Chapter 27: If He Had Not Changed His Mind (2)
“The Zhejiang Branch Leader came down personally?”
Yeom Jeonggil frowned at Baek Socheon’s report.
“He came personally to investigate Cheon Yangho’s disappearance.”
“Damn it, of all times.”
Wang Gon, who was with them, reacted with annoyance, but inwardly he rejoiced.
‘This is actually better.’
When Yeom Jeonggil had first issued his insane order, all Wang Gon had wanted was for Baek Socheon to somehow pass the test.
But thinking about it calmly, having the Martial Alliance Branch Leader of the region under his management get killed would do him absolutely no good. It would be far better for him if the test took another form.
“Wasn’t Cheon Yangho the real power behind the Zhejiang Branch? It’s only natural for the Branch Leader to move personally.”
“Isn’t this all because of that bastard?”
At Yeom Jeonggil’s displeased glare, Baek Socheon protested.
“Because Cheon Yangho tried to kill me.”
As Yeom Jeonggil glared at him even more fiercely, as if asking where he got the nerve to speak so carelessly, Baek Socheon deliberately looked away as though frightened.
Baek Socheon’s conspicuous behaviour was intentional.
When someone acted like this, people naturally focused on the attitude rather than what lay beneath it.
Wang Gon cautiously suggested,
“I think we should postpone eliminating Lim Chung until after the Branch Leader returns. If the Branch Leader is staying at the branch and the Branch Leader gets murdered, he’ll stop at nothing to catch the killer. If that happens…”
Yeom Jeonggil cut him off and spoke firmly.
“Kill him anyway.”
Wang Gon was shocked. He had never imagined Yeom Jeonggil would insist on killing him even under these circumstances. He instinctively cursed him in his heart.
‘Seriously! This bastard’s beyond saving!’
On the other hand, the very person receiving the order, Baek Socheon, looked as though he had been waiting for it.
“Fine. Since it’s come to this, let’s make it spectacular.”
Baek Socheon turned around and strode toward the door. Until then, Yeom Jeonggil did not attempt to stop him.
Just as he was about to open the door and leave, Yeom Jeonggil finally spoke.
“How do you intend to eliminate him?”
Baek Socheon turned back and answered,
“I’ll break into the Branch Leader’s residence in the middle of the night and kill him.”
“I heard he has a family.”
“I’ll kill them all. That way, it’ll look like the same culprit who killed Liang Qiu did it. A ruthless bastard who slaughters entire families. Then no one will suspect us.”
The threat Wang Gon had once made to Lim Chung had now come full circle, becoming something Baek Socheon was saying to Yeom Jeonggil.
Having finished speaking, Baek Socheon tried to leave again.
Only then did Yeom Jeonggil’s test come to an end.
“This matter is postponed for now.”
Instead, Baek Socheon acted as though he wanted to carry out the order anyway.
“Since we’ve already talked about it…”
“This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an order.”
Only after Yeom Jeonggil roared at him did Baek Socheon back down.
“Understood.”
Baek Socheon left without another word.
As he walked away with his back turned, a cold smile spread across his face.
‘That decision just saved your life.’
Yeom Jeonggil had no idea, but if he hadn’t changed his mind, Baek Socheon would have killed him somehow.
The only reason he was still alive despite ordering Lim Chung’s death was that Baek Socheon judged he still had value as bait to find Mister Jong.
After Baek Socheon disappeared, Yeom Jeonggil said coldly,
“What a piece of trash!”
He still didn’t completely trust Baek Socheon, but when Baek Socheon had spoken about breaking into Lim Chung’s home and slaughtering his entire family, he had genuinely felt killing intent.
‘Killing intent that could be felt despite him having no Internal Energy?’
In other words, he was a true villain.
Every one of those traits disgusted Yeom Jeonggil, yet they also made him trust him more. If Baek Socheon had been hiding something, he would have been trying to curry favour with him instead.
Of course, that didn’t mean all suspicion had vanished. It merely meant his wariness toward Baek Socheon had lessened by one layer.
“He’s someone who needs further observation.”
Now it wasn’t because of Wang Gon anymore. Yeom Jeonggil himself had begun developing an interest in Baek Socheon.
Baek Socheon went straight to see Lim Chung and delivered the news.
“The order to kill you has been put on hold.”
“Ah!”
For a moment, Lim Chung couldn’t speak.
No matter how much he trusted Baek Socheon, his life had truly been hanging in the balance.
“Thank you. You’ve saved me once again, Brother.”
“What are you thanking me for? I should be apologising for not dealing with Yeom Jeonggil right away. If I moved rashly, Divine Transformation Gang might become cautious.”
“So you really intend to take on the entire Divine Transformation Gang.”
“I told you, didn’t I? Either ignore them completely, or if you’re going to strike, make sure you finish the job.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be afraid. Scum who do things like this always turn out to be insignificant in the end. Think about it the other way around. How pathetic must they be to resort to this kind of thing?”
“Yes!”
This time Lim Chung’s reply carried far more conviction than before.
“Ah, I have one favour to ask.”
“Just give the word.”
They had already responded to the other side’s move.
Now it was time to make one of their own.
“You need to shake up Jeong Pung.”
Lim Chung entered the office where Jeong Pung had made himself comfortable.
“I came because there’s something I’d like to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“I think we should ask a friend at the Main Division for help in resolving this case.”
The moment he heard the words Main Division, Jeong Pung visibly disliked it.
“What kind of help?”
“No matter how I look at it, this case is no ordinary matter. If someone murdered a Martial Alliance Group Leader, then I believe the Main Division should handle it.”
“Listen, Branch Leader Lim.”
“Yes, Division Leader.”
“Group Leader Cheon was one of our Zhejiang Branch people. He served directly under me. Then shouldn’t this matter be handled by our Zhejiang Branch? If I can’t even deal with something like this, what will the Main Division think of me?”
“What if the situation gets worse?”
“You’ve changed.”
The look in Jeong Pung’s eyes and the tone of his voice both turned cold.
“Pardon?”
“You weren’t like this before. Don’t tell me you’ve become arrogant just because you dealt with the Black Society?”
“Please don’t misunderstand. That’s absolutely not the case.”
Jeong Pung’s tone softened slightly.
“I understand your determination to solve this case, but this is something our Zhejiang Branch must resolve.”
When Lim Chung tried to say more, Jeong Pung gestured for him to leave.
After bowing, Lim Chung headed for the door, but turned around before leaving.
“If you truly intend to solve this case, seek Baek Socheon’s help. He’s hiding it from me, but he definitely knows something.”
A short while later, Baek Socheon entered Jeong Pung’s office.
Instead of coming to see Baek Socheon himself, Jeong Pung had summoned him here.
As expected, it was because of his pride.
The moment Baek Socheon entered, Jeong Pung asked bluntly,
“You… do you know who killed Liang Qiu?”
“I have an idea.”
“Then why haven’t you said anything?”
“Then let me ask you something. You knew the Black Society was oppressing innocent civilians, didn’t you? Then why did you leave them alone? Was it because you knew Divine Transformation Gang was backing them?”
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
The conversation escalated immediately.
“Why should I trust someone like you enough to tell you who slaughtered Liang Qiu’s family?”
“You have a duty to report such information.”
“Branch Leader Lim must have told you. Liang Qiu died while investigating Divine Transformation Gang’s new business. Did you hear that?”
“I did.”
“Then you should have started investigating Divine Transformation Gang immediately. Instead, you summoned me here and lectured me about duty without even considering investigating them. And you expect me to trust you? Tell me honestly. Is Divine Transformation Gang paying you?”
“Silence! You may think I’m incompetent, but at least I’m not corrupt.”
Judging from his reaction, it didn’t seem like he was taking bribes.
Even so, Baek Socheon didn’t trust him completely.
From experience, the truly evil were outstanding actors and accomplished liars.
“If you’re truly innocent, investigate Divine Transformation Gang first.”
“Divine Transformation Gang belongs to the righteous faction.”
“So what? You believe that means they couldn’t have done something like this? Or have you simply convinced yourself of that because you want to avoid dangerous and troublesome work?”
The latter was closer to the truth.
Jeong Pung couldn’t answer.
“You said this before, didn’t you? That I’m someone who always has to spill blood. Fine. Maybe you’re right. But don’t think that blood won’t be yours. That’s right. This is a threat. So either help with everything you’ve got, or go back to your branch. Just don’t get in my way.”
“I truly dislike you, but I’ll stay this time. To prove my innocence.”
“Come on. At least say you’re staying to uncover the truth behind the innocent people who died.”
Bang!
Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Jeong Pung slammed his fist onto the desk.
The desk Lim Chung treasured shattered into pieces.
Only after pushing him to his limit did Baek Socheon’s attitude soften.
“Very well. I’ll believe you’re innocent and give you one piece of information. Yeom Jeonggil is currently in Wencheng.”
“Hero Yeom?”
Jeong Pung knew Yeom Jeonggil well.
He was one of the Four Great Martial Artists of Divine Transformation Gang, someone who would never move unless the matter was extremely important.
Before leaving, Baek Socheon drove in the final nail.
“You’ve watched them grow in Zhejiang Province these past several years. So ask your own heart. Are they truly a sect worthy of your trust?”
Jeong Pung couldn’t answer.
He could only watch Baek Socheon’s retreating back.
That night, Cheon Geuk came to Baek Socheon’s residence.
“I heard the Zhejiang Branch Leader came down?”
“We called him.”
“I knew it. I thought it was strange for the Branch Leader to move personally.”
In other words, she knew Jeong Pung’s personality well.
“You people are still digging into us.”
“Let’s call it customer management.”
“Not victim management?”
“You don’t know, do you? Your side asks us for an unbelievable number of contracts. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.”
“There are enemies we can’t deal with directly. If we touched them ourselves, it would provoke the Black Heaven Alliance. That’s why we hire people like you.”
“So you already knew.”
“It’s just using poison to fight poison. So don’t compare the Martial Alliance to the likes of you.”
“Listen to you, you noble and glorious ordinary martial artist of the great Martial Alliance.”
Cheon Geuk stared at Baek Socheon for a long moment.
“You called me here, so why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Why do you defend the Martial Alliance so much? The Martial Alliance abandoned you.”
“Can someone be abandoned without even knowing they were abandoned?”
“If it’s unrequited love, I suppose so.”
Silence lingered between them.
Cheon Geuk didn’t provoke him any further.
She didn’t know exactly what had happened to him, but she did know one thing.
To Baek Socheon, the Martial Alliance was something he both loved and hated.
“By the way, why did you call me?”
“I found out who placed the contract.”
“Ah!”
Cheon Geuk’s face lit up.
“There’s a man called Mister Jong in Divine Transformation Gang. He’s the one who personally hired Seven Swords Society. With this much information, you should be able to handle the rest yourselves, right? I kept my promise. Now you keep yours.”
The promise was to take him to Gwangsa.
“Since you’re already helping, why not help all the way? If I start moving now, Seven Swords Society might catch on.”
“What’ll you give me if I help?”
In truth, Baek Socheon wasn’t in a position to meet Gwangsa right now either.
Yeom Jeonggil was watching him like a hawk, and with the Zhejiang Branch Leader having come down as well, he was under constant scrutiny.
“Can’t you just help without conditions? Wouldn’t that be so cool?”
“What would I gain from looking cool to you?”
“You never know. Maybe I’ll… sleep with you.”
“Forget it. Pay me instead. One hundred thousand nyang!”
Cheon Geuk’s expression instantly stiffened.
“That was incredibly insulting!”
“Hey, that’s one hundred thousand nyang. That’s how much I value giving up the chance to sleep with you. How is that an insult?”
For a brief moment, Cheon Geuk became confused.
The argument sounded strangely convincing.
‘Ah! So that’s what he meant?’
But for it to be truly moving, it should have been the other way around.
If Cheon Geuk had offered one hundred thousand nyang and Baek Socheon had replied that he’d rather sleep with her than take the money.
That would have made sense.
But at that moment, Cheon Geuk didn’t think that far.
“Fine. I’ll pay one hundred thousand nyang.”
“I’ll only bring Mister Jong before you. What happens after that is up to you.”
“That’s more than enough. But the one hundred thousand nyang will be paid afterwards.”
“Deal.”
Originally, Baek Socheon had asked for one hundred thousand nyang expecting her to bargain him down to around thirty thousand.
Instead, she accepted so easily that he was the one left bewildered.
As Cheon Geuk left Baek Socheon’s house, she hummed to herself.
‘One hundred thousand nyang… So that’s how much he thinks a single night with me is worth.’
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