Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: A Drunken Decoy
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“What is it? Is there a curse written on it or something?”
“…Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
As Wang Cheon glanced over while eating, Neung Un-bi crumpled the talisman and hastily stuffed it into his robes.
“It’s a dangerous world out there. Full of all sorts of characters. Typical Central Plains. If we weren’t careful, we would have been robbed blind.”
“You can say that again.”
Neung Un-bi managed a faint smile at Wang Cheon’s words, keeping his expression neutral, but his mind was a chaotic mess.
*What kind of scheme is this?*
Who was that old Taoist to give him such a warning?
*But they’re after me? Already?*
He had just crossed the border… It was hard to believe.
What kind of place was Sangnak?
Although more than eighty percent of the Cult was against him, they were planning an attack here, where the government’s influence was strong?
The risks would far outweigh the rewards.
Besides, if the innkeeper was part of their group, wouldn’t it be easier to just poison the food?
*…No, that would be a stretch.*
Daylight was a risky time to make a move. Too many watching eyes.
More importantly, if it were him, he wouldn’t use poison.
A death by poisoning would attract the attention of the authorities. And unless you were an expert in that field, targeting someone with poison was an incredibly tricky business.
It might not even work…
So, was the old Taoist’s warning just nonsense?
“…”
*Dammit, this is just making my head spin.*
There was no other way. Since it had come to this, he’d have to face it head-on.
“Wang Cheon, it’ll be a while before the others arrive. How about we have a drink, just the two of us?”
“A drink?”
“Yeah.”
“But… what if something happens…”
He was trying to show some restraint, befitting a Guard Captain.
“It’s fine. Sangnak is a military city. No one can attack us while we’re here.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
*This hypocritical Guard Captain, practicing the opposite of what he preaches.*
*Is that the face of someone who dislikes the idea? I can practically hear you drooling.*
But he had to get him to drink. If there was an attack, Wang Cheon needed to be the bait to put them at ease.
“It’s fine. They say the wine of the Central Plains is delicious. We have to see for ourselves.”
“Sh-should we?”
“Of course! Once Ju Seung gets here, we won’t be able to drink anyway, with him watching.”
“That’s true, isn’t it…?”
“So let’s drink in secret now. Call the attendant and ask what wine is good.”
“If you insist… just one bottle? I think that should be fine…”
“Alright.”
“Understood.”
While an ecstatic Wang Cheon called for the attendant, Neung Un-bi, with his eyes narrowed to slits, slowly awakened his senses and discreetly surveyed the inn.
He couldn't sense any hidden presences.
Wang Cheon might be fooled, but there weren’t many who could deceive his eyes, which had been in that line of work for a long time.
There were a total of seven customers in the inn.
A table with three scholars and another with four men who looked like merchants.
How hard could it be to disguise one’s identity with clothes? But he didn’t feel any particular suspicion.
Then?
Neung Un-bi’s gaze shifted to the innkeeper and the workers.
It wasn't a large inn, so there were only four staff members inside.
The innkeeper, two attendants, and a cook.
Since it also served as lodging, there were probably quite a few people outside as well.
“You there.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
The attendant who had taken Wang Cheon’s order returned to the table and answered politely.
“Where is the privy?”
“Ah, go outside and turn right.”
“Thank you.”
Neung Un-bi told Wang Cheon to wait and leisurely walked around the inn as if sightseeing, counting the number of people.
There were five people outside.
A perfect number to ambush two people.
Neung Un-bi greeted everyone he met, engaging in brief, casual conversation while observing them meticulously.
And at some point, a smile formed on his lips.
*So the real ones were outside, afraid of being caught?*
An old man managing the customers’ horses, a middle-aged woman hanging laundry.
The ones inside the inn must have been tasked with monitoring his movements, and the ones outside were undoubtedly the attack team.
But their skills were rather… lacking.
*Could there be others?*
“What took you so long? Did you have to take care of big business?”
“…”
When he returned after his inspection, Wang Cheon, holding a bottle of wine, snapped at him. *Is this guy crazy…*
*But since you have a role to play, I’ll let it slide.*
“My stomach was upset. Anyway, why didn’t you start without me?”
“Me? That would be a bit…”
*What an act. His eyes are practically bloodshot from staring at the wine bottle.*
“Here, drink up.”
“You… no, Young Master, you drink as well.”
They poured for each other.
A bottle of wine vanished in the blink of an eye.
Wang Cheon licked his lips, staring at the empty cup, a look of clear disappointment on his face.
“Should we order another bottle?”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s have another. What the hell, it’s a rare occasion.”
“…”
Wang Cheon stared intently at Neung Un-bi, who kept urging him to drink.
He was trying to act like a Guard Captain, contemplating the matter.
But he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Innkeeper! Another bottle here!”
Neung Un-bi ordered more wine before he could be stopped.
“Ah, this is troublesome…”
“I told you it’s fine.”
“Still…”
“Drink, drink.”
“…”
At Un-bi’s insistence, Wang Cheon accepted the cup with a deeply furrowed brow.
One bottle, two bottles…
Soon, the buzz of alcohol began to set in.
“Innkeeper!”
“…”
“Dammit, it’s empty again. Empty again.”
“…”
“Innkeeper! Bring it by the jug!”
“…”
Wang Cheon had acquired a taste for the wine.
The man who had staunchly insisted on just one bottle was now having it brought by the jug and drinking it from a bowl.
“Kyah! Young Master, you have some too. This wine is absolutely incredible.”
“…”
*This bastard… you’re doing great, really.*
***
*Drrrng! Gack, gurgle! Gack!*
“…”
*He’s going to suffocate at that rate.*
Who snores like that, inhaling so loudly only to pause for a long moment?
Thanks to him, Neung Un-bi had to check several times to see if Wang Cheon was still breathing.
“Aumm… Ae-yang…”
“…”
“Oh, you pretty thing… come here and have my wine…”
*Hey, you bastard! What in the world are you dreaming about?*
Neung Un-bi shook his head at Wang Cheon’s sleep-talking.
But at the same time, he felt a pang of pity.
Poor guy. Sons from respectable families have their partners chosen from a young age through political marriages and whatnot, but here he was, thirty years old and still unable to find a partner, pining for a woman in his dreams.
Then again, it wasn't like any woman would particularly like him.
He didn't have a good personality, nor was he handsome.
In fact, wasn’t he a guy with nothing to offer besides his family name?
And to top it all off, his potential mother-in-law would be the one and only So Seol-ok-su.
What woman could endure that personality…?
Neung Un-bi, clicking his tongue in pity, waited patiently while listening to Wang Cheon’s sleep-talk.
*After chugging it by the jug… he’s sleeping like a log.*
He didn't wake him on purpose. He had to put on a show like this so the guys listening outside would be convinced they were dead drunk and lower their guard, right?
“…!”
At that moment, he sensed a presence outside the door.
The faint sound of someone pressing their ear against the door tickled his eardrum.
*Tak, tatak.*
After a moment of observing the room, the sound of a flint striking followed.
*Whump.*
And the sound of fire catching on straw.
Confirming his suspicions were correct, Neung Un-bi smiled with satisfaction.
*This means the old Taoist’s warning was true…*
Who was he? And why was he helping him?
His mind filled with curiosity about the man’s identity.
But now was not the time to ponder that.
He had to give a warm welcome to the attackers.
Based on his daytime observations, the skills of the attackers staying at the inn were not very impressive.
To think they’d underestimate him so much…
Then again, they probably never expected it.
They wouldn’t know his true identity, and they certainly wouldn’t know that a mysterious old Taoist had warned him.
They probably believed their plan was perfect.
*Swaaa…*
Considering the sleeping incense seeping through the crack in the door, they might have even called for more men.
“Aing, Ae-yang…”
“…”
*Wang Cheon… let’s just let him sleep.*
He seemed so deliriously happy meeting someone in his dreams; it didn’t feel right to wake him.
*Just sleep deeper. Inhale plenty of that sleeping incense.*
He heard the footsteps of the ones who lit the incense retreating from near the room.
Neung Un-bi quietly moved to the wall next to the door and leaned against it. He slowly stopped his breathing, erasing his presence.
Their small room. It would take about half a quarter-hour for the smoke from the sleeping incense to fill the room.
“Hooop!”
Neung Un-bi took a deep breath and then held it.
Breath-holding training was an essential part of becoming a master of stealth. For Neung Un-bi, who had learned the Sea Breathing Technique—inspired by the breathing of female divers—holding his breath for that long was nothing.
He could easily last half a quarter-hour underwater.
In a room like this, simply holding his breath without using his internal energy was possible for up to a quarter of an hour.
The wait continued.
For Neung Un-bi inside the room, and for the ambushers outside waiting for the sleeping incense to fill it.
Before long, the room was thick with smoke.
*Creeak.*
The door opened.
The attackers, deeming enough time had passed, let the thick sleeping incense out of the room.
*Drrrng, gurgle!*
Through it all, Wang Cheon was still snoring as if his life depended on it. Thanks to him, the attackers’ suspicions would be further allayed.
*Thud, thud.*
The door opened completely, and footsteps crossed the threshold.
Three in total.
One outside the room, two inside.
Judging by their presence, the old man and the woman had come inside, while the one who had been chopping firewood remained outside. He was undoubtedly prepared to throw hidden weapons just in case.
The blade of the large kitchen knife in the old man’s hand glinted menacingly under the lantern held by the woman.
*Such cruel bastards.*
*Am I a piece of meat to you? To think of slitting my throat with that?*
“…Wh-what? There’s only one?”
The woman’s surprised voice as she illuminated the bed with the light.
The old man with the kitchen knife turned his head in a hurry.
But the first one to deal with was…
“Puha!”
As Neung Un-bi exhaled the breath he’d been holding, he simultaneously twisted his body toward the open door and shot his leg out straight.
*Thwack!*
“Kuk!”
The sound of a foot embedding into flesh and a short groan.
Caught by the surprise attack, the man holding the wooden spikes collapsed in a heap.
*Of course he would. I put all my strength into it.*
It was a blow filled with raw demonic energy, as he hadn’t even bothered to chant a subjugation mantra.
So there was no way a guy who only used hidden weapons could withstand it. He had kicked with the intent to crush him completely.
Anyway, this intense thrill that the demonic arts gave him felt really good.
It felt like… an addiction. It seemed it would be hard to quit.
“Wh-what the!”
As their comrade fell, the old man with the knife and the woman with the lantern turned in shock toward the door, their eyes widening when they saw Neung Un-bi standing there perfectly fine.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Shall we have a little chat? I think you have quite a lot to tell me…”
Neung Un-bi’s eyes, glistening like obsidian with dense demonic energy, curved into a smile as he viciously ground his foot on the head of the fallen man.
*Are you going to come here? Or should I come to you?*
*You should probably put down that kitchen knife.*
*I’m full of demonic energy right now, so I can’t really control my strength.*