Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
Territorial disputes between the Cheongsa Gang and the Honggyo Gang had recently grown volatile, repeatedly breaking out into vicious skirmishes. For an underworld syndicate like the Cheongsa Gang to secretly hoard a vast supply of poison bombs represented an existential hazard to their rivals in the Honggyo Gang.
“Little Brother. You are speaking of things with grave consequences. Are you willing to put your life behind those words?”
Gu Ak’s earlier agitation had vanished, replaced by an icy, razor-sharp focus as he pressed the boy.
Yanghwi, unbothered, answered with an offhand tilt of his head.
“Shall I offer up my head as collateral once more?”
“……You wager your own life far too carelessly, just as you did before.”
“Only because I know I am right.”
Yanghwi’s awareness of the Cheongsa Gang’s secret armory came down to a simple, grim reality: in his former life, whatever occurred at that cache had triggered an uncontrolled blast of those very poison bombs, slaughtering countless innocents residing nearby. The tragedy had unfolded the day directly following his official adoption into the household, searing the memory into his mind despite the chaos surrounding him back then.
Moreover, the sole reason the Cheongsa Gang’s mole planted inside the Honggyo Gang had been uncovered was the catastrophic fallout of that explosion.
The blast had obliterated the very sanctuary where they concealed their illicit funds and covert weaponry. The Cheongsa Gang plunged into utter disarray, and the panicked spy inadvertently betrayed his own cover. What followed was a blood-soaked purge within the Honggyo Gang, ultimately clearing the path for the Cheongsa Gang to seize control of the entire district—though none of that mattered at the present moment.
“Out on the furthest fringes of Ak’an County sits a derelict compound bearing the nameplate ‘Sim Estate.’ A small band of two or three beggars haunts the grounds, but behind that guise, they are actually covert operatives of the Cheongsa Gang.”
“What solid basis do you have to claim it’s their concealed hoard?”
Yanghwi swiftly spun a convincing narrative in his mind to satisfy Gu Ak’s suspicion.
“Spotting a group of beggars camping there, I stepped inside hoping to secure a dry corner for the night. Instead, they beat me raw and threw me out into the dirt. Holding a bitter grudge, I kept watch on the place, hoping to find a vulnerability to strike back, and……”
“And what?”
“Would you believe those beggars bathe themselves every three days like clockwork?”
“That is the extent of your proof?”
“Hardly. Knowing something was foul, I shadowed those wretches further. And then……”
“And then?”
“A few days later in the bustling market, I saw one of them strolling around openly wearing the uniform of the Cheongsa Gang.”
Gu Ak regarded him with pure skepticism.
“Are you asking me to believe your memory is that flawless?”
“Once something captures my attention, it remains etched in my mind whether I wish it or not. Honestly, it is a curse—the burden of possessing unprecedented genius, if you will.”
“Empty boasting will not convince me.”
Gu Ak stepped into a neighboring used-book stall, purchased a text, and hurled the volume straight into Yanghwi’s hands.
“You have one gak. Recite ten full pages word-for-word from memory. Accomplish that, and I will take your word.”
“A whole gak? You are practically spoiling me.”
Within barely half a gak, Yanghwi had absorbed well over half the book, smoothly reciting the prose aloud. Incredibly, every single word and phrase matched the printed page without a flaw.
“……It is genuine.”
“As the scion of a renowned, righteous clan, would I ever stoop to falsehoods!”
“Then explain how you discovered the poison bombs.”
Yanghwi wove another falsehood without a second’s hesitation.
“A distinctive stench hung in the air, and it stuck with me. Later, while begging from a passing martial artist of the Tang Clan, the exact same odor reached my nose.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan. Foremost among the Five Great Houses, feared and celebrated throughout the world for their lethal mastery of concealed weapons and venomous compounds.
“An aroma identical to a warrior of the Tang Clan…… Poison bombs or something else, a toxic cache is undeniably hidden there. And concentrated enough to leave a lingering stench.”
Faced with such plausible circumstantial evidence, Gu Ak concluded that the venture justified the risk.
“Little Brother.”
“What is on your mind, Brother Gu?”
“Eighty percent belongs to me; twenty goes to you.”
“Do you have no sense of commercial honor?”
“If the terms displease you, by all means, raid the place by yourself.”
Gu Ak flashed a smug, self-assured smirk. In his eyes, letting a mere whelp claim an equal share of a concealed fortune was utterly unthinkable.
Yanghwi, having clearly foreseen this maneuver, fired back instantly.
“Do you honestly believe this is the only secret I possess?”
“……”
Common sense argued that the boy could not possibly harbor any more valuable knowledge. He had already disclosed two pieces of intelligence that no ordinary person could ever uncover; what else could he hold? Yet…… the sheer, unshakeable certainty in Yanghwi’s gaze gave him pause.
Arrogance aside, this boy is frighteningly clever. He does not flinch in the presence of dark-path figures either. Pulling him into my circle and keeping him close could prove remarkably profitable down the road.
Weighing the prospects, Gu Ak chose to soften his stance.
“An even fifty-fifty split. Consider it a concession born of my goodwill toward you, Little Brother.”
“Hmm. Since I also hold you in high esteem, Brother Gu, I suppose I can yield this once for the sake of our fellowship.”
……What a brazen, infuriating brat. He refused to yield the final word, not even for an instant.
“Wait here, then.”
“Hold on, Brother Gu. You are taking me with you.”
“Out of the question. I must travel via lightfoot techniques, which means carrying you upon my back.”
To an expert of the dark path, whose pride and reputation were held as dearly as those of any orthodox master, such a humiliating display was beyond consideration.
“You are completely ignorant of the layout of Sim Estate and the routines of those masquerading beggars. If you wish to avoid raising an alarm, you must strike from the shadows and incapacitate all three before they can breathe a word.”
“……”
Once again, Yanghwi forced the unthinkable into reality.
Having successfully secured Gu Ak as a remarkably swift mount, Yanghwi arrived effortlessly in the vicinity of Sim Estate.
Peering through the perimeter, three beggars were indeed gathered within, precisely as Yanghwi had stated. Leaning close, Yanghwi whispered into Gu Ak’s ear.
“Observe. Dusk is falling—the most lucrative hour for begging—yet none of them make a move to gather alms.”
“Suspicious, without doubt. I shall wait for total darkness before springing an ambush.”
Yanghwi shot down the suggestion without delay.
“That will not do. If I return home too late, Father will skin me alive.”
Gu Ak stared at him, struck speechless once more. What kind of child treated an undercover raid like a chore with a curfew……?
“I have already devised a method. Leave the opening move to me.”
Radiating confidence, Yanghwi shed his pristine garments and slipped into the ragged, filthy attire he had stashed beforehand.
It was wise of me to trade for clothes matching my stature when handing out coins to that street beggar earlier, knowing this moment would arrive.
Rubbing grime and soot over his skin, Yanghwi completely transformed into a ragged street urchin.
“The moment I create an opening, burst in and strike them down.”
Leaving those instructions behind, Yanghwi trotted toward an adjacent residence.
“Kind master, could you spare a scrap of food for a starving child?”
“There are no leftovers to give today, young one. Move along.”
“Worry not, I come with coin, not an outstretched hand.”
Handing over a scattering of copper coins, Yanghwi acquired a wide wooden basin packed with provisions and promptly altered it to suit a street vagrant—dumping a handful of dirt directly into the bowl and blending it thoroughly.
With preparations set, Yanghwi swaggered directly into the compound of Sim Estate.
“Ahem! Clear the way, your guest has arrived!”
Observing from concealment, Gu Ak slapped a palm over his face. The boy claimed he had an infiltration strategy, and this farce was the result?
His courage hasn’t merely outgrown his frame; he has already surrendered his liver to the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.
“The feast is served! Come and greet your guest!”
Paying no heed to Gu Ak’s private agony, Yanghwi shouted at the top of his lungs, drawing the immediate glare of the men inside.
“Where did this street brat come from……?”
“Who allowed you in here?”
“Cease your yammering and get lost.”
Their expressions were sour and irritated, yet their guarded, cautious postures revealed they were desperate to avoid making any public scene.
Beaming, Yanghwi hailed them once more.
“What do you mean, who am I? Word reached me that strange beggars dwelled here who never set foot outside to beg, so your little brother took pity and gathered a feast for you all! Let us dine together!”
The men looked down in utter disgust at the sludge inside the bowl Yanghwi thrust toward them.
“We have no appetite. Get out.”
“Turning down a meal because you aren’t hungry? Are you truly part of our brotherhood? A genuine beggar gorges himself the second sustenance crosses his path.”
As Yanghwi narrowed his eyes with feigned suspicion, the expressions of the three men instantly froze.
“Did you not hear me tell you to scram!”
One beggar stepped forward aggressively, clearly aiming to toss him out by force.
Yanghwi’s instincts swiftly gauged the man’s martial foundation.
Second-rate. In a fair, prolonged duel, my current vessel could never overcome him, but……
Even so, Yanghwi felt no shred of unease. His adversary was not merely off-guard; he dismissed Yanghwi as utterly harmless.
An ancient proverb in the martial world warned: remain vigilant against women, the elderly, and small children. The core truth was eternal: never drop your guard before any opponent.
“Come now, take just a taste—whoa!”
Pretending to stumble over a loose stone with an exaggerated cry, Yanghwi hurled the basin of slop straight into the man’s face. The operative jerked back instinctively to avoid the mess, and the instant his vision was obstructed, Yanghwi lunged. Harnessing the momentum of his faux stumble, he slammed his foot brutally against the flagstones.
Thud!
He possessed no internal energy to infuse the strike, but he bridged the gap by channeling the raw physical rebound of the stomp. The kinetic force surged upward through his calf, amplified through the rotation of his hips, and channeled cleanly into his open palm without bleeding a fraction of power.
Smack!
The palm of a child who could not even claim third-rate status struck cleanly beneath the jaw of the second-rate martial artist.
“Urgh……”
Drop your vigilance in the martial realm, and even a common farmer’s blade can claim your throat, you fool.
The operative collapsed into the dirt, entirely unconscious. Before the remaining two could recover from their astonishment, Gu Ak, who had materialized with a dark cloth masking his features, struck both of them down in a single fluid motion.
As expected of a first-rate master. Dispatching second-rate opponents is child’s play for him.
While Yanghwi silently appraised Gu Ak’s practical utility, the masked warrior turned toward him.
“Little Brother. Impressive work.”
“Where did that mask come from?”
“Any seasoned martial artist of the dark path carries a cloth mask concealed within their attire. Regardless, when you promised one would fall, you truly delivered.”
Gu Ak’s gaze held unmistakable, genuine respect.
“Every motion you made was stripped of wasted effort. Where did you acquire such martial refinement?”
“To endure among vagabond packs, a small boy must master a trick or two. I simply pieced together scraps by observing passing masters from the shadows.”
“……What an absurd degree of natural genius. It is no wonder Lord Baek brought you in as his adopted heir.”
“Address him as Lord of the House, not Lord Baek. Setting that aside, let us scour the interior.”
“Agreed. We must act swiftly. Beyond these guards, there are surely lookouts observing from a distance.”
Locating the hidden stash within Sim Estate proved simple, primarily because Gu Ak, in quintessential dark-path fashion, demolished walls and floorboards in a ruthless sweep. Before the time it took to finish a meal had passed, they pried open a hidden chamber packed with stacks of gold nyang, assorted concealed projectiles, and a heavy wooden chest laden with poison bombs.
“This is…… a monumental fortune.”
Converted into standard currency, the silver value alone easily reached ten thousand nyang. Gu Ak’s brow furrowed heavily.
“Given the Cheongsa Gang’s known revenue, they could never amass such immense wealth within a secondary hideaway rather than their primary headquarters.”
Yanghwi harbored the exact same skepticism, though it was a riddle his memories from the past life were unable to unravel.
“What does their origin matter? The critical detail is that these riches belong to us now.”
“We cannot haul everything away. Truly a shame.”
“Since your back is occupied carrying me, our haul is limited to the gold nyang and the poison bombs.”
“With an ocean of silver before us, hauling your weight feels like a waste of carrying capacity.”
Gu Ak sneered playfully as he looked down at Yanghwi.
“Perhaps. Yet the lookouts observed only a beggar boy entering this courtyard. And during your strike, Brother Gu, your face remained masked.”
Yanghwi met the glance with an equally sharp grin, locking eyes with the dark-path warrior.
“What is your choice, then? Abandon me in this yard and hoard the entirety of the spoils for yourself?”
Gu Ak paused for a fleeting moment, then gave an exasperated shake of his head.
“We take only the gold nyang and the poison bombs.”
He chose to carry Yanghwi after all.
Just as I thought, he has not completely discarded his humanity.
Grinning broadly, Yanghwi shoved stacks of gold nyang deep into the lining of his robes, hefted the crate containing the poison bombs, and hoisted himself onto Gu Ak’s back. With silent haste, the pair dashed through the shadows back toward the vicinity of the Baek Estate.
“Our agreement called for an equal partition, but to my thinking, it is only proper that you claim all the poison bombs, Brother Gu.”
“I never had any intention of leaving such lethal weapons in the hands of a child.”
“Then let our division be clear: the gold nyang stays with me, and the poison bombs remain with you.”
“In terms of raw market value, do the poison bombs not fall short of half the total?”
“Come now, broaden your perspective! Where else could one casually purchase military-grade poison bombs through standard channels?”
Gu Ak suppressed the sudden urge to strike that irritating mouth, which continuously spouted arguments impossible to dismantle.
“Haah. Very well, let it be so.”
Sighing as though drained from the endless verbal sparring, Gu Ak secured the crate of poison bombs and vanished into the night with a single bound.
Vanishing without offering a parting courtesy?
Yanghwi resolved to mend that lack of etiquette when the time came. Securing the heavy pouches of gold nyang snug against his chest, Yanghwi boldly pushed open the main gates of the Baek residence.
Instantly, Baek Muryang, who had been pacing the stone courtyard in frantic distress, snapped his glare toward the entrance.
“Father! Your son has ret…… urned……”
The moment Yanghwi caught sight of the patriarch’s face, cold reality struck: his adoptive father was thoroughly beside himself with fury.
“Baek Yanghwi! Just what manner of madness kept you out until this ungodly hour!”
This is perilous. Once Father begins a scolding, the lecture drags on for two shichen without pause.
Yanghwi spun his formidable intellect seeking a path of escape, only to realize that the most direct diversion was already in his hands.
“Father! Look, I brought home a fortune!”
“To think you dragged Blood Butcher Gu Ak along as your personal guard! After concocting such an outrage, what possible coin could you—what…… money……?”
The instant Baek Muryang caught sight of the glittering heaps of gold nyang resting in Yanghwi’s outstretched hands, every ounce of rage evaporated from his features.
The sheer scale of the treasure was far too overwhelming for anger to survive.
“Just…… what in the heavens have you done?”
At the bewildered query, Yanghwi’s lips curved into a triumphant, knowing grin.
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