Chapter 1640
Even Beasts Know Gratitude (5)
His entire field of vision was red.
There was nothing that was not red—though perhaps that was not the most accurate way to describe it.
On a night of the new moon, when not even moonlight remained to illuminate the sky, roaring flames dyed the darkness crimson. The sight was so vivid, so grotesquely unreal, that it burned itself into Ho Gamyeong's eyes like a brand of molten iron.
Screams filled the air.
Wails. Please. Despair.
The fire devoured everything, growing brighter and brighter, as though the sun—having abandoned the heavens—had descended here instead.
Staring at the flames in a daze, Ho Gamyeong found the scene strangely comical.
Was it really this easy?
Could it truly be done so simply?
It was baffling.
Despite committing countless atrocities, they had lived without the slightest preparation for the blades that would one day be aimed at them.
They had never even imagined such a thing—despite the mountains of resentment they had piled beneath their feet.
The thought made Ho Gamyeong laugh bitterly.
"Aaaah!"
Another scream tore through the night, soaked in terror and resentment.
What right did they have to feel wronged?
Compared to the lives they had trampled, being torn apart like this was still not enough. How different could the world they lived in be from the one he had endured?
Acrid smoke stung his nose. The stench of blood mixed into it, thick enough to make him retch. It clung to his clothes—no, to his skin itself.
"Ugh! Aaaaah!"
At that moment, a furious shout cut through the chaos.
Ho Gamyeong turned.
Jang Ilso was stepping out through the manor's wide-open gate, dragging someone by the hair.
"L-Let go! Let go, you madman! Do you even know who I am?!"
The obese old man flailed desperately, his dignity long since stripped away. Ho Gamyeong recognized him instantly.
Jang Ilso asked indifferently,
"Is this the one you wanted?"
Ho Gamyeong nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving the old man.
Jang Ilso tossed him forward like discarded refuse.
Crash!
"Ugh… ugh…"
The old man groaned, struggling to lift his head. When he finally did, his eyes met Ho Gamyeong's.
"You… you're…"
For a fleeting instant, despair, humiliation, and fear flickered across his face.
Then arrogance reclaimed its place.
"Who are you?"
"…"
Ho Gamyeong found himself unable to speak.
When anger reaches a certain point, words simply vanish.
Seeing his silence, the old man grew bolder—furious, triumphant.
"You wretch! Do you think you can get away with this?!"
He did not know.
Even now, he did not understand.
Ho Gamyeong had not expected repentance—but he had at least thought the man would recognize him. He had imagined caution, wariness, perhaps even fear.
He had prepared answers. Considered the prince, the political leverage, and the countless cards this man might play.
All of it was meaningless.
"It doesn't matter who you are," the old man barked. "You've read a few books, haven't you? Then you should know who I am! You should understand how reckless this is!"
Ho Gamyeong laughed.
Not in bravado.
In disbelief.
"Wangsa…"
How could he not know?
Even if the title of royal teacher was hollow, this was a man who had survived decades of vicious court intrigue.
So how could he be so foolish—so blind—to his own situation?
The more Ho Gamyeong thought about it, the harder it became to suppress his laughter.
Yes. It made sense.
People never imagine they can be killed by ants.
Even as they die, they search for another cause.
To this man, Ho Gamyeong and his family had been nothing more than insects.
Ants.
That was why he could crush their nest without thought—and sleep soundly afterward.
"Withdraw now!" Wangsa shouted. "Beg for forgiveness, and I might spare you!"
"…"
"If you don't, your entire family will suffer death by a thousand cuts! This is no empty threat!"
Ho Gamyeong laughed.
"No," he cried.
Had his family truly perished because of the greed of someone so small?
During his studies, Wangsa had been a lofty figure—almost sacred.
Now, stripped bare, he was nothing more than a bloated, ugly old man.
Ho Gamyeong finally spoke.
"How will you destroy my family?"
"…What?"
"My relatives are already dead. Will you dig up their graves and trample their bones?"
Wangsa's eyes wavered.
"It's unfortunate, Wangsa."
"Y-You…"
Terror finally took hold.
"W-Wait! What do you want?!"
"I can give you anything! Rank! Wealth! Power! Pleasure! But if I die, you will be hunted forever!"
Wangsa crawled forward and clutched Ho Gamyeong's pants.
"Think carefully! What's already lost can't be helped!"
Ho Gamyeong looked down at him coldly.
"What meaning is there in surviving like that?"
"…"
"Your family has already been executed. What value is there in you living alone, waiting for death? Wouldn't it be better to die here with dignity?"
Wangsa's face twisted violently.
"You don't understand! Without me, my family has no value! I can rebuild everything as long as I live!"
Ho Gamyeong recognized the expression.
Pure greed.
"So save me!" Wangsa cried. "You lost your family too! We can become each other's family!"
"…Family?"
Encouraged, Wangsa nodded frantically.
"Become my adopted son! You'll inherit everything! Restore your family's honor!"
His grip tightened.
Ho Gamyeong stared at the hand.
Then—
Thud.
A dagger landed beside them.
"Not a bad offer."
Jang Ilso stood there, lips curled.
"…You think so?"
"I do."
He sneered.
"He doesn't hold grudges. He needs someone capable. Make the promise, and everything becomes yours."
Ho Gamyeong's gaze darkened.
"No matter how much revenge you take," Jang Ilso continued, "the dead won't return. All that remains is your resentment."
"To me," he mocked, "this seems more than fair."
Ho Gamyeong asked quietly,
"Are you satisfied with this?"
"As long as I get my due."
Jang Ilso smiled.
"If you end it here, I avoid future trouble. That was the deal."
Ho Gamyeong looked back at Wangsa.
Hope flickered in the old man's eyes.
After a long silence, Ho Gamyeong spoke.
"…It is a good offer."
"Then—!"
"Thanks to you, I finally understand how foolish I've been."
"W-What?"
"Wangsa. Remember this."
His voice was calm.
"My name is Ho Gamyeong."
"Ho—"
Flash!
Crunch!
The dagger tore into Wangsa's shoulder.
"Aaaaaaargh!"
Blood sprayed across Ho Gamyeong's face.
"You think you can pay with something like that?"
"Aaagh!"
Ho Gamyeong seized his hair.
"Remember this."
His eyes burned.
"A deal only works when both sides offer something truly desirable."
He ripped the dagger free and reversed his grip.
"Sixty-seven lives."
He leaned in.
"So please—"
"…S-Spare—"
"Don't die easily."
Flash!
The dagger plunged into Wangsa's abdomen.
Screams filled the night—hideous, endless.
Jang Ilso watched in silence, a twisted smile spreading across his lips.
It resembled the new moon—
finally slipping free from behind the clouds.