Chapter 80: One Shot, One Kill (2)

Translator: hwarang

Editor: Klaurem

After I got back to the inn, I soaked myself in hot water.

Sinking into the hot water, it felt as if all my sleepiness and weariness were melting away.

I recalled the scene when I saw Number Seven. Her cold and emotionless expression. Although it had been a while she didn’t seem to have changed.

I also remembered the last thing she said to me, “Is it really true that the lotus flower blooms in a muddy pond?”

I remembered her smile as I answered yes.

I wonder why she was here?

Was she was here to observe Yeom Hwa? Was it like that time with Ma Jung Soo?

No, something about her was different than before. The way she observed Yeom Hwa was different than when she was observing Ma Jung Soo.

After I finished my bath, I went downstairs to the restaurant to have a meal.

Then Silver came over to make his report, “There is a rumor going around that when Yeom Hwa came out of the Mengju’s Pavillion, he said that all the Ho Yeon disciples who were at the meeting must be killed.”

“He must be a crazy one.”

“Yes he is.”

The problem was the rumor itself. This means that Ma Bong Gi was siding with Yeom Hwa to a certain extent. If not then this rumor would have never started.

“So he must be getting some consideration from Ma Bong Gi.”

“He was someone who did all sort of things since they were both in the Heavenly Dao Gate.”

This was why he was called the Decimator of Heavenly Dao Gate.

“Make sure to be extra careful when observing him. If you lower your guard for even a second you could all be wiped out. I am certain that there is another organization that is watching them. Even I don’t know who they are, but one this is for certain. This organization is very big and extremely secretive.”

“How big do you think it is?”

“As big as the Murim Alliance or even bigger.”

Silver was surprised.

I nodded and emphasized my thoughts once more, “Be extra careful.”

“Understood sir. We will observe them from far away.”

“And one more thing. Someone by the name Mae Rang and Ho Yeon Sook must have visited the Murim Alliance Headquarters. Make sure to track their movements as well.”

Silver left after giving me a nod.

Although my bowl was still half full, I lowered my chopsticks.

I recalled Mae Rang’s face. Recalling my childhood when I used to run around with Mae Rang, it wasn’t right for me to disregard her considering I was practically her elder brother.

***

Yeom Hwa was sitting in the middle of the restaurant just like he did the day before.

Of course, there were no other customers inside the restaurant. Although the owner was very depressed because Yeom Hwa was ruining his sales, he couldn’t say anything.

Just like the day before, there was a crowd of people watching from the outside. Even more people show up after hearing that Yeom Hwa was spreading money.

But of course, there were some who didn’t come just for the money. They stayed back because they believed that Yeom Hwa was buying the public sentiment with money.

Although more people came to watch him, Yeom Hwa was in a terrible mood. After getting attacked by Ho Yeon Nam he was feeling terrible. He could have killed someone like Ho Yeon Nam easily as swatting a fly but he nearly lost his life.

Thus, his pride was hurt.

‘Son of a…’

Unless he killed all those who were present at the meeting he wouldn’t be satisfied, but he knew that that wouldn’t happen that easily. He wanted to do it so that he doesn’t look weak and others would be intimated by him.

As he was drinking his wine, Yeom Hwa looked at the place where the first Divine Sword should be.

“I don’t see your first brother?”

“Elder brother has been away since yesterday.”

“Since yesterday?”

Yeom Hwa made a weird look. The first Divine Sword wasn’t the type to leave for an extended period of time without notifying him.

“Do you know where he went?”

“Elder brother hadn’t told us where he was going.”

“Useless punk!”

The three members of the Divine swords lowered their heads as they received Yeom Hwa’s yelling.

Then one of them asked, “Could it be? Because of the old woman?”

“You mean Ho Yeon Tak’s grandmother?”

“He left right after that incident. Then we lost contact with him afterward.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Of course, the way that old women talked bothered me so we sent someone to tail her.”

“So?”

“She went to see the Mengju-nim.”

“Mengju-nim?” Yeom Hwa’s face turned even more ugly.

“But, she was turned away since he didn’t want to see her.”

“That old wretch!” Yeom Hwa was yelling as if he wasn’t afraid of the heavens.

“So first brother didn’t come back after meeting her?”

“I am not certain but I am sure that is a possibility.”

“Then bring her here then!”

“yes.”

The second brother quickly left the restaurant.

This wasn’t just for the first brother, but he needed to scare her so that she would never go back to the Alliance headquarters to see the Mengju. Teach her that it wasn’t good to hold grudges for the death of her grandson.

He said after emptying the bottle of his wine, “My luck is so rotten these days.”

***

“Grandmother, you must eat.”

Ho Yeon Sook brought some food to Mae Rang’s bed.

“I don’t want anything. You eat it.”

“You can’t be like this. You need to be strong.”

Yesterday the two of them went to the Alliance headquarters to meet with the Mengju but they couldn’t. No matter how much they begged it was of no use. Who were they to the Mengju? The Mengju was a very busy person so he wouldn’t come out to meet with them.

By going through proper procedures it would take at least two months before they had a chance to see him.

“Grandmother, you must eat so that you can remain strong. So that we can go see him again today.”

But she still didn’t move.

Then Ho Yeon Sook used her last option. This was something that always worked.

“Then I will starve as well.”

Then Mae Rang slowly moved, “You evil wretch.”

There were tear in Ho Yeon Sook’s eyes. She knew how her grandmother raised her and her brother. Although they was Ho Yeon blood in them, they were from the weakest branch. And when their parent’s died that was the final straw.

After that, her grandmother did everything to raise the two of them.

She remembered how happy her grandmother was when her brother became a personal disciple of Ho Yeon Nam.

‘Grandmother.’

She was very concerned about the health of her grandmother.

When the two of them came downstairs to the restaurant and as they were about to order some food they discovered someone.”

“Oh? Are you the young man from yesterday?”

After seeing me they greeted me. Although it may have looked like a coincidence to them, I was waiting for them here after receiving the report from Silver.

“Elder Mae and Miss Ho Yeon. How about some food since we are here?”

Ho Yeon Sook looked at her grandmother and Mae Rang nodded.

“Thank you young man, for your help yesterday. Let this old woman buy you a drink.”

“Thank you.”

They sat across from me and ordered some food and drinks.

Then Mae Rang drank alcohol as if she was thirsty for water.

“Grandma, please slow down.”

“I am about to burst.”

I asked, “Can I ask you about your situation?”

Because of what happened yesterday they were in a rather bad mood, but it seemed that they were happy to talk about it with me.

Mae Rang told me about her story. How she was a village girl who had the opportunity to meet someone from Ho Yeon School. However even if they had the Ho Yeon blood no one was listening to their story.

When Mae Rang finished her story, both she and Ho Yeon Sook’s eyes started water.

“My brother was someone who would never take his own life.”

“Yes, he was someone who would never do that.”

She knew that her grandson was talented and his will was strong. This was how he was able to become Ho Yeon Nam’s disciple.

“Then why have you come here?”

“To see the Mengju-nim and prove that my brother’s death wasn’t suicide. My brother…”

She couldn’t finish.

From this I could tell that her brother’s death wasn’t suicide. Don’t worry you two, I will get to the bottom of this.

“Don’t worry. If he still says that he wouldn’t meet me. I am going to set up a tent there.”

I looked at Mae Rang. She looked all wrinkly and old. I could see her love for her grandchildren, how she would go to the ends of h.e.l.l to get revenge for her grandson.

And fate had brought her back to me.

Was I going to turn her away because I was busy? Never.

I smiled at the both of them, “I am sure something good will happen.”

Then I said my greetings and left.

As I was leaving the restaurant, another man who was beside me grabbed the two of them and said, “If you don’t want to die come with me quietly.”

***

The people who were at the Mu Han’s best restaurant moved aside to make way.

The three people who entered the restaurant were Mae Rang, Ho Yeon Sook as well as second brother.

The people outside started talking about them since there were some who were present yesterday.

Then the second brother started tossing silver bars on the floor.

“This is something special given by my lords.h.i.+p.”

“Whaaa!” Everyone outside was amazed and was quick to pick up the silver for themselves.

Watching their expression Yeom Hwa made a grin.

Then Mae Rang stared at Yeom Hwa and asked, “Why have you brought us here?”

“Don’t get too excited old woman it’s bad for your health. I brought you here since I have something to ask you.”

“Then you should have come yourself, not bring me here. How can someone so young order an elder like myself.”

When Yeom Hwa made an evil expression Mae Ryang didn’t flinch.

“Why? Do you want to beat up an elder like me?”

“I don’t beat up the elderly.” Then he looked at Ho Yeon Sook.

Mae Rang flinched. She didn’t care what they did to her, but her grandchild, she wouldn’t stand it. Because of reasons like this she wanted to come here alone. But her granddaughter had insisted to come with.

“What is it that you want to ask?” It seem like Mae Rang lost this exchange.

“Did someone meet you yesterday?”

“Who are you talking about?” Mae Rang made an expression as if she didn’t know anything and it didn’t seem like she was hiding anything.

Yeom Hwa took a gulp from the wine bottle.

‘s.h.i.+t! Then where did he go?’

Number Seven was observing the whole situation from a top of a roof.

There was someone else beside her. Since he was short and had a youthful expression, he looked like a child. However, he was an adult who was small. He was the Midget who came with Number Seven for this mission.

He was one of the organization’s top a.s.sa.s.sins.

There were a total of four top a.s.sa.s.sins in the organization and The Midget was one of them. There was no one who was able to live to tell the tale of his a.s.sa.s.sination.

If she brought The Midget with her then it meant that she was given the order to eliminate whoever her target was.

Number Seven silently told him, “Find a way to quickly eliminate him.”

“Did the higher ups really give the order?”

“Yes, they did.”

They had a weird relations.h.i.+p. Although she was giving the order the, The Midget’s position in the organization was much higher.

“Receiving the order to eliminate the Decimator of the Heavenly Dao Gate. Our organization is truly amazing.”

He didn’t say this because he hated his organization. It was because he was that excited to meet some fine prey.

“Eh? Whats happening right now?”

Number Seven looked at where he was looking at.

It seems that someone else was entering the restaurant.

***

I slowly walked into the restaurant.

“Stop!”

Second brother tried to stop me. I was able to see Mae Rang and Ho Yeon Sook’s silhouettes near Yeom Hwa.

Since I was wearing a face alternation mask and had changed my voice no one knew who I was.

“How dare you enter this place?”

“Isn’t this place a restaurant?”

 “What?”

“Did you rent out the whole restaurant?”

I looked at the owner, but he couldn’t say anything.

Second brother looked at me as more and more people came to watch.

Then Yeom Hwa said, “Let him enter. Isn’t it the more the merrier?”

Second brother allowed me to enter after giving me a weird look.

And I slowly entered the restaurant.