Chapter 232: Chapter 232

“Why are you in a place like this?”

Jang Sam-tae stared with a surprised expression at Hong Won-chang, who had run over and was panting. Although he was glad to see someone who was supposed to be in Hunan here in Beijing, Jang Sam-tae’s face was filled with annoyance.

For some unknown reason, he felt like the man would bring trouble along with him.

“Haha, to meet my Lord in a place like this… it seems this Hong Won-chang’s luck is finally looking up.”

Hong Won-chang glanced at Jang Sam-tae and immediately ignored him, turning his head away. He then turned his gaze toward Dan Woo-hyun and burst into a hearty laugh.

It seemed he also had no desire to deal with Jang Sam-tae.

The two faced each other for a moment, then snorted and turned their heads away.

“Why are you here?”

Dan Woo-hyun also asked with a puzzled expression.

Since the distance between Hunan and Beijing was considerable, traveling between them was by no means an easy feat.

Hong Won-chang scratched his head vigorously.

“Well… have you not forgotten the fact that I am a government official?”

“Ah.”

“…Right.”

Hong Won-chang’s shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh.

Both of them seemed to have forgotten the fact that he was an official.

“Because strange occurrences have been happening frequently in Beijing recently, I came here personally to investigate.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“…I see.”

Dan Woo-hyun looked at Hong Won-chang with a skeptical gaze.

Under that gaze, Hong Won-chang unconsciously turned his head away.

Since he was known as the best county magistrate who had never failed to solve a case, it seemed he had been summoned all the way to Beijing to handle this matter.

In truth, Hong Won-chang had solved absolutely nothing, and because most of those numerous cases had been resolved by Dan Woo-hyun, Hong Won-chang could not help but be overjoyed to meet Dan Woo-hyun here.

“Since it’s a bit awkward to just stand around in a place like this, how about we head to my house first?”

“A house? You have a house in Beijing?”

Hong Won-chang nodded with a broad grin.

He was none other than Hong Won-chang.

It was only natural for him to own a house or two in Beijing.

Hong Won-chang quickly led the way, guiding Dan Woo-hyun.

It was no illusion that he seemed to be in a quite good mood, like someone who had just seen a ray of hope.

“If it’s Lord Hong, is it that person?”

Mae-hyang, who was trotting along behind them, looked at Hong Won-chang walking ahead with a curious gaze.

Her eyes sparkled as if she were looking at someone she admired, for Hong Won-chang’s name was quite well-known even in other regions.

“What do you mean, that person?”

“You know, that one! The county magistrate… who has never failed to solve a case.”

“What a load of absolute bullshit, seriously.”

Jang Sam-tae shook his head with a somewhat displeased expression. Without Dan Woo-hyun, Hong Won-chang would have been absolutely nothing.

Knowing that, he found it simply ridiculous.

“What? Is that not true?”

Mae-hyang tilted her head.

Someone of Hong Won-chang’s stature was a figure before whom even martial artists would bow their heads on their own accord, yet Jang Sam-tae’s expression did not look good at all.

“There is such a thing. You don’t need to know.”

“Would it hurt to tell me a little?”

“I said you don’t need to know!”

“Alright, I get it!”

The voices of the two rang out across the entire street of Beijing. Since it was loud enough to make passersby turn and look, Hong Won-chang, who was leading the way, found it quite embarrassing, and his face flushed red.

“My Lord, who on earth is that girl?”

Hong Won-chang glanced back. It was extremely strange to see the pretty Mae-hyang clinging tightly to Jang Sam-tae’s side without leaving.

A woman for Jang Sam-tae, of all people?

“It is fate.”

“Fate…?”

“Yes.”

Hong Won-chang looked back once more.

No matter how he thought about it, they were an ill-matched pair.

He could not wrap his head around the fact that Jang Sam-tae, of all people, was accompanied by such a beautiful woman.

“Do we have to go further?”

“It is right over there.”

Startled by the voice, he snapped out of his thoughts and pointed toward a place. It was a small manor, which he used whenever he occasionally came up to Beijing.

Although it was small compared to his main house in Hunan or Dan Woo-hyun’s residence, it was sufficient for a stay of a few days.

“Let us go in! Today, this Hong Won-chang will treat you to a grand feast. Hahaha!”

* * *

Treating them to a grand feast was not an empty promise.

Famous delicacies of Beijing filled the table, and expensive, fine liquor was also brought out.

One could tell at a single glance just how much money he had spent.

“There is a lot.”

Even Dan Woo-hyun shook his head at the sight of the sheer amount.

In such an atmosphere, cups of alcohol were exchanged, and the dishes slowly disappeared.

“So, is Hunan doing well?”

“Of course. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened.”

“I am glad to hear that nothing has happened.”

Dan Woo-hyun chuckled and moved his chopsticks. The reason his expression was somewhat soft was because no major trouble had occurred in the place where So-mi was.

At that moment, Hong Won-chang spoke with an expression of firm resolve.

“However, in this Beijing…”

“This meat tastes really good.”

“Ahem…”

Hong Won-chang cleared his throat.

Dan Woo-hyun did not even look at Hong Won-chang.

He steeled his resolve once more and spoke.

“Right now, this Beijing is talk…”

“My, the taste is good, but it’s somewhat subtle. I feel like it could use a bit more seasoning.”

“You think so too? Me too.”

“What do you know about food?”

“Probably more than you.”

The two bickered as their voices grew louder.

Hong Won-chang frowned.

To be interrupted not once, but twice?

He was in a situation where he had to cling to Dan Woo-hyun and get help with this matter.

He had spent his own money to treat him to such delicacies for this very reason, so if everything went down the drain, Hong Won-chang felt like he might go mad.

He set the mood once more and composed his breathing.

“So, in this Beijing…”

“Jeez, this fellow really doesn’t get it at all.”

“I know, right. He should have gotten the hint by now. Is his head empty?”

Hong Won-chang’s mouth fell wide open at the harsh words that followed.

Jang Sam-tae was naturally harsh with his words, so that could be overlooked. However, the insults flowing so freely from the mouth of a woman named Mae-hyang shocked even Hong Won-chang.

A look of indifference, a feeling as if she truly looked down on him like trash.

It was like looking at another Jang Sam-tae.

“Our Manor Lord is saying he won’t do anything troublesome.”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? Honestly, to be this slow-witted…”

Under the abuse pouring from their mouths and their fierce gazes, Hong Won-chang unconsciously shrank back.

Although Hong Won-chang had seen many people and dealt with vicious individuals before, today, he felt himself shrinking as if he had become small.

“The Manor Lord is telling you not to dump troublesome chores on him.”

“Does he even think before he speaks? Is this person really that famous Magistrate Hong? Isn’t he someone else?”

Hong Won-chang broke into a cold sweat and lowered his head.

For some reason, he felt a sense of guilt.

Although he was often told by his wife that he lacked tact, he had never been told so openly like this.

Unintentionally, his spirits dampened.

“Well… it is what it is.”

Dan Woo-hyun muttered as he casually used his chopsticks. Although the words spoken were somewhat harsh, he seemed to be in a good mood as they had said what he wanted to say in a refreshing manner.

In contrast, however, Hong Won-chang froze like a stone statue, unable to move, before he suddenly rushed forward toward Dan Woo-hyun.

Soon, he grabbed the hem of his trousers.

“P-Please save me, my Lord! At this rate, this Hong Won-chang will die.”

“As I said, I did not come to Beijing to deal with troublesome matters.”

“Please, I beg of you. Just once, please help me just once!”

Dan Woo-hyun looked at Hong Won-chang with a somewhat annoyed expression. He still had a long way to go, yet he had wasted quite a lot of time due to various incidents.

From Dan Woo-hyun’s perspective, wanting to return as soon as possible to see Dan So-mi, he did not wish to waste any more time.

“I refuse.”

“Don’t be like that, please help me! Didn’t I say I would dedicate my body to you for the rest of my life?!”

“I have no need of it. And don’t say such useless things. Someone might misunderstand if they hear you…”

“No! I will die if you tell me to! So please, just once, help me just once!”

At his desperate tone, Dan Woo-hyun let out a sigh.

Glancing at Hong Won-chang, he saw that the man was shedding tears. Although Dan Woo-hyun was not one to be moved by a man’s tears, he shook his head as if he had no choice.

It was not something that had occurred in Hunan, but rather something happening in Beijing. How urgent must it have been for the Emperor to call for Hong Won-chang?

Moreover, if he failed to solve it, it seemed unlikely that Hong Won-chang would meet a peaceful end either.

“Sigh… Speak.”

“Thank you! Thank you, my Lord! This Hong Won-chang will, for the rest of his life, serve…”

“Enough, just tell me what it is.”

As if no further idle chatter was needed, Dan Woo-hyun waved his hand. At that, Hong Won-chang quickly sat down, wiped his tears, and cleared his throat once again with a solemn expression.

“Ahem! In this Beijing…”

“Oh, how unsightly…”

Mae-hyang muttered with an exasperated look. Her face clearly showed that she could not believe that this man was the highly respected Magistrate Hong.

It felt as if her dream had shattered.

“Q-Quiet! Anyway, in this Beijing…”

Hong Won-chang glanced at the faces of Jang Sam-tae and Mae-hyang. His expression was filled with anxiety, wondering if they were going to interrupt him again.

However, let alone Jang Sam-tae, even Mae-hyang only moved her chopsticks as if she did not care.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and continue speaking.

“Recently, young children have been disappearing. Not only does it not matter whether they are boys or girls, but there are also no traces left behind, making it impossible to find the culprit at all.”

Dan Woo-hyun flinched at Hong Won-chang’s words, which he uttered with a sigh. For the first time, he turned his head and looked at Hong Won-chang with genuine interest.

“Children are disappearing?”

“Yes, children disappearing when people wake up is now happening as if it were a matter of course. Because it is spreading not only in Beijing but across the entire Hebei Province…”

Clack!

Dan Woo-hyun set down his chopsticks.

“At first, I wondered if it was those bastards from the Martial God Cult, or whatever, who are active in Shaanxi… but no matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem to be them…”

As he spoke of the Martial God Cult, Hong Won-chang studied Dan Woo-hyun’s reaction.

This was because there was no one among the members of the Great Families who did not know that he was related to the Martial God in some way.

“I see… children?”

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