The Real Black Curtain is Closer Than You Think (4)
“Perfect timing. I was just thinking of spending some time with Jo-woong myself.”
If that's the case, I should respond to young master Jo-woong's feelings in kind.
I accepted readily.
“I'm grateful you say that.”
It was then.
“Miss! Big trouble!”
A frantic voice from outside.
And the door burst open.
The one who opened it was the maid of Lady Dang Su-bin.
Her expression alone conveyed the urgency.
Lady Dang Su-bin asked with a tense face.
“What is it?”
“They're saying the Disciplinary Assembly is being held right now.”
.
.
.
The Disciplinary Assembly.
It was convened whenever someone in the Sacheon Dang Clan had to be punished according to clan rules.
There, they heard the defense of the accused and meted out an appropriate penalty.
“I can't believe it! For big brother and second brother to leak the clan's poisons?!”
Lady Dang Su-bin looked utterly bewildered.
I was just as shocked.
The Sacheon Dang Clan's poisons spreading outside weren't quite enough to draw public condemnation and brand them as black道—yet.
I'd thought they needed one or two more incidents like the plague poison that struck the Hyeongmun Sect or the Mountain Emptying Poison that nearly ruined elder brother Jin-ho's branch leader announcement.
But to spring it this quickly?
Hmm...
Come to think of it, both were truly dangerous if they spread.
The Hyeongmun plague had been contained thanks to the spirit medicines I and Wan-gyeol provided, but if it had spread further, the entire martial world would've been in chaos.
The Mountain Emptying Poison was the same.
Actually, neither harmed civilians much, but they instilled sheer terror in martial artists.
This level might just be enough.
In truth, the distinction between white道 and black道 was something only martial folk debated.
To civilians, both were just dangerous armed threats.
“Um, Lady Dang.”
“Yes, Young Master Eun.”
“Isn't the Disciplinary Assembly a clan matter? Is it all right for an outsider like me to attend?”
“That's fine. You have a special identity token. With that, you can attend unless the Dongbaek Council unanimously objects.”
“What's the Dongbaek Council?”
“It's the meeting where the Sacheon Dang Clan makes major decisions. The Supreme Patriarch, the clan head, and the heads of each hall and division gather to deliberate.”
So, like the Eunhae Merchant Group's Silver Moon Council.
In that moment, I understood why Deputy Leader Dang Yeon-chil had rushed to trigger this.
It was because of me.
I was an outsider.
But I had the Emperor's trust, I was the rapidly rising branch leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, and the clan treated me as a benefactor.
Could they bury such a massive scandal with me watching?
So, the Sacheon Dang Clan had no choice but to impose fitting punishment on the culprits.
Even if it meant severe penalties.
Since I'd said I was leaving tomorrow or the day after, they were in a hurry.
Deputy Leader Dang Yeon-chil aimed to completely knock the first and second young masters out of the successor race.
Soon, we arrived at the Disciplinary Assembly site.
It was the training ground south of the administrative hall.
The same place where we'd watched Danhwa Unit's public training yesterday.
Crowds had already gathered and sat, with more arriving steadily.
“This way.”
Lady Dang Su-bin led me to the front, letting me observe the assembly up close.
In the center of the training ground stood a table and chairs, occupied by twelve people.
The clan head and Danhwa Unit leader were there too.
A question occurred to me.
“Why isn't the Supreme Patriarch here?”
“Grandfather is away on a trip right now. But I have no idea where or what he's doing...”
Then came the sound of the table being rapped.
Tang tang tang!
A call for attention.
I looked forward. Clan Head Dang Gwi-jeong was addressing everyone.
“This morning, a request for a Disciplinary Assembly was made. Anyone bearing the Dang surname may call for one. Thus, we convene now.”
“......”
“The requester, step forward.”
Murmurs rippled, and someone came forward.
I'd never seen him before.
“I requested the Disciplinary Assembly.”
“State your affiliation and name.”
“My name is Dang In. I'm a squad leader in the Hobu Unit.”
The clan head nodded, glancing at the paper in his hand. It must've been the request document.
“Why did you request it?”
“Here, I accuse First Young Master Dang Gu-bok, deputy leader of Jisaeng Hall.”
Gasps and buzzes erupted, the crowd buzzing like a swarm of bees.
Tang tang tang!
“Silence!”
The assembly quieted.
“Squad Leader Dang In, continue.”
“Yes.”
“And additionally, Second Young Master Dang Jin-su, head of Dokhwa Hall.”
I glanced at the first and second young masters.
They looked utterly flustered.
No wonder—they'd never imagined being the targets.
Lady Dang Su-bin beside me wore the same shocked expression.
So accusations were revealed on-site at the assembly?
To leave no time to destroy evidence.
I shot a glance at Dang Yeon-chil. He feigned shock, but a market veteran like me could spot the act.
Clear as day.
He'd pushed a proxy to the front.
No matter the crime, accusing direct kin—brothers, no less—didn't paint a pretty picture.
“The accused, first and second young masters, step forward.”
At the clan head's command, they reluctantly approached and sat in prepared chairs.
Squad Leader Dang In explained the charges.
“A few months ago, I saw the two young masters meeting. They said the clan's prestige could only stand if the world feared the Sacheon Dang Clan.”
“What?”
“W-We never said that.”
The clan head barked at their protests.
“Quiet.”
“......”
“Accuser, continue.”
“Yes.”
Squad Leader Dang In pressed on.
“I doubted my ears, but believing the clan's future leaders would find the right path, I withdrew. My mistake.”
“......”
“Later, on patrol, I saw them meet again. They spoke of spreading the clan's poisons to instill fear, and even detailed plans.”
His words flowed smoothly, like a clear stream.
Squad Leader Dang In claimed the first young master was behind the Hyeongmun plague poison, the second the spreading Mountain Emptying Poison.
“Do the first and second young masters have anything to say?”
“This is outrageous.”
“We've never done such a heinous thing.”
The clan head turned.
“Does Squad Leader Dang In have evidence?”
“Yes!”
“......!”
The crowd fell silent.
“I witnessed the young masters hiding materials that could serve as proof.”
“Where?”
“First young master in the poison hall's cages, second under Dokhwa Hall's eaves.”
What?
Those 'evidences' were in my pocket right now?
I'd swapped them out.
Good thing I'd moved yesterday.
Otherwise, it'd have been a real mess.
Moments later,
Two bundles were placed before them.
Brought by the clan's Disciplinary Unit warriors.
“These were found where Squad Leader Dang In indicated.”
“Hard to find without exact locations.”
“The poison hall cages even required a beast tamer's help—we couldn't enter.”
“Well done.”
The clan head asked Squad Leader Dang In.
“Are these what you saw?”
“Yes. No doubt.”
He nodded firmly.
The young masters protested.
“I don't know what those are.”
“Neither do I.”
The clan head ordered the warriors.
“Open the bundles.”
They did, revealing books inside each.
“Bring them here.”
Other Dongbaek Council members who'd been silent spoke up.
“Clan head, forgive the interruption, but we should inspect first.”
“Doubting me?”
“Since the accused are your sons, some might tamper. Precaution.”
“......”
The clan head nodded and stepped back.
“Very well.”
“First and second young masters, and the heads of Squad Leader Dang In's unit, withdraw.”
The three rose and retreated.
Nearly half the Dongbaek Council followed.
Warriors handed the books to the remaining members.
But
Their faces reddened by the moment.
No surprise.
Those books... were spring picture collections.
They'd ended up in my pocket mixed with books I'd ordered.
In Beijing, I'd given a bookshop a list of desired titles to fetch.
Two volumes of erotic illustrations had slipped in—embarrassing mistake.
I'd kept them for a refund, but time slipped away, and they stayed in my pouch.
Could've sent someone, but it'd likely be Palgap, and that... no thanks.
Anyway, they'd come in handy now.
The council members squirmed, averting eyes.
Why the fuss? You know what they are.
The clan head tilted his head at their reaction.
“What's wrong?”
“Ahem, ahem...”
“Well, ahem.”
An elder muttered awkwardly.
“I see why the young masters deny these.”
The first and second bit their lips. Squad Leader Dang In and the third young master smirked faintly.
But those smirks didn't last.
“To slander the young masters with this as evidence?!”
“And still cling to life?”
“......Pardon?”
Squad Leader Dang In looked baffled.
“W-What do you mean?”
Thud!
They tossed the books at him.
“See for yourself!”
He picked them up, flipped through.
“......!”
Shocked, he muttered in disbelief.
“H-How... No, they were definitely those documents!”
He yelled at the young masters.
“Where did you hide them? The Contagious Emptying Plague and Seven Treasures Mountain Emptying Poison files!”
The clan head's face turned icy.
“How do you know those names?”
“......!”
“Even I don't know them yet, but you do...”
Whoosh!
The clan head blurred forward, sealing his acupoints with swift precision.
His realm was jaw-dropping.
“Means someone put you up to this.”
Paralyzed, terror filled Dang In's eyes.
“We'll hear it in time. Take him away!”
“Yes!”
Disciplinary warriors dragged him off.
I eyed the third young master.
Relief on his face, but I'd seen it.
That fleeting grimace moments ago.
The clan head addressed the other Dongbaek members.
“No charges against the young masters here. Your thoughts?”
“We agree.”
To all, he declared.
“Someone schemed to frame the young masters. I declare them innocent.”
The two sighed in relief; Lady Dang Su-bin beside me did too.
“Thank goodness. Really...”
Tears welled in her eyes; I offered my handkerchief.
“You care for them deeply.”
“Yes. My big brothers are truly good men. If they'd been wrongly punished...” Hic.
Tension released, she wept.
Should I comfort her?
But I couldn't relax.
The third young master wouldn't stop at one ploy.
I had to block the next before it came.
Best way: rip off his mask...
Then, a brilliant idea struck.