Chapter 104
"I hail from the same hometown as the late leader."
"The same hometown?"
"Yes, a pleasure district in Sichuan Province. There, I lived as sworn siblings with the leader, begging for food together."
Association Leader Gun Hanmaek spoke, his bloodshot eyes blazing.
"The leader... no, big brother was acknowledged for his martial talent and became the disciple of Lord Yang, one of the unorthodox sect's great experts. After that, our paths diverged. I gained a name on the Dark Path of the pleasure district, while big brother reached the alliance leader's seat among the unorthodox sects. But even after walking separate paths, we often kept each other company. We had no one else in this world—just each other. And yet..."
"...?"
"And you're telling me I killed such a big brother? What kind of nonsense is that!!!"
Gun Hanmaek's furious outcry resonated through the inner chamber.
Jaseong found the intensity of his rage odd. He sensed a shadowy conspiracy lurking just beneath the surface.
So, he pressed him further.
"We have information that you were at the scene the night the Evil Path Association leader died. If it wasn't your doing, then whose was it?"
At Jaseong's question, Gun Hanmaek's eyes flickered for a moment.
"... No one should know I was there that night... How did you find that out?"
Indeed, Gun Hanmaek had shared that fact with only a handful of close confidants, keeping it a tight secret.
But the Hao Sect could have deduced it: scraps of information carelessly dropped by those few confidants had accumulated piece by piece, ultimately forming a clear picture.
[Near the Zhang River in Sichuan Province, where the Evil Path Association leader died.]
[The Tianxia Association's leader, Gun Hanmaek, was there.]
[And on the very night the Evil Path Association's leader died.]
"Ah... Now I see. The way you handle information like a ghost—you must be with the Hao Sect."
Jaseong didn't bother denying it. Even if the imprisoned Association Leader figured that out, nothing would change.
Moreover, for some reason, once Gun Hanmaek realized Jaseong was from the Hao Sect, the rage in his eyes strangely abated.
"Fine. I'll tell you everything. The night my big brother died, I was there too. The two of us were reminiscing over drinks near the Zhang River in Sichuan Province, just like old times."
"......."
"But while I stepped away for a brief moment, an unknown expert dressed entirely in white launched a surprise attack on big brother."
"An expert in white?"
"He was truly formidable. I was only gone for about half a shijin. In that short time, he dispatched my big brother, who was counted among the five most evil figures of the unorthodox sects. I tried to give chase, but the assailant used an incredible movement skill. With the technique of crossing level waters, he traversed the vast Zhang River...!"
Jaseong could hardly believe his ears.
There were not many people in the Central Plains who could take down the Evil Path Association leader—one of the Five Great Evils—alone and in less than half a shijin.
What's more, to cross the vast Zhang River using movement skill was astonishing.
Such experts were exceedingly rare in the world.
"You said you were with the Hao Sect, didn't you? I'm sure the reasons you lot imprisoned me and are targeting the Tianxia Association are many, but... I'll do as you wish."
Gun Hanmaek abruptly spoke.
The sudden proclamation made Jaseong wonder if he was hearing things.
"You'll do as I wish? Out of nowhere, what are you talking about?"
"In return, help me. Find my big brother's killer and help me take revenge."
"...!"
"Then everything I have will be yours. As long as my big brother's grudge is avenged, I can die without regret."
Gun Hanmaek raised his head and stared straight into Jaseong's eyes.
His gaze was filled with a burning desire for vengeance.
And Jaseong found that look far from unfamiliar.
* * *
After receiving the Tianxia Association Leader's astonishing offer, Jaseong excused himself from the room.
As the heavy air lingered in the inner chamber, he turned his eyes toward the window, falling deep in thought.
'If I help avenge the Evil Path leader, he'll give me everything in the Tianxia Association... Can I really believe that? And who on earth is the expert in white who killed the leader in under half a shijin...?'
Though Gun Hanmaek's expression had seemed sincere, the words of a Dark Path boss always concealed a double edge.
For now, Jaseong sent a carrier pigeon, relaying Gun Hanmaek's proposal to Gal Seo-ryeong, the Hao Sect's guardian general.
Soon after, Gal Seo-ryeong's reply arrived.
[Ansun Branch chief. I've already heard much about your impressive achievements.
After infiltrating the Tianxia Association for only two days, you managed to locate and apprehend the leader—what a remarkable accomplishment.
Not only did you interrogate him, you uncovered information about the Evil Path Association leader's death that even our upper management hadn't known....
You are the first prodigy of your kind in Hao Sect history.
When this mission is complete, the Tianxia Association will be placed under your Ansun branch's administration.]
At this, Jaseong gave a wry chuckle.
"Who caught the Association Leader if not me? They state the obvious."
[That's enough for the introduction, so let's get to the main point.
Firstly, Gun Hanmaek, the Tianxia Association leader, is known to have clawed his way up from the lowest rungs of the Dark Path, renowned for his quick wit and cunning.
Thus, his words should never be easily trusted.
The supposed expert in white said to have killed the Evil Path Association leader—one of the Five Great Evils— could be a fabrication by Gun Hanmaek,
and his claim that he seeks to avenge the leader could also be a lie.
So, make sure to outwardly play along with his proposal, but remain wary of every word and action.
And absolutely do not release him from imprisonment.
You never know where he might disappear to....
As for the expert in white who killed the Evil Path leader, the upper management will investigate further.]
Reading Gal Seo-ryeong's message, Jaseong nodded silently.
He burned the carrier pigeon message to ash and rose from his seat.
"... With that, I have at least tacit approval from upper management. Now, let's go claim the advance payment."
Jaseong returned to the inner chamber where Gun Hanmaek was imprisoned.
The latter was still refusing all food and drink, but his eyes retained their sharp glow.
"Upper management has sanctioned it. I will find the expert in white who killed the Evil Path leader, as you requested."
Gun Hanmaek's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"You made the right choice. This will greatly benefit your Hao Sect."
"Then hand over the advance payment."
"Advance payment?"
"Surely you know our way of doing things? We always receive an advance before starting a job. And after completion, we collect the agreed balance."
Gun Hanmaek smirked and answered with gusto.
"Fine. What advance do you want? The pleasure houses managed by the Tianxia Association in Sichuan? Or the gambling halls in Shaanxi Province?"
Both were rewards that could bring enormous funds to the Hao Sect's Ansun branch.
Especially since the Ansun branch had recently absorbed the Dark Path factions in Guangxi Province and grown significantly, it needed money to sustain its expanded operations.
But to this, Jaseong coldly smiled.
"You're badly mistaken."
"?"
"What you just listed—they're already all mine."
"What...?"
"We've already seized everything in the Tianxia Association. The pleasure houses in Sichuan, the gambling halls in Shaanxi—they're mine already. Who would be foolish enough to haggle over their own possessions?"
At Jaseong's sarcasm, Gun Hanmaek's eyebrow twitched.
"How naïve. Do you think by capturing me, the leader and the Association itself will fall into your hands? Far from it! The other black-grade executives will try to assassinate you to take the Association leader's seat themselves!"
"Do you not know what the Hao Sect's specialty is? Disguise and infiltration. With you imprisoned, we can simply use your human-skin mask and impersonate the Association Leader as much as we like."
"...!"
"And then all of the Tianxia Association becomes ours."
Gun Hanmaek's eyes shook with shock.
The next moment, he let out a deep sigh and muttered,
"Hoo... I've truly run into a ruthless one. I've spent decades in the back alleys, but I've never met anyone like you."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Whatever, take the Tianxia Association or whatever else. As I said yesterday, as long as my big brother's grudge is settled, I can die at any time with no regrets.... The leader's position means nothing—have it all."
"I'll put it to good use."
"So what do you want for your advance payment, then? Without the Association, I have nothing left to give you. You even seem stronger in martial arts than me.... What is it you want as an advance?"
The moment he had been waiting for.
Jaseong calmly delivered his prepared answer.
"The Evil Path leader's seal."
"What...?"
"That is the price I want."
At that, Gun Hanmaek's eyes turned puzzling. His face said it all: Why are you looking for that from me?
Just from his reaction, it seemed upper management's information, 'The Evil Path Association leader's seal may be in the Tianxia Association,' was mistaken.
But Jaseong did not fall for it.
Saaaa—
He activated Samadhi Eyes, and he saw Gun Hanmaek's intent roiling wildly.
That meant only one thing.
'... So the Evil Path Association leader's seal was indeed in the Tianxia Association.'
"I have no idea what you mean. Why would the Evil Path Association leader's seal be here in the Tianxia Association and not in the Evil Path Association itself?"
"Gun Hanmaek. The eyes and ears of the Hao Sect are everywhere in the Central Plains."
"......."
"Just as we figured out you were at the scene on the night of the Evil Path leader's death, we also already know that the leader's seal is in the Tianxia Association."
"......."
"Think carefully. If we search the Association's main hall and inner chambers ourselves and find the Evil Path leader's seal, this whole deal is off. We'll have no reason to help you in your vengeance."
Jaseong's threat was remarkably clever.
If he were to find the seal on his own, the Association Leader would lose all leverage over him.
In other words, the Tianxia leader's scheme to use the Hao Sect to identify the mastermind behind his big brother's death would completely fall apart.
Realizing this, Gun Hanmaek's expression turned resigned.
'... I really have run into a devil.'
* * *
The next day.
After much deliberation, Gun Hanmaek finally yielded.
"Hoo... Fine. I'll tell you the hidden location of the Evil Path leader's seal."
In that moment, a satisfied smile bloomed inside Jaseong. Lee Rin and Gu Janghu, standing nearby, wore the same expression.
[To think we could obtain the Evil Path leader's seal so easily... Even when dealing with my mother, you showed the same silver tongue, but you really have the instincts of a great hero(?).]
It was the power of glibness honed at the bottom of the Red Light District.
Gu Janghu, too, sent a sound transmission in astonishment.
[... The Evil Path leader's seal is an item with tremendous influence in the unorthodox faction. It's been passed down for hundreds of years.... Only with it can one be recognized as the true alliance leader of the Evil Path Association. And to think you could acquire such a thing so easily...!]
Even Gu Janghu, rarely surprised, was shocked. The Evil Path leader's seal was truly a precious treasure.
Just as Gu Janghu said, a master of the unorthodox sects who possessed the Evil Path leader's seal could become the new master of the Evil Path Association.
On top of that, the Evil Path leader's seal itself housed a mysterious energy—one of the Eight Great Treasures of the martial world (八大奇寶).
No one really knew what kind of power was contained within, but being called one of the Eight Great Treasures meant it was undoubtedly extraordinary.
'Of course, it's suspicious that Gun Hanmaek would so readily reveal the location of the Evil Path leader's seal. But if I can use the seal wisely, not only will I control the Tianxia Association, but I can also take over the Evil Path Association. Then my revenge will be so much easier...'
But what sort of power was sealed inside, to merit being called one of the Eight Great Treasures?
Jaseong looked at Gun Hanmaek with an expectant face.
But in that very moment, an unexpected bad news arrived.
"Leader. I have something to report."
Jeonggak, a martial member of the Hao Sect's Ansun branch force, announced from beyond the door.
"What is it?"
"Enemies have appeared at Thousand Martial Pavilion, one of the Tianxia Association's black markets."
"Enemies?"
"Experts from the Black Star Sect. Also, the Twin Dragon Clan and Poison Valley are following them."
Thousand Martial Pavilion was the largest black market in the Central Plains.
Originally, under the absolute protection of the Evil Path Association leader, no one dared to even draw a sword there.
But with the leader's death, the balance was shattered.
Now all the factions were trying to claim supremacy by filling the power vacuum.
At the martial member's report, Jaseong considered for a moment.
'Thousand Martial Pavilion isn't far from this secret chamber. They might end up coming here in their rampage....
If that happens, they'll find the imprisoned Association Leader and try to snatch him away. So, we'd better move our hideout first.'
First, Jaseong planned to hear the location of the Evil Path leader's seal from Gun Hanmaek, then move their hideout.
But right then, Gun Hanmaek spoke unexpected words.
"How coincidental."
"?"
"The Black Star Sect, Poison Valley, and the Twin Dragon Clan's experts attacking Thousand Martial Pavilion— The Evil Path leader's seal is hidden there."