Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: A Major Incident
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“G-Great trouble has struck!”
As Jo Bang, the grand steward of Woo Manor, shoved open the main gate and burst in, Woo Moonheum, who had been leisurely sipping his tea, furrowed his brow.
“What’s with all the commotion...”
“Chaos has broken out in Hyuncheong right now.”
“...?”
“The entire Gong Sacheok gang and the Qingyang Merchant Group have been hauled off to Hyuncheong.”
Woo Moonheum momentarily wondered if he had misheard.
“Wh-What do you mean? Explain it step by step!”
“The official troops are guarding the Qingyang Merchant Group’s base and the Sa-cheok Sect’s hideout, so I couldn’t confirm the exact details. But it seems there was a smuggling deal last night.”
“Sm-Smuggling?”
“Yes.”
Woo Moonheum clutched his forehead as a throbbing headache set in.
He had long known the Qingyang Merchant Group was involved in smuggling.
But of all times, why now?
Wait a moment.
“The Gong Sacheok gang got caught too?”
“Yes. Word is they were completely wiped out.”
“What...”
“They were nabbed right there at the smuggling site. No idea how it happened, but they were fighting the Qingyang Merchant Group.”
What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this?
Gong Sacheok was supposed to be chasing after Jinmu’s group—how on earth did they get mixed up in the Qingyang Merchant Group’s smuggling operation?
On top of that, they had laid a trap to kill Jinmu’s group just two nights ago.
Night had passed, then day, then night again.
Only a day and a half had gone by.
Had the heavens and earth flipped upside down in that short time?
It made no sense at all, but Jo Bang clearly didn’t know the full story either.
‘Damn it. If those bastards keep their mouths shut, it might be fine, but if word of our commission gets out...’
Worry began to gnaw at him.
What if Jinmu’s group had escaped the ambush and reported it to Wudang, prompting a full investigation?
If Wudang learned that Woo Manor was the backer behind the hit, not only would Woo Manor be done for—Jinhye would be dragged down too.
Targeting the lives of fellow sect brothers.
It was the one thing forbidden most strictly by every sect in the Central Plains.
Excommunication was the least of it—he’d have his meridians severed and end up a cripple.
Jinhye was the dream and hope for carrying on Woo Manor’s legacy.
Even if it meant Woo Manor facing Wudang’s wrath, that had to be prevented at all costs.
‘F-First, the evidence—somehow destroy all the evidence. And Jinhye has to be kept in the dark. Make it look like we secretly plotted it on our own.’
Fierce flames blazed in Woo Moonheum’s eyes.
‘Geumjeoksan, Gong Sacheok. I need to kill those two bastards quick. Just shut their mouths and it’s done.’
Having steeled his resolve, Woo Moonheum rose from his seat.
“I need to meet Magistrate Ji Hyun right away. You head straight to Jinhye and keep tabs on Wudang’s movements. Also, burn every last bit of evidence related to the Qingyang Merchant Group and Gong Sacheok.”
“Understood.”
After issuing orders to Jo Bang, Woo Moonheum hurriedly prepared and set off for Hyuncheong with five warriors in tow.
Clink.
The weighty feel of the pouch made Jinmu’s spirits soar.
“The investigation turned up quite a few wanted men. Even Ipallyong was in the mix.”
“Twenty taels!”
“Pardon?”
“Ahem, nothing.”
Ipallyong had been involved. An extra twenty-tael bounty added.
“All told, it comes to just shy of two hundred taels, but I threw in a bit more for the dojo’s hard work.”
Jinmu’s mouth split into a grin all the way to his ears at Judge O Maengdal’s words.
There were good officials among them after all.
“Then the smuggling reward...”
“Ah, that one—Magistrate Ji Hyun said he’d deliver it personally since it’s such great merit.”
“I see.”
“Yes. He’s probably waiting now. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
He had already stopped by the fabric shop and changed into a shiny new robe.
Thanks to the shopkeeper’s generosity, he even had new shoes that fit perfectly—his steps felt light enough to reach the heavens.
Just as they were heading to Hyuncheong’s main office, Woo Moonheum and Woo Manor’s warriors were entering.
“Isn’t that Woo Manor Lord?”
Woo Manor Lord?
The moment Judge O recognized his face and greeted him warmly, a sharp glint flashed in Jinmu’s eyes and vanished.
“Ah, Judge O...”
Woo Moonheum, who had turned his head, spotted Jinmu’s group and his expression stiffened for an instant.
Three Taoists in Wudang robes.
There was no way he didn’t know they were Jinmu’s group, the ones currently in Dangan-gu.
‘Why the hell are these guys in Hyuncheong?’
First came shock, then doubt.
But trying not to show it, he feigned ignorance and asked Judge O.
“And these gentlemen are?”
“You haven’t heard the rumors yet, I take it.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. There was smuggling last night. We finally got our hands on the Qingyang Merchant Group’s tail. And get this—these lunatics were even dealing gunpowder. Anyway, thanks to Wudang’s dojos, we wiped them out. Right now, Judge Jeong is leading the troops to chase down the buyers.”
Jinmu’s group had raided the smuggling site? How did they find out?
No way that fool Geumjeoksan let these kids catch on to the smuggling?
“And it wasn’t just the smuggling—we managed to take down the Gong Sacheok gang too. Local merchants can’t stop singing their praises. Those bastards had done plenty of evil, huh? Everyone’s busy praising Wudang’s name. And now, we can even root out the corrupt officials who took bribes from him. Magistrate Ji Hyun is thrilled.”
As Judge O rattled on without pause, Woo Moonheum barely suppressed a twitching eye and forced a smile.
“Th-That’s impressive. Something the yamen couldn’t manage for years... As expected of Wudang’s dojos.”
He lavished praise outwardly while scrutinizing Jinmu’s group’s expressions.
Did they know Woo Manor was behind it?
How much had Gong Sacheok and Geumjeoksan spilled?
“Yes, truly impressive. I was shocked too. I’d heard Wudang hadn’t been active externally lately.”
In the meantime, Jinmu was staring right at Woo Moonheum.
Woo Manor—he’d planned to meet them eventually anyway.
The ones who commissioned Gong Sacheok to kill him. This was the bastard pulling the strings behind it all.
But it was a face he’d neither heard of nor seen before.
What grudge did he have to put out a hit on them?
“Ah, come to think of it, didn’t you say your son is a disciple at Wudang?”
Jinmu’s eyes narrowed at Judge O’s words.
He had a son at Wudang?
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
Woo Moonheum, who had been masking his expression, was visibly flustered.
“What was his dharma name again?”
Cold sweat trickled down Woo Moonheum’s back thanks to the oblivious Judge O.
“Ah, goodness me! Look at me. Where is Magistrate Ji Hyun? I have urgent business with him.”
Woo Moonheum desperately tried to change the subject, but
“Ah! Jinhye! Jinhye Dojang, wasn’t it?”
“...”
“Jade Generation rank, so he must be senior brother to Jinmu Dojang.”
Woo Moonheum’s face twisted horribly, while a cold smile curled at Jinmu’s lips.
Jinhye.
Of course.
Jinmu felt his mind clear in a flash.
Come to think of it, it was something anyone could have figured out easily.
Jinhye, dreaming of becoming the top disciple.
He was the one who knew from the start about the collusion between the Qingyang Merchant Group and Jinhye.
He might not have known about Woo Manor specifically, but if there was a plot to kill him, Jinhye should have been the first suspect.
‘This bastard’s trying to kill his senior brothers just to become top disciple? Even dragging in his whole family?’
What despicable scum.
He’d nearly died for real.
Just bash his head in right here.
But wait.
Killing him would be far too easy.
And useless after the fact.
He already had their weakness in hand. Vile types like this were best kept close and exploited.
Scum with dirty backsides tended to obey well until their usefulness ran out.
Besides, wasn’t he the father of one of Wudang’s First Generation Disciples? He might prove a huge help in Jinmu becoming top disciple himself.
‘Heh heh heh, you bastards. Time to make full use of your despicableness.’
Jinmu began pondering how to torment them the most painfully.
And how to exploit them most effectively.
But contrary to his thoughts, Jinmu plastered a warm smile on his face and politely bowed to Woo Moonheum.
“I didn’t realize you were Senior Brother Jinhye’s father. Jinmu of Wudang offers greetings.”
“Ah, w-well... Haha, nice to meet you like this. I’m Woo Moonheum, lord of Woo Manor.”
Was it possible he didn’t know?
Woo Moonheum’s mind grew complicated.
He could have sworn the kid had been glaring at him just moments ago, so what was with this innocent smile now?
“Please join us. We’re on our way to see Magistrate Ji Hyun about the reward for this incident.”
“Ah, a-alright.”
When Jinmu offered him the lead position, Woo Moonheum followed Judge O with an uneasy expression.
Without catching sight of the sly look on Jinmu’s face.
‘Damn it, of all the rotten luck...’
Not knowing what Jinmu was thinking, Woo Moonheum felt nothing but frustration.
He already felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails even before meeting Ji Hyun.
As Jinmu pocketed a hefty reward and exchanged greetings with Ji Hyun, Woo Moonheum could only smile—unable to get a word in edgewise.
What he’d wanted to know most was whether anything about Woo Manor had come up during the interrogations of Gong Sacheok and Geumjeoksan.
And if they somehow escaped execution, he’d planned to kill them discreetly.
“By the way, that Gong Sacheok bastard claimed he got a commission from Woo Manor to kill Jinmu Dojang.”
“What?”
Woo Moonheum’s eyes went wide at Ji Hyun’s words.
They’d already spilled everything? All of it?
He was too late.
It felt like the sky was crashing down on him.
“I heard that too, but it’s probably a lie. Woo Manor is my senior brother’s family. No way that happened.”
Suddenly, Jinmu came to Woo Moonheum’s defense.
“Well, they also claimed Jinmu Dojang used them. Something about Geumjeoksan’s money being stolen by the dojang.”
“Ridiculous. What money does a Taoist priest need? They got caught because of me, so the bad guys are just lashing out with whatever lies they can.”
Jinmu replied without a hint of fluster, beaming all the while.
“Tsk tsk, makes sense. Everyone knows Wudang’s priests are incorruptible. Haha.”
As Ji Hyun spoke, Jinmu shot back a sly smile, and Woo Moonheum met his gaze with an awkward laugh and beads of cold sweat.
“More importantly, the Prefect expressed great gratitude to Wudang over this. Gunpowder smuggling is strictly forbidden by imperial law.”
The Prefect held a higher post than Ji Hyun.
“No need for that... I’m just glad we could help.”
“How about it? The Prefect wants to meet you too—why not stay in Hyuncheong awhile?”
Jinmu seemed to ponder briefly before smiling.
“No, I only helped stabilize things for the people. I can’t burden the yamen. Fortunately, I’ve met Senior Brother’s father here—if it’s not too rude, I was thinking of staying briefly at Woo Manor before heading back.”
“Ah, at Woo Manor?”
“Yes.”
Jinmu and Ji Hyun both turned to look at Woo Moonheum.
“Uh, haha. Of c-course, by all means.”
He had no choice but to accept.
Damn it...
From the conversation, Gong Sacheok had clearly spilled everything to Jinmu already.
Yet here he was, denying it all with a ‘lie’ and flashing that sly smile that screamed he knew everything.
‘Th-This bastard. What the hell is he thinking?’