Lust Demon: Jongchil - 14
Wi Sahu thoroughly investigated Paeng Dorim's movements. Confirming his background wasn't difficult at all. Namgung Hyeok had already extracted most of the information through intense interrogation. Paeng Dorim was a martial artist from Shaanxi. Like the countless guests who flocked to the Namgung family, he'd come to Anhui aiming to draw the Emperor's Sword and rise to fame and glory. Thanks to the Emperor's Sword incident, Anhui was now overflowing with warriors like him. Nothing suspicious there on the surface. He claimed he didn't know a soul in Anhui—except for one drinking buddy. Not some deep bond from childhood friends, but a fellow martial artist he'd met on the road to Anhui. They'd become booze pals after sharing a table at an inn, or so he said.
Wi Sahu got the location of that drinking buddy's inn from Paeng Dorim and went straight to find him. Locating the place was easier than expected. It had to be—the buddy was holed up at Honggiru, the most luxurious inn in all of Jamsan County.
"Heh, no idea why such a pretty young thing's lookin' for me."
Bang Geukcheon scratched his forehead with a troubled look. Wi Sahu coldly memorized every detail of the man's appearance. This was the drinking buddy Paeng Dorim had mentioned. His build was massive, like the reincarnation of Xiang Yu, and his face was rugged and brutish, like he'd inherited the blood of Zhang Fei. The kind of guy who'd throw a punch before words.
"Similar, huh."
Namgung Hyeok murmured softly, just loud enough for Wi Sahu to hear.
"Pardon!? Similar how?"
"That Bang Geukcheon guy—he looks a lot like those male prostitutes from Gaeui Manor. And Paeng Dorim... maybe he had the hots for this brute."
"Urk...."
Suddenly, an image flashed in Wi Sahu's mind of Paeng Dorim and Bang Geukcheon getting all lovey-dovey. Her stomach churned.
"Well, let's at least hear his side first."
Bang Geukcheon spoke up. The man sitting beside him quietly observed the situation. Wi Sahu glanced back and forth between Bang Geukcheon and his companion. For some reason, the two seemed to match perfectly.
"Sorry for barging in like this. I'm Wi Sahu, chief steward of the Lily Escort Bureau."
"Bang Geukcheon. This here's my big bro, Jongchil—sworn brothers."
"Big bro... I see."
"Might look weird to outsiders, but he's precious to me."
"Not at all. It's common enough in the jianghu."
Wi Sahu alternated glances between them, repeating the word "big bro" in her mind. Sworn brothers. These two were a pair.
"Do you happen to know a man named Paeng Dorim?"
"Paeng-hyung? Sure do. Met him by chance on the way here—became drinking buddies. We've been knocking back drinks pretty regularly since last week...."
Bang Geukcheon's testimony matched Paeng Dorim's exactly. Unless they were in cahoots, it seemed legit. But the thought of them coordinating made Wi Sahu picture their lips locked again.
'Eugh! What the hell am I thinking!?'
She shook her head to clear the bizarre fantasies. That damn Gaeui Manor mention kept spawning these creepy delusions.
Wi Sahu turned her gaze to Jongchil this time.
"Please don't take this the wrong way. We're investigating Paeng Dorim in connection with the famous Lust Demon case here in Jamsan."
Jongchil blinked wide at her words. Wi Sahu didn't miss it.
"Investigating Paeng-hyung? For the Lust Demon? You mean the Twin Black Lust Demons, right?"
That was Bang Geukcheon speaking.
"Yes, exactly. But that doesn't mean Paeng Dorim is the Lust Demon. He's just a person of interest."
"Hmph. Isn't that the authorities' jurisdiction? Why's the Lily Escort Bureau's chief steward handling it?"
The man called Jongchil finally spoke up, after staying silent.
Wi Sahu nodded at Jongchil's question.
"Fair point, but we've got a victim on our side. The officials can't even catch a shadow of these demons, so we're stepping in ourselves."
"Must be tough for you."
"Yeah, that's the situation. Anyway, we're looking into everyone around Young Master Paeng. ...Since the Twin Black Lust Demons are a duo."
Bang Geukcheon nodded vigorously at Wi Sahu's words.
"Got it. That's why you came to me. Wait—does that make me a suspect too?"
Despite his hulking frame, Bang Geukcheon was quick on the uptake. That's how Wi Sahu saw it, at least.
"If I've offended you, I sincerely apologize. Our leads are razor-thin right now, so we're grasping at anyone we can reach. If you're proven innocent later, the Lily Escort Bureau will make it right."
She bowed her head straight. Her utterly humble attitude, devoid of any authority, drew a wry smile from Bang Geukcheon. A rare decent soul in these jianghu days. No wonder the Lily Escort Bureau thrived in Anhui. With people like her in high positions, business was bound to boom.
He waved it off.
"Don't sweat it. I get the situation. I'm innocent anyway, so the suspicion'll clear up quick."
"Then, may I ask a few simple questions? You can invoke silence on anything tough."
With that, Wi Sahu began her prepared questions one by one. Her eyes drifted to the quietly seated Jongchil.
*-*-*
The questioning lasted about half a gak. Honestly, no major breakthroughs. Both claimed alibis for each other, but that meant little—if they were the Twin Black Lust Demons, they were just vouching for themselves. Suspicion, but no hard evidence. The most frustrating part of the investigation. Still, nailing down suspects was progress. Before, they hadn't even had leads.
'For now, these two go on the suspect list.'
Wi Sahu concluded. Suspects identified, but the Lust Demons' true identities remained a fog.
'Gotta report to the Vice Bureau Chief.'
She stood, turning to Namgung Hyeok beside her.
"Young Master Hyeok, anything else you want to ask them?"
"Doesn't seem so."
"Alright, let's head out. I'll report the findings to the Vice Bureau Chief."
"Sure."
Wi Sahu bowed politely to Bang Geukcheon and Jongchil. Namgung Hyeok, naturally, kept his haughty gaze—that befitted a Namgung family scion.
"Thank you for cooperating. Planning to stick around here?"
"For the time being, yeah. Good luck, Chief Wi. Hope it wraps up smooth."
"Thanks. We'll be off."
Namgung Hyeok and Wi Sahu exited the inn together. Bang Geukcheon watched their backs with a chuckle. They didn't seem fully convinced of innocence, but not overly suspicious either.
"Bro, you okay?"
Bang Geukcheon turned to Jongchil with concern. That Wi Sahu seemed sharp. And Namgung Hyeok had an edge too.
Jongchil stared at the inn door as they left, smirking.
"About thirty percent done, I'd say. Gonna get interesting. That Namgung Hyeok next to her bugs me, though."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothin'. Just mumbling."
Jongchil often muttered things Bang Geukcheon couldn't follow. He was used to it by now.
*-*-*
Wi Sahu compiled her notes and headed to the Vice Bureau Chief's office. The Chief handled bureau business relentlessly, but this Lust Demon case involved the Namgung family too—it was critical she know.
"Vice Bureau Chief. Here to report."
Wi Sahu entered without waiting, announcing herself. Normally, barging in on a superior was grave rudeness, but Na Okryeong allowed it for her alone. Wi Sahu took immense pride in that.
"Kuhuhu! This booze hits the spot!"
But inside was Seo Gilhu, the bureau's actual Chief. She'd stumbled into his office. She'd never seen him work here—not once. He was chugging Zhuyeqing in broad daylight. Hadn't even noticed her enter. Most pathetic man in all Silver Forest Province.
"S-sorry!"
Wi Sahu bolted out. The Chief's office was right next door. She'd never mixed them up before. The Lust Demon stress must be frying her brain.
This time, she went to the right office. Na Okryeong, unlike Seo Gilhu, was properly at work. She was the real power behind the Lily Escort Bureau—everyone, Wi Sahu included, knew it.
"Vice Bureau Chief. Reporting on the investigation."
"Go ahead."
She listened to Wi Sahu's summary while handling paperwork. For Wall Mountain Immortal, known as Beksan Seonja, multitasking was child's play. The report went like this:
The Lust Demons' identities remained unknown. However, several suspects had been flagged: Bang Geukcheon and Jongchil, currently at Honggiru. Of course, zero proof they were the demons.
"Bang Geukcheon and some guy named Jongchil?"
"Yes. They arrived in Jamsan around when the Lust Demons surfaced. There's Paeng Dorim too, but he's a confirmed skirt-chaser. I find Bang Geukcheon and Jongchil highly suspicious."
"What makes you think that?"
"Two reasons. First, no special purpose for coming here. Paeng Dorim came for the Namgung family and the Emperor's Sword, but these two were just wandering the jianghu and stopped by."
Not hugely odd—jianghu folk loved roaming the world. It was common knowledge across the Central Plains. Asking why was like asking clouds why they drift. Wi Sahu called it a weak hunch.
"Second, Bang Geukcheon and Jongchil are sworn brothers. And per Cheong-a's testimony, the Twin Black Lust Demons seem like sworn brothers too."
"Even assuming the Twins are brothers—which who knows—in this vast Central Plains, you think they're the only sworn pair?"
"Not many arrive in Jamsan during the Lust Demons' rampage and call each other brothers. Of course, it's all just my speculation."
Wi Sahu bowed, finishing. Na Okryeong mulled it over. Short on info for solid conclusions, but plausibility? Yeah, it tracked.