Chapter 72: To Retrieve the Wind Cloud Martial Hall (1)

Bukgung Lin recounted the story of the Wind Cloud Martial Hall as much as she could remember. She thought there might be some clue, but there was nothing particularly suitable.

"Zhang Guan Zhu seems to have borrowed money recently. It was a man with a mole on his face, and he talked a lot about the martial hall. And it turned out to be true..."

"Let's skip that."

"Uh? Uh..."

You're the leader of the youth group, aren't you?

It seems that was when he saw the man who borrowed the money. Since I already knew this story, I decided to pass over it.

"Is there anything else?"

After hearing this, it didn't seem like it would help much, so I asked Bukgung Lin to think harder. After a while, she added:

"Recently, for some reason, Zhang Guan Zhu has been spending a lot more money. He wasn't particularly frugal before, but..."

"Maybe his business has been doing well recently."

"Is that so...?"

When I answered like that, Bukgung Lin seemed a bit disappointed, perhaps thinking that she had only shared unhelpful information. We needed something more impactful.

"Hmm..."

"Ugh..."

Wijian and I sighed together. So far, nothing had come up that would help us retrieve the Wind Cloud Martial Hall.

Seeing our frustration, Bukgung Lin tried to remember more and suddenly exclaimed, "By the way, in the past few days, I've seen men in black clothes coming and going at dawn."

"Men in black clothes?"

"Yes. They looked like secret agents, and their faces were covered."

"Can you tell me more about it?"

That sounds suspicious.

There was a smell of something fishy. As Wijian and I listened intently, Bukgung Lin continued:

"That happened a few days ago."

A few days ago, Bukgung Lin, knowing that I had no intention of extending the class, couldn't sleep and was wandering outside.

'I feel a bit guilty.'

Hearing that the usually quiet Bukgung Lin had been so troubled that she couldn't sleep, I felt a bit guilty.

Anyway, while she was walking, she saw a man in black, with his face completely covered, leaving Zhang Chashi's room.

"So?"

"So, I peeked into Zhang Guan Zhu's room."

Bukgung Lin, worried that something might have happened, checked Zhang Chashi's room but only saw him mumbling in his sleep, with nothing unusual happening.

I asked about the man's attire.

"What did he wear?"

"He was all in black, and there seemed to be a tattoo near his neck."

"What did it look like?"

Thinking it might be a clue, I asked, but Bukgung Lin shook her head apologetically.

"It was too dark to see clearly."

"Hmm..."

It seemed like Zhang Chashi had some secrets, but it was hard to know exactly what they were. As I pondered, Wijian, who had been listening, seemed to have an idea.

"Maybe Zhang Guan Zhu was secretly hiring someone, like last time with the gold tomb escort."

"Last time? The gold tomb escort?"

You mean the last time?

When I asked, Wijian explained calmly:

"During the gold tomb escort, an assassin group targeted us. Maybe Zhang Guan Zhu was hiring such people."

"Oh, you mean that incident."

Indeed, at that time, the client's rival had hired an unknown assassin group to attack us.

When I nodded, Bukgung Lin asked:

"An assassin group?"

"Yes. I don't know where they came from, but they attacked us."

Just thinking about it still gives me chills. I briefly explained the incident, and Bukgung Lin nodded, then asked:

"But would Zhang Guan Zhu have a reason to hire such people?"

"I don't know..."

Indeed, that's a good point. Zhang Chashi is just a martial arts school instructor; what reason would he have to hire assassins?

'Unless he was trying to assassinate debt collectors?'

Thinking about it, that could be possible. After all, Zhang Chashi was in quite a bit of debt. Although his business had improved a bit, he still owed a lot of money.

'But would he really go that far?'

While martial artists can sometimes act without principles, it seemed unlikely that he would go that far...

But it wasn't impossible. There were no other leads, so in the end, I said to everyone:

"Maybe Zhang Guan Zhu hired assassins to kill debt collectors."

"Such..."

"Hmm..."

When I said that, everyone had the same skeptical look. But without other leads, and considering Zhang Chashi's questionable character, they all agreed that it might be possible.

I asked Bukgung Lin seriously:

"Can you try to get the accounting ledger?"

"The accounting ledger?"

"Yes. We need the real one."

Not the fake one that can be easily found, but the real one that is kept in secret. When I asked, Bukgung Lin looked thoughtful and said cautiously:

"Sometimes the chief manager takes out some books from a secret place."

"That's it! We need that."

When I said that, Wijian looked puzzled and asked:

"Why the accounting ledger all of a sudden?"

"If Zhang Guan Zhu hired assassins, he would have paid them a retainer fee. If we find that, we can publicly challenge him."

When I explained, Wijian nodded in understanding but then asked worriedly:

"But isn't that too dangerous? If we get caught..."

Stealing the accounting ledger is no small feat, especially if it's a secret ledger. It's risky even in modern times with laws, let alone in the martial world.

If we get caught, it might not just end with being expelled. Considering the risk, I hesitated for a moment, but Bukgung Lin, with a determined look, shook her head and said:

"No. I'm willing to take that risk."

Bukgung Lin seemed to think this was her only chance. Seeing her resolve, I nodded and said:

"Understood. I'll go to the White Cloud Escort Agency tomorrow and see if they can take the case."

Based on what we've heard so far, it would be difficult for the White Cloud Escort Agency to accept the case, but I wanted to try.

When I said that, Bukgung Lin stood up and bowed deeply to me:

"Thank you so much. I don't know how to repay this kindness."

"No, if things go well, you can give me free classes."

I smiled and said that, and Bukgung Lin responded enthusiastically:

"Of course!"

As I said that, Wijian looked at me with a strange expression.

'Somehow it feels a bit cold.'

It seems like autumn is approaching.

***

The next day, I went straight to see Gang Biadu. I thought about meeting Baekreung Hwa, but she was taking a day off and couldn't be reached.

She's out with Pang Gui and Dang Qi?

'Well, she's been working non-stop since she arrived, without a break.'

I could understand that. People can't just work all the time.

So, I went to see Gang Biadu, and he was at his desk, busy with work. He glanced at me and asked:

"What is it?"

His desk was piled high with documents, all related to escort missions. It seemed he was handling them in place of Baekreung Hwa, who was absent.

I greeted him with a bow:

"It's been a while, Chief Gang."

"Yes, it has. What brings you here? I'm busy, so speak quickly."

"Sure. It's about..."

I summarized the story of Bukgung Lin and the Wind Cloud Martial Hall as briefly as possible. I expected it wouldn't be easy from the start.

'But if we can retrieve the Wind Cloud Martial Hall for Bukgung Lin, it will increase our influence in Mayang County.'

The Wind Cloud Martial Hall was one of the few martial arts schools in Mayang County. I focused on this point to persuade him.

I didn't mention the assassins, as there was no concrete evidence yet.

He stopped working for a moment, called for tea, and after drinking it, he nodded and said:

"Hmm. I see."

"Yes. So, Bukgung Instructor asked me to request your help. I came to ask if the White Cloud Escort Agency can take this case."

When I said that, Gang Biadu put down his teacup and, without hesitation, said:

"I'm sorry, but there's no way we can help."

"Really?"

I expected Gang Biadu to be hesitant, but I didn't expect him to refuse so quickly. It was so abrupt that I almost doubted my ears. I thought he would at least consider it.

Seeing my confusion, Gang Biadu began to explain:

"Is Bukgung Lin wealthy?"

"No, she's not."

I heard that she hadn't received her salary properly for three years and sometimes did ghostwriting to make ends meet.

By the way, I tried ghostwriting once, but my poor handwriting got me fired quickly. It seems clear Gothic script doesn't fit this era.

When I said that, Gang Biadu said matter-of-factly:

"Then we can't take the case."

"But what about a success fee..."

Gang Biadu shook his head at the mention of a success fee and sighed:

"Even if we retrieve the Wind Cloud Martial Hall, we would need at least half of its value as a success fee. That would mean selling it immediately or going into more debt."

Indeed, Gang Biadu's point was valid. Bukgung Lin couldn't afford such a sum, either now or in the future.

"But we could take a share, right?"

"Share? We have no reason to show such favor."

"The Wind Cloud Martial Hall is doing quite well. In time, it will be profitable."

When I emphasized that the Wind Cloud Martial Hall was doing well, Gang Biadu hummed and thought for a moment but then shook his head:

"No. Besides, who would want to take on that job? I've heard that Fengyun Jian Zhang Chashi is a formidable martial artist. Who would face him?"

Indeed, Zhang Chashi, despite his low morals, is a highly skilled martial artist. He's at least as skilled as Banteun Baek, who travels as a wandering knight. He's a higher-level martial artist than Baek Jokju or Gang Biadu.

Without a request from headquarters, we don't have a high-level martial artist to face him.

"Then what if we bring Banteun Baek?"

"Banteun Baek? The Iron Wire Banteun Baek?"

"Yes. I heard he has a good relationship with Bukgung Instructor. If we ask him to help, he won't refuse."

Since he calls him uncle, he probably wouldn't completely ignore the request. However, Gang Biadu shook his head:

"Even so, it's a problem. If we handle it poorly, public opinion could turn against us, and we might be seen as the villains."

"Oh..."

I hadn't considered that. I thought