Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Preparation
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From the start, the reason Namgung Hyun, Lady Seol, and I had come directly to the Hyeoncheong Office wasn't to discuss the martial tournament.
Of course, we would discuss it, but there was a far more important reason.
"-We really need evidence.
- Evidence... that Tyrant Heaven Fortress is behind all these events."
Rewind time a bit, to the road heading to the Hyeoncheong Office.
Inside the carriage, we discussed what we needed to do once we arrived.
"-I'll pretend to have a stomachache along the way and bow out. Then I'll sneak into the lodging where the Tyrant Heaven Fortress guys are staying or into the inner quarters where Ji-hyeon lives and find that evidence."
"-... Will you be alright on your own?"
"-Like I said just last night, in cases like this, it's actually easier to move alone."
At my casual response, Namgung Hyun forced away his uneasy expression and nodded.
Then Lady Seol, sitting beside him, spoke up.
"-What should we do?"
"-You two handle the discussion about the martial tournament. Remember the 'minimum conditions' I mentioned earlier?"
"-Yes, but is that really enough? Shouldn't we demand more favorable terms for us..."
"-I'll leave that to you two. Whatever you do, just buy as much time as possible."
At my words, the two nodded in unison.
And now, back to the present.
"Is this it?"
I cautiously slipped into the inner quarters building.
Fortunately, Hyeoncheong Offices all seemed to have similar layouts, so the structure felt somewhat familiar.
Thanks to that, I easily found the inner quarters.
Who would've thought that tagging along with my father to the Goongang-hyeon Hyeoncheong Office as a kid would come in handy like this.
After confirming no one was inside, I sneaked into Ji-hyeon's room.
And I was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu.
"Wow, it's like I saw this scene yesterday."
The room was adorned everywhere with flashy luxury items.
It was astonishingly similar to that Jo Woonchil guy's room from last night.
Do people overflowing with greed for wealth all have the same taste in decorating?
I shook my head and, just like last night, began rummaging through the room.
Fortunately, while Ji-hyeon might share Jo Woonchil's tastes, she lacked his creativity in hiding things.
Meaning I didn't need to look for something like a hollow golden Buddha statue.
In the far corner, a box that screamed "important stuff inside" caught my eye.
The problem was that it was locked with a padlock.
"The key would be right nearby... Yeah, no such luck."
Reflecting on my greed for an easy find, I gathered internal energy at my fingertips and brought it to the keyhole.
Then, release.
-Crack!
The fairly loud noise made me flinch involuntarily, and I scanned the surroundings with my senses.
Fortunately, it didn't seem loud enough to carry outside the room.
Letting out a silent sigh of relief, I removed the padlock—which looked intact on the outside but was broken within.
"Wow, I didn't think this would actually work."
I remembered scenes in wuxia novels where they unlock padlocks with internal energy, so I gave it a try, and it really opened.
Plus, it looked fine on the outside, so even if Ji-hyeon saw it later, she wouldn't immediately notice it was broken.
Oh, all you divine thieves from the countless wuxia novels I read. Thank you.
Chuckling to myself, I slowly opened the box.
No burst of golden light filled the room, of course.
All that was there were stacks of letters.
The room was decked out in all sorts of gold, but the box meant for the most important things held a pile of paper...
Ji-hyeon didn't seem the type to value spiritual nourishment, so these letters must hold far greater value than all that gold.
I picked one letter and unfolded it.
Then I let out a hollow laugh right away.
"Oh, our Lady Ji-hyeon, what a remarkable person you are."
The letter was none other than from that Jo Woonchil bastard.
Stripping away the flowery language, it boiled down to: he'd periodically show "good faith," so please approve the expansion of the gambling den.
No wonder the blatantly illegal gambling den was operating so openly—with Ji-hyeon's backing.
I unfolded other letters, and they were a colorful array: bribes received, tax evasion reports, forged official documents, and more.
She must be busy. Isn't living like this exhausting?
With cold eyes, I folded the letters and picked up the last one at the very bottom of the box, along with some book.
I set the book aside first and unfolded the final letter.
Reading its contents, I narrowed my eyes.
"...Found it."
The letter was astonishingly from Jinmugun, the Grand Chief Steward of Tyrant Heaven Fortress.
It said that if she helped drive out the long-established Nangong Family from Anhui, all of their wealth would be handed over to Ji-hyeon.
And it outlined the method.
Finally, it requested that the letter be burned completely without trace after reading.
"But you didn't burn it."
Probably worried about being discarded after the job was done.
Thanks to that, I'd found the most decisive evidence.
I tucked the letter into my bosom and picked up the book.
After checking its contents, I clicked my tongue briefly and tucked that into my bosom too.
I'd gotten what I wanted, so time to head back?
*
As Goon Ja-seong slipped out of Ji-hyeon's room, the discussions in the audience hall were wrapping up.
"Then let's settle it that way."
"...Yes, that's fine with us."
The four people seated to the left and right of Mandeok in the head seat wore strangely peculiar expressions.
Everyone except Chilji looked utterly bewildered, like "This isn't right."
And for good reason—Chilji had accepted every single demand Namgung Hyun made about the tournament rules without any real pushback.
What Namgung Hyun had demanded was as follows.
-Victories decided by first to three wins.
-As long as they haven't lost, any martial artist who ascends the stage may continue fighting consecutively if they wish.
-The tournament will be held a fortnight from now.
They were reasonable requests he figured the other side might accept.
But to accept them so easily?
Namgung Hyun's face, having gotten everything he wanted, wasn't exactly bright with confusion.
'What are they thinking?'
He couldn't read their intentions at all.
Unable to read them, anxiety kept swirling in his mind.
Meanwhile, Cheolwoo was just as confused.
He'd left the negotiations to her as requested and stayed quiet, but this felt like handing over liver and gall bladder alike.
'What the hell is she thinking?'
He wanted to jump up and demand what this nonsense was.
But Cheolwoo suppressed the urge.
In the past year, Chilji had been suspiciously enigmatic, but she was neither stupid nor incompetent.
She must have her reasons.
Realizing he was starting to trust Chilji's abilities, Cheolwoo clicked his tongue inwardly.
-Creak.
Right then, the door opened, and Goon Ja-seong entered with an official.
"Sorry I'm late. Must've eaten something bad yesterday...?"
Goon Ja-seong, who had come along nominally as an attendant, grinned awkwardly and bantered, but upon sensing the calm atmosphere in the room, his eyes widened.
"Uh... Is it already over?"
"Yes, let's head out now."
Namgung Hyun, who had naturally spoken down to Goon Ja-seong as his attendant, stood up.
"Seems the discussions are done, so may we take our leave?"
At Namgung Hyun's question, Chilji nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, nothing more to discuss."
"Then we'll see you in a fortnight."
Namgung Hyun gave a fist salute to Ji-hyeon and the two from Tyrant Heaven Fortress and turned to leave.
At that moment, Chilji called out softly.
"Lady Yakbing."
"Yes? What is it?"
Yakbing turned at Chilji calling her.
"It's nothing much, but I realized I haven't heard your introduction yet."
"Ah... My apologies. I'm Seol Yakbing of the Ankyeong Seol Clan."
At Yakbing's introduction, Chilji covered her mouth with one hand and widened her eyes.
Was that gesture oddly contrived, or was it just his imagination?
"Seol Yakbing of the Seol Clan... Aren't you the one hailed as Anhui's top beauty?"
"It's an undeserved title for me."
At Yakbing's modest words, Chilji shook her head.
"Undeserved? Even another woman can see how beautiful you are. Indeed, betrothed to Young Master Namgung, you've come to support your future husband."
At "future husband," Yakbing's cheeks flushed slightly.
Smiling at the sight, Chilji apologized to Namgung Hyun.
"My apologies. I couldn't contain my curiosity and held up your departure. I wish happiness fills the path ahead for you both."
"...Thank you."
Warm words of blessing.
Not something you'd expect from people plotting the Nangong Family's downfall.
Namgung Hyun gave a half-hearted thanks with a stiff expression and finally left the audience hall for real.
With the unwelcome guests gone, leaving only the four of them including the awkwardly remaining official, the smile at Chilji's lips turned icy in an instant.
"W-What?"
Cheolwoo, about to demand what she was thinking, flinched at her expression.
Wiping away the cold smile, Chilji looked at Cheolwoo and Mandeok, who were eyeing her suspiciously, and spoke.
"It seems we've found a way."
*
We left the Hyeoncheong Office straightaway and boarded the carriage, the three of us.
As soon as I climbed in last, Namgung Hyun fired off his question.
"Did you... find the evidence?"
His voice was thick with tension.
In response, I silently pulled out the book and letter from my bosom.
"Ah...!"
Namgung Hyun's face lit up at the sight.
I handed him the letter, and he immediately unfolded and read it. After finishing, his eyes went wide.