Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 80

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

Episode 80. Do Send Me Some Talented Folk
Seonpyeongbang.
Jeommun’s main hall, Jipdanhyang.
Anshekheon.
Dan Yeop bowed to Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader, the moment he entered.
“Sect Leader.”
“Good to see you. But didn’t we agree you’d take some rest?”
For the past three months, Dan Yeop had taught the True Heaven-Earth Sword Technique and the True Hundred-Stream Sword Technique to the former Nangrin instructors, the Sect Leader, Vice Sect Leader, Hall Masters, Village Masters, and Im Song the Sect Soldier.
He had held off on the True Seven-Phase Sword Technique, deeming it still premature.
Greed had no place in martial cultivation.
In truth, the True Heaven-Earth Sword Technique and True Hundred-Stream Sword Technique departed from anything the Haowen masters had learned before.
Fortunately, because they already knew the Heaven-Earth Blade Method and White Willow Blade Method, they’d managed to keep pace, however grudgingly. Without that foundation, it would have taken three years instead of three months.
“Sitting alone at home leaves me restless. Is there anything I might help with?”
At that, Baek Chogong scratched his head.
The disciples were uncomfortable working alongside him.
His rank within Haowen was disproportionately high for his age.
Even if Haowen members were willing to turn themselves inside out, it was no easy thing to appease a man young enough to be their son.
“I’m afraid there isn’t. The others are itching to rest, not searching for work. Just take it easy. You’ve put in plenty of effort teaching these past months.”
“Ah, yes—but on the way here, I saw a new wanted poster. It seems the magistrate of Nagan County has been killed?”
“Ah, that. Yes, word came that he was struck down at the Nagan County office yesterday afternoon. Whoever did it had nerve. We’ve had heavy searches and checkpoints because of it.”
“There were drawings of a man and a woman on the poster?”
“So you’ve heard already. Well, they did it in daylight—no hiding that. What age did they appear to be?”
“Thirties or so? Not particularly old-looking faces.”
“What was the bounty?”
“Fifty silver taels.”
“Hmm, that’s fairly substantial.”
“Are you considering it?”
Haowen knew the workings of the backstreets well enough that catching a murderer would be no great difficulty if they set their minds to it.
Yet to Dan Yeop’s surprise, Baek Chogong shook his head firmly.
“No.”
“Why not? Surely this isn’t beyond Haowen’s capacity?”
“Absolutely not. You know only half the picture. If we start turning in murderers to the authorities, people will begin to fear us. That would be losing the greater for the lesser.”
“I suppose that’s true enough.”
“Why? Do you wish to catch them?”
“You hate Cheonryeon as much as I do, do you not?”
Since the disciples had been slain in the Blood Feud, Baek Chogong and Haowen had despised Cheonryeon as well.
“Don’t speak such things in front of others.”
“For fear it reaches Cheonryeon’s ears?”
“An organization that assassinates magistrates, provincial administrators, and even provincial inspectors. If the Imperial Court can’t touch them, you’d only bring trouble on yourself. That’s why I’m saying this.”
“I don’t care. I’m prepared for that much.”
“Hah! That’s a calculated sort of thing to say, but making enemies of Cheonryeon will bring hardship to Haowen’s greater designs.”
“I have no desire to curry favor with Cheonryeon for the sake of Haowen’s designs.”
On that point, Dan Yeop was unwavering.
Unless Cheonryeon severed ties with the Blood Feud, they were his enemy.
“When I see Instructor Do, I’m ashamed. It feels like I’m compromising too much with reality……”
“There’s no need for you to be that way, Sect Leader. You carry responsibility for Jeommun, after all.”
“Ha, I’m grateful. Hearing you say that brings me some comfort.”
As the two continued their idle talk, Mok Unssaeng, the Vice Sect Leader, entered Anshekheon.
“Sect Leader, Instructor Dan.”
Dan Yeop gave Mok Unssaeng a respectful nod.
“What is it?”
“Well, Do Gyeom, the Magistrate of Jangan County, has come calling.”
“Do Gyeom? What does he want?”
“I’m not certain. He says he has business to discuss with the Sect Leader.”
“With me?”
“Yes, he insists it must be you specifically.”
As Baek Chogong turned to Dan Yeop with a perplexed expression, Dan Yeop spoke.
“Perhaps you should hear him out. I’ll help tidy things up here.”
“Very well. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Of course.”
Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader of Haowen, set out from Anshekheon with Mok Unssaeng, the Vice Sect Leader.
***
Shimhyanggak.
Do Gyeom, the County Magistrate, spoke in a flat voice from his seat at the head of the hall.
“Not long ago, the magistrate of Nagan County was murdered. He wasn’t a paragon of integrity, but he wasn’t one to bleed the common people dry either.”
“Yes, but I wonder why you’d confide such matters to someone as humble as myself…….”
“As you know, Cheonryeon has made a habit of killing only corrupt officials. Yet now I can’t fathom their criteria. I’d very much like to understand why they killed this particular magistrate.”
“Forgive me, but we do not take contracts from the government.”
“I haven’t come to hire you for a contract.”
“Then what brings you?”
“I’d like you to recommend a capable hand for this work.”
“I beg your pardon? What do you mean?”
“Suggest someone suited to work as a Po-kwae.”
A Po-kwae was a low-ranking official tasked with investigating cases and apprehending criminals.
Yet despite their lowly rank, Po-kwaes were not registered in the Official Registry.
If Haowen was scorned in the Murim, then Po-kwaes were despised by the government.
In some ways, the treatment of Po-kwaes was even worse.
Po-kwaes could not advance to higher office, and noble families would strike them from their genealogies entirely if one of their own became a Po-kwae.
They could not use the front gate when traveling to and from their workplace, the County Office, and were forbidden to sit in the Gongdang, where civil matters were heard.
Should a Po-kwae violate these rules, they faced beatings or imprisonment.
Baek Chogong blinked, his face bewildered.
“Did you just say Po-kwae?”
“Indeed. If Haowen cannot accept contracts from the government, then at least send me someone suitable to work as a Po-kwae.”
“Surely, then, wouldn’t Gaebang be more suited to such work than we?”
To Po-kwaes, Haowen was a well-laden table.
When their coin ran dry, they would come to Haowen’s shops and shake down the merchants, and each time Haowen would send them away with pocket money in hand.
Such was the relationship between Po-kwaes and Haowen.
“You know as well as I do. Gaebang’s very appearance is different. Their spirit is far more rotten. They have no thought of earning their bread through honest work. Moreover, they hold themselves in such high regard as a noble clan that they wouldn’t dream of broaching such a thing.”
Baek Chogong nodded slowly.
Certainly, considering Gaebang’s reputation in the Murim, becoming a Po-kwae would be unthinkable.
‘It’s not a terrible proposal…….’
There was no harm in planting a Po-kwae in Jangan County.
If he learned in advance what was being investigated or pursued, he could evade it.
The only problem was that the target was Cheonryeon.
An ordinary master would surely be killed digging into their affairs.
‘Dan Yeop would be perfect, actually…….’
He himself despised idle living, and if the task involved investigating Cheonryeon, he would leap at the chance without hesitation.
“Grant me time to consider this.”
“How long do you need? I cannot wait long.”
“I will give you my answer by tomorrow.”
“Very well. But let me make this clear: you must choose one of two paths. Either accept the contract for Jangan County, or recommend someone suitable to work as a Po-kwae if you will not.”
“Yes, I will certainly choose one of the two.”
“Good words. Come again at dawn tomorrow.”
Do Gyeom seemed pressed for time, as he rose saying he’d return in the morning.
***
Anshekheon.
After hearing Baek Chogong’s explanation, Dan Yeop answered at once.
“I will do it.”
“Do you know what a Po-kwae is?”
“Isn’t it an official who travels with Po-jols and arrests criminals?”
“What you see is not all there is.”
“Is there something else I’m unaware of?”
“Gaebang didn’t refuse to become Po-kwaes for nothing. In the government’s eyes, Po-kwaes are the lowest of the low.”
Baek Chogong explained Po-kwaes in detail.
It was to prevent Dan Yeop from causing trouble in Jangan County later.
“……Ill-tempered officials will curse Po-kwaes or even strike them.”
“Truly? Is that permitted among low-ranking officials?”
“Po-kwaes aren’t real officials, you see. They have the appearance of an official, but many are nothing but refuse. Anyone who knows their letters can become a Po-kwae, even if they’ve been to prison. You might say half of all Po-kwaes are former criminals.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that.”
“What merchants hate most are Po-kwaes. They show up nearly every day to extort money.”
“What if I don’t pay?”
“If they brawl or disrupt business, it’s a hundred times better to pay them off and be done with it.”
“Wouldn’t the officials look down on you for it?”
“People don’t despise the Po-kwae without reason. Still willing to do it?”
“I have to. It’s an official opportunity to take revenge on Cheonryeon.”
“Just don’t go too far. It’s only a matter of time before your origins become known anyway.”
“That sounds like an instruction to stab without causing pain.”
Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader, saw that Dan Yeop had no intention of compromising and shook his head.
“Do as you see fit. Only remember always that Haowen stands behind you.”
In other words, be careful that Haowen doesn’t suffer harm.
But Dan Yeop wasn’t listening.
“I’ll take that to mean Haowen is my reliable backing.”
“Good heavens, the boy’s mouth will be the death of me. Go rest now. Starting tomorrow, you won’t get a moment’s peace even if you wanted it.”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop bowed to the Sect Leader and turned to leave.
***
The next morning.
Jipdanhyang, the main compound of Jeommun.
Do Gyeom, the magistrate of Jangan County, had come early to Shimhyanggak to apply strong pressure on Baek Chogong.
“My, my! Magistrate, you’re here early?”
“As they say, the swift-footed seize the prize first. So then, what does the Sect Leader propose to offer our Jangan County?”
“We offer Haowen’s greatest treasure to the county. Please, come inside.”
The moment Baek Chogong finished speaking, the doors opened and a fair-faced youth entered.
Do Gyeom’s eyes widened to the size of a lamp when he saw the youth.
“Young Master Dan?”
Though wearing the Yeonanggyeong, Do Gyeom recognized him at once.
Dan Yeop took a small bow and addressed Do Gyeom.
“It’s been a long time. I’m Dan Yeop.”
Do Gyeom turned to Baek Chogong with an expression of disbelief.
“Are you truly sending Young Master Dan as a Po-kwae?”
Do Gyeom had known that Dan Yeop was with Haowen.
But he’d never imagined the young man would take on such work.
What Jangan County had wanted from Haowen was a hunting dog with a keen nose.
“If there’s someone else you’d prefer, please say so.”
“No, no. Young Master Dan is more than sufficient. Indeed, more than generous.”
At Do Gyeom’s sudden enthusiasm, the Sect Leader asked,
“Do you know Dan Yeop, a Sect Disciple of ours?”
“A few months back, there was a strange incident involving Cheonryeon. It was Young Master Dan who resolved it.”
“Ah, so you have that connection. Then there’s no need for further introduction regarding the Sect Disciple Dan Yeop.”
“Indeed not. The County Magistrate himself had hoped to retain Young Master Dan’s services. There is no need for any further introduction.”
“Understood. Then, Sect Disciple Dan, handle Jangan County’s matters well. While working as a Po-kwae, you needn’t attend to Haowen’s business. Don’t even think of coming to Haowen’s halls—there may be watchful eyes. I trust your excellent judgment.”
Even at the end, the Sect Leader couched his concerns about Cheonryeon in indirect terms.
“Rest assured, Sect Leader. I will do my utmost to see that Haowen’s reputation suffers no damage while I attend to my duties.”
‘I said don’t do your utmost, curse it.’
The Sect Leader could only groan inwardly and say nothing.

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