The Line Has Been Crossed

"Don't pressure me with such ridiculous talk. I've been patient enough until now. Just leave. Go tell Magistrate Do-gyeom that if the Jangan County Office shows proper courtesy, I'll agree to talk."

"Master Ha, please comply while I'm still asking nicely. I'm holding back quite a lot myself right now. Jin-pung! Isn't that right!"

Suddenly shouted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dan Yeop, and one of the constables behind him answered.

"Yes! That's correct! He is holding back a lot!"

When even the constable started acting cheeky, Ha Ryun finally exploded.

Jang Ho the constable had bowed his head, yet still gotten beaten for it.

Yet to be openly insulted like this right before his eyes? For a man of the sa-pa with no backing, such a thing could not stand.

"Heh heh. I've given you chance after chance, but you insist on crossing the line. I'll cut off one of your arms and teach you a proper lesson. In the future, watch who you're speaking to before you run your mouth."

Having finished speaking, Ha Ryun rose from his seat.

In that instant Dan Yeop took one step toward him and swung his hand.

Slap―!

With a sound like striking thick dough, Ha Ryun's body spun like a top.

He crashed onto the table beside him with a tremendous clatter.

Ha Ryun scrambled upright, drew his sword, and roared.

"You bastard! You dare launch a surprise attack? This cannot be forgiven!"

Ha Ryun charged forward and swung his sword like a thunderbolt.

It was his signature technique, Ghost Shadow Soul Slayer.

True to its name, the blade moved like a ghost; it could not even be seen.

But that was only for the constables and courtesans. In Dan Yeop's eyes, the sword's trajectory stood out clearly.

The moment Dan Yeop drew his horizontal saber, sparks exploded between the two men.

Clang! Clang! Clang―!

Ha Ryun was startled that a mere constable had blocked his first move.

Yet it was too late to stop. Throwing all face aside, he poured out every secret technique he possessed.

From the second form, Blood Light Wild Dance, to the third form, Rakshasa Annihilation Array…

No matter how fiercely he attacked, he could not touch even a single hem of the constable's clothes.

Not even the annoying tinted glasses perched on the man's nose had been disturbed.

He's stronger than me!

The realization struck Ha Ryun like cold water. He hurriedly retreated.

Panting heavily, he demanded, "Haa! Haa! Who are you!"

"I already told you. A constable of the Jangan County Office. If you continue resisting, I will cut you down for the safety of my men."

"Stop lying! There's no way a supreme expert like you is a mere constable!"

"Don't look down on constables. Will you take the rope, or will you take the blade?"

"……."

After a brief pause, Ha Ryun sheathed his saber.

"Place your sword on the table."

Ha Ryun did exactly as instructed, setting the weapon down and stepping back.

After Dan Yeop recovered the blade, he spoke to the waiting constables.

"Jin-pung! Bind the criminal."

Jin-pung quickly approached and tied Ha Ryun tightly with rope.

Ha Ryun did not resist, hoping to avoid acupoint strikes.

Unfortunately for him, such petty tricks did not work on Dan Yeop.

Dan Yeop approached naturally and pressed his acupoints with ruthless, precise force.

"Ugh! Ack! Kugh! What are you doing!"

The pain felt like being stabbed with an awl. Ha Ryun shuddered violently.

Dan Yeop answered calmly.

"When arresting a martial artist, acupoint pressing is standard procedure. Just accept it."

"What kind of sect in the world uses acupoints like this!"

"There are such factions."

That was exactly how Haomun operated.

Without any refined acupoint techniques available, Dan Yeop had no other choice.

Before being dragged away by the constables, Ha Ryun spoke to Ja-gyeong.

"Ja Hyangju, go to the Pavilion Master at once and report exactly what you witnessed. The Pavilion Master will clear my unjust treatment."

"Understood."

Ja-gyeong avoided making eye contact with Constable Dan Yeop as much as possible.

She could not afford to be caught in the same net and dragged away herself.

Once Dan Yeop and the constables had taken Ha Ryun away, Ja-gyeong also hurriedly left the pleasure house.

The courtesans of Hwawolru who had been watching from a distance began gathering in small groups, chattering excitedly.

"Was that really Hall Leader Ha Ryun of Janwol Pavilion who just got dragged off by the constable?"

"It was. So-wol and Mi-hyang were attending him."

"He didn't seem like an ordinary constable. What constable walks around wearing tinted glasses? Especially at night."

"Maybe he's hiding his identity."

"That would explain it. The Jangan County Office must have invited a high-level martial expert. Otherwise none of this makes sense."

"But why would such an expert work as a constable? He should at least be a magistrate."

"Huh? That is strange. Then what is going on?"

While the courtesans argued back and forth about Dan Yeop's true identity, Ok-hwan quietly mulled his name in her mind.

Tinted glasses, handsome features, profound martial arts—the perfect combination that struck every chord in her heart.

The fact that he was a constable was a little disappointing, but compared to those three qualities it was merely a tiny flaw.

So he's Dan Yeop, the constable of Jangan County Office?

In the Full Moon Pavilion that served as the master's residence, two men sat facing each other.

They were Sa-woo, Pavilion Master of Janwol Pavilion and master of the Hidden Moon Shadowless technique, and Hyangju Ja-gyeong.

"...Right before he was taken away, Hall Leader Ha told me to come straight to you and report everything. He said you, Pavilion Master, would clear his name and resolve this injustice."

When Ja-gyeong finished speaking, Pavilion Master Sa-woo asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"So you're telling me that Hall Leader Ha Ryun was drinking with you at Hwawolru when a constable from Jangan County Office arrested him? You don't look drunk, so what kind of nonsense is this? You crazy fool! At least say something believable. How could a mere constable arrest Hall Leader Ha Ryun? Was Ha Ryun so drunk he couldn't stand?"

"No, sir. It happened before he could even finish one bottle."

"What was the constable's name?"

"He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said it was Dan Yeop."

"Dan Yeop... I've heard that name before... Wait. Is it that bastard from Haomun?"

"Haomun? You know that young man?"

"......"

Pavilion Master Sa-woo offered no reply.

Last winter he had heard that Haomun had appointed Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop as chief and regular instructor.

At the time he had simply laughed it off, thinking the idiots were putting on airs.

Has that Dan Yeop bastard planted himself inside the Jangan County Office?

Given how underhanded Haomun usually behaved, it was entirely possible.

They had probably installed him there with the intention of using the government for their own purposes.

What he could not understand was the man's martial strength.

With Haomun's martial arts, it should have been impossible to subdue Blood Rakshasa Ha Ryun even if he died and came back to life.

There must be something else at play.

Yet no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.

"Ja-gyeong."

"Yes!"

"As soon as day breaks, go to Haomun and investigate Dan Yeop. Find out about his martial background and whether he truly entered the Jangan County Office as a constable."

"Yes!"

The next morning.

Pavilion Master Sa-woo went to meet Seol-yeom, the Gyeongjo-yun who stood behind them.

The Gyeongjo-yun oversaw the administration of Chang'an Castle and the surrounding regions, handling everything from judicial enforcement and public security to civil affairs.

On the surface the two men seemed completely mismatched, but in reality they were economic partners.

Seol-yeom turned a blind eye to Janwol Pavilion's illegal operations—secret gambling dens, smuggling, and the like—in exchange for bribes or a share of the profits.

He had even mobilized Janwol Pavilion experts to eliminate political rivals on occasion.

Seol-yeom looked at Sa-woo, who had come calling at the crack of dawn, with clear displeasure.

"What is it? The atmosphere is bad these days. I told you not to visit or contact me for a while."

"I wanted to avoid it too, but there's an annoying fellow causing trouble."

"Wasn't dealing with such problems the job of Janwol Pavilion?"

"Even when the opponent is a constable from Jangan County Office?"

"Puhaha! You're telling me Janwol Pavilion couldn't handle a single constable and had to come running to me? How disappointing."

"Of course I could handle him myself. But if I did, wouldn't that only create more trouble for you, Lord Seol?"

When Sa-woo cleverly shot back, the smile vanished from Seol-yeom's face.

"So what exactly do you want me to do?"

"The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠constable is named Dan Yeop. He arrested my subordinate, Ha Ryun."

Seol-yeom focused on the name Ha Ryun rather than Dan Yeop. After all, his goal was to secure Ha Ryun's release.

"Should I have Ha Ryun released?"

"He may interfere with Janwol Pavilion's activities."

In other words, he wanted Dan Yeop removed from his post at the Jangan County Office.

"Are you asking me—the Gyeongjo-yun—to chase away a mere constable?"

"Things have gone sour between him and Janwol Pavilion. We'll clash over every little thing. I won't be able to conduct business in peace."

"You're pushing a single constable onto me because you can't handle him? If it were the county magistrate, perhaps. But if I, the Gyeongjo-yun, suddenly involve myself in the appointment of a low-ranking constable with no official rank, everyone will find it suspicious."

It was true.

The Gyeongjo-yun could control the county magistrate's personnel decisions at will.

But suddenly expelling a mere constable with no rank?

It would immediately become the subject of ugly rumors.

Especially now, when nerves were already raw because of Cheonlyeon.

"What if Constable Dan Yeop is a member of Haomun?"

"Haomun?"

"Yes. No matter how lowly the profession of constable may be, having Haomun dip its toes in it seems rather inappropriate, doesn't it?"

"Wait, what insane person recommended someone from Haomun as a constable?"

"That I do not know. Please look into it and handle the matter yourself, my lord."

"Very well. If Constable Dan Yeop truly belongs to Haomun, the situation changes. I will take care of it."

"Thank you, my lord. And this is a small token of appreciation."

Sa-woo took a wooden box from his robe and subtly slid it toward Seol-yeom.

Seol-yeom pretended to hesitate before accepting it and checking the contents.

Inside were more than ten pearls.

A satisfied smile finally bloomed on Seol-yeom's face.

"You didn't have to. I will look into your subordinate's matter and resolve it immediately."

"Thank you. Then I will take my leave."

Pavilion Master Sa-woo bowed respectfully and turned to go.

Jangan County Office.

Interrogation room.

Since early morning Dan Yeop had been questioning Blood Rakshasa Ha Ryun about the whereabouts of Myeol-do.

"Master Ha, we're both tired, so let's finish this quickly. Where can I find Myeol-do? If you keep claiming you don't know, this will only get bigger. Our magistrate isn't above using torture, you know. You understand how tense the atmosphere in Chang'an Castle is these days, don't you?"

"Hmph! I only saw Myeol-do once, three years ago. I kindly told you the man in the portrait was Myeol-do, yet you labeled me a traitor instead? After doing something like that, do you still dare call yourself human? This is exactly why constables are despised."

"That happened because you beat Constable Jang Ho while he was conducting an investigation. Why make up excuses? Did someone else beat Constable Jang Ho?"

"An insignificant fellow kept pestering me, so I taught him a lesson. I'm not the sort of person who plays around with mere constables, am I? You said the magistrate was coming? Perfect. I have something to say to him as well, so tell him to hurry."

Even after being captured, Ha Ryun had not lost any of his arrogance.

On ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the contrary, he boldly demanded the magistrate's presence.

In truth it was only because Dan Yeop was so rigid; from the perspective of Ha Ryun, an expert of Janwol Pavilion, such confidence was understandable.

While the two men argued heatedly, the sound of many footsteps approached from outside.

Soon Magistrate Jo Mu-jin and Commander Do-gyeom entered the interrogation room accompanied by two officials.

The two officials were Seol-yeom the Gyeongjo-yun and his aide, Seo Mun-gang the Gyeongjo Deputy of junior fourth rank.

Ha Ryun's eyes regained their light the moment he saw Seol-yeom.

Seo Mun-gang looked at Ha Ryun and exclaimed in shock, greeting him as an acquaintance.

"Oh? Isn't this Master Ha! What brings you here of all places..."

Seo Mun-gang glanced back and forth between Ha Ryun and Magistrate Jo Mu-jin with a bewildered expression.

Then he asked Jo Mu-jin,

"Magistrate Jo, what is the reason for arresting Master Ha?"

As the Gyeongjo Deputy, Seo Mun-gang was