WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 15: We Have to Control Our Anger (1)

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Late at night, a carriage waited in the forest near the Murim Alliance's Wencheng Branch.

Cheon Yangho, the Viper of Zhejiang, appeared there. Only after thoroughly checking for anyone following him did he climb into the carriage.

Inside sat Wang U, Wang Gon's son. He had been away when he heard about his father and rushed back at once.

"Unit Commander Cheon."

"Young Master Wang, it's been a while."

"What kind of trick did that bastard Im Chung use to arrest my father? Did Black Hand betray him?"

"Black Hand was arrested as well. His face was quite battered."

Wang U was startled. To him, Black Hand had been an invincible master.

"Who the hell subdued Black Hand?"

"A man named Baek Socheon, newly assigned to the Wencheng Branch."

"Who is he to take down Black Hand?"

"He used to be a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps. Black Hand must have let his guard down because he didn't know that."

"Baek Socheon! That bastard, I'll deal with him right away!"

Wang U gritted his teeth. His father had lived like a king in Wencheng. Since his father was king, Wang U had naturally lived like a prince.

Just this month, he had beaten three people and stolen another man's woman. Yet nothing had happened to him.

That was possible because his father was king. But some lowly Murim Alliance martial artist had arrested his father?

"I'll get rid of him."

"You mustn't touch him yet. If you do, matters will get complicated, and getting your father released will become even harder. Get your father out first, then deal with him."

"When will Father be released?"

"I've made arrangements, so he'll be out soon enough."

"Thank you."

Wang U handed Cheon Yangho a prepared pouch.

"I bought this on my way back."

The pouch contained small animals made of pure gold. Each was no bigger than a fingernail, but together they were worth quite a bit.

"Haha, you shouldn't have."

Without even pretending to refuse, Cheon Yangho slipped the pouch into his robes.

"Then go back and wait."

As Cheon Yangho started to leave the carriage, he glanced back and trailed off.

"By the way..."

"Please, speak."

"The Liang Qiu family's case... it wasn't you, was it?"

It was a cautious question that left out the words, "Was that your doing?" The Mythic Gang Cheon Yangho knew was more than capable of doing something like that.

Wang U reacted sharply.

"What do you take us for, saying something like that? Of course it wasn't us."

"Yes, of course not. I was only being overly cautious, so don't take it to heart. I'll see you again."

Cheon Yangho got out of the carriage and headed back the way he had come.

'It was them!'

Quick-witted as he was, Cheon Yangho immediately sensed from Wang U's fierce reaction that the Mythic Gang was involved in the Liang Qiu case.

'Those madmen!'

The reckless Mythic Gang frightened him, but if his guess was right, he resolved to make a great deal of profit from this matter.

Once Cheon Yangho disappeared into the distant darkness, Wang U spat coldly.

"Where does that bastard get off trying to pull that kind of shit? Damn beggar scum from the Murim Alliance."

He had no idea the other man had seen through him. Then again, that was why he had been so easily read.

* * *

Early the next morning, Im Chung called for Beon Saeng.

"What is it?"

"I'm planning to release Wang Gon and Black Hand."

It was the conclusion he had reached after agonizing over it all night.

"I'm telling you in advance because your safety is involved too."

"Will we be in danger?"

"Most likely. But it would be the same even if we didn't release them."

"Yes."

Unfortunately, punishing those men was not easy under the current circumstances.

The only proof that Wang Gon had offered a bribe was Im Chung's and Madam Joo's testimony. As for the assault charge, their side was uninjured while the other side had been beaten to pieces. The attempted murder charge was no different.

Even if they sent the two men to the Zhejiang Division, there was a high chance they would be acquitted there. Cheon Yangho, one of the division's most influential figures, would make sure of it. Besides him, there would be others eager to help the Mythic Gang.

Even if luck was on their side and Wang Gon ended up confined in a martial prison, the problem remained. A furious Wang Gon might send subordinates from outside to assassinate them.

Im Chung judged it would be better to release Wang Gon now and placate him. Of course, he had no intention of joining hands with the man. Once Wang Gon let his guard down, Im Chung would find proof that he had killed Liang Qiu. If he found that evidence, he could destroy Wang Gon for good.

"I never realized it before, but living as a martial artist is really difficult."

Im Chung silently nodded at Beon Saeng's words.

'Maybe I haven't truly lived as a martial artist until now.'

* * *

Around noon, Im Chung released Wang Gon and Black Hand.

As they left the martial prison, Wang Gon and Cheon Yangho crossed paths, but neither acknowledged the other.

Instead, Wang Gon gave Im Chung a murderous glare. He didn't even bother with a civil farewell before setting off to take his revenge.

"I will never forget this."

After delivering that unmistakable threat, Wang Gon left. If Wang Gon was that hostile, there was no need to say how intense Black Hand's killing intent was.

Once the two men had left the branch, Cheon Yangho tried to comfort Im Chung.

"Don't worry too much. He may say such things, but he won't be able to act recklessly."

It was meant as comfort, but Im Chung's response was curt.

"Aren't you going to investigate?"

"What?"

"The Liang Qiu case. You came down here because of that, but it seems you're only concerned with the Mythic Gang."

"I will investigate. I'll handle it myself, so mind your own business."

With a scoff, Cheon Yangho left.

Beon Saeng filled the space he had left behind.

"Did you see that? He's grinning from ear to ear."

"He'll take credit for getting them released and pocket a cut."

"That damned bastard. So what do we do now?"

"What else? We prove that Wang Gon is the culprit."

"You mean it. Whenever you're serious, Branch Chief, you raise your eyebrows."

"Watching Martial Artist Baek beat down Wang Gon that day... it reminded me of when I first decided to enter the martial world. I wanted to become the kind of martial artist who protected the weak and defeated evil men."

"Are you going to become one now?"

"Can I? You might not know it, but I'm too late. It just came to mind. What's done is done, but even if I can't undo it, I should at least clean up the mess. If I don't find the evidence, that bastard will take revenge one day, no matter how long it takes."

"Yes, let's catch that damned bastard!"

A voice came from behind them.

"First, I think you should move the Branch Chief's family into the branch."

When they turned around, Baek Socheon stood there.

Beon Saeng asked in alarm, "Do you think they'll try to harm the Branch Chief's family?"

Im Chung remembered Wang Gon bringing Hundred-Year Fleeceflower Root to his home. It had clearly been a threat that used his family as leverage.

"Yes. He's more than capable of it."

"You should do it because of Black Hand, if nothing else. I looked into him, and he has a great deal of pride."

"When did you find out something like that?"

Baek Socheon answered Beon Saeng's impressed question.

"It's an old habit. If you're going to ignore something, ignore it completely. If you're going to get involved, do it properly. People usually neglect that simple rule and get stabbed in the back."

Beon Saeng was impressed, but Im Chung grew more anxious.

"I need to bring them here right away."

Im Chung hurried off.

Beon Saeng shrugged.

"In times like this, it's easier not to have a family. By the way, Brother, do you have family?"

Baek Socheon answered briefly.

"No."

* * *

Im Chung brought his wife, Madam Joo, and his son Chan to the branch.

"Stay here for a while."

They were placed in another empty building near Baek Socheon's residence.

"Honey, everything's all right, isn't it?"

Madam Joo was anxious. First there had been the box she received, and now they had to leave home and live at the branch. Neither had ever happened before.

Of course, she had a rough idea why.

The news that the Wencheng Branch had arrested Wang Gon had already spread. Everyone she met talked about it.

There were all kinds of stories, but they always ended the same way. Im Chung was in serious trouble now.

Sure enough, her husband had brought her and their son to the branch.

"Don't worry."

"All right. I won't worry."

Im Chung wanted to send his wife and son to her family home in Shaanxi, but he could not send the two of them alone on such a long journey. Nor could he abandon his subordinates and duties to leave the branch.

"Rest comfortably for now."

As he turned to leave, Madam Joo called out to him.

"Honey."

"What is it?"

"If we die, we die together. If we live, we live together. I've thought that way every day since the day I married you. So don't hold yourself back because of us. Do what you want to do. If the worst happens, we'll die together."

"That won't happen."

Im Chung's heart tightened as he left the residence. He was grateful that his wife, who must have been terrified inside, said such things for his sake.

'Yes. It won't happen.'

If he had a hundred lives, he would spend every one to protect his wife and child. What worried him was whether even a hundred lives would be enough.

Die together? No. Even if he died, he would protect those two somehow.

That was why he was uneasy.

If Wang Gon truly set his mind to killing them, he might attack the branch.

Then, they would all die together.

After finishing his conversation with his wife, Im Chung came outside and found Baek Socheon speaking with Chan in front of the house. Im Chung paused to listen.

"Father will be all right, won't he?"

"Your father isn't all right."

Chan was startled. At thirteen years old, he was a kind boy who had grown up well.

"Is he in danger?"

"Yes. This time, your father destroyed the Black Society."

Im Chung frowned as he listened from behind the door. Why was Baek Socheon telling a child something like that?

Then Chan's voice sounded again.

"I heard the rumors too. Did Father really destroy the Great Righteous Sect?"

"Yes. Your father could no longer stand by and watch their evil deeds."

"You said Father is in danger, so maybe I shouldn't say this, but... I think Father did the right thing."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes. The people harassed by the Black Society included the parents of a friend of mine. I felt sorry whenever I saw that friend."

Im Chung's heart, which he had tried so hard to calm, churned again.

He had never dreamed that his son had been in such a situation, or that he had felt that way.

Baek Socheon's voice sounded again.

"You may not know this, but another martial faction stood behind the Black Society your father destroyed. Even knowing that, your father bravely wiped them out. That's why he's in danger."

"It's okay. I'm proud of my father. I want to become like him too."

"Then train hard in martial arts. You need to become strong like your father if you want to protect others."

"Yes, I'll work hard."

"You can be very proud of your father. He's someone who deserves it."

Behind the door, Im Chung felt strange. He wondered when his son had grown so much, and he was grateful to Baek Socheon for saying those things to him.

Im Chung cleared his throat and stepped outside.

He could feel the respect in his son's eyes. Since not everything that had happened was entirely by his own choice, he felt ashamed.

"Go inside to your mother."

"Yes."

Chan went inside.

Im Chung and Baek Socheon stood side by side in front of the house for a moment.

"I heard what you said to Chan when I came out."

"I'm sorry if I overstepped."

"No. I'm deeply grateful, if anything. I had no idea my son had grown so much."

A thought suddenly occurred to Im Chung. Parents might know their children best, but perhaps they were also the ones who knew them least.

"I have a favor to ask."

"Please, tell me."

"Protect my family, at least for a while. In the meantime, I'll uncover what really happened in this case. I'll find proof that Wang Gon murdered the Liang Qiu family as well."

"Let's do that."

Baek Socheon agreed so readily that Im Chung was deeply moved.

"Really?"

"Not because of you. The kid seems kind."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you."

In his current situation, Baek Socheon was the only person he could trust. With the skill he had shown at the Mythic Gang that day, Im Chung could trust him and focus on investigating the case.

This matter involving Wang Gon now concerned not only Im Chung's safety, but his family's as well.

Footnotes:

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