Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Shadows in the Night
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The sun had set, twilight had fallen, and soon the moon rose, casting a faint glow over the world.
But was it only daytime?
Even where the moonlight reached, it was barely enough to make out shapes, and the shadowed areas were swallowed entirely by darkness, dyed pitch black.
Those accustomed to the light generally avoided stepping into such gloom.
It was only natural.
Who would dare approach that inky blackness that seemed ready to suck you in, not knowing what unexpected danger might be lurking there, holding its breath?
And that was precisely why sinister types preferred the dark.
Clink.
In the shadow of a wall a short distance from the Nangong Clan's compound.
A coin dropped into the begging bowl of a vagrant dozing with his head bowed.
"Oh, thank you, sir."
"No need for thanks. I just felt so sorry for your sorry state..."
A splendidly dressed man, tipsy from drink, squatted down in front of the vagrant.
"This must be fate, right? It's my first time traveling to Hefei, so I have no one to ask for directions. Let me buy you a drink—keep me company?"
"Me, sir?"
"I'll pay you handsomely."
Clunk.
The heavy sound ringing in the begging bowl made the vagrant's eyes widen.
"Of course! I'd be happy to. More than happy."
Having struck unexpected fortune, the vagrant hastily clutched his bowl to his chest and supported the drunkard.
"Ha ha, sir. I know a great tavern. Let's head there."
"Oh? Excellent. If you do that, I'll treat you big."
The sight of the vagrant supporting the staggering drunkard as they made their way into a dim alley was unusual but not particularly strange.
It just gave the impression that some rich fool had been hooked.
But the conversation they exchanged in hushed tones while stumbling along was not something easily overheard.
[Leader.]
[...]
[There was no one named Jin Wi-gang in the Nangong Clan.]
[None?]
[Yes.]
The face of the bowing vagrant twisted sharply.
His name was Ma Hwan, one of the members of a mysterious organization.
About a month ago.
They had gone to the Nine Dragons Stronghold to find out who had stolen their goods, but all that remained was a burned-out mountain lair.
So they disguised themselves variously as peddlers, hunters, and travelers, scouring the Huangshan area, combing through it for rumors.
When they arrived in Hampyeong, they learned two facts.
The Nangong Clan's subjugation of the Nine Dragons Stronghold. And a man named Jin Wi-gang, around thirty years old.
The subjugation itself was something that happened occasionally, even if it had been quiet lately, but Jin Wi-gang's actions were highly suspicious.
He had arrived in Hampyeong and immediately thrown around vast sums of money, claiming to have found a rock that glowed on its own.
The owner of the Mountain Ladder House spilled more details for a single coin.
There had been such a place on Pagoda Peak, where the Nine Dragons Stronghold was based, and an old man named Ok-su had guided him there.
Hearing that, Ma Hwan was certain.
That was him. He was the one they were looking for.
But that was the end of it.
Despite Ma Hwan and his men searching high and low, no one knew what had become of him afterward.
Of course, once he achieved his goal, he wouldn't leave traces behind.
But a question arose.
How did he know?
If he'd gone straight there, didn't that mean he already knew the Child Ginseng was there?
Then the inn's boy provided an unexpected clue.
They heard that someone from the Nangong Clan had recognized words left by Jin Wi-gang and taken him away, so they headed straight for the Nangong Clan.
While his men scouted around the Nangong Clan, Ma Hwan waited out front disguised as a vagrant.
There was no better disguise for sticking to one spot without arousing suspicion than a beggar or vagrant.
And now, none?
[No word in the Nangong Clan about the inn boy seeing him?]
[Sorry. It was too dangerous to infiltrate that far.]
[Hm...]
Ma Hwan frowned.
[But there was someone whose timing overlaps suspiciously.]
[Who?]
[Yu Hyun, age seventeen. Affiliated with the Yu Clan Manor in Anpyeong County, Hebei Province. Currently staying at the guest hall.]
[Tell me more.]
[His father is Yu Seong-hwan, sworn brother to Sword King Nangong Chang-seon, and he was once betrothed to a daughter of the Nangong Clan.]
[Yu Seong-hwan?]
[Yes. Former Imperial Tutor of the palace.]
[Hmm... Imperial Tutor and Sword King...]
The furrow in Ma Hwan's brow deepened.
Not a good combination.
Getting entangled rashly with the Nangong Clan or government officials risked exposing the organization he belonged to.
Especially now, with internal affairs troubled by succession issues.
Mishandling the Nangong Clan at a time like this could lead to their tails being stepped on.
[What should we do? Request help from the Division Leader?]
[...]
After pondering his subordinate's question, Ma Hwan shook his head.
[Instruct Mountain to report only about the individual named Jin Wi-gang.]
[What about the Yu Clan Manor and Nangong family?]
[Given who they are, we must proceed with caution. Stirring up unnecessary trouble would only disturb the Division Leader.]
His subordinate, all too aware of what happened when the Division Leader's mood was soured, nodded.
[However, we need to look deeper into this Yu Hyun. Though his age doesn't match Jin Wi-gang, if the timing overlaps, it doesn't hurt to check.]
[I already had Mountain tail him on that note.]
[Tail him?]
[Yes. Just before sunset, he left the Nangong Clan with their young master, heading out the city gates. Apparently to the night market outside.]
[Escorts?]
[Since it's Nangong territory, seems they didn't bring any.]
[Hm. Wasn't the Nangong young master said to have reached the realm of heroic spirit?]
[Yes. But that's it. Especially Yu Hyun—rumors say he's quite the martial talent for a scholar's son, but his detectable inner energy was almost nil.]
[Just one with heroic spirit... against a bunch of riffraff?]
[Yes.]
Ma Hwan nodded at his subordinate's words.
He had brought ten men. Enough to handle one or two warriors of heroic spirit.
[Good. We'll tail Yu Hyun for now. But since it's still within Nangong territory, caution upon caution.]
[Yes, Leader.]
"Oof, damn, I forgot—I have an important appointment. Sorry about that, brother. We'll drink next time."
The vagrant watched the drunkard shake him off and saunter away, then spat on the ground with a disappointed look.
"Damn it, thought I'd hit the jackpot for once... Well, can't be helped. Still plenty here—time to find a place and get properly drunk."
Smacking his lips, the vagrant glanced around and headed into a dim alley.
And...
"That bastard?"
"Yes."
A gang of figures hidden at the alley's mouth watched the drunkard and vagrant without missing a beat.
Wearing ragged clothes patched from here and there, with unkempt hair as if unwashed for days.
Beggars.
Judging by the lack of knots on their sashes, not Beggars' Sect members, but a band of street beggars who wandered gathering rumors.
"Where'd that mongrel roll in from?"
"First I'd seen him. Probably one who flowed into the vagrant camp on Hefei's outskirts a few days ago?"
"Vagrant camp?"
"Yeah. Been loitering near the Nangong Clan since morning, raking in a ton from begging."
"Hah!"
The lead beggar's face twisted at his underling's words.
Even among beggars, there were ranks.
Not official branches, but the street beggar gang was at the fringes of the Beggars' Sect.
Vagrant gangs were different. More like unaffiliated wandering beggars?
So the street beggars didn't consider vagrants proper beggars and would beat and chase them out of Hefei at the sight of their hair.
Hefei was squarely the street beggars' turf.
Hadn't there been a clash with the vagrant gang over this just recently?
It had escalated to the point where the Beggars' Sect branch had to intervene before it was settled, and they drove them out safely.
"This no-account punk dared break the rules?"
"Maybe he didn't know? Just warn the vagrant leader. If they cause trouble again, the elders won't let it slide..."
"Shut it, you beggar scum."
"..."
The underling shrank like a turtle at the lead beggar's words.
Damn punk. Beggar himself, yet ends every sentence calling others beggars.
"This is survival. If you're too kind, they'll think it's their right. Got it?"
"..."
"No matter if he's new and didn't know the rules—we can't let it slide. And it's just one guy. How much could a bunch of honorless vagrants back him up?"
The lead beggar jerked his chin toward where the vagrant had vanished.
"Rally the boys. Once he hits a quiet spot, we smash him."
"Yes, Boss."
As the underling vanished on the order, the lead beggar smirked coldly.
"Fucking punk. Make money in someone else's turf, and you owe tax, damn it!"
* * *
Outside the city walls, at the night market with opera stages.
"How was it?"
"Today was truly enjoyable. Even better than last time."
Nangong Seong, munching on a candied hawthorn, answered Yu Hyun's question with childlike delight.
It had been ten days since they started coming every evening for the opera to cultivate joy.
Lately, they'd been leaving earlier.
Nangong Chang-seon kept showing up, intrigued by their training.
If he just watched, fine, but he kept nagging them to go to the alliance.
As if Yu Hyun couldn't see his transparent intent to pair him with Nangong Hye at the alliance.
Nangong Seong had only recently grown accustomed to two emotions.
Cultivating joy was still in its infancy, so he needed to stay longer at the Nangong Clan to guide his training.
As he had been in his Jin Wi-gang days, one needed to freely wield at least seven emotions alone to reach the next realm.
Of course, helping him had nearly turned Yu Hyun into a personality wreck like Nangong Seong, with emotions flipping a dozen times a day.
"Anyway, remember it well. Chances to see funny operas aren't common, and it'll help when you need to recall joy. Don't forget. When sorrow and passion reinforce each other, joy comes from a relaxed mind."
"Hm, so you can see it right through that relaxation?"
"Exactly. The human eye is a wondrous thing. Only with leisure can you gain broad vision. Meaning, you'll observe your opponent's movements even better."
"I'll keep it in mind, Uncle."
Nangong Seong grinned around a mouthful of candied hawthorn.
"Come to think of it, you're amazing, Uncle."
"What?"
"You haven't been training in martial arts long, yet how do you hold all these ideas in your head? Making them angry by beating, having them read sad books, even turning opera-watching into training..."
Yu Hyun just smiled at Nangong Seong's question.
Crazy bastard.
You taught me all that.
Whoosh.
A breeze blew between the two walking side by side, bringing a refreshing feeling.
"The river wind feels nice. It's still early—shall we take a stroll by the water since we're out?"
As Nangong Seong gazed at the distant river and murmured, Yu Hyun nodded.
He must have felt quite cooped up lately.
Emotional control was harder than it seemed.
Since they were out to relax anyway, and cultivating joy through leisure, it seemed fine.
"Sure. Let's walk a bit."
Nangong Seong trailed after Yu Hyun like a duckling, candied hawthorn in mouth.
And...
[Those them?]
[Yes. The young-looking one is Yu Hyun.]
From not far behind Yu Hyun's group, the vagrant clutching a liquor bottle following them got a response from figures hidden in the reeds.
It was Ma Hwan targeting Yu Hyun and his men.
[Perfect. Leading us to a deserted riverbank themselves. You take Nangong Seong. I'll capture Yu Hyun.]
[Yes!]
Ma Hwan's eyes sharpened.
Nangong heir or not, ten men were plenty.
Overwhelm them at once, subdue, and kidnap Yu Hyun to reveal his identity.
[Begin!]
The moment Ma Hwan issued the order with a resolute expression...
"Hey! You mongrel bastard!"
"..."
The sudden curse made his men halt mid-stride and flop into the reeds. Worse, their targets Yu Hyun and Nangong Seong turned around, leaving Ma Hwan awkwardly frozen too.
[Abort the plan!]
Ma Hwan hurriedly sent the transmission to his men and glared irritably at the uninvited guests approaching him.
What the hell are these beggar punks?