Episode 120

Outside the room where Yi-gang and the governor had entered, easily more than ten people were waiting.

Officers and officials, along with the third-generation disciples and next-generation successors.

Each with a tense expression, they awaited the emergence of Yi-gang and the governor.

Only the disciples of the Azure Forest had faith that Yi-gang would handle the situation well.

The rest were curious about how the stern governor would unleash his fury, and what punishment the arrogant martial artist noble, Yi-gang, would receive.

Until the governor emerged with a pale face, even the head officer and the officers wondered how they would subdue Yi-gang following him.

Then suddenly, the governor burst out laughing with a “Ha! Ha!”

“Heh, this is truly unbelievable.”

“L-Lord Governor.”

“We’re heading back, prepare the carriage.”

While everyone was still puzzled about what had transpired, the governor spoke up, “Punish the innkeeper for hiding the incident by whipping him, and detain him for one month. As for that corpse… behead it and display it outside the city gates.”

“…Yes!”

At the stern command of governor Jo Gyu-seo, the officers bowed in compliance.

The expressions of the third-generation disciples brightened. Yi-gang’s conjecture had been spot on.

The complacent look on Yi-gang’s face was yet another piece of evidence.

“How could…”

“Did this commoner really kill that Three Virtues Sword Hero?”

Yu Tae-jin and Lee Jae-il made such rash remarks, but they immediately clammed up under the governor’s cold gaze.

Then, as Yi-gang was about to join Jin Ri-yeon and her group, the governor stopped him.

“What are you doing?”

No one noticed the change in address to respectfulness.

“Eh? What am I doing?”

“What do you mean you’re not following along?”

“Follow along?”

“Of course, you should get on the carriage and come with me.”

Yi-gang’s expression stiffened slightly.

It was his nature not to show it, but Yi-gang felt much more fatigue than other martial artists.

The fact that he usually stayed in inns for lodging and meals during the journey to Kaifeng was actually to protect his frail body.

He had planned to go to an inn today, eat delicious food, and take a thorough rest.

“Didn’t you order a big meal to be prepared?”

“…I didn’t order it to be prepared.”

“I won’t say it twice. Follow me.”

The mention of a “big meal” perked up the ears of the next-generation successors.

Yi-gang had no choice but to leave Jin Ri-yeon and her group for now.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay. Take care, Yi-gang.”

After receiving Jin Ri-yeon’s farewell, Yi-gang left the inn with the governor.

For some reason, the governor chuckled, but Yi-gang didn’t quite catch it.

The man who had used the “water” box to commit suicide was “somewhat” correct in his suspicions.

“Somewhat” meant that he hadn’t killed all the victims.

His suicide note detailed how he acquired the box and used it to kill Lee Jeong-hyo.

The burning of the inn he used to run and the death of his family were due to Lee Jeong-hyo, a manager of the Low Down Sect liquor house.

When he, a retired Low Down Sect member, set up an inn to escape the Low Down Sect’s control, the Kaifeng branch interfered.

Realizing the box was a deadly weapon, he hid in Lee Jeong-hyo’s room and placed the box on the table.

Unaware of the box’s function, Lee Jeong-hyo, suspicious yet curious, opened it and was killed by the poison inside.

After completing his revenge, the man later took his own life.

He confessed his crimes and the disposal of the box in his suicide note, but his nephew, coveting the jeweled box, hid both the note and the box.

The innkeeper, due to a moment of greed, incurred the governor’s wrath and had to pay a hefty price.

The problem was that the prior connections remained undiscovered.

The man had found the box in the wilds.

He picked up the box that was rolling near a corpse whose facial skin had melted away.

Fortunately, he realized it was a deadly weapon before opening it himself and decided to use it.

But the governor was satisfied with that.

“If there never was a madman killing my kin and causing havoc, it’s none of my concern.”

In Kaifeng City, seated at the grand seat, the governor said this.

He was enraged by the death of his nephew, Three Virtues Sword Hero Oh Myung-jong.

But it wasn’t due to familial affection. It was because someone dared to harm his family.

“I am the head of my family, the Governor of Henan Province, and the Grand Coordinator appointed by His Majesty. I cannot allow such a person to roam free.”

“So you took matters into your own hands.”

“Even if Myung-jong was a disappointing member of a different branch of our family, he was still my sister’s child. You have a family too, so you understand. No matter how disappointing, they are still family.”

His tone was surprisingly cold.

“Someday you’ll also take over your family, won’t you?”

“I’m the disowned child. My brother will become the Clan Head.”

“Hm? Your father must be blind as a bat.”

Is this a compliment or not?

Yi-gang was unsure whether to be grateful to the governor, who seemed to view him favorably, or to rebut the disparaging remark about his father.

“Didn’t I tell you? I was born frail, so such a heavy responsibility would be too much for me.”

“Right, you did say that.”

Yi-gang explained about the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, the heavenly punishment he possessed.

He was born to die by twenty, but he ventured into Jianghu to cure his body.

“The meridian blockage disease might be related to your maternal family.”

“Excuse me…?”

He had never heard of any cases of meridian blockage disease in his maternal family.

“The constitution of the Dragon Blood is a taboo subject, forbidden to be discussed privately. It’s the law of the land.”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Maybe you should visit your maternal family sometime.”

“I was under the impression that they didn’t particularly like me or the Baek Noble Clan.”

“Dragon Blood” referred to the Imperial family.

Yi-gang’s mother was a descendant of the Prince.

Of course, this didn’t mean Yi-gang was of Imperial blood. His mother was no longer considered of Dragon Blood status from the moment she married outside the Imperial family, as per the national law.

However, since it was still his maternal family, even the governor couldn’t speak carelessly about it.

“Bloodlines may dilute, but they continue. Do not take your blood lightly.”

After saying this, the governor dropped the subject.

Instead, he pulled out a silk pouch from his robe and placed it on the purple sandalwood table.

Clink — clink—

Inside the silk pouch, yellowish gold ingots could be seen.

“Here is a hundred nyang of gold. Originally, this was intended for the one who captures the fiend, but…”

A hundred nyang of gold was indeed a substantial amount, matching the “big reward” the governor had mentioned.

An amount not easily disregarded even by the fairly wealthy.

“You might not find this particularly enticing. It doesn’t seem fitting for a ‘big reward.’ So I had thought of preparing something else…”

What might be a large sum to a commoner was mere pocket change to a wealthy merchant.

Just as the governor, smiling, was about to take back the silk pouch, Yi-gang’s hand covered it.

“…Ahem.”

“…”

“My health is poor. I need a lot of money to regularly brew medicinal tonics.”

“…”

Yi-gang tucked the silk pouch into his robe.

The governor glanced at him and then laughed heartily, “It’s better to know the value of gold than not.”

“I’m grateful for your understanding.”

It was an action that could have been seen unfavorably.

But surprisingly, the governor’s hearty laugh was unexpected.

「Once someone forms a bad impression, it usually persists, and the same goes for a good impression.」

‘I thought he didn’t like me at first.’

「When someone with an initially poor impression turns out to be decent, they tend to be viewed more favorably.」

The words of the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon were true.

The governor’s gaze towards Yi-gang had been filled with favor for some time now.

「And if I were in his shoes, seeing a kid acting nonchalant and arrogantly refusing 100 nyang of gold, I would have wanted to give him a good knock on the head.」

Of course, opinions on that would vary.

Leaning his chin on his hand, the governor then said, “Anyway, since gold seems insufficient as a reward, I’d like to offer you more… Do you desire anything?”

“Something I desire?”

Yi-gang pondered for a moment.

Truthfully, there were things he was considering.

The governor’s favor was valuable in any situation, and Yi-gang had a critical issue that needed resolving.

Even for someone like Yi-gang, this task was not easily achievable alone.

Finally, with a decided mind, Yi-gang cautiously asked, “Shortly, events called the Dragon-Phoenix Conference and Seven Stars Conference will be held here in Kaifeng.”

“Uh-hmm… Those childish games that the martial artists hold periodically?”

The governor appeared to dismiss them as child’s play, yet he seemed to be aware of them.

Naturally. It was an event where prominent next-generation successors from all over the Central Plains gathered.

Then Yi-gang asked the governor for something unexpected, “Yes, the opening ceremony will likely be soon. Could you grace the event with your presence?”

“…Attend a martial artist’s event? Me?”

His reaction was more of surprise than displeasure.

Yi-gang explained calmly, “Yes. If Your Excellency attends, not only the Alliance Leader but all the martial artists would consider it an honor.”

“While I have been tolerating the antics of these armed commoners, it wouldn’t look good for someone who received an official position from the Emperor to attend their event.”

It was a tactful refusal. But Yi-gang did not give up.

“They are also commoners under the grand law of the great Ming, aren’t they? If Your Excellency attends, they will be mindful of their status and behave more cautiously.”

“That sounds plausible but…”

“As the governor who governs Henan Province, establish the standard of law and order, and directly oversee the Murim Alliance. Everyone will be pleased.”

“Uh-hmm.”

Not everyone would be pleased, though.

There was no precedent of a governor attending the Dragon-Phoenix Conference and Seven Stars Conference celebrations. While it would be an honor, many would feel uncomfortable.

Even the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, listening beside Yi-gang, was taken aback.

「Hey, what are you thinking? Why invite an old fogey to a young folks’ gathering?」

‘Old fogey, huh. And this “old fogey” might be able to help us.’

「How could an old fogey… Help us?」

‘Don’t you know what we’re trying to do in the Murim Alliance?’

Yi-gang added more at the pondering governor, “If the Governor visits, I will personally assist and guide the Governor through the Murim Alliance.”

It was unlikely that Yi-gang, who had never visited the Murim Alliance, could properly assist or guide.

But Yi-gang confidently assured so.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon wasn’t a fool, either. She quickly guessed Yi-gang’s thoughts.

「Ah, I need to find my eyeball!」

‘Yes, if they were kept as spoils of war from that old Pursuit Extermination Squad. But how will I get access to them?’

Not exactly eyeballs, but the Blue Eye Gem.

To fulfill the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon’s long-standing wish, something crucial was hidden somewhere in the Murim Alliance.

“Hmm, I have been tolerating those martial artists. But perhaps it’s time for an inspection…”

With the governor’s authority, even the Murim Alliance would be just commoners.

Who could stand in the way of the governor celebrating the opening ceremony? Yi-gang planned to thoroughly search the Murim Alliance with the governor.

“Alright.”

“I am grateful for your benevolent decision, Your Excellency.”

“You… Heh. Did you think I wouldn’t know your true intentions?”

“Excuse me?”

Yi-gang tensed up momentarily.

How could the governor have guessed his true intentions without overhearing his conversation with the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon?

“Using this opportunity to leverage my authority, you intend to check the martial artists who abuse their power against the commoners.”

“Ah…”

“Born in a martial arts clan, yet you have the Imperial blood. Your concern for the commoners is quite satisfying.”

Seemingly, the governor held both a negative prejudice against martial artists and a positive one towards Yi-gang.

Poked in the ribs by the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, Yi-gang quickly nodded.

“It’s embarrassing to have my true intentions exposed.”

“Heh.”

It’s best to leave while the favorable misunderstanding continues.

Yi-gang rose and quickly bowed, “I shall take my leave now. Thank you, Lord Governor.”

“Hold on.”

What now? Yi-gang did his best to hide his exasperated expression.

“I have a request, but not exactly a request, for you.”

“If it’s a request…”

“Now that it’s come to this. Stay here for a while and help me with my work.”

“What could I possibly do?”

“What are you talking about? You acted like a recluse, like Jegal Gong in his study. There are many unresolved cases that the judges and head officer just can’t solve. Lend your insight to those cases.”

It seemed that Yi-gang’s uncovering of the fiend’s identity had left a significant impression.

“If you do this for just fifteen days, I’ll grant you another reward.”

“…I shall do as you ask.”

Rejecting now would undo all the rapport he had built with the governor.

Yi-gang had no choice but to nod. There was still time left until the opening ceremonies of the Dragon-Phoenix Conference and Seven Stars Conference.

However, there was something that slightly bothered him.

「But didn’t you say that kid was coming?」

‘Well, that’s something I’ll have to deal with later.’

Before the opening ceremony, members of the Seven Stars Conference and Dragon-Phoenix Conference would gather.

And naturally, they would be there too.

‘I’ll have to resolve that meeting later.’

The main house that he had never been able to visit even though he said he would do so often.

Baek Ha-jun and the children of the Seven Great Clans would soon gather in Kaifeng.