Wolf’s Den (1)

“Hoo, hoo.”

Jin-hyeon blew at the steaming dumplings and ate with fervor. His face looked fairly happy.

The owner smiled and joked.

“If you come too often, it’ll stop tasting good.”

“If this doesn’t taste good, I should drop dead.”

“Food you eat often moves you less, doesn’t it?”

“I always come starving, so no chance. You seasoned lighter than before?”

“Oh, you noticed?”

“I know because I eat here a lot. I actually prefer it this way—same flavor, and less cloying when you eat a lot. Not that I get sick of it.”

The owner laughed heartily.

“You read me exactly. I wracked my brain to earn even a coin more.”

“To my eyes it’s the Buddha’s mercy—letting people eat a lot for cheap.”

“Oh my, say that and I can’t not give you free dumplings.”

“I was aiming for that. Got you.”

“Hahaha!”

The owner brought another tray. Slightly smaller dumplings huddled together.

It wasn’t stinginess. He chose small ones so they wouldn’t upset the stomach.

Jin-hyeon took the thoughtfulness as it was. Making a needless fuss over this would be a thief’s mindset.

“Please enjoy.”

The owner went back to the kitchen to make fresh wrappers.

Munching away, Jin-hyeon rinsed his mouth with water and muttered:

“Serious public-order work from broad daylight.”

“The sun has fully set in the west.”

“Mm? Ah, right. These days I lose track of time.”

The one who came was Seol So-ha. Half her face still hid under a bamboo hat.

“Eat this. I’ll call the owner.”

“No. You weren’t at the inn, so I thought you might be here.”

“I see.”

She lifted the hat a little and looked around.

“I know this street well, yet it’s oddly hard to find—even though I’ve been here.”

“Keep your eyes wide.”

“I should.”

“Won’t you eat? Am I really finishing all of this?”

“…Then I’ll have one.”

She picked up a small dumpling and ate.

“It’s really good, even anew. The seasoning’s a touch lighter too.”

“You caught that? Impressive.”

“It was so good before. The impression stuck.”

“I see.”

“Shall I eat a bit more to mark the occasion?”

“What occasion?”

He still slid the tray toward her. Bowing, she took another and asked in passing:

“I heard you worked hard yesterday.”

“With what?”

“The Sichuan Branch matter.”

Jin-hyeon snorted.

“The constables worked hard. The Chief Constables will be in chaos now with summons from above. The real trouble starts now.”

“But I heard you coordinated and pushed the plan, Teacher.”

“Coordinate my ass. I just legged it to find people to beat the ones who touched me.”

In a way, it was true. But said so lightly it sounded like he did nothing.

‘Truly a strange one.’

Seol So-ha had never seen someone like him.

Leaving aside he was the Seol Clan’s benefactor, after the big affair, he wasn’t excited at all. Even after a drinking party the night before, one wouldn’t be this calm.

‘Not a normal heart.’

She’d heard from her father how they took Gwan Hong.

He himself claimed it wasn’t wisdom, but to Seol So-ha, it was more than enough to be called such. He had not only remarkable drive, but also the audacity to throw himself directly into the scene of an incident.

And even then, instead of boasting, he gave the credit to someone else. He truly saw his own achievements as nothing worth claiming.

‘If nothing else, this detachment is worth learning.’

It wasn’t mere modesty. It was detachment from worldly affairs.

“Sauce.”

“Here.”

“This fellow even made a new sauce. The taste is subtly different.”

Chewing happily, he looked like someone who could be happy with small things.

She spoke again in passing.

“I heard you went to the Investigation and Defense Court with Gwan Hong’s subordinate.”

“Ah, I stopped by in the morning.”

He spoke with a displeased face.

“It’s grand as hell, and the air is as sharp as knives. They say there’s a restaurant inside, but who can swallow food there.”

“I saw that subordinate last night. She looked badly hurt.”

“That’s beyond my concern. Even if locked up, she won’t rot in there long. The Chief Constable said it himself—be sincere in questioning and they’ll consider leniency.”

“I see.”

It was Gwan Hong who had bought her as a child and forged her into a blade. Though stained with some blood, a sword that remembers the past of the one who wielded it should be able to wash its own edge clean, at least to some extent.

“Father said they started rounding up senior Sichuan Branch officials who took bribes, starting with Gwan Hong. Uncle even went to the Court and threatened to report to Central Headquarters if they didn’t do it right.”

“This was always going to go this way. Nothing strange.”

“What I wonder is—no one from the Sichuan Branch approached you except the Finance Hall Master, Teacher.”

There were. Assassins.

Jin-hyeon had never mentioned that.

“The real power-holders planned for the future the moment the registry vanished. Pull strings to transfer to another branch, take ‘leave’ to buy time—each in their way.”

“!”

“Even if the registry falls into my hands, it’s still like walking on thin ice. The people involved are still alive. The only difference is whether I hold the decisive evidence in my grasp or not.”

He chewed the dumplings firmly.

“If the law could fix it all, this wouldn’t have happened. Pests don’t die in a passing storm. To eradicate, you set fire.”

“So this was a storm, not a fire.”

“After it passes, the sun comes back. In a good harvest, thieves swarm to peck the grain again.”

“I heard only those strict about public and private can become Martial Examiners from the Main Office.”

“And the ones who select them are the same thieves, what do you expect? Head Instructor said the one coming has ten years in.”

“…”

“To last ten years there, it wasn’t ability but sense that mattered. Best to keep your expectations realistic.”

Whether it was keen insight, cynicism, or perhaps a bit of both—she couldn’t tell.

One thing was sure—he was greater than she’d thought. To Seol So-ha, he grew harder to grasp.

To keep him from getting further away, she said.

“Please come stay at our house.”

“Eh?”

“Even if it’s a bit busy, how about staying with us until you find a new house. Father wants that too.”

He smiled wryly.

“I’m really fine.”

“He truly wants to host you. And…”

She cleared her throat.

“You need to train me, don’t you?”

“Ah? I do, don’t I?”

Jin-hyeon nodded.

“True, practicing in an inn yard is eh. Fine, I’ll owe you again.”

“It’s not a debt.”

“Think as you like.”

Jin-hyeon motioned with his chin toward the tray of small dumplings.

“He gave them for free, so shouldn’t you at least pay a little if you enjoyed them too, Lady Seol?”

An awkward smile appeared on Seol So-ha’s face.

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

“Good manners, then.”

And with that, the two of them left the dumpling shop after leaving some money behind.

Late night.

Sitting with a sigh, Seo Jong-dam looked very tired.

Seol Hong-baek sat opposite and spoke.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“What hard work? Others worked harder than me.”

“Have some tea.”

“Skip the tea.”

Seo Jong-dam untied a bundle to the side.

“I bought some liquor from nearby. Shall we have a drink?”

“Gladly.”

Soon, a modest table was set.

After a few rounds, Seol Hong-baek spoke with concern.

“You don’t look well.”

“Hm? Do I?”

“Did something bad happen?”

Seo Jong-dam ’s face turned bitter.

“Nothing special. I’m just a bit out of it, that’s all.”

He said that, but Seol Hong-baek could glimpse in him a kind of anguish that was hard to put into words.

Seo Jong-dam wasn’t just skilled and insightful.

To rise from the bottom to Deputy Court Head, you survive political barrages. He’d prospered on that battlefield of a life.

He rarely showed strain before a junior, but today was different.

“By the way, the night wind’s turned chill. Mind the warriors’ health.”

“They all have considerable internal energy, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Even at the stage where cold and heat don’t invade, you shiver when ill. Heaven’s grace returned your clan’s martial arts—be cautious and store strength.”

Seol Hong-baek’s eyes flashed.

He read something ominous in Seo Jong-dam’s words.

“I’ll keep it to heart.”

“Heh heh, this old brother has gone and said something pointless again. You’re as steady as they come. I must really be getting old.”

“Don’t say that. You’re still at a good age to marry.”

“There’s really nothing you won’t say, is there?. Who’d marry an old codger?”

They traded cups with loud laughter.

When the liquor emptied, Seo Jong-dam got up.

“I should get going.”

“Eh?”

Seol Hong-baek’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t you still have some vacation time left? Do you have somewhere else you’re planning to go?”

“Mm. Something blew up at the Loyalty and Righteousness Academy. I can’t say for duty’s sake, but I should return fast.”

“I see.”

Regret touched Seol Hong-baek’s face.

“At least have breakfast.”

“I’ll just work hard and earn more leave. Don’t worry. The instructors do well.”

“It can’t be helped then.”

Seo Jong-dam patted his shoulder.

“Like Tianshan’s eternal snows that don’t melt, hold your ground. For that, be strong. Not in heart or temper, but in real strength.”

“I will.”

“I won’t greet So-ha and the Teacher. Tell them for me.”

“Understood.”

“Then.”

Seo Jong-dam left the Seol estate, hands swinging.

Seol Hong-baek saw him to the gate and stood until his sworn brother’s back vanished.

An hour later.

Seo Jong-dam came to a small pavilion.

“You’ve come, Head Instructor Seo.”

Seo Jong-dam looked coldly at the middle-aged man.

He was a man of utterly ordinary appearance, without any particular distinguishing features to speak of.

This was Han Gyeong-guk, the Sichuan Branch Deputy Branch Chief.

Han Gyeong-guk smiled and said:

“Well? Have you thought on my deal?”

Seo Jong-dam scanned the surroundings.

He sensed nothing. Even a master can miss a hidden assassin if careless—but Seo Jong-dam’s martial prowess was at the elder level of a great sect.

If nothing showed even with his senses fully open, the man truly came alone.

“How courageous of you. What would you do if I tried to kill you?”

“You, called the very avatar of righteousness, wouldn’t use a killing hand on someone who won’t resist.”

“I think that when someone is this dangerous, it’s acceptable to set aside one’s convictions.”

“Just by showing up here, it seems you’ve already folded away that steel-like conviction for a moment.”

“…”

“So your decision?”

After a long glare, Seo Jong-dam spoke.

“Proof first.”

Han Gyeong-guk grinned and handed over a few papers.

They were transfer orders. Orders to move Han Gyeong-guk himself and everyone tied to him to the Gansu Branch.

The seal on such orders cannot be copied. If one forges it, everyone from forger to user becomes an enemy of Murim.

After verifying the seal, Seo Jong-dam handed over a book with the orders.

It was the bribe registry. The original Jin-hyeon had given him when they made the plan.

Han Gyeong-guk checked it and sighed deep.

“Damn bastard. He wrote it all out in detail.”

“Yes. Down to your conversations.”

“This is why they say don’t eat noodles from a hole-in-the-wall. Gave me a proper stomachache, it did.”

Han Gyeong-guk drew a fire-strip, lit it, and burned the registry.

Surprisingly, Seo Jong-dam didn’t stop him.

When it burned to ash, Han Gyeong-guk spoke, face light.

“That ends the deal.”

“Let me make this perfectly clear once more. You are never to touch Teacher Jin or the Seol Clan. They were merely caught up in this affair. If there’s any fault, it’s only that you handled things clumsily.”

“True.”

Han Gyeong-guk gave a wry smile.

“You checked the transfers. We leave in an hour. And since the registry’s gone, there’s no reason to strike.”

“I’ve already set aside my convictions and am holding back my anger. If anyone makes a stupid move, that’ll be the start of a war.”

Han Gyeong-guk did not take Seo Jong-dam’s words lightly.

He’d put the Seol Clan and Jin-hyeon on the table because he judged that was the limit of Seo Jong-dam’s patience.

Break the promise here and a war would truly break out. Seo Jong-dam would cast away honor and life and hunt him to the end.

Han Gyeong-guk didn’t want that either. He too had staked his life on this deal, having played the dangerous card of dispatching branch forces.

Both had overreached enough.

“The Left and Right Chief Constables will be fine. The originals and copies are gone, and we handed over a few of the men who took money—that should be enough to save the Main Office Martial Examiner’s face.”

“…”

“This was a good deal. Let’s not meet again.”

“I’ll leave after I confirm you’ve gone.”

Han Gyeong-guk chuckled and left the pavilion.

“I’ve lost all credit.”

And so the Sichuan Branch affair—entangling even Mighty Tiger—ended quietly.