65. You Die on the Morning of the Tripartite Martial Exhibition!
That afternoon.
Won Seung, wearing Ogu's human skin mask and dressed in Ogu's clothes, headed to the riverbank where the martial arena had been set up.
The carpenters who had finished the work were waiting and approached him.
"All done, sir. Please inspect it and settle the remaining payment."
Since it was at the boundary between Gwangeonbang and Cheongsu Gate, the arena had been built in an open lot between massive warehouses.
Won Seung had positioned it as close to the river as possible, erecting pillars thirty jang around the arena and marking the boundaries with ropes.
He had also set up seats for the judges and observers about twenty jang away from the arena.
Won Seung inspected it thoroughly, checking the waist-high arena pillars before climbing up and testing them with jumps. They were sturdy enough, but they wouldn't hold up long once Peak Experts started clashing.
This'll do. As long as it looks fine at the start.
Won Seung handed the carpenters a bill of exchange from Gwangeonbang.
Once they confirmed it and left with a gesture from him, Seok Bo emerged from behind the warehouse, pulling a cart that had been waiting.
Won Seung pulled out a large bamboo water tank from the cart and tossed it into the river. It bubbled and sank beneath the surface.
He scattered three more along the river-facing side of the arena at intervals before sending the cart away.
After one final sweep of the entire venue to confirm nothing was amiss, Won Seung vanished.
After Won Seung's inspection, Gu Ja-ang arrived with his subordinates.
He had come to check for any tampering, but at almost the same moment, Cheongsu Gate's chief steward Seok Sung showed up with his warriors.
Both factions had rushed over the instant they received Won Seung's notice that the arena was complete.
Gwangeonbang and Cheongsu Gate warriors searched the arena, the grounds, and even the river thoroughly.
In the meantime, Seok Sung approached Gu Ja-ang.
"Long time no see."
"Doing well, Chief Steward?"
"Same as always. You're the one who looks off-color. Something happen?"
The two were Sangyang natives, raised near the Sang River, and had known each other since childhood. Seok Sung was a couple years older, but neither knew their exact ages—they were practically peers.
Gu Ja-ang called him "Chief Steward," but Seok Sung just used "Steward" for him.
Officially, Gu Ja-ang was Gwangeonbang's Chief Steward too, with three under-stewards handling menial tasks. They'd added one more just to outrank Cheongsu Gate's Seok Sung... but hardly anyone called him "Chief Steward."
Even in Gwangeonbang, it was "Steward Gu" or "Strategist Gu."
Gu Ja-ang snorted in annoyance and looked away.
Seok Sung stood beside him, watching the warriors search, and said casually,
"Why'd you turn so sleazy?"
"What're you talking about?"
Gu Ja-ang whipped around, his brow furrowing deeply.
"Jo Bang-un's a bit flighty, sure, but he's got a soft heart. Why drag him into it?"
"Jo Bang-un? That deputy steward? You're saying I roped him in?"
He was already fuming because Jo Bang-un hadn't shown at their meeting spot. Just hearing the name made his head throb.
"What would I even gain from that? Got any proof?"
"You're getting uglier with age. Tsk!"
Seok Sung clucked his tongue, scraping at old wounds.
"Watch your mouth. I'm showing you respect as a senior—forgot who I am?"
"Hah. How could I forget? I've known you since you were hawking at the dockside brothels."
"What?"
Gu Ja-ang flew into a rage at the dredged-up past he wanted buried.
"And you? Weren't you the one picking through rotten fish guts at the wharf?"
"Sure was. Fed my siblings with it—truly grateful."
Seok Sung clamped his mouth shut, smacked his lips, then continued.
"Hand him over."
"Hand over what?"
"Jo Bang-un."
Hwa Cheon-gang was raising hell to capture Jo Bang-un. Cheongsu Gate warriors were discreetly scouring Sangyang.
"I'll turn a blind eye to your involvement."
Seok Sung thought he was offering goodwill, but it only stung Gu Ja-ang more.
"Me, Gwangeonbang's Chief Steward, afraid of Cheongsu Gate? Dream on. Let's see if you're still around two days from now."
"I gave you your chance."
Seok Sung warned him and turned away.
At that moment, a small commotion erupted by the riverbank.
"What's that? A body?"
Cheongsu Gate warriors searching the riverbank spotted a corpse floating downstream.
Aquatic plants clung to it—it must have sunk to the bottom before resurfacing.
The warriors pulling it out suddenly made a fuss.
"Chief Steward! It's Deputy Jo!"
Seok Sung rushed over, and Gu Ja-ang followed.
The waterlogged corpse was Jo Bang-un. His neck was savagely torn open—clearly stabbed with a dagger and killed instantly.
Gasp!
Gu Ja-ang's eyes locked on Jo Bang-un's instep.
A footprint piercing through the leather shoe!
He knew it well.
Gwangeonbang Lord's loyal hound... the work of Sangyang Mad Dog Gwan Ju-gyeon.
"Hmph."
Seok Sung examined the body and glared at Gu Ja-ang with fury. He clearly thought it was Gu Ja-ang's doing.
"Secure the body and take it to the manor."
As he passed Gu Ja-ang, Seok Sung growled in rage.
"You've crossed the line. You'll pay for this."
Then he left two warriors behind and departed.
Gu Ja-ang did the same, leaving two of his own before hurrying back to base.
Leaving pairs of warriors was to monitor each other for tampering until the arena day—part of Won Seung's arrangements.
So the four stood enduring the river wind, waiting only for shift changes.
As evening fell.
Ogu, the official manager of Baekhwa Pavilion, was closing up when a few men approached.
A silk-robed man was followed by two burly bruisers.
"We're closed."
"Haha. Don't you know who you pay rent to? I'm Uyangjeong's boss, Hama-cho."
The silk-robed man laughed heartily.
Ogu went, "Ah," and replied,
"Me, just a humble painting merchant—how would I know Uyangjeong's lord?"
"You look the part. But word is, you've got sharp hands."
"...?"
"Sent some boys to test you, and they got beat bad?"
Ogu flinched.
"How rough were you that they pissed themselves?"
Hama-cho chuckled slyly.
Ogu glanced at Baekhwa Pavilion. The inner quarters were quiet.
"Here for revenge? Then let's go somewhere private."
The silk-robed man waved it off.
"Nah. I was just probing anyway, so we'll let this slide. Came to fetch you—someone wants to see you."
"Me?"
"You're Woo Bok-saeng, right? Owner of Baekhwa Pavilion."
"That's me... but who wants to see me?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
Ogu furrowed his brow.
This was classic black dao trickery.
Just then, Ten Greats operative Jong Bi came stumbling out from inside, sensed the awkward vibe, and said in a demure voice,
"Master Woo, dinner's... ready... if you'd like to eat together?"
It was mealtime, so she'd come to call him for food, but weirdos were here?
Everything was under Ogu—no, Woo Bok-saeng's name, so treat him like the boss... wait, these guys are black dao?
As Jong Bi eyed the Uyangjeong crew, Hama-cho's gaze fell on her hand.
She held a ladle. Sensing it, she slyly hid the potential weapon behind her back.
A servant girl.
Hama-cho turned back to Ogu with a beaming smile.
"Home cooking's everyday fare. Tonight, we're drinking somewhere top-notch."
Ogu thought for a moment, nodded, and told Jong Bi,
"Uyangjeong folks came specially for dinner. Eat first, Teacher Song."
Ogu followed the Uyangjeong men.
Jong Bi grumbled at his retreating back.
With so many mouths from the army, she had to scoop extra bowls... and they drag him off right at mealtime?
She spat on the ground and turned—then her eyes froze.
A kite soared on the red sunset glow.
What's that?
Jong Bi's eyes widened like saucers at the crimson-tinted kite.
The same sunset that dyed Jong Bi's kite red also bathed Gu Ja-ang's office west window in crimson.
The savory aroma of cooking drifted from somewhere beyond the open window, but Gu Ja-ang had no appetite—not even the smell registered.
Pacing anxiously, he whipped toward the door at a footstep.
"It's me."
The low voice belonged to his trusted errand boy.
Gu Ja-ang sighed in relief and bade him enter. The subordinate slipped in and reported quietly.
"Checked discreetly as ordered. Someone definitely died at Jo Hyeon-jeon last night."
Jo Hyeon-jeon!
Elder Gwan Ju-gyeon's residence.
"Know who?"
"Not ours or a prisoner. Asked around—no one knows."
"Impossible. The guard captain should."
"He's out on duty. But... the Lord was there."
Gu Ja-ang flinched.
"The Lord?"
"A close buddy on guard saw him leaving."
"......"
Cold sweat beaded on Gu Ja-ang's forehead.
Why was this summer so scorching?
"Got it. You're dismissed."
He sent the man out calmly.
Gu Ja-ang's eyes turned icy. Certainty banished his anxiety, leaving an eerie calm.
That one line about the Lord tied it all together.
Jo Bang-un couldn't hold back and went to the Lord. He had Gwan Ju-gyeon torture him for everything... then killed him.
And he, the Chief Strategist, hadn't known?
He was being iced out.
Normally, he would've interrogated Jo Bang-un. So things weren't normal now.
Gu Ja-ang pictured Cheon Il-hae's face and thought,
Cheon Il-hae, before or after the tripartite martial exhibition?
Only timing remained... his own life would surely follow Jo Bang-un's.
And the Cheon Il-hae in his mind said,
"You die on the morning of the tripartite martial exhibition!"
No reason—just the accumulated memories of their long time together told him so.
Gu Ja-ang slowly returned to his desk and slumped into the chair.
He stared blankly as the crimson west window faded to pale ash-gray.
I always loved this view... won't see it much longer.
Time flashed in his mind.
Twelve hours a day plus six more... eighteen hours until the tripartite martial exhibition dawned.
I have eighteen hours left.
Gu Ja-ang sank into deep thought.
It would be a long night.
Mealtime came, but neither Ogu nor Jong Bi was around.
Won Seung had no choice but to serve himself, Yong Jo-un, Hyeol Hwa, and his own portion.
Then he lounged in the main room, sipping tea leisurely...
When Jong Bi staggered in, face pale as a ghost.
Her expression was soulless.
Why carry a ladle around?
"Teacher Song, what's wrong? Skipping dinner and wandering?"
"Big trouble. We're dead."
"Dead? In like a hundred years?"
Won Seung smirked cockily, tilting his head as he drank his tea.
Jong Bi weakly grabbed his sleeve and tugged.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"The gloomy room."