The Gambler's Gate — 4
"You! I have good news... what are you doing?"
On the day of the Hyangju Assembly, Ha Yeon walked into my room wearing a delighted expression and caught me standing at my desk.
"Picking out a mask."
The Domun Hyangju knows my face, after all.
Tradition allowed the Tu Gate Hyangju to wear masks to the assembly, so I intended to do exactly that.
"Couldn't you just wear anything that fits?"
"Even with a mask, the impression matters. Mysterious, imposing, or one where everyone but me can guess who's underneath — there are all kinds of masks."
On the desk lay a bride's mask that looked like it had been made by tearing a Japanese flag on Liberation Day, and an insect mask that looked ready to pull off a jump-kick as a finishing move.
"How about that white half-mask in front? I wear a mask when I work too, but covering all the way down to the jaw gets uncomfortable."
What Ha Yeon pointed at was a half-mask covering only the eyes and nose.
They say even hiding just half a face completely changes a person's impression — hence all the masked villains out there. It seemed like a decent option, honestly.
"That's the kind of mask you'd wear and then spend the whole time wondering where the plan went wrong after it failed."
I didn't like it.
"You could've just said you didn't want to wear it. No need to beat around the bush like that. Here, try some on. I'll help you choose."
Ha Yeon picked up the masks from the desk and began narrowing down the candidates, deliberating over which one suited me best.
I've never been shopping with a woman, but is this what it feels like to pick out clothes together? It's a little embarrassing, honestly.
"Tough call."
"Funny, coming from a man who wears whatever clothes he's given, to be so picky about a mask."
"A mask is a serious matter for any man."
It'd be even better if I had a transformation belt to go with it.
"They say the seat where the Tu Gate Hyangju sits has long bamboo blinds stretched out to block the view. Just pick something reasonable."
"Then I'll pick something suitably Joseon. Anyway — this good news of yours. What is it?"
The symbol of the Korean secret weapon is, of course, the Hahoe mask. I gave the mask a perfunctory once-over and asked why she'd come looking for me.
"Ah! Did you talk with the Tu Gate people about anything besides the dark words?"
Besides the dark words? Well, I did give them an earful when we parted.
"I did bring up how they ought to hurry and hold the Tu Gate Hyangju's investiture ceremony, since time was of the essence."
Ha Yeon clapped her hands as if that was exactly it.
"That's it! The Tu Gate sent word. They can hold the assembly the very day after the Hyangju Assembly."
One day earlier than planned?
It was unexpected, wonderful news.
-------
"Is everything ready for heading to the assembly?"
Once preparations were complete, I called Ha Yeon and Jegal Soje into the parlor before we set off for the meeting place.
"One last thing, before we review what's about to happen. Miss Jegal."
I nodded at Ha Yeon's question and called out to Jegal Soje, who was watching me with a worried face.
"Ye-es?"
"How would you feel about staying at the Mangeum Hall for a while?"
"My grandfather's house?"
"In the worst case, even this estate could be in danger. I don't want you endangered on Ha Yeon's account."
"That's right. You've already helped plenty."
Ha Yeon, understanding my meaning too, nodded and subtly urged Jegal Hyang to take shelter.
Things were about to become genuinely dangerous.
The Domun Hyangju is a man who stopped at nothing in his bid to become the Mangju of Haomen.
He killed the Seocheon Escort Agency's men to find Ha Yeon, slaughtered members of his own sect, and committed countless crimes along the way.
It's true that Jegal Soje rendered distinguished service to the Muyoung Shintu operations until now. But that didn't mean she was obliged to share our danger.
For her own safety, it was time she returned to the Mangeum Lord's side.
Jegal Soje looked helplessly between the two of us. I tried to meet her gaze gently, so a nod wouldn't feel like a burden.
"...I d-don't want to."
But the words that left Jegal Soje's mouth were a firm refusal.
"Miss Jegal?"
"Y-you're telling me to abandon you and Ha Yeon-unni. I-I won't do thaaat."
Jegal Soje said it looking me straight in the eyes, uncharacteristically direct.
"That's not what I mean. It's just..."
"I want to stay by your siiide, Kang Gongja-nim. I want to help Ha Yeon-unni too. C-can't I?"
There was a resolve in Jegal Soje's eyes steadier than I'd ever seen.
To think she'd object this adamantly to a suggestion. If I pressed her again, she might pretend to give in and leave in disappointment — but that would be trampling on her will.
"Miss Jegal. Thank you."
I took her hand in both of mine and bowed my head.
"I'm truly grateful as well."
Ha Yeon stepped over and clasped her other hand.
"Ah, u-um. Th-that's, it's really nothing at aaall."
Her look of steely resolve was melting away far too quickly.
At Jegal Soje's sheepish grin, Ha Yeon and I couldn't help but smile along.
"Let's go over the plan one final time. Today's assembly will end in one of three ways. The first is the case where the Domun Hyangju is completely fooled."
Having settled the mood, I spread across the parlor table the papers on which we'd drafted our plans.
"Th-then Ha Yeon-unni passes through today safely and becomes the Tu Gate Hyangju, riiight?"
"My runaway courtesan problem gets resolved cleanly, and the Domun's plot gets crushed just as cleanly."
The best possible outcome.
The Domun Hyangju is deceived, and Ha Yeon becomes the Tu Gate Hyangju. Facing the united front of four Tu Gate Hyangju, he'd have no choice but to swallow bitter tears and withdraw his plan.
Just imagining it put me in a good mood, but—
"We don't plan for this case at all."
It wasn't a scenario worth considering.
"The elders of my clan say a fool who assumes only the best outcome has no right to be a strategist, th-that's what they told me."
Jegal Soje nodded at my words.
"Exactly. I feel the same. We move assuming only the worst and second-worst."
It would be lovely if the best case materialized, but that's nothing more than a vain wish.
After every trick in the book so far, the Domun Hyangju wasn't going to sit still.
"The second is the worst case. The deception is exposed right there at the assembly."
"Then civil war breaks out on the spot. Once the Domun Hyangju realizes his bid to become Mangju is known to everyone, he'll set the warriors he's gathered in Wuhan loose."
"Th-the orthodox warriors won't move, though. It's a heretical affair. They'll just hope we destroy ourselves. A-ah, probablyyy."
The worst case — one I didn't want to imagine.
"The one silver lining is that the truly worst scenario never comes to pass. Ha Yeon needn't fear being captured at the assembly grounds."
By presenting myself at the assembly instead, I secured Ha Yeon's safety at least.
Unless the Domun Hyangju could lay hands on her, he'd be left cutting his own flesh — spilling blood for nothing.
"Still, it's not all good. The Tu Gate said that if things truly come to civil war, the ceremony can't be held."
If it spirals into the worst case, everything we've worked for dissolves into a raw power struggle.
Unwanted, yes — but even for the worst case, we needed a contingency.
"Ha Yeon-Soje."
I called to her with utmost seriousness.
"Yes?"
"If it comes to that, flee with the Gi-mun Hyangju's help."
Having made the suggestion to Jegal Soje, this time it was Ha Yeon's turn.
"What did you just say?"
Ha Yeon's eyes went wide with sheer disbelief.
"If civil war breaks out, there's no telling who wins. Your becoming the Tu Gate Hyangju is water already over the dam. Even in the worst situation, seek out the best move available."
It's hard to predict exactly what follows a civil war. But one thing is predictable.
The Domun Hyangju will never let Im Hayeon — the woman he blames as the architect of it all — come out of it well.
Better, then, to follow the offer the Gi-mun Hyangju once made, and live out an ordinary life somewhere beyond the Domun's reach.
"But! If that happens—!"
Then we'd never see each other again, wouldn't we.
Im Hayeon stared at me, lips parted, unable to finish — but I was no stranger to reading the words in her desperate eyes.
I smiled faintly at her trembling gaze.
"But that won't happen. Because I'm going to fool the Domun Hyangju."
I looked at Ha Yeon with conviction.
Your safety comes before mine. Somehow, survive. I hadn't come all this way just to say such things.
I had run this far to save her.
"You..."
"The third case, the second-worst, is that civil war doesn't break out that day. The sudden introduction of the Muyoung Shintu agenda eats up the whole day."
"Whether he's convinced I'm real and comes hunting for me, or wrestles with doubt and comes looking — either way, buy time. Waste his day, and you become the Tu Gate Hyangju."
Whether it's the best case or the worst, we don't have many moves available. But the second-worst case is different.
Get past one day, and the Tu Gate Hyangju's investiture proceeds. Everything we prepared over the past eight days was for this third scenario.
A gambit built to somehow cross the finish line first in a race against the clock.
"Let's move as planned. And put an end to this sickening history with the Domun for good."
"You've arrived. Some of the Hyangju are already here."
When I reached the assembly grounds, the Tu Gate people came up to me.
What a relief. I'd half expected to stand around fidgeting like a man showing up to a secondhand market deal, awkwardly asking, Are you... the Tu Gate? Pardon? Oh, no? No, nothing.
Instead, everyone arrived wearing masks that practically shouted I am a suspicious character, which made them easy to spot.
"Who's here so far?"
Since I was attending as the proxy for the Hyangju Assembly, I was the highest-ranking Tu Gate member present. The others naturally lowered their postures at my casual tone.
"Representatives from the Ma Gate, the Si Gate, and the Gi Gate."
"And the Domun?"
"They say they're coming shortly."
"Let's go in."
No telling where those Domun bastards might be lurking.
Walking with the Tu Gate people behind me would naturally present me as the next Hyangju. I strode forward boldly.
"Left, not right."
"..."
I executed a flawless 180-degree turn — so perfect that even Ha Yeon applauded in admiration.
"This way, please."
The assembly grounds were the top floor of a premium courtesan house with a commanding view of the Yangtze River.
Everyone's on high alert.
The warriors bowed politely as they opened the doors, but their bodies were wound tight. And with each floor we ascended, the caliber of the guards only rose.
Had the warriors of the Ma, Si, and Gi Gates all gathered in one place? The Domun might cause trouble today. The Hyangju must all have been thinking the same.
"You've come."
"The Domun Hyangju hasn't arrived yet. Take your seats."
I exchanged light glances with the Hyangju and sat down inside the bamboo blinds — a seat that might as well have been reserved for black-screen villains of the murim world.
So I've finally made it here.
I took a deep, steadying breath and gazed out past the bamboo blinds.
One day. Just one day to endure. Fool the Domun Hyangju for a single day, and this all ends.
Just as I calmed my heart and readied myself—
"The Domun Hyangju arrives."
The man behind every incident until now revealed himself.
Light footsteps before heavy ones. The architect of it all approached with a gait that seemed frivolous, yet unpredictable as a storm.
That man.
A gaze like a starving jackal, and a greasy smile.
The face of a jackal hungry for prey swept over the Hyangju — and stopped before the bamboo blinds.
"All the faces I've been longing to see, gathered in one place."
The gaze of a man determined to swallow Hubei's Haomen whole raked across me beyond the blinds, as if to tear me apart right there.