Chapter 296

Grand Strategist Sagong Ui flinched when Hyeonmun Dojang said that Taoist Cheongmu had disappeared, but he quickly concealed his reaction.

“Then you must be deeply troubled. But I do not understand why you came to search the Inner Fortress when Taoist Cheongmu disappeared from the Outer Fortress.”

SWISH!

Sagong Ui flicked his crane-feather fan once.

“Our Martial Alliance enforces the separation between the Inner and Outer Fortresses more strictly than anywhere else.”

After the events of the night before last, the Inner Fortress walls were under tighter guard than ever.

“I have a reason.”

Hyeonmun Dojang drew a sheet of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Sagong Ui.

“......?”

Several lines had been scrawled across it in the crooked handwriting of a child.

Cheongmu is going after Little Martial Uncle. Don’t look for me. Martial Uncle Hyeonmun, I’m sorry. Tell Master I’m sorry too.

Sagong Ui studied the paper for a long moment before returning it.

Hyeonmun Dojang folded it as he explained.

“The Little Martial Uncle Taoist Cheongmu refers to is Junior Brother Kwak. The moment I found this beside Cheongmu’s bed, I hurried straight to the guest residence.”

“I see.”

“Grand Strategist, just tell me where Junior Brother Kwak is. I will quietly retrieve Martial Nephew Cheongmu and return. That way, we will not interfere with whatever Junior Brother Kwak is doing.”

Sagong Ui nodded.

“You are quite right.”

“.......”

“Unfortunately, I believe you are already a step too late.”

“Grand Strategist, what do you mean?”

“.......”

Seeing the difficulty on Sagong Ui’s face, Hyeonmun Dojang said, “It seems you are in a very difficult position and cannot reveal Junior Brother Kwak’s whereabouts.”

SWISH!

Sagong Ui waved his crane-feather fan.

“Chief Secretary Kwak has just departed to carry out a matter of the utmost secrecy for the Martial Alliance.”

“If he has only just departed, then he cannot have begun the mission in earnest yet. If revealing his whereabouts to me would be difficult, I would be grateful if you could at least deliver this note to him.”

Once Kwak learned that Taoist Cheongmu had followed him, he would naturally find the man and send him back.

Faced with Hyeonmun Dojang’s earnest request, Sagong Ui answered with a troubled expression.

“I would very much like to grant your request. Unfortunately, I have no way to do so.”

“......?”

“Even I, the Grand Strategist, do not know when Chief Secretary Kwak and his party departed or where they went.”

That alone revealed how secretive the mission was, leaving Hyeonmun Dojang at a loss.

“Hyeonmun Dojang, I fear our only choice is to wait. Taoist Cheongmu may have crossed paths with Chief Secretary Kwak and return on his own, or Chief Secretary Kwak may discover him and send him back.”

Disheartened by Sagong Ui’s answer, Hyeonmun Dojang bowed his head.

“I understand. I apologize for troubling you for nothing, Grand Strategist.”

“You did not come here for nothing, Hyeonmun Dojang. Absolutely not...”

As he spoke the word absolutely, Sagong Ui’s thoughts grew more complicated than ever.

*****

Half a day after leaving the Wild Goose Sand Hill docks, the Cloud-Drifting Boat bound for Danjiangkou entered the Han River, a tributary of the Yangtze.

The Han River only appeared modest beside the Yangtze’s majestic current. In truth, it was a great river with a broad channel of its own.

Unlike the Yangtze, which flowed mainly through plains, the Han River passed through mountainous terrain and wound through countless bends.

That allowed the passengers aboard the Cloud-Drifting Boat to enjoy an ever-changing landscape and kept the journey from becoming tedious.

Yet even the finest scenery grew tiresome when seen too often. Roughly one double-hour after entering the Han River, the passengers gradually lost interest in the surrounding view.

Their attention naturally shifted to the other people aboard the boat.

Since they would all be sharing the same vessel for the long journey to Danjiangkou, it was only natural. In the cramped confines of a boat, there was no better way to pass the time than through conversation.

The passengers began gathering in small groups with others who appeared to be of a similar station.

One group, however, remained apart like an isolated island: Kwak’s party, posing as the household of a young scholar-official.

Hu Gae glanced at the passengers keeping their distance and spoke quietly.

“It’s nice not having people chattering all around us, but somehow I feel like this makes us stand out even more.”

“It does seem that way.”

Kwak nodded.

“Still, I believe it is better than dressing as martial artists.”

He was remembering the time he had boarded a Cloud-Drifting Boat on Dongting Lake while openly dressed as a martial artist. Hu Gae nodded as well.

“That’s certainly true, but continuing to draw this much attention is not ideal. Which brings me to something...”

Hu Gae glanced cautiously at Jin Cheongha.

“What do you say we try to secure a cabin, even now?”

Every Cloud-Drifting Boat had several cabins below deck for distinguished passengers.

“Brother, were all the cabins not reserved already?”

They had decided to take this boat only one day before its departure, so every cabin already had an owner.

“They were.”

Hu Gae cocked his head.

“But there might be one or two kindhearted souls willing to help.”

Kwak frowned slightly.

“Brother, causing an unnecessary disturbance would do us no good.”

Hu Gae’s eyes widened.

“A disturbance? Just what do you think I was planning?”

“.......”

“All I meant was that someone might, out of common human decency, willingly surrender a cabin for a pair of young newlyweds.”

Hu Gae placed particular emphasis on common human decency.

Jin Cheongha’s cheeks reddened, while Kwak’s frown deepened.

“Brother, please stop talking about us as husband and wife.”

When Kwak’s expression turned serious, Hu Gae shook his head.

“You two are both so rigid. You could simply take it as a joke and let it pass...”

As Hu Gae grumbled, Kwak’s transmitted voice reached his ears.

—Brother, someone is coming.

Just as Kwak had said, a man dressed as a scholar was walking toward them.

How did Brother Kwak know that man was coming to us?

The man had only just emerged from among the crowded passengers.

He truly has an astonishing number of talents.

As Hu Gae marveled anew at Kwak’s varied martial studies, the middle-aged scholar approached and gave Kwak a clasped-hands bow.

“Young Master, I am Jeong Insu, chief steward of the Golden Mountain Merchant Guild of Danjiangkou.”

“Ah, Chief Steward Jeong of the Golden Mountain Merchant Guild.”

Kwak returned the bow.

“What brings you to us, Chief Steward Jeong?”

“Our guild master greatly enjoys associating with learned scholars of the Confucian world. He happened to see you board the Cloud-Drifting Boat and sent me to ask whether you might be willing to make his acquaintance. He has arranged a modest evening meal. Unless you already have other plans, he would be honored if you joined him.”

Jeong Insu’s manner was exceedingly courteous.

“I appreciate the invitation, but I am merely an unknown scholar with no reputation to speak of. Please convey my gratitude to your guild master, though I must decline.”

Jeong Insu looked troubled by Kwak’s refusal.

“Young Master, I realize this is discourteous to say upon our first meeting, but might you reconsider? In truth, our guild master felt sorry to see that you and your wife were forced to remain out in the open after boarding at such short notice.”

Hu Gae abruptly cut in.

“Young Master, I believe accepting would be best. Were we not already troubled because there was nowhere suitable for the young mistress to sleep?”

Hu Gae spoke while bowing and scraping like a servant from a great household.

Kwak felt apologetic toward him and could not bring himself to rebuke him.

“.......”

When Kwak remained silent, Hu Gae pressed even harder.

“Once night falls, the river wind will grow harsher, and frost may even descend. How could the young mistress’s delicate constitution endure such conditions? Ruthlessly refusing the Golden Mountain Guild Master’s common human decency hardly seems consistent with the conduct of a gentleman that you have always preached, Young Master.”

Even after Hu Gae struck him so openly, Kwak could do nothing beyond glaring at him.

“.......”

Jeong Insu spoke again.

“Young Master, why not meet our guild master first? He has spent many years traveling the roads and has accumulated a wealth of experience. A conversation with him will undoubtedly prove worthwhile.”

At that, Kwak realized the Golden Mountain Guild Master had something to tell him and was merely using the evening meal as an excuse.

“After hearing you speak, Chief Steward Jeong, it seems it would be discourteous to continue refusing your guild master’s invitation. I would be grateful if you led my wife and me to him.”

Once Kwak accepted the invitation, Hu Gae brightened.

“You have made a wise decision, Young Master.”

Hu Gae quickly picked up the pack he had set aside and slung it over his shoulder.

“Young Master, the cabin is too cramped to admit your household servant as well.”

Hu Gae’s face twisted at Jeong Insu’s words. He soon remembered that he was disguised as a servant, however, and slowly lowered the pack from his back again.

“Oh, my. This lowly one forgot that we were aboard a Cloud-Drifting Boat.”

Jeong Insu addressed him.

“Do not feel slighted. No matter how loyal a servant may be, he cannot sit beside his master when guests are present.”

“Naturally, sir.”

Jeong Insu led the way.

Kwak and Jin Cheongha cast Hu Gae apologetic glances before following the chief steward toward the cabin.

“Smack!”

Hu Gae could only smack his lips bitterly, since this entire situation was the result of his own plan.

“Damn it. Playing a servant when it was never in my fate...”

Images of steaming dishes shimmered before his eyes.

The Golden Mountain Guild Master might have called it a modest meal, but it was certain to be a lavish feast.

GRRROOOWL!

Perhaps because he was imagining the food, a thunderous noise erupted from Hu Gae’s stomach.

Throughout the deck, groups of passengers were sitting together and preparing their evening meals.

It would be awkward to force his way into one of the groups that had already formed, but sitting alone and chewing dried rations would be equally pathetic.

Hu Gae looked around for a suitable place.

Seeing that cargo had been piled near the bow and no passengers were gathered there, he shouldered the pack again.

CLANG!

He dropped the pack at the empty bow as though throwing it down, then plopped onto the deck and leaned back against the cargo.

“Damn it! While certain people enjoy a feast in a comfortable cabin, I have to gnaw on dried rations.”

No amount of lamenting his circumstances would change anything, so Hu Gae untied the pack.

At least they had prepared ample dried provisions for the long journey.

“Where did I put the bundle of rations?”

RATTLE! CLATTER!

He first removed the obstructive Tagu Staff and Kwak’s Blue-Steel Sword, then thrust his hand into the pack and rummaged around.

“Here it is!”

The moment Hu Gae felt a bundle containing something hard, he yanked it out.

“Hm...?”

He tilted his head when he saw that it was not a bundle of dried rations, but an object tightly wrapped in cloth.

“What is this?”

He had no memory of packing it.

“Brother Kwak must have put it in here. But what did he wrap so tightly in these filthy scraps of cloth?”

Curious, Hu Gae was just about to undo the knotted fabric.

Without warning, an icy chill crawled across the back of his neck.

Hu Gae whipped his head around.