hunted fugitive, but this old man possesses no profound martial arts capable of serving as enticing bait.”
“That presents no obstacle. The scrolls you forge and leak, sir, will not contain traditional styles, but specific counter-tactics.”
In his previous existence, Yanghwi had committed himself to facing countless fighting arts in his quest to elevate his lineage’s techniques.
Naturally, that included the signature methods of every dark-path syndicate entrenched in Ak’an County.
I traded blows with them endless times until every foundational principle was laid bare to me. Formulating methods to dismantle their techniques is as effortless as drawing breath.
Yanghwi allowed a confident smirk to surface.
Seven days and nights slipped away.
In the middle of the day, an uninvited visitor strode openly into the Baek Estate.
“Brother Gu. Our Baek Estate upholds the strict standards of the righteous path; aren’t your visits growing far too frequent?”
“Little Brother! Forget three days—I curbed myself and waited ten full days before returning! Rather than commending my restraint, you greet me with scolding?!”
Watching the man huff with a face turned utterly scarlet with indignation, Yanghwi mused that Blood Face might suit him better than Blood Axe.
“Regardless, your arrival is timely. There is a matter I must share with you.”
Yanghwi escorted Gu Ak directly to Rangnang’s pavilion.
“Gaga!”
“Rangrang!”
The two lovers, having been parted for ten days, indulged in a tender reunion until Gu Ak clasped Rangnang’s hand and shifted his focus back to Yanghwi.
“So, how far along is Little Brother’s scheme? At what hour will this promised apex realm master make an appearance?!”
“Hm? I never claimed I would produce an apex realm master.”
“You what?”
Before Gu Ak’s fury could flare in Rangnang’s presence, Yanghwi smoothly cut in.
“I stated that I would enlist someone capable of ending an apex realm master.”
“Is that not the exact same thing?!”
“Do you believe a blade is the only instrument capable of taking a life? There is insidious venom, there is vast fortune; the paths to death are limitless. Ah, which brings to mind an urgent issue. Step outside with me for a brief word.”
Only when they had cleared the inner pavilion, ensuring Rangnang remained safely out of earshot, did Yanghwi turn to face Gu Ak squarely.
“Were you aware?”
“Aware of what?”
“Your confusion confirms you were kept in the dark. Sister Rang has been subjected to poison.”
Gu Ak’s expression warped in an instant, resembling that of a vengeful fiend.
“Easy now. Contain your wrath and listen to the whole truth. You are aware that the matriarch of our household, my mother, suffers from frail health, which requires frequent examinations by a physician.”
“My composure has limits. Explain yourself without delay.”
What an explosive temper. Yanghwi immediately elaborated.
“Sister Rang appeared uncommonly pale, prompting me to have her constitution evaluated. The physician confirmed that toxic elements are present in her bloodstream. If you doubt my words, you are free to summon an outside healer to verify the diagnosis.”
“……Rangrang has genuinely ingested poison?”
“The residual toxic qi is extraordinarily subdued, yet it is a slow-acting venom engineered to prove fatal through prolonged ingestion. It is entirely natural that it slipped past your notice, Brother Gu.”
Even Gu Ak, who had shared tea and whispered affections with Rangnang inside her quarters, had detected nothing amiss.
Given how imperceptible the toxic qi remained, even Yanghwi would have overlooked it had his senses not been remarkably honed.
“As for the architect behind this slow assassination…… I doubt we need search far and wide.”
“……”
Gu Ak stood entirely paralyzed, stripped of words.
There existed only a single individual with reason to feed poison to Rangnang.
None other than his biological father, the supreme commander of the Honggyo Gang.
“Father…… To think Father would……”
“He most likely viewed Sister Rang as an inconvenient nuisance to be cleared away, clearing the path to force your political union. Or perhaps…… his goal was to hold Sister Rang’s life hostage to ensure your absolute obedience.”
Among all the offspring sired by the Honggyo Gang leader, Gu Ak alone had broken through into the first-rate tier.
Attaining the first-rate rank prior to reaching thirty summers marked him as a prodigy who might very well breach the barrier into the apex realm, given the proper fortune.
And since the dawn of antiquity, a ruler’s most dangerous competitor was invariably his own heir.
“Haha, hahahaha.”
A bitter, hollow chuckle spilled from Gu Ak. The vacant disbelief that had clouded his face rapidly crystallized into a vastly different sentiment.
A seething, suffocating fervor known as pure fury.
Excellent. Gu Ak is now irreversibly bound to my cause.
“Brother Gu. Trying to coax the Honggyo Gang leader into blessing your union with Sister Rang is no longer a viable path.”
“Indeed…… That much is clear.”
“Is it still your resolve to shield Sister Rang from harm?”
Gu Ak pivoted his frame, casting his eyes back toward Rangnang’s residence.
A fierce, aching warmth burned within his gaze.
“Rangrang was…… the sole anchor that allowed me to endure an agonizing torment where drawing breath was a struggle. For her sake…… I will commit to anything.”
Yanghwi had previously assumed the man was merely swept away by passion after visiting entertainment parlors upon reaching manhood, but an infinitely deeper tragedy clearly bound their histories together.
Perhaps the very reason Gu Ak retained a shred of decency unusual for a dark-path enforcer was entirely due to Rangnang.
Carrying that realization, Yanghwi spoke.
“Brother Gu. If that is your conviction, only a single course of action remains.”
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