Chapter 160: What Kind of Money Is That (3)
An old man with gray hair was groveling.
In front, a middle-aged man sat arrogantly and passed around a brush.
“Are you saying you’re going to open a tea shop inside the market?”
“Yes, given my age, farming is not that difficult…”
“I understand. Then, I must lend it to you. Out of the 5,000 taels, I will give you 4,000 taels, excluding this half as interest. Please sign here.”
“But I have dark eyes….”
“It’s just a formal contract. It doesn’t have much content, so just sign it first. We at Gooyanghoe don’t play around with things like this.”
The only letters the old man knew were the three letters of his name. After engraving my name on the contract, I was handed a wad of bills stacked on paper.
“Thank you, My Lord. I will definitely pay you back.”
“Nothing much to say. Then take a look.”
The old man bowed his head three times before leaving the door. And as soon as he disappeared, the middle-aged man’s expression turned cold.
At that time, someone started waddling down from upstairs. The stairs creaked with every step. A person who appeared to be a bodyguard silently supported him.
The middle-aged man stood up and asked.
“It’s 4,000 taels. I have to collect it, right?”
“Of course. What about collateral?”
“I have modest assets and have a young daughter.”
“One daughter is not enough. Do more research to see if there are any hidden assets. But what happened to the guy I hired yesterday? Why is there still no news?”
“I guess that’s right. It didn’t make sense for a rich girl like that to be alone without any fear.”
“Now that things are like this, I think we’ll have to send our kids there ourselves.”
“Hmm. I hired an outsider out of fear of getting caught, but the job is a mess. Get them caught within today.”
“I understand, Lord Hoe. I will definitely handle it.”
“Keep in mind that you must stay alive until my hermits are recovered. Afterwards, I will decide whether to kill you or sell you to a brothel.”
Ooyanghoe’s Hoeju Hwanggi. He moved his huge body again and went out of the pavilion.
A two-headed carriage was waiting, and ten warriors wearing bamboo gloves assisted him. One of them who appeared to be the leader stepped forward and spoke.
“Come up, Lord. It is the largest manor in the vicinity. Take a look around and if you like it, you can sign a contract today.”
“What is the price?”
“We have taken action in advance, so the chairman can decide.”
Hwang Gi grumbled as he pushed his huge body into the carriage.
“Let’s go quickly. If I spend one more day in a place like this rat’s den, I’ll be suffocated.”
***
The old man who borrowed money from Ouyanghoe seemed like a dream. I was able to open the teahouse I had longed for in Changan.
The steps heading home were light. I felt just fine. Without knowing that there were people following him.
Two children were hiding behind a tree and sticking their headed out. It was So-so and Baeksang who overheard the adults talking and took action first.
So-so asked with a face full of worry.
“Grandpa is in danger.”
Someone wearing a mask was secretly following the old man. Judging from his gait, he was clearly someone who had learned martial arts.
Baeksang raised one hand with a nervous face.
“Let’s wait a moment. Maybe they don’t mean to hurt you.”
It seemed clear that there was bad intent, but there was no sense of death. Moreover, there was no evidence yet.
A while later, the old man was entering the path. The masked man who was following suddenly started running.
So-so and Baeksang were surprised at the same time by the sudden action.
He reached behind the old man’s back and punched him in the side.
Wow!
“Ouch!”
The old man who fell to the floor curled up like a shrimp and groaned.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like it was an attack loaded with strength.
The masked man searched inside the old man’s arms and took out a wad of paper. Then he started running again.
“Oh no, you idiot! What kind of money is that? No!”
At that time, a small stone passed over the old man’s head like a thunderbolt. It struck the leg of the masked man who was running ahead.
Wow!
“Aaaah!”
It was a memorization made by So-so.
The masked man stumbled with a miserable scream. And a white elephant was racing towards him.
Taaa-!
The child, who was floating in the air, spun like a top in the air. Soon, a small foot struck his front chest.
Kwaang-!
“Ugh!”
The masked man, who was caught defenseless, fell backwards.
“W-what is this….”
He couldn’t continue speaking. This was because So-so had already approached him and was kicking his foot towards his face.
“Why are you hitting grandpa!”
Bah!
“Ugh!”
The mask was torn, and several teeth popped out.
At that moment, a white elephant kicked towards his abdomen.
Wow!
The robber reflexively crouched as if he was out of breath.
He looked miserable, his lips were busted and his nose was bleeding, but it wasn’t over yet. So-so and Baeksang started stamping their feet one after another from left and right.
Puck-! Wow! Bah!
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucu
Each kick was an attack filled with strength. The masked man, who had been beaten senselessly, instantly became covered in blood.
It didn’t take long before I fainted and my body went limp.
So-so and Baeksang, who confirmed this, ran to the old man and helped him up.
“Grandpa, are you okay?”
“The money is here.”
The old man put one hand on her waist and groaned, as if he had strained his back. Still, his face seemed bright, as if he was happy that he had found the money.
“Oh my, my waist. Thank you, guys. There’s a robber in our neighborhood, so there’s a lot going on.”
So-so shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Grandpa, do you want to come with us?”
“Uh, where do you mean?”
“I’m going to take this guy to Guard Battalion.”
The old man thought for a moment and nodded willingly. Because I was afraid to go home alone. In addition, the Guard Battalion, which was in charge of security near Jangan Fortress, could ask for help.
“Well, that’s right. But how are we supposed to move that guy?”
He was an old man who had seen and heard a lot throughout his life. I guessed that they were kids learning martial arts, but I couldn’t believe it while watching them.
“We can move it. Hehehe.”
“So-so, listen!”
So-so and Baeksang grabbed the robber from the front and back and lifted him up.
The old man who had been watching with blank eyes came to his senses and approached him. Then he slapped me.
“You bastard!”
It seemed like he was very angry because he heard a clanking sound.
The group immediately walked towards Guard Battalion. The headquarters of Guard Battalion was located within the fortress.
After a while, a soldier who recognized So-so at the castle gate asked in confusion.
“What, what? So-so, did you get into an accident?”
“No, he’s a bad uncle.”
The old man who was following with one hand on her waist spoke hurriedly.
“That’s right. I almost got hit by this bad guy, but the kids helped me and I barely survived. This is the road that will take me to Guard Battalion.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but please pass.”
From the beginning, Su Munbyeong had no intention of stopping Captain So-mu’s daughter.
“Have a hard time, you guys.”
Guard Battalion’s headquarters was located not far from the castle gate. It was a manor with five palaces crowded together around a large yard.
There were a total of about 500 gunners in Changan, and there were similar numbers in Hanzhong.
A wide open space in front of the headquarters building. About a hundred guards were practicing martial arts with their shirts off.
Cool predictions flashing in the eyelight. It was a trace that appeared when learning magic, but its nature was a bit different from that of the original demons. This was because they studied the Tao Te Ching and the Diamond Prajna Sutra together.
“Mister Gaechil!”
Hwang Gae-chil, the commander of Guard Battalion, who was mixing with the gunners and punching. He stopped his actions and approached the entrance.
“It’s been a while, So-so? Who is that guy foaming at the mouth?”
Hwang Gae-chil’s appearance had changed significantly. A slim-looking, muscular body. And I even felt a subtle energy. Although it was not to the point where it could be compared to Wolf Fang Squad, it was an amazing development.
“He is a bad person. He beat my grandfather and stole his money.”
So-so spoke gibberish and explained everything that happened today to Hwang Gae-chil.
He stroked the children’s headed with a happy smile.
“We caught them well. Even so, we were investigating what kind of bastards they were because they were systematically kidnapping them.”
“Did I do well? What are you going to do now?”
“Then, good job. I will investigate who received the instructions and then hand it over to the government office.”
“I know who ordered it.”
“How do you know that? Who are you?”
“Ouyanghoe! That’s where I came from.”
Hwang Gae-chil tilted his head.
“You lent money to the Nine Yang Association and then took it back? That can’t be possible…?”
Baeksang helped from the side.
“It’s true. We saw it!”
Hwang Gae-chil narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment.
I couldn’t believe what the children said, but my intuition told me that it was definitely related to that place. But it was too big to just attack.
“There’s nothing we can do right now because there’s no evidence. We’ll have to interrogate that guy first. You guys can just leave.”
At that time, the old man became restless and called Hwang Gae-chil.
“I, I’ll be fine….”
“Don’t worry. We can’t just let the only witness in this case go. The gunners wherever they are will take turns protecting him.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
The old man’s face brightened immediately. After seeing that, So-so and Baeksang disappeared somewhere again.
After leaving the castle, the place I went back to was the headquarters of Ouyanghoe. Since it was near Janganseong Fortress, it was only a short distance away if you launched a light movement technique.
The two hid behind a nearby hillside tree.
So-so glared at Jeongak and spoke with a serious face.
“They need proof.”
“What evidence?”
“I don’t know. What should I do?”
I came here determined to catch the villains, but I didn’t know what to do.
“Should I just attack them and hit them all? So-so, I can do it if you help me.”
“No. My father said martial arts should only be used against villains. What if there are good people too?”
“Well, if you do that, your father will scold you again.”
At that time, So-so noticed something and pointed somewhere.
“Look over there for a moment.”
In a remote forest thirty miles away from the headquarters of Ouyanghoe. Although it was a deserted place, there was a pavilion hiding among the thick trees. There was some commotion going on there.
“Let’s go now.”
The children approached secretly, hid themselves, and watched closely.
A tough-looking man was holding a woman by her hair and dragging her there.
“If I can’t pay the money back, I have to punish myself, right?”
“Put this away! Do you think I don’t know that you guys stole it back?”
A vicious palm struck the woman’s cheek.
“Ahh!”
“When I look at you cutely, shut up and follow me.”
The woman, whose body was limp, could not resist.
The moment Jang Han put her on his shoulder, the door to the palace burst open.
A warrior with a grim look appeared inside the palace. One of the oil left hanging from the back was also impressive.
“Sir, I have caught the bitch you mentioned. Where are you going?”
“I was on my way to the bathroom.”
“What do you think? Do you like it?”
The unit commander looked at the woman with sinister eyes.
“Keep him waiting in my room. The Great Lord is away, so I’ll have to grade him instead.”
“Yes, I understand.”
At that time, a single sword mark on his left cheek twitched.
“Wait a minute. But why doesn’t this bastard come back?”
“Huh? Aren’t you here yet? There was only one old man.”
“Isn’t it possible that you stole the money?”
“Well, that can’t be possible. Let’s release the kids and look for them.”
“Okay. Let’s go in first. I’m going to drain some water.”
So-so, who had been hiding and watching, looked at the white elephant.
“I guess they’re waiting for the guy who’s being held in Guard Battalion.”
“Yeah. But that guy looks a bit strong? Can you beat So-so?”
Baeksang was not confident of winning. But So-so spoke without the slightest hesitation.
“I win.”
“Then I go first!”
Baeksang, who saw that the warrior was using the restroom, took the lead and ran out.
He approached in an instant, took a short leap, and pulled out his right hand. The fist extending in a straight line was pointed exactly at the back of the warrior’s neck.
Wow!
A heavy feeling felt at the knuckles. However, Baeksang’s expression was not bright. Before I knew it, the warrior had raised his left arm to block the attack. I couldn’t even see the movement.
“Has this kid gone crazy?”
Because he was moving so quickly, her pants were soaked with urine. Musa’s eyes burned with anger. His right hand moved quickly and grabbed Baeksang’s neck.
The white elephant hanging in the air had a red face.
“Ugh.”
The warrior who was about to break the child’s neck suddenly opened her eyes wide. I wonder if some girl was swinging her right foot at her side.
I could feel the tremendous power contained in my short feet with my body. Even at incredibly fast speeds. Without a chance to escape, the child’s foot hit his shin.
Cheok-!
With the sound of something breaking, the shin was bent at a strange angle, and a piece of bone came out. At the same time, a desperate scream shook the forest.
“Kwaaaaah!!!”
At that moment, So-so’s face turned pale. This was because he was so excited that his friend was captured that he was unable to control his strength. In one blow, all of this guy’s internal strength was sent away.
“Ah! Uncle, I didn’t do that on purpose!”
“Hey, you damn little bitch….”
Musa was rolling around on the floor and glaring at So-so menacingly.
At that time, Baeksang started punching the fallen man in the face.
Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!
These were not the eyes of an ordinary child. There was no hesitation in the Baeksang’s actions, which were filled with venom.
So-so, sensing the deadly energy, urgently stopped him.
“You can’t kill it, Sang-a!”
At that moment, Baeksang came to his senses and stood up, shaking her hands.
“I’m sorry. I stopped without realizing it.”
So-so’s expression didn’t look good.
“We’re in big trouble now.”
“why?”
“……Look over there.”
What do I need to say? The warriors of Ouyanghoe, who heard the screamed, were pouring out of the palace. No matter how small it was, there were too many of them.
Baeksang, whose complexion darkened, asked in a trembling voice.
“Should I run away?”