Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 47. Evaporation
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Through this incident, Jegal Yeongyeong realized that the Murim Alliance's internal security was more lax than she had imagined.
The Murim Alliance—no, for even a Strategist from the Strategist Department to be struck down by a blade.
It was a shocking event.
As Tae Jeongheon had said, there was a chance the Deputy Strategist was a spy,
but there was also the possibility that an assassin had truly infiltrated as far as the Strategist Department.
Recalling Tae Jeongheon's aggrieved gaze made the Deputy Strategist seem suspicious, but she couldn't jump to conclusions recklessly.
Instead,
after seeing the two reports found in the Deputy Strategist's possession, Jegal Yeongyeong issued orders to the Strategist Department.
She instructed them to cross-reference all the reports he had submitted so far with those compiled by the regular Strategists.
She was prepared for the Strategist Department's operations to grind to a halt for a while, given the sheer volume of reports exchanged daily.
When the assassin hadn't been found even after a day had passed, she visited to probe the Deputy Strategist and deliberately leaked false news that Tae Jeongheon had woken up.
Jegal Yeongyeong glanced at the Deputy Strategist.
‘He's so thrilled... Does that mean he's innocent?’
However, as she stepped outside to play along, her subordinate reported again.
“Uh, we did as you said, but he really did wake up.”
“What? It was true?”
‘The White-Clothed Physician said he had no more potions on hand right away... I thought the severe injury would take more time, but as expected, he's remarkable.’
That day, the Deputy Strategist was moved from the investigation room to the interrogation chamber.
Thanks to Tae Jeongheon's testimony, not only was the blade disguised as a brush discovered, but the report he had swapped out six days prior was also exposed.
“Aigoo, why on earth did you...”
Senior interrogation expert Bu Ryang greeted the Deputy Strategist with a beaming smile.
The Deputy Strategist squeezed his eyes shut.
He had never undergone any training to endure torture.
In fact.
“I'm not sure if you know, but the Medical Pavilion Leader's skills are top-notch. Even if we turn you into a rag doll, you'll come out alive and kicking after he gets to you. Now that you're officially part of the Murim Alliance family, it'll be easy to get your cooperation on work matters too.”
Given the skill that had saved Tae Jeongheon, it seemed entirely plausible.
Darkness clouded his vision.
‘Should I spill everything now? But what about my family?’
***
As Tae Jeongheon was discharged, he bowed so deeply and repeatedly that Yuseong felt burdened.
“Medical Pavilion Leader, I thought I was done for without a doubt... Thank you so much!”
He had nearly committed the ultimate filial impiety of dying before his parents.
At the moment his throat was slashed, he had thought no one could save him, yet the new Medical Pavilion Leader had pulled it off.
‘I regret complaining back then when the Chief Strategist first said we needed to establish the Medical Pavilion, thinking it would just pile on more work when we were already busy.’
If the Medical Pavilion hadn't been created then, and if the Medical Pavilion Leader hadn't started work right away...
The mere thought was horrifying.
“You don't need to go that far. This is just my job.”
“No, no. Weren't you originally supposed to start your duties the next day? You are my lifesaver, Medical Pavilion Leader. Now I understand why the White Tiger Division Leader always praises the White-Clothed Physician. I'm not in a high position, but if you ever need any help, just say the word. I'll do everything in my power!”
The divine power gained from treating a patient who had stared death in the face was exhilarating.
Yuseong smiled contentedly.
And a few days later.
Tae Jeongheon was promoted to the vacant Deputy Strategist position, recognized for his merit in spotting the suspicious behavior of the spy planted by the Sima Family, surpassing all the senior candidates.
The moment he received his assignment, he rushed straight to the Medical Pavilion.
“Medical Pavilion Leader, I've been put in charge of supporting the Medical Pavilion from now on, so if there's anything you need, just call on this Tae Jeongheon anytime!”
“Congratulations on becoming Deputy Strategist. But wasn't that originally someone else's responsibility?”
“It was. But I volunteered to handle it personally. I wanted to help however I could.”
“...”
Yuseong had been fretting over it, but the Medical Pavilion was newly established.
During his first day of treatments, he had noticed various shortcomings compared to the Luoyang Medical Hall's system, so this was perfect.
He had gained a reliable connection.
“Then, without standing on ceremony, I'll let you know if something comes up. By the way, why did the previous Deputy Strategist do such a thing?”
“Kuheuk!”
Tae Jeongheon clutched his chest with a pained expression.
As if his heart ached.
“Are you unwell somewhere?”
“No, it's just... that's classified, so I'm sorry I can't tell you...!”
“...”
Yuseong, who had asked casually, was taken aback.
However, not long after, rumors spread that the Sima Family had evaporated, and the identity of those who had directed the Deputy Strategist became an open secret.
***
The Sima Family was once a prestigious clan whose members had held high imperial positions.
However, about a hundred years ago, due to some incident, they were ousted from office and reinvented themselves as a murim family.
The reinvention was successful.
They had pushed aside the Zhuge Family to claim the position of Chief Strategist in the Murim Alliance.
After about a hundred years, though they couldn't squeeze into the Five Great Families due to their short history, people regarded the Sima Family as a sixth.
Many believed it was only a matter of time before they joined the Five Great Families.
If Sima Cheon had succeeded his father Sima Byeong as Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance, it likely would have happened.
But as everyone knew, Jegal Yeongyeong had successfully blocked him.
In an overzealous attempt to pull her down, the Sima Family had resorted to schemes...
“That's what Cheongun Elder suggested. What do you think, Elder Moyong Rim?”
“...”
Moyong Rim silently avoided Jegal Yeongyeong's gaze.
With his in-laws, the Sima Family, caught tampering with the Murim Alliance, he had nothing to say.
‘Sima Cheon, that bastard vanished too. What the hell happened?’
The son-in-law he had once been proud of had abandoned his wife and child and disappeared.
With the Sima Family evaporating as well, their family ties were now severed.
Jegal Yeongyeong thought he got what he deserved but didn't press him further in this setting.
There were still many issues to discuss.
“It's strange, though. The Sima Family alone had hundreds of retainers, yet no one noticed until they all vanished.”
After the Deputy Strategist confessed that Sima Byeong had ordered it, Murim Alliance warriors were dispatched to retrieve the retired man.
But when they arrived at the Sima Family's estate in northern Henan, no one was left.
Only an empty manor and assets that couldn't be liquidated immediately remained.
Even the Beggars' Sect and House of Revelry had detected nothing, plunging everyone into confusion.
“Who in the world could make that many people vanish without a trace?”
No matter how long they debated, they couldn't figure it out.
In the end, that matter was deferred for further investigation with help from the Beggars' Sect and House of Revelry.
“Next is countermeasures against any remaining spies in the Murim Alliance.”
The Deputy Strategist had held out under torture for a few days but eventually broke.
Not only did he reveal that the Sima Family held his family hostage and had instructed him to sow chaos in the Strategist Department,
he also disclosed that there were more unidentified spies hidden in the Murim Alliance.
“We'll need to strengthen our defenses even more. And this incident has confirmed the importance of the Medical Pavilion. Sooner than expected, I'd like to expand its scale. Any objections?”
“...”
Moyong Rim, who had constantly opposed her, was as silent as if his mouth were glued shut.
“If it weren't for the Medical Pavilion Leader's miraculous medical arts, we would have suffered a tragic loss this time. The Chief Strategist's foresight in establishing the Medical Pavilion was spot on. I support expanding it as well. We need to build it up in advance to be of use when the time comes, don't we?”
Jegal Yeongyeong gave Cheongun Elder a grateful look.
The other elders voiced their opinions as well.
Even those who had once sided with Moyong Rim now raised their hands in her favor.
‘The Sima Family business should keep things quiet for a while.’
Though Elder Moyong Rim had escaped this suspicion, he spent the entire meeting in silence as punishment for his past vigorous support of the Sima Family.
***
“Hahaha! Good to see you, White-Clothed Physician. I suppose I should call you Medical Pavilion Leader now?”
“What brings the White Tiger Division Leader here?”
The White Tiger Division Leader had come to visit Yuseong.
They had grown close enough to speak casually.
“I just stopped by to say hello. As the Murim Alliance strengthens its defenses, we'll be assigning some of my men to the Medical Pavilion too. They're good lads, but if there's any inconvenience, let me know anytime.”
Not just the Medical Pavilion, but additional Murim Alliance warriors were to be stationed elsewhere as well.
“I heard about it, but with all your external duties, do you have enough manpower to expand security too?”
Thanks to Jang Chil, who brought him all sorts of information while Yuseong simply sat in the Medical Pavilion, he had learned a bit about the Murim Alliance's situation.
The elite forces of major sects and families were heavily committed to defending their bases against formidable black path groups.
Thus, increasing the Murim Alliance's guard personnel was no small burden.
He wondered how they planned to address it.
“We're resolving that by drawing on support from promising Murim Academy students with verified identities. We'll deploy some of those eager to join the Murim Alliance on missions.”
“Won't that be dangerous? Isn't the Murim Academy meant to educate its students?”
“It's a form of education too. They're martial artists anyway, so think of it as gaining early experience. The Chief Strategist plans to accept only volunteers, start them on simple tasks with escorts, and gradually build their experience. Personally, I think it's a great idea.”
The White Tiger Division Leader grumbled about how the younger generation was raised too delicately, spouting old-man talk.
Hearing about the Murim Academy student volunteers that Jegal Yeongyeong had proposed, Yuseong thought of internships.
“And with you as Medical Pavilion Leader, what do we have to worry about? You saved Jeongheon this time, didn't you? The guy who used to ignore me before is now going on about you nonstop at drinks yesterday—I was almost offended.”
The White Tiger Division Leader joked with a playful grin, as if Yuseong had stolen his lines.
“Still, if someone gets seriously injured beyond my reach, it won't help, so please take care of yourselves.”
“Of course. That's on us. Oh, do you have some personal connection with Nangong Yurin?”
“Yes?”
“She didn't seem interested in joining the Murim Alliance, but she volunteered alone for the Medical Pavilion guard duty.”