CRD 19

Chapter 19

“Hmm?”

Hwang In-hwa (黃仁花), walking down the street, suddenly turned her head at the bustling noise she sensed.

In the distance, a large crowd had gathered tightly together. They seemed to be watching something, yet hesitant to get any closer.

It was sheer pandemonium.

“What’s going on?”

At the question from her escort warrior, Myeong (明), Hwang In-hwa shook her head.

“No. Let’s go take a look together.”

“Yes.”

The two headed toward the crowd.

With every step closer, Hwang In-hwa felt increasingly uneasy.

“Isn’t that where the Black Tiger Gang is?”

Myeong nodded.

“That’s where their main headquarters is.”

Calling it a “headquarters” was laughable for a band of black-market thugs, but for the Black Tiger Gang, it was understandable.

Hwang In-hwa unconsciously furrowed her brows.

“What is this…?”

She had a bad feeling.

As they drew closer, voices from the crowd became clearer.

“One person? Just one?”

“I’m telling you! The front gate suddenly exploded, and screams came from inside!”

“Did some nameless master finally lose patience and attack the Black Tiger Gang?”

“These days? What kind of righteous hero would do that? I heard he was some really skinny young guy.”

“A skinny young man? Then he probably came to borrow money.”

“That doesn’t explain all the gang members collapsed behind the gate! He was definitely a master!”

Hwang In-hwa’s eyes wavered.

“Someone attacked the Black Tiger Gang?”

Even if it wasn’t considered a major demonic faction, the Black Tiger Gang wasn’t something to scoff at.

Of course, compared to the Ten Swords Sect or the Hong Clan Sword Family she belonged to, they were nothing—but within the streets of Wuhan, aside from those two, hardly any force could rival the Black Tiger Gang.

Perhaps the Murong Clan? Even they would struggle now.

And yet, it sounded like a single unknown youth had done it alone.

“Who on earth…?”

Reading her expression, Myeong pushed through the crowd.

“Make way.”

“Hey—who do you think you are?!”

“I said, move.”

He didn’t draw his sword, but the gaze of a trained martial artist was more than ordinary people could withstand.

“Ah—s-sorry!”

The crowd parted on its own.

Hwang In-hwa walked through the path Myeong opened, not sparing a glance at anyone.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Isn’t that Miss Hwang In-hwa of the Ten Swords Sect?”

“The Sect Leader’s second daughter?”

“Good heavens, seeing her up close like this… she’s like a fairy.”

“But don’t her eyes seem kind of sharp?”

At the woman muttering criticism, Myeong glared fiercely.

“Eek!”

She immediately shrank back, disappearing into the crowd.

The noisy atmosphere grew heavy.

The Ten Swords Sect, alongside the Hong Clan Sword Family, represented Wuhan. Though not officially a great sect, their wealth was immense, and they had even more warriors than the Hong Clan.

Naturally, ordinary citizens couldn’t help but tread carefully around someone from the Ten Swords Sect—let alone the Sect Leader’s daughter and her escort.

Hwang In-hwa paid no attention to their gazes.

She was accustomed to this kind of attention.

What mattered now wasn’t people staring—it was who had attacked the Black Tiger Gang.

Soon—

Upon reaching the front gate, Hwang In-hwa froze.

“This is…?”

The gate had been completely destroyed.

The Black Tiger Gang made money through salt trafficking and countless illegal ventures, so their walls and gate were large and extravagant.

And now, that gate lay utterly crushed.

“The locking bar was completely shattered,” Myeong said, tension on his face.

“There are faint scorch marks around the broken bar and handle.”

“What does that mean?”

“Someone used projected force. Rotational projected force to amplify the power.”

“……!”

“A master.”

Even with systematic training from childhood, it took at least ten years to use projected force properly—and that was only for those with exceptional talent. Most people didn’t manage it until well into their twenties.

Without proper instruction or sufficient skill, even reaching one’s thirties didn’t guarantee true mastery.

Even Myeong himself had only succeeded in releasing projected force through his sword in his mid-twenties.

“Let’s go in.”

“My lady?”

Myeong spoke cautiously.

“This could be dangerous.”

Not because of the attacker.

As her close escort, Myeong knew many secrets of the Ten Swords Sect. If those secrets were exposed, it would endanger not only her, but the sect itself.

“All the more reason to go in.”

She needed to see what had happened firsthand—so she could respond if necessary.

Myeong disliked it.

Despite her composed and intelligent appearance, Hwang In-hwa lacked real experience in the martial world and had a tendency to act impulsively.

But he couldn’t refuse her order.

“Very well. But we’ll only step into the outer courtyard.”

“Fine.”

They entered through the shattered gate.

What greeted them was a horrifying sight.

“Ugh…”

“Kh—hrrk…”

Black Tiger Gang members lay scattered everywhere.

Not a single one was unharmed. Roughly seventy percent appeared dead, their skulls smashed or chests caved in—grotesque deaths.

“Hh—!”

Hwang In-hwa instinctively held her breath, her face turning pale.

Even children of martial sects rarely saw scenes like this—especially those raised as carefully as she was.

Swish.

Myeong stepped directly in front of her, blocking her view.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

“…I’m fine.”

She said so, but her trembling voice betrayed her.

Naturally.

Myeong never thought her weak. Even he, with several real battles under his belt, felt his heart pounding.

“This is terrifying…”

There were easily over fifty bodies.

Weapon racks lay shattered, and cracks ran along the walls—marks where bodies had been flung into them.

“One person…? Just one?”

Judging by the aftermath, it looked like three or four house-sized tigers had rampaged through the place.

Myeong spoke tensely.

“My lady, we must leave.”

“Why?”

“This man is no ordinary master. If he were to turn his blade on you, even I couldn’t guarantee your safety.”

Hwang In-hwa was startled.

Myeong’s martial skill ranked within the top ten of the Ten Swords Sect—and even he lacked confidence?

At that moment—

“AAAAAAAH!”

A blood-curdling scream tore through the Black Tiger Gang compound.

* * *

Thud.

Choi Ho lifted his head, eyes trembling.

“You really hoarded a lot, you bastard.”

The IOUs and contracts Murong Bi had brought weighed nearly five gwan in total.

But that wasn’t what shocked Choi Ho.

“So—that is…?!”

“What kind of secret ledger gets dressed up with a blood-red cover?”

How did he find it?

Choi Ho couldn’t understand. The gang leader’s room was large, with countless hiding places.

Even if the room burned down entirely, that ledger must never be discovered.

Sitting on the steps, Murong Bi opened the red ledger.

Moments later—

“Oh?”

A broad smile spread across his face.

But his eyes were cold—clear, sharp, burning with fury.

“So you kept records of everything you offered to the people backing you.”

“L-Lord! That is—!”

“I figured as much. No way scum like you could openly run businesses in Wuhan without protection.”

Murong Bi tucked the ledger into his robes.

“This will be very useful. I’ll take it.”

“If that leaks, I’ll be killed!”

“And you think you won’t die now?”

“…What?”

“You think you’re safe in my hands?”

“But I gave you the IOUs! The money collected from small notes—!”

“I said repay one hundred thousand taels with interest. So what?”

“….”

“When did I say I’d spare your life?”

Despair flooded Choi Ho’s face.

It was barely even wordplay, but the situation was too dire to argue.

A man who’d lived by trickery all his life now fell for it like any fool when cornered.

“Have some shame. Scamming martial artists is one thing, but destroying countless families and expecting to live? Your character is beyond redemption.”

“L-Lord!”

“Shouldn’t you be begging me to kill you?”

Murong Bi tilted his head.

“You want to live as a drooling wreck, clinging to this hateful world?”

“…!!”

“If you really want, I can let you live.”

Choi Ho’s pitiful eyes transformed into those of a feral wildcat, burning with rage.

“You bastard! How are you any different from me?! Don’t you beat people? Take money? Kill?!”

He screamed, decades of resentment pouring out.

“That’s just how the world works! The weak get eaten, the strong survive! What makes you so damn righteous?! What did I do so wrong?!”

“That’s exactly why you’re like this.”

“What?!”

“You’re weaker than me.”

“…!!”

Murong Bi’s lips curled upward.

“Your lack of conscience is your problem. Ruining families—sure, I’m not exactly clean myself. But you messed with me.”

“….”

“A hundred taels turning into one thousand eighty? Even now it pisses me off. Usury should at least be reasonable. That kind of interest didn’t exist even twenty years ago, you bastard.”

Choi Ho’s body trembled violently.

Strength failed. Words failed. Logic failed. Everything he’d done came crashing back at once.

“Ghh—!”

Foam bubbled from his mouth.

He used to mock debtors for foaming at the mouth from stress—now he understood.

“Anyway.”

Murong Bi lit a firestarter and tossed it onto the bed.

Black smoke soon rose by the window.

“Today was refreshingly satisfying. Even had a drink for once.”

“W-Wait!”

Tears welled in Choi Ho’s eyes.

“Please spare me! I’ll serve you like a dog—!”