The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Yang Gwan's father, Yang Cheoil, was a master of spearmanship. The eldest son of the Yang family inherited a secret martial art called the Yang Family Spearmanship, and he had mastered this art, gaining a high reputation as the best spearman in Sichuan. He was as noble in character as he was in reputation, and upon seeing the atrocities of the Demonic Cult, he headed to the battlefield.

He fought valiantly, and just as valiantly, he eventually died. It is not well known how he died, but Yang Gwan believed that his father must have died fighting with great pride.

The problem was what happened after his father passed away. His mother passed away the following year from an epidemic. The family was shattered, and their fortunes declined.

The Yang family's spearmanship was the best in Sichuan. Many people reached out for the spearmanship that was passed down only to the eldest son. Yang Gwan suffered many hardships from those people. His biggest worry was that he couldn't even properly lay his parents' bodies to rest. His father's whereabouts became unknown during a battle with the Demonic Cult, and his mother left a will saying she wanted to be buried in the same place as his father.

It was Jang Daegil who resolved that worry. He appeared, found his father's body, and made it possible for him to be buried with his mother. Then, without showing any interest in the Yang Family Spearmanship, he left gracefully.

A true chivalrous man. Jang Daegil's grace was engraved on Yang Gwan's bones. He wanted to repay that grace without fail.

How should he repay it?

Yang Gwan believed that the best way to repay the grace was to become stronger himself. The martial world was a harsh place, and in the end, power determined everything. Just as Jang Daegil had protected him, Yang Gwan also wanted to protect him.

To hone his spearmanship, he needed a master. The most famous place for spearmanship was the Shaolin Temple, so the Shaolin Temple would be good. Yang Gwan left for the Shaolin Temple, and the Great Cloud Guild helped him. The Great Cloud Guild also welcomed a rising young master, as they had anticipated the Sichuan Tang Clan's sinister plot.

Thus, Yang Gwan, who became a lay disciple of the Shaolin Temple, learned Shaolin's spearmanship while also training in his family's Yang Family Spearmanship. The blood of the Yang family was not dead. The blood of his father, who was the best spearman in Sichuan, was passed down to Yang Gwan.

He soon heard that he was the best among the lay disciples of Shaolin and participated in the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. And Shaolin had a double celebration. One of Shaolin's true disciples earned the title of Rock Dragon, and the lay disciple, Yang Gwan, earned the title of Fire Dragon.

Why was his title Fire Dragon?

It was because the internal art he learned was the Fire Wheel Art, an internal art of extreme yang.

A wheel of fire spun through the pillar of fire that rose along Yang Gwan's spear. In its fierce momentum and overwhelming firepower, the swords and daggers disappeared without a trace.

The martial artists were astonished by his god-like majesty.

"That is the Fire Wheel Art!"

"What!"

There are many masters under heaven, but the number of those who have learned an internal art of extreme yang and wield a spear is less than ten.

Among those ten masters, if he is this young, there is only one.

"That man is the Fire Dragon!"

"Fire Dragon Yang Gwan!"

To think that the intruder's identity was one of the Ten Dragons!

The martial artists were flustered, not knowing what to do.

At that sight, the corners of Yang Gwan's mouth lifted.

The Ten Dragons were the talents who would lead the next generation.

It was not a title to be ignored anywhere.

Normally, just taking out his spear should have drawn voices of admiration from all over.

'Yes. This is the normal reaction.'

He felt his pride, which had been bruised by So's rebukes, being restored.

But through it, he heard Jang So-gil's low voice.

"You must be happy that people recognize you. Your mouth is about to tear."

"..."

"By the way, it's not like you have a name tag on your forehead, but everyone recognizes you so well..."

"Well, that's probably because the Fire Wheel is so flashy."

"If you use that martial art when you're on a secret mission with me later, you're dead. Your martial art is practically a name tag."

Seeing him click his tongue and scrunch up his face, he seemed quite displeased.

Yang Gwan wondered why that man was acting like that, then cleared his throat and aimed his spear at the martial artists.

"Anyway, this path is closed. No one can disturb Guild Master So."

His momentum was as fierce as fire, and the pressure from his spear was like Mount Tai, so the martial artists dared not open their mouths. But that was only for the lower-class martial artists.

Pushing aside the martial artists, one person approached late.

"Closed? What are you talking about in someone else's house?"

A sturdy body, sharp eyes, deep inner light, and even breath. Sunken temples and arm muscles writhing like a dragon. Yang Gwan felt his presence and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"A master. What is your name?"

"I am Lee Deokryang."

"Could it be, the Willow Calming Sword, Lee Deokryang?"

He was a fairly well-known person. He was a master of the sword who did not belong anywhere and continued to wander. Lee Deokryang waved his hand.

"Thank you for recognizing me, Fire Dragon."

"Why are you here?"

"That's what I should be asking. Why are you here?"

Yang Gwan was at a loss for words for a moment. What should he say?

That Guild Master So ordered him to block the door?

That he got caught up in Guild Master So's mad dog behavior and was doing this without knowing anything?

As he was choosing his answer, Jang So-gil answered for him from inside.

"On official business. Get lost and don't interfere."

"On official business?"

"Didn't you hear? I said I'm a special inspector from the Martial Alliance."

"What kind of official business is so reckless!"

"Reckless? Me?"

"If kicking open the door of a perfectly fine martial arts hall, hitting and knocking out a scholar, and subduing the headmaster to read his books at will is not reckless, then what is!"

Sorry to Jang So-gil, but Lee Deokryang was right. Jang So-gil's actions were too violent.

Yang Gwan thought so but did not say it out loud. He had that much sense.

Lee Deokryang suppressed his anger and spoke again.

"Alright, since you say it's official business, I'll ask again. What official business?"

"Collection."

"What collection!"

"Obviously, the Martial Alliance's money that you guys have been embezzling until now."

"What money have we embezzled! This is just a martial arts hall!"

"A mere martial arts hall has dozens of martial artists and even a guy named Yoo Jeongran Deoksam? What a crazy martial arts hall."

It's not Yoo Jeongran, it's Yoo Jeonggeom. It's not Deoksam, it's Deokryang.

Before Yang Gwan could correct him, Lee Deokryang's face turned red.

He immediately drew his sword.

"You bastard!"

"Gwan-ah, if that fellow tries to come in here, cut off his head."

"You insolent and outrageous mad dog!"

"It's always the ones who fuss about etiquette like that who have a different agenda behind the scenes."

"Y-y-y-y-y-!"

"If you grind your teeth like that, your bones will ache later, old man. And if you have so many problems with my actions, then report me to the authorities. You can't, can you?"

Lee Deokryang gritted his teeth.

He wanted to cut off that neck right now, but with Yang Gwan glaring at him, there was no opening to enter.

In his frustration, he could only grind his teeth.

Knowing this, Jang So-gil was about to taunt him more, but it was difficult to taunt while working.

He calmly went over the books and organized his thoughts.

As the person he was talking to clamped his mouth shut, an uncomfortable standoff continued.

Lee Deokryang held his sword with eyes that could kill Jang So-gil at any moment, and Yang Gwan aimed his spear with the intent to stab to death anyone who approached. One by one, Lee Deokryang's comrades were gathering. Yang Gwan clicked his tongue slightly.

At this rate, someone might go around to the other side of the building, break a window, and come in.

He sharpened his senses, guarded his back, and held the thread of tension tightly.

As Yang Gwan's worries grew, and Lee Deokryang's comrades also grew, and just as a presence was felt from outside the building, Jang So-gil opened his mouth.

"Gwan-ah, since you've been muttering about how curious you are, I'll explain it to you now."

"No, you're explaining in this situation? In this kind of standoff?!"

"First, you need to know that the Martial Alliance, as a group, is a place that needs money. So they reach out here and there, set up shop, and collect taxes. The areas protected by the Martial Alliance have a duty to pay taxes to the Ming Dynasty and taxes to the Martial Alliance respectively."

"Ugh, damn it. I'll listen while on guard, so continue."

"But there are so many thieves that the taxes are leaking out. I've got a new job of picking up those leaking taxes like a downpour and putting them back into the Martial Alliance."

"So that's the job of an inspector, huh. I understand."

"Now, how are taxes paid? It's simple. Those who earn a lot pay a lot, and those who earn little pay little. It's a very natural thing."

"I suppose so. Isn't that natural?"

"Then do these bastards look like they earn a lot of money, or a little?"

Yang Gwan thought that this place called the Gentleman's Academy was a very poor martial arts hall. As a martial arts hall for non-martial artists, the tools and environment were so pitifully shabby compared to the training equipment of the Shaolin Temple. But now, he couldn't tell.

"I don't know. I don't know at all."

"Why don't you know?"

"It's just... strange that so many martial artists were hiding in a martial arts hall."

"Well, what's so strange about it? They are the escorts of the Hakseo Escort Agency."

"Hakseo Escort Agency? Ah, the one next door?"

"Yes. The people of the martial arts hall asked for help, so they are righteous men full of chivalry who came running in a hurry."

"Ah, so that's what it was. If that's the case, it's not strange."

Jang So-gil let out a sigh.

"What's not strange about it? The government office is right next door, so they should report it to the government office. Why are the escorts coming over?"

"Ah."

"They came running in a hurry because they have something to hide. Isn't that right, Mr. Deoksam?"

Lee Deokryang's beard trembled. His face was flushed with anger, and veins popped out on his face. Jang So-gil calmly admired that face as if it were a work of art, then shook his head.

"Gwan-ah, to put it briefly, this place is a tax haven for the Hakseo Escort Agency."

"What does that mean?"

"It's about closely connecting the escort agency and the martial arts hall to divide the profits. It's a very common method for merchant guilds, but it's not a method often used by escort agencies. The head of this agency is quite talented."

"I'm sorry I don't understand, but what happens when you connect an escort agency and a martial arts hall?"

"Let me give you a small example. Do you know how much those straw dolls the kids were using earlier cost?"

"A decent straw doll costs about 2 copper coins, doesn't it?"

"It's about that much. If you just buy it, that is. An escort agency that buys goods directly can get them for 1 copper coin."

"If you buy it at cost, I suppose it would be that much..."

"What if you buy defective goods?"

"Defective goods?"

Yang Gwan's eyebrows furrowed. You shouldn't use defective training equipment. It's because there is a risk of injury. He instinctively felt a sense of rejection, then suddenly remembered the straw dolls in this academy.

"Come to think of it, the condition of the straw dolls here wasn't good... anyway, if they're defective, you can buy two for 1 copper coin."

"Now, you've bought two straw dolls for 1 copper coin. And now you sell them to the martial arts hall for 3 copper coins."

"Why would they buy them so expensively?"

"You can make up any reason. A bad harvest, the group bringing the straw dolls was attacked by bandits so there are no goods. So the price has temporarily gone up a little, there are plenty of plausible reasons like that."

"Uh, I see. That's convincing."

"You bought two for 1 copper coin, but you sold one for 3 copper coins. From the Gentleman's Academy's point of view, their expenses have increased sixfold. Taxes are taken from a portion of what's left after subtracting what you spent from what you earned. If the expenses have increased sixfold, what will happen to the taxes?"

At the kind and gentle explanation, Yang Gwan nodded his head blankly.

"They'll decrease."

"Right. They do that with one straw doll, so what about other things? What about clothes and books, and what about the four treasures of the study? What about the kids' food, and what about the scholars' salaries?"

"If they handle everything in the same way..."

"It becomes an enormous expense. Even if we only take a portion of the headmaster's recorded books as evidence, the embezzled taxes would be at least 200 silver taels."

Jang So-gil grinned and held up one finger.

"This is their crime. The first one, accounting fraud."

"The first one? Then are there more crimes?"

"Of course. Now, if you've followed the story so far, there should be something strange."

Yang Gwan scratched his chin and licked his lips. He looked completely clueless.

Jang So-gil clicked his tongue.

"You dullard, the Gentleman's Academy's expenses have increased sixfold. Doesn't that mean the Hakseo Escort Agency's profits have also increased by that much!"

"Ah! Then they would pay similar taxes!"

"That's right, that's right. So that leads to the second crime. Do you want to hear more?"

"Of course. We've come this far. Of course I'm curious."

"Then first, stop those guys. I'll explain it to you slowly in the meantime."

"Those guys? Crap!"

Yang Gwan felt a chill and turned his head.

Then Lee Deokryang swung his sword. It was a killing blow aimed at cutting off his neck in one strike.

He barely raised his spear to block the attack. Lee Deokryang's red eyes were right in front of him.

"We can't let these guys leave alive! Attack!"

Like a black wave, the escorts rushed in.

(End of Chapter)