Days passed without any incidents.
Wol trained. Jo Mak fished, sold their catch at the market, and returned each evening with a handful of coins. They didn't talk much about the arrangement. They didn't need to. By the end of the week, a quiet rhythm had settled over the small house.
Today, Wol stood in the small courtyard behind the house.
The sword moved through the air. Clean. Controlled. Each motion flowed into the next without interruption. He had read this style in the archive of his past life — his body had been a ruined mess back then, unable to truly grasp its depth. But now, he felt it. As the blade cut the wind, he realized this was a wonderful technique that had been lost or forgotten by the world.
He shaped it to his mind, just like he always did. He didn't have a master in his previous life, nor did he have one now. What he always possessed was his boundless imagination and the raw ability to master whatever he understood. The Calm Abyss Sword was finally taking shape.
Inside the house, Jo Mak sat cross-legged on the floor, a small pile of copper and silver coins resting in front of him.
He counted them slowly. Carefully.
"...Not bad," he muttered under his breath.
The first day he had returned from selling fish, Wol had simply told him to keep his own share, hand over Wol's portion, and stay. No conditions. No pressure. Jo Mak hadn't refused, largely because he didn't have another place to go anyway. But even now, the unspoken trust still felt strange to him.
Outside, the sharp sound of the sword cutting the air continued.
Jo Mak glanced toward the door, watching Wol's relentless movement. "...Focused today," he muttered.
Suddenly, Wol stopped. The blade lowered slowly to his side.
His thoughts weren't fully on the sword forms. Earlier in the day, he had exchanged a few brief messages.
The first was from Elder Han's clinic. She's stable now. Still hasn't opened her eyes. But she's eating. Drinking. Breathing normally. Wol exhaled quietly in the yard. That was enough. For now.
The second message was one he had sent to Goo Jung. It was short and clear. Be ready. We move today. Same route.
Goo Jung would understand exactly what that meant. He knew the return path the merchant would take. He knew exactly where to strike. Everything had already been decided in silence.
Wol turned and stepped back inside the house.
He quietly changed into a set of dark, fitted clothes, tied his hair back firmly, and secured the sword to his back using a new leather strap he had bought specifically for it.
When he stepped back into the main room, Jo Mak looked up briefly from his coins. "...Going somewhere?" he asked.
"I have some business to take care of," Wol replied evenly. "I'll be back tomorrow."
Jo Mak's eyes shifted slightly. Business. At this hour. He noticed the sword secured on Wol's back immediately. Of course he did. But he didn't ask any questions.
"...Alright," Jo Mak said simply.
Wol paused for a brief second at the door. He knew Jo Mak would follow him. Not immediately. But he would. Still, Wol didn't say anything to stop him.
He simply stepped out and left.
Earlier That Morning
"Is everything loaded?"
The voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable, heavy weight.
The man standing beside the large transport carriage wore luxury like it belonged to him. Dark silk robes. Fine embroidery. Heavy rings on his fingers — gold, jade, embedded stones.
Shin Daesok.
"Almost done, guild master," one of the hired men replied.
Around them, workers moved quickly in the early morning fog, carefully loading wooden crates into a heavy cargo carriage. All of the men wore the same uniform. Their faces were covered. Silent. Disciplined.
Just behind the heavy transport, a second carriage stood waiting. It was cleaner. Heavily reinforced. Reserved exclusively for Shin Daesok. Six elite guards surrounded it — two beside the doors, two near the front, and two slightly behind, constantly watching the perimeter. Everything was precise and controlled.
Then, another presence approached the loading yard. The air visibly shifted.
"...Shin Daesok."
Shin immediately turned and bowed his head slightly. "Nam Cheon."
The man who had just approached looked unnatural. He was incredibly pale and thin. His face was almost refined, but his eyes were so dark they looked entirely empty. Nam Cheon was the right-hand man of the Black Market Master — a terrifying figure tasked with managing the illicit poison flowing through the city.
His lips curved into a very faint smile.
"This particular load," Nam Cheon said, resting his pale hand lightly on the side of the cargo carriage, "is much stronger than the last."
The small grin remained.
"It's more addictive. Once they take it... they won't be able to stop."
Shin remained completely silent. Listening.
"This carriage goes directly to Namgoong territory," Nam Cheon continued smoothly. A short pause. "The next wave will follow in exactly two weeks."
His dark gaze shifted slightly, locking onto the merchant.
"And remember — you are not the only one delivering for us." A suffocating silence stretched between them. "If you fail... we won't need you anymore."
Shin bowed even deeper. "It won't fail."
Nam Cheon studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded once.
"This market..." the pale man murmured, turning away, "will belong to us entirely soon. The underworld runs on need. And we will control the need."
He stopped near the gate, glancing back over his shoulder with a chilling grin.
"You'll be greatly rewarded... if you prove useful. Our lord will grant you a favor. So don't mess this up," he said, before stepping back into the morning fog.
Shin straightened his back as the man left. "You can firmly count on me."
And he truly meant it. Namgoong territory was the ideal target. Corrupt border guards. Loose road inspections. Easy, unrestricted passage. The heavy cargo carriage carried normal, legal trading goods stacked on the top layer. But the hidden compartments beneath the floorboards held the real product.
His personal carriage would stay completely clean and untouched. Unchecked by the authorities.
This single, massive drug run would finally make him untouchable in River Dragon City.
But even Shin Daesok didn't fully understand the terrifying depth of the masters he was working under.
Nam Cheon was merely a shadow. The true terror was the man he served. A name desperately whispered across the slums, known simply as the Lord of the Black Market. He was a ghost who controlled absolutely everything beneath the polite surface of the city. Drugs. Information. Slaves. Trade. If you needed something illegal, you had to go through him. And if he wanted something done, it was already finished. His terrifying reach had even invaded the Murim Alliance, silently corrupting officials with coin and poison. For now, he remained an untouchable shadow, silently pulling the strings of the underworld to claim it all for himself.
Present
Wol walked calmly through the winding streets.
Alone. Focused. The sword rested securely against his back. His expression didn't change as the slums finally gave way to the darker, quieter alleys on the edge of the city.
He met up with Goo Jung and the rest of the brothers shortly after sunset.
They were waiting in a narrow alleyway near the gates. The whole group was there, their faces pulled tight with nervous energy. They didn't need Wol to explain why he had called them, and they didn't need a speech to motivate them. The moment they saw Wol approaching in the dim light, their expressions settled.
They wanted Shin Daesok.
For what the merchant had done to Goo Yeon. For the way he had used them as disposable tools, making them do his dirty work without ever letting them know the truth. That betrayal alone was enough.
They didn't waste any time. A carriage was waiting in the shadows — the kind of weathered transport that wouldn't attract a second glance on the road.
Wol stepped inside without a word. The others followed, checking their weapons. Goo Jung took his place at the front and grabbed the reins.
The plan was simple. Block the northern road. Force the carriage to stop. Strike fast from the shadows and leave no room for mistakes.
"There's a narrow path a few miles ahead," Goo Jung said quietly as the carriage began to roll over the cobblestones. "It's bordered by dense forest on both sides. No room for a carriage to turn around. If we drop a tree across the center, they'll have to stop. His guards will definitely be on high alert given the cargo."
Wol nodded once in the darkness.
"When they send someone out to clear the trunk," one of the older brothers added, drawing a dagger, "we take them down from the tree line."
"And the drivers?" another asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"If they're just hired civilians — knock them out and leave them," Wol answered calmly. A quiet pause filled the cabin. "But if they are his guards... you know what to do."
They all understood.
The carriage left the city, moving steadily along the dirt road. Inside, Wol sat with his eyes closed. But he was aware.
As they moved deeper into the forest, he noticed a faint presence. It was light and careful, but in the dead quiet of the woods, it wasn't hidden enough.
He opened his eyes, looking toward the thick trees bordering the road.
Someone was following them.
"...Stop the cart," Wol said suddenly.
Goo Jung pulled the reins, bringing the horses to a halt in the middle of the road. He looked back over his shoulder, confused. "What happened? We aren't there yet."
"There is one more person joining us," Wol replied evenly.
He stepped out onto the dirt, reached down, and picked up a stone from the road. Without hesitating, he threw it sharply into the bushes to his left.
"Ah—!"
A pained yelp broke the silence, followed by the crashing of branches. A moment later, Jo Mak stumbled awkwardly out of the tree line, clutching his side.
"...What are you doing?" Wol asked, his expression unchanged.
Jo Mak straightened his back, brushing dirt off his clothes, and forced a laugh. "Oh, you know... I was just taking a walk. Just passing by. Heh..."
Wol stared flatly at him. "You've been following our carriage since we left the city. That's a strange way to pass by."
Jo Mak let out a defeated sigh, his shoulders sagging. "...How do you always know?" he muttered. "Look, I was curious, alright? You tell me you have something important to do, suddenly grab a sword, and leave. I wanted to see what you were getting into."
He paused, rubbing his ribs where the rock had hit him. "...Sorry."
"You didn't even try to hide your footsteps," Wol said. "I could hear the brush snapping under your boots a mile away."
Jo Mak scratched his head, embarrassed. "...Right. Forgot about that part."
"If you wanted to follow," Wol added, turning back toward the carriage, "you could've just asked."
Jo Mak sighed. "...Fine."
He didn't argue. He just walked over and climbed into the back of the carriage alongside Wol.
Inside the cabin, the brothers turned their heads, staring at the newcomer with wary eyes. Hands drifted toward their daggers.
Goo Jung glanced down at Wol from the driver's seat. "...Friend?" he asked.
"Something like that," Wol replied.
That was enough for Goo Jung. He nodded, flicked the reins, and the carriage started moving again. The brothers slowly relaxed their grips, but the atmosphere remained slightly awkward. Jo Mak looked around at the heavily armed men squeezed into the cart, then looked at Wol.
"...So," Jo Mak said slowly. "Are you guys bandits, or just very organized thieves?"
A heavy silence followed.
Wol leaned back against the wooden siding, closing his eyes. "Depends," he said calmly, a faint smile on his lips.
For a second, no one reacted. Then, from the darkness of the cabin, one of the brothers snorted. A few quiet laughs echoed among them.
Jo Mak blinked, bewildered by the dynamic. "...You people are weird," he muttered, leaning back into the corner.
"So what's going on?" Jo Mak asked, dropping the humor. "Where exactly are we going?"
Wol didn't open his eyes. "You'll find out shortly. You followed us this far... there's no going back now."
The tone was light, almost joking. But not entirely.
Jo Mak stared at him for a second, then shrugged. "...Figures." He turned his head and stared out the carriage, watching the dark forest roll past.
A short while later, they reached the ambush spot.
"This is the place," Goo Jung whispered, pulling the carriage off the road and into the brush.
As they stepped out to arrange the trap, the mood instantly changed. The brothers reached into their pockets and pulled up thick black cloths, securing them over their faces. Identifications were erased. The boys from the slums vanished, replaced entirely by the anger burning inside them.
One of the brothers walked over and wordlessly shoved a spare mask into Jo Mak's chest. Jo Mak looked down at it, then back at the brothers who were quietly moving a heavy, rotting tree into the center of the pass.
With a tired sigh, Jo Mak tied the cloth over his face.
The trap was set.
Soon, the orange light of lanterns cut through the darkness.
Two large carriages approached. The first was loaded heavily with bulky goods, secretly carrying the Black Market's drugs in the floorboards. The second was a reinforced passenger carriage.
Inside that second carriage, Shin Daesok sat comfortably, calmly flipping through a ledger, scanning the profitable numbers — calculating the money he would make from his constantly expanding trade routes.
The carriage slowed to a halt.
"What is it?" Shin asked, annoyed, not looking up.
"There's a dead tree blocking the road, guild master," the lead driver called back. "We can't move around it. We'll need to clear it."
Shin clicked his tongue. "You two," he snapped at his guards. "Handle it."
Two armed mercenaries stepped forward into the lantern light. They approached the fallen tree.
Waiting perfectly still in the shadows behind the trunk were Wol and Goo Jung.
The moment the guards raised their blades to hack at the branches, the shadows moved.
Two figures stepped forward with speed.
Before the guards could even register the movement, twin blades pierced their throats.
"Urgh—"
"Ghk—"
They dropped to the dirt without another sound.
But a sharp-eyed driver caught the motion in the lantern light.
"Ambush!" the driver screamed, scrambling backward off the coach.
The pass erupted into motion.
Shin Daesok threw open the door of his carriage, stepping out into the cold air as his personal guards surrounded him.
"Who are you?!" the merchant demanded, his voice shaking with anger and fear.
The masked figures didn't answer.
From the dark tree line behind the convoy, the remaining brothers broke cover, engaging the rear guards. In seconds, Shin's entire group was surrounded.
"Since you people came here with no good intention, there is no need for talk!" Shin shouted, pointing a trembling finger. "Kill them all and leave only one. Bring him to me after cutting a leg — I'll ask who dared to bare their fangs at me!"
The elite guards immediately unsheathed their blades, their eyes cold and professional as they surged outward.
The fighting began. The ring of steel shattered the quiet night.
Wol stepped naturally into the chaos, his movements calm and effortless.
"You're looking the wrong way," a heavy-set guard sneered, gripping a long sword with both hands.
Wol didn't reply.
Without holding back, the guard launched a full-power overhead swing, the blade carrying the terrifying intent to kill. Wol casually raised his sword, catching the blow with a simple angled block. It was surprisingly easy.
He's weaker than Ma, Wol noted, reading the flow of energy. Early Meridian Opening realm at best.
Wol shifted his footing.
Calm Abyss Sword — First Form.
He executed a single, fluid strike — deflecting the sword seamlessly before his blade slipped past the guard's defense. The slash was precise and fatal.
The mercenary crumbled to the dirt. One strike.
Elsewhere in the pass, the battle was much harder. Goo Jung and his brothers were struggling against trained opponents, relying purely on raw determination to hold their ground. Blood was drawn.
Wol wiped the blood from his blade and glanced toward the back of their carriage.
Jo Mak was standing frozen near the wheels, staring at the fight. He met Wol's eyes in the dark.
"...Tch. Let me guess, you want me to fight now?" Jo Mak muttered. "I should have just stayed at home."
He let out a tired sigh, rolling the stiffness out of his bruised shoulders. Then, drawing his weapon, he stepped into the fray.
With Jo Mak's intervention, the balance of the fight quickly shifted.
Wol didn't stop to watch. He cut his path through the remaining resistance, stepping past the chaos until he finally reached Shin Daesok's carriage.
But he was stopped.
The final guard stepped into his path. This man was different — his presence heavier, his Qi denser.
Their blades clashed with a heavy spark in the darkness.
"Who sent you?" the elite guard demanded, pushing against Wol's block.
Wol remained silent.
"...Doesn't matter," the guard spat. "I'll make you talk."
They clashed again, sparks flying through the cold air.
But Wol didn't back down. He pushed forward, his strikes relentless and precise. The Calm Abyss Sword flowed like deep water — smooth, uninterrupted, and terrifyingly heavy. The elite guard, despite his boasting, was forced backward. Sweat broke out on his forehead as Wol's flawless deflections began to crack his composure. He couldn't find a single opening.
Seeing his last protector losing ground, Shin Daesok's bravado shattered.
"Wait! I'll give you money!" the merchant screamed from behind his carriage, dropping to his knees. "Double! Triple what they offered you to kill me!"
Wol parried a thrust. "Money?" he asked, his voice cutting through the noise. "How will you give it?"
"Just let me go, and you can come to my merchant house—!"
Wol stepped back from the guard and stared down at the trembling man.
"...You mean the one in River Dragon City?" Wol asked coldly. "I already burned it."
Silence gripped the pass.
Shin's eyes widened as realization hit him. "You did what?!"
Wol didn't answer with words. He simply shifted his posture, raising his sword into the lantern light.
Shin stared at the ancient, weathered blade. He knew exactly what it was — the mysterious weapon he had locked away in his secret vault.
"It's not yours anymore," Wol said.
Before Shin could utter another word, Wol glanced toward the fighters nearby. "It belongs to them."
Following his gaze, Shin looked over at the masked boys. Goo Jung and his brothers were viciously pushing their opponent back. Jo Mak was fighting the other guard alone. They were all panting, visibly tired, their clothes torn and bleeding from shallow cuts — but they were winning.
The truth finally dawned in Shin's eyes. He looked closely, his gaze catching the visible scar peeking out from beneath the leader's dark cloth. He knew who that was.
"You... you are... Goo Jung..." Shin breathed, his voice trembling. "...The Mad Dogs..."
He scrambled backward in the dirt, his face twisting in malice. "You slum rats... you traitors!" He paused, expecting them to cower, but Goo Jung didn't even pause his assault.
Furious, Shin screamed, "This is how you treat your sister's savior?! I'll kill her! I'll skin that sickly wench—!"
A roar interrupted him.
"You can't do a damn thing to her now!" Goo Jung screamed, his voice completely raw with rage. "She is saved! And you're going to pay for what you did, you evil bastard!"
Goo Jung, covered in blood, violently launched himself across the gap. Before the elite guard could intercept, he delivered a devastating strike, overpowering the distracted fighter. The guard fell lifelessly into the mud.
Immediately after, Goo Jung grabbed Shin Daesok by his collar and threw him heavily to the ground. He stalked toward the fallen merchant, his fists curled tight, ready to bring them down.
Shin's arrogance evaporated instantly. "Stop! Please! I'm sorry!" he cried, raising his arms to shield his face, spilling desperate promises to save his life.
"Stop," Wol said firmly.
Goo Jung's fist froze an inch from Shin's face. He breathed heavily, staring at the pathetic man, but ultimately decided to trust Wol. He pulled back and stepped aside.
"If you tell me what I want to know, I will let you go," Wol stated, stepping forward slowly.
He pulled a blank, heavy letter from his robes and tossed it into the dirt right in front of Shin.
"The missing escort to the capital. Eight years ago," Wol said, his voice completely flat. "Who gave you the contract? Tell me the name."
Shin stared in horror at the document he thought was locked away forever. He looked up at Wol's dead eyes and knew lying wouldn't save him here. But the people behind this were terrifying — dangerous enough to completely erase him if he slipped up. Still, he didn't have a choice. If I can survive now and get out of here, Shin rationalized desperately, I can always turn things around. I'll use those monsters to kill these bastards. As long as I survive today...
"...The Dark Wind Assassins!" Shin sobbed. "They orchestrated the entire hit! I just provided the merchant cover! Please! That's all I know!"
Wol's eyes narrowed. "So what about it being the Demonic Sect?"
"They wanted me to cover it up! To make it look like a Demonic Sect attack!" Shin blubbered quickly. "The people they were doing this for was a massive sect! They wanted absolute assurance for the task. They told me to find a specific group of people — a list was sent directly to me! I had to make sure every single one of them was hired for that escort! That was their demand, and I couldn't reject it because they offered me a deal!"
Dark Wind Assassins. Wol listened in silence. The truth violently snapped into place. His father's death wasn't just a simple mistake — it was tied to a deeply dangerous enemy. A massive sect had hired them. Which sect? Orthodox or Unorthodox?
Wol didn't let the thought linger. He stepped closer.
"Who was the person they wanted?" Wol asked coldly. "For an entire escort job's worth of people to vanish — not just die, but vanish. Who was the real target? Are they dead or alive?"
"I don't know! I swear!" Shin cried, tears mixing with the dirt on his face. "They wouldn't tell me anything! Even when I asked, they just told me not to dig too deep for my own good!"
Wol didn't hesitate. He pulled his sword out, the steel singing sharply in the cold air.
Shin jumped forward in absolute terror, throwing himself at Wol's legs to beg. The blood coating the weathered blade looked completely ominous under the moonlight.
"I told you everything I know! Please don't kill me!" Shin cried out, his voice cracking. "I will live a normal life! I won't do anything bad ever again! I will help you find what you need to know, just let me live!"
Wol stared down at him. "You mentioned a deal. What was it? And don't try to lie."
Shin pressed his head flat against the dirt, still desperately clutching Wol's legs. "It was their seal... the seal of the Dark Wind Assassins! It lets a person request a favor without any cost! The request stays entirely off the books, with no records left behind!"
With trembling hands, Shin dug into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a small, peculiar object, raising it up to Wol like an offering.
Wol took it, inspecting it under the lantern light. He had never seen something like it before. It was small, unusually carved, and left no ink mark.
"How do you use it?" Wol asked.
"It's a seal that can only be used one time," Shin babbled frantically. "It won't be visible to anyone else but them. The person who gave me this was someone from the Black Jade Pavilion in Namgoong territory. When I wanted to use it, I just had to place the sealed request in the letterbox outside the pavilion. They would identify it, and the mission would be done!"
"Who was it?" Wol demanded. "Give me his name."
"I don't know! He didn't say anything! He was just a worker there — he didn't give me his name! He just passed me the seal and a letter from them!"
Wol slowly lowered the sword, looking from the strange seal down to the pathetic merchant groveling in the dirt.
"I see," Wol said calmly. "This will be of great use."
"Yes! Yes, it is a valuable treasure!" Shin gasped, smiling through his tears, seeing the narrow hope of survival expanding. "You can kill anyone with this as long as they don't already work for the assassins! You can use it! I'll work for you! You can be invincible with my money and connections!"
Goo Jung watched closely from the side, remaining completely still. But Jo Mak, standing a few paces away, wore a deeply grim expression.
Wol noticed it. Jo Mak's knuckles were white, his fist tightening fiercely around the hilt of his blade. Wol understood exactly what Jo Mak was thinking. He turned his attention back to the merchant on the ground.
"Go."
Shin blinked, completely unable to believe his ears. He didn't ask twice. He scrambled to his feet, crying in relief, and broke into a full sprint toward the dark woods.
He didn't make it ten steps.
Before Shin could even think about his inevitable revenge, he violently pitched forward. He fell hard onto the dirt, but strangely, he didn't feel the impact on his feet.
He tried to crawl, looking back.
His legs were gone. Both of them. Cut clean off at the shins.
Blood rapidly pooled out into the dirt, soaking his fine silk robes. He opened his mouth to scream, but the sound caught in his throat. He watched the sword in Wol's hand dripping with fresh blood. He looked up at Wol's completely grim, emotionless face, and he finally understood.
It was all a lie. Wol had planned to kill him from the very beginning.
"No..." Shin managed to whisper, his vision blurring.
Wol casually swung the blood off his blade. He didn't even look at the dying merchant anymore.
"Goo Jung," Wol called out flatly. "He is all yours."
Goo Jung moved like a shadow. A short, distinct slash cut through the cold air.
Shin bled out into the dirt, the final remnants of life draining from his eyes.
A heavy silence returned to the pass.
Only the crackle of the carriage lanterns remained.
Goo Jung stood over the body, breathing heavily. The years of abuse, hunger, and burning anger finally washed out of him. He slowly turned to Wol.
"...Thank you," Goo Jung said, his voice raw with emotion.
"There is no need," Wol replied quietly, calmly returning his sword to its scabbard. "We helped each other out."
The mad dogs looked at each other ,They stood there together in the quiet. For the first time in their lives, they were finally free.
Wol stepped past the brothers and walked toward Jo Mak.
"What is it?" Wol asked. The deeply conflicted face Jo Mak was making was intensely familiar. In his past life, it was the exact expression Jo Mak wore whenever he talked about the corrupt elders who had unjustly banished him from the Beggar Sect.
Before Jo Mak could say anything, a sharp feeling violently crawled up Wol's spine.
He spun around.
High up on a thick tree branch, completely shrouded in black, a man crouched in the canopy. He had a bow drawn tight. A flaming arrow was nocked, pointed directly at the cargo carriage.
Wol didn't wait. He instantly snatched the bloody sword right out of Jo Mak's hand.
Qi flowed violently into his arm. With a brutal twist of his body, Wol hurled the sword like a javelin straight into the high branches.
The man in black saw the heavy blade rocketing toward him and panicked. He rushed the shot, releasing the bowstring prematurely before throwing himself backward off the branch to dodge the spinning sword.
The flaming arrow missed its mark. It struck the outer wooden edge of the carriage, completely failing to pierce the cargo hold.
Wol rushed forward, but it was too late. The man was incredibly fast, disappearing into the dark forest canopy like a ghost.
Seeing the sudden attack, the brothers snapped to attention. Jo Mak rushed toward Wol, who was already climbing the trunk to retrieve his sword from the thick branch.
"Did he escape?!" Jo Mak asked urgently.
"He is fast," Wol said, pulling the blade free and dropping back down to the dirt. "Definitely a scout sent by someone. But Shin Daesok wouldn't need scouts like that." Wol looked back at the flaming arrow lodged in the wood. "The arrow — he aimed for the carriage."
He remembered. "Check the carriage! Put the fire out!"
The brothers rushed to the transport. Tattered and bleeding, they immediately pulled off their outer clothes, frantically beating out the flames before they could spread.
Once the fire was dead, Wol pulled open the heavy wooden doors. Inside, it looked like a normal load of trading goods. But Wol knew better. He stepped inside and tapped the wooden floor with the hilt of his sword. It sounded shallow. Like a hollow plank.
Without hesitating, Wol drove his sword down, cutting a precise hole through the false floorboards. He wedged the blade and pried the wood up.
Beneath the floor, neatly packaged wooden boxes filled the hidden compartment.
Jo Mak stepped up beside him, leaning in. He sniffed the air, his eyes widening.
"It's a drug made from poppy flowers," Jo Mak said, his voice dropping. "Highly illegal to sell or manufacture. The only place this could possibly come from is the Black Market... or Underworld."
Wol stared down at the packages. He knew Shin Daesok was an evil man who had gained massive power in his previous life without any visible support from the Murim Alliance. It had always seemed strange. Now, Wol knew exactly where the merchant had gotten his endless money and his influence. He had just stopped the man's growth right at the source.
Wol let out a slow sigh.
"So the Black Market is involved," Wol muttered. "That scout was probably from them. He was fairly skilled — skilled enough to flee without fighting. This could be trouble."
He looked over his shoulder at the Mad Dogs, who were still wearing their black cloths.
"But since we didn't show our faces," Wol noted calmly, "we might not be found easily."
Jo Mak and the brothers nodded. They quickly decided to take the entire cargo carriage back to the city. Elder Han at the clinic would know what to do with the poppy drug.
They readied their own weathered carriage. To erase their tracks, they dragged the dead mercenaries into Shin's personal reinforced carriage and set it ablaze.
As the massive bonfire lit up the narrow pass, Wol and the boys climbed onto the drug transport and started the long journey back to the city.
Far away in the canopy, a shadow ran quickly through the trees, rushing back to deliver his report.
Wol knew with certainty that everything was about to get much more complicated.