****
“They’ve really gone and done it.”
Sima Hyeon stared at the butcher shop with an incredulous look on his face.
He had returned from the escort mission about two days later than expected, only to be greeted by an empty house.
Sima Geon, Cheol U, and even Sima Ho were nowhere to be seen, but when Sima Jin was missing too, a chill of fear gripped him—had her illness taken a turn for the worse?
Fortunately, a neighbor passing by the house had informed his pale, frantic self about the butcher shop. Otherwise, he would have bolted straight to the Pure Heart Clinic.
“Second Brother!”
Sima Jin, who had been sweeping, brightened at the sight of Sima Hyeon.
“When did you get back?”
“Just now. What are you doing when your body’s still so frail?”
Sima Hyeon snatched the broom from her hands and asked.
“Just... Oh, didn’t you hear? Big Brother took over this butcher shop.”
“I heard on the way.”
Sima Jin sneaked a hand toward the broom.
“Big Brother worked so hard to set this up. I can’t let it get dirty.”
“It’s clean enough already. You can stop.”
Sima Hyeon tossed the broom far away, patted the sulking Sima Jin’s shoulder, and chuckled.
“Where’s Brother?”
“In the slaughterhouse.”
Worried she’d grab the broom again, Sima Hyeon took her hand and led her inside the butcher shop.
“Business going well?”
“Not yet.”
As Sima Hyeon’s brow furrowed, Sima Jin explained defensively.
“The previous owner, old man So, passed just a few days ago. It hasn’t even been properly open that long. Expecting it to boom already is unreasonable.”
“Old Man So passed away?”
Sima Hyeon had heard about the takeover but not So Hang’s death, so he looked shocked.
“Yeah, the same night Big Brother took over. They said he passed peacefully in his sleep.”
“I see.”
Sima Hyeon nodded slowly.
He didn’t have a deep bond with So Hang, but they’d exchanged greetings now and then, so the news weighed on him.
Passing through the neatly kept butcher shop toward the slaughterhouse, a sudden bellow echoed out.
“I told you to bleed it properly. What is this? Ugh, total mess.”
“Brother Cheol U?”
Sima Hyeon’s eyes widened as he asked, and Sima Jin giggled with a nod.
“Yep. Third Brother’s getting an earful again.”
“Huh? What’s that guy doing here?”
“Big Brother drags him here whenever he can to teach him slaughtering. Third Brother tries to run, but weirdly, he never succeeds.”
“Serves him right.”
Sima Hyeon quickly realized Sima Geon’s lessons were a ploy to pull Sima Ho out of the back alleys, and he was thrilled. Just then, Sima Ho’s irritated voice rang out.
“Argh, seriously! I slit the throat and bled it like you said.”
“Slitting the throat isn’t everything. I clearly told you to sever all the tendons in the ankles. I explained how crucial it is to bleed it out quick and clean—how it affects the meat quality.”
“Got it, okay! You’re built like a mountain but nag like a girl... Ow!”
Sima Ho, attempting some petty rebellion, yelped as Cheol U smacked the back of his head.
Sima Hyeon, knowing Sima Ho’s rough temper, startled at the thought of trouble, but Sima Jin remained calm.
While Sima Hyeon was away, Sima Ho had arrogantly challenged Cheol U’s teachings, gotten thoroughly crushed, and hadn’t dared try since.
“And one more mistake. Maybe the biggest one.”
Sima Geon’s voice drew Sima Hyeon and Sima Jin to crane their necks toward the slaughterhouse.
“What’s that?”
Sima Ho glanced warily at Cheol U before asking back.
“Looking at the meat, seems you beat it while it was still alive. Right?”
Sima Ho’s eyes bulged.
“H-how’d you know?”
“Why’d you do that?”
“Everyone who’s caught dogs knows—you’ve gotta tenderize beef and pork properly for soft texture.”
Sima Ho eyed Sima Geon and the flustered Cheol U in turn, as if they were the weird ones.
Sima Geon whipped his head toward Cheol U.
“What were you doing?”
“W-well... I forgot for a sec.”
“There’s forgetting, and then there’s this. After getting chewed out by the old man like that.”
Under Sima Geon’s reproach, Cheol U flushed red, offered no excuses, and scratched the back of his head vigorously.
Sima Ho inwardly gloated at Cheol U’s plight but grew puzzled.
“Was it wrong? It’s common knowledge.”
“Dead wrong. Wrong on every level.”
Sighing, Sima Geon pointed at the pig hanging from the pillar.
“See the bruises where you hit it? Bruises like that trap the blood. If the blood doesn’t drain, what happens? I told you.”
Sima Geon glared at Cheol U.
“Th-the meat tastes awful.”
Cheol U stammered.
He’d forgotten the basics yet scolded Sima Ho—now he wanted to crawl into a hole.
“Weird. The stuff I tenderized came out tender and tasty.”
Sima Ho couldn’t hide his doubt, clashing with his experience.
“You’re not entirely wrong, but there’s a condition. You have to wait until after slaughter and full bleeding. Do it then, and yes—better texture, better taste. But alive? Total opposite. Worst case, it’s inedible. Think about it—even trash animals feel agony getting beaten to death. All that resentment seeps into the marrow. You think that tastes good?”
Sima Ho sheepishly shook his head at Sima Geon’s question.
His sack-of-dogs experience left lingering skepticism, but Sima Geon’s words stirred an uneasy twinge in his chest.
“So what about that one, boss? Selling bruised meat like that... Old Man So’d kick open his coffin and come after us.”
Cheol U pointed at the pillar-hung pig. Skin still on, but bruises everywhere made it look rough.
“We could cheapen it and sell, but that’d tarnish the old man’s hard-earned rep. Share it with the neighbors. Explain properly.”
“Got it.”
Cheol U nodded easily, but Sima Ho looked baffled.
“Even so, just give away prime cuts? No way. Leave it to me—I’ll get fair price and handle it quiet.”
“Quiet.”
Sima Geon’s face hardened as he flicked Sima Ho’s forehead, then turned.
“How long you gonna lurk and watch?”
Sima Hyeon slunk out from behind the pillar, and Sima Jin bounced over to Sima Geon’s side.
“When’d you get back? I was worried—the escort ran late.”
Sima Geon ruffled Sima Jin’s hair as he asked.
“Just now.”
“No trouble?”
“A bit tired, but as you see, fine.”
Sima Hyeon spread his arms lightly with a grin.
Fresh from the road, his sweat-soaked clothes were caked in dust.
“But Brother, you stirred up a storm. I wasn’t gone that long. Lightning fast.”
“That’s how it happened. Not thrilled?”
Sima Geon asked with an awkward smile.
“Not unthrilled, just caught off guard. Never imagined you’d take over a butcher shop. Still, you all look happy. Caught a fun show too.”
Sima Hyeon glanced at the dejected Sima Ho before continuing.
“But is it okay? This place is famous. Old owner was no slouch. One slip, and the abuse rolls in. Do well just to break even.”
Sima Geon flashed a bright smile at his worried tone.
“Don’t worry. Got some confidence. And to survive, we hustle. All of us.”
His meaningful gaze made Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho shiver unwittingly.
Only Sima Jin laughed, picturing her brothers working a butcher shop instead of Zhu Hai Escort Agency or Same Heart Society.
<><><>
“Living Immortal Physician Family? You just said Living Immortal?”
The middle-aged man asked in shock.
“Yes. The captives confirmed it. Matches their testimony.”
The man with a vicious scar from left eye to right mouth corner bowed politely.
“Confirmed why they came to Hangzhou?”
“A fallen imperial clansman in Hangzhou fell gravely ill. The court directly summoned the Living Immortal Physician Family for him.”
“And their physicians clashed with those scum en route?”
“Yes.”
“What rotten luck. Hmm, but something’s off. The Living Immortal folks wouldn’t just lop heads off outta nowhere. And Ga Deung leaving Hangzhou with his crew? Suspicious. There’s a reason.”
“Indeed.”
The man nodded quietly and stepped closer.
A glint flashed in the middle-aged man’s eyes.
Just one step, but it signaled grave matters.
“Ga Deung was after the Azure Clarity Jade Oil.”
The man’s words twisted the middle-aged man’s face properly.
“Azure... Clarity Jade Oil?”
“Yes.”
From the curt reply, the middle-aged man grasped the full picture.
Ga Deung had learned the Living Immortal physicians carried Azure Clarity Jade Oil for the clansman, got greedy beyond his station, and paid the price.
“Filthy worm. Greed’s got its place—not his league. I made him king of Hangzhou’s back alleys flipping trash bins.”
The middle-aged man fumed that his dog-like minion had hogged vital intel and died for it.
“The physicians?”
“Left this morning.”
“Damn it!”
His face twisted naturally. Their departure meant the clansman was treated—and the chance for Azure Clarity Jade Oil gone.
“Shame. Priceless Azure Clarity Jade Oil wasted on some dying old royal.”
He snatched his cup irritably.
“Not used on the clansman. Separate owner. Opportunity remains.”
The middle-aged man froze mid-sip, head turning.
“Separate... owner? Not the Living Immortals’?”
“No. Ga Deung chased that person first, collided with the family.”
“Spit it out sooner!”
He barked at the man, downed his cup in one gulp, and pressed.
“Who? Who has the Azure Clarity Jade Oil?”
“A man named Sima Geon.”
“Sima Geon?”
Unfamiliar name. As the middle-aged man tilted his head, the man continued swiftly.
“From Shaoxing. Bought the Water Dragon Merchant Association head’s secret stash to treat his sister.”
“Water Dragon? Hah, didn’t know that greedy old pig had it.”
Sneering, he issued a grave order.
“Better this way. Trickier from Water Dragon, but heaven-sent chance. Fetch it now. Money’s no object... Wait, for his sister’s illness?”
“Yes.”
“Damn! Time’s flown. Hell, what disease needs Azure Clarity Jade Oil? Too late?”
He clenched his fist, shook his head roughly in regret.
“Such spirit medicines have their fated owners.”
Gentleman Sword Yeong Ho Jung desperately needed the Azure Clarity Jade Oil.
‘Unsure if I’ll get it, but if I do—unmatched opportunity. Helps me, and with luck, cures Little Uncle’s precious kid too.’
Curing the vaguely remembered young cousin’s illness would win support from Little Uncle—the family elder—and paternal uncles. He could crush his siblings’ covert succession fight and claim Yeongho Family leadership.
“Any means necessary. If he used it, grab the sister who took it. It’s Azure Clarity Jade Oil—effects linger in the blood, unabsorbed.”
At Yeong Ho Jung’s cold command, the man—his shadow and dark fixer, Black Ox Division Leader Dang Baek—bowed deeply.
“As you command, my lord.”