The injuries of the two outcasts were not life-threatening. Perhaps Gae Myung-bu was determined, as the sword energy did inflict internal injuries on them, but luckily, both were at Peak Stage, so they could recover within a week.
The two of them accepted the rewards for the Janbongmun that Yu Sa-yeon brought back with ambiguous expressions. The determined Yu Sa-yeon, who had boldly set out to participate in the sect meetings, returned with nothing but a money pouch and a gloomy face.
Seeing that, all of us outcasts, led by me, instinctively sensed that things hadn’t gone well.
And as we had sensed, the grand theater came to an end.
“Senior, it’s time.”
“Hmm. Is it?”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s accommodation had been moved from the inn to the Hwang Gold Clan. Each time I went in front of the Hwang Gold Clan, the atmosphere was hardly cheerful.
I might not care, but Black Cat had enough distinct features for the guard warriors of the Hwang Gold Clan to recognize her.
Having caused a commotion with sorcery performances, it was only natural for them to look at us with disfavor.
As soon as Hyeok Gi-rin appeared, looking uncomfortable, he exploded with strong discontent as we stepped away from the Hwang Gold Clan. Both Black Cat and I were now familiar with Hyeok Gi-rin’s demeanor.
“Do you know what Hwang Geum-seon said today? He wants to give the sects of Sacheon City a chance! Hah, and others are nodding, calling him benevolent!”
“Well… from Hwang Geum-seon’s perspective, that’s not a bad statement.”
Black Cat cautiously chimed in.
“That’s what I mean! The longer this situation drags on, the more the undercapitalized small merchants will wither away, and he’ll be able to buy their shares for a pittance! So for that guy, even if this situation drags on, he’s got nothing to lose! He must be a shameless guy!”
Hyeok Gi-rin seemed really angry and let out a loud snort. His anger felt less threatening, more like a child kicking the ground, but the content was quite serious.
“It’s one thing if it were just a passerby, but someone affiliated with the Sacheon Merchant Association, wearing their badge! To want to take advantage of the chaos!”
According to Hyeok Gi-rin’s words, Hwang Geum-seon seemed to be gaining influence and benefits from this situation. Was he also one of Yeo Il-ye’s enemies?
However, he was not an opponent who could be accused without evidence. True merchants are the ones who make a living selling torches even in hell and can sell water buckets during the rainy season. Even if Hwang Geum-seon showed active movements and stood to gain from the bandit situation… the biggest victims of the current bandit crisis were the merchants of Sacheon.
Currently, the economic slump in Sacheon was at a serious level.
The biggest advantage for Sacheon was safety. Because it was safe, even the people of rural villages who couldn’t afford to hire a bodyguard felt at ease coming to Sacheon to sell goods. Naturally, with many people gathering, business thrived, leading to significant development in the lodging and food industries.
Nearby residents provided cheap labor, which could be considered one of the driving forces behind Sacheon’s growth.
But now that Sacheon was no longer safe, who would dare come and go freely? After all, most villagers live off the crops they grow themselves. The things they primarily sell, whether gathered goods or handmade products, could just be harvested from the mountains or kept at home.
Merchants would choke if money didn’t circulate, unlike them.
The once crowded streets of Sacheon now showed only a few travelers, and the street vendors or merchants, who used to yell at the top of their lungs to attract customers, kept their heads down with gloomy expressions, just standing in their places.
The whole city of Sacheon was dying.
Sensing the atmosphere, Hyeok Gi-rin’s complexion darkened. Seeing his condition, Black Cat asked,
“Are you planning to visit the merchants today as well?”
“Yes…”
Hyeok Gi-rin nodded. Since the initial meeting of the great factions finished, Hyeok Gi-rin had been visiting merchants affiliated with the Merchant Association daily to explain Yeo Il-ye’s circumstances. The justification that the bandits were after Yeo Il-ye was of no use, so he was likely persuading them to withdraw the conditions set by the Jeomchang Faction.
However, for merchants with no ties to the Jeomchang Faction, there was little incentive to agree. There would be no charm in going against the Merchant Association’s will just to support Jeomchang. Hyeok Gi-rin wasn’t completely oblivious to the reality, so he might suggest various conditions, but…
After all, Hyeok Gi-rin and Jeomchang’s dispositions didn’t fit this kind of lobbying operation. What can I say? They wouldn’t be making outlandish proposals; thus, there would hardly be any merchants willing to stand against the Merchant Association.
That’s why Jeomchang has been able to grow so far. But in the current situation, there was no time for such tranquil talk.
“Time is running out…”
The reason for Hyeok Gi-rin’s sigh was that the senior members of each sect were expected to arrive today or tomorrow. Those who could make decisions about establishing a branch in Sacheon were coming.
“Speaking of which, which person is supposed to come from Jeomchang?”
“…My master, Master Cheongheo, will come.”
The famed Sword of Welcoming Light, Master Cheongheo. It seems for such a significant matter, a weighty person would arrive. But… the lineup is just not right. Honestly, I’m somewhat skeptical about whether Master Cheongheo can make his voice heard in the thick of this cutthroat competition.
I mean, the ones from Jeomchang that fit in that chaos the most would be the Sect Leader or Hyeok Gi-rin, but the Sect Leader couldn’t come personally, so what can you do?
If all that’s coming is a bunch of harmless folks, then it makes sense that a strong but harmless one would be coming.
Master Cheongheo is one of the few Peak Experts in Sacheon.
Is this Jeomchang’s strength? Should it be described as a testament to his character? Anyway, it’s a unique trait of Jeomchang.
The Nine Great Sects also have Peak Experts. However, if the Sect Leader says, “Elder, please step forward,” the Peak Expert would first stroke his beard and ask, “Is this related to my disciple?”
Or? The Peak Expert would likely scoff at trivial matters and tell the juniors to handle things.
By the time you reach a Peak Expert like that, they’ve long since raised their disciples and made contributions to their sects. They’ve done all they can for their sect. So, would they be willing to let someone like the Sect Leader or the Elder give them orders?
It’s true that the Nine Great Sects boast a legacy of former Peak Experts, but why waste that power? Are the Nine Great Sects just any organization? They are the best martial arts sects in the world.
They won’t budge unless it’s of utmost importance. If they don’t step in, it’s because the matter isn’t significant enough to sully their reputation as elders of the sect.
But the experts from Jeomchang are true embodiments of character, willing to easily step in to help with their sect’s or disciples’ matters.
The disparities in the Nine Great Sects are undeniable. But in terms of operable power, Jeomchang overwhelmingly outranks them.
What significance do the former Peak Experts hold when the roots of their sects have been uprooted? The fire of an ember can already burn down a house, and the time for enacting the fire isn’t now.
Instead, Jeomchang experiences losses elsewhere. Most righteous factions, outwardly appearing innocent, are usually plotting behind, so the honest Jeomchang is the only one losing out.
I doubt that Master Cheongheo will be able to overturn the unfavorable situation for Jeomchang.
While I understand the fighting power of Master Cheongheo, I’m clueless about his disposition or political skills. Yet judging by Hyeok Gi-rin’s demeanor, I can roughly guess. If his master was truly dependable, he wouldn’t be showing such agitation.
Hyeok Gi-rin has met many merchants now, but it didn’t appear he had gained anything concrete.
He was welcomed when entering, but when leaving, Hyeok Gi-rin’s face was dark. Black Cat seemed to feel sorry for Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression.
“Eat this!”
“Uh? Ah… no thanks. If it’s snacks, I was already treated well inside…”
“Hey! If I say to eat, then eat! Why so many words?”
“Ugh?!”
Even though he shared rice crackers, it would be impossible for Hyeok Gi-rin to have his face lighten up like Black Cat does.
When Hyeok Gi-rin went inside the merchant’s building to persuade the merchants, we had no choice but to wait outside. As we walked in a nearby alley where the entrance was visible, we heard a commotion.
Bang! Thud!
“Get lost, you miserable scum!”
“Are you the ones refusing the support of the experts?!”
The martial artists fleeing stood covered in mud and filth thrown by angry people.
Even if the collaboration with the outcasts failed, some sects continued their volunteer activities, holding onto a thread of hope, but the result was just as you see now.
“Someone is spreading rumors.”
Black Cat nodded.
“It seems negative rumors about Sacheon City’s sects are rapidly spreading since the night streets. It’s so artificial that it wouldn’t be strange if someone among those people was acting as a ringleader.”
“Do you think we can find the instigator?”
Black Cat hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“You know how the situation is playing out. So, I didn’t dig deep. Who knows what danger might come?”
Her words forced me to confront a topic I had been vaguely avoiding.
“Huh.”
I let out a sigh that seemed more of a statement than a reply, and Black Cat didn’t speak afterward.
It was too deep. No matter how much I jumped around on my own, it was not a situation I could handle. Even if I had not set out for the underwater cave to save Hwari, I would have ended up facing such results.
The opponent’s roots were too deep, and their influence was vast.
Controlling the Sacheon Merchant Association, represented by the Hwang Gold Clan, and using it like a puppet, they attracted the extraordinary gangs of Sacheon. But that’s not all. The Janbongmun, counted as one of the three powers in Sacheon, was completely in league with them, and there were even accomplices in the entertainment districts of Sacheon.
What would happen if a mere top martial artist intervened? It wouldn’t lead anywhere significant. Whether it’s leaving for the Inner Dan, or the fact that I couldn’t properly assess my opponent, none of these were the issues.
The difference in class was simply too vast.
Overwhelming. Frustrating.
Even if I fully utilized the power of Black Cat and Wolbok-dang, along with the proactive cooperation of the Sacheon Outcasts, the gap in strength was so immense that it would do nothing. How much could I unfold against someone who had nearly seized control of the entire Sacheon?
Black Cat no longer spoke, and I retrieved a martial arts book from my bosom. Damn it. It’s too dark to see properly. As I grumbled inwardly and put the martial arts book away, Hyeok Gi-rin came out.
He exchanged polite greetings with the one who seemed to be the head of the merchants, but there was an undeniable shadow on Hyeok Gi-rin’s face.
The three of us walked silently through the darkened streets of Sacheon.
Finding the Hwang Gold Clan wasn’t too difficult. With numerous lanterns illuminating the vast grounds, it almost radiated like the sun. While normally this would be an usual Sacheon, the now dimly lit setting made the Hwang Gold Clan appear to be a sort of beacon.
“Thank you for your hard work, both of you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
We lightly nodded to each other before turning back. Was Hyeok Gi-rin the last to leave? The large doors of the Hwang Gold Clan closed. Black Cat and I moved our steps to return to the Outcast Inn, having confirmed Hyeok Gi-rin disappearing into the door.
But just before we turned a few alleys.
“[Hwang Geum-seon!!]”
A thunderous shout echoed in the air.
Kaboom!!
And then there was an explosion. Black Cat and I exchanged gazes. It was Yeo Il-ye’s voice, and it sounded like… the front door of the Hwang Gold Clan was about to burst.
Black Cat and I quickly returned to the Hwang Gold Clan. We had only moved two alleys from the Hwang Gold Clan before we arrived at the main entrance.
The grand main gate, which looked to be about ten meters wide, was literally in pieces.
“Invaders! Stop them!”
The gatekeepers rushed forward, pale-faced, trying to draw their swords, but they were taken down in an instant by Yeo Il-ye’s punches. They fell to the ground, looking as if they weren’t dead yet.
A giant hole big enough for several people to pass through was already blasted in the massive, two-leaved door of the Hwang Gold Clan.
Seeing Yeo Il-ye burst in unexpectedly, I was puzzled about why she had come here in such a furious state but could quickly understand.
Wouldn’t the rumor about the bandits appearing in Sacheon City have spread beyond just Sacheon? It must have been shaking the whole area. It was just a matter of time before Yeo Il-ye found out about the enemy she aimed to repay.
Having grasped the situation in Sacheon City through rumors, Yeo Il-ye probably sprinted here in a straight line filled with fury.
In the end, Yeo Il-ye’s enemy turned out to be none other than Hwang Geum-seon, the head of the Hwang Gold Clan.
Yeo Il-ye seemed to have completely lost her mind, exuding an aura as fierce as a storm from her entire body.
As Yeo Il-ye’s hand moved, the half-functioning front gate fully swung open. Yeo Il-ye stepped inside with a fierce gaze, only to come to an abrupt halt.
“….”
Hyeok Gi-rin.
Hyeok Gi-rin stood there.
“…This is the Hwang Gold Clan. As a guest temporarily residing in the Hwang Gold Clan, I will ask: what matter brings you to commit such an affront, Yeo Il-ye?”
“[Step aside, Big Brother.]”
“I am not your Big Brother right now! Again, I will ask! What is your business here at the Hwang Gold Clan? If you have no legitimate purpose, then step back!”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s voice was commendable, but his expression was full of concern. It must be heartbreaking for him to see Yeo Il-ye’s face twisted in rage while being forced to restrain her actions.
“[Move aside! Hwang Geum-seon is a scoundrel worth chewing to bits! Today, no matter what, I will kill that bastard and become a benefactor of the martial world! I will definitely kill him!]”
“Do you think I will allow that?”
Hyeok Gi-rin drew his sword, and at the same moment, his clothes began to flutter. Though he didn’t possess the insane internal energy like Yeo Il-ye, Hyeok Gi-rin too was a considerable master.
Before the overwhelming internal energy of Yeo Il-ye that seemed to sweep the world, Hyeok Gi-rin stood his ground resolutely. His aura rose like an impregnable wall against the storm.
“[There’s no time! Let’s break through!]”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
In an instant, the figures of the two vanished. With normal eyes, it was impossible to follow their speed. Only when I urgently focused my internal energy into my eyes did their hazy figures start to come into view.
Bang!
The clash of their forces shook the area. Yeo Il-ye’s blazing sword energy was juxtaposed against the more refined, water-like form of Hyeok Gi-rin’s sword energy.
If Yeo Il-ye couldn’t shake off the signs of being at the entry of Peak Stage, Hyeok Gi-rin exhibited stability in his Peak Stage mastery.
In this duel, Yeo Il-ye was at a disadvantage. While Yeo Il-ye reached out her sword just to shake Hyeok Gi-rin off, Hyeok Gi-rin extended his sword as if preparing to subdue Yeo Il-ye.
Boom!
With each clash of immense internal energy, shockwaves scattered everywhere. If I were nearby, I wouldn’t be surprised to curse and collapse within three seconds of observing it.
“Yeo Il-ye, control yourself!”
“[Move aside! Big Brother!]”
“Are you going to become a murderous fiend like this? Didn’t you enter the truce for that reason?”
Boom! Bang!
Though the collision was evenly matched, Hyeok Gi-rin was achieving the actual purpose. Over more than ten exchanges, Yeo Il-ye had advanced by barely a few steps. Due to the disparity in internal energy, Hyeok Gi-rin retreated slightly with each exchange, but considering that he was managing to fend Yeo Il-ye off quite impressively, it was commendable.
In the meantime, warriors were pouring out from the Hwang Gold Clan. Dozens of armed warriors emerged one by one.
“What’s this commotion at the Hwang Gold Clan?”
Meanwhile, everyone residing at Hwang Gold Clan also rushed out.
Yeo Il-ye halted her sword and looked around. Dozens of beings pointing weapons at her.
Even amidst all this, the guards from the Hwang Gold Clan were surrounding Yeo Il-ye from all sides. Just how many guards does the Hwang Gold Clan have? The rapidly increasing number of guards was enough to instill fear in people.
It felt like they anticipatively prepared for Yeo Il-ye’s raid. Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been impossible for so many warriors to pour out so quickly unless emergency procedures were prepared in advance.
Hwang Geum-seon must have also managed to ensure safety by some means.
Seeing Yeo Il-ye, I realized she seemed to be thinking the same, her shoulders drooping in defeat.
“…Step back, Yeo Il-ye. It’s all over.”
Hyeok Gi-rin lowered his sword and stepped forward. Seeing the pained expression on Hyeok Gi-rin’s face, I couldn’t help but wonder about what expression Yeo Il-ye had.
“[…Why must it be that my Big Brother is here?]”
“…Yeo Il-ye!”
Yeo Il-ye looked up at the sky. Hyeok Gi-rin’s face twisted as if he was about to cry at any moment.
And me…
“Senior?”
I moved forward.
Whoosh!
An object was thrown at Yeo Il-ye. Reacting to the sensation of something flying from behind, Yeo Il-ye deflected the object, widened her eyes upon seeing me, then gazed down at the fallen item.
It was the Gratitude Plaque.
“You said you would repay kindness before vengeance, didn’t you?”
“[….How did this Grateful Person come to be here…?]”
“I’ll use the Gratitude Plaque to speak. Come with me.”
Looking at Yeo Il-ye, I realized something vital.
It’s true that the bandits had a detrimental effect by targeting Yeo Il-ye. First, it clouded her judgment, and a relationship of repayment was established, dampening the competitive edge of Jeomchang’s branch in Sacheon. In addition, Jeomchang was likely to use Yeo Il-ye as a pretense to spur on the bandit extermination, leading to increased scrutiny from other sects.
However, this very action had created an opening.
Yeo Il-ye was currently at a truce status. She was not just a disciple of Jeomchang but a Peak Expert, Yeo Il-ye. Yet, her grudge against the bandits was strictly personal.
So, if Yeo Il-ye personally wiped out the bandits?
Then all the events unfolding around the bandits would be shattered at once.
Yeo Il-ye would become a hero, and other sects—Hwang Bo, Cheong Seong, Jong Nam, A Mi, even Jeomchang—would no longer be able to stake a claim in the Sacheon region. It would preserve the ecosystem of Sacheon since handled by an individual, not a sect.
Thus, getting Yeo Il-ye out of there was the most urgent matter.
Seeing Yeo Il-ye’s eyes shaking uncontrollably, I opened my mouth.
“Was what you said back then mere empty words?”
“[How could you… be so heartless?]”
Yeo Il-ye gazed at me with resentment, but I didn’t avert my eyes. Perhaps sensing the resolve in my gaze, she tightly closed her eyes.
“Will you follow me?”
“[…] I will go.”
“Dare you break down the Warlords Gold Clan’s front door and escape so easily…!”
As Yeo Il-ye attempted to retreat, the expression of the head of the guards was suddenly drained of color. It was because Yeo Il-ye had explosively harnessed her internal energy, dominating the air.
“[Do not worry. Soon I will revisit the Hwang Gold Clan on my own.]”
“Damn it…!”
The head of the Hwang Gold Clan’s guard gritted his lips and gestured for the warriors to withdraw. If they were martial artists from the righteous factions, everyone might have rushed in with the intention to die. Fortunately, the situation was defused.
Though Yeo Il-ye would have been overpowering everyone in an instant, it was better to escape without needless bloodshed.
Black Cat, Yeo Il-ye, and I stepped out of the Hwang Gold Clan and into the alley.
“Yeo Il-ye!”
Then suddenly, Hyeok Gi-rin burst out, chasing after us from the Hwang Gold Clan.
“…Big Brother.”
Had the intensified emotions calmed? Yeo Il-ye looked at Hyeok Gi-rin with gloomy eyes, and Hyeok Gi-rin gazed back at her, filled with mixed emotions.
“For now… thank you, Outcast. Because of you stopping our Yeo Il-ye, we avoided the worst situation.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“By the way… do you have a place to go? The guards of Hwang Gold Clan could show up at any moment, and starting tomorrow or the day after, the Peak Experts from the Nine Great Sects are expected to arrive, and they might join in.”
“Do you have any specific ideas?”
Honestly, I did act without any plan for what had just happened. But I had no choice since if I hadn’t gotten Yeo Il-ye out of there, we’d be well and truly lost.
“I was considering escaping Sacheon City, but…”
“I’ll guide you to a safe location.”
A safe location. I had no idea what a safe location would be, but above all.
“Is it alright if we accompany you? It’s likely that the Hwang Gold Clan will cause chaos.”
“Hmph. What could they possibly do? I’m the one who officially subdued the intruder! Compared to their shamelessness, this is nothing.”
Hyeok Gi-rin, spewing his anger, began to stride forward confidently.
And the place where Hyeok Gi-rin stopped was.
“Stop! This is the residence of the Sacheon Governor! Step back!”
“Tell the Governor that Hyeok Gi-rin from the Okryong Sinhyeop has come to visit.”
It was the residence of the Sacheon Governor.
