Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Young Assassin (2)
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Gui Jong bowed his head deeply.
"I will complete the mission without any mistakes."
"My younger brother Gwang-u and the Peng Clan's Vanguard Master are staying at the Seok Family, so you need to be careful."
"Don't worry. I won't enter the Seok Family grounds at all. I'll just keep watch from outside."
With that, Gui Jong leaped onto the wall and vanished without a trace.
"Who was that? He looks like an assassin."
Zhuge Ji was the first to show interest.
"Someone I know well. I called him in to keep an eye on things. I didn't expect them to send my son, though."
"You seem close with the assassin gates too?"
"He's a good man."
Yi Sa-gwon was an assassin who didn't seem like one.
But their positions were different from mine.
"If Lord Ko openly associates with assassin gate members, the murim world will dislike it."
"What does that have to do with me?"
It was laughable.
After all, weren't murim folk the ones commissioning the assassin gates with silver to kill people?
"Namu Amida Butsu, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Isn't harming and killing people for honor and wealth the same for assassins and murim folk alike? Young Master Zhuge. In my humble opinion, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families rose to dominate the murim world because they excelled at such deeds."
At least Myeong-gak's beliefs aligned somewhat with mine.
Hmm...
"But there aren't many in the murim world who think that way. Even the famously magnanimous Vanguard Master Peng Cheon-ho would voice his displeasure, if not outright anger, upon learning of Lord Ko's ties to the assassin gates."
"Younger Brother Namgung is right, Lord Ko. You must hide your connections to the assassin gates in front of others."
What annoying murim folk.
I had no intention of doing so.
I wouldn't bring up their business, but I wouldn't hide mine either.
After dinner, Seok Ja-kyeong and three or four young family retainers went to visit Gwang-u.
"Instructor Seok."
It was a somewhat unexpected visit, but Gwang-u welcomed them gladly.
"Come on in."
Having lived in a clan for several months, his voice carried a newfound maturity.
Seok Ja-kyeong stepped forward among the retainers and bowed at the waist.
"Our young retainers have received your guidance for months, yet we haven't shown proper hospitality. So, we'd like to treat you to a drink outside. We've already received the family head's permission, so please join us."
Gwang-u, who went wild for alcohol, had no reason to refuse.
Besides, once he held his wedding rites with Seok Su-a, wouldn't they all be one family?
To live here, he needed to build ties with the retainers starting now.
Hahaha...
"My throat was parched anyway. Perfect timing. Let's go."
As Gwang-u readily agreed and stepped out, the retainers exchanged subtle smiles.
His straightforward nature made him easy to deal with—his likes and dislikes plain on his face and in his actions.
As Gwang-u and the retainers crossed the training grounds outside the room, they ran into Vanguard Master Peng Cheon-ho.
"Greetings, Vanguard Master."
"Greetings, Vanguard Master."
Not just Gwang-u, but the retainers too clasped their hands politely in respect.
Peng Cheon-ho, far larger than most, still had to look up at Gwang-u.
"Oh, it's you. I've been wanting a spar with you. What do you say? Care to now?"
Haha...
Gwang-u scratched his head with an awkward laugh.
"Sorry. I have a drinking engagement with the retainers..."
"A shame. But with prior commitments, nothing to be done. Next time."
It had been three days since Peng Cheon-ho arrived at the Seok Family.
Family Head Seok Yang-ho lived up to his reputation as a good man and gentleman.
Warmed by this, Peng Cheon-ho decided to stay a few more days.
For the Seok Family, hosting one of murim's Seven Stars was a great honor.
But Peng Cheon-ho had ulterior motives.
None other than the existence of Instructor Seok.
As rumored, he was enormous, and his martial prowess seemed formidable even at a glance.
If such a man could be brought into the Peng Clan, their power would grow immensely.
The only regret was his betrothal to the Seok Family.
'I should have come sooner... much sooner.'
The clan had countless young women.
Pairing him with one would have been ideal.
"See you later."
As Peng Cheon-ho turned away regretfully and entered the main hall, Gwang-u and the retainers exited the Seok Family gates.
Just as they stepped out, Gwang-u suddenly halted and tilted his head.
"What's wrong, Instructor Seok?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
"Let's hurry."
Gwang-u glanced around suspiciously before following the retainers.
'Someone was watching us... or was it my imagination?'
Gwang-u soon shook off the suspicion.
Hidden on the roof of a building a short distance from the Seok Family, Gui Jong swiftly concealed his presence.
The large young man emerging from the torch-lit gates was undoubtedly his benefactor's younger brother.
'Impressive indeed.'
Tensing slightly, he debated whether to tail Gwang-u and the retainers into the village.
"Where are we headed?"
"Mi-seon Pavilion. It has the best cuisine in the village. Great atmosphere too."
The faintly heard retainer's voice resolved Gui Jong's dilemma.
'I know the destination now. No need to risk it.'
Gui Jong remained motionless even after Gwang-u and the retainers vanished into the darkness.
Only when all grew quiet did a shadowy figure leap from the roof.
Gwang-u downed every cup offered to him.
"Soon you'll be family with us, Instructor. You'll be our elder then, so please speak freely."
Hahaha!
"I'll do that when the time comes. Drinking with you young folks is loosening up all the stuffiness in my chest anyway."
Haha!
"Right? Older folks can be so stuffy."
As the drinks flowed merrily, Seok Ja-kyeong suddenly stood.
"I have business back at the family. Be right back."
Gwang-u, draining his cup in good spirits, asked,
"Business? What kind?"
"Truth is, I didn't bring much silver when I left. For this special gathering, shouldn't we sample Mi-seon Pavilion's finest dishes and drinks?"
Hahaha!
"Don't worry. I've got silver."
Though Gwang-u said so, Seok Ja-kyeong shook his head with a smile.
"This is our treat. We can't let you pay, Instructor. Right, everyone?"
"Of course. Hurry back, Ja-kyeong."
With the retainers chiming in, Seok Ja-kyeong bowed and left the room.
"Might be a bit late, so eat and drink freely. I'll place the orders on the way."
"Hurry back, Young Hero Seok."
Once out, Seok Ja-kyeong instructed the owner to bring the pavilion's best to the room.
Then he slipped away into the darkness.
Racing through the night, he scanned carefully as the path led to the fields.
Heh heh heh...
'No one's around. Perfect.'
I had just been drifting toward sleep when I threw on an outer robe and stepped outside.
No sooner had I emerged than the assassin in night garb appeared, kneeling on one knee.
"As you suspected, Benefactor, he's on the move."
"It really was him."
I hoped not.
I hoped, as the officials surmised, that it was just a merchant caravan laborer who was the beast.
"Seok Ja-kyeong is truly the culprit?"
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung, following behind, asked in shock.
Then Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye came out.
"We don't know he's the beast yet. But we've confirmed him sneaking into a farmhouse away from prying eyes."
"Lead the way."
"Yes."
Gui Jong took off first, and I and the later-generation disciples followed, launching our forms.
Exiting the riverbank and entering the village, Gui Jong crossed it and raced down the path to the fields.
"Stop."
I called to Gui Jong, who was ahead, as brightly lit farmhouses came into view.
"That's the place."
Gui Jong pointed to the ruddy-lit hamlet.
Flames were shooting up where his finger indicated.
"Good work. Head back now. Tell Father thanks."
"No, Benefactor. I'll stay a few more days to confirm the outcome before leaving."
"Do that. If you need a place to sleep or eat, come find me."
Gui Jong bowed and melted into the darkness.
I and the later-generation disciples entered the hamlet.
Villagers had gathered, murmuring as they watched the blaze.
And from there came wails of grief.
As sword-bearing murim folk arrived, the villagers parted the road with fearful eyes.
With the path clear, the scene ahead shone vividly.
A middle-aged couple and young children lay prostrate, sobbing, while an elderly man lay before them, bleeding out.
The old man appeared already dead.
"Namu Amida Butsu, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. What happened here?"
Myeong-gak pressed his palms together and asked the villagers.
"I don't know. I came out at the screams and found the elder collapsed, that house ablaze."
"Is this elder the homeowner?"
The sobbing middle-aged couple turned.
"N-no. He's... our father. We live right next door."
The middle-aged man choked out amid tears.
"Then who lived in that house?"
"My friend's couple and daughter... lived there. But..., but... no one seems to have escaped."
"Namu Amida Butsu, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
"Primeval Lord of Heaven."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung, grasping the situation, recited their invocations.
The old man, out by chance, had crossed paths with the beast and met his end.
And no one fleeing the fire meant the household had already been slain by the beast before it was set.
"A vicious one."
Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye showed faint anger.
I turned wordlessly.
"Heading back?"
"You all stay and handle the aftermath. I'll go home first."
A Seok Family member was the beast.
He'd torched the house to destroy evidence.
But encountering the old man on his way out, he'd killed him too.
Once this came to light, the beast would be caught, and the Seok Family's rising reputation would plummet.
And exposing the beast fell to me.
Soon to be in-laws.
'Gwang-u... not sure how he'll react.'
The simpleton wouldn't believe easily.
But Family Head Seok Yang-ho would differ from Gwang-u.
I trusted his character without doubt.
Tossed by worries and deliberations, I could barely meet the Great Heavenly Demon near dawn.
"Do you really think Seok Yang-ho will believe a word from the likes of you?"
Those were the Great Heavenly Demon's first words upon facing me.
"Yes. Anyone else, maybe not. But him? He'll believe me without question."
Tsk tsk...
"Is that so? Perhaps. But he's the family head. And right now, he's focused on building the clan's strength. If a retainer commits such an act, tarnishing the reputation in this critical moment, it won't be an easy decision for him as head."