Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Drunken Scheme
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Two days earlier.
Having devised a certain plan in their assigned lodgings, Yu Hyun and his group immediately sprang into action.
They sent Nangong Seong to the medical quarters and, together with Ge Du-sin, toured the villages of the various clans, gathering all sorts of tales.
After all, sometimes the truest insights can be gleaned from tavern rumors and drunken banter.
On top of that, Yu Hyun roamed every corner of the island, planting bits of bait here and there. Most tantalizing bait, at that.
Waters laced with cold qi, and shellfish.
Clues to the Millennium Purple Clam, no less.
Hunting for cold-qi-infused waters in the Southern Sea might sound utterly mad at first glance, but it would strike those in the know quite differently.
Particularly the minions of the Uproar—they'd lose their minds over it, without a doubt.
Anticipating as much, he'd deliberately spread the word far and wide, but no nibbles yet.
Had he misread the situation?
Too soon to tell. Those rats loved their hiding spots, after all; they might still be crouched under rocks, oblivious to the bait he'd scattered.
In any case, after passing through the four clan villages excluding the Moon Clan, the pair arrived at Haegu, the Huan Clan's harbor village—home to the port closest to the Central Plains.
Settling onto the second floor of an inn with a view of the harbor, the two conversed in hushed tones.
"So in the end, the Huan Clan betrayed them?"
"Yes. From the information we've gathered here and there, that's how it looks."
"Hmm... I thought the Moon Clan fell too easily. Even if the Haenam Sect warriors are formidable, the combined might of the six clans shouldn't have been so negligible. Looks like they got stabbed in the back."
"Indeed. They must have trusted them quite a bit."
"......"
Yeah, that tracks. That's why the blow landed so hard.
They would've shared the same goals up to then, so betrayal was the last thing they'd expect.
The Huan Clan.
Unlike the five clans—Zhang, Hui, Lei, Moon, and Miao—who had long dwelled on Haenam Island, the Huan Clan had migrated from the Central Plains and settled there.
Their name came from "change"—transformed from Central Plains folk into islanders.
True enough, the village visible beyond the window brimmed with a distinctly Central Plains vibe.
"Why do you think they did it?"
"Who knows..."
Yu Hyun narrowed his eyes at Ge Du-sin's question.
Well, profit, probably. As newcomers, there might've been some grudge or emotional rift.
"Anyway, now that we've got a rough grasp of the situation, it's time to meet the Moon Clan Chief..."
"Right. But the prison's security is airtight. We've tried a few times, but no luck."
Ge Du-sin slurped his noodles, apparently famished.
He looked possessed, beggar-style, but it made sense. Ge Du-sin was the busiest one darting about right now.
Sometimes posing as a passerby in the markets, other times as a merchant, or disguised as an island local. He was damn useful for this sort of thing.
"Ahh! Whew, nothing like hot broth to soothe the gut."
"......"
As if booze would soothe it...
Yu Hyun chuckled as Ge Du-sin polished off his bowl and patted his belly in satisfaction, but his expression soon soured.
Piecing together what Ge Du-sin had learned, the other clan chiefs were cooperating out of fear that Gok Ja-seong would ravage their own clans—but they still harbored loyalty toward Moon Clan Chief Yang Lim.
If evidence surfaced that the new Island Lord had meddled in the previous lord's illness, it could rally the clans anew.
He could handle breaking Yang Lim out of prison himself, but exposing the new lord's crimes had to come from them. That was the proper way, the only way to avoid backlash.
But how? Sneaking past that ironclad guard into the prison seemed impossible...
Lost for ideas, Yu Hyun stared out at the sea to clear his head when—
"Hm?"
A commotion stirred below on the street in front of the inn.
Screeech!
"You filthy wench! How dare you lay your grubby hands on me!"
A shrill voice.
A woman in lavish attire stood there, fury etched deep on her face, while some man and woman groveled before her, heads bowed low.
"This is Central Plains silk! Do you have any idea how much it's worth?"
"P-please, miss, I was just..."
"Shut your mouth, you wretch!"
Yu Hyun winced at the venomous tirade.
She seemed of high standing.
But still—beating people down over a mere touch?
Onlookers averted their eyes from the menacing aura of her escort warriors ringing the scene, none daring to intervene.
"That's the Huan Clan Chief's daughter."
"Daughter?"
"Yes. Word is, she's betrothed to the new Island Lord. Probably a political match."
"......"
"You know how it goes—taking the clan chiefs' daughters as wives to secure their loyalty..."
"Hmm."
"But she's got a nasty temper, from what I hear. Beats people for the slightest offense, and some have even died. No one dares call her out, though—perks of being the chief's daughter."
"......"
Yu Hyun glowered at the woman amid Ge Du-sin's grumbling.
Nasty temper? That was putting it mildly—she was a walking disaster.
"How dare you touch the future lady of Haenam Island with those filthy paws! You must pay the price! What are you waiting for? Drag this scum away!"
At her command, the escorts ignored the pleas of the grovelers and hauled them off like animals.
Tsk tsk. What kind of father raises a daughter to treat people like vermin?
As the proverb goes: ripe rice bends low, and from on high, one must always look below...
Having learned the Three Bonds and Five Constants, along with benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and fidelity even if only from books, Yu Hyun couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Tsk tsk, every bit as vile as they say."
"......?"
"Seems she's flaunting her status as the future lord's wife—dragging her own clan's wrongdoers to the central fortress prison for punishment instead."
"......!"
"Pure showboating in front of crowds. Rumor has it she fawns all over the Island Lord himself... Haenam Sect's in for a spectacle if she becomes lady of the house."
Yu Hyun's eyes widened at Ge Du-sin's offhand remark.
Hold on—dragged where? The central fortress prison? Where the Moon Clan Chief is held?
A brilliant idea flashed through Yu Hyun's mind.
"Ge Du-sin."
"......Yes?"
Ge Du-sin replied, unease prickling at the gleam in Yu Hyun's eyes as he suddenly exclaimed his name.
Something sly about it...
"Have a drink."
"Y-yes? Now?"
"Yeah. You've been busting your ass scouting these past two days—relax tonight."
"I-it's an honor, but as you know, I don't really drink..."
"Hey now!"
"......?"
"You refusing a drink personally poured by your Grand Commander?"
"No, it's not that..."
Glug glug glug.
Before Ge Du-sin could finish, Yu Hyun was already filling the cup he'd slid in front of him.
"It's fine, it's fine. They say you learn to drink from the elders, right?"
"Yes?"
Ge Du-sin gaped at the nonsense.
He was three years older...
"Drink up."
"Still..."
"Drink."
"Grand Commander..."
"I said drink!"
"......"
Yu Hyun's glare was so insistent, it felt like he'd pry his jaws open and pour it in by force. Ge Du-sin squeezed his eyes shut and lifted the cup.
"Remember this: when you meet the Moon Clan Chief, tell the villagers he's alive. Explain what we're doing... and stress that the clans must reunite. I'll create the opening."
"Yes? Why tell me now...? Don't tell me—you've figured out how to sneak into the prison?"
"Drink first."
"......"
"Drink, you rascal!"
"......"
With Yu Hyun now bulging his eyes and barking, Ge Du-sin hurriedly tossed back the shot.
Glug— the sound of it sliding down his throat rang crystal clear.
Drink, drink, drink!
Down it goes—gulp, glug glug, gulp! Gulp, glug glug, gulp!
Heh heh, couldn't help but shoulder-shimmy. Thanks to what was coming...
"Ughhh..."
Ge Du-sin's face twisted in agony as the booze hit fast; he slumped onto the table, then jerked up, over and over.
"S-sorry. Urp!"
"......"
What a lightweight. How's the buzz kicking in this quick?
One sip, and his eyes were half-lidded, body swaying—Yu Hyun flashed a wicked grin.
"Oh dear, you fine fellow. Can't even stand straight."
"S-sorrhy, Grand Commander."
"......"
Tongue twisting already.
The guy absorbs it fast, alright.
"Come on, I'll support you—rest easy tonight."
"Yesh sirr, Grand Commander."
"Good, good."
Supporting Ge Du-sin, who could barely hold himself up, Yu Hyun descended to the inn's first floor.
"Huh? Thish way..."
"Heh heh heh!"
"......"
"Heh heh heh heh!"
Ge Du-sin squinted suspiciously at Yu Hyun, who just giggled and dragged him along, but his wobbly legs offered no resistance—he was hauled down like dead weight.
"Heh heh heh heh heh!"
Beaming with glee, Yu Hyun stepped out and scanned for his target.
Right on cue, it approached.
"......Ge Du-sin."
"Yesh?"
"Come back safe."
"Yesh? Where?"
Grinning at Ge Du-sin, who gawked with his head cocked oddly against the drunken haze, Yu Hyun abruptly released his supporting arm.
"Huh? Huuuh?"
Ge Du-sin's legs tangled, and he flailed wildly.
Yu Hyun swept the street with sharp eyes, gauging obstacles and positioning.
Good street, perfect angle...
As Ge Du-sin teetered on the verge of collapse, Yu Hyun's kick connected.
Wham!
"Krack!"
With a sharp yelp, Ge Du-sin rocketed forward.
Past the passersby, past the oblivious escorts.
What remained...
"Kyaaack!"
A piercing shriek erupted from the woman as something barreled toward her.
Thud! Crash!
Yu Hyun smirked triumphantly at the tangled heap.
Target: the Huan Clan Chief's daughter, ever eager for the central fortress prison.
Weapon: Ge Du-sin, drunk out of his mind and thus fully absorbing Yu Hyun's kick.
Every eye on the street locked onto the pair.
"S-sorrhy. Sh-sorrhy."
Ge Du-sin struggled valiantly to rise.
Fat chance. He was too sloshed to control his body.
Yu Hyun glanced at the woman, rolling in the dirt from the impact, her hair a mess and clothes filthy.
What followed was predictable.
"Kyaaaaaaa!"
A bloodcurdling scream heralded the inevitable beating.
"Guh! Guh! Ack!"
Ge Du-sin took kick after kick from the escorts—stomped, battered, stomped again...
"Kill him! Kill that bastard right now!"
The notoriously vicious woman shrieked hysterically, eyes wild, jabbing her finger.
With the escorts piling on Ge Du-sin thanks to his "heroics," the earlier captives slipped away in the chaos.
Ahh, Du-sin.
What noble valor!
Your sacrifice saved those innocents from this wicked woman's clutches—how could we call you anything but a comrade?
Your heroism will echo across Haenam Island and beyond the seas.
Deeply moved, Yu Hyun subtly raised a thumbs-up toward him.
No way he saw it amid the endless pounding, but he hoped the sentiment carried...