Chapter 55: Chapter 55
Having already felt their presence, Jang Geon turned his head to check the source of the applause.
And he felt tension for the first time in a long while. It was because, though he had thought there was only one person, there were two spectators. His older brother Jang Un, and a massive man whose presence he had failed to sense. The one who had clapped his hands was that man.
“What a remarkable talent. I have never seen such a feat before. May I ask who your master or sect is?”
The large-framed man inquired in a voice as booming as his stature. Jang Geon gave a light nod and replied.
“I learned a trick or two here and there, so it’s hard to name anyone in particular.”
“Hmph. So you master such feats without even a proper master. Truly impressive.”
As the man nodded with a subtle expression, Jang Un stepped forward.
“This gentleman is Guild Leader Gyeon of the New Sichuan Merchant Association. He came regarding matters related to our branch, and we were taking a brief walk while negotiating. However, he happened to witness your martial arts.”
“I am Gyeon Woo-young. I lead a small merchant company and a few employees.”
Gyeon Woo-young clasped his hands in greeting. Perhaps because of his long limbs and massive frame, even that small gesture possessed a somewhat grand and flashy air. Jang Geon clasped his hands in return and spoke.
“Jang Geon. A wanderer.”
Hearing his brief greeting, Gyeon Woo-young widened his eyes before bursting into hearty laughter.
“What a peculiar fellow! Usually, young men tend to exaggerate their name, fame, and occupation, yet you refer to yourself as merely a wanderer? Hahaha!”
“You seem quite humble yourself for holding the title of guild leader.”
At Jang Geon’s retort, Gyeon Woo-young laughed even louder.
“Hahaha! I’d be thankful if you view me that way! Outstanding skill and a robust stature. I take a liking to you! Do you happen to have time this evening? I would like to invite you to dinner.”
For the guild leader of the New Sichuan Merchant Association, it was a sudden invitation. Since the guild leaders who decided the direction of a regional merchant association usually numbered no more than five, Jang Geon had just been invited by one of the top five merchants in New Sichuan. However, Jang Geon did not particularly care about such things.
“Well. I’ll likely leave New Sichuan sometime this afternoon, so it might be difficult.”
“What, this afternoon? Do you have urgent business?”
He had no such thing. It was simply that if he did not leave quickly, he felt he would be caught by his sister-in-law and end up spending the rest of the winter here. So as he hesitated for a moment over how to answer, he saw the expression on Jang Un’s face beside him.
Unable to utter a word, Jang Un was pleading frantically with his eyes and facial expression. Desperately begging him to accept the invitation. It was a desperate face that Jang Geon had only seen when they were young and Jang Un begged him not to tell on his mistakes—a face he had never shown once he grew older and learned Jang Geon’s secret.
“…No, well. It’s not that urgent.”
“Is that so? Then will you accept the invitation of this one named Gyeon? I recently hired a new cook, and he’s a chap with tremendous culinary skills. Thanks to him, I’m gaining weight these days. Hahaha!”
Gyeon Woo-young laughed once more as he made the offer again. Jang Geon chuckled at his easygoing shamelessness. Truth be told, he was also curious about how a merchant fellow had evaded his senses. Sharp sensory perception was a field he had confidence in even before consuming the spirit elixir, so frankly his pride was slightly hurt.
In the end, he nodded.
“Fine. Let’s meet this evening.”
At his acceptance, Gyeon Woo-young wore a satisfied expression.
“I’ll have to press the cook hard today. Ah, Manager Jang, you’ll be coming along with your younger brother as well, right?”
“Of course, if you invite me, I must naturally attend.”
Jang Un smiled and nodded, and watching that scene, a subtle smile also appeared on Jang Geon’s lips. Had he mentioned that he was his younger brother? Of course, Gyeon Woo-young might have guessed it from how Jang Un introduced him, or perhaps learned it through conversation while watching. But if they had talked, Jang Geon couldn’t have failed to hear it at this distance, so that wasn’t it.
Afterwards, Jang Un departed with Gyeon Woo-young, giving Jang Geon a thankful glance. Jang Geon silently gave a single nod in return.
Once the two people who had appeared so suddenly departed, the siblings Jang Sang and Jang Yeong, who had been waiting quietly to one side, trotted over. Jang Sang called out with eyes sparkling brightly.
“Uncle! That was totally cool! Show us some more!”
“Show us more!”
Watching the two walk away toward the merchant guild building, Jang Geon turned his head. At Jang Sang’s fuss and Jang Yeong lisping after her older brother, a smirk involuntarily leaked out. Gyeon Woo-young was Gyeon Woo-young, but for now, it seemed he had to play with these children a bit longer.
* * *
Playing with them in the courtyard for a long while longer, Jang Geon had to find another way given the children’s boundless energy. Fortunately, discovering a Go board in a corner of the room, he was able to escape his role as an acrobat by teaching them Five-in-a-Row, which even kids could easily play.
Sitting in a chair to take a breath, Jang Geon watched Jang Sang and Jang Yeong playing Five-in-a-Row. Since Jang Sang was ten years old and Jang Yeong was four, it seemed natural that the brother would win, but their match did not end so easily. It wasn’t that Jang Sang was lacking. It was just that Jang Yeong, who was clutching a doll with a blank expression, was no ordinary child.
Watching the two rapidly fill the Go board with black and white stones over a mere game of Five-in-a-Row, Jang Geon felt he understood why his sister-in-law had separated the children from the family elders.
Originally, the elders’ plan was for eldest son Jang Un to inherit the family business, while second son Jang Geon and youngest child Jang Yeon entered government service to become officials or join the Imperial Army. In fact, Jang Geon showed immense talent in martial arts, making the realization of that plan look plausible.
But that Jang Geon refused to join the army and left home. Furthermore, youngest daughter Jang Yeon failed to join the Imperial Army despite long preparations, so Jang Un’s children, who showed cleverness, inevitably became the next targets.
“No matter how much they expand the family…”
Jang Geon smiled bitterly. Although the Hunan Jang family exerted considerable influence in the area through their vast funds, it was not comparable to ancient noble clans. That was also something that wouldn’t change much even if one or two people entered government service in the Imperial Army. In the end, to Jang Geon, the elders’ obsession with inflating the family’s size and chasing the honor of imperial service did not look pleasant.
It was because he had already seen plenty in his past life how miserable the lives of children pushed for greater success could become.
“Huh? Uncle, what did you say?”
Jang Sang, who was playing Five-in-a-Row with the most serious face in the world, snapped his head up upon hearing Jang Geon’s murmur. Jang Geon shook his head to mean he shouldn’t mind it. Jang Sang grinned at that and refocused on the Five-in-a-Row board. And Jang Yeong, with a blank face while a bit of snot trickled from her nose, pressed her older brother fiercely.
Looking at the Go board filled with black and white, Jang Geon glanced over thinking they might have formed five in a row without noticing it, but turned his head at the presence felt at the doorway. This time, as he had sensed, it was indeed one person.
“Oh! Wet nurse!”
On the verge of defeat, Jang Sang saw the middle-aged woman appearing at the doorway and subtly stood up. It seemed he intended to use the wet nurse’s arrival as an excuse to overturn the board.
Setting the boy’s slyness aside, the wet nurse first looked at Jang Geon and bowed.
“Hello, I am Madam Lee, who serves as wet nurse to the young masters. It is my first time meeting you. I heard about you from Manager Jang.”
As Jang Geon silently bowed in return, Jang Sang and Jang Yeong approached the wet nurse.
“Wet nurse, are you completely recovered from being sick?”
“Oh my, I was so worried about our young master that I couldn’t rest.”
Jang Sang chuckled and naturally walked up to her, and the wet nurse gently patted Jang Sang’s head. It was a scene that looked like a young grandmother and her grandson. However, Jang Yeong, who was approaching her like her older brother, suddenly paused. Then she tilted her head.
“…Wet nurse?”
“Yes, young lady. What is the matter?”
The wet nurse looked at her with a smiling face. Outwardly, whether it was that smiling face or her slightly hunched back, she looked no different from an ordinary middle-aged woman past her forties. She looked at Jang Yeong while continuing to try to pat Jang Sang’s head beside her.
And right then, Jang Geon moved soundlessly and grabbed the wet nurse’s wrist. A crunching sound rang out from the seized wrist.
“Ouch!”
“Huh? Huh? Uncle?”
The wet nurse immediately let out a scream. Thanks to that, Jang Sang, freed from the wet nurse’s touch, did not understand what this situation was and called out to Jang Geon.
However, without any hesitation or pause, Jang Geon drove his right fist into the wet nurse’s solar plexus and lightly kicked both her ankles with his foot. The wet nurse let out a single groan and collapsed onto her knees. Since he did not let go of her captured right wrist, she couldn’t even fall completely to the floor.
“Wet nurse! Uncle, why are you doing this all of a sudden!”
Startled, Jang Sang practically screamed as he stumbled back. The wet nurse, sitting collapsed, also had a contorted face as if she found this situation genuinely bewildering and painful. But with an expressionless face, Jang Geon raised his right fist once more. This time, it seemed he was about to strike the wet nurse’s face.
At that unhesitating posture, an awl finally protruded sharply from the wet nurse’s free left sleeve. The wet nurse swung it as it was, and Jang Geon released the captured hand, subtly stepping back.
Once the grabbed wrist was freed, the wet nurse rolled backward quickly and sprang to her feet. Though a short movement, it was clearly not the bodily technique of a middle-aged woman ignorant of martial arts.
Stepping back, Jang Geon subtly pulled Jang Sang and Jang Yeong, who still looked dumbfounded, and moved them behind him. The wet nurse frowned, staring at the scene while trembling violently as her limp right wrist hung loose, then opened her mouth as if aggrieved.
“Why on earth are you doing th—ack!”
Surprised, the wet nurse clapped a hand over her own mouth, while Jang Sang and Jang Yeong recoiled with frightened expressions. The wet nurse’s voice, which had been high-pitched until a moment ago, transformed into the low, echoing voice of a man.
Jang Geon dusted off his hands and spoke.
“Cross-dressing. What a peculiar taste.”
The wet nurse realized that due to the blow to the stomach just now, the disguise technique altering his voice had unraveled. Her—or rather his—expression turned frigid.
“…How did you know?”
“After seeing it a couple of times, I can distinguish it now. Are you Dark Dragon Corps?”
Hearing Jang Geon’s response, the fake wet nurse’s face went beyond cold and became entirely expressionless.
“That name is not something the second son of a mere merchant family should know.”
“Then what is a bastard disguised as a wet nurse infiltrating a mere merchant family?”
The fake wet nurse kept his gaze fixed on Jang Geon, seized his limp wrist, and popped the bones back into place with a crack. Though it must have been excruciating, he did not twitch an eyebrow.
“…If you know that name, you must also know whose orders we follow.”
Jang Geon did not answer. His mind was spinning rapidly. Why was the Emperor’s secret organization conducting covert operations on the New Continent present here? He would have to check, but judging by Jang Yeong’s reaction in noticing the different aura earlier, he hadn’t been disguised as the wet nurse from the beginning. It seemed he had swapped places during the time she was allegedly unable to come out due to illness.
Had the Hunan Jang family fallen out of favor with the Emperor? That didn’t quite add up. If they had truly fallen out of favor with the Emperor, instead of a fellow like this infiltrating, officers of the Imperial Army would have rushed in to turn the merchant guild into a sea of blood and burn it to the ground.
Though he did not know the organization called the Dark Dragon Bureau inside out, Jang Geon had already grasped their nature to some extent through the conversation at the Nameless Inn previously. A secret, shadow organization gathering information on the New Continent independently using the Emperor’s past edicts and authority. As a result, they appeared to have slight conflicts with even the Imperial Army and other royal family members.
Roughly sorting out his thoughts, Jang Geon gripped the scabbard at his waist with his left hand, drew the blade slightly, and spoke.
“Well, first I need to figure out why you snuck in here.”
“…Do you dare try to block our work?”
“Whatever that work may be, it doesn’t seem like something these brats should be involved in.”
Hearing the answer, the fake wet nurse drew another chilling awl from his right sleeve. Then lowering his body stealthily, he took a stance as if to pounce. However, Jang Geon, facing him, remained motionless and calm. Only Jang Sang needlessly grew terrified and hugged his younger sister close.
Right then, Jang Geon noticed that the fake wet nurse’s eyes were subtly trembling. Though hidden behind an expressionless mask, it was clearly the anxiety felt when things went wrong. At the same time, meeting his eyes, the fake wet nurse realized that his emotions had been caught by Jang Geon.
He immediately leaped. It was not toward Jang Geon, but toward the window beside him.
The window made of paper and wooden slats shattered and tore apart with a loud crunch. Jang Geon moved a beat late and gave chase behind him. The fake wet nurse was fast. Had Jang Geon been flustered even for a moment by him suddenly fleeing after pretending to charge forward, even Jang Geon could not have stopped him from escaping the courtyard.
However, Jang Geon was faster than him.
“Ugh!”
The fake wet nurse, attempting to leap over the wall after exiting the annex courtyard, gasped air sharply and tumbled onto the ground. The white light traced by Jang Geon’s blade, following right behind him, had sliced across his left thigh.
Even while rolling on the ground right then, he counterattacked by flashing and throwing awls at Jang Geon. It was a sufficiently surprise attack, but Jang Geon caught those awls lightly between his left fingers with a quick snap.
Red blood gushed wildly from the thigh of the fake wet nurse sprawling on the ground. Forgetting his expressionless face from a moment ago, he glared at Jang Geon with a contorted face. Finding the caught awl rather to his liking, Jang Geon tucked it into his breast pocket and approached the fake wet nurse.
“I used my head for a moment, and there’s no way this Jang family would do anything to get on the Imperial Army’s nerves. They’re a family crazy about imperial service. Then why are you here? What were you trying to do to this manager’s two children, and how were you planning to use that against the manager that led you to disguise yourself and infiltrate here?”
The fake wet nurse trembled violently looking at Jang Geon approaching as he spoke, then suddenly clenched his teeth. Seeing that, Jang Geon thought ‘no way’ and quickly stepped up to grab his jaw. The fake wet nurse clenched his jaw tight and resisted opening it.
“Damn it.”
Checking the fake wet nurse’s body that was shuddering violently despite the clenched jaw, Jang Geon raised his index and middle fingers and quickly struck various acupoints across the fake wet nurse’s body. It was an acupoint strike aimed at releasing the jaw’s tension while slowing down digestion.
However, even before that acupoint strike was completed, the fake wet nurse’s jaw opened on its own. And from the slowly opening mouth, foul-smelling bloody foam bubbled up. A moment later, before Jang Geon could do anything further, the fake wet nurse’s eyes lost focus and his movements ceased.
Releasing the body he had been holding, Jang Geon slowly straightened up. Then he pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“…Good grief. Experiencing it directly is far shittier than reading about it in stories.”
In contrast to his arced, smiling lips, his two eyes were cold as ice.
What the merchant guild people and Jang Un’s couple saw when they came out upon hearing the commotion was the corpse of the dead wet nurse and that cold smile.