Chapter 133: Chapter 133
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Je Un-seong’s words were not empty talk. As if knowing his face, the guard checked only the splendidly shaped identification plaque he held out and stepped aside. Thanks to that, Jang Geon was able to cross the threshold of the Murim Alliance alongside him, his subordinates, and Jeok-sein.
Jojo and Jeok-sein’s horse remained at the stable located just inside the gate. The beast, which had been indifferent, opened its eyes wide upon seeing the mares filling the stable. Jang Geon gently shook his head and gathered his luggage.
“Well. Since you came as outsiders, you should first head to the Reception Hall. I shall guide you. We can also share some words along the way.”
He led the way naturally and guided Jang Geon. Recalling that the identity he remembered for him was an ancient noble clan rather than the Murim Alliance, Jang Geon slowly followed behind him.
“I wonder if you have been well in the meantime. What I said earlier about whether you still live so stiffly was merely a joke. Didn’t you have a bit of that aspect? I have been truly busy since the last incident. There was a major affair in the clan as well…”
Speaking while walking ahead, he suddenly looked back and smiled faintly upon seeing Jeok-sein wearing a somewhat flustered expression.
“My, having met the famous Officer Jeok-sein of the patrol division, I haven’t even introduced myself. I am called Je Un-seong.”
“…I am Jeok-sein. I didn’t expect to meet an investigator of the Je Clan in this manner.”
Je Un-seong chuckled lightly.
“It seems Officer Jeok is bewildered that I possess a plaque from the Alliance Leader’s Office.”
However, contrary to his laughter, Jeok-sein nodded with a hardened face.
“Frankly, yes. To my knowledge, those possessing warrior plaques directly affiliated with the Alliance Leader’s Office do not exceed ten within the Alliance. I do not know how the Blood Plum Eagle of the Je Clan came to possess it.”
“Haha! You could certainly feel that way. However, while Officer Jeok departed for the eastern wilderness and reached far-off Plateau City, many things happened in the Alliance. No, not only in the Alliance, but many things happened in New Sichuan. At any rate, this plaque is an item the Alliance Leader bestowed upon me directly.”
Jeok-sein’s lips twitched as if about to interrogate further, but in the end, she simply clamped them shut. To Jang Geon, it looked as though she harbored doubts about Je Un-seong’s title, yet shut her mouth because the authority of that title made it difficult to question him easily.
Sensing that as well, Je Un-seong did not speak to her separately while continuing to guide the way to the Reception Hall.
“It has been quite a while since that incident in the wilderness where sand and dust flew all about. Where have you been wandering all this time?”
“…I went here and there.”
“Oh? Then is returning to New Sichuan your first time since that day?”
Feeling somewhat burdened by him acting overly friendly for no reason, Jang Geon answered curtly. In the first place, their first meeting had been a clash of blades, and next they had squabbled to seize the treasure map and treasure first, so he didn’t know why he was acting so warm. Was it that since the owner of the treasure was already decided, grudges were forgotten? Or perhaps he had found out that the treasure was nothing remarkable in the first place.
“It is my first time.”
“My, then you wouldn’t know the latest news of New Sichuan well.”
With his hands behind his back, he slowly took the lead and continued.
“Well. First, after that incident, the black market organization in New Sichuan was utterly smashed. That those scrounging in the shadows were struck by lightning was an added bonus. Previously, an incident broke out in the Merchant Association causing holes everywhere, and when even the black market ended up like that, people from all over poked their heads in to take empty corners and lick honey. However, the final victors are narrowing down to the Murim Alliance and the Jang Family Merchant Guild.”
At the sudden mention of his family, Jang Geon’s brows narrowed subtly.
“It was the Je Clan that smashed the black market, so why did the unrelated Murim Alliance and Jang Family Merchant Guild profit? That was because the head of the Je Clan couldn’t move properly. To be precise, Patriarch Je Gung-wol couldn’t move. Do you know why that was?”
“Who knows.”
Even at Jang Geon’s curtness, Je Un-seong was not shaken at all. They said he was famous for using his head as an investigator and Blood Plum Eagle, and like most people with big heads, he seemed to talk a lot as well.
“Because the patriarch fell into qi deviation. It was a tragedy that occurred while improving the clan’s martial arts.”
Speaking completely as if discussing someone else’s affairs, asking if it wasn’t truly intriguing, he glanced back at Jang Geon once and continued the story.
“It was two months ago that the patriarch’s life came to an end after that qi deviation. So right now, the clan is frantic because of the former patriarch’s funeral and Young Master Je Sang-cheon’s succession ceremony as patriarch. Gifts and condolences are arriving from everywhere, congratulatory delegations are coming… but amidst all that, the Murim Alliance and the Jang Family Merchant Guild are swallowing all the substance of New Sichuan. In particular, it seems the Jang Family Merchant Guild recruited a new artisan this time, and they say he is developing many interesting items. Had Patriarch Je Gung-wol been intact, while organizing New Sichuan, he would have pulled tricks to steal that developer away as well…”
Jang Geon scratched the nape of his neck at Je Un-seong’s continuous talk of New Sichuan’s internal affairs. The story that the Jang Family Merchant Guild was expanding its business by cooperating well with Dan Sang-woon was worth listening to. However, aside from that, the subtle battle of nerves between the Murim Alliance and the Je Clan, the long dispute between the Yeon Clan expanding influence through Heavenly Empress City and the Je Clan, the tug-of-war between various factions within the Murim Alliance, and so forth entered one of Jang Geon’s ears and flowed out the other.
Just as he was debating whether he should make him shut up, they were able to arrive at the Reception Hall. Finally calling out an administrator from the management office, Je Un-seong cupped his fists lightly to Jang Geon and spoke.
“I can roughly guess what business brought you to the Alliance. If you have time later, let’s have a cup of liquor.”
The Blood Plum Eagle that had flown above his departing shoulders landed once more. He and those appearing to be his subordinates moved far off among the pavilions and towers of the Murim Alliance.
“…Chattering away like that, he didn’t explain at all how he entered the Alliance Leader’s Office himself. I don’t know what kind of character he is…”
Watching Je Un-seong’s departing back, Jeok-sein shook her head as if finding it absurd. And after telling the Reception Hall administrator to prepare a room, she faced Jang Geon.
“Unpack your luggage and rest comfortably. For I must report to the higher-ups with the materials brought from Plateau City. If things go well, the Alliance Leader or the Council of Elders will want to see you this very evening. At the latest, things will proceed by tomorrow, so please wait calmly.”
“Do not forget that pouch.”
At Jang Geon’s casual tone, she smiled faintly and took out the poison sand pouch she had placed in her bosom, showing it.
“Do not worry. For I will find out everything that can be uncovered with this.”
Bantering like that, she departed in the opposite direction from where Je Un-seong had gone. Jang Geon watched her back for a moment, and only now in a quiet state could he look around his surroundings.
Compared to the countless pavilions and tall towers within the Alliance, the people walking the paths were few. Seeing that even those few people were hurriedly quickening their steps somewhere, he could deduce that Namgung Cheon’s appearance was heavily shaking the Murim Alliance.
“Please step inside.”
Just then, the Reception Hall administrator called Jang Geon. The administrator was a woman; hair tied neatly without a single stray strand, garments without a trace of a wrinkle, a straight back unyielding even while walking, giving an impression of being exceptionally strict.
Sliding his saddlebags over his shoulder, Jang Geon casually followed behind her and entered beneath the signboard reading Reception Hall. And soon, he let out a dry chuckle. The Reception Hall, which had looked like an enormous pavilion from the outside, had a structure not very different from an inn once inside.
A first floor where people passed the time drinking tea, a roof with a square opening in the center of the pavilion where sunlight entered, and rooms crowded together from the second floor up. Rather than a Reception Hall, it seemed more appropriate to call it a Murim Alliance inn.
Scanning the people sitting here and there on the first floor, Jang Geon walked behind the administrator. The guests of the Reception Hall drinking tea or conversing focused their attention on the newly appeared figure.
“Gasp!”
“Why are you… Gasp!”
Just then, someone sipping tea confirmed Jang Geon’s face and dropped their teacup in shock. And the person sitting across from him drinking tea also turned around, saw Jang Geon, and similarly inhaled sharply, dropping their cup.
As the teacups rolled across the table and shattered upon the floor, surrounding attention focused on the two. Jang Geon’s eyes turned toward them as well.
“Eek!”
The one who had turned to confirm Jang Geon quickly turned back around to avoid his gaze. However, the man who had first spotted Jang Geon was rising from his seat, looking at him with an overwhelmed expression.
“W-why are you standing up?”
“That person, the benefactor, here…”
“What? How do you know that gentleman… No, fuck! That’s not what’s important! S-sit down! Sit!”
Jang Geon gave a hollow laugh. Because he knew the man sitting with his back turned, scolding the other in a hushed voice. Seeing Jang Geon and the noisy two people, the administrator asked gently.
“Are they acquaintances of yours?”
“One of them. I shall go greet them for a moment.”
“Please do so.”
With his leisurely gait unchanged, Jang Geon approached the table of the two. All the other surrounding guests watched them and Jang Geon with curious eyes.
Seeing Jang Geon approach, the standing man hesitantly straightened his clothes, abruptly cupped his fists, and shouted.
“I am Ga Yong-san of the Sword Dragon Sect! I greet my benefactor!”
“…Who?”
Jang Geon’s steps came to a halt. It had been a while since he heard the name Sword Dragon Sect, but the name Ga Yong-san was simply too unfamiliar.
Bowing repeatedly, Ga Yong-san continued.
“Do you not remember me? I am Ga Yong-san, who owed his life to my benefactor in the past! If our benefactor had not protected us from the hands of the demonic practitioner back then, I would not be standing here right now…”
Only then did Jang Geon recall that man’s face. The pure white plains of Salt Lake City; he was one of the Sword Dragon Sect warriors who had been slaughtered by the maddened Shaolin monk there. Since he didn’t know the name, it was natural he hadn’t understood his self-introduction.
“Mm…”
At that time, many Sword Dragon Sect warriors died, but not a few warriors survived thanks to Jang Geon. Thanks to Jang Geon and the Shaolin monk Jin Gyeon, they were able to return safely to the Sword Dragon Sect in Salt Lake City. Jang Geon felt his mouth turn bitter as he recalled the events of that time. But since he couldn’t press someone who was bowing in gratitude, Jang Geon merely nodded his head.
The warrior named Ga Yong-san seemed delighted by that small nod alone, bowing repeatedly to express thanks. Dealing with him moderately, Jang Geon turned his gaze toward the person who still refused to look this way. For some reason, his shoulders seemed to be trembling faintly.
“Hey.”
As if that voice were thunder, the trembling figure flinched violently. Yet even so, he stubbornly refused to turn around from his seat.
“Come on, what are you doing? Hurry and greet him. This person is Great Hero Jang who quelled the turmoil in Salt Lake City! And my life’s savior as well!”
“…Great Hero, my ass…”
Unable to watch any longer, Ga Yong-san called him, but he lowered his head further and muttered so in a barely audible voice. Ga Yong-san wore a dumbfounded expression upon hearing that, but Jang Geon chuckled heartily instead. And placing a hand firmly upon the shoulder turned away from him, he spoke.
“Hey. Do I need to turn this around by force?”
“…Ugh. Fuck.”
Muttering shortly, he soon raised his head slowly with a face blatantly displaying a forced smile, looking back at Jang Geon. And grinning sheepishly just as forcedly, he spoke.
“H-have you been well, Brother Jang…?”
“It has been a while.”
“It has been a while… Seeing you here again…”
The name revealed as he turned his head was Yang Goeng. Dark Dragon Corps agent and secret operative of the Murim Alliance, while simultaneously a thief and fence.
Glancing at his collar, Jang Geon spoke.
“Is your neck alright?”
“…Of course it’s alright. It wasn’t like I was hanged, was it? Just… tied to a rope for a little bit. That much was nothing.”
“Really? Shall we do it once more then?”
Cold sweat began pouring profusely from Yang Goeng’s face. With a pale face and a dying voice, he ultimately declared complete surrender.
“That’s… well… spare me… Whatever it was, I did everything wrong…”