Kang Sogun

The Jo Residence.

A garden full of the scent of spring flowers.

A middle-aged man in splendid clothes was trimming the flower branches. His social status could be guessed from his noble face.

The Prince of Jo, Zhu Gaoxu, asked as if in passing, fiddling with a flower branch.

"Hmm. Kang Hwi has returned?"

The person standing next to him answered.

"It seems Bang Yeonso has reported to the emperor the crime of deserting his military camp without permission."

"I don't know if the emperor has the mind to punish Kang Hwi."

Zhu Gaoxu held out his scissors and cut a branch.

"You have to cut off the branches that have grown as they please for the tree to look good. But the emperor is not such a strong-willed person."

"It seems Bang Yeonso has also made contact with the Eastern Depot through a eunuch. It is said that he has conveyed that he will not attend court until the emperor's order is given."

"Why on earth is Grand Scholar Bang so eager to catch Kang Hwi?"

"You know well the relationship between Bang Yeonso and the late Duke Kang of the state. They were two people who clashed on every matter."

"But it's a problem if he considers even the child an enemy."

"I think so too."

"Besides, the emperor's life is hanging by a thread. He doesn't even know where the crown prince is. In such a situation, for the Grand Scholar of Nanjing to be obsessed with past grudges. It's surprising."

"It is said that his son was hit by Young Master Kang, was seriously injured, and his face was ruined."

"Hmm. Anyway, I'm worried that the Grand Scholar who governs the Southern Zhili Province is so distracted by such a strange thing."

Although he said that, Zhu Gaoxu's expression was not worried at all.

Just then, the chief steward of the Jo Residence came with a message slip.

"What is it?"

"Young Master Kang Hwi of the Kang Residence has sent a message slip."

When Zhu Gaoxu opened the message slip, it was a visiting card.

"Hmm. Minister Jo, Kang Hwi wants to see me."

The person he had been dealing with until now was the Minister of Personnel of the Nanjing government office, Jo Ok. He nodded.

"Of course. Currently, is there any other elder of the imperial family in Nanjing besides you, Your Highness? Of course, he should come and pay his respects."

Jo Ok's voice sank secretly.

"You may be able to gain great power."

"Let's see. When was the last time I saw that fellow? It's been over ten years since I used to frequent the empress dowager's palace."

"Everyone knows that Young Master Kang was favored by the previous emperor for his intelligence. Now that he has lost both his parents and is being pushed by Scholar Bang, he is a lonely person with no one to rely on. If Your Highness embraces him, he will gladly be embraced."

"Will it be that simple? If he is the son of Kang Ilbu, it won't be easy."

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head and just cut the flower branches.

***

A street of inns with splendid yellow lanterns. The sound of people talking poured out from every open window.

"It would be better to just sleep in the mountains."

Jo Unryong muttered.

As he walked alone down a street full of strangers, he felt lonely for no particular reason.

"Damn it. Did he really come to Nanjing? If he is such a strange person, he would have been noticed by people."

Jo Unryong tilted his head. It seemed he had heard his voice. A young beggar who had been lying down and sleeping in a corner of the street opened his eyes and glanced at Jo Unryong.

Jo Unryong's actions, no matter who saw them, clearly looked like he was looking for someone.

The beggar stealthily approached Jo Unryong and then held out a gourd.

"What?"

Jo Unryong flinched and retreated at the gourd that had been pushed in out of nowhere.

"Hehe. One silver coin will do."

The beggar, who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, looked very cunning. The beggar, with a smile all over his face, held up one finger.

"What will I do?"

One silver coin was not a small amount of money.

"If the person you are looking for is on this street, you just have to pay one silver coin, and I will find him for you."

Jo Unryong's travel funds were also not very abundant.

"If he's not on this street, you can't find him, right?"

"Then you just have to pay two more silver coins."

"Two more silver coins?"

"Not just this street, but I will sweep the south of the Nanjing government office down to the small roads."

Jo Unryong became interested.

"What if he's not there either?"

The beggar held up four fingers.

"Of course, you have to pay four more silver coins. Then I will search every nook and cranny of Nanjing City."

Jo Unryong calculated. A total of seven silver coins. Although it could not be said to be a large amount, Jo Unryong, whose pockets were light, was a little hesitant.

"If he's not in the city, the price will go up. To eight silver coins."

The beggar shook his head.

"If you want to search all the way outside the city, then you have to pay sixteen silver coins."

"Why does it suddenly become four times after going up by doubles?"

"Hehe. Many people say that. But!"

The beggar squatted down and drew a picture on the ground. He drew a castle and then drew circles of the same size outside the castle in the east, west, south, and north, and there were exactly four places.

"Do you understand?"

"I see."

Jo Unryong was impressed. The beggar said triumphantly.

"It is a very reasonable price."

Jo Unryong calculated in his head. He had already spent a considerable amount on lodging for several days while looking for Kang Sogun. He made a decision in his heart and asked.

"But how can I believe that? You could just spend some time and then come back and say you couldn't find him."

"That is a sharp question. How can we ask our customers to believe us when we ourselves don't believe ourselves? So!"

The beggar nodded as if it were natural.

The beggar rustled in his bosom and took out a piece of cloth stained with dirt.

"What is that?"

The beggar unfolded it.

「Beggar's Sect Nanjing Branch, So Geola」

Below, along with the signature of the Nanjing branch master, a messy seal was visible.

"The Beggar's Sect?"

So Geola showed his waist.

"You are a three-knot beggar of the Beggar's Sect."

"A member of the Beggar's Sect may beg, but he does not commit fraud."

"Hmph! Among the countless beggars, there must be all sorts of bastards, so how can I believe that?"

"The sect rules say so."

Jo Unryong was at a loss for words. So Geola was a truly cunning beggar.

'Why is a guy like this begging?'

Jo Unryong grumbled and gave him one silver coin.

"That is a wise choice. What is the name and appearance of the person you are looking for?"

"His name is Kang Sogun. He's in his mid-twenties? He carries a long spear. His face is just average."

So Geola frowned.

"Why?"

"The name sounds like a pseudonym just by hearing it. If he's not carrying a long spear, what's left is a man in his mid-twenties with an average face."

Jo Unryong tilted his head.

"So? You can't find him?"

So Geola grinned and held out his hand.

"You have to pay one more silver coin."

"What?"

"If you give such inaccurate information, it will take more time to confirm, so it can't be helped."

"Ugh."

Jo Unryong handed over another silver coin.

So Geola smiled and said.

"If you rest, I will come and find you within an hour."

"Where should I go to rest?"

"Go anywhere. I can find you."

So Geola disappeared into the crowd on the street.

'I think I've had.'

Jo Unryong, who was looking at So Geola's back with a sense of unease, suddenly entered a tavern next to him.

The guards who were patrolling the street passed by the front of the tavern in a group.

Jo Unryong, who was sitting in a corner of the tavern and drinking, felt dejected, thinking that he had been tricked.

'They say you'll get your nose cut off if you close your eyes in a big city, and it's really true.'

It was not that he was sorry about the money. Although his pockets were light, he was not a petty man who would cling to just two silver coins.

But he was frustrated by the situation where he could not find Kang Sogun's whereabouts and was being chased by the guards.

Had he finished a bottle of wine? As he was getting slightly drunk, he saw So Geola entering the tavern.

'Huh? Did he really find him?'

But he heard So Geola pointing at him and saying to the person who had followed him.

"He's over there."

The two who had followed So Geola were people that Jo Unryong also knew.

"Third Young Master! Do you know how much we've been looking for you?"

The two were saber guests of the Dragon Slaying Society.

"What brings you here..."

"The Society Master has been seriously injured. You must go quickly."

"What?"

Jo Unryong jumped up from his seat.

As Jo Unryong and the saber guests were leaving the tavern in a hurry, So Geola shouted from behind.

"Young Warrior Jo! That person is not on this street."

So Geola fiddled with the silver coins in his pouch.

"I'm lucky tonight. To think that money would roll in while I was just lying down."

So Geola disappeared at the end of the street.

A moment later, So Geola appeared at the Guan Di Temple outside the east gate. In his hands were a lot of dried food and dumplings.

Young beggars flocked in a group.

"Share it fairly and eat!"

So Geola gave a stern warning and then entered the Guan Di Temple. The dilapidated, abandoned temple was the Nanjing branch of the Beggar's Sect.

An old beggar was trimming a bamboo slip under the statue. The old beggar was a seven-knot beggar.

"Master, please have some of this."

So Geola held out a dumpling.

"It seems you were lucky today. I did well to take you as my disciple."

Ogae was pleased, eating the dumpling.

"You're saying the obvious again. But it's good to hear it often. You will continue to be proud in the future."

So Geola ate a dumpling next to him.

"I did a big job today and also heard an interesting story."

"Hehe, a big job?"

"I immediately solved the problem of the Dragon Slaying Society looking for the Fire Dragon Saber. Thanks to that, we are eating dumplings."

"Hehe, we are eating dumplings thanks to the runaway Fire Dragon Saber."

"And I have learned the name of the Blood Demon. It is said that he has entered Nanjing."

A light of curiosity flashed in Ogae's eyes.

"The Blood Demon? You mean Kang Sogun?"

"Did you know, Master?"

"Is there anything I don't know?"

"Well, that's why you're the Nanjing branch master."

"Now that I'm old, it's hard to act as a branch master."

"Hehe. I've heard that since I first came here."

-Thwack!

Ogae smacked So Geola on the head.

"Kang Sogun is Young Master Kang Hwi of the Kang Residence."

"What?"

So Geola was a little surprised.

"For a maternal relative of the imperial family to be the Blood Demon! This is really big information. If I do it well, I'll make a fortune."

So Geola continued triumphantly.

"But the information I heard today will also be quite interesting, right?"

So Geola shrugged his shoulders and said with a proud face.

"There was a rumor that the Great Righteous Martial Hall and the Dragon Slaying Society were going to have a big fight, right? I heard today that the Dragon Slaying Society Master was seriously injured."

A ray of light flashed in the old beggar's eyes.

"Hmm. So in the end, two of the ten great masters had a fight."

"This kind of information won't be worth money, right? It will spread in an instant, and everyone in the world will know."

"But you will know what to do."

"What do you mean, do?"

"The Yocheon Pavilion Master died, the Heavenly Martial Faction was half-destroyed by the Blood Demon, and the Dragon Slaying Society and the Great Righteous Martial Hall fought and suffered mutual destruction? What does this mean to you?"

"..."

"It means that the world of the Four Great Powers is coming to an end."

Ogae, the grand elder of the Beggar's Sect who was in fact in seclusion, although he was the Nanjing branch master, said to his young disciple.

"This means that a new world is about to open."

"A new world?"

So Geola's eyes sparkled.

***

The master of the Kang Residence had returned, and the main gate was opened. That fact spread quickly among the court and the powerful families of Nanjing.

Although it had declined in the past few years, those who remembered the prestige of the late Duke Kang of the state and Princess Yeongan were watching the movements of the Kang Residence.

Kang Sogun was preparing to go out. Mo Sang, who was by his side, said anxiously.

"The Prince of Jo is a person who has been suspected of treason in the old days. You must never get close to him."

Mo Sang tried to stop Kang Sogun.

"Don't worry. I am just going to pay a visit to an elder of the imperial family."

Kang Sogun said calmly.

"Really? But I'm still worried. In the old days, the Duke of the state said that the Prince of Jo was a truly insidious person. He said he probably had nine vipers in his stomach."

'So he was able to avoid the crime of treason.'

Zhu Gaoxu had been suspected of plotting a rebellion during the previous emperor's reign, but his trusted subordinate had taken the blame and had died.

After that, he had been confined in Pengde, Henan, and had been in seclusion, but after the current emperor had ascended to the throne, he had moved to the Jo Residence in Nanjing and was staying there.

Mo Sang knew how insidious the schemes of the imperial family and the powerful families were.

He was worried that Kang Sogun, in his youthful vigor, would enter a pit from which he could not get out.

Kang Sogun smiled calmly.

"Nine vipers? I'll have to meet him in person to see if that's really true."

(End of Chapter)