Chapter 97: Drastic Measures

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“Be on guard!”

When Nu-heum quickly shouted and approached the window, all squad members simultaneously stopped what they were doing and picked up the swords placed on the floor.

“Squad Leader, what’s wrong?”

When one squad member carefully went to his side and asked in a whisper, Nu-heum raised a finger to his lips.

SHH.

A signal not to reveal their presence.

The reason was simple.

Upon hearing the earlier loud hoofbeats, his nerves had stood on end thinking that perhaps Cheol Ryu-heun’s party had appeared on this street, driving the spirit creature.

As the heavy sound approaching this way heightened the tension in his chest.

‘Ah, this is…?’

Nu-heum’s stiff expression finally eased slightly.

Because he realized that the sound striking the ground was made not by one horse galloping fiercely, but by several horses running in a row.

TU-DU-DU-DU, TU-DU-DU-DU-DU-!

Nu-heum slightly opened the window to confirm and peered through the gap to carefully watch the road on the other side.

Sure enough.

About a dozen government soldiers wearing swords were seen riding horses in a group, passing by at fierce speed.

At that moment, an angry cry from the person on the lead horse was faintly heard.

“Damn! Escaping during escort!”

Simultaneously, Nu-heum’s expression changed completely.

‘What? Escape?’

Meanwhile, the group of mounted government soldiers passed the road near the house and receded in that direction.

Soon, Nu-heum closed the window while muttering internally.

‘My, could it be the Thousand Snake Gang…? If so, they really can’t turn back.’

Rising up against the government, causing riots and disturbances, then fleeing was no ordinary incident but added serious charges.

Moreover, if it was true that Wuyang’s Chief Magistrate had really obtained and brought a Special Warrant…

“The history of the Thousand Snake Gang ends as of today.”

The squad member beside him who heard Nu-heum’s words nodded.

“Yes, Squad Leader. Judging by the atmosphere, it seems so.”

At that, Nu-heum quickly gestured and said.

“Okay, okay, let’s hurry! The government’s surveillance net will become even stricter because of the Thousand Snake Gang fellows.”

“Yes, Squad Leader!”

* * *

Ju Yu-gang’s original plan was to escort all of the Thousand Snake Gang to the government office first, then proceed with interrogation.

Following existing procedures.

But.

While searching internal buildings to secure evidence, one confidential document was discovered, and after reading its contents, his thoughts completely changed.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because the writing there was related to planning and execution of crimes that made heaven and earth rage with indignation, involving both officials and civilians.

Just reading a few representative examples made fury blazingly boil up.

The Thousand Snake Gang executives had long ago targeted young widows in difficult family circumstances, approached them cunningly, made them incur debts, then practically imprisoned them and made them sell their bodies, and kidnapped girls of blooming age to sexually abuse them while conducting courtesan training.

Also, led by the executives, they committed atrocities without hesitation such as gang-raping, forcibly impregnating, making them give birth, then handing the babies over for a large sum to customers wanting adoption.

They had even established a supply network for certain people who felt dirty desires toward immature young girls.

Moreover, the shocking fact was that officials who received bribes had even handed over census survey data to assist in those deeds.

After finding ledgers and lists related to the confidential document’s contents, Ju Yu-gang completely made up his mind.

He couldn’t just drag them away like this…

He had somewhat guessed crimes like kidnapping women and bribe offerings before, but he hadn’t known such ugly darkness lurked to this extent.

They would have to pay the proper price.

However.

Law alone was insufficient.

Meeting out punishment through proper procedures and having them live imprisoned wasn’t satisfying enough for these crimes.

That was why he thought drastic measures were needed before the escort.

He wanted to bestow dreadful suffering.

Wasn’t thinking of doing such things in the first place the same as abandoning being human?

Yes.

You are no longer people.

You are beings less than beasts.

Then… I must make all of you bleed.

As painfully as possible.

With this sword in my hand.

In the end, Ju Yu-gang secretly consulted with Sub-Captain Ban Bu-bong and arranged for the Thousand Snake Gang executives and some of their subordinates to be able to escape during escort.

It was a trap.

A snare set to add new charges to the existing ones so he could sternly execute them on his own authority.

Indeed, the operation was successful.

Because four executives including Vice-Gang Master Fatal Heart Sword Du Cheong and over thirty gang members started fleeing frantically without knowing it was a trap.

Probably, cornered to a cliff edge with no way back, they must have seen that intentional opening as a miracle lifeline.

Though hastily assembled, the operation wasn’t sloppy.

Right before execution, he had inconspicuously opened only an escape route for the Thousand Snake Gang executives, and secretly moved some of Ban Bu-bong’s forces to station at every road junction so the remaining personnel couldn’t flee far.

Because of that, Du Cheong and the executives escaped without difficulty, but the thirty-plus gang members were all captured before long.

And Ju Yu-gang and Ban Bu-bong deployed search teams to designated streets within Wuyang as previously discussed.

It was part of the operation to guide the Thousand Snake Gang executives to flee in only one direction.

All preparations were complete.

Ju Yu-gang, having led a horse out into an alley, carried a long bundle on his shoulder and let a quiet voice flow while looking at Ban Bu-bong.

“By now, they should be rushing frantically toward the forest adjoining that hill over there. After I leave, you wait about one gak then depart.”

“Yes, Chief Magistrate. But… Will you really be alright?”

His tone was worried as a subordinate about his superior going ahead alone to confront them.

Suddenly, Ju Yu-gang lit up both eyes as he asked.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Then put aside your worries. As you know, this body is from a military official background. I didn’t train carelessly.”

“Hearing you say that, what should be worried for is rather that lot.”

“Having used the trap to build justification, now it’s only proper to bring down the blade of judgment befitting the charges.”

“Yes, I’ll see you later.”

No sooner had Ban Bu-bong’s words ended than Ju Yu-gang mounted the horse’s back, gripped the reins and shook them.

“Giddy up!”

* * *

In the forest.

The five people who had been rapidly running through the green-shaded space shortly reached a large boulder and simultaneously stopped as if by mutual agreement.

The identities of the five were none other than the Thousand Snake Gang executives.

“Huff, huff…”

“Whew, whew…”

Du Cheong and the others couldn’t even utter words, busy catching their greatly quickened breath from the all-out sprint.

Sweat beading on each forehead streamed down continuously, reaching their chins before dripping off.

Before long.

“Phew.”

Having exhaled a long sigh, Du Cheong wiped his face with his sleeve, looked around in all directions, and said as if muttering.

“Seems like we’ve shaken them off.”

At that, one burly man in his thirties with a bear-like frame responded.

“Yes. We had trouble moving while avoiding the government search teams, but… We seem to have passed the big hurdle.”

This was Yuk Tong, who had risen to third-in-command due to the death of former Gang Master White Snake Twin Swords Gul Ma-hun.

Of course, at this point when the Thousand Snake Gang had been thoroughly cleaned out by the government raid, it was a meaningless position.

Following that, the remaining three also nodded with relieved expressions and added words.

“We nearly died.”

“Worth running without rest.”

“It’s a shame we don’t have swords, but… Anyway, it’s fortunate we escaped safely this far.”

Soon, Du Cheong plopped down and leaned his back against the large boulder.

“Damn, our luck had to run out…”

Yuk Tong, parking his backside on the ground beside him, casually asked.

“What do we do now?”

“Hmph, what else… We have to go elsewhere and seek another path.”

“But since the government won’t stay idle, we’ll have to hide somewhere for a while.”

Du Cheong quietly nodded and bit his molars tight.

‘Tsk, I shouldn’t have written that letter in the heat of the moment…!’

-Here, write on the paper. As I dictate.

-Pardon? Ah, yes.

-Stupid bastards, don’t get cocky.

-You want me to write… that?

-Yeah.

Who would have known that mindlessly following Cheol Ryu-heun’s words when he went to White Peak Sword Sect a few days ago would become material evidence for perjury?

Just then, one executive opened his mouth with a worried gaze.

“By the way, do you think the Gang Master knows about this?”

Immediately, another one added words.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go that way instead? Since various representatives are gathered there, if we ask for help, won’t some solution come up?”

Du Cheong thought briefly then shook his head.

“No, that won’t work. That’s more dangerous. If we go and explain the situation, everyone will rather try to cut ties because of the issue involving the government. With the Gang Master already having become a target of Chief Magistrate Ju, what help could we request…”

“Ah… I suppose you’re right.”

“Sigh.”

Having sighed again, Du Cheong recalled the words Ju Yu-gang had uttered while wearing a cold smile.

-Sect Master Cheol made a request. He says he wants the land where the snakes lived. I’ll gladly grant it.

‘Hmph… The root cause behind all this is the damn bastard Cheol Ryu-heun! That son of a bitch meticulously designed it for this day!’

He clenched his fist and ground his teeth.

If only they hadn’t made plans to attack White Peak Sword Sect in the first place… He was newly regretful.

Not that he could blame Geum Ja-jeom.

Because it was himself who had actively agreed to his plan, coveting the Vice-Gang Master position.

Yuk Tong sitting beside him suddenly pointed out one doubt and asked.

“Was getting caught off guard to Chief Magistrate Ju’s attack because of carelessness?”

At that, Du Cheong’s face slightly contorted.

“Yes, the biggest reason was carelessness. But the grip technique he deployed in a surprise attack was… A method based on internal energy technique.”

“What? He has internal cultivation…?”

“A heavy force suddenly invaded, so I was caught completely off guard. I couldn’t read the energy lurking in his body from the start.”

“Surprising. I’d heard he was from a military official background… Could he perhaps be stronger than Sub-Captain Ban?”

“Hard to say. It was only a surprise attack exploiting my carelessness, not a proper confrontation.”

No sooner had Du Cheong’s words ended than.

PA-KWAK!

Along with a crisp sound, a figure rapidly emerged through the dense bushes not far away.

The startled Du Cheong party sprang up and were about to flee when a clear voice flowed out and held their steps.

“What are you so afraid of? I’m alone.”

Only then did Du Cheong and the others confirm the figure’s identity.

Standing alone at roughly ten paces distance was Wuyang’s Chief Magistrate Ju Yu-gang.

It was strange.

Because other than him, no other suspicious presence was detected at all, just as he said.

‘He really came alone?’

The moment Du Cheong, Yuk Tong and others harbored puzzled thoughts, Ju Yu-gang WHOOSH tossed the long bundle he’d been carrying on his shoulder.

CLATTER.

The metallic sound of it hitting the floor and ringing.

“Take them. They’re your swords.”

At Ju Yu-gang’s words, one of the Thousand Snake Gang executives quickly checked the contents of the bundle.

‘What!’

It was true.

Inside the bundle were five swords.

“Go on, have your doubts.”

When Ju Yu-gang smirked, Du Cheong and party quickly took and distributed the five swords among themselves.

“Chief Magistrate… What situation is this now?”

At Du Cheong’s cautious question, Ju Yu-gang answered quietly while keeping his gaze fixed.

“You’ll find out.”

“…?”

“Didn’t you just say so? That it was a surprise attack exploiting your carelessness, so it’s hard to say how strong I am.”

“…!”

“I mean I’ll personally verify that for you.”

When Ju Yu-gang said that and lightly waved his right hand.

SSHING-

The government-issue iron sword hanging at his waist floated up like a feather blown by wind without being touched.

Simultaneously, Du Cheong’s eyes grew wide as he was shocked.

‘Gasp! Could it be Sword Controlling Technique…?’

A voice cold as wind escaped between Ju Yu-gang’s lips.

“Let’s have some fun, shall we?”