Ten-Battle Assassin No. 50 - Chapter 159: Actually, I'm Thinking of Going Back to My Hometown to Die
"...Vice Chief Steward Yu Bul-gun was killed by Sangyang's black society leader Deung Noya and others. Dumped in the Sang River, he's probably fish food by now... The Three-Way Martial Meet was definitely led by Baekhwa Pavilion's owner U Bok-saeng, who is also the current Hwacheong Pavilion madam, along with a scholar named Pung Un-saeng and a guy called Teacher Song. We haven't uncovered their backers yet...."
"Bi Jangno was killed by Yong Jo-un of Musanggok while chasing Haeyeonmun's Hyeol Hwa. We confirmed Bi Jangno and Jwa Hu's bodies, but U Hui and the trainee supervisor's are suspicious. Someone might have deliberately damaged them to hide their identities. U Hui and the supervisor might still be alive. We'll confirm this. Trainee No. 50 from the 5th Assassin Training Camp definitely led the Three-Way Martial Meet under the name Pung Un-saeng...."
Two letters that had flown in from Sangyang. One was from Yo-hwa, the other from Jeokhyeolsan's Gi Jangno.
Seong Wang finished reading the letters and sank into thought. There was no link anywhere to Won Guksa. If he had to force a connection, Won Guksa could be Baekhwa Pavilion's backer. But that wasn't how Won Guksa handled things. Above all, Won Guksa had no reason to meddle in Jianghu affairs.
Was I just being oversensitive?
Yu Bul-gun's disappearance, the annihilation of Jeok Yeom Kak's three divisions, Bi Jangno's death, the destruction of the Assassin Training Camp... They weren't connected, yet they kept nagging at him.
And one more thing... The name mentioned in both letters from different sources.
Pung Un-saeng... A trainee from the Assassin Training Camp, huh. This puny sixteen-year-old kid led the Three-Way Martial Meet? Does that even make sense?
It was intriguing, but just that—intriguing. Seong Wang's real interest was Won Guksa's movements. Some Assassin Training Camp trainee was beneath his notice. The loss of the 5th camp was painful, but the wipeout of Jeok Yeom Kak's three divisions hurt more.
Seong Wang's gaze turned to the martial scholar Bun Yumyeong, scribbling away furiously, and Gwang-ho Gongja, meditating.
"Yumyeong."
Bun Yumyeong set down his brush and looked up.
"I hear Je Gal Clan's Wujae is coming because of that murder case with the Je Gal Sect. Yangjae from Sangyang's on his way too, so the Three Prodigies of the World will gather in Huangdo. What do you think of me hosting a banquet to invite them?"
"Even if they're the Three Prodigies, they'll gladly attend if Your Highness hosts."
Bun Yumyeong replied indifferently.
"Can you bring them under you?"
"I know Your Highness wants to recruit talent, but being lumped together as the Three Prodigies wounds their pride."
"Fine. Handle it yourself."
Seong Wang then addressed Gwang-ho.
"You have work too, Gwang-ho."
Gwang-ho's eyes snapped open from his meditation.
"A few days ago, Won Guksa went boating on West Lake. He was disguised and met someone secretly, but we couldn't identify them. Go check it out."
Seong Wang dismissed the two and summoned the Jeok Yeom Kak leader.
Moments later, the Jeok Yeom Kak leader entered.
"It seems Jeok Yeom Kak's three divisions and Yu Bul-gun fell to some scheme by Sangyang's black society bastards."
"...?"
"That country bumpkin black dao old fart dared to ignore this king."
"I'll burn them all down."
Flames rose in the Jeok Yeom Kak leader's eyes.
Seong Wang shook his head.
"Handle it quietly. Bring me his head."
"Understood. Do you have someone in mind for his successor?"
"Jianghu matters should flow naturally. Just deal with the old man."
After the Jeok Yeom Kak leader withdrew, Seong Wang left his office.
Seong Wangbu's estate was vast. Heading to an outbuilding, Seong Wang entered a small hall.
Sa-do Gongja was sipping tea in the hall's parlor. Spotting Seong Wang, he rose and bowed.
"Is your injury healed?"
"Thanks to Your Highness's concern, I'm fully recovered."
"Good. Sit."
They sat across the low table. Seong Wang gazed intently, his voice low but his eyes flashing like a predator eyeing prey.
"I heard you've made up your mind."
"I'll follow Your Highness's will. But while I haven't neglected my books, I'm not confident about scoring high in the imperial exams. That's the issue."
"Don't worry. When the exam questions come out, I'll let you know ahead of time. Prepare in advance, and you should at least make Tamhwa if not Zhangyuan."
"......"
"I've prepared your identity too. Tomorrow, I'll have someone escort you out of the city."
"......"
"The Jin Yi Wei are after you, so no reckless moves."
"Understood."
"Nothing else you need?"
"I'll succeed for sure. I just ask that Your Highness keeps your promise."
"A sovereign's word is worth a thousand gold."
Seong Wang replied evasively and rose.
As he left the outbuilding, Seong Wang spoke toward the shadows.
"Don't take your eyes off Sa-do Myeong for a second once he leaves the city."
> -Understood.
A mosquito-like telepathic voice replied.
Sa-do Gongja—Sa-do Myeong—stared indifferently at the cold teacup on the table.
He'd broken through the Jin Yi Wei at the Bang family ruins only to be captured by an unknown master. The man, who subdued him like a child despite being at the Ultimate Peak threshold, had brought him to Seong Wangbu.
-Do you want revenge on the emperor? Then I'll give you the chance.
-I'm on your side. The Sa-do clan's extermination was orchestrated by Hong Mun-je—then Crown Prince Jukyeong—to uproot my father's faction.
-Succeed in the plot, and I'll pardon and restore your clan.
The condition: Place in the top three of the imperial exams and assassinate the emperor during the audience. The current emperor, Ju Nung, was Hong Mun-je's grandson.
Hah, on my side? Putting a gold seal curse on me like this? He thinks I'm a kid... He plans to take out the emperor and me at once.
Sa-do Myeong's eyes gleamed darkly.
Gi Jangno, staying at an inn on Sangyang's outskirts, received an urgent report and a routine duty update.
Gi Jangno opened the urgent report first.
"...No. 7 has been confirmed visiting his home village in Hagok County. We're tracking his movements after. Will report immediately upon discovery."
Yes!
He'd finally found a trace of one. As expected, one hadn't fallen for the Soul Oblivion Pill. His subordinates insisted the kids wouldn't find home after taking it, but Gi Jangno didn't buy it. Nothing was perfect; he'd stationed men at their birthplaces expecting this. It paid off. Grab that one, carve answers out of him, then the next. He'd erase them one by one.
Gi Jangno unfolded the duty report next. It was from the Eight Halls overseeing the Huangdo branch.
"...A job came into the Huangdo branch. Client is Hong Il-wan, second son of the Ministry of War Left Supervisor. Target is Hyeongbu investigator Ju Nung. Please decide whether to accept."
Huangdo-area hits were under Gi Jangno's jurisdiction. He approved acceptance, sealed it in an envelope. Some Hyeongbu investigator would be handled by his men.
About to call his guard to send the documents, Gi Jangno paused.
No... Isn't Hagok County near Huangdo?
Gi Jangno had little success in Sangyang so far. Chasing No. 50's trail hadn't been easy.
He'd disguised as a scribe and visited Baekhwa Pavilion where Pung Un-saeng had stayed multiple times—nothing suspicious. Well, it was suspicious. Black dao thugs guarded it day and night. Turned out the pavilion owner was the black society's fake leader.
If he'd just hopped the wall into the living quarters... He might've seen Bi Jangno's arrogant guard U Hui. But with those black dao dogs guarding the place fiercely, he couldn't risk it.
With no results and growing anxious, he'd snagged this lead...
I should go myself.
"Aaah..."
Sighs poured nonstop from the apothecary room. Making the Daehwandan was tougher than expected. He hadn't even gathered all 105 ingredients Dokgoe mentioned. Ninety-two from Huangdo's herb market. He'd started approximating anyway, but ended up more confused.
Herbs required specific handling. Some steamed, some boiled in water. Some ground raw, others extracted as decoctions.
After three days processing the ninety-two appropriately and firing them in the furnace... No Daehwandan—just pitch-black, bitter lumps that'd probably rot your liver if swallowed.
"Not something done overnight. No wonder even Shaolin only makes ten pills a decade."
If Daehwandan were easy, Shaolin would be filthy rich.
Excited by the sudden acquisition, he'd rushed to replicate it without thinking... But it needed time. With piles of urgent tasks, he couldn't hole up here forever.
Won Seung sighed, pondered briefly, and left the apothecary.
Lost in time, it was midnight.
Won Seung circulated Cheongmyeong Simgong, linking yin-yang corresponding acupoints.
Linking them diligently might build thirty years of inner power faster than making Daehwandan over ten years.
Just swallow it?
If fully absorbed, his forty-odd years of base inner power could jump to seventy. A new realm.
According to Dokgoe, reaching one jiazi marked peak power. After, it was about purity. Pure destructive force peaked at one jiazi.
Won Seung couldn't help agonizing. The Daehwandan's pure fragrance tempted him.
No. If you draw the sword, cut even rotten flesh. I'll make it.
The next day.
Won Seung reported to the Hyeongbu outer office. Eun Bang-seo looked mildly surprised at the report.
"Still alive, huh."
"Seems I won't die for a while. Mu investigator got me general antidote—should last a month."
"Really? That guy had such skill? Lucky. But what's up?"
"Won't die right away, but can't use any strength. Can't do the job, so I'm resigning. If I luck into antidote, rehire me then."
Won Seung proffered the resignation letter.
"Hey."
Eun Bang-seo shook his head.
"You don't get it yet. When one leaves, another's slotted in seamlessly. Getting back in? Near impossible. Take leave instead. I'll handle it."
"Actually, thinking of going home to die. 'Return to your roots,' they say... When death nears, home calls."
Won Seung had decided to heed his father Won Guksa's advice. Holding office under a false identity was too risky. Becoming Hyeongbu investigator wasn't his choice anyway—just needed access to the inner palace to meet Father. Mission accomplished, no regrets.
Won Seung insisted, and Eun Bang-seo sighed regretfully.
"A talent like you quitting. Shame."
He took the resignation.
Won Seung left the outer city feeling light-hearted, heading home. Jang Chun-sam awaited.
"Lord Ju, finally? I've been waiting ages."
"No more 'lord.' Quit the Hyeongbu job."
"Ah... Then Young Lord Ju. Found the bastard. Dark under the lamp—in Manbok Guest House, hiding."
"Manbok Guest House? Sure?"
"Doesn't match the description perfectly, but slips Sichuan dialect and avoids people. Definitely him."
This little shit. Shove poison down his throat?
Won Seung pondered, then packed bruise salve, painkillers, etc.
"Let's go!"