More Than Meets the Eye
"Truly full of complicated matters. Rumors that the Heavenly Sword Secret Art of Sword Sage Taewooryang has surfaced somewhere, whispers that the Demonic Cult's stirring is suspicious, and on top of that, the Twin Black Lechers in Anhui... The Central Plains right now is chaos incarnate."
Namgung Hyeok sighed as he spoke. Wi Sahu glanced up subtly and replied.
"There's also talk that the Sword Ghost has shown signs of activity. Though it seems like baseless rumor."
"The Sword Ghost? That guy who's always mentioned alongside Taewooryang when debating the Central Plains' Greatest Sword?"
"Yes. Unlike Taewooryang, who ascended three hundred years ago, he's from the previous generation. It's been quite some time since he vanished from the martial world. Anyway, what we need to focus on now is the Twin Black Lechers."
"Right." What broke the two's deep contemplation was Cheong-a.
"I've brought some tea. The head chef was thrilled about some fine new leaves. Even the Nangong Clan doesn't get them easily. For you, Chief Officer, I brought your usual."
Cheong-a approached the octagonal pavilion carrying a tray with two cups. She placed the steaming cup in front of Namgung Hyeok. Wi Sahu's cup held clear, rippling cold water.
"Ah, thank you. Why don't you take it easy today? I'll let the head chef know."
Wi Sahu said with a warm smile.
"No need. It wasn't any big deal."
Cheong-a replied with a bitter smile. Was this really something a woman who'd been raped would say? Wi Sahu sensed something off about it. Come to think of it, she'd heard most victims reacted similarly. The victims even defended the lechers, leaving the authorities unable to find even a shadow of the truth. At least Cheong-a had shared everything she knew, so calling the lecher investigation a step forward wasn't an exaggeration.
Wi Sahu thought that as she sipped her cold water.
"This tea's excellent. Did you pick it yourself, Chief Officer?"
Namgung Hyeok said, taking a sip.
Cheong-a beamed and answered.
"The Chief Officer doesn't care much for tea. Looks like even Young Master Hyeok doesn't know everything about her."
It was famous among the household staff that Namgung Hyeok harbored feelings for Wi Sahu. At Cheong-a's teasing words, Namgung Hyeok roughly set down his cup and glared at her. Cheong-a averted her eyes, pretending innocence. Namgung Hyeok was a bit cold but knew his boundaries. That's why Cheong-a tightroped like this in front of him.
"Ahem! I just thought so after seeing you enjoy that rare Dragon Well tea from the Nangong Clan last time. What do I care what the Chief Officer likes!"
Namgung Hyeok made a clumsy excuse.
"Choosing love over the heavy duties of a great clan... Hehe! Go for it, Young Master Hyeok."
Cheong-a whispered so Namgung Hyeok couldn't hear. Wi Sahu tilted her head in confusion. She felt like she was missing something in this conversation.
"Anyway, if the lechers target the Nangong Clan, it could be an opportunity. But any sane person wouldn't. They couldn't even cross our threshold."
"True. Hm? Wait a second..."
Wi Sahu seemed to grasp the unease she'd felt. She slammed the central table in the pavilion and stood abruptly. Cold water spilled from her cup onto her clothes, but that wasn't important now.
"The Imperial Sword!"
At Wi Sahu's words, Namgung Hyeok instantly furrowed his brow. Her single phrase made him realize what she meant.
"The Nangong Clan is currently hosting many guests because of the Imperial Sword, isn't it?! What if the lechers are mixed in among them...!"
"...That's a possibility."
The Nangong Clan was in utter pandemonium right now. Bloodthirsty martial artists from across the Central Plains had flooded in to claim the Imperial Sword. If sinister lechers lurked among them, it would be a massive headache.
"First, tell my father—no, the Clan Lord. It might be needless worry, but caution never hurts."
Namgung Hyeok revised his earlier words and stood. People's statements could change with circumstances. Moreover, since the Imperial Sword matter partly fell on his shoulders, letting lechers breach the clan on his watch would be his failure. He hurried back to the main house. Wi Sahu saw him off.
If their guess was right and the Twin Black Lechers' next target was the Nangong Clan, they'd be hiding among the throng of guests. And they were presumed to bear the surnames Gong and Peng. That would narrow the suspects greatly. Logical deduction.
Yet Wi Sahu still felt something was missing. The sensation was even stronger now. Like wandering a maze with no exit.
What is it? Why do I feel this way...?
But she couldn't find the answer this time.
*-*-*
Days passed, but the case remained stalled. The silver lining was no new incidents. The Twin Black Lechers who'd rocked Jamsan County seemed on vacation, silent for days. From Wi Sahu's perspective, she should be glad they weren't acting, but the lack of new clues bred anxiety. No new crimes meant no new leads. Waiting for fresh atrocities to solve the case—what irony.
"Chief Officer."
"Mm... Cheong-a?"
Wi Sahu lifted her bleary face. She'd dozed off at her desk in the office. A small blanket draped her shoulders over her slumped form.
"You put this on me? Thank you."
"The head chef gave me time off out of consideration, so I can't just eat and idle like a parasite. Gotta serve you diligently, Chief Officer."
"Thank you. You must be tired too."
Wi Sahu smiled wryly. Sleeping awkwardly had left her head dizzy, with a faint migraine. She shook it off lightly.
"Young Master Hyeok's been waiting since dawn. Here to work, or to see your face... Hehe! Nothing. He's in the annex—go quick."
"Got it. Thanks."
For Wi Sahu, whose sleep had suffered from the lecher probe, Namgung Hyeok's info was welcome. After the Peng surname clue, he'd investigated everyone with that name in the clan. It had surprisingly taken time.
Wi Sahu hurried to the annex. Arriving at dawn meant nearly an hour's wait. Keeping a Nangong direct lineage waiting was insolent, but he'd come too early—no helping it.
Namgung Hyeok sat in the annex chair, arms crossed, deep in thought. As Wi Sahu entered, he blurted:
"Found a suspect. Took real effort."
"How many guests are there?"
"Believe me if I said as many as Lily Escort Agency staff? Sounds ridiculous, but true. Father's dead serious."
Namgung Hyeok continued, arms still crossed.
"Checked all visitor logs, found one Peng: Peng Dorim."
He recalled the past encounter as he spoke.
—Peng Dorim! Are you the lecher stirring up Jamsan County?
—Huh? What's that mean? Ah! You must be Nangong Clan's young master, Namgung Hyeok!?
—Suspicious as hell. I'll investigate.
—Wh-what's this? Even for the great Nangong Clan, treating a guest like this! Got proof?
—If innocent, why act so shady? Where were you last night? Spill!
—Can't say!
—Definitely the lecher!
It had been an exhausting interrogation.
"Wasn't him."
Namgung Hyeok concluded. Wi Sahu countered:
"Why not?"
"Two proofs. First, found an alibi witness for yesterday evening. Perfect for the twenty-second and twenty-third incidents."
Namgung Hyeok shared his recent findings. Wi Sahu absorbed them slowly. Summarized:
Peng Dorim arrived in Jamsan about two weeks ago, matching the Twin Black Lechers' start. He stayed days at a small inn post-arrival. Became a Nangong guest a week ago—around the twenty-second crime.
"Second, learned while tracking him: he's a true male prostitute aficionado. During the twenty-second incident, he was at a Hong Kong Row pleasure house."
"Pleasure house? Some mid-tier sect?"
"Brothel crawling with male courtesans."
"......"
"Plus, searched his room—no odd artifacts."
"......Is that okay?"
"Necessary. He's a clan guest anyway. Other guests grumbled, but given the gravity, unavoidable."
"Any Gongs?"
"None. Peng or Gong might not be real surnames. Would identity-hiding lechers leak that easily? That's my first suspicion."
Wi Sahu nodded at Namgung Hyeok's words. Back to square one. But she clung to faint hope. Their info was limited; they had to catch the lechers with it. Wi Sahu pondered calmly.
She mulled the series of rape cases in Jamsan. The two lechers mocked authorities, assaulting women and vanishing. Who were they? Wi Sahu inwardly repeated Gong and Peng, guessing the masked men's identities.
Wait? Two people?
A flash of insight struck her.
"Young Master Hyeok. That Peng Dorim—during the last incident, the twenty-sixth—what was he doing? Alibi there too?"
"No. Drank with a chance-met friend from night before till morning. Passed out last, slept at a nearby inn. No witness for the exact time. But with prior alibis, he can't be a Twin Black Lecher... Unless?"
"The Twin Black Lechers. Might not be just two. Could be three, four. All we know is two masked lechers raping women. That's it, right?"
"Multiple lechers, only two active to fool us?"
"Entirely possible. Explains their rampant activity. Peng Dorim arriving matches their start—bugs me. Track that, and... we might catch them."
"Makes sense. Then investigate Peng Dorim and his circle."