Episode 23: Who Said You're My Servant?
Won Seung sighed and put down his chopsticks.
"Companion? Who are you talking about? I don't have any companions."
"You young brat, lying without even changing your expression?"
Won Seung slammed the table and stood up, shouting.
"These people are so annoying, I can't even eat a bowl of noodles in peace. Who the hell are you to speak so rudely from the start?"
Won Seung reverted to his demeanor from ten years ago, back when he was the Young Master of Won Manor.
Standing confidently and naturally looking down on others, Cheongsumun's Gate Guard, Jung Ho-chang, flinched.
Jung Ho-chang scrutinized Won Seung. Only then did he realize that Won Seung's attire was not ordinary. The clothes he wore seemed to exceed his monthly salary.
Still, it didn't change the fact that he was just a mere scholar.
Jung Ho-chang asked with a menacing face.
"I am Jung Ho-chang of Cheongsumun. State your identity."
Won Seung clicked his tongue.
"You fool. It's not important who I am right now. Don't you realize you've fallen for the trick of the person you're looking for?"
"Uh..."
"That guy came to me out of nowhere, exchanged a few words, ate his noodles, and left. He ate really fast. We didn't even exchange names. Yet here you are, accusing me of being his companion and causing trouble. You're playing right into his hands."
Jung Ho-chang was uncertain. Won Seung pointed in the direction the man had gone.
"That guy went that way. While you're doing this, he's probably ten li ahead by now. Foolish fellow!"
Jung Ho-chang's expression soured further.
Being called a fool made his anger boil. However, the way Won Seung spoke and his logical reasoning were so clear that Jung Ho-chang couldn't act rashly.
He was just a mere warrior of Cheongsumun, and he couldn't afford the consequences of offending someone potentially important.
But retreating like this would hurt his pride.
Jung Ho-chang glared and said, "I can't trust your words, so let's go to Cheongsumun. We can sort this out there!"
Unexpectedly, Won Seung took a step forward.
"Fine! I have nothing to hide, so I have no reason not to go. Lead the way!"
Despite his outward anger, Won Seung was secretly pleased.
'Should I be grateful to that guy for this?'
He was opening a door for him to enter Cheongsumun.
*
Cheongsumun's guesthouse was on the second floor.
"You can't take a single step out until the investigation is over!"
Jung Ho-chang threatened and then left swiftly.
Assigned to a room at the end of the second floor, Won Seung was satisfied with the neat interior.
There was a simple tea set on the table.
"There's a tea set, but no tea."
Won Seung walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside.
The guesthouse for visitors to Cheongsumun was close to the outer wall.
From there, he could see the main gate of Cheongsumun and the square in front of it. In the corner of the square, at the noodle shop where Won Seung had eaten, Jong Bi was loitering.
'He can't follow me into Cheongsumun.'
After thinking for a moment, Won Seung went downstairs and left the guesthouse.
"Stop right there."
A warrior guarding the front of the guesthouse blocked his way. Technically, Won Seung was under confinement.
"Why are you stopping me?"
"Didn't Captain Jung tell you? You can't leave the guesthouse until the investigation is over."
Won Seung frowned and said, "Then call my servant."
"Servant? You have a servant?"
"Of course! Someone like me wouldn't have a servant? I sent him on an errand, and now he's probably worried because I've disappeared. Go fetch him."
Won Seung described Jong Bi's appearance and said he would be waiting at the noodle shop.
The warrior went out and indeed found someone standing blankly in front of the noodle shop, looking this way. Approaching him, the warrior asked, "Are you the servant of that young scholar?"
"What?"
When Jong Bi frowned, the Cheongsumun warrior tilted his head and spoke again.
"Number Fifty! Does that make sense?"
The warrior repeated what Won Seung had instructed, and Jong Bi looked puzzled. Seeing this, the warrior chuckled.
The fiftieth servant... Definitely a fool.
"Come along. Your master is calling for you."
Though Jong Bi was dumbfounded, he decided to meet Won Seung given the situation.
A short while later, Jong Bi entered Won Seung's room on the second floor of the guesthouse, glaring.
"What is this nonsense? Calling me a servant!"
Won Seung, reclining in his chair, spoke leisurely.
"Someone following me around is a servant, isn't it?"
"You brat! How dare you mock me?"
Jong Bi was from the third Assassin Training Center. He had shed his trainee status and was an active assassin. To him, Won Seung was a junior, yet he dared to act superior, which was infuriating.
"I commend you for noticing the tailing. But daring to mock a senior, you need a lesson."
As Jong Bi rolled up his sleeves and approached, Won Seung spoke indifferently.
"Didn't you hear? Do you know who I am?"
"Do you think I don't know who you are?"
"I am a Ten Perfections Assassin and a disciple of the Poison Monster. The moment you entered this room, you were poisoned."
Jong Bi's expression hardened.
"Don't lie. When did you use poison?"
As Won Seung stood up, Jong Bi hesitated and stepped back.
"Don't be afraid. The poison was applied over there."
Won Seung pointed to the doorknob, and Jong Bi turned to look. The doorknob? He had kicked the door open in anger and hadn't touched it.
"I didn't even touch the doorknob."
Jong Bi, feeling triumphant, turned back to look at Won Seung, only to have a sharp scent invade his nostrils.
"So now I'm using poison again."
Won Seung, who had approached without Jong Bi noticing, grinned wickedly.
"To let your guard down with an enemy in front of you. Pathetic."
Jong Bi was not a fool. That's why Elder Bi had specifically assigned him to Won Seung. However, he made the mistake of assuming Won Seung wouldn't be hostile because he wasn't.
"We're from the same sect. I'm your senior! Plus, I'm responsible for your safety. I'm not your enemy!"
Jong Bi shouted, staggering with a pale face. His mind was spinning. Won Seung tilted his head at Jong Bi's words.
"You're guarding me?"
"Yes, my mission is to supervise and guard trainees like you. Now give me the antidote."
As Jong Bi reached out to grab Won Seung by the collar, Won Seung swiftly stepped back.
"Your reflexes are pretty fast."
Won Seung returned to the table, sat down, and gestured to the seat opposite him.
"You have a bit of time before you die, so sit and let's talk."
Jong Bi's legs trembled. His chest felt like it was burning. He sat opposite Won Seung as instructed and spoke.
"It's true. I'm not your enemy. I'm here to evaluate your mission."
Jong Bi was desperate. He hadn't been able to graduate as a First-Class Assassin, so he had struggled and finally had his abilities recognized, with a promotion to First-Class Assassin within reach.
He had endured ten years of harsh training and survived three years of dangerous missions. If he died here without enjoying wealth and glory, he wouldn't be able to rest in peace.
"Really? Then did I make a mistake?"
Won Seung tilted his head, feigning nonchalance.
"Since I used a precious poison on you, you'll have to run errands for me for a while. Here, take this. It'll keep you safe for a month."
Won Seung took out a yellow pill from his pocket and flicked it with his fingers.
"What? Errands? You want me to run errands?"
"You said you're evaluating me, right? You'll get a more accurate evaluation if you're close by."
"Hey, don't do this. It's against the rules."
"Shut up! If you keep making noise, I won't give you the antidote."
Won Seung threatened.
"Ugh..."
Jong Bi swallowed the pill and let out a sigh.
"Now, let's have a chat. Who are you?"
"..."
"Judging by your words, you're from the Assassin Training Center. Given your age, you must be from the third center."
Won Seung frowned as he spoke.
"Assigning a mere trainee to someone as great as a Ten Perfections Assassin. Red Blood Mountain must be out of their minds."
"What? A trainee? I'm set to be promoted to a First-Class Assassin this year."
"To be taken down so easily by poison and still call yourself a First-Class Assassin? Is that the level of Red Blood Mountain?"
"Ugh..."
Jong Bi couldn't think of a retort.
'Claiming to be a Ten Perfections Assassin while still a trainee. What a shameless guy. Get a grip, Jong Bi! He's just a trainee!'
He collected himself and thought.
'It might be a lie about the poison.'
Poisons that could control people for a long time were rare. Even if this guy was a disciple of the Poison Monster... He tried to convince himself, but seeing Won Seung's confident face made his self-assurance waver.
"Name?"
"Jong Bi."
"You're from the third Assassin Training Center, right?"
Jong Bi nodded. Won Seung clicked his tongue.
"Then you don't have much time left. Has it been four years since you graduated? Then the detoxification deadline for Blood Drying Powder is almost up."
Jong Bi flinched. Won Seung seemed to be saying something significant.
"Blood Drying Powder... Isn't the detoxification period ten years?"
Won Seung grinned.
"Didn't you know?"
Won Seung clicked his tongue, genuinely pitying him.
"Oh dear, you really don't know anything? Blood Drying Powder must be detoxified within five years to be completely removed. If you go beyond that, even if you take the antidote, you'll eventually die. By the tenth year, the antidote won't work."
Hearing this for the first time, Jong Bi looked at Won Seung with suspicion, but Won Seung clicked his tongue as if he were pathetic.
"Do you think Red Blood Mountain would just let go of the assassins they painstakingly trained? They use the loyal ones and discard the rest as expendable. Even if you survive the ten-year period, they won't let an assassin who knows their secrets live."
Jong Bi's face turned pale.
"How do you know such things?"
"Are you getting dumber? Did you forget I'm a disciple of the Poison Monster? Of course, I know all about Blood Drying Powder."
"..."
Jong Bi stared blankly at Won Seung, then suddenly had a thought and asked.
"Have you detoxified Blood Drying Powder?"
"Of course!"
Won Seung nodded arrogantly.
"Do you think that kind of poison could affect me?"
"Then you have the antidote?"
"Without a doubt."
Jong Bi's eyes widened.
Won Seung smiled as if reading Jong Bi's mind.
"If you behave, I might give you the antidote."
Jong Bi thought. Judging by the level of the poison he had just experienced, it seemed possible that Won Seung could make the antidote for Blood Drying Powder.
'Then isn't this an opportunity?'
After a moment of thought, Jong Bi said.
"Fine. I'll help you for now."
"Help? There's no need for that."
"Weren't you asking for help with your mission?"
Won Seung wagged his index finger.
"What help could a Second-Class Assassin provide... If you mess up and drag me down, it'll be a problem. Just run errands. First... go get some tea. There's no tea here."
'This arrogant brat...'
Jong Bi swallowed his anger.
"Alright, I'll do that."
Jong Bi had suddenly become Won Seung's servant.