Chapter 162: Chapter 162

“…What kind of conclusion do you mean?”

Warrior Yong kept his eyes fixed as far forward as possible and asked quietly. On the surface, it appeared as though he and Jang Geon had merely stepped slightly away from the noisy center of the banquet to rest outside for a moment.

“Well, if I put it this way, what do you think the content would be? That the man named Je Yong-wol wasn’t the real culprit.”

Unlike Warrior Yong, who looked very uneasy, Jang Geon was blunt enough that one could even call him slightly cynical.

“That… there are many people around, so saying something that could cause trouble…”

“It won’t cause trouble. I’m not officially raising allegations right now; at most it would just be bullshit grumbled by a drunk wanderer. What if someone hears? Even so, it would merely become a false rumor.”

“Isn’t that rumor the problem…”

Warrior Yong tightly closed both eyes and let his words trail off. From their first meeting to resolving the recent problem, having watched Jang Geon’s conduct, he had already guessed that Jang Geon would not let things pass easily. If there was any fortune, it was that the celebration on Je Sang-cheon’s side was noisy. It seemed no one was paying careful attention to words spoken outside.

As if unable to see Warrior Yong’s appearance, Jang Geon continued speaking.

“In truth, on the surface, the incident was nothing overly complex. The Family Head’s qi deviation was an incident caused by being struck by a hidden weapon during cultivation, and those who could enter the Family Head’s cultivation chamber were direct line relatives of the Family Head. Looking at just that, it was natural that Je Sang-cheon was directly or indirectly linked to the Family Head’s assassination. That was why rumors circulated behind the scenes even when assassination hadn’t been confirmed.”

As Jang Geon’s words continued, Warrior Yong opened his closed eyes and looked up at the sky. If possible, he wanted to cover his ears.

“However, Seom Ji-young believed in Je Sang-cheon. The father and son she had seen might quarrel, but they were ultimately family who understood and embraced each other. Moreover, since it was natural for Je Sang-cheon to become Family Head as time passed anyway, she likely couldn’t fathom what powerful motive could exist for him to assassinate his own father. That was why she came to find me to reveal the truth, believing the clan elders were behind those background rumors.”

Continuing his story, Jang Geon suddenly looked around and casually picked up a wine bottle from a feast table set up to one side. Raising the bottle to swallow a gulp of wine, Jang Geon casually held out the bottle to Warrior Yong. Without refusing, Warrior Yong took it and gulped down the wine just like Jang Geon.

“However, at that time she must have had such thoughts in her heart as well. What if the Family Head was truly assassinated, and Je Sang-cheon was behind it? What if someone used that information as a weapon to attack Je Sang-cheon? What if such facts were revealed in the process of tracking down this matter? That was why she tried not to leave my side while I was tracking the traces. She even came secretly to visit me on the pretext of external eyes.”

“…When pursuing the Yeon Clan spy, she did not separate from you.”

“She must have guessed he would commit suicide. In truth, that’s the only action a captured spy can take. Even if he survived, he would only be tortured. In any case, thanks to me chasing that man who would die anyway, Seom Ji-young was able to confirm the clues excluding me.”

Warrior Yong gulped down the wine bottle he held once more and handed it to Jang Geon. Jang Geon also took it and drank the wine like Warrior Yong had earlier.

“I do not know the contents of that clue. Because I didn’t see it. Seom Ji-young moved to the clan family, saying the situation would end if she just showed it to Je Sang-cheon right away. And Je Yong-wol blocked her path.”

“Then why did Outer Hall Master Je Yong-wol block it? After all, the culprit is Je Sang-cheon.”

Jang Geon let out a short, hollow laugh.

“Because he knew Je Sang-cheon was the culprit.”

“He knew?”

At Warrior Yong’s counter-question, Jang Geon raised the wine bottle and drank deeply. A stream of wine flowed down from his lips to his chin. Lowering the bottle, Jang Geon exhaled a *phew* and wiped his lips with his sleeve.

“…I learned this at the Martial Alliance, but usually those called elders know most of what happens within their own walls. Let alone whispering plots with their enemy, the Yeon Clan—there’s no way they didn’t know. In some way, even if they didn’t know every exact detail, they must have known that the Family Head’s death was suspicious and that Je Sang-cheon was behind it.”

Taking back the wine bottle from Jang Geon, Warrior Yong looked straight ahead with a stiffened face, drank the wine, and asked in a low voice:

“Then are you saying the clan elders desired the Family Head’s death?”

“It would be a little different. If I remember correctly, the Family Head was someone who considered expanding influence on the New Continent more important than returning to the Central Plains as the elders desired. So subtle discontent must have laid beneath. But if you ask whether they desired him to die… well. It doesn’t seem it was to that extent.”

“Then what is it?”

In the end, Warrior Yong turned his head to look at Jang Geon, and Jang Geon grabbed the wine bottle from his hand and drank a gulp. As the two drank so voraciously, the wine bottle became completely empty.

Jang Geon shook it to drink the last drop and smacked his lips.

“Then now I will reconstruct the story once, so listen quietly.”

Placing the empty bottle on the ground, he continued speaking.

“First, Je Sang-cheon’s motive. Why would he kill his father when the Family Head position was guaranteed in the future? There is a simple explanation for this. That guaranteed position was in a situation where it would disappear.”

“Th-but according to the Young Lady…”

“What is seen from the outside is not everything. Perhaps Je Sang-cheon only became respectful to his father after hearing he would be ousted from the Young Master position. And from the information I can know, no further motive can be found.”

Warrior Yong looked as though he wanted to refute something, but Jang Geon did not mind. Taking a new bottle placed to one side and gulping it down, he merely continued his story.

“Next, why the elders did not oust Je Sang-cheon even after knowing the truth. First, before the incident, it seems they couldn’t imagine an actual assassination would occur, and after the actual incident occurred, they likely thought Je Sang-cheon’s future actions would be highly likely to lead to the return to the Central Plains that they desired. Since his relationship with his father was poor, they likely thought he would move contrary to his father’s wishes. Even if not, holding his weakness meant the elders calculated they could manipulate the Family Head as they pleased.”

Jang Geon casually held up the wine bottle to Warrior Yong. It seemed to mean whether he would drink. Warrior Yong shook his head, and Jang Geon drank another mouthful.

“Whew. Then did Je Sang-cheon also know that the elders knew? He must have known. Perhaps direct conversations even took place. Otherwise, the Family Head’s death wouldn’t have been settled as qi deviation so smoothly without a hitch.”

As the story continued, Warrior Yong’s face rapidly paled. He looked as though Jang Geon’s story right now was hard to bear.

“Also, sticking the hidden weapon directly into the Family Head must have been done by the already deceased spy. I thought about why he borrowed outside hands instead of doing it with his own hands, and I think perhaps he wanted to create a pretext prior to a full-scale war with the Yeon Clan later. The Yeon Clan would have liked it. Since a capable Family Head died and a man focusing strength on an absurd goal would become Family Head. In any case, even the rumor that the Family Head was assassinated was a tool to be used by Je Sang-cheon and the elders in the future. But Seom Ji-young appeared, rummaged through it, and tangled it up.”

In the end, Warrior Yong took the wine bottle from Jang Geon and gulped it down. Even though he gave him the wine bottle, Jang Geon’s speech did not stop.

“Ultimately, the story became simple. Je Sang-cheon who killed his father out of greed for the Family Head position. The elders who buried the incident because his actions seemed like they would benefit themselves. Yet amidst that, the dark rumors spreading and Seom Ji-young who believed in Je Sang-cheon and wanted to unearth the truth to help him. Then what about Je Yong-wol? A representative of the elders and a sacrificial scapegoat who embraced the evidence Seom Ji-young forcibly dragged out at the last moment and burned himself up.”

Having emptied more than half of the remaining wine by himself, Warrior Yong held the empty bottle and let out rough, heavy breaths. His red face looked drunk.

“Then what role did you play in that?”

At that moment, a new voice intruded from the boisterous and noisy banquet venue. Warrior Yong turned around in startle toward the man who asked that question. The name of that man dressed in neat black martial robes was Je Un-seong. He had come from the Martial Alliance to congratulate the succession of the new Family Head.

Already knowing that he was listening, Jang Geon was still looking straight ahead.

“Well. A swordsman used by Seom Ji-young? But her feeling of loving Je Sang-cheon was genuine. That was also the reason why I helped her. Then am I a sacrificial scapegoat thrown away after being swayed by the Je Clan’s shadowy political fight? That’s not it either. To call me a scapegoat, I lost nothing. Of course, that was all possible because I did well.”

Je Un-seong stroked his chin as if Jang Geon’s appearance was interesting.

“Certainly, to be called a scapegoat, your reputation currently spreading through New Sichuan is too high. If you were to form a sect right now, people wanting to join would gather like clouds.”

Jang Geon slowly shook his head. His eyes reflected Je Sang-cheon and Seom Ji-young continuously exchanging greetings, as well as the figures of numerous martial artists belonging to various sects.

If he were to prioritize only his frustrated feelings, right at this moment Jang Geon wanted to step forward and kick the buttocks of Je Sang-cheon and Seom Ji-young once each. And he wanted to lock up Je Sang-cheon who committed patricide in a dungeon and smash the Je Clan apart. If he really drew his Azure Dragon Sword and went wild like that? Though he didn’t know for sure, the Je Clan would suffer immense damage and dozens of people would die.

But Jang Geon did not do so. That was because he was a person standing outside of this grudge.

He did not know the late Family Head Je Gung-wol, nor did he consider himself to have a special grudge with the Je Clan previously. Although there was the treasure map incident, that was conversely an incident where Jang Geon intruded. The Je Clan might harbor resentment, but it wasn’t an incident where Jang Geon had something to hold onto.

Ultimately, Jang Geon had merely investigated the incident upon Seom Ji-young’s request; he was not in a position to judge it. Had Seom Ji-young’s request been to beat and interrogate the Family Head’s assassin, he might have done so. Of course, even in that case, Jang Geon would have had to fight the entire Je Clan.

At that moment, Je Un-seong, who was fiddling with his chin, asked:

“By the way, did Seom Ji-young or the clan elders say nothing to you? Hearing it like this, it seems they should have shown moves to win you over, threaten you, or eliminate you.”

“This matter is ultimately just a small commotion that occurred while Seom Ji-young was becoming a true member of the Je Clan. And what power could a story babbled by a single mere swordsman drunk on wine have?”

Only then did Jang Geon’s gaze turn toward Je Un-seong.

“A mere swordsman? You? Underestimating yourself too much…”

Je Un-seong’s mouth shut. And meeting Jang Geon’s gaze, a subtle smile formed at the corners of his mouth.

“…Do you dislike politics or negotiation that much?”

“Too bothersome.”

Although it was a short answer, Je Un-seong nodded as if it were sufficient as an answer.

“How like you.”

Warrior Yong was bewildered by their conversation with the head and tail completely cut off. Listening to Jang Geon’s story while drinking wine felt as if the alcohol was rushing to his head, making him dizzy. Looking at Warrior Yong, Je Un-seong spoke:

“This fellow is Seom Ji-young’s guard warrior. He will likely return to his own family clan soon.”

“Before that, there will be time to see her face and talk.”

“Aha. Then that will be sufficient.”

Hearing those words, only then did Warrior Yong feel his mind become clear as if hit with cold water.

In fact, the long story Jang Geon laid out was content Warrior Yong also guessed to some extent. Serving Seom Ji-young right beside her, there was no way he couldn’t know. But thinking that this was Seom Ji-young’s way of loving, and since no one outside the Je Clan suffered damage from it, he had thought it didn’t matter. After all, had not Jang Geon received great fame and several taels of gold?

So he had continued listening to the deduction thinking he was hearing out Jang Geon’s complaints, but looking at it now, Jang Geon’s story was directed not at him, but at Je Un-seong. And Je Un-seong was a figure who left the shadow of his clan to join the Martial Alliance, a man active as the hands and feet of the Martial Alliance Leader with abilities exceptional even within his clan.

Naturally, Jang Geon’s story would reach the ears of the Martial Alliance Leader just as it was.

He also wondered what the Alliance Leader could do knowing that. Ultimately this issue was an internal problem of the clan. But between that Alliance Leader and the Je Clan stood Je Un-seong. A collateral member of the clan, and a man who joined the Martial Alliance to overcome that limitation.

The Alliance Leader would try to exert influence over the Je Clan using him and the facts learned now. Je Un-seong would happily go along with it.

Warrior Yong blinked both eyes and looked at Jang Geon.

“…Why? Why do such a…”

“I was a swordsman wandering the wilderness, so when I suffer something frustrating, I have to screw them over somehow to feel relieved inside. Even so, I can’t just cut off Je Sang-cheon’s neck, can I?”

Hearing those words, Je Un-seong laughed.

“Hahaha! If you do that, a bounty will be placed on you in the name of the Martial Alliance, you know? Ancient noble clans form a major pillar of the Martial Alliance. Even if recently they’ve been somewhat distant.”

Listening to that laughter, Warrior Yong realized that the fact he was able to hear this story was Jang Geon’s consideration. If Jang Geon really only wanted to screw them over, he could have just met Je Un-seong or the Martial Alliance Leader directly to spill it; there was no reason for Warrior Yong to be included.

In short, now his role had become a human warning sign delivering a warning to Seom Ji-young. That the Martial Alliance Leader and Je Un-seong would target the Je Clan, so she must prepare.

“Please tell her that this matter was unfun.”

While Warrior Yong faltered, Jang Geon picked up the wine bottle he was holding, drank a mouthful, and tossed it back to him with a *plop*. While Warrior Yong held it and stared at Jang Geon with a dazed expression, Jang Geon turned his body and began leaving the banquet venue.

“Th-that, hey… no…”

“You’d better stop. If you provoke him more, I think it might really turn into a sword fight.”

Warrior Yong tried to grab Jang Geon, but Je Un-seong blocked him and shook his head.

“Pardon? No… this isn’t something for you to interfere in…”

Je Un-seong smiled.

“No. From now on, it’s something worth interfering in. Strictly speaking, for the Martial Alliance.”

When Je Un-seong, who had blocked him, turned back to Jang Geon, there was only a vast crowd of people. Turning his gaze to Warrior Yong who was trembling, Je Un-seong patted his shoulder and spoke:

“Now, tell them to play among us players on this side. Unlike Jang Geon, I think I’ll find it very fun.”

With a pale face, Warrior Yong looked toward Seom Ji-young. She and Je Sang-cheon were smiling brightly, still receiving greetings from people.