Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 84

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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 84. Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow
Do Gyeom, the county magistrate, readily approved Jang Ho’s request to join the investigation as a constable.
Dan Yeop dispatched Jang Ho to Nakahn County, while he himself began investigating the martial sects throughout Gwannae Province.
His suspicion of the Gwannae Province martial sects stemmed from one crucial detail: the wounds were far too ordinary for the perpetrator’s level of martial skill.
In truth, inferring someone’s internal cultivation from wounds alone is no simple matter.
Yet if the killer had deliberately disguised their technique, Dan Yeop reasoned they must be a martial artist from Gwannae Province.
The first place Dan Yeop visited was Hyeonmugwan.
***
Hyeonmugwan.
The courtyard.
Jin Hacheong, master of Seomjeon Sword, stood blocking Dan Yeop’s path.
“You’re the constable from Jangan County, are you?”
“Yes. I’m pursuing murderers in Nakahn County.”
Jin Hacheong scrutinized the young man from every angle.
Though his eyes were veiled behind spectacles, there was something familiar about that face.
“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before. Have we met?”
“I travel about constantly, so we may have passed each other somewhere. I’m on official business, so your cooperation would be much appreciated.”
Yet Jin Hacheong did not step aside.
“What’s your name?”
“Dan Yeop.”
“Hmm, Dan Yeop, you say….”
Jin Hacheong pondered, but could not place him.
“Fair enough. How can I assist you?”
“If you’ll answer a few questions and show me your sect’s martial techniques, that will suffice.
“Surely you’re not suspecting Hyeonmugwan members?”
“All martial artists are subjects of investigation, not just Hyeonmugwan.”
“I see. What would you like to know?”
“Have any of your members recently sustained wounds?”
“None.”
“Do you have any word of former Hyeonmugwan members?”
“None in Jangan City. If anyone had taken a blade, news travels through many channels, but nothing has reached me.”
“I understand. Now I’d like to observe your techniques.”
“Follow me.”
Jin Hacheong led Dan Yeop to the training grounds, where he could observe the disciples practicing directly.
Starting with Hyeonmugwan, Dan Yeop made the rounds of the famous sects in Jangan City: Moomungwan, Chungbuigwan, Yonghumun, Janwolgak, Sahaebang, and Yukhapbang.
***
As dusk settled.
Having returned to the constabulary office with little to show for it, Dan Yeop encountered Jang Ho, who had just arrived back from Nakahn County.
“Constable Jang, do you have any new developments?”
“Nothing. We combed through the entire area where the perpetrators vanished, but their trail has gone cold as a ghost’s.”
“It won’t be easy to find traces. These are people who plan carefully.”
“That they are. Sigh! This magistrate is no corrupt official—why would Cheonryeon kill him? Before now, they only killed those who deserved to die.”
“A colleague told me that Cheonryeon believes Thousand Calamities must come before the Thousand Buddhas can save all sentient beings.”
“Thousand Calamities?”
“Yes. They believe that if they bring about a thousand great catastrophes, the Thousand Buddhas will appear and save all creatures.”
Dan Yeop recounted what he had heard from Son Yutaek.
In truth, that was all he knew of Cheonryeon.
“Are they mad? Manufacturing Thousand Calamities deliberately?”
“Perhaps they’re simply exhausted from the current rulers of the land.”
“Even so, how could anyone—”
“If more people shared your convictions, Cheonryeon’s roots would be torn up.”
Yet far more people were fed up with corrupt officials.
They applauded Cheonryeon’s work from the shadows, and the most zealous among them became followers.
This was why Cheonryeon could endure even the royal army’s campaigns.
But Dan Yeop chose not to voice this aloud.
It would do little to lift Jang Ho’s spirits.
Then Jang Ho spoke in a measured tone.
“How about a drink after we leave office today?”
Since his defeat at Dan Yeop’s hands, Jang Ho had wanted to grow closer to him.
Joining the investigation in Nakahn County was part of that desire.
Of course, part of it was because he was the one conducting the investigation, but his desire to get along with Dan Yeop was even stronger.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have a prior engagement. Perhaps another time.”
“Fair enough. Let me see—who are you drinking with today, then?”
Jang Ho, the Pokwae, strode briskly toward the constables, looking around.
***
As Dan Yeop left Jangan County offices at the dismissal hour, someone approached him.
It was Hwang Biwon, the left inspector of the Gwangpunghoe.
“Coming out now, are we?”
“You’ve been waiting long, haven’t you?”
Dan Yeop quickly clasped his hands and bowed.
“Not at all. I timed it perfectly with dismissal. Tell me—what’s the finest restaurant in this district?”
“The Hwageumdang in Posibang is well-known. I’ve been there myself, and it’s quite good.”
Hwageumdang was where Dan Yeop had dined with siblings Na Bugang and Na Geumryeong—the most upscale restaurant he’d ever visited.
“Then let’s go.”
Dan Yeop and Hwang Biwon walked down the street side by side.
***
Posibang.
Hwageumdang.
Dan Yeop and Hwang Biwon took a seat by the window on the upper floor.
Shortly after, an elaborate spread of delicacies was laid before them.
As they finished eating and were about to leave, Hwang Biwon spoke casually.
“Any progress on the investigation?”
“The killer seems to be a martial artist from Gwannae Province, so we’ve been investigating the sects, but we’re getting nowhere.”
“What makes you think the killer is from Gwannae Province?”
“The wounds are unusually uniform—it appears they deliberately concealed their martial skill. The fact that they were so careful about it suggests someone from Gwannae Province, I thought.”
“Hmm, I see. Were the marks really that uniform?”
“Yes. The victims all bore wounds on the neck, chest, and abdomen.”
“Neck, chest, and abdomen? All four victims?”
“Yes, the neck was cut roughly halfway through—”
Hwang Biwon cut him off.
“The chest wound—it didn’t run from left to right, did it? Rather, a long diagonal from top to bottom?”
As he spoke, Hwang Biwon drew a line diagonally with his index finger.
“Yes, exactly. How did you know that?”
“Tsk! This is the handiwork of Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow. That’s troubling.”
“Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow?”
“Sagye Hyeonshi is a sobriquet that arose because he decapitated his opponents and displayed their deaths.”
“My word!”
“The neck being only half-severed suggests this isn’t Keunjow himself, but one of his successors. If it were Keunjow, it would be a clean cut.”
“Then surely these wounds were all made in a single stroke?”
“Precisely. A swift blade, swift as the Seomjeon Sword.”
“If that’s true, then we’re dealing with a truly formidable master.”
“He was a peer of Hyeoljae. Thirty years ago, the saying ‘Gangnam’s Hyeoljae, Haebuk’s Keunjow’ shook all under heaven.”
“Is Keunjow his actual name?”
“Hardly. What parent would name their child that? He was a bastard son of the Moyong Clan in Haebuk. When he left the Moyong Clan, he took a new name for himself.”
“So he was from the Moyong Clan.”
“The Moyong Clan suffered greatly because of Keunjow.”
“It’s reassuring that it’s not Keunjow himself.”
“Don’t be complacent. If his successor inherited Keunjow’s skills, even the Five Evil Sword Sect would struggle against him.”
“Then we should stop investigating the Gwannae sects. Thank you for your help.”
“Why thank me? Aren’t we comrades? Would you like to know one more crucial detail?”
The Moyong Clan and the Gwangpunghoe had long maintained frequent exchanges. As a result, Hwang Biwon knew much about Keunjow.
In a sense, it was for that very reason that he’d recognized Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow from those ordinary-seeming wounds.
“There’s more? Please, tell me.”
“Keunjow’s maternal family is in Nakcheun, Hajungbu, Hadong Province.”
“Do you happen to know the family name? Even just the surname?”
“All I know is that they use the surname Seok.”
“Ah, the Seok family. Thank you. This has been tremendously helpful.”
“Are you planning to go to Nakcheun?”
“Yes, I’m departing tomorrow.”
“Then shall I accompany you?”
“Your brother?”
“If by any chance Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow is still alive, it won’t be safe to go alone.”
“I’d be grateful for your help, but I hate to impose on you like this.”
“Impose? We’re not strangers to each other. You think I’d stand by if you were in danger?”
“No. If you’re in trouble, I should rush to help without hesitation.”
So why would I be any different? Don’t burden yourself with worry.”
“Yes. Thank you, brother.”
“What time will you set out tomorrow?”
“I’ll report to headquarters at the ninth hour of the morning, brief the magistrate, prepare for the journey, and we should be able to depart by the tenth hour.”
“Then I’ll wait for you outside Jangragmun around that time.”
“Yes.”
The two parted ways in front of Hwageumdang after their evening meal.
Since they had to travel far to Hadong Province the next day, they ended their gathering early.
***
The next day.
Jangan County.
When Dan Yeop said he was going to investigate Sagye Hyeonshi Keunjow, the Hyeonryeong Jo Mujin provided five Makwae escorts instead of constables.
Dan Yeop, who had been gradually mastering horsemanship in the meantime, was also issued a mount.
And around the tenth hour of the morning, six mounted figures rode out from Jangan County.
Shortly after they passed through the city gates, a man on horseback came riding toward Dan Yeop and the Makwae.
It was Hwang Biwon, the Left Seat.
Dan Yeop introduced Hwang Biwon to the puzzled Makwae.
“This is Hwang Biwon, the great master who has come to help me.”
The Makwae watched Hwang Biwon with curious eyes but said nothing more about it.
They didn’t yet know that Hwang Biwon was the Left Seat of Gwangpunghoe.
The horses bearing the six Pokwae and Hwang Biwon began to gallop eastward.
***
Seonpyeongbang.
Son Residence.
Inner quarters.
The third hour past noon.
A drop of ink fell from the brush tip as it crossed the pristine white paper.
Son Yeonhwa’s eyes narrowed as the ink spread across an unintended spot.
She had been painting orchids for years, but she had never made such a careless mistake.
“Sigh!”
She let out a light breath, folded the paper, and set it aside beneath her desk.
After unrolling a fresh sheet and dipping her brush deeply in ink, another drop fell without warning onto the wrong place.
“What on earth is wrong with me today?”
Son Yeonhwa tilted her head in bewilderment, then finally gave up on the painting and rose to her feet.
As she stepped outside and walked through the courtyard, a separate pavilion came into view.
Watching the pavilion, she felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
Suddenly, Son Jiheon’s words came to mind—that Dan Yeop had been investigating a dangerous matter.
Uneasy, she went to find Son Jiheon, who had just returned from Gugjahak.
“Brother.”
“What is it?”
“Is the case that Dan Yeop is handling really that dangerous?”
“Of course it’s dangerous. The people he’s after killed the magistrate of Nakahn County and three officials.”
“Will Dan Yeop be all right?”
“Dan Yeop? He should be fine. His martial skill is at least equal to the elders of the Five Evil Sword Sect.”
“Really? Is Dan Yeop’s martial arts that strong?”
“It is. And lately it seems to have grown even stronger. He doesn’t seem to be doing anything special, which is why I find it so enviable, honestly.”
“So I can rest easy then?”
“I don’t know. The jianghu is so treacherous. You know as well as I do that strength doesn’t guarantee safety.”
Son Jiheon, seized by a playful impulse, deliberately refused to reassure his younger sister despite knowing full well her anxious heart.
“Will nothing bad happen to Dan Yeop?”
“Why? Are you worried?”
“No, it’s just that today I keep making mistakes I’ve never made before. It feels like a bad omen, and I can’t shake the feeling.”
“Is that so? I don’t feel anything unusual. I’m closer to Dan Yeop than you are, after all. Since I feel nothing, it should be fine.”
“You’re not very perceptive, brother.”
“Me? What makes you say that? My friends always tell me how sensitive I am.”
“You must have been quite particular when choosing a courtesan.”
“Yeonhwa, why do you insist on becoming just like your grandfather? If even you start acting that way, I’ll have nowhere left to turn.”
“Friends keep telling me my brother isn’t sensitive in the slightest, and yet here you are proving them right.”
“Go on. Out.”
Son Jiheon waved his hand dismissively, his face making clear he had no patience for further conversation. Son Yeonhwa stuck her tongue out at him and slipped from the room.

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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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