Chapter 15

E’an County, Muju, Jiangxi Province, where the Baek Manor is located.

Muju, much like other regions in Jiangxi Province, relied on the produce from its vast plains and the trade flowing through its web of rivers and canals to sustain itself; but E’an County was different.

It was because Yuhang Lake, famous for its breathtaking scenery even within Jiangxi Province, was right next to it.

With an incredible number of travelers, socialites, and idlers visiting Yuhang Lake every year, taverns, inns, and brothels flourished in E’an County.

In other words, there was much to be picked clean.

“It’s not as if it’s any different elsewhere in the world of martial arts, but E’an County has many martial sects, particularly Black Dao Factions. There are dozens that have hung up their signs, and even excluding the trivial ones, four names still stand out.”

“Honggyo Gang. Cheongsa Gang. Suhoji Alliance. Gyojin Gang.”

The old man—no, Yeo Un-jeok—spouted the four names as if he obviously already knew them.

Yes, I had expected him to have at least investigated this much. This will make things faster.

“Those are the four gangs that dominate E’an County. Among them, the leader of the Honggyo Gang wants to become the hegemon of E’an County.”

The important thing was the intention of the leader of the Honggyo Gang, but Yeo Un-jeok focused on a different part.

“You are lumping even the Suhoji Alliance in with those gangs. Aren’t they an Orthodox Faction?”

The Suhoji Alliance was indeed a coalition of sects engaged in businesses that had to represent the Righteous Faction, such as martial arts halls and escort services.

‘They are just people who pretend to be the Orthodox Faction in name only.’

Yang-hwi shrugged his shoulders and continued.

“Does that even matter? In any case, various martial arts sects, especially Black Dao Factions, are engaged in forming and breaking alliances in E’an County. And they are doing it over things that originally belonged to my clan.”

While it is true that E’an County developed centered around Yuhang Lake, it was undeniably the founding patriarch of the Baek Clan who paved the way.

The location of the Baek Manor right in the center of E’an County proves this.

“So, what is it you want to say, Young Master?”

Yang-hwi withdrew the Spear Hand Technique he had been pointing at Yeo Un-jeok’s neck the entire time and sat down with a thud.

“My legs hurt because I’m getting old. Since this is going to be a long conversation, I’ll tell you while sitting.”

“…….”

Is that really something to say in front of an elder?

“I said that because I wanted you to be comfortable, old timer. Unless you intend to keep your guard up, there’s no reason to stay uncomfortable, right?”

Yeo Un-jeok sat quietly on the ridge of the roof.

Meanwhile, Yang-hwi went over the logic to persuade Yeo Un-jeok in his head once more.

‘The moment Big Sister Rangrang was poisoned, you and the leader of the Honggyo Gang could no longer live under the same sky.’

This meant that the Deer-to-Horse Transformer, Yeo Un-jeok, would never become an ally of the Honggyo Gang.

Therefore, I must make Yeo Un-jeok an ally of the Baek Clan and, as a bonus, devise a plan to weaken the power of the Black Dao Factions in E’an County.

‘And achieve the main goal of Big Sister Rangrang and Gu Ak living happily ever after.’

“Young Master. Speak up. What is this work you want to do together?”

“It’s simple. We are going to bring down the leader of the Honggyo Gang, who will be a stumbling block to Big Sister Rangrang’s happiness.”

Yeo Un-jeok’s eyes deepened.

“Any method will cause chaos. The Baek Clan will have an opportunity to reap the benefits. Don’t tell me you have planned this whole game, Young Master?”

Yang-hwi clicked his tongue inwardly.

This is why you have to be careful when dealing with an old veteran of the martial arts world.

Since he hadn’t intended to hide it anyway, he spoke confidently.

“That’s correct. However, I am not moving solely for profit. You might not know, but Big Sister Rangrang’s lover is like a brother to me.”

“……First, I must ask a question that piques my curiosity. How did you know the identity of this old man?”

‘Because the rumors spread after you caused a bloodbath in your past life.’

I can’t tell the truth.

“Do you know that I used to be a beggar before I was entered into the registry?”

“I am aware.”

“One of the things the beggar gangs do when they have time to kill is to memorize the faces and personal details of notorious criminals who have bounties on their heads.”

It was the truth. In fact, the Beggars’ Sect even came to inform them periodically.

This meant it was a sufficient excuse.

“I am currently in disguise, however.”

Ah, that wasn’t his real face? I didn’t know that.

“You used the pseudonym Yeo Un-hyeok. ‘Un’ for clouds, ‘Hyeok’ for red. Human psychology is simple, so people often change their real names slightly when they suddenly need an alias.”

He added an explanation to make it more convincing.

“Furthermore, Big Sister Rangrang’s Jade Pendant. Someone can’t just make an item that holds such exquisite and special functions. The title ‘Deer-to-Horse Transformer’ just naturally came to mind, so I probed.”

“……You must have become convinced after observing my reaction.”

“Correct.”

Yeo Un-jeok laughed hollowly.

“I have lived my whole life being careful, but I let my guard down because my opponent was a child.”

“It is not your mistake, old timer. There is a saying to be wary of women, the elderly, and children precisely because those three types are good at drawing out one’s guard.”

“Yes…… It is less my mistake and more the fact that you are exceptionally brilliant for your age. However, it’s not as if you have no flaws. Did you put up that notice knowing whose father was who?”

Indeed, one must live long to see. He didn’t miss a single small loophole; he was truly nothing but sharp.

“In truth, your appearance, old timer, is a variable for me. Originally, my plan was different. That’s not important, so let’s move on. So, how about it? Why don’t you hear the plan of a talent who is exceptionally brilliant for his age?”

Yeo Un-jeok looked at Yang-hwi, who was wearing a shameless smile, for a moment.

Then he let out a sigh.

“Judging by your stubbornness, I suppose this old man won’t be able to get what he wants unless I listen to you. Speak.”

“First, I will start by establishing that the greatest goal of my plan is Big Sister Rangrang’s happiness. As a descendant of the upright and fair Orthodox Faction, I promise you this, so you can trust me.”

“I will judge that part myself.”

“As you wish. To get straight to the point, I intend to make the Black Dao Factions kill each other through sowing discord.”

“You’ve cut off too much of the head and tail. Specifically, how do you intend to do it?”

Yang-hwi pulled out a portion of thirty years’ worth of future memories from his head.

‘Yeo Un-jeok. In your past life…… you caused a bloodbath at the Honggyo Gang by bringing up the reason why you became a criminal in the martial arts world.’

Originally, the Deer-to-Horse Transformer, Yeo Un-jeok, was not a martial artist, but someone whose profession was restoring centuries-old ancient books and artifacts.

However, since restoration and forgery are just a fine line apart, he was an individual with the capacity to make a newly made book look as if it had been weathered for hundreds of years.

That brought the misfortune that ruined Yeo Un-jeok’s life.

He became involved in the Sword King Tomb incident, a bloodbath that occurred some twenty years ago.

‘You accepted a huge fee to forge dozens of Treasure Map items, believing they were for the amusement of wealthy young masters. Not knowing that the mastermind was the Blood Sand League.’

The Blood Sand League, the greatest among the Unorthodox Factions and a hegemon that dominated an entire province, Guizhou.

At the time, the Blood Sand League was having intense confrontations with various Righteous Faction sects in Hunan, including the Hwangbo Family.

In the midst of this, the trick the Blood Sand League came up with was to lure the Righteous Faction martial artists into a trap with fake Treasure Map items and massacre them; it was a huge success and later came to be called the Sword King Tomb Bloodbath.

‘Thanks to that, the Hwangbo Family, one of the Five Great Families, collapsed, and even now, the Righteous Faction sects that were in Hunan are in total disarray. And Yeo Un-jeok ended up becoming a public enemy of the martial arts world.’

In a way, he is a pitiful old man. He just worked for money without knowing anything, yet he incurred the wrath of the Righteous Faction and became a public enemy.

Because of that, he lost his wife and also had to live a life separated from his young daughter.

‘In your past life, you died while causing a bloodbath. In this life, I will let you spend the rest of your life happily with your daughter. In return, become a power for the Baek Clan.’

“I will spread secret manuals.”

“Secret manuals?”

Yeo Un-jeok’s face hardened.

“You seem to be making a hasty guess knowing the reason why I became a public enemy, but this old man does not know of any martial arts that would serve as bait.”

“It doesn’t matter. The secret manuals you will create and spread will not contain martial arts, but rather, methods to counter them.”

In his past life, Yang-hwi had tried to learn countless martial arts to improve his own family’s techniques.

Naturally, that included the martial arts of the Black Dao Factions stationed in E’an County.

‘I fought them countless times and figured out all the principles. Creating counter-measures is as easy as eating porridge.’

Yang-hwi grinned.

* * *

Seven days and nights later.

The Baek Manor welcomed an uninvited guest from the middle of the day.

“Brother Gu. Our Baek Manor is strictly an Orthodox Faction, isn’t it a bit too much for you to come here so often?”

“Young Brother So! You can’t even praise my patience for waiting ten days instead of the promised three before coming, and that’s all you have to say!”

Looking at him huffing and puffing with his face turning beet red from anger, I think his nickname should have been ‘Blood Face’ instead of ‘Blood Axe’.

“Anyway, you’ve come at a good time. I actually have something to tell you.”

Yang-hwi led Gu Ak to Rangrang’s quarters.

“Dear!”

“Rangrang!”

After the lovers, reunited after ten days, enjoyed their reunion to the fullest, Gu Ak looked at Yang-hwi while holding one of Rangrang’s hands.

“So, how is Young Brother So’s plan going? When is the First-rate Realm expert you promised going to appear!”

“Hmm? I never said I would provide a First-rate Realm expert.”

“What?”

Before Gu Ak could explode in anger, forgetting that Rangrang was present, Yang-hwi quickly continued.

“I said I would bring someone who could kill even a First-rate Realm expert.”

“Isn’t that the same thing!”

“How can martial arts be the only way to kill a person? There is poison, money, and there are many methods. Ah, speaking of which. Could you two talk for a moment?”

Only after they came out of the quarters so that Rangrang could not hear, did Yang-hwi look at Gu Ak and continue.

“Did you perhaps know?”

“Know what?”

Judging by his counter-question, he didn’t know. “Big Sister Rangrang, she is in a state of being poisoned.”

Gu Ak’s face twisted like a vengeful demon instantly.

“Woah, woah. Hear me out before you explode in anger. You know that the Clan Matriarch, my mother, is not in good health and a doctor visits periodically.”

“My patience is not very long. Speak quickly.”

What a temper. Yang-hwi continued immediately.

“Because Big Sister Rangrang’s complexion looked particularly poor, I had her pulse checked. But the doctor said this. That she was in a state of being poisoned. You are welcome to call another doctor to confirm.”

“……Rangrang was really being poisoned?”

“They said the poison itself is weak, but it is a chronic poison that leads to death if administered periodically. It’s no wonder you didn’t know, Brother Gu.”

Even when Gu Ak was drinking tea with Rangrang in her quarters, he hadn’t felt anything strange.

Because the poison was so weak, Yang-hwi wouldn’t have noticed either if it hadn’t been for his uniquely sensitive senses.

“As for the person who ordered the poisoning…… I don’t think there is a need to search for them.”

“…….”

Gu Ak couldn’t bring himself to speak.

There was only one person who would feed poison to Rangrang.

That was his own father, the leader of the Red Bridge Gang.

“Father, how could father……”

“He probably thought that since Big Sister Rangrang was in the way, he would clear her out and push for your marriage, Brother Gu. Or else…… he was planning to hold Big Sister Rangrang hostage to control you.”

Gu Ak is the only expert among the leader of the Red Bridge Gang’s children who has reached the First-rate Realm.

Since he reached the First-rate Realm before he was even twenty, he was also a talent who might pass the wall of the Peak Realm if things went well.

And since ancient times, a king’s biggest competitors are his children.

“Haha, hahahaha.”

Gu Ak laughs hollowly. The emptiness lingering on his face is gradually transforming into a different emotion.

A more intense and hotter emotion, by the name of anger.

‘Good. With this, I’ve made Gu Ak my side.’

“Brother Gu. Now is not the time to make Big Sister Rangrang gain the leader of the Red Bridge Gang’s recognition.”

“Yes…… It seems that way.”

“Do you want to protect Big Sister Rangrang?”

Gu Ak turned his head to look at Rangrang’s quarters.

A longing filled his eyes.

“Rangrang is…… the driving force that allowed me to endure the hellish days that were suffocating. For her sake…… I can do anything.”

I thought he had just fallen in love while visiting brothels after becoming an adult, but it seems there was a more poignant backstory than that.

‘Perhaps it is thanks to Rangrang that Gu Ak has a decent heart for someone in the Black Dao Factions.’

Thinking that, Yang-hwi continued.

“Brother Gu. If so, there is only one way.”