Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Chapter 7. Taking the Bait (1)
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The day was already drawing to a close.
Flying Tiger and Jin Gayong finished their business at the Justice Hall and returned through the north gate of Chang'an City.
It was still too early for dinner. But after running around all day, they were hungry, so they stopped by a modest old eatery first.
There, they ordered a plate of thickly sliced boiled pork to share in the center, along with a bowl of noodles each. It was a type of mixed noodle dish, with wide, flat strands tossed in spicy sauce and topped with sizzling hot oil.
They wolfed it down in the blink of an eye, and by the time they made it back to the teahouse 'Yusun'—where they had first met—the sun was dipping low on the horizon.
"Well then, shall we settle up?"
Jin Gayong savored a sip of tea before speaking at last, his face finally relaxed and at ease.
Flying Tiger compared the reports with his own findings, pointing out questions one by one. Jin Gayong tossed in occasional queries, exchanging views and tying up loose ends.
Jin Gayong was the one in charge from start to finish. This marked the end of Flying Tiger's assigned task—and he'd delivered beyond expectations. He'd opened new paths in the Face Pursuit Squad's stalled investigation, which had been nothing but dead ends.
But Flying Tiger went one step further. He brought up the seed he'd planted right before leaving the Justice Hall.
"If the Yin Division is tied to the Face Pursuit Squad, we'll see a bite soon enough."
"They might just sit tight and watch."
"If it were just some madman's personal grudge, maybe. But now we know they're a group moving with a specific goal: the Face Pursuit Squad. Thanks to the Six Jia Gate incident. You agree?"
"I do."
"That's why. They'll act! Until now, they've hidden in the shadows, pushing that Face Pursuit killer out front. It means they're plotting something. And they have the power to pull it off. Would people like that just sit by and let some unpredictable spark fly?"
"Hm. Do you really think the Songyang Sect's Yin Division is involved with them?"
"Fifty-fifty, but it's plausible enough. Anyway, that's why I dropped the bait—to find out."
"Got it. Once again, I'm counting on you to be right, Flying Tiger. By the way... what if they come after you instead of me?"
"Come on, why target a lowly grunt like me? You've got way more to squeeze out of you."
"That would be ideal, but honestly, it doesn't sit right with me. In cases like this, you never know who the enemy will go for. You sure you're okay?"
"......"
Is he seriously worried about me right now?
Flying Tiger lifted his teacup and slurped it down, peeking at Jin Gayong over the rim. The man's expression was utterly sincere, without a trace of pretense.
From what Flying Tiger had seen so far, Jin Gayong was the type who listened carefully to others. That didn't mean he lacked backbone or experience, though.
He was simply deeply considerate and patient. It just made him seem soft on the surface.
But Flying Tiger had glimpsed the man's other side as well.
His will and judgment were rock-solid. Cross the line he'd drawn, and he'd draw his sword without hesitation, no matter who you were.
That made Jin Gayong a tricky opponent for Flying Tiger.
And when he suddenly showed unexpected kindness or boldness like now, it only added to the discomfort.
Flying Tiger shrugged with a wry grin.
"Yeah, could be. But what can I do? Blame my rotten luck for landing such a tough squad leader. If it does go down like that, just pay me handsomely for the trouble."
Jin Gayong nodded—"Of course"—and pulled the gold hairpin from his pocket, the one he'd returned earlier.
Again?
Flying Tiger shot him a look that said, 'I told you I won't take it.'
Jin Gayong fiddled with the hairpin for a moment before speaking.
"You told me not to do something I'd regret? No, that's not it."
He let out a deep sigh, his face flushing as if the memory embarrassed him more by the second.
Flying Tiger tried to cut him off before he spilled some overly personal tale, but he missed his chance.
"It was about three years ago, I think? My pockets weren't deep enough back then, but I splurged anyway. I wanted to give her something after she'd waited so long. I was serious. But that year, some mess blew up, and I never got to hand it over. And... well, now it's too late. Forever."
Flying Tiger didn't want to hear it. His own love life was a disaster; he had no interest in anyone else's sob story.
Jin Gayong caught his expression and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem, ahem. Anyway, enough of that. Point is, I don't need it anymore. It's just poison now, leaving nothing but regrets. But you get it—I can't give something I once poured meaning into to just any woman. Selling it feels like a waste. So that's why. To me, it's worth less than half a nyang of gold dust now, but it hit me that you might make better use of it—more than its weight in gold."
"I don't have a girl to give it to."
"Eh? But later on..."
"No way. This life's a bust!"
"......"
There was one woman he actually fancied. But she was about to head off to the horizon.
The two stared blankly at each other.
Then Jin Gayong asked with a displeased frown.
"I've struck out already, but you're young. What's your excuse? Decent looks, all limbs intact."
"You look pretty spry yourself, boss."
"Me? Cough. I've been over thirty for a while."
Flying Tiger gave him a fresh once-over. He'd seemed younger than that—mid-twenties at most.
Then again, considering the swordsmanship he'd achieved, even early thirties might be too soon.
Up close, nothing stood out sharply, but his features were neat and balanced—easy on the eyes. Not flashy, but no rough edges either.
That face was hard to pin down, though. His intense gaze and aura overshadowed his plain, tidy looks, masking his overall impression.
So what's thirty got to do with it? Age isn't the issue, is it?
Flying Tiger tilted his head, then grumbled curtly.
"Anyway. If you're set on giving it to someone, pick a young guy with better prospects. Like I said, today's pay is already settled."
"No, that's not right. Base pay aside, you did more than expected and delivered outstanding results. Don't I owe you a bonus? Fair's fair."
Jin Gayong stroked the hairpin gently with his thumb.
"But you're saying it's a burden no matter what, right? I've already decided to give it. So how about this?"
Crack.
He pressed his thumb, snapping the hairpin in two.
"No value as a hairpin now—just a gold rod. Take it without worry."
Damn, talk about decisive.
Flying Tiger reluctantly pocketed the broken pieces, shaking his head inwardly.
Jin Gayong looked relieved as he said, "Good work today."
And with that, they wrapped up.
Before parting, Jin Gayong told him to rest up tomorrow and meet the day after.
It was a perfectly polite farewell, but "rest up" stuck in Flying Tiger's mind. Casually, he asked,
"We jumping straight into action the moment we assemble the day after, like last time?"
"Probably."
"Who's the target this time?"
"Classified. Still under final review, from what I hear—not set in stone."
"Ah, got it."
"Yeonpyeong Yonghwa Sect."
"......?"
"First time hearing it? A new black path sect holed up in the western slums of the city. I'll need the report for details, but word is some big-shot Sichuan outlaws—wanted by the city office—fled here."
Flying Tiger committed "Yeonpyeong Yonghwa" to memory. He'd just learned the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong's second target.
Jin Gayong eyed him impassively.
"Watch what you say. Trouble if it leaks."
"Yes, sir."
And they parted ways.
Something big's missing.
Flying Tiger pondered as he trudged along alone.
The Six Jia Gate report from Jin Gayong made no mention of another intruder—Im Dal-chung, the one who'd pissed him off. Despite multiple witnesses.
Why?
Two possibilities.
First, the original report had omitted him for some reason.
Second, it was there originally, but Jin Gayong deliberately left it out of the copy for Flying Tiger. And that scenario reeked of the problem he'd feared.
Track down Pung-sam? Tch.
He didn't head straight home that night.
The night was young and long. The day had been decently fun, but he sought something more entertaining.
His steps led to the southern district of Chang'an, where red lanterns glowed along the pleasure quarter. Brothels and courtesan houses lined the streets—a playground for grown men to cut loose.
Flying Tiger bantered with the soliciting courtesans before picking one and heading inside.
The girl who latched onto him giggled as she led the way, then asked,
"But you're here alone, sir?"
"Yeah. Weird?"
"Ohoho, not at all. I'll take good care of you."
What disappointed her wasn't his solitude. Better one than none; two better than one; four best of all—they spent more.
But a young man after so long was a plus. Pretty face, gentle vibe—no troublemaker.
Heh, time to burn some midnight passion?
Her hopes were half right, half wrong.
The young patron eagerly ordered expensive liquor and snacks. Polite enough—no drama, just a generous regular.
The catch? When she got excited and pressed close, he threw up an iron wall. At first, she thought he was playing coy—cute. But an hour in, she realized this eunuch was for real. Even dead drunk, he refused flat-out.
Fine by me—money's money—but why waste it here if you're just gonna drink alone?
She stared in disbelief when someone knocked, requesting to join.
He'd spotted them passing by, he said. And sure enough, the young eunuch—sloshed as he was—sprang up and welcomed him warmly, like old pals.
The courtesan, already fed up, bolted like it was her salvation. Leaving the young eunuch—Flying Tiger—and the newcomer to carry on the drinks alone.
"You're late."
"Had to scout for eyes. You understand—this world's full of them."
"Fair enough."
"Proper intro: Ban-chung of the Yin Division. Looking forward to working with you."
"Flying Tiger. Likewise."
Ban-chung was the cheeky guy Flying Tiger had chatted with before leaving the Justice Hall. They'd bitten already. Jin Gayong's worry was spot-on—the target was Flying Tiger. But not with aggression. Recruitment.