Chapter 172. The Seong Wang Appears on the Scene
Jegal Seung-seon bowed politely toward Won Seung and asked,
"I was just about to ask. Why do you keep trying to drag me into this? Do you really think I deliberately stirred up the trouble?"
Won Seung glared at Jegal Seung-seon.
Who the hell is this guy? The Ujae of the Three Talents of the World. And just moments ago, he'd realized this bastard was the notorious troublemaker of the world. He'd clearly mentioned the Dang Clan's poisons knowing Dang So-so was there. But Won Seung couldn't figure out why he'd tried to pit Dang So-so against him. And he'd been so sly about it that even Dang So-so herself hadn't noticed.
The others looked at Won Seung too. They recalled how he'd pointed to Jegal Seung-seon as the instigator back at the Hwangmunwon. Even those who'd been there had found his claim a bit out of left field.
How had Jegal Seung-seon started the fight? All he'd done was ask Won Seung if he was okay after being poisoned by the Dang Clan's toxins.... If anything, it was Won Seung who'd been reckless, bragging as a former Hyeongbu investigator that he could solve the scholar murder case. He'd done it to etch the name Joo Neung into the minds of Seong Wangbu's pursuers, but the others didn't know that context.
Is that why he's pissed?
The Ujae of the Three Talents hadn't solved it yet, and here Won Seung was saying he'd catch the culprit as a Hyeongbu investigator. It might have rubbed him the wrong way. It could even sound like Won Seung was claiming to be a greater talent than the Ujae himself.
In any case, Won Seung had no proof that Jegal Seung-seon had started it on purpose. So...
Won Seung bowed politely toward Hwang Chung-hyeon and said,
"Hwang Podu, the Ujae Jegal Seung-seon is a genius acknowledged by the world. The clerks arrived after the quarrel started, so they only know half the truth. The Ujae witnessed everything from start to finish, making him a crucial witness. I hereby request that the Ujae be designated as a key witness in the Hwangmunwon arson case."
Won Seung had even framed it as the "Hwangmunwon arson case," steering the investigation's direction while requesting Jegal Seung-seon as a witness. Hwang Chung-hyeon had no reason to refuse. The Jegal Clan might be one of the Five Great Clans of Murim, but Huangdo was the world of officials. Besides, he'd already warned everyone not to leave the outer city.
Hwang Chung-hyeon glared at Jegal Seung-seon and said in a warning tone,
"No one is to leave the outer city until the facts of the case are fully clarified. As esteemed guests, we'll assign you special escorts."
Escorts, my ass—it was surveillance.
Pung Jin-saeng and Dang So-so glared at Won Seung for a moment before leaving first, followed by the Jegal siblings. As she left, Jegal Seung-hye glanced alternately at Won Seung and Hwa Yeo-wol.
Eun Bang-seo, Mu Gi-an, Yu Seon, and Jang Hyo-gan approached. Eun Bang-seo said admiringly,
"You... Young Master Won, that was impressive. To risk even death for a friend."
"We respect you, Young Master Won."
Yu Seon and Jang Hyo-gan flattered him. Mu Gi-an just fidgeted awkwardly. From Joo Neung of the Ju household... to the young master of the Won Mansion—he wasn't sure what to call him anymore.
Suddenly, Won Seung let out a sigh. Seeing this, Eun Bang-seo said,
"From what I heard, it wasn't a big deal. Don't worry. If anything, those guys are the ones who attempted murder in broad daylight."
"It's not about today. That really was arson, after all. It's just... somehow, I ended up taking an official post under the name Joo Neung. Deceiving the emperor is a grave sin."
"Ah!"
Eun Bang-seo, grasping the point, furrowed his brow. As a stickler for rules and principles, it clearly bothered him. But... Won Seung had risked his life for a friend. And he was Won Guksa's son, no less.
Eun Bang-seo cleared his throat and said,
"I'll look into precedents."
"I'd prefer it all blow over quietly. If too many people find out, it'll get noisy. If unrest breaks out because of me, I won't have the face to see my family."
Won Seung subtly asked him to smooth it over.
"Got it. Don't worry."
They left the Outer Patrol Office. On the way to Hwangmunwon, he spotted Pung Jin-saeng and Dang So-so up ahead, with the Jegal siblings behind them. The night was deepening... and the outer city's inns were packed with people who'd flooded in for the imperial exams. The only decent places were too pricey for scholars to afford—Hwangmunwon was the exception.
As they all swarmed toward Hwangmunwon, the clerks were dumbfounded. The arsonists were back...
"No rooms available."
"We'll take private suites."
The Pung Clan and Jegal Clan were wealthy houses, so they demanded private suites. With the high price no object, the clerks had no choice.
Won Seung hated shelling out five to ten nyang of silver for a single night in a suite. He asked Hwa Yeo-wol,
"Any empty rooms at Byeolyudang?"
"Probably."
As a separate annex, it had plenty of rooms.
At that moment, Jegal Seung-seon addressed everyone.
"We got interrupted mid-meal, didn't we? I didn't even get a bite... How about I treat you all? It was all a misunderstanding—let's wash it away with some drinks."
"......"
"......"
Pung Jin-saeng, Dang So-so, and Won Seung exchanged glances and nodded.
They all gathered in the parlor of Jegal Seung-seon's private suite. Attendants brought wine and food.
Jegal Seung-seon personally poured and handed out glasses.
"Young Master Pung, Lady Dang, and Brother Won. You're all remarkable figures. We reddened faces on our first meeting, but if we can laugh at the end, isn't that for the best? The Jegal Clan will cover the damages to Hwangmunwon, so please let this one drink wash away any grudges."
He raised his glass, downed it in one gulp, and flipped it to show it was empty.
Pung Jin-saeng raised his glass, chugged it, and said,
"I've heard your name—Ujae—ringing in my ears endlessly... But seeing you today, it feels like the rumors fell short."
Rich bastards...
They hid daggers in their bellies while buttering you up with smiling faces. Won Seung was confident in that kind of hypocrisy too. He stood, glass in hand, and said,
"Not only covering the damages but even hosting this gathering—the reason the Jegal Clan is hailed as one of Murim's Five Great Clans is clear now. The Dang Clan is another of the Five Greats! And with the wedding alliance to the founding clans, it's truly auspicious. How could we not raise a glass?"
He downed it in one go. A fine showing from the scion of the rising Won Mansion. Aside from Dang So-so occasionally radiating her sharp aura, the mood was pleasantly harmonious.
Dang So-so said to Won Seung,
"Can you arrange a meeting with Dang In Pyo?"
"Prisoners aren't usually allowed visitors, but... I'll pull some strings as a former Hyeongbu investigator."
The drinking didn't last long since it was late. After a moderate session, they parted ways, and Won Seung headed to Byeolyudang with Hwa Yeo-wol.
Yang Dae-hyeon and Yang Yeon-seo, preparing to go out, spotted them and lit up.
"We heard you were dragged to the Outer Patrol Office—we were just about to head there."
Yang Dae-hyeon had been out and had just returned; upon hearing Hwa Yeo-wol had been taken to the patrol office, he'd been on his way to check.
Yang Yeon-seo grabbed Hwa Yeo-wol's hand and said,
"Sister, are you okay? I was shocked to hear you'd been hauled to the patrol office."
"Little Brother Ju, everything alright?"
"Big Brother Yang, I need a quiet word."
Won Seung led Yang Dae-hyeon down to the garden. Sitting in the pavilion, he recounted the Outer Patrol Office events in detail, then revealed his true identity.
Yang Dae-hyeon started in surprise and bowed.
"So you're the young master of the Guksa household."
"Come on, Big Brother Yang. Once a little brother, always a little brother."
Yang Dae-hyeon laughed at Won Seung's words and said,
"I thought you were unusual from the first glance... Indeed, you're no ordinary man. Risking your life for a friend."
"It wasn't easy. Especially acting under a false identity in front of you and the others—it was tough. A gentleman should always be truthful, but I ended up deceiving everyone against my will."
"It was to save a life—what's there to fuss about? And now you've come clean, so that's that."
The two returned to the Byeolyudang parlor. The other scholars were buried in their studies in their rooms.
With the exams looming, they were scrimping even on mealtimes to focus.
As night deepened, Hwa Yeo-wol and Yang Yeon-seo retired to their rooms.
Won Seung shared tea and idle talk with Yang Dae-hyeon.
"The Seong Wangbu banquet must have been something."
Bun Yumyeong, the literary martial scholar, had invited Yang Dae-hyeon, Jegal Seung-seon, and the scholars to a banquet.
Yang Dae-hyeon's face stiffened slightly as he said,
"Just as you said, the Seong Wang appeared there."
Then he paused—ah—and added,
"Come to think of it, isn't he your uncle?"
Yeah, the uncle trying to kill me.
"Technically, but... it's been so long since we met, he might not even remember he has a nephew."
"Anyway, the banquet ended without incident."
Now aware of Won Seung's identity, Yang Dae-hyeon seemed to hold back. Won Seung had no desire to explain further.
"It's late—get some rest."
Byeolyudang was a grand annex with guest rooms too, all luxuriously appointed with no shortages. Even the desks had brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Won Seung sat at the desk, spread out a sheet of white paper, and took up a brush.
Now that his identity was out, many things would unfold. Until now, he'd lived switching fake identities at will, but from here on, he'd live as his true self, donning fakes only when needed.
Won Seung jotted down the threats and tasks ahead. The biggest dangers were still Jeokhyeolsan and Seong Wangbu.
As thoughts came, he wrote them down straight—then ah, and at the end, he added Dae Yeon-ui Geom and Bi Sword Sect.
The mysterious movements of Dae Yeon-ui Geom nagged at him oddly. Given their mastery of the Bi Sword Sect's Heaven-Conquering Sword Dance, a clash might be inevitable someday.
An Absolute Expert who might surpass even the Ten Great Experts. Won Seung had seen Kwon-wang's martial arts firsthand. If such a master set their mind to it, someone like him would be crushed like an ant.
Having listed everything, Won Seung sat on the bed and circulated his energy. He wanted to just sleep, but writing Dae Yeon-ui Geom's name had made that impossible. He needed to rise from ant to at least a rat pup, and fast. A cornered rat pup could at least bite.
Won Seung entered a trance in the lotus position. Even then, as he connected his yin-yang twin acupoints, he smirked.
He recalled Hwa Yeo-wol standing up to the sharp-tongued Dang So-so in his place.
"His true identity is Joo Neung, a former Hyeongbu investigator. From the Sacheon Bokho-gwan, he resigned after being poisoned by the Dang Clan's Sam-o-dan-sim-san. He obtained the antidote afterward..."
The two spies reported diligently. They'd dug around last night after hearing the name Joo Neung and were briefing now.
Gwang-ho Gongja clicked his tongue at them.
"Didn't you hear what happened at the Outer Patrol Office yesterday?"
"Pardon?"
"He's Won Guksa's eldest son."
"What?"
"Get out."
Useless fools. Where the hell were the two he'd assigned first? No word from them.
But news of them arrived right then.
"Word from the West Gate guards. They caught suspicious figures lurking outside the city walls last night—bearing Wangbu insignia, so they're asking for confirmation."
"Suspicious figures?"
"Yes. The three chief stewards went to check—they were your subordinates' warriors."
Gwang-ho Gongja's brow furrowed. His own men captured by gate guards?
"Have these bastards lost their minds?"
Such humiliation.