Book 25 Chapter 8

"A promise… a promise…"

— Princess Yecheong of the Seven Princesses and Duno’i of the Nine Ears

Squish, squish!

Duno’i, who had been so lively just a few days ago, lay on the floor. Red blood was welling up from his chest like a spring. Yecheong, who had rushed over, tightly grasped his hand. However, his eyelids merely fluttered, and he couldn’t utter a single word. It was because of the blood that had risen to his throat.

"Damn it! We missed him."

Jang Hong and Hyo Ryong, who had chased the assassin, returned empty-handed.

"He was incredibly fast. He must be a highly skilled individual."

They might have been able to catch him if they had chased him a little faster, but he had already vanished the moment they opened the door and began his escape. They had let him slip away while their attention was diverted by Duno’i, who had collapsed on the floor. By that point, it was impossible to chase a seasoned assassin. He had already disappeared through his pre-arranged escape route. Jang Hong desperately tried to trace his footsteps, but there was no sign of him anywhere. If he were an assassin, he would have been top-tier.

"What about Duno’i?"

Na Baekcheon frowned and shook his head.

"It seems he didn't finish the job because we arrived, but there's no hope. He missed the heart, but his lungs were pierced. I've given him emergency treatment, but who knows…"

"There's only one reason the assassin would come."

Na Baekcheon nodded in agreement with Jang Hong's words.

"This friend must have seen something he shouldn't have."

It was clearly an attempt to silence him.

"So we did come correctly."

"Late, but we did."

The dead say no more. They needed Duno’i alive.

"Infuse more internal energy into his dan tian, quickly! He must live, he must!"

Yecheong shouted sharply, her voice filled with urgency. She, who rarely showed agitation, was greatly shaken.

"Ah, alright, madam."

Na Baekcheon quickly placed his palm on Duno’i's dan tian and began to infuse energy. Duno’i's face, pale from excessive bleeding, briefly flushed red, and his fluttering eyelids opened. The first thing his eyes found was Yecheong's face. Her face was tearful, but still beautiful. Duno’i's lips parted with difficulty.

"Pr-Princess…"

***

Duno’i (杜老二) of Nine Ears and Ten Eyes.

Also known as Elder Du or Master Du, he was undeniably the top information broker in the martial arts world. His original name was Du Yi (杜二), meaning the second son of the Du family. It was a name that clearly lacked sincerity and intelligence from its inception. Therefore, he hated that name and longed for great success.

Then one day, he discovered he had an extraordinary 'intuition' for information. And he realized that every story contained 'something.' And that 'something' had a ranking based on the story.

It was a kind of scent. Somehow, it smelled. For reasons unknown, he had the talent to smell that scent.

Thus, he acquired a nose that could sift out profitable stories from the scattered tales. Of course, this intuition didn't always come to him. But when it did, it was never wrong.

He also used this ability for wicked deeds. He believed that in the dark arts, anything goes to make money. What he did was fabricate false information to make it seem real, or vice versa, he deliberately spread false information.

He secretly took commissions and spread rumors within the martial arts world and Machonggak. Most of these rumors were intended to attack, insult, and degrade a single person. It was a rather insidious attack, but the clients were always endless. Most of his targets were prominent figures in Machonggak. One of them was Yecheong, who was renowned for her beauty, martial arts prowess, and temper.

At the time, she was the leader of the Seven Princesses, an all-female sect, and was known as Bingwolhui, the Icy Moon Princess, due to her temper. Jeokye, a shortened form of ‘red Yecheong,’ meant that once she took action, there was no forgiveness. Her opponents were mostly rough men, and she defeated them, representing women. Because she showed no mercy, blood often splattered, and her white clothes and white sword were frequently stained red. Later, she even started wearing red clothes. This was to make the blood less noticeable when it splattered. As a result, she inevitably made many enemies. While she had overwhelming support from the women within Machonggak, the men couldn't help but be irritated by the damned woman who constantly crushed their pride.

Among the women, there were also those who envied Yecheong for being too prominent. While she fought to prevent women from being disregarded within Machonggak, some saw it as unnecessary meddling. Thus, a commission reached Ear-Many-Ghosts Du Yi.

—Crush that woman's pride.

The commission stated that anything was permissible to insult and degrade her. The compensation was also generous. He did what he always did. The method for crushing and insulting a woman was almost the same then as it is now.

—Bingwolhui Yecheong is a bitch.

—Bingwolhui Yecheong scratching at men like a tomcat is because she misses men.

—Bingwolhui Yecheong's claim to represent women's rights is just for show; in reality, she secretly extorts money from women. She's just a common slut.

And so on, rumors began to spread.

Such intrigue was common in the dark arts.

He himself didn't feel much guilt about what he did.

'Everyone else does it, so what's the big deal?!'

He thought so.

Then one day.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The door to his office was cleanly cut into four pieces. Behind the collapsing door stood a woman in red.

"Is it you? The trash who spreads lies with your tongue?"

At that moment, a dazzlingly bright smile spread across Yecheong's lips.

"There's a saying: if you write malicious comments about others, you should be prepared to have your hands cut off. You must have been prepared for that when you carelessly wagged your tongue to insult people, right?"

He hadn't even thought about it because he had no thoughts in the first place. So what could he say?

"No."

That was all he could say.

"Oh, really? Then you deserve to be hit more."

The smile on her lips shone even brighter.

"Aaaargh!"

As a consequence of spreading false information and malicious rumors, he had to face life and death. How he survived that day and didn't die was a mystery even to him. Perhaps if his young son, Du Chil, hadn't heard a strange scream and come looking, asking, 'Dad, what are you doing?', he might have ended his life that very day.

"You only see your own wounds now and not the wounds you inflicted, do you? My body must look fine to your eyes. Do unseen wounds seem like nothing? Wounds on the body heal with time, but wounds on the heart are not easily erased. Someone might have to live with those wounds their entire life."

A hint of sadness now appeared on the lips that had once shone with a dazzling smile.

"If you're going to sell stories, sell honesty and trust, not filth or lies. Don't defile stories and words with your tongue. Aren't you ashamed to look at your child?"

Her clear eyes looked as if they might shed tears.

"…"

He had nothing to say, even if he had a hundred, no, a thousand mouths.

"It's not for your sake, but for your child's that I'll spare your life. But I will watch. So do well. Try to give something other than wounds."

And she left.

After that, he changed his ways. He couldn't stay the same. He had been told to do well, as his life had been spared, so how could he just stay put? His child was watching, and Yecheong was watching. He had to change.

After that, the bad rumors about her completely disappeared.

And then, a few years after she graduated from Machonggak, her rumors began to spread like wildfire throughout the martial arts world and Machonggak again. It was because of her engagement. Surprisingly, she was to be engaged to Na Baekcheon, the leader of the martial arts alliance, who was dozens of years her senior. The entire martial arts world was in an uproar. The most clamorous places were Machonggak and the martial arts world. All sorts of stories about the marriage circulated. There were tales of Na Baekcheon being a lecher who only fancied young maidens, and rumors that Yecheong had seduced him first, driven by ambition for status and wealth. Furthermore, even though Na Baekcheon had been widowed for over half a century, it was still a remarriage, so it was bound to cause a stir.

Not long after hearing that decision, Duno’i had an opportunity to meet Yecheong. She had come to him.

"It's been a while. I came to say goodbye."

Yecheong said with a smile.

"Bad rumors will spread. People are already whispering about this marriage, saying it's for status or a political marriage…"

"I don't care. I have no regrets about this decision, no matter what anyone says. I made this decision and I'm acting on it. I'm marrying the best man. Age is just a decoration."

"But…"

"Heh heh, you didn't spread those rumors, did you, Duno’i?"

Duno’i jumped.

"That's absurd! How could I possibly do such a thing? I am an information broker who sells honesty and trust. I am no longer Du Yi of the Nine Ears, but Elder Du of the Nine Ears and Ten Eyes."

"I know, it was a joke. Then we're good. I'm leaving now."

"You're leaving?"

"Yes, before I go, I wanted to entrust you with the information called 'My Truth.' You're the only one who needs to know my truth, Duno’i. Because you are an honest information broker who sells truth. Isn't that right? Well, goodbye."

Duno’i bowed respectfully towards her retreating figure as she waved and disappeared leisurely.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Princess."

Two drops of tears fell onto the ground at the feet of Duno’i, who had bowed his head.

He did not meet her again for twenty years. However, he later heard that she had given birth to a beautiful daughter. She seemed happy, and Duno’i was satisfied.

***

Twenty years have passed, and now, Duno’i lay before Yecheong, breathless and covered in blood.

"Hah, hah, hah!"

Breathing was difficult. His breaths were intermittent, repeating and stopping, his heart pulsed irregularly, and his eyelids fluttered open and closed. Even when his eyelids opened, his pupils were hazy and unfocused. This was evidence that his consciousness was still clouded.

"Duno’i, snap out of it, Duno’i!"

Yecheong desperately called out to Duno’i. As if responding to her call, his fluttering eyelids fully opened. His gaze shifted slightly, turning towards Yecheong.

"Princess…"

Duno’i murmured in a weak voice.

"Duno’i, are you conscious? Duno’i, can you recognize me?"

"Princess… I made a promise… a promise…"

The old man's eyes were completely unfocused. This was evidence that his consciousness was fading.

"Duno’i, Duno’i? Snap out of it!"

*Pabababat!*

After striking his acupoints with the technique of forcibly pressing acupoints, he placed his palm on his dan tian and infused internal energy. However, because of the perforating wound to his lungs, he had to be extremely careful with his movements, as forcibly pressing the acupoints could cause the temporarily sealed points to reopen.

Light slowly began to return to Duno’i's hazy pupils.

"Princess…?"

Moments before, it had been mere rambling spoken in a dazed state, but now it was a word directed at a precisely recognized target.

"Yes, it's me. Can you recognize me?"

"Of c-of course. How could I not recognize Princess's face? Are you crying?"

"No, why would I be crying? You must have seen wrong."

Then Duno’i's old eyes trembled, and he managed a faint smile.

"I see, I must have seen wrong. *Cough, cough*."

Duno’i couldn't help but cough again.

"It's an honor that you would cry for me. It means that selling honesty and trust paid off."

"I told you I wasn't crying."

"Of course, you weren't crying."

Duno’i said, desperately trying to smile.

"Why did this happen, Duno’i?"

"I was happy because I thought the god of information had descended on my right side, but at that time, the god of death in black clothes had descended on my left shoulder. *Cough, cough*. I still have a long way to go…"

Duno’i couldn't finish what he was saying.

"Duno’i, Duno’i?"

Duno’i's consciousness began to cloud over again. Na Baekcheon, who had been waiting, quickly infused internal energy. However, it was no longer at a stage where internal energy could save him.

Gasp, gasp.

Duno’i's blood-stained, cracked lips twitched. As if mustering his last bit of strength.

"To… Machonggak… go to Machonggak. The culprit… the truth is there…"

He gasped his last breath.

"I sold honesty and trust… and truth… I kept my promise!"

Duno’i's hand, extended towards Yecheong, fell to the ground with a thud like a dry dead tree. His breath had ceased. Duno’i, the information broker who proclaimed to deal in honesty, trust, and truth, was dead.

Watching the scene, Bi Ryuyeon quietly turned and walked outside. Na Baekcheon stopped Bi Ryuyeon's steps and asked,

"Where are you going? Are you running away in fear?"

Na Baekcheon's eyes were full of distrust towards Bi Ryuyeon. Bi Ryuyeon then scoffed.

"Fear? I can't think of anything more terrifying than losing Yerim."

"Then?"

"I just have somewhere to go for a moment."

"Are you out of your mind? This is a critical moment, do you have the mental capacity to attend to other matters? Do you have any intention of saving Yerim or not?"

His gaze clearly showed that he could not tolerate such irresponsibility. The urgency was evident. It was understandable, considering how much he doted on his daughter. However, Bi Ryuyeon had his own reasons that he couldn't reveal.

"It is to save Yerim. I will be back."

Without asking for permission or making an appeal, Bi Ryuyeon resumed his stopped steps and strode forward.

"No, that, that, that fellow!"

He completely ignored the sound of Na Baekcheon raging behind him. There was something far more important and dangerous that he had to deal with now.

'Perhaps I'll have to risk my life…'