Chapter 147: Trap-2
Chapter 147: Trap-2
A few days after Seonwoo Jung declared that he would send Seonwoo Yeon-ha to marry into Gaeyangmun, he once again summoned everyone.
This time, it was not only the Seonwoo family members but also the elders, the daeju, and even the people of the Jegal Clan—all gathered together.
And before them, he made yet another bombshell declaration.
"A few days ago, I sent a letter to Gaeyangmun asking them to find a young man suitable for our Yeon-ha to marry. And today, their reply arrived. According to the reply, it seems Gaeyangmun has already selected several suitable young men."
Those who heard this exchanged glances with startled eyes.
Not only the elders and daeju who were hearing this for the first time today, but even those who had heard the bombshell declaration days ago found the pace of progress so rapid it made their heads spin.
And Seonwoo Jung's words continued further.
"I therefore intend to send Yeon-ha to Gaeyangmun in person this time. Yeon-ha, you shall go to Gaeyangmun, meet with them, and choose a suitable young man yourself."
Seonwoo Jung's words were enough to startle everyone.
But no one could have been as shocked as Seonwoo Yeon-ha.
The reply from her maternal grandfather had not even arrived yet, and yet matters were proceeding at such a breakneck pace.
At this moment, she felt as though she had been struck by a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky.
Her face turned utterly pale, and she could give no answer at all.
But despite Seonwoo Yeon-ha's reaction, Seonwoo Jung no longer spared her his gaze.
He simply turned his eyes back to his eldest son, Seonwoo Seong, and said the following.
"This time, Seong, you shall accompany Yeon-ha to Gaeyangmun. It would be proper for me to go along, but with so many affairs in the clan, it seems utterly impossible. What do you say? As the acting family head, can you go in my stead?"
Upon hearing that question, Seonwoo Seong's face brightened radiantly.
An errand undertaken as the acting family head—there was no way Seonwoo Seong would refuse such a thing.
He answered at once with confidence.
"Yes! Of course, Father!"
Seonwoo Yeon-ha found herself looking toward her fourth older brother, Seonwoo Gi, with a dazed expression.
But he merely cleared his throat and avoided her gaze.
All of this felt far too much like a dream to her.
A bad dream she desperately wished to wake from.
But despite her fervent hopes, the dream continued on.
At that moment, the third son, Seonwoo Jin, asked with a bright expression.
"Father! Would it be all right if I went along as well?!"
Seonwoo Jung then asked with a puzzled expression.
"Hm? You, Jin? You?"
At his sudden question, the other family members all furrowed their brows.
Their expressions read, 'What nonsense is that idiot trying to spout now?'
However, rebuking him while he was in the middle of speaking with Seonwoo Jung was a burdensome prospect.
So they all simply watched the exchange without a word.
Then Seonwoo Jin, looking oddly elated, spoke with an innocent face.
"When Yeon-ha chooses her match, I really want to be there by her side, Father!"
At his answer, the entire family sneered with expressions of utter disdain.
What was Seonwoo Jin, of all people, to be offering to stay by Seonwoo Yeon-ha's side as she chose a husband?
But at his absurd request, only his father, Seonwoo Jung, showed a pleased smile.
"Jin, your heart for your younger sister is truly great. Very well, do so."
At Seonwoo Jung's unexpectedly positive response, the family members could only wear awkward expressions.
They had never imagined that Seonwoo Jung would grant such a request.
Then Seonwoo Jin added one more remark.
"How about having Miss Jegal come along as well? Since she will be sparring with Seong hyung-nim anyway, wouldn't it be nice for her to see Gaeyangmun, hyung-nim's maternal family home?"
At that sudden suggestion, everyone's gazes instantly shot toward Jegal Seoyul.
And the change in expression on Seonwoo Seong's face—who had been frowning at the prospect of going together with Seonwoo Jin—was especially dramatic.
He hastily exclaimed.
"Oh! I think that is a splendid idea!"
Going to Gaeyangmun together with Jegal Seoyul—just the thought of it made for a journey too wonderful to imagine.
At least for this moment, Seonwoo Jin had never looked so endearing to him.
Then Jegal Seoyul, flustered by the gazes suddenly directed at her, abruptly looked at Seonwoo Jin.
At that detestable face of his, smiling on the surface as if he were the most innocent soul in the world, with no way to tell what he was scheming this time.
His eyes seemed to be asking, as if to say:
'Well then, do you have the nerve to follow me, my lady?'
For some reason, Jegal Seoyul now found herself growing angry just from seeing his face.
She wanted to smash that mask of his somehow.
And so Jegal Seoyul, who had been grinding her teeth in secret, finally nodded.
"Yes, it sounds interesting. I shall visit Gaeyangmun as well."
"Ooooh! A fine decision, my lady!"
Seonwoo Seong could not help but let out a cheer.
The fourth son, Seonwoo Gi, tried to say he would go along too, but when his eyes met Seonwoo Yeon-ha's, he could not bring himself to say the words.
And behind them, Seonwoo Jin wore a meaningful smile.
He had succeeded in bringing the Jegal Clan along as observers for the fishing expedition to draw in the Blood Cult.
He was deeply curious to see how the Jegal Clan would act once they learned of the Blood Cult's existence that had seized control of the Un Clan.
And also, how Seonwoo Yeon-ha—who must be thinking she had been driven to the edge of a cliff—would act as well.
***
"Why? Why is there no contact at all?"
Seonwoo Yeon-ha was holed up in her room, biting her fingernails and muttering those words over and over.
Last time, the reply had seemed to come back right away, but—perhaps it was just her imagination—this time the reply was far too delayed.
"There truly is no time left now..."
Seonwoo Jung had already ordered her to depart for Gaeyangmun in two days' time.
So if things were delayed any further, even if a reply came from the Un Clan, it might be of no use at all.
It was then.
From beyond the door leading to the rear courtyard connected to her room, a low, quiet voice suddenly reached her ears.
"Young Lady Yeon-ha. Your maternal grandfather has sent me."
"!"
She bolted upright.
The contact she had been waiting for had finally come.
She could not have been more relieved.
She sprang up and tried to rush outside.
But the voice immediately stopped her.
"Please speak quietly from there. Others may overhear."
Seonwoo Yeon-ha, who had paused at those words, nodded in agreement.
A situation where someone else found out was something that absolutely could not happen.
Then it suddenly occurred to her that last time, he had not come in this manner.
But her mind was too frantic to think that through in detail.
The voice asked again.
"Your maternal grandfather asked what kind of help you need."
At that low, quiet question, Seonwoo Yeon-ha, choking with emotion, snapped back in a small but irritated voice.
"You're asking because you don't know?! They're saying they'll marry me off to someone from Gaeyangmun! We have to stop it!"
Then the voice asked again.
"So you are asking us to prevent the marriage to Gaeyangmun. In what manner do you mean?"
At his counter-question, Seonwoo Yeon-ha answered as if dumbfounded.
"Ha! That is for you people to figure out! You handled it well enough on your own back then, didn't you!"
Then the voice, which had been silent for a moment, asked again.
"By 'back then,' do you mean as when we killed Dan Ha-sang of the Dan family estate?"
At that question, Seonwoo Yeon-ha answered with a venomous expression.
"Yes, Dan Ha-sang. Like when you killed him and framed that idiot for it."
The memory of when her third older brother, that idiot, had been making a fuss about marrying her off to his friend suddenly came to mind.
How utterly dumbfounding that had been.
At that time, Seonwoo Yeon-ha had demanded that the person from the Un Clan who offered to kill Dan Ha-sang should pin the blame on Seonwoo Jin.
So that Seonwoo Jin could never do such a thing again.
The voice beyond the door then answered.
"Understood. I shall have the matter handled accordingly."
And then his presence completely vanished.
He had likely departed.
"Haaaaah!"
Only now could Seonwoo Yeon-ha let out a sigh of relief.
She did not doubt in the slightest that, just like back then, everything would be handled cleanly.
***
At that same moment, beyond the wall of her rear courtyard, three men were gathered with grave expressions, speaking among themselves.
One of them, Seonwoo Jin, spoke.
"You have endured much, Dan hyung-nim. It must have been terribly difficult to bear..."
At that, Dan Ha-seon, the eldest young master of the Dan family estate who had been exchanging words with Seonwoo Yeon-ha just moments before, shook his head with a hollow laugh.
"Not at all. Could it have been as hard as what you went through, being falsely accused of killing your own friend? You have suffered greatly all this time."
Seonwoo Jin had already, through No Sam-ryong of the Hao Gate's Jinjak branch, requested a reinvestigation of the incident surrounding Dan Ha-sang's death back then.
And No Sam-ryong had been able to trace back Jeom So-i and the gisaeng who had been bribed at that time, revealing that the Un clan's hand had been involved in the incident.
He had finally found the true culprit who had killed Seonwoo Jin's friend, Dan Ha-sang.
But even so, questions still remained.
'Elder Yo Du-myeon of the Sa clan, who was cooperating with the Un clan, knew absolutely nothing about this. Even though we clearly would have fed them the information and had them make the move.'
Elder Yo Du-myeon, who was currently known to be bedridden with illness, was in fact imprisoned in a secret location.
To deceive the Un clan, the fact that he was a traitor had not been made public.
But after discovering that he knew nothing of Dan Ha-sang's death, Seonwoo Jin had judged that there was yet another person besides Yo Du-myeon who was in contact with the Un clan.
And he had singled out three likely suspects.
'The Fifth Mother, Madam Un, the Sin Eung-sam Daeju Gong Do-gyeong, and Yeon-ha. It had to be one of these three.'
That was why Seonwoo Jin had made Seonwoo Jung first declare before the family that Seonwoo Yeon-ha would be married off.
To first confirm the actions of Madam Un and Seonwoo Yeon-ha.
And following Seonwoo Yeon-ha, whose gaze had been unsettling at that moment, Seonwoo Jin had at last been able to personally witness her sending a messenger pigeon and Jeok Ma-hyeok intercepting it.
He had finally found the other line connected to the Un clan.
Seonwoo Jung, who had been standing outside the wall with a grave expression, suddenly let out a sigh and spoke.
"It is all my fault. My inadequacy killed your younger brother and framed Jin-i. I do not know how I can possibly atone."
At those words, Dan Ha-seon shook his head and comforted him.
"No, Seonwoo Gaju-nim. Now that the unjust death has been brought to light, Ha-sang can rest in peace. Of course... I will have my revenge."
At his words, Seonwoo Jung also nodded, his eyes sharp.
"Yes, naturally there must be revenge. If you wish to take revenge on Yeon-ha right now, I can hand her over to you. Even if you tear her to pieces, I will harbor no resentment."
Then Dan Ha-seon shook his head and answered.
"My heart wants to do just that, but... I believe Jin-i's plan takes priority. Killing that child alone would not constitute true revenge."
With those words, Dan Ha-seon and Seonwoo Jung looked at Seonwoo Jin. Their gazes held the question of what to do now.
At that, Seonwoo Jin bowed his head deeply toward Dan Ha-seon and said.
"It cannot be easy to endure with your enemy before you. I am truly grateful, Hyeong-nim Ha-seon. This junior brother will ensure that you can have revenge upon all your enemies."
At Seonwoo Jin's promise, Dan Ha-seon nodded, his eyes burning with fervor.
"I will trust you."
***
The office of the Un clan in Geumsa, Guizhou City.
Gu Yu-sang, a man with jade-like features who had once been called the White Jade Dragon, the foremost young master of Sichuan, was reading a report sent by No Sam-ryong, the branch leader of the Hao Gate in Gwiyang, in his office.
"They intend to send Seonwoo Yeon-ha to Gaeyangmun in marriage, he says."
A sinister smile traced across the lips of Gu Yu-sang as he muttered those words.
Then Chuk Ho-tak, the Hell's Blood Monk standing beside him, spoke.
"Yes, it appears they will send her directly to Gaeyangmun to choose a groom. The intent is likely to eliminate the Un clan's influence within the Seonwoo family. It would also have the effect of strengthening the legitimacy of the firstborn, that Seonwoo Seong fellow. It seems their family head, the one called Seonwoo Jung, has been making proper moves. Given his skill in swallowing the Ha clan recently, he appears to be a man of considerable ability."
At those words, Gu Yu-sang slowly nodded as well.
"Indeed, seeing him maneuver things this far, he is certainly a capable man. The way he used the Jegal clan to create a justification, even though they did nothing in particular, was also noteworthy. And besides... I find it rather strange that this information has leaked so easily and so quickly. Does it not seem as if he is waiting for us to hear of it swiftly and react?"
Then Chuk Ho-tak, the Hell's Blood Monk, asked with a puzzled expression.
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
At his question, Gu Yu-sang began to unravel his thoughts as if speaking to himself.
"Looking just at the content, it is a series of moves to push Seonwoo Seong as the successor. But the information spread far too easily. It is news that should have been kept far more thoroughly under wraps, especially considering the Un clan would naturally resist."
Then he smiled as if amused and continued.
"Isn't it almost as if he's urging the Un clan to move quickly? Moreover, the leading successor candidate, Seonwoo Seong, will soon take Seonwoo Yeon-ha and head to Gaeyangmun? Does it not look exactly like he's holding a ritual feast, begging his rivals to attack?"
"Then what does Gongja-nim mean to say?"
Gu Yu-sang's eyes flashed as he answered.
"To my eyes, it somehow looks like he intends to make Gaeyangmun and the Un clan bleed each other white. To eliminate all external forces that could influence the Seonwoo family."
"Hmm."
At Gu Yu-sang's words, Chuk Ho-tak fell silent in thought for a moment, then carefully spoke up again.
"But... wouldn't that cause even the firstborn, Seonwoo Seong, to fall as well? If even he is eliminated, the only one left to become the successor of the Seonwoo family would be the fourth child, Seonwoo Gi, who is connected to the Seogidang. Surely Seonwoo Jung cannot be unaware that the Seogidang has allied with the Un clan? Also, the timing is too close for it to be a leak intended to provoke an attack on Seonwoo Seong. It seems to be tomorrow—isn't the time far too short to prepare an ambush?"
At his question, Gu Yu-sang's lips drew another sinister smile.
"Yes, there isn't enough time to ambush them on the way. Unless they attack Gaeyangmun itself outright."
"That is so. But unless they knew that we have taken control of the Un clan, it would not be easy for them to imagine that the Un clan would attack Gaeyangmun."
At that moment, No Jo-song, the Bloodsucking Demon, who had kept out of such conversation because he was not one for using his head, cautiously asked.
"But doesn't the Seonwoo family have one more son? The one who came on leave from the frontlines. What if they intend to make that one the successor...?"
Then Gu Yu-sang smirked and retorted.
"Another son? You mean that worm-like creature named Seonwoo Jin?"
In his mind, the pathetic image of Seonwoo Jin he had seen that time suddenly surfaced.
Getting beaten miserably by his younger sister and running to Seonwoo Yeon-ha with a face on the verge of tears.
Gu Yu-sang shook his head and spoke to No Jo-song.
"I have seen that fellow with my own eyes. Unless Seonwoo Jung has gone mad, I hardly think he has marked such a wretch as his successor."
"Ah, i-is that so?"
As No Jo-song scratched his head and stepped back, Chuk Ho-tak asked Gu Yu-sang.
"So what will you do? Shall we give up on the Seonwoo family?"
Then Gu Yu-sang answered with a faint smile.
"That cannot be. Did I not report to the Supreme One that I would soon take over the Seonwoo family? Furthermore, I haven't yet held my adorable little kitten in my arms—I cannot give her to another man."
"Then?"
Gu Yu-sang's eyes suddenly flashed fiercely as he spoke.
"For now, we shall play along with his intentions. No Jo-song!"
"Yes, Gongja-nim."
"Take about five peak-level experts and warriors and go to Gaeyangmun. Go there and ensure that place and the one called Seonwoo Seong are utterly erased!"
"Yes, Gongja-nim!"
No Jo-song, the Bloodsucking Demon, was a master with over ninety years of internal energy.
If such a man led five peak-level experts and other warriors, a place like Gaeyangmun, which did not have a single peak-level expert, would surely be wiped out in an instant.
Then Chuk Ho-tak, the Hell's Blood Monk who thirsted for the taste of blood, asked cautiously.
"Gongja-nim, then what of me...?"
At his question, Gu Yu-sang smiled a bloody smile.
"Chuk Ho-tak, you shall take the remaining peak-level experts and go to the Seonwoo family."
At those words, Chuk Ho-tak asked with a baffled expression.
"Pardon? To the Seonwoo family, you say?"
"Yes. Should we not make them pay the price for daring to try to mock us? Go and ensure that one called Seonwoo Jung can no longer work his schemes."
Hearing those words, Chuk Ho-tak's face brightened.
"Yes! Understood!"
"Ah, it is fine to rampage to your heart's content, but you must leave the shells intact for us to use."
Gu Yu-sang did not doubt for a moment that the orders he had given would be carried out exactly as intended.
After all, the Bloodsucking Demon No Jo-song, who neared the transcendent peak with over ninety years of internal energy, and the Hell's Blood Monk Chuk Ho-tak, who had already surpassed the transcendent peak, were forces far too excessive for mere sects of Guizhou City like Gaeyangmun and the Seonwoo family.
In his mind, Seonwoo Jung and Seonwoo Seong were already dead men.
Gu Yu-sang murmured with a languid smile.
"Now then, shall I go rescue that adorable young lady after Gaeyangmun falls? I am curious if she will be able to bare her claws like that even then."