Shraaak!
Tak!
"...Khk!"
Cheon Wuha tossed aside one of the torn ears of Gwanghyeol Sword's blade, then stared straight into his eyes, which were clouded with disbelief and fear, and spoke.
"One more thing. I have no intention of negotiating with trash like you."
"Khk… You… don't bluff."
Driven by a surge of anger that pushed back pain and fear, Gwanghyeol Sword glared at Cheon Wuha, veins bulging in his eyes.
"Since you've come all the way here, I can guess the situation outside. No doubt, one of your household members has been kidnapped. Am I wrong?"
"..."
"You have no choice but to rely on my mouth. If not, your family's safety cannot be… W-wait, what are you doing?"
"It seems you didn't understand what I said."
Swish.
Before he knew it, Cheon Wuha had placed his index finger against Gwanghyeol Sword's right eye.
"There is no negotiation with someone like you."
Crunch!
"Khk…! Guaaahhh…!"
"Do you also want me to rip out your tongue?"
"...!"
With his right eye crushed, Gwanghyeol Sword's entire body trembled violently as he barely swallowed his scream.
He knew instinctively.
This boy—the so-called Young Master of the merchant house—wasn't someone who made idle threats.
Perhaps if he staked his life, he might force a negotiation… but by the time it began, his body would be ruined beyond recognition.
"Sp… spare me…"
"..."
"Please, spare me…"
Looking up at Cheon Wuha with his one remaining eye, Gwanghyeol Sword's face no longer showed anger.
Only raw terror and confusion.
As though he were staring not at a human, but some other being entirely.
Cheon Wuha nodded indifferently.
"Now you're ready to answer?"
"Y-you… who in the world are you…?"
"Answer only what I ask."
As if to warn that the other eye would be next, Wuha moved his blood-stained finger close to the left one.
"Where is the hideout?"
"O-on… on the eastern mountain valley of Seoan."
"Not enough."
Swish.
"W-wait! There's no place name! I swear! I must see it with my own eyes to find it! Without my sight, it's impossible to locate the hideout! Please…!"
Wuha's finger paused just before gouging his other eye.
"…You must see it directly?"
"Y-yes! That's the only way! Without my eyes, I can't guide you! I beg you…"
"Hmm…"
Hearing the once-arrogant man now begging, Wuha slowly nodded.
"…Very well."
Swish.
"Then stand up."
"Wh-what? What do you mean…?"
Snap, snap.
Just as Gwanghyeol Sword stammered in confusion, the ropes binding his body suddenly fell away, cut clean.
"H-how… when did this…?"
"Stand."
"..."
"And lead the way."
Step.
Cheon Wuha turned his back without hesitation.
"To your hideout."
"Uuugh… uuhh…"
The damp chill of stone seeped up from the floor.
An old man lay bound hand and foot, a gag stuffed in his mouth.
'This is dire. How did it come to this…'
The man was none other than Go Seokjeong.
Kidnapped first by Galpyeong and now dragged to Saheukdan, he had sought to negotiate with their leader—only to end up tied like this.
'I must escape before Wuha is threatened…'
But the gag silenced him, and no method of resistance presented itself.
Worse, the constant cold from the floor made his frail body tremble uncontrollably.
'So… cold…'
As the thought of freezing to death crossed his mind, Seokjeong tightly shut his eyes.
Step, step.
Swish.
Suddenly, a small, warm hand brushed against his chilled cheek.
"…!"
"Shh."
Startled, Seokjeong froze as a young girl's voice whispered in his ear.
"Stay quiet."
Caught off guard, he stilled.
A girl? Here, in a den of vicious bandits?
Moments later, the gag loosened, and a strip of jerky was slipped into his mouth.
"Eat."
"Th… thank you."
Seokjeong managed to murmur weakly, chewing and swallowing.
"There's more. Eat."
"Y-yes."
It wasn't much, but swallowing anything at all gave him a faint spark of strength.
After a few more bites, he whispered quickly.
"Child, please… untie me? My arms ache so badly."
"No."
A firm refusal.
But Seokjeong had no one else to rely on, so he pressed on.
"Why not? I promise I'll behave."
"You can't escape anyway."
"What…?"
"…Not yet."
Her whisper was so faint it was nearly inaudible, but Seokjeong understood. He nodded.
"Ah… I see. Then… can you at least sit me upright? The floor is too cold."
After a moment's hesitation, the girl tugged at his body.
She was small, but Seokjeong was thin and frail—together, they managed to get him upright.
"Th… thank you."
Catching his breath, Seokjeong looked around the room—small, and in it, a girl of about ten years old gazed back at him.
"What… heavens…!"
His eyes shook at the sight of her.
Clad in rags, her face and limbs were mottled with bruises.
"Those… wretches will be punished by heaven!"
Unable to restrain his fury, Seokjeong raised his voice.
At that very moment, a rough man appeared outside the barred door.
"What's this? How did the gag—damn brat!"
Bang!
The man stormed in, cursing. The girl calmly slid a foot back, but—
Step, step.
Thud!
Whirl!
Crash!
"You little—what do you think you're doing?!"
He kicked her savagely.
Her small body flew, crashing to the ground.
Eyes blazing, Seokjeong shouted from where he sat.
"You beast! Stop at once! Even bandits are still men—how can you lay hands on a helpless child?!"
"Haah… noisy old man. Seems your tongue works fine without a gag."
"Look me in the eyes when you speak!"
Seokjeong glared fiercely, voice ringing.
"Even beasts show mercy to children! Don't you feel shame? What has this child done to deserve your cruelty?!"
"You old bastard… do you want to die?"
"Then kill me! I don't fear death—should I hold my tongue just to cling to what little life I have left?!"
His unyielding rebuke only enraged the man, who then stomped on the fallen girl.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Please! Stop! I'll… I'll do whatever you say!"
"Heh… so you'll obey?"
"Y-yes! Just stop hurting her!"
Grinning nastily, the man yanked up his messy hair and sneered.
"Finally making sense. You really didn't know your place, old man."
"M-my apologies. I'll behave."
"Good. Then keep your head down and don't act up. Got it?"
"Y-yes. I will."
Swish.
Seokjeong lowered his head, trembling.
"What're you waiting for? Press your forehead to the floor."
"A… alright."
Struggling with his bonds, Seokjeong pressed his forehead down—so awkwardly that his head slammed against the cold stone.
Thud!
"Ugh…!"
"Tch. Should've been obedient from the start."
The man glanced at the girl, still collapsed, and nudged her with his foot.
"Hey, you dead? Get up if you don't want more."
Rustle.
Groaning, she pushed herself up, clutching her stomach. The man jerked his chin at Seokjeong.
"Get him something to eat. A blanket too."
"..."
The girl nodded silently and left.
The man looked back at Seokjeong, his tone cold.
"Listen well. From now on, if you resist or try anything, I'll snap that brat's neck first. Understood?"
"H-how could you… she's just a child…"
"Heh. Child? She's just a tool here."
"You monster…"
"She should've died with her parents. Living as our errand runner is a blessing, and yet she dares to slack off? Of course she gets beaten."
"...!"
"Anyway, don't cross me. I don't want to kill her. She's useful enough."
"You… will be punished by heaven…"
"Whether I go to hell or not isn't your problem. I warned you. Obey."
With a smirk, the man tossed the gag aside and left.
Moments later, the girl returned with a bowl of thin gruel. Until then, Seokjeong stared despairingly at the barred door.
"My heavens… how could this happen…"
Having heard the news of Seokjeong's kidnapping, Miryeong looked at Cheon Myeonghak, her face full of worry.
His face seemed to have aged ten years in half a day.
"Don't torment yourself. It's not your fault."
"No… it is."
Gripping his head in both hands, Myeonghak muttered.
"Master Go has been Wuha's teacher for over ten years. He even upheld the Yongmyeong Merchant Guild's honor at the recent ceremony. And yet I gave him so little protection…"
"But he refused heavy escort, didn't he?"
"Even so, I should've at least asked Instructor Cho to watch over him. Haah… this is my failure."
Rustle.
Miryeong held his wrist gently.
"It's not your fault. You're doing your best to protect the guild."
"But…"
"No one is perfect. What matters now is finding a way to bring Master Go back safely."
"You're right…"
Meeting her eyes, Myeonghak forced a faint smile and nodded.
"It's time to act, not regret… I'll remember that."
"But… what about Wuha? He must be suffering."
"For now, he seems fine."
He recalled Wuha's calm face earlier.
"I feared he'd act rashly, but he kept his composure. He said he'd interrogate the captives himself."
"Will that work?"
"I don't know. But it's our best option for now."
"He's still just a child…"
Miryeong sighed heavily, unable to hide her worry.
Myeonghak opened his mouth to reassure her—
Clatter, clatter!
"Guildmaster! Are you inside?!"
A frantic shout from outside.
"What is it?"
"Y-you must come! It's terrible!"
"What do you mean?"
"The young master! He's gone missing with the prisoner he went to interrogate!"
"What?!"
Bang!
Myeonghak shot to his feet, his shout echoing.
He and Miryeong locked eyes, both pale with shock.
"R-raise everyone! Find Wuha, at once!"
"Y-yes!"
The steward ran off as Myeonghak rushed out, Miryeong close behind.
But by then, Cheon Wuha had already been gone a long time.
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