Chapter 314: The Fire in Chang’an (16)

So go ahead and report me if you think you can.

Nam Munseong flinched—then froze.

Because she was right, and he knew it.

And because the look in her eyes held such savage intent that his heart dropped in dread. This wasn’t just about being accused—this was about erasure, root and stem.

“You bitch! You bitch! What lawless nonsense are you spewing, you— ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you filthy bitch!”

Once the words ran dry, all he had left to fling were curses.

Gods. How am I supposed to hold back after that?

Cheong wavered under a huge temptation—

—then finally gave in to the rising impulse and let the words fly.

“Bitch or witch, pick whichever one you like. But let’s not drag this out. Instead, how about you bring that daughter of yours—the one who deserves to die—and make her kneel in front of me right now?”

“Khmm...”

Nam Munseong racked his brain, desperate.

All he needed was to get through this moment.

It was true—he was close with the Provincial Inspector.

In fact, next year, his second son was set to marry the Inspector’s famously ugly daughter, a source of great family distress.

This was the kind of situation where, if they just got rid of the witnesses and went through the motions of an “official investigation,” the whole thing could quietly fade away.

The gold they made from the flood control project, plus the rest of the family fortune—if they greased the right palms in Henan, this could all be buried like nothing had ever happened.

After all, what was one little backwater town like Naknyeong worth?

“Now, now, I think there’s been a misunderstanding—”

“And who the hell are you to decide that? What, you had a hand in stealing the construction materials too? So what is it—wasn’t the daughter, huh? You’re saying the Guildmaster himself tried to drown Naknyeong?”

“N-No, you’re misunderstanding! Please, let’s not escalate this. Let’s talk things over—just you and me. Yes?”

We all know what “just you and me” means.

Cheong snorted.

“Listen, old man. I spent over forty gwan of gold on Naknyeong’s relief effort. That was everything I had. If I’d had more, I would’ve spent that too.

You think I’m doing this to get something out of it? Don’t even try to smooth-talk your way out of this. Bring me that wretched bitch of a daughter of yours, now.”

A ripple of admiration ran through the crowd.

She spent her entire fortune on Naknyeong?

Some had already heard the rumors—of the “Celestial Lady of Naknyeong,” of a fairy descended to their flooded lands.

Though, of course, the Green Forest outlaws might feel it was a little unfair.

But when you live by the blade, you have no right to complain when your loot gets taken—

—especially not if you used to laugh when others lost theirs.

“You don’t understand me? Listen, old man. Did you outsource parenting to a dog? Or maybe a brothel? I don’t know about your other kids, but at least your daughter turned out to be a raging demon in human skin.

If you want to preserve even a shred of your household’s dignity, then bring her here. Now.”

“H-How dare you! Do you have any idea who I am!?”

“Oh no, are you gonna hit me? Come on, try it. There’s a sword-wielding bandit right here—use your precious wealth to smack me around if that’s what you think will work.”

Cheong flicked her sword aura on and off with a smug smirk.

If strength could be measured by spite alone, then at this very moment, Nam Munseong could’ve been the strongest man under heaven.

But the blade was close, and the law—while also close—wasn’t quite that close.

At least, not for someone as rich as Nam Munseong.

Law is the greatest monster in the world—

—but only to those who have nothing.

To those who do have something, law was a loyal, groveling lapdog—one that pissed itself and rolled over to show its belly.

But this was the Central Plains.

And here, there were swords.

A sword pressed to your throat would stop even the most sacred and despicable of law’s protectors.

“You’re not afraid of the consequences!?”

That was all he could muster?

Cheong snorted and replied.

“Curious? Then why don’t you become a supreme-level martial master too? Shoot some sword aura, grow some balls—it helps.”

“Urgh...”

Nam Munseong staggered.

Tears of fury and helplessness stung his eyes—

“Aww, is the old man crying?”

He was crying.

But Cheong showed no mercy.

“Everyone! Do you see these tears!? This wrinkled monster who devoured the lives of three thousand people is crying—because he feels wronged!

If it weren’t for me, if it weren’t for you heroes of Chang’an gathered here, this heinous, unspeakable evil would’ve stayed buried forever!

It is thanks to all of you that we’ve brought this crime to light!”

“DAMN RIGHT!!”

The fervent faithful shouted in unison—

—and like wildfire, the crowd erupted with a thunderous roar that shook the skies.

At that, Nam Munseong snapped out of it.

This wasn’t just about losing his fortune—

His entire family line was on the brink of annihilation.

From the beginning, Cheong had demanded only one thing: the girl from Jangheung Guild.

In other words, she was telling him to cut off the tail and save the body.

But she was his darling daughter. The baby of the family.

He had three sons and one daughter—and she was the most beautiful, the most precious.

And yet—

What choice did he have?

If sparing her meant doom for them all... then he would sacrifice her.

And avenge her later.

That’s the kind of cold-hearted resolve it took to climb to the top.

“Listen to me, everyone! I will speak honestly!

The flood control project—from start to finish—was conducted solely by my daughter.

I swear to Heaven and my ancestors, I didn’t so much as offer a coin or a word of advice!

We were in the midst of deciding who would inherit the guild, and I wanted to keep things fair!”

The crowd eyed him with suspicion.

“You may doubt me—but those who’ve done business with Jangheung Guild know it’s true.

Each of my four children runs their own division. You’ve seen it yourselves!”

He knew nothing.

The other children knew nothing.

It was all the daughter’s doing.

And, oddly enough, that was the truth.

He had already announced that the guild would be passed on to the child who made the highest profits by the year after next—

—so he had genuinely withdrawn from the daughter’s business dealings.

A murmur of assent spread through the crowd.

The merchants of Chang’an knew the inner workings of Jangheung Guild better than anyone.

There had already been gossip—about which child to back, about who to make friends with before the decision was final.

Cheong had keen ears.

Huh. So he really didn’t know. This wasn’t tail-cutting. He genuinely had no idea.

Then why the hell was his karmic stench so thick?

Just how foul must his life have been up to now?

Wouldn’t the world be better off if he were dead anyway?

But Cheong let go of her killing intent.

Just because someone could be killed didn’t mean they should be.

And if she drew blood here, the crowd might lose all reason and become a looting mob in seconds.

Cheong understood the limits of Central Plains people now.

And if it came to that, then the fault wouldn’t lie with the mob—

It would be hers. She was the one who led them here.

Besides—

Even if the Guildmaster was a bastard who deserved to die, there were still innocent people among the gatekeepers and staff staring in fear.

So, a little while later—

There she was.

Dragged forward, arms pinned by servants, flailing helplessly—

The young lady of Jangheung Guild.

And Cheong met her at last.

“Let go of me! How dare you—KYAA!”

Whether the servants let go because she told them to, or because she was nothing more than a piece of cargo that had reached its destination—

Well, anyone could guess the answer.

Cheong looked at her.

A pretty woman.

Not some two-headed monster, not a four-eyed freak—just another girl you might turn your head for in the street.

Even after devouring three thousand lives.

And her karma—four digits.

Hm. Almost like Eonyeong’s, isn’t it?

Wait—

Does that mean Eonyeong had already racked up three thousand souls back then?

Did she destroy a river too?

How the hell...?

“I—I’m innocent!”

Her teary voice broke Cheong’s thoughts.

She looked down coldly at the girl crying on the ground.

What was this? The “Tears of Truth”?

Real tears = Real innocence?

Cheong’s head tilted slightly.

“Innocent?”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I—I would never... I mean, how could I ever seek personal profit from a divine project decreed by His Majesty himself?

I even said it was fine to take a loss if it meant obeying Heaven’s will!”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Wait, what? That’s different from what the master carpenters said...

So who’s telling the truth?

“Funny. Because the master carpenters said you gave the order personally.

Said you told them to divert half the materials.”

“That’s a lie! I would never issue such a wicked order! Truly!

But—but I’ll confess my sins to you all!”

What now? A sudden confessional?

Cheong crossed her arms—then stopped.

Wait. Didn’t I swear off crossing my arms?

It was too damn comfortable.

Arms under the chest, fat sitting just right, shoulders relaxed—

It was as comfy as dropping your military pack after a long march.

But it looked ridiculous.

She’d always avoided it on principle.

So she let her arms fall and looked down at the young lady with an indifferent glare.

Go ahead. Try me.

“When I heard the embankment had collapsed... that’s when I realized there had been problems with the project.

I discovered that the carpenters had stolen materials without my knowledge, assuming that, as a woman, I wouldn’t notice.

But I—I was too scared.

Too scared of what would happen if it got out.

So I... I sent assassins. That is my sin.”

I never profited from the stolen materials.

I even told them to do a proper job, even if it cost more.

But the carpenters didn’t listen. Because I’m a woman.

And when I found out... I got scared.

So I hired killers. That’s my only crime.

Cheong, honestly, was impressed.

Damn. That’s slick.

Is that the kind of brain you grow as the daughter of Shaanxi’s top guild?

But admiration was admiration—

“Oh, I see.

So this ‘innocent’ young lady—

when Naknyeong was flooded, she didn’t offer relief, she raised the price of grain fifty-fold and told people to go into debt?”

“I never gave that order!”

“So you knew they were charging fifty times more and just looked the other way?

You were afraid of becoming the villain, so you let three thousand people die and just watched?”

“That...”

The girl trembled. Her eyes darted, panicked—

—and she burst into tears again.

“I was wrong!

I-I didn’t understand, I was too young, too foolish—

I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

Wow.

Cry first. Appeal with tears.

Deny the real crime, admit to a lesser one, and top it off with “I’m just a naive girl.”

The full set.

Cheong had to hand it to her.

That was textbook damage control.

“Sure. Thanks for that.”

She walked up to the girl.

As her shadow fell over her, the girl—sobbing with her face to the floor—looked up.

And Cheong answered her with the top of her foot.

With a clean, brutal kick, she smashed her instep across the girl’s cheek.

A crack! rang out as shattered teeth flew through the air.

The teeth must have finally had enough of serving such a vile master—

and had chosen to make a run for it.