What Do I Even Know? (3)

Blood dripped from the end of the club.

Dozens of Golden Army soldiers lay sprawled around.

At the center of the disaster, Yu Seol asked boldly.

“You all saw it, right? I only defended myself.”

It wasn’t untrue since the soldiers had attacked first. The problem was there had been no restraint.

In any case, it was the head guards’ responsibility to secure the scene.

They were ashen-faced and didn’t know what to do.

Head Guard Yang Jeong asked Jang-ho with a look of despair.

“Brother Jang, what happens to us now?”

“Sigh… First, let’s see if there are any survivors.”

Including those who were being dragged, the officials numbered about twenty across three groups.

They began checking the fallen Golden Army soldiers to see who was alive.

Only then could they decide how to respond.

“Brother Jang, there’s a survivor here!”

“That’s a relief. Check the others quickly.”

Because the soldiers hadn’t moved at all, they assumed they were all dead.

But the reality was completely different.

“There’s one here too!”

“This one still seems to be breathing too?”

They were not the only ones.

Whether the Yin Monster had intended it or not, everyone was alive.

Head Guard Yang Jeong sighed with relief and said.

“We’ve avoided the worst. What on earth is going on here?”

A head guard freed from bonds replied with a look of grievance.

“They tried to frame us unilaterally with charges of rebellion and arrest us. It seems there’s some political trouble at the palace.”

Otherwise, the current situation made no sense.

On top of that, Wang Sa-pyeong being imprisoned on charges of treason—something inexplicable was happening.

“So what do we do now? Leave them and withdraw?”

The guards hesitated for a moment, looking around.

Although it was sparsely populated, a few onlookers were scattered about.

They couldn’t possibly let this pass quietly.

Then Jang-ho whispered softly.

“We did nothing to hide; let’s follow procedure.”

“Procedure?”

“Take them all to the Kaifeng administration. If they return with reinforcements, we’re finished.”

The Golden Army guarding the palace numbers in the tens of thousands.

If they decide to move against them, they won’t be able to hold out.

Yang Jeong nodded in agreement.

“That’s best. Buy time first, then we can think.”

Once they agreed, Jang-ho shouted to the guards.

“These people spread false information to defame the Kaifeng administration and intended to harm officials! Restrain and escort them all!”

A strange procession formed as the officials arrested and escorted the Golden Army soldiers.

More than half the soldiers were still unconscious, so many had to be carried by the guards.

Perhaps due to urgency, the officials’ pace began to quicken.

They entered Kaifeng administration’s main gate and headed for the main hall.

Yu Jinsan, waiting in the front courtyard, approached with a bewildered expression.

“…Governor Wang hasn’t returned yet; what have you been doing?”

Jang-ho slightly bowed his head toward him.

Knowing that Jeon Chung treated him with deference, the guards also showed Yu Jinsan great respect.

“There were some clashes.”

“Not just clashes—they were all smashed to pieces. What on earth happened that you knocked out the Golden Army?”

“Well, um…”

“Spit it out. Why did you do something that leaves us to deal with the aftermath?”

Jang-ho swallowed dryly.

Just as he was about to speak, he glanced slightly to the right—his face had suddenly twinged.

There, the Yin Monster was watching him with half-lidded eyes.

He snapped to attention and answered as he had been instructed.

“We only defended ourselves. We never attacked first or provoked anyone.”

“Then why did these lunatics attack Kaifeng administration’s officials?”

“It seems Governor Wang has run into some trouble.”

Jang-ho told Yu Jinsan everything they had confirmed so far.

Hearing the background, his face stiffened.

“This is more serious than we thought.”

“What do you think is happening?”

Yu Jinsan beckoned his granddaughter to come closer.

Yu Seol, who had been hiding behind the officials, timidly approached.

Contrary to expectations, Yu Jinsan didn’t scold her; he lightly patted her back.

Then he continued speaking to Jang-ho.

“If we leave, it’s over for us, but you all will be killed. The same goes for Lord Wang.”

“Is it… really that serious?”

“It’s not just about knocking out the Golden Army. Since they’re even alleging rebellion, it looks like someone intends to overturn the Kaifeng administration—someone high up and powerful.”

Jang-ho’s expression darkened.

It was a dire crisis, and with Wang Sa-pyeong and Jeon Chung absent, there was no one to rely on.

They were stuck, unable to act either way.

After pondering, he cautiously asked Yu Jinsan for help.

“Earlier you said no one could match your wisdom. Could you help us?”

It was the question he’d been waiting to ask.

Yu Jinsan slowly nodded and answered.

“Then from now on, will you all follow my orders?”

“Yes, of course.”

Yu Jinsan stared intently in the direction they had come from.

There stood the Kaifeng administration’s main gate, firmly like a portal.

“Lock the main gate immediately. Allow no one to enter or leave.”

“Are you sure? Unless it’s an emergency, the administration must remain open. This could become problematic later…”

“If not now, when is it an emergency? Stop all duties immediately and recall every guard.”

Jang-ho didn’t hesitate long.

They had nowhere to retreat to; it was do-or-die now.

He slightly bowed his head.

“Understood.”

“I’ll see you again after the first meal.”

“Yes, sir.”

After finishing, Yu Jinsan gave his granddaughter a look.

“You come with me.”

Yu Seol silently followed her grandfather, watching carefully.

Then she asked casually.

“What? Because Grandpa has something to say.”

“I did nothing wrong.”

Like a thief confessing by his own feet—she denied wrongdoing before the conversation even began.

Yu Jinsan snorted and nodded.

“Good job, kid.”

“Huh? Me?”

Yu Seol tilted her head, expecting her grandfather to scold her.

Instead he praised her—no wonder she was bewildered.

“Right. If you’d let those people be taken by the Golden Army, they’d all be dead.”

“Yes, and subduing and bringing them here was good too. It bought us more time.”

Yu Seol’s eyes widened.

She was flabbergasted to be suddenly praised by her grandfather.

“How did you deduce that far?”

“I thought the same as you, Grandpa. I felt we couldn’t just leave them.”

Yu Jinsan patted his granddaughter on the shoulder.

“Well done. In a murim world full of covert schemes, you must always think several moves ahead.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“Good. So what should we do now? Tell me your plan.”

Yu Seol stroked her chin with her left hand.

“Hmm~ I think…”

“Yes, child. It’s fine, go ahead and say it.”

After organizing her thoughts, Yu Seol lifted the club she was holding.

“From now on, we’ll show them the taste of the club.”

“To whom?”

“The soldiers coming through the main gate.”

“The Golden Army? Thousands might rush in—how will you stop them?”

“I can. Leave it to me.”

Her face was already filled with grim determination.

She showed absolute confidence that she’d knock down anyone who crossed her.

On the face of it, it wasn’t impossible.

No matter how many Golden Army soldiers there were, they couldn’t easily handle Yu Seol—unless all the palace masters rushed out.

But they couldn’t respond in such a brute-force way.

“You have a point. But if we can resolve this without force, that’s the best option.”

“Then what do you think, Grandpa?”

As a grandfather, it pleased him to teach his granddaughter wisdom.

Yu Jinsan clasped his hands behind his back and smiled contentedly.

“Maybe we only need to catch one person. Who do you think it is?”

“The head!”

“Right. Someone in the palace planned this ridiculous situation. Who would know who that head is?”

“Mister Wang?”

Whatever happened, there must be a faction that cornered Wang Sa-pyeong.

Yu Jinsan patted his granddaughter’s shoulder as if pleased.

“As expected, our Seol knows two things when told one.”

“Hehe. So we should find Mister Wang now, right?”

“Right. We must find out from Governor Wang who the head is, then prove that the man framed him. By when?”

“Before Kaifeng administration’s main gate is breached?”

At that moment, Yu Jinsan and Yu Seol locked eyes.

Their minds aligned—they clapped one hand together in midair as if making a pact.

“Haha. Just as I thought—my granddaughter. In short, it’s a race against time.”

While the grandparent and grandchild laughed for a while,

after a moment Yu Seol raised a hand with a serious look.

“Grandpa, wait a moment…”

“Don’t you hear someone moaning?”

Yu Jinsan looked around.

Aside from the busy guards, there was nothing unusual.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Are you sure it’s not the soldiers you beat up groaning?”

“It isn’t the prison. I am sure I heard that voice somewhere….”

Yu Seol began to sniff and walk towards somewhere.

“I think you misheard it.”

“No. I can smell blood too.”

If she could smell blood, there must be something.

Curious, Yu Jinsan quietly followed his granddaughter.

After walking for a while,

Yu Seol suddenly pointed to the wall of a pavilion.

“Someone’s collapsed back there. A master.”

If she called him a master, it meant he was stronger than her.

Why would such a master be collapsed beneath the Kaifeng wall?

“Lead the way.”

The grandparent and grandchild leapt over the wall together.

At last they found someone leaning there, gasping for breath.

Yu Jinsan jumped in surprise and scooped him up.

“W-what happened? Snap out of it!”

It was Jeon Chung, Wang Sa-pyeong’s escort guard.

The Kaifeng administration’s top warrior collapsed here alone—it was utterly baffling.

There were signs of combat on his robe, but no major wounds; the only oddity was his clay-colored complexion.

Yu Seol sent her innate qi through his wrist to examine him. Her darkened expression showed his condition was grave.

“Child, what do you think?”

“He has severe internal injuries. His qi and blood are completely twisted.”