****
“You’re safe.”
Sima Geon hugged Sima Hyeon tightly.
There were bruises on his face, and he looked overall haggard, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like he’d suffered any serious injuries.
“Sorry. I made you worry, didn’t I?”
“I believed you’d come back in one piece.”
Sima Geon chuckled as he patted his younger brother’s chest. Sima Hyeon smiled back at him.
“Where on earth have you been for the past few days?”
Sima Ho, who had been terribly anxious after Sima Hyeon’s kidnapping by the bandits and the absence of both Sima Geon and Cheol U, asked with a face full of anger.
“Don’t be like that. We went through our own hardships, you know.”
Sima Geon said with an awkward expression.
“So what took you so long... to get back?”
As Sima Ho raised his voice, Cheol U slyly poked his head in. Sima Ho’s voice automatically quieted down as he suddenly started hiccuping.
“I went to ask some old comrades for help. Luckily, I got assistance from a few friends. Even though we hurried as fast as we could, the situation was already over by the time we arrived. Honestly, I can’t tell you how relieved I am. If it hadn’t been for the Nangong Family, it wouldn’t have ended so peacefully.”
“Ah! So that’s what happened. When they said you’d suddenly disappeared, I had a feeling that was it.”
Sima Hyeon was moved as he pictured his eldest brother rushing around seeking help from his comrades.
“Oh, right, but the Nangong Family people didn’t actually save us. They helped, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Nangong Family warriors did arrive at Gold Tiger Stronghold to take down the bandits, but it was someone else who wiped out the stronghold’s bandits.”
Sima Geon feigned surprise as he asked back.
“Someone else? Who?”
“Who knows. Apparently, there were two of them, and they were no joke—extremely strong. One was said to be enormously built with a fierce face. Just like Brother Cheol U.”
Sima Hyeon looked at Cheol U with eyes that seemed to be searching for something.
“Hmph, looks like there’s another hero like me out there.”
As Cheol U puffed up proudly, Sima Hyeon snickered and turned back to Sima Geon.
“I don’t know about the other one’s skill, but they said he was strong too. Though he doesn’t look anything like you, brother.”
“What? You thought it was us?”
“At first, yeah. When the Nangong Family described them, it sounded just like you guys. They even gave a detailed rundown of their appearances, asking if we knew them. But after listening carefully, it definitely wasn’t. You don’t have a scar on your face, and your cheekbones don’t stick out like that.”
Sima Geon let out a hollow laugh at Sima Hyeon’s words.
“I wish it had been me. Then you wouldn’t have had to worry.”
“It would’ve been great. I could’ve bragged a bit. Anyway, the Nangong Family seems to think they were troubleshooters. They overheard in conversation that people with a grudge against Gold Tiger Stronghold had hired them.”
“What does that matter? Troubleshooter or whatever, the important thing is that you came back safe. Congratulations, little brother. You’ve successfully completed your final mission as a challenger.”
Sima Hyeon looked at Sima Geon as if to say what nonsense, but he nodded with a wry smile at his brother’s unyielding gaze.
“Thanks. So now I just learn the butcher trade?”
Sima Ho, who had been perking up his ears at their conversation, jumped in like lightning.
“I’ll, I’ll teach you.”
His sparkling eyes radiated the intent to pass on everything Cheol U had put him through.
Cheol U grabbed Sima Ho’s ear and twisted it, yelling.
“Get lost! You can’t even do your own job properly, and you wanna teach?”
“Ow! Ow! What’d I do? Let go!”
“Shut up. Let’s see how you managed the butcher shop while we were gone. Come on.”
Sima Ho flailed, but Cheol U dragged him inside without letting go of his ear.
“I’m not gonna end up like that, right?”
Sima Hyeon asked with a slightly fearful expression.
“No. No need for you to wield a knife too. Cheol U and I have that covered.”
“Then what about me?”
“Shopkeeper.”
Sima Hyeon paused, then grinned.
“Sounds good.”
<><><>
“Left Wing reporting, sir.”
Gentleman Sword Yeong Ho Jung stopped his brush at the low voice as he frantically painted.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a diminutive man cautiously entered the room.
Yeong Ho Jung stared at his painting for a moment before irritably slashing the brush across it.
“I told you to compose yourself as much as possible, and this is the garbage I get?”
He tossed the brush aside, grabbed his wine cup, and turned around.
“Did you confirm it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“No chance our movements were exposed?”
“I selected and sent only the most trusted subordinate. He’s the best among the kids you have there. No way it happened.”
Left Wing spoke confidently, but Yeong Ho Jung shook his head.
“Overconfidence is dangerous. Just as you help me, others have their own strings to pull. One mistake, and you tumble off a thousand-foot cliff.”
The Flying Wing Group, where Left Wing served as vice leader, was the Yeongho Family’s intelligence organization.
Its leader, Baek An, maintained strict neutrality on internal family matters, but just as Yeong Ho Jung used Left Wing, his rivals likely did the same.
“I’ll be careful, sir.”
“Especially don’t underestimate the leader. He probably sees right through our moves. He’s just pretending not to know.”
Left Wing shuddered involuntarily as he recalled Baek An’s sharp gaze, bowing his head.
“Anyway, what the hell happened in Soheung?”
At Yeong Ho Jung’s question, Left Wing lifted his tense face, steadied his breathing, and spoke.
“According to the report...”
Left Wing began his explanation in a swift yet precise tone.
As the explanation continued, Yeong Ho Jung’s expression shifted constantly.
When the half-hour-long report ended, Yeong Ho Jung could no longer suppress his rage.
“What the hell is this guy?!”
The table shattered and splintered under Yeong Ho Jung’s fury.
Left Wing’s report had been lengthy, but the core was simple.
The Black Ox Division, sent to Soheung to obtain the Azure Spirit Oil, hadn’t just failed—they’d been completely annihilated and buried.
“The Living Immortal Physician Family’s doing?”
Yeong Ho Jung asked with blazing eyes.
“Can’t say for sure, but it doesn’t seem like them.”
“Why not?”
“There were only three from the Living Immortal Physician Family in Soheung at the Pure Heart Clinic then. And the report says they all left the clinic looking normal, same as always. If they’d clashed with the Black Ox Division, that’s impossible. I can’t presume their skill, but the Black Ox Division wouldn’t fall to that many.”
“Right. I didn’t raise them to lose to riffraff like the Living Immortal Physician Family.”
Yeong Ho Jung bit his lip, regaining some composure.
“Then who? The Sima who bought the Azure Spirit Oil...”
“Sima Geon.”
“Yeah. Did that bastard do it?”
“Doesn’t seem like him either.”
“Why? If he had the money for Azure Spirit Oil, he’s got some talent.”
At Yeong Ho Jung’s doubt, Left Wing hesitated, glancing at him before speaking.
“He’s... a butcher.”
“What... did you say?”
Yeong Ho Jung tilted his head at the utterly incongruous word.
“He owns a butcher shop.”
“...”
Yeong Ho Jung stared at Left Wing in disbelief, then asked irritably.
“A butcher amassed that much wealth? You expect me to buy that?”
“We investigated his background. Seems he wandered outside for years making money. They watched him discreetly for days and found nothing suspicious. Still, just in case, surveillance continues.”
Thick veins throbbed at Yeong Ho Jung’s temples as he clenched his lips.
“Not the Living Immortal Physician Family, not him—who the hell then?”
“Can’t confirm, but I think a third party got involved.”
“Third party?”
“Someone who saw the Black Ox Division as a thorn in their side, right?”
At Left Wing’s words, Yeong Ho Jung’s eyes widened in shock.
“You mean Big Brother made a move?”
“After Thousand Kill Hall, which ruled Hangzhou’s nights, collapsed, the young master immediately mobilized Nanjing’s Flying Knife Society to seize Hangzhou.”
“Yeah. Took barely ten days.”
Yeong Ho Jung ground his teeth, having lost Hangzhou—his biggest cash cow—in just ten days.
“The Flying Knife Society, now controlling Hangzhou, reached into Soheung, where Thousand Kill Hall had been working in secret.”
“Natural progression.”
Yeong Ho Jung said hollowly.
Thousand Kill Hall had targeted Soheung’s night streets via Blood Axe Sect to expand funds, at Yeong Ho Jung’s behest.
Even after its leadership was wiped out and absorbed by Flying Knife Society, the operations continued seamlessly.
“Soheung’s nights are currently held by the Same Heart Society, but once Blood Axe Sect—backed directly by Thousand Kill Hall, or rather Flying Knife Society—moves in earnest, ownership will change soon. It’s too fast. The young master could act this swiftly because the Black Ox Division, checking his power from the shadows, vanished.”
“But the Black Ox Division losing to Flying Knife Society trash? Impossible. And no sign of Big Brother’s hidden hands moving.”
Yeong Ho Jung shook his head firmly.
Flying Knife Society, based in Nanjing and taking Hangzhou, was still just a back-alley gang. Comparing it to the elite Black Ox Division he’d forged with blood and sweat was an insult.
“What about East Sea Dragon Fisher?”
“What?!”
Yeong Ho Jung’s face twisted in shock at the sudden name.
“That old man got involved?”
“Can’t confirm involvement, but he was definitely in Soheung.”
“But even East Sea Dragon Fisher alone couldn’t wipe out the Black Ox Division...”
Yeong Ho Jung, shaking his head vigorously, recalled the one always mentioned with East Sea Dragon Fisher and looked at Left Wing.
“Don’t tell me Eight Flying Swords was with him too?”
“Yes. His disciples were confirmed staying in Soheung before leaving. Officially, to celebrate the seventieth birthday of their friend, former Hanlin Scholar Song Hak, but the timing is too coincidental.”
“Kuh!”
A despairing groan escaped Yeong Ho Jung’s lips.
“Damn it! Fine. With the retainers watching, he couldn’t use his public forces. But resorting to his wife’s family? How petty, Brother!”
Yeong Ho Jung bellowed with venom, eyes bloodshot.
He still had official subordinates in the family, but the Black Ox Division’s value for dirty work was incalculable.
Losing them was like losing an arm.
Consumed by rage and defeat, it took Yeong Ho Jung a long time to calm his turbulent heart.
“The bodies are buried in the bamboo grove?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you retrieve them quietly?”
“If you order it, I’ll try, but...”
As Left Wing looked uncertain, Yeong Ho Jung shook his head.
“No. Can’t steal away the subordinates who died serving me like thieves. I’ll give them a grand funeral later. Leave them there until then.”
“Understood.”
Left Wing inwardly sighed in relief as he accepted the order.
“But I can’t delay revenge. Left Wing.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Send word to Dead Blood Forest.”
“D-Dead Blood Forest?”
Left Wing asked in surprise.
“Target is East Sea... no, the old man can wait. First, the heads of Eight Flying Swords and his disciples. Pay whatever bounty they demand. But absolutely no traces left.”
“Yes, sir!”
Left Wing bowed and accepted.
“The Azure Spirit Oil is gone, I assume?”
“Yes.”
“...”
Yeong Ho Jung scowled in silence, then growled.
“Put a hit on that bastard’s head too. A meat-slicing worm overreaching for Azure Spirit Oil...”
“Understood.”
Left Wing bowed politely and withdrew silently.
But they didn’t know.
That East Sea Dragon Fisher and Eight Flying Swords had truly stayed in Soheung just to celebrate Song Hak’s seventieth birthday. And that the ones who annihilated the Black Ox Division were the butcher shop lads they wouldn’t even glance at.