Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 119

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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 119. That Was What You Wanted
Autumn had arrived.
Dan Yeop had made no progress whatsoever in a month.
At that, the junior officials and Pokwae of Mannyeon County turned on him as one, tearing him apart.
“Is it because you’re alone? You can’t handle the work, unlike what the rumors said?”
“Didn’t you know? The difficult cases were all solved by the other Pokwae.”
“If you haven’t caught the criminal by now, shouldn’t you be sent back?”
“Don’t worry about it. I hear they’re sending you away soon anyway.”
“It seems Hyeonryeong Go Haseong has finally made up his mind. A month is already generous.”
“In the old days, it’d be Whipping Punishment. You’d’ve gotten thirty lashes, wouldn’t you?”
Beyond General Yi Myeong of the Western Army, other cases had also stalled.
The one saving grace was that Cheonryeon’s killing spree had stopped.
Though the victims were high-ranking officials, the Cheonryeon case had been pushed aside.
This was because Pokwae had been deployed to handle ordinary cases that had arisen in Mannyeon County.
Then one day, Hyeonryeong Go Haseong summoned Dan Yeop.
Mannyeon County.
The Main Hall.
As Dan Yeop entered, Hyeonryeong Go Haseong gestured to an empty seat.
“Come in. Sit down.”
“Yes.”
Hyeonryeong Go Haseong regarded Dan Yeop in silence for a moment as he took his seat.
He had achieved great distinction in Jang An County, but his results here in Mannyeon County had been far from satisfactory.
“It’s been a month since you arrived in Mannyeon County, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“How has the work been? The atmosphere is quite different from Jang An County, isn’t it?”
Hyeonryeong Go Haseong was no fool.
He too was aware that the Constabulary atmosphere in Mannyeon County was strained, and that the junior officials controlled the Pokwae like puppeteers.
Yet he had allowed it precisely to control the Pokwae.
The Pokwae had been extorting merchants under the table and resorting to violence when things went wrong.
So he wielded the junior officials as a means of control.
Jang An County, by contrast, had junior officials who didn’t badger the Pokwae.
Of course, that was relative to Mannyeon County. It wasn’t as though the Pokwae in Jang An County received any special treatment.
Dan Yeop answered with an impassive face.
“Yes, it was my first time seeing a junior official beat a Pokwae.”
“Looked at another way, that might actually be a kindness to the Pokwae. In grave cases, a Pokwae must solve them within three days. Fail to do so, and it’s dereliction of duty—you take a beating for it. But the Pokwae here in Mannyeon County haven’t even identified a suspect after more than a month. By the letter of the law, they’d deserve Whipping Punishment without protest. When you think about it that way, getting your shin kicked once is a hundred times better.”
“I think that depends on the case. What the Pokwae are handling now isn’t an ordinary matter, is it? You and Hyeonwi conducted the investigation yourselves, so you know well enough. Cheonryeon’s Thousand Buddhas are martial masters beyond compare—they leave no trace. Yet to beat the Pokwae because the investigation hasn’t advanced? That’s simply foisting the blame for failure onto them instead of bearing it yourselves.”
“Hmm, there’s merit in what you say, but things aren’t always what they appear. The blame for failure falls on me, not the Pokwae. I’m the one who’ll be dismissed, while the Pokwae remain in Mannyeon County.”
“I apologize. That’s not what I meant to imply.”
“Ha! I know you didn’t. I was just making an excuse for myself. Only remember that not all Pokwae are like you.”
…….
Dan Yeop smiled bitterly at Hyeonryeong Go Haseong’s words.
It was true enough that the other Pokwae went about deserving their beatings.
Perhaps, as Hyeonryeong Go Haseong suggested, taking a few lashes and being done with it was better than facing Whipping Punishment.
As Dan Yeop fell into thought, Hyeonryeong Go Haseong’s voice reached his ear.
“You’ve worked hard. You may return to Jang An County now.”
“Right now?”
“Leave the office at once, and begin your duties in Jang An County from tomorrow. No need to say farewell to the other Pokwae.”
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop then rose from his seat and performed a formal bow of respect.
“Thank you for everything.”
As Hyeonryeong Go Haseong nodded, he suddenly spoke.
“You’ll handle it wisely, I’m sure, but let me say one thing out of caution. Don’t speak to anyone about your visit to Hwasan Sect. I’ve told Pokwae Wang Chung to carry it to his grave.”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop did not ask why.
From the way Hyeonryeong Go Haseong spoke, it seemed he too was keeping it buried at his own level.
Given the power of the Five Evil Sword Sect, that made sense.
Accusing Byeok Am Seon In of being among the Thousand Buddhas without evidence could truly cost him his post.
Sasi Jeong—ten o’clock in the morning.
As Dan Yeop left Mannyeon County, he felt both relief and a peculiar unease.
He was relieved to leave the oppressive atmosphere of the Constabulary, yet his mind gnawed at him like an itch left unscratched.
‘Well, so it goes sometimes.’
Hwasan Sect could have pressed Byeok Am Seon In further, but they didn’t.
In fact, he found himself almost relieved that Byeok Am Seon In hadn’t confessed.
If he had, one of them—Byeok Am Seon In or himself—would have had to die.
‘Cheonryeon is making my life far too complicated…….’
Ever since becoming entangled with Cheonryeon, his mind had grown crowded with unnecessary thoughts.
He lifted his head and gazed up at the autumn sky.
Suddenly, Seok Ye Seol’s words came back to him.
―Do you wish to see a righteous person cut down by a monstrous evil?
Those were better days, when he knew only Haowen.
‘A well’s water does not trespass upon a river’s course’—that too is an old saying.
Now Cheonryeon strikes down corrupt officials, and the imperial court demands her elimination. Such is the age.
No need to look far.
He himself, a Haowen member, works as a Pokwae.
***
With time to spare, Dan Yeop made his way to Jeommun’s headquarters for the first time in ages.
Nearly a month had passed since his appointment to Mannyeon County.
When he arrived at Ansik Heon, Sect Leader Baek Chogong greeted him with visible delight.
“Dan Yeop, welcome! Why have you stayed away so long? I hear you’ve been assisting with the Mannyeon County matter?”
Dan Yeop smiled faintly.
Since he understood everything without needing to speak, these moments made Haowen all the more comfortable.
“The Mannyeon County affair concludes today. Tomorrow I’m ordered back to Jang An County.”
“I heard you investigated the matter of the General of the Right Guard.”
“Yes.”
“The culprit?”
“We didn’t apprehend anyone.”
“A full month there, and you didn’t catch them? Or couldn’t catch them?”
Dan Yeop merely laughed at Sect Leader Baek Chogong’s pointed question.
“Ah, so you chose not to catch them. Well done. A person needs flexibility—too rigid and you lose all humanity.”
“I’ve been following developments in Jang An County. Still, a few of them caused trouble?”
“With no tiger about, the fox plays king. That’s precisely what happened. I sent some hot-blooded troublemakers, and the quiet ones started acting out. Two received Whipping Punishment, but the other two ultimately received Penal Servitude. Since then, things have settled down. For now, the Pokwae won’t be arresting anyone else.”
“Tsk, tsk!”
“Once those men received their sentences, everyone fell into line. For a while at least, the Pokwae won’t be dragging anyone off.”
“By the way, how much longer must I continue this Pokwae work?”
“Why? Are you finding it difficult?”
Jeommun was paying Dan Yeop five taels of silver monthly, so it wasn’t a matter of insufficient income.
“Lately I can’t tell whether I’m Haowen or Pokwae.”
“Ha! I thought something was wrong. But that’s natural—don’t worry about it.”
“It’s natural?”
“When you think about it, Pokwae and Haowen do much the same work. The only difference is Haowen has no authority, while Pokwae have a little—however slight. Perhaps that’s why you felt this way.”
…….
Dan Yeop laughed bitterly.
The truth was his mind had grown tangled, and he disliked it, but he said nothing—he didn’t want to sound like a whining child.
Seeing his expression, Sect Leader Baek Chogong continued.
“Besides, this work was what you chose.”
“You’re right. I suppose I lost sight of my purpose for a moment.”
Dan Yeop’s mind cleared.
He had volunteered to become Pokwae out of thirst for vengeance against Hyeol Je and Cheonryeon.
Yet his heart had wavered upon witnessing the steadfastness of Cheonryeon’s followers.
He felt ashamed—he’d nearly forgotten Baek Yuhwa’s vengeance.
Sect Leader Baek Chogong, sensing Dan Yeop’s thoughts, spoke again.
“Ah, Hyeol Je has left Gangnam Province, I hear.”
“Where has he gone this time?”
“Judging by his route, he seems to be heading toward our Kwannaedo Province again.”
“Surely not to Jang An City?”
Dan Yeop stared at Sect Leader Baek Chogong in disbelief.
Last time, Hyeol Je had come as far as Kwannaedo Province but never entered Jang An City.
Yet somehow, this time felt different—as if he truly meant to enter the city.
“The Five Evil Sword Sect suspects Jang An City is his target.”
“The man’s got nerve.”
“They drove back the Cheonryeon at Hwang San and came away convinced. That’s what happened.”
“And what do the Five Evil Sword Sect intend to do about it?”
“They’ve already formed an assassination squad with their elders at the core. It looks like they mean to stop Hyeol Je in Nakan County.”
Nakan County lay directly on the road to Jang An City.
If that were true, Hyeol Je and the Five Evil Sword Sect’s assassination squad would inevitably meet.
“So they mean to restore their honor and impress the throne all at once.”
“The Five Evil Sword Sect has no choice—they must wash away their humiliation from Hwang San.”
“But what if Hyeol Je breaks through the assassination squad?”
“There’ll be wailing in Jang An City.”
“Who do you suppose Hyeol Je is after this time?”
“There’s talk he might attempt an invasion of the palace itself. If it’s certain that Hyeol Je will return to Kwannaedo Province…….”
“That’s horrifying.”
A palace invasion meant the Imperial Court itself was the target.
For Dan Yeop, a Pokwae officer, the mere thought made his head spin.
“You can tell from the atmosphere in Jang An County.”
“I’ll meet with Hyeonryeong Jo Mujin tomorrow and ask him about it.”
Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader who had been nodding, spoke abruptly.
“If Hyeol Je enters Jang An City, don’t confront him.”
“Why not? It’s the perfect chance for revenge.”
“I heard something strange from a member of the Five Evil Sword Sect. If it’s true, even the assassination squad will have difficulty stopping Hyeol Je.”
“What did you hear?”
“That Hyeol Je has obtained the Sectarian Heritage of the Mysterious Gate.”
“The Mysterious Gate?”
“In ancient times, there were sects that ruled the world called the Mysterious Gate. Most of them ascended to the Higher Realm, so they vanished from this world. In the Records of Investigating Things and Extending Knowledge today, the only names that remain are the Wandering Immortal Sect, the Thunder Cloud Sect, and the Mysterious Sound Sect. But Hyeol Je claimed with his own mouth that he obtained the Sectarian Heritage of the Heononjong.”
“The Heononjong?”
Dan Yeop’s eyes widened to the size of a lamp flame.
As a disciple of the Tae Go Sect, he knew the danger of sects better than anyone.
If Hyeol Je truly had obtained the Sectarian Heritage of the Heononjong, revenge would be out of reach.
“For now it’s only rumor circulating within the Five Evil Sword Sect, but if the assassination squad fails, word will naturally spread through the martial world.”
“Then this truly is a catastrophe.”
Dan Yeop was certain that Hyeol Je was targeting the Imperial Palace.
If he truly had obtained the Sectarian Heritage of the Heononjong, nothing would stand in his way.
Cheonryeon sees the Imperial Court as the root of all evil.
And now Hyeol Je—a supreme master of the highest order—had acquired the Sectarian Heritage of the Heononjong?
‘It must be the palace.’
A chill crept down his spine.
That was the perfect catastrophe Cheonryeon had always dreamed of.

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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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