Chapter 232 : Receive, Send
Chapter 232: Receive, Send
Lee Jaseung was standing at the window.
Far off, the brilliant, sleepless lights of Baekseon Pavilion were visible.
He had said he wasn't worried, but in truth, he was more concerned than ever.
How could he not be? He had sent Mujin and Ma Young-gi to that wicked Yeo Su-in.
Baek Seolyoung’s soft voice was heard from behind him.
“Isn't there anything I can do to help?”
“Not yet.”
Baek Seolyoung smiled at Lee Jaseung’s answer.
She knew well that answering 'Not yet' instead of 'Nothing' was his way of being considerate toward her.
She wanted to help with something, but there was nothing for her to do. He spoke that way with her feelings of apology and futility in mind. It was a difference of a single word, but to the person receiving it, it was a massive difference.
“Tell me when something comes up. I’ll do anything.”
“I told you. I’m not gonna let a master like you just sit around playing.”
“Just don't raise me like a flower in a greenhouse.”
“We don't keep things like greenhouses. Especially not flowers.”
She felt that perhaps his words were right. Originally, there was no such thing as a greenhouse. Yet, the reason she felt like she was in one was because Lee Jaseung’s presence felt so large.
Just then, Dan Woobin entered the place.
“A little while ago, they looked into information regarding Captain Mujin.”
“Just as expected.”
Up to this point, it was as anticipated.
He had temporarily replaced the entire staff of the investigation agency Mujin belonged to with warriors from the Divine Sword Regiment.
This was so that no matter which of them they investigated through, they’d hear the same answer regarding Mujin.
If they investigated deeply, a problem would surely arise, but they didn't have the luxury of time for that.
It would be even better to mobilize the Golden Ants, but Yeo Su-in already knew about the relationship between Lee Jaseung and the Great Demon, Nam Seohyang. At the very least, an operation through the Golden Ants couldn't be carried out against Yeo Su-in.
“And the Great Ant sent word that he obtained what you requested.”
A subordinate came in carrying a fairly large box.
“She said it’s a reward for saving her life that day.”
At those words, the value of this item became clear.
Lee Jaseung opened the box.
Inside the box were ten iron balls that fit in the palm and ten eye patches.
Dan Woobin pointed at the balls and asked cautiously.
“Is it perhaps the Heaven Shattering Thunder?”
They looked heavy, and one could tell at a glance they weren't ordinary items.
Lee Jaseung shook his head.
“They do explode, but they aren't such violent items.”
Only then did Dan Woobin feel relieved, and this time he examined the eye patches.
The black eye patches were also extraordinary. Usually, this type of eye patch was worn by the one eyed, but these were different from common ones.
There were holes in the eye patches, and a thin membrane was attached in front of them. They were eye patches made to allow one to see ahead through a peculiar type of fabric.
Dan Woobin asked, but Lee Jaseung didn't tell him exactly what they were.
Baek Seolyoung was just as curious. When they met while boating last time, Nam Seohyang had said he was preparing what was requested. It seemed he meant these.
“What on earth are all these?”
Lee Jaseung spoke with an expression that said she’d find out if she waited and saw.
“Send these secretly to Mujin.”
* * *
“The bastard's name is Jin-pa, a veteran investigator of the Murim Alliance. He’s the seventeenth successor of the Peerless Sword Style, a man whose martial arts level is at the Peak Realm, and everything he said earlier was true. The leader of the Virtuous Heroes is his sworn brother, and his family was slaughtered by the Ghost Demon Spirit of our cult.”
Yeo Su-in nodded at Phoenix’s report. What Mujin said earlier hadn't been a lie.
“If it’s the Ghost Demon Spirit, he was a subordinate of the Great Demon.”
“That’s correct.”
“Is the information certain?”
“Yes. It’s certain.”
Phoenix gave a confident answer. She had investigated the people around Mujin and reconfirmed through another person just in case.
Nevertheless, Yeo Su-in was still half in doubt. He suspected that perhaps Lee Jaseung or the Great Demon knew he was hiding here and were trying to pull some kind of trick. He was especially suspicious of Lee Jaseung.
But strictly speaking, the possibility was slim.
It was impossible to suddenly recruit an investigator from the Murim Alliance and plot such a thing. Furthermore, the man he saw earlier was truly a worn out official of the Murim Alliance. He couldn't believe the man was acting.
“They say the bastard is very fond of money. The money he’s taken under the table so far is no small amount.”
“He looked that way.”
That wasn't the important thing.
“So he’s really sworn brothers with the leader of the Virtuous Heroes?”
The Great Demon would soon raid this place, and there was an Orthodox man here who could move the Virtuous Heroes. It was truly like a prank of fate.
“It seems like a good opportunity to draw in the Virtuous Heroes and make them fight the Great Demon.”
If that happened, there’d be nothing more to say.
Not only would he shake off the pursuit of the Great Demon, but starting with this fight, the war between the Cult Leader and the Murim Alliance would begin.
Because it was such a sweet temptation, Yeo Su-in couldn't cast off his doubt.
“Or, it might be a trap.”
Yeo Su-in stood at a crossroads of choice. For that choice, he had to judge one of two things.
‘Is this truly a heaven sent chance for a comeback? Or is it a sweet bait that’ll lead to ruin?’
* * *
Mujin and Ma Young-gi were looking down at the black eye patches and iron balls in the box. It was the box Lee Jaseung had delivered to them secretly through Mook Young.
“How many are there total?”
“There are ten. To think he obtained ten of these precious things, it’s truly amazing.”
“Hehe, I guess our Alliance Leader felt a prick of conscience after sending us to our deaths.”
Ma Young-gi remained serious despite Mujin’s joke.
“Still, honestly, I didn't think he’d send these. This is the first time I’ve even known these actually existed in the Jianghu.”
“Me too.”
“I’m feeling nervous for some reason. What would it be like to actually use these?”
“It’ll be killer.”
Mujin closed the box with a meaningful smile.
Ma Young-gi spoke with a slightly worried expression.
“Anyway, how will that bastard Yeo Su-in act?”
Mujin nodded and spoke.
“The bastard will definitely take the bait.”
It was because he mentioned taking the corpses.
“Normally, he would’ve eliminated us.”
To prevent that, he mentioned the audit team and said subordinates would visit in the morning. Saying the leader of the Virtuous Heroes was his sworn brother was also a device to prevent extreme measures.
He was fully utilizing Yeo Su-in’s current position, which left him no choice but to be cautious.
“Still, I……”
Ma Young-gi looked toward the door with an anxious gaze. He felt a sense of crisis that White Dragon and Phoenix might break through that door and fly in at any moment.
In comparison, Mujin was relaxed.
“Don't worry. The bastard won't do that.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because the bastard is very angry right now.”
Ma Young-gi couldn't understand Mujin’s answer. He thought that if he was angry, they should be more careful.
Mujin explained calmly.
“His pride is as wounded as it can be. Because of this situation, he’ll want to show his subordinates something. But that something won't be just getting rid of some investigators from the Murim Alliance. He’ll want to use us to demonstrate a more proper capability.”
“I don't understand.”
“I asked you before, didn't I? What kind of category the bastard belongs to. I still think my thought is right. And one more thing, I can understand him. I think I would’ve done the same.”
“Huh? I thought you were the most rational person among us, Captain Mu.”
Mujin spoke with a faint smile.
“You’ve misjudged me greatly. I’m a more emotional person than anyone. No, I guess I’m second.”
“Who is first?”
“Who do you think?”
After staring at Mujin, who wore a meaningful expression for a moment, Ma Young-gi was startled.
“Are you perhaps saying it’s our Lord?”
“I at least think so.”
“That makes no sense.”
The Lee Jaseung Ma Young-gi saw was a truly rational and logical person.
Mujin spoke with a laugh.
“Captain Ma, what you see might be right too.”
Ma Young-gi spoke with a slightly sulky expression.
“Does he show different sides depending on the person?”
The reason he became sulky was because he felt Lee Jaseung showed his human side to Mujin and only his logical side to himself.
Mujin’s thought was different.
“Or perhaps we only keep seeing the side we look at, right?”
“Ah!”
Ma Young-gi let out a short exclamation. Strictly speaking, it was a more painful remark than the previous assumption. In other words, it meant he hadn't seen Lee Jaseung’s true side properly.
“Human relationships aren't easy.”
At Ma Young-gi’s honest words, Mujin also shared his honest feelings.
“There’s no right answer to human relationships. A person’s heart changes at every moment. Both for the one giving the heart, and even the one receiving it.”
Ma Young-gi silently agreed with those words. He felt that Mujin was truly mature. Though it wasn't a new thought.
Because he was this kind of Mujin, this question was possible.
“Have you thought of anything regarding how to handle Yeo Su-in?”
Provoking his anger was the core of this mission, after all.
Mujin only smiled and didn't answer. But he clearly had an expression that said he’d thought of something.
“When is the Great Demon scheduled to arrive?”
“Since midnight has passed, they’re scheduled to arrive around this evening.”
“There isn't much time.”
Mujin spoke while looking at the room door.
“Now, come and knock.”
And as if by magic, someone knocked on the door. The owner of the voice was the man from the establishment who had been guarding the front of Yeo Su-in’s room earlier.
“Young Master Yeo requests to see you.”
* * *
A short while later, Mujin’s laughter echoed through the room.
“Hahaha. There’s a saying that within the four seas, all are comrades. Since we sit face to face like this, aren't we all like family? You don't need to worry about a thing!”
Yeo Su-in had prepared a proper spread of drinks and served Mujin. He even called for beautiful courtesans. Naturally, Mujin was grinning from ear to ear.
“Hahahaha. I originally use twin swords, but lately I only carry one.”
Mujin didn't lie about his martial arts. Someone with the martial arts level of Yeo Su-in or his group might notice the source of his martial arts. Because he was meticulous to this extent, it wasn't easy to find any sense of incongruity in Mujin.
“Why is that?”
“Well, if I need two swords, I can just take the opponent's sword and use it. Hahaha.”
It was truly arrogant talk.
Yeo Su-in clearly grasped the other's personality. He was a man full of conceit, literally full of bluster and a sense of authority. Furthermore, he was fond of money and women.
“I committed an impoliteness to the distinguished guest earlier. Come here quickly and apologize formally.”
Then, White Dragon, who was standing to the side, walked to Mujin and spoke.
“I committed a rudeness. Please forgive me.”
Only then did Mujin relax his expression and speak.
“Good. I’ll let it slide this once for your master's sake.”
“This won't happen again.”
White Dragon spoke politely and stepped back. Mujin called him back.
“Wait, come and pour a cup of apology drink before you go.”
Mujin held out an empty cup.
For a second, he felt White Dragon clench his teeth, but Mujin pretended not to notice.
Mujin knew. He knew that this kind of behavior dispelled suspicion and completed his performance.
Would someone who was lying go out of their way to create such a cumbersome task?
It was the same kind of reasoning as Yeo Su-in staying here even after killing the Four Great Sons.
Indeed, through that action, Yeo Su-in erased even the last shred of suspicion that remained.
At the very least, this matter wasn't Lee Jaseung’s plot.
Only a day had passed since White Dragon and Phoenix killed the Four Great Sons. To find someone like this and attach them to him in that time? That was impossible.
Added to that, Mujin’s natural acting had a power that made it impossible to consider it acting.
White Dragon filled Mujin’s cup and left the room.
Yeo Su-in also sent out all the courtesans who were present. Now only Yeo Su-in and Mujin remained in the room.
Yeo Su-in suggestively pushed a box forward.
“It isn't much, but please take it.”
“What is this?”
Mujin already had a satisfied smile on his lips.
“It is nothing special.”
Mujin opened the box.
“Oh!”
An exclamation broke out from Mujin’s mouth of its own accord.
Inside the box was a golden toad the size of an adult’s fist. Gold was gold, but it was crafted so exquisitely that it was an item of considerable value.
“Hahaha, you’ll face many difficult situations as you live. At those times, contact this foolish older brother.”
Mujin’s attitude was truly friendly, as if he had reunited with a long lost brother.
Yeo Su-in inwardly mocked Mujin, who was in a joyful mood.
‘You idiot! Yes, this is the power of gold.’
Would it be only this guy before his eyes? If it’s money, the Jianghu is overflowing with people who would even harm their own families.
Mujin continued to gulp down the wine as if he fully trusted Yeo Su-in.
“Kyah, the liquor tastes killer.”
Mujin was actually relaxing his tension. He had made up his mind that he had to fool even himself. Otherwise, he’d surely be found out and die here. Mujin was in a state of being perfectly assimilated into the role of the investigator named Jin-pa.
Mujin held up his cup again and smirked.
“Now, let’s drink.”
It was finally time to carry out the most important task of this operation.
Waking Yeo Su-in’s anger.
The operation was now rushing from development toward a crisis.