Heir (1)
Beijing branch's reception room.
Sitting across from me was Poet Song Lok.
I'd arranged this meeting because he'd said he'd uncovered something at the contest venue earlier.
"You must be hungry after judging all day. My apologies."
"It's fine. This is far more important than that, isn't it? And we couldn't discuss it at a restaurant anyway."
"Thank you for understanding."
Song Lok pulled a sheet of paper from his robe and handed it to me.
"Among the poems submitted by today's participants, I found one with markings similar to the poem written on that wall. This is it."
I read the poem. But to my eyes, there didn't seem to be any obvious similarities.
"I'm not seeing it."
At my honest response, he began to explain.
"The poem on that wall was probably written strangely on purpose to hide the writer's identity. Whoever did it had the brains to plan this whole thing."
He continued.
"But I see a poem as a reflection of the poet's essence. The proof lies in their habits."
"Habits?"
"Yes. No matter how hard they try to write strangely, those habits slip through. Especially in an impromptu poetry contest like this, where they compose on the spot—they stand out even more."
"I see. Could you explain in detail?"
"Of course."
He laid out the two poems and pointed them out one by one, explaining patiently.
Only then did the common threads between them become clear to me.
"Ah, got it! What's the name of the poet who wrote this?"
"A man named Jo Saeng from Anhui Province."
"Anhui Province..."
"But the preliminaries aren't over yet, so we should keep watching. There might be others who write poems with similar markings."
This was the third day.
The preliminaries still had two more days to go.
"Understood. I'll leave it to you until then. Let's go get some food now."
I took him to a nearby tavern.
Beijing's streets teemed with people, and the taverns and brothels were packed to capacity.
The Emperor would love to see this.
That was the whole reason for holding the poetry contest in the first place.
Customers meant money flowing, which meant taxes rolling in.
There was a saying: Fear builds power, but food sustains it.
I agreed with that completely.
No matter how mighty the power, it would eventually be trampled by the starving masses.
And the Emperor knew that better than anyone.
***
On the way back after eating.
I sent Song Lok back to the Beijing branch first and headed to O-tong Street.
To retrace the case from the beginning.
A killer using Nangong Clan martial arts for a contract murder...
Nothing came to mind. There'd been no such incidents in my previous life either.
If there had been, the Nangong Clan might have handled it quietly before it reached my ears.
So how to catch him?
Jin Yeong Daehyeop had demanded the Nangong Clan take responsibility and apprehend the culprit.
But I had no intention of relying on them alone.
They were the type to pin it on some innocent if they couldn't find the real one and execute them anyway.
They were capable of that much.
For their honor and interests, they wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice others.
To prevent such wrongful deaths, we had to catch the true killer.
Soon, I arrived at the spot where Poet Na Jeong-su had died.
The area was still cordoned off with golden ropes, guarded by Gold Guards.
The case remained unsolved.
One of the Gold Guards recognized me and bowed.
"You've had a hard time."
"No need for such words. We're just doing our duty."
Impressive discipline.
As expected of the empire's elite, the Gold Guards.
I began examining the surroundings closely once more.
Most of the bloodstains are gone.
Come to think of it, it rained a few days ago.
Hm?
Suddenly, I sensed something odd.
Last time I'd been here, the thick scent of blood had overwhelmed everything...
But now I felt an energy I hadn't noticed before.
Ah! It's coming from over there.
I ducked under the cordon and focused my eyes on the sword marks scratched into the wall.
This is definitely... black path energy.
Something's off.
The traces clearly show Nangong Clan techniques, so why is black path energy lingering here?
Either way, this was evidence.
Previously, the heavy blood scent and all the people coming and going must have masked it.
But now, with only a few Gold Guards standing watch, even faint energies stood out.
The marks on the wall came from pressing Poet Na Jeong-su against it and slashing his body with a sword.
In the heat of wielding the blade, the killer unconsciously let that energy seep out strongly.
Good thing I came here today.
***
The next day.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop visited the Beijing branch and handed me a book.
"What's this book for?"
"Didn't you ask me before? For the list of poets Na Jeong-su insulted in his critiques."
"Ah, right. Yes."
"Here's the list."
"This is it?"
"As you can see, there were so many it took time to compile into a book."
"Thank you."
I opened the list.
Since Na Jeong-su hailed from Anhui Province, most of the poets listed were from there too.
Then Jin Yeong Daehyeop added,
"Oh, and Nangong Yang is on the list too."
Does this guy have no fear?
Criticizing the son of the Nangong Clan Lord while living in Anhui Province?
"But in Nangong Yang's case, his family stepped in and warned him off."
"As expected. Did the victim heed that warning?"
"He put on a brave front, but falling out of favor with the Nangong Clan in Anhui makes life hard."
"True enough."
Nangong Yang was a bastard son from the seventeenth concubine, so Na Jeong-su must have underestimated him. But he'd overlooked one key fact.
Nangong Yang was the Lord's favorite son.
I found the name Song Lok had mentioned on the list.
Jo Saeng from Anhui Province.
There it was.
Below it detailed how he'd been humiliated by a certain poem.
I memorized the name first, then clasped my hands in thanks to Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"Thank you for the information."
"No trouble. I'm glad I could help. If you work hard, I'll benefit too, right?"
True, but it felt burdensome.
It meant if I slipped up, he'd take the hit as well.
"Hahaha. I'll do my best."
***
After briefing him briefly on the situation, Jin Yeong Daehyeop left.
I went into my office and pored over the book in detail.
The more I read, the more I sighed and chuckled bitterly.
Wow... Na Jeong-su was total trash.
I knew his type well.
You inevitably encounter them as a merchant.
Men who chased only fame and self-satisfaction.
Blind to the bloody tears of those around them.
To them, others were mere tools for their glory.
He'd only brought harm to everyone around him, so good riddance?
But his family might not see it that way. To them, he could have been a precious son, husband, father.
Though probably not.
"Vice Officer Kwak."
"Yes."
"Please bear with it a bit longer, even if it's frustrating."
"Pardon?"
She tilted her head briefly, then understood and smiled.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"I feel bad about it."
The group from Guizhou Province's patrol office, including the lord, hadn't returned home yet.
They planned to handle backlog and watch the poetry contest while in Beijing.
Intending to stay another fortnight or so.
But I knew the real reason.
To see Seo-hyang once more before leaving.
Yet Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop kept hovering, blocking any chance.
If worst comes to worst, I'll have to create an opportunity somehow.
Then Palgap entered the office.
"Young master."
"What is it?"
"Elder Nangong Geon-ji sent a messenger. If you're free tomorrow evening, he'd like to treat you to dinner."
"Dinner together?"
"Yes. As thanks for looking after Nangong Yang so well."
That was just the pretext...
I could read Elder Nangong Geon-ji's intentions clearly.
He must be uneasy about having slighted me.
The former Nangong Clan Lord and Martial Alliance Leader had bestowed the title Seonhyeopmirang on me. Dismissing me like that could be seen as disrespecting the Leader himself.
So he wanted to placate me early and smooth things over.
The Nangong Clan acted arrogantly without fear of the world but cowered before the Alliance Leader.
"What shall I say?"
"Tell him I'll come."
"Got it."
Palgap left the office. Then Seo-hyang asked cautiously,
"Will you be okay?"
"What's there to worry about? I'll just go, hear him out, and get a free meal."
I'd never planned to complain to the Alliance Leader anyway.
I rarely saw him, for one.
Back then, I'd only done it to humble the elder and make things easier.
"Well..."
Seo-hyang hesitated, then said,
"You seem to find the Nangong Clan quite distasteful, young master."
"...Does it show?"
"Yes. It feels like you're looking at enemies from a past life."
"...!"
Her words hit too close to home, startling me.
How did she know? Does her Ice Crystal Eyes read past lives too?
I calmed my fluster and asked back,
"Why do you say that?"
"Whenever you look at Nangong Clan documents or hear related talk, your hand tightens on the armrest."
"..."
Whew. Good, her eyes don't see past lives.
"I don't know the details, but don't be too hasty."
Why did her words ease my mind so effortlessly?
"Understood."
***
The next day.
Day four of the poetry contest.
Preliminaries would wrap up tomorrow.
Today was Nangong Yang's turn to participate.
So for the evening meeting, better to show my face.
"Palgap."
"Yes, young master."
"I'm heading to the contest venue today."
***
A short while later, I arrived at the venue and watched the preliminaries.
It was a bit past lunchtime when—
Hm?
The poem I just heard...
Thanks to Song Lok's explanation, I recognized it.
This had the same habits as the one on the wall.
Besides Jo Saeng, another poet with eerily similar markings?
I glanced at Song Lok.
He'd noticed too, his expression grave.
Now we had two suspects?
No. Three.
After lunch.
In the resumed preliminaries, yet another poem—with habits matching the wall's.
***
The day's contest ended.
I approached Nangong Yang, who was trudging away.
"Good work."
"Ah! Seonhyeopmirang Daehyeop!"
As Chun-il had said, Nangong Yang's poem was abysmal. Naturally, he'd failed the preliminaries.
"Compared to the others, mine was..."
"Does skill matter? Isn't sincerity what counts?"
I comforted him, then sent a sound transmission.
You're better at acting than I thought.
Do I look convincingly disappointed?
Yes.
I didn't know I had a talent for it.
Indeed. Nangong Yang was acting.
With other Nangong clansmen around, he had to feign regret to justify coming to Beijing for the contest.
That way, no suspicions.
"I heard your uncle invited you to dinner tonight. Shall we go together?"
"No need."
I declined smoothly.
"As one of the contest organizers, I have some tidying up to do."
"See you later then."
"Yes."
I watched his retreating figure briefly, then turned to the Sebin Merchant Group's Gongzi from Ingye Province.
To settle today's business.
Back at the Beijing branch, I met Song Lok and discussed the poems I'd heard.
"I was shocked. Another poet with similar habits—and two more besides."
"So now we have three suspects?"
"Yes."
"Just in case, keep watching until tomorrow."
"Understood."
I sighed.
Truly unpredictable.
It was time to head to the meeting spot, so I'd think on this later.
***
A short while later.
I arrived in front of a brothel.
Of course.
I hadn't expected a tavern from the start. A womanizer like him would pick a pleasure house.
Didn't he worry about leaks through the courtesans?
"This way, please."
Guided by the errand boy, I ascended to the top floor—and froze.
Hm?
This energy I'm sensing right now...