Chapter 144. Hyeon-a County Inspector!
'What's with this house? It's like every Tom, Dick, and Harry can hop the wall.'
Do these martial artists think the front gate is just for show?
Won Seung let out a sigh.
"If guests have arrived, you should invite them inside properly."
Won Seung spoke, but the two men showed no sign of moving. Jin Eok-so glanced at Won Seung once before turning his gaze back to Gi Seung-gyo. His lips trembled faintly—he was clearly sending a transmission.
Gi Seung-gyo replied in kind via transmission. Won Seung had learned lip-reading to intercept transmissions, but the courtyard was dark and they were too far away to make it out.
The Flying Sword Saint only hires handsome servants, huh.
Jin Eok-so wore a black robe that suited his refined features perfectly. The only flaw was his icily cold expression.
A moment later, Jin Eok-so shot Won Seung another glance before vanishing in a whoosh.
Gi Seung-gyo stared off in the direction he'd gone for a beat, then turned to Won Seung.
"Looks like we won't be practicing today."
With that, he headed inside, gathered his belongings and sword, and came back out.
"You leaving?"
"Now that I've met my senior brother, no reason to stick around. Take care of yourself."
Hmm. So he'd been waiting for his senior brother all this time. Makes sense—a Bi Sword Sect disciple wouldn't give a damn about surveillance from the likes of the Imperial Guard.
"Heading to Im Cho-ye? Hold on a sec."
Won Seung ducked into his room and fetched the cosmetics case he'd bought for disguises. Now that he had proper makeup tools, he didn't need the case anymore.
"Im Cho-ye's all grown up—no need for makeup at her age. Pass this on as a gift from me."
Gi Seung-gyo stared at the cosmetics case for a long moment before tucking it into his bundle. Then he fixed Won Seung with a steady look.
"You're a decent guy, but you need to get serious. The world's no playground. Little tricks might get you through a pinch, but the truth always comes out in the end."
"What're you talking about?"
Where's this lecture coming from?
"Don't use Bi Sword techniques. Especially not in front of my senior brother... or the Great Linked Sword."
"!"
The Great Linked Sword? Why the hell is that coming out of his mouth?
"You think I'd buy that story about copying what you saw Im Cho-ye practicing?"
Won Seung was stunned.
When Gi Seung-gyo had questioned the source of his Bi Sword techniques back in the Imperial Guard prison, Won Seung had bullshitted that he'd accidentally seen Im Cho-ye practicing. Gi Seung-gyo hadn't said a word after, so Won Seung figured he'd bought it. Apparently not.
"Bi Sword Sect arts can't be mimicked without grasping their sword intent."
With that, Gi Seung-gyo leaped over the wall and was gone.
Won Seung stared long after him into the darkness.
He knew. He knew I have the Bi Sword Sect's Heaven-Sweeping Sword Manual. So why pretend otherwise?
The now-empty house felt especially dark and lonely.
Ding.
The night sky over Sam-ya County rang with the sound of a zither. Without its constant flute companion, the qin tones sounded strangely forlorn. The old insomniac woman lay waiting for the flute's return, tossing and turning until dawn.
* * *
Won Seung, rifling through petition documents, glanced out the window. Plum blossoms had bloomed before he knew it.
I wonder if Im Cho-ye made it out okay.
Both Jin Eok-so and Gi Seung-gyo were Ultimate Peak experts—they'd have slipped away without issue.
Which means the Imperial Guard will be watching me even closer now, eyes blazing.
Assuming the Great Linked Sword was keeping tabs, Won Seung threw himself into his duties with utmost diligence. All the while, he methodically advanced his plans.
First, he visited the Hao Clan Huangdo Eastern Branch at Hwa Pyeong Guest House to build rapport. The proprietor, Jang Sam-chun, apologized profusely for the magpie-eyed spy's surveillance and served a feast in gratitude for Won Seung's revenge on his behalf.
"Let's get along from here on out," Won Seung said, paying generously for the meal. He also asked to be tipped off early if anyone else tailed him. If Dang Dok-su from the Dang Clan was tracking Joo Neung, assassins might come calling.
Won Seung was thrilled to handle the tedious task of delivering key petitions to the Ministry of Justice. It opened a direct path into the inner palace. He hadn't realized as a kid, but crossing the palace threshold was no small feat for a commoner.
On his way to the palace with documents, he stopped by Sangyang Escort Agency and picked up letters from Ogu and Jong Bi.
Ogu was taking good care of Joo Neung as requested. He'd heard Cheon Dok-mun folks were gathering and told Won Seung to send plenty of cash. The problem was Jong Bi's letter: Elder Gi had shown up, so stay away from Sangyang for the time being.
Tough bastards...
He glanced at the plum blossoms again.
Im Cho-ye and Gi Seung-gyo were gone, but plum season brought others. The Sam-sam Alliance kids had scattered to shake any tails, assuming fake identities, and planned to regroup come spring.
Hunting Jeokhyeolsan's main base near Huangdo was critical, so Jang Chil and many others were on it. Time to meet the kids.
Jeokhyeolsan won't even dream we're coming for their lair.
"Newbie, what're you mulling over?"
Mu Gi-an tossed the remark at Won Seung, who was staring blankly out the window as he entered the office.
Won Seung sighed at the stack of petitions on his desk.
"Work never ends."
"Hmm. I've been watching you—you lack finesse. Let me teach you a trick."
Mu Gi-an grabbed a thick pile of petitions from the desk and tossed them into the brazier.
"What the—? What do you think you're doing?"
"See? Half the work gone in a flash."
"No, you can't..."
Won Seung quickly smacked the brazier to rescue the documents.
"They're all the same old crap anyway. Do 'em or don't—no big deal. Let's go patrol."
Patrol was an excuse to hit the tavern. Won Seung replied in solemn tones.
"The Chief Inspector's a good man, but he needs to get serious. The world's no joke. Tricks get you through a moment, but truth outs eventually."
"What? What'd you say?"
"That's just how it is. I'm a serious guy."
Won Seung earnestly reviewed the rescued petitions. Mu Gi-an looked abashed.
"You're one diligent bastard. Figures, with your ties to the Great Judge."
"Yongho Hall's a prestigious school too, isn't it?"
Mu Gi-an scratched his head with an "ah." He loved playing around so much he'd earned the nickname Yongho Hall's headache. He'd barely passed the academy exam, and his family threw a three-day feast in celebration.
Won Seung picked up one document, his tone grave.
"This one's worth investigating."
A petition about a missing son. Mu Gi-an glanced and scoffed.
"Can't you tell? The kid's twenty. Missing my ass. Probably eloped. Check—some local girl's gone too."
Won Seung flipped through and sure enough, a missing woman: the cloth shop owner's concubine.
"They locked eyes and ran off."
"But the ages..."
Guy was twenty, woman twenty-seven.
"You investigators are too green. Age don't matter."
Mu Gi-an grinned slyly.
"Ah... got it."
"You've got a long way to go to keep up with me."
Mu Gi-an shrugged.
"C'mon. To the cloth shop."
"Why? You said they eloped."
"Follow me. This is where the money's at."
"This is for the county office..."
"Exactly—hurry before they snag it. We have investigative authority too."
Won Seung followed. After an hour of the cloth shop owner's rage, they emerged with a modest reward fee.
Mu Gi-an hefted his pouch, pleased.
"Sun's setting already. Time for drinks?"
"I, uh, need to head home."
"Heard you live alone. Right?"
After Gi Seung-gyo's stern advice, Won Seung had doubled down on training. Dinner, then Phoenix-tail Sword in the back garden, followed by Bi Sword Sect Heaven-Sweeping in Im Cho-ye's old hideout. Cramped, but better safe from Imperial Guard eyes.
"I live seriously."
"Sounds like 'I'm boring' to me."
"Life ain't about fun."
Mu Gi-an eyed him like he'd seen every weirdo.
"Fine. Go."
He peeled off three shares of the reward and handed it over. Won Seung's eyebrow twitched.
"Remember: three shares go..."
Mu Gi-an jabbed a finger skyward.
"Ah... right."
To the boss. Mu Gi-an grinned.
"Smart guy. But serious? Don't fight your nature."
Lately... getting lectured left and right.
As they reached Hyeon-a, a man pacing by the county gate lit up and rushed over.
"You! The errand boy from Hwa Pyeong Guest House?"
"Trouble now. Some bastards molested a girl at the inn—fight broke out."
Mu Gi-an flicked his hand toward somewhere.
"Take that to the county office."
He brushed off unprofitable jobs. But the errand boy winked at Won Seung.
Help us out?
What does the Hao Clan Eastern Branch lack? Chance to rack up debt?
Won Seung stepped up.
"Don't we have investigative and arrest powers? I'll check it out."
"Suit yourself."
Mu Gi-an headed through the gate.
Won Seung went with the errand boy to Hwa Pyeong Guest House. It wasn't far from Hyeon-a.
Clang!
"No wounds! Handle her gently."
The clash of weapons and barked orders rang out.
Won Seung and the boy entered the inn courtyard. A girl faced off against three burly thugs.
Eh? Im Cho-ye?
Why was Im Cho-ye—supposed to be far away—at Hwa Pyeong Guest House?
She swung her sword wildly, but exhaustion was plain. A Bi Sword Sect prodigy, sure, but still young. Bi Sword demanded massive inner energy; her twenty years' worth was merely average. The thugs were skilled, and three against one wore her down.
Off to one side stood three or four young nobles in hunting garb, flanked by a dozen warrior attendants.
Won Seung's eyebrow arched sharply.
"Halt! I'm the Hyeon-a County Inspector!"
Won Seung bellowed, but the thugs didn't stop.
"These fuckers?"
Won Seung drew his sword and charged. He kicked away a saber flying at Im Cho-ye, low-kicked another's thigh, punched a third in the face, and flat-blade-smacked the last's nape.
No other spectators in the yard, but villagers lurked watching—couldn't let blood spill. Plus, the thugs' gear screamed elite.
The fight ended in a blink.
"Who the hell are you?"
One thug glared, scowling.
"Sam-ya County Inspector. Three men ganging up on a young girl in broad daylight in the county seat... Shameless bastards."
Then, one of the nobles by the side clicked his tongue.
"County Inspector? Does Sam-ya even have that post?"
Won Seung's gaze shifted to the noble.
The noble smirked arrogantly.
"County Inspector, was it? I'm just helping out in Hyeon-a. Catching suspicious types is a Huangdo man's duty."