You’ll Come To Know Soon, Too (5)

The Minister of Revenue’s person, Ga Eon-seong, glanced sidelong at the person seated in the place of honor, his face taut with tension.

The Ceremonial Affairs Head.

There were enough eunuchs in the imperial palace to trip over. Yet this was a position only one who had risen to the very pinnacle of them all could receive.

But the reason Ga Eon-seong could not bring himself to meet the man’s eyes now was certainly not merely because he was the Ceremonial Affairs Head.

Even if the man before him had been nothing more than an ordinary eunuch rather than the Ceremonial head, Ga Eon-seong still would not have dared look him straight in the eye.

“I apologize for receiving you in such humble surroundings, Eunuch.”

Click.

Do-Hyeon opened the lid of the teacup before him and calmly took a sip.

It was a crisp movement that did not violate the rules of the tea ceremony, yet somehow carried a bold, carefree air. It was not difficult to tell what kind of man he was from that movement alone.

“‘Humble surroundings’…”

Do-Hyeon glanced around and gave a derisive chuckle. The room was decorated with all manner of luxuries. It was not a place one could call humble even as a joke.

“You’ve grown bold enough to spout fairly insolent words.”

Ga Eon-seong’s head immediately dropped.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean it that way…”

“Enough.”

Do-Hyeon waved his hand as if annoyed.

“If all one can see is filth, then a single bucket of manure dumped over one’s body is hardly worth worrying about. That’s simply human nature.”

Do-Hyeon’s gaze pierced through Ga Eon-seong.

“How is it? How does it feel to roll around with filth smeared over your body? It doesn’t seem as bad as you expected.”

At the sight of the twisted smile on Do-Hyeon’s lips, Ga Eon-seong’s back grew damp with cold sweat.

“I, I am merely… carrying out your orders, Eunuch.”

“A good answer.”

Do Hyeon nodded as if he approved.

“What I want is neither an incorruptible man nor a corrupt one. I want someone who does his job well. As long as you carry out what you are entrusted with, the wealth and honor you enjoy now will extend to your children.”

“I will carve your words into my bones, Eunuch.”

Ga Eon-seong bowed his head deeply once more.

What he was doing was not particularly unusual. More than a few officials used their relatives to carry out things an official should not do.

Even if the money Ga Eon-seong made through his trading company was among the greatest in Beijing, that was merely a difference in ability; his corruption was not especially severe.

But Ga Eon-seong knew.

Even something that was not a problem if no one made an issue of it could become a problem at any time if someone chose to do so. And the Directorate Eunuch was someone capable of creating that “problem.”

If the Ceremonial head wished it, the member of Revenue’s head could leave his body tomorrow and be hung in the marketplace. Faced with such a man, all he could do was prostrate himself and beg for mercy.

Once a person dipped his feet into filth, he could never escape the Ceremonial head’s clutches. That was the source of the power with which the Ceremonial head ruled Beijing.

The Revenue Ministry, Ga Eon-seong, bowed toward Do-Hyeon again as if worshiping him.

“…Can you hear them?”

“I can’t hear very well…”

“Shouldn’t we get a little closer?”

“They say he’s a skilled master. What do we do if we’re discovered?”

“But we can’t just watch. Once you’ve drawn your sword, you should at least cut a radish.”

“At this rate, our swords are going to break trying to cut that radish.”

On a dark night, the disciples of Mount Hua lay sprawled in a row atop a high eave, bickering among themselves.

“No, are we really just going to sit here and watch? If that’s what we’re going to do, why did we come out?”

“We didn’t know he was a master. But Chung Myung says he is.”

Baek Cheon gazed at the distant sky.

The moon half-hidden by the clouds was, how should he put it…

‘Damn, it’s beautiful.’

Perhaps that was why tears kept threatening to spill…

“So what should we do, sasuk?”

Baek Cheon ground his teeth and barked coldly.

“Why are you asking? Get closer.”

“B-but what if we’re discovered?”

“Then we’ll become assassins who tried to murder the Directorate Eunuch.”

“Wouldn’t that be bad?”

“Do you know what’s really bad? If we stay like this, we’ll become idiots who went for a masked stroll across rooftops under the moon and gained nothing from it. Is that better?”

“Let’s go. Let’s get right up close.”

“…Good. I’m glad you understand.”

The disciples of Mount Hua gritted their teeth and leaped onto the eaves of the building where the Ceremonial Head was.

“And the task I entrusted to you?”

“I am doing my utmost. However…”

“However?”

When Do-Hyeon lowered his teacup, Ga Eon-seong flinched and swallowed hard.

“A-as you know, Eunuch, this is a matter that must be conducted in the utmost secrecy, so we have not yet reached the desired level…”

Tap.

Do-Hyeon set the teacup down on the table and smiled faintly.

“Listen, Ministry of revenue member.”

“Yes. Yes, Eunuch!”

Ga Eon-seong repeatedly bobbed his head, sweating coldly.

“As you said, this matter must be kept absolutely confidential. Then… why do you think I specifically entrusted such a task to you?”

“…”

“Because you are capable?”

Do-Hyeon smiled pleasantly, and Ga Eon-seong could not bring himself to answer. Instead, he wiped the sweat running down his forehead.

“Of course not. The reason is simple.”

Do-Hyeon stared silently at Ga Eon-seong before continuing.

“Because you are someone it would be acceptable to make into a problem.”

“…”

“Is that not so?”

“E-Eunuch. But…”

“Nominally, the owner of this trading company is not you, but your younger brother. So even if this becomes a problem, you and your children will be safe. At worst, your little brother will suffer a little, will he not?”

“Suffer,” he said. Could that really be described with the mere word “suffer”? He would be tortured until his body was crushed, have all his property seized, and be dragged away as a government slave. And even that was what would happen if things went as well as possible.

As long as the Ceremonial head remained in power, the trading company might eventually be restored, but by then there was no guarantee his brother would still be alive. And yet…

“What is it?”

Do Hyeon smiled lightly as though it were nothing.

“Did you not entrust the trading company to your brother precisely in preparation for a situation like this? Or would you rather reject my proposal even now and watch over your brother?”

Ga Eon-seong swallowed hard and smiled awkwardly.

“I, too, am a servant who draws a salary from the state. How could I cling to a personal relationship and seek to ruin the greater cause?”

“…”

“I am merely following your will, Eunuch.”

The Ceremonial Head, Do-Hyeon, chuckled at those words.

“What an excellent official you are.”

“You flatter me, Eunuch.”

Open contempt flashed across Do-Hyeon’s face. But Ga Eon-seong did not care in the slightest. Serving in the imperial palace was like laying one’s neck on a blade and trying to sleep. Those unable to endure even this could never withstand Beijing’s biting winds.

Do-Hyeon nodded quietly.

“This will help you as well. No, it may do more than help you—it may save your life.”

Having cast aside his sarcastic tone, Do-Hyeon continued in a rigid voice.

“Hurry. I do not care if it involves some risk. This is not something we can afford to delay.”

“I will keep it in mind, Eunuch.”

“Therefore, first…”

It was at that moment.

The Ceremonial head stopped speaking and closed his mouth. Then he subtly raised his head and looked up.

“…Eunuch?”

“Well, well…”

A sinister smile spread across Do Hyeon’s lips.

“Little rats.”

Swoosh!

The teacup Do-Hyeon was holding shot upward, piercing through the ceiling.

“Whoa!”

At the same time, someone’s startled cry rang out loudly. Realizing that someone had been eavesdropping on their conversation, Assistant member Ga Eon-seong shot to his feet, his face turning ashen.

“E-Eunuch. I…”

“No need to make a fuss.”

A series of presences rapidly receded into the distance. The face of Do-Hyeon, the Ceremonial Head, hardened coldly.

“Bring them to me.”

“Yes, Eunuch.”

No sooner had Do-Hyeon spoken than an answer came from the air, followed by a fierce wind that swept through the room.

As Ga Eon-seong, the only one who did not understand the situation, stood helplessly, a calm voice reached his ears.

“Sit down. We still have things to discuss.”

“B-but, Eunuch! If this matter becomes known, even you…”

“Sit.”

“…”

Ga Eon-seong’s face was now completely drenched in sweat. Trembling, he sat down. Do-Hyeon shook his head and slowly sipped the slightly cooled tea.

“When handling something sweet, one must accept that insects will be drawn to it.”

“…”

“Do not worry. The Eastern Depot is not so soft as to let those who dared meddle in my affairs leave alive.”

Ga Eon-seong nodded at that.

How could he not know the Eastern Depot’s evil reputation? Had they not been discovered, things might have been different, but now that they had been, there would be no way out for them.

“However.”

“…Yes?”

Do-Hyeon lightly swirled the teacup in his hand.

“Even if we deal with them, the fact that insects have been drawn here will not change. If things continue like this, even more insects will begin to gather.”

“…”

“We will move the plan forward a little.”

Do-Hyeon’s eyes sank into icy calm.

“So that no one can interfere.”

“Aaaaaah! That’s why I said we shouldn’t get any closer!”

“Shut up and run, you idiot!”

“Argh! This is driving me crazy!”

The disciples of Mount Hua tore wildly through the night streets of Beijing.

“W-what is this?”

“Robbers! They’re robbers!”

And thanks to them, the night streets of Beijing began descending into chaos.

And why wouldn’t they? A group of broad-shouldered men were racing through the streets in masks.

It was a sight difficult to see anywhere in the world, but considering that this was the city where the emperor resided, it was all the more astonishing.

“G-get out of the way!”

The Mount Hua group was having just as maddening a time.

“Why are there so many people! It’s nighttime! Nighttime!”

“Shut up and run!”

“I-I can’t run because of all the people… Aaaah!”

Jo Gul crashed straight into a food tray someone was carrying and went rolling across the ground. Meanwhile, Chung Myung snatched a chicken leg that had flown into the air with one hand, lifted his mask slightly, and gnawed away at it with gusto.

“How can you eat that at a time like this, you lunatic!”

“They say ghosts who died after eating well have a fine complexion.”

“The problem is that you’re about to become a ghost in the first place!”

At that moment, Tang Soso suddenly raised her hand and pointed upward.

“Roof! Jump onto the roof! Quickly!”

“Ah! Everyone, get up there!”

The disciples of Mount Hua shot upward like lightning and landed on the roof of a large hall.

And at that very moment.

“Dodge!”

Dozens of dark throwing knives came raining toward them, cutting through Beijing’s dusky night. The disciples of Mount Hua reflexively drew their swords and knocked the flying blades away.

Clack.

At that moment, dozens of figures landed around them.

“Did you think you could escape, you little rats?”

The pale-faced eunuch at the front tossed the throwing knife in his hand into the air and caught it, flashing a chilling smile.

“You would do well to surrender quietly. Then I will torture you without causing too much pain.”

“…Was that a threat?”

“It seems like it.”

“Nothing ever goes right.”

Baek Cheon let out a deep sigh, as if he could make the earth collapse with it.”