Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 97 : Gate Leader Conference

Gate Leader Conference

While Jeong-un was thinking that, the man continued to speak.

"Sitting in that seat at such a young age, you must think everything in the world goes your way. But how long do you think such luck will last?"

"Luck?"

"I can tell even without looking that your background is good. Probably just a distant branch of some small martial clan. Don't you truly know your pitiful martial skills won't get you any further? Once you're a corpse, you won't even have time to regret your arrogant attitude."

For the first time, Jeong-un's face showed an expression. The more he listened, the more absurd it sounded.

Jeong-un stared blankly at Yang Kang, bewilderment in his eyes.

'What's this?'

He was stating, word for word, exactly what Jeong-un wanted to say to him.

The very words Jeong-un had wished to hurl at this man.

An attitude that expects everything in the world to go one's way?

Acting arrogantly with trivial martial skills?

'This is truly beyond not knowing your place.'

Would it be wrong to just throw those words right back at him?

Has wielding power beyond your ability for too long made you delude yourself into believing you're truly a great person?

"...... Is that perhaps something you wanted to say to yourself?"

"What?"

"It's just hard to believe. You seem to be living quite well off, yet you don't even have a mirror at home?"

Hearing that, Yang Kang shouted in anger.

"You insolent brat! Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson myself!"

As soon as he yelled, as if on cue, the guard standing behind him twitched his hand.

He was about to draw his sword. The hand moved directly to his waist.

'... What.'

But the movement was extremely slow. Did he think it was instantaneous?

His eyes were wide open, but to Jeong-un it felt very sluggish.

His perception had already moved so far beyond such third-rate martial artists that they seemed a world apart.

Jeong-un turned his gaze from the man to the door, naturally losing all interest in the man's actions.

Even his expression was completely relaxed. There was no reason to watch out for the man's attack.

Finally, just as the man's hand touched his sword guard—

A voice was heard from outside the door.

"May I come in?"

In that instant, the tension that filled the room faded away.

Yang Kang, who was seated, looked somewhat disappointed. He had apparently been waiting for his subordinate to attack.

Perhaps he had set things up so that if things soured, his men would brandish their swords.

Yang Kang glanced at Jeong-un and said slyly,

"Consider yourself lucky."

"Maybe you should live your life with a little more gratitude."

"......?"

Bang.

Just then, two other men entered the room.

One man looked about Yang Kang's age, and the other also seemed to be a trusted aide.

Jeong-un glanced subtly at Soo Il-san, who nodded back. That meant this was the last remaining Gate Leader of the Ghost Face Gate.

'Was his name Il Do-hae?'

He was a man who owned several gambling dens in Kaifeng, running his business with brutal methods.

If someone lost a great sum, he would send someone after whoever won money to kill them and reclaim the winnings, then frame the killer for murder and turn them in to the authorities.

Particularly, Ghost Face Gate Leader Il Do-hae was notorious for kidnapping and killing women simply for amusement.

'All the filth has gathered here.'

Jeong-un cursed inwardly. Seeing their faces in person, he couldn't suppress his revulsion.

"You got here first. Were you having a pleasant chat?"

"Hmph, chat? He's incredibly arrogant. I heard he cut down that Neung Jim-ak in a single stroke—looks like nothing fazes him."

With that, il Do-hae looked at Jeong-un with a spark of interest.

Where his eyebrows should have been, a red knife scar remained as a glaring mark, making his stare look vicious.

"That snake Neung Jim-ak was someone I always intended to send to the afterlife myself, and yet I've been beaten to it. So, tell me, did the man say anything when his time finally came?"

"Say anything?"

"Yes, some last words, perhaps. Don't give me nonsense like you killed him instantly and he didn't say a word. Obviously, you made up those rumors to inflate your own martial skills. So, what did he say?"

"......"

Did he leave any last words? Right before he died, he might have muttered something, but it wasn't as if he was aware of his own impending death.

'Not even worth remembering.'

When Jeong-un remained silent, il Do-hae let out a dry laugh.

"I see, you didn't even think to ask. What a shame."

"What's so shameful about that?"

"The moment someone dies is the most entertaining, you see. Their true face is revealed. I never get tired of those expressions, no matter how many times I see them. Makes me remember the woman I killed yesterday. Seriously thought she'd be my wife, and followed me...."

Jeong-un stared at the man steadily. What was so amusing about all this, that he felt the need to prattle on?

'This guy's the same.'

He didn't know his own place and lived as if he was some absolute being, mocking commoners.

As if only his own life mattered. It seeped out in every word and action.

Thinking of how men like this had oppressed the people for ages made Jeong-un's expression harden.

"I don't care to hear about your filthy hobbies. Shut your mouth."

"What?"

Il Do-hae's eyes changed in an instant.

An aura of killing intent hung between them, as though he might draw his sword at any moment.

He probably thought Jeong-un was looking down on him. Then, turning to Yang Kang, he said,

"You're right. I guessed, but didn't realize he'd be this bad. He's not someone you can even talk to."

"Just a brat who suddenly became the head of a group and got cocky."

"I'm worried about the business that the Iron-Blood Gate used to manage. That Neung Jim-ak might've been slow at times, but at least he knew how to handle people. This one's so caught up in his own world, I doubt he even understands how things work."

"It's all for the best. Just leave him alone and all those businesses will roll our way. I'll finally get into the brothel business, too."

The two of them hit it off perfectly.

They were supposed to be fierce competitors for inheritance, but from the side, they looked almost like close friends.

Maybe that's because they were essentially the same kind of people.

Silently watching, Jeong-un spoke up.

"Do neither of you feel anything strange about this situation?"

"......?"

"A man appears out of nowhere, instantly kills someone on your level and takes his seat. The wall that protected your positions and your lives as if an impregnable fortress has crumbled. And yet you feel no sense of crisis? You seem completely cut off from reality."

"......"

At Jeong-un's words, the two men glanced at each other—and then burst into laughter, as if they'd just heard the world's funniest joke, even clapping.

Yang Kang said,

"Ridiculous. Do you think there's anyone in Kaifeng who can possibly threaten us? Even the Beggar's Union and Yang Clan can't as much as graze me when they walk past. The District Head, who possesses imperial blood, is the ruler here. As long as he protects us, there's not a single soul who'd dare stand against us. It's you who's lost touch with reality."

Jeong-un tilted his head and asked,

"Are you sure about that?"

"......?"

"Are you certain you're included in that relationship?"

"What nonsense are you trying to say?"

When the men frowned and questioned him, Jeong-un said,

"I'm asking if you're truly sure the District Head protects you."

"What?"

"The Iron-Blood Gate Leader died and I took his place. So what did that District Head do to me? Have you heard anything?"

"......"

Yang Kang and Il Do-hae's faces stiffened.

"That man doesn't care about any of you. He only cares about the silver coins coming in. I doubt he even knows your names. It means, no matter who sits in those seats, he doesn't care."

"You brat! Who do you think you are to babble like that!"

As Yang Kang exploded, il Do-hae raised a hand to stop him, glaring at Jeong-un all the while.

"Let's say you're right."

"......?"

"What does that change? It's no good for you to anger us with that clever tongue of yours. Or are you planning to draw your sword right now?"

At that, the guards behind them slowly moved their hands toward their sword guards.

Apparently, they meant to threaten Jeong-un.

Il Do-hae pointed his forefinger at Jeong-un and continued,

"Neung Jim-ak died because he was incompetent, not because you were exceptional. He failed because he didn't bother to guard against an outsider like you. But we're different."

"Different?"

"We don't invite trouble by being careless. You're here alone, while there are four of us including subordinates. Do you think that ink-wearing one will help you? The moment we draw our swords, he'll run away and abandon you."

Soo Il-san next to him flinched, but Jeong-un didn't even turn his head.

"And that's not all. Outside, our men have the brothel surrounded several layers deep. The moment you make a wrong move, they'll rush in and tear your body to pieces. What can you possibly do? You've only just set foot in Kaifeng's martial world—begging for mercy would hardly suffice."

"Listening to you, you don't sound like Kaifeng masters, but the World's Greatest. How long do you think you can keep your necks intact? Especially when you rely solely on someone else's name?"

"You bastard!"

Yang Kang slammed his fist into the table, and the atmosphere instantly turned frigid.

Jeong-un calmly looked at the hand, then up to Yang Kang's face. He was so angry his pupils were trembling.

"...... You must think this is merely a formality, running your mouth so carelessly. But you're wrong. I'll be sure to report every bit of your nasty disposition to the Lord. Don't think for a second that things will go smoothly for you from now on. Until you beg for mercy, we'll block your every move. When that time comes, you'll have to crawl to me on your knees!"

Il Do-hae looked at Jeong-un and added,

"Just being promoted isn't the end. In fact, that's when everything begins. I'll personally block your every path. Look forward to it."

Then, standing up, he said,

"Well, I'd best get back to what I was doing. There's someone waiting for me."

Jeong-un asked quietly,

"...... Are you going off to kill someone?"

"What else would I be doing? Some foolish man won more than he should at my business. I'm upset about it, so I intend to punish even his daughter."

"......"

Jeong-un fell silent for a moment.

Then he spoke slowly, watching as the men started to make their way outside.

"I've changed my mind."

"......?"

Yang Kang and Il Do-hae turned to look. Il Do-hae let out a dry laugh and said,

"Now you want to change your attitude? But you can't take back what's already been said."

Jeong-un turned to look at Soo Il-san.

"Write one more letter."

"Sorry?"

Soo Il-san stared blankly at him, so Jeong-un added,

"Tell them the successor will be decided today."

"Uh...?"

As a bewildered response came, he moved his hand.

Before anyone could react, he drew the sword guard in his grasp and attacked.

The movements of the guards, who had been fumbling for their sword guards, couldn't compare in the least.

They didn't even realize what was happening, left dumbfounded by the golden flash that filled their vision.

Swaaa—!

In an instant, the air in the spacious room was split both up and down.

Everyone contained within that long, thin horizontal divide was caught as well.

For a second, it was as though the space itself had been cleaved in two—a surreal misalignment.

Just as it felt as though time had stopped entirely, an overwhelming blast of vital ki exploded, violently blasting away everything in front of them.

"Aaaaargh!"

Soo Il-san, standing beside him, screamed without understanding. But it only lasted a moment.

Suddenly, silence fell.

"......?"

Just as he began to carefully open his eyes—

Click.

The soft sound of a sword returning to its scabbard echoed through the room.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Welp, that's one way to meet the Musang Lord...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】