“Hmmm.”
In the middle of the wide Central Plains. Seo Gun-Hong, who had lined up the stick-disciples, sat in a large chair and looked at the man kneeling before him.
‘Even younger than I thought….’
This was the first time Seo Gun-Hong had looked Seok Han-Bin in the eyes himself. No matter how notorious Seok Han-Bin was as a troublemaker in Henan, he wasn’t of the same standing as the Union Leader of the Black Fish Union.
The impression of seeing the Seok Han-Bin he’d only heard about was that he was younger than expected. If one more remark was needed, the poison gleaming in his eyes was fairly striking.
“You should’ve muddyied the water in moderation.”
“Huh.”
Seok Han-Bin, his face already swollen as if he’d been beaten, looked up at Seo Gun-Hong and curled a sneer at the corner of his mouth.
“You didn’t know. You never thought a gang like Black Fish Union would wage war with Poison Scorpion Clan just to catch me. If I knew you were that stupid, I’d have been more careful.”
“Stupid, huh.”
Seo Gun-Hong smiled faintly.
“Well. Who’s the fool? Between me, who cleaned up a Poison Scorpion Clan area and dealt them damage, and you, who got caught by me and will soon die.”
Seok Han-Bin ground his teeth lowly.
He knew it too. No matter how much he boasted, now that he’d been captured here, he was the dumbest of them all.
“Understand? You insolent brat. The reason you could run wild until now was that no one seriously tried to deal with you. Whether out of face or pragmatism. But this time you crossed the line. Then we must deal with you.”
“Then just kill me. Why all the talk?”
“Haha.”
Seo Gun-Hong laughed heartily.
“You’ve got quite the spirit for someone so young. Usually when dragged here they’d be begging and crying to save themselves.”
“Even if they begged, you wouldn’t spare them.”
“You know your situation well. But there’s still a way you can live.”
“….”
Seo Gun-Hong twisted one corner of his mouth as he looked at Seok Han-Bin.
“There are two reasons you should die. One is the damage to our reputation you caused, the other is the harm you’ve inflicted. There’s a way to repay both. I won’t make it long: join the Black Fish Union and swear fealty. Then I’ll spare you.”
“…Join the Black Fish Union?”
“If you swear loyalty to me, our damaged reputation will be restored. A man like you can earn that sort of money back quickly. Truth be told I’d love to tear you limb from limb, but you’re too useful for that.”
Seeing Seok Han-Bin in person changed his mind slightly. A cunning bastard like him would certainly be useful to the Black Fish Union.
“This is your only way to survive.”
Seok Han-Bin twisted his face and glared at Seo Gun-Hong. Seo Gun-Hong snorted a derisive laugh at that look.
“No need for that face, right? What you were doing isn’t all that different from what the Evil faction do. In our world, the defeated following the victors is natural. It’s better than dying, isn’t it?”
A hollow laugh escaped Seok Han-Bin’s mouth.
Not because the words were absurd, but because he felt absurdly rebellious at them.
‘It’s not wrong.’
He’d done anything to survive. He believed no value in the world exceeded living and making money. Left alone in the world, he had no other option.
So the old Seok Han-Bin would have accepted Seo Gun-Hong’s offer without hesitation. He would have endured crawling between his legs in humiliation, only to one day slit his throat.
But for some reason? He felt this way.
“You have no reason to hesitate. This offer would never have been given to you otherwise. You know that, don’t you?”
“…I suppose.”
“Then the answer is obvious. Isn’t it?”
“That too.”
Seok Han-Bin smiled and nodded.
“Now then, say it.”
“As much as you like.”
Seok Han-Bin raised his head, looked at Seo Gun-Hong, and gave a refreshing smile.
“Go eat shit. You filthy evil sect bastard.”
“….”
“At least I didn’t leech off powerless people like you. If you’re born a man, live without shame. I’d rather die bitten by a dog than live worse than one…”
Paaaargh!
Before Seok Han-Bin could finish his sentence, he was kicked by Seo Gun-Hong and flew.
“You… you cur less than a dog! How dare you reject my offer without knowing your place!”
“Cough! Cough!”
Thrown by the kick into the wall, Seok Han-Bin coughed painfully. A pain like his whole body had been severed washed over him. Still, instead of grimacing, he forced a sneer.
“Bring him here!”
“Yes.”
Seo Gun-Hong’s face contorted like a demon’s as he ground his teeth.
“Torture and tear him. Make him beg for death from his own mouth. If you can’t make that happen, I’ll tear you apart!”
“Yes! Union Leader!”
The stick-disciples dragged Seok Han-Bin to the center and threw him down, laying out the gruesome torture tools they had fetched. At the same time they shoved several branding irons into the brazier nearby.
Seeing that, Seok Han-Bin clenched his teeth.
‘This is dogshit, really.’
He had steeled himself. He’d thought this day might come. Living as an orphaned kid entailed that much danger.
But this was close to the worst end he had imagined.
‘Damn it….’
A sigh escaped Seok Han-Bin’s lips.
‘Of all things, to hear that kind of line….’
If only that strange Taoist who always looked at him oddly hadn’t been around, he might not have resisted like this.
No, no.
“What do I care, damn it. Some ancestor whose face I don’t even know…”
No excuses. Seok Han-Bin simply didn’t want to bow to this kind of scum.
“Brace yourself, kid.”
“Do as you please.”
“Begin.”
“Yes!”
The stick-disciples obeyed without delay, pulling the heated irons from the brazier and thrusting them toward Seok Han-Bin.
Just as Seok Han-Bin clenched his teeth anticipating the pain to come.
Kwaaaang!
“W-what is that?”
Startled by the unexpected event, the stick-disciples whipped their heads toward one side.
“Why did the wall suddenly…”
A white cloud of dust billowed up from the shattered wall, and through that cloud, black silhouettes shaped like people emerged.
As everyone held their breath at the strange sight.
“No, there’s a gate just past that corner! Why are you tearing down the wall all of a sudden?”
“Then you should’ve guided them toward the gate. We’re in a hurry—how could you make us go the long way?”
“Then just jump over the wall, can’t you?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t think of that?”
“Well, I mean… if it’s urgent, that could happen.”
That surprisingly incongruous conversation drifted through, and piercing the dust cloud came no more than ten people.
“Those are…?”
Those who stepped out of the dust frowned and waved their hands to fan the dust away.
“Ugh, the dust!”
“I can’t live like this! What are we going to do? My clothes are all white!”
“Honestly, always in such a hurry!”
“Is this really the time for whining?”
Those who had entered the Central Plains scanned the area and brightened when they saw Seok Han-Bin tied in the center of the yard.
“There he is.”
“Phew, thank goodness. Looks like nothing serious happened yet.”
Chung Myung clicked his tongue upon seeing Seok Han-Bin.
“There, there. Ugh.”
“….”
“Anyway, all mouth! No wonder they claim to be someone’s descendant!”
“What about me!”
“Ah, shut up!”
Whether ancestor or descendant, their words flowed like a clear stream.
Chung Myung scowled at Seok Han-Bin and made a dismissive hand gesture.
“Enough, come here. Let’s go home.”
“…Can’t you see the situation? Do you think I’ll go just because you call me?”
“He’s got nerve even now.”
Chung Myung turned sharply and snapped at the Black Fish Union stick-disciples.
“If you’re going to take a kid, at least correct his manners! You evil sect bastards couldn’t even do that? These days the evil sect have no backbone. Back in the day…”
“….”
The Black Fish Union stick-disciples stared at Chung Myung dumbfounded. Where on earth had this madman sprung from?
“Commander Gam.”
“Ah… Yes, Union Leader.”
Commander Gam, ordered by Seo Gun-Hong, stepped forward and spoke formally to Chung Myung.
“I am Gam Wei, the commander of the Black Fish Union. If it’s not rude, may I ask where the honored guests who have come to our house are from?”
Though their numbers were few, the fact they destroyed the wall at a stroke showed they were thoroughly trained. It was only natural to first confirm their identity and affiliation.
But unfortunately, the answer to their reasonable question strayed far from common sense.
“What are you saying? Is that brat writing letters? An evil sect bastard?”
“He didn’t exactly write anything, Chung Myung. He’s just speaking politely. Just…”
“So why would an evil sect bastard be polite?”
“If he weren’t polite, you’d just beat him anyway.”
“True.”
“Then beat him, just…”
“I was about to do that anyway.”
Chung Myung clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
“So you guys are Black… Black… huh?”
“Black Fish Union.”
“Right, Black Fish Union. Ugh, why do all the evil sect names sound so similar? Anyway.”
Chung Myung nodded.
“I would’ve left if I were bothered, but now that it’s come to this I can’t just let it be. Besides, this is my place.”
“….”
“From today I’m closing business here. If you don’t want to be closed with it, leave now. I won’t be catching you.”
Commander Gam looked at Chung Myung speechless.
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps from Wudang?”
Before Chung Myung could answer, Baek Cheon barked out.
“What? Wudang? Do we look like Wudang bastards to you? And what if we were from Wudang? Does that mean you can ignore us if we’re not? Huh? Are Wudang the only Taoists that scare you? Let Wudang go and beat anyone else? You lot, look at you. Ah, I’m really pissed off…”
“Sasuk, calm down a bit.”
“Who pressed this man’s seizure button again?”
“…No one pressed it. He tripped on his own.”
Commander Gam let out a short sigh, as if he couldn’t listen to this absurd banter any longer.
“So you’re saying you’re not from Wudang.”
Commander Gam’s gaze cooled.
“Good. If they’re not Wudang Taoists, then they must pay for daring to invade the Black Fish Union in such numbers. Kill them.”
“Yes!”
One of the Black Fish Union men, obeying Commander Gam’s order, immediately swarmed toward Chung Myung. The murderous intent radiating from him made him look like a man of higher rank.
“Oh. These ones are refreshingly blunt.”
Chung Myung grinned and stepped forward. He was already boiling with anger because of that brat, so this was just right.
“Die!”
“Come on then.”
Just as Chung Myung took another step forward, someone flashed by his side.
“Huh?”
Kwaaaang!
Baek Cheon, who had cut across Chung Myung’s front, struck a charging Black Fish Union man with his fist and literally drove him into the ground.
“Grrk…”
The Black Fish Union man writhed like a worm in salt, his body sinking more than two inches into the hard-packed earth.
“What the…”
At the shocking sight the Black Fish Union men’s mouths dropped open. Baek Cheon, who’d neatly dealt with someone, ground his teeth and looked up, growling with bloodshot eyes.
“Next.”
Wow.
That’s my territory…….