“Chief Yang, didn’t I tell you? How can a person live only looking for gains? Sometimes you have to take losses, too. But what do you do? You suffer a loss of a few coins and then ask the Martial Arts Alliance for help? Is the Martial Arts Alliance your personal fixer? Always threatening to tattle on them. They’re busy enough feeding themselves. So don’t ever do this again, got it?”

But the man called Chief Yang lying collapsed before him gave no answer. He was already dead. The one nagging despite knowing the opponent was dead was the Golden Pig, Jisaeng.

He looked irritable. Unlike his nickname, Golden Pig, he was gaunt, and because he tolerated no mistakes, his subordinates barely dared to breathe in his presence.

“Ransack this guy’s house and gather all valuables. Eliminate anyone who could cause trouble.”

“Yes!”

A subordinate left. As always, they would cover it up as a robbery by ronin and burn everything down.

For now, squeezing the surroundings like this was necessary. The reason was that damn immortal dish.

Jisaeng pressured another subordinate.

“Have you found those guys?”

“Not yet. We’ve sent out more men, so we expect news soon.”

The ones in charge of the immortal dish had found all the property and ran off, causing serious financial troubles.

Investigation showed that Ilsun and Isun themselves came to the battlefield to collect money. They even disposed of all other assets and disappeared. Just thinking about those guys made Jisaeng furious.

‘Stupid fools!’

If they had kept working under him, they could have made much more money.

At least Ilsun was smart and cautious enough not to make such a foolish, greedy mistake.

What exactly was going on in their minds or what circumstances—no one knew. Maybe they fought among themselves or had other problems. Perhaps they were dealt with by others.

The scent of money is like the scent of blood; packs of hyenas inevitably gather. Whatever the reason, once caught, they would be torn apart alive. Even if others had dealt with them, they would kill them once more.

“Find those bastards no matter what! If you can’t, you die.”

“Yes! Understood.”

Knowing it was no joke, the subordinate turned pale and dashed out.

At that moment, another subordinate came to report.

“Daegu the Great Tiger awaits at Seojangwon.”

The Iron Sword Four Tigers.

Jisaeng had brought in these notorious figures from the underworld. He intended to entrust the immortal dish to them.

It would be better to have his direct subordinates handle things, but because of the nature of the immortal dish, he could not. They had to be people completely unconnected to the Sado Alliance in case problems arose. Especially if the Martial Arts Alliance made an issue of it, trouble would follow.

Jisaeng left the building and walked to the carriage. At the driver’s seat, a round-faced man was looking up at the sky.

When Jisaeng appeared, the driver politely greeted him.

“Let’s go to Seohogwan.”

The carriage started, and subordinates followed on horseback.

Jisaeng sent a message to the driver.

—Please have the Elder check if the Iron Sword Four Tigers are appropriate.

The tone was extremely polite and respectful.

The man playing the role of driver was the real Golden Pig Jisaeng.

Previously, Ilsun had told Geom Mugeuk that he saw tattoos on Jisaeng’s driver—and that man was the driver.

—Now you also know how to pick people well?

—I haven’t even learned one percent of the Elder’s discernment.

—Too much humility is flattery.

—I’m sorry, Elder.

—Trust your eyes and decide.

The man had lived as the fake Jisaeng for over a decade. He thought and lived like Jisaeng. Sometimes he even thought he was the real Jisaeng.

During those years, he never faced a life-threatening crisis. One might think it’s time to reveal himself, but the real Jisaeng thoroughly hid his true self.

The man thought Jisaeng was truly remarkable. Just from what he knew, Jisaeng had amassed unimaginable °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° wealth he would never fully spend in his lifetime. He himself could never wear shabby clothes and act as a driver.

—How’s the funding this month?

—Still short about twenty nyang to send to headquarters.

They couldn’t report that due to certain circumstances, this month’s tribute payment would not increase.

That was their problem.

That was always the stance of headquarters.

—Don’t worry. I’ll handle it so that neither headquarters nor the Elder suffers.

—Do that.

When this kind of situation happened, the real Jisaeng had never once said, “I’ll cover this month’s costs myself.” Sometimes the man seemed great, but at such moments, he was disappointing. Was it really necessary to reveal so much money?

Well, in a way, it was impressive. He had a firm philosophy about money. He lived for the pleasure of earning and saving money. To him, money was everything.

So I once asked.

“Why don’t you go independent?”

I thought his mind would build enormous wealth wherever he went. Currently, he paid more than a third of his earnings to Yaryulhan.

The real Jisaeng answered like this.

“No matter how much money I make, in the end, someone like me will take it all away.”

He meant that someone with a powerful backer would eventually snatch it.

“Greed overreaches and becomes disaster.”

Hearing that from the greediest person he knew made the fake Jisaeng feel strange. If his greed was that bad, he would be disaster itself.

The carriage arrived at Seohogwan.

The fake Jisaeng and subordinates went inside first; the real Jisaeng got out of the carriage. In fact, this was the moment he liked second only to making money.

Watching the world while hiding his identity.

The strange pleasure of no one recognizing his true self. Like a god controlling humans as pieces on a chessboard.

The real Jisaeng strolled around the yard with his hands behind his back.

Waiting for Jisaeng in the guest hall was Daegu the Great Tiger, the first of the Iron Sword Four Tigers.

Between them was a special floor set by their subordinates—visible from Jisaeng’s side but blocking his view from the other side.

“An honored guest.”

The moment the fake Jisaeng had to become the real Jisaeng.

He, too, felt strange pleasure. Becoming a grand figure among Yaryulhan’s Four Underlings.

Everyone bowed before him, and he wished the pleasure of power to last forever.

“Thank you for coming such a long way.”

“Since the Elder called, I dashed the thousand miles in an instant.”

Jisaeng looked at the man seated before him and felt pleased inside.

‘Just right.’

Among many candidates, this one was his favorite. To Jisaeng, the man looked not like a tiger but a wild dog. Perfect.

A sane man could never do work like the immortal dish. Only those who destroy souls without remorse could do it. So it was not a tiger’s job but wild dogs’.

In this respect, the Iron Sword Four Tigers were fitting. Their past spoke for itself—they had committed all sorts of unspeakable atrocities.

“I’ll be honest with you. The previous ones entrusted with this work turned traitor, so I dealt with them personally.”

The fact that they ran off with the money must never be revealed.

“Betrayal means death.”

“I will serve faithfully until death.”

“Once this begins, even mentioning the main alliance means death.”

“I’ll remember.”

“As long as you keep those two rules, you’ll make big money.”

“We’ll work like oxen.”

Daegu laughed, his laughter revealing crude vulgarity.

“And soon, I hope to meet your brothers as well.”

“They’re with me. Contact me anytime.”

“I’ll be in touch soon.”

They bowed politely, and Daegu left.

After he left Seohogwan, the fake Jisaeng came out and boarded the carriage.

—How was it?

—His appearance shows greed and narrow-mindedness, but at least he doesn’t look like a traitor. He seems suitable for this job.

—Then proceed.

The carriage left.

Daegu returned to his place.

He was in a good mood. Though he’d always called himself a villain since birth, even his evil was getting tiresome. He wanted to do a big job and retire, and Jisaeng had picked them.

“You bastards! It’s settled!”

Just as Daegu opened the door, he suddenly froze.

Second, Third, and Fourth Tigers were asleep in a row on chairs.

Between them sat a young man Daegu had never seen.

At first, Daegu thought he was a youth his juniors had brought.

‘Told them not to bring outsiders.’

But one thought immediately crossed his mind. They’re sleeping with a stranger? Or mocking me? Doing something they’d never do?

These thoughts flickered, but Daegu’s worry was short-lived. Just as he turned lightning-fast to flee—

His whole body froze.

A man wearing a white mask stood behind him. The icy, cold eyes behind the mask met his gaze, and his body stiffened. Having faced many villains, he had never seen such a terrifying gaze.

Geukak Soma slowly reached out and lightly subdued Daegu’s inner power. Though Daegu was experienced in the martial world, he couldn’t move a finger when someone touched his dantian acupoint.

Behind Geukak Soma came two more men—Poison King and Seo Daeryong.

“I’m just here to watch, not interfere.”

Poison King passed Daegu and sat on the desk; Seo Daeryong closed the door.

Geom Mugeuk called Daegu.

“Come closer.”

Daegu walked slowly toward Geom Mugeuk.

‘I have to snap out of it to survive!’

Only that thought remained.

When Daegu got close, he could finally see the other three Tigers clearly. Their bodies were already stiff as boards.

“They’re all dead!”

Daegu’s heart sank. They had no wounds but seemed to have died without ever drawing their swords. Who were these people?

“Do you know who we are to be doing this?”

“We are the Iron Sword Four Tigers. You are Daegu, the eldest.”

When Geom Mugeuk said it precisely, Daegu quickly replied.

“We were entrusted with an important task. You made a big mistake.”

“Entrusted by the Sado Alliance with the immortal dish? What’s so great about that?”

Daegu was shocked by Geom Mugeuk’s words.

“You did this knowing who was behind it?”

Then Geukak Soma stepped forward, staring intently at Daegu.

“Don’t waste time. Give me half a day, and I’ll make you a well-behaved dog.”

Daegu’s whole body shivered as his hairs stood on end.

Poison King politely spoke to Geukak Soma.

“May I intervene?”

Geukak Soma looked at Poison King; Poison King avoided his gaze.

Geukak Soma nodded willingly and stepped back.

“Please do.”

It was the first time since leaving the main sect that the two shared understanding.

Poison King took out a vial of poison from his bag and said to Geom Mugeuk,

“How can you trust such a man? But Gu Poison is trustworthy.”

The vial contained a hideous wriggling insect.

“If this worm takes root in his brain, he’ll cut off his own arm if told.”

Daegu turned pale. Just imagining that disgusting thing in his head made him nauseous.

Geom Mugeuk laughed and asked Poison King,

“You said you wouldn’t interfere?”

“Seeing this guy made me want to test it. It’s been a while since I tried it on a person.”

“Unfortunately, we have no time to test Gu Poison.”

“Then feed him this.”

Poison King took out another poison vial.

“This poison kills by melting all organs unless an antidote is taken daily. If he wants to betray, let him try.”

“Don’t leave poison behind.”

“Whose poison would worry about that?”

“Then this is perfect!”

Suddenly, Daegu cried out desperately.

“Please spare me! What do you want me to do?”

All four stared at Daegu. His body trembled. They were a strange mix neither villains nor heroes.

Though he had faced all kinds of villains, he had never felt such primal fear. They seemed impervious to tricks.

Geom Mugeuk approached and spoke gently.

“Daegu, I’m counting on you from now on.”

Hearing that, Daegu realized they intended to be his brothers. Killing the other three was for that purpose.

Geom Mugeuk handed Daegu the Poison King’s poison.

“Daegu, drink this first, and then we’ll talk about what you have to do.”

“I don’t need to! If you spare my life, I’ll do anything you say! I swear on my name, my parents, even the gods! If I don’t keep my word, I’ll be punished by heaven!”

Geom Mugeuk opened his mouth and poured the poison in.

“I don’t believe you. Drink up!”