Chapter 28 The Black Fang Raid Incident – Part 2

Chapter 28: The Black Fang Raid Incident – Part 2

This affair began when Ma Jong-hwan, one of the great physicians of the era, known as the ‘Life and Death Master,’ was commissioned by Heo Sang-do-gaek, the leader of the Black Shadow Sect and one of the Guizhou Eight Families, who ruled the southwestern part of Guizhou City, to manufacture a miraculous elixir.

Promised a large reward, Ma Jong-hwan produced an elixir of exceptional quality, true to his reputation. His skill was so outstanding that Heo Sang-do-gaek, the Lord of Heo Sangbang, offered Ma Jong-hwan a position within Heo Sangbang.

However, Ma Jong-hwan, who was originally renowned as the foremost wandering physician in the martial world, could hardly be impressed by the Black Shadow Sect, a mere ruler of a remote village in Guizhou.

Naturally, he refused, and this caused the Black Shadow Bandit, Go Ju-yong, to harbor resentment toward Ma Jong-hwan.

So, while investigating Ma Jong-hwan to find his weakness, he recently discovered that Ma Jong-hwan intended to manufacture a special elixir using his own secret formula.

In truth, Ma Jong-hwan had agreed to make the elixir for Go Ju-yong precisely because he needed the money to fund his elixir production.

Learning this, Go Ju-yong couldn’t just stand by. He secretly tracked Ma Jong-hwan, waited until the elixir was fully made, and then ambushed him.

Ma Jong-hwan, whose martial arts skills weren’t weak, managed to escape with the elixir, but unfortunately, his two children were not so fortunate.

His two daughters (though rumors suggested they were a son and a daughter) were captured by Go Ju-yong.

Go Ju-yong naturally used his two daughters as hostages to blackmail Ma Jong-hwan.

He demanded Ma Jong-hwan hand over the Youngdan quietly if he wanted his children to live.

In such a situation, an ordinary father would have swallowed his tears and exchanged the Youngdan for his two daughters. Unfortunately, Ma Jong-hwan was no ordinary father.

His temper was so eccentric that even his nickname contained the character for ‘eccentric’ – this was Ma Jong-hwan, the ‘Life-and-Death Eccentric’.

Enraged, he not only refused to hand over his spirit pill but instead used his own to place a bounty on the entire martial world.

He declared he would give five of his own spirit pills—worth more than a Summoning Pill—to anyone who killed the Black Shadow Bandit, Go Ju-yong.

Startled, Go Ju-yong hastily gathered the Black Shadow Sect’s forces and began pursuing him.

It was a situation where, if he made a single misstep, his life could be targeted by masters he couldn’t possibly handle.

Now, he found himself in a position where he had to capture Ma Jong-hwan as quickly as possible, even if only to save his own skin.

After I explained this much, Bi Sa-yeong asked me with a look full of dissatisfaction.

“I get your story, but what does that have to do with us hiding on the Black Chamber’s wall during our hard-earned vacation?”

At that question, I scolded him with a deliberately stern expression.

“Sa-yeong! You tell me, as a disciple of the prestigious Bichong Sect of the righteous faction, hearing such unjust talk didn’t make your blood boil?! If so, I can’t help but be disappointed in you! All this time, I’ve taken pride just in learning the martial arts of the prestigious Bichong Sect of the righteous faction, and yet you…!”

By the time I got that far, Bi Sa-yeong closed his eyes tightly and surrendered.

“Alright! Just stop there! I’ll do it, I’ll do it! I’ll do it, won’t I!”

Just as Bae Jong-gwan beside him opened his mouth to speak, I cut him off with a solemn expression.

“Jong-gwan, having mastered the Diamond Unbreakable Heart Technique of the Diamond Unbreakable Sect—a renowned sect of the orthodox faction—you surely agree with my intent, don’t you?”

Bae Jong-gwan, who had been about to speak, closed his mouth again and nodded with a dejected look.

At that moment, Squad Leader Seolpung, who had been listening with a resigned look, muttered.

“I’m not exactly part of the righteous faction…”

“Anyway! That’s why we’ve come this far—to establish true justice in this utterly unjust, inhumane situation!”

Of course, after establishing justice, he did plan to collect a few merit points, but that wasn’t the main point.

What truly mattered was justice itself, wasn’t it?

Seolpung, the squad leader, muttered beside him, “I came because they promised a generous feast,” but he chose to pretend he hadn’t heard.

Then Bisea Young asked.

“But even if that’s the case, isn’t it a bit strange that we’re here? Shouldn’t we have gone to help that person, Ma Jong-hwan of the Life and Death Sect? Why did we come here?”

I waved my finger at his question and replied.

“Tsk tsk, think about it. Why did Ma Jong-hwan of the Life-Death Sect put a bounty on Go Ju-yong, the Black Shadow Bandit, instead of trading him for his children?”

“Hmm… Because he’s eccentric?”

Bisa Yeong’s answer might not have been entirely wrong.

After all, that’s what everyone in the martial world believed.

Had I not possessed memories of my past life, I too would have been unaware.

But knowing what was to come, I countered him in a low voice.

“If the Life-Death Demon had given him the Eternal Pill, would Go Ju-yong really have released the Life-Death Demon’s daughters and him? It’s not just the few Eternal Pills he has now that are the problem—it’s that he can keep making them in the future?”

“…Huh?”

“Ahhh!”

“He too, then!”

After all, Go Ju-yong, who had stabbed someone in the back just a short while ago, someone he had been trading with, would never have kept that promise.

Bisa Yeong said with an expression that suggested he was only now realizing this.

“So, the Black Shadow Bandit knew all along that the Black Shadow Bandit wouldn’t keep his promise?”

“Exactly. And there’s one more thing. By doing this, he made the Black Shadow Bandit feel his daughters had no value as hostages. He made him lose interest.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Indeed, now his daughters will fade from public attention, and focus will shift solely to Young-dan and the Black Shadow Bandit.”

Seolpung Jo-jang and Bisea-yeong nodded with expressions of admiration.

Bae Jong-gwan glanced at me, seemingly still confused, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

Well, understanding this right now wasn’t crucial.

In fact, in his past life, Ma Jong-hwan’s plan had succeeded about halfway.

After all, Go Ju-yong and his men had been utterly annihilated by the master who came seeking the real Eungdan.

However, when Go Ju-yong died, his enraged son, Go Mu-sang, killed Ma Jong-hwan’s two daughters, ultimately ending everything in tragedy.

At that moment, Ma Jong-hwan, weeping tears of blood, swore to devote his entire life to whoever could completely destroy the Black Chamber.

And his vow was ultimately fulfilled along with the Black Pavilion’s disappearance.

Captain Seolpung now spoke with a serious look in his eyes.

“Then our first task is to rescue Ma Jong-hwan’s daughters.”

He was indeed the squad leader.

He gave a slight smile and nodded in agreement.

“Correct, Captain.”

Then Biseaeng asked.

“But how? After all, the Black Shadow Sect is one of Guizhou’s Eight Great Sects, one of the most renowned martial arts factions in all of Guizhou Province. Can we really manage that on our own? And do we even know where they’re being held?”

That was a good question.

I went to the Hao Gate branch earlier to find that out.

“Well, under normal circumstances, it would definitely be difficult. But right now, Ko Juyong has taken most of the branch’s personnel out on an operation. In other words, this place is practically empty. Plus, I had Hao Moon investigate potential locations where the daughters might be held earlier. There are roughly three likely spots. The dungeon, the warehouse, and the secret storage room in Go Ju-yong’s quarters. We’ll split up and search these three places.”

I sketched the rough layout of the Black Chamber on the dirt floor and marked the locations of the three spots.

“The prison is probably the most heavily guarded. So, Jangjo will handle the prison. The warehouse is supposedly the least busy, so Sayeong, you take that one. I’ll raid the secret warehouse in Go Juyong’s residence.”

At my words, Jo-jang and Bi Sa-yeong’s eyes lit up and they nodded. Then Bae Jong-gwan glanced at me and asked.

“Uh, what about me? What should I do?”

I met his gaze intently and answered.

“Good question, Jong-gwan. You need to handle the most important task—the one only you can do.”

“The most important thing?”

***

At the main gate of the Black Chamber, eight warriors wearing their armor were guarding the entrance while yawning.

“Two nights in a row on night duty? There’s not a single spot on my body that doesn’t ache.”

“And that’s not all? We have to stand guard again tomorrow too, right? If that bastard Sisa Gweui isn’t caught, we might have to keep standing guard forever.”

“Just thinking about it is dreadful. All this suffering because of that fox-like bastard. We really need to catch him soon.”

“Hmph! Strictly speaking, that bastard didn’t do anything wrong. It’s all because of the Lord’s greed to seize his elixir. Besides, it was the Lord who dragged everyone out just to catch that one guy.”

“Whoa, are you out of your mind? What if someone hears you?”

“Who’s gonna hear? It’s just us. Come to think of it, they say those bastards from the Life-Death Sect are pretty tasty. Maybe we should go try some when no one’s around?”

“Heh heh heh! You really are mad.”

It was while they were chatting like that.

A massive shadow emerged from the dark clearing ahead.

“Wait! What is that?!”

“Huh?!”

The gate guards stared ahead with tense eyes, and soon they realized the massive shadow was a muscular giant.

The imposing figure was trudging steadily toward the main gate.

Once it became clear his destination was the main gate of the Black Chamber, one of the gate guards shouted.

“Halt! State your identity and purpose! What business brings you to the Black Chamber in the dead of night?!”

The giant halted abruptly and declared.

“I am Bae Jong-gwan of the Diamond Invincible Sect! Having long admired the Black Chamber in my heart, I came here immediately upon descending from the mountains to enter! Grant me an audience with the Chamber Master!”

The gate guards looked utterly bewildered at this unexpected request and retorted.

“Vajra… What? The Vajra Invincible Sect?”

“You came to join the sect? In the dead of night?”

“And you want to meet the Master? Are you out of your mind?”

But Bae Jong-gwan, instructed by Seon Woo-jin to be unapologetically bold, paid no heed to their reactions.

He only shouted louder.

“I’ve walked a long way to get here! Let me see the Lord of the Ark now!”

Frowning at his booming voice, one guard admonished him.

“Hey. If you want to enter the temple, come back when it’s daylight. Making such a racket in the dead of night could cause misunderstandings, don’t you think? Besides, you say you’re here to enter the temple, but how can you meet the Abbot? Even we can’t meet him easily.”

The gatekeeper’s words were perfectly logical.

It was a question Bae Jong-gwan found extremely difficult to answer on the spot.

But Sun Woo-jin had already instructed him.

Ignore all complicated questions.

Bae Jong-gwan ignored the warrior’s words entirely and shouted again.

“I am Bae Jong-gwan, disciple of the Diamond Unbreakable Gate! Let me see the Abbot now! I said let me see him now!”

Only now did the gate guards realize something was off about this guy.

They began threatening Bae Jong-gwan with grim expressions.

“Shut up! If you really want to talk, come back when it’s daylight! If you cause any more trouble, I’ll cut you down!”

At that, Bae Jong-gwan genuinely snorted in derision.

“Cut me down? You lot? Ha ha ha! That’s laughable!”

Seeing Bae Jong-gwan burst into laughter and sneer, the gate guards were truly enraged.

After all, the warriors of the Black Shadow Sect, a dark sect, were hardly known for their patience.

“This bastard! He needs to see blood to come to his senses!”

Shouting this, one gate guard truly charged at Bae Jong-gwan, drawing his sword.

“Haah!”

But the very next moment, he realized something was terribly wrong.

Clang!

“Ugh?!”

The sensation and sound of his body being cut felt strange.

As if he’d cut through an iron pillar, the sword trembled with a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

“You actually cut it?!”

Then, grabbing his body with one hand, he yanked him up.

“Waaah! You, you bastard!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The warrior tried striking Bae Jong-gwan’s arm with his sword, but it was useless.

Only the sound of metal striking metal echoed.

Bae Jong-gwan, who had lifted the warrior’s body, immediately hurled him with all his might toward the main gate.

The warrior screamed as he flew through the air.

“Gaaaah!”

CRASH!

The main gate shook violently with a tremendous crash.

The warrior, having slammed his body into the gate, lay flat as a frog, slowly sliding down to the floor.

A body that only made a metallic clang when struck, and the monstrous strength to toss a person like a rock with one hand.

The gate guards could no longer underestimate him.

They immediately drew their swords and began to surround Bae Jong-gwan.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Don’t move!”

“How dare you cause trouble at the main gate of the Black Chamber!”

Bae Jong-gwan shouted back, looking utterly wronged.

“Who’s causing trouble?! Didn’t that bastard try to slash me first?!”

Just then, the main gate swung open, and Yao Jie-san, the patrol chief of the Black Chamber, rushed out.

“What’s all this commotion?!”

The warriors brightened at the sight of his face.

But Bae Jong-gwan spoke first.

“I am Bae Jong-gwan of the Diamond Invincible Sect! I came to join the Black Shadow Sect, yet those men attacked me without warning!”

This too was Sun Woo-jin’s instruction.

He had ordered them to claim they were unjustly attacked whenever someone of high standing appeared.

Yeo Jeok-sam, his eyes wide with shock at Bae Jong-gwan’s words, looked at the warriors.

“Is that true?”

The soldiers immediately began sweating profusely and making excuses.

“Ah, no. That’s… well…”

***

A booming voice and a thud! echoed faintly through the quiet night sky.

It seemed Bae Jong-gwan had started it.

Glancing left and right, he said briefly.

“Let’s go!”

We, clad in black robes, soared like birds and leapt over the wall as stealthily as night cats.

Not a sound was heard.

We exchanged silent greetings with our eyes and scattered swiftly in our assigned directions.

My assigned direction was straight ahead.

Moving stealthily between the buildings, we encountered almost no one wandering about.

It was clear evidence that the Black Chamber was empty.

But dodging the occasional people I encountered and moving stealthily, I finally arrived at the three-story pavilion where proper defenses were in place.

That must be where the Chief Minister resides.

Four warriors guarded the main gate, and four more patrolled around the building.

The security seemed quite tight, so it seemed wiser to infiltrate from the rear rather than the front gate. I quietly hid near the back of the building, waiting for an opportunity.

But the patrol warriors’ field of vision had no blind spots, more than I’d expected. They moved like interlocking gears.

Suddenly, I recalled the books I had read in my father’s study.

Among them were books on assassination techniques.

Books detailing stealth techniques and infiltration methods.

What did they say again?

The best strategy for infiltration was feigning an attack in one direction while striking another, right?

I slipped away, climbed onto the roof of another quiet building, and returned a short while later.

And I waited.

I had removed a roof tile and hung it with grass. Soon, the grass would snap, unable to hold.

Then the tile would fall.

Thud!

Just like that.

“What was that?!”

“Who’s there?!”

The patrol guards immediately shouted and ran toward the sound.

“What the hell? A tile fell off, didn’t it?”

“Why did a perfectly good tile fall?”

“Must have been damaged during the last strong wind. I’ll have to tell the inner courtyard later to get it repaired.”

“Ugh, that scared me. And the main gate area is already so noisy.”

By the time they returned after checking the tile, I had already entered the hall through the second-floor window.

The window was bolted shut, but releasing black energy through the crack to silently cut the bolt was no difficult task.

Sure enough, no one was inside the second floor of the pavilion.

Moving silently, I climbed the stairs to the third floor.

They had said the ark’s dwelling was on the third floor.

The third floor was also quiet.

Black Chamber Master Go Ju-yong was said to detest anyone entering his quarters, forbidding all access—and indeed, that seemed to be the case.

Just as he smiled with satisfaction and quietly opened the Chief’s door…

I locked eyes with a young man sitting completely naked on the Archon’s bed, just inside the door.

“Gasp!”

Both of our eyes widened as if they would pop out of our heads.