Episode 25: Gold? Where's the Gold?
"Do you think he'd just let you go if he suspected you?"
Jo Bang-un glared suspiciously, but Won Seung answered nonchalantly.
"Well... even though I'm favored by the Prince Seong for my strategic brilliance, I'm just a mere scholar. But he knows my status, so he wouldn't dare harm me. If I were hurt, the Prince Seong would chase him to the ends of hell. That's why the noodle shop negotiation happened."
"What exactly is your status?"
Won Seung frowned.
"If he knew my status, the Clear Water Sect Second Manager wouldn't dare sit across from me."
Jo Bang-un's eyebrows shot up, but Won Seung continued unfazed.
"But I can't blame him since I have to keep my identity hidden."
Jo Bang-un was at a loss for words.
Won Seung tapped his head with his finger and said, "To be precise, I'm... here for the Prince Seong."
'What is he talking about?'
As Jo Bang-un frowned, Won Seung quickly added, "The Great Abyss Righteous Sword was quite angry this time. The Prince Seong sent me, whom he cherishes, to consider the Great Abyss Righteous Sword's honor."
"Are you saying you're the Prince Seong's strategist?"
Jo Bang-un couldn't believe it.
It seemed likely to be a lie, yet Won Seung was so confident. Could a young man lie so boldly?
He was confused.
Won Seung took a more serious tone and pressed further, "Strategist? What do you take me for? Would they entrust such a significant role to someone not of blood?"
Won Seung claimed to be a blood relative of the Prince Seong and calmly sipped his tea.
It wasn't a lie.
The Prince Seong's sister is my great-aunt, Lady Ju... no? We're not blood-related. Thinking that made the tea taste bitter.
Won Seung put down his teacup and grumbled, "The tea in Xiangyang is certainly inferior. I miss the White Down Silver Needle. A place like Clear Water Sect should be able to serve good tea to guests, shouldn't they? This can't even be called tea. Are all martial sects like this?"
Despite Won Seung's arrogant remarks, Jo Bang-un held his tongue. He knew that one could discern social status through knowledge of tea. However, he couldn't believe Won Seung's claim of being related to the Prince Seong.
Still, his cautious nature kept him from escalating the situation.
'I will expose your lies and cut off your fingers, toes, and nose. Let's see if you can still spout such nonsense then.'
Jo Bang-un vowed inwardly and spoke seriously, "So, you're saying he's someone who challenges masters, makes excuses, and gains fame?"
"Well, that's what the situation suggests. But the guy I met at the noodle shop seemed to genuinely believe he could defeat Hua Cheon-gang."
Jo Bang-un frowned. He couldn't let such reckless words from a young man slide.
"Hey. You shouldn't speak so casually about the Clear Water Sect Second Elder."
"Huh? What else should I call Hua Cheon-gang if not Hua Cheon-gang? Does he hold any official position?"
Jo Bang-un was at a loss for words. To the high nobles of the Imperial Capital, even the revered Clear Water Sect Second Elder was just a commoner.
Jo Bang-un gritted his teeth and asked, "Do you have anything to prove that you've received a secret mission from the Prince Seong?"
He subtly probed, but suddenly Won Seung's expression turned cold, and a chilling aura emanated from him.
"What!"
Won Seung slammed the table and pointed at Jo Bang-un's face, shouting, "How dare a mere servant of a martial sect demand to see the Prince Seong's token? Just because I humor you, don't think I'm your equal! Go fetch your master immediately! Even though I'm on a covert mission, this treatment is unacceptable. I can't overlook this!"
Jo Bang-un suddenly felt suffocated. He prided himself on being a master, but he found himself unable to move.
Crushed by the forty years of internal energy Won Seung exuded, Jo Bang-un managed to speak.
"N-no... that's not it. I need to inform my master..."
"Tell your master to come and verify it himself!"
Won Seung coldly dismissed him with a wave of his hand, signaling him to leave. As if to himself, he muttered, "So this is what a covert mission is like. I have to endure such humiliation. No wonder the Prince Seong advised against it."
'What is this?'
Jo Bang-un was dumbfounded. He couldn't even hear Won Seung's muttering clearly. He was still reeling from the energy that had overwhelmed him moments ago.
'Is this the demeanor of royalty?'
Despite being just a scholar, when he got angry, even Jo Bang-un, who considered himself a first-rate expert, couldn't handle it.
In truth, he was crushed by Won Seung's internal energy, but Jo Bang-un couldn't see it that way. He didn't appear to have learned martial arts as a mere scholar.
"What are you doing standing there!"
Won Seung's cold gaze made Jo Bang-un's knees weak, and he quickly stood up and bowed.
"I-I apologize. I will convey your words to my master."
Jo Bang-un hurriedly left the room but stopped when he realized he didn't even know Won Seung's name.
He turned back and asked politely, "May I know your name...?"
"Find out for yourself. Ask at the Prince Seong's Mansion, and they'll tell you."
Won Seung scoffed, and Jo Bang-un left the room with a dejected expression.
Jong Bi, who had been listening outside the door, rushed in.
-Are you crazy?
The telepathic communication hit his eardrums.
It's known that using telepathic communication is a high-level skill that requires reaching the peak. However, assassins, due to their profession, learn it early on. Red Blood Mountain also taught its unique Telepathic Secrecy Technique to trainees, and Won Seung had learned it.
Jong Bi, with his heart pounding like a drum, struggled to use telepathic communication properly.
To shout for Hua Cheon-gang from the Clear Water Sect inner chamber... he's truly insane. If the enraged Hua Cheon-gang comes running, both of them are as good as dead.
In an assassination, there's at least a sliver of hope, but facing one of the Top 100 Masters head-on is an insurmountable wall.
Yet, Won Seung remained calm.
"What is it?"
Jong Bi collected himself.
-There are two guards outside. Use telepathic communication!
Won Seung acted as if he hadn't heard and spoke.
"You're just in time. I have something to convey to the Xiangyang Government Office."
Won Seung took out a brush and paper from the side and quickly scribbled a few characters.
"Take this to the government office and have it delivered to the Prince Seong's Mansion."
He handed over the letter and another drawing.
Then he sent a telepathic message.
-Make an exact copy of this.
"What is this...?"
Jong Bi stammered, looking at the drawing, and Won Seung reprimanded him through telepathic communication.
-You said there are guards outside, right? Watch your words.
Jong Bi closed his mouth.
"Make sure to say it's urgent. On your way back, stop by the Cloud Flower Pavilion and pick up my belongings."
-Just pretend to go to the government office. You know you can't actually deliver it, right? Making this is what's important.
Jong Bi looked at the drawing and realized it was an identification tag from the Prince Seong's Mansion. He began to understand what Won Seung was planning.
-Make it yourself. Discreetly. Didn't you learn blacksmithing skills?
Jong Bi nodded, understanding the situation, and said, "Understood. I'll be back."
To avert the crisis, it seemed necessary to have an identification tag, so he accepted it and left. But he paused at Won Seung's next telepathic message.
-Make it out of gold. Pure gold.
Jong Bi turned back, his eyes filled with disbelief.
'Gold? Where's the gold...'
*
'I'll unmask that brat.'
He had no choice but to back down because of the overwhelming status Won Seung claimed. He didn't even get his name. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't believe it.
Jo Bang-un was fuming as he walked and ran into Hwa Cheon-woon.
"Weren't you going to investigate someone?"
"Ah!"
Jo Bang-un flinched and bowed upon seeing Hwa Cheon-woon, a sudden thought crossing his mind. He was in a very difficult position.
Hwa Cheon-gang was known for his quick temper and cruelty, and if he reported the truth, he might torture the young man to death immediately. If Won Seung was indeed from the Prince Seong's Mansion, it could escalate into a major issue.
If the Prince Seong's Mansion sent an army, no matter how many masters Clear Water Sect had, they couldn't handle it.
But he couldn't delay the report indefinitely. If Won Seung's words were false, he'd be the one fooled.
'It'll take at least ten days to verify the truth.'
Sending someone to the Imperial Capital to find out would take at least that long. To keep Hwa Cheon-gang's temper in check until then, he needed to use the gentle Third Elder in front of him.
Jo Bang-un composed himself and said, "I heard something so absurd during the interrogation..."
He relayed Won Seung's words, adding a bit of embellishment. He made it seem like he wasn't just overpowered by the Prince Seong's authority but genuinely believed Won Seung might be a blood relative of the Prince Seong, so he had to handle it cautiously.
"Hmm. You did well."
As expected, Hwa Cheon-woon nodded approvingly.
"After all, it's a captured bird. It just takes some time to uncover the truth."
"Yes. I'll send someone to the Imperial Capital immediately. And I'll check with the local security bureau and wandering martial artists to see if such an event happened in the Imperial Capital. The guy visited the Cloud Flower Pavilion yesterday, so I'll trace his previous movements. It won't take long to uncover the truth."
"As expected, the Second Manager is thorough."
Hwa Cheon-woon offered a customary compliment, which Jo Bang-un appreciated.
"My only concern is whether the Second Elder can hold back during this time."
"I was just discussing that with my brother. There's a possibility it could be a scheme by the Heavenly Observation Pavilion, so I advised caution."
"Ah, I see. Now that you mention it, it makes sense. The Heavenly Observation Pavilion could be plotting something. I'll investigate that angle too."
Jo Bang-un bowed and left. As he hurried away, Hwa Cheon-woon frowned.
"A blood relative of the Prince Seong's Mansion..."
Three years ago, after the former emperor's death and the young emperor's ascension, the Prince Seong's Mansion's actions have been suspicious. Rumors spread throughout the land that they intended to usurp the young nephew's throne.
Hwa Cheon-woon knew the dark clouds over the Imperial Capital were ominous and believed it was best to avoid getting involved in such matters.
"This isn't good..."
Clear Water Sect's Third Master, Hwa Cheon-woon, shook his head repeatedly as he headed to the guesthouse. He intended to meet Won Seung, but he wasn't there.
"He said he wanted to tour the manor."
The servant guarding the guesthouse reported.
*
Won Seung wandered around the Clear Water Sect manor, followed by two guards. Won Seung's status was ambiguous, neither a guest nor an enemy. Moreover, after his conversation with Jo Bang-un, the guards couldn't treat him carelessly.
Clear Water Sect was divided into the inner and outer courtyards, and outsiders couldn't enter the inner courtyard. However, they could roam the outer courtyard except for restricted areas.
"Clear Water Sect seems to be quite a large sect. The manor is very spacious."
Won Seung spoke to the guard following him.
The guard was confused about whether he was a guide or a watcher. However, since there were no clear instructions on how to treat the seemingly high-status scholar, he mumbled a response.
"Our Clear Water Sect is among the top five subordinate sects under the Sword Pact Sect, one of the Four Great Sword Sects. It's only natural for us to be the dominant force in Xiangyang."