The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

In the empty inn after Sama Hwi left.

Yang Gwan silently filled his hungry stomach while watching Jang So-gil.

Since Sama Hwi had left, Jang So-gil had his head on the table and hadn't moved an inch.

'Damn it. He must not be in a good mood.'

He had every right to be in a bad mood. Thinking about it carefully, this was a blow dealt by Sama Hwi.

The Gentleman's Academy was an ordinary martial arts hall. No, it wasn't even ordinary. It was below that.

If it were a proper martial arts hall, it wouldn't be called an academy.

An academy is a place where one studies things that scholars would learn, like the words of Confucius and Mencius.

The Gentleman's Academy was a place for such studies.

Then why did it look like a martial arts hall on the outside?

The reason was absurd.

'Because not just anyone can open an academy, but anyone can open a martial arts hall.'

An academy cannot be opened without a learned teacher. But a martial arts hall can be run by any martial artist. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry with money and a building can open a martial arts hall.

That martial arts hall with the name 'Gentleman's Academy' meant that it was neither a proper place of learning nor a proper place for the succession of martial arts, but a completely messed-up place.

'What money would such an academy have to take out a thousand silver taels? The problem isn't the amount of embezzled money, they probably just don't have two thousand silver taels at all. Tsk tsk. Guild Master So has fallen into his own trap.'

He loved betting so much in Sichuan that he would rush at people asking for a bet, and now he was about to get a big bloody nose. It couldn't be helped. In Sichuan, Guild Master Jang So-gil was definitely the best, but this was Luoyang. Even if it wasn't the center of the world like Beijing, the center of the martial world was Luoyang. In Luoyang, there must be plenty of smart people with talents equal to or greater than Jang So-gil's.

'He's become a frog in a well. How pitiful.'

Jang So-gil's shoulders, bowed over the table, trembled slightly. Was he crying?

Yang Gwan felt sorry for him and unconsciously raised his hand.

"Guild Master So, I understand you're upset. Tsk, let's go together and bow our heads in apology. If I go with you, they won't treat you badly. Even if I look like this, I'm called the Fire Dragon among the Ten Dragons..."

But something about Jang So-gil's appearance was strange. Past his trembling shoulders, he could see the corners of his mouth.

He was smiling. Just as the worry that he might have gone mad was rising.

Jang So-gil shot up from his seat. Then he started laughing like a madman.

"Puhahahaha! Kuhahat!"

"Guild Master So...?"

"Wuhahahahahahahahahahaha-!"

Seeing Jang So-gil laughing so hard that the inn seemed to shake, he could guess the situation.

"He's finally gone mad... so pitiful at such a young age..."

"No! Why do you talk like that?"

"So you weren't mad?"

"Mad, you fool. I'm happy."

"Happy? About what?"

The corners of Jang So-gil's mouth stretched as if they would tear.

"My god, do you know who I just tricked? Sama Hwi, Sama Hwi."

"Sama Hwi? I don't know which Sama Hwi you're talking about. Surely it's not the Thousand Li Young Master, Sama Hwi."

"Yes. That Sama Hwi."

"They said a strategist came from the Alliance, so I thought it was a low-ranking one! That big-nosed booger from just now was Sama Hwi?!"

A genius of military strategy may not be a genius of commerce. But isn't there a basic level for someone called a genius? Nine-tenths of Jang So-gil's worries were about Sama Hwi. He had expected Gu Munryong to be a good person who would feel pity for Jang So-gil's situation and be favorable. But Sama Hwi was different.

"Sama Hwi was a nuisance because he's smart and clever. If he started to interfere, I really couldn't do anything. But for that Sama Hwi to be tricked so helplessly, kukuku."

"Isn't he a fake? It doesn't make sense for the renowned Sama Hwi to be tricked by a swindler like Guild Master So."

"That's why I thought he was a fake for a moment too. But it was him. That means the situation in the Martial Alliance is worse than I thought."

The current Sama Hwi was not in a normal state.

The Martial Alliance was so short on funds and had so many thieves that no matter how hard he tried, the financial difficulties could not be resolved. In his haste, he was using his private funds to support the Martial Alliance.

Still, the situation did not improve.

"I knew the Martial Alliance was a sinking ship, but he didn't know where the holes were or where the rats were hiding, so he must have been frustrated. Because he was frustrated, he ended up relying on a kid from Sichuan. He wasn't even sure if this kid was a lifeline. He was just a rope he grabbed out of desperation."

Sama Hwi, he didn't know much about Jang So-gil. All he knew were a few rumors he had heard from the Sichuan region. He had learned the information that he was the young guild master of a merchant family annihilated by the Tang Clan, information he would not have known otherwise, while investigating as a confirmation after Jang So-gil knocked on the Martial Alliance's door.

"He probably thought it would be good if it worked out using this kid, and if not, well, it couldn't be helped."

"That's likely."

"But that kid is expensive, isn't he? He keeps making ridiculous conditions. Would he like that?"

"He wouldn't."

"Since he doesn't like it, he has to find fault. He tries to find fault to cut down the price, but what's this? The kid proposes a bet, even with impossible conditions. So he thinks, 'This is it!' and jumps at it."

Jang So-gil couldn't contain his excitement and waved his arms.

"It was great. It was great, today is a really good day! If it hadn't been for this time today, Sama Hwi wouldn't have been fooled like such an idiot. Be happy, Gwan-ah! Things have worked out very well."

"Well, I still don't quite understand. Anyway, did you trick Strategist Sama Hwi, Guild Master So?"

"I tricked him. I tricked him good and proper. With this, my plan is bound to succeed."

"I don't understand... no matter how I look at it, the one who was tricked was you, Guild Master So. Can you really collect two thousand silver taels from that martial arts hall?"

"Of course I can."

Jang So-gil giggled, clutching his stomach and laughing.

"This whole board was set up by me in the first place."

"Set up the board...?"

"It's not for nothing that I arranged to see you and Sama Hwi at this inn. It was also to show that I have reliable martial power by calling you, but all of this was my scheme."

"Scheme? I don't understand at all."

"What do you see around this inn? There's a government office, this inn, a few stalls, a martial arts hall, and an escort agency. That's all. If it were you, what would you choose under these conditions?"

"There's nothing to choose but the martial arts hall. The escort agency probably has a lot of money. Hmm."

"Right. I knew he would choose the martial arts hall. To be precise, I created a situation where he had no choice but to choose it. And yet, do you think I don't know about that martial arts hall? I've been in Luoyang for half a year, do you think I wouldn't know?"

There were several names for Jang So-gil in Sichuan. The most common was Young Guild Master So, and the next was his name, So. But those were titles used by people who knew him a little or were friendly.

Others called him 'Golden Ghost' because he was crazy about money, and also 'Swindler' because everything he did was a scam. Going a step further, due to his inherently noisy nature and reckless way of handling things, he was called 'Mad Dog', so Jang So-gil's reputation in Sichuan was truly great.

Yang Gwan suddenly remembered his nickname, Golden Ghost.

"Did you smell gold at the martial arts hall?"

"That's right, that's right."

"But you never know. What if Sama Hwi had chosen the escort agency? Why did you make such a reckless move?"

"I had a plan for that too, but let's talk about that on the way. From now on, time is important. We have to push through all at once with the momentum of riding a tiger."

Jang So-gil hurriedly prepared to get up.

Yang Gwan asked with curiosity.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"Where, you ask..."

Jang So-gil whispered softly. Yang Gwan's eyes widened.

"Why on earth there?!"

"And right after that, we will head to the martial arts hall. Let's go."

Jang So-gil left the inn one step ahead.

Yang Gwan watched his back, scratched his head, and let out a sigh.

"Aish. I got caught up in Guild Master So's games again."

This wasn't what he came for, but it couldn't be helped.

Yang Gwan grumbled and ran after him.

* * *

As the thieves say, you can tell the power and wealth of a household by the height of its walls.

The more enemies you have, the higher the walls, and having many enemies means you earn that much more money. In that sense, the Gentleman's Academy was a truly poor, powerless, and peaceful place with no enemies.

Jang So-gil kicked open the main gate of that peaceful Gentleman's Academy.

"Is anyone there!"

With a loud bang, the thin door shook, and he even shouted, so it was only natural that attention was drawn. A few children who were sweeping with brooms, a child who was warming up with light exercises, and the scholar who was teaching them turned to look at Jang So-gil with bewildered eyes. Feeling their gazes, Jang So-gil puffed out his chest. It was a very arrogant posture, as if he were in a position to do such things.

'Oh my, this mad dog is at it again...'

Yang Gwan, standing beside him, anxiously looked inside the academy. Everyone seemed quite flustered.

Were they so flustered that they couldn't even move after a few seconds?

Jang So-gil shouted again, filled with annoyance.

"Is anyone there!"

"Uh, uhh. What is it!"

"Tsk. Are you the teacher of this Gentleman's Academy?"

"That's right, but..."

"I'll get straight to the point. I am a special inspector from the Martial Alliance."

The scholar's eyes widened. It was the first time in his life he had heard of a position called a special inspector of the Martial Alliance.

"Inspector? What's that?"

"Tsk. It means a person who collects overdue debts. You guys have so much overdue debt to the Martial Alliance that they hired someone like me."

"A person who collects overdue debts? You?"

The term 'a person who collects overdue debts' was more fitting for a vicious debt collector like a ruffian or a ronin. It didn't suit a young man of twenty. Naturally, the scholar's face turned into a sneer.

"I don't know what kind of nonsense you're talking about. Our academy has no overdue debts. So get lost."

"This brat is speaking informally to me. You wanna die?"

"You little brat. Stop playing around- Aaaargh-!"

The scholar's words were cut short. It was because Jang So-gil had kicked him in the groin. The scholar collapsed and crawled on the floor, and Jang So-gil walked past him, dusting off his palms. Yang Gwan followed, watching his expression.

"Guild Master So, Guild Master So. Isn't this too rude?"

"Rude my ass, I'm in a hurry. I have to go and seize the ledgers quickly. If I'm late, they might burn the evidence."

"But these people are not martial artists. What kind of atrocity is this!"

"Do you think I'm acting like a mad dog because I like it?"

"Weren't you?"

Jang So-gil pouted his lips.

His steps quickened.

He passed through the courtyard of the Gentleman's Academy.

The target was where the headmaster was.

"How do you know where the headmaster is?"

"This way."

"How do you know?"

"One of the students attending this martial arts hall is the son of the innkeeper from earlier. I asked him to draw a map for me in advance. Stop chattering and get ready to use your strength."

"I don't like it, but I have no choice. But you have to explain everything to me later."

Yang Gwan licked his lips and re-gripped the iron spear on his back.

And when he stabbed the door of the room Jang So-gil indicated, the door shattered into pieces.

"Wh-what is this!"

There was an old man with a large belly. He must be the headmaster. Jang So-gil strode forward and said.

"Gwan-ah, put that fellow to sleep."

"What do you mean, put him to sleep all of a sudden?"

"Ah, this bastard really doesn't listen. Just do as you're told right away. You never do it right the first time, you incompetent fool, did you sell all your wits while learning martial arts?"

"I'm doing this because I don't know what the hell is going on!"

"Should I just put him to sleep myself? Huh? Should I burst his balls and put him to sleep like that scholar earlier?"

"Damn it. You have to tell me everything after this is over!"

Yang Gwan grumbled and approached the headmaster, pressing a pressure point on the back of his neck. The headmaster fainted cleanly. Jang So-gil pushed the headmaster off the chair and sat down himself. Then he started to rummage through the desk at will, opening books and bamboo slips.

"I don't know what the hell is going on..."

"In a little while, martial artists will rush in."

"What?"

"Block them until I'm done with everything."

"Ughhhhhh! What in the world is going on!"

Yang Gwan's trained senses felt a group of martial artists. One, two, three. The number gradually increased. There were ten of them.

"It's true!"

Yang Gwan was startled and re-gripped his spear, blocking the door.

The martial artists, who approached in unison with the sound of pattering footsteps, were all holding their own weapons. They were full of fighting spirit.

Yang Gwan shouted.

"Stop!"

Of course, no one stopped. Swords and daggers rained down.

(End of Chapter)