Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 117

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 117. Will You? Won’t You?
The victim of the Cheonryeon murders was Yi Myeong, the commanding general of the Urim Guard, the imperial household’s elite cavalry.
The imperial court erupted in chaos.
The Hyeonryeong of Goha Fortress in Man-nyeon County scrambled in all directions to capture the culprit, but without witnesses, the investigation stalled.
The Hyeonryeong of Goha Fortress requested reinforcements from the Jang An County office through Magistrate Seol Yeom, but for some reason, the request was denied.
The word came back that they couldn’t spare anyone because murders might occur in Jang An County at any moment, and Man-nyeon County would have to solve its own problems.
In Man-nyeon County, the Cheonryeon killings occurred roughly once every four days.
The cycle was similar to what had happened in Jang An County months earlier.
Jang An County had eventually captured the culprit and resolved the case, but Man-nyeon County had not.
The Hyeonryeong of Goha Fortress was harassed by high officials almost daily.
Yet no matter how much pressure was applied, there were no results.
When three officials died within ten days, an order finally came down from Jang An County: “Assist Man-nyeon County in its investigation.”
Man-nyeon County.
Pobang.
Afternoon hours, between one and three.
Yang Ik, the Junior County Official, introduced someone to the Pokwae and Pojol officers.
“This is Dan Yeop, a Pokwae from the Jang An County office. He achieved outstanding results in the Cheonryeon investigation, so I’ve specially requested his support. He’ll be assisting with the Yi Myeong case. Well then, Pokwae—introduce yourself.”
Dan Yeop stepped forward and bowed his head.
“I’m Dan Yeop, a Pokwae from the Jang An County office. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you.”
But the Man-nyeon County Pokwae and Pojol officers didn’t respond well.
Their pride was wounded by the fact that outside help had been requested.
The atmosphere was cold, but Yang Ik didn’t seem to mind.
If Dan Yeop achieved results, it would be fortunate; but if he failed, there was no loss for the Man-nyeon County office.
In fact, failure might even be preferable.
It would serve as proof that this was a case no one could solve.
“Wang Chung, brief Pokwae Dan on the Yi Myeong case and conduct the investigation together. And Jin Gang and Chu Sa—step into my office for a moment.”
With that, Yang Ik turned sharply and left the room.
“What is it this time?”
“We’ll find out when we get there. Why—is there something on your mind?”
Jin Gang and Chu Sa exchanged casual remarks as they departed together.
A man who appeared to be in his late forties waved Dan Yeop over.
His face bore the weathered, worn look of someone ground down by years of service.
When Dan Yeop approached, the man spoke.
“I’m Wang Chung.”
Then he tossed a Case Record Document onto the table with a sharp sound.
“Read through it. If you have questions, ask the Pojol officers. I’ll be waiting at the Mansu Inn across from the Government Office.”
Dan Yeop didn’t take issue with the man’s sudden shift to casual speech.
Part of it was that he had no desire to engage in a power struggle with the Man-nyeon County Pokwae, but more than anything, Wang Chung looked old enough to be his father.
Wang Chung turned and left the Pobang without a backward glance.
Dan Yeop settled into a chair and began examining the record document.
The murder of Yi Myeong was identical to the previous Cheonryeon cases.
The culprit had slaughtered all the guards and the band of ronin escorts, then placed a scrap of cloth bearing a white lotus on the corpse.
“Hm.”
As Dan Yeop was lost in thought, someone spoke from behind him.
“Pokwae Dan.”
Dan Yeop turned to see an unfamiliar Pojol officer standing there.
“Yes?”
“My name is Jang Myeong. I have a cousin in the Jang An County office, and he’s told me about you. Regardless of what others say, I have faith in you.”
Dan Yeop tilted his head at those words.
Regardless of what others say?
“Are there people saying things about me?”
“Ah, well—rumors have been circulating in our office that you were ‘just lucky’ or that ‘other Pokwae did all the actual work.'”
“I see.”
Dan Yeop immediately understood what Jang Myeong meant.
There were always people bitter when others succeeded.
Especially when accomplishments invited constant comparison with another county office, resentments that didn’t exist before could easily take root.
“In particular, Yuk Hang, our Junior County Official, is quite harsh about it.”
Both the Senior County Official and Junior County Official served to assist the Hyeonryeong, though the Junior County Official held a lower rank.
Dan Yeop simply listened in silence.
After all, he had only come to help; he didn’t belong to the Man-nyeon County office.
When Dan Yeop accepted the matter so casually, Jang Myeong added to his words.
“The Junior County Official Yuk has a tendency to abuse his authority with the Pojols and their men, trusting in his rank. Last month he even beat one of the Pokwaes because his work was slow.”
“How high is his rank?”
Dan Yeop showed some reaction to that question.
He had heard that although Pokwaes are officials, they have no rank and are often struck by lower-ranking administrators.
But such a thing had never happened in Jang An County, so he was curious why the Junior County Official of Man-nyeon County would beat a Pokwae.
“9th Rank.”
“That’s the bottom, then?”
“He’s the cousin of the Hyeonryeong, so no one in Pobang can say anything against him. But he might pick a fight with the Pokwaes, so be careful.”
“Yes, thank you for telling me.”
“But will you be able to catch the culprit?”
“I can’t tell just from the case records. A culprit needs clues to be caught… With nothing like this, it’s difficult.”
“Sigh! The more cases pile up, the harder it will be to catch him, won’t it?”
“It’s fifty-fifty. If the culprit leaves clues, he could be caught quickly, but if there are no clues, the more cases mount, the more difficult it becomes.”
“I see. We can only hope the culprit leaves a clue.”
“I’ll go meet Pokwae Wang Chung. Is Mansu Inn really in front of the Government Office?”
“It’s not right in front. You have to go quite far down the road. When you find where the shops are clustered, you’ll see it.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Dan Yeop, who had genuinely thought Mansu Inn was in front of the Government Office, felt exasperated.
So he called out to Jang Myeong, who was turning to leave.
“Wait a moment, Jang. Do the Pokwaes usually work late these days?”
He asked because he had stayed up through the night conducting Entrapment Investigations in Jang An County before.
“No. You’re asking because of Pokwae Wang, aren’t you?”
“Yes, he told me to come to Mansu Inn.”
“Pokwae Wang has taken to gambling recently. He wasn’t like this before, but he seems to have started going somewhere new.”
“Ah…”
Dan Yeop felt disappointed in Pokwae Wang Chung.
He had thought his haggard appearance was from exhausting work and felt sympathetic about it, but to find it was from gambling!
***
Mansu Inn.
Pokwae Wang Chung sat by the window, nodding off.
When Dan Yeop sat across from him and gave a soft cough, Pokwae Wang Chung slowly opened his eyes.
Looking at Wang Chung’s bloodshot eyes, Dan Yeop asked.
“You seem tired.”
“Investigating the serial murders isn’t easy, is it?”
“Isn’t it because of gambling?”
Pokwae Wang Chung flinched, then soon furrowed his brow.
“You seem to have heard some strange talk. Don’t mind it.”
“Then why did you call me out to an inn?”
“Why else? Because of the investigation. They say all the achievements from Jang An County were pure luck, and now I see it’s true—you’re going down blind alleys.”
Dan Yeop didn’t want to spar with him, so he got to the point.
“Have you found any clues?”
“Ten days ago, the innkeeper remembered not cleaning up some ingredients, and woke up briefly at dawn. Then he saw a guest coming and going through the window, or so he said. On the day Yi Myeong the Urim Guard Commander was murdered, of all times.”
“There’s no record of that in the investigation report. Shouldn’t a portrait have been made by now if that was the case?”
Pokwae Wang Chung beckoned to the owner at the counter.
The innkeeper came over with the Guest Registry and handed it to Pokwae Wang Chung.
Pokwae Wang Chung unfolded the Guest Registry and pushed it toward Dan Yeop.
Dan Yeop murmured the name written there absently.
“Jong Ri Bi?”
In an instant, Pokwae Wang Chung slammed the Guest Registry shut like lightning and held a finger to his lips.
“Shh! I thought you only went down blind alleys, but you have no sense at all.”
“What do you mean?”
Pokwae Wang Chung quickly returned the Guest Registry to the innkeeper and thumped his own chest with his fist in frustration.
“No! For a Pokwae to be worthy of the name, you should know the names of at least the renowned figures in the jurisdiction. Didn’t they teach you that in Jang An County?”
“The serial murders made things hectic when I became a Pokwae. With the case consuming me, I didn’t have time to learn much of anything.”
The innkeeper, not wanting further entanglement, returned to the counter.
Pokwae Wang Chung spoke in a low whisper.
“The Dharma Guardian Elder Jong Ri Bi—from Huashan, Seo Ak. Now you understand why there’s nothing in the report and no portrait?”
“Ah…”
Dan Yeop’s mouth fell open.
If the person under investigation was a Dharma Guardian Elder of the Huashan Sect, one of the Five Evil Sword Sect, it was understandable.
“Using the window that dawn isn’t conclusive evidence. Martial artists move about like that all the time anyway. If you make excuses this way and that, people will let it slide. Until definitive evidence emerges, Jong Ri Bi mustn’t find out. Of course, that’s assuming Jong Ri Bi is the culprit. Honestly, I’d prefer it if he weren’t. He’s donated quite a bit to the Huashan Sect.”
“If you compare Jong Ri Bi’s martial prowess to General Yi Myeong of the Urim Guard, how would that be?”
“General Yi Myeong is skilled, but he couldn’t last three moves against Jong Ri Bi. Jong Ri Bi is the private disciple of the Huashan Sect’s Sect Master.”
“Phew! That would make him truly formidable, wouldn’t it?”
“If we mention Jong Ri Bi’s name, we’re the only fools here.”
“That incident will sink into obscurity.”
“Of course. The innkeeper here would burn the guest registry on the spot if he could. He doesn’t want to earn the Huashan Sect’s disfavor over something like this.”
“So what do we do now?”
“You handled the case well in Jang An County, didn’t you? Why don’t you put your head to work on how to unravel this one.”
“Where is Jong Ri Bi right now?”
“At the Huashan Sect.”
“Wouldn’t you say a direct approach is best in a situation like this?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Whether it becomes broth or rice, we need to meet him first, I think.”
“Your metaphor is wrong. In this case, it’s more like whether we overturn the pot or make rice. Are you confident you won’t overturn it?”
“If a ship stays in harbor for fear of rough seas, is that even a ship? That’s a house.”
“You’re not saying you’re confident you won’t overturn it.”
“I was taught that you cannot succeed if you fear failure.”
“Ah! Your tongue really has reached a transcendent state.”
“So you will go to the Huashan Sect? Or not?”
“Would you not go if I told you not to?”
“No.”
Dan Yeop answered without hesitation.
Though being marked by Cheonryeon troubled him, he had witnessed the final moments of the Thousand Buddhas many times over, and he had no mind for recklessness.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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