Chwi Gon, the fowl.
The legendary figure in the Chang’an area.
Even items with a complicated history could be converted to coins that circulated cleanly, as long as one took care of the handling fee.
His workmanship was known to be so excellent that it could be said there was nothing he could not handle, at least within the market’s scope.
And his ability lay in his personal connections.
He had connections with over 100 large merchants whose names were known to the world, including government officials and others, as well as the Murim Alliance and other sects.
Building ties, commonly referred to as Guanci, or one’s social networks.
Not just with people who were acquaintances, but also with people who only got to know each other after doing certain things.
He never missed important days like birthdays or ceremonies and regularly distributed bribes disguised as gifts.
Through such clean management, he managed to obtain secret distribution channels, and through that, it was possible to exchange the secret weapons and treasures of well-known martial arts for expensive gold coins.
But was it not said that even monkeys occasionally fell from trees?
His future, which seemed like it would rise forever, was shattered before the precious Heavenly Iron White Sword.
“I can’t believe I’m being accused of being a murderer…”
Chwi Gon gritted his teeth.
One day, when he opened his eyes, this treasured sword lay on his bedside.
Why was such an amazing sword a problem?
The reason was that the treasured sword was the sword that killed the son of the Murim Alliance leader.
And he did not even have time to react.
Someone had set up the sword at his home, and one of the officials noticed it and immediately reported it to the government office.
As a result, he had to run before he even fully understood the situation.
He thought about it as he moved, but no matter how he looked at it, it was clear that someone had planted this.
On purpose.
So, it was obvious that if he did not find out who had done this, he would eventually die.
He ran for around 15 days and then realized that there was no other way.
The Murim Alliance had officially put him on the wanted list.
Rather than expressing his anger, he decided that running would be better.
To live somehow and be able to resolve the injustice.
Grrr.
“Huu….”
Chwi Gon sat at the table and sighed as he watched his teacup being filled with water.
The life of being a fugitive on the run. For someone who had lived a wealthy life with nothing lacking, this life felt very difficult.
A life on the run, which had suddenly begun.
Since he had not prepared for the escape in advance, he was not able to take much with him.
All he had was the gold jewelry on him and a few other items, but selling those would get him tracked.
Since he could not stay in guesthouses, he stayed in the mountains, and he did so for a month.
He was extremely exhausted, both mentally and physically. So he could not hold on any longer and found a nearby guesthouse.
“Hmm.”
Fortunately, no one seemed to recognize him.
In the first place, it was a very small place with nothing around, and his face was completely changed by using a human skin mask.
After feeling a bit relaxed, he ordered the greasiest food without trying to attract anyone’s attention.
He planned to try his luck with as many people as he could and then decide on his next destination.
But who was it?
He shook his head when the food arrived.
Who had framed him? No matter how much he tried to think about the past few days, he could not think of anything.
What was certain was that if money were their goal, they would not have done something like this.
Chwi Gon’s wealth was small compared to his fame because so many contacts were around, and there was not much money in his treasury.
If he had needed money, the person would have targeted a wealthier house than his.
What did you plan to gain by framing me as a murderer?
There must have been a different purpose…
No matter how hard he tried, he could not figure out who it was.
It was not that there was not anyone to guess, but there were too many who would do it.
More than 20 years of selling things.
In that duration, he had created many competitors and sometimes handed over someone’s precious things despite knowing it was wrong.
I don’t know if there was something they wanted, but if the goal was just revenge then I cannot know. The more I suffer, the more they feel good. If not…
He shook the thought off his head.
Clack
Suddenly, someone sat across from him without permission.
Flinch!
Chwi Gon, who was shocked, raised his head.
He wondered if he might be related to the Murim Alliance.
Not them.
His intuition told him. That survival instinct saved him every time in danger, and now he was convinced about how the man was not from the Murim Alliance.
But this is more dangerous.
However, fortunately or unfortunately, there was something more disturbing.
Not only did he sit without permission, but his face was covered in cloth. And he did npt seem to be in a good mood.
What was with this man? He continued to stare.
“Chwi Gon. The best when it comes to selling things in the market.”
“…”
“Right?”
Chwi Gon was able to confirm why this man was in a bad mood. The opponent was not of the Murim Alliance, but one he did not want to continue sitting with.
“And you are?”
He had changed the clothes and the mask too, and yet this man recognized him?
This meant this person was not normal.
“Is that important?”
“It is important to me.”
The masked man tilted his head at the words of Chwi Gon and then nodded.
“Well… Even if I told you, you won’t realize it, and I am not in a position to speak the name… just call me savior.”
“Savior?”
“Yes.”
“Sigh.”
Chwi Gon started to smile.
The name that came out of the mouth of someone who showed such unhappy behavior and nature was “savior”? Who wouldn’t laugh at that?
But Chwi Gon’s ridicule didn’t last long. Even though the reaction seemed absurd, the stranger appeared serious.
“Look. No matter how difficult the situation gets, do you think I would joke with someone I just met today? I guess there are some stolen goods around, but the situation now is…”
“You’re in trouble because you’re on the run.”
“…!”
Chwi Gon’s eyes widened. What the other person said could not be taken as a joke anymore.
“Then… who are you?”
Chwi Gon started to break out in a cold sweat.
The purpose did not matter. The problem was that this man was on the run. And there was another culprit.
Even if it was known that he was wrongly accused, this man could save his life.
“That’s why I came to see you.”
“…”
Gulp
Chwi Gon took a breath and asked,
“Who? Just let me know, and I’ll do anything. I can. No one who hasn’t experienced it knows how unfair life is.”
“…”
The masked man did not respond to his words. This time Chwi Gon slowly asked,
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No. I can tell you precisely. Where the person is. Who it is. And I have proof of it.”
“Ah!”
The face of Chwi Gon brightened at this.
If what was being said was not a lie, he would be free of this disgusting life.
“But before that, I have something to ask…”
“Anything, ask me anything.”
Chwi Gon hoped.
With the intention of passing on any information he knew.
“About three months ago… Do you remember that pill which was transported from your home to Gaebong?”
“…A pill?”
He tilted his head.
Three months ago.
Goods did travel from his home… a pill? After thinking for a moment, his eyes widened.
“The Doll Snow Ginseng! You… no! Is that what you want?”
He had completely forgotten about it. It was said to be a thing filled with so much energy that it could take the shape of a human.
In the meantime, he had paid a very large fee to the port and entrusted them with transportation, but the port was attacked, and the goods were taken.
“I’m not sure of it. The guy who said it was a simulation of a low level, so this is all I was taught. I wanted to meet you and ask.”
“Uh?”
Simulation? Level?
Seol-Hwi, the masked man, asked Chwi Gon, who was confused.
“Where did things go wrong? Let’s think from the start. If you see the scene, you will be able to understand something.”
“Right… where is the real culprit? Shouldn’t we catch the person right away and clear the misunderstanding around me?”
“Hmm. That is a bit hard…”
Kiiik
At that moment, the door opened, and Chwi Gon did not even have time to eat his food.
“Damn it!”
As soon as he glanced over, he saw the elders walking towards him. Their eyes were filled with rage.
Plus, the moment he saw the person, it felt like his breath was taken away. At the fierce tiger on the shoulder.
Murim Alliance leader’s Eight Tiger and Dragon.
Eight absolute warriors representing the Murim Alliance, directly under their alliance leader.
These were the murim arrest troops. They held a level of authority that was one level higher than the investigative troops of the Murim Alliance. Most things could be handled independently without instructions from superiors.
Naturally, the force required for that position was the best warriors, and it had both legal authority and power.
“Ruined. How can this…”
Chwi Gon was in despair.
The people who were chasing him were not just anyone, but the best of the warriors had been ordered.
The people who even the most famous murim families avoided fighting directly.
“What are you doing? Did you not prepare?”
Seol-Hwi, the masked man, urged Chwi Gon, who was trying to hide. He then looked at the strangers at the door and nodded.
Kiik
He immediately drew his sword and pointed it at Chwi Gon’s neck.
“Now, wait a minute! Why are you acting like this…?”
“Go ahead, say it.”
“W-wha-what should I say…?”
“The real culprit is here. They’re trying to kill me.”
“…?”
Chwi Gon was unable to handle the situation, his face blank. Seol-Hwi spoke to him again.
“Don’t mistake me for the real one. You’re my savior, right? Isn’t that correct?”
Only then did Chwi Gon grasp what was happening. The word “savior” was not a lie.
“Hey! T-this man is the real culprit!”
He screamed loudly.
“…?”
“N-not me! This man! This man killed the lord’s son and put the blame on me!”
Grumble
At the shout, the eyes of the warriors turned to Seol-Hwi and Chwi Gon.
Then Seol-Hwi shouted,
“Damn! I’ve been caught!”
He spoke loud enough for them to hear and lowered his sword.
“That is the man.”
“Catch him.”
At one point, along with the cries, they moved towards Seol-Hwi. Chwi Gon looked puzzled at this.
“Why aren’t you running?”
He asked,
“…What?”
“That…”
Of course, when they attacked, he thought the masked man would run. But the man ran in a different direction, and for the first time in his life, Chwi Gon saw something strange.
Blink!
The moment the masked man collided with the warriors, something flashed, and nothing tangible was visible, just sharp sword lines could be seen.
Left, right, straight, and a very long diagonal slash.
Shhh
When the sword moved like that, the best warriors seemed to be a joke. No, the warriors representing the Murim Alliance fell down like fallen leaves.
What was more surprising was that, by defeating so many people, not a single drop of blood was shed by Seol-Hwi.
Like someone who did not bleed.
“What are you doing?”
“…?”
Seol-Hwi gestured arrogantly at the man.
He looked around and then made eye contact with the owner, who was collapsing.
“Follow me!”
Wheik!
With a single word, he gave them a silver coin and then left. Chwi Gon also moved quickly.
“Please spare…”
He exited the guesthouse without a word.
The movement and performance of the highest level, which no one could believe, unfolded right in front of his eyes.
