If You've Eaten, You Must Settle the Bill
“What is this?”
“My brother is Seok Jung-ok. My name is Seok Ye-seol.”
“Miss Seok, I’m sorry, but I cannot grant your request.”
“Do you want to watch the person who did the right thing get killed by a great evil?”
The great evil she spoke of referred to the current imperial court.
To Cheonlyeon, the imperial family was the very root of evil.
Seok Ye-seol pressed again.
“I have already explained why I killed Yi Ja-seong and the military officers. You can simply take our siblings’ bodies and leave.”
“I cannot. No matter how many times you ask, my answer remains the same. I will not allow you to die.”
Having refused her firmly, Dan Yeop stood up abruptly and left the room.
The disheartened Seok Ye-seol lowered her head, then froze.
Something had glinted beneath the chair where Dan Yeop had been sitting.
She focused her gaze and saw it was a broken arrowhead.
Perhaps it had been left behind by one of the guards repairing weapons in the room.
Still bound by ropes, she rolled her body toward the chair.
Using her entire frame to push it, the arrowhead finally brushed her fingertips.
Seok Ye-seol began slowly scraping at the ropes with the arrowhead.
After struggling for the time it takes to eat a meal, the rope finally gave way.
She hurriedly untied the bindings around her ankles as well.
Once free, she opened the window and slipped out into the night.
When Dan Yeop saw Seok Ye-seol vanish into the darkness, he turned slowly.
Only half of what she had said was true.
He did not need to bring back two corpses.
The wound on Seok Jung-ok’s arm was evidence enough.
Whether or not Seok Ye-seol had taken part that day no longer mattered.
The man who deserved death had died. It was no different from a natural passing.
He went downstairs to the dining hall, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and returned to the second floor.
Then he sat leaning against the door and began to drink.
The constables returned after one shichen.
Head Constable Jeon Bong shook Dan Yeop, who had dozed off against the doorframe.
“Constable Dan, Constable Dan, wake up. Good heavens! How much did you drink all by yourself?”
“Ugh… You’re back? I didn’t drink much. I only dozed off for a moment.”
“Even so, while escorting a prisoner…”
“I told you, I only dozed off. And yet you constables think it’s fine to slip out for drinks while on prisoner escort duty?”
“That’s not what I meant. Well, if you only dozed off, then I apologize.”
Since they too had slipped away, Jeon Bong chose not to press the matter further.
The constables opened the door and entered the room.
“Constable Dan! Constable Dan!”
Jeon Bong burst back out and whispered urgently into Dan Yeop’s ear so no one else would hear.
“We have a big problem. The woman cut her ropes and disappeared.”
“What?”
Dan Yeop shot to his feet and hurried inside.
The constables already in the room stared at him with panicked expressions.
Jeon Bong, face deathly pale, asked, “Constable Dan, what should we do now?”
Dan Yeop answered with a perfectly shameless face.
“Why? What happened?”
“The woman…”
“What woman? You saw the wound on the man’s arm, didn’t you? That was from his fight with the Nakan County Magistrate. We captured the culprit in Nakan and are transporting the body to Jangan County Office. Correct?”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
“With the help of the Left Messenger of Gwangpunghoe, we also eliminated the mastermind, Geun-jo of Sayehyeon-si. So what woman are you talking about? There was no woman at Seokga-jang. Isn’t that so?”
The constables nodded vigorously.
“That’s right.”
“There wasn’t any woman! Absolutely not!”
“Good. Then we’re done here. Tomorrow, make sure you retrieve the coffin we left at Tonggwan County Office without delay. What we are responsible for is guarding the coffin that holds the criminal’s body.”
The constables filed back into the room with faces like men who had died and been resurrected.
Dan Yeop gazed out the window and murmured to himself.
May you live well, and may we never meet again.
When Dan Yeop and the five constables returned with the criminal’s body, Jangan County Office was swept up in a festive atmosphere.
It was only natural. They had neatly resolved a major incident—the murder of the Nakan County Magistrate and his military officers—in less than a month.
In an era when the terror of Cheonlyeon ran rampant, eliminating one of the cult’s henchmen had drawn the imperial court’s attention.
Nakan County Office.
Main Hall.
County Magistrate Jo Mujin called Dan Yeop aside and praised him lavishly.
“Constable Dan, I thank you. Thanks to you, I feel alive again these days. I knew you were capable, but you have exceeded my expectations.”
“I could not have done it alone. Master Hwang and the constables provided tremendous help.”
“So the Left Messenger of Gwangpunghoe, Hwang Bi-won, killed Geun-jo?”
“Yes.”
“I understood Geun-jo of Sayehyeon-si to be an absolute master who stood on equal footing with the Blood Emperor. I had no idea Hwang Bi-won possessed such strength.”
“I was shocked myself when I saw Master Hwang fight. It was like watching a war god from legend.”
Dan Yeop praised Hwang Bi-won without reservation.
In truth, it would not be wrong to say Hwang Bi-won had done everything.
Without him, Dan Yeop and every constable would have died at Seokga-jang.
Though he never voiced it, Hwang Bi-won was his life’s benefactor.
“What of the woman reportedly seen at Nakan County Office?”
“There was no woman at Seokga-jang.”
“Hmm. Capturing an accomplice as well would have been ideal. Don’t you agree?”
County Magistrate Jo Mujin stared at him searchingly.
He clearly suspected something, yet Dan Yeop continued to play innocent to the end.
“By the way, Constable Dan. Have you no interest in taking the imperial examination?”
“The imperial examination?”
“The superiors say it is a waste to keep a man of your talents as a mere constable. Passing the exam would be all but guaranteed. Would you not like to attempt greater things?”
“I have no such desire. Since the subject has come up, the Nakan incident has been resolved. It is time for me to return to my original duties…”
“Not yet.”
“Pardon?”
“If you are going to resign, do so once the imperial court’s interest has cooled. If you quit now, they will come looking for you. I will not stop you if you wish to be summoned by the palace.”
“Then when might their interest subside?”
“Who can say? But like all fads, the imperial court’s attention will fade before long.”
“Understood.”
“Report to the patrol office. Deputy Magistrate Dogyeom will have a new case for you. If there is any particular case you wish to handle, tell me. I will assign it to you first, Constable Dan.”
“There is none.”
Dan Yeop shook his head firmly.
A man who wanted to quit being a constable would hardly have a preferred case.
“I asked something pointless. To you, every case must look the same. Very well. Go and attend to your duties.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Dan Yeop turned to leave, County Magistrate Jo Mujin called after him.
“One more thing. As you must already know, refrain from visiting Haomun for the time being. Too many eyes are watching you.”
“...Understood.”
Dan Yeop answered without turning back and left the main hall.
Chang’an Castle.
Outer City, Gaewonmun Gate.
Around noon.
A middle-aged man wearing a blue dragon robe passed through the city gate.
His face was hidden beneath a bamboo hat, but his extraordinary aura kept people from staring too long.
With every step, the ancient sword at his waist swayed in perfect rhythm.
Everything about him harmonized so perfectly that onlookers could not help but gasp in admiration.
The man strode along the main avenue before heading straight for a nearby restaurant known as Jinmi Sikjeom.
It was still early for lunch, so the establishment was nearly empty.
“Welco—”
The waiter began his greeting cheerfully but fell silent, overwhelmed by the man’s presence.
The man walked past him and took a seat by the window.
When the waiter approached, the man finally removed his bamboo hat and set it aside.
The face revealed was Naeng Han-sang, the named disciple of the previous generation’s greatest swordsman under heaven, Mu-heun.
“What is good here?”
“The horaltang, lamb soup, braised pork shoulder, lamb fried rice, and tiger chicken are all excellent. Oh, and the dumplings as well.”
They were all common dishes ordinary citizens could enjoy without straining their purses.
After a moment’s thought, Naeng Han-sang spoke.
“Flatbread and lamb soup.”
The flatbread was a cheap Western-style loaf even inns served.
Though disappointed, the waiter hid it well and hurried to the kitchen.
Soon, a steaming bowl of lamb soup and several pieces of flatbread appeared on Naeng Han-sang’s table.
He meticulously tore the flatbread into perfectly equal pieces before dipping them into the soup.
The precision was so unusual that the waiter could not look away.
After finishing his meal, Naeng Han-sang beckoned the waiter over.
“Yes, my lord?”
“Where is the largest and most luxurious gisaeng house in Chang’an?”
“I have never been myself, but I believe it is either Jawoon-gak or Hwawol-ru in Daeanbang.”
“If you had to choose one?”
“I would choose Jawoon-gak. Okhwan has been gaining fame among the courtesans lately, but she still cannot compare to Soyo.”
“Did you not say you had never been?”
“One’s ears are always open. Most people still say Jawoon-gak is superior.”
“Understood. How much?”
“The lamb soup is fifty mun, the flatbread five mun.”
Naeng Han-sang handed over the coins and stepped outside.
“Jawoon-gak, is it? Go Geom-haeng did say he was with Gimun.”
Muttering to himself, he set off toward Daeanbang.
Daeanbang.
Jawoon-gak.
Naeng Han-sang entered the gisaeng house in broad daylight and ordered courtesans and every variety of dish as though he intended to live only for that day.
The courtesans fluttered about, declaring that a wealthy patron had arrived.
Then, around seven in the evening.
After enjoying himself thoroughly, he sought out the madam before settling the bill.
A middle-aged woman named Hwaryeon came running and bowed deeply.
“My lord, are you leaving already? The real entertainment is only beginning. Why not stay longer?”
“Enough with the empty words. Are you the leader of Gimun?”
“I am not.”
“Then go and bring the leader of Gimun.”
“My lord, I merely sell wine and pleasure here. I know nothing of Murim organizations.”
That was the truth.
Gimun operated as a decentralized network. Even if one managed a gisaeng house, only actual members knew its inner workings.
“I told you to summon the leader of Gimun.”
“Before that, could you not settle your bill first?”
“The leader of Gimun…”
“As I have already explained, I know nothing of Murim factions. Settle your account first, and I will send people to inquire.”
Naeng Han-sang looked up at the woman.
With her heavily painted face, it was impossible to tell whether she spoke truth or lies.
“How much?”
“Fifty taels of silver.”
After a long hesitation, he answered.
“I do not have that much money. Bring the leader of Gimun. He will settle the bill.”
“So you enjoyed yourself without a single coin? Sa-wol-ah.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Go to the waiting room and bring the brothers from Sahaebang.”
“Yes, madam.”
The maid named Sa-wol hurried away.
Hwaryeon glared at the middle-aged man with cold eyes.
There were always loafers who pulled such absurd stunts.
They claimed to be the emperor’s relative, the governor’s friend, the magistrate’s cousin, and so on.
This was the first time someone had asked for the Gimun leader, but she assumed he was cut from the same cloth.
In truth, Jawoon-gak had no connection to Haomun.
Meanwhile, Naeng Han-sang remained half skeptical.
Honestly, everything so far had unfolded within his expectations.
No matter how lowly Haomun might be, its leader would not meet just anyone.
So he waited, and soon warriors who clearly belonged to the unorthodox path arrived.
The leader of Sahaebang, So Jin-wol, stared at the middle-aged man and said, “I am So Jin-wol, leader of Sahaebang. Who are you?”
“I am Naeng Han-sang of Geom-gak. This matter concerns only me and Gimun, so stay out of it.”
So Jin-wol flinched but did not retreat.
“I have met a man here who claimed to be the emperor’s sworn brother. Can you prove you are truly from Geom-gak?”
“Disciples of Geom-gak speak with their swords.”