Chapter 5: Cow (5)
The inn was empty after Sima Hui left.
Yang-gwan silently filled his hungry stomach while watching So.
So had not moved at all since Sima Hui left, keeping his head buried on the table.
"Ugh… must be in a bad mood."
It was understandable. Thinking about it carefully, this was like taking a hit from Sima Hui.
The Gunja Academy was a normal martial arts school. No, not even normal—it was beneath normal.
If it were a proper martial arts school, it wouldn't even be called an academy.
An "academy" is a place for scholarly study—Confucius says, Mencius says—things a student might learn.
And that was what the Gunja Academy was supposed to be.
But why did it look like a martial arts school on the outside?
The reason was ridiculous.
"Anyone can set up an academy, and anyone can set up a martial arts school."
An academy requires a master with deep knowledge. A martial arts school? Anyone with money and a building can run one. Even a dog or an ox could do it.
So the martial arts school called the Gunja "Academy" was neither a proper place of learning nor a proper martial arts institution. It was a complete mess.
"No way this academy has the funds to collect a thousand silver coins from a hermit. It's not that the embezzled amount is the problem—there simply isn't two thousand silver coins to begin with. Tsk tsk… even So Bang-ju fell for his own trick."
So, who loved gambling so much in Sacheon, charging people into bets, now found himself in deep trouble. It couldn't be helped. In Sacheon, So Bang-ju had been the best, but this was Luoyang. Not quite the center of the world like Beijing, but Luoyang was the martial arts center. There would be people with talent and intelligence beyond So's abilities.
"Like a frog in a well. Pitiful."
So's shoulders trembled gently. Was he crying?
Yang-gwan, feeling pity, instinctively reached out his hand.
"So Bang-ju, I understand your frustration. Tsk, let's go and apologize together. If I come along, nothing bad will happen. Despite appearances, I'm called the Fire Dragon among the Ten Dragons…"
But So's expression seemed strange. Past his trembling shoulders, Yang-gwan saw his mouth.
He was smiling.
Was he crazy? Just as worry crept in,
So suddenly jumped up from his seat and began laughing like a madman.
"Puhahaha! Khahahah!"
"So Bang-ju…?"
"Uhahahahahahahaha—!"
Seeing So laugh so violently that the inn seemed to shake, the situation became clear.
"Has he completely lost it… at such a young age…"
"No! Why would you say that?"
"Then he's not crazy?"
"Crazy? Fool, I'm crazy with joy."
"Joy? What do you mean?"
So's mouth stretched wide in a grin.
"Do you know who I just tricked? Sima Hui. Sima Hui."
"Sima Hui? I'm not sure which Sima Hui you mean. Surely not the 'Thousand-League Gentleman' Sima Hui?"
"Yes. That Sima Hui."
"So, you said the military came from the state, and I thought he was a low-ranking soldier! That booger was Sima Hui?!"
A genius in the military may not be a genius in business. But a person called a genius has a basic level of ability. Nine-tenths of So's concern was Sima Hui. Gu Munryong was a good person, so he would probably be sympathetic and helpful after hearing So's situation. But Sima Hui was different.
"Sima Hui is clever and quick-witted, a real troublemaker. If he started interfering, I could do nothing. And yet, Sima Hui was so easily fooled, hahaha."
"That's not possible, right? The famous Sima Hui was tricked by a scammer like So Bang-ju?"
"That's why I thought it was a fake at first. But it's really him. That means the state of the Martial Alliance is even worse than I thought."
The current Sima Hui was not in a normal state.
The Martial Alliance was so short on funds, with so many thieves, that even great effort couldn't solve the financial crisis. So Bang-ju had begun using his personal wealth to support the Martial Alliance.
Even then, the situation didn't improve.
"He knew the Martial Alliance was sinking, but didn't know where the holes were or where the rats were hiding. So, in desperation, he even had to rely on this little brat from Sacheon. He didn't even have certainty that this kid was a lifeline—he just grabbed the first rope he could."
Sima Hui didn't really know So. All he knew were rumors from Sacheon. The fact that So was a Martial Alliance figure from a family exterminated by Danmun, which he wouldn't normally even know, was only discovered because So came to the Martial Alliance to check things out.
"He probably thought, if this kid works out, fine. If not… oh well."
"Exactly."
"But that kid's expensive, isn't he? He keeps demanding impossible conditions. Would you be pleased?"
"No."
"Since he's displeased, he'd nitpick. He tries to cut the price, but then the kid proposes a bet with impossible conditions? So he jumps in thinking, 'Alright! Let's do it!'"
So flailed his arms in excitement.
"Good. Really good! If it weren't for today, Sima Hui wouldn't have been fooled like that. Rejoice, Yang-gwan! Everything's going perfectly."
"Well… I still don't fully understand. So Bang-ju tricked Sima Hui?"
"Yes. Completely tricked him. This ensures my plan will succeed."
"I don't understand… no matter how you look at it, So Bang-ju seems like the one being tricked. Can we really collect two thousand silver coins from that martial arts school?"
"Absolutely."
So clutched his stomach and laughed.
"This whole scenario was set up by me from the start."
"Set up…?"
"I didn't call you and Sima Hui to this inn for nothing. I wanted to show that I have trustworthy martial power, and everything else was part of my scheme."
"Scheme? I don't understand at all."
"Look around this inn. What do you see? There's a government office, this inn, a few market stalls, a martial arts school, and a courier station. That's all. If it were you, what would you choose?"
"Other than the martial arts school… nothing much. Couriers probably have money. Hmm."
"Exactly. I knew he'd choose the martial arts school. Or rather, I created a situation where he had no choice. And yet, do you think I wouldn't know that school? I've been in Luoyang for half a year; would I not know?"
In Sichuan, So had many nicknames. Most commonly, people called him So Bang-ju; sometimes simply So. Close acquaintances or friendly people used these.
Others called him "Golden Ear" because he was obsessed with money, or "Scammer" because of all his cons. Some went further, calling him a "Rogue" because of his wild personality and reckless ways. So's reputation in Sacheon was remarkable.
Yang-gwan suddenly remembered the nickname "Golden Ear."
"Did he smell gold at the martial arts school?"
"Exactly."
"But what if Sima Hui had chosen the courier station instead? You acted recklessly."
"That was all planned too. But let's talk about that later. From now on, timing is key. We must push forward like riding a tiger."
So hurriedly got ready to leave.
Yang-gwan asked, puzzled,
"Where are we going?"
"To…."
So whispered quietly. Yang-gwan's eyes widened.
"Why there?!"
"And then we'll head straight to the martial arts school. Let's go."
So stepped out of the inn first.
Yang-gwan scratched his head and sighed.
"Damn. Once again, I'm caught up in So Bang-ju's scheme."
It wasn't what he intended, but there was no choice.
Muttering, Yang-gwan followed behind him.
According to thieves, the height of a wall reflects the wealth and power of a household.
The more enemies, the higher the wall—and more enemies usually means more money. By that standard, the Gunja Academy was a poor, powerless, and peaceful place.
So kicked the gate of the peaceful Gunja Academy.
"Come out here!"
The thin door rattled with a loud crash, drawing attention. Children sweeping the yard, others stretching, and a few scholars teaching them looked at So in surprise. Feeling their gaze, So straightened his shoulders arrogantly, as if he had the right to act this way.
"Oh no… this rogue's at it again…"
Yang-gwan nervously peered into the academy. Everyone looked thoroughly shocked.
So shouted again, irritated.
"Come out here!"
"What is it?"
"Tsk. Are you the teacher of this Gunja Academy?"
"Yes… but…"
"Cutting to the chase: I am a special inspector from the Martial Alliance."
The scholar's eyes widened. He had never heard of such a title before.
"Inspector? What is that?"
"Tch. I'm someone who collects money that's been stiffed. You bastards embezzled a ridiculous amount of money from the Murim Alliance, so they hired someone like me."
"Someone who collects stolen money? You mean you?"
A man who collected unpaid debts—that was a term better suited to thugs or wandering ruffians, vicious debt enforcers. It didn't fit a young man like this at all. Naturally, the scholar's face twisted into a mocking sneer.
"I don't know what kind of nonsense you're spouting. Our academy doesn't have any unpaid debts. So get the hell out."
"This punk's got a real mouth on him. You wanna die?"
"Hey, you little brat. Enough with the games—gahk—!"
The scholar couldn't finish his sentence. So had kicked him hard in the groin. The scholar crumpled instantly, collapsing to the ground and crawling in agony. So brushed off his hands and walked past him. Yang Gwan followed, glancing around nervously.
"Deputy Chief So, Deputy Chief So. Isn't this a bit too rude?"
"Rude my ass. We're short on time. We need to loot the ledgers fast. If we're late, they'll burn the evidence."
"But these people aren't even martial artists! What kind of brutality is this?!"
"You think I like acting like a rabid thug?"
"…Don't you?"
So jutted out his lips in a pout.
His pace quickened.
They passed through the courtyard of the Gentlemen's Academy.
Their destination was where the head instructor was.
"How do you even know where the instructor is?"
"This way."
"And how do you know that?"
"One of the scholars studying at this martial school is the innkeeper's son. I asked him for a favor and had him draw me a map beforehand. Now stop yapping and get ready to use some muscle."
"I don't like it, but I suppose I have no choice. Still, you'd better explain everything later."
Yang Gwan smacked his lips and adjusted the iron spear strapped to his back.
Then, when So jabbed at the door he'd pointed out, it shattered into pieces.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
An elderly man with a large belly was inside. He was probably the instructor. So strode forward and said,
"Gwan-ah, put him to sleep."
"Put him to sleep? What are you talking about?"
"Goddammit, this bastard never listens. Just do what you're told, right away. You can't do anything in one go, you useless idiot. Did you sell off all your common sense while learning martial arts?"
"How am I supposed to know when I don't even understand what's going on?!"
"Should I just put him to sleep myself? Huh? Like that scholar earlier—by bursting his balls?"
"Damn it. When this is over, you're explaining everything."
Grumbling, Yang Gwan approached the instructor and pressed a pressure point at the back of his neck. The instructor collapsed cleanly into unconsciousness. So shoved him out of the chair and sat down himself, then began rummaging through the desk at will, spreading out books and bamboo slips.
"I really don't understand what kind of mess this is…"
"In a bit, martial artists will come pouring in."
"What?"
"Hold them off until I finish sorting this out."
"Ugh! What the hell is even happening?!"
With his trained senses, Yang Gwan felt a group of martial artists approaching. One, two, three—more and more. Ten in total.
"You're not kidding!"
Startled, Yang Gwan tightened his grip on his spear and blocked the doorway.
The martial artists advanced in perfect coordination, their footsteps pounding as they rushed forward, each holding a weapon. They were brimming with killing intent.
Yang Gwan shouted,
"Stop!"
Of course, no one stopped.
Swords and throwing knives rained down.