Chapter 1639: Even Beasts Know Gratitude (Part 4)

How much had he been beaten?

The pain grew distant, the world faded away.

Yet neither anger nor despair seemed to come. Just a vague thought that perhaps his family experienced something similar.

Wouldn't it be more merciful to die like this? To no longer feel the deep mental anguish as if his insides were burnt black.

Whoosh.

Something slashed across his face.

"A fearless one... daring to utter the Sect Leader's name?"

Though his vision was blurred, he could clearly see the eyes gleaming with madness. Observing the rage as if he had trespassed an absolute sanctuary, [not sure], laughter bubbled up unbidden.

"You shouldn't die just yet. Pull yourself together. Let me show you how cruel the White Ghost Sect can be."

A cold blade pressed against Ho Gakmyung's throat. Numb to pain, he tried to spit out the blood pooling in his mouth, when a voice interrupted.

As if hearing from underwater, his ears struggled to catch the sound.

"What?"

"This fool here seeks the Sect Leader. I was just informing him."

"This... this idiot!"

"Excuse me?"

"Didn't the Sect Leader order to spare anyone who comes looking for him?"

Ho Gakmyung's swollen eyes blinked slowly.

The face that had tortured him moments ago was now ashen. Yet, the blade still pressed against his throat, leaving crimson lines whenever the hand trembled.

"I, I thought..."

"This damn brat!"

Thud!

The reprimanding one finally erupted in anger, striking the man's face. He scolded him until he fell, barely able to scream.

"If you want to die, die alone, you useless fool!"

Turning back to Ho Gakmyung, the angry one spared him a glance. His fearful gaze confirmed Ho Gakmyung's condition.

A relieved sigh escaped.

"...He's still breathing."

He hoisted the bloodied Ho Gakmyung over his shoulder and moved on.

Thud.

Did he lose consciousness for a moment, or did the impact of hitting the ground awaken him? Ho Gakmyung struggled to open his eyes.

It was dark. Was it night? Or was it an indoor space without light?

All he could see was thick darkness and flickering lantern lights within.

After adjusting to the darkness, he realized where he had been moved.

It was a wide space, devoid of furniture or household items, resembling a barn or warehouse. Dozens of men sprawled around.

Broken bottles scattered, and an unfamiliar acrid scent pricked his nose. Some leaned against walls with their eyes closed while others swayed as if on the verge of collapse, unable to let go of their bottles.

It was decadent to the point of gloominess.

He had never seen... no, he couldn't even imagine such a scene with his own eyes. Before such a sight, Ho Gakmyung was speechless.

Then, a voice grabbed his attention.

"What?"

The first impression from that voice was eerie.

Seemingly bright yet dark, high yet low.

But beyond all those features... it was cutting. Despite uttering only a few words, it exuded a fierceness reminiscent of a beast's claws.

"He said he's come to see Sect Leader."

"Me?"

Among the sprawled men, one rose slowly.

Ho Gakmyung gazed at him with swollen eyes.

His initial impression was 'delicate.' Even though his physique didn't warrant it entirely, there was a hint of ferocity in his voice. The slightly slender man approached him leisurely.

More noticeable than his swaggering steps was his pale face revealed by the lantern light. It didn't fit in at all. His face was even fairer than Ho Gakmyung, who had lived as a scholar.

Those long eyes on his pallid face glanced briefly at Ho Gakmyung.

"So it seems corpses can speak."

"That, that's... he's still alive..."

"Ah, is that so?"

The eyes of the pale-faced man narrowed gracefully like crescent moons. Then, abruptly,

Thunk!

"Aaaah!"

In no time, a dagger, no larger than the palm of a child's hand, clenched in the the pale-faced man's grip, mercilessly plunged into the man's abdomen. 

"Stay still."

"P-Please, Sect Leader! Have mercy! Please!"

"I am showing mercy. If I hadn't forgiven you, wouldn't the blade be at your throat?"

A fierce light flashed in the eyes of the pale-faced man. The blood that had spurted out gradually dyed his white face red.

"Don't squirm. If I get more annoyed, I might not be able to restrain myself from tearing your throat out. Oh, and don't scream. My ears might get dirty."

The white-faced man, having mercilessly pummeled the man's abdomen with the dagger, did not hide his disdainful expression as he watched the fallen man.

"Utterly useless."

"Apologies...I'm s-sorry..."

The white-faced man quickly lost interest in the fallen man and turned his gaze back to Ho Gakmyung.

An unsatisfied expression crept onto his almost porcelain-like face.

"He may have brought something interesting..."

He brushed off the blood on his hands as if it were dirty, revealing a demeanor akin to a wolf that had caught the scent of blood.

"Perhaps it would have been better to summon a Taoist for the exorcism. Just bury them and..."

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung's body twitched. Simultaneously, a hint of interest flickered in the man's eyes.

"Hmm?"

Anyone could see that the body was moving its last, and it wouldn't be strange if the breath was cut off at any moment. Yet, Ho Gakmyung somehow managed to stand shakily, trembling. He even sat up straight, facing the white-faced man directly.

Was it the glimpse of venom and determination that intrigued him? The white-faced man's eyes flashed with interest.

"Interesting. You came to meet me?"

Ho Gakmyung nodded laboriously.

"Who are you?"

"...Ho Gakmyung."

"Ho, you say..."

The white-faced man chuckled, revealing a bit of mockery.

"If it's the nearby Hos, weren't they a famous family? The Ho family that suffered a raid by a band of thieves and massacred overnight? Those Hos?"

"..."

"Oh, right. That's the rumor that was spread on the surface, but wasn't the truth that that pig-like bastard of the Imperial Preceptor set fire to the family's mainstay and burn it down? Yes...for criticizing the Imperial Preceptor's misdeeds?" 

Ho Gakmyung's shoulders trembled slightly.

"Am I correct?"

He nodded again this time. Whether it was because of the physical pain or because the burden on his heart was too heavy, that small movement alone was truly burdensome.

"In that case, you're the son of Ho Gyeong, the revered head of the Ho family, right? The one who went to study in Beijing."

The white-faced man sneered.

"Right. What did such a remarkable figure come to see me for?"

Ho Gakmyung's eyes glinted with a cold, blue venom.

"I've come... to negotiate."

"Negotiate?"

The white-faced man's expression twisted slightly.

"What I want... is revenge."

"Revenge... against the bastard who trampled your family?"

Ho Gakmyung nodded.

"Hmm. And what's the price?"

"The price is wealth. I will bestow unimaginable wealth."

"Wealth...is that so unimaginable?"

Ho Gakmyung gritted his teeth and nodded again.

"Your name is Ho Gakmyung, right?"

"Yes..."

"Ho Gakmyung. Do you know who I am?"

"White-Fa... Jang Ilso."

"Oh?"

"I've heard. In this city... there is someone who, for the right price, will do anything. There is a ghost who mocks ethics and recognition, without regard for opponents or goals."

The pale-faced man laughed like someone who had heard an amusing story.

"You know me well."

Thunk.

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung's body collapsed backward. Jang Ilso, who had kicked him away, approached with a grim expression.

"You useless swine."

Thud. Thud.

Approaching the convulsing body, he firmly gripped Ho Gakmyung's hand, which was lying on the ground.

Crack. Crack.

Bones twisted, flesh tore. Ho Gakmyung convulsed without even being able to scream. A vicious voice dripped down onto his head.

"You guessed well, but one thing was wrong."

"Gah..."

"Wealth? You think I'd accept that as payment? Something like that?"

Ho Gakmyung's body trembled like a bamboo in the wind, wracked with agony.

Without a hint of sympathy, Jang Ilso grabbed Ho Gakmyung's hair and hoisted him up abruptly, glaring at him with fiery eyes, as if he might pounce and tear at his throat at any moment.

"So you thought I looked amusing. Did you think I could be bought with a few measly coins thrown my way?"

Thunk.

Ho Gakmyung flew and crashed mercilessly into the wall. Jang Ilso approached again, this time stomping down on his ankle.

Crack!

"Gah... Aaah!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Ho Gakmyung screamed in agony, his eyes rolling back.

"Negotiations only happen when both parties bring something of interest. You shouldn't bring what you think I'm worth."

"Gah..."

"Stupid bastard."

Thud!

Jang Ilso snapped Ho Gakmyung's ankle, causing him to slump to the ground. Without hesitation, Jang Ilso turned away.

"I thought you might bring something interesting."

The attendants who had been scattered around were now on their feet, witnessing a familiar yet terrifying scene.

One of them asked.

"What... should we do with him, my lord?"

"Dispose of him appropriately."

"Yes."

But as the order was given, the executor hesitated for a moment.

Within these walls, Jang Ilso's orders were absolute. Yet, his subordinates didn't move immediately. Jang Ilso's gaze reflexively shifted back.

Then, a strange gleam surfaced in his pale eyes.

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, Ho Gakmyung, whom they thought would be unconscious, was managing to get up.

Despite his trembling body, he managed to pull his knees together and then slowly straightened himself, but his posture faltered due to his twisted ankle. He reached out, grabbing the injured area firmly.

Thunk!

A horrific sound echoed as he snapped his dislocated ankle back into place. Ho Gakmyung then assumed a perfect sitting posture and slowly raised his head.

A locked voice gradually filled the space, pushing away the silence.

"So... then... whatever you desire..."

Jang Ilso's eyes sank deep.

"Be it flesh... or soul, whatever it may be..."

Ho Gakmyung's head hit the ground.

"I am foolish... I do not know... what I should offer... What I should extend for you to fulfill my revenge. So, I ask..."

Ho Gakmyung raised his head again, looking up at Jang Ilso.

"What... should I offer? What must I do for you to fulfill my vengeance?"

The individuals present had crossed lines of fire countless times in their lives. Ordinary people had such rough lives it was difficult to imagine. Yet, even to them, Ho Gakmyung's gaze seemed agonizingly desperate.

"I beg of you."

Ho Gakmyung lowered his head again. Staring intently at him, Jang Ilso finally spoke.

"Is there a reason to go to such lengths? I've heard you received the crown prince's favor. Even if the crown prince cannot touch Imperial Preceptor now, soon his power will be able to crush the Imperial Preceptor. Do you have a reason to throw everything away for something that will happen if you wait?"

"..."

"Is there a reason to sacrifice everything like this for revenge?"

Ho Gakmyung looked directly at Jang Ilso.

"Right now, no."

"Hmm?"

"Someday, when I have the means, after I have built enough strength."

Thunk.

Ho Gakmyung ground his teeth fiercely, his jaw muscles bulging.

"What meaning is there in vengeance achieved with such cheap sympathy!"

His impassioned voice pierced through the silence more deeply than any scream.

"If I can do it with my own hands, I will tear my flesh apart to accomplish it. If I cannot do it with my own hands, I will become a demon and tear him apart. But if even that is not possible..."

The bloodshot eyes stared straight at Jang Ilso.

"I will find someone to kill him in the most agonizing way possible."

Ho Gakmyung's head lowered again.

"Please. Please..."

"..."

Jang Ilso silently gazed at him, his eyes cold and unchanged, just like before.

"A trivial reason."

"..."

"Believing that desperation will cause people to hear you is nothing but self-consolation for worthless bastards."

Ho Gakmyung's body trembled.

"But..."

And as Ho Gakmyung raised his head, he saw something unexpected—Jang Ilso's lips curling softly.

Surprisingly, his smile seemed so pure, so out of place in this environment.

"I want something. I accept this deal. However..."

Jang Ilso's eyes sparkled with a sinister light as his smile took on a mischievous tone.

"The price for that will be quite steep, Sir."

Reflected in his incredibly bright pupils was the figure of a desperate Ho Gakmyung.