Chapter 18 — The Masters of the Seoheop Gang
“So this is the place.”
At Jaha’s question, Wang Gyeong let out a relieved sigh.
“Yes. Reinforcements from our gang have probably already arrived here. As long as they are here, we won’t have to fear the attackers anymore.”
Seeing the confidence on Wang Gyeong’s face, Jaha guessed that the Seoheop Gang must have sent some formidable masters.
If that girl’s identity is truly important, then they would naturally send powerful experts.
Jaha met those very experts before he even entered Inui Manor.
They had heard that Jaha’s group had arrived and came out through the gates to meet them.
Wang Gyeong looked surprised when he saw two elderly men and three middle-aged men coming out of Inui Manor.
He practically jumped down from the carriage and greeted them with a cupped-fist salute.
“Wang Gyeong greets the Retainers of our gang.”
The two elderly men were masters serving as Retainers of the Seoheop Gang.
One of them had such an impressive build that he hardly looked old at all. Dressed in blue martial robes, he even resembled a Daoist at first glance.
The other elderly man wore red martial robes.
His appearance was so fierce that anyone seeing him for the first time would immediately assume he belonged to the unorthodox path.
Because of his murderous-looking eyes, people often mistook him for someone from the demonic path.
The two elderly men of the Seoheop Gang were extremely close friends who did almost everything together.
Because of that, they were known as the Blue-Red Twin Swords.
Moreover, both of them were peak-level masters who had once made quite a name for themselves in the martial world.
The elderly man in blue was named Go Deung, while the elderly man in red was Bang Baekji.
Taking the surnames of both men, they were also called the Go-Bang Swords.
Wang Gyeong also greeted the three middle-aged men.
“I never expected to meet all three Protectors here.”
The identities of these three were anything but ordinary.
Go Deung and Bang Baekji were two of the Eight Great Retainers of the Seoheop Gang, while these three were members of the Twelve Protectors.
The man carrying a longsword on his back was Hwang Ilhyeok, known as the Sun-Shooting Sword, famous for his swift swordsmanship.
The slightly hunched man who looked almost like a hunchback was Sang Pa, known as the Ghost Dagger Hunchback, said to wield twelve daggers like a ghost.
The last man, whose appearance and clothing resembled that of a scholar, was Saeng Goryang, known as the Strange Scholar Boy.
The fact that the Seoheop Gang had sent five of its finest masters proved just how important this matter was.
Wang Gyeong immediately felt reassured after seeing them.
The reputation and abilities of these five men were more than enough to inspire confidence anywhere in the martial world.
Two of them were among the strongest of the Eight Great Retainers, while the other three ranked among the most powerful of the Twelve Protectors.
Even if the attackers came again, there was no reason to fear them.
The Protectors had already surpassed the first-rate level, while the Blue-Red Twin Swords were peak-level masters.
Jaha silently observed the aura coming from all five men.
They’re quite strong. That girl’s identity might be even greater than I thought.
Otherwise, the Seoheop Gang would never have deployed nearly one-sixth of its strength for this single matter.
Go Deung barely acknowledged Wang Gyeong’s greeting before looking at Jaha.
“Are those people the ones who accompanied the escort mission?”
“Yes.”
Although Go Deung had asked Wang Gyeong, it seemed as though Wang Gyeong himself barely registered in his eyes.
In truth, Wang Gyeong was not a particularly important figure even within the Seoheop Gang.
Moreover, since he worked under Geol Jejong, to masters of this level he was no different from an ordinary gang member.
Jaha cupped his fists toward them.
“I am Byeok Ho. And I didn’t merely accompany the escort mission. I was the escort who transported the item.”
Go Deung looked at Jaha again when the young man calmly met his eyes and spoke without hesitation.
“Hmm. You seem to have quite a bit of spirit for someone so young.”
After saying that, he immediately turned his attention back to Wang Gyeong.
His expression made it clear that Jaha was no longer worth worrying about.
“We came after receiving Branch Chief Geol’s message. Hand the escorted item over to us.”
“Understood.”
Wang Gyeong answered before turning toward Jaha.
“Young Hero Byeok, please bring her out.”
Jaha opened the carriage door and helped the girl down.
The moment Bang Baekji saw her, he gave a low murmur.
“Hmm. What extraordinary beauty.”
Bang Baekji and Go Deung used their internal energy to see through the girl’s veil, and both seemed impressed after catching sight of her face.
The three Protectors, however, apparently did not possess enough cultivation to see through the veil.
After hearing the two Retainers’ reactions, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Go Deung said,
“It would be better to leave the veil on. Otherwise, she will attract far too much attention.”
“Understood.”
At that, the three Protectors looked visibly disappointed.
Bang Baekji narrowed his fierce eyes.
“But we were told that the escorted item would be asleep.”
With his naturally intimidating appearance, even an ordinary question sounded like a threat.
Wang Gyeong explained,
“We were attacked on the way here. While escaping from the attackers, the girl ended up waking.”
Go Deung asked,
“Tell us exactly what happened.”
Wang Gyeong smoothly began telling the story he had prepared during the journey.
Jaha had asked him not to mention what he had done, so Wang Gyeong mainly presented himself and his deceased companion as the ones who had overcome the dangers.
He also believed that doing so would be a good way to honor his dead companion.
“I see. So you accomplished quite a bit.”
“It was nothing. During our escape, however, we would never have broken through so easily without Young Hero Byeok’s help.”
Bang Baekji seemed to dismiss that remark as unimportant.
Wang Gyeong cautiously glanced at Jaha’s expression before asking,
“By the way, I was told that we have to take the girl to the Eccentric Physician. I heard that only he can remove the restriction placed on her.”
“The Eccentric Physician went out earlier to obtain medicinal ingredients. He hasn’t returned yet. He should be back if you wait a while.”
“Ah, is that so? Then we’ll go inside and wait.”
Just as Wang Gyeong was about to lead the carriage inside, Saeng Goryang—the Strange Scholar Boy, who had been standing a step behind while the two Retainers handled the conversation—stepped forward.
“Wait. These people cannot enter.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean we cannot allow outsiders into the manor. Bring only the girl inside.”
Wang Gyeong looked flustered and turned toward Jaha.
Jaha stepped forward.
“I have an agreement with the Branch Chief. Because of that agreement, we must enter the manor and wait for the Eccentric Physician.”
Saeng Goryang frowned.
“I’ve never heard anything about such an agreement. What are you talking about?”
Jo Unryong and Han Seol were about to say something, but Jaha raised his hand and stopped them.
“You two stay quiet.”
If everyone started protesting at once, it would only make the situation worse.
Meanwhile, Wang Gyeong answered Saeng Goryang’s question.
“Branch Chief Geol promised that their master would receive treatment.”
“We aren’t idle enough to honor every promise made by the Branch Chief.”
At those words, Jaha stepped forward.
“If breaking promises is the way of the Seoheop Gang, then you don’t have to keep it. All we need is to meet the Eccentric Physician.”
“Huh.”
Saeng Goryang let out an incredulous sound.
