The appearance of the Nechonggwan was much like my own in my previous life. Bound hand and foot against the wall, utterly helpless. Still, I had to be thankful to the Nechonggwan. If he truly intended to kill me, he would have cut off my limbs by now.
Yet, instead of feeling any gratitude, the Nechonggwan’s eyes were filled only with fear. I began by delivering the points he needed to know.
“First, don’t ask questions. Just answer.”
The Nechonggwan flinched as if he was about to speak.
“Second, don’t move your limbs. The rattling sound is unpleasant to hear.”
These weren’t fabricated commands. They were exactly the same as the ones I had been given in my previous life. In a sense, they were a restraint heavier than shackles.
“Lastly, if you lie, I’ll kill you. If you understand, just nod.”
Though nothing was physically restraining his mouth, the Nechonggwan tucked his lips inward and nodded vigorously.
I paused briefly, contemplating. I had too many questions swirling in my mind to decide where to start.
But on reflection, that was unreasonable. There was no reason for me to consider his feelings, just as I had no hesitation about bombarding him with questions in my previous life. I only had to extract what was in my head. The organizing was up to my servant’s bindings.
“When was Lee Cheongmyeong roughly promoted to Elder of the Samga? Since when did Lee Cheongmyeong bring his own people into the Samga? When did you start associating with Lee Cheongmyeong? What exactly was the relationship between Lee Cheongmyeong and the Seong Gajang? What was the Seong Gajang’s role? Is there any evidence to verify Lee Cheongmyeong’s actions? Start from now.”
I threw out the questions recklessly, crossing my legs in my chair. The Nechonggwan’s eyes darted around without any control.
***
The reason I was here was, naturally, to obtain the poisoned dagger to stab into Lee Cheongmyeong’s neck. I needed conclusive evidence of his corruption. But a rather trivial problem presented itself.
“…The dagger is a bit large.”
Before me rolled countless Gumwonbo coins like scattered copper pennies. It was a number so huge I could only call it greed on an incredible scale.
At that amount, it could sustain a whole village for three years without worry.
On the wall, to my kindness or misfortune, hung Jukgan used as secret ledgers.
The records written on the Jukgan matched the number of Gumwonbo coins. It seemed everything was meticulously managed. It was presumed to be Lee Cheongmyeong’s personal treasury for his retirement funds.
On top of that, while doing this, he created the Seong Gajang, a Black Path Organization. This Black Path operated mainly in Yongho Mountain, Euidam, and Imcheon regions, killing many people.
I was able to find the Eulroeilji containing records of such activities right there in the room. Also, the letters exchanged between Seong Gajang and Lee Cheongmyeong were easily found.
The reason all this was so easy and quick to find was thanks to my servant who told me everything.
“I was like that at first too.”
When gripped by the terror of death, one loses reason. When one is useless, one dies — such thoughts provoke people to say anything, true or false.
Even the Nechonggwan, who was not deeply connected to Lee Cheongmyeong, was soon exposed.
He would come to realize, just like me, that once a certain moment passes, fate is sealed and struggling is useless.
I left the room and approached the Nechonggwan. He trembled as if a seizure had seized him the moment I entered.
Now, to the Nechonggwan, I was no longer someone he could control or treat casually.
“…Gongja-nim. You’re here. Have you confirmed everything I said?”
His voice stammered and shook. He looked bewildered, or perhaps he was preparing what he was about to say next.
That was natural since I was holding the ledger, the Jukgan, and the Eulroeilji tightly in my arms.
My servant’s face twisted upon noticing this late. Though he would think it a smile, to me it looked like an expression of suppressed agony.
“Haha…ha. You found it, Gongja-nim. Thank goodness. You found everything just as I explained.”
I stared at the pitiful Nechonggwan. The arrogant old man who once punished the Sijoeng with a haughty face had vanished.
I knew that old man’s heart better than anyone. That was why I had bound him like that.
Finally, I asked.
“Is there nothing more to say?”
“No! I really told you everything!”
His voice was desperate. From Lee Cheongmyeong’s perspective, the Nechonggwan was just a tool. Considering how easily he provided information on Seong Gajang, he had done his job.
“Nechonggwan, you’ve caused me much trouble. We never treated you like a master, letting other powers push you around.”
The Nechonggwan opened his mouth as if surprised I would say such a thing. That was an undeniable fact he could not deny.
“I don’t know much, but I heard from your father’s time you were a loyal and strong Nechonggwan. It’s truly unfortunate.”
I looked at the Nechonggwan quietly. His response came immediately.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Gongja-nim! This old man must have gone senile! How could a servant not protect his master? How could I not have gone mad!”
His arms and legs shook, rattling the chains. Without the restraints, I was sure he would have banged his head in frustration.
I had never thought he would lie after being bound. Even his apology was sincere. Only a seasoned assassin or intelligence agent could feign the shiver in his voice so skillfully.
I quietly untied the Nechonggwan’s shackles. He seemed surprised by how easily I released him.
Thud!
The Nechonggwan immediately dropped to his knees and slammed his teeth into the floor. He bit so hard that his teeth cracked and bled. Watching this, I said,
“But disrespecting others isn’t a crime punishable by death, is it?”
“No! I deserve to die!”
How pathetic it was to slam one’s head in desperation yet discuss death so easily.
“Even if I forgive you, there’s no way to bring you back into the Samga. You are free.”
I tapped the Nechonggwan’s shoulder. Despite being a frail old man, he was taller than me and had to twist his arm to reach me.
Sensing my change of heart, the Nechonggwan left the room immediately. At the front gate, he bowed deeply once more.
“Thank you, Gongja-nim. I will never forget this grace.”
“Go well. If you can, take your clothes and valuables from the Samga with you.”
The Nechonggwan showed no intention of listening and bowed repeatedly while backing away. Soon, he vanished into the shadows.
My servant may not have known, but I hadn’t spared him out of mercy. There was no need to kill someone twice. Even without dirtying my hands further, his fate was already sealed.
Even if I had truly forgiven him and allowed him back into the Samga, he would have died.
Turning my gaze away from the shadows, I looked toward Namchang. I had done all I needed here. Just as it took six hours to travel from Okhwasan to Yeogang, it took six hours from Yeogang to Namchang.
Riding a horse, the journey would take less than an hour, but walking was fine too. Either way, arriving quickly at night served no purpose.
“How will the road at night be?”
There were so many bandits on the road during the day. I could only guess how dangerous the night would be.
***
The Nechonggwan ran. Until recently, his apologies were sincere, but once the glint of gold rings disappeared from his face, his resentment boiled over.
I didn’t know when he had learned swordplay, but he was still a child. Yet, he had played with his own life. Though it was shameful to wail and slam his head before the Golden Ring to plead, it was a necessary choice to survive.
“Foolish brat!”
Trying to erase his shame, I swore at the Golden Ring.
That seemed to ease my mind somewhat. He even told me to take the money and clothes he had saved.
Though old, starting a new life in another fortress made sense. Having overcome the threat of death, it was truly a new beginning.
Still, the Nechonggwan tried his best to escape from Seong Gajang. Yeogang consisted of several dozen villages. Crossing into another region meant certain death at the hands of mountain bandits or Black Path members. Moving to a neighboring village within Yeogang was safer.
By the next day, he planned to stop by Namchang, take only his valuables, and then relocate to another fortress.
The Nechonggwan soon reached the narrow road connecting village to village.
The travel funds he brought from the Samga were more than enough for a day’s stay at an inn. A white lantern, signaling the inn, glimmered in the distance.
Just as he naturally quickened his pace, someone suddenly appeared from the shadows.
“Excuse me, can I have a word?”
“Goodness! Please be more careful. If I were unarmed, I’d have drawn my sword.”
“Ha ha. Sorry.”
The man wearing a Moonlit Assassin’s mask had his eyes and nose covered, making it hard to gauge his age.
“I’m asking because I’m busy right now, so speak quickly.”
The Nechonggwan asked nervously. After today’s worst experience, no warm words would come naturally.
The Moonlit Assassin moved his lips as the Nechonggwan wanted. But the question that followed was unfamiliar to the Nechonggwan’s ears.
“Are you the Nechonggwan of the Hwanggeum Family?”
The Nechonggwan couldn’t reply. It felt like cold water dripped down his spine. How could someone here in Yeogang know him?
The Moonlit Assassin took out a yellow paper from his chest. As it fluttered before unfolding, the Nechonggwan recognized the dragon seal printed on it as his own.
“Hmm, looks like it.”
“…Wh-who are you?”
The Nechonggwan stammered further. The Moonlit Assassin laughed at the sight of his faltering voice.
“I am someone from Cheonjuseong.”
“…Cheonjuseong?”
The Nechonggwan’s mind raced. It was the name of a secretive organization he’d never been involved with—at least, that was what he thought.
“My fortress must never suffer defeat. All remnants of failure must be eradicated so that the Seongju may rest easy when he inspects the central plains.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
The Nechonggwan’s question was cut short. In the blink of an eye, the Moonlit Assassin’s head gleamed in the moonlight.
Splat.
The grass and dirt beneath him instantly soaked in blood. The body of the collapsed Nechonggwan twitched feebly like an insect before stilling.
The Moonlit Assassin saw no need to clean up. People dying on the road were a common sight in the central plains.
***
Sangmudang was the last to leave and the first to arrive when it came to all assets of the Hwanggeum Family.
The Sangmudang Head always insisted that the Sangmudang must at least reach the rank of Gak or Daegup, but it was a powerless voice and fell on deaf ears.
“But at least they pay.”
The Sangmudang Head knew of the political climate within the Samga but deliberately stayed uninvolved. He understood that getting tangled in the affairs of the martial world was dangerous.
So even when the Elders gave unreasonable orders, the Sangmudang Head just went along. The Hwanggeum Family had so much money that even wasting it recklessly wouldn’t make it rot.
As the Sangmudang Head approached the office, he noticed something strange. The silhouette of a child stood at the door.
Could it be one of the Sijoeng? Occasionally, people waited at the door like this when there was an urgent matter.
“Huh.”
Already, the Sangmudang Head felt uneasy. Starting the day with trouble wasn’t a good sign.
“W-what are you doing here?”
From afar, the Sangmudang Head called out with irritation to the child by the door.
The child turned his back and looked toward him. As the Sangmudang Head drew closer, his wrinkles deepened. Was he hallucinating?
“Sangmudang Head. I have a proposal.”
I had no idea why that woman, the Youngest Master who seemed to carry a pile of grudges, was here.
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