Episode 117

Seo Saeng-won bent down, covering his head.

“Uaaaak!”

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun looked at Seo Saeng-won with a stiff expression.

They had long suspected that this box was suspicious.

Since the Low Down Sect’ Kaifeng branch manager treated it like a treasure, they thought it was just a simple jewel case, but it seemed that it was not.

“Ah… Ahhh…?”

Yi-gang, clicking his tongue, came into view as Seo Saeng-won cautiously raised his head.

“You’re really freaking out.”

“Heh, hehe…”

Seo Saeng-won’s legs seemed to have given out as he collapsed to the ground. His face was that of someone who had narrowly escaped death.

“It seems something happens when this box is opened.”

“That box is actually… I think it’s a hidden weapon. And it’s an extraordinary hidden weapon in the world.”

“A hidden weapon?”

“Yes, if you open it right in front of your eyes, you will surely die.”

“It sounds more like a Treasure than a hidden weapon.”

“A Treasure?”

Yi-gang ignored Seo Saeng-won and whispered to Dam Hyun, “You think the same, right, Senior Brother?”

“I’ve felt a sinister aura from it since the first time I saw it.”

“I’m not sure what kind of metal it is. It’s not ordinary iron, nor is it refined iron. It doesn’t rust, so it seems to definitely have the energy of metal among the Five Elements.”

“It’s imbued with spiritual energy. That’s why it can operate without the user’s Innate True Qi. It’s not at the level of a Treasure, but… it’s fascinating.”

Seo Saeng-won couldn’t understand what Yi-gang and Dam Hyun were talking about.

Are these the ways of a Taoist? Talks of spiritual energy and the Five Elements seemed plausible yet cryptic.

「What! It just looks like an old-fashioned box.」

There was someone, or rather a soul, who thought the same as Seo Saeng-won.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon examined the box Yi-gang was holding from various angles.

「Is this, what, a treasure?」

‘Touch it.’

「It’s cold. Tingling, no, is it warm?」

‘The fact that you feel that way is strange in itself.’

「Ah… I see!」

The fact that the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, in her soul state, could feel such sensations was proof that the item was not ordinary.

Being born with the blood of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox, she handled Thunder Qi. Therefore, it made sense that she would feel warmth from the Metal Qi, which was related to it.

Of course, Yi-gang and Dam Hyun had a more intuitive grasp of it.

“It’s written here.”

“Sanskrit?”

Hidden within the complex metal patterns were phrases in the Sanskrit of Tianzhu.

“Could it be an object made in Tianzhu?”

“No, I don’t think so. The writing is crude and feels like it was written by someone from the Central Plains. But it is old.”

Since there weren’t many in the Central Plains who knew Sanskrit, it was unlikely that anyone would recognize it. Especially since it was so cleverly hidden as part of the pattern.

Seo Saeng-won was startled.

“What’s written there?”

“Yes, it reads like this. Open it towards another person. Haha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, that’s how it’s written. With a ‘Haha!’ laugh.”

“Really?”

“The person who made this must have had a wicked sense of humor.”

If it weren’t for them, who knew Sanskrit and had their spiritual eyes opened, they might have unwittingly opened the box.

Seo Saeng-won breathed a sigh of relief.

Initially, he had thought to let Yi-gang or Dam Hyun open the box. At least one of them would die, and he could take the chance to escape.

However, after Yi-gang returned half of the silver coins, Seo Saeng-won was truly impressed.

‘I did well to confess and discard my baseless thoughts in advance.’

Had he continued to remain silent, Yi-gang would undoubtedly have not forgiven Seo Saeng-won.

“First, you should leave this place and…”

“Wait, I think I’ve seen this pattern somewhere before.”

Dam Hyun snatched the box Yi-gang was holding.

He closely examined the pattern, which seemed to be carved by the creator.

“Hmm, I can’t quite remember, but definitely. Let’s open it first.”

“No, no, you shouldn’t!”

However, before Seo Saeng-won could stop him, Dam Hyun opened the box towards the air.

The wax seal cracked open, and the box lid lifted.

A loud sound and flames burst forth.

Quang!

It was a noise that made the ears ring.

Smokey fumes spewed from the box, and then it automatically shut tight. The sound of gears turning echoed from the closed box.

And in the wall, in the direction the box was opened, a hole was cleanly blasted through.

Dam Hyun and Yi-gang muttered simultaneously.

“A gunpowder weapon…?”

“A gun?”

During the brief moment the box was open, Yi-gang examined its interior.

It felt like a complex mechanical device was entangled with something resembling jewels.

Flames burst from one of the holes in it, and something was fired.

Tick, ttegurururur—

Something fell out of the hole in the wall and rolled on the floor.

Upon closer inspection, it was a steel ball smaller than a baby’s fingernail. That was what had been shot from the box.

“If you open this right in front of your nose, you’d die.”

Seo Saeng-won’s description of the box as a hidden weapon now made sense. It was reminiscent of the forbidden weapons of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.

Even a martial artist of considerable skill would have difficulty avoiding a steel ball springing out at close range.

Yi-gang chuckled and grabbed Seo Saeng-won by the collar.

“You had a clever idea there.”

“Hehe, of course, I was going to tell you.”

Just then, the door burst open.

“What on earth is that noise…!”

The merchant who had just given silver coins to Yi-gang a little earlier had come running after hearing the loud noise.

He alternated between looking at Yi-gang, who was holding Seo Saeng-won by the collar, and the hole in the wall.

“P-please leave!”

They had no choice but to be driven out of the Five Gold Bank.

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun came out with the box.

The alley outside the bank was nearly deserted, so Dam Hyun continued to examine the box even as they left.

“I’m sure I’ve seen this pattern before.”

“Where?”

“If I remembered that, I would have figured it out by now.”

It was because the pattern engraved by the creator seemed familiar.

The alley remained deserted.

There was only a beggar lying under a burlap sack.

Seo Saeng-won led the way as if guiding them.

“Let’s head back to that inn for now, young masters.”

“Yes. But before that…”

Yi-gang abruptly stopped.

“Hmm.”

“Huh, really.”

Dam Hyun also stopped at a similar moment.

Seo Saeng-won, who was about to continue walking, turned around in confusion to look at Yi-gang.

“Why suddenly…”

“Seems like beggars these days have quite the killing intent.”

It was at that moment Yi-gang spoke.

The beggar lying on the ground suddenly threw a dagger.

It was aimed at Seo Saeng-won.

Kkaang!

The dagger was deflected by a short sword that Dam Hyun had swiftly drawn. Yi-gang asked, resting his hand on the sword’s sheath, “If you dress as a beggar, won’t that displease the Beggars’ Gang?”

“Hmm, that’s why we only do this at critical moments.”

The beggar, who had been crouching in a pitiful posture until just a moment ago, stood up straight. He was bigger than they had expected.

“If it’s alright with you, young masters, please step back. We just need to take this traitor.”

“We” he said.

Soon, people started climbing up from the walls on both sides.

Three people surrounded them.

Yi-gang, not intimidated in the slightest, clicked his tongue.

“The one who threw the dagger is pretty audacious.”

“…We aimed for Seo Saeng-won, not you young masters. Please understand.”

Seo Saeng-won’s mouth dropped open.

He recognized the man disguised as a beggar.

“Yuk, Yuk Jin! Why are you here?”

“Why? The branch manager ordered me to bring you back, dead or alive. And that item as well.”

“Uh, uhh, no!”

Seo Saeng-won was terrified.

Though the Low Down Sect members were known for their weaker martial arts, not everyone was like that.

Yuk Jin, as one of Yeom Man-chung’s subordinates, possessed considerable martial arts skills.

Of course, he was no match for Yi-gang and Dam Hyun.

But they were cruel murderers who used cowardly tactics like poison and hidden weapons.

Knowing this, Seo Saeng-won’s hands trembled.

“First, hand over that item.”

The three Low Down Sect members narrowed the distance.

Seo Saeng-won instinctively snatched the box that Dam Hyun was holding.

“Just a moment, I’ll borrow this.”

“Eh?”

Dam Hyun was startled, but as Yi-gang made no move to stop him, he handed over the box.

Yuk Jin and the Low Down Sect members, seeing this, mistakenly thought Seo Saeng-won had decided to go with them.

“Right, that’s a good idea. I don’t know what’s so special about that box that the branch manager is so insistent on it, but…”

“Let’s ch-check it out.”

Seo Saeng-won opened the box as nonchalantly as possible and snapped it shut again.

Quang!

A loud noise erupted, and Yuk Jin, who was laughing menacingly, suddenly stopped.

A small hole, the size of a bean, appeared between his eyebrows.

“…What?”

His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed backward, blood streaming from his nose.

“Yuk Jin!”

“It’s a hidden weapon!”

As another one lunged at him, Seo Saeng-won quickly opened the box at him.

Bang!

“Kkoeuk!”

The next opponent also screamed and fell.

“Ahh, ahhhh!”

The last one, now alone, tried to flee.

But Seo Saeng-won aimed the box at his back.

Bang—

The Low Down Sect member, attempting to escape, fell with a hole in the back of his head.

Yet, Seo Saeng-won, unable to calm down, kept opening and closing the box.

“Ah, ahhhh!”

He looked extremely agitated.

Yi-gang snatched the box from his hands.

“You’re going crazy. He’s already dead.”

“Hu, huuk, huuk.”

On the back of the last fallen Low Down Sect member’s head were several bean-sized holes.

Moreover, the box had stopped firing steel balls at some point.

“There must have been only a few shots left.”

Seo Saeng-won asked in surprise, “Was there a limit to its use?”

“Of course. It’s not a proper Treasure, but a mechanical device. There would be limits to both the gunpowder and the steel balls.”

Now Yi-gang could finally take a closer look inside the box.

There were jewels embedded inside, and something was written in Sanskrit.

While he furrowed his brow trying to decipher the Sanskrit—

Dudududu—

The sound of people’s footsteps echoed. This time, it wasn’t just one or two.

Dozens of officers appeared, surrounding both ends of the alley.

“…It seems that Kaifeng’s public order is quite good?”

“It was a loud noise, after all. But they are indeed quick.”

At their swift appearance, Yi-gang and Dam Hyun wore troubled expressions.

Seo Saeng-won’s face turned ashen.

“Y-young masters, what should we do!”

“What can we do.”

The officers held their spears with intense gazes.

Yi-gang patted the utterly panicked Seo Saeng-won on the back.

“You did this.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re the one who killed them, not us.”

“N-no!”

Seo Saeng-won, in a panic, tried to grab the hem of Yi-gang’s clothes.

While Yi-gang was pushing him away—

A man dressed in the official robe of a head officer stepped forward from among the officers.

“Are you Baek Yi-gang and Dam Hyun?”

They precisely recited the names of Yi-gang and Dam Hyun.

The fallen Low Down Sect members seemed unimportant to them.

“Yes, that’s us. And you are…”

“We have come to find you.”

It seemed they hadn’t rushed here just because of the loud noise. It was strange how so many had immediately surrounded them.

“To verify, I must ask first. Were you involved in the incident with the Face Plunderer in Yanling County?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Please come with us.”

“Where are we going?”

The head officer spoke with a stern face.

“It’s an order from the governor. You are to be brought before him.”

“I thought the investigation from that time was concluded.”

“Today, a new victim appeared in Kaifeng. You must come as persons of interest.”

The incident in Yanling County, it seems, had not been properly concluded.

Jo Gyu-seo, the Grand Coordinator and Governor of Henan Province, was a man trusted by the Emperor.

This was due to his clear and bold handling of affairs.

Furthermore, being just, fair, and incorruptible, he was a respected governor among the common people.

When the fiend, who killed his nephew, remained at large, Jo Gyu-seo took extraordinary measures.

He gathered everyone even remotely related to the fiend, including martial artists pursuing the fiend, in one place.

Even the warriors of the Murim Alliance had no choice but to comply with the governor’s command.

Even Jin Ri-yeon and the rising star disciples, who were working with the Inspectorate, were approached by the officers.

Head Officer Jang, who had recently expressed his gratitude to Jin Ri-yeon, led them with a stern expression.

“Please wait here for now.”

Head Officer Jang greeted Jin Ri-yeon with a respectful bow.

“I am sorry to have to bring you here forcefully.”

“No, how could Head Officer Jang be at fault? You are following the governor’s command.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

They were taken to an old inn in Kaifeng called the Bright Moon Inn.

This morning, the owner of the inn had been reported as being killed by the Face Plunderer.

It was only natural for the governor to be enraged upon learning that the fiend was active within Kaifeng City.

“I would be grateful if you could examine the body and the scene briefly and share your thoughts. …Ah, and someone else might come too.”

“Who might be coming?”

“I haven’t heard the details, but it seems there was a recent incident in Yanling County. It involves someone related to that.”

Jin Ri-yeon and the later-generation disciples were confined, as it were, in the largest room of the inn.

“If they’re involved…”

“They are both witnesses… and suspects. Another head officer brought them here from Kaifeng.”

“The suspects were just wandering around?”

“Apparently, they are of high standing. The head officer in Yanling County released them after seeing their status.”

“That’s not good.”

The head officer clicked his tongue disapprovingly, and Jin Ri-yeon sighed.

“That head officer will face severe reprimand by order of the governor. However… if you’re uneasy, shall we send that person elsewhere?”

“It’s fine.”

Jin Ri-yeon quietly bowed her head.

Head Officer Jang bowed deeply and left the room.

Soon, voices of discontent burst out from inside the room.

It was Flowing Cloud Flying Dragon and Lightning Flash.

“What on earth is this! How rude.”

“Do they know who we are!”

They were greatly angered when they were brought in by the officers.

Their faces had turned red with fury, clearly indicating that if Jin Ri-yeon had not complied quietly, they would have resisted.

Yu Su-rin sighed upon seeing them.

“First, calm down. If we hadn’t followed them there, the Murim Alliance would have faced trouble.”

“That’s true… but still.”

Even though they were rising star disciples of prestigious sects, they seemed unable to control their emotions.

“People who might be suspects are coming. Let’s meet them first.”

“What kind of people…”

Flowing Cloud Flying Dragon’s anger was directed towards those innocent others.

Yu Su-rin and the other third-generation disciples were also curious about the newcomers.

It was infuriating that they could have used their influence to escape being suspects.

Soon, there was a rustling outside the door.

“Let go. I’ll walk in myself.”

“…Well, fine, yes.”

“Tsk.”

Sounds of a scuffle with the officers could be heard as well.

The third-generation disciples instinctively placed their hands on their weapons, just in case. Only Jin Ri-yeon frowned, as if recognizing the voice from somewhere.

Then, the door opened.

“What the hell is this!”

“Senior Brother, please keep your mouth shut and behave… Oh.”

And the third-generation disciples froze in their stance.

The faces of the people who entered were all too familiar.

“What’s this about?”

Yi-gang asked with a bewildered face. Dam Hyun also gaped in astonishment.

Flowing Cloud Flying Dragon and Lightning Flash shouted out harshly,

“Are you guys the suspects!”

“Identify yourselves!”

But no one answered that question.

Only Jun Myung asked blankly.

“Don’t tell me, Seniors…are that fiend!”

Dam Hyun smacked Jun Myung on the head.