Book 20 Chapter 11
The night that encourages crime
—An Eighty Percent Chance
*Munch, munch.*
“Him? Did he leave?”
Bilyeon, who had been smacking his lips incessantly through the prison bars, asked.
“I just saw him off.”
Jang Hong replied, taking off the black cloak he’d pulled over his face to hide it.
“Great! Then all we have to do is wait for the results!”
Bilyeon rubbed his hands together and smiled.
“Are you really sure it’s today?”
Jang Hong asked, his tone still filled with doubt.
“Tsk, tsk, they say the older you get, the more suspicious you become. Are you still not convinced?”
He shot back, his tone pitying.
“Wh-who are you calling an old man! I am a youth in my twenties, the same age as you all!”
Jang Hong exclaimed indignantly. Bilyeon then sighed and shook his head as if in pity.
“Tsk, tsk, no matter how much you struggle, you can’t stop the arrow of time. Give up now. And did I call you an ‘old man’? I just said you’re getting older. Isn’t that right? Mr. Hong! You’re feeling guilty, aren’t you? Tsk, tsk!”
“Wh-what did you say! Are you done talking?”
Overwhelmed by indignation, Jang Hong’s expression turned menacing. But Bilyeon remained nonchalant.
“I’ve said my piece, but the truth is eternal. Truth is always strict. Accepting it is also courage. If you want to become younger, don’t you first have to admit you’ve gotten older? How can you develop by denying yourself? Isn’t that right, Hoong~ Mr. Old Man?”
Far from stopping, Jang Hong groaned under the onslaught of Bilyeon’s eloquent words, which flowed like a clear stream.
“Ugh, I must be crazy to argue with you! It’s not worth it. Let’s stop talking about that and get to the point.”
“So, you believe me then?”
“Yes, I believe you. But even if I believe you, can that friend really do it alone?”
“Don’t worry, Gungsang is with him.”
Bilyeon replied reassuringly.
“You will surely live a long life!”
Jang Hong grumbled inwardly, exasperated by his composure.
‘He’s not worried at all? Or has he already made multiple layers of arrangements without my knowledge? Otherwise, how could he be so relaxed, even with a heart of steel!’
“It’s not that only the prepared can calmly wait for the future. It’s much better for your mental health that way.”
Bilyeon said in a relaxed voice, diligently moving his chopsticks.
“Of course, that would be the case. But what are you eating now?”
Jang Hong asked, watching Bilyeon busily move his chopsticks. It was something he’d been holding since he arrived. It was a black lacquer lunchbox, filled with rice and various side dishes. However, Jang Hong couldn’t discern exactly what the side dishes were, not because he was ignorant of cooking, but because their shapes were unclear.
“Ah, this. It’s prison food.”
“Prison food? Could it be poisoned?”
Jang Hong asked with a serious expression.
“Why? Nothing’s wrong, is there?”
“If it weren’t, who would make you prison food by hand? It must be poisoned. Yes, yes.”
Jang Hong said with near certainty.
“You worry too much. I have someone like that too. By the way, this stir-fried vegetable, the way the ingredients are cut is divine, but the heat control seems to have failed. Munch, munch!”
“You can eat that so deliciously.”
“Yeah, because this lunchbox is filled with love. Since it’s made by someone I love, of course I have to eat it deliciously, right?”
“Someone you love? Who is that?”
As someone who considered himself sensible, Jang Hong couldn’t believe such a mysterious being existed in this martial world.
“For me, there’s only one such person.”
Bilyeon retorted as if asking the obvious.
“N-no way… that’s impossible……”
No matter how much he imagined, he couldn’t picture it.
“It’s exactly that impossible. Munch, munch.”
Bilyeon replied carelessly, smacking his lips.
Then he took another bite.
“I-impossible! Could it be Lady Na Yerim? Don’t lie.”
Jang Hong’s eyes widened in shock. But there were limits to boasting, and he believed that excessive bragging held no persuasiveness.
“Lie? It’s the absolute truth. Don’t you know that sometimes reality surpasses imagination? There are realities that seem more fictional than fiction. Yerim doesn’t need to act according to others’ poor and unsightly imaginations.”
“That may be so… but you can talk like that while eating something so precious. And you say it was made by Lady Na? If it were food made by Lady Yerim, people would line up to eat it even if you announced it was poisoned. It’s food that even an emperor couldn’t eat.”
If this fact became known, Bilyeon would once again become an enemy of all. He could already see it. They would say, “Don’t change our idol.” More precisely, “Don’t corrupt her,” he assumed. Because they didn’t want to see such a goddess. For them, she was enough as an unreachable moon.
The moon should never come down to earth.
* * *
The moon, its body mostly eaten away by darkness, remained only as a faint, ring-like remnant of light, dragged down from the center of the sky to just above the horizon. The stars had long since drowned beneath the black surface of the night sea. The fact that one’s actions are not revealed brings a strange sense of relief to those who intend to do something clandestine. Because complete anonymity makes it easier than ever to turn a blind eye to one’s own behavior. It was a night that seemed to encourage crime. It was a good day to attack, and also a good day to be attacked. With a momentary shiver, Namgungsang quietly descended onto the courtyard. It was definitely not because of the night’s chill.
‘Is my eldest brother thinking of some absurd nonsense again?’
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
The eldest brother Bilyeon’s theory was that the mind and thoughts are the driving force for action. That much was fine. Very fine. No problem. It was even excellent. But the problem was that in his case, it was a bit extreme. The gap between thought and action was so small that sometimes even absurd delusions tended to become reality.
The biggest victims of realized delusions were, of course, their Jujakdae members. And he himself was among them. His current situation here was not unrelated to that. He wanted to live an ordinary life, but it was a futile dream by the side of eldest brother Bilyeon, who spewed the unconventional into reality every day. He inwardly prayed for this tedious karma to end as soon as possible, but he didn’t hold out much hope. Some things couldn’t be achieved by prayer alone.
“Prayer? Ridiculous. Do you think something will just fall from the sky if you pray? Do you think God is some all-purpose errand boy? You’re underestimating God’s level. There are limits to everything. Don’t you know that’s blasphemy? There’s rarely anything as shameless as wanting something without taking any action. Yes, rarely. Do you know the greatest prayer? It’s action! Do you know why we pray? It’s to strengthen our will to put our thoughts into practice.”
Facing his eldest brother like that, prayer alone wouldn’t be effective. It was much more realistic to train himself and gain the skill to defeat his eldest brother.
“Will he really show up? Isn’t this just a waste of effort?”
The eldest brother had predicted he would show up around today. Actually, it wasn’t even a prediction. Gongsonjeolhwi had been acting with a simple, repetitive regularity that even a fool could notice. It was a foolish act. But thanks to that, Namgungsang could benefit.
“Don’t miss a single day! Catch the bait and be fully prepared the very next day. Those who are quick-witted will surely attack again the very next day. There’s an eighty percent chance. However, assuming they are a bit slow-witted and clumsy, the possibility of a grace period of a day or two cannot be ruled out.”
“What if he doesn’t show up?”
“Then there’s nothing we can do. We’ll have to attack again.”
Namgungsang asked, looking at Bilyeon, who uttered the word “attack” so lightly, with a frown.
“Again?”
“Yes. Catch any weakling and deal with them. But don’t miss a single day. It’s important to instill the certainty that they will definitely appear the next evening. You must make the enemy trust you. Do you understand?”
“Do we really have to… to innocent people who have done nothing wrong…”
“It’s their fault for not being prepared even after such a big incident has occurred. If they thought misfortune would only pass them by, then we must show them that’s not the case!”
“That…”
Namgungsang’s jaw dropped. He was stunned by the extreme, nonchalant composure that seemed to treat it as nothing. He still hadn’t adjusted, even though he had experienced it more than once.
“Be careful not to get caught by the patrol!”
Namgungsang recalled Bilyeon’s last warning before he died. That’s right! He had died, officially! It was a strange feeling to observe the scene that would unfold after his death as a spectator. Would it be the same atmosphere, the same scene, when the unavoidable day of fate arrived decades later? Was it good fortune or misfortune to be able to peek at this in advance, as if rehearsing? It would never be the same. The present is bound by the constraints of the past. The appearance of the future decades from now, having become the past, could never be the same as now. Thinking of that made him a little depressed. He was already branded a criminal because of the karma of having his eldest brother as Bilyeon, and a chilling premonition struck him. Could he ever escape that shadow in the future? Who could he blame for his own weakness of will?
‘Please, show up today…’
Namgungsang could only quietly pray inwardly. Didn’t they say that fervent wishes come true? If, as his eldest brother said, wishing wasn’t just praying alone in a small room but doing everything one could to make it happen and waiting for heaven’s will, then he had done enough. He had already died. He didn’t want to remain dead any longer. Moreover, he wanted to part ways with the young friend from the Gongson family who was following him as soon as possible.
‘Ling’er…’
Suddenly, he missed Jinryeong terribly.
‘Right, how many people are praying to heaven! It’s faster to solve it yourself than to wait with a ticket for when they’ll return!’
Heaven must be incredibly busy solving all those people’s pleas. Namgungsang unfolded the Soosangbi (Grass-Stepping) footwork and silently approached under the shadow of a wall at the Jungyang Pyo Guk. He moved only by stepping on grass, so no sound was made. The night guard had passed by not long ago, so they wouldn’t be back for a while.
‘Good!’
Namgungsang reassured himself and prepared to climb over the wall. His vigilance had momentarily slackened. But as they say, complacency is forbidden. A voice called out to him.
“A true man should walk the great path, so why are you moving stealthily like a thieving cat?”
Startled by the sudden stern scolding from behind him, Namgungsang spun around. Jin Solyeong, fully dressed in formal attire, stood with her arms crossed and a stern look, as if she had appeared out of nowhere. With a sword hanging from her waist, it seemed she had already prepared and was waiting.
“It seems something similar happened yesterday? Is this the second time already?”
Yesterday he was caught trying to enter, and today he was caught trying to leave. Namgungsang couldn’t help but reflect on his lack of skill in stealth. To be honest, his performance in what was called night-traveling skill in the martial world, stealth and silent movement, was not very good compared to other subjects.
“Are you going to catch that attacker?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Unable to lie, Namgungsang told the truth. Even if she objected, he had no intention of giving up his will. He had a sufficient reason to go. He only regretted not being careful enough.
“I will go with you.”
Jin Solyeong declared suddenly. Her attitude conveyed that she would not tolerate refusal, and she immediately got to the heart of the matter.
“What? B-but……”
It was a truly unexpected reaction. The sudden, unexpected situation overwhelmed Namgungsang’s ability to handle it. It was outside the scope of his expectations. All he could do was stammer. He had to refuse, no, he absolutely had to refuse. Namgungsang decided. Jin Solyeong had no reason to get involved in this.
“It is not possible. Please let us go alone.”
“Why not? Let me hear your reason.”
Her response was calm and collected, but it was filled with the intention to ignore him if his reasoning was not persuasive.
Namgungsang hesitated for a moment, then exclaimed with a pleading voice,
“I don’t want to trouble you!”
Jin Solyeong was not moved, not at all!
“That’s not persuasive at all. How can you judge whether it’s a trouble to me or not? I thought the decision was entirely up to my will, have I been mistaken all this time?”
Jin Solyeong retorted as if she had heard the most bizarre thing. It was the truth, wasn’t it? Namgungsang, as an outsider, couldn’t dictate Jin Solyeong’s subjective intention to decide for herself.
“Th-that’s… by social convention……”
He got stuck from the beginning of his excuse.
“What if I refuse that social convention?”
Jin Solyeong countered.
“…You must follow your own will.”
Having been entangled with Bilyeon for a long time, Namgungsang had learned when to give up and when not to. This was definitely the former. It seemed even a hundred pounds of strength couldn’t shake her firm will.
“Then is it decided?”
Actually, it was presumptuous to interfere with someone else’s will and argue.
“Yes, it is.”
Namgungsang replied, bowing his head deeply. However, Namgungsang’s ordeal was not over yet.
“Wait! If Miss Jin is going, I’m going too.”
The speaker appeared as if it were the most natural and obvious thing in the world, and it was Yu Eunseong, the foremost swordsman of Jeomchang.
‘Why is that old man here again?’
Namgungsang screamed inwardly twice. He felt like clutching his throbbing head. But he wasn’t given the luxury of such comfort.
“Why no answer? Are you perhaps displeased?”
Yu Eunseong asked again in a firm tone. A voice full of confidence that tolerated no refusal. To him, it didn’t matter what happened to Namgungsang or Gongsonjeolhwi. This man’s only concern was Jin Solyeong.
“Th-that……”
At that moment, Namgungsang’s ability to handle the situation reached a standstill. It was already difficult to handle just Jin Solyeong, and now Yu Eunseong, who was almost her equal, was also joining them. The key to this mission was stealth, but now the group was too large.
“What’s with that dark face? Could it be you……”
Yu Eunseong interrogated in a sharp tone, and Namgungsang hastily waved his hands.
“No. Impossible. I have no complaints at all.”
‘Ah, whatever happens, happens! I don’t care.’
This was the hollow echo that resonated in Namgungsang’s heart at that moment.
“I didn’t want to trouble the two of you. But it seems to be turning out this way.”
Namgungsang said in a dejected voice.
“Don’t worry about it. This is not your choice, but mine. I haven’t recognized you as that child’s mate yet, but if something happened to you, that child would surely be sad, wouldn’t she? I don’t want to see her sad face yet. Besides……”
“……?”
“Besides, if something happens to you, who will I fight? I’ll have no opponent, won’t I?”
“Th-thank you, Auntie!”
Namgungsang replied with emotion, his nose tingling. Jin Solyeong then said with a serious expression,
“Wait! Don’t call me that yet. To call me by that title, you must defeat me in the promised match. Do you understand?”
She was a woman of decisiveness.
“I understand, Lady Jin!”
Namgungsang replied clearly. He couldn’t help but scold himself for his careless attempt to gloss over things.
“Shall we go then, Great Hero Yu?”
“Let’s.”
“Before that, first……”
Jin Solyeong paused. Then, without looking back, she said in a quiet voice,
“What are you two doing? Why aren’t you coming out?”
At her stern command, rustling sounds were heard from a corner of the inn, about three zhang away. Even though they couldn’t be seen, their hesitation was palpable.
“Hurry out. Why are you dawdling? Do I have to drag you out myself?”
Only then did two people emerge from the dark shadows. It was Yuran and Yu Unbi. Both looked awkward, as if they had something to hide. Their movements were as precarious and clumsy as those of prisoners being led to jail. Yu Eunseong, standing beside them, tutted disdainfully.
“What were you two doing out here so late at night?”
“Wh-what are you talking about? We were just……”
To both of them, who were flustered by a question that could be interpreted very lewdly, they didn’t know what to do. They wanted to follow. They probably wanted to join. However, neither of them was so thoughtless as to bring the half-baked swordsmen.
“It’s too much for you. You two stay here!”
Jin Solyeong said resolutely. Yuran and Yu Unbi, who had been bowing their heads, suddenly looked up.
“Why? Please take us with you, Master.”
Yuran pleaded. Yu Unbi echoed her.
“Please! Take us too!”
Jin Solyeong shook her head. Then, in a slightly stern and sad voice, she said,
“Do you really want to hear me say such an obvious thing again? Do you want to make me a incompetent master? Please don’t make me an incompetent master anymore.”
“Th-that’s……”
Yuran’s head drooped. She understood that she was asking them not to bring upon her the stigma of having raised incompetent disciples who couldn’t even infer such an obvious reason.
‘You are weak!’
Did she not understand the implied meaning of the question? But there are things one doesn’t want to admit even if one knows them.
“Miss Jin is right. This matter is too dangerous for you to meddle in. Please don’t forget why you came here. You came to enter the Cheonmu Academy, not to catch the murderer. Before you leap into something you can’t do, first find what you can do!”
They were refused outright. It was natural. They could be hindered, and they could suffer serious injuries. They could even die. They weren’t going for a game. Where they had to go now was a battlefield where lives could be crossed amidst the clash of steel.
“I assume there are no further objections.”