Where Did This Wind Come From? (3)
The exact amounts were decided.
The top three ranks would receive five thousand nyang, ranks four to ten would get three thousand nyang, and the remaining up to rank twenty would receive one thousand nyang. The money was allocated according to the hierarchy of each faction.
It was Cheongsongmun’s leader, Gwak Tae, and Guryongbang’s leader, Seok Mondo, who spearheaded this initiative.
Though it seemed like they had consulted various families to determine the amounts, I was certain it was Ma Jeongsu who had set the figures in advance. The way everything proceeded so smoothly was a clear indication.
It was no small sum. When combined, it amounted to tens of thousands of nyang—a significant fortune. The bigger issue was that this demand might not be a one-time occurrence.
Since Ma Jeongsu hadn’t directly asked for the money, it was impossible to hold him accountable. On the surface, he had merely exchanged pleasantries and asked for help.
Naturally, the factions were displeased. Not only was it frustrating to part with hard-earned money, but it was also a blow to their pride. They must have wondered what he took them for.
Yet, they couldn’t openly oppose it.
In such matters, the first to step forward often bore the brunt of the backlash. Unless they were prepared to openly defy Cheondomun, they had no choice but to comply.
This was something unimaginable under the previous leader, leaving everyone bewildered about how to handle the situation.
Song Woo-gyeong commented on the matter:
“This is like a natural disaster. All we can do is sigh as we watch the rain pour.”
My father said nothing in response.
Late at night, feeling suffocated by the air in my room, I went out for a walk.
The inner garden of Byeok’s Sword Clan was beautifully maintained. The trees and flowers were thriving, thanks to the meticulous care of the general manager, who, despite his gruff demeanor, had a keen eye for detail.
As I strolled through the garden, I saw someone standing ahead. It was my father.
“Father?”
“What brings you out so late?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Why aren’t you resting?”
“I can’t sleep either.”
Father looked deeply troubled. It was likely because of what happened that day. It was a humiliation suffered in front of his child. No parent wants to show weakness in front of their children.
It must have been painful. More so than any hardship he had faced before.
Moreover, he had to make a decision he didn’t want to.
“We’ve decided to contribute to the fund.”
His voice trembled slightly. I understood why he made this choice.
It wasn’t because he feared the threats. He wasn’t the type to yield to such intimidation. But the threat involving me must have weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn’t risk standing alone and having me suffer the consequences.
I smiled broadly and said, “You did the right thing.”
Father seemed surprised by my reaction.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Isn’t it written in the Art of War? When the enemy is strong, it’s wise to retreat temporarily. It’s not your resolve or will that’s retreating, just a strategic withdrawal.”
I wasn’t just saying this to comfort him. I meant it sincerely, and it applied to me as well.
“Thank you for seeing it that way.”
Because I respected my father… I couldn’t forgive them.
Father, hold on. I will take revenge for this.
If this was an emotional decision related to my father, then yes, I admit it.
That day, in a fit of anger, I wanted to don a mask and go after them immediately.
But that wasn’t the right course of action. Assassinating him should be the last resort.
Realistically, the martial skills of Hwasun Nodae and Sigon, who protected him, were formidable. Even one of them wouldn’t be easy to handle, and they had an unknown female master with them. Ma Jeongsu himself was no pushover.
It would require a surprise attack and divide-and-conquer tactics to have any chance of success.
The problem was that even if such a situation could be created, it had to be approached with caution.
First, I needed to determine whether this was Ma Jeongsu’s personal scheme or if it was orchestrated by Ma Bong-gi.
If it was Ma Jeongsu’s doing, killing him would bring a swarm of Cheondomun’s experts down on us.
But if Ma Bong-gi was behind it, the situation would become even more complicated. Cheondomun and the martial alliance’s experts would join forces.
That was not what I wanted. Shandong couldn’t afford to draw their attention just yet.
I needed to grow stronger and solidify my position.
“Father, shall we have a drink?”
That night, I drank with my father until late. It was a rare occasion when my father, who seldom got drunk, did, while I sobered up the more I drank.
The money collected from the various factions in Shandong was delivered to Ma Jeongsu through Cheongsongmun’s leader.
In gratitude, Ma Jeongsu sent gifts to each faction, worth about half of what they had contributed. Receiving such expensive gifts softened some of the harsh opinions about him.
Rumors began to circulate that perhaps he hadn’t come just to extort money. Of course, it was Cheongsongmun’s Gwak Tae and Guryongbang’s Seok Mondo who actively spread these stories.
There was also talk that even if Ma Jeongsu established a faction here under the guise of a martial arts school, it couldn’t be stopped. If it couldn’t be stopped, wouldn’t it be better to maintain a good relationship with him? Whether willingly or not, everyone began to watch Ma Jeongsu’s moves.
He was clever. He knew how to wield his power and handle people. It might not have been solely his idea. Hwasun Nodae, for one, was as cunning as they come.
I decided that gathering information on Ma Jeongsu was my top priority.
First, I received five thousand nyang from Gong Suchan. I anticipated needing to use information brokers to handle this matter.
Without questioning its purpose, he handed over the money he had saved for emergencies. Including the money I already had, I now had a total of six thousand nyang. I planned to use it sparingly.
Fortunately, Ma Jeongsu was staying at Yangsobang, which was practically my backyard.
I spent a thousand nyang to purchase a high-quality disguise mask. I needed it because I couldn’t show my face while coming and going from Yangsobang, and I was sure there would be a time when I’d need it.
Wearing the mask and a wide-brimmed hat, I went to Yangsobang. Having sent word in advance, I was able to meet Jeongyeo discreetly.
“He’s staying in the annex, so I brought you here. I apologize.”
“No, it’s fine.”
In fact, this place was more carefully prepared than the annex.
This was a small room attached to Jeongyeo’s sleeping quarters. Originally, it was where the bodyguards stayed, but they had been moved elsewhere for a few days. It was a sign of his complete trust in me.
Everything was meticulously cleaned, and the teapot, teacups, and even the bedding were all replaced with new ones. He had gone to great lengths to accommodate me.
“What is Ma Jeongsu up to?”
“He’s meeting people. He’s been meeting with those who were invited that day, one by one. He even requested a separate dinner tonight, so it seems he’s meeting someone again.”
“He’s employing a divide-and-conquer strategy.”
“It seems so.”
It was a very clever approach. After instilling fear during the first meeting, he was now calling them individually to appease them.
He wasn’t just a reckless thug out to extort money. He was smart and well-prepared.
“What about you?”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“The fact that he’s staying here openly means he trusts you, doesn’t it?”
“He’s just pretending to trust me. I see it as pressure. It’s like saying, ‘I’m doing this in your house, so don’t even think about betraying me.’”
He wanted me to understand his sincerity.
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be wandering the martial world aimlessly, having left the main house. I would have lived recklessly and died miserably. I’m not a saint, but I’m not ungrateful either.”
“Thank you for thinking that way.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Keep an eye on his movements.”
“Don’t worry. This is my domain.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
As I was about to stand, he spoke.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing. There’s an information broker from Mantonghui that the main house has dealt with for a long time. I thought you might need information on Ma Jeongsu, so I’ve already made arrangements. You can stop by on your way and check it out. Just take this with you.”
He handed me a metal token while giving me the location of the Mantonghui.
It was truly a favor. Thanks to Jeongyeo, I could obtain information about him without spending money.
I had been worried that even with the remaining five thousand nyang, I might not be able to gather information about him, but that concern vanished in an instant.
“Thank you. I’ll share any information I gather with you.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’ve instructed my subordinates to recognize the face of this mask as my guest. With the token, you can freely enter and exit the main house. Stay in this room when you visit.”
“Thank you for everything.”
He was looking out for me even more than I was for him.
In the long run, it was a wise investment on his part. I was someone who repaid kindness with kindness.
Half a shichen later, I was meeting with the information broker from Mantonghui that Jeongyeo had mentioned. Naturally, I was wearing the disguise mask and the wide-brimmed hat.
The man shared what they had discovered.
“Ma Jeongsu is one of Ma Bong-gi’s twenty-two children.”
Twenty-two? That old lecher certainly had a lot of offspring.
“Among them, six are considered potential successors. The one who has earned Ma Bong-gi’s complete trust is undoubtedly Ma Cheolgun. He’s currently serving as the interim leader of Cheondomun. Ma Jeongsu is known to have the lowest chance of becoming a successor among the remaining five.”
Ma Cheol-gun not only knew the name but had also met him in person. Contrary to what one might expect from Ma Bong-gi’s son, he remembered him as intelligent, sharp, and possessing a decent personality.
“Although he’s been pushed out of the line of succession, Ma Jeong-su has been exceptionally talented in many areas since he was young. His martial skills are on par with other heirs.”
“Then why was he sidelined?”
“His mother was a servant from Cheondo Gate.”
“So, he lacked a strong background.”
“Exactly. He’s someone who has built his strength on his own.”
In other words, he was someone who had grown up harboring a fierce determination.
“Unfortunately, his mother died in a house fire over a decade ago. With no siblings, Ma Jeong-su is left with no family except for Ma Bong-gi.”
“Do you know the real reason he’s come here?”
“He claims it’s to establish a martial arts school, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It appears to be a prelude to establishing a stronghold in the Shandong region.”
Now, I asked the most crucial question, the one I was most eager to know.
“Is this Ma Jeong-su’s plan, or Ma Bong-gi’s?”
The man hesitated for a moment at my direct question. Then he spoke.
“I haven’t been able to find that out.”
His hesitation revealed that he was being extremely cautious, given the involvement of the leader.
It was still early in Ma Bong-gi’s tenure, and it was unclear how he would manage the martial world. Even if he had discovered something, he might not be willing to share it.
“Lastly, who are the experts accompanying them?”
He informed me about Hwasun Nodae and Sigon, but he knew nothing about the woman.
“I couldn’t find anything about her.”
In other words, she was someone who had slipped through even the Mantong Association’s information network.
That meant she wasn’t from within Cheondo Gate. Among the important figures, there was no one I didn’t know, so she wasn’t from the Martial Alliance either. Where on earth was this woman from?
“This is all we’ve uncovered. If we find out more, we’ll contact you again.”
“Understood. Thank you for your efforts.”
After leaving the informant’s place, I pulled my hat down low and walked slowly.
Yes, there’s no need to rush. I’ll find his weaknesses, one by one, and cut his leash. I had an advantage. He was out in the open, while I remained hidden in the shadows.
The money he’s extorted from various factions amounts to tens of thousands of nyang. He must have brought funds with him as well. If he’s here to establish a base, a massive amount of capital will be involved. He can’t possibly source all that money from the Shandong sects.
The thought made my mouth water.
The stronger and more challenging the opponent, the more there is to gain from them—a bountiful prey.
I’ll drain him to the marrow and grind his bones to dust.