A Guilty Conscience Needs No Accuser
"Hahaha! Congratulations, Commander! You've truly reaped the spoils of others' conflict."
"Indeed, Vice Commander. Who would have thought the Paeryeok Sect would make such an offer?"
Late at night, the Commander and the Vice Commander of the Regional Military Commission were returning after finishing their duties.
It had been a tumultuous day, filled with protests from the Namgung Family, but their hearts were lighter than ever.
They chuckled heartily.
"To send hundreds of taels of gold as a token of their sincerity. From their perspective, isn't this a losing business deal?"
"It only shows how desperately they want to deny the Namgung Family any opportunity."
By custom, the Paeryeok Sect should have supplied the Provincial Administration Commission, while the Namgung Family supplied the Regional Military Commission.
But the Paeryeok Sect, loath to see the Namgung Family rise again, had slipped them a hefty bribe.
Their footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor.
"Earning hundreds of taels just by sitting on our asses... this is truly a stroke of heaven's luck."
An order had come down from the Forbidden City to cut off the Jeokun Merchant Alliance, leaving a vacancy in the government supplies. On top of that, the Paeryeok Sect had voluntarily offered a massive sum to keep the Namgung Family in check.
Even lying down and licking honey couldn't possibly taste sweeter than this.
"Now, all that's left is to stamp the documents and call it a day."
"How about we stop by the courtesan house afterward? Since you've struck gold, why not redeem a courtesan for yourself?"
"Hahaha! Redeem a single girl? I have enough to buy the entire establishment!"
The door creaked open.
Laughing merrily, the two of them pushed open the door to the office.
At this late hour, when most of the staff had gone home, only a few documents should have been waiting on the desk.
"Fufu, you've finally arrived."
Instead, a figure wearing a face veil sat waiting for them.
"Huh? Who goes there? Do you know where you are—"
"W-Wait! Vice Commander! Calm down for a moment!"
Unlike the annoyed Vice Commander, the Commander gasped, his voice trembling in sheer terror.
There was only one difference between the two men.
The Commander swallowed hard.
They look exactly like those eunuchs I saw in the Forbidden City!
As a high-ranking official, the Commander had personally encountered eunuchs in the imperial palace before.
That soft, lilting voice and the distinct, gender-neutral demeanor. Anyone who had seen it once could never forget it.
A small object rolled across the table.
"Pleasure to meet you, Commander. I am... Yeon Huhu, serving His Imperial Majesty in the East."
Placing a seal—one of Yeop Huhu's keepsakes—onto the table, Yeonhwa, now playing the role of 'Yeon Huhu', introduced herself.
T-The East? As in the Eastern Depot?!
The Eastern Depot was the imperial secret police, the equivalent of the Gestapo or the CIA.
Backed by the absolute authority of the Emperor himself, they were nothing short of grim reapers to government officials.
Cold sweat dripped from the Commander's brow.
"Why are you sweating so profusely?"
"I-It is nothing! Lord Eunuch!"
The title Gonggong used the character for lord twice, a clear testament to how deeply the bureaucracy feared the Eastern Depot.
It was a title born out of sheer terror.
Yeonhwa smirked beneath her veil.
Wow, this is working like a charm.
In truth, if one looked closely, the disguise was far from perfect.
Both the robes and the seal were Yeop Huhu's old belongings, meaning they differed slightly from the current style of the court.
However, there was one saving grace that made up for all of it.
With a soft rustle of silk, she gestured toward the chairs.
"Please, take a seat first."
"Y-Yes, of course!"
That one... is no ordinary eunuch!
Yeonhwa's speech and mannerisms were the absolute epitome of a high-ranking court eunuch.
It was the result of the brutal, relentless brainwashing she had endured under Yeop Huhu, who had once stood at the very pinnacle of the eunuch hierarchy.
The chairs scraped against the floor.
"Um... may I ask what brings you to our humble office..."
"I have come to seek your guidance."
"Pardon? Our guidance?"
The Commander blinked, utterly bewildered by the absurd statement. Yeon Huhu offered a gentle smile and replied.
She smiled warmly.
"I hear you spoke with the members of the Namgung Family today. During that meeting, you claimed that your will is practically the Emperor's will..."
"Ah?! T-That was—"
"Even I, who serve him closely, dare not presume to know His Majesty's mind. Yet you, Commander, can discern the Emperor's will from a thousand miles away. Such exemplary loyalty... shouldn't I learn from you?"
It sounded like praise, but the underlying threat was clear: Who the hell do you think you are to speak for the Emperor? Do you want to die?
Naturally, the Commander's face turned as pale as a sheet.
He began to tremble violently.
"That was merely a figure of speech—"
"A figure of speech? So this isn't the first time you've said it?"
"Heugh!"
He threw himself onto the floor.
"I have committed a capital offense! Please, spare my life just this once!!!"
Despite his subordinate watching, the Commander groveled like a dog without hesitation.
Dignity meant nothing when he was on the verge of being charged with high treason.
Yeonhwa leaned forward slightly.
"Spare your life? I merely wish to escort you to the Forbidden City."
"The Forbidden City..."
"There is a secret chamber beneath the palace. When a mighty general enters, he leaves as a cripple. When a brilliant scholar enters, he leaves as a drooling idiot—"
The Commander shuddered in terror.
"Anything! I will do anything! Please, just give me one chance, Lord Eunuch!"
Beyond merely bowing, the Commander had practically fused with the floorboards.
Even a frog run over by a carriage could not have pressed itself flatter.
Yeonhwa smiled.
"A chance, you say... Does that mean you know what you did wrong?"
He began slamming his head against the floor.
"Blinded by greed, I accepted bribes regarding the government supplies! I prioritized my personal gain over the balance of Anhui Province!"
Because he was pressed so flat against the ground, every time he slammed his forehead, his nose smashed into the floor as well.
As a result, it wasn't tears and snot running down his face, but tears and a heavy nosebleed.
"I appreciate your honesty. Now, what about the Vice Commander over there?"
The Vice Commander flinched.
"Me?! You mean me?"
"Yes. Do you have nothing to confess to me, Vice Commander?"
The spark of danger had jumped to him.
The Vice Commander knew exactly what he had to do.
He threw himself down beside the Commander.
"I... I failed to stop the Commander from taking bribes! In fact, I encouraged him!"
"Good. Since you admit it—"
"And—"
Huh?
"And?"
The Vice Commander hesitated.
"I... I secretly pocketed fifty taels of the bribe money from the Paeryeok Sect..."
"Vice Commander! You did what?!"
"I-I am sorry, Commander! There was a courtesan I wanted to redeem..."
"Everything is created by the mind! So that's why you kept talking about the courtesan house!"
The phrase everything is created by the mind was famously uttered by the great monk Wonhyo after drinking water from a skull.
Simply put, a thief sees everyone as a thief.
Yeon Huhu nodded slowly.
"Ahem! Of course, I already knew all of this. I merely wanted to hear you confess your sins with your own mouth."
"As expected of the Eastern Depot..."
She smiled thinly.
"Then you must know what you need to do now, correct?"
"Yes!"
"We will do everything in our power to maintain the balance of Anhui Province!"
"Very well. Work yourselves to the bone for the sake of His Imperial Majesty."
Yeon Huhu patted the heads of the two grown men as if they were puppies.
She applied a little more pressure when patting the Vice Commander on the right.
Since this guy seems to have a bit of a weakness for women.
A faint hum vibrated through the air.
The true qi of the Guihua Preservation flowed silently into the Vice Commander's head.
Redeem a courtesan? Please. I just saved you a fortune.
"I will be taking my leave now."
"To be indebted to you until the very end... We truly have no face to show you, Benefactor."
After my little visit to the Commander disguised as a eunuch, the Namgung Family secured the supply rights not only for the Regional Military Commission but also for the Provincial Administration Commission.
They only needed to assign one to follow custom.
I suppose this is what they call a guilty conscience overcompensating.
I reached into my robes.
Currently, I had two letters tucked inside my chest pocket.
One was a letter of introduction from Namgung Seon to Jegal Yeong, the Chief Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance.
The other was a personal letter addressed to his second son, Namgung Byeok, who was currently stationed at the Murim Alliance.
I walked toward the gates.
"Hahaha, it is finally time for you to depart."
"Ah, Elder."
On the day of my departure, the entire household of the Namgung Family had gathered to bid me farewell.
Thanks to that, the area in front of the Blue Sky Gate was packed to the brim with members of the Namgung clan.
"You really didn't have to go to all this trouble..."
"Had it not been for you, Lady Yeon, our family would have suffered a devastating calamity. Seeing our benefactor off is the least we can do as human beings."
With a click, Namgung Seon opened a wooden box he was holding.
Inside lay a single sword, radiating a faint, chilly aura.
Like the sky just before dawn, its blade gleamed with a deep blue hue over a subtle violet undertone.
"You are likely aware that our ancestors cut a piece of thousand-year cold iron to craft our main plaque. The master blacksmiths of that era gathered the leftover fragments to forge a single sword."
He presented the sword to me.
The weapon from the box was placed firmly into my hands.
"Its name is the Night-Severing Sword. A blade forged to cleave through the darkest night."
"To give me something so precious..."
"It is a byproduct of the Blue Sky Divine Sword. Is it not only fitting that the successor of the Blue Sky Divine Sword wields it?"
Namgung Seon smiled warmly and turned around.
He shouted to the gathered clan members.
"Our benefactor departs! Everyone! Show your respect!"
In perfect unison, every single member of the family clasped their hands in a formal salute.
"We shall never forget your great favor!"
Namgung Seon's voice boomed like thunder. Instantly, the disciples lined up behind him unleashed their inner energy and roared in unison.
"Take care of yourself in the Jianghu!"
"Again!"
"We shall never forget your great favor! Take care of yourself in the Jianghu!"
Your immense grace shall never be forgotten; may you remain safe and sound in the martial world.
A warm wave of emotion washed over me.
"Oh, honestly..."
Suppressing the sudden lump in my throat, I raised my clasped hands to return their salute.
"See you next time!"
The sky, painted with the soft glow of a setting sun, was breathtakingly beautiful.
It was the very end of spring.
"Ehehehe."
I hummed as I walked.
Perhaps it was because of that cinematic farewell at the Namgung Family, but even after walking until dusk, the smile refused to leave my face.
"I knew it. I'm totally cut out to be a righteous hero."
Helping those in need, parting with warm smiles, embarking on new journeys.
How wonderful was this? Those bloodthirsty killers who did nothing but slaughter people would never understand this feeling.
Caw!
Caaaw!
"Ah, seriously, ruining my mood..."
I was on the road to Luoyang, where the Murim Alliance headquarters was located.
Everything was perfect, except for a single crow overhead that wouldn't stop its obnoxious cawing.
"Hey! Shut up!"
That stupid bird was really starting to get on my nerves.
I pointed my finger at it.
As I gestured angrily, the crow surprisingly swooped down toward me.
And then...
CAAAW!
AAAAAAAH!
"???"
It was now screaming right in front of my face.
Did this little bastard actually understand what I said?
"Fine. You want to die today? Let's go."
I drew my sword.
The moment I drew the Night-Severing Sword, a pleasant chill swept through the air, instantly shifting the atmosphere.
Despite being forged from thousand-year cold iron, it felt incredibly natural in my hand, almost like molding clay.
Just as I unleashed my killing intent to scare the bird away...
"Hear me, Blood Plum Blossom."
"???"
What in the world?
A human voice was coming out of the crow's beak!
"W-What is this?!"
"You are finally alone. I have been waiting."
"Alone?"
Had they been waiting for me to leave the Namgung Family estate all this time?
The crow fluttered its wings.
"To offer your first tribute in the heart of Anhui Province... and by flaying the acting patriarch of the Namgung Family, no less."
First tribute?
Come to think of it, my first kill after being forced into the Blood Sect was indeed Namgung Jaeyeong...
"Just as the Second Apostle said, you possess quite the talent."
"But who are you?"
It seemed whoever it was was using the crow as a sort of telephone.
So this is why they had that spiritual beast memorize the scent of my blood.
The crow fluttered its wings.
"You have no need to know. Today, I have merely come to deliver the reward for your tribute."
The crow opened its beak wide.
Something dropped.
The crow gaped its beak and spat out a crimson pill about the size of a quail egg.
"It is a Blood Pill."
"A Blood Pill?"
"It will aid in cultivating your Blood Arts. Continue to offer such exemplary tributes in the future."
The crow prepared to take flight.
"W-Wait a minute!"
I hurriedly stopped the crow before it could fly away.
"What is it?"
"Actually, about that..."
I quickly explained the situation—that Namgung Jaeyeong had actually colluded with the Demonic Cult, which was the only reason I was able to kill him so easily.
I did this because I knew how incredibly exhausting it would be if they misunderstood my intentions and kept targeting me.
Besides, I wasn't particularly interested in the Blood Pill anyway.
I don't want to touch the Blood Arts until I've fully mastered the Guihua Preservation.
Silence fell.
"Is that so? Put the Blood Pill back into the crow's beak."
"Alright."
I knew it.
It felt a bit petty of them to take back a gift they had just given, but it actually made me feel much more relieved.
I popped the pill back in.
The crow swallowed it down.
The crow swallowed the Blood Pill and shook its feathers.
Just leave already.
But then...
The crow gaped its beak again.
Something dropped.
"???"
The crow spat out a Blood Pill once more.
Only this time, it was significantly larger than before. Upon closer inspection, even its composition seemed different.
"What is this?"
"It is a Mid-Grade Blood Pill."
"No, I know it's a Blood Pill, but why on earth..."
The crow flapped its wings.
"Those insects who call themselves the Heavenly Demon Cult are rebellious elements who constantly oppose our Sect. Since you ruined their plans, it is only logical to grant you a greater reward."
"..."
No, I don't want to earn merits for the Blood Sect!
I want to live as a righteous hero!
"It seems you far exceed my expectations. Should the day come when you become a fellow Apostle, I shall congratulate you in person."
The crow took off.
Having delivered its message, the crow rode the wind and soared far into the distance.
"No! That's not it!"
"I don't want to get any more involved with the Blood Sect!"
The Mid-Grade Blood Pill rolled on the ground.
"...Sigh."
I picked it up.
Pocketing the Mid-Grade Blood Pill, I resumed my journey toward Luoyang.