63. That Guy's in Sangyang, Right?
Won Seung showed him the pill recipe, then tossed it into the brazier boiling the tea water and burned it to ashes.
"Making these Rejuvenation Pills would take two or three straight days of nonstop work.... Time's short. But I'll pay you handsomely instead."
Gong I-gwan thought to himself.
Won Seung had hidden his real name, but writing out the Blue Blood Rejuvenation Pill recipe right there on the spot confirmed it—he was definitely from the same sect.
"Where...?"
He started to ask what he planned to use it for, then shut his mouth, realizing it was a pointless question.
This guy clearly wouldn't answer. No way a man who wouldn't even reveal his own name would spill the purpose.
Gong I-gwan pondered for a moment, then decided to hand it over.
He'd come seeking him out as a fellow disciple—couldn't be too stingy about it.
But once identities were confirmed, he'd have to give this brat a proper scolding for his insolence today.
Demanding medicine from a sect elder, of all people...!
In truth, Gong I-gwan saw himself as the next sect leader of Cheondaemun. By lineage, he was first in line. So he'd treated Won Seung like a junior disciple.
The kid was young and clueless about hierarchy, acting all high and mighty, but as the senior, showing a bit of magnanimity was only proper.
"But how did you know to come find me?"
"When you treated Jong Wonbo, you slit his throat without hesitation and shoved a reed down it. That's how I knew."
"Hm."
What a sharp one. Spotting the hallmarks of Cheondaemun's Manwha Curve Medical Art in an instant.
Gong I-gwan, dealing in medicine and poison himself, always favored quick-witted talents.
Won Seung's cleverness sparked a touch of fondness.
"Fine. I'll give it to you."
"Perfect. Here's twenty nyang."
Twenty nyang wasn't bad at all, so Gong I-gwan stood right up.
He fetched the Blue Blood Rejuvenation Pills he'd stashed away tight and handed them over, saying,
"I'd like to see you more often."
"Me too."
Won Seung bowed politely and left Gong Family Clinic.
One of Bi Jangno's duties as Blood Mountain's Bi Elder was secretly inspecting the branches.
Having finished with the Luoyang branch, word reached him of the three-way duel brewing in Sangyang.
Two of the Central Plains' Hundred Great Experts clashing, in a rare three-way format no less—it was spreading like wildfire.
"Gwancheonbang's lord proposed the duel himself? That's odd. Is this why they canceled the hit?"
Bi Jangno hadn't forgotten the contract to kill Hwa Cheon-gang, withdrawn midway.
"Wait—that guy's in Sangyang, isn't he?"
Assassin trainee No. 50, the Ten Perfect Assassin prospect, had been assigned to Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang in Sangyang.
Should I go?
It wasn't far from Luoyang....
He'd specially assigned Jong Bi to tail him and report monthly, but being out on inspection meant he was out of the loop lately.
He recalled the last report he'd read.
'Left Cheongsu Gate and set up a safehouse, was it?'
Wonder what funds the kid used for that.
Truth be told, Jong Bi's vague reports were hard to parse even on a good day. Of course, she'd written exactly what Won Seung dictated.
Bi Jangno checked his schedule. Push hard, and he could hit Sangyang in a day. Tweaking the route to Hebei could fit it in.
'I'll check the Sangyang branch too.... Better swing by.'
Watch the Hundred Great Experts' deathmatch and scout the Ten Perfect Assassin prospect's movements.
Jo Bang-un hesitated before the high wall. The moment he climbed over, things would spiral beyond his control.
'A man must stake his life sometimes!'
Steel resolve, and he vaulted it.
He thought he'd moved stealthily enough, but they spotted him after a few steps.
Gwangeonbang was on lockdown ahead of the three-way duel. Black-clad guards swarmed from all sides, blades to his throat.
Moments later, who seemed to be the guard captain approached and demanded,
"You dare trespass here? State your identity!"
"I'm Jo Bang-un. Here to see Lord Cheon. I've got crucial intel on the three-way duel."
Jo Bang-un steadied his pounding heart as he spoke.
"Three-way duel" perked the captain's ears. Gwangeonbang was on high alert.
Help the lord now, and it'd be merit to claim.
Normally he'd interrogate first, but someone might snatch the credit—he needed to report fast and make it his own.
"Bind him."
The captain ordered, then went to Cheon Il-hae.
Cheon Il-hae, roused from sleep, growled in a twisted voice,
"This Jo Bang-un has info on the duel?"
Cheon Il-hae knew Gu Ja-ang had recruited Jo Bang-un as a spy. But to avoid future entanglements, he kept his distance.
"Tell Elder Gwan to handle it first. I'll be there soon."
Normally he'd pass it to Gu Ja-ang, but the man wasn't trustworthy lately—so off to Elder Gwan Ju-gyeon.
The captain relayed to Gwan Ju-gyeon, who—freshly woken—snapped and snarled, demanding they drag Jo Bang-un in.
"?"
Jo Bang-un, expecting Cheon Il-hae, followed meekly. But a gaunt, cruel-faced middle-aged man waited in the courtyard, and panic set in.
A brazier blazed in the yard, with five or six chopsticks stabbed into the coals.
His escorts bound him to a wooden chair.
No need to ask—he knew. Torture incoming.
Jo Bang-un's mind reeled, but he gritted his teeth.
'Stay calm! It's just intimidation. Face it with spirit!'
He trembled but psyched himself up.
The more they threatened, the bolder he had to be for a good impression. To prove his worth. History books were full of such tales.
Jo Bang-un composed himself, straightened, and bellowed,
"What is this outrage? I came to see the lord with vital intel!"
He shouted loud, but no one so much as flinched.
The cruel-faced man approached and asked,
"You Jo Bang-un?"
"Wh-who are you?"
"Gwangeonbang Elder Gwan Ju-gyeon."
"Gasp! Mad Dog...!"
Jo Bang-un clamped his mouth shut mid-word.
Calling Gwan Ju-gyeon Sangyang's mad dog right to his face, now of all times.
The man grinned.
"Heh heh. You know me? Mad Dog.... I'll show you why from here on out."
Gwan Ju-gyeon picked up a glowing-red chopstick and stood before Jo Bang-un.
"See, I hate being woken from sleep. Dogs do too. Guess that's why I'm a mad dog. Mad dogs.... bite anything. Even stinking feet like these...."
Sizzle!
Gwan Ju-gyeon pressed the chopstick into Jo Bang-un's instep.
The red-hot metal seared through his leather shoe to the skin.
"Arghhh!"
"Hm, smells better than I thought?"
Gwan Ju-gyeon rolled his eyes wildly, sniffing. Jo Bang-un nearly fainted from his own burning flesh stench.
"N-no, why? I'm here to defect—torturing me? I have impor—important info. With this, Cheongsu Gate...!"
"Ah, don't do that."
Gwan Ju-gyeon furrowed his brow, feigning regret.
"Hold out a bit longer. I just started smelling it. Gotta cook it right before eating—can't spill already, right? Just a little.... gotta reach the gut at least."
Then he stabbed the right instep.
Sizzle!
"Gaaahk!"
Jo Bang-un screamed and babbled,
"Geom Yak Jong people are at Cheongsu Gate! Four of 'em. And.... and...."
Pain blanked his mind; nothing else came.
"Urghhh.... s-so, so.... ughh!"
Gwan Ju-gyeon glanced at the babbling fool, muttered, "Already cooled?" and fetched a fresh one.
Warriors with a water bucket doused him.
The cold shock snapped Jo Bang-un awake.
His butt felt warm—he'd soiled himself, piss and shit. But no time for that.
"Pung Woo Saeng—don't trust him! He's selling out Cheongsu Gate!"
"What nonsense... How's a mad dog s'posed to get it?"
Gwan Ju-gyeon sneered, yanking another glowing chopstick.
"Eek!"
Jo Bang-un recoiled in terror as the side gate opened—Cheon Il-hae entered.
All in the yard bowed.
"Lord!"
Cheon Il-hae frowned at Jo Bang-un's wretched state.
"Elder Gwan, you can't just torture without hearing him out first."
He chided Gwan Ju-gyeon on purpose.
"Ah, my mistake. Thought he was an enemy spy."
Gwan Ju-gyeon replied solemnly.
Hard to believe this was the same vile voice from moments ago.
Cheon Il-hae nodded.
"I'll handle the guest. It's late—go rest."
Gwan Ju-gyeon left. Cheon Il-hae approached.
"Untie him. Everyone out."
The warriors freed Jo Bang-un and cleared the yard.
"You had something to tell me?"
"W-water... please?"
"Ah. Sorry, asked for business first when you're in such shape."
He fetched water himself and held it to Jo Bang-un's lips. The cold drink revived him.
Cheon Il-hae wrinkled his nose at the faint shit-stink and stepped back.
Jo Bang-un, terrified he'd leave, blurted,
"I'm Cheongsu Gate's deputy chief steward. I worked with your Grand Steward Gu Ja-ang on this whole plot. You know, right?"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Grind.
Jo Bang-un gnashed his teeth.
That bastard Gu Ja-ang never mentioned me.
"B-before steward, I'm a strategist. I tipped off Grand Steward Gu about Hwa Cheon-baek's Imdok Yangmaek Ta Tong training. S-so really, I'm the one who first schemed this whole thing."
"Hm. I'll verify details with Grand Steward Gu. But you said you had important info?"
Seeing Jo Bang-un's dire state, Cheon Il-hae wanted the intel first.
Pain from his seared feet erased all thought. Jo Bang-un vomited every scrap in his head.
"Geom Yak Jong's third disciple Byeok Gyoo Un, twelfth elder Yang Gwan, and Yang Gwan's two disciples are at Cheongsu Gate. And the Taesu is quietly backing Gwangeonbang...."
"Pung Un-saeng.... Ah, that Baekhwa Pavilion Pung Woo Saeng—his real name's Pung Un-saeng. The one you know, Lord. Didn't know? He didn't tell you his real name 'cause he's defying Seongwangbu orders to aid Cheongsu Gate."
"Y-yes.... Fell for Cheongsu Gate's girl. And what else...? He likes tea.... Tea. Drinking tea. Urgh...."
Jo Bang-un racked his brain desperately, as if silence meant death.
But he didn't know much anyway.
"Hm. Got it. But something's off. Ever hear of impregnable government? Why would the Taesu back us?"
Cheon Il-hae's eyes turned murderous.