Chapter 149: Chapter 149
* * *
Seom Ji-young.
She was the woman who had reported Ju Yeo-rang to the Shandong Je Clan in the past, and young master Je Sang-cheon’s fiancée.
Jang Geon held his cup without answering. Seeing him like that, Seom Ji-young softly bowed her head.
“I apologize for bothering your peaceful drinking time. But I really needed to meet you, Warrior Jang.”
“…Warrior Yong has served my clan for a long time. So he has a somewhat stiff side. If you felt offended by his demeanor earlier, I apologize. Warrior Yong?”
“Yes?”
Seom Ji-young turned her head to Warrior Yong standing behind her and silently signaled with her eyes. At that, Warrior Yong flinched, looked back and forth between Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young, and finally took a step forward to bow his waist.
“…I am sorry. I displayed impolite conduct to someone I am meeting for the first time.”
“A subordinate’s fault is also the lord’s fault. I am sorry.”
Beside him, Seom Ji-young also lightly bowed her head. It was an apology so excessive that it might be deemed somewhat overly polite given that he hadn’t directly insulted anyone.
Sitting in front of Jang Geon, Dan Sang-woon actually felt that way, wearing a slightly uncomfortable expression.
And Jang Geon felt a peculiar sensation from the attitude of Seom Ji-young and the man called Warrior Yong. Warrior Yong had a face and demeanor of forced apology, but in truth, he seemed to have no particular emotion, and the same went for Seom Ji-young beside him.
“…Straighten your back unless you want to draw more attention.”
At the words of Jang Geon holding his liquor bottle, Warrior Yong quickly straightened his waist and backed away again. His hardened face while taking backward steps truly looked like a complex expression subtly tinged with self-reproach, a bit of anger, and a sense of grievance toward a lord who didn’t understand him. But Jang Geon, filling his cup, smirked.
An excessive apology relative to the fault makes the party receiving that apology uncomfortable. Unless it is an excessive courtesy at the level of mockery, the faulty party actually gains a slight upper hand over the victim. What if the receiving party takes such excessive apologies for granted? That too becomes a way to gauge the other party’s character.
Whether this was a refined negotiation method used by ancient martial clans or something thought up by this woman named Seom Ji-young was unknown. However, one could tell she was striving to increase the possibility of entrusting the task even by a little.
Simultaneously, Jang Geon recalled the name Seom Ji-young. It was a name he had heard on a day that felt quite long ago, while saving a certain woman.
“I don’t know what business the mistress of the Je Clan has with a wanderer like me.”
As Jang Geon spoke while filling his cup, Seom Ji-young smiled brightly.
“If you are merely a wanderer, there would be no one in the Martial World worthy of being called a figure of note. And it is still early to call me mistress. There is time remaining until Brother Sang-cheon’s succession ceremony.”
Taking a sip from his filled cup, Jang Geon recalled the story he had heard from Je Un-seong of the Martial Alliance not long ago. Something about the former clan master dying of Qi deviation and the successor, Je Sang-cheon, ascending as clan master. Back then he had wondered why such useless talk was brought up, but since his clan was the Je Clan, it was naturally a topic that could arise.
“So, how long do I have to remain standing like this?”
Seom Ji-young spoke playfully while maintaining her smiling face. As Jang Geon, having emptied his cup, looked at her with contemplating eyes, Dan Sang-woon beside him strangely stood up quietly.
“Hmm. Brother Jang, then I shall head back first. I’ll explain well to the Guild Master about your being late, Brother Jang.”
As talk of business seemed about to pass between Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young, Dan Sang-woon sought to leave the seat first. Whatever the matter was, it wasn’t a place for him to get involved, as he was in a position where he had to avoid the eyes of the Martial Alliance Leader.
“No. Let’s go together. I think I’ve drunk as much as I’m going to.”
“Huh? Huh… But…”
Dan Sang-woon quietly turned his head toward Seom Ji-young. Her eyes had widened slightly at Jang Geon’s words that he was leaving.
“…Are you not even planning to hear what the request is?”
Jang Geon pulled out money for the liquor from his bosom, set it on the table, and spoke.
“I’m a bit tipsy right now, so it’s not a good time to talk business. Do you know where I’m staying?”
“…I would be grateful if you let me know.”
“I’m staying at the Jang Family Merchant Guild. If you really want to entrust a task to me, come find me tomorrow during the day.”
Telling someone to see him tomorrow right to their face was naturally not great manners. However, far from frowning, Seom Ji-young smirked brightly once again and lightly bowed her head.
“I see. Then I shall come find you again during the day tomorrow. Let’s talk then.”
Leaving those words of farewell, she turned without hesitation and departed with the man called Warrior Yong. As Jang Geon watched their receding backs, Dan Sang-woon opened his mouth.
“Um… It wasn’t because of me for no reason, was it?”
“Not at all. I was just curious whether she would still try to entrust the task even if I acted like this.”
“Don’t you also not know what that task is?”
Jang Geon turned to Dan Sang-woon and answered.
“Whatever task it is, I know it’s something requiring an outsider. And that it’s important enough that even the high pride of an ancient martial clan must be bent.”
“…Does it work out like that?”
Dan Sang-woon scratched the back of his head as if his head wasn’t spinning due to liquor. Jang Geon smiled faintly at him.
“Don’t worry. We can hear it out, and if it doesn’t seem right, we can just not do it. Now let’s go back.”
Afterward, bidding farewell to the cook who was watching from the kitchen wondering what was going on, Jang Geon supported Dan Sang-woon, who was beginning to stagger, and returned home. Before long, late afternoon arrived. The cool sea wind coming from afar pleasantly brushed past the two who were already drunk and staggering. Jang Geon thought Dan Sang-woon had quite boldly declared he would go back alone when he was going to stagger like this.
Around sunset, Jang Un, who returned home as his work finished early today, cradled his forehead at the news that they had set up a drinking party from broad daylight and fallen asleep skipping dinner. Because it felt as though even the diligent Dan Sang-woon was being tainted by Jang Geon.
* * *
Seom Ji-young raised her head and looked at the sign of the merchant guild. The name Jang Family Merchant Guild was written in large, resolute calligraphy. It was handwriting that didn’t quite suit a merchant guild, yet inspired trust in its firm momentum.
Of course, having met numerous calligraphers in the Je Clan, she recognized whose calligraphy in New Sichuan it was and how much money it would take to obtain it. To put it negatively, it was something that could be obtained for a few coins, and to put it positively, it could be said that appropriate money was spent in an appropriate place.
As she stood at the entrance of the merchant guild and looked up like that for a moment, Warrior Yong behind her subtly approached and asked.
“Shall I go inside and tell them to bring out Warrior Jang?”
Keeping her eyes on the sign, Seom Ji-young slowly shook her head.
“No. There’s no need to act more impolitely. Warrior Jang seems to have noticed that trick since yesterday anyway.”
“…I am sorry, Young Lady.”
Seom Ji-young adjusted her bamboo hat and entered the Jang Family Merchant Guild. Inside the guild, clerks were busily moving around. One clerk spotted Seom Ji-young and Warrior Yong and approached with a bright expression.
“Welcome! What kind of goods are you looking for?”
“…Where is Warrior Jang?”
Thinking a major customer had come due to her luxurious attire, the clerk questioned the random remark. And scratching his head, he continued speaking.
“Uh… I know who you’re talking about. But that gentleman isn’t someone who works at our merchant guild… I’ll ask the Guild Master first, so could you please wait a moment?”
When Seom Ji-young nodded, the clerk quickly ran into the inner warehouse. And seeing Jang Un appear a moment later, Seom Ji-young unwittingly looked for Jang Geon’s face. Fitting for brothers, the two shared many similarities.
Seeing the two wearing bamboo hats and luxurious white martial robes, Jang Un rolled down his sleeves that he had rolled up for work and asked.
“So, if it’s Warrior Jang, you seem to be looking for my younger brother. What is your business?”
“…We made a promise to meet yesterday.”
Hearing Seom Ji-young’s voice, Jang Un rejoiced inwardly. He had thought this fellow merely wandered around everywhere all the time, but he had finally seduced a woman. Furthermore, judging by her attire and the warrior behind her, she seemed to be a woman from a quite high-ranking family. Jang Un spoke with uncontainable joy.
“Is that so? Haha, I don’t know if this fellow has even woken up yet. Sang-pal, go ask if Geon has woken up.”
“Yes, Guild Master. Shall I bring him here too?”
“That…”
At the words about bringing him here, Seom Ji-young quickly cut in.
“No, if you tell me where Warrior Jang is, I will go find him directly.”
Jang Un tilted his head at her somewhat urgent tone.
“Hmm, he’s probably at home… Then Sang-pal.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“You go first and tell them to prepare to welcome the guests. Guests, please come over here and have a cup of tea with me while waiting.”
Seom Ji-young was slightly flustered by Jang Un’s out-of-the-blue offer to drink tea and waved her hand.
“No, we cannot take up your time, Guild Master. Please contact Warrior Jang…”
Waving her hands and moving like that, her face beneath the bamboo hat was naturally revealed. And seeing her face, Jang Un’s expression hardened.
“No, are you…?”
Seom Ji-young grew even more flustered at Jang Un’s face that seemed to recognize her. It was because she did not recognize Jang Un. Although she had looked up rough information about Jang Un, the Jang Family Merchant Guild, and the Hunan Jang Clan while investigating Jang Geon, she had no memory of meeting Jang Un.
“You arrived early.”
Just then, a voice echoed from the entrance of the merchant guild. Turning their heads quickly, Seom Ji-young and the others could see Jang Geon carrying a sword at his waist and a bamboo hat in his hand. Confirming Seom Ji-young’s face, Jang Geon lightly put on his bamboo hat and spoke.
“It’s not a good place to talk here. Let’s go to a teahouse somewhere.”
Afterward, Seom Ji-young, who had been conversing with Jang Un, quickly bowed her head in farewell to him and left the merchant guild with Jang Geon. Looking at their receding backs, the clerk Sang-pal spoke to the Guild Master with a smile.
“Hehe, Guild Master. It seems your younger brother is finally getting married?”
However, looking back at the Guild Master’s face, Sang-pal flinched in surprise. It was because his expression was severely hardened.
With that exact expression, Jang Un was muttering incomprehensible words.
“Of all people… a woman who already belongs to someone… such a prominent clan… what is this fellow trying to do…”
* * *
Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young rented a third-floor tea room with a good view at a nearby tea house.
Sitting by the window, Jang Geon sipped expensive tea whose name he didn’t even know, which was said to have crossed the ocean from the Central Plains and was worth a weight similar to gold of equal weight. Whether because it was an expensive item or not, its aroma seemed rich. Of course, since it wasn’t bought with his money, he enjoyed it.
“…Will you take on the task?”
Just then, Seom Ji-young, sitting before the same tea, asked as such. Jang Geon took another sip of tea and looked at her. Her face looked slightly impatient due to Jang Geon entering the tea house, ordering tea, and saying not a word to her until the tea arrived.
Setting down his teacup, Jang Geon spoke.
“I cannot blindly accept a task without even knowing what it is. In the first place, I can’t even guess what task you want to entrust to a swordsman like me. Don’t tell me you want me to kill someone?”
“No! It’s nothing like that!”
At the words about an assassination request, Seom Ji-young was startled and waved both hands. She wore a disgusted expression as if asking what terrible talk that was.
“Then what is it? I don’t know what task there could be to entrust to me after hearing of my reputation.”
Jang Geon asked calmly. However, not only Seom Ji-young but also Warrior Yong standing attentively behind her looked at Jang Geon with peculiar eyes.
“…What task would there be to request after hearing your reputation, Warrior Jang? Naturally, I am asking you to investigate a certain incident.”
This time, Jang Geon’s expression turned slightly blank.
“…Investigation? Incident investigation?”
“Of course. Didn’t you uncover the corruption of the Imperial Army commandant here in New Sichuan in the past, and this time find and block the Demonic Palace’s hidden schemes, as well as uncover the Demonic Palace’s plot targeting the Martial Alliance branch up north in Gamsan City?”
Jang Geon involuntarily stopped his hand reaching for his teacup. He wondered how it worked out like that.
“On top of that, demonstrating that capability, didn’t you resolve the conflict between native tribes and Central Plains people in Plateau City, and track down to the desert to punish a Demonic Practitioner who fled to the desert in Salt Lake City? As far as I know, there is probably no figure even in the Martial Alliance Patrol Corps with a record as brilliant as yours. At best, current Patrol Officer Jeok-sein or perhaps past investigators might be somewhat comparable.”
Listening quietly to her story for a moment, Jang Geon soon let out a small dry laugh and picked up his teacup. Hearing only the track record, one could think like Seom Ji-young. However, that was merely because Jang Geon kept getting entangled with Demonic Practitioners and could easily recognize and handle them; if asked to actually investigate an incident, it was bound to be unreasonable for Jang Geon.
So Jang Geon asked back half-jokingly.
“Right, then what is the reason for seeking an investigator with such a brilliant track record? Was some king or imperial noble assassinated?”
However, unlike Jang Geon speaking with a faint smile, Seom Ji-young wore a fearfully rigid expression.
“…It could be spoken of like that. Although it was very long ago, if you trace back the bloodline, kings of the ancient Spring and Autumn Period would emerge.”
“Yes. The task I wish to entrust is that. Please investigate the death of the former master of the Je Clan, Brother Sang-cheon’s father, Master Je Goong-wol.”