33. Fallen Angel (4)
Myeong-gyeong was just as flustered. Right now, he had decided that Zhuge Yeon was a really good person just because she'd fed him some tasty food. Childlike, if you could call it that. His judgment was as fickle as a reed in the wind.
"Isn't it just delivering one letter?"
"Exactly. Can't you even do that much?"
Zhuge Yeon chimed in agreement with Myeong-gyeong's words. But knowing full well what she was up to, I couldn't just stand by and watch.
"No. I can't."
"Hah."
I could almost hear the vein bulging in Zhuge Yeon's temple.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
"What else? I'm a Wudang disciple. I can't just sit back and watch something that'll harm Wudang."
At my firm declaration, Zhuge Yeon flinched slightly but raised her voice again.
"Harm? Do you even know what's in the letter to say that?"
"It's a partnership proposal, right?"
"Yes. How is that harmful? Partnering with the Zhuge family would expand the business and boost profits."
"If that was all, I wouldn't say a word. But you'd steal our business secrets, customers, and organizational know-how and run off."
Zhuge Yeon was at a loss for words. I'd hit the nail on the head.
Myeong-gyeong just swiveled his head back and forth between us, clearly not understanding a thing.
Finally, Zhuge Yeon turned from me to Myeong-gyeong.
"Priest Myeong-gyeong. Aren't you going to rein in your lay disciple for talking so rudely?"
"The Zhuge family's external branch leader should manage her people better. Trying to steal someone else's business without any business ethics."
"Got proof I was thinking that?"
"If you were aboveboard, you'd send it to Wudang directly. Why go through us secretly, tailing us all the way?"
"Tch, what a joke. You saying I was tailing you?"
"You weren't tailing us, but just happened to have a letter ready for Wudang? Give me a break."
Myeong-gyeong and Zhuge Yeon both looked shocked. Zhuge Yeon bit her lip, realizing her mistake.
It was obvious if you thought about it even a little. The Zhuge Yeon I knew wouldn't have made such a sloppy error. But the girl called Iron-Faced Mind-Reader was still young. Her heart raced ahead of her head.
"Tsk tsk. If you're gonna do it, at least do it right..."
As I muttered, a chill ran down my spine. The cold touch of steel pressed against the back of my neck, and I shut my mouth.
"If you insult the Zhuge family or my lady any further, I'll cut you down."
It was the guard who'd been watching us from upstairs earlier. Myeong-gyeong, who'd been standing by until then, drew his sword too.
"Who do you think you're threatening—a Wudang disciple?"
Myeong-gyeong's blade pointed at the guard. Naturally, if they fought, Myeong-gyeong would lose. Even I, who moved better than him, hadn't sensed the guard approaching.
But right now, raw skill didn't matter. It was all about justification.
A powder keg ready to blow. Silence stretched as they sized each other up, and I spoke.
"Let's make a bet."
"What bet?"
I grabbed a nearby cup, flipped it upside down to empty the water, then slammed it down over the letter on the table as my target.
"I'll bet everything I have that this letter contains a personal favor for the Gokjeon Pavilion Lord. What'll you stake?"
"What if I want your life?"
"Then stake yours too."
Our eyes locked in the air. Predictably, Zhuge Yeon looked away first.
If there was no such favor, she wouldn't have gone through us personally like this.
Sweat beaded on my skin, breaths loud in the tension. Zhuge Yeon closed her eyes, trembling, then spoke weakly.
"Won. Lower your sword."
"My lady."
"I said lower it."
The guard called Won sheathed his blade. Both he and Zhuge Yeon flushed with humiliation.
The cold pressure vanished from my neck. I fished the letter out of the cup and tore the seal.
Zhuge Yeon said nothing.
The contents were exactly as I'd predicted. It proposed a partnership, and in exchange for acceptance, offered spirit medicines to Pavilion Lord Cheong-su of Gokjeon Pavilion and his disciples. A blatant personal favor.
I tossed the letter at Zhuge Yeon's feet.
"No room for excuses."
"...Accusing me of stealing your business is a huge leap."
"But it's true."
"You think I'll admit it here?"
"No. But I'm certain, and you know I'm certain. That's enough."
I turned to Myeong-gyeong. He was still too young to follow all this.
"Hyung-nim."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Let's go. You finished eating?"
"...Yeah."
He seemed to hesitate a bit. But neither of us wanted to sit and eat with her staring daggers.
"Since we got free food, I won't report this to the sect. See you."
I grabbed Myeong-gyeong's hand and left the restaurant. Zhuge Yeon's dazed expression at the end was priceless.
She definitely wasn't Iron-Faced Mind-Reader material yet. Even if there was a favor, she could've denied it and shouted louder. The young girl was no match for me, already versed in merchant ways.
"I wanted more of that bear paw earlier."
Myeong-gyeong confessed belatedly. I chuckled.
"I'll buy it next time. This place isn't famous for bear paw. You gotta eat that stuff at a famous spot."
"Promise?"
"Of course."
Myeong-gyeong's sullen face brightened instantly. I couldn't help but laugh.
Zhuge Yeon stared at the door where Muk Hwi-yeong and Myeong-gyeong had left, then slumped to the floor.
"...Sis."
"Don't call me that."
Zhuge Yeon snapped coldly.
Won bowed his head. He suddenly recalled the old Zhuge Yeon—kind to servants in the family, earning her the nickname "angel." How had she become like this?
Still fuming, Zhuge Yeon exhaled sharply. Won knew what to do. He quickly fetched bamboo leaf tea from a server.
"Let me pour you a cup."
Zhuge Yeon sighed at the ceiling and shoved her cup forward. Clear liquor filled it. As soon as it was full, she downed it in one gulp, tilting her head back.
"Hoo."
The warm liquor spread through her body. Won refilled the empty cup; she drained it again.
How much did she drink? Face flushed, she breathed out.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"You ignoring me right now?"
"...How could I? You're direct lineage of the Zhuge family."
Won answered smoothly. It was the usual line, easy to handle.
"Pisses me off."
"Let it go. The family head won't say much. It wasn't that important."
Her head whipped around at his words. Drunk, she slapped his cheek.
"Back to position."
Won turned his head again.
"I'll pay it back. All of it. Whatever it takes."
Her words slurred from the alcohol, but Won understood perfectly.
Zhuge Yeon, called the clan's wild child. Servants preferred leaving the family over crossing her. Only ever-accepting Won could stay by her side.
"That Muk Hwi-yeong guy."
"Yes."
"Dig into him."
Her sinister tone filled the room. Won felt a twinge of pity for Muk Hwi-yeong. No one she'd targeted ever fared well.
In some form, Zhuge Yeon and Muk Hwi-yeong would meet again. Soon.
Wuhan was far more bustling than Yangyang. Yangyang had crowds, but nothing like Hubei's capital, Wuhan.
"Dizzy. Junior brother."
Myeong-gyeong, seeing so many people for the first time, looked nauseous.
"Hang in there a bit."
"Where we headed?"
"Provincial Administration Office."
Each provincial capital had a Provincial Administration Office handling local governance. Starting a merchant group wasn't just buying and selling goods.
You had to report to the authorities and get approval. Only then did real business begin.
Approval wasn't easy. Prove capital, pay fees, submit handled goods list. Report any ten heinous crimes or criminal records on household registers. I'd prepared all documents en route to Wuhan.
By the time Myeong-gyeong adjusted to the crowds, we reached the Hubei Provincial Administration Office.
"Whew."
No crimes on my conscience, but entering government offices always tensed me up.
Martial artists were rogues, but officials were no slouches either. Fees varied wildly by handler.
A runner approached inside.
"Wudang Taoists?"
Despite the distance from Wudang Mountain, he recognized our robes—same province.
"Yes."
"What brings Taoists here?"
The runner tilted his head. Great families dealt with offices often via businesses, but Nine Great Sects avoided them deliberately.
"Can we see the Document Inspector?"
The Document Inspector, rank 9, checked official papers. Merchant approval started there.
"Document Inspector? What's the business?"
"Starting a merchant group."
"Merchant group? A Wudang Taoist?"
Myeong-gyeong and the runner's eyes widened. A robed Taoist starting a business drew stares. Everyone in the office turned to me.
"Haha."
I laughed awkwardly. The runner, puzzled, guided us anyway.
The Hubei Document Inspector was equally baffled.
"You look like a Taoist. A merchant group?"
"Not a Taoist. Lay disciple."
"Ah."
Myeong-gyeong looked bursting to speak but held back around officials.
"Problem is, no more merchant approvals in Hubei for a while."
"Pardon?"
"Not just merchants. Sect registrations too. No one to approve my submissions."
What? No quota on approvals per province. If blocked entirely, I could guess why.
"The Registrar's absent?"
"Yes."
The Registrar oversaw registrations, rank 6.
"More precisely, he's here but not showing up."
"Wouldn't poor attendance get him fired?"
Giant bureaucracies showed no mercy. But he seemed to keep his post despite absences—odd.
"Usually, yes. But he's well-respected. He offered resignation, but the Counselor wouldn't accept."
"I see."
Two possibilities: true talent with prestige, or ironclad connections.
"Who's the Registrar?"
"Not from Wuhan? How don't you know Lord Heung?"
"Lord Heung?"
"Yes. An incorruptible official who donates his salary to aid the poor."
A name flashed like lightning: rare surname Heung, incorruptible official. I knew one.
"Lord Heung Tae-seong?"
"Huh. You knew."
The Inspector chuckled heartily. I forced a smile, hiding surprise.
Connections from my past life swam back across the river of death. Strange—I knew them, they didn't know me.
"Of course I know."
I smiled.
I couldn't not know the man who'd become prime minister in my future.