WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 27: If I Had Not Changed My Mind (2)

──────

"The Zhejiang Division Chief came down in person?"

Yeom Jeonggil frowned at Baek Socheon's report.

"He came down personally to investigate Cheon Yangho's disappearance."

"Damn it. Of all times."

Wang Gon, who was with them, looked irritated, but inwardly, he was rejoicing.

'This might be for the best.'

When Yeom Jeonggil gave that insane order, Wang Gon had hoped Baek Socheon would somehow pass the test.

But thinking about it calmly, there was nothing beneficial about the Branch Chief of a Murim Alliance branch in his territory being killed. A different kind of test would be much better for him.

"Wasn't Cheon Yangho the real power in the Zhejiang Division? This is serious enough for the Division Chief to come personally."

"Isn't all this because of that bastard?"

Baek Socheon protested under Yeom Jeonggil's displeased gaze.

"Because Cheon Yangho tried to kill me."

Yeom Jeonggil glared at him even more fiercely, as if asking where he got the nerve to speak so carelessly. Baek Socheon deliberately looked away as though frightened.

Baek Socheon's erratic behavior was intentional. People tended to focus on such behavior rather than what lay beneath it.

Wang Gon cautiously made a suggestion.

"I think we should postpone eliminating Im Chung until after the Division Chief leaves. If the Branch Chief is murdered while the Division Chief is at the branch, he'll do everything he can to catch the culprit. If that happens..."

Yeom Jeonggil cut him off.

"Kill him anyway."

Wang Gon was stunned. He had not expected Yeom Jeonggil to insist on killing Im Chung even in this situation. A curse rose to his lips.

'Honestly! This bastard is beyond saving!'

In contrast, Baek Socheon, the one who had received the order, looked as though he had been waiting for it.

"Let's do it. Since things have come to this, let's make it spectacular."

Baek Socheon turned and strode toward the door. Yeom Jeonggil did not stop him.

Just as he was about to open it and leave, Yeom Jeonggil finally spoke.

"How do you intend to eliminate him?"

Baek Socheon turned back.

"I'll break into the Branch Chief's house in the middle of the night and get rid of him."

"I heard he has a family."

"I'll get rid of them all. That way, it'll look like the work of whoever killed Liang Qiu, won't it? A brutal bastard who kills entire families. Then no one will suspect us."

The threat Wang Gon had once made to Im Chung had now come full circle, becoming words Baek Socheon spoke to Yeom Jeonggil.

After saying that, Baek Socheon made to leave again.

Only then did Yeom Jeonggil's test come to an end.

"Put this matter on hold for now."

Baek Socheon instead tried to insist on carrying out the order.

"Since we've already brought it up..."

"This isn't a suggestion. It's an order."

Only after Yeom Jeonggil barked at him did Baek Socheon back down.

"Understood."

Baek Socheon left. As he walked away, a cold smile appeared on his face.

'That decision just saved your life.'

Yeom Jeonggil could not have known it, but if he had not changed his mind, Baek Socheon would have found a way to kill him.

The only reason Baek Socheon had spared Yeom Jeonggil despite receiving the order to kill Im Chung was that he believed Yeom Jeonggil could still be useful in finding Master Jong.

Once Baek Socheon was gone, Yeom Jeonggil spoke coldly.

"What a piece of trash."

He did not fully trust Baek Socheon, but when Baek Socheon said he would break into Im Chung's house and kill his family as well, Yeom Jeonggil had felt killing intent from him.

'Killing intent I can feel despite him having no internal energy?'

That could only mean he was truly evil.

Everything about him grated on Yeom Jeonggil's nerves, but that was also why he found him somewhat believable. If Baek Socheon were hiding something, he would only have tried to curry favor with him.

Of course, that did not mean his suspicions had vanished completely. His wariness of Baek Socheon had only lessened by one layer.

"He's someone we need to watch a little longer."

It was no longer because of Wang Gon. Yeom Jeonggil himself had begun to feel curious about Baek Socheon.

* * *

Baek Socheon went straight to Im Chung and delivered the news.

"The order to kill you has been put on hold."

"Ah!"

For a moment, Im Chung could not speak. He trusted Baek Socheon, but his life had still been on the line.

"Thank you. You've saved me again, Brother."

"What are you thanking me for? I'm sorry I didn't beat Yeom Jeonggil to a pulp right away. If I handled him carelessly, I thought the Mythic Gang might retreat into its shell."

"You truly intend to take on the entire Mythic Gang."

"I told you, didn't I? Either turn a blind eye completely, or if you're going to get involved, do it properly."

"Yes."

"Don't be afraid. Bastards who do this kind of thing always turn out to be insignificant in the end. Think of it the other way around. How insignificant must they be to commit such acts?"

"Yes!"

This time, Im Chung's reply carried more strength than before.

"Ah, do me a favor."

"Just say the word."

They had responded to the other side's move. Now it was time to make one of their own.

"You need to shake up Jeong Pung."

* * *

Im Chung entered the office where Jeong Pung had taken up residence.

"I came because there is something I would like to discuss."

"What is it?"

"I think we should ask a friend at headquarters for help in resolving this case."

At the mention of headquarters, Jeong Pung grimaced.

"What kind of help?"

"No matter how I look at it, this case is unusual. If someone murdered a Murim Alliance Unit Commander, I believe headquarters needs to address it."

"Chief Im."

"Yes, Corps Commander."

"Cheon was a member of our division. He was directly under me. Shouldn't our division handle this matter? If I can't even resolve something like this, what will headquarters think of me?"

"What if the problem grows worse?"

"You've changed."

Jeong Pung's gaze and tone both turned cold.

"Pardon?"

"You weren't like this before. Don't tell me you've gotten carried away after dealing with a single Black Society group?"

"Please don't misunderstand. That is not the case."

Jeong Pung's tone softened slightly.

"I understand your determination to resolve the case, but this is something our division must handle."

When Im Chung tried to say more, Jeong Pung waved his hand, signaling that this was enough and telling him to leave.

Im Chung bowed and headed out, then turned around at the door.

"If you truly intend to solve this case, seek Martial Artist Baek's help. He has kept something from me, but he clearly knows something."

* * *

A short while later, Baek Socheon entered Jeong Pung's office.

Jeong Pung had summoned Baek Socheon rather than going to see him himself, apparently out of pride.

The moment Baek Socheon entered, Jeong Pung asked bluntly.

"Do you know who killed Liang Qiu?"

"I have an idea."

"Then why haven't you told us?"

"Then let me ask you something. You knew the Black Society was harassing common people, didn't you? Why did you leave them alone? Was it because you knew the Mythic Gang stood behind them?"

"What are you talking about?"

Their voices rose from the very start.

"How am I supposed to trust someone like you enough to tell you who slaughtered Liang Qiu's family?"

"You have a duty to report what you know."

"Branch Chief Im must have told you. Liang Qiu met with misfortune while investigating the Mythic Gang's new business. Did you hear that?"

"I did."

"Then you should have begun investigating the Mythic Gang. Instead, you have no intention of investigating them, and you summon me here to lecture me about duty. You expect me to trust you after that? Tell me honestly. Are you taking money from the Mythic Gang?"

"Be silent! You may think I'm incompetent, but I am not corrupt."

Judging by his reaction, he did not appear to be taking bribes. Still, Baek Socheon did not fully trust him. In his experience, truly evil people were excellent actors and liars.

"If you're truly innocent, start by investigating the Mythic Gang."

"The Mythic Gang is an orthodox sect."

"So? You believe that means they couldn't commit such acts? Or have you decided to believe it so you can avoid anything dangerous and troublesome?"

It was closer to the latter, so Jeong Pung could not say anything.

"You said it yourself, didn't you? That I'm someone who must see blood. Fine, perhaps you're right. But don't think that blood won't be yours. Yes, this is a threat. So either help with all your strength, or return to the division. Don't get in my way."

"I truly dislike you, but I will stay this time. For the sake of proving my innocence."

"At least say you're staying to uncover the truth behind the unjust deaths of those people."

Bang!

Unable to contain his anger, Jeong Pung slammed his fist onto the desk. Im Chung's prized desk shattered into pieces.

Only after driving him to his limit did Baek Socheon's attitude soften.

"Fine. I believe you're innocent, so I'll give you one piece of information. Yeom Jeonggil is currently in Wencheng."

"Hero Yeom?"

Jeong Pung also knew Yeom Jeonggil well. He was one of the Mythic Gang's Four Great Martial Artists, someone who did not step forward unless the matter was extremely important.

Before leaving, Baek Socheon drove in one final wedge.

"You have watched them grow in Zhejiang Province over the past few years. So ask yourself honestly. Are they truly a sect that can be trusted?"

Jeong Pung could not answer. He could only watch Baek Socheon walk away.

* * *

That night, Cheon Geuk came to Baek Socheon's residence.

"I heard the Division Chief came down."

"We called him."

"I thought so. I found it strange that the Division Chief had moved personally."

In other words, she knew Jeong Pung's character well.

"You people are still digging into our affairs."

"Let's call it customer service."

"Not victim management?"

"Don't you know? You people make a huge number of requests to us. It may sound ridiculous, but it's true."

"There are enemies we can't deal with directly. If we did, we would provoke the Black Heaven Alliance, so we leave the job to people like you."

"So you knew."

"It's nothing more than using poison to fight poison. So don't compare the Murim Alliance to creatures like you."

"Hey, noble and proud Rank-and-file Martial Artist of the great Murim Alliance."

Cheon Geuk stared at Baek Socheon for a long while.

"You asked to see me. Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Why do you defend the Murim Alliance so fiercely? The Murim Alliance abandoned you."

"Can someone abandon another person without them even knowing?"

"If it's unrequited love, it can happen."

The two fell silent for a while.

Cheon Geuk did not provoke Baek Socheon any further. She did not know exactly what had happened to him, but she knew that the Murim Alliance was an object of both love and hatred to Baek Socheon.

"By the way, why did you call for me?"

"I found out who placed the assassination commission."

"Ah!"

Cheon Geuk's face brightened.

"There is someone called Master Jong in the Mythic Gang. He personally placed the assassination commission with the Seven Sword Society. That should be enough information for you to handle it yourself, right? I've kept my promise, so you keep yours."

The promise was to take him to Radiant Assassin.

"Since you're helping, why not help me all the way? If I move now, the Seven Sword Society might catch on."

"What will you give me if I help?"

Baek Socheon was not in a position to go meet Radiant Assassin right now anyway. Yeom Jeonggil was watching him closely, and the Division Chief had come down and was observing him as well.

"Can't you do it without conditions? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"What would I gain from looking wonderful to you?"

"Who knows? Maybe I'll sleep with you once..."

"Forget it. Pay me instead. One hundred thousand nyang!"

Cheon Geuk's expression instantly hardened.

"That is an enormous insult!"

"Hey, that's a whole one hundred thousand nyang. That's what I'm giving up for one night with you. How is that an insult?"

Cheon Geuk became confused for a moment. His words sounded strangely plausible.

'Ah! Is that what he meant?'

For it to be touching, though, it should have been the other way around.

When Cheon Geuk offered one hundred thousand nyang, he should have asked to sleep with her once instead of taking the money.

That was when it would have worked, but Cheon Geuk did not think that far.

"Fine, I'll give you one hundred thousand nyang."

"I'll bring Master Jong before you. After that, you deal with him."

"That will be enough. But the one hundred thousand nyang will be paid afterward."

"Fine."

Baek Socheon had named one hundred thousand nyang intending to haggle down to around thirty thousand. Yet she accepted so easily that he was the one left flustered.

As she left Baek Socheon's residence, she hummed to herself.

'One hundred thousand nyang... So that's how much you think one night with me is worth.'

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried