At Sixteen, That's the Age for It
Won Seung felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Jeokhyeolsan was gunning for him.
Have I been exposed?
No. The client was pressing them. Someone had put out a contract to kill Joo Neung.
Dang Dok Su? That bastard again? No way. It hadn't even been that long since Dang In Pyo got nabbed—why send another assassin now? With the Ministry of Justice sharpening their knives, they'd have to lay low.
He didn't have time for deep thoughts. The men muttered among themselves and soon split up. The assassin vanished somewhere, while the other man retraced his steps. Won Seung slipped into hiding first and tailed him once more.
The man walked the night streets for a good while, passed the tavern district outside the south gate, and entered the grand front gate of a large building by the creek.
Above the gate hung a signboard reading Sujeong Liquor Hall.
A brewery? Is that why they taught the kids how to brew booze at the assassin camp? Planning to use it here?
Brewing liquor had been part of the assassin training curriculum. Sujeong Liquor Hall must be Jeokhyeolsan's branch in the imperial capital.
Even at this late hour, the place blazed with lights, and workers bustled about brewing. Business must be booming.
Won Seung didn't dare go in and just scoped it out from outside before racing back through the night. He even unleashed his lightness skill to reach Mangwol Pavilion.
"Jang Chil?"
No presence—he called out just in case, but no reply.
Something felt off. After getting the Boheol Dan, he'd probably gone home...
Won Seung looped back to the tavern district and donned the Yu So-un human skin mask. It was late; the inn's doors were shut.
Screech.
The clerk, dozing facedown at the counter, wiped his mouth, glanced up, then flopped back asleep.
This place is a den for Jeokhyeolsan's low-level goons.
According to Jong Bi, they first verified a client's identity before approaching. That meant Jeokhyeolsan had dug up everything on Yu So-un in just two days.
That guy would report Yu So-un's nighttime stroll, wouldn't he?
Won Seung entered his room, doused the lamp, and lay on the bed. Plenty to mull over.
Who's gunning for me?
No matter how he racked his brain, it pointed to the Dang Clan. Or... maybe Sa-do Gongja?
Then he recalled the men who'd tailed him after the boat ride at the western lake.
Could it be them?
"Gwang-ho Gongja, right? The guy staring our way during the boat ride... that must've been him."
Was he planning to kill me to get Yeo-wol? Nah, not even a madman would go that far. So if not, then he'd been watching me, not Yeo-wol. Had I ever crossed paths with him before?
No matter how he thought, nothing. First time at the western lake. Ah...!
The western lake!
Won Seung's mind raced.
Father! They're tracking Father's movements. Looking for the man Father met at the western lake. The boatman recognized me and tipped them off.
The hairs stood up again. His father was under surveillance!
Obviously an enemy of his father's. Even disguised and moving in secret, if his trail was blown, there had to be a mole close by.
His father's biggest foe right now was Seong Wang.
Did Seongwangbu figure out who I am and send an assassin?
It added up. But tailing me and sending killers? Something didn't fit...
In the darkness, Won Seung's eyes flashed.
The surest way... is to catch them and make them talk.
* * *
Sujeong Liquor Hall sprawled across many buildings. In the deepest room of the largest one.
A slightly plump man in his forties, clad in silk robes, pored over ledgers. Flicking abacus beads now and then, he looked every bit the merchant.
A presence approached outside. One man entered. Bok Yang, the burly, red-faced total manager of Sujeong Liquor Hall, bowed, placed documents on the desk, and gave his report.
"Last year's corn yield dropped, so..."
After routine updates like this year's liquor production dipping a bit.
"A low-grade order came in. From Pae In-bangju and the little boss—wanting booze delivered."
"Client legit?"
"Paid five taels upfront."
"Handle it. More importantly, the delivery to Samya-hyeon? Client's hounding us."
"Checked—it says recipient unknown, so delayed."
"Make sure no accidents... Any word from Hagok County?"
"Today..."
Then hurried footsteps outside. A messenger burst in.
"Urgent from Hagok County. Target showed; fierce clash, but he escaped."
"Clash? I said tail quietly."
Hwang Du-gong, the silk-robed man, furrowed his brow. He was Jeokhyeolsan's branch head in the capital.
"He struck first, they say. Lost two men."
"What?"
Hwang Du-gong shot to his feet. Sent four, lost two...
"Bok, total manager—send four... no, ten! Ten men. Capture alive."
After Bok Yang and the messenger left, Hwang Du-gong slipped out the back door of his office. He headed to the rear garden annex, then the backyard.
In the open yard stood a man gripping a sword, statue-still. Eyes closed, mid-stance, his body radiated sharp aura. Touch him and you'd be sliced—Hwang Du-gong dared not approach, reporting from three zhang away.
"Target appeared. Pursuing now."
Gi Jangno's eyes snapped open.
"Strong resistance. Sending ten more."
"I'll go myself."
Gi Jangno sheathed his sword. Fierce light poured from his eyes; Hwang Du-gong couldn't meet them.
* * *
Won Seung was meditating after lunch when a note slid under the door.
Accepted
He snatched it and opened the door—no one there.
Just two characters, but the meaning was clear. They'd taken the contract.
Won Seung packed his bundle and left the inn. No need to stick around now that the job was accepted.
He headed for Sacheon Escort Agency. Midway, he ditched the Yu So-un mask for his plainest one. At the agency, he sought Bi Ryu-hyang.
"I'm busy—spit it out."
Bi Ryu-hyang, disguised as an apprentice escort, was running errands.
"Busy with what?"
"Dang Clan folks showed up."
"What? Tell me stuff like that."
"Street bum hasn't come."
Street bum meant Jang Chil. He'd been gathering and relaying intel...
"Something's up with him. First, warn the kids. Sujeong Liquor Hall outside south gate is Jeokhyeolsan's capital branch. Whole tavern district's crawling with their lackeys—tell 'em to watch out."
"Got it."
As Bi Ryu-hyang turned to go, Won Seung grabbed him.
"Who from Dang Clan? Gotta say."
"Dunno. Big shot—everyone groveling. Oh, their only daughter too. Stunning."
Dang Clan's only daughter? Dang So-so? The girl from that drunken escort party chat.
"Track who they are and why they're here."
"Got it."
Won Seung parted with Bi Ryu-hyang and headed outside the walls. En route, he dropped the mask for his real face. Past the gate, he reapplied the Yu So-un mask and went to Hwangmunwon.
If they lost me, they'll be watching Hwa Yeo-wol.
Where there's a flower, butterflies flock. They'd be waiting for my return.
Assuming a tail, it wouldn't be hard to spot—unless they were clueless.
At Hwangmunwon, he scoured spots around Byeolyudang ripe for surveillance. Sure enough, two lurked. Seated on the second floor of a nearby eatery overlooking the entrance, one lonely bottle, food stone-cold. Staff shot them wary looks.
Won Seung pondered, then ordered a bottle from a passing waiter.
Pain-inflicting bruise salve was torture-perfect, but too messy. After mulling...
He dripped two drops of Chwimisu into the bottle the waiter brought.
This dilution should fuzz their brains without knocking 'em out cold.
Chwimisu was potent sedative, but a tiny dose wouldn't fully drop them. He added a pinch of Monghon San. It muddled the mind, induced hallucinations and auditory delusions.
Mixed well into the booze, Won Seung strapped the bottle securely to his waist. Then to the outhouse, ditched the mask, and headed to Byeolyudang.
Feeling their stares on his back, he entered and sought Hwa Yeo-wol. She and Yang Yeon-seo were prepping to head out.
"Brother Joo?"
Yang Yeon-seo, thinking him Joo Neung, greeted warmly.
"Yeah, Yeon-seo. You good?"
His eyes flicked to Hwa Yeo-wol even as he answered, souring Yang Yeon-seo again. She knew they were close and had shelved her feelings, but the blatant favoritism rankled.
"No, couldn't be. Watching Yeo-wol unnie fret over someone had my stomach in knots."
"Yeon-seo, what's with you?"
Hwa Yeo-wol blinked wide-eyed at her.
"Not true? Then shoo me away?"
Yang Yeon-seo huffed, stormed inside with a pout.
Hwa Yeo-wol looked baffled.
"What's her deal?"
"At sixteen, that's the age for it. Puberty hitting late, I guess."
Just a year older himself, Won Seung breezed past it and told Hwa Yeo-wol,
"Two tails outside. Chasing me."
"Tails?"
She frowned faintly.
"Those guys from before?"
Those guys... ah, Hong Il-wan's crew?
"Nah, those were just trash. These are for something else."
"Hmm. What do you even do? Ministry investigator one day, tails the next."
"Way more than you think, and I do it diligently."
Hwa Yeo-wol let out a soft pfft of laughter.
"Still shameless. Not dangerous, right?"
"Like walking a blade's edge every day? That's jianghu life."
Won Seung struck a grim pose.
"Shake the tails first. Back tomorrow."
"Sure, was about to head out with Yeon-seo anyway."
"Where to?"
"Geom Yak Jong's senior brother sent word—wants to meet."
"Ah!"
What kind of guy was Geom Yak Jong's senior brother? Not another Byeok Gyo-un type...
"Tell me tomorrow what he's like."
Hwa Yeo-wol nodded with a smile.
Won Seung left Byeolyudang. Straight out of Hwangmunwon, through the west gate, then lightness skill on a deserted path. As expected, the tails pursued eagerly.
He followed the river to a large Yongsin Shrine nestled at the hillside base. The shrine was spacious, centered on an altar with a white-haired elder statue coiled by a dragon.
A half-burned incense stick jutted from the censer before it. Won Seung lit fresh sticks, bowed, and peeked outside.
There they were, hiding.
He called out.
"Followed me this far—why not come in? What's the deal, tailing me?"