Chapter 125: When Karma Moves
“Defeng Yin Clan…”
The Jungshin Merchant Group is not a giant merchant group spanning the entirety of Hubei.
However, it was enough to grasp and shake one region.
At that level, it was not strange even if it was associated with a place like the Defeng Yin Clan.
They had overlapping parts to some extent, and it was a relationship where they could scratch each other’s itches.
“Now I see why the Hongmu Sect did not act rashly.”
The Hongmu Sect’s course of action in raiding the Bright Fate Escort Agency was a considerable overreach. It meant their anger toward the Jungshin Merchant Group had crossed the line.
I thought the reason they did not attack the Jungshin Merchant Group directly despite such a situation was because the Jungshin Merchant Group could not be classified as a Martial World power.
This was because the moment a Martial World power encroaches on the civilian domain, the government moves.
But looking at it now, it seems to be because the Defeng Yin Clan was protecting the Jungshin Merchant Group.
Compared to the Hongmu Sect in its prime before its funding source from the Jungshin Merchant Group was cut, the Defeng Yin Clan was a place whose weight class was several stages higher.
“It seems the matter is growing…”
If this content is true, it is no longer just the story of the Jungshin Merchant Group alone. If the Defeng Yin Clan gets involved here, the matter grows rapidly.
Moreover, hearing the words of that person named Gwan Jung-yeon, as not a little blood was flowing in places unseen by the government as well, directly touching the Jungshin Merchant Group, which is a civilian domain, had become a difficult task.
However, after stepping back and examining the structure of how the situation revolved, I wanted to touch it even more instead.
To have the Defeng Yin Clan involved with the Jungshin Merchant Group, from my perspective, it was like someone slapping me when I wanted to cry.
No, in this case, it should be described as someone picking a fight when I wanted to beat them up.
As I came to understand the inner circumstances, I felt the need to approach more cautiously than before, but even so, I have no intention of taking my hands off.
If I crush the Jungshin Merchant Group, the Defeng Yin Clan comes out.
Not for the future of the Bright Fate Escort Agency, but even just because of my personal feelings, my determination to shatter the Jungshin Merchant Group became firmer.
The Jungshin Merchant Group and the Defeng Yin Clan are similar kinds of bastards. Even if I just rob the Jungshin Merchant Group and hold a few scraps of dirty information on the Defeng Yin Clan, the ways to utilize it become endless.
However, not right now.
Soothing my disappointment by painting a pleasant imagination, I withdrew from the spot for now.
But at this time, I did not know.
That the wait would not be as long as I thought.
***
Although it was a low-ranking one, even though a government employee was murdered, Huihua County was quiet.
As if someone were controlling it.
I was very surprised that it passed over more quietly than I thought.
But an out-of-the-blue event shook Huihua County.
“Cheong-un, do you know a bit about spells?”
“Spells?”
While I was fully engrossed in practicing the Three Talents Unified Qi Art, Baek Mu-ho, who had gone outside, entered and embarrassed me out of nowhere.
“Seeing your reaction, it seems you don’t know much about that side either.”
At Baek Mu-ho’s question, I unconsciously looked at Yi Hwa beside me.
I do not know much about spells, but attached to my side was an expert clearer about it than anyone in the world.
In reality, that fellow Baek Mu-ho was also asking Yi Hwa.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, when handling the escort agency’s work, one must be sensitive to external rumors. But a strange story has been circulating.”
Baek Mu-ho looked at Yi Hwa and asked point-blank.
“Can you kill someone with spells, that is, with something like a curse?”
Although it could be described as talking in one’s sleep, Baek Mu-ho, who had seen Yi Hwa create things like goblin fires, was serious.
“A curse…”
I glanced up at the sky. Soon, the masters’ conversation flowed into my head.
[Although not welcome, it is possible. Though the departments are different, land gods and spirits guarding the earth exist on the ground. Various shortcuts would have to be mobilized, but if only reasonable karma can be matched, borrowing their power is not impossible.]
[However, since the chain of karma is always clear, the wicked will receive their appropriate punishment.]
[Well, those land god and spirit fellows who colluded are the same. If we didn’t know, it’d be one thing, but since we know as much as we can find out, we should contact the Board of Audit, right?]
[Isn’t that a natural thing.]
[Sigh… The workload is going to increase again.]
Looking at the reactions of the two, it was clear that it was at least a domain I had no need to touch.
However, it seems there is a need to grasp the exact story.
When I nodded my head to give permission, Yi Hwa opened her mouth.
“It is possible.”
“Is that so?”
A strange smile was drawn on Baek Mu-ho’s lips. It was an expression of having secured exactly the desired answer.
“What is it then?”
“Well, there is a sorcerer named Taoist Master Guak, and that fellow spread a very absurd rumor. What was it? He said that he has been performing curse-killings to kill people with spells, and the client for that was Jong In-geol of the Jungshin Merchant Group.”
It was a story where the situation turned strange.
Spells or whatever, if it is true that he killed people by taking requests, it is safe to consider it assassination. An assassin is publicly exposing his client.
“…Did those two have a lover’s quarrel or something?”
“How should I know. But it seems that person named Taoist Master Guak is not completely incompetent. He seems to be a gentleman who is subtly famous in that direction. A manifesto written in blood appeared on the government office wall this time, and a person who laughed at it suddenly had a talisman flying from somewhere stick to his forehead, and died with bugs pouring out of his mouth?”
“Oh…”
If such a thing really happened, it wouldn’t be possible to just ignore it.
“But what is even funnier…”
Baek Mu-ho, who smirked as if the real fun hadn’t even started yet, paused for a moment.
“In the manifesto, there was a list of people killed under Jong In-geol’s request, and in reality, they were cases with strange causes of death. And they say that among them, there was also a person who died when that fellow Jong In-geol was in public office.”
“Oh?”
Jong In-geol is a greedy person. On the outside, he acts in a way that is good for gaining people’s favor, but he is no different from a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Although his gold plating peeled off as he backstabbed the Hongmu Sect while establishing the Jungshin Merchant Group and showed himself giving the cold shoulder to those who helped him, before that, he was evaluated as a person in whom it was hard to find a flaw.
That such a person borrowed the hands of someone named Taoist Master Guak even when in public office means?
“If he requested curse-killing while in public office, it means he killed an official?”
“According to the claim of the one named Taoist Master Guak, officials are hard to kill with curse-killings, but he succeeded a few times because his power was strong.”
“The matter is turning out interesting.”
Official society is a place where one can stab each other’s backs at any time. This is because going up means stepping on someone and passing by.
However, it is also rare to become sworn enemies to that extent. This is because they know that cooperating with each other as needed brings more profit.
What would happen if they heard this rumor in such an official society?
“The blow will be heavy.”
Jong In-geol’s greatest strength is the connections he established during his time in public office.
If those connections turn their backs?
“Hearing this, I suddenly become curious?”
“Huh?”
“There are places that will welcome this rumor even more than us.”
The Jungshin Merchant Group achieved rapid growth, making numerous enemies.
Although there are places that completely fell and were uprooted, there are also many who crouch, endure, and watch for an opportunity.
A representative place is the Hongmu Sect.
‘How indeed will the Hongmu Sect move? No, rather than that…’
But there is a place I am more curious about than the movement of the Hongmu Sect.
‘How will the Defeng Yin Clan move?’
The unorthodox path moves for profit.
However, the orthodox path moves by cause.
In the end, even if they move for profit, the orthodox path must put forward a reasonable cause.
Regarding the incident set off by the one named Taoist Master Guak, how indeed will the Defeng Yin Clan, which advocates for the orthodox path, move?
***
“Damn it! Damn it!!”
Crash!
Jong In-geol’s study, which had not had a peaceful day lately, was turned upside down once again today due to the rumors circulating in the market.
“Taoist Master Guak! That! Bastard!!”
From Jong In-geol, who went wild with no concern for his dignity or anything else, the bold and magnanimous figure spoken of by the public could no longer be found.
Jong In-geol, who went wild like a fierce demon, barely stopped after smashing everything in the study.
“Huuk! Huuk!”
Panting heavily, Jong In-geol flopped down onto his chair and let out a deep sigh.
“Although I knew something went wrong because that fellow Deok-chil did not return… what on earth happened for that crazy bastard to push me into a corner. If he confesses everything like that, will he himself be fine…”
That Taoist Master Guak would snip at him so openly like that was something he had never imagined.
If there was someone most curious about what on earth happened to cause this, it would be Jong In-geol himself.
Sitting on the chair and panting, Jong In-geol stood up from his seat as if having a fit and shouted.
“Outside! Is anyone outside!”
The people who were waiting outside to avoid the disaster hurriedly ran inside at Jong In-geol’s call.
“Did you call!”
“Right now! Send a letter to the Defeng Yin Clan right now! We must borrow their strength no matter what it takes!”
“The Defeng Yin Clan… you mean?”
The person who entered as if he could execute any task turned pale upon hearing Jong In-geol’s words.
“Would they be willing to come?”
“What if they don’t come?”
Jong In-geol’s eyes, which had subsided for a moment, flared up again.
The gaze from when he broke things just now was directed at the subordinates in front of him.
“Fuck! If they don’t come! What do you think will happen if they don’t! We all die! Everyone! Haven’t you thought about how the Hongmu Sect will move!”
“Th-That is…!”
“What you bastards should think about is not worrying about whether they will come, but making them come by any means necessary! Even if we have to pour more than half of the Jungshin Merchant Group’s wealth into those bastards’ mouths, we must drag them here!”
The world is always like that.
It does not revolve solely according to one’s thoughts.
The best is for nothing to happen until this scandal passes, but will the Hongmu Sect really just watch this matter quietly?
“B-But for the Hongmu Sect to strike us, the government…”
“You stupid…! Do those Hongmu Sect bastards look like guys who have a way back now?!”
“Ah!”
To maintain power, a lot of funds are needed. This is the same even for a Martial World sect.
However, the Hongmu Sect has all of its funding sources cut now.
This was because the Jungshin Merchant Group intercepted most of them.
A significant portion of their strength disappeared due to matters related to the Bright Fate Escort Agency, and even after that, the Hongmu Sect suffered a heavy blow due to the Jungshin Merchant Group’s tactics.
They lost honor, wealth, and brothers and disciples under the same name.
However, despite such a situation, the Hongmu Sect is holding its ground without collapsing, keeping its body curled up.
With an appearance that is clearly filled with venom.
“Move right now, you freeloaders!”
Jong In-geol screamed and went wild once again.
An appearance that looked like being cornered. To the point where it looked like a situation where someone was holding a sword to his neck.
In fact, it really was such a situation.