#58: The Eve Festival (8) — The Patriarch of Sichuan

“…And so, the Radiant Sword Festival may be delayed a day or two.”

Dong Neung, sipping tea, knit his brows.

“Delayed?”

“As I said, the mood is too unsettled. They’d proceed if at all possible, but the Sichuan branch can’t ignore public opinion.”

“Hm.”

Beon Yu spoke with a smile.

“Everyone worth coming has arrived. A delay of a few days won’t make the gathered masters leave.”

“I know that much as well.”

“Sir?”

Dong Neung didn’t hide his displeasure.

“With a lawless killer rampaging, what’s a mere contest worth? I was busy training here and there and didn’t even know this was happening. I feel like poking out my own eyes.”

“Ah, of course.”

Beon Yu dipped his head slightly, yet cursed Dong Neung inwardly.

‘Damn old man, flip-flopping like that.’

The Dong Neung he knew was thoroughly selfish. He was someone who’d swing a sword one more time for his own training even if a murder erupted next door.

A man mad for the martial, who’d thrown away his humanity. That was Dong Neung to Beon Yu.

“At any rate, a day or two’s delay means the Sichuan branch intends to catch the killer somehow.”

“Yes. All the constables of the Sichuan Investigation and Defense Court are patrolling in shifts. Not only the captains, but from before midnight even the Left and Right Chief Constables will take the field.”

“The Chief Constables…”

The closer to central headquarters, the greater the Chief Constables’ authority and martial skill.

But the Sichuan branch’s chiefs weren’t weak. In particular, the Left Chief Constable, Lee An, was a famed master, legendary alongside Seo Jong-dam.

His might was not inferior even to that elder of the Nine Sects, Heaven-Beyond-Heaven.

“The sects who have sent observers to the Festival have nearly all risen as one. One way or another, he’ll be caught today.”

“Mm, so it seems.”

With nearly all of Sichuan’s constables and sects moving, there’s no way he won’t be caught.

“If by any chance this leaks to the killer, the Festival will keep being postponed.”

“Ha, don’t worry. A killer who can’t even master his impulses won’t get hold of intel like this.”

“Impulses?”

“Ah, from inspecting the scenes, they say it’s classic pleasure killing. The conclusion is it’s the act of a fiend who can’t control himself.”

“Oh ho, is that so? Anything else?”

Beon Yu stroked his chin.

“Nothing else in particular… ah, though I did hear one odd thing.”

“What is it?”

“From the wounds on the corpses, the killer’s weapon is a saber.”

Dong Neung’s eyes gleamed.

“Is that so? A saber-wielder, then.”

“Yes. So some say the Mad Demon who broke through the Inescapable Net and escaped a decade ago has returned.”

“So that Mad Demon used a saber. But would one who escaped come back?”

“Well, who knows what madmen think.”

“Mm, there’s sense in that.”

“From before midnight they’ll create an encirclement like that of an Inescapable Net. At that point, he’s as good as caught.”

Dong Neung nodded.

Just then.

“Father, Master. It’s me, Gang.”

“Come in.”

The door opened and a tall young man entered.

His solid, well-built frame was impressive. For his age, his tightly forged bearing made the two of them quite pleased.

Beon Yu said,

“You rascal, you’ve been sleeping late these days.”

Beon Gang scratched his head sheepishly.

“There’s a book I’ve been stuck on lately…”

“Even so, with your master here, how can you act so lazy?”

“My apologies. It won’t happen again.”

Dong Neung raised a hand to check Beon Yu’s scolding.

“Can a warrior reach mastery by training martial arts alone? Gang is doing well. Any new learning he puts in his head will aid future growth.”

“Ha, that’s true enough.”

Beon Yu asked,

“So what book are you so absorbed in?”

“A medical text titled the Inner Classic of Saving Life, written by the Thousand-Hands Divine Physician.”

“Hm? A medical text?”

“It’s a renowned work, foremost in explaining the human body. I thought it would help my study of internal energy.”

Beon Yu snorted a laugh.

“At least you don’t read rubbish.”

“Whose son do you think I am?”

“This brat, such impudence before your master.”

He feigned sternness, but pride filled Beon Yu’s eyes.

Born with a martial frame, good-natured, and diligent in both academic and martial learning, what prouder son could there be?

“Sit. Let’s have tea before the meal.”

“Understood.”

As Beon Gang sat, Dong Neung spoke offhand,

“It seems every constable and sect in Sichuan has stepped out to catch the killer.”

“Huh? Really? In that case, I can’t just sit around.”

Beon Yu waved a hand.

“Don’t. You’ll only draw suspicion. Especially at night, an encirclement like that of an Inescapable Net will be set up. Stay home and don’t go out.”

“Inescapable Net…”

Beon Gang’s eyes sparkled.

“I do want to see it once.”

“Unless you’re looking from the sky, there’s nothing to see. You’d only feel stifled.”

“Is that so?”

Beon Gang looked at Dong Neung.

Seeing his gaze, Dong Neung sipped tea and said,

“If evening is too much, what about the daytime?”

“Sir?”

“I hear the Red Sword Sect is out as well, but dispatched less than half its force. Others may not point fingers at the Red Sword Sect, but if the sect’s Young Sect Master steps forth, it will aid its name.”

“Ah, that…”

Beon Yu hesitated.

He was a father too. He couldn’t dismiss the chance of the killer roaming even by day.

Dong Neung smiled.

“If you truly worry, I’ll take Gang and do a bit of patrol, then return.”

“You, Sword Lord?”

“As I said, I was engrossed in training, unaware a killer ran wild. I’m not in good conscience.”

“Ah.”

“And one should raise a child strong. With me along, what danger is there? Still, daytime is better than evening.”

“If you put it that way, elder…”

He worried, yet could breathe a little easier. With a master like the Mountain-Breaking Sword Lord along, even ten such killers would fail.

Beon Yu asked Beon Gang,

“Are you fine with it?”

“Of course.”

Beon Gang shook his fist theatrically.

“I’d rather meet him, cut him in one stroke and raise our sect’s name.”

Beon Yu sighed and bowed to Dong Neung.

“This is the kind of child he is. I leave him in your care.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t see him often, but he’s my disciple. What master doesn’t know his disciple’s temper?”

Dong Neung drank tea with a smile; Beon Gang smiled too.

The shadows did not.

“We greet the Young Sect Master.”

Having checked one village, Beon Gang waved to the Red Sword Sect’s swordsmen.

“Good work. How are things nearby?”

“No suspicious movement yet.”

“And the civilians? With households being targeted, can they stay separate?”

“So with their consent, we’ve gathered three or four households since morning. We don’t know about nightfall.”

“Mm, I see.”

Beon Gang smiled and clapped their shoulders.

“Keep it up. If he’s to be caught, better we catch him, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll check elsewhere.”

“Ah, if you’re moving alone, at least let us attach two teams…”

Beon Gang waved it off.

“It’s fine. I came with my master.”

“I see. Still, won’t you need attendants?”

“Hey, Red Sword Squad Leader.”

Beon Gang cupped the leader’s face with both hands.

“I said I’m fine. Okay?”

“…Ah, yes. My apologies.”

The squad leader’s face went pale for an instant, then returned to normal.

Beon Gang grinned and patted his shoulder.

“Keep at it. Just a little more.”

“Understood.”

Thus Beon Gang parted from the Red Sword squad.

One swordsman approached the squad leader.

“Seems the Young Sect Master is interested in this matter too.”

“…”

“Squad Leader?”

“Hm? Ah, yes.”

The squad leader scowled and rubbed his face.

“I’m getting goosebumps for some reason.”

“Sir?”

“Nevermind. Anyway…”

Watching Beon Gang recede, the squad leader tilted his head.

“What’s that on his back? The big one’s a bundle, but atop it, is that a treasure sword? It’s wrapped all in cloth.”

“Perhaps the Sect Master bestowed him a treasure blade.”

“True, he does dote on him. Then what’s the bundle?”

“Tasty food, maybe? He’s not one to chew rice balls like us.”

“…That does make sense.”

The squad leader turned and shouted.

“You lot! Rotate patrols! I’m starving!”

Beon Gang hummed a tune as he climbed the mountain.

“Huh? Where’s Master?”

Glancing about repeatedly, he snickered.

“So what? He’ll find me.”

In the thick woods, no one was watching.

Setting down his load, Beon Gang hummed and undressed. Taking off his uniform and undergarments, he then opened the bundle.

Inside was a neatly folded dark-gray uniform. Black outfits were most favored among the warriors of Kangho.

He changed into the charcoal-gray garb with practiced ease and folded his old clothes into the bundle.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Huk!

With bundle, sword, and even a long object on his back, Beon Gang climbed swiftly. At a remarkable speed at that.

Though born with a martial frame, Beon Gang wasn’t a famed future generation talent in Sichuan.

But the speed he showed now was first-rate among first-rate. By movement arts alone, he could be counted among Sichuan’s top future generation talents.

Crossing the forest with swift, stealthy steps, he saw smoke puffing from the opposite slope.

A dwelling. It was clearly the steam of a boiling pot.

Beon Gang smacked his lips.

‘I decided to check this place out just in case, but to think they’d really be here.’

Huk!

Dropping the slope in a breath, he moved, choosing only the deepest shadows.

In a charcoal gray garb with a hood, he melted into shade. Even his footfalls made no sound, unlikely to draw any eye.

In a flash he reached the opposite slope and halted roughly a hundred meters from the smoke.

He quietly set down the bundle and sword, then unwrapped a white cloth.

Woom.

What appeared was a saber.

The blade and hilt were all dull black, charcoaled to give no reflection.