Spark of Evil (3)
As the sun set, the entertainment district of Hebi revealed a completely different spectacle than what could be seen during the day. Merchants lit lanterns at every stall and began their night trade. Young men and women in dazzling attire that had been nowhere to be found earlier now filled the streets. Solicitous servers called out to passersby at every corner, while high officials hurried past in large palanquins, heading off to who-knows-where.
Was it always this flashy?
In my previous life, most of my nights had been spent either collapsing from exhaustion or grinding through overtime. The fact that I could leisurely stroll around like this now was only possible because I was living a completely different life from back then.
A few old memories flickered through my mind.
[You son of a bitch, if you blow your entire monthly wage today, how the hell are you gonna survive tomorrow?]
[Who says I’m gonna live to see tomorrow?]
[Huh… you’ve got a point.]
[Hey! Another bottle of that ten-and-a-half-tael silver wine over here!]
Those guys who spent every last coin as if there was no tomorrow, always hoping the next paycheck would somehow save them. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I quickly bought a piece of candy and popped it in.
As I continued walking, I reached my destination only to find it packed with people. What’s going on? At first I thought there was some kind of spectacle, but that wasn’t it. Every single person standing in the long line was dressed in luxurious clothing.
“Hey. You planning to go inside?”
A man standing at the front with three women beside him called out to me. But why the hell was this bastard speaking down to me when we’d never even met?
“I’m here to meet someone.”
“Dressed like that?”
He looked me up and down and let out a snort. The women beside him all covered their mouths, giggling with obvious contempt. Damn, what a face just begging to get slapped.
“Did you make a reservation?”
“A reservation?”
“You don’t even know that Soharu requires reservations as standard?”
A mocking smile played on the man’s lips.
“……I’ve never been here before.”
“Tsk tsk. Typical amateurs. They hear it’s famous and just show up without knowing anything.”
“……”
“What are you waiting for? Go get in line over there. You’re not getting in today anyway.”
“Really? I was supposed to meet someone here today.”
If I’d known reservations were required, I would’ve told them to meet somewhere else. No, wait—Yang Gun-baek was the one who set up this meeting in the first place. I was wondering what to do when the man made me an offer.
“Show me a trick. If I like it, I’ll take you inside.”
“A trick?”
“I see you’re carrying a sword, so you must be a martial artist… Don’t tell me you don’t even have one party trick?”
At his words, the women burst out laughing as if they couldn’t hold it in any longer. One of them was even clutching her stomach. They looked like they were having the time of their lives.
I slowly scanned them one by one before answering calmly.
“I don’t really have any talents besides killing people. Would that do?”
“……”
The mood suddenly dropped like a rock. The women who had been laughing had faces already pale from makeup, but now they turned deathly white. The man who had been about to snap back at me cleared his throat awkwardly, muttered “Typical martial artists,” and turned away.
Right then—
Creak—
The doors of Soharu opened and a manager stepped out holding what looked like a guest list.
“Next is……”
The man and the women quickly prepared to enter, their eyes leaving me. But then—
“Huh? Young Master?”
The manager suddenly spotted me and folded the list.
“Why are you standing out here? If you’ve arrived, you should have come right in.”
“……No, I was just wondering what to do after hearing I needed a reservation.”
“Aigoo! What are you saying! Young Master, you don’t need a reservation at all. You may visit anytime you wish.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Please come in quickly! Your guest is already waiting inside.”
“Got it. Ah……!”
I was about to follow the manager inside when I paused and turned back toward the man and his group. They were now standing there with completely blank faces. I looked them up and down and asked,
“Do any of you have a trick to show?”
“……”
The man clamped his mouth shut at my suggestion. Well, of course. What kind of talent would a guy who spent day and night drinking possibly have?
I entered the building under the manager’s extremely respectful guidance.
#
“Oh?”
In the private room where I had once met the leader of Haomen, I saw a familiar face after a long time.
“It has been a while, Young Master.”
“Weren’t you in Honam Province?”
“I tend to move around quite frequently.”
It was Hae-ryeong, the head manager of Manbin Pavilion.
“Have you been well?”
Next, Yang Gun-baek, whom I had asked to arrange this meeting, greeted me.
“Thanks to you.”
The table was loaded with so much extravagant food it looked like it might break, and the aroma of fine liquor filled the air. Yet there were no musicians or entertainers present. After exchanging a couple of drinks and asking about each other’s well-being, we dove straight into the main topic.
“Here is the information on Jeondeungmun and O Il-sik of the Lightning Blade.”
As Hae-ryeong handed over the documents, I paused while reaching for my wine cup. I hadn’t said a single word about it.
She gave a mysterious smile and said,
“We are constantly observing you, Young Master. Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
I finally understood how Haomen, during the Jeong-Ma Great War of my previous life, had been able to compete on equal footing with the Open Beggar Sect that was backed by the Murim Alliance.
So that’s why the Beggar Sect was so wary of Haomen rising up.
Feeling that strange mix of emotions again about a past I hadn hadn’t known, I examined the documents. However, there was nothing particularly special about Jeondeungmun or O Il-sik. The sect had been built without help from the Qingcheng Sect or Pungyangmun, and O Il-sik was a self-made man who had trained alone to reach his level. That was about all there was.
Then something odd caught my eye.
When my gaze lingered on one particular section, Hae-ryeong spoke up.
“As expected, it would be a waste for you to remain merely a martial artist, Young Master.”
When I tilted my head and met her eyes, a smile bloomed on her lips.
“You noticed the strange part among all that information, didn’t you?”
“For a sect built by one man, the growth rate is abnormally steep.”
When I had first heard about the Solitary Fang Sword, I had assumed it would have taken at least ten years or more to transform from a simple martial hall into a proper sect. Establishing a foothold and expanding influence wasn’t something that happened just because one had high martial prowess. And yet—
The martial hall that had operated by preparing people for the escort agency exam had transformed into a full sect in less than five years. Moreover, the disciples of Jeondeungmun I had faced weren’t a ragtag bunch. They looked like people who had received long-term training and education……
“Three years.”
Hae-ryeong held up three fingers.
“It took exactly three years for the martial hall to become a sect.”
“Did they have a sponsor, by any chance?”
With massive support, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible. However—
“There was none. Jeondeungmun rose to that position purely through one man’s power.”
“……”
I couldn’t easily accept that. Then how did they explain the identical, well-made uniforms the disciples wore? The meticulously maintained swords? The plump cheeks and healthy flesh that showed no signs of hunger?
“Hehe, even you couldn’t predict this far, could you, Young Master?”
“I’m not omnipotent.”
“Huhu, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am about that. It means I can be of help to you like this.”
With that, Hae-ryeong handed over another document. I skimmed it and my eyes widened in shock.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? Most of the people who met O Il-sik originally wanted to become escort warriors. But once they became officials or disciples, they somehow forgot that goal and began offering him money instead.”
Not only their own money, but money borrowed from their parents, relatives—everything. It was more than enough to establish a decent sect without any other sponsors.
“……”
Suddenly, I remembered the disgusting chant those Jeondeungmun members had shouted. The fanatical disciples who had burned their own bodies as if possessed, trying to protect O Il-sik. And how, the moment he died, they had snapped out of it and immediately started looking after their own safety.
……Did he learn some kind of sorcery?
But that didn’t make sense. The Solitary Fang Sword who had been with me at the time had been completely fine.
“Was there someone who taught O Il-sik the blade?”
O Il-sik had been a completely different person before and after picking up the sword. That meant he had learned demonic arts around that time. But contrary to my expectations, Hae-ryeong shook her head.
“After leaving Pungyangmun, O Il-sik never took another master. He also didn’t stay long at any single escort agency and moved around frequently.”
As I listened, O Il-sik’s final moments flashed through my mind.
[Heaven…… Demon’s Resurrection! Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Worship!]
Even on the verge of death, instead of looking for a way to survive, the bastard had screamed about the Demonic Cult—which didn’t even exist in this era yet—and died.
……Just like the demonic practitioners in my previous life.
Grind.
No matter how many times I thought about it, it pissed me off.
“……Young Master?”
“Ah, sorry. Where were we?”
“We were at the part where no one had ever taught O Il-sik anywhere.”
“I see.”
“Hmm, why are you so certain that O Il-sik had a teacher?”
O Il-sik had manifested demonic flower at the moment of his death. That meant he was a madman who had fallen completely for the Demonic Cult. But if he had no teacher, then exactly how had they turned him into a demonic practitioner? And what method had they used to brainwash him into obeying to the point of throwing away his life?
I told her only the part about how O Il-sik had willingly chosen death. Hae-ryeong frowned, looking puzzled.
“That part is certainly strange.”
“Are there others like O Il-sik? People whose skills suddenly skyrocketed or whose forces expanded rapidly?”
Hae-ryeong thought for a moment before nodding.
“There is one place.”
“Who?”
If it was someone following the same process as O Il-sik, then that bastard…… no, that guy might be a demonic practitioner too. Even if I had to uproot his entire sect—
“Jin Sowoon of Tae-eul Gate.”
Huh? Why the hell is my name suddenly—
Hae-ryeong smiled brightly.
“According to what you said, Young Master, ‘Jin Sowoon himself is’ the most suspicious person.”
Ah. She’s right.
#
This was the most fucking annoying part of the whole issue. It was something I had already considered when I destroyed Jeondeungmun—that this wouldn’t be an easy problem to solve.
“Looks like I’ll have to be the first one investigated.”
“While there are a few suspicious points, you have already sufficiently cleared yourself of suspicion, so there is no need to worry.”
Hae-ryeong gave a light smile. Wow… this woman was terrifying. She had already finished investigating me. I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or scared.
Anyway, the real problem was that even if there were more people like O Il-sik, there was no way to prove they were demonic practitioners. It wasn’t like I could force-feed them Pogeukdan.
“Still, we have begun the investigation. Once we gather enough data, we can start the analysis.”
“It’s going to take a lot of time.”
“Isn’t this an important matter?”
Hae-ryeong’s face was more serious than I had ever seen it.
“Young Master. We are taking the importance of this matter very, very seriously. So please do not worry.”
For a moment, I couldn’t say anything. Just a second ago, I had been on the verge of falling into deep discouragement at the thought that things would only get harder. But I wasn’t handling this alone. Realizing that made my heart feel much lighter.
“Thank you.”
When I gave a small bow, Hae-ryeong brought out a bundle from the side.
“I brought this just in case. It contains records of Pungyangmun’s publicly known martial arts and O Il-sik’s unique techniques.”
Oh. When we searched Jeondeungmun, we hadn’t found anything like this.
“The people from Dokamun were very cooperative. Fortunately, we were able to prepare this before the Murim Alliance investigators arrived.”
Suddenly, Hae-ryeong’s eyes grew serious.
“I heard that Deung Go-hyeon’s eyes had turned as black as obsidian… Is that true?”
Well, as an information broker, there was no way she wouldn’t be curious about something like that. She had probably been searching everywhere to obtain Deung Go-hyeon’s corpse. But it would be difficult. A body in that abnormal state was connected to sorcery, which in turn was connected to official merit. No one would trade their career advancement for a few private coins.
“Are you curious?”
“I cannot perform a dissection, but if I could at least see it, that would be good… Would the academy’s top student perhaps be able to arrange a connection?”
“That would be difficult.”
“……”
Both Hae-ryeong and Yang Gun-baek stiffened. A hint of disappointment seemed to leak out.
“……Ah, I made an unreasonable request……”
“Is there really a need to go through all that trouble of coming and going?”
“……Pardon?”
I pushed the bundle I had brought toward them. It made a rattling sound as it moved. Yang Gun-baek, who had been tilting his head, carefully opened it. His eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
“W-what is this?”
Bones that had turned pitch black, as if coated in ink.
“They belong to O Il-sik.”
What I had brought were O Il-sik’s bones, which had been burned by the demonic flower. Hae-ryeong also shot up from her seat and carefully examined the bones beside Yang Gun-baek.
“……You have brought us something truly precious.”
I saw the corners of her mouth twitch. I gave a small nod as I watched her expression.
“Then does that mean I don’t have to pay for the drinks tonight?”
Hae-ryeong, who had been barely holding back her laughter, finally burst out laughing.
“Of course. As if that would be all. We must treat you to something even more valuable.”
She clapped twice. Soon after, a woman entered the inner room carrying a wine bottle.
“Allow me to pour you a cup.”
While Yang Gun-baek and Hae-ryeong examined O Il-sik’s bones, the mysterious woman quietly sat beside me after filling my cup.
“……”
When I looked at her with a strange expression, Hae-ryeong said,
“Ah, that child will stay by your side for the rest of the evening.”
I hadn’t asked for anything like this. For a second I wondered if I had misunderstood Haomen. Then—
Glug glug.
As I watched the wine being poured, I realized something.
“It’s cold……”
The temperature of the liquor falling into the cup was so low that the cup itself quickly became damp. And when I took a sip—
“Oh!”
A sigh of admiration escaped me.
“It is called Hwabingno.”
Cold dew gathered on flowers… The name perfectly matched its taste and aroma. As I sat there marveling, Hae-ryeong’s gentle voice reached me.
“Hwabingno displays its greatest flavor when drunk cold.”
There was clear pride in her voice. Come to think of it, even though there were so many high-class taverns in Hebi, the reason Soharu was always packed was because of this.
Using ice arts to sell alcohol……
After experiencing something this extraordinary, even high officials and rich merchants would lose their minds. Even I, who had learned martial arts, found it fascinating. Ice arts really had many uses. If someone who had learned ice arts had been with us during the last mission, we wouldn’t have had to endure the rotting stench of Deung Go-hyeon’s corpse. It would also be convenient on scorching summer days. Some hall leaders in the Murim Alliance even gave extra points to those who practiced ice arts on purpose.
But it’s not something one can achieve through effort alone……
It really was a shame. In that sense, having an employee who had learned ice arts pour the drinks was quite a rare sight even from a martial artist’s perspective. I should enjoy it while I could.
I brought the Hwabingno to my lips again, but the temperature had risen from the heat of my hand holding the cup, so it no longer gave off its original aroma and taste.
“Once you empty the cup, I will pour you a fresh one.”
It seemed that emptying the cup and pouring a new drink was the proper way to enjoy Hwabingno. The woman who had learned ice arts subtly offered an empty cup. But for some reason, I felt it was too precious to empty so quickly. Tsk, this stuff must cost a fortune.
Hmm…… should I try this?
Maybe I was a little drunk? I recalled how Eunseollan had used her ice arts and circulated my internal energy. Of course, there was no way I could actually use ice arts. I didn’t know the formulas, and the nature of my inner energy itself couldn’t produce ice arts. So it was really nothing more than a drunken prank.
Tssst—
That’s what it was supposed to be, but……
“Y-Young Master?!”
“N-no way!”
“……Oh my!”
All three of them stared at my cup with even more shock than when they had seen O Il-sik’s bones. Hae-ryeong’s astonished voice echoed through the room.
“Young Master…… were you able to use ice arts? Our investigation definitely didn’t show anything like that……!”
……Huh?
I could use ice arts?
I looked at Hae-ryeong with wide eyes and asked,
“What the hell is going on?”
“……Pardon?”
Her expression clearly asked why I was asking her. The wine cup in my hand was just as cold as the look on her face.
“Ah, it’s cold!”
“……”
“……"
In the silent room, only the sweet fragrance of Hwabingno continued to spread.