The More I Know, the Less I Understand
He had placed a watcher on them. This morning the man reported seeing the woman at Mannyeon Cheoljang. The fact that she had hidden so thoroughly only to show herself now suggested she knew of Myeoldo’s death and was preparing to flee. They would depart for Mannyeon Cheoljang in one gak (fifteen minutes), so make every preparation.
“……”
The constables exchanged startled glances at the sudden order to move in a quarter-hour.
Jin Seung the constable soon asked with an awkward expression.
“Magistrate, are we going to Mannyeon Cheoljang alone?”
“Alone? I have already requested assistance from the Geumo Guard’s patrol unit through Lord Seol-yeom.”
“That woman is likely a murim expert. Will the patrol unit suffice?”
“Of course it will. Do you think we cannot act without the cooperation of murim factions?”
“No, sir.”
“Jangan County Office has Constable Dan, myself, and no shortage of skilled military officers. Do you not know Lord Jo’s character? He believes we can handle this without murim involvement. Assemble in front of the main office in one gak. Remember, the culprit is an expert with hidden weapons, so don your armor properly. That is all.”
Dogyeom the military officer left the constabulary without a backward glance.
The constables and patrolmen scurried about, searching for armor to wear over their uniforms.
One gak later.
Ten constables and thirty patrolmen gathered before the main office.
The constables wore two-plate armor while the patrolmen wore lamellar. Only the vital areas such as the chest were protected; the rest remained as usual.
Soon the main office doors opened and County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin, Military Officer Dogyeom, and three guards emerged, all properly armored.
Jo Mu-jin’s gaze turned toward Constable Dan Yeop.
Seeing the lone man still in his uniform, a meaningful smile appeared on the magistrate’s face.
Jo Mu-jin took the lead, and the constables and patrolmen followed.
***
Jwa-seong (eastern market district).
Seonin-bang.
Mannyeon Cheoljang.
Hour of Sa (10 a.m.).
The Geumo Guard’s patrol soldiers appeared and quietly surrounded Mannyeon Cheoljang.
County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin and Military Officer Dogyeom then led the constables into the main shop.
Muk Geum-gang, the squad leader guarding the shop, rushed out in surprise.
“Good heavens! My lords! What is the meaning of this sudden visit?”
Jo Mu-jin displayed his green fish-pouch, the symbol of his office, and declared,
“I am Jo Mu-jin, Magistrate of Jangan. We have received a report that the murderer of General Choi Eon is hiding in Mannyeon Cheoljang. Stand aside at once!”
Muk Geum-gang leapt back, waving his hands in denial.
“Good heavens, Magistrate! That is slander! Mannyeon Cheoljang is merely a blacksmith shop! How could the general’s killer possibly be here?”
Jo Mu-jin snorted at the indignant Muk Geum-gang.
“Hmph! We already have a witness!”
“It is truly not so. My family has conducted business here for nearly a hundred years. We have survived on trust alone. You know this well, Magistrate Jo.”
“Ten years can change a mountain and river; a hundred years is long enough for anything to change. Is it not?”
At that moment Muk Geum-gang’s eyes fell upon Dan Yeop wearing the Yeonangyeong.
“Constable Dan Yeop! It must be you who framed our Mannyeon Cheoljang!”
He snatched a massive steel dao from beneath the display shelf and charged out before anyone could stop him.
The constables stared in disbelief, but Muk Geum-gang suddenly changed direction.
His dao flew straight toward County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin.
Shhhk—!
In that instant Jo Mu-jin threw himself backward using the Iron Plate Bridge technique.
The dao passed narrowly over his supine body.
As the magistrate rose to draw his sword in counterattack, Muk Geum-gang spun like lightning and sprinted toward the rear door.
“Stop right there!”
Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom gave chase.
The moment Muk Geum-gang vanished through the rear door, a thunderous explosion rocked the main shop.
Boom! Kwaaang—!
Caught in the blast, Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom were hurled through the air like fallen leaves.
“Magistrate!”
“Military Officer Dogyeom!”
Before the constables could reach them, the half-destroyed shop was engulfed in flames.
Whoosh—.
The constables and patrolmen fetched water from nearby and doused the building, but the fire only subsided after consuming the entire main shop.
Leaving the search for the bodies to the patrolmen, the constables entered the inner residence.
Yet not even an ant remained inside.
What greeted the empty-handed constables upon their return were the charred corpses of Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom.
Dan Yeop could not gather his thoughts amid the sudden turn of events.
From the moment they arrived at Mannyeon Cheoljang, everything had unfolded in rapid succession without time to think.
The deaths of Magistrate Jo and Military Officer Dogyeom pained him more than letting the woman and the Cheoljang people escape.
Those two officials had been rare examples of integrity and competence.
In that moment, even he found himself thinking, as Son Yu-baek had once said, that “heaven is heartless.”
Then a faint female voice reached him from somewhere.
“……have you?”
‘Hm?’
Dan Yeop strained to focus on the sound.
“Young master, have you risen?”
Only then did Dan Yeop snap awake and answer.
“Yes, I will be right there.”
As the maid’s footsteps receded, Dan Yeop bolted upright.
“Huh?”
100th Episode. The More I Know, the Less I Understand
Blinking in confusion, Dan Yeop stepped down from the bed.
He removed the Geumruok-ui and placed it in his travel bag, muttering,
“Why did I fall asleep? Was I that tired? Huh?”
His own words and actions felt strangely repetitive.
At the same time, two thoughts flashed through his mind.
‘One might doze during cultivation, but falling into a death-like sleep is problematic……’
‘No, but why does this situation feel so familiar?’
He washed his face roughly and headed for the inner hall.
Even as he walked, he could not comprehend what had happened to him.
He had never fallen asleep while practicing Tae-eul-bon-won-yeon-seong-gyeol, Simjeongdan-gong, or even I-won-gwi-il-gong.
Unable to believe it, he muttered without realizing,
“But did I really fall asleep? Ack!”
Dan Yeop cried out involuntarily.
The words he had just muttered were already in his memory.
“Oh dear!”
Perhaps because his mind was cluttered with stray thoughts, Dan Yeop dropped the dumpling he had been lifting with his chopsticks into the soup bowl.
Broth splashed onto his Yeonangyeong.
As he absentmindedly removed the glasses to wipe them, Son Yeon-hwa, who had been watching him, spoke.
“Brother Dan, your golden eyes have faded, haven’t they?”
Dan Yeop looked at Son Yeon-hwa with a blank face while cleaning the lenses.
“Eh?”
“Yes. Before, the gold was much deeper, but now it is different.”
Son Ji-heon, seated beside Dan Yeop, nodded vigorously.
“It’s true. It’s no longer golden eyes, but copper-coin eyes.”
Dan Yeop’s mouth fell open.
Now he was certain.
He had already experienced this exact situation.
Next, the siblings’ mother, Yu Hwa-yeong, would speak.
She would say it was not copper-coin eyes but copper-mirror eyes.
And indeed—
“It is true. Still, copper-coin eyes is too much. Copper-mirror eyes suits it better.”
‘What is this?’
As Dan Yeop blinked in bewilderment, Son Yu-baek’s voice reached his ears.
“I thought there might be a westerner among your ancestors, but apparently not.”
“……”
Dan Yeop no longer doubted what was happening to him.
It seemed he was seeing the future.
This was different from the Buddhist heavenly eye.
He possessed memories of roughly half a day into the future.
***
Jangan County Office.
Constabulary.
When Dan Yeop, who had reported for duty, was discussing patrol plans with the other constables, Dogyeom the military officer entered with a slightly flushed face.
“Attention, everyone! We have received word that one of the culprits, the woman, has been located.”
“Where? Where is she?”
Constable Jang Ho, who had lost Gok-un to the woman, asked as though ready to rush off at once.
“Mannyeon Cheoljang.”
Recalling the final moments of Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom, Dan Yeop let out a silent sigh.
Meanwhile, Dogyeom continued.
“Because Constable Dan said Mannyeon Cheoljang seemed suspicious, we placed a watcher there. This morning the man reported seeing the woman at the shop. Given how thoroughly she had hidden before revealing herself, she most likely knows of Myeoldo’s death and intends to flee. We depart for Mannyeon Cheoljang in one gak, so prepare accordingly.”
“……”
When Jin Seung the constable mentioned seeking murim cooperation, Dogyeom dismissed the idea, insisting they could handle it themselves.
One gak later.
Ten constables and thirty patrolmen assembled before the main office.
Soon the doors opened and Jo Mu-jin, Dogyeom, and three guards stepped out.
Jo Mu-jin’s gaze turned toward Dan Yeop.
Dan Yeop looked at the magistrate with fresh eyes.
Over the magistrate’s face he saw the image of the man caught in the explosion, his body charred black.
In the dream he had thought heaven was heartless.
But now, knowing the future…… honestly, he was no longer sure.
Life was like the Primordial Chaos Sword in that the more one knew, the less one understood.
***
Jwa-seong (eastern market district).
Seonin-bang.
Mannyeon Cheoljang.
Hour of Sa (10 a.m.).
The Geumo Guard patrol soldiers quietly surrounded Mannyeon Cheoljang.
Right on time, Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom led the constables into the main shop.
Small Master Muk Geum-gang rushed out to block their path.
“Good heavens! My lords! What is the meaning of this sudden visit?”
Jo Mu-jin displayed his green fish-pouch and declared,
“I am Jo Mu-jin, Magistrate of Jangan. We have received a report that the murderer of General Choi Eon is hiding in Mannyeon Cheoljang. Stand aside at once!”
Muk Geum-gang leapt back, waving his hands in denial.
“Good heavens, Magistrate! That is slander! Mannyeon Cheoljang is merely a blacksmith shop! How could the general’s killer possibly be here?”
Jo Mu-jin snorted at the indignant Muk Geum-gang.
“Hmph! We already have a witness!”
“It is truly not so. My family has conducted business here for nearly a hundred years. We have survived on trust alone. You know this well, Magistrate Jo.”
“Ten years can change a mountain and river; a hundred years is long enough for anything to change. Is it not?”
At that moment Muk Geum-gang’s gaze turned toward Dan Yeop wearing the Yeonangyeong.
“Constable Dan Yeop! It must be you who framed our Mannyeon Cheoljang!”
He snatched a massive steel dao from beneath the display shelf and charged out before anyone could stop him.
When Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom hesitated at the sudden turn, Dan Yeop stepped forward to meet Muk Geum-gang as though he had been waiting.
Though Dan Yeop moved a beat later, his presence was far more ferocious.
Dan Yeop knocked the dao aside with a single strike and drove his hand blade into Muk Geum-gang’s throat.
Clang—!
With a choked cry, Muk Geum-gang collapsed on the spot.
Dan Yeop then stomped on Muk Geum-gang and spoke.
“Framed, you say! How dare you spout such shameless lies! If you had simply run, no one would have blamed you! Why falsely accuse an innocent constable?”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud—!
Once Muk Geum-gang went limp, Dan Yeop’s kicks ceased.
Turning to the stunned Jo Mu-jin and Dogyeom, Dan Yeop said,
“Given how Muk Geum-gang suddenly lashed out, he is clearly an accomplice. The fact that he dared to rampage in front of government troops suggests he has something to rely on.”