The Former Absolute Supreme Chapter 25

Chapter 25: When the Enemy Reached Out (2)

“You accepted the money?”

Lim Chung and Beon Saeng were both startled.

“I did. I stopped by the Continental Money Exchange on the way back and deposited it.”

“Why would you accept it? It was a bribe!”

“I swallowed it, and it tasted pretty good. I guess this was why everyone enjoyed taking bribes.”

This time, Lim Chung stepped forward.

“Didn’t you tell me I did the right thing by refusing it?”

“That was because you couldn’t handle the consequences.”

“No matter who you are, accepting a bribe could become a serious problem.”

“A bribe only became a bribe if I did something in return for the money. The only thing I had to give that bastard was destruction.”

The word destruction made both men flinch.

Black Hand and Cheon Yangho had already been buried side by side in the courtyard. When he said destruction now, it was neither a joke nor a metaphor. He had meant the word exactly as it was.

“The matter will be settled before it ever becomes a problem.”

Bribe or not, Wang Gon would soon be dealt with as well.

“Besides, he never truly intended to recruit me as his subordinate.”

“Then why did he give you the money?”

“To get through the current situation. He was probably planning to use the fact that he hired me for the Gang as justification to make up for losing Black Hand and Cheon Yangho.”

Remarkably, Baek Socheon had grasped his opponent’s intentions perfectly.

“Through Wang Gon, I intend to find out who commissioned the Seven Swords Society. As long as I secure the one who received the Divine Transformation Gang Leader’s orders and directly hired the Seven Swords Society, I’ll have proof that the Seven Swords Society carried out this job.”

It was the quickest and most certain way to keep his promise to Heavenly Extreme.

Getting a confession from the captive would be Heavenly Extreme’s responsibility. Among the many alliances of the Martial World, no one was better at making someone speak the truth than the Assassin Alliance.

“Ah, so that was your deeper intention.”

That was not the only reason.

Baek Socheon turned to Lim Chung.

“As long as I’m working with Wang Gon, they won’t lay a hand on your family.”

When Lim Chung realized that protecting his family had also been one of the reasons Baek Socheon had joined hands with Wang Gon, he felt both relieved and deeply moved.

“Thank you, Brother.”

“Thank your son instead. I’m only looking out for you because that kid is adorable.”

Beon Saeng spoke up casually.

“When I think about it, Brother always looked like the type who shamelessly said whatever he wanted, but he was actually terrible at taking credit for the things he did.”

“Was that an insult or a compliment? Calling me shameless certainly sounded like an insult.”

“It was a compliment. Of course it was.”

Lim Chung scolded Beon Saeng as he snickered.

“You brat, stop fooling around with Brother.”

“At this point, the way you call him Brother sounds even more natural than when I do.”

Since he couldn’t deny it, Lim Chung simply chuckled.

To be honest, when he first heard that Beon Saeng had decided to serve Baek Socheon as his elder brother, he had thought the man was utterly pathetic.

And yet now he himself was saying,

“What should we do from now on?”

“You two should carry on as usual. Wang Gon’s attention is focused entirely on me, so he won’t trouble either of you.”

“We’ll help as well. If there’s anything you need us to do, just give the order.”

Lim Chung and Beon Saeng exchanged determined looks.

The real battle against the Divine Transformation Gang had now begun.

“I need to rest. You two can leave now.”

“Yes.”

Once the two men left, the room, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, became as quiet as a temple.

Today had been set aside to let his body recover.

Baek Socheon took out a martial arts manual from his leather pouch and quietly began reading it.

Only the bright moonlight, shining upon his relentless efforts to somehow restore his dantian, knew how far his understanding and progress had reached.

It was two days later that Wang Gon urgently summoned him.

Someone from headquarters had arrived in Wencheng, and Wang Gon immediately called for Baek Socheon.

“Must you keep ordering around a man who’s busy with official duties?”

Wang Gon was irritated.

Was this really the attitude of someone who had just pocketed fifty thousand nyang?

But this was hardly the time to complain about Baek Socheon’s behaviour.

“I called you because it’s extremely important.”

“What could possibly warrant such a fuss?”

“Someone will be arriving shortly. I intend to introduce you to him.”

“Who is it?”

“Hero Yeom Jeonggil. He’s one of the Four Great Martial Artists of our Gang.”

Wang Gon was extremely tense.

He had expected someone to be sent to investigate this incident, but he had never imagined Yeom Jeonggil himself would come.

‘Of all people…’

The very last person he wanted to see had been sent.

Normally, people with fiery tempers tended to be careless.

Yeom Jeonggil, however, was meticulous as well.

When someone was dispatched to investigate matters in the provinces, it was usually one of Yeom Jeonggil’s subordinates. Sending him personally meant headquarters regarded this incident as extremely important.

‘It’s because of the Iron Workshop Business.’

No matter what, he had to convince Yeom Jeonggil that this Baek Socheon was far more valuable than either Black Hand or Cheon Yangho.

His future depended on it.

“I know you’re an exceptional man, but you absolutely must watch your words and actions in front of Hero Yeom.”

“Why are you so frightened?”

“Hero Yeom isn’t someone to take lightly. One careless remark could bring you terrible trouble.”

Seeing Wang Gon’s anxiety, Baek Socheon spotted an opportunity.

“Very well. I don’t fancy fighting someone like that either. But let me ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Why did your people kill Liang Qiu’s family? No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t figure it out.”

Wang Gon visibly flinched.

“What are you talking about?”

“Before Black Hand died, he told me everything. He said your people massacred them.”

Baek Socheon pinned the blame on Black Hand.

Wang Gon’s face twisted.

‘That stupid bastard!’

It seemed the fool had spilled everything in a desperate attempt to survive.

“Quiet! If you ever say that again, you’ll die.”

It was both a warning and a clear admission.

“And who exactly is going to kill me?”

“Who else? Do you think our Gang would simply ignore someone spreading such nonsense?”

Furthermore, any negligence in controlling his subordinate would inevitably come back to haunt Wang Gon himself.

“Who’s spreading it? I’m only saying it here.”

“You can’t even say it here!”

“You really are a fearful man. Don’t you trust me?”

“I do. I trust you. But not with this.”

“I can’t stand unanswered questions. What if all this curiosity builds up until I blurt it out while drunk?”

“Are you threatening me?”

Just then, one of Wang Gon’s subordinates entered and reported,

“Hero Yeom has arrived.”

“Escort him to the reception hall.”

“Yes.”

Listening to the footsteps fade away, Wang Gon spoke quietly.

“We’ll discuss this later.”

“You mean I should ask in front of Hero Yeom? Or are you saying I should ask Hero Yeom himself?”

For a brief moment, Wang Gon nearly shouted.

‘You crazy bastard!’

But news of Yeom Jeonggil’s arrival left him no time.

“This isn’t the time for this. We can’t keep Hero Yeom waiting.”

“The way you’re acting is only making me more stubborn. I have to hear the answer.”

Baek Socheon deliberately made it seem as though his persistence stemmed from nothing more than sheer obstinacy.

“Are you really trying to get yourself killed?”

“Then kill me.”

Pressed for time, Wang Gon danced exactly as Baek Socheon wanted.

Then even more pressure mounted.

Once again, the voice of a subordinate came from outside.

“I believe you should come immediately.”

It sounded as though Yeom Jeonggil’s explosive temper had begun to erupt after being kept waiting.

Baek Socheon pretended to relent.

“Fine. If the reason is top secret, then forget that. Just tell me who killed them.”

As though only the reason for the killings was secret.

But Wang Gon was desperate.

If Yeom Jeonggil exploded in anger, this entire affair could collapse.

In the end, one name left Wang Gon’s lips.

“The Seven Swords Society.”

“Did you commission them personally?”

Once he had started talking, the next answer came quickly.

“No. Mister Jong handled it.”

“Mister Jong?”

“I don’t know his real name. Whenever the Divine Transformation Gang runs into trouble, someone called Mister Jong steps in and handles things. There, satisfied? Now hurry up.”

“I feel much better now. That was so simple. Why make such a fuss over it?”

Suppressing his rising anger, Wang Gon hurriedly rushed outside.

‘Damn, bastard! I’ll kill you with my own hands!’

Wearing an expression as though he might start humming cheerfully, Baek Socheon followed after him.

Mister Jong.

At last, he had learned the name of the client.

Leaving Baek Socheon waiting outside, Wang Gon entered the reception hall alone.

Yeom Jeonggil made his displeasure clear through the icy atmosphere filling the room.

“You seem to be very busy.”

“My apologies. Something urgent came up.”

“I heard you were arrested by the Martial Alliance. Black Hand disappeared, and Taejeong of the Taejeong Sect was killed.”

Just as expected, the meeting began badly.

The fact that he skipped even the most basic greetings and went straight to business told Wang Gon everything.

“We’ll soon resolve the matter with the Taejeong Sect.”

“I also heard Cheon Yangho disappeared.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“What a complete mess. Just how have you been running this branch?”

“I apologise.”

Wang Gon immediately bowed his head in admission.

Once that fiery temper had cooled somewhat, he planned to bring up Baek Socheon.

“What happened to the two missing men?”

“They appear to be dead.”

“At whose hands?”

“A man dispatched to the Martial Alliance’s Wencheng Branch this time. His martial arts are extraordinary.”

“So he even killed Black Hand and Cheon Yangho? Impressive.”

“We’ve already dealt with him.”

“Dealt with him? You mean you killed him?”

“No.”

Turning toward the rear, Wang Gon called out loudly,

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Baek Socheon entered.

He respectfully cupped his fists toward Yeom Jeonggil.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Baek Socheon.”

Among the older martial artists, quite a few people knew the name Baek Socheon.

Yeom Jeonggil was one of them.

The greatest hero of the War between the Righteous and Demonic Factions.

But after the war ended, he had heard nothing more about him.

A forgotten hero.

Having never seen him in person, Yeom Jeonggil never connected that legendary figure with the young man in his twenties standing before him.

Even if Baek Socheon had appeared older, he would never have imagined that same Baek Socheon could be here.

In any case, Yeom Jeonggil was already surprised that the man said to have killed Black Hand and Cheon Yangho had entered.

Then came something even more astonishing.

“This Martial Artist Baek has agreed to dedicate himself to both me and our Gang from now on.”

Without asking a single question, Yeom Jeonggil dismissed Baek Socheon.

“Wait outside.”

After Baek Socheon left, Yeom Jeonggil narrowed his eyes.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“He’s too valuable to let slip away.”

“And you’re willing to accept him without knowing what sort of man he is?”

“Before Cheon Yangho died, he used his Martial Alliance connections to investigate him. His identity is beyond question.”

“Branch Leader Wang, can you take responsibility for this?”

“I can!”

“Even with your life?”

“Yes. I can.”

Wang Gon answered boldly.

Now that he had gambled everything on Baek Socheon, showing weakness was no longer an option.

Seeing Wang Gon stake even his life on it, Yeom Jeonggil calmed down somewhat.

This was no longer something he could simply dismiss out of hand.

If Wang Gon was this determined, perhaps it was worth verifying for himself.

“Which part of the Martial Alliance was he with?”

“He was formerly a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps.”

“The Iron Sword Corps!”

The name alone carried immense weight among martial artists.

“How did someone like that end up here?”

“He was an outstanding martial artist, but after injuring his dantian, he drifted here.”

“His dantian was damaged?”

“Yes.”

“And yet he still killed Black Hand and Cheon Yangho?”

“That’s precisely why I recruited him. He’s an extraordinary martial artist. He’ll be a tremendous asset to our Gang.”

“Did he use hidden weapons or poison?”

“No.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

He hadn’t witnessed the battle himself, so he couldn’t truly be certain.

However, based on his own encounters with Baek Socheon and the disappearance of Black Hand, he was convinced Baek Socheon had relied on neither hidden weapons nor poison.

“You handled such an important matter on your own without reporting it to headquarters.”

“I was about to report it when I heard you were coming. So I waited to tell you in person.”

Though respectful, Wang Gon did his best to remain confident.

“There is a simple way to determine whether he’s useful or worthless.”

Wang Gon immediately realised Yeom Jeonggil intended to test Baek Socheon.

If Baek Socheon failed the test, Wang Gon would bear full responsibility for acting on his own.

Combined with his previous mistakes, the Baek Socheon affair would almost certainly result in severe punishment.

‘Baek Socheon… it all depends on you now.’

Yeom Jeonggil and Wang Gon stepped outside.

Without warning, Yeom Jeonggil seized Baek Socheon’s wrist and examined his acupoint.

He confirmed there was not a trace of Internal Energy within his body.

“So it’s true. You have no Internal Energy.”