Chapter 162: Chapter 162
“Is this the alcohol you mentioned?”
Hunan’s prince, Prince Yeong Ju Jin-hak, stared at the alcohol in front of him with sparkling eyes. He also knew well what this alcohol was from rumors.
It had only been fifteen days since it went on sale, but it was already the talk of the town among drinkers; it was the alcohol of the Hoyeon Clan, which people thought they could no longer taste.
Ju Jin-hak swallowed hard, his mouth watering at the mere thought of it.
“Indeed. Would you like to try it?”
When Hong Won-chang, who had changed into neat clothes, asked, Ju Jin-hak nodded readily.
Had he not even put out a search for it, offering two taels of gold per bottle just to drink it?
Even so, he had failed to obtain it, but Hong Won-chang was so capable that he had brought as many as two bottles.
Ju Jin-hak, who was staring quietly at the bottle, raised his head with a pleased expression upon hearing the maids bringing cups and snacks.
Only then did he realize there was someone he had never seen before standing beside Hong Won-chang.
“By the way, who is that person?”
“This is the leader of the Golden Ring Merchant Group. He is also the one who distributes the Hoyeon Clan’s alcohol.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Geum Eun-hak.”
“Oh, are you the one who discovered this alcohol in the shadows?”
Ju Jin-hak asked with a bright expression, wondering what made him so happy. Any alcohol lover would naturally feel favorable toward Geum Eun-hak, who had brought the drink.
That was how precious the alcohol was.
“I was lucky. Although the monthly supply of alcohol is limited, I will send it to the prince’s manor whenever you wish, Your Highness.”
“Hahaha! Those are pleasant words. But that is fine. Isn’t a good alcohol supposed to be bought with one’s own money to taste best? Next time, I will wait for it to be released and buy it to drink myself.”
Geum Eun-hak bowed deeply at the boisterous words. Ju Jin-hak was exceptionally close to the Emperor.
He was also famous for his integrity and clean nature, never being swayed by personal feelings or interests.
Geum Eun-hak also had no intention of giving the alcohol for free but had spoken out of politeness, and Ju Jin-hak had taken it in his own way.
“Mmm, this is truly delicious alcohol! It is well worth paying gold for. Come on, don’t just stand there, both of you, take a cup. Alcohol is meant to be drunk together to taste best.”
He had met a pleasant person, and there was good alcohol.
As someone who loved alcohol, what could be more exciting than this?
The bright smile on Ju Jin-hak’s face did not fade easily.
* * *
“Failure? Failure? You say it’s a failure?!”
Chu Mun-won sat down in his chair with a thud, clutching the back of his neck. The bastards he trusted were all found dead. But it wasn’t as if they had dealt with Hong Won-chang or Geum Eun-hak either.
He thought the force he sent would be sufficient, but that was not the case. The one who made the wrong judgment was not Doo Ak-chil, but himself.
“They say they have already entered the prince’s manor with the alcohol.”
“Damn it! Was there someone remarkable with them?”
“Well… according to the reports of the kids scouting the prince’s manor, they saw Namgung So-hye and Gwon Mu-jin.”
“Namgung So-hye? Gwon Mu-jin?”
He let out a hollow laugh, completely dumbfounded.
The corners of his mouth trembled.
The hand running through his hair also shook.
Why were such people helping the Golden Ring Merchant Group? Weren’t they all famous experts? Could they have some connection with the Golden Ring Merchant Group?
His head throbbed as if it would burst with all sorts of thoughts.
“Why are they there?”
“After gathering information from various sources… it is said that the two of them were originally staying at a place called the Hunan Dan Family in Yueyang.”
“Hunan Dan Family?”
“Yes.”
“Did such a clan exist?”
“It is my first time hearing of it as well.”
Doo Ak-chil barely spoke while wiping away cold sweat. It was also his first time hearing of a place called the Hunan Dan Family. Yet, he still could not believe that experts like Namgung So-hye and Gwon Mu-jin were there.
“And…”
“And? What else is there?”
“Do you remember the rumor that recently spread near Yueyang and Changsha?”
“What is it?”
“The strange old men wearing the masks of the Gentleman’s Sword and the Demon Sky Monarch.”
“Yes.”
He recalled hearing it in passing.
They were old men who mainly appeared in the Yueyang area; when someone caused trouble near the marketplace, they would appear wearing masks to help.
“According to information from the Hao Sect, it seems the place they live is also that Hunan Dan Family.”
“Sigh…”
A hollow sigh escaped Chu Mun-won’s mouth.
Did those ridiculous fellows dare to cross them now? He could only sigh repeatedly, finding it absurd just thinking about it.
To whom did this Hunan belong?
Although they did not display their power outwardly, it belonged to this very Chu Gate Family.
No matter how much small and medium sects soared and settled in Hunan, they could never escape the influence of the Chu Gate Family in the end.
‘But who do these bastards dare to mess with?’
He could only laugh, finding it utterly ridiculous the more he thought about it.
“What should we do?”
“It is certain that they are backing the Golden Ring Merchant Group, right?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“Then where is that bitch from the Hoyeon Clan?”
“Her whereabouts are unknown. Probably…”
“She must be at that clan, right?”
Doo Ak-chil nodded.
The Golden Ring Merchant Group released alcohol every few days.
That meant the Hoyeon Clan’s girl was brewing alcohol somewhere.
The most likely place was none other than the Hunan Dan Family.
“Hoyeon Ji, we must drag that girl out. Send word to the Hunan Merchant Group.”
“What should I tell them?”
“Pressure the Golden Ring Merchant Group… No, tell them to completely destroy it.”
“Understood. Then what shall we do about that clan?”
“Submit a request to the Killing Pavilion, secretly.”
Doo Ak-chil gaped at the mention of the Killing Pavilion.
The greatest assassin organization in the Central Plains.
It was a place where those who were said to be able to kill anyone as long as the right price was paid gathered. It was the Killing Pavilion, formed by those who had reached the peak of numerous assassin groups in the Central Plains.
The weight of its name was also immense.
“Kill them all. Leave not a single soul behind!”
“I… I will carry it out immediately.”
* * *
The assassins of the Killing Pavilion possessed outstanding abilities, but their fees were so expensive that ordinary people could not even submit requests.
Since hiring them once cost dozens to hundreds of taels of gold, and varied greatly depending on the target, they mostly received requests from high-ranking officials or wealthy merchants.
The same was true for those here now.
The number of those who came from the Hunan branch of the Killing Pavilion was about ten. Considering the power of the Killing Pavilion, this was a fairly large number, but considering the client, it could not be helped.
-To think we need this many people just to annihilate a small-to-medium clan… Isn’t the profit margin too low?
The man who appeared to be the leader nodded at his subordinate’s question. He had heard that the client requested this many people to ensure the job was done properly.
The requested amount was also substantial.
With as much as five hundred taels of gold on the line, the Killing Pavilion did not care either way. It was a fairly high price for an easy task like wiping out an nameless clan.
-Still, do not let your guard down. Since the amount offered is high, it is best to assume there is something to it.
-Understood.
The man smiled as he saw his subordinates nodding.
He was thinking the same thing. If they were to send just one of them, destroying a mediocre clan would not be a big deal at all.
-That is it.
Before they knew it, they had reached their destination.
The time was late at night, slightly past the Hour of the Rat.
The Hunan Dan Family’s large manor was grand enough to make their eyes wide just by looking at it.
They had traveled to many places and seen many buildings, but this was the first time they had seen something so magnificent, except for the Imperial Palace.
The man chuckled.
-It is a house too good to burn down.
-Indeed.
The subordinates looking at the clan all nodded. Although they did not show it, they also seemed quite surprised.
-Do not forget our purpose. If there is a girl presumed to be Hoyeon Ji, capture her at all costs, and kill everyone else.
-Yes, sir!
The man nodded at the clear sound transmission of his subordinates. Having been together for a long time, he knew well that they did not tolerate even the smallest mistake.
Now, all that remained was…
‘Slaughter.’
The man smiled broadly and pulled out a dagger. A strong toxicity was felt from the razor-sharp blade.
Since he had coated it with the poison of the seven-paced viper, one would die from a mere graze unless they were immune to all poisons.
The thought of seeing blood soon made the man’s heart beat uncontrollably.
Soon, he quickly approached the clan in a low crawl.
However, there was no sign of life inside the manor.
The lights were off, and there was no sense of anyone moving around. It was also ridiculous that a clan this large did not even post a single guard.
Though that would make their job even easier.
With that thought, he signaled his subordinates.
The moment the ten assassins climbed over the wall all at once.
Slash!
“Kugh!”
The man doubted his own eyes, unable to believe what had happened.
Three figures stood beyond the wall.
As if the sword of one of the men had been swung, the bodies of two subordinates were sliced in half, spraying blood.
‘Huh?’
While none of the assassins could even properly assess the situation.
Slice, slice!
Something catching the moonlight flashed several times.
Thud, thud!
The subordinates collapsed helplessly.
Bodies were cut, and heads flew.
The number of assassins, which had been around ten, dwindled in an instant. Because it happened in the blink of an eye, the assassins of the Killing Pavilion were even more unable to pull themselves together.
“How sloppy.”
Soon, a figure holding a sword stepped forward.
He stood loftily in the moonlight, his long hair fluttering. He lightly flicked the blood-red sword and looked at the scattered corpses without a single change in his expression.
The moment the last assassin who climbed over the wall finally landed on the ground.
Slash!
“Aaaaargh!”
Another flash of light flew and severed his two legs.
He could not gather his senses from the pain. He wanted to scream even more, but his voice would not even come out because his pressure points were sealed in an instant.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
His face even flushed red.
The pain was palpable from his expression alone.
“You should not climb over someone else’s wall so recklessly. Who knows if there is a tiger or a dragon inside?”
The figure who had approached before he knew it looked down at the fallen man.
His entire body froze under that chilling gaze.
“I do not expect you to open your mouth easily. So, I will not ask you now. It is only valuable when you open it yourself.”
The figure smirked, then reached out, grabbed the man’s hair, and dragged him away like a dog.
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