Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 123

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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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Chapter 123. Do You Know This Person?
A significant change had swept through Jang An County.
Jo Mujin had been promoted from Hyeonryeong to Vice Inspector, and Dan Yeop had risen from Pokwae to Urim Pokwae.
That afternoon, Dan Yeop returned to Pobang and bid farewell to the other Pokwae.
“……And so I’ve become an Urim Pokwae. From now on, you’ll see me often in Jang An City. Don’t pretend not to know me just because I’ve left Pobang. Otherwise, I might end up back here at Pobang in Jang An County.”
At Dan Yeop’s jest, the Pokwae burst into laughter—”Hooray!”
Jang Ho, one of the Pokwae, called out loudly in response.
“Sir Dan Pokwae, don’t you dare ignore us! You’ll always be welcome back here!”
Since Dan Yeop was now Rank 7 Urim Pokwae, Jang Ho spoke with proper deference.
“Sir Dan Pokwae! Please come back anytime!”
“We’ll be waiting!”
The Pokwae each offered their own farewell.
After the raucous send-off ended, Dan Yeop departed from Pobang.
***
The Magistrate Office.
When Dan Yeop entered, Jo Mujin, now Vice Inspector, and Do Gyeom, the Hyeonwi, greeted him warmly while packing their things.
Do Gyeom, who was Rank 8, spoke to him with particular respect.
“Sir Dan Pokwae, my congratulations. I’ve known for some time that you were meant for greater things. Why not take the examination this year while you’re at it? You should be aiming for Captain of the Urim Military, not merely Urim Pokwae.”
Dan Yeop waved his hand dismissively.
“No, I believe Haowen is my true calling. To be honest, even this Urim Pokwae post feels burdensome. When the chance comes, I intend to step aside.”
Jo Mujin then spoke.
“That won’t be easy for some time. The imperial household rarely releases people it considers talented.”
“If they realized I wasn’t talented, they wouldn’t bother with me, would they?”
“Don’t underestimate the imperial court. They’re quite capable of distinguishing whether you’re deliberately shirking duties or simply lacking ability. Throughout imperial history, there have been countless talented officials who wished to retire. How many actually managed it?”
“It’s not simple, then.”
“Don’t think of it only negatively. Even if nothing else changes, backing Haowen will be far easier than before. You needn’t even petition the Hyeonryeong—simply meet with the Hyeonwi, who holds actual administrative authority, and you’ll find resolution. If even that fails, come to me. As long as it doesn’t involve treason, I can settle matters at my level.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Inwardly, Dan Yeop exulted.
Now that he thought about it, things had improved far more than before for Haowen.
Now he could involve himself in matters arising not just in Jang An County, but across all the Ten Provinces.
For Haowen’s Ten Provinces Integration, this was a favorable turn indeed.
Shortly after, Dan Yeop exchanged farewells with Jo Mujin and Do Gyeom, then left the Magistrate Office.
***
Seonpyeongbang in Wuseong (the western region).
Simhyanggak, the gathering place of Jeommun’s supreme division.
A martial hall.
“……And so Jo Mujin has become Vice Inspector, and I’ve been promoted to Urim Pokwae. I won’t be going out to Jang An County anymore, so remember that.”
At Dan Yeop’s words, Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader, made no effort to hide his delight.
“Haha! Congratulations indeed. This should be a great help for Haowen’s expansion into the Nine Regions. Hong Sogwang and Ha Soran will be thrilled to hear it.”
“For that to happen, I must first gain recognition within the Urim Military.”
“True. If you need our assistance, speak up anytime.”
“I need to find Hyeol Je.”
“Hyeol Je?”
“It seemed the court’s minister, Yi Yeon, was trying to capture him.”
“He directly challenged imperial authority, so that makes sense. I understand. I’ll have the leaders of Yukmun make inquiries.”
“He fled northward from Taegeuk Palace last night. Please find out where he is as quickly as possible. Starting today, I plan to search the northern regions myself.”
“If he headed north, he likely went along the Wei River toward Hamyang, or further north to Gyeongyang County.”
“You mean along the banks of the Wei River?”
“Large settlements have formed along the Wei River. It’s also the first place fugitives from Jang An City tend to hide.”
“Then I’ll head along the Wei River toward Hamyang. Please have Haowen investigate Gyeongyang County.”
“Understood. If we find Hyeol Je in Gyeongyang County, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you.”
Having settled his tasks, Dan Yeop rose quickly from his seat.
***
The organization of Cheonryeon, a mysterious sect, reveals what kind of group they truly are.
At the apex sits Cheonmyeongja, their religious leader—known as Jung Ban Wang.
Cheonmyeongja means “one who has received heaven’s will.”
Beneath Cheonmyeongja are the Cheonryeon’s pillars: the True Mandate Receivers.
A True Mandate Receiver is one who has received genuine mandate—the truly chosen one.
Beneath the True Mandate Receivers are the Dharma Guardians.
The Dharma Guardian is the person who upholds the law of Cheonryeon.
Beneath the Dharma Guardian is the middle rank of administrator: the Destiny Responder.
The Destiny Responder means “one who appears in response to the times or to fate.”
Beneath the Destiny Responder, at the very bottom, stands the Seed of the Way.
The Seed of the Way signifies “the seed of the Way”—in other words, “one who has the potential to awaken to the Way.”
Thus Cheonryeon is not an organization of the ordinary martial world.
If one must classify it, it is a religion where Manichaeism, Buddhism, and Taoism are mingled together.
Yet unlike other religions, they themselves become the Thousand Buddhas and directly punish the evils that exist in the present world.
Somewhere in Jang An City.
Hyeol Mireuk, also known as Hong Jin, spoke before these four Destiny Responders—two men and two women.
“Hyeol Je does not follow the teachings of Cheonryeon. Therefore, the Sect Leader himself has commanded that Hyeol Je be punished. To accomplish this, we must first find him. It is likely that Hyeol Je continues northward toward Yao Prefecture, or follows the Wei River to Hamyang. You will go with me to Hamyang, following the Wei River.”
Then one of the men asked.
“If all of us go to the Wei River, what about Yao Prefecture?”
“The Dharma Guardian Jeongto Haengjae will go toward Yao Prefecture with other Destiny Responders, so do not worry.”
Only then did the two men and two women nod, their faces reassured.
Hong Jin continued to speak.
“Two of you shall not cross the river, and the other two shall investigate the far bank. If you do not find Hyeol Je in the riverside villages, proceed to Hamyang.”
“Yes.”
As the two men and two women answered in unison, Hong Jin struck the ground with a sharp tap of his Steel Spear and spoke.
“Go! Find Hyeol Je!”
***
Along the Wei River.
Seoryong Village.
As dusk fell.
One man and one woman entered an inn, obtained two rooms, and then sat by the window of the dining hall to begin their evening meal.
As the two were finishing their meal, a young man opened the inn door and entered.
The gaze of the man and woman naturally turned toward the newly arrived person.
Their eyes met.
For a moment Dan Yeop stiffened, but he showed nothing and soon averted his gaze.
He went to an empty seat against the wall, not by the window, and sat down.
Seok Yeseol’s expression hardened, and Namjin whispered a question.
“Do you know him?”
…….
Seok Yeseol did not answer.
Namjin stole a glance at the young man sitting at a distance.
His face was closer to that of a boy than a young man.
He was armed with a Hoengdo, but he did not seem to have trained in martial arts.
Namjin thought to himself that this must be someone Seok Yeseol had known in the past.
For if the young man knew Seok Yeseol’s true identity, he would not be sitting quietly like this.
When the ordered sesame bread and mutton soup arrived, Dan Yeop ate slowly.
For some reason, the taste felt bitter in his mouth.
Since there were only three customers, the interior was quiet.
After their meal, Namjin and Seok Yeseol drank tea in silence.
Now Seok Yeseol’s mind was entirely fixed upon Dan Yeop.
‘Could it be that he didn’t recognize me?’
‘Or is he pretending not to see me in order to carry out Root Extirpation?’
‘Is he waiting for other Pokwae?’
‘Should I escape now, before it’s too late?’
She was so tense that cold sweat ran down her spine.
‘First, I need to get away.’
Just as she had reached this conclusion and was about to rise—
Someone thrust the inn door open roughly.
Presently, soldiers in Battle Garments rushed into the inn.
They were soldiers of the Jeolchoungbu.
In an instant, the dining hall of the inn was filled with Jeolchoungbu soldiers.
Soon a middle-aged man who appeared to be the commanding officer questioned the innkeeper.
“We are searching for the lackeys of Cheonryeon! Have you seen any suspicious persons last night? Any wounded strangers?”
The innkeeper shook his head vigorously and answered.
“No, sir.”
Then the middle-aged man, Son Bokseong, a Captain of the Jeolchoungbu, swept his gaze across the dining hall.
One man, one woman, and a young man—that was all.
The man and woman were striking enough, but the youth was handsome as well.
‘Three faces like that in a backwater village like this?’
They were clearly a group, yet they kept their distance from one another.
‘Something’s off.’
All three were armed, which marked them unmistakably as martial artists.
Given the current unrest in the region, there was a high chance they belonged to Cheonryeon.
Captain Son Bokseong flicked his fingers at a Fire Chief under his command.
“Yes, Captain!”
Fire Chief Ju Pyeong hurried to the captain’s side.
“Tell the men outside to surround the inn.”
“Yes!”
Fire Chief Ju Pyeong bolted out of the inn.
Moments later, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed around the building.
Captain Son Bokseong approached the man and woman first.
“I am Captain Son Bokseong of the Jang An County Jeolchoungbu. Who are you, and what brings you here?”
Namjin answered with practiced composure.
“We’re from Hadong Province. We were heading to Jang An City to visit an uncle.”
Captain Son Bokseong turned his gaze to the woman.
“And you?”
“I’m his betrothed.”
“Both of you—show me your Travel Permits.”
The empire strictly regulated movement between regions. Travel Permits issued by the magistrate’s office were mandatory for any journey.
Namjin and Seok Yeseol exchanged a glance.
Of course, both of them carried forged Travel Permits.
But in an atmosphere thick with suspicion like this, no amount of craftsmanship could ease their minds.
Captain Son Bokseong’s eyes, sharp from years of service in the Jeolchoungbu, gleamed with intensity.
“I asked for your Travel Permits. Why are you hesitating?”
The pressure made Namjin and Seok Yeseol flinch.
In an atmosphere like this, even a non-existent problem could become real.
“You don’t have one, is that it? Or perhaps there’s something wrong with yours?”
As he spoke, Captain Son Bokseong made a hand signal to his subordinates.
The Jeolchoungbu soldiers blocked the windows and exits.
Namjin let out a silent sigh.
It seemed his nervousness had made him botch the job.
Lack of experience.
Just as he was about to signal Seok Yeseol to flee, the young man sitting by the wall stood up.
“You said your name was Captain Son Bokseong?”

“What of it? And who are you? What brings you here?”
“I am Dan Yeop, a Pokwae of the Urim Military. What business I have here is none of your concern.”
Dan Yeop finished speaking and showed his Gold Medallion to Captain Son Bokseong.
Captain Son Bokseong’s demeanor changed at once.
“Ah, a Pokwae of the Urim Military—it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Those two are people I know. Don’t trouble them further and be on your way.”
“Yes, we’ll withdraw immediately.”
Captain Son Bokseong turned without another word and left the inn.
He had already assumed the three were traveling together, so there was no reason to press further.
As the Jeolchoungbu soldiers withdrew, quiet returned to the inn.
Dan Yeop returned to his seat and put the last piece of flatbread into his mouth, chewing.
It tasted bitter.

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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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