Governor Wang Has Changed (2)

Who would have thought a Yin Monster would demand payment first as the price for cooperation.

Jeon Chung was at a loss for how to answer. The guardian’s rank was the lowest, so the pay wasn’t much.

Moreover, since the plan was to work only a few days and then quit, they wouldn’t be properly paid.

If he told the truth, the Yin Monster might refuse to cooperate.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke cautiously.

“In truth, the guardian’s pay isn’t much. And if you resign in the middle, you will hardly receive anything.”

Yu Seol, seemingly losing interest, closed her half-lidded eyes completely.

“I won’t do it.”

He couldn’t give up so easily. Jeon Chung hurriedly continued.

“But don’t be disappointed. Because this is a special case, those who help capture suspects will receive special compensation.”

Did the phrase ‘special compensation’ pique her interest?

Yu Seol’s eyelids lifted slightly again.

“How much will you give?”

“For each person captured… five silver coins will be given.”

At that moment Yu Seol sprang up from her seat.

Then she descended as if walking on air from the roof.

Before long Yu Seol stood before Jeon Chung with shining eyes. Her sleep had completely vanished.

“You really give five silver coins each, right?”

“How could I lie? I, Jeon Chung, promise on my honor.”

One silver coin could sustain a commoner for about half a year.

But five silver coins per person? It was a chance to make a fortune if things went well.

“I’ll do it.”

Jeon Chung’s face brightened wide.

He hadn’t expected her to be so easily swayed by the lure of five silver coins.

He quickly wrapped up the conversation before the Yin Monster might change its mind.

“You’ve made a good decision. When a team is formed I will come to find you. Well then, I’ll be going.”

He was about to turn his back after finishing his business.

“But where are you going, mister?”

“Ah… I have to go to the palace for a few days.”

“Where the Emperor is?”

“Yes. The lord plans to have an audience with His Majesty, and I will assist him at his side.”

Yu Seol had also heard about the palace from her grandfather.

That it was grand, splendid, and full of solemnity.

But it wasn’t a place anyone could enter.

“Ah~ I wanted to go too. Which way is it?”

Jeon Chung hesitated and couldn’t answer.

He was worried the Yin Monster might storm the palace.

At that moment Yu Jinsan, watching from afar, called out to his granddaughter.

“Palace, my foot! Don’t cause trouble, come over here at once.”

When Yu Seol obediently moved away, Jeon Chung hurriedly fled—he didn’t want any more entanglements.

Yu Seol approached her grandfather, grabbed his arm and shook it.

“What? Grandpa, let’s go see the palace too.”

“Do you know what that place is? The Imperial Guards defend it; you’d be in big trouble if you went.”

“Imperial Guards?”

“Yes, they’re the fearsome guards who protect the palace.”

“Tch. I’m not scared at all.”

Since the Emperor was there, many fearsome masters would surely be present.

As the granddaughter, she could probably peek and slip out without issue, but why take unnecessary risks?

“I, your grandpa, am too scared to go in. By the way, why do you need money?”

“Did you hear?”

“Yes, I heard it all. If you get five silver coins, what will you do with them?”

“Save them. I’ll buy land, build a house to live with you, and start a farm.”

For the supreme of the Evil factions who had shaken the murim world, it was a very modest dream.

Yu Jinsan smiled fondly at his granddaughter’s pure heart.

“When you grow up you’ll get married, why would you want to live with grandpa?”

“What? Grandpa, you don’t want to live with me?”

“It’s not that I don’t, but Seol, you will have to go your own way someday.”

At that moment Yu Seol opened her eyes wide and asked quietly.

“Grandpa, when you grow up later you’ll get married too, right?”

“What, you brat!?”

Yu Jinsan blushed, looking embarrassed.

Finding his reaction amusing, Yu Seol giggled and pushed further.

“What about Ah-ryeon? Ah-ryeon said she likes grandpa.”

She was the little girl from the blacksmith’s who had come to make the Twin Dragon Spear.

He still vividly remembered how she kept bringing him food and talking to him.

Yu Jinsan sighed deeply.

“Stop it. Are you teasing your grandpa?”

“Puhuhu.”

It was while Yu Seol was clutching her belly laughing.

A guard approached hesitantly with his head bowed.

Yu Jinsan, who had been watching, asked with a puzzled expression.

“What business do you have with us?”

“Um, well, it’s like this…”

From his trembling voice and lowered gaze, he seemed frightened.

He must have heard the rumors about the Yin Yang Twin Monster.

“When you speak, look at the person’s face and answer.”

He slowly raised his head, but his eyes were looking elsewhere.

“The military officer told me to convey this.”

What he handed over was the short, blunt club used by the guards.

Yu Seol snatched it up and swung it experimentally.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Although she swung it casually, a fierce gust of wind blew out.

“Is this mine?”

“Yes. We’ll make a nameplate for you soon, and the name is…”

“Seol. Yu Seol.”

“Th-then, pleased to meet you.” (lit. “Please take care of me.”)

The guard bowed once, turned and hurried away.

“Do you like the guard club?”

Yu Seol nodded seriously.

“Yeah, they’re all dead now.”

“Who died? Don’t go beating people up at random; do exactly as the escort has ordered.”

“Okay. But why aren’t you going, grandpa?”

Yu Jinsan pointed toward the distant entrance of the prison.

“Grandpa must guard that place. What if we both leave and the fellow escapes?”

“Ah~ So I go alone then?”

“Yes, follow the others and learn well. It will be a very valuable experience.”

In the harsh murim world, experience is the best asset.

Just following the guards investigating the case would be helpful for the granddaughter.

“Got it. I’ll catch them all.”

Yu Jinsan smiled quietly and nodded.

In truth, willpower alone wouldn’t be enough.

They had no idea how many Blue Dragon Troops might be among the officials here; perhaps none at all.

The investigation of the officials was merely to inspect the interior just in case.

The next day Wang Sa-pyeong and Jeon Chung departed for the palace.

Arriving there didn’t mean they could immediately see the Emperor. They had to follow procedures and sometimes wait for days.

Meanwhile the Kaifeng administration was very quiet; most guards had gone out in five teams.

On the silent roof of the main hall, Yu Jinsan sat alone with gleaming eyes.

He was idly staring at the prison entrance.

From somewhere he heard Yu Seol’s distant voice.

• Grandpa. I’ll be back.

A group of officials was leaving the Kaifeng administration.

At the tail end of the procession, his granddaughter could be seen waving the club.

‘That kid.’

Yu Jinsan smiled and waved back.

The team Yu Seol belonged to consisted of one escort and seven guards.

For some reason their expressions looked especially grim.

‘It’ll be nothing serious, I guess.’

Yu Jinsan jumped down from the roof of the pavilion.

Landing in the courtyard, he walked toward the prison.

Two officials guarding the entrance nodded slightly.

“May I enter?”

“Yes, we received prior notice from the military officer. Shall I guide you?”

“That would be appreciated. I’d like to see the man you arrested yesterday.”

“Understood. This way, please.”

One official led the way to guide him.

After passing the gate, the two walked along the corridor.

The underground area connected like a maze; it was large and well-managed.

Yu Jinsan murmured as he looked around.

“It seems those near the entrance are minor offenders.”

“Yes, the more serious the crime, the deeper they are imprisoned.”

“Hmm. Then where is that fellow located?”

“The lord ordered that he be placed in the deepest section.”

It was a passage that showed how Wang Sa-pyeong viewed the Blue Dragon Troops.

He could not forgive those who had killed his daughter and used him.

“Here it is.”

A middle-aged man, his whole body covered in blood, stood with both hands chained and his head bowed.

He was the deputy commander of the Blue Dragon Troops.

He looked battered as if tortured, yet his eyes shone like a wild beast’s.

“Hmm. Was it necessary to go this far? Men like him don’t speak even under torture.”

“We don’t torture everyone. Those who refuse even basic questions are punished further with flogging for contempt.”

It was the standard interrogation process.

It wasn’t something he could intervene in.

“I’ll try once. Please step aside for a moment.”

“Yes. I’ll wait outside; come out when you’re done.”

“Thank you.”

Yu Jinsan pressed close to the bars and scanned his entire body.

“Tsk tsk. What a sight. What’s so great about a few characters of a name that you stubbornly keep it secret?”

“This old man has also been at Mount Emei’s training hall and knows well. Think carefully. This isn’t a life you chose for yourself, is it?”

The deputy commander’s bloodshot eyes glared at Yu Jinsan.

Yu Jinsan continued speaking without pause.

“Do you know why life is cruel? Just as you begin to think you understand life, death comes along with it.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Everyone should be given a chance at least once. If you want, I’ll let you live a new life.”

He meant that if the man cooperated quietly, he might be released.

Suddenly a poisonous look appeared in the deputy commander’s eyes.

“You destroyed my dantian and talk of giving me a chance? Kyaa! spit!”

He hadn’t expected much in the first place; he was just probing, just in case.

But he hadn’t expected the man to spit at him.

Yu Jinsan dodged quickly, but he couldn’t help feeling offended.

“How dare this insolent whelp spit at his elder?”

He wanted to reach through the bars and strike him, but the distance prevented it.

“…You damned old man-kid. You ruined everything.”

Judging by his reaction, the chance of persuading him seemed slim.

He couldn’t help but be disgusted by the Blue Dragon Troops’ brutality.

“It’s fine if you don’t cooperate. The prefect has already departed for the palace.”

“He will request an audience with His Majesty to review everything. From now on, the Imperial Guards will be deployed to wipe you out.”

Suddenly the deputy commander began to laugh as if he couldn’t contain himself.

“…Kuk, kukkuk.”

“What’s so funny?”

His reaction seemed strange.

How could a dying man laugh as if he were mad?

Soon he couldn’t help himself and burst into a loud laugh.

“Ha ha! Hahahaha!!”

Yu Jinsan felt something ominous in that laugh.

Such a meaningful, chilling laugh.

It was clear there was something inside the palace.

‘Could it be that there are Blue Dragon Troops even around the Emperor?’

He couldn’t be certain it wasn’t true.

If so, Wang Sa-pyeong’s plan wouldn’t go smoothly.

He might even be placed in danger.

But for now, there was nothing he could do.

‘Well, we’ll know when they return.’