The Mastermind Lurks Nearby (1)
I followed Sojeo Dang Su-bin out of the annex pavilion.
"Our Sacheon Tang Clan is broadly divided into the inner quarters, the outer quarters, and the martial training grounds."
"Then where am I staying?"
"The outer quarters, of course. By clan law, outsiders can never stay in the inner quarters."
"So I won't get to see the inner quarters today, then."
At my words tinged with regret, she shook her head.
"That's not true."
"Pardon? You just said outsiders can never stay in the inner quarters..."
"As long as you leave before ha-si—the hour of the boar, from nine to eleven at night."
I understood what she meant.
"So the rule about not staying in the inner quarters means you can't spend the night there?"
"Yes, exactly."
Sojeo Dang Su-bin nodded.
"It's a law that applies to those with outer fortress status and outsiders."
I asked again.
"Then how do you distinguish between inner and outer fortress members?"
She kindly explained to my question.
"Inner fortress means direct lineage. So everyone except the Supreme Patriarch, the Clan Lord, and their children—all collateral branches—are outer fortress."
"I see."
"If one of your siblings becomes Clan Lord, the rest become collateral branches from that point on. Most clans are probably like that."
The Eunhae Merchant Group is the same.
That's why big clans often have fierce succession struggles.
To avoid being pushed to collateral status.
And to ensure the direct line continues through their own children.
Thinking about it that way, in my past life, when Jeong Ho hyung yielded the merchant group leadership to me, it must have taken tremendous resolve.
Still, in our group, any blood relative can always stay in the inner quarters.
This place is pretty strict.
"Shall we head to the inner quarters first?"
"Yes, please lead the way."
Sojeo Dang Su-bin led me and my group along a path between tall walls.
The road was so wide that two carriages could pass side by side without issue, giving the feel of strolling through a bustling market alley.
Soon, we arrived at the Sacheon Tang Clan's inner quarters.
As we approached, the warriors guarding the front crossed their spears.
"Halt!"
"Only those with permission may enter."
At that, Dang Su-bin pulled a plaque from her bosom and said,
"This is Dang Su-bin. These people are benefactors of the clan and have the Clan Lord's permission to tour the inner grounds."
Then she turned to us.
"You have the plaques I gave you earlier, right? Show them."
Come to think of it, before leaving the annex, Sojeo Dang Su-bin had given each of us a jade plaque.
She'd said they were special identity tokens.
When we showed ours, the warriors straightened their spears and cleared the way.
"Our apologies. Please enter."
As I passed through the grand gate of the inner quarters, I glanced at the jade plaque in my hand.
So this is basically a pass that works anywhere in the Sacheon Tang Clan.
Nice.
The Sacheon Tang Clan's inner quarters were impeccably maintained.
Red-tiled roofs and tall buildings, yet somehow it put the mind at ease.
She pointed somewhere and said,
"That's my residence. Would you like to come in for some tea?"
Tea not in a reception room, but her personal quarters? What could she be thinking?
I smiled and declined politely.
"My apologies, but I don't have much time. And I've heard the Tang Clan grounds are quite vast."
"That's true."
Agreeing with me, Sojeo Dang Su-bin looked a bit disappointed but soon smiled again and guided us around.
The inner quarters were where the direct lineage resided.
That meant few people lived there.
Yet its scale was immense.
It took the whole morning just to tour the inner quarters.
But thanks to that, I learned something.
All the buildings, trees, and rocks for landscaping weren't placed haphazardly.
They were meticulously arranged according to formations.
In my past life, I'd studied formations after getting caught in them too many times.
Thanks to that, I could tell everything in the inner quarters was part of a formation.
It blocked intruders while making it hard to leave easily.
In a pinch, they'd make their last stand here.
Sojeo Dang Su-bin said,
"Then after lunch, we can see the outer quarters and martial grounds."
"Sounds good."
"Before that, just a moment."
She looked at me, and I tilted my head.
"Something you want to say?"
"No, I just want to gaze at our benefactor for some peace of mind."
"Pardon?"
"Looking at handsome men calms my heart."
"......"
I was at a loss for words, staring at her with hands clasped together.
Behind me, Palgap looked like he was dying of amusement.
If Sojeo Dang Su-bin's death was the Murim Alliance's scheme, they must have used a honey trap.
......
......
After lunch, we headed to the outer quarters.
"The outer quarters house outer fortress members, vassal clan affiliates, and such. I'll end up living here someday too."
From that, I realized Sojeo Dang Su-bin had no ambition for Clan Lord.
"There's no young lord yet, is there?"
"True."
No young lord meant all the Clan Lord's children still had a chance.
Including Sojeo Dang Su-bin.
In scholarly clans, maybe not, but in murim families with enemies, gender didn't matter for Clan Lord.
If you were strong in martial arts and could lead the clan to prosperity, you became lord.
That was the law of the strong in murim.
And the Dang Su-bin I knew was exceptionally talented.
The moniker "Crimson Jade of Sacheon" wasn't given lightly.
She shook her head.
"But I have no interest in the Clan Lord position. Once a young lord is chosen, I plan to go to the Murim Alliance."
"The Murim Alliance?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"I don't want to be tied to the Sacheon Tang Clan forever. I want to venture into the wider world."
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
But I knew what fate awaited her at the Murim Alliance.
That's why I couldn't cheer her dream.
"Truth be told, I'm deeply grateful you saved Jo-woong this time."
Dang Jo-woong was the Clan Lord's youngest.
Sojeo Dang Su-bin's little brother.
"As I told the Clan Lord, it was possible because of our connection."
"I figured you'd say that."
She smiled softly and continued.
"Of course I'm thankful for saving Jo-woong, but personally, I'm grateful too."
"Pardon?"
"Jo-woong is the talent who'll be a great pillar of the Sacheon Tang Clan."
From that, I could tell who she supported for Clan Lord.
She backed Dang Jo-woong.
But in my past life, Dang Jo-woong was kidnapped, forcing the Clan Lord to focus all efforts on finding him.
That likely brought calls to appoint a young lord in his stead.
And the Clan Lord's third son became young lord.
Now, with no kidnapping, did she think young Dang Jo-woong could be young lord?
He's awfully young.
Come to think of it, even in my past life, he made a name as a master at a young age.
Despite a long gap without training, that means his talent is extraordinary.
I looked at her.
She didn't seem bothered by having to move to the outer quarters soon.
Is she really okay with it?
"A rather rude question, but are you truly fine with it, Sojeo?"
"Pardon? With what?"
"Once the Clan Lord is set, the other siblings must leave the inner quarters as outer fortress members. It's like being exiled, isn't it?"
I continued.
"I'd feel resentful."
She shrugged at my words.
"What can you do? It's the law. So I gave up on Clan Lord early and worked hard to prove my worth."
"Your... worth?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Our Sacheon Tang Clan is quite ruthless. If you don't prove your worth, no one hears your voice."
"I see."
"That's how my voice grew louder."
I nodded at that.
Turning my head, I saw Yi Pil-musa's face.
It looked complicated.
We entered the outer quarters through another grand gate, showing our special tokens again.
But the guarding warriors' presence was clearly less intimidating than the inner quarters'.
The inner ones had been like piercing frost.
"Are the guards for inner and outer quarters from different units?"
She nodded at my question.
"Yes. The inner quarters are guarded exclusively by the Dan-hwa Corps, the elite of our main house elites."
Dan-hwa Corps.
Meaning the red camellias, symbol of the Sacheon Tang Clan.
"No one can just join the Dan-hwa Corps. You need direct lineage recommendation, plus sufficient skill and character."
"I see. Who's the captain of that unit?"
"My uncle leads it. You might know him—the Red Flower Whip King."
"Oh! Of course. How could I not know him?"
Red Flower Whip King Dang Dae-jeong.
Unrivaled in whip arts.
They said when he swung his whip, enemy blood sprayed like red petals scattering.
He was one of the staunchest pillars supporting current Clan Lord Dang Gyu-jeong.
But,
He dies soon.
Precisely, after finding Dang Jo-woong, he falls in battle against the Black Path at the Murim Alliance's request.
His death shocked not just the Tang Clan but all murim.
Thinking about it, quite a few good people in the Tang Clan died.
Even if life's unpredictable, this doesn't add up.
Linking it to Sojeo Dang Su-bin's death, I suspected foul play in Dang Dae-jeong's death too.
Hm?
A fact suddenly flashed in my mind.
In my past life, Dang Jo-woong's kidnappers were backed by the Murim Alliance.
Events may seem unrelated, but dig deep and they're tangled like a spiderweb.
If the kidnapping was the start, why did the Murim Alliance target Dang Jo-woong?
Because he was young and easy to abduct?
Easy to ingratiate as a "benefactor"?
I found the clue in Sojeo Dang Su-bin's words.
"The talent to be a great pillar."
A prime Clan Lord candidate.
And Dang Dae-jeong was someone who cherished the Tang Clan deeply.
Famous for fair judgment, unmoved by greed or pressure.
If he deemed Dang Jo-woong Clan Lord material, it was obvious he'd inherit the seat.
Could it be...?
There's a person 'A'.
'A' realizes Dang Jo-woong is Clan Lord material.
'A' must block him. Then the Murim Alliance approaches.
'A' kidnaps Dang Jo-woong with their help.
And eliminates supporters Dang Su-bin and Dang Dae-jeong.
So who is 'A'?
I focused on why 'A' didn't kill Dang Jo-woong.
Why kidnap instead?
Killing would be simpler.
If 'A' is Dang Jo-woong's sibling, it makes sense.
Ambition for Clan Lord, but couldn't kill family.
Or after becoming lord, could use him for the clan.
And Sojeo Dang Su-bin?
Her death was probably a mistake.
Or 'A' wanted to spare her, but Murim Alliance wouldn't allow it.
In this changed life, with Tang poison-like substances spreading, the culprit is one of the Clan Lord's children.
Ah...
Too much speculation?
I shook my head to clear the thoughts.
Glancing at Yi Pil-musa, his face was stiff.
He hadn't looked like that at the inner quarters earlier.
Ah...
I realized my oversight.