Chapter 165: Have I Become a Jeokhyeolsan Target?
“R-Really.”
“Oh ho, is that so? So you were gonna blow your entire fortune on booze? Who do you think you're fooling?”
Thwack!
Won Seung took a few more hits before spilling the truth.
“The battlefield... if you go to the Sa-hae Battlefield, you can get more money.”
“How much?”
“About fifty thousand nyang.”
“Keh heh heh. Should've said that from the start—no bruises, everyone's happy. Come to the Sa-hae Battlefield tomorrow at dawn. Don't even think about running. My bros have this whole neighborhood locked down tight. Get caught fleeing, and you'll lose an ankle.”
The burly thug patted Won Seung's shoulder and barked at his underling.
“He's a customer. Take him to the Sacheon Guest House. Put some guys on him.”
And so Won Seung ended up at the Sacheon Guest House, trailed by black dao grunts.
The thug stopped him in front of the inn.
“Wait here.”
A moment later, two more showed up—familiar faces.
Gwangdo, Masu... so you've settled into Paeinbang.
The Paeinbang lackeys dispatched to watch Won Seung were none other than Gwangdo and Masu from the Samsam Alliance.
“Watch this bastard close and drag him to the Sa-hae Battlefield tomorrow.”
The guy who'd brought him slapped Won Seung's cheek lightly with his palm.
“Sweet dreams.”
As Won Seung entered the Sacheon Guest House, Gwangdo and Masu followed, plopping down at a table on the first-floor banquet hall.
“You run, you're dead.”
Gwangdo growled.
Won Seung grinned.
“You punks reek of black dao pretty good.”
Gwangdo's eyes widened in surprise. Then the voice suddenly shifted—familiar tone.
“It's me, you idiot. No. 50.”
Gwangdo and Masu jumped in shock.
“Whoa, almost got fooled. This is top-grade human skin mask, huh?”
Masu reached out and pinched Won Seung's cheek. It didn't budge.
“Where's Mugeui?”
“He went straight under the gang lord. Kid showed his skills and became the boss's bodyguard.”
“Nice. What rank were those assholes earlier?”
Won Seung's eyes darted cunningly. Things were falling into place nicely.
“Du Gwang, outer hall underboss. But what's the deal?”
“On a job. I'm crashing—grab a drink and hit the hay. See you at dawn.”
With no worry of Won Seung bolting, Gwangdo and Masu relaxed, boozing it up in the banquet hall until they passed out.
The next morning.
Won Seung, small bundle in tow, headed to the Sa-hae Battlefield with Gwangdo and Masu.
“Tell Mugeui soon—Jeokhyeolsan guys are coming. I'm commissioning the gang lord's hit. Have him lay low, then tail them.”
“Got it.”
The burly underboss waited out front. With fifty thousand nyang on the line, he was handling it personally.
“Come back with a hundred-nyang bill of exchange.”
Won Seung stepped into the Sa-hae Battlefield.
“Welcome.”
“Mind holding some money for me?”
Won Seung handed over the eighty-nyang silver note from Go Yeongju.
“Your name, sir...”
“Yu So-un.”
After opening an account at the Sa-hae Battlefield, Won Seung asked the clerk,
“Where's the outhouse?”
“Around the back.”
Won Seung pretended to head there, slipped past the rear courtyard, and vaulted the wall. In seconds, he'd cleared several walls, landing in a distant alley. He peeled off the human skin mask, revealing his true face, and changed his outer robe.
Heading back to the Sa-hae Battlefield entrance, he spotted the underboss with Gwangdo and Masu standing guard. Won Seung waved them off casually and made for Hwangmunwon, where Hwa Yeo-wol was staying.
“Where's Byeolyudang?”
The clerk, recognizing him now, pointed out Byeolyudang's location. As Won Seung arrived, a chilly female voice rang out.
“Why are you being like this? I'm reporting you to the authorities if you keep it up.”
“Haha. What did this young lord do to deserve such cold treatment? Just asking for a meal together—is that a crime?”
Won Seung spotted Yang Yeon-seo, fuming as she blocked the entrance to Byeolyudang. The men in front were familiar faces: Hong Il-wan, second son of the Ministry of War vice minister, and his noble brat posse.
Haa... that punk's still at it.
After the Samya-hyeon incident, Hong Il-wan had gotten chewed out by his father and banned from leaving the capital. But yesterday, while wandering in and out of the inner city, he'd spotted Hwa Yeo-wol and Yang Yeon-seo sightseeing and tried his moves. They'd freaked out, cut the tour short, and today he'd shown up at Hwangmunwon first thing.
“What's going on?”
Won Seung approached. Yang Yeon-seo lit up at the sight of him.
“These guys have been tailing us since yesterday.”
Hong Il-wan and his crew paled instantly.
Hong Il-wan stammered,
“N-No... tailing? What do you mean? We were just passing by.”
“You punks still haven't learned?”
“N-No, really just passing...”
“Scram.”
At Won Seung's word, Hong Il-wan and his gang bolted.
“Whoa, big brother... they said you're a Ministry investigator now? You're amazing!”
“Haha. Trash like that's nothing.”
Won Seung entered Byeolyudang with Yang Yeon-seo. Yang Dae-hyeon and the Cheongsan Academy scholars were out.
“Tch. Those idiots ruined our capital tour.”
“Alright, then hang with me today.”
Won Seung took Hwa Yeo-wol and Yang Yeon-seo into the inner city, heading to West Lake. Plum blossoms had fallen, cherry blossoms now blooming. They rented a pleasure boat, paddling leisurely, when Won Seung noticed a man on the lakeshore staring their way.
A burly young man—clearly a martial expert at a glance.
Hmm. Hwa Yeo-wol's getting prettier by the day; guys can't keep their heads straight.
Won Seung was wrong.
Gwang-ho Gongja wasn't watching Hwa Yeo-wol—he had his eyes on Won Seung. Days of staking out had paid off. The boatman Won Seung had hired to meet Won Guksa last time had tipped off Gwang-ho the moment Won Seung appeared.
Why did Won Guksa meet this guy?
Now that he had the face, identifying him was just a matter of time.
Gwang-ho turned to his warrior nearby.
“Don't let that one out of your sight.”
Won Seung rowed to the lake's center. Only then did the man leave, easing Won Seung's mind. He told Hwa Yeo-wol,
“Wear a veil when roaming the jianghu. Your beauty's got flies buzzing like crazy.”
Hwa Yeo-wol got it, smiling silently and nodding.
“I'm with Geom-yakjong folks—no worries.”
“Geom-yakjong sent people?”
Won Seung frowned. Was it Byeok Gyoo-un?
“Not Byeok?”
“No. Sect master's senior disciple came to the capital for something. Meeting here to head back together.”
“Senior disciple?”
“Cheong Jeung, the eldest.”
“Ah, got it.”
At lunchtime, Won Seung took Hwa Yeo-wol and Yang Yeon-seo to Ilseon-ru.
“Wow, this place is amazing.”
“Told you... best in the inner city.”
“But the prices must be steep?”
“Eat up, don't worry.”
Afternoon sightseeing on Hwangdo's Cheonhwa Street, back to Hwangmunwon by evening.
“Might not make it tomorrow.”
Hwa Yeo-wol pouted.
“Didn't you quit the Ministry? What's keeping you busy?”
“Researching meds. If it works, I'll hook you up with one.”
“Thanks. Looking forward to it.”
Oblivious that it was the Daehwandan, Hwa Yeo-wol smiled lightly.
Won Seung parted with Hwa Yeo-wol and headed for the south gate.
What's with this sticky gaze?
A nagging unease hit him. Midway, he pretended to buy tanggwa candy, scanning around.
Two tails.
Who the hell are these guys?
No black dao riffraff like Paeinbang.
Won Seung munched the tanggwa and exited the south gate. Strolling the market leisurely, he suddenly ducked into an alley. The tails, who'd been spaced out, hurried to catch up.
They were dead serious. Won Seung vaulted a courtyard wall, swiftly donning the Yu So-un human skin mask. He pulled a new outer robe from his bundle, swapped shoes too.
Slipping out a side door into the alley. As he emerged, one tail scanned about. Won Seung passed close, memorizing the face.
Another appeared from a side alley. Ears sharp, he caught their whisper.
“Not some average joe. Vanished in a blink.”
“What now? Gwang-ho Gongja said don't blink.”
“Couldn't have gone far.”
Gwang-ho Gongja? First time hearing it.
Won Seung etched the name and sought Juhyang-ga. At the entrance to the booze street loomed a massive signboard. Won Seung pulled a brush, drawing three mountains where Mu Gi-an had instructed. He loitered briefly, then ducked into a nearby inn.
Now, just wait for Jeokhyeolsan to bite.
Next day, Won Seung holed up in the inn, cultivating qi without stepping out. Then, the following night.
Down for dinner in the banquet hall, back to his room—the air felt off. Stranger's scent lingered, but Won Seung played dumb and entered.
“Did you draw the Three Mountains?”
Won Seung whipped around, startled. Behind a translucent screen in the room corner stood a veiled man.
“Could it be...”
“That's right. What do you want?”
“...Kill a man for me.”
“......”
“Paeinbang outer hall has a Du Gwang. And the Paeinbang lord too. What's the price?”
“Hundred thousand nyang.”
“Gasp!”
Won Seung faked shock, then stammered,
“C-Could you knock some off?”
The man behind the screen sighed lightly. What a shabby commission. How the hell did this clown learn Jeokhyeolsan's methods?
“A-Alright. Hundred thousand it is. Advance?”
“Half—fifty thousand.”
Won Seung pulled a women's powder compact from his bundle. Inside, tightly rolled bills. He extracted five ten-thousand-nyang notes and approached.
“Don't come closer.”
Won Seung halted at the command.
“Leave it there, grab some tea, come back.”
“How do I know you won't stiff me? No receipt or proof?”
“......”
Another sigh from the screen. What an idiot. As if any assassin issues papers.
“Deal's not sealed yet. If we decline, advance refunded.”
“What if you fail...”
“Refunded then too.”
“Fine. I'll trust and wait. But... how long? As you see, Paeinbang's hunting me—hiding in this inn.”
“Ten days post-deal.”
Won Seung left the room. Swiftly ditched the mask, changed robes and shoes, scanned surroundings, and bolted from the inn.
Faint incense lingered in the back alley.
That way.
Won Seung dashed after the scent. Full speed through the dark, spotting the man afar. Veil off, clothes changed—but unmistakable.
The man strolled casually, yet scanned naturally. Won Seung trailed at distance, tilting his head at the familiar path.
This leads home.
They'd reached Samya-hyeon. The man halted near Won Seung's house. A shadow emerged from the dark.
Won Seung deployed stealth arts, edging closer, sharpening his hearing.
“Still not done? Client's pissed.”
“Target hasn't shown. Gotta see him first to kill or not.”
Target here... me? Have I become a Jeokhyeolsan target?