Monopolizing Fortunes (124)
Monopolizing Fortunes (124)
"Understood. You said there are four of them, so four from our side should be enough."
"Don't let your guard down. Pick the strongest."
"I will. When shall we set the time?"
"We can't know when the First Prince will leave the imperial palace, so we must hurry as much as possible. Tomorrow would be good."
"Then I will take it as settled and make preparations."
Brief letters went back and forth, and the place for the duel was set at a secret residence that Jeon Su-bang had arranged.
Do Tong-dal was not at all worried about the duel. There was no chance they would lose.
"Is Su-yeong safe?"
At present, Do Tong-dal's only worry was Ja Su-yeong, who was being detained in the imperial palace.
"Don't worry. She's eating three meals a day and sleeping well on silk bedding. Let's hurry."
Yang Su-pan urged Do Tong-dal out of the room, and as they were stepping into the main hall, Namgung Seol-rin held out a small slip of paper.
"A message from the martial world."
Do Tong-dal unfolded the letter and gave a small nod.
"What does it say?"
"A Beggars' Sect informant made contact with the hidden faction."
"So we've finally found the sweet potato vine."
"We need to wrap things up here quickly and move on to the martial world."
Namgung Seol-rin grumbled.
"That's not up to us. That damned First Prince has to make a move."
"If it really comes down to it, we'll have no choice but to settle it inside the imperial palace."
"Would that be possible? Honestly, killing him might be manageable somehow, but getting out afterward is the problem."
Yang Su-pan was startled by what he heard.
"You're saying killing the First Prince is possible?"
Namgung Seol-rin answered as if it were nothing.
"Didn't Tong-dal disguise himself as a eunuch and get sent in before?"
"He did."
"Getting into the imperial palace is the hard part. Once you're inside, killing him seems simple enough."
Do Tong-dal picked up Namgung Seol-rin's words.
"It's not quite that simple, but it's certainly possible. As you said, though, the problem is what comes after the kill."
"A plan for getting out safely is the sort of thing that would come out of your head."
"Let's give it some thought."
Yang Su-pan urged them on.
"Think later. Let's move."
Jang Yu-seom and Won Dae-yeon were waiting for them in the courtyard. Leaving the temporary residence, they walked for one ke and arrived at the estate.
The walls were well over one jang high, so the inside of the estate could not be seen. Four people, including Jeon Su-bang, were already waiting there.
Jeon Su-bang broke into a broad smile when he saw Do Tong-dal.
"It's been a while, young physiognomist."
In Jeon Su-bang's memory, Do Tong-dal would be fixed as a physiognomist.
Do Tong-dal bowed politely. It was a little irritating that Jeon Su-bang did not trust them, but he could not blame the man for the ignorance of not knowing Do Tong-dal properly.
"Since we're short on time, how about we settle the business quickly?"
Do Tong-dal's gaze moved to the four stalwart men standing behind Jeon Su-bang. Their sturdy builds and upright postures made it clear they had trained in martial arts for a long time.
"Those gentlemen are the ones who will be fighting today, I take it?"
One of the stalwart men stepped forward.
"I am Yeo Seon-sang, a Thousand-Man Commander and Shaanxi's foremost military officer."
They had never met, and the man's immediate condescension was unpleasant.
"I've never seen a man who calls himself the best or whatever with his own mouth who was actually any good."
Yeo Seon-sang's face twisted sharply.
"A thug like you dares insult me?"
Do Tong-dal nodded as if he understood.
"So because I'm a thug, it's fine to treat me however you please."
"A thug who lives by sucking the blood of decent folk has no shame if he expects to be treated with respect."
"You must not be pleased that we're part of this undertaking either."
"Of course not. How dare vermin like you insert yourselves into a great cause that rises in righteous indignation for the nation and its people!"
Yang Su-pan stepped forward to say something, but Do Tong-dal stopped him.
"Depending on your ability, you could lock us up."
"Lock you up?"
"If you win this duel, we will put ourselves in prison. We promise not to take a single step out of that prison until the undertaking succeeds."
"Truly?"
"In exchange, you must make the same promise."
Do Tong-dal asked Jeon Su-bang.
"How many military figures know about this undertaking?"
"Twelve at present."
"Are all twelve under that man's command?"
"You could say so."
Do Tong-dal said to Yeo Seon-sang.
"All twelve of them are to remain in a place I designate until the undertaking is finished."
"You mean to lock us up and run wild as you please?"
"It seems you lack confidence in winning the wager."
"Ridiculous! Can you even keep that promise yourselves?"
Yang Su-pan stepped in.
"I will guarantee that. I'll stake my life on Do Tong-dal's promise."
Everyone was startled by the mention of staking his life.
"Why are you jumping in so hard?"
"Because I feel bad toward you."
"So you do know. Anyway, the promise is made, so let's finish this quickly."
Yeo Seon-sang said.
"We came with four to match your number. Who will step forward first?"
Jang Yu-seom stepped forward. His face was clouded with anger.
"Then from our side......"
Jang Yu-seom cut off Yeo Seon-sang.
"All four of you, come at once."
If Namgung Seol-rin or Won Dae-yeon had said something so arrogant, he would have nodded and thought, 'That figures,' but he had not expected Jang Yu-seom to spit out such words.
"You mean to face all four of us?"
"Did you not hear Coordinator Do say to finish quickly? If I lose, I'll go to prison without a word, so don't worry."
"Ha! Have you ever seen such a mad thug? I already told you who I am!"
"Then I should introduce myself as well. I am Jang Yu-seom, who once served as an instructor in the Henan military command."
At the name Jang Yu-seom, Yeo Seon-sang's face stiffened with a flinch.
"Y-you...... are you truly Jang Yu-seom, the foremost instructor of Henan?"
"I have never once thought of myself as the foremost, but I am that Jang Yu-seom."
"How did an honored instructor of the military command become a thug?"
"You are a man with no right to speak of honor."
Jang Yu-seom drew his sword. A chill settled over the estate courtyard.
"The person I serve is not someone you may treat with such contempt."
"Ha! I don't know how Instructor Jang came to serve under a man like that, but you should be ashamed. Becoming a thug and staining the honor of the military command......"
"How long do you intend to keep running your mouth? Have you forgotten that a warrior speaks with the weapon he carries?"
"Fine. I'll deal with you."
As Yeo Seon-sang drew his sword, Jang Yu-seom said.
"All four of you, come at me."
"Hmph! You seem to believe that empty reputation as the foremost instructor of Henan. I'll fix your manners within ten moves!"
Without any signal to begin, Yeo Seon-sang rushed Jang Yu-seom. True to his reputation as Shaanxi's foremost military officer, his sword was fast and full of force.
But it was far from enough to face Jang Yu-seom. If this had been the Jang Yu-seom of his instructor days, it might have made for a fine contest.
However, the current Jang Yu-seom was not the Jang Yu-seom of old. After joining the Red Tiger Society, he had fought many duels against experts and had even received instruction from Won Dae-yeon, a master of the highest caliber.
The Jeolhae Sword Art he had recently begun learning had given wings to that Jang Yu-seom. He had grown incomparably stronger than when he first met Do Tong-dal.
Jang Yu-seom knocked aside Yeo Seon-sang's sword, then swung his blade toward the man's neck. The attack following the defense flowed in a single line, so that Yeo Seon-sang seemed to be thrusting his own neck into Jang Yu-seom's sword path.
"Hup!"
Yeo Seon-sang let out a startled sound and hastily retreated, barely avoiding the attack. Jang Yu-seom immediately closed in on him.
When the thrust at his chest was blocked, Jang Yu-seom went straight for the waist, and the attack then dropped to the thigh.
Jang Yu-seom closed the distance with Yeo Seon-sang, who was desperately backpedaling, in a single step.
Thwack!
He kicked the back of the man's knee with his instep, and Yeo Seon-sang tumbled backward with a short cry. Jang Yu-seom's sword tip came to rest against Yeo Seon-sang's throat.
For a man called Shaanxi's foremost military officer, it was a miserable defeat. It was only because this was a duel; had it been a fight to the death, it would have ended far sooner.
"I-I've lost."
When Yeo Seon-sang admitted defeat, Jang Yu-seom withdrew. His gaze turned to the three remaining men.
"Next."
No one stepped forward because the outcome was all too obvious. Watching the fight with Yeo Seon-sang, it seemed even all three attacking at once would not be enough.
Jang Yu-seom's bravado about facing all four at once had not been bluster but confidence.
When no one came forward, Jang Yu-seom sheathed his sword.
"To step into an undertaking with that level of skill and dismiss your own allies as thugs. You ought to be ashamed."
Jeon Su-bang's admiring gaze shifted from Jang Yu-seom to Do Tong-dal.
'Not only does a thug possess such astonishing martial arts, but Do Tong-dal keeps a man like that as a subordinate? How could such men be dismissed as thugs!'
Yeo Seon-sang rose weakly and bowed his head to Jeon Su-bang.
"I apologize for disappointing you."
"If strength is lacking, it can't be helped."
Jeon Su-bang approached Jang Yu-seom.
"I did not know a warrior like you was under Do Tong-dal's command."
"I have left the military command, so the title of warrior does not suit me. I am merely a thug now."
"Is it not the loyalty from your soldiering days that remains, and that has brought you forward to save a troubled world?"
"I merely follow Coordinator Do's orders."
Jeon Su-bang glanced at Do Tong-dal, then asked Jang Yu-seom.
"What is so great about that thug?"
"If his greatness could be put into words, it would not be greatness. I only follow Coordinator Do; I cannot pass judgment on him."
Do Tong-dal said in a low voice.
"Protector Jang isn't my subordinate. He's a Protector, so he ranks above me."
"What meaning does a title have? I doubt Won Dae-yeon over there considers Coordinator Do a subordinate either."
"He orders me around constantly."
Won Dae-yeon said.
"That's just the kind of person I am. I've never once thought of you as beneath me. If I thought of my life's benefactor that way, I'd deserve to die. The only one here who thinks of you as beneath them is Namgung Protector."
Namgung Seol-rin jumped.
"I've never done that! How could I think of the man who's going to be my husband as beneath me!"
"Ahem! This doesn't seem like a conversation suited to having here."
Do Tong-dal reined in the conversation that was going off the rails.
"First, as promised, Commander Yeo's people must not leave one place until this matter is finished."
Yang Su-pan asked.
"Is that really necessary? They're people taking part in the great undertaking with us."
"This is a matter where secrecy is life, and far too many people already know about it."
Yeo Seon-sang said.
"None of my men or I have leaked the secret!"
"If such faith were always kept, there would be no secrets leaked in this world."
Jeon Su-bang settled the matter.
"This seems to be a matter of promises, not faith. Commander Yeo made a promise, so he must keep it."
"Understood."
"There will come a time when your strength is needed. So don't be too disheartened."
Jeon Su-bang's gaze moved to Jang Yu-seom.
"You will take charge of assassinating the First Prince."
Jang Yu-seom shook his head.
"How could someone like me step forward for such an important task? Even Coordinator Do here is my equal."
"Hm? Is that true?"
Do Tong-dal said, "I am the inferior one," but it only came across as modesty.
"Namgung Protector here is also difficult to rank above or below me, and Won Dae-yeon over there is a master I could not defeat even if two of me attacked at once. So the weighty task should naturally fall to Won Dae-yeon."
"Ha! Are you people really from the Underworld?"
Do Tong-dal said.
"If preconceptions are blinding you, then forget the name Underworld from now on. We are people who will disappear once this matter is finished, so there is no need for you to remember us at all."
Jeon Su-bang stared at Do Tong-dal for a long moment, then nodded.
"Very well. I entrust this plan entirely to you."
"You need only concern yourself with one thing: the safety of Ja Su-yeong, who is currently in the imperial palace."
"I will do my utmost."
Do Tong-dal approached the dejected Yeo Seon-sang.
"As Lord Jeon said, a time will come when Commander Yeo's strength is needed. Until then, please bear with the confinement, stifling as it may be."
"Understood. And allow me to offer a formal apology for my earlier rudeness."
Do Tong-dal said with a smile.
"I accept."
* * *