Masters In Captivity (1)

The grandfather-granddaughter pair who left White Snake Clan were walking along a narrow path.

Yu Jinsan walked with his hands behind his back, and Yu Seol carried a knapsack with two short spears hanging from it.

“Why are you so gloomy?”

His granddaughter’s face was full of sulkiness.

Yu Jinsan knew the reason but asked subtly.

“I promised I’d make lots of tasty food for the uncles. There are still many things I haven’t made yet.”

He couldn’t help smiling at the image of their faces having become thin.

“Is cooking that fun?”

“Yes. Because they eat it deliciously.”

It was food personally prepared by the Evil factions’ supreme positioned warrior; of course it had to be eaten enjoyably.

Whatever she made, the disciples of White Snake Clan would have been in no position to refuse.

Yu Jinsan snorted and said.

“There will be many opportunities ahead, so don’t regret it. First, let’s deal with the matter at hand.”

His granddaughter’s spirits immediately softened at her grandfather’s consolation.

“…Alright. But where are we going?”

There was no reason to hide the information received from the Black Night Clan from his granddaughter. To survive the harsh murim world, experience was necessary.

He intended to share as much as possible with her going forward.

“Hm. Do you remember the guy who tried to kill your grandpa at the spear competition last time?”

“Number thirty-six?”

“Yes, that’s right. That fellow was ultimately released as he was found not guilty.”

He was a figure indelibly stamped in Yu Seol’s memory with a bad impression.

Not only did he humiliate Uncle Dong-gu, he even ruined the friendship bracelet she gave him. Besides, his constant nasty grin made her feel sick just thinking about him.

“So we’re going to catch him?”

“What good is catching a crippled madman with a closed dantian? If a criminal was simply released, it means the force of power intervened.”

“Then we should catch the jailer.”

Yu Jinsan snorted and shook his head.

“If it were such a petty fellow, we wouldn’t need to step in. A high-ranking official much above the jailer was involved.”

“How? He ordered the release?”

“That’s right, child. If someone who should handle state affairs abuses power for personal reasons like this, the harm falls on the people.”

“Then he should get a proper scolding.”

Wang Sa-pyeong, Governor of Kaifeng.

A civil official of the second rank, he was a heavyweight involved in Kaifeng’s administration and even presided over trials of major cases.

The information from the Black Night Clan was only that his influence had been at work in this matter.

As suspected, there would be some sort of connection to the Blue Dragon Troops.

If they were lucky, they might even uncover the higher-ups behind them.

The details had to be found out from now on.

“Alright. Since we have a ways to go, let’s pick up the pace from now.”

Kaifeng administration.

This office sat at the heart of Kaifeng Fortress and housed various administrative institutions.

Their target was the main hall where Wang Sa-pyeong carried out official duties and enforced the law.

A small child was pacing alone along the high outer wall of the main hall.

It was Yu Jinsan waiting for his granddaughter, who had gone in first to scout.

His face, which had been looking around, suddenly brightened.

“How did it go?”

Yu Seol had come up without his noticing and wore a serious expression.

Her knapsack had been hidden outside the wall, so she was lightly dressed.

“There are many misters versed in martial arts. About thirty of them.”

This was to be expected; this was where the constables who arrested criminals were stationed.

“Any skilled ones?”

“They all look weaker than Grandpa. Except for one.”

“Yes, I figured there’d be at least one dangerous fellow. Probably his bodyguard.”

“Don’t worry. I’m stronger than him.”

What worry was there? Not even masters of the Murim Alliance trembled at the thought that a Yin Monster would be bested by mere officials.

The reconnaissance was merely to prepare for any unforeseen variables.

“Was the guy Grandpa told you to look for inside?”

“Yes, he’s there. The fat uncle.”

If so, there was no reason to hesitate further.

The only question was the choice of method.

Should they wait until night and sneak in, or charge head-on? Or wait for an opportunity to kidnap him, but that was far too troublesome.

His deliberation did not last long.

After accumulating even the Murim Alliance’s hatred, there was nothing left to fear.

“Then let’s go in now.”

“Now? It’s daytime, we’re just going in?”

“At night the constables who went out on duty will return, and it could be noisier. There won’t be much difference.”

Yu Seol nodded as if she understood.

“Got it. Go in and knock them all down?”

“There’s no need to beat up innocent subordinates. Grandpa has a plan.”

Yu Jinsan briefly explained the operation to his granddaughter.

All that remained was execution. The pair strode toward their target.

Two officials guarded the gate between the walls.

They felt no caution as they watched the approaching Yin Yang Twin Monsters.

“What are you kids doing here? Go play somewhere else.”

Yu Seol gave them a wink.

“Sorry, misters.”

The pair exchanged glances instead of answering.

Then, at the same time, they bumped the officials with their shoulders and went in.

Although the small kids had only lightly bumped them, the officials staggered as if about to fall.

By that point, the pair had already entered the inner grounds of the manor, shouting at the top of their lungs.

“We’re wronged!”

“We’re being treated unjustly!”

The constables waiting in various places rushed over with baffled expressions.

Occasionally people storm into the main hall to plead their grievances.

Usually they’re driven away with a scolding, but never had the target been children.

“Who are you kids!?”

“You can’t go that way!”

The Po-kwae are military officers who arrest criminals and generally have considerable martial skill.

Those very men were now in utter confusion.

They tried to grab the kids but kept missing.

Whoosh! Swish!

Before long, people began falling without understanding why.

“Catch those brats!”

“Stop right there!!”

Yu Jinsan and Yu Seol ran at a measured pace, hiding as much presence as possible.

Mocking the approaching constables as they did.

“Please clear our grievance!”

They easily shook off blockers, and lightly grabbed and toppled those who reached out.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of the grand pavilion built with a double-roof.

Everything had happened in an instant.

Bang!

The children who had vanished inside slammed the door shut.

The constable who had been chasing at the front grabbed the doorframe in alarm.

But the door that had been moving moments before wouldn’t budge.

His companion shouted from behind in frustration.

“What are you doing not opening it quickly!?”

“The door, it’s not opening!”

Several people tried to force it open, but it wouldn’t move.

That was because Yu Seol was holding it from the other side.

“Should we break it down!?”

“Leave it. If you do that his neck might get cut off.”

The constables looked at each other in disbelief.

“Good grief, what on earth is going on here?”

“Let’s wait for now. The top master of the Kaifeng administration is inside, what major trouble could there be?”

Upon entering the main hall, the air changed.

While Yu Seol held the doorknob, Yu Jinsan glanced around.

On one side, three executioner’s guillotines sat side by side.

And at the innermost place stood a high dais with a chair.

There, a pig fattened with flesh sat rolling its eyes, clutching a plate of stewed meat atop its bulging belly, Governor Wang Sa-pyeong.

Beside him stood an official in red robes gripping a sheathed sword as guard.

“Children of martial families versed in martial arts, huh. Am I right in my guess?”

Wang Sa-pyeong wore an expression of amusement.

As if he had discovered an amusing toy.

“That’s right.”

“The young one has quite the gaze. What brings you here?”

“An entire family of our clan was unjustly massacred.”

“It’s the principle that the murim world and the administration don’t interfere in each other’s affairs. I don’t think I can help.”

It was the expected response.

Yu Jinsan replied softly without a flicker of expression.

“Even though someone who sided with our enemies is here?”

Wang Sa-pyeong shoveled a piece of stewed meat from the plate into his mouth and said.

“Hmm. So you’re saying an official of the Kaifeng administration interfered in the affairs of the murim world?”

“That’s right. They used their power to free one of the enemies imprisoned; it’s clearly collusion.”

“This concerns the honor of the Kaifeng administration. Can you stand by your words?”

“If my words are false, I’ll give my life.”

Wang Sa-pyeong burst into laughter for some reason.

He laughed so uncontrollably that bits of unchewed food flew from his mouth.

“Ha ha! I never thought I’d hear such words from a child in my life. Well then, speak up. Tell me what you know.”

Yu Jinsan slowly raised his right arm and pointed at him with his index finger.

Then, in a tone completely different from before, he spoke softly.

“Wang Sa-pyeong, Governor of Kaifeng. Confess entirely what your relations are with the Blue Dragon Troops.”

At that moment, the laughing Wang Sa-pyeong’s expression turned icy.

He finally realized that the children who had hidden their identities had come for him.

A fierce chill swept through the hall like an icicle.

“Jeon Chung!”

The guard who had been standing at attention bowed his head at the call.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Even a child cannot be forgiven for recklessly storming the main hall. How long will you just stand by and watch?”

Jeon Chung, the top warrior of the Kaifeng administration.

He was Wang Sa-pyeong’s guard and the warrior responsible for investigating special criminal cases.

Thus his perception was extraordinary.

As if he had noticed something, he drew his sword and muttered with a dark expression.

“It has been an honor to serve you until now.”

“…Suddenly, what is that supposed to mean?”

It was a mutter fit for a final moment.

Now Wang Sa-pyeong too realized something was wrong and broke into a cold sweat.

At that moment Yu Jinsan motioned toward the rear and murmured.

Yu Seol, holding the door, turned her head to look at her grandfather.

“Yes, why?”

“I’ll take care of the pig; you immediately subdue that fellow.”

Letting go of the knob, Yu Seol strode toward Jeon Chung.

He who gripped the sword wore a solemn expression.

He realized that despite being a bare-handed child, he was not someone the guard could handle.

What more needed to be said?

The two who stared at each other launched forward as if by mutual agreement.

Two beams of light closing in from both sides collided violently.

They moved so fast even Yu Jinsan could not properly track their motions.

Kwang-!!!

With a dull blast, Jeon Chung’s body was flung backward, even faster than when he had charged.

An overwhelming difference in strength. Their martial levels were incomparable.

The outcome had been decided from the start.

While his granddaughter pressed him, Yu Jinsan slowly approached Wang Sa-pyeong.

He was a civil official with no martial arts training.

Wang Sa-pyeong trembled all over like livestock being led to the slaughter.

“…You bastard. How dare you make a scene here?”

Yu Jinsan grabbed him by the hair.

“Where, you ask? The slaughterhouse, of course.”

With his hair seized, Wang Sa-pyeong was helplessly dragged toward the guillotine.

“Do you know who I am!? Do you think I’ll remain unscathed after this!?”

Even in the Protectorate where Dunhuang’s soldiers had gathered, he hadn’t batted an eye.

What was there to fear?

Yu Jinsan glanced over the three guillotines, each with a different shape.

There was the dragon guillotine for judging royals and nobles, the tiger guillotine for punishing ordinary officials, and the dog guillotine used on commoners and those of lower status.

He pushed Wang Sa-pyeong’s neck under the blade of the dog guillotine.

At that moment Jeon Chung, fighting the granddaughter, lay unconscious foaming at the mouth.

“If you’re done, come quickly and hold this fellow down.”

At her grandfather’s call, Yu Seol hurried over and grabbed Wang Sa-pyeong’s body.

“Stay still!”

Experiencing terror for the first time in his life, Wang Sa-pyeong couldn’t collect himself.

To be caught under the dog guillotine after ruling Kaifeng administration with absolute power, what greater disgrace could there be?

His attitude had already turned one hundred eighty degrees.

“W-why on earth are you doing this to me!?”

Yu Jinsan gripped the guillotine’s handle with both hands and muttered.

“From now on, there must not be an ounce of falsehood in your words if you want to keep breathing.”

Then voices of the constables could be heard from outside the door.

“My lord, are you alright?”

“We’ll come in!”

How could he show such a tragic scene to his subordinates? Besides, these men were not opponents for the constables.

Wang Sa-pyeong, freed from under the guillotine, moved his mouth urgently.

“D-do not come in, wait out there!”