I quietly observed that man.
He was a young man who appeared to be in his late thirties, wearing a neatly arranged scholar’s hat.
But… I felt like I’d seen him somewhere before.
Where had I seen him?
It was definitely a familiar face.
Jin Yeong had mentioned this before. That they were monitoring someone because suspicious movements had been detected.
“We need to identify and investigate everyone that person meets and speaks with here. There’s a high possibility that person is a link to treasonous forces.”
But why here of all places?
I grumbled inwardly, but I could guess the reason.
They say if you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest, and if you want to hide a pebble, hide it in a gravel field.
What better place than a local dignitary’s wedding banquet where people could meet and converse by chance without raising suspicion?
My uncle-in-law is the Merchant Lord of Yeonjun Merchant Group, which has led a merchant group in Beijing for generations.
And the in-laws’ household is that of the Vice Minister of Revenue, a high-ranking position.
It was safe to say that a considerable number of influential people in Beijing were attending this banquet.
There wouldn’t be many places where they could converse so freely.
But why did it have to be Seon-mi’s wedding banquet?
Sigh… I don’t like this.
Still, that face really was familiar.
I asked the Embroidered Guard member.
“Do you happen to know that person’s name?”
“Someone named Yang Eun-jik.”
“…!”
At that moment, a scene suddenly flashed through my mind.
It was from my past life.
I was probably in my late twenties back then.
At a gathering of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven, I’d been introduced to a man who was accompanying Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang.
“This is Lord Eun Seo-ho of Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“Ah! I’ve heard of your reputation. Pleased to meet you. I’m Yang Eun-jik. I work at the Murim Alliance in a modest capacity.”
I cupped my fists and bowed my head, and what I clearly saw then was a well-worn sword hilt.
“Since you work at the Murim Alliance, you must be a martial artist.”
“Don’t be surprised! Yang here is actually a Peak expert.”
“What? Peak?”
“Haha, didn’t I tell you not to be surprised?”
“I’m surprised because you’re quite young to be a Peak expert.”
“Actually, I reached Peak about three years ago.”
“I see. What an honor to meet a Peak expert!”
“It’s nothing compared to Merchant Lord Namgoong here.”
I took a deep breath and looked at him again.
Unlike back then, he wasn’t wearing a beard and his attire was plain, so I hadn’t recognized him.
But hearing his name, I was certain.
Since he’d said he became Peak three years before that, so he was probably a First-rate warrior now.
But why was someone from the Murim Alliance here?
Usually, surveillance and tailing like this was handled by those with relatively lower positions or seniority.
That’s probably why the dispatched Embroidered Guard members seemed to think he was a scholar.
Hmm, fortunately we were a bit far away and it was noisy, so he couldn’t have heard our conversation.
I leaned forward and spoke to them.
“Excuse me, may I say something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“That person is a martial artist.”
“…!”
Their eyes widened at my words.
“What?”
At least they were trained enough not to shout when surprised.
“A martial artist?”
“Yes. I saw him before when I went to Luoyang. I believe he said he was with the Murim Alliance back then.”
“……”
The one who seemed to be leading the group asked me.
Was it Warrior Song?
“Do you happen to know his martial arts level?”
So that’s why he’s the leader. He was asking the most important question.
“From what I briefly heard back then, I believe he was First-rate.”
“Thank you. We might have failed this mission without you.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Just then, someone approached Yang Eun-jik, and the Embroidered Guard members focused on him.
They secretly noted down the names of those Yang Eun-jik met if they knew them, and physical descriptions if they didn’t.
The men before me seemed unaware that I’d learned martial arts, probably because they were at a lower level than me.
I’d already reached the Peak realm, and had become even stronger after receiving Patriarch’s guidance at North Sea Ice Palace.
So I could hear Yang Eun-jik’s conversations with others very clearly.
Perhaps because he originally lived in Beijing, he exchanged greetings with many people.
Among them were some whose greetings seemed somewhat strange.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it’s been some time.”
“How have you been lately?”
“I’ve been well.”
“By the way, the weather’s been terribly hot lately. Is there somewhere around here to escape the heat?”
“Three days from now, early hours of the Tiger (3-5 AM). The western Guandi Temple.”
“I see. Thanks for letting me know. Give my regards to Manager Chun as well.”
It was like that.
At first glance, it might seem like they were just exchanging greetings and simple conversation, but there were hidden messages in between.
Three days from now, early Tiger hours, western Guandi Temple.
They probably planned to meet there and scheme something.
A short while later, Yang Eun-jik left.
Warrior Song ordered two members to tail him. I was about to get up as well, but he grabbed my sleeve.
“…?”
“Stay seated for a moment.”
“Yes.”
As I sat back down, Warrior Song asked me.
“Jin Yeong mentioned that you have good insight for your age.”
“…He was just being kind.”
“I thought so too, but the information you just shared changed my mind.”
His expression was very serious.
“I’d like to get your advice. Were there any among those he met today that we should pay particular attention to?”
I thought for a moment at his question.
Whatever it was, the Murim Alliance was clearly up to something shady.
And if the Embroidered Guard was moving like this, it couldn’t be anything good.
The reason I hesitated was because I wondered if I might suffer harm from this matter.
They might interrogate me, saying I was connected to them or something.
But…
Both Jin Yeong and Warrior Song before me didn’t seem like they would do that.
“In that case… this is just my humble opinion, but…”
“Go ahead, speak.”
“Focus on the third, seventh, tenth, twelfth, and fifteenth people he met.”
“You remember everyone he met…?”
“I have a good memory.”
He quickly wrote down what I said on paper, tucked it in his robe, and said.
“I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Not at all. I’m just glad I could help.”
Warrior Song also quietly left the banquet hall.
So the Murim Alliance has been suspiciously quiet lately…
Still, if I could sabotage the Murim Alliance’s plans like this, it worked in my favor.
I stood up from my seat.
It was about time for the groom to arrive.
I wanted to go see Seon-mi, but there was a custom that no man, whether father or brother, should see her face on her wedding day.
So I asked a maid to check on how Seon-mi was doing and report back.
A short while later,
The maid approached and held out a letter.
“…?”
“The young lady told me to give this to you.”
I opened the letter and read its contents.
[Cousin, you’re curious about my face, aren’t you? But the first person I need to show it to is my husband. Anyway, thank you so much. Today’s joy is all thanks to you.]
The content radiated happiness.
I smiled softly and folded the letter, putting it in my robe.
Though the Grand Scholars’ wives’ education had given her refined grace, Seon-mi was still Seon-mi.
The scorching sun had hidden itself.
But the heat from the heated ground still rose, making it just as hot.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Palgap beside me was continuously using the Windcraft Fan.
“Are you that hot?”
“Really, I envy you and the guards, Young Master.”
I could understand Palgap’s envy.
I’d learned Ice Techniques and reached Peak, and the escort guards were Peak or First-rate warriors close to it, so we didn’t suffer much from the heat.
Escort Guard Jin Yu spoke.
“If you diligently train in martial arts, Palgap, you’ll stop feeling this kind of heat too.”
“When will that ever be?”
“…Ahem, that depends on how diligently you train.”
Palgap’s face fell at those words.
It looked like a bear with drooping ears, making me laugh despite myself.
Just then.
“The groom is coming!”
“Waaah!”
In the distance, a band was approaching.
Behind the band playing festive music, a red palanquin was coming along. The palanquin that would carry Seon-mi away.
Come to think of it, in my past life, my aunt had been quite melancholy after Seon-mi’s wedding.
They’d been as close as friends, so she felt it even more.
And she’d been pained seeing Seon-mi’s gaunt face when she occasionally visited her parents’ home.
Now there wouldn’t be any gaunt faces to see, but she’d still be lonely.
Once the Beijing branch was completed, I’d probably stay in Beijing often, so I should visit frequently.
Seon-mi’s wedding ceremony was over.
And today was the day Seon-mi would visit her parents’ home.
There was a custom where the bride, after going to the groom’s house following the wedding, would visit her parents’ home again three days later.
“We’re here.”
“Mother! Father! We’re here!”
My uncle-in-law and aunt welcomed Vice Minister Yuan and Seon-mi.
Just then, Vice Minister Yuan’s and my eyes met.
I saw him flinch.
Had he done something wrong to me? Why was he acting like that?
The newlyweds received well-wishes and gifts from Grandfather and other family elders.
Finally, it was my turn.
I was the youngest by age.
“Live happily.”
“Yes, cousin.”
“And…”
When I looked at Lecturer Yuan, he flinched again.
“Why do you keep doing that? I’m not that scary. Hahaha.”
“……”
“Anyway, I still remember what you promised me. So you must make our Seon-mi happy.”
“O-of course! I’ll devote everything to do exactly that. Great Hero!”
Hm? Great Hero?
I wasn’t old enough to be called that…
I was about to correct the title but let it go.
This wasn’t the place to drag things out.
“Here, a gift.”
I held out a red pouch. Usually, there would be money inside.
I’d put in money too. Of course, it would be an unimaginable amount.
Giving money in a red pouch to newlyweds like this was for younger people, not for elders.
Seon-mi was the first person I was giving a red pouch gift to, so I put in a generous amount.
“Well then, let’s go have a meal.”
“Yes.”
We spent a warm, pleasant time together.
Amidst this, thoughts of Yang Eun-jik suddenly came to mind.
Well, I’d given them enough information, so the Embroidered Guard would handle things properly.
About three days passed like that.
Perhaps worried that my aunt would be lonely, Grandfather decided to stay in Beijing for a while.
And my older brother Jeong-ho was busy handling matters related to the imperial silk supply.
My brother had come to Beijing not only to attend Seon-mi’s wedding banquet but also to handle imperial silk supply matters.
And I… was busy.
Between my existing work and handling matters related to the Beijing branch, I often wished I had two bodies.
But who was I!
I’d been honed by decades of work in my past life!
Plus, thanks to Master’s training, my stamina was no problem.
Today, as I was diligently handling work, Palgap entered the room where I was working.
“Young Master. You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes. Escort Chief Gwak is here.”
Escort Chief Gwak… Master is here?
I jumped up and quickly went out to the courtyard. Master was standing in the courtyard.
“Master, it’s been a while. But why are you standing here? Won’t you come to the reception room?”
“No. I don’t have that much time.”
Did Master squeeze in time to visit despite being busy?
Ah, Master came because of that.
“I wanted to know about the next form of Extreme Yin Soul Ice Combat, so I stopped by briefly while on an escort mission in this direction.”
As expected.
“I apologize. I’ve troubled you by coming to such a distant place, Master.”
“Not at all. By that logic, it’s the same for both of us.”
I escorted Master to the back garden of my temporary residence. Training in Extreme Yin Soul Ice Combat required privacy.
And there I taught the third form.
“I see. I understand.”
“As expected of you, Master.”
Then I suddenly thought that since Master had connections in the martial world and heard many things while traveling on escort missions, Master might know about Yang Eun-jik.
“Master, I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Do you happen to know someone named Yang Eun-jik from the Murim Alliance?”
“…Who did you just say?”
But Master’s aura upon hearing that name was unsettling.
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt