Chapter 307

Qing didn’t know there were so many hired assassin offices in the city.

Of course, it wasn’t surprising that Qing was clueless about it; after all, he didn’t exactly have a wealth of knowledge.

However, this time, it was also true that anyone outside the industry wouldn’t have known, since the market had suddenly boomed and the offices had multiplied.

Originally, there were only two or three assassin offices in the city, mostly run by a group known as Blackspots.

But due to the Blackspots suddenly going underground, the assassin industry faced ticket-selling difficulties, which led to many civilian offices opening up to take on requests.

So, since the system wasn’t properly established yet, it could be said that it was unintentionally the perfect time for Qing to poke at the assassins.

However, the reason the Blackspots went underground was entirely because of Qing’s involvement.

In the end, this great opportunity was essentially created by Qing himself.

They say the heavens help those who help themselves, and there’s wisdom in that saying.

As he walked through a poorly situated tea house that was unable to do business, passing through a stinky area heading towards the back latrine, he came across a shabby half-basement door.

Opening that door and heading downstairs, he found a surprisingly well-kept facility, with muscle-bound men sporting grim looks and swords hanging at their waists, resembling a bunch of dirty punks.

Hmm. Lackeys.

Qing thought to himself.

In the Central Plain, a muscular guy with a dirty look is considered the weakest among warriors.

Because typically, they’re the types of thugs who can swing a sword around but lack proper education or martial skills, often called third-rate.

So, while they might do well scaring the common folks coming in for requests, to someone as illustrious as our supreme martial artist, they looked like nothing but pathetic amateurs, utterly useless.

If someone had to be compared, they were about as pitiful as Seoliri…

“Ugh.”

Qing let out a sigh.

It wasn’t like he was in any position to ridicule the assassins for keeping such pathetic lackeys around.

Right next to him stood Seol’s incapable daughter.

The Seolga folks apparently had some work they needed to attend to regarding the Seolga Merchant Association.

Of course, they didn’t come alone; their grandpa was waiting outside.

Just in case Qing missed something, they planned to encircle him with security guards from the association outside.

Security guards for the association, huh. That sounds nice.

It was puzzling too, as Grandpa could’ve just outright said the guys from the demonic sect came down from the north to defect, and they likely wouldn’t be bothered at all.

While Qing was lost in thought and making his way downstairs, he finally reached a silvery-painted door where Seoliri and the other lackeys stood guard, both speaking in hushed tones.

“Take off your mask and write your name.”

“Hmm. You’re going to return this later, right?”

“Hurry up.”

Qing was already aware of what Seol had told him beforehand.

Wasn’t the best way for the assassins to secure their safety to collect personal information?

With your identity in their hands, they’d threaten you with a “if you betray us, you won’t walk away unscathed either.”

Of course, they wouldn’t dare ask for identity from genuinely influential figures because these lowlifes, usually lurking in back alleys, have a habit of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong.

And so when Qing and Seoliri removed their masks, the dim underground felt instantly brighter.

It was the brilliance emitted by two of the Six Harmonies of Martial Arts.

“…”

The two Seoliri lackeys, as if possessed, stood there with their mouths agape, staring dumbfoundedly.

“Hello, aren’t you giving us the guest book?”

“Yes, it’s here… uh, no, it is.”

Qing promptly wrote his name in the guest book.

It was the very handwriting that amazed the scholars and left the Number One in the World in awe.

A-Qing. Seol Gun-Young.

He didn’t even bother making up a pseudonym.

The third-rate thugs couldn’t even read, being illiterate. White paper? Black ink? That level of writing was beyond them.

When he opened the door and walked in, a straw hat guy was comfortably seated at the table, creating a tense atmosphere.

In the not-so-large room, two more thugs were imposing their presence behind him.

“Well, well. How did such beauties end up in this rough place? Surely, someone must be in deep trouble to deserve such a visit. So, which poor soul shall I help you eliminate?”

The straw hat guy puffed on a pipe and spoke in a low voice.

Men think sounding tough makes them seem cool, and this straw hat guy was no exception.

“Do you know a carpenter named Jang Yeok? He’s quite famous as a top carpenter.”

“Jang Yeok, the great carpenter? Sure. Normally, that kind of job would warrant one gold coin, but since I’m so taken by your beauty today, I’ll do it for six silver coins, a proper half.”

Qing frowned at that.

“How do you kill someone who’s already dead? I mean, are you expecting six silver coins as a freebie for suggesting killing a dead man?”

“Cough. To be fair, you’d be getting played if you didn’t know this side of things. So, rather than asking for someone already dead, what is it that you truly seek?”

“I want to know who the assassin that killed Carpenter Jang was. How much to bring him alive in front of me?”

“Oh, goodness.”

The straw hat guy felt annoyed.

“Hey, young lady. Even if I’m a piece of scum, I still have some integrity. Why would I feed you information at the cost of betraying my own people?”

“Oh, so you’re saying we’re all family?”

“Otherwise, I’d have to think about whether I should come back with some gold. Twenty coins might just make me reconsider.”

“Twenty coins? Wow, that’s quite the threat.”

“Got anything else to say? Well then, the consultation fee would be three silver coins.”

And then he casually pushed the silver sitting in front of him aside.

Qing asked again.

“No gold then. What about paying with the body?”

This time the straw hat guy halted.

“Paying with the body, you say? Hmm. If you’re as pretty as you seem, I might just…”

Just then, a finger jabbed Qing’s side.

Turning his head, he found Seoliri looking at him with serious concern etched on her face.

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Why not? Is there another option?”

Seoliri’s eyes were shifting anxiously.

Then, suddenly, she grabbed Qing’s hand tightly and spoke resolutely.

“Then, I’ll take her place.”

“Huh? Why would Gunyongi do that?”

“I’ll protect her.”

“Oh, isn’t that just the prettiest little friendship? Well, then why don’t you two just split the cost? Are you a virgin? Because if so, I’d offer even more—ugh!”

The straw hat guy, who had been making fun of them, suddenly found his throat gripped by a hand as agile and deadly as the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat itself.

“You see, it’s foolish to underestimate someone just based on appearance. Who do you think would cover for you with such empty-headed remarks?”

“Ugh. Ugh.”

The straw hat guy’s gaze trembled.

And so did Seoliri’s when she looked at Qing.

“Oops. I didn’t mean to insult Gunyongi. Honestly? It’s really heartwarming. I’m truly grateful.”

As Qing spoke, she rummaged through the hand grasping the straw hat guy and lightly popped off his pinky.

It was just a flick, as light as a pine needle falling.

Thud.

The severed finger landed on the silver tray.

“Alright. You said you’d pay with the body? So let’s call it one finger as an upfront payment. Need more? Well, I guess one finger might not cut it. Wait, just a second, okay?”

And with that, she lightly popped off another finger.

Now there were two fingers on the silver tray.

“Two fingers. Ah, you said something about your integrity earlier, didn’t you? Very well. Let’s start with three. Ready? One, two… ow!”

The straw hat guy was skilled in his craft, so he immediately pulled out a dagger to stab Qing right in the eye.

“Ah! You startled me. I nearly lost my head there! But don’t worry. It’ll break cleanly, and I can stitch it back later. Yet…”

Qing flashed a chilling smile.

“Three fingers is utterly insufficient, yes? Then why not put that thought into words before you resort to attacking me? Was it really worth it after all?”

On the silver tray, three fingers had already accumulated.

But the straw hat guy was a veteran assassin. Swiftly, he sliced back at Qing, but with too much rage, he only managed to make a mess.

“Alright, both of you! Stop moving! What’s this supposed to be? The answer is: a lesson! Isn’t it shiny? So, since you didn’t answer correctly, let’s make it a rule! You forsake the dagger and kneel down.”

Although they had pulled out their daggers, the horrifying reality of bodily harm made the two thugs hesitant.

Gazing at the glistening palm streaked with blood, the thugs quietly dropped their daggers and knelt.

“Ugh!! Ugh!!!”

“Quit blowing on me; it tickles. Ah, is your body not ready? That’s unfortunate. Guess I’m generous, then. Six fingers it is.”

Then, the straw hat guy raised his right hand high over his shoulder, intending to strike down.

Yet, the palm with missing fingers wouldn’t reach Qing.

Qing was stuck in a tough spot. He needed to swap to his right hand to hold the jaw in place, but since he wanted to avoid the scream, he had to grab the neck instead, while his left hand reverted to doing something awkward.

“Why do people only have two hands…”

But then, as if in response to him, Seoliri bolted up.

Both hands grabbed the flailing arm of the thug while the other hand grasped the thumb, cracking back.

“Ah! Did our Iri just do that? How sneaky!”

Yet, attempting to pull off just one finger seemed futile.

Moving up, down, left, and right, but still failing to separate it—a comical sight it was.

It appeared that Qing needed a substantial force and dexterity to yank it off easily because a human finger is surprisingly resilient, with bones, tendons, and flesh complicating the extraction.

“If it won’t come off, just use a blade. Didn’t you drop one?”

“Yeah.”

And so, on the silver tray lay six fingers.

Five were messy with uneven edges, but one was neatly sliced off.

The cleanly severed finger, decorated along with droplet trails of blood, made for a striking display.

Seeing it this way felt like modern art. The title? Maybe ‘Plucking and Slicing’ would suffice.

“Hey, do you know how much six fingers is worth? How much longer until I can learn about that assassin and where to get him?”

“Ugh. Ugh!”

“Oh, I see you’re feeling ticklish. Don’t breathe too heavily because your body is lacking. Just give me a blink if you understand?”

The straw hat guy blinked earnestly.

Finally, Qing released his grip and wiped the guy’s chest clean.

And sniffed. “Ah, that’s the scent of saliva…”

“If you’d been truthful from the start, it could’ve saved us all the trouble. Wouldn’t it have been simpler to pay me instead? Now, with six fingers, isn’t that around twenty gold coins?”

“Indeed! Of course!”

“So where is that scoundrel? And don’t forget to tell me about the others who stabbed the head carpenter too.”

“Please! Spare me!”

“Who’s dying here? Just give me their details.”

“Well, I don’t know those details.”

“What? I was sure you said twenty gold coins! But you sold me a rotten good for a high price, huh? Wow, that’s infuriating! For that, I might just be compelled to take a finger!”

“Please! That one works for the dead Pyre gang, and I’m just a small fry! How would I know the real identity of that person?”

“Then who would?”

“Go outside to the innermost part; there’s a splendid golden door. The one inside belongs to the Pyre gang; they must surely know!”

“That splendid door? Would I recognize it if I saw it?”

“Oh yes! You’ll spot it right away!”

“Hmm. But that seems a bit off; I mean, six fingers worth twenty coins feels way too cheap for just knowing a guy behind a golden door.”

If Cheon Yu-hak had known, he would have clicked his tongue.

Being ordered as a thief, only to be turned into a robber himself!

And doing that while treating others’ fingers as if they were his own money, makes him truly a no-good villain among thieves.

But there wasn’t really much Cheon Yu-hak could do at this point.

It was a victory for Qing, having already collected a variety of knowledge by this point as the next Merchant Shintu.

Thus, as the world’s most heinous robber smiled at the world’s most beautiful face, he said:

“Now, share everything you know. If it’s worth around twenty gold coins, I might spare your life.”

—

Well, sadly, the information was as valuable as dirt.

And promises must be absolute.

If the information amounted to twenty coins for sparing his life, yet fell short…

Well, what to do? There would be no saving here!

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