Poison and Medicine Are a Hair's Breadth Apart - 1
The entire city erupted into chaos. The sun had set, and the moon was rising. The once clear sky was tinged with red as darkness descended. As the time favored those who lurked in the shadows over those in the light, the monstrous duo we'd been waiting for finally made their appearance.
"They're heading northeast! Grab them!"
"Where's the other one? Weren't they always together?"
"Those bastards always operated separately! They'll do the same this time, so focus on the one we can see!"
Well, technically, they'd only spotted one so far. I rubbed my chin at the shouts and orders echoing from afar. Ordinary folk wouldn't hear it, but as a martial artist myself, I could pick up even the venom-laced bellows from a distance.
Feint east, strike west, huh.
A classic tactic: stir up noise in the east while hitting the west. With those two operating independently, it was inevitable. Of course, knowing it's a feint means you can ignore the one drawing aggro in the east—but unfortunately, the aggro-pulling bastard's speed and infiltration skills were so insane you couldn't just brush him off. It could flip from feint east to strike west in an instant.
"Inspector."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't even think about moving."
"...Understood, sir."
I spoke flatly to Jo Wi-cheo, who twitched behind me, and he hesitated before responding. I got it. His first real fight as a super peak expert had been against Munwon. I didn't know if the one flipping the city was Munwon, but if it was, Jo Wi-cheo would be itching to join the chase.
"If the pursuit team captures them alive, we'll get our shot later. If they reach here, we'll handle the finale. No need to rush."
So I soothed him with a gentler tone than before. No matter how it played out, we'd get a legal chance to beat them senseless, so no regrets.
"Sir."
"Yeah?"
"What if they don't find this place and just leave?"
I turned toward the commotion at his words. The three-headed snake's true lair had shifted from the prefect's jar to my chest pocket. What to do if the Tang duo never figured it out until the bitter end and got caught or escaped?
"Dunno. Somehow, I doubt that'll happen."
Not exactly reassuring from the guy holding the snake for safekeeping, but those Tang monsters would make it here. They'd infiltrated both sects' private grounds dozens of times, escaped Ami Pa's custody, broken through Cheongseong Pa's blockade—and still evaded capture, forcing us to use the legendary spirit beast as bait. I had a feeling. They'd sniff out the real location for sure.
"If changing spots was enough to lose them, they wouldn't have run wild this long."
"True enough, sir."
Jo Wi-cheo nodded in agreement. Yeah, if a simple relocation could stop them, Cheongseong Pa and Ami Pa would've ended it ages ago. The report to the prefect would've been a curt "Intruders entered Cheongseong Pa and Ami Pa grounds and were subdued." But that didn't happen. Those giants got played dozens of times, their countless countermeasures breached every time.
The prefect isn't banking on a spot change either.
I gently stroked the utterly still three-headed snake in my bosom—probably sleeping. Handing it to me was a calculated move. Safer with someone else than in his office, and since Munwon had already scoped me out twice, low odds of a third visit. Crucially, I'm crown prince stock. Sneaking up for chit-chat was risky but doable; starting a physical fight over a snake in my pocket? No way.
Messing with royalty isn't petty theft or trespassing—it's a whole different league.
Even lawbreakers know the line between misdemeanor and felony, civilian vs. official. That's why the prefect gave it to me—the highest-status guy in the city right now. Even if the duo reached here, grabbing my collar for the snake was near impossible.
Or will they go all in since they're criminals anyway?
The thought crossed my mind. They were elite felons with rap sheets a mile long. Adding "assault on royalty" to the list might even be a badge of honor. Crazy, I know. But weren't the Tang duo even crazier?
They're not right in the head.
If they had any sense, they wouldn't have made enemies of two sects solo. Since they pulled that madness off casually, pounding one prince wouldn't faze them. So I rested a hand on my sword at my waist. Prep for potential violence. Worst-case assumptions always pan out.
"First time meeting you, sir. You're the Left Vice Inspector General... right?"
The pursuit shouts faded as night edged into dawn. Under the faint moonlight, a black-clad stranger appeared.
"That's me."
I nodded plainly at his identity check. No point denying it with Jo Wi-cheo, Kki-ing-i, and Kki-ong-i looming behind me. No one else in the city—or the Central Plains—toted two white deer spirit beasts.
Better to answer straight than bluff pointlessly.
"And you're Mun Kyung, I take it."
That let me talk back. He approached me with confidence, and I had my own certainty naming him.
"They say the Mun Kyung who ransacked Cheongseong Mountain lugs a massive pack on his back."
A huge bundle like Bokho Geomni described. Seamless infiltration amid city chaos. Audacious madness standing before a crown prince Left Vice Inspector. Had to be Mun Kyung. Anything else would be weirder.
"Yes, that's the name I go by."
Mun Kyung smiled and bowed at my question.
"Who'd have thought the Left Vice Inspector would know a nobody like me? Fame's the best, huh."
"You're too famous. It's a problem."
"Is that so? Regrettable."
I drew my sword at his banter, and Jo Wi-cheo stepped forward from standby. Mun Kyung scratched his head awkwardly, raising arms to show empty hands.
"No need for caution. If you ask if I've lived lawfully and diligently, I've got no defense—but I'm not so rude as to harm a crown prince."
"Says the guy who hopped the wall uninvited."
"Sir, if I'd truly hidden, you wouldn't have spotted me yet. Call it a visit where permission came a tad—very tad—late."
Confident and mad, but undeniable. Honestly, I hadn't sensed him till he showed. If he'd gone all out, I'd be clueless till the end.
"Super peak, then."
"Graciously reached it two years ago with heaven's blessing."
"The other one too?"
"My little brother's peak realm. Faster lightness skill than mine, though."
I chuckled at his candid answers.
"Doesn't mean I'm handing over the three-headed snake."
"Busted? Shame."
He grinned at my half-joking jab. What a waste. Super peak mastery, slick infiltration, bold madness. Perfect for high office or elder status anywhere. Squandering it on theft?
Could even lead a house.
With those skills, no need for others. He could found his own Tang house in Sichuan or whatever.
"Mun Kyung."
"Yes, sir. Speak."
"Surrender with your brother. Can't erase all sins, but I'll minimize the price. Then devote yourselves to the realm and people."
His eyes widened at my blunt offer, then he burst laughing.
"Sir, too generous for mere thieves?"
"Guiding a thief to sagehood, taming beast to man—that's a scholar's way. Comforting one who knows he's a thief is an official's duty."
"That's... quite the line."
He nodded thoughtfully, silent a beat before continuing.
"Not what I expected. Didn't think you'd show mercy to a petty crook."
"Accept?"
"Apologies, sir. If we wanted official life, we'd have gone legit long ago."
With that, arms-up Mun Kyung whipped something from his sleeve.
...An egg?
Braced for hidden weapons, but out came a quail egg–sized orb.
What the?
His brother scattered flour not poison, now this? I knew they were nuts, but this level?
— Shiiik?
— Sieeek!
— Shuuk, shiuuuuk!
"What."
The "dead asleep" three-headed snake in my bosom popped its heads out.
"Works like a charm."
Mun Kyung nodded satisfied.
"Can't search your person or quarters, sir. But if it comes out on its own... that's fair game, right?"
Speechless at the nonsense. Fair game my ass. Still theft, you maniac.
— Shiiik!
"Hey, you bastard!"
Unlike my shock, the snake hopped down and landed. I snatched it desperately, but it thrashed wildly—unlike its usual docility.
Damn it.
Chaos turned to awe. What was in that egg to flip this timid thing?