Chapter 34 Fool (1)

Chapter 34 Fool (1)

Swoosh!

With each swing of the sword, the number of corpses increased by one.

Occasionally, someone would lower their plow and beg for forgiveness, but Gu Yangjeok acted without mercy.

If forgiveness could solve everything, what troubles would exist in this world?

In the end, blood on one’s hands cannot be washed away, and no excuse, whatever the reason, can justify evil deeds.

That was the justice Gu Yangjeok pursued, and the reason he called himself a villain.

“P-please. I won’t do it again!”

Thud!

His aged knees smashed against the ground, shattering, and blood streamed from his forehead where it had been struck.

The man who called himself the village chief of this remote mountain hamlet was actually the leader of these bandits who claimed to be green forest dwellers.

Gu Yangji looked at the village chief, now in a pitifully disheveled state, with a look of pity.

“Those who begged you for their lives must have pleaded for mercy too.”

“……”

Seeing the speechless village chief, Gu Yangjeok sneered.

“You probably buried them secretly in the hills. Well, I’m itching to do the same…”

“I have a son coming back!”

He seemed to hesitate slightly, perhaps hoping to elicit a shred of sympathy.

Gu Yangjeok’s lips twitched.

“Right, that’s exactly what I mean. Killing them doesn’t end everything.”

“I’ll live righteously from now on!”

“Don’t live.”

Gu Yangjeok cut him off with a single, sharp sentence, gazing coldly down at the village chief.

“Don’t cling to life as much as you’ve taken others’. That way, at least you won’t be pathetic.”

At those words, the village chief’s face seemed to stiffen for a moment, then flushed crimson like a beet.

“…You bastard.”

Gu Yangjeok laughed.

“I knew you’d say that.”

The sword swung with force.

Two hours later.

Gu Yangjeok brushed the dirt off his hands.

“Even such efforts are wasted on these people, but…”

That didn’t mean they all had to remain trash.

Gu Yangjeok carefully buried the villagers, including the village chief, one by one, spacing them at regular intervals.

Normally, one would build a coffin to prevent wild beasts from digging them up, but he felt no obligation to go that far.

Burying them in the land where they had lived their lives was, at the very least, fulfilling the minimum duty.

Depending on how they had truly lived, they would be discovered quickly, or perhaps later.

Time would change some things, but others would remain unchanged.

Scratch, scratch, thud.

“Good.”

A satisfied smile formed on Gu Yangjeok’s face.

His hands, which had trembled violently for half an hour while carving characters into the solid stone, had now stopped.

Boyeong Village.

They lived pretending to be mountain villagers, but in reality, they ambushed travelers and caravans passing through this area.

Gu Yangjeok glanced at the caravan arrival schedule he’d found in the corner of the blacksmith’s shop.

Several handwritings were scrawled on it, evidence that multiple people were involved.

Gu Yangjeok spotted a familiar seal there.

‘Black Dragon Sect, Shaanxi Branch.’

He’d thought that since it was a fairly large organization even among the dark sects, they wouldn’t be poking around in every little nook and cranny.

‘A bit disappointing.’

Gu Yangjeok neatly folded it and shoved it deep into his robe.

He had no immediate use for it, but the time would surely come when it would prove useful.

As Gu Yang-jeok started to leave the cemetery, his footsteps suddenly halted.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t leave this behind.”

Gu Yang-jeok walked back to the tombstone.

Then, he placed a nail beneath the inscription he had written.

The compensation for the evils committed above shall be taken from the coffers; verify the register of Boyeong Village and collect it from their offspring.

Thud.

Guyangjeok casually tossed aside the worn-down nail and whistled lightly.

This inscription was carved especially deep; it wouldn’t be easily erased.

The question was whether the registry even existed in the capital…

‘Since Boyeong Village is in the mountains.’

Just as the Great Ming had long forbidden the entire Chinese populace from using bows and horses for private purposes.

A nation was always preoccupied with external invasions or internal strife.

Moreover, the Ming had yet to eradicate all remnants of the Yuan.

In such circumstances, the Great Ming’s greatest vigilance would undoubtedly be directed toward the northern frontier and mountainous terrain—classic battlefield landscapes.

‘There might be a delay of about half a year, but it will definitely be there.’

Gu Yangji left the mountain village without a single regret.

* * *

While Gu Yangji departed Boyeong Village and turned his steps back toward the interior of Shaanxi,

Inside the Black Dragon Gang headquarters, serious words were exchanged.

“So, what’s the status of the Huashan Sect?”

In response to Black Dragon Gang Leader Bai Yunhuan’s question, Bai Qingyi, the head of the Shaanxi branch, bowed his head and answered.

“They only said that once the condition of the Huayun Jiexia Sword improves, they will immediately eliminate the main gang. It’s still quiet.”

“What about that Gu Yangjie fellow?”

To that question, Baek Cheong-il answered concisely.

“We searched every corner of Chang’an where the branch is located, but he was nowhere to be found.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. We bribed two of the gatekeepers and even verified the entry and exit records.”

Baek Yun-hwan smiled with satisfaction at Baek Cheong-il’s swift handling of the matter.

‘Indeed, tigers breed tigers.’

He wished his second son would strive as hard as his eldest, but recalling Baek Dong-il’s condition, Baek Yun-hwan clicked his tongue lightly.

“Where do you think Gu Yang-je is hiding now, County Magistrate Baek?”

“……”

Baek Cheong-il nodded thoughtfully before offering his conjecture.

“It’s been reported he descended the mountain on his own accord, but given his master is the head of Huashan and he himself is known as the ‘Wind-Slicing Sword,’ it’s hard to believe. It makes more sense he slipped away with plenty of time to spare.”

Recalling Bai Danxian in his prime, Bai Yunhuan nodded in agreement.

“So?”

“It’s highly probable he’s somewhere in Shaanxi, or in contact with influential figures connected to the Huashan Sect.”

“So you’re saying the county magistrate believes Gu Yangji and the Huashan Sect are in regular communication.”

“That’s correct.”

Baek Un-hwan’s gaze sharpened for a moment.

The man from Yao’an he had encountered at Dongjing Lake.

Had it not been for that incident, he would never have been marked by him.

“Then do you also believe the Huashan Sect was involved in the previous Golden Ring Conference affair?”

“No, that is not the case.”

Baek Cheong-il’s words were filled with conviction, prompting Baek Un-hwan to immediately counter.

“Why not?”

Baek Cheong-il continued, fingering the ring on his index finger.

“If the Huashan Sect truly intended that, there would be absolutely no reason to send Gu Yang-jeok.”

“……Hmm.”

His head nodded involuntarily.

If the Huashan Sect knew about the Gold Ring Conference and sought a clear resolution, they wouldn’t have sent Gu Yang-jeok, notorious for his poor reputation.

Much less commit the blunder of harming ordinary civilians.

Gu Yangjie was unsuitable for handling such a matter, and the process itself was inappropriate.

Baek Unhwan recalled the key point once more and bit his lip lightly.

“So, Baek Hyangju believes Gu Yangjie personally handled the Golden Ring Conference affair.”

“There was no room for any third party to intervene.”

“So, another debt to repay has been added.”

Baek Un-hwan gritted his teeth and glared at Baek Cheong-il.

“Before the Huashan Sect intervenes, capture Gu Yang-jeok alive, even if it means tearing him limb from limb. Beyond that, I leave it to your judgment, County Magistrate.”

“I will obey your orders, Lord Magistrate!”

Thud!

After prostrating himself once, Baek Cheong-il slowly rose and headed outside the headquarters.

If he departed promptly from here, it would take about ten days to reach the Shaanxi branch.

Having completely exited the headquarters, Baek Cheong-il turned his head back.

“Seems the old fart’s gotten pretty senile… Never thought he’d show fear even to his own son.”

The nickname “Red Tiger Ghost” was embroidered on his right sleeve.

Three days after Red Tiger Ghost Baek Cheong-il departed headquarters.

Gu Yang-jeok passed through Chang’an’s East Gate using the nameplate borrowed from the Golden Ring Trading Company.

‘It is breaking the law, after all.’

What could be less Taoist than this?

Thinking of how long the Black Dragon Sect would wander, a faint smirk blossomed on Gu Yangjie’s face.

* * *

Afterwards, Gu Yangjie scouted a spot where he could see both the main gate and the side entrance of the Shaanxi branch simultaneously.

He could have easily resolved this by enlisting the help of the Three-Joint Beggar he’d met before, but that beggar’s mouth was lighter than his own conscience.

‘Considering how much trouble that beggar caused me during the Nine Dragons War…’

Snap.

He’d planned to crush him like a bent chopstick the next time they met, but the beggar clearly knew this and was hiding.

If he was determined to hide, even Gu Yangji would have to expend considerable effort to find him.

He couldn’t cause such a nuisance right in front of the enemy’s headquarters, so Gu Yangji had to settle for grumbling.

Gritting his teeth and scanning the area, one inn caught Gu Yangji’s eye.

‘Heavenly Branch, Single Fragrance.’

A single incense that pierces the heavens.

For a mere inn, it was an arrogantly presumptuous name, but to Gu Yangji, it was passable enough.

Though not the heavens, it could pierce a single branch.

“Here.”

Gu Yangji flicked a silver coin with his finger and secured a room on the third floor.

What he did there was simple.

He recorded which merchant guilds were trading with the Black Dragon Sect’s Shaanxi branch, the times and numbers of guards patrolling the perimeter.

He even calmly noted every passerby wandering nearby.

Leaving behind detailed descriptions of the martial artists coming and going was standard procedure.

‘A branch is nothing different from a small society.’

Though its boundaries ended at Shaanxi, its inner workings were tightly woven, indistinguishable from any martial sect.

There would undoubtedly be guests from the Black Dragon Sect headquarters, and figures connected to other branches would come and go.

Shaanxi was home to the two main branches of Daoism: Huashan and Zhongnan.

They, too, were walking a tightrope to some extent.

Yet, if there was one reason the Black Dragon Sect maintained its Shaanxi branch, it was this:

‘Because hairy little bastards always have to fight over pride.’

I’m setting up a branch in a place like this!

We’re powerful and strong enough to pull this off!

It was the sort of idea that would make a rational person spit out phlegm in disgust, but the martial world wasn’t a place governed solely by reason.

Sometimes you had to bluff to get people to join. And there were always fools who fell for that bluff.

Fools had their own demand, so the Black Dragon Sect knew exactly the value of its Shaanxi branch.

‘A local lord who comes to a place like this can only be one of two things.’

Either a fool, or a genius.

Gu Yangjie recalled the nickname he’d heard before: Red Tiger.

The Eight Evils of Jiangbei.

It referred to the eight notorious villains who had begun making their names known around the time he was just coming down from the mountains at twenty in his previous life.

Among them, the Red Tiger, Zhi Hougui, stood out with an unshakable power base, possessing strength worthy of being called a great villain.

Though Gu Yangji had never personally fought him, a man with such a reputation couldn’t be a complete fool.

Just as Gu Yangji was plotting how to strike the Shaanxi branch, a stammering voice came from outside the window.

“I’m a fool!”

“……? “

Gu Yangji, filled with suspicion, turned his head. There, children around ten years old were tormenting a man.

At first glance, it seemed the man was spouting nonsense, but Gu Yangji was well aware of this phenomenon.

‘He’s lived long enough to experience this many times, and knows that if he says he’s a fool, people will believe him.’

Glancing at the man’s actions, he saw not only a lack of intelligence but also apparent difficulties in movement.

Pity, thought Gu Yangji, flicking a broken chopstick to hit the children’s foreheads.

“Ow!”

“What, what is it?!”

“Waaah!”

As one child began to cry, the terrified children scattered, each running toward their own homes.

Seeing the children gone, the man crouched down, unable to even decide where to go.

Seeing this, Gu Yang-jeok’s eyes widened.

“Tying shoelaces in the middle of summer?”

Regardless of whether Gu Yang-jeok looked dumbfounded or not, the man carefully began tightening the loosened shoelaces.

Gu Yang-jeok lost interest and turned his head away.