Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Chapter 7: Foothold (7)
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“After reviewing the reports, it was beyond your capabilities. In fact, you could say the damage was relatively light. Not that it flies with Wa Emperor Pavilion right now.”
Peng Wol’s tone was even affectionate.
That was what terrified him.
Oho knew better than anyone that the Espionage Bureau Chief was not the kind of man one saw or heard about on the surface.
“It was simply because I was lacking…….”
“Again.”
Peng Wol cut Oho off.
Oho bowed his head and continued.
“As I mentioned, I made a wrong judgment due to insufficient information. I should have waited until things were certain.”
“I don’t want to hear words you’ve rehearsed over and over. Speak your true feelings.”
That was what Peng Wol said.
Oho’s pupils trembled.
“I failed to accurately grasp the enemy’s true nature…….”
“That’s not it.”
Peng Wol cut Oho off once more.
“Due to my negligence…….”
“You trusted the main family too much. That’s your negligence.”
“…….”
“You thought no one would dare draw a blade against us. So you handled it carelessly. Because we’re one of the Six Great Clans. In the worst case, you could just invoke the Peng family name. No one would fight back. That’s what you believed.”
“…Not entirely.”
“The jianghu is vast. There are plenty who charge at the Six Great Clans without fear. Clan pride? It’s an illusion. The other five clans look down on us.”
“But Peng Clan martial arts……!”
“You think we can beat any clan? Do you truly believe that?”
He didn’t know what words were coming next, and that was frightening.
But he truly hadn’t expected this question.
Oho answered.
“Of course, I believe it.”
“Don’t. The Peng Clan won’t protect you. Even the Espionage Bureau—myself included—will abandon you if you die. That’s the lesson you’ve learned this time.”
“I… understand.”
Oho lowered his head.
The Espionage Bureau Chief emphasized “myself.”
To hear such words from this man of all people.
Oho had to take a quiet, deep breath to steel his resolve.
This wasn’t the end. From the experiences he’d accumulated since memory began, Oho knew the next question was coming.
“And.”
Just as expected.
The Espionage Bureau Chief’s gaze was sharp as a freshly honed blade.
“Where did you divert Heavenly Guard?”
Oho raised his face.
He even countered with a question.
“Did even the Espionage Bureau know?”
It was a loaded question.
Did you alone know?
Or was it from an Espionage Bureau report?
“I know you. If that guy had really died, you’d be far more defiant. Yet you’ve been meekly lying low wherever you went.”
He’d guessed it.
Meaning it wasn’t official intelligence.
Oho felt relief.
“I apologize for not reporting it.”
He didn’t make excuses.
His opponent was none other than the Espionage Bureau Chief.
He couldn’t lie here, not even to save face. No matter how brazen Oho was, it was impossible before this man.
“Secrecy maintained?”
“No one knows. Only Short Staff and I.”
“Well done. I praise you.”
Unpredictable as always.
This wasn’t a man who handed out such words lightly.
Oho’s eyes widened.
“Heaven-Destroying Squad sent a transfer request for you. It’d be the right time to send you. The Espionage Bureau’s final operation will have a stain, but once the enemy forces’ outlines become clear later, even this Taiyuan Uprising mess will be reevaluated as your merit, not a fault. Add Heaven-Destroying Squad experience and cultivate Four Heroes-level martial arts, and aiming higher wouldn’t be impossible. Still, I judged Heaven-Destroying Squad suits your talents better for now.”
“I prefer the Espionage Bureau.”
“I figured. So I declined.”
Oho stayed silent.
This was the man’s way. His words twisted abruptly. Couldn’t follow the context.
Oho knew this better than anyone, yet still struggled.
“With Heavenly Guard’s ‘death,’ the friend-or-foe lines have solidified. Operation Subversion stalls without key personnel, and defection risks massive leaks. For those two reasons, Operation Subversion is officially scrapped. That’s the Espionage Bureau’s public stance. Raising the security level too. Access permissions will be bumped to special class equivalent under permanent seal.”
“Raising it to special means… it’s not fully scrapped.”
“Right. We’ll minimize personnel and restart solo under Espionage Bureau. On that note, expect a posting soon. Branch Chief Junyi, and you under him. I’ll fabricate a new identity for Heavenly Guard too.”
He’d thought the posting meant exile to the boonies.
Given Wa Emperor Pavilion elders’ fury, it made sense.
But he named Junyi.
Junyi.
Peng Junyi was an unremarkable talent who blended in. Nearly ten years as branch chief, no standout achievements. Evaluations called him steady, nothing more.
That was the surface.
Reality differed slightly. He was the Bureau Chief’s confidant, a hidden master. Few knew the truth. Only longtime associates guessed at his concealed prowess.
Placing Oho under such a Peng Junyi.
It meant direct management under the Bureau Chief from now on in the Espionage Bureau. Thus, calling it disciplinary demotion felt ambiguous.
“…….”
Oho gave up preempting and awaited the next words.
“Take it.”
As Oho stayed quiet, the Espionage Bureau Chief placed a book on the table. Oho approached respectfully and took it.
“Unnamed Blade. Its name truly undecided, as the words imply.”
It was a single martial arts manual.
Blade techniques, incantations, countless illustrations filled the thick volume.
“This restarts Operation Subversion. Advances it to the next stage. You’ll see if you examine it properly, but it’s no systematic martial art. More a miscellany of fragmentary ideas. A jumble book of blades. Give it to Heavenly Guard. You know what to do. I’ll attach Short Staff too, so make something with the three of you.”
With that, the Espionage Bureau Chief ended the talk.
Oho bowed at the waist in salute, then left the Espionage Bureau.
“Huuuuh.”
A held-back sigh escaped long.
It had been exhausting.
Close yet distant, suffocating.
Still, inside the main family, best not complain.
‘Now what…….’
The book in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand catties. He knew it carried harsh expectations.
Somehow, he had to make it work.
Oho moved his feet.
His steps dragged slowly, as if pulled.
* * *
“Short Staff is here.”
“Yeah, what kept you so busy? Back at the main house for once, but you barely visit.”
“You kept summoning me nonstop. And the busy one is you, Father.”
When Oho left the Espionage Bureau, Short Staff was at the Resource Division.
The conversation’s warmth differed sharply from Oho’s.
Short Staff’s father, Peng Geumseong, was Resource Division Chief.
Tall and sturdy, even bigger than Short Staff. Past fifty, but his clear, firm skin made him look late thirties at first glance.
His silk robes were luxury goods from Guangdong Jiang Golden Merchant House, but his innate dignity made the ornate silk seem subdued.
His status and position warranted it.
The Resource Division symbolized the Peng Clan’s financial power. Meaning he managed the clan’s wealth. Not a job for just anyone.
Resource Division Chief required the highest commercial talent from birth. Thus, Peng Geumseong handled the clan’s immense riches while amassing his own fortune.
“Dear, Short Staff is here.”
“Oh my, it’s been days.”
A woman entered the reception room, smiling.
The room seemed to brighten instantly.
Small face, white as jade. A northern beauty. Short Staff’s birth mother, who’d carried him nine months; nearing fifty soon, yet didn’t look it. Slender lines, yet seductive curves. Dignity and allure perfectly blended. She looked far younger than her sufficiently youthful husband—enough to pass for Short Staff’s peer.
“You look as radiant as ever.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
The woman’s name was Yeon Gyohwa.
Once called Tang Mountain’s Top Beauty, Peng Clan’s Top Beauty after marriage. She too wore silk selected by Guangdong Jiang Golden Merchant House. With the chill, fine sable fur draped her shoulders. Even her attire was flawless.
“Of course.”
Short Staff’s reply was soft yet dry.
“Hee hee, this boy.”
Yeon Gyohwa laughed like a girl.
She stepped lightly, sitting beside Peng Geumseong. Leaning slightly toward him, her delicate hands adjusted his collar.
“Did you go around Suncheon Prefecture dressed like that?”
She chided with a smiling eye-curve.
“Northern merchants are rough. They wouldn’t even know what this outfit originally looked like.”
Peng Geumseong smiled warmly.
Like a painting. The couple seated together was breathtakingly beautiful.
“I heard you summoned me for something important.”
Short Staff shattered the warm mood with a stiff tone.
Short Staff had removed his wig, wearing fine brocade robes.
His face resembled his mother’s.
In many ways, the perfect parents and somewhat rebellious son made a highly plausible great clan family portrait. If commoners imagined noble house life, it’d be this. The following talk matched.
“Yes. Short Staff, I investigated the Flame Jade Merchant Guild matter separately. As you said, though they suffered disaster, they hold considerable assets only Flame Guildmaster can wield. Duty to the main gate aside, aiding Flame Guildmaster makes sense practically too.”
“Wise judgment.”
“But we have concerns.”
Peng Geumseong glanced at his wife as he spoke.
“What is it?”
Short Staff asked.
Yeon Gyohwa answered.
“There are rumors among merchant guilds in the Central Plains southwest of a masked group, some shadowy faction. Seems deeply tied to Flame Jade Merchant Guild.”
She spoke of jianghu affairs so naturally.
That was Peng Clan’s Top Beauty, Yeon Gyohwa.
Yeon Gyohwa freely came and went in the Resource Division Chief’s reception and office.
Meaning she was no mere chief’s wife.