A handful of the Baek Family’s senior retainers had gathered in one room.
There was Clan Head Baek Muryang, Steward Han Seogeon, and Gwak Mun, the most accomplished martial artist among the family’s retainers.
And finally, somewhat oddly, Yanghwi had read the room and inserted himself into the gathering as well.
“The Blue Snake Gang and the Red Bridge Gang have finally begun an all-out war. Tell the retainers to avoid going outside as much as possible.”
“Agan County was already unsettled enough. I have no idea what the situation is going to turn into now.”
Baek Muryang spoke with a grave expression as he looked around at the three of them. Steward Han’s reply was equally weighed down with concern.
“Still, from what I hear, the Blue Snake Gang is driving the Red Bridge Gang back. The Red Bridge Gang should have the larger force, so I cannot fathom how this is happening.”
“I’ve heard that the Blue Snake Gang’s men are handling the Red Bridge Gang’s fighters almost unnaturally well. They keep gaining the upper hand.”
To anyone unaware of the countermeasures, it was indeed a baffling development.
“I fear the Baek Family may be dragged into this conflict, Clan Head.”
“Because of the woman staying in the annex?”
“Yes.”
Rangrang was Gu Ak’s lover. If the Blue Snake Gang wanted an excuse to make an issue of the Baek Family, they could certainly use that.
If they ever set their sights on Baek Family Manor, she might serve as a convenient pretext.
Yanghwi quickly cut in.
“Only the Red Bridge Gang Leader and a handful of his subordinates know about Sister Rang and Brother Gu’s relationship. I don’t think we need to worry about an attack from the Blue Snake Gang.”
Gu Ak was no fool. He knew that Rangrang, who possessed neither power nor backing, could become a weakness for him, so he had kept her very existence secret.
“Even if the Blue Snake Gang did know, casting a helpless woman out into danger because we fear the atrocities of the Black Path would go against chivalry. Hwi, if Gu Ak contacts you, tell him not to worry.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And be sure to tell him to prepare compensation.”
Yanghwi broke into a broad grin.
“I hardly think that part needed saying.”
Chivalry and free service were not synonymous.
Naturally, Yanghwi intended to use this opportunity either to put Gu Ak in his debt or squeeze a suitable reward out of him.
“And Hwi, there is something else I must tell you. For the time being, do not leave the manor. I fear you may come to harm in that child’s body of yours.”
Yanghwi was caught slightly off guard by Baek Muryang’s warning.
I didn’t see that coming.
He still wasn’t used to his current circumstances and kept forgetting that he was only eight years old.
“But, Father—”
“Enough. Listen to your father.”
That was impossible.
He needed to meet with Yeo Unjeok regularly so they could coordinate the situation.
Yanghwi hurriedly searched for an excuse that would let him continue going out.
Use Gu Ak as an escort? No. Father would hate that even more because he’s tied to the Red Bridge Gang. In that case...
“Father. There is something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“In my opinion, this conflict will not end with only those two gangs.”
“Hmm? What makes you think so?”
Because he intended to pour more oil on the fire himself.
“Black Path factions are wolves by nature. They do not simply walk past a wounded beast.”
“Precisely because they understand that nature, could the Blue Snake Gang and Red Bridge Gang not choose to end things before it goes too far?”
“The truth is, I met Brother Gu the last time I went out.”
Baek Muryang frowned.
“What? Why would you do something so dangerous?”
“The outcome of this war will undoubtedly have a major impact on our family’s future, so I wanted information. People tend to lower their guard around children, so I wasn’t in any particular danger.”
“Good grief!”
Before Baek Muryang could properly scold him, Steward Han quickly interjected.
“Young Master Hwi, did you learn anything?”
“I didn’t hear the exact reason, but Brother Gu said this conflict will not end until one of the two gangs collapses.”
“That is valuable information indeed.”
“You have done the family a great service, Young Master Hwi.”
Baek Muryang, Steward Han, and Gwak Mun soon put their heads together and began discussing how the family should proceed.
Most of their ideas revolved around avoiding disaster and protecting themselves.
Yanghwi watched for a while before joining in.
“Father. No... Clan Head. What if we turn this crisis into an opportunity for the family?”
“What do you mean?”
“The balance of power in Agan County is being shaken. Why not use this opportunity to secure a business that can become a new source of income for the family?”
“No. It is too dangerous.”
Baek Muryang rejected the suggestion immediately, but Steward Han came to Yanghwi’s defense.
“Young Master Hwi seems to have something in mind. Why not hear him out first, Clan Head?”
Then, where Baek Muryang could not see, Steward Han flashed Yanghwi the familiar gesture of touching his thumb and forefinger together in a circle.
Money.
“If we don’t steal something the Red Bridge Gang or Blue Snake Gang actually values, but instead take something both consider more trouble than it is worth, there may be no danger at all. We might even leave both gangs indebted to us.”
“Young Master Hwi. Is such a thing truly possible?”
“Of course. With the right maneuvering, I believe it can be done easily enough.”
This war between the two gangs had never occurred in his previous life.
That did not mean his knowledge from that life was useless.
Yanghwi laid out his plan, supporting it with arguments that sounded as logical and convincing as possible.
Roughly an hour later, the senior members of Baek Family Manor unanimously agreed to carry out Yanghwi’s scheme.
Since I’m the one who set this whole board in motion, I might as well squeeze every last bit of profit out of it.
*****
The war between the two gangs, which had begun with a one-sided offensive from the Blue Snake Gang, grew fiercer with every passing day.
And contrary to public expectation, the Blue Snake Gang continued to drive the Red Bridge Gang back.
There was only one reason.
The countermeasures.
“Young Master. The Red Bridge Gang has already lost three businesses. The Blue Snake Gang’s momentum grows by the day. When do you intend to spread the next set of countermeasures?”
Yeo Unjeok quietly studied the child grinning in front of him.
Unlike any ordinary child his age, the boy’s thoughts were utterly unreadable.
Rather than a child, he carried himself like some battle-worn martial artist who had spent decades wandering the martial world.
What a truly extraordinary child. No matter how brilliant his comprehension may be, can a child really possess such an air?
“It is about time we moved on to the next stage. Did you find the information I asked for?”
“Ah. As it happens, I heard that the Blue Snake Gang’s Snake Head Hall Leader will lead his men against one of Blood Axe Gu Ak’s businesses today.”
“The timing could hardly be better. Then today is the day we spread a new set of countermeasures.”
Yanghwi explained the scheme he had prepared, leaving Yeo Unjeok impressed.
“If everything goes according to your plan, Young Master, Baek Family Manor stands to make an enormous profit.”
“Will you help me, old man?”
“It would not be difficult, but this does fall outside the terms of our agreement.”
“Sister Rang has been terribly bored lately. I’m thinking of leaving the management to her.”
“I’ll help.”
Having successfully won Yeo Unjeok over, Yanghwi gave him several instructions and immediately rose to his feet.
“Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”
He raced back to Baek Family Manor.
Before heading to his next destination, he needed to report to Baek Muryang and ask him to come along.
“Father, I found it. We have our target.”
“......”
Baek Muryang was clearly unhappy about young Yanghwi exposing himself to danger.
Still, this affair promised enormous gains for the Baek Family, and there was no other practical way to proceed. He let out a sigh and forced down his unease.
“Very well. Where is it?”
“The two gangs will clash today at Golden Immortal Pavilion.”
Golden Immortal Pavilion.
It was one of the largest pleasure houses operated by the Red Bridge Gang and one of the businesses personally overseen by Gu Ak.
“Must you really accompany me?”
For Baek Muryang to raise an issue they had already settled only showed how worried he remained.
Yanghwi answered playfully.
“Mother will be upset if you go to a pleasure house alone, Father. And if we want this to look like a coincidence, bringing your child with you makes it much more convincing.”
Baek Muryang looked at the utterly fearless boy, who behaved nothing like someone his age, and sighed again.
“True enough. Very well, let us go.”
The instant he said those words, Baek Muryang’s entire bearing changed.
The worried father vanished.
In his place stood the Clan Head, moving for the sake of his family’s interests.
The Baek Family might be insignificant, but there was nothing lacking in Baek Muryang as the head of a household.
That’s Father for you.
They reached Ho Yeong Pavilion in less than half an hour.
The four-story building stood on the shore of Yuhang Lake. From within came the clash of metal, the shouts of men, and agonized groans.
“Just as expected, it seems the Blue Snake Gang and Red Bridge Gang are fighting inside, Father.”
“So it would seem.”
There were no guards stationed at the entrance.
Only bloodstains where they should have been.
Baek Muryang moved ahead of Yanghwi and entered Ho Yeong Pavilion.
Bodies lay scattered across the first floor, along with wounded Black Path fighters writhing and groaning.
The higher they climbed, the more blood stained the floors.
By the time they reached the third floor, more than a dozen men were locked in furious combat.
Eleven from the Blue Snake Gang. Three from the Red Bridge Gang, counting Gu Ak.
Anyone could see that the Red Bridge Gang was at a disadvantage.
Perfect.
Yanghwi spotted Gu Ak swinging his twin axes like a demon and called out in a bright, cheerful voice.
“Brother Gu! Your younger brother is here!”
The voice of a child rang through a place filled with blood and blades.
For an instant, the fighting stopped.
Gu Ak buried one axe blade in the throat of the Blue Snake Gang fighter before him, then stared at Yanghwi with an utterly dumbfounded expression.
“Why are you here, Younger Brother...?”
“Didn’t we agree to meet here today with our Clan Head?”
Before Gu Ak could ask what the hell he was talking about, Yanghwi hurried on.
“And the Blue Snake Gang happens to be here as well. How fortunate! Since the purpose of today’s meeting was to mediate between the Red Bridge Gang and Blue Snake Gang, this works out perfectly!”
Yanghwi turned toward the man leading the Blue Snake Gang fighters.
“You are the Snake Head Hall Leader, correct?”
“What the hell is some brat doing here? If you don’t want to die, take your father and get the fuck out.”
The Snake Head Hall Leader growled, furious at having his victorious momentum interrupted.
Yanghwi could understand the man’s feelings, so he kept smiling pleasantly.
“Why don’t you hear me out first?”
“Ha. Even if I were interested in talking, I’ve got no intention of talking to some brat. Is your father just a scarecrow?”
So much for wasting smiles on Black Path scum.
“My father is a man of far too high a standing to converse with Black Path bastards who make their living drinking gutter water in back alleys.”
Gu Ak, himself one of those Black Path bastards who made a living drinking gutter water in back alleys, adopted an awkward expression.
Meanwhile, the Snake Head Hall Leader decided that the outrageously fearless brat in front of him needed to be torn apart.
He moved.
Clang!
His blade was stopped by Baek Muryang’s sword.
Yanghwi ducked behind Baek Muryang and stuck out his tongue.
“A sneak attack! As expected of back-alley trash—you truly have no concept of manners or decorum!”
“Brat. I swear I’m going to tear that mouth of yours apart.”
Dense killing intent poured from the Snake Head Hall Leader as the other Blue Snake Gang fighters shifted position and re-formed their encirclement.
Yanghwi did not so much as flinch.
“Want to make a wager? I’ll bet my throat that you, Snake Head Hall Leader, will leave Ho Yeong Pavilion within half an hour.”
“Hah! Then I’ll bet everything I have that I’ll personally cut your throat before that half hour is up.”
Yanghwi grinned.
“A man’s word is worth a thousand pieces of gold, yes? Brother Gu, catch.”
Yanghwi tossed him a thin booklet.
Gu Ak opened it at once.
His eyes went wide.
“This is...!”
“That’s right. Countermeasures to the Blue Snake Gang’s martial arts.”
“Where the hell did you get this?!”
“I found it on the way here.”
“...?”
That was literally true.
At Yanghwi’s request, Yeo Unjeok had already scattered dozens—hundreds—of copies of the countermeasures throughout the marketplace.