Chapter 73
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Obtaining a New Position
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“This is!”
Ho Hyeonjun was the first to recognize it.
Myeong Ujong pulled out an appointment letter made of fine silk.
“It's an appointment from the Provincial Inspectorate.”
Ho Hyeonjun nodded.
“I see. So, a Covert Inspector.”
The Covert Inspector () literally meant an inspector who concealed their identity to conduct surveillance.
It was an inspection role that the Provincial Inspectorate could appoint on its own. While the Inspection Bureau's inspectors covered the entire country, Covert Inspectors had authority over government offices in the Gangseo region.
A Covert Inspector was a high-ranking position equivalent to the fifth rank of the regular class.
Their authority was strong enough to extend to branch offices.
I naturally knew what a Covert Inspector was.
Seeing my name stamped on the inspector badge, I looked at Myeong Ujong.
“I thought it might be useful for Scholar Cheon, so I requested it from the Inspectorate.”
“But why give it to me?”
“Because I needed your strength. At first, I requested it to inspect Payang County. Giving you the authority would let you draw on your experience handling Murim Alliance administration and your martial prowess. The issue is resolved now, but who knows what provocations the Demonic Cult might pull next.”
Ho Hyeonjun nodded.
“I'll fulfill my duties, but my health isn't great these days. I don't know when I might fall ill. Who could I entrust the work to then? With this, even if Scholar Cheon takes over the county's duties, it won't violate the law.”
His reasoning made sense once I heard the circumstances.
I probably would have done the same if I were in Myeong Ujong's shoes.
“Does Scholar Cheon plan to stay in Gangseo for a while?”
“Yes. For the time being.”
“Then it's best if you hold onto it. Gangseo has so many unorthodox sects dominating that administrative power often turns unorthodox too. It'll be useful then.”
With so many unorthodox sects, their members often infiltrated government offices.
That inevitably led to various disadvantages.
Those words were surely said with that in mind.
“Understood.”
“And it would be even better if you used it to truly help the common people.”
They entrusted me with such an important position without a hint of worry.
Myeong Ujong had thus forced the Covert Inspector role upon me.
'Wonder if there's any use for this.'
Mok Jimong looked at it and spoke up.
“So Scholar Cheon is an inspector now? What a change in status overnight.”
“Scholar or inspector, what's the difference?”
He shook his head at my words.
“How can a government man say that?”
As Myeong Ujong stepped out, he said to me,
“Truth be told, the Hyeoncheon Sect gave you the Covert Inspector title partly to warn them not to mess with Scholar Cheon. Those are unorthodox sects, after all. Who knows what they'd do if things went south.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Now you've got one foot in the government too, so they won't dare touch Scholar Cheon carelessly.”
I was grateful for Myeong Ujong's thoughtfulness.
“It's hardly enough repayment for saving my life, but I'm glad to return a little for now. I'll head off to decide on the gold mine based on what you suggested. With the Postal Relay and inspectors in Namchang, it won't take long.”
Myeong Ujong departed immediately without rest, accompanied by his escorts.
Mok Jimong watched Myeong Ujong leave and turned to Cheon Taesan with a question.
“Did you expect it, Scholar Cheon?”
“I caught on when you sent the branch leader and young lady with me.”
“Father said the same. That you'd expect it. So, are you angry?”
“Why would I be? Thanks to that, I saved my friend and his family. That's more than enough.”
Mok Jimong grinned.
“As expected. Father figured you'd feel that way. He even said you might like it—since it means we'd protect your friend's family.”
Mok Jimong recalled how his father had summoned him and given him several instructions.
“Father, things might go wrong because of Mok Jinyul. Who knows where that guy might bolt off to.”
He had spoken negatively about including Mok Jinyul in the group.
But in Mok Yeoheun's view, including Mok Jinyul was part of a contingency plan.
If things went awry, they could use him as an excuse to intervene.
“Anyway, we have to hold things together here until warriors arrive to protect the gold mine. You can treat me until then, right?”
Mok Jimong cared more about resolving his dantian issue than the gold mine itself.
“Let's start right away. The medicine's already prepared.”
“As expected! Scholar Cheon has a knack for reading people's minds.”
The medicine was just a tonic of harmless strengthening herbs, and the acupuncture would clear the mind.
Cheon Taesan obtained herbs from Ho Hyeonjang and brewed a decoction.
“Drink this until I tell you to stop.”
“One thing I always listen to is Scholar Cheon.”
“Bullshit. Since when do you listen to anyone?”
Mok Jinyul cut in, having sneaked up unnoticed.
“Aigoo, what to do with this scoundrel.”
“Hmph! With a scoundrel big brother around, of course I turned into a scoundrel little sister.”
Mok Jinyul said to Cheon Taesan,
“Why only give good medicine to big brother? Give me some too.”
“This medicine is for healing the branch leader. Not just anyone can take it.”
“Healing big brother's illness? The scoundrel illness?”
Cheon Taesan smiled faintly.
“Something like that.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You can really cure it?”
Cheon Taesan nodded, and Mok Jinyul glanced around before whispering,
“Then... can you cure me too?”
Hearing that, Mok Jimong burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! He knows he's a scoundrel.”
“Quiet, you scoundrel big brother.”
Cheon Taesan nodded again.
“Of course. I can cure the young lady too.”
“Then cure me too.”
“Understood. I'll do you after treating the branch leader first.”
Mok Jinyul's face lit up.
“Good. It's a promise.”
Once Mok Jinyul vanished, Yuseong appeared next.
“I overheard from outside—you're curing the branch leader and lady's madness? Can you do mine too?”
Cheon Taesan asked first,
“Do you young hero truly want to be cured?”
“I've studied it myself, and I know my madness is different from others', untreatable. But can you, Scholar Cheon?”
Cheon Taesan chuckled softly.
“I probably can. Though other physicians couldn't.”
Yuseong looked deep in thought.
Cheon Taesan knew Yuseong was somewhat aware of his own Heavenly Slaughter Star fate.
That was why he even enjoyed the thrill of killing.
But wanting to cure it was a separate matter, he figured.
“I need to think about it a bit.”
“Take your time.”
Once they left, Cheon Taesan performed acupuncture on Mok Jimong.
He entered a quiet room, barred entry to anyone else, and densely placed needles on his head and upper body.
They were all techniques to protect the meridians and unblock the obstructed channels.
While Mok Jimong slept, he slipped a Silk Dantian pill into his mouth.
'Block the meridians for about ten days while the Silk Dantian absorbs, and he'll be able to properly circulate his qi.'
Cheon Taesan would gain free qi, and Mok Jimong would have his blocked channels cleared.
I took a moment alone to stroll the garden.
Having handled the chaotic affairs, a single question had sprouted in my mind.
'Why was the Demonic Cult so obsessed with the gold mine?'
The gold mine could naturally provide massive funds.
But there had to be a reason for going to such lengths all the way to Gangseo.
Operating that far wasn't particularly wise.
It was hard to exert direct influence over Gangseo.
p>To reach it, they'd have to cross Sichuan Murim, Shaanxi Murim, and Jiangnan Murim.
That made it difficult for the Demonic Cult to dispatch more elites to Namchang.
'If any Demonic Cult elites had survived, I could've interrogated them.'
All the Demonic Cultists who survived the battle had taken poison and died.
No Demonic Cult warriors remained alive.
Disappointed, I headed back to the annex in Ho Hyeonjang and witnessed an astonishing sight.
'Hmm, what kind of pairing is that?'
I tilted my head seeing Ho Hyeonbyeok, who always stuck by Mok Jinyul.
I called over Yuseong, who was smirking at the two.
“Young hero Yu.”
“Someone to kill?”
I sighed and asked,
“Since when have those two been glued together like that?”
“Ah, the young lady decided the Ho young master would assist her until she leaves Namchang.”
“What? How does that guy plan to handle the young lady with what skills?”
“I thought the same, but surprisingly, they get along well.”
“Get along? How?”
It couldn't be.
Ho Hyeonbyeok was my sworn brother; no one knew him better than I did.
His temperament and values were similar to mine, so he had no business meshing with Mok Jinyul.
“The way Ho young master praises the young lady—listening to it makes your ears ring, but really, it makes your ass burn.”
Meaning Ho Hyeonbyeok only fed her the sweetest words.
I circulated my inner energy to heighten my hearing.
“I wanted to be a good person originally, but whenever I show kindness, they take me for a sucker.”
Mok Jinyul's voice was gloomy.
“Who? Who dares see the treasured pearl of the unorthodox overlord as a sucker?”
“Everyone. No one in particular. Show goodwill, and they swarm like vultures. Trying to protect my own stuff made me sharp too.”
“Goodwill should be met with goodwill—that's only right.”
“Exactly. And if you treat them a bit well, they try to crush you. Unorthodox bastards are like that. So I ended up rough without realizing.”
“Indeed. Seeing a flower like you, young lady, turn out this way shows how harsh the unorthodox life is.”
“Right? You're the first to understand me.”
“Is that so? Maybe others understood too—you just never noticed because you were guarded.”
“My issue is this: I know living like this isn't good, but it's not easy to change.”
Ho Hyeonbyeok's warm voice rang out.
“Young lady, no flower stands unmoved before the wind. Even sturdy branches sway—how could a flower endure? But the roots don't get uprooted.”
“You're a hundred times better than that bastard Scholar Cheon.”
“Is that right?”
“Of course! That jerk slapped my face dozens of times.”
“Tsk, they say not to strike a lady even with a flower. How could he do such a barbaric thing? He must've changed. The friend I knew before would never.”
“Being sworn brothers with trash like that—how pitiful for you. How could you end up brothers with such a scumbag?”
The more I listened, the more ridiculous it got.
Ho Hyeonbyeok was bonding with Mok Jinyul by trash-talking me too.
I understood Ho Hyeonbyeok.
To preserve his family, he needed to win her favor.
Plus, with the gold mine sharing soon, he was careful not to upset her.
'He used to ignore women like Mok Jinyul entirely.'
I viewed Ho Hyeonbyeok's change positively.
Stubbornly sticking to one's principles would just lead to leaving the Alliance like me.
But listening longer would rot my ears, so I turned away.
“Brother, will more Demonic Cult bastards come?”
Yuseong eyed me cautiously before asking.
“Why? Want to fight more?”
“My blood hasn't cooled yet.”
“The Demonic Cult won't find it easy to raid again.”
Yuseong muttered bluntly,
“I wish something like the Righteous-Demonic Great War would happen...”
It was a chilling statement.
Wishing for a war between Righteous Murim and the Demonic Cult just to sate his killing lust.
'Is there no way to rid this guy of his Heavenly Slaughter Star? He's bound to cause big trouble soon.'