The Tangled Web (1)
When the man reappeared, I was watching him from above, hidden in the sky.
I had overheard their entire conversation just moments before. Despite the presence of numerous skilled fighters concealed throughout the building, none were adept enough to detect my stealthy approach into their blind spot.
[So these bastards were behind it all.]
It was the moment I realized the underground syndicate was involved, and finally, I had a firm grip on their trail. Judging by the conversation, the man was one of the ten leaders.
[I owe you, or rather, your son, a debt of gratitude.]
[It’s all thanks to our son.]
[Hahaha.]
When would I see the Heavenly Demon boast about his son again? I wanted to tease him, but I held back.
[These scoundrels have been making money through such vile means all over the central plains.]
My words only fueled the Heavenly Demon’s anger.
[They’re nothing but foul-smelling trash!]
These people had amassed more wealth than they could ever spend in a lifetime. The dark merchant and the rest of the ten leaders were no different.
[They’re addicted to destroying lives and stealing wealth.]
They were far worse than those who stole out of poverty.
[What do you plan to do now?]
[First, we need to crush these bastards. Your son and grandson could be in danger.]
[Indeed. You’ve thought it through.]
The Heavenly Demon seemed relieved.
[The problem is how to lure the others out.]
My goal was to gather the leaders of the dark syndicate in one place and take them down in one fell swoop.
But with them all in hiding after their financial ruin, it wouldn’t be easy.
[We must capture that dark merchant this time.]
[How?]
The man was being hunted by both me and the Heavenly King’s forces. He wouldn’t show himself easily.
[We need bait. Something strong enough to draw him out of hiding.]
“You’re back again?”
The woman looked troubled. She was Jirim, the granddaughter-in-law of the Heavenly Demon.
“I’ve brought medicine for your father-in-law.”
Still, she hesitated. She had been scolded by her husband for trusting strangers too easily before.
Just then, the door opened, and a young man stepped out. It was Jirim’s husband and the Heavenly Demon’s grandson, Baek Somyeong.
He blocked her path with a wary look.
“Who are you?”
“I’m someone named Hagwang. I owe your father a debt and came to repay it.”
“When and where did you receive this favor?”
As I pondered how to respond, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
[At Baekcheon Temple in Cheon-yang, Shaanxi.]
I answered as instructed, without question.
“I met him at Baekcheon Temple in Cheon-yang, Shaanxi.”
Baek Somyeong was visibly surprised.
He studied me for a moment before his demeanor changed.
“Very well. Come in.”
I followed Baek Somyeong inside and treated Baek Seongwon with his permission.
I started with an antidote to counteract the poison. It wasn’t a lethal poison, so I was able to procure the antidote from Heukshi Nanjijidan.
As the antidote took effect, Baek Seongwon’s pale face regained color.
Seeing the medicine work, Baek Somyeong and Jirim were overjoyed.
“I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Thank you so much.”
His attitude became respectful.
“No need. I’m just glad the medicine worked. But the treatment isn’t complete yet. He’ll need to take the medicine regularly for a while.”
“Though it’s shameless of me, I ask for your continued help.”
Baek Somyeong bowed his head in gratitude once more, his wife following suit.
I asked the Heavenly Demon.
[What significance does Baekcheon Temple in Cheon-yang have?]
[I once told her to contact the abbot there if she needed to reach me. Before she died, she sent a message there. I assumed she told her son about it too.]
The Heavenly Demon’s guess was spot on.
“My father told me. If ever faced with a life-threatening situation, seek help at Baekcheon Temple in Cheon-yang. It was a message from my grandmother to my father, and he passed it on to me.”
That place was the only link connecting the Heavenly Demon and his family. After his death, it lost its meaning, but it had been passed down to his grandson.
Baek Somyeong’s expression showed curiosity about how I knew of the place.
“Think of it as a favor from the past.”
“I understand.”
Realizing I wouldn’t elaborate, Baek Somyeong asked no further.
“And this is for your wife.”
I handed over a set of baby clothes I had bought at the market.
“I hope they fit, though I just guessed the size.”
“I’m sorry, but please take it back. You’ve already brought medicine and treated my father-in-law. I can’t accept a gift on top of that.”
“It’s nothing expensive. Please don’t embarrass me by refusing. Just accept it as a small token.”
Jirim looked at Baek Somyeong, who nodded in approval. Only then did she express her delight.
“Thank you. They’re lovely clothes.”
“May I hold the baby?”
“Of course.”
She handed me the baby, and I held him carefully.
“What a handsome little one.”
All parents feel the same way about their children.
Baek Somyeong beamed with pride.
“He takes after his mother, with such distinct features.”
Jirim agreed.
“And he’s handsome like his father.”
“Haha, I think he resembles both of you.”
Holding the baby was for the Heavenly Demon’s sake. So he could see his great-grandson up close. Holding him myself would evoke stronger emotions.
[They don’t know.]
[What do you mean?]
[He looks like me. Especially the nose and mouth.]
[Haha. Don’t get greedy over your great-grandson now.]
[I’m serious. He really does.]
His voice was filled with emotion.
What must he be feeling? Perhaps the greatest joy of his life.
[At least for this moment, I wish I could lend you my body.]
[Thank you, even if it’s just words.]
I meant it. It was a moment where he could see his son, grandson, granddaughter-in-law, and great-grandson all together. How could he not want to hold them himself?
I’m sorry.
Though it wasn’t my fault. He entered my body not by my choice. But this apology wasn’t about choice.
After returning the baby to Jirim, I spoke to Baek Somyeong.
“I have something important to discuss.”
A few days later, late at night, Ju-yang entered the office of Gyu Tae-bo. Once again, Gyu Tae-bo was unable to sleep.
“Still awake?”
His tone was not one of respect for a leader. It was sharp, insolent, even condescending.
“You’re here?”
It was as if their roles had reversed.
Ju-yang strode over and placed a small box on the table.
It was the antidote for Gyu Tae-bo’s granddaughter, given once a month.
When Gyu Tae-bo opened the box, it was empty.
“The antidote?”
Ju-yang replied coldly.
“There is no antidote.”
“What do you mean? What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I won’t give it to you. In other words, your granddaughter will suffer and die as her blood vessels twist in agony.”
Ju-yang felt a strange satisfaction as he uttered those cruel words.
He had expected two possible reactions from Gyu Tae-bo: anger or pleading.
Honestly, he wanted to see Gyu Tae-bo beg, clinging to his pants.
But Gyu Tae-bo’s reaction was calm as he looked at the empty box.
“Have you given up on your granddaughter?”
“She’s more precious to me than my own life. How could I give up?”
“Then your words and actions don’t match.”
“Because of this.”
Ju-yang’s gaze followed Gyu Tae-bo’s to a sword on the desk. It was Gyu Tae-bo’s treasured sword, its blade crumpled.
Ju-yang recognized the sword immediately.
“Isn’t this your sword?”
“Yes, the sword I’ve carried all my life.”
“But how did it end up like this?”
It was bizarre. If it had been broken, it wouldn’t have been so strange. But it looked as if someone had crushed it with their hand.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Just then, men entered the room. They were masked, but their movements revealed their exceptional skills.
They were subordinates of the dark syndicate, and the man leading them was the one who had reported from the butcher shop the day before.
“Let’s not waste time. Get it done.”
At the man’s command, Ju-yang stepped back, though he still looked uneasy.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“There’s no need to feel uneasy. The martial world is a place where the strong devour the weak. Besides, it won’t be you who kills him, but Baek Seongwon.”
But Ju-yang’s unease wasn’t about that. The crumpled sword was strange, and Gyu Tae-bo’s reaction was odd.
Unaware of Ju-yang’s thoughts, the man addressed Gyu Tae-bo.
“Don’t be too sad. We’ll send your family to join you soon. Once you’re all dead and reunited in the afterlife, you won’t need the antidote, and you won’t have to suffer anymore.”
With those wicked words, he ordered his men.
“Kill him!”
When the subordinates didn’t move, the man turned angrily.
“I said get rid of him, what are you…?”
In the next moment, the man’s eyes widened.
His subordinates stood frozen, and beside him was a stranger. It was none other than Byeok Lidan.
He had no idea when or how the figure had appeared beside him. But one thing was certain: this person was an extraordinary master.
As he stepped back, he shouted, “Attack together!”
Yet, the moment those words left his mouth, his subordinates collapsed in unison.
Thud, thud, thud, slump, slump, flop, thud.
They fell to the ground, lifeless. He couldn’t fathom how they had been killed. He could only speculate.
“Poison?”
If not poison, how else could his men have been silenced so swiftly and silently?
But it wasn’t poison. Blood was pooling beneath the bodies of the fallen men.
The method of their demise was the legendary Silent Blade technique of the Demon Sect. Invisible sword energy had sliced through their hearts without a sound. By the time he had ordered them to attack, they were already dead.
Ju-yang, who stood on Gyu-tae Bo’s side, was equally shocked.
“How… how is this possible?”
Ju-yang realized why Gyu-tae Bo’s behavior had been so strange. He had placed his trust in this man. Then, his eyes caught sight of the crumpled sword.
“Could it be…?”
Baek Ri-dan returned the words the man from the underworld had once said to him.
“Don’t be too disappointed. You’ll all follow soon enough.”
The man shouted desperately, “Wait! If you kill me, Baek Seong-won and his family will die too.”
Baek Ri-dan looked at him with a smirk. “Killing families is your specialty, isn’t it? Truly despicable and vile.”
“If you spare me, I’ll spare them…”
Swish.
Slash.
His head was severed, rolling across the floor.
The moment Ju-yang saw the man’s head rolling, he dropped to the ground, pleading.
“Please spare me! I had no choice! They had leverage over me and threatened to expose everything if I didn’t cooperate.”
“Of course.”
Swish.
Slice.
Ju-yang’s head also tumbled to the floor.
Baek Ri-dan didn’t bother asking what his weakness was. If, like Gyu-tae Bo, he had family or someone held hostage, he would have revealed it to save himself.
But he had no family, and he certainly wasn’t the type to sacrifice himself for others.
Gyu-tae Bo bowed deeply.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Baek Ri-dan had already diagnosed his granddaughter and found the antidote to save her.
Tears streamed down his face—tears of gratitude and repentance.
“Thank you for forgiving my sins. I promise never to sin again.”
“Remember, your granddaughter has given you a second life.”
“I understand. I will never forget this moment.”
When Gyu-tae Bo wiped his tears and looked up, Baek Ri-dan was already gone.