Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 46

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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 46. Do you happen to know of Cheonlyeon?
Son Yu-baek concealed the Scroll in his breast and left the Son Taek Estate.
That same day, around noon, notices were posted throughout Jang-an City.
They called for information on those who had murdered Gwak Jin two months prior, and announced that Gwak Jin’s Personal Effects were held at the Jang-an County office—inviting any relatives to come and claim them.
The second notice in particular had been added by County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin with the safety of the Son Taek Estate and Dan Yeop in mind.
It was a subtle message to the murderers: “The thing you’re searching for is at the county office.”
Dan Yeop remained shut away in the Son Taek Estate all day long.
There was nowhere else to go, and the cold made him reluctant to venture beyond the Separate Building anyway.
Within the estate, he had transformed from a guest of formidable presence into a mere lodger.
The workers spoke of him ceaselessly as the Incarnation of Zhuge Liang’s Wisdom.
Yet despite the praise from the household, Dan Yeop found little joy in it.
He knew that the moment they discovered he was from Ha-o Gate, every last one of them would turn their backs without hesitation.
When noon arrived, a maidservant from the inner quarters came to escort Dan Yeop.
Compared to this morning, when old Chang had come to fetch him, it was a remarkable change.
The Inner Hall.
As Dan Yeop stepped inside, his eyes caught something unusual.
Seated at the table were Son Yu-baek, a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman, her daughter Son Yeon-hwa, and an elderly man whom Dan Yeop was seeing for the first time.
When Dan Yeop looked awkwardly at the man, the latter rose from his seat and, clasping his hands together, introduced himself first.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Do Gyeom, County Official of Jang-an County. I’ve come on behalf of County Magistrate Jo to express our gratitude to you.”
“Ah, I’m Dan Yeop.”
Dan Yeop returned the greeting and took his seat across from Do Gyeom.
Son Yu-baek, observing the two of them, laughed somewhat awkwardly and offered an explanation.
“Do Gyeom was so eager to meet you that I brought him along. Please don’t mind the discomfort.”
“Not at all. Official Do, if you have questions, please ask freely. I’ll answer to the best of my knowledge.”
Dan Yeop understood that Do Gyeom had come to assess him.
Of course, Son Yu-baek had likely seen through Do Gyeom’s intentions as well.
Yet he had brought him along nonetheless, because this was a kind of trial.
They would continue to dig into his past until they gained certainty that he was uninvolved in Gwak Jin’s murder.
‘Perhaps my connection to Ha-o Gate will come to light sooner rather than later.’
If a County Magistrate set his mind to an investigation, everything would eventually be uncovered—especially if one served as a broker.
‘They’ll likely order me to leave the Separate Building.’
He could perhaps hold his ground by invoking the tenant agreement, but he had no wish to do so.
Do Gyeom sensed that Dan Yeop had already grasped his purpose.
‘Then conversation will be easier.’
Do Gyeom, studying Dan Yeop’s face, asked as if in passing.
“Now that I think of it, I don’t even know where you’re from. Where is your hometown?”
“I remember my hometown as Nak-an County. I was lost as a child and became, as it were, an orphan without being one, drifting from place to place. Eventually, a kind man took me as his adopted son, and here I am, conducting myself in society.”
It was the truth.
Dan Yeop was registered in the household register as the adopted son of Dan Bul-wi.
The Son household regarded him with pitying eyes.
To think that a young nobleman’s face should harbor such a history!
Do Gyeom nodded, recognizing that it would all come out eventually anyway when he investigated.
“You’ve endured great hardship. Yet by heaven’s grace, you’ve grown into such a fine youth—a blessing in misfortune. But how did you come to know of the Son Taek Estate?”
At that, Son Yu-baek interjected.
“I’ll explain that. Among the brokers I know, there’s a man called No Bang. I asked him to find me a tenant of strong nerve. The reason, as I said, was that we thought the Separate Building was haunted.”
“Ah, I see. But Son Yu-baek tells me your intellect is quite extraordinary. Is that truly the case?”
Do Gyeom stared directly at Dan Yeop.
This was the crux of it all.
Hometown? Foster father? An introduction from No Bang? None of that mattered.
If he possessed the wisdom to see through the murderers’ schemes, everything would be explained.
But if not, there was a high likelihood that Dan Yeop was in league with them.
Of course, he couldn’t fathom why Dan Yeop had handed the Scroll to Son Yu-baek.
“I’m embarrassed to say so of myself, but it’s not merely extraordinary—whatever you imagine, it exceeds that.”
“Ha!”
“Pfft!”
Exclamations escaped from Do Gyeom and Son Yu-baek.
Son Yu-baek’s daughter-in-law and Son Yeon-hwa sat with their mouths agape.
Yet their surprise at such brazenness was fleeting.
The mother and daughter found themselves nodding in agreement—it might indeed be true.
Do Gyeom turned his gaze toward Son Yu-baek.
“Son Yu-baek, my learning is shallow, and I confess I don’t know how to proceed in such a matter. I would be grateful to hear your wisdom.”
In short, he was asking for help in conducting the proof.
This request was possible only because Son Yu-baek was a master of letters before he ever became a high official who had served as Prefectural Inspector.
Son Yu-baek, who had been lost in thought for a moment, stepped outside and returned.
In his hand he carried a thick volume.
“The Comprehensive Collection of Laws and Ordinances, recently compiled. This was no easy thing for me to obtain, I assure you. It hasn’t even circulated in the world yet. Even a Grand Scholar would find his head spinning over it. What if we did this in the name of fairness? If County Official Do opens the book to any passage at random, then you read that section aloud. After that, County Official Do and I will question you on what you’ve read. How does that strike you, County Official? Surely this will suffice to show how extraordinary a man you are, won’t it? Of course, if you’d prefer a different method, we can arrange it. Truthfully, I’m not entirely confident in this approach myself.”
Do Gyeom opened the book he had been handed.
The legal provisions were so densely packed that even a brief glance made his head swim.
He quickly closed the book.
“It seems acceptable.”
Do Gyeom agreed, relishing the thought of catching the arrogant Dan Yeop out.
At that moment, he was certain Dan Yeop would ask to change the terms.
“I’ll do it.”
“What? Did you just say you’d do it?”
“Yes, I thought it might be useful to know the law.”
“Hmph! Truly, you are a most extraordinary man, Dan Yeop. Don’t change your tune later, now.”
Having spoken, Do Gyeom quickly leafed through the book.
By chance, the opening section of “Book Seven: Criminal Law” appeared before him.
He showed it to Son Yu-baek, then handed it to Dan Yeop.
“Read Book Seven: Criminal Law aloud from this point. Once you finish, we will ask you questions about it.”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop took the book and flipped through it rapidly.
It seemed as though he were merely counting how many pages the seventh book contained.
Do Gyeom found himself counting silently as well.
“One, two, three, four… twenty.”
Dan Yeop, still flipping through the pages, thrust the book back toward Do Gyeom.
Do Gyeom’s face fell as he spoke.
“You’re giving up already? I just told you not to change your mind…….”
“Go ahead and ask.”
Do Gyeom turned to Son Yu-baek with a bewildered expression.
“Son Yu-baek? What did Dan Yeop just say?”
“Well, perhaps I misheard? But it seemed like he said to ask the questions…….”
“That’s what I heard too. Dan Yeop, are you joking with us?”
“As I told you before—whatever you imagine, the truth will exceed it. Ask your questions.”
Do Gyeom was astounded, but he opened the book to find the seventh section.
‘Damn it, it’s hard enough to find—when did he even read it?’
Shortly after, he asked with an icy expression.
“There are special provisions regarding the execution by hanging of criminals. What are they?”
“First, there are reductions or increases in punishment based on the offender’s rank, and second, adjustments based on the victim’s rank. Regarding the first—when an official commits this crime…….”
From Dan Yeop’s lips poured forth the twelve specific legal provisions of the special section.
Do Gyeom, listening in a daze, quickly traced his eyes across the text of the law book.
‘This… this can’t be happening!’
Dan Yeop was speaking as though he were reading directly from the page itself.
Son Yu-baek, watching intently, snatched the law book from Do Gyeom’s hands.
“…’Those who commit an offense together may receive commutation of sentence but must pay ten times the restitution,’ it states here.”
Do Gyeom murmured, his face vacant with shock.
“How is this possible? Son Yu-baek, surely you and Dan Yeop haven’t arranged this just to mock me…….”
“Nonsense. You chose Book Seven yourself, not he. Do you think Dan Yeop has memorized this entire Comprehensive Collection? Even if I had shown him this law book in advance and he was therefore able to commit it all to memory, that alone would prove him to be an Extraordinary Talent born once in a thousand years.”
“I apologize. It seems I have spoken carelessly.”
Do Gyeom immediately lowered his head to Son Yu-baek.
His reasoning was sound, and besides, there was no conceivable reason why Son Yu-baek would conspire with Dan Yeop in such a manner.
“Dan Yeop, you have broadened this Do Gyeom’s horizons today. The world is vast indeed, and remarkable talents are not so few as I imagined. Forgive me for doubting you.”
“Not at all. It’s only natural. To catch a criminal, one must harbor suspicion of anyone.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Just as the conversation seemed to be drawing to a close, the middle-aged woman smiled and spoke.
“Now, let us have our meal. The dishes we’ve prepared will grow cold.”
She thought privately that she was grateful her son was not present.
‘Tsk! The boy boasts of attending the National Academy, but he should watch his mouth.’
Had Son Ji-heon been there, he would have complained of indigestion with every mouthful.
She glanced at her daughter just then, and saw honey dripping from the girl’s eyes.
Well, with that face and a brilliant mind to match, it’s hardly surprising.
‘Perhaps this is something I ought to discuss seriously with Father.’
Though Dan Yeop was an orphan, Son Yeon-hwa seemed to lack nothing in her appraisal of him.
She nudged her daughter’s elbow and whispered.
“Stop staring and eat your meal.”
“What? I wasn’t—”
Son Yeon-hwa’s head snapped down, startled.
The middle-aged beauty shook her head with amusement as she watched her daughter’s ears flush crimson.
***
Dan Yeop was resting in the Separate Building after lunch when it happened.
“Young Master Dan—are you inside?”
At the sound of Son Yu-baek’s voice, Dan Yeop hastened to open the door.
“Yes, sir. What brings you here?”
“If you’re not busy, I’d like to discuss something with you.”
“Of course. Please, come in.”
Son Yu-baek took the seat of honor and began speaking with evident difficulty.
“That scroll you found this morning—I wanted to ask you about it.”
“Gwak Jin’s personal effects, you mean?”
“Yes. Do you happen to know what it contains?”
“Not at all.”
No matter how brilliant Dan Yeop was, he could hardly know what he had never seen.
“Have you ever heard of the Cheonlyeon?”
“Cheonlyeon? Never, sir.”
Though Dan Yeop was gifted, he had grown up in Byeongma Chong and knew little of the wider world.
“The Cheonlyeon is a folk religion founded upon Buddhism, Daoism, and Manichaeism.”
“Ah, a religion.”
“They view the world as a struggle between good and evil. I suppose in itself that’s no cause for concern—each person judges for themselves.”
“Then what is the concern?”
“The Cheonlyeon believes that evil holds power in this world. They regard the imperial court as evil, and officials as servants of that evil.”
“I see…”
Dan Yeop found himself without words in the face of such extremism.
“Twenty years ago, when the Cheonlyeon held sway, they hunted down corrupt officials and executed them with their own hands. Government buildings burned, and countless corrupt officials were put to death.”
……
Dan Yeop thought privately that they deserved it, but kept the thought to himself.
“The imperial court declared the Cheonlyeon a heretical sect and launched a great campaign against them. Thanks to that, peace was restored to the realm.”
“Surely the scroll was connected to the Cheonlyeon?”
“It was. That’s why I brought County Official Do Gyeom without telling you—I needed to convince County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin of your innocence in this matter.”
Dan Yeop’s hand flew to his chest.
He had thought it was merely to prove he was not in league with murderers, never imagining there was a far greater purpose at stake!

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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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