Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 188
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C188. You’re Already Dead
Around 3 to 5 PM.
Seven warriors emerged from the gates of Sambobang.
They were Nok Dampyeong, the leader of the Outer Division, Wan Ja-kyung, and five other members of the Outer Division.
After walking for a while, Wan Ja-kyung asked with concern:
“Sub-Leader, do you think we can meet with the ten shop owners today?”
He thought Nok Dampyeong was rushing too much, blinded by success. Meeting with the ten shop owners could take at least half a day.
Nok Dampyeong calmly responded:
“There’s an inn nearby, right? Anyway, we’ll be taking control of it soon. We can stay the night.”
“Tsk. Even for seven people, the cost of lodging won’t be cheap.”
Wan Ja-kyung wasn’t happy with the idea of spending the night in such a remote place. He preferred to rest at his home in Kaifeng.
“Don’t worry about the cost. As soon as we arrive, we’ll take over the inn. Do you think the owner will dare to charge us?”
“Hah! Seven people staying for free?”
Wan Ja-kyung glanced sideways at Nok Dampyeong.
Even the leader, Nok Ilchwi, wasn’t that brazen. Nok Dampyeong, though young, was already showing remarkable cunning.
“Soon we’ll be part of the same family, so this is just the beginning. By the way, why is the leader so interested in Hwasang Village? It’s a small, worthless place to buy.”
“It’s because of Cheonhwabang. As you know, Cheonhwabang and Sambobang are competitors. The leader wants to make sure we take control before they do.”
“Why not leave that small village to them and look for something more valuable in Kaifeng?”
“There are no more places in Kaifeng for us to expand. If we want more, we’ll have to take something from another sect or business. Cheonhwabang is also looking to expand for the same reason.”
“Tsk. So we’re so weak that we have to scavenge small villages?”
“Ha! It’s true that Sambobang isn’t the strongest, but there are many sects that envy us.”
As they conversed, the sign for Hwasang Village appeared before them.
“Finally, Hwasang Village. Shall we go straight to the inn or do you want to take a look around the village first?”
“There’s nothing to see here. Let’s go to the inn.”
“Understood. The inn is at the end of the village, by the river.”
Wan Ja-kyung walked alongside Nok Dampyeong, explaining about the inn.
“The owner is an old man named Nam Cho-gyeol. He closed the inn two years ago due to health issues, but reopened it a month ago. He has about five or six guests per night. The nightly rate is three hundred mun, so he’s probably making around forty-five taels of silver a month. The operating costs would be about twenty-five taels, so he’s making around twenty taels a month.”
“Wow! Twenty taels a month?”
Nok Dampyeong’s eyes gleamed with greed.
For such a small and remote village, earning twenty a month was a substantial amount.
“Charging about three taels a month for protection would be appropriate.”
Calling it a protection fee was just a formality, as no one would dare cause trouble here. It would be like receiving three taels of extra money a month.
“Wan.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you so soft? Only three taels from an old man who makes twenty taels a month? We should ask for at least five.”
“Five taels is what we charge in Kaifeng. Here, we don’t have to do much for them…”
“Tsk tsk! I thought you were tougher. Even if we ask for five taels, he’d still have fifteen left. How many family members does he have?”
“He only has a granddaughter.”
“See. If only two people live there and they make twenty taels a month, they can pay five taels without any problem. Let’s start with five.”
“Are you thinking of asking for even more?”
“They live alone, so we’ll adjust the amount as necessary.”
“Asking for too much could cause problems. The owner might seek protection elsewhere.”
“Cheonhwabang is the only other sect interested in this place, right? Do you think they’d start a war over an inn?”
“No, but…”
“This is how business works. Without backing, you get taken advantage of. It’s the law of the jungle. You know that.”
Wan Ja-kyung reluctantly nodded.
Even the leader, Nok Ilchwi, wasn’t that greedy. Nok Dampyeong seemed to have an insatiable appetite.
When they arrived at the inn, Nok Dampyeong looked at it with disdain.
“Wow! I don’t know how they built an inn so close to the river. If the river overflows, they’ll go straight to the other world. What were they thinking when they built it here?”
“It’s the upper part of the river, so there’s no problem. If the water rises that much, Kaifeng would also be swept away. A flood of that level would destroy any place.”
“Really? Anyway, it’s not my building, so it’s not my problem. Let’s go in.”
Nok Dampyeong walked confidently toward the inn.
A young servant hurried to greet them.
“Welcome!”
Nok Dampyeong barely glanced at him and headed to the dining room.
As he sat down, he noticed a woman at the table across from him.
It was Ju Hwa-yeong, the Leader of the Peony Division of Cheonhwabang.
Ju Hwa-yeong, who was drinking tea alone, also noticed him and frowned.
She didn’t want to have anything to do with Nok Dampyeong, known for his bad behavior in Kaifeng.
Nok Dampyeong smiled maliciously.
If Ju Hwa-yeong had been with other members of Cheonhwabang, he wouldn’t have approached. But she was alone.
He brazenly sat down in front of her.
“Nok Dampyeong. What are you doing?”
Ju Hwa-yeong looked at him with eyes full of hatred.
Although Cheonhwabang and Sambobang usually ignored each other in Kaifeng, they were bitter rivals who had had violent clashes.
Naturally, she was on guard.
“It’s rare to find you here. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Get out of my sight.”
Nok Dampyeong laughed.
“Come on, don’t be so tough. I know you’re alone. You don’t have to pretend.”
“Hmpf! I have nothing to say to Sambobang. Get out of here!”
“I won’t leave just because you ask me to.”
Nok Dampyeong began to raise his voice.
“Really? Then I’ll leave.”
Ju Hwa-yeong jumped up.
Nok Dampyeong blocked her.
They stared at each other with hatred.
At that moment, Nam Su-gyeong, who was helping clean the rooms, came down the stairs.
Seeing the new visitors, her eyes widened.
Ju Hwa-yeong noticed Nam Su-gyeong’s gaze.
Nok Dampyeong, curious, followed her gaze.
“Nam Su-gyeong?”
After searching for her so long, how could he find her here?
Nok Dampyeong, surprised, shouted:
“You damned…!”
He rushed at her like a hungry tiger.
Nam Su-gyeong was paralyzed with fear.
She had fled from his violence, but now he found her here.
Nok Dampyeong slapped her across the face without warning.
The sound of the slap echoed as her head snapped to the side.
Ju Hwa-yeong, horrified, drew her sword and rushed at him.
“You crazy bastard! What are you doing?”
The men of Sambobang, including Wan Ja-kyung, also drew their weapons and rushed into the fight.
The inn turned into chaos.
Nok Dampyeong dodged Ju Hwa-yeong’s sword.
“You crazy woman! You want to die! Why are you getting involved in this?”
He didn’t understand why Ju Hwa-yeong was interfering.
Ju Hwa-yeong stood between Nam Su-gyeong and Nok Dampyeong.
“As long as I’m alive, no one will touch Nam Su-gyeong.”
“Get out of my way.”
“Hmpf! You’re already dead. By touching Nam Su-gyeong, you and Sambobang are finished.”
Wan Ja-kyung, worried about Ju Hwa-yeong’s confidence, intervened.
“Sub-Leader, what’s going on?”
“That’s the woman I’ve been looking for in Kaifeng. Ju Hwa-yeong is interfering.”
Wan Ja-kyung turned to Ju Hwa-yeong.
“Why are you attacking our Sub-Leader? Do you really want a war with Sambobang?”
“War? Ha! What nonsense! Nam Su-gyeong is a friend of his. Touching his friend means the end of Sambobang.”
Wan Ja-kyung frowned.
Ju Hwa-yeong seemed to be telling the truth.
Who was this person she trusted so much?
“Who is that person?”
Before Ju Hwa-yeong could respond, the door of the inn opened, and Yeon Jeokha and the young servant entered.
The servant, exhausted, collapsed on the floor, panting.
Ju Hwa-yeong sighed in relief when she saw Yeon Jeokha.
“Whew! Young Master Yeon, that person who was bothering Nam Su-gyeong was Nok Dampyeong of Sambobang.”
Yeon Jeokha looked at Nam Su-gyeong, who had a swollen eye and was crying.
Wan Ja-kyung, nervous, cautiously approached.
“We’re from Sambobang. I’m Wan Ja-kyung, the leader of the Outer Division…”
Yeon Jeokha waved his hand.
Wan Ja-kyung was violently thrown against the wall of the inn.
Crash!
Tables and chairs flew with a clatter.
Wan Ja-kyung was knocked out on the floor.
Yeon Jeokha waved his hand again, and the five men of Sambobang were thrown against the wall.
Boom! Crash!
Nok Dampyeong tried to escape through the window but was stopped by Yeon Jeokha’s skill.
Yeon Jeokha turned his hand, and Nok Dampyeong fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Desperate, Nok Dampyeong crawled towards Yeon Jeokha, begging.
“Great Hero! Please, forgive me! I’m Nok Dampyeong, the Sub-Leader of Sambobang. Whatever you wish, Sambobang will grant it.”
Yeon Jeokha sat in a chair, watching.
Nok Dampyeong continued crawling towards him.
“Great Hero! Please, forgive me!”
“I’m not a Great Hero.”
“Young Hero! Please…”
“I’m not a Young Hero either.”
“……”
Nok Dampyeong didn’t understand why he was denying it. He looked up, confused.
The warriors of Murim were known as heroes, great or small. Even those from dark factions preferred to be called heroes.
‘Then how should I address you?’
Yeon Jeokha coldly said:
“You have no right to speak in front of me. One more word, and I’ll tear your tongue out.”
Namgung Byeok, terrified, nodded vigorously.
He looked at Yeon Jeokha with desperation, hoping for mercy.
“Even if I asked for something, Sambobang couldn’t grant it. Because Sambobang will no longer exist in this world.”
Namgung Byeok, horrified, slammed his head against the ground.
Despite his terror, he didn’t dare open his mouth.
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