Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Doing It Again

In front of the Magistrate's temporary office.

"Let's go! Target is Banyang Trading."

One company commander shouted.

Soldiers' vigorous answers followed.

The Magistrate had just entered the office, yet troops departed this quickly.

This meant preparations were already completed.

I nodded watching that scene.

The system of trading companies and Black Path colluding had now collapsed.

"Now Luoyang can also breathe easier."

Jo Gyucheon who came with me spoke. Jogon was also beside him.

"It will. Two trading companies have already collapsed, and after Banyang collapses to the Magistrate, other trading companies won't be able to endure."

The trading company alliance Banyang led would crumble.

"Thanks to the Ink Sword Hero. In barely over ten days, to discover their identity and also subjugate them."

Jogon also interjected.

"Though many suspicious signs were caught in the Beggar's Gang's intelligence network, we didn't know there was such backing. Without the Ink Sword Hero, discovering would have taken more time."

Swift Wind was capable and Jogon was loyal.

If Luoyang branch had received sufficient support, the story would have differed.

We must catch Guyang Je.

The two also understood my meaning and nodded.

"Iron Eagle Blade, return now, but though I'm sorry, prepare to respond to my request."

"What sorry? I'll wait with a joyful heart."

Iron Eagle Blade grinned—sssik.

"Jogon, guide me to Master Swift Wind."

"Yes. I'll lead the way."

The warp thread was Beggar's Gang.

I'd asked Swift Wind to deploy surveillance if contingencies arose.

Though I wondered if mobilizing Beggar's Gang so freely was acceptable—

Black Path King? Demonic Cult? Beggar's Gang must step forward!

Swift Wind readily agreed.

Right. Since it's a request for jianghu martial world's peace, not my private gain.

Jogon and I immediately headed toward the meeting place.

While rapidly running operating lightness technique, Jogon spoke.

"Were you originally that strong?"

"Haha, strange question. Did you have some realization recently? From what I heard, you weren't this level."

Of course I gained insight immediately after returning.

Thanks to that, I reached Four-Tenths mastery of Eight Trigram Unity Technique and could easily handle most Black Path.

"Realization. Seems I'll gain it or not."

The Xun Trigram Technique deployed at the lake wasn't Four-Tenths level.

Definitely power beyond that.

"If you're that level when about to gain it or not, I'm excited for when you gain it."

"Yes, aren't you the Ink Sword Hero who defeats Luoyang's villains? Today was also tremendously fun."

"Hahahaha. Is that so?"

Just recently he was injured entangled with Captain Zhu Hochong's assassination attempt.

"Please keep helping going forward. Many fun things will happen."

We'd only touched the Demonic Cult's edge.

The fight was just beginning.

First, starting with Guyang Je.

"Master Swift Wind, I'm here! How did it go?"

If it's Beggar's Gang, a sect that would be hurt to be called second in handling information under heaven, then Guyang Je's traces— Get full chapters from novᴇlfire.net

Swift Wind's face was peculiar.

Dark, but not just dark—peculiarly—

But beads of sweat formed on Swift Wind's forehead.

"Well you see. I spread gang members widely. No, I even caught traces."

"Kreuk, don't look at me with such eyes. I caught his tail then lost him. That cunning bastard definitely used disguise."

"Don't you include disguise in contingencies?"

Jogon subtly withdrew as if he had nothing to do with this failure.

Swift Wind didn't miss that movement.

"Jogon, how did your task go? Surely you solved it well? Tell me in detail."

Though Jogon said nothing, Swift Wind nodded.

While showing me his back.

"Hm? Right. It's disguise."

"Seems there's a way to investigate more. I'm going."

"Who besides us would he investigate?"

Leaving Swift Wind's shout behind,

I operated Xun Trigram Technique and arrived at the inn.

The inn of Rogues' Guild master Mister Doo, the innkeeper.

If the warp thread was Beggar's Gang, the weft thread was Rogues' Guild.

Beggar's Gang failed.

If it's Rogues' Guild, a sect that would be hurt to be called second in handling information under heaven, then Guyang Je's traces—

Rolling—Mister Doo rolled his eyeballs.

My question was the same.

Mister Doo scratched his head.

"Weeell... yoooou seeee... Rogues' Guild members are commoners. They engage in livelihoods."

"You lost him because of livelihoods?"

"No, that's not it—we can't deploy outside the city walls."

"Aren't there guild members who travel roads engaging in livelihoods?"

Interest cooling was the same too.

"I hear he used disguise—did you fail to notice?"

"Not all guild members can see through disguise. Such members are few."

"Right, if there'd been a suspicious person, he'd have been caught. Seems Guyang Je's disguise and camouflage are excellent."

I swallowed a sip of tea the waiter brought.

Not something to criticize.

Beggar's Gang and Rogues' Guild designated a target and monitored.

Yet he deceived and escaped?

"I thought Guyang Je wouldn't be ordinary. But this is beyond that."

"Right? Actually even extraordinary ones get caught. He's beyond beyond."

What method did he use?

If I could think of the method, I could track—

"I just stopped by Beggar's Gang."

"Beggar's Gang? Did they say they found him?"

"They didn't find him."

"Is this time to be relieved?"

I stopped by Beggar's Gang.

Thoughts naturally flowed.

Captain Zhu Hochong had been hiding.

"Did you monitor guild members?"

"What if he disguised as a Rogues' Guild member? Tracking Rogues' Guild is difficult, but wouldn't identifying one member be possible?"

What if he disguised as personnel composing the surveillance network itself?

Mister Doo left without continuing.

'I hope it's not too late.'

You became a Rogues' Guild member and escaped.

Sounds alternated—one leg dragging on the ground and a staff striking earth.

"Mister Song, take it easy. Your leg isn't sound either."

Mister Song gave a gap-toothed smile.

On Mister Song's back who dragged one leg was a load of firewood.

"Must deliver to Sangyang County by today to receive pay. Where's time to rest?"

"Heuh, don't overexert yourself."

"Right. Thanks for worrying."

Colleagues carrying firewood passed by Mister Song.

And one of them sent hand signals.

Hand signals used by Rogues' Guild.

[Didn't find him. Will continue search.]

Mister Song was also a skilled Rogues' Guild member.

He quickly answered with hand signals.

[Didn't see him from my direction.]

They didn't even nod at each other. Just hand signals ended it.

Mister Song hastened his path while dragging his leg.

The firewood's weight was considerable.

Still, thinking of family at home made it doable. Shouldn't one at least put food in family's mouths? Delivering this firewood load today, he could buy the pancakes his daughter said she wanted.

Fortunately his strength was good.

With just one staff, he could carry quite much wood.

There were also kind people who paid more seeing his inconvenient leg. Today's delivery household was such.

"A grateful matter. Truly grateful."

So he must quickly deliver the firewood on his back.

Clatter—firewood rolled by the roadside.

"Right, a grateful matter. Truly grateful."

Steps that dragged one foot and leaned on a staff.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Only sounds of feet brushing occurred—the staff disappeared.

"Grateful, grateful, grateful."

Crack—straightening the ankle that brushed the ground made joint-bumping sounds.

Walking straight. Two feet planted firmly on ground and walked.

"A grateful matter. To have a bastard to disguise as nearby at such a time."

Now one man walked confidently along the mountain path left alone.

Mister Song disappeared.

Guyang Je was walking.

"Grateful, grateful, grateful."

lips trembled and the smile distorted.

"Grateful, grateful, gratefuuuul! Jin Yeomyeooong!"

No matter how much he shouted gratitude with his mouth, his heart wasn't soothed.

"Failed! I! Failed! Failed! Failed!"

Guyang Je's chest boiled with fury.

How far did he know before entering?

Did he deliberately sit at the same table as Guyang An?

Did he deliberately expose openings when fighting?

So he made him throw hidden weapons?

Failure's aftermath was harsh.

It made him doubt every situation.

"Uu... No good... My head hurts..."

His chronic headache surged.

When someone hateful appeared, this happened.

While walking, he raised demonic arts.

His qi center responded. Right, this would do. This demonic arts would do.

Just kill hateful bastards.

Killing Jin Yeomyeong would make this headache disappear too.

"A grateful matter. Grateful to that person."

Again, he put gratitude in his mouth.

This time, his mood really seemed to improve.

Since he came out disguised as a Rogues' Guild member, they'd absolutely never find him.

Just going to the hideout and waiting for opportunity would do.

With demonic arts received from that person, Jin Yeomyeong—

Guyang Je ran along the mountain path as if flying with a joyful heart.

"Found who Guyang Je disguised as! A porter carrying wood was collapsed after having acupoints subdued."

Innkeeper Mister Doo returned.

"Was he seriously injured?"

"No other injuries. If he'd been in that state long, he'd have lost his life, but fortunately discovered quickly thanks to you."

"Fortunate. Could we know his movements?"

"Will investigate more. Finding members who met the porter should do, so there'll be results. Stay home and I'll send someone."

First fortune that the person wasn't seriously injured.

Second fortune that Guyang Je's tail was barely visible.

"Though shameless while requesting, please investigate as quickly as possible."

Innkeeper Mister Doo looked at me anew.

"While that bastard drew in Black Path, many members were injured or had work cut off. Even we didn't know Black Path were all connected behind the scenes. You solved that."

Come to think of it, when Black Path run wild, commoners live difficultly. Especially powerless people more so.

"Chasing Guyang Je is also guild members' revenge. I'll confirm as quickly as possible."

Feels like approaching close.

I clasped hands in greeting and went outside.

If a pursuit unfolds, I'll be away from home again.

Should explain to Jayeong and stay together even briefly before leaving.

Change Taebok's diaper too, make eye contact too.

Before even reaching the alley, someone called me.