Episode 33: What Kind of Person is the Heavenly Observation Pavilion Master?
"Who said anything about killing? Where is Jong Bu, and why are they watching me?"
"I-I am the guard of Young Master Jong Won-bo."
"Jong Won-bo?"
"I'm the colleague of Guard Jeon, who got vomited on by the Young Master."
"Oh! That hornet?"
Won Seung realized where Jong Bu was.
"Still holding a grudge, huh? How long ago was that, and you're still trying to get back at me?"
"N-No, we just wanted to verify your identity."
"My identity? Why my identity?"
"They said you were from the Seongwangbu of the Imperial Capital... We were asked to find out if it was true."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Won Seung recalled Jong Won-bo's face.
'He's from the same family as Jong Taehaksa, right? Seems like he's quite interested in official positions.'
"Tell Jong Won-bo if he's curious, he should come and ask me himself."
"Y-Yes, understood."
"Want me to release the paralysis?"
When Won Seung raised his hand, Jong Won-bo's guard asked in a panic.
"Is there no antidote?"
"Nope. You need to know what poison was used to create an antidote."
"Then how long will the paralysis last?"
"Since I didn't use it, I have no idea."
"Won't it just wear off on its own if left alone?"
"What if a passing dog bites you while you're lying there? Guard Jeon already complained to me about being stung by a hornet...."
Won Seung swung his hand wildly, hitting Jong Won-bo's guard.
Thwack! Thud!
After being evenly pummeled all over, Jong Won-bo's guard finally felt the paralysis wear off.
"Ugh!"
As Jong Won-bo's guard staggered to his feet, Won Seung approached the Qing Shui Sect's Imok.
But Imok of the Qing Shui Sect raised one arm and said, "I-I'm fine. The paralysis is wearing off. Look, I can move my left arm."
"Huh? Really? The paralysis is already wearing off... Was it Ilgak Blood?"
Though Imok didn't know what Ilgak Blood was, he understood that it lasted only for a short time.
Jong Won-bo's guard, who had been beaten for no reason, glared at Won Seung with resentment.
"If it's Ilgak Blood, it'll wear off soon. No need to bother hitting you."
Won Seung tossed aside his hand and said to the Qing Shui Sect and Jong Bu's Imok, "You two can leave."
The two staggered but quickly hurried out of the alley.
Won Seung approached the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok.
"You and I have something to discuss, so let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"To a place where we can have a serious conversation...."
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok looked around anxiously and said, "Xiangyang is the territory of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion. If you harm me recklessly...."
"Who said anything about harm? I just want to talk."
"We can talk right here...."
"Hmm. You're not making sense."
Won Seung pulled out a needle and stabbed the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok in the spine.
"Ugh!"
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok screamed in pain as if struck by lightning. He couldn't muster any strength, no matter how he was stabbed.
"Will you come quietly?"
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok nodded.
Won Seung took the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok to his room.
"Why bring him here? You should've finished it there."
Jong Bi frowned.
Won Seung seated the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok in a chair and tied his limbs. Then he went to the bedroom and retrieved a white medicine bottle from a leather pouch.
"What are you doing?"
Jong Bi, curious, watched Won Seung's actions and asked.
Won Seung stuffed a cloth into the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok's mouth and said, "This guy lied the first time we met. I think I need to take some measures before we talk."
With a gag in his mouth, the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok's face turned pale. It was clear he was about to be tortured.
Won Seung opened the medicine bottle, poured the white powdered medicine onto a plate, and mixed it with water using chopsticks. The powdered medicine dissolved into a milky liquid.
"Is that poison?"
"Huh? It's not poison, but it seems quite fitting for the current situation."
Won Seung dipped a brush into the milky liquid and approached the bruised wrist of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok.
"Ugh!"
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok's eyes widened as if they would tear apart. The excruciating pain, as if his wrist were being severed, caused him to clench the gag so hard that his molars ground.
Jong Bi frowned at the sight of the contorted face of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok. His eyes looked like they might pop out at any moment.
How painful must it be to make such a face?
"This is too much. Just pull out his nails."
"That's too barbaric. It could leave him disabled."
"Nails grow back. I guarantee it. He won't be disabled. Pull out two, and he'll spill everything."
Even in the midst of extreme pain, the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok listened to the conversation between Won Seung and Jong Bi.
'These guys aren't human.'
Won Seung soaked the brush in the milky liquid again.
"Why spill blood when I have this?"
It was a bruise medicine he had developed recently, but the side effect of excessive pain made him consider discarding it without even naming it.
Won Seung brought the brush to the swollen, red cheek.
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok now shed tears, shaking his head.
"Hmm. Are you ready to talk?"
When Won Seung asked, the Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok nodded repeatedly.
"If you lie, I'll apply it all over your face."
Won Seung threatened and removed the cloth from his mouth.
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok, tears and snot streaming down his face, pleaded.
"P-Please spare me."
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion's Imok begged, sweating profusely.
"What's your name?"
"Ohgu...."
"The ninth in the Oh family?"
"That's right."
"Your words are short. What's your status in the Heavenly Observation Pavilion?"
"I'm a Pyeongmusa."
"You disrespected me. Sending just a Pyeongmusa as an Imok."
Won Seung was indignant, and Jong Bi muttered.
"Some people treat their seniors like servants...."
When Won Seung raised the brush to his face, Jong Bi was startled and left the room.
"Now, there's no one to interrupt us. So, spill everything in your heart."
"What do you want me to say?"
"What kind of person is the Heavenly Observation Pavilion Master?"
"The Master is one of the Top 100 Masters in the Central Plains and the top expert in the Xiangyang area. Anyone who opposes the Heavenly Observation Pavilion won't survive...."
Ohgu gritted his teeth as he spoke, but Won Seung waved the brush in front of his eyes.
"Not that kind of talk... Tell me about the Heavenly Observation Pavilion Master from your heart. If you spout nonsense again, I'll have to apply it to your face."
Ohgu thought he might die. If he felt the burning pain on his entire face, biting his tongue and dying might be better.
"I told you. He's a terrifying person...."
Won Seung lightly tapped the bruised forehead with the brush. The pain, like being pricked with a needle, made Ohgu turn pale and scream.
"Ahh, please spare me. I'll tell the truth. As a mere Pyeongmusa, I don't usually have the chance to meet the Master, so I don't know much. I can't even dare to look at his face, so what do you want me to say?"
"Really? That sounds truthful. Then who do you work under?"
"I'm under Elder Gu."
"Elder Gu? Gu Ja-ang?"
"......"
When Won Seung suddenly mentioned Gu Ja-ang, Ohgu felt he might have answered incorrectly.
"You're not just a Pyeongmusa. Being a trusted subordinate of the Strategist means you have some skills."
"Trusted subordinate? I'm just an errand boy."
Ohgu tried to downplay his role.
"Does Gu Ja-ang treat you well? Since you call him Elder Gu, he must be someone you respect and want to follow?"
"Of course. Everyone in the Pavilion respects Elder Gu."
At Ohgu's words, Won Seung lightly brushed his cheek.
"Lies. I've never heard of a subordinate who respects their superior. Subordinates always badmouth their superiors behind their backs."
"Ahhh...."
Ohgu screamed in pain as his cheek burned.
"Yes, yes. I also badmouth him behind his back. I do...."
"What do you say?"
"Petty. Mean person. Cold-blooded with no heart or tears...."
In his daze, Ohgu blurted out everything he could think of. Yet, he felt a sense of self-pity for having to answer such questions.
"Hmm. Gu Ja-ang is a tough one. A bit timid, or maybe meticulous?"
Won Seung assessed Gu Ja-ang in his own way.
"If he's that kind of person, he wouldn't have told even his trusted subordinates when or how to attack the Qing Shui Sect. Right?"
"?"
When the Qing Shui Sect attack was mentioned, Ohgu snapped back to reality. Even in his pain-induced haze, he knew he must never reveal anything about the Qing Shui Sect strategy.
Feigning ignorance, he put on a blank expression, but his eyes darted left and right.
Won Seung chuckled.
"Your eyes are making a racket. Don't pretend you don't know. Working under the Strategist of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion, and you claim ignorance?"
"N-No! How would a grunt like me know that? I just do as I'm told."
"You said you were the Strategist's trusted subordinate?"
"I'm just an errand boy."
Ohgu shook his head.
"This won't do."
Won Seung raised the brush and circled Ohgu's neck.
"Ahhh!"
Ohgu screamed as if his neck was being cut. Won Seung laughed and said, "For a fake scream, that was quite convincing."
Ohgu was puzzled by the comment and realized his neck didn't hurt.
"This is bruise medicine for bruised and bloody areas. The neck is fine, so the medicine doesn't take effect. But...."
Won Seung stuffed a cloth wad into Ohgu's mouth. Wondering what was happening, Ohgu's eyes widened.
"Close your eyes."
Won Seung said and soaked the brush in the milky liquid, applying it all over Ohgu's face.
"Ahhh!"
Ohgu writhed in immense pain.
"Just hold on a little longer."
Won Seung filled a teapot with water and poured it over Ohgu's head.
Miraculously, the pain vanished, but Ohgu didn't realize it and continued to thrash.
"Calm down. Calm down. See, now it's all clear?"
Won Seung grabbed Ohgu's head and showed him his reflection. Surprisingly, the bruises from being hit by Jong Bi and Won Seung were gone.
But having endured such extreme pain, Ohgu was already half out of his mind. His eyes were unfocused, and he drooled.
"Ugh...."
Won Seung inserted a needle into Ohgu's neck. Ohgu's mouth gaped open. Into it, Won Seung poured the milky liquid.
Realizing what was happening, Ohgu's eyes filled with blood.
'Now I'm going to die!'
If the same pain erupted in his stomach, death would be the only escape.
But then, Won Seung placed a white pill in his mouth. A cool sensation spread through his stomach.
"Come back in a month, and I'll give you the antidote. Otherwise, you'll have to feel that pain all over your body."
Ohgu, originally a determined and ruthless person, was utterly broken by Won Seung's bizarre torture.
"What do you want from me?"
"I don't want anything. You can go now."
Won Seung released Ohgu. Having struggled so much, Ohgu had no strength left to walk.
He clung to the wall and staggered out of the room.
Jong Bi quietly followed him out, but Won Seung stopped him.
"Where are you going?"
"Are you really going to let him go?"
Jong Bi intended to resolve it the assassin's way.
"Let him go. I have a plan. Let's call it planting a seed."
"A seed? What's that?"
"A seed of distrust and betrayal."
"Hmm. You really live a complicated life."
Jong Bi said with a mock-serious face.
"Let me give you some advice as a senior. Assassins shouldn't think. Just focus on how to kill the target and survive. That's all."
"That's why you're stuck as a Second-rank Killer."
"I told you, I'm First-Class."
Won Seung nodded and said, "Hmm. Alright. If you handle this properly, I'll acknowledge you as a First-Class Assassin."
"What is it?"
"Go to Jungyang County."