Chapter 32: Another Greatest Secret Manual of All Time (2)
When Baek Socheon returned to the Wencheng Branch, Jeong Pung, the Zhejiang Branch Leader, was pacing back and forth in agitation.
“Where on earth have you been?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Why? Yeom Jeonggil has been going absolutely berserk.”
He had already been locked inside the Interrogation Room here for several days. If his Internal Energy had not been suppressed, he would have smashed down the door and escaped long ago.
Jeong Pung had spent all that time imagining every possible worst-case scenario, wondering what would happen if Baek Socheon simply disappeared somewhere.
So when Baek Socheon finally returned, Jeong Pung truly felt as though he had come back from the dead.
“What are you planning to do now?”
Since Yeom Jeonggil and Wang Gon had been confined in this branch the entire time, they knew neither that Mister Jong had come down nor that he had disappeared. Judging by the timing, even the Divine Transformation Gang, which had sent Mister Jong here, was probably still unaware of his disappearance.
“Now Branch Leader Jeong should interrogate them. Make it as terrifying as possible, and tell them you have no choice because the orders came from above. Scare them by saying that the Yang Qiu incident has become such a major case that even the Main Division is paying attention to it now.”
“You’re telling me to lie?”
“Why would that be a lie?”
“The Main Division doesn’t know anything about it.”
“How could they not? They’ll know every single thing happening here. Hyuncheon Pavilion has probably already begun investigating the Divine Transformation Gang.”
Only then did Jeong Pung suddenly realize once again that the person sent here was Baek Socheon.
He himself had merely regarded Baek Socheon as a fallen hero, but on second thought, he had never seriously considered Baek Socheon’s relationship with the Martial Alliance. If they were paying attention to Baek Socheon, then naturally they would also be paying attention to everything happening here.
If that was the case, Jeong Pung was glad he had listened to Baek Socheon. If Hyuncheon Pavilion was watching and he had taken the Divine Transformation Gang’s side…
Just imagining it sent a chill down his spine.
“Understood. I’ll do as you say.”
Jeong Pung interrogated Yeom Jeonggil and Wang Gon one after another.
Following Baek Socheon’s instructions, he created an atmosphere of terror and made it abundantly clear that the matter was now beyond his control.
Only after thoroughly frightening them did Baek Socheon enter Wang Gon’s Interrogation Room first.
“What took you so long?”
“Don’t even ask. The atmosphere outside is terrifying.”
Since Jeong Pung had already spoken to him, Wang Gon believed Baek Socheon was telling the truth.
“The Gang Leader is in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“I overheard Branch Leader Jeong talking with one of his trusted men.”
“What did they say?”
Wang Gon swallowed hard.
“They were discussing placing responsibility for this incident on either you or Yeom Jeonggil.”
“What?”
Wang Gon was horrified. The moment he heard those words, instinct told him that he would become the scapegoat.
The Four Great Martial Artists of the Divine Transformation Gang versus the Southern Branch Leader—it was never even a contest.
“The Main Division is paying attention now, so it looks like they’re trying to wrap this case up as quickly as possible. That Jeong Pung… he secretly has quite a strong desire to protect his position.”
If Jeong Pung shifted all the blame onto one of them…
Would the main headquarters really step in to save them?
‘Damn it!’
Of course they wouldn’t. If the Martial Alliance identified someone as the culprit, then the Divine Transformation Gang Leader would unquestionably cut off the tail. He would make that decision even against an equally powerful opponent, let alone the Martial Alliance.
The Divine Transformation Gang had absolutely nothing to do with this incident; it had merely been the unilateral actions of an individual. Their Gang Leader was the kind of man who would cut off not just the tail but everything below the neck if it meant saving himself.
After spending several days imprisoned here, hearing such despairing news made Wang Gon’s head spin until he felt ready to collapse.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine. Tell me… did you also tell Hero Yeom this?”
“No. I came to you first.”
“Good. Very good.”
“What are you planning to do now?”
At that moment, Wang Gon came up with a solution.
The first solution that came to mind—and the only one.
The method he had used most often and knew best.
Money.
He would buy Jeong Pung with a bribe so that Yeom Jeonggil would become the scapegoat instead. That was now his only chance of survival.
If he were made to take the blame for the Yang Qiu family incident, he would be executed immediately.
Even if he somehow escaped execution and was merely imprisoned in Thunder Prison, the Divine Transformation Gang would send assassins after him. There was no reason for them to leave him alive when he knew so many of the gang’s secrets and had become useless.
But if Yeom Jeonggil took the blame instead, Wang Gon still had a chance to survive. At the very least, he would remain alive until the Wencheng Branch’s Iron Workshop Business was completed. During that time, he could find a way to win the favour of the Divine Transformation Gang Leader.
“Bring my son here. I need to see him in person.”
“That’s impossible. I barely managed to get in here myself.”
“Our lives are on the line. If I’m eliminated, do you think you’ll remain safe?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m telling you how serious this situation is. For your own sake as well, you need to help with everything you’ve got.”
“Hmm, alright then. I’ll see what I can do.”
Baek Socheon rose from his seat with an expression that suggested he had no other choice.
About four hours later, Baek Socheon arranged for Wang Woo to meet him.
After two brief meetings with his son, Wang Gon handed Baek Socheon a thick envelope.
Inside were one hundred vouchers worth one thousand nyang each.
One hundred thousand nyang.
It was nearly Wang Gon’s entire fortune, raised by withdrawing all the money from the money exchange and mortgaging his house and valuables.
Wang Woo had tried to persuade his father that they absolutely should not do it and that they should find another way, but Wang Gon had barked orders at him until his son had no choice but to obey. In the end, Wang Woo had been unable to defy his father and had gathered the money.
“Use this money to win over the Branch Leader. Make him shift the blame onto Hero Yeom instead.”
The reason he had prepared such an enormous sum was because Jeong Pung absolutely had to accept it. Since Wang Gon knew Jeong Pung was closer to Yeom Jeonggil than he was, the amount had become even larger.
“You should have your son handle something like this.”
Wang Gon shook his head.
His son had already opposed trying to bribe Baek Socheon before. He had also been unhappy about spending money this time. If he entrusted the matter to him, there was a good chance he would simply give up altogether.
“No. I want you to do it.”
“Branch Leader Jeong doesn’t seem like the sort who likes bribes. Will he really accept it?”
“He will. With this much money, it’ll definitely work.”
Wang Gon was certain.
No one in the world could refuse one hundred thousand nyang.
“But if all this money gets spent… will there still be any left for me?”
Wang Gon inwardly flinched at having his weak point struck.
‘This crazy bastard! Even now he’s obsessed with money.’
He forced himself to remain composed.
“Don’t underestimate my wealth. I’m still a long way from being broke.”
“Very well. I’ll see if I can persuade Jeong Pung.”
Naturally, Baek Socheon never went to see Jeong Pung. He did not even go near his office, instead stopping by the money exchange to make a deposit.
The one hundred thousand nyang he had received from Cheon Geuk earlier was deposited at the Continental Money Exchange.
This one hundred thousand nyang was deposited at the Central Plains Money Exchange.
The thought that he had earned money far more easily and quickly than he ever had amid the chaos of war made him let out a hollow laugh.
Of course, this money and the money he had earned before were different in value.
But when the time came to spend it, it would all have the same value.
Although it had been money obtained by killing people or taking it from evildoers, one day it would be used to save someone.
And he would gladly spend it on himself as well.
While Wang Gon was no doubt anxiously pacing in circles, Baek Socheon stood in the courtyard to train in martial arts.
Starting today, he intended to move beyond physical conditioning and begin genuine martial arts training.
The Overturning Heaven Nine Fists was an exceptionally difficult martial art.
The latter half in particular contained numerous passages that made even Baek Socheon—who had once stood among the greatest martial artists under heaven—tilt his head in confusion. He could understand why later generations had failed to fully master this secret manual.
But Baek Socheon was not worried.
His goal had never been to completely master the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists in the first place. He was neither foolish nor shameless enough to aim to master the greatest martial art of all time without even a trace of Internal Energy.
He simply intended to train as diligently as possible.
For this training, the process mattered more than the result.
Modelled after the movements of the wind, the moon, the sun, and the heavens, the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists consisted of nine fist forms.
Among them, Baek Socheon planned to perfectly master the first three forms, which had been created to use an opponent’s strength against them or produce great effects with minimal force rather than relying on one’s own power.
First Fist: Wind Scattering the Clouds.
Based on the image of wind dispersing clouds, it contained seven techniques that redirected an opponent’s Internal Energy before counterattacking.
Second Fist: Wind Calms, Waves Rest.
Created after observing the wind dying down and the waves becoming calm, it was a defensive form containing sixteen techniques for evading enemy attacks.
Third Fist: Wind Sweeps, Lightning Strikes.
Created from the image of howling winds and violent lightning, it contained six techniques that were far more aggressive and destructive than the previous two forms.
Martial techniques were originally meant to be used with Internal Energy.
Only then could they produce the desired power and speed.
Baek Socheon intended to overcome that limitation using the body he had trained until now.
Fortunately, no one understood Internal Energy better than Baek Socheon.
He had once wielded it as the greatest martial artist under heaven, and he had also studied the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method, one of the greatest martial arts of all time, every single day.
He knew exactly what kind of power was produced as Internal Energy flowed through the meridians, how it affected muscular strength, and what influence it exerted.
Therefore, while he could not reproduce the latter forms that relied on overwhelming Internal Energy to unleash terrifying destructive force, he was still able to perform these first three fist forms to a considerable degree.
Whoosh!
Bang!
The first sound of wind tearing through the air burst forth.
At a glance, it looked exactly like the punch of someone using Internal Energy.
Until late that night, the crisp, powerful sounds created by his fists, feet, and body never ceased for even a moment.
The following morning, Wang Gon was released.
Naturally, it was because Baek Socheon had told Jeong Pung to let him go.
When Wang Gon, looking utterly haggard, climbed into the carriage waiting for him, he found Baek Socheon and Wang Woo already there.
“Father.”
Wang Woo’s face was filled with worry.
But the true object of that worry was not his father.
It was the fact that they had now lost their entire fortune.
Though he showed none of it outwardly, Wang Woo was deeply dissatisfied with the situation.
‘He should’ve just endured a little hardship. There would’ve been another way. To think he couldn’t even endure a few days before throwing away all that money.’
To be honest, he had hoped his father would not be released.
Then he could have continued living in luxury off the family fortune.
Just as there is no son of a dog born to a tiger, neither is there a son of a tiger born to a dog.
Wang Gon spoke to Baek Socheon.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“At first he refused, but once he saw the amount, he accepted it.”
Wang Gon sneered.
‘Naturally.’
No one could remain unmoved by one hundred thousand nyang.
That was exactly why he had offered such an enormous sum.
“Did it seem like Hero Yeom would take the blame?”
“Nothing is certain yet, but isn’t that how it’ll end up?”
“You absolutely must keep this matter secret. You told Branch Leader Jeong that as well, didn’t you?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. If this comes to light, it’ll be the end of him as well.”
Jeong Pung aside, if Yeom Jeonggil learned the truth, his temper alone would drive him to kill him.
Meanwhile, Wang Woo was worrying about something entirely different.
“By the way, what do we do now? We don’t even have the money to pay our martial artists.”
“We’ll borrow it. As long as we stay alive, that amount of money can be recovered in no time.”
Wang Gon truly believed that.
He could simply squeeze more protection money out of those Black Society bastards.
Or he could use Baek Socheon here to pull off another profitable scheme.
Wang Gon removed the gold bracelet from his wrist and handed it to Baek Socheon.
“For now, at least take this. You’ve worked hard.”
“Father!”
Wang Woo tried to stop him, asking how he could possibly give away even that, but Baek Socheon accepted it without hesitation.
“Thank you.”
“Then until we meet again.”
Baek Socheon stood there for a while, watching the carriage depart.
He knew very well what kind of lives Wang Gon and Wang Woo had lived.
And he also knew exactly how such lives should end.
Looking down at the gold bracelet Wang Gon had given him, Baek Socheon seemed to think of something. He fastened it around his wrist before turning and walking back toward the branch.
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