Book 20 Chapter 15
The Rage of Yi Si-geon
—Conspiracy Dawns
In a building secretly nestled deep within the rear of the Southern Chang branch of the Jungwon Express Agency, a wisp of smoke curled upwards. What was simmering on the brazier was medicinal soup. The doctor’s diligent hands chopping herbs, five maids fanning five braziers without pause – this place, so quiet it could be mistaken for a ruin, was bustling today.
The fully brewed medicinal soup was poured into a white bowl. The maid carrying the tray moved with a reverence akin to handling a sacred object, cautious and respectful. This was because the person waiting in the room was Yoon Yi-jeong, the representative of the Jungwon Express Agency and one of the Twelve Walls of Geumgang.
Yoon Yi-jeong, who had been attending by the sickbed, received the bowl of medicine, blew on it a few times, and then carefully brought it to the patient’s lips.
“The medicine is ready. Before it cools…”
“……”
But the patient, turned away, remained silent.
“Please drink it, young master! You have been in a coma for two days. If you don’t nourish your weakened body…”
As the bowl was brought closer once more, the patient impatiently waved his arm away.
*Swish!*
“Oh dear!”
Startled by the patient’s sudden movement, Yoon Yi-jeong dropped the bowl.
*Clang!*
The bowl that hit the floor split in half, and the dark liquid scattered in all directions.
“Young master!”
Startled, Yoon Yi-jeong called out to the patient. Yi Si-geon, thrashing in bed as if struggling in a swamp, suddenly sat up, flailing his arms. Instead of his removed upper garment, bandages were wrapped around his wounded areas.
“I can’t go back like this, not like this!”
He cried out in an irritable, desperate voice.
“Young Master Yi, calm down. It’s not good for your wounds.”
Yoon Yi-jeong, watching this, quickly tried to dissuade him.
*Zing!*
Yi Si-geon’s irritable gaze fixed on Yoon Yi-jeong, and his heart lurched. He sensed a murderous intent in his bloodshot eyes.
“Young Master Lee…?”
Yoon Yi-jeong’s heart sank as he heard the dense anger seeping through his gritted teeth. The quick-witted Yoon Yi-jeong immediately knelt on the floor and bowed his head.
“I, I apologize. I misspoke, my lord! I have committed a sin deserving of death.”
It didn’t matter if it was considered cowardly. There was no need to pour fuel on the burning rage. The furious fire that had lost its reason could consume him right now. All that mattered was figuring out how to rectify his mistake.
“Do not forget! That I am your master now. That you are bound by my destiny. A servant who forgets their master is cast aside.”
Yi Si-geon said, as if stamping it in stone.
“Do not forget! That my destiny is your destiny.”
“Of course, my lord. I have never forgotten my allegiance.”
When the master raged like a mad dog, it was best to remain still.
“Then that is enough.”
Yi Si-geon regained his composure (though it was his own belief). He believed he had regained his composure simply by not striking Yoon Yi-jeong dead, but it lacked persuasion given his condition.
“I cannot go back like this. What would I say? I boasted grandly and returned in magnificent failure? Is that what I should tell him?”
“N-no, that would be impossible.”
Yoon Yi-jeong replied, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
‘Damn it! Walking on a knife’s edge would feel more pleasant than this moment!’
Yoon Yi-jeong cursed inwardly. He felt he would be happier dancing barefoot on burning coals than at this moment.
‘Did I make the wrong choice?’
But the choice had already passed, and there was no way to turn back. He had to somehow calm his agitated master and overcome the current predicament.
“No! Like this, I am ruined! I will forever be licking his feet under him. Not like this! I swore that day. I would break that smug face somehow. The day he defeated me and sneered at me. I will not forgive him who left an indelible scar on my pride! Never! I will surely make him regret it. But… but……”
Like this, he could be punished before that day arrived. The organization’s punishments were heavy and strict.
“Do not worry, my lord. We still have a way.”
Judging that leaving him any longer was dangerous, Yoon Yi-jeong quickly intervened.
“What way?”
“It is a way that my lord will quickly recall once the turmoil in your mind subsides.”
He emphasized that it was not because he was clever that he remembered such a method. One needed tact when dealing with a proud superior.
“Oh? Well, that is natural, of course…”
Yi Si-geon signaled with his eyes for him to speak.
“Have you forgotten, my lord? The two brats from Cheongryong Eunjang. Those children still have ‘that.’ If we get our hands on that ‘key’…”
And Yoon Yi-jeong smiled meaningfully. A smile that implied he believed the rest would be understood without words. Of course, Yi Si-geon fully understood. He couldn’t hold back and jumped up from his seat.
“Oh, the key! Yes, we had that! If we get our hands on it, all other mistakes can be rectified! Why didn’t I think of that sooner?!”
The flames of desire began to flicker again in his eyes, which had been like black-gray ashes with only embers left, almost extinguished moments ago. His hazy eyes, which had been floundering in despair just a moment ago, now sparkled with new hope.
“Honestly! I forgot something so important! Yes! We had it, we did. The key that will open my future! If I can get my hands on it, even he won’t blame me, Yi-jeong!”
“Yes, my lord!”
“We will attack the Jungyang Express Agency! I will summon all of the ‘Thirteen Bloods’!”
“Th, the Thirteen Bloods… all of them…”
Yoon Yi-jeong muttered, swallowing hard.
Last night, Yi Si-geon had not brought them, thinking they wouldn’t be necessary. He had been arrogant, believing his own hands were enough for hunting those brats.
“If they had been there yesterday, it would have been them lying on the sickbed today, not him…”
Then Yi Si-geon shook his head vigorously.
“No, no, a bed is too good for them to lie in! A small patch of cold earth for a grave would be more than enough.”
“Indeed, my lord!”
Yoon Yi-jeong chimed in.
“Then the problem is those two bastards.”
There was still a problem to be solved before attacking the Jungyang Express Agency.
“You mean Sister Ami, Jin So-ryeong, and the First Swordsman of Jeomchang, Yu Eun-seong!”
“Besides them, what other scoundrels would have the right to be a bother to me?”
He seemed to have completely forgotten the incident where he was almost burned by Mo Yong-hwi and Namgung Sang.
“It is too dangerous to directly attack them, knowing for certain that those two are lurking. Even if we succeed, our losses will be too severe.”
Although he didn’t want to further irritate his lord, Yoon Yi-jeong couldn’t let that point slide.
“I don’t want to admit it, but it’s true, those guys are strong.”
Clasping his wounded area with his left hand, Yi Si-geon gritted his teeth. Seizing the opportunity, Yoon Yi-jeong leaned forward.
“My lord, I have a plan regarding that. Hahahaha!”
Yoon Yi-jeong said, a vile smile on his face.
“A plan?”
“Yes! If you give me just one day, I will resolve it magnificently.”
At this moment, Yoon Yi-jeong’s mind was spinning madly in a crucible of baseness, cowardice, and villainy.