Chapter 62: You Don’t Know Anything (1)

Translator: hwarang

Editor: Klaurem

I made my move right after I verified that the Three Rogues had entered a Gieseng House. Since Jo Byuk gave them some money, they would be staying in there for a while.

(TL Note: Gieseng House is the entertainment house in Ancient Korea.)

This was an important time for me to think of a way get rid of them. There was something I needed in order to eliminate the Jo Byuk and his group of mercenaries.

It was a scapegoat.

Who could I use as a scapegoat here?

I didn’t need to worry too much about the Three Rogues since they were Mercenaries and n.o.body except Jo Byuk would feel remorse over their deaths.

However the problem lay with Jo Byuk, because if he died then Sa Ma Chun would start investigating on who killed him. This was where I needed a scapegoat, and villain at that since Sa Ma Chun could take revenge. Although I knew it wasn’t in Sa Ma Chun’s character to take revenge or shed a tear at Jo Byuk’s death, this was just a safety measure.

So I asked the Heavenly Net Guild’s to investigate deeper into Jo Byuk and everything that was related to him.

He gave the Three Rogues hundreds of  nyang without a care even though he wouldn’t be getting the money from Sa Ma Chun since this mission was cancelled.

Which made me wonder where he got this money from.

Did he save them from his previous life? Of course not.

Since I asked the Heavenly Net Guild to expedite the investigation, the price of was three times the original. I gave back over half the money I received from when I sold the fake piece of information. This was how the flow of money and information circulated.

I wasn’t worried or regretful of spending this much money since it originally didn’t belong to me and I could send all of them to h.e.l.l.

Of course, throughout this process I had worn different face-alteration mask each time. Aside from when I went to the Wind Tavern, or back into my inn to sleep, I always wore a face-alteration mask.

Coming out of the Heavenly Net Guild I realized the importance of having my own information network. I couldn’t always buy information like this. Since the big three information merchants were pretty big and famous they wouldn’t try to deceive their clients, but anything can happen in this world.

If I wanted to raise the strength of my Clan, having a strong information network was fundamental. Since I watched Kal Sa Ryang operate the True Heart Sect for the longest time I knew how difficult it was to maintain and operate one.

First, you needed spies and infiltrators who would gather information. Then you must have some managers who will oversee their work and give them missions, this was the role of the True Heart Sect. Since the Alliance recruited spies from within the Alliance itself it didn’t need much; however, we were different, since we don’t have such backing. We needed people who could rescue the spies when they were in a bind.

Raising spies was harder than raising martial artists; since they dealt with cla.s.sified information they must be totally loyal to you. As I was going to have spies everywhere in Central Plain I needed a decent sum of money. This was truly a challenging problem.

***

“You are late today,” Baek Pyo greeted with a smile.

“There were some things that I had to take care of, so I was pretty busy.”

“It’s good to be busy.”

“Is it really? I like to relax. I just don’t want to  do anything.”

“Ha Ha Ha. It just shows you that you are still young.”

I laughed with Baek Pyo, “So I sent a message back home to send someone. It’s pretty boring by myself.”

The person I asked to send was Kw.a.n.g Du.

Before coming here I sent Jung Yeo a message through one of the Yang Clan’s courier who was stationed here.

Before coming here, I had ordered Jung Yeo to create a carrier in Mu Han since this was where the Murim Headquarters were located and since I would be coming here more frequently.

The carrier was operated by a trained martial artist of the Yang Clan and I sent a coded message to Jung Yeo.

There were two things that I requested: One was to send two trained spies here and the other was to send Kong Su Chan and Kw.a.n.g Du here secretly.

After eliminating those four I didn’t know how the situation was going to unfold, so I decided to stay here for a bit longer, and see things through the end. Also, I wanted to see Kw.a.n.g Du and needed him for something I sent for him.

As for Kong Su Chan, I had something in mind for him. I planned on creating a store here in Mu Han. Since I didn’t want it to be related to the Byuk Clan I was going to make an independent merchant, so that we could earn money while creating a base here.

If it was another place it may not have been worth it; however, this place was Mu Han, the center of Murim Alliance, so it is definitely worth the investment.

Baek Pyo said jokingly, “More the merrier so that I could make more money and get rich faster.”

“Yes, we would be merrier.”

“Ha ha ha”

I was joking around with Baek Pyo.

Baek Pyo-ya, no matter what hardship you may face, just laugh like this and all thing will come to pa.s.s.

***

At the same time, Ma Chul Goon entered the Mengju Pavillion.

He was Ma Bong Gi’s fifth son, but he was currently the acting head of the Heavenly Dao Gate. He was tall, handsome, and charismatic, making him not look someone in his forties. He was the perfect example of a descendant of the top clans.

Sitting on the Mengju’s Chair, Ma Bong Gi watched Ma Chul Goon approach him.

Ma Chul Goon stopped about ten paces away from the Mengju’s Chair. Even though it had been quite some time since they last met, this was a fairly large distance considering that they were father and son.

“Have you been sir?”

“Have you come?”

“You seem better than ever sir.”

“You seem well as well.”

“How does it feel being at the peak sir?”

“It’s more of a headache.”

Even though the conversation sounded natural, it felt really business like.

“I took care of Jun Soo’s funeral.”

This was the reason why Ma Chul Goon visited Ma Bong Gi. Although he was only his half-brother, they were still of the same blood.

“Good.”

“I told the others but … no one else came.”

Ma Bong Gi just nodded.

“I heard that Jung Soo’s death was related to the Dark Guild. Don’t you think it is necessary to send someone? What if they do this sort of thing again?”

“I have already sent someone.”

“Who did you send?”

Ma Bong Gi changed the subject

“You must be tired from your trip. Go and rest”

“Then I will excuse myself.”

Just as Ma Chul Goon bowed and was about to leave, Ma Bong Gi called him, “Goon-ah.”

“Yes”

Ma Bong Gi was about to say what was in his heart but decided not to and said, “When will you plan on returning home?”

“Since I am here, I there are people that I must meet and some business that I must take care of.”

“I understand.”

Ma Chul Goon bowed again and left the pavilion.

Ma Bong Gi had a complicated feeling as he watched Ma Chul Goon leave the room.

Then Sa Ma Chun entered the pavilion.

Although Sa Ma Chun may be lacking in the intelligence department, he was a professional at reading people’s expressions, especially Ma Bong Gi’s. He knew what Ma Bong Gi was thinking just by the sound of his breath.

“Will you like me to accompany you for a drink?”

“Let us then.”

Ma Bong Gi left his seat and entered the secret chamber behind the Mengju’s chair with Sa Ma Chun. This was a room that was exclusive only to the Mengju.

After going down a flight of stairs, there was a large room. Originally it was a training room used by Chun Ha Jin; however, now it looked completely different. It was now decorated with paintings, extravagant furniture, and decorations. At the center of the room, there was a bed large enough to fit more than ten people. Now, this was Ma Bong Gi’s private bedroom.

The person who planned this was Sa Ma Chun. Since he was young he offered Ma Bong Gi many women, and after he became the chancellor, this was the first thing that he created.

He quickly set up the table for alcohol.

“They are ignoring me. They have been ignoring me since they were young.”

“How could they sir?”

“Ha.”

He was someone who knew Ma Bong Gi’s feeling, so although Ma Bong Gi cursed at his sons he knew that Ma Bong Gi’s favorite was Ma Chul Goon.

Since Ma Bong Gi loved his son so much he recalled all the misgiving and trouble that his son caused.

If Sa Ma Chun truly counseled Ma Bong Gi and tried to appease them, then the two of them would have a better relationship. However, Sa Ma Chun didn’t do that since he wanted Ma Bong Gi to rely on him the more Ma Bong Gi felt depressed.

Then the door opened and three beauties entered.

“At times like this it is best to empty your mind and just have fun.”

“You and you, come here!”

He sat the two of them on either side of him and started smiling at Sa Ma Chun.

Sa Ma Chun laughed and drank with him, showing that he was satisfied with only a single beauty.

There were two people waiting for Ma Chul Goon outside the Mengju Pavillion. One person was Elder No, who was Ma Chul Goon’s longtime advisor and teacher. He was someone that Ma Chul Goon trusted the most.

The other person was someone that Ma Bong Gi attached to him. While Number Seven was attached to Ma Jung Soo. Number Three was attached to Ma Chul Goon. Since he was Ma Chul Goon’s guard he was able to enter into the inner parts of the Murim Alliance.

“Have you told him?” Elder No asked

Ma Chul Goon shook his head and said, “No.”

“You must go back and tell him.”

Ma Chul Goon just nodded but didn’t have any intention of going back.

***

 I ran up the mountain to train before I retired into my bed.

The first thing that I trained was the external practices. Although internal practices might be important, the most important thing for the martial artist was their body.

Since the Practices of the White Crane was a martial art that used the whole body, it was even more important to train the body.

Although I didn’t have too great of an insight into it, I was just copying it.

It wasn’t easy trying to copy what was written in the manual.

After using my whole body to train, I felt refreshed. Or maybe it was because of the changes that a new martial art gave me.

Although this was a good feeling, I didn’t plan on changing my personal martial art.

My lifelong goal was to achieve the Spirit Sword.

There were two reasons as to why I was practicing this martial art. The first one was because it was practical. Although it rarely happened, if I lost my sword I would have to fight barehanded. Who knows if this would one day save my life?

The other reason was because of what Number Seven said. What Number Seven said to me that day enlightened me. ‘The Strongest Under the Heaven wouldn’t think like that’. He would be above the norm and try something different. Although I believed that Sword Arts and Fist Arts couldn’t be in harmony with each other, she had me consider otherwise.

That was when I had an epiphany. Something took root at that time. I was like a frog in a well, becoming too complacent with what I was comfortable with. So I was stuck in that place for so long. Originally I believed that this martial art couldn’t be incorporated into the sword arts since it used the whole body as a weapon. I would have to develop unnecessary muscles that weren’t needed for the sword arts.  However, since I was the Strongest Under the Heaven I couldn’t be bound by these beliefs.

I believed that by combining the sword art and this fist art it would allow me to break through my goal.

Bang Bang Bang!

I sent my fist, knees, elbows, and foot strikes into the air. I was as fluid as water, ever changing my attack.

The true intention of Practices of the White Crane was freedom.

***

The next day I received information on Jo Byuk from the Heavenly Net guild.

They were able to dig deeper into the things that he was involved in.

To find a decent scapegoat was almost impossible since he killed anyone that was on wrong terms with him. They would die a couple of months later, or a couple of years later, but one thing was in common. They were all dead.

From this I knew he sent the Three Rogues Three to eliminate them. He eliminated everyone who might be a threat to him.

Such an evil person.

Another thing that I learned from this was that he someone who spent lavishly. When he went out for a drink he would only drink the best wine out there, and when he went to Gieseng House he would only take the best women.

He was spending more money than he could make as Sa Ma Chun’s right-hand man.

Which means he must have some sort of money source.  

If I could find that I would be able to finish this cleanly.

Once he lost his money, any type of story can be made.

A strong breeze blew through the streets while I was walking back to the inn. It was pretty cold. It seems that the fall is coming to an end and winter will arrive soon.

“It will get cold soon.”

I wanted to live a carefree life, but Kang Ho keeps bringing me back in.