Chapter 68
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Murder Case
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"Ja-yeong!"
The head of the Feng Merchant House, Feng Yang-jo, let out a heartbroken wail.
There, sprawled before his eyes, lay Feng Ja-yeong—her clothes torn to shreds, her breath forever stilled.
"What happened last night?! Who did this to you?!"
Feng Yang-jo's cries fell on deaf ears; she didn't so much as twitch.
The workers, rushing in at the sound of their master's lament, were struck with horror.
"Th-this can't be."
"How could something like this...?"
They hadn't heard a peep all night.
"P-please, steady yourself, House Head."
"We must notify the authorities right away and catch the culprit."
But Feng Yang-jo, having lost his cherished daughter, was deaf to their consolations.
He simply clutched her limp form on the bed and sobbed uncontrollably.
One of the workers bolted outside—to alert the magistrates without delay.
And just like that, word spread like wildfire through the village: Feng Ja-yeong of the Feng Merchant House had been found dead in her own room.
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung returned from the market.
"Why are you so late? Lunchtime came and went ages ago."
As I grumbled, Myeong-gak scooped rice into a bowl and replied.
"Namu Amida Butsu, Guanyin Bodhisattva. There was a murder in the village, so we went to check it out."
"A murder?"
"The daughter of the Feng Merchant House was found dead in her room."
"...What did you just say...?"
I doubted my own ears for a moment.
I'd visited the Feng Merchant House once alongside Yi Sa-gwon, the Gate Master of the Death Gate. I even knew the face of House Head Feng's daughter, Feng Ja-yeong.
And now that woman had turned up dead?
"Any word on the killer?"
"No leads. Her clothes were completely shredded, there were hand marks around her throat, and blood under her nails. The killer's definitely a man, but no one in the house saw a thing."
"What about the merchant house workers?"
Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye asked as they entered the kitchen.
"The authorities hauled them in for questioning."
"I don't know about the house head, but that girl seemed like a fine young woman..."
I pictured Feng Ja-yeong's calm, composed gaze.
"Do you know her, benefactor?"
"I've met her once."
Cheongpung, who had been shoveling rice across from Myeong-gak, spoke up.
"We should pay a visit to the merchant house in a few days and hold a proper memorial. When I checked, there was a sinister aura lingering there."
This Daoist was starting to sound more like a con artist the longer he hung around that fraud monk.
But I didn't chide Cheongpung.
"Monk, Daoist—you two look into this. If anyone can track down the killer, it's you."
"We were already planning to investigate, monk and Daoist alike. But you seem awfully interested in that girl, benefactor. Well, it's only natural for a young man to take notice of a beautiful woman."
"Don't jump to conclusions, monk."
Puhahaha...
Tsk tsk...
I clicked my tongue at their frivolous snickers and left the kitchen, heading to my room to change into fresh clothes.
Then I gathered most of the silver and banknotes in the house into a cloth bundle and stepped out.
"Looks like you've got business in the village."
"Heading to the Seok Family."
"Whatever it is, let me come along."
I waved off Zhuge Ji's offer to join.
"No. I'll go alone."
Entering the Seok Family compound, I spotted several family retainers.
As I made my way to the hall where the family head resided, one retainer strode boldly out the main gate, catching my eye.
He had a handsome face, marred by a fresh scratch.
"What's that man's name?"
The retainer escorting me glanced toward the gate and answered.
"Seok Ja-kyeong. He's the standout among the young retainers."
"Ah... so that's Seok Ja-kyeong."
Recalling the drunkard from that night at the Milsang Pavilion, I paused on my way to the room and glanced back at his retreating figure.
'Blood under her nails means she clawed at someone... and wouldn't you know it, that guy's got a fresh scratch on his face.'
Suspicion stirred, but he was a Seok Family retainer, and the family head was the upright gentleman Seok Yang-ho.
"Welcome, benefactor."
Seok Yang-ho greeted me warmly.
Seated across from the family head, I handed over the cloth bundle.
"What's this, benefactor?"
"Gwang-u and little Seok's wedding is this spring, isn't it? Use this to help cover the costs."
Seok Yang-ho hurriedly unwrapped it.
Inside were stacks of banknotes and silver ingots.
"N-no, we can't accept this, benefactor. After all you've done for the Seok Family, how could we possibly take your money? I absolutely refuse."
Seok Yang-ho, flustered, retied the bundle and pushed it back toward me.
But I'd anticipated as much.
"That's separate from this. If you won't accept it, then there'll be no wedding for Gwang-u and little Seok."
"Benefactor..."
At my near-threat, Seok Yang-ho was at a loss.
Hahaha.
"Looks like you and I will be in-laws soon."
Tears welled in Seok Yang-ho's eyes.
"Thank you for linking our humble house with yours."
"Humble? If we're talking humble, I'm the one with nothing to my name."
"No, no—never. Who would dare call you humble?"
As we exchanged pleasantries, a maid brought tea.
I sipped a cup and took my leave.
"Stay a bit longer."
"Can't—I've got business at home. But once we're in-laws, I'll drop by often. Family's no longer 'other' then, right?"
Seok Yang-ho was overcome with emotion.
"Yes, no longer others. In-laws, true in-laws."
Kekeke...
"My inner energy has surged dramatically."
Having refined a walnut-sized spirit pill from centuries-old snow ginseng, the Crimson Moon Great Demon was beside himself with joy.
The pill wouldn't boost his power overnight, but it would accelerate his cultivation far beyond normal.
"Now even the Infinite Sword Demon will seem beneath me."
The Crimson Moon Great Demon had feigned nonchalance outwardly, but inwardly, he'd harbored a quiet dread of the Infinite Sword Demon.
In high spirits, he dumped a chunk of dark red flesh into a liquor bowl and gulped it down.
"Eternal life shall be mine—eternal life."
Immortality meant eventual supremacy over the world.
The Crimson Moon Great Demon pulled a hidden book from beneath the table and opened it.
Within were secrets to achieving eternal life.
One involved sacrificing a hundred humans to absorb their vital essences—specifically, by devouring their livers.
Sixty down; forty to go.
"My lord, 'O-sa' reporting."
"Enter."
The Crimson Moon Great Demon stowed the book and received O-sa.
O-sa prostrated himself upon entering.
"The investigation into the hunters is complete."
"Report."
"Yes. They were originally martial artists training deep in the mountains, but their master's death drove them into the world. The elder brother is surnamed 'Go,' the younger 'Seok.' Both are tall, but the younger exceeds nine feet and is built like a monster. The brother is slightly stronger in martial arts and far cleverer, while the younger is lecherous and dim-witted. He's currently an instructor with the Huanin Seok Family. When they first arrived in Huanin County, the younger visited a brothel, and the girls called him a 'bunny.'"
Kekeke... Kuhahaha...!
What a hilarious tale.
A bunny?
His laughter faded, replaced by a ferocious killing intent.
"Cunning beats brute force to catch him. 'Pluck the grass from the roots'—send a concubine to exploit the younger's lust... kekeke... Withdraw."
"As you command."
Dismissing O-sa, the Crimson Moon Great Demon called another name.
"Gi-hwa."
His voice turned silky smooth.
"You called?"
A side door opened, and a stunning woman in sheer silks entered, coiling around him at once.
"You've got a job."
"Your will?"
"There's a man in Huanin County you need to bring me. Prepare at once."
"Understood."
"Any progress on the murder?"
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung shook their weary heads.
"We turned the village upside down, but nothing suspicious. The workers seem the most likely culprits."
"Um... listen."
I hesitated, unsure whether to voice it.
What if it was baseless suspicion?
Still, I had to check.
"What's on your mind, benefactor? Never seen you so hesitant."
Myeong-gak urged, puzzled.
"Among the Seok Family retainers, there's a Seok Ja-kyeong. Look into him."
"A Seok retainer?"
Myeong-gak was stunned; so were Cheongpung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye.
"No... I doubt it too, but I want confirmation."
"The Seok head is a good man, a true gentleman. He wouldn't let his retainers run wild like that."
Hmm.
"I think the same. Seok Ja-kyeong may be reckless, but surely not capable of murder."
Relieved that Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye agreed, I pressed on.
"Just investigate to be sure."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung clasped hands and bowed.
"Namu Amida Butsu, Guanyin Bodhisattva."
"Primeval Lord of Heaven."
They grasped the weight of this probe.
If Seok Ja-kyeong truly was the killer, it would tarnish Family Head Seok's reputation.
And then what? How to handle him after?
"If... if he really is the culprit, what then?"
"Nothing's certain yet, so I haven't thought that far. Just confirm."
"Understood. We'll check tomorrow."
"Finding evidence won't be easy."
The Great Heavenly Demon was convinced Seok Ja-kyeong was guilty.
"He's probably innocent—evidence of what?"
Kekeke...
"Deep down, even you suspect him, don't you?"
"No. The scratch could be from training, a branch, or tumbling drunk..."
Plenty of possibilities, but they rang hollow even to me.
"Go on."
The smirk was plain on the Great Heavenly Demon's face.
He was mocking me.
I fell silent.
He eyed me with pitying scorn.
"His type strikes again. Unless you catch him in the act, no evidence."
What a master I'd have if this demon were my teacher—foresight sharp as a blade, insight piercing all, peerless martial prowess.
Why bestow it all on this fiend?
But my words betrayed my thoughts.
"A man of your caliber, duped and slain by the Divine Calculator?"
"You... I'll rip you apart!"