Chapter 52
Fratricide occurs to gain money and power.
It is not surprising that a father-in-law would kill his son-in-law to take over a merchant guild.
Yang Soryeong fainted after hearing Mei Zhongjun's words.
"Sigh. To be so weak. There's no point in learning martial arts."
Baekji clicked his tongue and called the Seven Plums to help Yang Soryeong to the Songhua Hall.
Just then.
Wu Tai staggered to his feet.
His cheeks trembled as if he were shocked by the fact that Mei Zhongjun was a hypocrite.
"Brother! Are you saying you really gave Wu Ping such a dirty order?"
"That's not it! Are you saying you don't believe my words?"
When Mei Zhongjun shouted, Wu Tai said, "Alright. In that case, I will go and confirm it with Wu Ping myself!"
Baekji said, "Hey, Wu Tai. You also know that this man's heart is black, don't you? You didn't know? You really didn't know? You must have pretended not to know. You ate the wealth this brat gave you well."
"I, I... really didn't know."
"Money is this scary. It even deceives the soul."
"..."
Baekji said, tapping the heads of Bai Renguang and Mei Zhongjun with his bamboo staff, "With this, the crimes of these two brats are confirmed. Let's go to the Martial Alliance!"
"What?"
When Ajok asked back in surprise, Baekji's bamboo staff tapped the head of Senior Oh, who was standing next to him.
Senior Oh clutched his head and took refuge.
"Since these brats have done something that goes against the righteous path, the Martial Alliance must punish them."
"The Martial Alliance is so far from here, so why go all the way there..."
Baekji shouted towards the wall, "Hey, you, Martial Alliance investigator! No, did you say you were the chief investigator of the military affairs department? Come here."
When Baekji called them, Nangong Zhao and Quan Bai were horrified.
They had been watching from afar in case they were caught, but he had pinpointed their location and called them.
They couldn't pretend not to have heard.
As Nangong Zhao had no choice but to step forward, Quan Bai also followed.
When the two came, Baekji asked, "You heard, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"This brat confessing his crime."
"It was far..."
"Umm. To not be able to hear from that distance. You still thought of infiltrating with such skill?"
"It's not infiltration. I am staying here as a resident guest."
"Me too."
At Nangong Zhao's words, Quan Bai, who was standing next to him, added.
Senior Oh recognized Quan Bai and was pleased.
"Brother Quan? Where have you been? I thought you had left since I couldn't see you at all."
Then, he pointed at Baekji and said proudly, "This person is my master. Come and greet him at once."
'I don't want to.'
To call a boy younger than himself 'master' and to have to greet him first.
The feet of the renowned martial world master, 'Divine Pen' Quan Bai, would not move.
Fortunately, Baekji was not interested in Quan Bai.
"Shut up! It's tiring to acknowledge every stray dog in the martial world."
Baekji waved his hand.
"Hey? That preference, go over there. I hope we don't see each other in the future."
Baekji gestured for him to go as if chasing away a bird.
Although he had been treated as a stray dog of the martial world, Quan Bai did not show his pride. Hadn't he always emphasized that a flexible attitude, like water in water and alcohol in alcohol, was the path to longevity?
Quan Bai disappeared ten times faster than when he had come. He could hear what had happened here from Nangong Zhao later.
When Quan Bai disappeared, Nangong Zhao became tense.
"Why did you call me?"
"Why are you standing so stiffly? Come closer. You look quite imposing, but you're more timid than you look."
Nangong Zhao came within a zhang's distance.
He hadn't believed it when he had heard that Baekji was a master of the True Realm. But seeing him treat Tie Yantai like a servant and Bai Renguang and Mei Zhongjun like stray dogs, he was swept up in the atmosphere and listened to Baekji's words without realizing it.
Baekji tapped Bai Renguang's head with his bamboo staff.
Bai Renguang felt the ki flowing from the end of the bamboo staff and sealing his 'dumb point'.
"This brat secretly obtained the 'Blood Sun Sword Manual', a martial art of the Blood Sect, and had his son learn it."
"...!"
Nangong Zhao's ears perked up. The martial arts of the Blood Sect were defined as demonic arts, and just possessing the manual was enough to be a public enemy of the martial world.
"He was in cahoots with a Blood Sect brat, and when things went wrong, he was even hit by the Blood Hand Grand Seal. But he managed to get better, you know?"
Although Bai Renguang tried to struggle, the bamboo staff tapped and suppressed his acupoints. He could only glare with eyes full of resentment.
"Is the Martial Alliance interested in this?"
"We will investigate thoroughly! Just hand him over!"
Although Nangong Zhao answered hurriedly, Baekji wagged his finger.
"Who told you to investigate? We already have evidence and witnesses. We just need to carry out the punishment. Isn't this a death sentence?"
"I do not know. The law enforcement hall will hold a trial."
"Wow. Is the Martial Alliance some kind of court? To hold a trial? Isn't the law of the martial world to just cut off the head if there is a crime? The Martial Alliance has changed strangely. You guys, are you trying to establish a nation? A nation of the martial world?"
"Th-that... please refrain from such words."
Baekji tapped Mei Zhongjun's head with his bamboo staff.
"This brat killed his son-in-law and took over the merchant guild."
"What nonsense. That was a mistake! Besides, my daughter is the mistress of the merchant guild. Who took what!"
Mei Zhongjun shouted.
"Oops!"
Realizing that he had forgotten to seal his acupoints, Baekji hit Mei Zhongjun's head with his bamboo staff.
Thwack!
Mei Zhongjun fainted.
"The son-in-law who died at this brat's hands is my master's father. So... to me... what does that make him? Ah, the master-disciple relationship and the blood relationship are not intertwined, right?"
"That is so, but..."
"Still, I can't pretend not to know my master's resentment. If this brat goes, will he also be tried?"
"That is so. Unless it is a crime in progress, the Martial Alliance will determine the crime through the law enforcement hall."
"Since he committed murder, is it a death sentence? Ah, will it be reduced because it was incitement to murder?"
"It depends on who the opponent is. If it is a dispute between martial artists, they take the circumstances into account."
"Then it would be better to just strike him down here."
"Just a moment!"
When Baekji raised his bamboo staff, Nangong Zhao stepped forward and stopped him.
Nangong Zhao had spread the Martial Alliance's martial force around and was gathering all sorts of information.
He knew that the Ten Plum Blossom Swordsmen of Huashan were on standby nearby.
If Baekji killed Mei Zhongjun, the Ten Plum Blossom Swordsmen would come running, and another fight would break out.
Nangong Zhao would complete his mission if he captured Bai Renguang. So, he did not want a fight to break out and create a variable.
"If you kill that person now, you may feel relieved, but it will be difficult to retake the Yang Merchant Guild."
"Why is that difficult? Can't we just go and take it?"
"Isn't this person's daughter the mistress of the merchant guild? She has a pretext to receive the inheritance."
"She killed her own husband, so what inheritance?"
"Unless there is clear evidence that this person killed Guild Master Yang, the world will think so."
"It doesn't matter. My master is also Guild Master Yang's daughter."
Nangong Zhao felt his mouth go dry. He licked his lips and said, "It is not that simple. It is cleanest for the Martial Alliance to reveal this person's crimes, punish those involved, and then officially hand over the merchant guild to Sect Master Yang."
"Umm..."
As Baekji was thinking, Ajok stealthily interjected.
"Master, I think the chief investigator is right. If we reveal Fang Master Mei's crimes, we can surely retake the Yang Merchant Guild. Otherwise, we will have to have another dispute with the Meixian Fang."
"You thought so too? I thought so too. Ajok, your head is getting sharper day by day."
Baekji praised Ajok and put away his bamboo staff.
"Then let's go to the Martial Alliance and punish them. We'll definitely kill them!"
"What should we do with the remaining two?"
Ajok asked about the disposition of Wu Tai and Wu Ziqing.
Baekji said to Wu Tai, "You go and make sure Mae Yeoncheong doesn't run away. That bitch must have instigated him to kill her husband. If that bitch runs away, your head will be broken."
And he asked Wu Ziqing, "But why did you come all the way here?"
"Bai Renguang asked for help, so I came without knowing what was going on... I'm sorry. If I had known an elder was here, I would never have come."
Thwack!
The bamboo staff struck the top of Wu Ziqing's head.
Somehow, a streak of lightning-like ki swept through his entire body. Wu Ziqing's mind went blank from the pain of his bones and flesh burning, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"I hate brats like this the most. You came to see if there was anything to eat, right? What's your name?"
"I am Wu Ziqing of the Five Dragons Fang."
"What should I do with you?"
"If you forgive me just once, I will not forget your grace."
"Are you taking me for a fool?"
Thwack!
The bamboo staff exploded again, and a terrible pain tore through his entire body.
"Ugh..."
"Stop with the empty words and talk realistically."
"If there is anything you want, just say the word."
Senior Oh went to Baekji and whispered something in his ear.
Baekji picked his ear and pushed Senior Oh away.
"What are you saying? It tickles. Haven't you learned telepathy yet?"
"Ah, that's right! There was telepathy! I have learned it."
"You don't even know what you can do?"
"That's right."
Senior Oh scratched his head and then, with pursed lips, sent a clumsy telepathic message.
-Master, take the horses. He brought a cavalry. There are a hundred horses.
A horse is essential to walk the path of a great hero. Senior Oh had seen the Five Dragons Fang's cavalry lined up when he had gone to call Tie Yantai.
"Oho?"
A horse is a very expensive animal.
You can't buy a good horse just because you have money.
The Five Dragons Fang's cavalry were warhorses used on the northern battlefields and were very difficult to obtain.
Baekji went to the prostrated Wu Ziqing, took both his hands, and helped him up.
"So you were the Five Dragons Fang Master? I just remembered. I didn't recognize you and was very rude. Oh dear, that crazy brat really beat you without mercy."
"..."
At Baekji's sudden change in attitude, Wu Ziqing didn't know how to respond.
"Ajok, bring some golden wound medicine. What is this, Fang Master Wu's face? He's still a guest who has come to the estate."
Ajok held out the golden wound medicine.
Wu Ziqing applied the golden wound medicine with a reluctant expression.
"Let's go in. You said there are a hundred horses? How do you feed and raise them all? That's amazing."
Baekji put his arm around Wu Ziqing's shoulder and shouted as they walked, "Jang Sam, throw the Martial Alliance prisoners in the prison. The general manager will take care of the reward money."
When Baekji left, everyone came to their senses.
Jang Sam grabbed the back of Bai Renguang's and Mei Zhongjun's necks with both hands and went to the prison.
As he was going, he kicked Mei Zhongjun.
"Keuk!"
Jang Sam hit Mei Zhongjun once every three or four steps.
Nangong Zhao stood blankly and watched the disappearing Baekji.
'Did he learn a sound art?'
Listening to Baekji's rambling words, his mind was confused.
In fact, he had been pressed by the formless pressure that Baekji had exuded and had not been able to make a normal judgment, but he could not admit that he had been overwhelmed by his presence.
Ajok approached.
"Chief Investigator Nangong Zhao of the Martial Alliance's military affairs department? I am called Ajok, the general manager of the White Mountain Sect."
"Ah... I am called Nangong Zhao."
"This is the first time for me too, so I have to ask. How much is the reward for catching such a heinous public enemy of the martial world?"
Nangong Zhao could not answer.
A public enemy of the martial world usually has a bounty on their head, so they receive that amount.
Even in cases like this where there is no bounty, a reward is sometimes given. It is not fixed and is up to the Martial Alliance Leader at the time.
In fact, the bounty or reward is secondary.
Most martial artists prioritize honor before the reward.
Nangong Zhao had not yet seen a case where the reward was considered first.
"That is, the Martial Alliance's reward is different from the government office's... I don't know for sure."
"That is very disappointing. I heard that a proper system of rewards and punishments is the foundation of an organization, but it seems the Martial Alliance is not like that."
"..."
When Nangong Zhao did not answer clearly, Ajok's gaze turned cold.
"It seems there is a lot to talk about before we take the criminals. Shall we go inside and talk slowly?"
(End of Chapter)