The Master of the Elixir (2)
That afternoon, I arrived at the Murim Alliance’s Gokbu branch.
Typically, a small branch like this one would have around fifty members, and this place was no exception.
I donned expensive clothes and wore a human-skin mask, which I had purchased from a martial arts supply store that sold all sorts of miscellaneous items.
The mask wasn’t actually made from human skin. While it was true that real skin was used in the past, nowadays, it simply meant the mask was crafted with exceptional skill.
Few in this martial world knew as much about these masks as I did.
During the war with the Sima faction, I wore a mask almost daily for my safety as the leader. Those were times when assassins were sent from the enemy camp several times a day.
Generally, these masks are categorized into lower, middle, upper, and top grades. The lower grade was obvious to anyone, the middle grade could only be distinguished by those with a keen eye, the upper grade was indistinguishable unless you were a mask expert, and the top grade was so well-made that even experts couldn’t tell. I usually wore the top grade.
I spent a considerable amount of money to buy an upper-grade mask.
You might be shocked to hear that a single mask costs a thousand nyang, but masks have always been expensive.
In the martial world, the ability to change one’s face holds significant meaning. If it’s just a playful accessory, it might be worth a few nyang, but if it can save your life, its value becomes immeasurable.
With the upper-grade mask, new clothes, and a changed voice, I became a completely different person. The reason for going to such lengths was to deceive him.
Though I was tempted to drag him out and beat the truth out of him, there was a wiser and more certain solution.
“Who are you here to see?”
I didn’t hide my true aura from the gatekeepers. As a result, they would perceive me as a formidable martial artist.
“I’m here to see the branch leader.”
The martial artist eyed me cautiously, likely due to my confident demeanor.
“Where should I say you’re from?”
“Tell them I’m from the Heavenly Blade Sect.”
The mention of the Heavenly Blade Sect startled the gatekeeper. The Heavenly Blade Sect was one of the Five Great Forces of the Central Plains, the most powerful factions in the martial world.
If not for me, these five families might have been vying for supremacy. They were families and sects with immense power.
I had subdued them with my own strength. They knew that if they stood out like a nail, they’d be hammered down by me, so they didn’t act recklessly.
“Who should I say is here from the Heavenly Blade Sect?”
“Would you even know if I told you? Just take me to the branch leader.”
“Please, wait a moment.”
One of the gatekeepers hurriedly ran inside.
I was well-versed in the inner workings of the Five Great Forces.
Among them, the Heavenly Blade Sect was the one I knew best and could impersonate most convincingly.
The reason was simple. The sect leader, Ma Bong-gi, had a complicated history with women. He had over ten women and countless descendants, to the point where even he was said to be confused about who was who. His siblings were no different, making it a truly complex family.
But regardless of whether one knew these details, the name of the Heavenly Blade Sect carried weight. As evidenced by the gatekeepers’ quickened actions.
Soon, I was led to the branch leader’s office.
“What a mess of discipline.”
They didn’t even properly verify who I was, just because I wore expensive clothes and claimed to be from the Heavenly Blade Sect. If I were an assassin here to kill the branch leader, he’d be as good as dead.
Even though this was a small branch far from the main headquarters, this was a matter that should be severely punished according to the alliance’s rules.
The branch leader’s name was Gong Jong, the very person Guangdu referred to as Gong the Hero. He had the appearance and demeanor befitting the title of a hero.
“Welcome! You say you’re from the Heavenly Blade Sect?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask your esteemed name?”
“Ma Yeong-chung. The current sect leader is my uncle.”
Gong Jong bowed his head.
“I’ve heard of your esteemed name. It’s an honor to meet you.”
It was the usual pleasantries, but amusing if you knew the truth.
Ma Yeong-chung did exist, but he was a recluse within the family, hardly known to outsiders. What did he mean he’d heard of the name?
“Please, have a seat here.”
Gong Jong guided me to the seat of honor.
I walked over and sat down, but inwardly, I was filled with disdain.
No matter how powerful the other party might be, he was still the branch leader of the Murim Alliance. And Ma Yeong-chung wasn’t even a direct heir. If a direct descendant of the Heavenly Blade Sect had come, would he have prostrated himself?
Perhaps it was my preconceived notion that he might be in league with Gwak Do-su. Everything about him was irritating.
But I forced myself to set aside my discomfort. Prejudices would cloud my judgment.
We exchanged a few words.
I subtly revealed some inside information about the Heavenly Blade Sect, knowledge I had as the leader of the Murim Alliance.
To him, it would seem like information only Ma Yeong-chung would know.
Gong Jong asked about a few things he’d heard regarding the Heavenly Blade Sect. Of course, there was nothing I didn’t know. I even corrected some misconceptions, which seemed to finally earn his trust.
Eventually, I broached the main topic.
“The reason I’ve come here is to discuss something important.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I’ve been tracking someone from our sect.”
“Who might that be?”
“A man named Gwak Do-su.”
At the mention of Gwak Do-su, I noticed a slight flicker in Gong Jong’s eyes. It was more than just surprise at an unexpected name.
“Why are you looking for Gwak Do-su?”
“Do you know who Gwak Do-su is?”
“Ah, of course. He’s a notorious criminal with a hefty bounty on his head.”
“That’s right. That very man. I’ve received information that he staged a hostage situation here. I heard you mediated the incident.”
“Yes, that did happen.”
“Who was the fool involved?”
“Pardon?”
“The one who was taken hostage.”
“Oh, it was the heir of the Byeok Clan, Byeok Ri-dan.”
“A foolish man, indeed.”
Gong Jong gave a knowing smile, as if he couldn’t bring himself to say it outright.
“I heard they were seen together?”
He lowered his voice as he replied.
“Sometimes, you have to drink with fools, don’t you?”
“True enough. Hahaha.”
Thinking his joke had landed, Gong Jong laughed along, easing the atmosphere.
“But why are you looking for Gwak Do-su, Ma Dae-hyeop?”
At the mention of “Dae-hyeop,” I naturally switched to informal speech, casting a bait to catch him.
“He committed a grave offense against our sect. All our martial artists are out searching for him.”
At that moment, there was a second reaction. Gong Jong’s face stiffened slightly, and his eyes trembled. He was clearly trying to hide his panic.
This reaction confirmed my suspicion.
There was some connection between Gong Jong and Gwak Do-su.
If he had conspired with Gwak Do-su and involved Byeok Ri-dan, Gong Jong would have no excuse to avoid execution. A branch leader of the Murim Alliance associating with a notorious criminal was a crime punishable by death.
“What crime did he commit?”
“It’s an internal matter, so I can’t disclose it. But this is a very important case, even drawing the attention of the elders. You can tell by the urgency with which I came here alone.”
I preemptively addressed any doubts about my lack of an entourage.
“Of course.”
“Since our sect is involved, it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught. Let me be honest with you, Branch Leader Gong. I want to catch him before anyone else from our sect does. I want to prove my abilities are superior to the other heirs.”
Gong Jong swallowed hard. He must have been having all sorts of thoughts.
This was the moment to cast the strongest bait.
“Wouldn’t you like to advance to the central headquarters?”
At the mention of the central headquarters, Gong Jong’s eyes lit up. I knew that many local administrators of the Murim Alliance dreamed of advancing to the main headquarters.
Advancing to the central headquarters.
And with the backing of the Heavenly Blade Sect?
“If you find Gwak Do-su’s whereabouts, I’ll ensure you’re sent to the main headquarters.”
Gong Jong’s eyes wavered.
“Are you serious?”
“I need trustworthy people at the main headquarters too. I promise on the name of the Heavenly Blade Sect.”
To leave no room for doubt, I stood up. At times like this, staying seated too long would be counterproductive. Retreating was a way to apply pressure.
“I’ll be waiting for your contact. But you must find out as quickly as possible. You don’t have much time to seize this opportunity.”
This was the final test.
If he found out “as quickly as possible,” it would mean he was confessing his guilt “as quickly as possible.”
The outcome was as I expected. Two days later, Gong Jong came to the inn where I was staying.
“I’ve risked everything to find out.”
He found out the man’s whereabouts in just two days? Unless the entire Murim Alliance’s forces were mobilized under Galsaryang’s command, how?
If he could find out so easily, why hadn’t he captured the criminal until now? What answer could he give to that?
But blinded by ambition, he was admitting to being in league with Gwak Do-su. He must have already known Gwak Do-su’s whereabouts and spent the last two days verifying if I was truly Ma Yeong-chung.
However, in just two days, there was no way to uncover that I was a fake Ma Yeong-chung. He likely only confirmed a few of the stories I had let slip.
He was bound to be deceived. The information I had leaked was of such high caliber that it was almost irresistible.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s in Jinan.”
Jinan! By sheer luck, it was the very place where the Black Market’s Jinan branch was located. Gwak Dosu had hidden himself in a bustling city.
“Where in Jinan?”
“I don’t know the exact location.”
My expression hardened instantly.
“Are you playing games with me? Do you expect me to search all of Jinan?”
He quickly responded, “No, of course not. There’s a way to find him. There’s something he’s absolutely obsessed with.”
“And what’s that?”
“Gambling. He’d sell his own child for a game. If you search the gambling dens in Jinan, you’ll likely find him.”
“Not exactly solid information, is it?”
“No, I’m certain he’s there. We suspect all the murders he committed were to fund his gambling.”
“Alright, I’ll trust your word.”
“And take a look at this.”
He pulled out a piece of paper with a sketch of the man’s face.
“He’s got a distinctive scar on his left cheek. You can’t miss it.”
It was a betrayal, clear as day.
“If I catch him, I’ll make sure you’re promoted to deputy leader of the main branch of the Martial Alliance.”
He added a touch of realism to the offer.
“Though it might be a small branch.”
Even so, it was an extraordinary leap from a backwater branch manager to deputy leader of the main branch.
“I’ll serve you with utmost loyalty.”
Gongjong bowed deeply.
“Keep this operation strictly confidential.”
“Of course.”
“And what’s the bounty on his head?”
“Five thousand nyang.”
“Twenty thousand nyang, you say? That’s quite a sum.”
I deliberately inflated the amount by fifteen thousand nyang.
At first, he seemed to think he misheard.
“Not twenty thousand, but…”
But seeing my stern expression, he quickly corrected himself.
“Yes, twenty thousand nyang.”
He was well-versed in bribery and understood my implication immediately. To advance to the central branch, that much was necessary.
He likely had that much stashed away from his corrupt dealings. Five thousand nyang extorted from his father, with interest, would make it ten thousand.
“How would you like the payment? I can send it via a bank transfer…”
“Untraceable small-denomination notes.”
“Understood.”
“And bring the money to Jinan in three days. Once I hand over that useless man’s head, I’ll return to the main branch immediately. It’s best to proceed quickly, don’t you think?”
“Yes, of course.”
We arranged a meeting place not far from the Black Market.
If everything went smoothly, I could reach the Black Market within the promised time.
As I stood to leave, he cautioned me.
“Be careful. He’s a vicious man.”
If he slaughtered an innocent family over gambling, he’s the worst of the worst. And you, who profited by partnering with such a monster, are no better. We’ll see what becomes of these two villains.
“See you in three days.”