Crash!
Clatter!
The merchant Jang-pal stared at the shattered stall with hollow eyes. The stall was already repaired as best as it could be, and there was no more left to mend.
“I’ll just lay out a cloth and place the goods on top tomorrow,” Jang-pal thought as he gathered the splintered remains of the stall together.
Broken dishes had long been left outside. With vacant eyes, Jang-pal began to hammer a crumpled bronze cup flat with a wooden mallet.
Crack!
Seeing the neighboring stall get smashed to bits by the hammering made him chuckle. Which thug could possibly crush a stall into a pile of splinters with a single punch?
The merchants knew now.
These thugs disguised as masters were truly wreaking havoc in the Sokryeong Sect’s territory.
The movement of these masters was like a swarm of locusts.
Devastation!
Like locusts that eat everything in their path and vanish, anywhere people traveled was a battlefield where they pretended to fight while smashing everything in sight, making the landscape of Okgyo resemble a war zone.
Every shop bore clear signs of damage, and bits of wood and brick or other debris littered the streets.
“Hey there, innkeeper. Can I ask you something?”
Jang-pal jumped as he lifted his head to see a man dressed in a mottled green robe.
“Uh, what? It’s just broken items from a moment ago!”
“Calm down. I am merely a passerby.”
Jang-pal wiped his startled heart. Recently, there had been an increase in thugs disguised as masters pursuing outrageous individuality, so he thought this man in the mottled green robe might be another.
But since he wasn’t in a group of 4-5 people and spoke normally, he didn’t seem like a disguised master after all.
“Phew, thought my heart might fall out.”
Jang-pal looked at the man’s attire and thought to himself. Normally, a robe would be made of dried grass, but how could anyone walk around looking like a pile of grass?
“Haha, how much for that bronze cup?”
“…Just give me five coins.”
Jang-pal handed over the not fully flattened cup, and the man inspected it for a moment before silently tucking it away. Jang-pal realized the man was more interested in gathering information than purchasing goods.
“So, what are you curious about?”
“Are there a lot of those types around these days?”
Looking at the thugs not even pretending to fight, Jang-pal sighed.
“There are those types everywhere in Okgyo these days! Literally everywhere! It’s like a battlefield! Everything is smashed to bits thanks to those guys running rampant.”
“Ha.”
“Because of these rascals, the merchants in Okgyo are truly in dire straits. Not only are we losing out from the broken goods, but they’re completely smashing our stores so we can’t even do business… it’s like telling us to just die…! Haa…”
“It seems there are quite a few of those thugs, huh?”
“I can’t even count them… There are at least ten groups just from what I know, starting from the White Tiger and Blue Dragon.”
“I see, you must be going through a tough time.”
Jang-pal sighed as he spoke.
“What’s the use of talking? Just struggling to survive!”
Upon Jang-pal’s lament, the man said, “Now you needn’t worry. The Imperial Army has arrived.”
Jang-pal blinked at the man’s words. What’s come?
The man simply smiled at Jang-pal, who looked baffled.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Regular footsteps began echoing in Jang-pal’s ears. Unconsciously, he turned to see the source. Although they did seem to march in time, the footsteps were not from one or two people; there were at least dozens, if not a hundred or more, walking in unison— a bizarre situation.
“On the march! We sing a military song! The song of burning down the enemy!”
“Ah- protecting this beautiful land is our duty!”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The loud noise halted the destructive actions of the Power Law Society and Each Law Society.
“The man fights with valor, living for today!”
Jang-pal’s eyes widened. Mottled green robes! And a short-brimmed hat with uncertain functionality!
The people in the first-time attire approached orderly, marching and singing!
The chaotic Power Law Society and Each Law Society also gaped at their formation and attire, but soon enough, bewilderment took over them.
A piercing enemy!
The group, adorned in unfamiliar colors, keeping military discipline and peculiar song as they approached made the martial artists realize that they were indeed the primary target.
“This situation is…!”
The martial artist from Each Law Society, who was about to suggest they flee, couldn’t help but panic.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Daring the sea of flames for our homeland, family, and brother!”
Similar groups appeared from behind. The martial artist who turned his gaze away, trying to escape through an alley, was also startled.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Comrades! My nation I will protect!”
Figures wearing eight-sided hats flooded out of the alley!
Suddenly encircled by hundreds of people wearing similar hats, the martial artists of Each Law Society and Power Law Society found themselves huddled together, unsure of what to do.
Jang-pal, staring at them blankly, was suddenly thrust a mottled green robe and snapped back to reality.
“Just hold onto this for a moment.”
Jang-pal nodded hurriedly at the man and took the robe. Unlike the newcomers, who wore a crimson top, the man’s pants were somewhat unruly.
“Y-yes! Yes!”
“Thanks.”
The man, Kang Chumo-ru, dusted off his red hat and slowly pressed it down with a solemn demeanor.
“Under the flame of destruction, I pledge my life!”
“All troops! Atten-hut!”
Thud! Thud!
At Kang Chumo-ru’s command, all the soldiers stomping their feet fell to attention.
Immediately, the streets of Okgyo were enveloped in a deadly silence.
Step. Step.
Only the sound of Kang Chumo-ru’s military boots echoed in everyone’s ears.
“Do you know what crime you are committing right now?”
Upon Kang Chumo-ru’s question, the martial artists of Each Law Society and Power Law Society fell silent. The situation was so shocking that they couldn’t even begin to think of what to say.
“You are committing treason.”
“Wh-what?”
“That’s impossible!”
The martial artists and surrounding merchants were dumbfounded by Kang Chumo-ru’s statement, holding their breath.
Treason!
It was a terrifying crime that could lead to the dismemberment of their families if discovered.
“Treason?! We simply fought with the merchants! This is nonsense!”
A martial artist from Each Law Society pointed at a martial artist from Power Law Society, raising his voice. All the martial artists nodded vigorously.
“Reflect on your actions.”
The martial artists stared blankly at Kang Chumo-ru’s words. Reflect on their actions?
“You might think you only broke a couple of stalls or items, but there exists a supreme national law. A gang publicly committing acts of destruction repeatedly in a public place— did you think the Huang Nation would just let such things go?”
The faces of the martial artists stiffened. Kang Chumo-ru was indeed correct.
Even if the laws were distant, they still existed. A minor disturbance here and there could slip by like an eel, but provoking such a large uproar in public repeatedly was clearly problematic.
“Is there a single intact store left in this Okgyo? Whether it’s the main street or alley, there’s not a single shop you can find items in. What about the loss in tax revenue and the degradation of public safety? And what about the suffering of the common folks?”
“But, even so, to call it treason…!”
With the martial artist’s protest, Kang Chumo-ru coldly smiled.
“Investigations are complete, and confirmations have been made— do you still want to quibble? From the White Dragon, the White Tiger, to the East Gate, South Gate, pork feet, and bossam… All of you, though your names differ, have been wreaking havoc in Okgyo with the same methods and the same goals!”
Kang Chumo-ru’s declaration turned the faces of the martial artists pale.
“W-we are not one group!”
“Those who just fought until a moment ago cannot become allies!”
“Do you think you can shield the sky with your palm?”
Kang Chumo-ru’s furious shout silenced their protests.
“Is it merely coincidence that more than fifty martial artists disguised as thugs gathered here? They scattered and attacked Okgyo in perfect coordination— if that’s not treason, then what is?”
The martial artists fell silent, unable to counter. All they could think to say was that it was a misunderstanding, but if they admitted to being sent by the sects of Sadoryeon to attack the Sokryeong Sect, what would that leave them with?
If they spoke the truth, they would make enemies of Sadoryeon’s sects or live a life chased by assassins. But if they remained silent, they would be labeled as traitors.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place!
Kang Chumo-ru kindly resolved their dilemma.
“Jeokgwi Daebyeol!”
“Eek!”
“Subdue the traitors!”
“Eek!”
“Throw!”
Shiiiiiiiing!!
Pewpewpew!!
“Ahhh!”
“You bastards! Cough!”
The martial artists of Power Law Society and Each Law Society, desperately trying to escape Jeokgwi Daebyeol’s encirclement, were instantly subdued by the hundreds of thrown weapons flying their way.
Even if they were top-tier experts, they had no choice but to fall victim to the relentless hail of weaponry!
Being turned into rags by a non-lethal throwing weapon, the martial artists of Power Law Society and Each Law Society were bound and captured.
“Don’t let a single traitor escape!”
“Eek!”
Countless Royal Guards wearing eight-sided hats poured into the streets of Okgyo.
It was the moment when the streets of Okgyo, which had fallen into chaos and destruction, was quickly being cleaned up.
