The moment Cheongho and Tsering’s eyes met was very brief.
Cheongho looked faintly bored.
That was probably because the things he took interest in were limited.
Even standing in the middle of this dark path faction, he showed no fear or tension.
He had little interest in the people moving around him either.
Two people had appeared out of nowhere.
Geum Yang-bae, with his face swollen from getting beaten, and Tsering, dressed like a beggar, were noticeable enough, but Cheongho had little interest in them.
He had only looked because they had appeared.
For the briefest moment at Geum Yang-bae, and for the briefest moment at Tsering.
Cheongho’s gaze lingered.
At the same time, Tsering also looked at Cheongho.
Their gazes collided in midair.
The two were not meeting for the first time.
On the grasslands of Tibet, they had once traveled together.
Just like Gal Dong-tak, they were old acquaintances.
On top of that, Tsering had even carried Cheongho around a little.
If so.
‘It’s the kid!’
‘Th-the fox!’
Did an emotional reunion like that happen?
It did not.
They looked at each other for a moment, then turned their heads away.
Not a trace of the blue fox remained in Cheongho’s appearance.
Back then, Tsering had been much younger.
And since Cheongho was not radiating yokai energy, Tsering could not connect him to the fox yokai she had seen as a child. To her, he simply looked like a cold-eyed boy.
And in Cheongho’s eyes, Tsering was.
‘A beggar.’
A face streaked with grime, and hair clumped together with grease.
Rag-like clothes.
And a body that had grown since the past.
To expect Cheongho to recognize little Tsering from that appearance would have been asking too much.
“Who are these beggars supposed to be?”
Jang Man-chun said that pompously to Three Pleasures Butchering Guild’s strategist.
The only reason a mere bandit like him could throw his weight around like this was thanks to the Green Jade Token he had received from Gal Dong-tak.
And this bluffing display was also part of Jang Man-chun’s survival strategy.
In any case, it worked even on Three Pleasures Butchering Guild’s strategist.
The strategist rubbed his hands awkwardly and said.
“Ha ha, I made a mistake. I’ll send these beggars right back out.”
“I’m not a beggar.”
Tsering said that bluntly on the spot.
Without smiling in the slightest, she spoke each word clearly.
“I said I’m not a beggar.”
She was not a beggar.
Even Geum Yang-bae did not believe it, but that was the truth.
Yet Tsering did not release some formless pressure as she said it.
“Hahahat.”
“What’s that supposed to be. Heuheuheu.”
Both Jang Man-chun and the strategist of the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild laughed
The only ones who did not laugh were Geum Yang-bae and Cheongho.
Cheongho in particular did not have the same expression as before.
The bored eyes that had seemed interested in nothing now shone blue.
He had sensed something from Tsering.
“What, what is it!”
Then a huge man walked out from where Cheongho and Jang Man-chun had come from.
At his waist hung a weapon that looked like a butcher’s cleaver enlarged to twice its size.
The long robe he wore was gaudy enough to feel out of place.
“Ah, Guild Master!”
He was the Guild Master of Three Pleasures Butchering Guild.
And Geum Yang-bae didn’t miss this chance.
“Are you the Guild Master! I am Geum Yang-bae, Vice Merchant Guild Master of the Golden Measure Merchant Guild!”
“Golden Measure Merchant Guild……?”
Fortunately, the Guild Master remembered the name Golden Measure Merchant Guild.
“I do not know what wrong our guild may have done your house, but this is all a misunderstanding. Please return our guild members!”
“……”
The Guild Master stared at Geum Yang-bae for a long while.
Then he twisted his lips.
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”
“……Eh?”
“Huh?”
Apparently, there had been some misunderstanding.
Geum Yang-bae was not thrown out at once.
For some reason, the Guild Master looked to be in a bad mood, but he still spoke with Geum Yang-bae.
“Th-then…… those black clothes and bamboo hats as well.”
“Damn it, are we the only ones who wear black clothes and bamboo hats? When it rains, anyone puts a damn bamboo hat on.”
“They had sabers at their waists……”
“What, are there only one or two people in the world who use blades!”
The Guild Master barked at Geum Yang-bae.
It was true that Three Pleasures Butchering Guild members wore black clothes and bamboo hats when operating outside.
But that attire was not unique to Three Pleasures Butchering Guild alone.
Above all, the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild did not do things like kidnapping.
Why the hell would we do something like that?
That was what the Guild Master said.
Geum Yang-bae thought.
‘Is he playing dumb?’
But there was no reason for that.
If they wanted revenge, they would have killed them rather than kidnapping them. Even then, the authorities would not have cared much.
Could it be that they still held a grudge over the Golden Measure Merchant Guild accepting Nam Family Manor’s commission and rejecting Three Pleasures Butchering Guild’s.
Geum Yang-bae glanced at the Guild Master.
He did not have the courage to ask that directly.
“I think you’ve got something wrong.”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
Geum Yang-bae was so guilty that he jumped at the words.
“Think carefully. Kidnapping is a real pain in the ass. Anyone who does something like that has a reason.”
“A reason……. We haven’t earned anyone’s grudge.”
“Puhat! Grudge?”
The Guild Master snorted.
Laughing, he said.
“How many people do things over a grudge alone? If that were the case, the world would be full of righteous heroes.”
“If not a grudge…….”
“There are all kinds of reasons. For profit, because they simply don’t like you, or to keep their dirty secrets from being exposed.”
Geum Yang-bae flinched.
“Think carefully. Is there really nothing you got tangled up in? To begin with, what were you doing here in Chaesang County?”
“……”
The Golden Measure Merchant Guild had taken a commission from Nam Family Manor.
They had loaded ingredients into a refrigerated carriage and already delivered them.
But among them had been something that was not an ordinary ingredient.
What had been inside that ‘coffin’…….
“We were transporting goods under Nam Family Manor’s commission……”
“Keuk, sounds like you’ve got an idea. So you were involved in something dirty, huh?”
Geum Yang-bae shut his mouth tight.
But that alone was enough for the Guild Master of Three Pleasures Butchering Guild.
“You idiots brushed us off and went scurrying over to stick yourselves to Nam Family Manor. Guess you didn’t know what sneaky bastards they are.”
As expected, they still had not forgotten being rejected by Three Pleasures Butchering Guild.
“They’re the culprits. No doubt about it.”
“Ah…….”
The strength left Geum Yang-bae’s legs and he collapsed to the floor.
The Guild Master’s reasoning was correct.
Nam Family Manor had asked for a suspicious commission.
Warrior Jang had worried about it, but Geum Yang-bae thought it would be a way to advance relations with Nam Family Manor.
So he accepted it…… never imagining that an orthodox faction would try to ‘silence’ them.
“It’s too late for regrets. Heh heh. Of course, I hate Nam Family Manor plenty, so I might be willing to help you.”
“R-really!”
“Of course. If Three Pleasures Butchering Guild backs you, even Nam Family Manor won’t be able to act recklessly.”
To Geum Yang-bae, it was like a lifeline dropped from heaven.
And waving that lifeline about only to yank it away really was the cruelty of a dark path faction.
“But unfortunately, we’re about to clash with them soon, so I won’t be able to help after all.”
A clash. Come to think of it, he had heard there would be a martial match between Three Pleasures Butchering Guild and Nam Family Manor.
Not a friendly spar, but a martial contest to settle profit and grievances between them.
The Guild Master sneered at Geum Yang-bae.
“These people might become a nuisance, so break their arms and legs if you have to and lock them up.”
He was not speaking to Geum Yang-bae, but to his own subordinates.
The Three Pleasures Butchering Guild really was a tiger’s den.
“Yes!”
The guild members holding butcher’s cleavers rushed in with murderous intent.
Geum Yang-bae lost even the strength to resist and slumped down.
“You villains.”
But Tsering was different.
She smiled, showing those white teeth of hers.
“You need to repent a little.”
She drove a straight punch into the stomach of one of the approaching guild members.
Tuoong!
He was blasted back faster than the momentum he had charged in with.
One shocked martial artist swung his cleaver.
Its path was meant to cut clean through her face.
Seogeok!
But the cleaver sliced only a few strands of hair. In return, he was slapped across the cheek.
His body spun through the air, and two molars flew out of his mouth.
“K-k-kill her!”
Someone shouted.
Even those charging in now realized Tsering knew martial arts.
But no one could stand against a group attack.
Those who thought so were no different from the beggars who had been beaten earlier that day.
Tsering faced armed men using nothing but hand-to-hand combat.
It looked as though her fists had multiplied into dozens, and the same went for her feet.
Sounds like bursting drums rang out one after another.
Peobeobeobeok!
Five guild members were sent flying almost at the same time.
All the while, Tsering had not moved a single step from where she stood.
“Huhk!”
The one who let out that gasp was Jang Man-chun.
It was the moment it became clear that the girl he had just called a beggar was a master of fist-and-kick techniques.
Tsering swept her disheveled hair back.
No more guild members dared rush her.
But one person remained standing before Tsering.
“You coming too?”
It was Cheongho.
Cheongho, who had been watching the situation with no interest at all, had stepped forward at some point.
With one hand lightly resting on the saber at his waist.
A brief silence passed.
And there was someone watching this scene with trembling pupils.
It was Yuk Jae-seong, Guild Master of the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild.
“Anyone else coming?”
Tsering asked that, but no answer came back.
The Guild Master of the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild was staring straight at Tsering.
His eyes were trembling.
Was it panic or fear? No, it was neither.
Those eyes looked as though he were staring at a lump of gold that had rolled right to his feet.
“Waaait!”
For some reason, he stopped Cheongho and Tsering just as they looked ready to clash.
He even threw himself between them to do it.
“Stop the fight! Stop!”
“……What is it?”
Tsering lowered her hands in confusion.
“You there, y-young lady!”
“Young lady? Me?”
“If not you, what other young lady is there here?”
Tsering was not a beggar, but she certainly looked like one.
Being called young lady was not something she often heard.
“You are currently helping the Vice Merchant Guild Master of that Golden Measure Merchant Guild!”
“I guess so.”
“And you are a righteous hero who cannot stand by and watch someone being oppressed!”
“The Buddha said that too.”
“Huh, you’re like Avalokitesvara incarnate.”
The Guild Master exclaimed, using words that felt very out of place on him.
Everyone present was bewildered.
But the Guild Master hauled Geum Yang-bae to his feet and resolutely continued.
“Young lady, would you perhaps consider participating as the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild’s guest in the martial match with Nam Family Manor that is soon to take place?”
Then, cupping his fists politely, he added.
“I swear in the name of the Guild Master of the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild. If you do so, I will personally see that you are properly rewarded.”
Tsering did not react to the mention of a reward.
“And I’ll settle the matter of this poor Golden Measure Merchant Guild as well. I’ll personally pressure those bastards of Nam Family Manor and get the guild members back.”
“Wha— Really!”
Geum Yang-bae grabbed the Guild Master by the forearm and asked.
When the Guild Master nodded, Geum Yang-bae turned toward Tsering.
“Huuuh.”
He clearly did not have the face to ask properly whether she would do it.
But Tsering smiled faintly.
“It does sound like it could be fun.”
At the very least, she had to hear what it was all about.
“I’ll hear it out first. To begin with, why are you even holding a martial match?”
“Huhu, that is because of the long-standing bad blood between the Three Pleasures Butchering Guild and Nam Family Manor.”
Half the match has already been won.
Certain of that, the Guild Master grinned.
