Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Translator: Penny
Chapter 87
Where the Cipher Leads (2)
I returned straight to Shandong Home.
Everyone was busy with their own tasks, and I had no immediate business in Wuhan. Since I'd decided to decipher the Cipher, I resolved to finish the job completely.
After greeting my parents, I immediately went to see Chief Steward Jong.
"What's this?" Chief Steward Jong asked, looking down at the items laid out before him.
"Medicinal herbs good for your health. This is a new robe, and I bought you a few comfortable spring outfits. They're made by a famous tailor in Wuhan."
"So why are you giving me this trap?"
"A trap? This is a gift."
"A gift?"
"A token of my gratitude for introducing me to such a promising disciple."
Chief Steward Jong scoffed. "Hmph! Spare me the nonsense. Just tell me what you want."
"As expected, you see right through people!"
Chief Steward Jong glanced down at the gift before him. "With your ulterior motives so transparent, it's hardly a feat of insight!"
"Ha ha."
I pulled a piece of paper from my robe, inscribed with a cipher, and offered it to him. "Could you decipher this for me?"
Chief Steward Jong accepted the paper with an "I knew it" expression. "Quite a complex cipher."
In other words, he was confident he could crack it.
Gong Suchan had said he learned cipher decryption from his master, Chief Steward Jong. Jong had originally aspired to become a scholar, but circumstances had led him to become a steward instead. One day, Gong Suchan hoped to hear the full story of his master's life.
"Come back this evening," Jong said.
"So soon? Really...?"
"Enough. Bring a bottle of wine when you come."
"Yes, sir."
As Gong Suchan stood to leave, Chief Steward Jong asked, "How's that boy doing?"
Despite his gruff demeanor, Jong cared for his disciples more deeply than any other master Gong Suchan had known.
"He's doing very well, sir."
"Good enough."
Gong Suchan left the room, leaving Chief Steward Jong engrossed in the cipher.
Song Hwarin's day was entirely devoted to training, from dawn till dusk.
She had informed her father that she would temporarily set aside her duties at Song Family Manor to focus solely on mastering martial arts.
What martial artist would dissuade their daughter from dedicating herself to martial arts?
Song Ugyeong readily granted his permission.
From that day forward, Song Hwarin spent every waking moment mastering the Jinhwa Sword Arts taught to her by Byeok Ridan.
Though still in the early stages of learning, she could already sense how different this technique was from the martial arts she had previously studied.
She had heard that Gosan Hwa Nangja, the woman who had mastered this sword art, had lived a solitary life. Perhaps influenced by this knowledge, the sword arts felt strangely lonely to her. Yet Song Hwarin found herself drawn to this sense of solitude within the sword arts.
She kicked off the ground, leaping into the air as she swung her sword with fierce energy.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Her movements were swift yet graceful, precise yet powerful.
Though she had only recently mastered it, the Jinhwa Sword Arts felt as natural and comfortable as a well-worn garment.
Considering that the Jinhwa Sword Arts were an advanced martial art, her rapid adaptation was almost unbelievable.
She knew the reason for this: Byeok Ridan had taught her with exceptional clarity and simplicity from the very beginning.
If he hadn't been her instructor and another master had taught her this martial art, it would have taken her years to reach this level of understanding.
He really is...
As she turned, pondering whether to call him incomprehensible or simply strange, she startled and let out a scream.
"Aaaah!"
Byeok Ridan was standing right behind her. The fact that she had just been thinking about him only amplified her surprise.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's alright. But how did you...?"
"I had to come home unexpectedly. I'll have to leave soon."
"I see."
"I have some time until evening..."
Byeok Ridan hesitated, but she quickly interjected, "Wait here for a moment. I'll get ready and come out."
"Alright."
She walked gracefully out of the training ground.
Once out of Byeok Ridan's sight, she unleashed her Lightness Skill and darted away. She needed to bathe, apply makeup, and choose an outfit—there was so much to do.
An hour later, the two were strolling through the marketplace.
Passersby glanced at her, admiration directed at Song Hwarin and envy at Byeok Ridan.
Byeok Ridan wasn't bothered by the stares at all. In fact, he felt a sense of pride and secretly enjoyed the attention.
The weather was particularly bright today. Two birds circled playfully in the cloudless, azure sky, one chasing the other in endless loops.
Spring was rapidly encroaching upon the territory where winter's chill had once reigned supreme.
"How's Wuhan?"
"Just more crowded than here. More people, too."
"So there must be lots of girls prettier than me."
"Probably. Huh? What did you say?"
Byeok Ridan, who had answered absentmindedly, startled and turned to look at Song Hwarin. She glared back with a smug expression, clearly pleased with her successful bait.
After a moment, she conceded, "Well, it's a big city, so there must be girls prettier than me."
"Girls prettier than you..."
Her ears would perk up, so I couldn't resist teasing her. I had originally intended to say that it was rare to see a woman prettier than her.
"Sometimes."
She pouted.
"Hahaha."
Knowing it was a joke, she laughed along. This was the first time I'd seen her pretend to be sulky, and the first time I'd seen her smile so brightly. With each meeting, she kept revealing new sides of herself.
As we chatted about this and that, we quickly reached the end of the marketplace.
"Where should we go now?"
"Hmm..."
Byeok Ridan realized he had never strolled leisurely with a woman before. In fact, he couldn't recall ever walking aimlessly with anyone. His steps had always been purposeful.
"Let's just walk a bit further."
"Alright."
The two retraced their steps, walking back the way they had come.
When they reached the end, they turned around and walked back again.
This aimless back-and-forth stroll felt anything but tedious.
By the time Song Hwarin and Su returned home after their leisurely wander, Chief Steward Jong had already completed the Cipher Decryption.
"You've deciphered the entire cipher."
Chief Steward Jong handed over a sheet of paper.
Sometime this month, Qiu Family Manor, Fangcheng, Henan Province.
"If it says 'sometime this month,' does that mean it's happening this month?"
"Exactly eight days from now."
It seemed they were being summoned to Qiu Family Manor in Fangcheng, Henan Province, in eight days.
Fangcheng in Henan Province was within a reasonable travel distance to reach in time.
"Thank you so much for your help."
"Don't mention it. But is this... dangerous?"
"Perhaps."
A flicker of concern crossed his face as he studied me, but he didn't voice it. He picked up the wine I'd brought and rose from his seat.
"You won't fall into a trap again," I said, glancing at the wine in his hand.
"Hahaha! Too late. Now I know exactly what kind of trap I need."
"You rascal!"
Still, he didn't refuse to help.
The next morning at dawn, after bidding farewell to my family and household, I set out for Henan Province.
Upon arriving in Fangcheng, I learned that Qiu Family Manor was located on the western outskirts.
I headed there under the guise of The Nameless One, my face hidden beneath a deeply pulled-down bamboo hat. While my martial arts prowess would have prevented anyone from forcibly removing the hat against my will, this was unfamiliar territory. Caution was paramount.
As I approached the manor, the crowds grew thicker. Martial artists mingled with ordinary citizens. The martial artists exuded considerable skill, while the commoners were dressed in lavish, expensive clothing.
Merchants accompanied by their guard martial artists and escorts in Escort Agency uniforms carried or transported gift-laden carts.
I casually approached a friendly-looking man and asked, feigning ignorance, "What's all the commotion about?"
"Where is everyone headed?"
"It's the Qiu Family Manor Lord's birthday today."
The Qiu Family Manor Lord's birthday.
This was a common occasion for secret gatherings in the Martial Arts World. The large crowds provided cover for clandestine meetings.
"Where are you from?"
The man registering guests at the entrance asked, glancing at me.
Instead of answering, I picked up a brush and wrote Jo Byeok's name—the master of this cipher—in the guest book.
The man shot me another quick look.
But with my bamboo hat pulled low, he couldn't see my face.
I strode inside as if nothing were amiss.
The manor was bustling with well-wishers, likely all the prominent figures from the surrounding area. It seemed the Qiu Family Manor Lord was highly respected.
From people chatting and greeting each other to those enjoying the food laid out on one side, and even some already flushed with drink, the gathering was lively.
I stood to one side, observing the attendees.
Why would Jo Byeok have encoded the date and location of this birthday banquet? I wondered. It's clearly an open invitation.
As the courtyard filled with well-wishers, Qiu Family Manor Lord Chu Dochi emerged to greet them.
"What's so important about this old man's birthday that you all came?" he asked.
A man among the guests called out loudly, "It's the birthday of Henan's most respected elder—of course we had to come!"
"What if the real Great Superiors hear you?" Chu Dochi chuckled.
"For us, Manor Lord Chu is our Great Superior," someone declared, and the surrounding crowd immediately echoed in agreement.
"Absolutely!"
"Of course!"
"Congratulations!"
The well-wishers clapped and cheered enthusiastically.
Chu Dochi raised his hand to quiet the crowd and addressed them all.
"Thank you. This old man could die today without regrets, knowing he has the warm wishes of so many Martial Arts Comrades. Please, eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves to the fullest. I am truly grateful for your long journey to be here."
"Patriarch, may you live a long and healthy life!"
Cheers erupted from all directions once more.
Up to this point, it was a perfectly ordinary birthday banquet.
But everything was about to change.
A woman approached me and whispered, "Are you Great Hero Jo?"
"I am."
She likely recognized me from the name I had signed in the guestbook earlier.
"Please follow me," she said, guiding me to the Rear Garden. The crowd was so large that no one seemed to notice us.
A lone Martial Artist stood guard before the Annex building in the Rear Garden.
I immediately recognized him as a master. He was at least as skilled as Yeom Hwa, whom I had faced recently, if not more so.
A master of this caliber in a place like this?
The situation was clearly far from ordinary.
I followed the woman into the building. Two men were already waiting in the spacious Main Hall.
Judging by their silent, awkward postures, they had likely been guided here by someone else, just as I had.
One man was in his twenties, the other in his thirties, and both seemed to possess considerable skill.
Why have they gathered here?
Just then, the door swung open, and a dozen men entered. Leading the way was the martial artist who had been guarding the entrance. The men following behind also appeared to be highly skilled in martial arts.
If the man at the door was Yeom Hwa's level, the men behind him seemed to be on par with the Four Heavenly Blades.
Though I had killed one of the Four Heavenly Blades with a single strike, that was only because it was me. The Four Heavenly Blades were undeniably formidable martial artists.
Yeom Hwa alone, plus ten Four Heavenly Blades.
Such a concentration of power was rarely seen in a small estate like this.
The man introduced himself simply.
"I am Shim Hwang."
It was impossible to tell whether he was a martial artist affiliated with Qiu Family Manor or an outsider.
"Before we begin, let's verify the invitations."
Invitations?
Regardless of what they were about to begin, I was inwardly startled. I didn't have an invitation.
Shim Hwang stepped forward.
Fortunately, he approached the man beside me first, not me.
The man pulled something from his robe and handed it over.
It was a small piece of paper. The moment I saw it, I felt a wave of relief.
It was the very paper hidden inside the arrowhead.
That was the invitation. The reason Jo Byeok had kept it instead of discarding it was because it was the invitation itself.
Shim Hwang took the paper and dipped it into a bowl of water held by a subordinate who had followed him.
A blue dye seeped from the paper. It seemed they had coated it with a special dye that only they could verify.
After verifying the other men's papers, it was finally my turn.
As soon as I submerged the paper, the same blue dye flowed out. It was a stroke of luck that I had retrieved it after deciphering the cipher.
Shim Hwang, having finished his verification, turned to leave.
Just as I thought he was about to walk away,
Whoosh!
He whirled around like lightning, his sword flashing through the air.
My back arched backward as Shim Hwang's blade thrust forward, stopping just inches from where my face had been. A hair's breadth escape.
With his sword still pointed at me, Shim Hwang spoke coldly, "You're not Jo Byeok."
The martial artists behind him drew their swords and surged forward in a menacing wave.
I slowly straightened my back, using my fingers to push the sword aside.
"You don't understand the purpose of an invitation," I said calmly. "If you only wanted familiar faces, you could have just told them to come. Why bother with invitations?"