[Chapter 46]
With a grand belch, it seemed as if his soul might escape from his mouth.
"Wow, I'm stuffed! I ate so much I thought I might die."
Yeon Ji-pyeong's mouth flapped like a fish out of water.
"Ah, aren't you tough for not dying?"
"Hmm? Euhahaha! Young Master, you underestimate me too much? The stomach of a beggar far surpasses that of ordinary people. It's only because the portions have decreased that I'm like this, in my younger days, I could easily devour twelve jin of pork."
If Yeon Ji-pyeong's weight were converted into jin, it would be around a hundred jin. Ga-deuk-sang had eaten more than half of Yeon Ji-pyeong's weight in food.
Yeon Ji-pyeong shuddered. It wasn't easy to get goosebumps from eating.
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed his finger at the rice bowl.
"You left three grains of rice."
"That's called manners, manners."
"Finish it all."
Ga-deuk-sang licked his lips.
"You're quite strict."
He then deftly scooped up the remaining grains of rice into his mouth. Even with his full belly, it was fascinating how he savored each grain of rice as he ate.
"Would you like some tea?"
"What tea for a beggar? I'd understand if it were alcohol."
"But it's broad daylight."
"Who cares about day or night when drinking? Got a unique personality, huh?"
Yeon Ho-jeong couldn't help but let out a snicker.
Ga-deuk-sang said slyly.
"Now that I think about it, our Young Master also drinks quite well?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong waved his hand as if annoyed.
"How much I suffered the next day. It's fine when drinking, but the aftermath is the problem, right?"
"Euhahaha! To truly enjoy even the hangover is the way of the drink. Young Master, you've just taken your first step."
"Is that so?"
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke bluntly.
"Don't teach the kid strange things."
"Strange things? Why is this strange? You're making me sad with your words."
"Enough."
Yeon Ho-jeong then said to Yeon Ji-pyeong.
"Go outside and ask them to bring some alcohol. And clear the room."
"Ah, of course!"
Yeon Ji-pyeong was quick-witted. He had known since Ga-deuk-sang arrived that he had business with his brother.
And so, only two people remained in the guest room.
Ga-deuk-sang exaggeratedly scanned the surroundings.
"By the way, the atmosphere of the clan is quite chilly, isn't it?"
"It's always been stiff. No fun."
"Well, the Yeon family's rules are notoriously harsh."
"Is it that famous?"
"To the beggars, it is. Other clans might not know."
It was a fact known only to the Baekdo information network. It wasn't surprising since they controlled the information flow.
"Has there been any recent trouble? The mood seems a bit too severe?"
"Nothing of note."
"Nothing, and yet the atmosphere is like this? Everyone bends in half when you pass by?"
"The people of the main house are the epitome of courtesy in the central plains."
"From their expressions, they seemed terrified. I thought a ghost was passing by."
"As you can see, I'm less than human."
Ga-deuk-sang chuckled.
"Understand me. Given my line of work, I enjoy digging deeper."
"I understand."
Shortly after, the table was set with alcohol.
Ga-deuk-sang was indeed a monster. Before even pouring the alcohol, he tasted the side dishes, hard to believe for someone who just claimed to be full.
Yeon Ho-jeong picked up the liquor bottle.
"Have a drink."
"Huh? Why bother with a cup? Just give me that."
"…"
Ga-deuk-sang grabbed the bottle and drank from it like a water jug.
"Ah! This alcohol is good! It seems better than Ye-A-Hong, doesn't it? Oh, it's making me feel warm!"
"It's strong, so drink slowly."
"Let's do that. We have a lot to talk about."
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes sparkled.
Ga-deuk-sang thought as he saw that deep gaze.
'This person is…'
Different.
As a wanderer, Ga-deuk-sang had met countless people, many of whom were influential figures in the martial world.
Interestingly, Yeon Ho-jeong's gaze was as deep as those of the martial world's heavyweights. It wasn't because of his character or martial skills; the person himself was profound.
'It's really incomprehensible.'
Ga-deuk-sang had secretly inquired about Yeon Ho-jeong.
But there was nothing noteworthy to find. Yeon Ho-jeong's past life had no remarkable points.
A son raised by a strict father from childhood. The eldest son who went astray in despair over his younger brother's talent.
It was a past commonly encountered anywhere. In fact, there were no rumors that he belonged to a secret organization of the martial world or that the clan had deliberately spread bad rumors about him.
He seemed like someone who had fallen from the sky. Yeon Ho-jeong's transformation was too sudden.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Hmm? Oh, no! Just thought you looked handsome."
"That's bland."
"Bland? With just those sorrowful eyes, you could captivate all the girls in the world."
"Let's get to the point."
"Keke, let's do that."
Ga-deuk-sang placed his clasped hands on the table.
"First, let's talk about your request."
"Go ahead."
"The current state of the martial world outside is practically leaderless. There's nothing particularly noteworthy. The So-Noeum-Sa of the western region is slowly opening its doors, but it doesn't seem to pose a threat to the central plains."
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes deepened.
"Was there nothing else? No heretical sects stirring up trouble among the people."
"Heretical sects? Like the old, destroyed Ma-Gyo?"
"Anything."
"There's been no such situation. In a way, it's so uneventful that it's strange. Well, since it's been quiet, those odd fellows at So-Noeum-Sa probably think it's time to open their doors."
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
'Not yet, then.'
The eyes of the Baekdo were not limited to the central plains. If there had been even a slight hint, Ga-deuk-sang would have known.
"Let's move on to the second matter."
"Alright. The second request was about the whereabouts of Mo-Yong-Woo, right?"
"Yes."
"As I said before, it's not difficult to know where that gentleman is."
"Tell me."
"But I have a question."
Ga-deuk-sang's eyes twinkled.
"Why does the eldest son of the Yeon family seek the youngest sibling of the Mo-Yong clan leader?"
Mo Yong-woo.
He was the half-brother of Mo Yong-gun, the current head of the Mo Yong clan.
And they had a significant age gap. While Mo Yong-gun was nearing fifty, Mo Yong-woo was only twenty-nine.
Exactly ten years older than Yeon Ho-jeong.
"I'll tell you later."
"Hmm. Does 'I'll tell you later' mean that I'll find out on my own?"
"That's right."
Ga-deuk-sang scrutinized Yeon Ho-jeong's expression with piercing eyes.
'I can't tell.'
Yeon Ho-jeong's expression was the epitome of indifference. There was nothing to read, even if one tried.
'Is that even possible at his age?'
The eyes, the movement of the lips, gestures, posture, and more.
There are many ways to read someone's inner thoughts. But with Yeon Ho-jeong, there was nothing to read.
"Alright."
Ga-deuk-sang pulled out a letter from his robe. Despite his ragged clothes, the letter was clean and crisp.
"Here it is."
Yeon Ho-jeong took the letter and unfolded it.
His eyes lit up.
"Zhejiang Province?"
"Right next to Jiangsu Province. Just in the neighborhood."
"Maritime trade."
"Yes. Mo Yong-woo is in charge of the Mo Yong clan's Zhejiang branch, overseeing the maritime trade. Surprisingly, the funds from this trade account for one-fifth of the entire clan's finances."
One-fifth of the financial power of a huge organization like the Mo Yong clan?
It was an impressive feat. Managing to earn one-fifth of the clan's total funds alone was impossible with ordinary goods.
"I was personally surprised while investigating Mo Yong-woo. The clan has been keeping it quiet, but this gentleman is no ordinary man. His martial talent rivals that of clan head Mo Yong-gun, and especially his virtue and character are so outstanding that calling him the ideal heir would not be an exaggeration."
Of course, that would be the case.
Yeon Ho-jeong remembered the night before Mo Yong-woo's death. He recalled the depth of his plea, bowing to the master of the dark path, asking to take care of his brother.
Even though he was cast out under the pretext of being a threat, the brother worried about the well-being of his elder. He was a true gentleman, always humble, despite his overflowing talent.
'…We are alike.'
It reminded him of the relationship between Yeon Ho-jeong and Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Had he possessed talent, he would have thoroughly cast out Yeon Ji-pyeong. In that regard, Mo Yong-gun was similar to him.
'That's why Mo Yong-woo is needed. To stop them, it has to be Mo Yong-woo.'
Yeon Ho-jeong knew his own limitations.
He could become the lord of the Black Emperor City because the dark path was steeped in unrefined violence. But the world of the righteous path was different.
'I must be the shadow, the shield, the spear, and the architect all at once. I cannot become the ruler myself. Nor should I.'
Ga-deuk-sang sighed.
"Clan head Mo Yong is a fearsome man. Not many would cast aside their own blood for the sake of preserving power."
Really?
Yeon Ho-jeong had seen countless people who would cut down parents, siblings, even their own children for power. Mo Yong-gun was not normal, but the world was full of people far worse than him.
"Anyway, with this, the second favor is complete."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"What hard work? Thanks to you, I've learned many things I didn't know. Now, about the third favor…"
Ga-deuk-sang's face turned serious.
"I don't know if you'll tell me, but let's ask another question."
"…"
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"How did you know that the greatest family in the world, the nine great families, were secretly raising a dead sword?"
Suddenly, Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes emitted a murderous aura.
'It's true.'
Yes.
After exchanging hands with Ming Ho-rim, he was certain that the attackers' martial arts belonged to the nine great families.
That alone couldn't confirm that the family was a beast. Someone could have stolen and modified the family's martial arts.
But after hearing Ga-deuk-sang's words, he was now truly convinced.
'The beast was the family.'
The table trembled faintly.
A blue aura flickered from Yeon Ho-jeong's body. It was a wall-breaking energy that was incomparable to the past. The temperature in the guest room plummeted as the energy filled with murderous intent.
'You dare kill my father, bury my brother, and set fire to the Yeon family's foundation?!'
He remembered his father's face, sighing as he looked up at the sky.
He remembered his brother's face, smiling broadly, trusting him.
And.
He remembered his father's back, bloodied as he fought fiercely against the enemies.
He remembered his brother's back, his spine broken by the hand of a masked fiend.
The undulating energy gradually became as violent as flames.
The atmosphere in the guest room turned into a living hell. Ga-deuk-sang's face instantly turned pale.
"Yeon Ho-jeong!"
"Crack."
"Yeon Ho-jeong! Hey, you bastard! My heart is falling out!!"
Startled, Yeon Ho-jeong reined in his murderous intent.
The terrifying energy that seemed to overturn the world vanished in an instant.
Ga-deuk-sang placed his hand on his chest. His heart was pounding wildly.
"Who are you trying to kill, man? Control your murderous intent properly! I'm fine because I'm strong, but if it were someone weaker, they would've vomited blood!"
It wasn't an exaggeration.
Yeon Ho-jeong's spiritual power was that of the Black Emperor. The murderous intent of a master who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts was lethal in itself.
"I apologize. I showed an unsightly side."
"How can I speak properly when I'm scared? Aren't people startled?"
Ga-deuk-sang glanced outside the window.
Fortunately, the faces of the passersby were calm. The murderous intent had not flowed out of the room.
"Phew, it's like being in the same room with a wild beast. I almost pissed myself. Huh? Did I piss a little?"
"I am ashamed."
"Enough! Be careful from now on!"
"I understand."
Ga-deuk-sang took a deep breath.
"But why get so angry about that? The fact that a martial family like the nine great families is secretly training warriors isn't that odd, is it?"
"It's what they do with that power that's the problem."
"What do you mean?"
"Wanderer."
"Huh?"
"Let's make another request."
"…Damn it, pay the fee first. What now?"
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke coldly.
"This next favor might go against morality."
When the drums of war sound, the law falls silent.
Yeon Ho-jeong sensed it was time to momentarily cast aside laws and regulations.