CH 15
“What, why?”
Mao glanced at the shattered window, swallowed dryly for no reason, and asked. It wasn’t fear—he’d simply realized Jang Yi-seo wasn’t an ordinary madman.
But contrary to expectations, Jang smiled warmly and asked kindly:
“Are you alright?”
“Ha, alright? Do you even know what you’ve done?”
“I performed my duties as your aide.”
“You idiot! You just crossed the Ma family. That bastard is Yi-shin hyung’s right-hand man. Do you have any idea what this means?”
“Yes. Shall we head to the palace now?”
“Aaaagh! Listen carefully. Pack your things and leave Wolha Village immediately. Return to the anti-espionage unit, flee to Hainan, vanish—just never come back.”
If you value your life.
Mao issued the brutal order and turned toward the door. Jang Yi-seo licked his lips, scratched his eyebrow, and countered:
“Why should I?”
“Why? Hahaha! Stay, and you’ll die. Assassins will hunt you down—not just any killers, but the Butcher’s Guild. Those demonic bastards. In days, your corpse’ll be floating on the black lake.”
“Care to wager on it?”
“On what?”
“Whether I survive here in Wolha Village.”
“What?”
“If I live, you’ll stop complaining and let me serve as your aide.”
Mao exhaled sharply. Was this fool serious? The Butcher’s Guild—the Demon Sect’s most lethal assassins—would shred a lowborn like him.
“Hahaha! Fine. Survive, and I’ll obey your every word.”
Mao’s smile held no warmth, his eyes icy. Yet Jang met his gaze with unwavering resolve.
“No take-backs.”
“Obviously.”
Their stares clashed in the air. A man’s word is his bond. Jang solemnly extended the pact:
“A man’s oath.”
Mao echoed firmly:
“A man’s oath!”
Damn it… Mao stormed out after a final warning: “Don’t be stubborn—just leave. I’m done watching people die beside me.”
Alone, Jang surveyed the wrecked room and muttered:
“Where would I go? You, your sister, your Ma family… No. I’m not leaving until I’ve torn Tian Shan apart. Got it?”
A dark grin curled his lips.
Murim Alliance – Hubei Branch – Secret Archives
“This? No…”
A stunning woman sat amidst document piles in the dim archives—Zhuge So-mi, Deputy Head and famed as Zhihua (知花, the Intellectual Flower).
She should’ve been waiting demurely for Zhuge Sang at this hour, paperwork complete. Instead, she’d chosen endless late nights.
“So-mi. Shouldn’t you go home?”
“You go ahead, Grandpa. I’ve more to research.”
“All things have their season. Rest improves efficiency, as I’ve always—”
“You’re just lonely walking home alone. Separate work and personal matters, Deputy Head. I’m busy.”
“…What are you researching?”
Zhuge Sang crouched beside her, eyeing the sorted files. “These concern the Demon Sect’s covert groups?”
“Yes.”
The Sect’s structure included the Heavenly Demon Hall, Bright Left/Right Lions, Seven Great Princes, Elder Council, Five Dragon Hall, and hundreds of subunits—but those were mere surface layers. Countless hidden factions existed.
“Found it.”
Slaughter (屠). Kill (殺).
“The Butcher’s Guild?!”
Zhuge Sang frowned. “Run by the reclusive Sha brothers, no? Their brutality’s legendary—ordinary Tian Shan members fear them more than the Sect Leader.”
“Yet why focus on them?”
So-mi’s pout made him reconsider. Scanning the documents, he noticed a pattern:
“These all relate to the Ma family. Sha Ho-jeong, the younger Sha brother, once owed his life to Ma Yi-shin.”
“Exactly. When Sha accidentally offended the Golden Dragon Hall leader’s nephew, Ma intervened.”
“Then why… Ah! The Guild once killed the Seventh Prince’s servants. The Tiger Dragon Hall accused them, but the case vanished.”
“Precisely! I believe Ma Yi-shin hired them—a warning to his suddenly elevated half-brother.”
Zhuge Sang paled. “Then the 103rd entering the Seventh Prince’s palace…”
So-mi’s face darkened. “If I’m right, that person…”
After thoroughly investigating No. 103, I discovered he had a congenital constraint called "Gugyu Jiche" - a condition that restricts one's potential.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never reach the pinnacle of mastery. A fatal limitation.
What then would happen if such a man faced the treacherous Dosalbang? Certain defeat. No - certain death (必死).
"That boy. I wondered why he'd been working so diligently lately. Was it all for No. 103?"
When Zhuge Sang abruptly posed the question, Zhuge Somi stammered in fluster:
"Ah, well... I was merely curious. And circumstances simply..."
"Why? Taken a fancy to him? Control yourself. Agents must never become objects of affection."
"Grandfather! It's nothing like that!"
"Kekeke. Regardless, there's no need for your concern. Let's return home now."
"No need? What do you mean?"
Normally reluctant to explain, Zhuge Sang answered promptly today - perhaps eager to return home.
"Are you familiar with Guizhou's Fenglin (風霖)?"
"Feng...lin? You mean that assassin organization that vanished a decade ago?"
Zhuge Sang nodded. Zhuge Somi's eyes widened. Fenglin - the legendary assassination group whose lineage had endured for generations.
But why them?
"No. 103's first report after infiltrating the Demon Sect contained precisely three characters."
As Zhuge Somi furrowed her brow, Zhuge Sang chuckled and enunciated clearly:
"Wind (風), Storm (霖), Annihilation (滅)."
"Impossible..."
"He was nineteen then. Haha. Counterintelligence work naturally accumulates enemies. Fenglin erred gravely by targeting him."
Zhuge Somi's jaw remained slack. How could someone with Gugyu Jiche achieve this? Even for a shadow-trained spy, what methods...?
"Enough fretting. Let's depart. Kekeke!"
Zhuge Sang exited with booming laughter. Zhuge Somi glanced at the Dosalbang documents in her hand, tossed them to the floor, and followed.
"Wait for me, Grandfather!"
When the world's greatest strategist Zhuge Sang gave assurance, one could sleep soundly.
Though her burning curiosity about No. 103 would undoubtedly persist.
8th Floor, Chwixuan Pavilion
"You've worked hard."
Hong Lan welcomed Jang Yi-seo with an elaborate spread after his return.
But the investigator's expression remained stormy.
"The mission didn't go well?"
"Catastrophic."
At his blunt reply, shadows deepened beneath Chwi Hong Lan's eyes. She knew the context - through her Mao investigation, she'd learned of the family's bitter feud.
How they sabotaged the bastard son's every attempt to rise.
Likely the fight's cause.
"But get this - Ma Jin-gu's lackeys made off with the swords. Two hundred fifty taels of silver! My plan to recoup liquor costs... ruined. If recovery was impossible, why bother smashing the doors? That's what infuriates me!"
Thud! Jang Yi-seo's restrained table slap still made Hong Lan jump. She muffled sudden laughter behind her sleeve.
"Apologies," she murmured, bowing her crimson face.
"Amusing? Indeed. I amuse myself. How did I miscalculate? How to recover this..."
The man baffled her. Provoking the Ma family yet obsessing over repayment.
Glug-glug.
Hong Lan's silent wine pour urged calmness. Jang Yi-seo nodded thanks and drained his cup.
Bitter.
After composing himself, he unleashed thunder:
"We're closing tomorrow."
"Pardon?"
"Dosalbang assassins are coming."
Hong Lan covered her gasp. Assassins? From Dosalbang?
"The Sa brothers of Dosalbang share close ties with Ma Yi-sin. They've targeted Seventh Prince affiliates before."
"You can't mean... those servant murders..."
Jang Yi-seo nodded. He'd only learned recently through Black Dragon leader Yong Tae:
'You should know I was Ho Ryong Party - sixth-rank nobility, above seventh. Apologies. During my tenure...'
Yong Tae revealed the Ma family servant massacre case. The Ho Ryong security force had classified it as critical, pinpointing the Sa brothers...
Then buried it.
"Covered up. Yong Tae suspects Ma Yi-sin, the Bloodless Duke, intervened. Authorities deemed it family business."
"But how? They're kin..."
However bitter the feud, hiring assassins against family?
"Then this attack targets..."
Hong Lan's denial crumbled before Jang Yi-seo's grim confirmation:
"Me."
The Aide - Part 2
