Book 22 Chapter 6

The chest carries schemes

— Byun Taeye's boasting

Namgung Sang looked around the cabin and fell into thought.

'Something feels even more suspicious. Has my perspective become skewed by my senior brother's influence?'

He grinned and scratched his head.

The cabin was spacious and comfortable enough for three to four people to share. Although the ship had already departed, he couldn't feel any particular buoyancy or sway.

It was like entering an expensive room on land, except for the fact that the beds and tables were fixed to the floor, the corners of the furniture were all rounded, and the ceiling was low, perhaps to prepare for impact. The only regret was that the colors were too bright and gaudy, which detracted from its elegance.

'By the way, what is this for?'

Namgung Sang sat in front of a round table and looked at the wooden chest he had brought. It was something that came with the invitation. The letter said to open it when boarding the ship. And Namgung Sang, being naive, had kept his word until now.

"Well, since I'm on the ship now, shall I open this?"

Namgung Sang raised his head and looked at the three people sitting in front of him. Across the table sat Yong Cheon Myeong, Ma Ha Ryung, and Baek Mu Yeong.

"That would be good. It's best to make emergency plans according to the type of item and the situation."

Baek Mu Yeong said heavily, as if anticipating the worst.

"It's not a dangerous item, is it?"

Ma Ha Ryung also seemed tense. Given the customs of the underworld, it wouldn't be strange if it contained a deadly mechanism.

"From what I've examined, there don't seem to be any special devices, Ha Ryung. The poison test has already been completed."

Namgung Sang was surprised by the familiar address, Ha Ryung.

'No, when did these two start calling each other by name?'

Weren't they sworn enemies just a short while ago, eager to devour each other? The affairs between men and women were truly so unpredictable that his dull mind couldn't keep up.

"If that's the case, that's a relief, but it never hurts to be cautious."

Ma Ha Ryung replied after a moment of thought.

"Of course. We must be sufficiently careful. Isn't that right, Captain?"

"It's 'temporary' for now."

Namgung Sang emphasized again. He could not accept the senior brother's method of taking over the position by hook or by crook.

"Of course, we will be sufficiently careful. So please rest assured, Miss Ma."

"Then please proceed, Captain."

Namgung Sang, holding the key, stepped forward. It was the captain's duty to unlock it.

'Is this a test too?'

It was unsettling and awkward, but he couldn't avoid it. If he did, he would undoubtedly be treated as a coward. And given that danger lurked, entrusting it to someone else was not preferable.

Click.

The key silently slid into the keyhole. The lock, integrated with the box, fueled his anxiety further.

'Ah, it won't just explode the moment I turn the key, will it?'

Even the underworld guys wouldn't act so recklessly with a sworn enemy. At least, it was better for his mental health to believe so.

'Ah, why did they make me captain…'

He had a strong feeling that he would hate boxes and locks from today onwards.

"One… two…"

He counted, so that the two people waiting a short distance away could be prepared.

Taking a deep breath once more and preparing to jump back at any moment, Namgung Sang slowly turned the key.

Click!

The lock finally opened.

Fortunately, the box did not explode. The three of them were also safe. However, they still couldn't tell what was inside the box. It was something they had never seen before.

"What is this?"

Ma Ha Ryung asked, taking out one of the items from the box.

"Who knows? I've never seen this before."

"It looks like a coin…"

"Could it be a mokjeon?"

It was round and slightly larger than a coin. The material suggested it was a wooden coin. There were two types: red and blue.

"What is it used for?"

The numbers 'ten' and 'hundred' were engraved in the center. However, it couldn't be used to buy things. He had never heard of a store that accepted such things. Who would accept a piece of wood that hadn't undergone national verification?

"Wait a minute. There are letters engraved here?"

As she spoke, upon closer inspection, letters were engraved at each of the four corners of the round mokjeon. Ma Ha Ryung slowly began to read them, one by one.

* * *

Yeon Bi leaned gracefully against the railing and gazed at the receding Macheongak, lost in thought.

'Namgung Sang, what on earth is that guy doing! He should have found out where he was going and reported it.'

Even after the ship had departed, there was no news. He would need to be thoroughly retrained later. However, since Na Ye Rin was waiting in the cabin, Yeon Bi decided to take a simple and quick approach. If she found the right person and asked, she would get the answer quickly.

"Excuse me."

"Huh? Uh, yes."

The young man replied, extremely tense. For some reason, his face was red.

"Where is the destination of this ship?"

"Yes? Well, well…"

* * *

"Gang (江)… Ho (湖)… Ran (亂)… Do (島)…? Is it a place name?"

Ma Ha Ryung tilted her head. Judging by the name, it seemed to be some kind of island, but it was an unfamiliar place name she had never heard before.

"It seems that the place we are heading to is indeed Ganghorando."

Baek Mu Yeong agreed.

"I feel the same. Then, could this be the currency used in Ganghorando?"

The invitation was unhelpfully silent about the items inside, so they could only speculate for now. Yong Cheon Myeong, who was scrutinizing the mokjeon handed over by Ma Ha Ryung, spoke.

"It seems plausible. But to be sure, it would be best to go upstairs and find a capable advisor."

Just then, the cabin door slid open, and a voice replied.

"You don't need to go far; I'll tell you."

Namgung Sang and his party were greatly surprised and turned their heads sharply towards the door. However, there was no one outside the wide-open door. It was as if the door had opened by itself. They had clearly locked the doorknob, which was a ghostlike matter.

Ma Ha Ryung dashed out into the corridor like the wind and shouted in a sharp voice.

"Who is it? Show yourself!"

There wasn't a soul in the corridor. Only her shadow was cast long by the dim light.

Clang!

Yong Cheon Myeong, who followed, drew his sword quietly and said.

"Please come into the cabin, esteemed guest."

"Ah, guest? What guest? We're on the same side. Oh my, don't frown like that, it's bad for your complexion. It would be a shame if you got wrinkles, a shame indeed."

The shadow in the cabin, which had been cast slightly, rippled at the left corner and extended long forward. Then, from behind the shadow, a figure emerged.

"This is impossible!"

Namgung Sang, who had followed to the door, exclaimed in surprise. He was too large to be hidden within such a narrow shadow.

"Since when?"

There was a hint of admiration in Yong Cheon Myeong's voice as well. His concealment skills were extraordinary to deceive these three people.

"You… you are…!"

Ma Ha Ryung shouted, more wary than when he was hidden. She had no intention of putting down the sword she was pointing.

"Me? That's a bit harsh, Miss Ma! I'm still your senior, after all."

The burly man grumbled softly and walked towards Namgung Sang and the others. With each step he took, the ship seemed to sway.

"Why are you appearing here?"

Although the address had changed, the disgust within it remained the same. The sword still pointed at the man.

"Well, aren't I your information officer?"

Come to think of it, something like that seemed to have happened. She should have vehemently opposed it on behalf of the women at the time… It was too late to regret it now.

"What did you mean by 'no need to go far,' senior?"

Yong Cheon Myeong asked, carefully lowering Ma Ha Ryung's sword, which was trembling as if it wanted to draw blood. He had to coax her for a long time to put her sword back in its scabbard.

"Ah, because you seemed curious. I will tell you about Ganghorando! I, who have researched and managed information on all beautiful women for many years!"

The identity of the burly man who emerged from the shadows was none other than the permanent honorary chairman of the Aeso Chapter, who was called by various names such as 'Enemy of Women,' 'Pervert King,' and 'Threat to Women's Peace.'

"Does Cheonmu Academy have no term of study? Like graduating within ten years."

Yong Cheon Myeong's voice, asking a question in return, was not warm. When he first entered Cheonmu Academy, this man was the head of the Aeso Chapter. And he still was.

"Of course not. One should never stop learning. One must strive endlessly to learn more. I still have much to learn. Can I leave here before I compile all of that into academic study!"

Byun Taeye exclaimed with conviction, clenching his fist. It was a statement filled with sincerity that would move anyone who didn't know him.

"Academics? What exactly is it about?"

Baek Mu Yeong asked, without noticing Namgung Sang shaking his head to the side.

"Sambusuci (三部數値)!"

Byun Taeye exclaimed with eyes burning with hot blood, clenching his fist. His flesh rippled simultaneously.

"Sambu?"

As Baek Mu Yeong's confusion grew, Ma Ha Ryung's eyebrows twitched instinctively. Namgung Sang lamented inwardly. He had a ominous premonition that the information their information officer most wanted to gather would still be of that nature.

"To not know the sambusuci of all the beauties residing at Cheonmu Academy. Ah, I am so ashamed and embarrassed by my ignorance! Do you also know my shame?"

Byun Taeye asked with tearful eyes.

"I am a little ashamed to be from the same academy as you, senior."

Namgung Sang replied, sighing heavily.

"Rather, tell us about Ganghorando. Since you boast so much, you must have found out for sure, right?"

In response to Namgung Sang's request, Byun Taeye nodded readily.

"Who do you think I am? Of course, I found out. Compared to digging out the color of beautiful women's underwear or their physical secrets, finding this out is like eating rice cakes while lying down."

"Oh, really?"

Namgung Sang no longer had the energy to refute.

"That's enough. If we continue, we might incur the wrath of half of Gangho."

Yong Cheon Myeong, the副隊長 (vice-captain), stepped in on behalf of the dejected captain and the dazed staff, and Ma Ha Ryung, who was flinching.

"Is that so? How stingy."

Byun Taeye grumbled. Ma Ha Ryung couldn't hold back and blurted out.

"I think that's a natural reaction. Women should prepare for beasts themselves."

Although she had put away her steel sword, she didn't seem to intend to put away the sword in her tongue.

"By the way, who did you get the information from? Is the source reliable?"

Namgung Sang, who was often described as cautious and sometimes timid, asked again.

"Of course, it's reliable."

"Who is it?"

"It's someone with a noble heart who loves and praises women's beauty, someone like me. I felt like I met a kindred spirit, hmm!"

Byun Taeye nodded with a satisfied smile, as if reliving that encounter. However, the four of them found this even less convincing.

"So, who exactly is that kindred spirit?"

"My friend, he called himself 'Jagun'. That's his nickname, so what was it? Ah, right! It was Mi-pok Gongja. By the way, everything else was good, but I couldn't keep up with his naming sense. He's an amazing guy!"

The four of them were confused as to whether this was a compliment or the opposite.

"Ah, that person? Senior, how did you manage to extract information from such a person with a unique mental structure?"

"Ah, I made a deal."

Byun Taeye replied, his whole body rippling with joy. Ma Ha Ryung instinctively furrowed her brow at the sight. She felt an instinctive revulsion and went into an unconscious defensive posture. Even Ma Ha Ryung, who had won against Yong Cheon Myeong, felt that she had to be careful with this person, that he was dangerous. She had no intention of neglecting that warning.

"A deal? Surely…?"

Byun Taeye nodded at Namgung Sang's question.

"Don't worry, I didn't use information about our side as a bargaining chip. I couldn't trade something like that."

As if they wouldn't know such basic things? That's what Byun Taeye was saying. However, looking at him, the four of them were worried about everything. He seemed to lack the most fundamental thing, common sense.

"Then what did you trade with?"

"It was something he was very interested in."

"What on earth is that?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's information about the black swallow, Yeon Bi."

At Byun Taeye's confident answer, Namgung Sang lowered his head. That was still 'information about our side,' wasn't it? Although it seemed to be in a completely different direction. Baek Mu Yeong, who recovered his composure the fastest among the group, expressed his confusion.

"Information about Miss Yeon Bi? Was that such crucial information?"

"Of course. It's information for proposing."

Ma Ha Ryung retorted incredulously.

"A proposal? Wasn't that a joke?"

"Well… at least to me, it seemed genuine. Those weren't the eyes of someone who was lying."

He didn't add that they might be the eyes of someone lost in self-admiration.

"So, did you give it to him?"

At Namgung Sang's tense confirmation, Byun Taeye shook his head.

"That information is highly valued even among people in our industry. Not as much as Na Ye Rin of Bingbaek Peak, but its value has been rapidly increasing recently. However, there is too little information. Even though dozens of people have tried, they haven't managed to extract a single piece of information, not even a single piece of underwear. Not a single person. It's truly a regrettable matter."

"It's truly an impregnable fortress."

"You're right. It's truly a regrettable matter. Indeed, it is regrettable."

"Hearing that puts my mind at ease a little. It would be a great blessing for women if even one more could be safe from the wolves."

Ma Ha Ryung's voice was chillingly cold.

"Don't always look at things so crookedly and have a more open mind."

"If I do that, I'll easily become prey for wolves."

Ma Ha Ryung's answer was still curt.

"Acquiring information about Miss Yeon Bi is something even I haven't succeeded in yet. However, I possess the most extensive amount of information. Especially information about Miss Na, which is rare and difficult to obtain. Information about the Seven Peaks of Cheonmu Academy has always commanded a high value, regardless of whether it is righteous or sinister."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ha Ryung's complexion turned as pale as white paper.

"Y-you don't mean to tell me that information about me is included in there, do you?"

"No, it is. Why wouldn't it be?"

'Don't tell me my weight is in there too?!'

Such a disaster would be problematic.

Ma Ha Ryung, who was about to lunge and knock Byun Taeye down, was barely restrained by Yong Cheon Myeong.

"Just tell us what you need, senior. While I can still stop her."

Yong Cheon Myeong wasn't sure if he could stop Ma Ha Ryung if more time passed.

"Hmm, alright. In a word, Ganghorando is…"

Byun Taeye began to unravel the information he had gathered. As the story continued, surprise appeared on the faces of Namgung Sang and the other three.

Ganghorando, it was a completely different place than they had imagined.

* * *

"Gangho… Rando (江湖亂島)…?"

Na Ye Rin rolled the name Yeon Bi had told her in her mouth.

"Judging by the name, it's an island, isn't it?"

"But… it's a name I've never heard before."

That was what seemed to bother Na Ye Rin.

"I know. If it were a famous island, we would have heard of it."

There was a severe lack of information.

"According to that young man, it's a paradise on earth where you can enjoy all forms of entertainment in one place…"

Na Ye Rin, who was practically clueless in that regard, couldn't quite picture it in her mind.

"Hmm… that means it's a secret pleasure resort… where the hand of the law doesn't reach…?"

That means…

"A place where the night's money gathers… this suddenly piques my interest!"

Yeon Bi said with a bright smile.

"Yes?"

Na Ye Rin couldn't hide her surprise at her cheerful demeanor.

"It might be quite interesting."

The lights of Macheongak were now fading into darkness, leaving only faint afterimages.

* * *

At the same time.

Yeom Do and Bing Geom were in the dormitories for the Thirteenth Unit instructors at Macheongak, planning the disciples' training schedules and deeply contemplating how to push the children around. Compared to Macheongak, where they were trained to respond immediately to any real combat, Cheonmu Academy's system lacked tension. It was natural for anyone with sound judgment to realize that their current complacent approach and state of mind would only make them prey for Macheongak.

Knock, knock!

"Who is it?"

Bing Geom asked, without looking away from the plan document filled with various ideas.

"It's us."

"Come in."

Yeom Do said, pondering if there wasn't a more intense training method. The door soon opened, and two people, a man and a woman, entered. Both were martial artists with outstanding qi, and they were Jin So Ryung, the Ami Nun, and Yu Eun Seong, the First Sword of Jeomchang, who had volunteered to accompany them.

"Did you confirm where the children went?"

Bing Geom asked first.

"Yes. But we didn't expect them to all get on a ship and go outside Macheongak."

"A ship? Where is the destination?"

"Yes, it's an island called Ganghorando in Dongjeong Lake. It's a famous pleasure resort in the underworld. It seems there are regular boat services on designated rest days. It looks like they won't be back for several days."

At that, Bing Geom's body flinched for a moment. Sharp needles seemed to shoot out from his body.

"Did you just say pleasure resort? And an unauthorized overnight stay?"

Bing Geom asked in a chilling voice.

"Yes? Ah, it is a pleasure resort, but rather than an unauthorized overnight stay, it's just a group schedule for a few days…"

Bang!

Bing Geom slammed his fist on the table.

"Shut up!"

A roar erupted.

"What do you call that if not an unauthorized overnight stay! And an unauthorized overnight stay at that! An unauthorized overnight stay without a father's permission, do you think that's something that can be said, you?"

Bing Geom's eyes, glaring at Yu Eun Seong, flashed with a cold light.

"W-well… that wouldn't be right… no, it wouldn't be."

Yu Eun Seong, chilled to the bone, couldn't help but reply.

"This won't do. I must chase after them immediately."

Bing Geom stood up abruptly and said.

"Hey, Icebreaker. Didn't we agree not to interfere since this is something the kids are doing on their own?"

Yeom Do, sitting at the table, said while picking his ear with his finger.

"My mind has changed."

"What's the reason?"

"Seol Ji is among those children. I have never allowed my daughter to have an unauthorized overnight stay. If there's anyone who's been bothering Seol Ji…"

"If there is?"

"That person will have to feel the coolness of my sword."

Bing Geom said emphatically. It was no wonder that Yu Eun Seong's mind was filled with the question, 'Is this really the Bing Geom Master, famous for his cold, ruthless, and calm nature like a north wind and blizzard?'

"Are you leaving now?"

Jin So Ryung asked in a calm voice.

"Is there still a boat?"

"There's a boat heading there in an hour."

They seemed to have already found out. In fact, Jin So Ryung was also worried about Jin Ryung. If there wasn't a next transport, she would have boarded that boat. Fortunately, there was a next one, so she could report this.

"Good. You two, prepare yourselves as well."

"Yes, understood."

Jin So Ryung and Yu Eun Seong bowed in a fist-and-palm salute and went to prepare.

"Icebreaker, this is the first time I've seen you so agitated."

It was a surprisingly fresh sight. Yeom Do had sometimes wondered if that cold-blooded man had any emotions at all.

"Fireball, you'll understand when you have a daughter. That's what a father is like."

"You'll be hated for that, won't you?"

Yeom Do, feeling a surge of irritation as if he were bragging, retorted.

"Leave it. I don't know which thief might steal her away from me, but until then, no!"

Bing Geom said in a firm voice. Yeom Do let out a wry laugh.

"You're talking about thieves before even meeting them, or even confirming if they exist. If a potential son-in-law comes to ask for your daughter, you'll probably punch him first before anything else."

"Hmph. Why use my fist when I have a sword?"

"…Hey, hey, you're not planning to make your daughter a nun, are you?"

Yeom Do was dumbfounded. Was this the sentiment of all fathers with daughters? As someone who had never even married, let alone had a child, Yeom Do couldn't understand.

"…If they want to take her, they must be at least as strong as me."

Bing Geom left a heavy statement and began to prepare.