WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 25: When the Enemy Reaches Out (2)

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"You accepted that money?"

Im Chung and Beon Saeng were startled.

"I did. I stopped by the Continental Bank and deposited it on the way back."

"Why did you take it? It's a bribe!"

"It tasted pretty good going down. I guess that's why everyone takes them."

This time, Im Chung spoke up.

"Didn't you tell me I did well not to accept it?"

"That was because you wouldn't have been able to handle the consequences."

"No matter who you are, accepting a bribe could become a problem."

"It's only a bribe if I give him something in return. The only thing I'm giving that bastard is destruction."

Both men flinched at the word destruction. Black Hand and Cheon Yangho were already buried side by side in the yard. This time, destruction was neither a joke nor a figure of speech. It meant exactly what it said.

"It'll be settled before it can become a problem."

In other words, bribe or not, Wang Gon would soon be dealt with as well.

"Besides, he doesn't truly intend to take me in as a subordinate."

"Then why did he give you money?"

"He's trying to get out of his current predicament. He'll use the fact that headquarters hired me to make up for losing Black Hand and Cheon Yangho."

Baek Socheon had grasped his opponent's intentions perfectly.

"I intend to use Wang Gon to find out who hired the Seven Sword Society. If I secure the person who directly commissioned the Seven Sword Society under orders from the Mythic Gang Leader, we'll have proof that the Seven Sword Society committed this crime."

It was the surest and quickest way to keep his promise to Cheon Geuk.

Getting a confession from the captured person would be Cheon Geuk's responsibility. Of all the martial world's various alliances, the Assassin Alliance was best at making people speak the truth.

"Ah, so that was your deeper intention."

That was not the only reason.

Baek Socheon said to Im Chung, "As long as I'm working with Wang Gon, they won't touch your family."

Im Chung felt both relief and gratitude when he realized that Baek Socheon had joined hands with Wang Gon partly to protect his family.

"Thank you, Brother."

"Thank your son. I'm only looking out for you because he's cute."

Beon Saeng spoke up cautiously.

"When I look at it, Brother acts like he has no shame about saying whatever he wants, but he doesn't seem very good at taking credit for what he does."

"Is that an insult or a compliment? It sounds like an insult."

"It's a compliment. Of course it's a compliment."

Im Chung scolded the snickering Beon Saeng.

"You brat, stop fooling around with Brother."

"The way Branch Chief says Brother now sounds even more natural than when I say it."

Im Chung could not deny it, so he merely chuckled. When he first heard that Beon Saeng had decided to serve Baek Socheon as his elder brother, he had thought him truly pathetic.

Yet now, he was saying this to Baek Socheon.

"What should we do from now on?"

"You two should act as usual. Wang Gon is too preoccupied with me to bring trouble to you."

"We'll help as well. If there's anything you need done, give us the order."

Im Chung and Beon Saeng looked at each other, their resolve hardening. The fight against the Mythic Gang had now begun in earnest.

"I need to rest. You can leave now."

"Yes."

Once the two men left, the room that had been as noisy as a marketplace became as quiet as a temple.

Since this was a day for resting his body, Baek Socheon took a martial manual from his leather bag and began reading quietly. Only the bright moonlight, shining on his stubborn efforts to somehow restore his dantian, knew the depth of his realizations and how far he had progressed.

* * *

A message urgently requesting his presence arrived from Wang Gon two days later.

News had come that someone from headquarters had arrived in Wencheng, and Wang Gon hurriedly summoned Baek Socheon.

"Must you keep calling a man busy with official duties back and forth?"

Wang Gon was angry. Was this really an appropriate attitude for someone who had accepted fifty thousand nyang?

Still, this was not the time to criticize Baek Socheon's attitude.

"I called you for something very important."

"What could be so urgent?"

"Someone will arrive here shortly. I intend to introduce you to him."

"Who is it?"

"Great Hero Yeom Jeonggil. He's a master counted among the Four Great Martial Artists of our headquarters."

Wang Gon was tense. He had expected someone to come investigate this matter, but he had never imagined Yeom Jeonggil would come himself.

'Why did it have to be him?'

Of all the people who might have come, Yeom Jeonggil was the one he least wanted to see.

People with hot tempers were usually not very thorough, were they? Yet Yeom Jeonggil was meticulous as well.

When someone came to the provinces to investigate, it was usually someone below Yeom Jeonggil. Sending him meant headquarters considered this matter that important.

'It must be because of the ironworks project.'

No matter what, Wang Gon had to persuade Yeom Jeonggil that Baek Socheon was more useful than Black Hand or Cheon Yangho. His future depended on it.

"I know you're an extraordinary man, but you really need to watch your words and actions in front of Great Hero Yeom."

"Why are you so afraid?"

"Great Hero Yeom doesn't have an ordinary temperament. Say the wrong thing, and you'll suffer greatly."

Baek Socheon spotted an opportunity in Wang Gon's anxious expression.

"Fine. I don't think I could win a fight with someone like that either. But let me ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Why did your people kill Liang Qiu's family? I've been wondering about it."

Wang Gon flinched.

"What are you talking about?"

"Black Hand told me everything before he died. He said your people massacred them."

Baek Socheon placed the blame on Black Hand.

Wang Gon's face twisted.

'That stupid bastard!'

It seemed Black Hand had spilled everything while desperately trying to save himself.

"Shh! If you ever let those words leave your mouth again, you'll die."

It was both a warning and a clear admission.

"Who's going to kill me?"

"Who else? Do you think headquarters will just stand by while you run around saying things like that?"

It could even bring trouble down on Wang Gon himself for failing to keep his subordinate in line.

"Where would I go around saying it? I'm only saying it here."

"You can't say it here either!"

"You're awfully fearful, aren't you? Don't you trust me?"

"I do. I trust you. But not with this matter."

"I can't stand unanswered questions. What if this curiosity keeps building until it slips out when I'm drunk?"

"Are you threatening me? Is that it?"

At that moment, a subordinate reported from outside the door.

"Great Hero Yeom has arrived."

"Show him to the guest hall."

"Yes."

Listening to the retreating footsteps, Wang Gon lowered his voice.

"We'll discuss this later."

"Are you telling me to ask in front of Great Hero Yeom? Or should I ask Great Hero Yeom himself?"

Wang Gon nearly shouted.

'You crazy bastard!'

But with news of Yeom Jeonggil's arrival, he was too pressed for time.

"This isn't the time for this. We can't keep Great Hero Yeom waiting."

"Seeing you act like this is making me stubborn. I want to hear it too."

Baek Socheon emphasized that he was pressing the matter not for some other purpose, but simply because he was stubborn.

"Are you really trying to get yourself killed?"

"Then kill me."

Pressed for time, Wang Gon was forced to follow Baek Socheon's lead.

Then the pressure mounted further. Another subordinate's voice came from outside.

"You should go at once."

It seemed Yeom Jeonggil's fiery temper had flared because he was being kept waiting.

Baek Socheon pretended to relent.

"Fine. The reason is top secret, so forget it. Who killed them?"

As though only the reason for the killing could be top secret. But Wang Gon was desperate. If Yeom Jeonggil exploded, the entire matter would be ruined.

In the end, one name came from Wang Gon's mouth.

"The Seven Sword Society."

"Did you place the assassination commission yourself?"

Since he had already begun talking, the next answer came quickly.

"No. Master Jong did it."

"Master Jong?"

"I don't know his name. Whenever the Mythic Gang has a problem, a man called Master Jong steps in to handle it. There, are you satisfied? Let's go."

"I feel much better now. Why did you make such a simple matter so difficult?"

Wang Gon barely swallowed his rising fury and rushed outside.

'Bastard. I'll definitely kill you.'

Baek Socheon followed him with an expression that looked ready to break into a tune.

Master Jong.

At last, he had learned the commissioner's name.

* * *

Wang Gon left Baek Socheon outside and entered the guest hall alone.

Yeom Jeonggil showed just how offended he was through the chill that filled the guest hall.

"You seem quite busy."

"My apologies. Something urgent came up that needed to be handled."

"I heard you were arrested by the Murim Alliance. Black Hand disappeared, and Taejeong of the Great Righteous Sect was killed."

As expected, the conversation did not begin well. Yeom Jeonggil had gone straight to the point without even exchanging a few formal greetings.

"The Great Righteous Sect will be brought under control soon."

"I heard Cheon Yangho has disappeared as well."

"Yes, that's correct."

"What a complete mess. How exactly have you been running this hall?"

"My apologies."

Wang Gon lowered his head and admitted fault for the moment. He intended to bring up Baek Socheon once Yeom Jeonggil's fiery temper had cooled somewhat.

"What happened to those two who disappeared?"

"It appears they are dead."

"At whose hands?"

"Someone who was sent to the Murim Alliance's Wencheng Branch this time. His martial arts are formidable."

"If he killed even Black Hand and Cheon Yangho, he must be impressive."

"I've already dealt with him."

"Dealt with him? You mean you killed him?"

"No."

Wang Gon raised his voice toward the back of the room.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Baek Socheon entered.

Baek Socheon clasped his hands in a formal salute toward Yeom Jeonggil.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Baek Socheon."

Many older masters knew Baek Socheon's name. Yeom Jeonggil knew it as well. The greatest hero of the Orthodox-Demonic War. Yet after the war ended, he had heard no more rumors about him.

A forgotten hero.

Since he had never seen him in person, he did not connect the young man before him, who appeared to be in his twenties, with that Baek Socheon. Even if he had looked old, Yeom Jeonggil would not have believed Baek Socheon could possibly be in a place like this.

In any case, Yeom Jeonggil was surprised when the person said to have killed Black Hand and Cheon Yangho entered the room. Then came an even more surprising statement.

"Martial Artist Baek has agreed to devote himself to me and headquarters from now on."

Without asking a single question, Yeom Jeonggil dismissed Baek Socheon.

"Wait outside."

After Baek Socheon left, Yeom Jeonggil narrowed his eyes.

"Are you insane?"

"He's too skilled to let go."

"Do you just take someone in without knowing what kind of man he is?"

"Before Cheon Yangho died, he used his contacts in the Murim Alliance to investigate him. His identity is certain."

"Hall Leader Wang, can you take responsibility for this?"

"I can."

"Even with your life on the line?"

"Yes. I can stake it."

Wang Gon spoke confidently. Since he had already gambled on Baek Socheon, he could not afford to show weakness now.

Once Wang Gon had staked even his life, Yeom Jeonggil calmed down somewhat. This was not something to reject out of hand. If Wang Gon was going this far, it deserved a proper look.

"Where in the Murim Alliance did he belong?"

"He was a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps."

"The Iron Sword Corps!"

That name alone carried weight among martial artists.

"Why would someone like that end up here?"

"He was a highly skilled martial artist, but his dantian was damaged, and he was driven all the way here."

"His dantian was damaged?"

"Yes."

"And he still killed Black Hand and Cheon Yangho?"

"That is why I recruited him. He's truly an exceptional master. He will be a great help to headquarters in the future."

"Could he have used hidden weapons or poison?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

In truth, he was not sure. Cheon Yangho had emphasized how skilled Baek Socheon was, so Wang Gon had simply assumed he would not have used hidden weapons.

"You handled something this serious on your own without even reporting it to headquarters."

"I was about to report it when I heard you were coming down. So I waited to tell you in person."

Wang Gon tried to remain respectful while appearing as confident as possible.

"There's a way to find out whether he's useful or not."

Wang Gon realized Yeom Jeonggil intended to test Baek Socheon.

If Yeom Jeonggil concluded that he was useless, Wang Gon would also have to answer for handling the matter unilaterally. Combined with his earlier failures and the matter of Baek Socheon, he would have a difficult time avoiding severe punishment.

'Baek Socheon, it all depends on you.'

Yeom Jeonggil and Wang Gon came outside.

Without warning, Yeom Jeonggil seized the acupoints on Baek Socheon's wrist. He then confirmed that Baek Socheon had no internal energy at all.

"So it is certain that you have no internal energy."

At least there was no deception involved, and Yeom Jeonggil relaxed his guard slightly.

Staring at Baek Socheon, Yeom Jeonggil said, "If you've become one of ours, you need to prove it."

"Give me your orders."

"Kill someone. If you accomplish this, I'll believe you."

"Who must I kill?"

Then an utterly unexpected name came from Yeom Jeonggil's mouth.

"Im Chung, Branch Chief of the Murim Alliance's Wencheng Branch."

Footnotes:

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