The morning at the Black-themed Martial Arts Group is busy. Being a faction that handles money, there’s simply no time for leisure.
The martial artist Im O-chun hit the streets early to collect payments. He was reputed to have quite a knack for it, and his methods of extortion were audacious.
“Hey, you there.”
“Huh?”
Having completed a light interrogation, Im O-chun stopped a man walking down the street.
“You know a guy named Hasun, right?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t play dumb. I know you’re friends with Hasun.”
“Friends? We just gambled a bit and had some drinks.”
“In the eyes of the world, that makes you friends.”
“What do you want from me?”
The man sensed danger and tried to back away, but Im O-chun’s hand was quicker. He grabbed the man’s shoulder firmly.
“Hasun has run away.”
“Run away…?”
“That’s right. And Hasun borrowed money from us.”
“Oh really? But why come to me?”
“If someone runs away without paying back their debt, isn’t it only natural for their friend to step in and cover it?”
“What?!”
The startled man yelled. Covering a friend’s debt? Who’s heard of that? Sure, if he was a guarantor, but he had no obligation to pay it back. He wasn’t even that close with Hasun.
But Im O-chun wouldn’t hear it.
“Pay up!”
“What the hell are you talking about! Aaaah!”
“You son of a dog! You’re just not getting it!”
Im O-chun reacted violently. There was no mercy in the hands of a martial artist from the underworld. He punched the man in the face and stomped on his fallen body.
“Arrgh!”
“You’re done for! You ungrateful bastard! It was all good when you borrowed money, but then you run away? What do you think promises are worth?”
“I didn’t borrow anything! Aaaah!”
Thus, Im O-chun dragged the beaten man away.
This is how the Black-themed Martial Arts Group operates.
While the public knows them as a loan sharking faction, they actually dabble in human trafficking as well.
The Black-themed Martial Arts Group enjoys reckless kidnappings disguised as debt collection. After finishing their “investigation,” they make up a narrative to abduct someone and then sell them off as slaves. Im O-chun was a natural expert in kidnapping.
One day, a mission was given to Im O-chun.
“Im O-chun. You’re quite the talent in abduction.”
The Lord of the Sect coolly said.
“Yes, Lord.”
“You have someone to abduct.”
“Who is it?”
“Galbijong.”
“Oh.”
Im O-chun nodded at the mention of the name.
Galbijong was a former sect member who had been sent away on a mission but ended up betraying the organization and starting a sect of his own.
He was reported to be living lavishly, which was treason and a serious crime that needed to be punished at all costs.
“Just kidnap that traitor for me?”
“Exactly. It will be quite challenging, but I believe you can do it.”
“Of course, Lord. I’ll bring that scoundrel back alive.”
“Hoohoo, you truly are reliable.”
Im O-chun enjoyed a strong level of trust from the sect lord.
“I’ll select my underlings.”
“Go ahead.”
After receiving the order, Im O-chun immediately began to devise a plan to abduct Galbijong. He had gone to the Anhweiseong area, recently rumored to have the Four Fairies appearing, along with some messy affairs involving them.
‘Things are quite chaotic, huh? That Galbijong bastard. Has he managed to profit from such confusion? If so, there’s plenty to take. That bastard made me go on this business trip—I’ll need to put in some elbow grease when it comes to torturing him.’
The picture began to form in his mind. Im O-chun finished his planning and set off toward Anhweiseong after organizing a kidnapping squad.
* * *
Eventually, all his wicked thoughts became apparent until everything fell apart.
“Hehe, Geunhyeop is kind. He doesn’t care about Martial Art Books.”
“Shut it.”
“Don’t put on a strange act.”
Though they spoke like this, they refrained from slapping each other since their bad intentions had been drained away.
“Anyway, I’ll try to procure a martial art manual soon. So don’t think of the Martial Art Book.”
“Yeah… I’ll behave.”
“Good thinking.”
Serin teased, tickling my chin.
“Shall we burn the Martial Art Book then?”
“Well, if we keep it, it might come in handy someday, right? Let’s just stash it in the warehouse for now.”
“You’re planning to sneak a peek at it, aren’t you?”
“I’m not! I’m telling you, my bad intentions have all been drained away!”
Later, I might be able to use this as bait to utilize the martial artists from the underworld. Although it’s called a Martial Art Book, it contains skills used by the former leader. There will always be those who covet it.
So, without further ado, I set aside my interest in the Martial Art Book and continued my daily routine.
I can’t shake the feeling of fear caused by the Four Fairies. I don’t know when they’ll suddenly appear. The longer they stay hidden, the more anxious I feel. I’ve been diligently consuming Yodan to strengthen myself as instructed… but if that doesn’t meet the standards, I might face punishment.
There’s a sense of urgency in my efforts to survive.
And I’m also worried about the Lightning Demon Fox I let go last time. According to Hayoung, the Lightning Demon Fox serves the Gumiho, one of the Ten Great Demons of the World. Since I spared it, some grudge will surely be perpetuated, and the Gumiho could very well do something.
The appearance of the Ten Great Demons feels surreal, but it’s still unnerving.
“Lightning Roars!”
One day, Galbijong urgently found me.
“Gal’s general. What’s going on?”
“There’s been a situation!”
“What situation?”
“It seems the Black-themed Martial Arts Group is coming for me!”
“What?!”
Oh right, this chap used to be from the Black-themed Martial Arts Group. He betrayed them and teamed up with me to form the Nachalbang.
Of course, they’d be keeping tabs on the traitor. But because our regions were different, I doubted a full-on attack would be easy.
“That could happen. But how did you find out?”
“I heard that our intelligence unit spotted suspicious martial artists.”
Ah, the intelligence unit.
I remember they set that up.
It’s basically a department that snoops around and gathers intel.
“Given the current chaos, they’re wary of incoming martial artists from outside. So I checked the information that came in and recognized one of them. It’s Im O-chun, the guy known as the Abductor.”
“The Abductor!”
Galbijong explained.
The Abductor is a top-tier martial artist known for his expertise in kidnapping. He’s a notable figure in the Black-themed Martial Arts Group with a certain level of notoriety.
“Is the Abductor coming to kidnap you?”
“Seems like it… We must eliminate them!”
“Right. We definitely have to.”
From the perspective of the Black-themed Martial Arts Group, we in the Nachalbang are arch-enemies. Since we’re the sect established by a traitor, we too must see the Black-themed Martial Arts Group as our sworn foes.
The Abductor?
Just a guy from the underworld, after all.
We’ll just kill him by surprise.
“Form a strike team. Let’s ambush him while he’s off guard.”
“Understood!”
* * *
A woman with yellow hair entered the capital.
She was a stunning beauty, dressed extravagantly, and although she strutted confidently, no one paid her any attention.
It was quite bizarre.
“Is this the place?”
The woman muttered something incomprehensible, moving as if she were being guided by someone.
She headed toward a certain inn.
Even after entering, no one showed interest in her. It was as if she were invisible.
The woman settled into a corner and began to survey her surroundings.
“Abductor Daehyup. I’ve found the location of the Nachalbang by intimidating the Gangbang folks.”
“Well done. What about intel on the masters?”
“Um… that’s a bit odd. I heard rumors that Martial Arts Historians are located here, but the Gangbang folks say they’ve left.”
“Martial Arts Historians? Well, they’re not that important.”
Looks like the martial artists are up to something.
The Abductor is leading the charge, and they’re planning to attack the Nachalbang. Regardless, the suspicious martial artists began eating and drinking the food and alcohol provided by the server.
“Um…? Suddenly feeling dizzy… ah, it’s a trap!”
As the Abductor shouted that,
“Waaah!”
“Arrgh!”
The second-floor door of the inn burst open, and numerous martial artists sprang out, quickly surrounding the group of the Abductor.
Their movements were precise, as if trained to perfection.
“What the hell…!”
The Abductor and his group drew their weapons and faced each other but were already surrounded. Just then, a tall and handsome man in luxurious clothing with pale skin stepped forward.
“Hehehe, so you’re the trash of the Black-themed Martial Arts Group.”
“And you are!”
“I’m the leader of the Nachalbang. I’m called Jeolgyunachal.”
“The Nachalbang…!”
“It seems you know our general Galbijong. What did he say? Oh, right! Im O-chun, wasn’t it? Were the dishes we provided to your taste?”
“You coward! You poisoned us!”
“It’s not poison, it’s medicine.”
Jeolgyunachal said, chuckling.
“What kind of medicine is this?!”
“Why would it not be medicine? If you take that, you’ll find your last journey more comfortable. It’s such a good medicine that I inadvertently treated you.”
“You bastard…!”
“Hehehe, why don’t you finish your meal? Going alive is less pleasant than going peacefully to sleep.”
The moment Jeolgyunachal mocked, the Abductor frantically shouted, “Kill them!!!”
At Jeolgyunachal’s taunt, the Abductor and his group began to unleash their swords with a shout.
“Alliance! Let’s make our guests comfortable!”
“Alliance! Got it!”
In that instant, the martial artists from the Nachalbang pulled out strange harpoon-like weapons that looked like they’d taken the middle part out of a trident. Others retrieved nets.
Hunters were prepared.
Surrounded, the Abductor’s group found themselves—
*Thud!*
“Aaaah!”
Unable to resist.
Caught in the nets, they were riddled with holes and met their demise.
“Ha ha ha! So the loan sharks of the Black-themed Martial Arts Group are nothing special! Behead the enemies! Our general will be pleased!”
“Waaah!”
“Waaah!”
The Nachalbang martial artists quickly tidied up the scene and departed.
It looked as if nothing had ever happened.
The woman with the yellow hair observed this scene while sipping her drink.
“Hmmm, I can definitely feel some unique energy. Is it true that this amusing fellow broke your jaw?”
Her gaze was directed towards the void.
“Yeah, something like that.”
The woman grinned.
“Seems the liver looks tasty.”
As she licked her lips, sharp fangs glinted in her mouth.
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