Book 18 Chapter 5

The Voice Changer (變聲男子)

— Cheongryong, Falling to the Earth

“Chief Commander of Blood Mark, what are you dawdling for? Was the mission I entrusted to you to subdue the Yu family, or to have a chat?”

A voice that vibrated through the entire great hall. The sound came from outside the door but was as clear as if it had echoed right beside them. It was a testament to the speaker's formidable internal energy. At that moment, the masked Blood Mark man confronting Yu Jaeryong's head snapped around. The imposing figure he had been just moments before vanished as if it had never existed the instant he turned his head. It felt as though a simple movement of his neck, utilizing the muscles gathered around his cervical vertebrae, was imbued with the power to transform a person. He looked as if he might be terrified.

The masked figures blocking the entrance parted to the left and right in unison, and a figure entered.

“C-Captain!”

Hearing the Blood Mark's flustered demeanor and his title, Yu Jaeryong let out a groan inwardly.

‘Is it the real big boss?’

But then…

‘Huh?’

Something was strange.

Yu Jaeryong’s eyes widened as he intently watched the person who had entered the front hall. The better he understood his opponent, the more advantageous it was, whether in a fight or in business.

The man called Captain had a subtle difference in his attire from the other masked figures. It was difficult to discern clearly due to the darkness of the night, and night owls never openly reveal their identities. Nevertheless, he knew this man was the real leader. The one who had been bantering with him just moments ago was merely a squad leader. Even though he was called the Chief Commander, suggesting he was second-in-command among them, he was vastly inferior compared to this Captain. Their presence, their demeanor, was entirely different. There are still many things in this world that a single piece of black cloth cannot conceal, and demeanor is one of them. However, Yu Jaeryong wasn't taken aback by the appearance of a formidable opponent.

‘No… it can’t be…’

This Captain, this masked man… he felt like he had met him somewhere before. It was an undeniably familiar aura. Though significantly altered, it was somehow familiar. Tens of thousands of question marks floated and vanished in the emptiness of his mind, and suspicion began to cloud over him like a dense fog.

‘Familiar?’

Familiar? What kind of bullshit was this! This was the fiend who had destroyed the company he had built with sweat and blood, and murdered his employees. And yet, familiar? This feeling, with its utterly wrong choice of words, left him bewildered. The unbearable dissonance churned his stomach. He wanted to spit on him. But feelings were just feelings, and his mind was hazy, like being in a fog, unable to grasp any solid form. Therefore, he couldn't ascertain the true nature of the emotion he was experiencing.

“I have but one question.”

Yu Jaeryong spoke. He wanted to confirm this sensation somehow.

“I have no answer to give.”

It was a gruff, gratingly harsh, and muffled voice. It was a subtle detail that could have been overlooked, but Yu Jaeryong did not.

“Do you have a sore throat, or is that your natural pig-like squeal?”

His initial intention in asking the question was not because he had anything particularly to ask, but rather to hear the voice of the masked man first. Therefore, the content of any answer was irrelevant. However, the masked man seemed to have seen through this and was altering his voice.

“It’s natural for the lower ranks to suffer. My body has become very weak due to excessive labor these days. Please understand. Though there isn't much time left.”

The masked assailant retorted. His voice was indeed altered. He had never seen him before, yet he was altering his voice? And he was wearing a completely black mask? It was extremely suspicious. Deliberately changing his voice meant he had something to hide. If so, was this an acquaintance to the point where he had to be careful? The thought made him unable to stay put any longer. He had nothing to lose anyway. He was in a position where he could leave anytime. He had already made up his mind. A merchant must distinguish between what can and cannot be traded. He had no intention of trying to save his life after coming this far.

“Well, I tried to understand when you asked me to, but unfortunately, I don't understand at all. Have we met before?”

A slight flinch!

It was an extremely brief moment. However, in that moment, though infinitesimally brief, he did not miss the masked man’s body twitching in reaction. Words are not the only form of answer. Indeed, answers other than words are far more credible than those that can be carelessly spewed out by simply wagging one's tongue.

“Indeed, it seems we have met before. Don’t you think so?”

“Perhaps? Is there a need to know that?”

The masked man was implying that since he was going to die anyway, there was no need to bother with such trivialities.

“Are you still denying it? Why don’t you just tell me honestly? Think of it as a final gift.”

Yu Jaeryong vowed inwardly that he would reveal his identity before he died, no matter what.

“Commit suicide! Then I’ll tell you!”

Upon hearing that answer, Yu Jaeryong’s face contorted.

“No matter how curious I am, I will have to decline that.”

As he spoke, he focused his attention on his hearing. Although the voice was deliberately altered, a person’s speech patterns do not change that easily. Therefore, he tried to draw out the conversation but failed. The masked villain’s words were too short to identify any distinctive features. Thus, identifying him by his voice failed. However, there was still a viable method remaining.

“Fine. Then at least tell me your name. You can tell me that much, can’t you? I don't expect your real name. What is your name now?”

“Kill (殺)! Dragon (龍)! Salryong, the leader of the Salryongdae! That is my name now.”

The masked man’s answer was brief, but it was enough to unleash Yu Jaeryong’s pent-up rage. Flames flashed in Yu Jaeryong’s eyes. There was no need to wait any longer. There is a habit that is harder to conceal than speech patterns. That is martial arts. A martial arts stance does not merely signify a simple swordplay. It embodies the entirety of that person's life. The rigorous training, experience, and life are all melted into it. Learning martial arts is a process of completely fitting oneself into the form of martial arts, or vice versa. Martial arts represent the face and very existence of the one who learned them.

‘The sword is honest!’

There is no sound more honest than the clash of sword against sword, steel against steel.

That’s right. If we clash, we will know.

“Cheongryong Chulhae!”

Yu Jaeryong, with his sword held upright, lunged towards the masked assailant. Like a dragon surging from water, the Cheongryong sword spiraled towards Salryong’s heart. Just as the sword tip was about to devour his heart, Salryong drew the sword at his waist. It was a sword named Yongsaldo.

*Swish!*

*Clang!*

“Gasp!”

Yu Jaeryong’s eyes widened with the deafening clang of steel. The blade of the sword, not yet fully drawn, had blocked the path of the Cheongryong sword with flawless precision. It was a perfect defense, as if he had understood all the variations of the ‘Cheongryong Chulhae’ stance.

“I-Impossible!”

Yu Jaeryong rapidly flipped himself in mid-air a couple of times and retreated quickly. Instead of pursuing the surprised him, Salryong leisurely finished drawing his sword and then let it hang naturally. Then, he raised his left hand and beckoned twice with his fingers, saying,

“Come!”

Enraged by the complete disregard for him, Yu Jaeryong’s fury erupted.

“Oh yeah! Did you think I couldn’t come if you told me to!”

Yu Jaeryong gripped the sword hilt so hard that his hand began to bleed, summoning even more internal energy. He seemed indifferent to whether his dantian dried up.

“Take this!”

The stance Yu Jaeryong unleashed this time was Yongajanjeon, the eighth stance among the thirteen Cheongryong stances. This Yongajanjeon stance, meaning the dragon’s teeth tear through the clouds, is a highly aggressive killing stance among the thirteen Cheongryong stances.

*Thud! Clang! Clang!*

However, this time as well, Salryong parried all of the sword strikes, which were delivered with two hands, by merely shifting his sword a couple of times with one hand. Again, Yu Jaeryong’s Cheongryong swordplay vanished as if by magic with a few gestures from Salryong’s hand. What was most surprising was the fact that Salryong had not moved an inch from his spot.

Yu Jaeryong could not help but be dumbfounded by this unbelievable reality. A sense of crisis washed over him, realizing he would be defeated before he could even discern the opponent’s martial arts.

“O-One more time! I just slipped a bit earlier! I won’t fail this time!”

Then, Salryong sneered and said,

“Not tens, but hundreds of times more, the result will not change, Yu Jaeryong! You are powerless! So, hand over the key obediently! How much more miserable do you need to become to understand?”

‘Calm down. Don’t fall for his provocation. Find yourself.’

Instead of answering, Yu Jaeryong closed his eyes. Of course, closing one's eyes during a duel was extremely dangerous. But losing oneself to anger was even more dangerous.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

He first regulated his breath to calm his mind, which was raging with anger. Since the body and mind are connected, he calmed his mind by regulating his breathing. As his mind calmed, what was unseen began to become visible.

‘Strange.’

The enemy was reacting with such familiarity to the Cheongryong thirteen stances he was displaying. It was as if they were engaged in a practiced sparring match between fellow disciples, effortlessly parrying his relentless sword strikes. There was not a hint of surprise in his movements. It would be impossible if he didn't see through his sword strikes as clearly as he saw his own palm. Indeed, the enemy was someone he knew.

‘Who could it be?’

This situation was dangerous. The enemy saw him as clearly as the lines on his palm, yet he couldn't even see the tip of his fingernail. The enemy knew him, but he didn't know the enemy, so it was only natural that the disadvantage would grow with time. His internal energy was draining away like grains of sand in his hand with each passing moment.

If this continued, he would soon hit his limit. His arms grew heavy as iron, his breathing became labored, and his body grew more and more weary, while the opponent remained in a stable state. As if not tired at all, he continued to calmly parry Yu Jaeryong’s maddeningly incessant sword strikes. He could no longer delay. He had to make a decisive move now. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have a sliver of a chance of winning.

When Yu Jaeryong opened his eyes again, his gaze had changed. Simultaneously, the subtle tremor he felt from the tip of his sword disappeared. As his body moved his mind, this time, the moved mind influenced the body again.

*Swoosh!*

Yu Jaeryong raised the Cheongryong sword, which he gripped with both hands, diagonally. A fierce energy began to emanate from his body.

“Come!”

“Going!”

He decided to stake everything on the Cheongryong thirteen stances, which he had honed for his entire life. Yu Jaeryong leaped.

‘Finally, the moment has come!’

Salryong, who had not moved an inch until now, showed the first change. He had finally taken a stance after confronting Yu Jaeryong.

Among the most powerful and potent stances of the Cheongryong thirteen stances, the unique family sword technique of Cheongryong Eui, the two-digit numbered stances after the tenth stance are the most formidable. Especially the stance ‘Cheongryong Pungyu’ (靑龍風雨), which means the dragon summons wind and clouds, is linked with ‘Cheongryong Yakhae’ (靑龍躍海), meaning the dragon leaps from the sea, the eleventh stance, and ‘Cheongryong Juchon’ (靑龍走天), meaning the dragon runs through the sky, the twelfth stance, completing a triple consecutive attack with immense destructive power.

Cheongryong Thirteen Stances Secret Technique Consecutive Triple Stance, Flying Dragon Ascending to the Heavens.

With the sword raised above his head, Salryong’s sword flashed and descended.

*Shwshshshsh!*

The stance ‘Cheongryong Pungyu’, a series of diagonal slashes like a gale, was rendered null by Salryong’s sword, which accurately read the sword’s trajectory.

“……!”

He obliquely blocked the ‘Cheongryong Yakhae’ stance, a heavy technique that involves cutting with the force of the entire body, and then retreated, diminishing its power.

“……!!”

The last move was ‘Cheongryong Juchon,’ which involved rotating the entire body as he landed and soaring upwards. Yu Jaeryong unleashed the final stance of the consecutive triple stance with all his might.

However, as if he could see through its trajectory, Salryong moved back three steps and narrowly evaded the fierce sword strike by a hair's breadth.

“……!!”

When a grand technique fails, it leaves an even greater opening. The dragon that lost the wind and clouds was now naked.

‘This is what I was waiting for!’

“You are defeated, Yu Jaeryong!”

Salryong leaped. The Yongsaldo in his grip glowed blood red.

Dragon Slaying, Body Dismantling; Cheongryong Nachi (靑龍落地)!

It was a stance created solely to counter the Flying Dragon Ascending to the Heavens.

“Gasp!”

Yu Jaeryong hastily lowered his sword to block Salryong’s strike.

*Ka-chang!*

“Khuuuk!”

However, it was impossible to withstand the powerful sword force contained in Salryong’s sword in his unbalanced stance. Yu Jaeryong, spitting blood like a puppet with its strings cut, was sent flying.

*Thump! Thump!*

Yu Jaeryong bounced twice like a ball on the ground, rolled, and then collapsed on the floor.

“It’s over!”

Salryong said, turning his back. At that moment.

“…it is.”

A faint voice was heard from beyond Salryong’s back.

“Not yet… it is!”

The second time, it was a little clearer.

Yu Jaeryong rose, leaning on his sword like a cane. He looked desperate. His body, supported by trembling legs, continued to bleed profusely. His internal injuries were currently very severe.

“Pathetic and unsightly, Yu Jaeryong! Do you know how ugly it is to struggle in the mire of despair?”

Salryong sneered and lamented.

“Let it be ugly! I still have something to protect! And my final transaction is not over yet!”

*Thud!*

Yu Jaeryong, barely holding his sword up with his tattered right arm, flicked the sword blade with his left index finger.

*Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!*

Once, twice, thrice, four times…

Yu Jaeryong desperately flicked the sword blade, unconcerned that his index fingernail was breaking and his fingertips were bleeding.

“What is that now? Are you trying to drive me crazy with all this noise?”

“Cheongryong Thirteen Stances Secret Technique, Old Dragon's Roar! It’s a warm-up to send you to hell!”

“You are the one going to hell!”

Yu Jaeryong charged again, unleashing the consecutive triple stance of Flying Dragon Ascending to the Heavens. Salryong let out a surprised laugh.

“Hah! Have you become forgetful, or are you insane? Do you think repeating it again will make it successful? With that tattered body?! Foolish!”

As Salryong said, the Flying Dragon Ascending to the Heavens, which was noticeably weaker than before, had no chance of working. Salryong neutralized his attack even more easily than before. Mocking his foolishness.

“I knew it wouldn’t work!”

“What!”

In fact, this Flying Dragon Ascending to the Heavens stance had one more step. However, using it meant the user was prepared to die. And Yu Jaeryong knew. That time was now.

“Young-ah! Seon-ah! You must live!”

He burned all his remaining life for a single moment of power.

“Cheongryong Thirteen Stances Final Secret Technique, Dragon Scale Burst (龍鱗爆)!”

With Yu Jaeryong’s cry, the Cheongryong sword exploded. Thousands of shattered dragon scales rained down upon Salryong, who had his eyes wide open. The caster, Yu Jaeryong, was not unharmed either. This became a mutual destruction technique because it was impossible to control the direction of the scattered dragon scales. Moreover, if it failed, he lost the means to defend himself and his internal energy was depleted, making it a useless technique that he dared not use normally. Its seal was only broken when one was willing to give up their life. It was a blow imbued with desperate power. Yu Jaeryong was confident of success amidst the pain of his body being torn apart.

However,

“Haaap!”

Salryong’s martial arts far exceeded Yu Jaeryong’s expectations. To what extent? In this desperate moment, he possessed the ability to exert his full strength to create a blade shield to cover his body. And this was something he prided himself on. With a cry, his tattered right arm was swung like lightning, and a triangular blade shield unfolded in front of Salryong.

*Chajajajajajajang! Kanggangganggang!*

The swarm of sword fragments, pouring down like a horizontal downpour towards Salryong, collided with the triangular blade shield, creating a loud clash with sparks.

Salryong desperately swung his sword to avoid being pushed back by the force that threatened to tear through the blade shield. If the blade shield was torn, it was his defeat; if he defended it, it was his victory. Like water leaking through a roof on a stormy night, a few sword fragments flew towards Salryong, penetrating his defense.

*Fyuut! Fyuut! Fyuut!*

Red blood lines appeared on the black-clothed man's forearm and shoulder. However, the man continued to swing his sword without regard.

*Pyuung!*

Another sword fragment, penetrating his defense, aimed for his brow. The man quickly tilted his head to the side, evading it.

*Sskak!*

The sword fragment grazed his cheek, leaving a red scratch on the man's face. And that became the final struggle of the Cheongryong. The dragon's fury ultimately failed to pierce the triangular blade shield and was frustrated.

“S-Samhyeonzo-hwa (三絃造化)!”

A piercing cry of shock erupted from the depths of Yu Jaeryong's lungs. Just as he had hidden a trump card, the opponent also had one. However, the opponent’s trump card was something he knew all too well.

Yu Jaeryong was almost out of his mind. And along with him, his bewilderment reached its peak. How could that stance be unleashed by this villain’s hand? The unique triangular shape of the blade shield formed by the sword technique was the sole skill of a particular individual.

“Y-You…?”

*Swoosh!*

With a chilling sound effect, the black-clothed man's Yongsaldo pierced Yu Jaeryong’s abdomen.

“Ghhhk!”

Yu Jaeryong’s hand, trembling with pain, slowly moved towards the man's face. The man watched him with indifferent eyes. He didn't shake off his hand either.

“Th-This… This……”

Yu Jaeryong, struggling to speak, coughed up blood.

Finally, his hand, which had been trembling like a Parkinson's patient's, touched the black mask.

*Swoosh!*

As his hand fell powerlessly, the man’s mask slid down, revealing Salryong’s face.

“How…?”

Yu Jaeryong, his hollow eyes staring at the man's face with no strength left to be surprised, fell into despair brought on by profound betrayal.

“Y-You…?”

Yu Jaeryong’s bloodshot eyes widened and then froze.

The person behind that black cloth was someone who surpassed his expectations, no, his imagination. If they had merely been acquaintances, it would have been a blessing. What lay beneath the villainous mask was the face of his close friend.

“Tsk, wouldn’t it have been better if you hadn’t known until the end, Jaeryong? Then you could have passed to the next world in peace,”

The man said, clicking his tongue. He had already dropped the voice modulation. It was an all too familiar voice. A voice he could never mistake.

“I didn’t want to inform you of your betrayal like this. I thought it was the least I could do to show consideration for you.”

“Lee… Lee-je, how… how could you…? The Eun Jang and the Pyo Guk are inseparable companions… How…?”

Yu Jaeryong tried to draw his sword to strike down the man who was once his friend, but he couldn’t even move a finger. The opponent’s sword had already pierced his abdomen. Moreover, only the hilt of the sword remained. He was utterly, utterly powerless.

“Resent me as much as you want. You won’t be able to resent me after you die, as there isn’t much time left.”

“Why did you betray me?”

Swallowing back the rising blood, Yu Jaeryong managed to speak.

“What?”

Salryong asked.

“Why did you betray me? Weren’t we friends for ten years? Why did you, of all people, betray me?”

“Betrayal? Don’t say things that could be misunderstood if others heard them.”

He replied in a voice that showed no sign of guilt.

“Bet… Betrayal? Cough cough!”

Blood kept getting caught in his throat, interrupting his words.

“Of course. From the moment I started seeing you, my goal was to find the whereabouts of the key. I was one of many people sent to places where the key might be. It took me ten years to find out because your lips were so tight.”

If he had been certain, their acquaintance would have been shorter.

“Oh, what a shame! It’s like entrusting valuables to a thief. Aren’t you ashamed of the people who entrusted the artifacts to you, believing in you?”

“What is there to be ashamed of? I handled those matters perfectly. So, rest assured. I can’t just abandon this position, can I? So, give up now and hand over the key.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! That is not something a traitor should possess!”

Yu Jaeryong roared, disregarding the blood flowing into his throat. But it was useless.

“You are wrong. Originally, that key belonged to that person. You are the ones who broke the promise, not us. We are simply exercising our rightful claim.”

“Ptooey! You will never obtain it!”

“It hurts to hear you say that. We were friends once, weren’t we… Na!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Salryong twisted his sword, which was lodged in Yu Jaeryong’s abdomen.

“Kkkkkkkyaaaaaaak!”

Once again, a tragic scream erupted from Yu Jaeryong’s lips.

“So, how is it? Are you ready to talk now?”

“Ptooey!”

He spat bloody saliva towards Salryong’s face again, but Salryong easily dodged it and searched Yu Jaeryong’s body from head to toe. However, the item he was looking for did not appear.

“As expected… the key must be with the brats.”

Yu Jaeryong’s pupils flickered slightly at Salryong’s casual tone, as if he had expected this. Salryong, who had been staring intently into his eyes, immediately detected the subtle tremor. Eyes are the windows to the soul, they say. Yu Jaeryong, his mental and physical control weakened, could not completely hide his emotional turmoil.

A cruel smile appeared on Salryong’s lips.

“As expected.”

It was just a probing attempt a moment ago, but it yielded results. Normally, Yu Jaeryong would not have fallen for it, but when his physical condition is this bad, mental gaps tend to show. Therefore, he had no further business with Yu Jaeryong.

“For your final journey, considering our past friendship, I will send you off comfortably. Farewell.”

Salryong firmly pulled out the handle of the sword that was piercing his abdomen.

A fountain of blood burst from behind Yu Jaeryong.

In his vision, which was turning red, and as his consciousness sank into the distant darkness, Yu Jaeryong murmured softly,

“Live…”

Looking at the eyes of his former friend, which could not close peacefully, Salryong said with a sinister smile,

“The ten years I spent with you were very enjoyable.”

“Salryongdae First Squad, Fifth Rank Du Sim!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Du Sim, who quickly stepped out of formation, replied with a bow.

“From now on, you are the squad leader.”

It was necessary to fill the void left by the deaths of the second and third ranks on Yu Jaeryong’s sword.

“Thank you.”

Du Sim replied, quickly bowing his head at the unexpected promotion.

“Take care of the cleanup. Leave no rat behind. The Cheongryong Eun Jang will disappear from this world today. Burn all the vouchers and documents. There's no need to keep paper scraps like vouchers or bills of exchange. Transfer all the silver ingots to the main office. When the flag is raised, no one will suspect anything.”

“I obey your command.”

“Chief Commander of Blood Mark!”

“Yes!”

Blood Mark also rushed forward and bowed.

“Divide the unit into two squads. You will take charge of the first and third squads, and I will take charge of the second and fourth squads.”

“Yes!”

“The key is surely with those brats. Scatter in ten directions and chase them! Spread a net across this area. Do not let even a fleeting gust of wind escape. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Captain!”

Du Sim, who had been unexpectedly promoted by two ranks due to the deaths of the second and third ranks during the operation, was in a very good mood. His time to shine had finally come. So, he worked with all his heart. He burned diligently, smashed diligently, and destroyed diligently.

It was when Du Sim was busy with the cleanup.

“Hey, young man. May I ask you something?”

“Ah, I’m busy, so ask me later.”

The squad leader Du Sim, who had carelessly replied, snapped his head around.

Behind him stood an old man with white hair and a bushy white beard.

“Gasp! H-How…?”

Unlike Du Sim, who jumped back in surprise, the old man was nonchalant.

“Hmm? I walked here.”

The old man replied casually.

“No, that’s not what I…”

He wasn’t looking for that kind of story.

“Isn’t a barrier already in effect here? H-How can you step into this place?”

However, even as the old man’s steps approached him silently from behind, no warning signal was emitted. It was as if nothing had happened.

“This is quite troublesome!”

Turning his back on Du Sim, the old man scratched his chin with one hand, closed his eyes, and bowed his head in thought. At this moment, five subordinates appeared. But the old man, as if completely unconcerned, turned his back. His back was fully exposed. Another ten subordinates appeared. As if unaware of this, the old man squatted on the ground and began to write something on the ground with a twig. At this point, fifteen more subordinates appeared, bringing the total number of Du Sim's subordinates to thirty. All the personnel left behind for cleanup were gathered. However, the old man seemed to have more important matters at hand and didn't even look back.

“Oh dear, what to do… I don’t eat raw food, so I need to buy rice, and if I only drink dew, my mouth will be bored, so I have to settle my overdue bar tab, and I need living expenses… Hmm hmm.”

He seemed to be completely ignoring Du Sim and his thirty subordinates, who were glaring at him from behind. Didn't he feel the murderous intent rising from behind him? The old man's anguish remained focused on the numbers written on the ground. As his mind became complicated, Du Sim, finding it bothersome to think further, quickly chose a swift and decisive method. That was violence.

“Aight, I don't care! Hey guys! Shut that old man up immediately!”

Then, the thirty subordinates, who had been momentarily bewildered and hesitant, snapped out of it and drew their swords, rushing forward.

“Dieeeeeee!”

A battle cry filled with murderous intent danced in the red chaos of flames.

And then…

“Huh?”

A moment later, the old man and his subordinate looked around and said,

“No, why are they rolling on the ground like that? It must be very cold on the ground at night.”

Du Sim's thirty subordinates were all rolling on the cold ground. No blood was shed. However, no one was breathing.

“D-Do you… you know?”

Du Sim, whose soul was already half-gone, trembled like a quaking aspen. His teeth chattered, and his knees knocked together incessantly.

“Hmm? I don’t know? I’m the type who doesn’t pay attention to trivial matters.”

Could this be considered trivial? Without even knowing how they were defeated, thirty subordinates had died in an instant.

“And why is your face like that? A moment ago, it was rosy and full of life, but now it’s pale like you’ve seen a ghost?”

The old man took a step closer to get a better look at Du Sim’s face.

“Aaaah! Don’t come! Don’t come! Don’t come near me!”

“Hey, how can a young person be so rude? Haven’t you heard that you should respect elders?”

“Aaaah! Aaaah! Please don’t come! Please don’t come!”

Du Sim, who had shed the blood of dozens of people on the battlefield, collapsed on the ground and burst into tears. It was as if his time had reversed to his childhood.

“Goodness, I can’t understand. After saying don’t come, you start crying. Well, I can’t help it.”

After catching his breath, the old man exhaled forcefully and said a short word.

“Stop!”

Then, all of Du Sim’s movements ceased. Tears no longer flowed from his wide-open eyes, his lips were tightly pursed, and no more snot dripped from his nose. Moreover, he didn’t even blink. It was as if time had stopped only in the place where he stood; he remained motionless. This state continued until the old man spoke.

“Now, are you ready to talk?”

Du Sim, who had urinated in his pants, replied,

“Y-Yes! I am ready.”

“Hmm, is that so? There’s no need to answer so loudly. My ears are not deaf yet.”

“Ah… I understand.”

Du Sim answered loudly again. For some reason, his face was covered in tears and snot.

“Is this the Cheongryong Eun Jang?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, did you set fire there?”

“Y-Ah, no. We just came to attack the place. The fire was started by them.”

“By them?”

“Yes, this ignorant servant doesn’t know much, but that’s how it is.”

“Is that so? It must have been a desperate effort.”

He couldn’t bring himself to swing his sword. He felt as if something had gripped him, and his body wouldn’t move anymore.

“So, there must still be some silver left inside, right? As a customer of this place, I seem to have the right to take my share of the silver within.”

“Excuse me, but there isn’t a single piece of silver or gold left inside.”

“What?! None? Why not? What about the vouchers? Deposits? If you go bankrupt as you please, what about the customers? It’s your fault too. If you hadn’t caused a disturbance, this misfortune wouldn’t have happened. Are you going to take responsibility for my livelihood? Even if it takes your entire life, I will hold you responsible.”

Du Sim, overwhelmed by the old man’s imposing presence, swallowed a gasp. He would be held responsible? He would have to be responsible for this terrifying old man his entire life? He hated such a terrible thing more than death. Du Sim stopped breathing.

“Huh? Hey, young man? Why aren’t you talking? Just staring with wide eyes… Huh? He’s dead?”

The old man approached and found Du Sim not exhaling the breath he had swallowed. It was a heart attack. He stood stiffly, his eyes wide open, and fled into death. It was the best method he could choose in the face of such terrible fear, and his body granted his desperate wish.

“Huh? Why did he die?”

The old man tilted his head, looking puzzled.

“Well, I can’t help it.”

As mentioned earlier, his principle was not to care about trivial matters.

“But what about this… I can’t even pay my overdue bar tab like this…”

For the detached-looking old man, maintaining his livelihood and drinking capacity were not trivial matters.

“Troublesome! Troublesome!”

He said to himself after a moment.

“Is there no other way? I’m not too keen on it… Should I find that guy again… I can’t starve to death like this…”

The old man threw the certificate he was holding into the flames.

“I guess I’ll have to go out into the martial world after a long time.”