Chapter 107 : The End of a Wicked Move. -04

Chapter 107: The End of a Wicked Move. -04

With an indifferent voice, Ban Hojin took a small booklet from his robes and tossed it in front of Geum Sangryong.

However, Geum Sangryong merely stared at it without reaching out.

At a glance, it exuded an ominous atmosphere.

“What are you doing? Not going to look? Aren’t you curious?”

At that sight, Geum Hoyeon spoke.

Though he did not know the contents, he could guess. With a crooked smile, Geum Hoyeon fixed his gaze on Geum Sangryong.

“……What is the meaning of this?”

“You’ll find out if you look at it. So go ahead and take a look.”

“Please leave. If you wish to speak with me, make a proper appointment.”

With a deeply displeased expression, Geum Sangryong issued an order to dismiss the guests.

Instinctively, he felt that he must not look at what Ban Hojin had thrown.

If so, the best course was to end this meeting.

Fortunately, this was his office, so he had proper grounds.

“You’d better look. Otherwise, the Estate Lord will see it first. The next place I’m heading is the Estate Lord’s office.”

“What?”

“For your information, I’m not going there unannounced. The Estate Lord personally said he wished to meet Great Hero Ban. He even said that if I did not come, he would go to find Great Hero Ban himself.”

Gulp!

Geum Sangryong swallowed dryly.

He was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

When told that his father would see that obviously dangerous booklet, Geum Sangryong could neither act nor retreat.

Yet his mind was spinning faster than ever.

“If you don’t want to see it, then don’t. But you’ll probably see me again later. And by then, the situation will be very different from now.”

Though calm, the meaning within the words was no different from a threat.

As a result, Geum Sangryong’s complexion turned pale.

He had felt it from the beginning, but Ban Hojin seemed to know something. With a wan face, Geum Sangryong slowly bent down.

At this point, he had no choice but to look.

Swoosh.

Like a man being dragged unwillingly, Geum Sangryong slowly picked up the booklet Ban Hojin had thrown.

Then, after swallowing once, he turned the first page.

Flinch!

Upon seeing the first page, Geum Sangryong’s body jerked.

At the same time, his pupils expanded as far as they could.

What he had feared was written inside.

It was only the first page, yet for Geum Sangryong, that alone was enough.

“For your information, that’s a copy. The promissory notes and evidence as well. The originals are kept separately. So you’d best not think of tearing it up.”

Tremble!

Reading the sudden change in Geum Sangryong’s eyes, Geum Hoyeon spoke.

At those words, Geum Sangryong’s body shook.

His thoughts had been read as if by a ghost.

“Anything else you wish to say?”

As though there was no longer any need for courtesy, Ban Hojin spoke down to him.

In truth, he had already shown more courtesy than necessary by waiting this long.

Had this been handled according to the laws of Murim, Geum Sangryong would not be standing there unharmed.

Everything except the one arm needed for confirmation would have been cut off.

“Th-this is an absurd fabrication! I absolutely—!”

“You’re going to deny it. But isn’t the evidence far too clear for that?”

“It’s all nothing but speculation! Where is the physical proof that I commissioned murder?!”

Geum Sangryong shouted as though he were truly wronged.

The evidence was laid out in chronological order, but nowhere did it state that he had personally acted.

The one who submitted the commission to the Dark Moon Sect and paid the advance was his trusted aide, not Geum Sangryong himself.

In other words, nothing directly tied him to it.

“You claim you’re unrelated?”

“This is all the result of Jang Sangi’s excessive loyalty! Of course, I understand that Great Hero Ban has no choice but to suspect me. But I am innocent! Truly, I am not involved!”

At Geum Sangryong’s words, not only Ban Hojin but also Geum Hoyeon and the others let out faint laughs.

Just as expected, he was attempting to cut off his own tail.

Thus, Ban Hojin decided to bring out what he had prepared in advance.

He had anticipated this response and had prepared accordingly.

“Joun.”

“Yes, Hyungnim!”

Though he had only called his name, Seo Joun immediately understood Ban Hojin’s intent perfectly.

There was only one thing left for Ban Hojin to do in this situation.

Soon, Seo Joun returned from downstairs, bringing a middle-aged man with him.

“Y-you…!”

Though not even bound with rope, the middle-aged man hunched over as if crushed, practically dragged up by Seo Joun. Geum Sangryong’s eyes widened like oil lamps.

Because the man Seo Joun had brought was none other than Jang Sangi, the one who had handled the commission to the Dark Moon Sect.

As if anticipating that he would attempt to sever the tail, they had brought Jang Sangi along. In that instant, Geum Sangryong’s mind went blank.

He realized he was surrounded on all sides.

“This man tells a different story.”

“I-it was all done under the First Young Lord’s orders! I only carried out what I was told! Please, spare me!”

Without anyone prompting him, Jang Sangi dropped to his knees, tears welling in his eyes as he shouted.

Once, he had been a subordinate Geum Sangryong trusted more than anyone. But not now.

Having heard on the stairs that everything was being pushed onto him, Jang Sangi did not hesitate to tell the truth.

Geum Sangryong had betrayed him first.

So Jang Sangi revealed everything that had happened without reservation—

even things Ban Hojin and Geum Hoyeon had yet to uncover.

And the more he spoke, the paler Geum Sangryong became.

“He’s insane.”

“He’s worse than we knew.”

Unlike his public reputation, Geum Sangryong’s reality was filthy beyond measure. Seonwu Bang and Seo Joun wore incredulous expressions.

Meanwhile, Jeong Iryong glared at Geum Sangryong with frightening eyes.

Upon hearing that he had used his power to oppress the weak, he could not feel kindly toward him.

Hic!

Perhaps because of that, Geum Sangryong hiccupped.

His mind screamed that he must deny everything and push it away, but perhaps due to Jang Sangi’s sudden appearance, the words would not come.

Instead, with vacant eyes, he looked in turn at Jang Sangi, Geum Hoyeon, and Ban Hojin.

“According to the laws of Jianghu, your head should be taken here and now, but I will withhold it for the moment. This is the Geum Family Estate, after all.”

A Blood Debt could only be repaid with blood.

Such was the law of Murim.

However, Ban Hojin did not make a move.

He had long since made his decision about what to do with Geum Sangryong, but there was no need to punish him right now.

Thus, Ban Hojin merely sealed Geum Sangryong’s acupoints so that he could not escape.

Using his own unique acupoint-sealing method that no one else could undo.

“Bind that one as well. Make sure he can’t run. And keep a close watch. Those who follow the First Young Lord might kill him to eliminate the witness.”

“Understood.”

As Ban Hojin subdued Geum Sangryong, Geum Hoyeon gave instructions to the Head of the Escort Unit.

Jang Sangi was just as much a person of interest as Geum Sangryong.

Though they had already heard all the testimony, there was no harm in being cautious.

“T-this can’t be. This makes no sense……. None of this makes any sense……!”

Subdued in an instant, Geum Sangryong muttered in a daze.

His eyes were unfocused.

Yet not a single person felt pity for him.

All of this was the result of his own actions.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Once the scene had been settled, Geum Hoyeon asked politely.

As before, he would guide the way.

Curious as to what the Geum Family Head would say, Geum Hoyeon led Ban Hojin’s group forward.

“Estate Lord. The guests have arrived.”

“Show them in.”

“Yes.”

At the chief steward’s voice from outside the door, the Geum Family Head responded.

He turned his gaze from the window and seated himself at the highest seat in the reception room.

Creak.

Soon, the door opened and a group entered.

It was Ban Hojin’s party along with Geum Hoyeon.

Among them, the Geum Family Head fixed his gaze steadily on Ban Hojin, whom he was finally meeting face to face.

“It is my first time meeting you. I am Ban Hojin of Shaolin.”

“How do you do. I am Seonwu Bang of the Seonwu Family.”

“Hello. I am Seo Joun of the Seo Family Estate.”

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Jeong Iryong.”

“Murong Cheok of the Murong Family.”

Beginning with Ban Hojin, the group bowed politely at the waist.

Since the Geum Family Head was not a martial artist, they did not perform a Fist-Clasp Salute.

At the sight, the Geum Family Head also rose from his seat and returned the greeting with a gentle smile.

“The honor is mine, to meet such heroes of Jianghu.”

“Shall I step outside?”

“Sit. You must hear this as well.”

“Understood.”

To Geum Hoyeon, who asked cautiously, the Geum Family Head offered a seat.

There was no need to speak separately later.

“I had wished to arrange this meeting sooner, but circumstances delayed it until now. I apologize that the timing has become so unfortunate. I had not intended to meet Great Hero Ban under such conditions.”

“I understand.”

Seeing the myriad emotions written across the Geum Family Head’s face, Ban Hojin nodded.

He could fully understand the man’s distress.

Yet nowhere did he show any sign of asking for a favor.

Only remorse was visible on his face.

“In truth, I wished to discuss many matters with Great Hero Ban, but I believe we should first resolve the pressing issue at hand.”

“Please read this first. It would be better to speak afterward. I believe you are already aware of some of it.”

“I do not know the details. I have only received a general report.”

With a low sigh, the Geum Family Head closed his eyes.

Because of his foolish son, he did not dare meet Ban Hojin’s gaze.

But he had to read this booklet.

Only by knowing the truth could he speak of what came next. Thus, the Geum Family Head reached out for the small booklet Ban Hojin produced.

Rustle.

Everyone fell silent so that the Geum Family Head could focus on the contents.

Their gazes remained fixed on him.

“Mm!”

As he slowly read through it, the Geum Family Head let out a heavy groan.

Most of it he already knew, but there were quite a few things he had not.

And unlike the report from his subordinates, this included evidence as well, making his heart even more troubled.

Thud.

After carefully reading to the final page, the Geum Family Head closed the booklet.

Yet he could not immediately speak.

His thoughts were that tangled.

The others understood and quietly sipped their tea, allowing him time to organize his mind.

“These are only the matters that have been clearly confirmed, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“First, I wish to apologize to Great Hero Ban. I have raised my son poorly and caused you harm.”

“I would like to ask what you mean by that apology. Are you asking that I forgive the First Young Lord?”

Even though the Geum Family Head bowed his head toward someone far younger, Ban Hojin did not readily accept the apology.

He could not be certain whether it was a sincere apology in the literal sense, or whether there was another intention behind it.

“Absolutely not. Sangryong is thirty this year. He is no longer a child under my protection. I have no intention of asking for leniency. I have neither the right nor the reason to do so.”