One of the Four Symbols Sect thugs, staring blankly between Jin Cheongseok and Jang Geon, came to his senses and shouted:
“Hit that bastard!”
If any of them had trained proper martial arts, they would not have said to just rush. But their strongest, Jin Cheongseok, was already down. The others had never learned to read movements like Jang Geon’s.
“You fucker! Die!”
The thug closest to Jang Geon swung his club. A diagonal strike, with no skill. Enough to smash an ordinary man’s head.
Jang Geon slid his right foot back and leaned away, dodging lightly. Then, straightening his waist, he smashed his right fist into the thug’s jaw. A crack rang out, and the man stiffened, then collapsed forward.
Before he even fell, Jang Geon stepped past him and stomped his right foot onto another thug’s face. Using the rebound, he spun and back-kicked a third in the chest.
Another, startled, rushed in with his club raised. Jang Geon turned fast, punched his open ribs with his left fist, then slammed his right fist into the man’s face as he staggered. Leaving him to drop, Jang Geon stepped right and drove his elbow forward.
His elbow struck a chest. As the man gagged, Jang Geon spun and brushed another jaw with a left kick. The thug’s eyes went blank and he toppled.
Jang Geon straightened and walked calmly toward the last two. Seeing the others fall, they just stared, mouths open.
He stood crooked in front of them, looked at their faces, and punched both in the chin. They choked once and fell.
In moments, including Jin Cheongseok, nine men were down. Jang Geon clapped the dust from his hands and looked around. Jin Yangseok was gone. The rat had run as soon as his brother fell. Jang Geon smirked and turned to Yang Gung.
Yang Gung looked just as blank as the thugs.
“...Not a scratch on you?”
“I didn’t learn martial arts to lose to thugs.”
Yang Gung rubbed his chin and looked at the fallen Four Symbols Sect men.
“I didn’t think you were this strong…”
“If I played dominoes with even half my martial skill, your crew wouldn’t have beaten me.”
Jang Geon stepped around the bodies, went back to his table, took his sword, buckled it, and picked up his hat.
“Anyway. Nice meeting you. Let’s not see each other again, swindler.”
Yang Gung hunched his shoulders and gave a weak smile.
“Brother Jang! We part like this? That’s cold. Come, let’s drink.”
“What the fuck for? Want me to bleed you for more money?”
Yang Gung waved quickly.
“No, no. I mean… are you really leaving?”
Jang Geon jerked his chin toward the window. The innkeeper and the guests who had fled were peeking in, staring in disbelief. Yang Gung followed his gaze.
“...Yeah. Drinking here’s impossible.”
Jang Geon chuckled and walked out. Yang Gung hurried after him.
“Brother Jang! Let’s go together. There are still ten more of the Four Symbols Sect here! One of them is the sect leader above Jin Cheongseok! And why was someone weaker than Jin Cheongseok the leader? Because he’s tied to the local Martial Alliance branch—”
Jang Geon stopped. Yang Gung almost ran into his back and froze.
“What? Why stop?”
Jang Geon gave no answer. Yang Gung leaned past him to look outside. A burly middle-aged man sat on horseback, looking down at them. Five swordsmen with drawn blades surrounded the inn entrance. Yang Gung stepped back into the inn.
The rider stroked his thick mustache and watched Jang Geon with interest. Beside the horse stood Jin Yangseok, glaring nervously.
The man spoke.
“You don’t look rattled. Do you know who I am?”
Jang Geon folded his arms and jerked his chin toward the man’s chest.
“Branch chief of the Martial Alliance.”
On his chest was a small hexagonal badge, the mark given to branch chiefs. The man chuckled.
“Correct. I run this village branch. And I received a report—you assaulted my townsfolk.”
“It wasn’t just assault! My brother is unconscious! His teeth are gone—he can’t eat now!”
Jin Yangseok shouted. The branch chief looked at him, then at Jang Geon.
Arms crossed, Jang Geon said bluntly:
“Self-defense.”
“Self-defense?”
Jang Geon shrugged.
“What else is nine-on-one? Eight of them had clubs.”
“Yet you’re the only one walking out.”
“They were idiots.”
The chief smiled, oddly pleased.
“Anyone dead?”
Jang Geon shook his head slowly. The chief’s smile widened. Jin Yangseok scowled.
“Chief! Why aren’t you arresting him? My brother is down! My nose is broken!”
The chief’s face darkened. He turned to Jin Yangseok. The younger man’s face drained pale.
The chief said:
“Nine Four Symbols Sect thugs down, including Jin Cheongseok? Then why should I tolerate you? The only ones with any martial skill are Jin Cheongseok and your sect leader. Either one, I can handle myself. The rest, my men can crush.”
“M-my brother, when he wakes, he won’t—”
“When he wakes, he’ll see prison bars.”
The chief nodded at his swordsmen. One sheathed his blade, pulled a rope, and bound Jin Yangseok. The fool was dragged off.
Still on horseback, the chief moved closer to Jang Geon.
“Now step aside. I need to arrest the thugs who’ve troubled this town.”
Jang Geon obeyed. He walked to the hitching post. While the swordsmen rushed inside, the chief watched him untie his horse.
“Leaving right away?”
Jang Geon gave no reply. The chief nodded.
“Wise. Even if it was self-defense, your staying would trouble the townsfolk.”
The swordsmen dragged the unconscious men out, laying them on the roadside. The chief looked at Jin Cheongseok’s ruined face, then called:
“Where did you learn martial arts? Jin Cheongseok isn’t a master, but he can fight.”
Jang Geon still didn’t answer. He mounted. He tugged the reins once, looked at the chief, then pulled his hat on and turned his horse east.
“...Taciturn fellow.”
The chief’s face hardened as Jang Geon rode away. He wanted to threaten him, but feared he might be a master who did not fear the Martial Alliance. He let him go. Spitting yellow phlegm, he glared at Jang Geon’s back.
Then Yang Gung burst out, shouting:
“Brother Jang! Let’s go together! Don’t leave me here!”
He flinched under the glares of the chief and swordsmen, then scrambled onto his horse and chased Jang Geon. Catching up, he muttered:
“Damn… a branch chief of the Martial Alliance, and that much of an opportunist…”
Jang Geon said nothing.
They rode down the main street. People watched from windows and doorways with wary eyes. Yang Gung muttered bitterly:
“Brother Jang solved their problem, and that’s how they look?”
He turned.
“Brother Jang, you know why that chief acts like that?”
“He’s Martial Alliance. He arrests criminals.”
“If he were dutiful, people wouldn’t whisper. Word is, a Martial Alliance patrol inspector is roaming nearby. He heard it, got nervous, and when you showed up, he used the chance.”
Jang Geon let the saddle sway him, silent. Yang Gung kept talking.
“So, since you covered for him, he should have given something. A few coins, or food and lodging. Kicking us out is wrong. Every branch chief I met was either a fool or an opportunist. Anyone capable doesn’t join the Martial Alliance. Anyway, Brother Jang, this may sound sudden, but how about you and I—”
He stopped. Jang Geon had halted ahead. They stood at a fork outside the east gate. One road bent north, the other went on east. A wooden sign stood between.
“...Why stop?”
Jang Geon looked at him.
“Which way are you going?”
“Uh… where are you going?”
Jang Geon smirked.
“I don’t work with gamblers who cheat.”
“I told you I said not to! Really! And how do you know what job I was going to—”
Jang Geon shook his head and turned east.
“Let’s not meet again, swindler. If you follow, I’ll break your legs. Take care.”
He spurred his horse and left. Yang Gung opened his mouth, but no words came. He just watched Jang Geon’s back disappear. Only when he was far did Yang Gung sigh.
“...He plays expensive. What is he? Not a local of Amjugol. I’ll investigate.”
He rubbed his chin, turned his horse north, and sighed again.
“Damn it. Sunset, and I’m thrown out of town. Shit.”
He paused, glanced east once more. The sun had set, the east darkened to indigo. Jang Geon and his horse charged into that dim world without fear.
Feeling strange, Yang Gung finally turned north. Dust rose thick under the hooves.