It was a room of unparalleled luxury.

The beaded curtain hanging long on the door was made by stringing jade beads, and the scrolls hanging on each wall were from literary figures who could be called the best of their time.

The decorations everywhere were so resplendent with golden light that they naturally stirred greed, making it difficult to express the owner's extravagance in words. The thick quilt spread over the wide bed in the corner of the room looked so fluffy just by looking at it, and on the large, circular table carved from marble sat a single, stylish chair.

A room used alone.

This was the place where the Yin Hand Chamber's Master, Lee Ilpyeong, whose body was obese, stayed.

"Tang Munseong? You mean the son of the Tang Munseong I know?"

"Yes. I looked into it on the way here, and rumors are already rampant in Jangan. That the son of the Mandeok Estate has returned."

At Andeukseong's words, a strange light flickered in the eyes of Lee Ilpyeong, who was sitting at the table.

"Hmph, the son of Mandeok Estate... That punk's name was..."

"Tang Cheonyeong."

"Ah! Right, that's it. Tang Cheonyeong."

Lee Ilpyeong clapped his hands and laughed at Andeukseong's words.

He had forgotten the name, but Lee Ilpyeong remembered Tang Cheonyeong all too well.

"He was a brat who was quite a smooth talker. Smart, too..."

"The fellow has established the Tang Family's estate on the site of the Mandeok Estate and has taken Ahn Chilgang."

"Ahn Chilgang?"

"Yes."

"Hah!"

A dry laugh escaped him.

The son of Mandeok Estate had returned and re-established the family under some beggar-like name.

And he sought out Ahn Chilgang.

What could that possibly mean?

To build a house on a ruin?

Could it be?

Lee Ilpyeong remembered Tang Cheonyeong.

The way he had looked at him with eyes full of bitter resentment.

"Revenge, I suppose?"

"Probably..."

"Keuk keuk, what a cute bastard. I was so fond of him... he was the perfect type to make a general manager later on."

"What will you do?"

"Well... what should I do?"

Lee Ilpyeong rested his chin on his thick, clasped hands.

His chin fat covered his hands.

"Before, you said the merchants' movements were unsettling, right?"

"Yes. Seven years have already passed, but there are still many who miss the Mandeok Estate."

The merchants of Ganyang.

They were the ones who had feigned ignorance when he took over the Mandeok Estate.

He had only given them a slight threat, and they had listened so well.

Fearing retaliation, they became deaf, blind, and mute.

But seven years had passed since then.

After he collected some money from them under various pretexts, some began to resist.

Not long ago, there was one who had asked a nearby sect for help.

But he wouldn't miss such an opportunity.

He had cleanly crushed him, confiscated his property, and kicked him out of Ganyang.

Whether his family was dead or alive now... well, it was none of his business.

They shouldn't have resisted if they had no power.

The same went for Anga Mokhyang.

That stubborn old man.

Just because he had done some construction for a famous martial hall, he resisted, so he had to use a little force.

Similar to the Mandeok Estate case, he planted a vile fellow who had been under him as an apprentice.

Naturally, it was bound to fail.

He had put so much heart and soul into that matter...

Help from a great sect?

It collapsed before they could even attempt such a thing.

It was truly lucrative.

The old man had saved up money so diligently.

"From what I've gathered, it seems the merchants have been meeting in secret."

"Hoh? Is that so?"

"At the center of it is Guhwang..."

"Ah! That guy who sells leather?"

"Yes. Ever since the Mandeok Estate's fall, hasn't he been asking for help here and there?"

"He has. That damn bastard... who does he think he is to be making a living... If I hadn't left him alone for the sake of the Yin Hand Chamber's reputation, he'd be dead already. Anyway, he's a thorn in my side."

"It seems he's inciting the merchants after hearing the rumor that the son of Mandeok Estate has established the Tang Family's estate."

"Inciting? Don't tell me he wants to push me out and side with the Tang Family's estate?"

Disbelief colored Lee Ilpyeong's eyes.

"Yes."

"He's crazy. What does he think he'll gain by siding with the Tang Family's estate, which has nothing... Leave him be. As long as the head of the merchant association doesn't move personally, no matter how much a nobody like Guhwang runs wild, only a few will follow him."

"Yes. And there is one more problem..."

"What problem?"

"The Beggars' Sect was not seen at the ruins of the Mandeok Estate."

"What?"

"It seems they gave the land to the Tang Family's estate and moved their branch. Perhaps they..."

"Hmm, no. There's no way the Beggars' Sect would help the Tang Family's estate."

His voice was quite firm.

"Think about it, the Beggars' Sect has nothing to gain."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. To help a seventeen-year-old brat rebuild his family, they'd become our enemies? That's ridiculous. They know it too. If they step in... things will get bigger."

"But I'm a little suspicious..."

"Well, yes. You could be. Hmm, then what should be done?"

After pondering for a moment, Lee Ilpyeong nodded as if he had made a decision.

"The answer is obvious. No need to even think about it."

"What is..."

"We have to crush them."

"Pardon?"

"The sprout is fresh and green. That kid is smarter than you think."

"But... it wouldn't look good if we stepped in, would it? It's a place that just opened... and it's only kids."

"Who said we would step in? Can you use a butcher's knife to catch a chicken? They're not on our level."

"Then...?"

"You said he's not on good terms with the hunters and wild ginseng diggers, right?"

"Yes, there was a bit of an incident."

"Then use their association."

"Pardon?"

Lee Ilpyeong continued, as if frustrated.

"They're good with bows, aren't they? The method of hunting people and animals should be the same, right? Same for the ginseng diggers... I hear they often kill each other secretly in the mountains to get their hands on wild ginseng. Instead, have a few of our kids slip in among them."

"Our kids?"

"Of course. How can we trust those guys? They'll work harder if our kids are there."

"I understand. But what if a problem arises?"

"What problem? How much money have we fed the government office all this time... Tell them I'll take responsibility for the aftermath."

"Yes."

"And when the situation is wrapped up, call the merchants and throw a feast or something."

"A feast?"

"Everyone needs to know, don't they? I'll have to make it well known to everyone on this occasion. What happens when they oppose me."

"..."

"Make sure to invite Guhwang, that bastard. He needs to be an example for the merchants."

"I understand."

Having received his orders, Andeukseong went outside.

And then.

"Hmm, should I meet with Chief Clerk Jeong for the first time in a while? It's not just any matter, a murder is about to happen."

Thinking about the events to come, Lee Ilpyeong rose from his seat and approached the safe.

Click.

As he opened the iron door, it was full of yellow gold bars.

"Let's see... how many should I pack this time?"

After roughly filling a chest, Lee Ilpyeong shouted towards the outside.

"Is anyone there?"

"Yes."

"Go to the county office and tell Chief Clerk Jeong Hapryeo that I said to meet at our usual place."

"I understand."

At the voice from outside, Lee Ilpyeong looked at the chest filled with gold bars and grimaced.

"Dammit, it's convenient because the work gets done cleanly... but the maintenance costs are too high. This is why I can't help but work hard. I'll have to switch horses soon."

Lee Ilpyeong threw a coat over his obese body and hurried to get ready to leave.

* * *

At that moment, Cheonyeong had arrived at the county office.

"Is that true?"

"Yes."

At Cheonyeong's answer, the brow of Ganyang's Magistrate, Mok Yeosaeng, furrowed deeply.

The pretext was the sale of a tiger skin.

When he had sold a tiger skin to the magistrate before, hadn't he said it?

That he would come to sell another if the opportunity arose.

That was precisely why he had ordered Chunil and Hwangsama to get a tiger skin.

The tiger skin was an excuse for a meeting; the important thing was to meet the magistrate and snitch on the official's corruption.

Cheonyeong recounted the affairs of the Mandeok Estate and Anga Mokhyang in detail, asking that Jeong Hapryeo be punished for his crimes.

Of course, he didn't trust the magistrate, who took bribes from his superiors.

What Cheonyeong trusted was the military officer standing next to him, Garrison Commander Han Utae.

"Your Excellency! This is not a matter to be taken lightly. You must investigate thoroughly to reveal the crimes in detail and make an example of him. Please give me the order. I will immediately arrest Jeong Hapryeo and his group."

Look at that.

There is no official as upright as him.

As soon as he heard the story of Jeong Hapryeo's corruption, he looked ready to charge out at any moment.

He was even snorting steam from his nostrils, no different from an angry bull.

Of course, it was because they had coordinated their story before meeting the magistrate...

How much had he lamented not being able to help the Mandeok Estate before?

When he was told to help this time, he was so delighted.

"Calm down, Garrison Commander."

"How can I be calm, Your Excellency? Jeong Hapryeo not only took profits for personal gain but also fabricated cases! A government official who should be looking after the people's livelihood has abused the law!"

At Han Utae's even angrier words, Magistrate Mok Yeosaeng could not hide his predicament.

Bribes?

He already knew about that much.

Wasn't it customary for officials to pocket a little on the side?

He himself had a precedent of offering a tiger skin as a bribe to look good to the Prefect...

But with Garrison Commander Han Utae raising such a fuss, he couldn't pretend not to know.

Although he wasn't the one in charge of the county's military authority, many officers followed him, and the Prefect who had visited before also favored him.

"Look here, Garrison Commander, if a crime was committed, punishment must naturally follow. But, as of yet... it is only Family Head Tang's word, is it not?"

At Mok Yeosaeng's words, Han Utae looked at Cheonyeong and asked with blazing eyes.

"Family Head Tang."

"Yes."

"Do you have definitive proof?"

He had been waiting for those words.

Why else would he have made a request to the Beggars' Sect?

It was all for this moment.

"I do."

"What kind of proof is it?"

"It is a ledger that records the bribes Dongseung, who was Ahn Chilgang's apprentice at the time, gave to Jeong Hapryeo when Anga Mokhyang fell."

"Oho, is that so? Would you show it to me?"

Of course, he had to show it.

Cheonyeong took out the book he had brought in his bosom and handed it to Han Utae.

As Han Utae quickly flipped through the pages, his face turned red and blue.

The colors were so vivid, they looked beautiful. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"That son of a bitch!"

Finally, a roar full of fury erupted.

"Magistrate, Your Excellency! Look at this! It's not just Jeong Hapryeo!"

"Uh-huh?"

"His subordinates Lee Gyu, Beon Ryang, Hwang Seo, Chu Yun! These bastards!"

As Han Utae handed over the book, Mok Yeosaeng sighed deeply and flipped through the pages.

With the evidence so clear... he wouldn't be able to feign ignorance.

But for some reason, his expression was strange.

The magistrate... this bastard must have taken some too.

But his name was not in the book.

In that case?

The magistrate must have taken it from Jeong Hapryeo.

Damn, you corrupt official bastards.

The bribes are just a chain reaction.

If left like this, no matter how much Han Utae rampaged, it was clear the matter would be vaguely swept under the rug.

"Actually... I was thinking of informing the Prefect as well."

"What?!"

At those words, Mok Yeosaeng's eyes shot open.

The Prefect?

The Prefect he knew?

It might be possible.

He had already seen his face during the last tiger skin transaction, and wasn't Han Utae, whose face was flushed red beside him, a military officer the Prefect had always cherished?

If these two joined forces and went to the Prefect?

Never mind Jeong Hapryeo, his own head might fly.

"It's because I am so, so resentful. After seeing this book, I can't even sleep well."

"Umm. Still, there's no need to go all the way to the Prefect... he's such a busy man."

"I know. Of course, I know. In that case, will you, Magistrate, handle it well?"

"I, I should. Yes, of course I should."

Seeing his flustered expression, it seemed the threat of mentioning the Prefect had worked.

In times like this, it's not bad to throw him a lifeline.

Even if it's a rotational post, they would be seeing each other often in the future...

"Garrison Commander."

"Speak, Family Head Tang!"

"Perhaps, that man Jeong Hapryeo might try to use the Magistrate to avoid paying for his crimes."

"Use the Magistrate?"

"Of course. He is a man who disturbed the people's livelihood using his authority. He's capable of anything."

"Hmm, that seems likely."

"Therefore, no matter what he says, do not be deceived."

"Hmm..."

"If I were Jeong Hapryeo, I would probably try to cling to the Magistrate like a water ghost, claiming I had bribed him."

"..."

"That would probably be a lie, right?"

As Cheonyeong winked, Han Utae, who had been watching quietly, nodded his head.

"That's right! It's a lie! Family Head Tang is right. I will never be deceived by the words of corrupt officials."

"Of course, you shouldn't be."

At their conversation, the face of Magistrate Mok Yeosaeng, who was standing beside them, brightened.

He's happy.

Because it looks like he'll be the only one to get away clean.

But the magistrate was never a target for consideration in the first place.

If he had been involved in the fall of the Mandeok Estate, it would be a different story... but for Cheonyeong, Jeong Hapryeo, who had helped Lee Ilpyeong by forging official documents at the time, was enough.

That's why he had gone to Han Utae beforehand to coordinate their story...

Fortunately, Han Utae was quick-witted and acted his part well.

"Magistrate, Your Excellency, please give the order. I will immediately gag and arrest Jeong Hapryeo and his cronies."

"Do so!"

In the end, the magistrate's order was given.

With this, the backer was dealt with, and now he just had to handle the matters of the martial world.

Yin Hand Chamber... you'd better look forward to it.

I know thousands of ways to deal with a bastard like you.

As Cheonyeong withdrew from the magistrate's presence, a chilling killing intent colored his eyes.

And then.

* * *

"Damn it! Why the hell isn't he here?"

The clueless Lee Ilpyeong had already been waiting for two hours at the ferry landing where he was supposed to meet Jeong Hapryeo.

In the middle of the night... and the weather was cold...

(End of Chapter)