The Hundred-Refined Cow-Hair Needles
“Would it not be wise to detach some men to investigate the shop?”
County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin, already uneasy about Muk Geum-gang’s behavior, did not refuse. He assigned Constable Ma Han to handle the aftermath and search the premises, then pressed onward.
***
Inside the main residence of Mannyeon Cheoljang.
When the government troops poured into the inner courtyard, the sound of hammers ceased. Moments later, the people of Mannyeon Cheoljang emerged, gripping broadswords and horizontal blades. Their numbers approached fifty.
Confident in their numbers, their expressions were murderous.
To prevent unnecessary bloodshed, County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin stepped forward.
“I am the Magistrate of Jangan County. I have come to apprehend the traitor who murdered General Choi Eon. Those with no involvement, step aside at once!”
From among the Mannyeon Cheoljang crowd, someone shouted, “We do not trust the words of you dog-like officials! Come any closer and we will kill you all!”
Constable Jang Ho, unable to endure it, bellowed, “You madman! Muk Geum-gang resisted and was just captured. Do you still not understand the situation?”
Dan Yeop spoke to the constable trying to reason with them. “Constable Jang, it is useless. They are followers of Cheonlyeon. Otherwise they would never block government troops while armed. Am I wrong? All of you?”
Dan Yeop’s gaze swept over the Mannyeon Cheoljang people. They remained silent, yet everyone understood the implication. The faces of the constables and soldiers twisted as they gripped their weapons tighter; the enemy outnumbered them.
At that critical moment, the inner door opened and a man and woman stepped out—Muk Cheol-sim, the master of the forge, and Buryeomsanja.
Constable Jang Ho shouted the moment he saw her. “Magistrate! That woman is the culprit who killed General Choi Eon and Gok-un!”
A ripple of shock passed through the Mannyeon Cheoljang crowd; they had not known a woman was involved.
County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin addressed Muk Cheol-sim. “Master Muk! Explain why you are with her!”
Before Muk Cheol-sim could answer, Buryeomsanja stepped forward. “Magistrate Jo, Muk and Mannyeon Cheoljang have nothing to do with me.”
“You used weapons forged here to assassinate high officials and hid inside this very forge. You expect me to believe that?”
At that moment Constable Ma Han arrived, dragging Muk Geum-gang. “Magistrate! We found gunpowder and oil in the shop. Muk Geum-gang confessed they planned to detonate it and flee.”
Jo Mu-jin turned to the woman. “Did you hear that? Even after Muk Geum-gang went this far, you still claim no connection?”
“Haa… Muk Geum-gang, why must you go so far? I told you for years not to involve yourself in my affairs.”
“……”
Bound by ropes, Muk Geum-gang said nothing. Watching them, Dan Yeop sensed a subtle current between the two.
‘So Mannyeon Cheoljang was never truly aligned with Cheonlyeon?’
He had assumed they were, given the memory of the explosion and escape, yet now doubt crept in.
As expected!
Muk Cheol-sim, who had been silently gazing at his son, finally spoke. “Magistrate Jo, this is all my fault for failing to discipline my child. However, Mannyeon Cheoljang itself has no connection to this matter. Please believe that much.”
“Too many incidents have already occurred for mere words to suffice. If you cannot convince me, I will have no choice but to arrest everyone.”
“Buryeomsanja was once betrothed to my son. While he was away in the Western Regions learning the blacksmith’s trade, she was married off. Upon his return he could not forget her and sheltered her, leading to this situation.”
Jo Mu-jin’s voice turned cold. “Regardless of the reason, aiding and harboring a traitor is a grave crime. If you are involved, Master Muk, you too will not escape severe punishment.”
“I am an old man with few days left; it matters little. But please show mercy to my son.”
Jo Mu-jin offered no reply to the plea. The matter was too serious, and a formidable enemy stood before them.
Deciding the time had come, Buryeomsanja walked to the edge of the veranda. “You heard him, Magistrate Jo. These people have no ties to Cheonlyeon. They merely looked after me out of lingering affection. So lay the blame on me alone—if you are even qualified to do so.”
She waved her hand through the air. In an instant, multicolored flower petals drifted on a spring breeze—her signature technique, Spring Wind Flower Rain.
While the constables and soldiers stared in awe at the beautiful sight, Dan Yeop sensed killing intent within it and shouted, “Hidden weapons! Everyone, get back!”
The men scattered like grasshoppers. At the same moment the floating petals rained down like arrows.
Pa-pa-pa-pat—!
Dan Yeop drew his horizontal blade and swung with all his might at the soldiers who could not dodge in time. A crescent-shaped blade aura swept over their heads—True Heaven and Earth Saber Style, first form: Horizontal Sweep Mountain Sever.
Shiiiiiik—!
Peo-peo-peok—!
The petals sliced by the aura flew upward, painting the sky with vivid colors, as though spring wind scattered them.
101. Will You Continue as a Constable?
Until now, aside from the five mounted constables who had accompanied him to capture Seok Jung-ok, no official had witnessed Dan Yeop’s true martial prowess. Even when he captured Blood Asura Ha Ryun, only three soldiers had been present, and the fight had ended quickly.
Everyone knew his skill was exceptional, yet they still placed him within the category of a mere constable. After all, he was not from the Five Peaks Sword Faction, nor had he made a name for himself. Moreover, he was young and lacked the bearing of a true master.
Even County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin and Captain Do Gyeom, who had recruited him, shared this view.
Yet now…
Jo Mu-jin’s mouth fell open at the sight of the crescent blade aura.
“Heavens!”
As a martial artist himself, he understood exactly how profound a feat it was to project such an aura.
The five-colored petals that had adorned the sky fell with soft thuds. Only five or six remained, no longer threatening.
Dan Yeop immediately leapt onto the veranda to subdue Buryeomsanja. The people of Mannyeon Cheoljang instinctively took a step forward to protect their master, Muk Cheol-sim.
Jo Mu-jin roared, “Stop! Anyone who blocks Constable Dan will be treated as a traitor!”
The Mannyeon Cheoljang people froze like statues.
As Dan Yeop closed in, Buryeomsanja clasped her hands together while watching him. It was a feint. Two Hundred-Refined Cow-Hair Needles shot toward him from the shadows—the technique known as Shadowless Thousand Flowers.
It required reaching the realm of Mind Moves Qi, the very threshold of Telekinetic Sword Control.
Dan Yeop, still new to the jianghu, was vulnerable to such unorthodox methods. Yet in that moment he felt pity for the woman with clasped hands. She must have endured unspeakable suffering she could never voice. Even so, the necessity of capturing her brought no joy.
Seok Ye-seol’s face flashed through his mind.
‘……’
Facing the formidable Buryeomsanja, Dan Yeop hesitated.
At that instant something struck both his shoulders.
Peo-peok.
His hands, holding the horizontal blade in mid-stance, dropped limply.
Chaeng—.
The tip of the blade struck the blue stone floor with a metallic ring.
The man who had been charging like a gale came to a halt. Every gaze in the courtyard fixed upon the frozen Dan Yeop.
A long sigh escaped his lips.
“Haa…”
He had been wrong again. His opponent was no pitiful figure, but a cunning venomous tiger.
Seeing him stop, Buryeomsanja spoke with calm confidence. “You have been struck by my Shadowless Thousand Flowers. Your arms are useless for now, but soon the needles will travel through your veins to your heart and kill you. Only I can save you.”
“Is that so?”
Dan Yeop circulated Taeulgi through both shoulders while asking. Just as she claimed, he could feel the two needles.
As he pondered how to remove them, her voice continued. “The needles are connected to me. Forcing them out with internal energy will not work.”
Realizing the implication, Dan Yeop looked at her still-clasped hands. She was clearly controlling the needles with true qi, just like Telekinetic Sword Control.
‘So that is how it works.’
He only needed to expel them before they entered his bloodstream. Difficult, yet Telekinetic Sword Control was ultimately a form of object manipulation through empty space. Her method of controlling the needles followed the same principle.
Having reached this conclusion, Dan Yeop spoke evenly. “You are not usually so forthcoming. Why explain?”
Even as he asked, he focused his consciousness on the needles.
“Kill the magistrate.”
At that exact moment his awareness touched the needles.
‘So they can be moved from a distance with true qi.’
Dan Yeop had long since reached Taeul Holy Light, the introductory stage of the celestial Taegojong arts—far beyond the Mind Moves Qi realm Buryeomsanja had attained. He simply lacked the experience to recognize it.
The shape of the needles became vividly clear in his mind.
In that instant he imitated Naeng Han-sang. Forming a sword seal with his right hand, he raised it toward the sky.
The needles embedded in his shoulders shot out like lightning.
Pipit—.
Buryeomsanja vomited blood with a strangled “Uwek!” The forced severance of Mind Moves Qi had inflicted internal injury.
Dan Yeop did not stop there. He pointed the sword seal at her.
He had not intended anything specific, yet the result was devastating. As Buryeomsanja lifted her head to look at him, two dots appeared on her forehead.
That was her end.
Having lost her balance, she pitched forward and struck her head on the stone step, her neck twisting at an unnatural angle.
Witnessing her gruesome death, Muk Geum-gang howled. “No—! Jua! Jua! Dan Yeop! I will kill you! I will tear apart everything connected to you and slaughter them all! Aaaaaah—!”
Confirming Buryeomsanja’s death, Jo Mu-jin ordered the constables, “Bind the criminals and transport them, along with the body, to the yamen!”
“Yes, sir!”
The constables directed the soldiers to drag Muk Cheol-sim, Muk Geum-gang, and Buryeomsanja’s corpse outside.
Jo Mu-jin then addressed the remaining Mannyeon Cheoljang people. “None of you may leave this place until the investigation of Mannyeon Cheoljang is complete. Should anyone depart without my permission, they will be arrested and punished without fail.”
The people remained silent, aware of their own complicity.
***
Upon returning to the Jangan County Office, Jo Mu-jin immediately sent Dan Yeop to a physician. After examining his shoulders, the doctor prepared a medicinal decoction. Dan Yeop doubted he needed it, yet took it with him to Son-taek just in case.
When he asked Yoo Hwa-yeong how to brew it, Son Yeon-hwa, who had been listening nearby, volunteered to prepare the medicine.
That night she brought the decoction from the annex to Dan Yeop.
“By the way, older brother, do you not need to apply the wound salve?”
“Hm? It is fine. There is no trace left anyway, so I do not even know where it struck.”
“Does it not hurt?”
“No. The needles were as thin as cow hair.”
“Goodness! Such hidden weapons even—”