Bad Destiny and Good Destiny (3)
Sima Jian was fourteen years old at the time.
Back then, the Eunsung Escort Agency, where he worked, was crossing Mount Geumjeong on an escort mission. It was then that the agency was ambushed, all the escort guards slaughtered, and nine porters—including the youngest, Sima Jian himself—were taken captive. The one responsible for the attack was none other than Bangak. The person who later sold them at the slave market was also Bangak.
That older brother's name… right, Wonsang. Ha Wonsang.
Sima Jian recalled the young porter who had refused to be sold as a slave, attempted to escape, and was beheaded right before his eyes.
The shock of watching the man who had guided him most kindly when he first became a porter lose his life before him was beyond imagination.
The terror and trauma of being drenched head to toe in blood spurting from the severed neck haunted him with nightmares every night.
"It was you… Bangak, wasn't it?"
At Sima Jian's question, Bangak's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know me?"
At that moment, a deeply chilling smile spread across Sima Jian's face.
"Looks like you don't remember. Well, I understand. You must've had countless people pass through Geumhochae Stronghold. After all, a crushed insect writhes in pain, but the one who steps on it doesn't even realize what it crushed. Still, it's a bit disappointing. I've been waiting for today for a very long time."
Sensing the horrifying killing intent carried in that smile, Bangak felt his breath catch. Like an animal before its natural predator, he couldn't move a muscle.
Damn it! If he passed through this place, then he must be one of the captives we sold…
He desperately searched his memory, but the face was completely unfamiliar.
Unconsciously, Bangak glanced around, instinctively searching for an escape route.
Sima Jian's smile widened.
A pure white flash shot toward Bangak.
A sharp tearing sound followed, and in the same instant, both of Bangak's ears were cleanly severed. The cut had been so fast and precise that it took a moment after the ears fell before blood even began to flow.
"Aaaargh!"
Bangak had turned his head at that very moment and didn't even realize what had happened. Only when he saw blood streaming down his cheek and neck did he finally scream.
"If you turn away, it's disappointing. I'm not done talking yet."
Still smiling as if he had never moved, Sima Jian glanced at the bandits watching nervously and spoke.
"You'd best stay where you are. If I kill you, there won't be any pain—but if that one acts, you'll experience something worse than death. He's not called the Geumgang Yaksha for nothing."
The title Geumgang Yaksha was a name feared in the Demonic Path as much as the King of Hell himself, though it was scarcely known in the Central Plains martial world.
Yet the bandits, at a loss, watched Cheolwoo grinning as he poked the barely living body of Nosa-mun—now reduced to just a head and torso—with his foot, and felt as though the Geumgang Yaksha himself had descended.
"Still can't remember?"
"That is—"
Before Bangak could even speak, his left arm was severed.
"Aaagh!"
Blood sprayed everywhere along with his scream.
"If you want to suffer even a little less, you'd better remember. I'll give you some hints, considering the time that's passed. First—Eunsung Escort Agency."
Sima Jian tilted his head slightly, waiting for an answer, but Bangak hesitated, unable to respond.
Damn it… my memory…
Clashes with escort agencies had happened countless times. Just that morning alone, hadn't they attacked an escort mission and made a good haul?
When Bangak failed to answer, Sama Geon flicked the small pebble he was holding between his fingers.
"Aaagh!"
Bangak lost his left eye.
"Next is your leg. Think carefully. I'll give you another clue—twelve years ago."
As soon as Sima Jian finished speaking, he began folding his fingers one by one.
Bangak desperately wracked his brain.
Twelve years ago… Eunsung Escort Agency. What happened then?
Twelve years ago was when Geumhochae Stronghold was rapidly expanding its power. There had been many clashes and raids.
Even narrowed down to Eunsung Escort Agency, he still couldn't clearly remember the incident.
He remembered the faces of several famous escort leaders and guards from that time, but couldn't be sure whether they belonged to Eunsung. Above all, no matter how hard he tried, Sima Jian's face did not appear in his memory.
"W-was it an escort guard from Eunsung—"
Sama Geon didn't even bother listening and kicked him.
With the sound of bones snapping, Bangak's left leg twisted at an unnatural angle.
The kicking didn't stop there.
Sama Geon stomped again and again until the bones of Bangak's ankle and knee were completely pulverized.
Unable to withstand the pain, Bangak fainted several times, but each time Sama Geon revived him so he could feel the pain fully.
"This is the last one. Do you remember the name Ha Wonsang?"
The name of the porter whose head Bangak had cut off as an example simply for attempting to escape.
Bangak still couldn't remember.
Sama Geon let out a hollow laugh, as if he had expected it. To Bangak, Ha Wonsang was merely one of countless people—no, vermin—who had died at his hands.
"I thought you wouldn't remember. You're the perpetrator, after all. But for the victim, it's unbearably unjust."
Sama Geon reached toward Bangak.
Having lost an arm, an eye, and a leg, Bangak writhed in terror, but it was a futile struggle.
Grabbing the back of Bangak's neck, Sama Geon whispered:
"I was a porter of the Eunsung Escort Agency, sent on an escort mission. You attacked us, took me captive, and sold me at a slave market. Thanks to that, I've finally returned home—after twelve years."
Sima Jian began pressing Bangak's pressure points.
Bangak trembled with dread, but there was no escape.
"My name is Sama Geon. The porter of Eunsung Escort Agency that you sold into slavery. Remember it—even in death."
Moments later, Bangak's body began to convulse.
"Aaaaaaagh!"
An indescribable scream burst from his mouth.
His face, grotesquely twisted in pain, turned red as if on fire, bulging veins threatening to burst at any moment.
That was only the beginning.
As if every bone in his body were being crushed one by one, Bangak rolled across the floor in madness. What little remained of his limbs twisted unnaturally, losing all semblance of humanity.
After unleashing the Bone-Crushing, Tendon-Twisting technique upon Bangak, Sima Jian stared at him with indifferent eyes.
A revenge he had waited twelve long years for.
Despite longing for this moment even more than reuniting with his family, he felt no satisfaction.
Watching Bangak writhe in agony brought him nothing but bitterness and irritation.
"Cheolwoo."
"Yes, boss."
"Don't leave a single one alive."
"Leave it to me."
Cracking his fingers, Cheolwoo asked,
"Then what about this guy?"
He pointed at Nosa-mun wriggling at his feet.
Perhaps due to the strength of the drug, or something Cheolwoo had done, he still didn't seem to feel pain properly.
"I have no intention of giving him an easy death."
"Got it."
At Sima Jian's reply, Cheolwoo kicked Nosa-mun's body.
The body flew through the air and rolled more than five jang before crashing down. Whatever he hit, the man—who hadn't even groaned until now—let out a scream far more horrific than Beongak's.
After watching briefly, Sama Geon headed deeper into the stronghold to capture the Geumhochae chief.
As if cheering them on, screams erupted from all directions at once.
* * *
"Open it."
At the short command, Yukgeum opened the door leading underground with trembling hands. A stench so foul it was hard to endure assaulted their noses.
"Ugh! What the hell is that smell—"
Cheolwoo turned his head and gagged.
"Lead the way."
Each time Sama Geon spoke, Yukgeum shuddered, nearly wetting himself as he moved forward.
The moment Sima Jian heard that the stronghold chief had left, rage overtook him, and Noyang was reduced to nothing more than meat hanging in a butcher's shop. And Yukgeum, who had been standing nearby, was forced to experience the Bone-Crushing, Tendon-Twisting technique just to verify the truth.
Though it lasted only a short time, the experience was so horrific that Yukgeum would rather die than endure it again.
Holding a torch, Yukgeum descended the stairs and lit the oil lamps lining the walls.
The pitch-black underground space gradually brightened, revealing prison cells made of iron bars.
There were exactly three cells, two of which were full. In spaces barely a jang wide, more than ten people were crammed inside each.
"Please, save us!"
"Please, spare us!"
Those in the nearest cell pressed their faces against the cold bars, screaming desperately. But the people in the cells farther back showed no reaction.
There was no light in their eyes, their expressions terrifyingly blank—faces only those who had abandoned all hope, even of death itself, could wear.
The stench emanating from the two cells filled the underground chamber. Seeing the filth-filled cells, Cheolwoo instinctively struck Yukgeum.
Like a kite with its string cut, Yukgeum's body flew through the air and crashed into the bars of the filthiest cell.
As Yukgeum screamed, Cheolwoo spat and shouted,
"Try pretending you're hurt again. I'll make you clean the floor with your tongue."
Whimpering, Yukgeum clapped his hands over his mouth in terror.
"Everyone, come out."
Sama-geon said as he opened the door of the prison.
No one tried to leave the cell.
They had been crying and begging to be spared, yet once the door actually opened, all of them remained cautious.
"I heard that people from the Sanghwa Escort Agency are being held here. Last night, I think I briefly met some of you at the Unryong Inn. Is there anyone who remembers that?"
Sima Jian asked, recalling what he had heard on the way here. Before arriving, he had learned that the Sanghwa Escort Agency members he met at the inn the previous night had gone missing after being attacked by bandits that morning.
"I remember. I'm sure I've seen you before."
The youngest-looking youth wasn't looking at Sama-geon, but at Cheolwoo. It had only been a fleeting encounter, yet Cheol-u's presence had left such a strong impression that it was impossible to forget his face.
"Are you from the Sanghwa Escort Agency?" Sima-Jian asked.
The youth nodded.
"Yes. I'm Jeong-ok. I work as a porter."
Though called a youth, he looked barely of age, with a still-boyish face. Seeing him, Sima-Jian was briefly reminded of himself when he had been even younger.
"Good to meet you. Come out."
When Jeong-ok stepped out of the prison without hesitation, the others followed in quick succession.
However, the people in the cells farther back did not come out.
"Why aren't you coming out? What are you all doing?" Cheol-u shouted, looking at those who remained motionless despite the open door. They offered no reply and stayed seated exactly as before.
Cheolwoo noticed that the gazes of several of them were fixed on Yukgeum. Seeing the fear clearly reflected in their eyes, he strode straight toward him.
Yuk-geum, who had been watching the situation in silent terror, began to tremble violently.
"Captain."
When Cheolwoo looked back, Sama-geon nodded without hesitation.
"If you're worried because of this worm, then don't."
Cheol-u pressed his foot down on Yuk-geum's shoulder.
"Please…" Yuk-geum begged desperately with his hands clasped together, but it was useless.
"This is the last bandit from Geumhochae Fortress still alive. And he's about to die too."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of bones shattering rang out, and Yuk-geum's body beneath Cheolwoo's foot was horrifically crushed. His life was snuffed out in an instant, but the scream he let out in that brief moment echoed through the underground prison for a long time.
"Now there's not a single one left who can threaten you. So come out already. How long are you planning to stay in this place? Isn't it filthy enough?"
Even after Yuk-geum's life had been ended, the people still hesitated, and Cheolwoo barked at them angrily.
"Is it really all right?" someone asked, his face pale with fear.
"Ah, seriously! Even after seeing—"
Just as Cheol-u was about to raise his voice again, Sima-Jian cut him off.
"They can't help being afraid. When you see your companions—your own blood—die right in front of you, this is only natural."
Gesturing for Cheolwoo to step back, Sama-geon entered the cell and supported the man who had spoken earlier.
"Let's go. Just as he said, not a single bandit from Geumho Fortress who could threaten you is left."
"R-really?" the man asked again, unable to believe it.
"Yes. Trust me."
With the brightest smile he could manage, Sima Jian reassured him, then gestured to those who had already left the cell.
"Don't just stand there watching. Come and help support him. He seems to be in pretty bad shape from being locked up for so long."
At Sama-geon's words, Jeong-ok moved first. But help was hardly needed. Trust finally took hold as they saw Sama-geon's sincere expression and heard his tone, and one by one, they began to rise and leave the prison.
"Thank you."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Those who had escaped the prison shed tears of joy, bowing their heads again and again toward Sima-Jian and Cheolwoo.
"We can do the greetings later. For now, it's better to get out of here," Sima-Jian said.
Everyone who had been imprisoned came outside.
Those who hadn't seen sunlight in a long time—and even those who had been dragged in only that morning—couldn't open their eyes easily.
It wasn't just the brightness of the sun, but also the fear that, once they opened their eyes, the present situation might turn out to be nothing more than a dream.
"Ah!"
A cry of overwhelmed emotion escaped from someone's lips.
From that moment on, all kinds of emotions burst forth like a flood.
One after another, they shouted with joy, embracing each other and shedding hot tears.
Sama-geon watched them with a relieved expression.
"Damn, why is the sunlight so harsh!" Cheolwoo muttered, scratching the back of his head and feigning indifference.
A surprisingly stylish smile bloomed on his rugged face.