Silent Exit (1)
The estate exuded an eerie atmosphere.
If hundreds of men had been waiting with weapons in hand, they might have seemed less intimidating.
Despite being informed in advance of Ma Jeong-su’s visit, their preparations were no different from usual. It was clear they weren’t ordinary people. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to take down Sigon.
A man came out to guide us to the main hall.
In the center sat Yacheon, surrounded by about twenty men. These were likely the strongest among the Yasan warriors.
Their eyes were different from those of ordinary martial artists. The fear they inspired came from a sense of disdain and anger towards the martial world.
Men were hidden behind pillars, their eyes gleaming like predators eyeing prey. Though their martial skills weren’t particularly high, they were far from easy opponents.
I had seen how they fought. Their martial arts weren’t the issue; it was their hidden weapons, laced with poison, that required caution.
Ma Jeong-su swallowed hard, sensing the ambush. He was tense.
I confidently walked within ten paces of Yacheon and introduced Ma Jeong-su.
“This is Ma Jeong-su, the successor of Cheondo Gate. Show your respects.”
Yacheon stood and greeted us with a polite bow.
“Welcome. I am Yacheon, the master of these humble beings. What brings such esteemed guests to this humble place?”
Ma Jeong-su returned the bow and introduced himself briefly.
As planned, I took the lead.
“What business do we have here?”
Yacheon was equally tense, and the air was thick with tension.
I knew what he feared. He was worried we were here about Sigon’s death.
I smiled and said, “Ma Jeong-su is here to borrow money from you.”
Yacheon flinched, clearly not expecting Ma Jeong-su to come asking for a loan.
“Why so surprised? Isn’t that your usual business?”
“Of course, but it’s hard to believe someone of your stature would borrow from someone like me.”
“Even the esteemed need money.”
Yacheon relaxed, realizing we weren’t here for revenge.
He asked, more at ease, “How much do you need?”
“One hundred thousand nyang.”
Yacheon’s face hardened again. The amount was staggering, and he couldn’t gauge our true intentions.
Was it a genuine loan, or were we offering to overlook Sigon’s death for that sum?
I discreetly sent a message to Yacheon.
Yacheon twitched, a mix of surprise and anger.
I quickly continued.
Yacheon replied.
Why are you speaking in secret?
The moment we mention Sigon’s death, we’ll have to eliminate you all. Even if we don’t want to, that’s how it will go. You know we value our honor more than our lives.
After sending this sharp message, I spoke softly.
“You’ve probably heard that Ma Jeong-su will establish his base in Shandong. This deal could greatly benefit your future.”
It was a subtle threat. If the deal didn’t go through, the opposite would happen.
“Give me a moment to think.”
“Take your time.”
Yacheon closed his eyes in thought.
He suspected Ma Jeong-su had informed them of Sigon’s whereabouts. They used him to eliminate a thorn in their side while borrowing money. From Yacheon’s perspective, it was the only way to see it.
‘Damn bastards!’
They were dirtier and more cunning than he was.
Given the situation, he couldn’t refuse the loan. Unless the hundred thousand nyang was his entire fortune, he couldn’t risk his life. He had to give it now and consider revenge later.
Yacheon opened his eyes and spoke decisively.
“Alright, I’ll lend you the money.”
“By tomorrow!”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. You won’t regret today’s decision. Let’s meet at the shrine in Pungsan with the full amount in small notes.”
We immediately drew up a contract.
Ma Jeong-su personally stamped and signed it.
He was reluctant to write a contract, but I persuaded him.
It was necessary. When dealing with people like them, precision was key.
Though he wasn’t thrilled, Ma Jeong-su agreed. He urgently needed the hundred thousand nyang.
This was a necessary step for the future. If anyone investigated, there needed to be clear evidence of the loan.
With the contract signed, we left the estate.
Once we were gone, anger erupted. The first to explode was Gucheol.
“Arrogant bastard! How dare he come here! I barely restrained myself from killing him on the spot.”
The men around him wore similar expressions.
In contrast, Yacheon was calm.
“We can kill him later.”
After Sigon’s death, Yacheon had thoroughly investigated Ma Jeong-su.
Ma Jeong-su was known for his ruthlessness and cruelty, killing subordinates and rivals without a second thought.
Yacheon, no stranger to villainy, found himself appalled by Ma Jeong-su’s actions. The victims were often weaker, and their deaths went unnoticed.
“Are you really going to give that scoundrel a hundred thousand nyang?”
Yacheon nodded.
“We have a debt to pay, so let’s wait and see.”
“But it’s such a large sum.”
“Don’t think of it that way.”
Yacheon had another plan.
“If he’s truly embezzled money from the Shandong Merchant Guild, he must have plenty.”
“Probably.”
“Then he can certainly pay the interest.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you think we were just giving it away? Who are we? Even if it were the Cheondo Gate’s grandfather, we’d collect the principal and interest. We’ll get it back, one way or another, along with the price for toying with us.”
As the carriage carrying Ma Jeong-su and me left the estate, Ma Jeong-su laughed heartily.
“Hahaha. You’re truly something.”
“You’re too kind.”
“No, you were brilliant.”
He looked at me with newfound respect. He hadn’t expected me to handle things so well.
“Now we just need to collect the money tomorrow. After that, it’s up to you, Ma Jeong-su.”
I spoke as if my role was over, pretending to have no interest in the money.
“I’ll leave that to you.”
Ma Jeong-su still didn’t fully trust Yasan. He worried they might set a trap during the loan process and try to kill him.
I had anticipated Ma Jeong-su’s reaction.
“Understood. Wait outside, and I’ll bring the money to you.”
I didn’t say I’d go alone; I told him to wait outside.
Hearing what he wanted, Ma Jeong-su was even more pleased.
“Haha. Good.”
I had successfully deceived both Ma Jeong-su and Yacheon.
Everything was proceeding according to my plan.
In my past life, I had experienced countless trials and tribulations.
I had faced the martial world and the demonic cult. I had fought against formidable masters and experienced all kinds of battles. I had survived power struggles as a leader.
With all this experience, handling Ma Jeong-su and Yacheon was like playing in the palm of my hand. I was once known as the Iron-blooded Leader, the Punishing Leader. I had lived mercilessly against villains. This was my divine retribution.
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
There was still the mysterious woman.
Whether I could take the hundred thousand nyang, kill Ma Jeong-su, and pin the blame on Yasan depended on deceiving her.
The key to this plan wasn’t just about taking and killing.
It was about how I could slip away from this incident without a trace.
That night, I met the woman by the pond. I had gone out specifically to see her.
“You should stop your master.”
She glanced at me, her expression questioning my words.
“He extorted money from Yasan through threats.”
She would know we had visited Yasan. I spoke with a concerned look.
“I had no choice but to help… As you know, Yasan is a ruthless and terrifying group.”
I needed to let her know Ma Jeong-su was dangerously entangled with them. I planned to make it look like Yasan had eliminated him.
This was possible because the woman and Ma Jeong-su hadn’t communicated at all.
“He’s not my master.”
It was the first time she spoke directly to me. Her tone was polite, but that didn’t mean it was friendly.
“If you’re so worried, you should stop him.”
She turned and walked back into the building.
I was more convinced than ever. Even if Ma Jeong-su died, she wouldn’t intervene. In fact, she might even wish for his downfall.
I looked up at the night sky.
Just as the moon waxes and wanes, the matter with Ma Jeong-su was nearing its end.
“Will you join me?”
I asked as we stood below Pungsan.
“Alright then. I’ll wait here.”
He was clearly afraid of an ambush in the mountains, which is why he wanted me to go alone. Truly a selfish and cowardly man. Still, I wasn’t worried about him thinking I’d run off with the money.
I’d worked hard to earn his trust, and even if I did make off with the cash, he probably figured he could just get it back from Yang, who had introduced me.
“I’ll be back.”
“Do you really need such a big bag?”
“I have to collect it in small notes.”
“And why is that?”
“It’s dirty money. It could cause problems later.”
“You’re thorough, as always.”
Thorough? More like desperate for this money.
“Yes, I’ll be back soon.”
With the large bag slung over my shoulder, I climbed the mountain.
Inside the shrine, Gucheol was waiting with a few men. They seemed to have been warned by Yacheon, as they weren’t as aggressive as usual.
They filled my bag with small notes of fifty and a hundred nyang.
“No need to count it, right?” Gucheol said coldly.
“One day, you’ll pay for underestimating us.”
I chuckled softly and stepped outside.
One day, they’ll pay for not recognizing their opponent. Or perhaps it’s retribution for living a life of wrongdoing. If they had been righteous, I wouldn’t have gotten involved with Majungsoo in the first place.
As I descended the mountain with the bag, I scanned my surroundings.
After ensuring no one was around, I slipped into the woods beside the path.
There, someone was waiting for me. It was Jeongyeo. He handed me a bag identical to mine, filled with notes. Only a few thousand nyang on top were real; the rest were counterfeit.
This was why I chose this location. During planning, I discovered several good hiding spots nearby.
Adding the hundred thousand nyang from now, the total money I’ve acquired from Yacheon amounts to two hundred thousand nyang. This would be the capital to strengthen my power. It could become an elixir, a sword unit, or something else entirely to bolster my strength.
The best part is that no one will know I was involved with this money.
I carried the bag full of fake notes down the mountain.
At the base, Majungsoo greeted me with a beaming smile. Seeing the notes in the bag, his face lit up with joy.
“Keep helping me in the future.”
“Of course.”
I returned his smile warmly. When the fake notes are discovered, Yacheon will be blamed. No one would ever suspect I swapped them.
Even if they did, it wouldn’t matter.
I’m ready to bring this to a close.
Even without considering past sins, he’s done enough to wrong me. He humiliated a father in front of his son, tried to steal another man’s woman, oppressed powerless sects in Shandong, and extorted money. All of this under the protection of Cheondomun, exploiting the weak.
I felt the time had come.
It was time to pull out the reed and drive in the sword.