Is There Anyone in the World Who Knows Me? (1)
Is There Anyone in the World Who Knows Me? (1)
"I've finished investigating Jong Yuseop."
"Eee-yaaa-ya-ya-yaaat...!"
Just as Zhuge Yeong-yu was proudly announcing the results of his investigation, Seon-go's spirited shout burst from the wooden floor of the inner room nearby. She had once trained in martial arts to some degree, and now she had advanced beyond simply balancing on her arms—she was attempting push-ups with her legs lifted off the ground.
Zhuge Yeong-yu glanced briefly toward the sound, then turned back to me and spoke.
"So, I looked into it. Back when Elder Jonghwan of the Zhongnan Sect was young..."
"Eee-yaaa-aaah...! Ow-ow-ow-owt...!"
"Madam! You can do it!"
Zhuge Yeong-yu turned his head again. The building cleverly blocked the view, so Seon-go herself was hidden; only the attendant cheering and fussing outside was visible. Yeong-yu tilted his head quizzically, then looked at me and said.
"...Is she settling a gambling debt or something?"
Holding back my laughter, I called out with a brazenly innocent face.
"Dear, we have a guest now. Please rest a little and continue later."
"Oh dear."
The moment I spoke, something thudded softly onto the wooden floor, followed by a cute yelp. Zhuge Yeong-yu merely tilted his head in puzzlement. Once the house quieted down, I pushed a teacup toward him and spoke.
"Let's continue. So, what about when Elder Jonghwan of the Zhongnan Sect was young?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu took a sip of tea and nodded. Then he resumed speaking.
"When Jonghwan was young, his family was suffering from severe financial hardship, and I heard that Venerable Geumbok supported them. According to the stories, Venerable Geumbok himself had endured many difficulties in his youth, so he felt compassion for a young man unable to focus on martial arts because of family troubles, and he helped him out."
I found it interesting that Venerable Geumbok had helped someone out of pure goodwill. Had he recognized a future giant of the Zhongnan Sect back then and offered assistance in advance?
"Wasn't it calculated?"
"Who could have known that the young man he helped would rise all the way to become an elder of the Zhongnan Sect? After that, Venerable Geumbok and Jonghwan maintained their friendship. One day, when Jonghwan's son collapsed with a fever, Venerable Geumbok spent a large sum of money to summon a physician and provide medicine, saving the son's life. I don't know what their relationship is like now, but back then, Venerable Geumbok and Jonghwan were so close that even the word 'intimate' falls short."
"And then Jonghwan became an elder of the Zhongnan Sect."
Zhuge Yeong-yu nodded.
"That's right. Jonghwan became an elder of the Zhongnan Sect. I don't mean to disparage the elder, but Venerable Geumbok's help was clearly a factor in his rise. Originally, Jonghwan's family was not well-off, and poor families do not receive support from a sect. But Jonghwan caught Venerable Geumbok's eye and received various forms of support, which allowed him to devote himself to his training with ease."
"Is money really that important in sect life?"
Having only vaguely imagined life in a major sect, this was somewhat surprising to me. No matter what, aren't they fundamentally people who pursue the Dao? Zhuge Yeong-yu nodded at my question.
"It is important. A sect does not extend its conveniences to a disciple's family. But how can a person completely sever their ties to the secular world? There are often those who, despite having talent, succumb to heart demons from worrying about their family, or get expelled for laying their hands on things they shouldn't. Compared to such individuals, Jonghwan received heavenly fortune."
As they say, wherever people live, things are the same. Even in the martial world, where superhumans run rampant, money was still money.
It was the same everywhere.
That was why I liked money. Because it makes people honest.
"So when Jonghwan became an elder of the Zhongnan Sect, Venerable Geumbok was able to exert his influence over the martial world?"
"That's right. Furthermore, as Jonghwan and Venerable Geumbok grew close, Jonghwan's son, Jong Yuseop, became deeply devoted to Venerable Geumbok. I've heard that whenever Jonghwan went into seclusion or had to travel far on business, Venerable Geumbok would take in the young Jong Yuseop and raise him. To Jong Yuseop, Venerable Geumbok is like a father, and Jonghwan, having received such grace extending even to his son, could not possibly ignore Venerable Geumbok."
I sorted the situation in my head. Jonghwan, whom Venerable Geumbok had invested in since childhood, became an elder, and Venerable Geumbok's influence in the martial world had swelled. Sensing his growing power, Venerable Geumbok was now committing evil deeds with members of the Zhongnan Sect loyal to him, with the intention of devouring the martial world.
"So that's why Jong Yuseop is currently acting as Venerable Geumbok's lackey, perpetrating evil everywhere. Is a man who would kill on his father's orders a filial son? Or a beast?"
"If you're asking about Jong Yuseop, I can tell you he is a wretched fellow. How can one who has learned martial arts consider coveting worldly wealth and encroaching on official domains to be filial piety and righteousness?"
I nodded as if impressed by Zhuge Yeong-yu's words and drew in a breath. Then, clapping my hands, I spoke.
"That is an absolutely just statement. The bastards have committed sins, so they must naturally face judgment."
Zhuge Yeong-yu smiled. His smile was oddly unpleasant. He smiled exactly like a woman putting on a coquettish air. With his delicate features, no matter how debauched a patron of brothels he was, such an expression made me doubt his identity.
Zhuge Yeong-yu suddenly corrected his expression, looked at me, and asked cautiously.
"...What's with that expression?"
"What do you mean, what?"
"Your face turned unpleasant all of a sudden, so I wondered if something was wrong."
If I said, 'Your face is unpleasant,' even the magnanimous Zhuge Yeong-yu would get angry, wouldn't he? I averted my gaze and spoke.
"There's no particular problem. Anyway, hearing that Jong Yuseop follows Venerable Geumbok like his own father gives me confidence in the operation. We can decisively push Jong Yuseop out, and with this operation, I intend to smash Venerable Geumbok to pieces as well."
Zhuge Yeong-yu looked intrigued when I spoke with such confidence. If I hadn't produced results in Sichuan, he would have thought I was talking nonsense. But I had just devoured a woman of the Taiji Sect in Sichuan and completely ruined the Zhongnan Sect's marriage.
Zhuge Yeong-yu's eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"Tell me specifically. I'm curious what kind of plan it is."
"Before the plan, let me ask one thing."
"What is it?"
"How far can you go for the sake of the operation?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu rolled his eyes briefly at those words, then asked me in return.
"...How far do you intend to go?"
I spoke.
"Can you become Venerable Geumbok's loyal subordinate and smash one or two official posts? Could you gain his trust that way?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu smiled again at that suggestion. He nodded as he smiled.
"That much would be no problem. Here in Shaanxi, there are many corrupt officials I want to smash but haven't been able to eliminate due to my lack of authority. Besides, if I expand the sect through my orders, I can naturally spread subordinates who will serve as a communication network with the Zhongnan Sect. No problem."
It would have been a disaster if he had refused with an upright, principled face, but he accepted readily. I liked his crisp, decisive answer.
"That's fortunate, then. It's a matter that requires the great hero's active cooperation."
Zhuge Yeong-yu nodded. He looked pleased now that we were getting down to truly smashing Venerable Geumbok to pieces. He spoke.
"Is that the only thing I need to do for you?"
"No. I need detailed information on Jong Yuseop's next operations."
At my words, Zhuge Yeong-yu stroked his chin. While he deliberated, I continued speaking.
"The more, the better. Even operations where Jong Yuseop merely dipped his toes are fine, and missions he is personally commanding are even better. Gather all information on operations related to him and inform me."
Zhuge Yeong-yu spoke.
"What do you intend to do with that?"
"I intend to obstruct the bastard."
Zhuge Yeong-yu looked puzzled. He narrowed his brow and asked.
"If it gets revealed that an outsider is interfering, won't their guard grow stricter? Besides, Jong Yuseop is a master who has reached the peak realm. Can you handle him?"
"Is there a need to handle him? It's not that I wish for Jong Yuseop to get hurt. Ruining the bastard's work has absolutely nothing to do with my level of martial skill, and there's no need for me to reveal myself."
I was confident. Thoroughly ruining every task Jong Yuseop commanded without showing my face. I had the secret method left by Sex Demon Cheonpung to hide my presence, and I also had the hidden weapon called Sannyeo to use whenever things started to feel like they were going awry.
I spoke.
"You needn't worry about me getting trapped in a tight spot."
Zhuge Yeong-yu smiled. But this time, his eyes were not smiling. His gaze was trying to grasp my true intent.
"If things even slightly start to go awry, I will consider this operation nonexistent. And... there might be some hindrance to our relationship. I'd appreciate it if you kept that in mind and acted prudently."
"I do not fail."
Zhuge Yeong-yu looked slightly surprised at those words.
I looked at his expression and smiled.
"Try believing in me. I'll flip this board over for you."
Zhuge Yeong-yu's eyes wavered strangely.
That peculiar gaze felt burdensome, so I turned my head toward my teacup.