Chapter 303

Seokjangsan did his best to keep his emotions from showing as he asked,

“What brings you here?”

Even so, a chill seeped into his voice.

It seemed that more than ten years of mental cultivation had not been enough to erase the contempt and ridicule he had endured as an illegitimate son.

Perhaps jealousy toward his younger brother played a part as well. Seokgeon had received the Taoist name Cheongsu and become a fully recognized disciple of Jaso Palace.

The more the legitimate son distinguished himself, the less room there would be for an illegitimate son like Seokjangsan at the Seok Estate.

Though lately, even his desire to return there had begun to fade.

“Senior Brother Jangsan, I...”

Because Seokjangsan had been selected as a disciple of Ujin Palace before Seokgeon, the younger man was required to address him as senior brother.

That, at least, was a small mercy.

They might share a father, but being forced to treat a younger brother who despised him as an illegitimate child as his senior would have been an unbearable humiliation.

Thanks to Kwak Yeon’s performance at the Mid-Autumn Tournament, I was spared that disgrace.

When Seokgeon continued to hesitate without giving a proper answer, Seokjangsan asked again,

“Why did you come to see me, Junior Brother Cheongsu?”

Cheongsu flinched and finally began to speak.

“Well, it’s just...”

Watching him trail off yet again, Seokjangsan suddenly felt ashamed of himself.

I can’t believe I still felt inferior to a child like this.

Strip away Cheongsu’s status as the legitimate son and the shell of being a registered inner disciple, and Seokgeon was merely an ordinary member of Wudang.

Even his right to call himself that had been placed in jeopardy by the incident at the guesthouse in Aju County City.

The thought of how disappointed their father would be after placing all his hopes in this younger son merely because he was legitimate weighed heavily on Seokjangsan.

He sighed inwardly, then spoke as gently as he could.

“I don’t know what happened, but if you came here thinking of me not as your senior brother, but as your elder brother, then speak freely. For now, I’ll listen to you as my younger brother.”

Seokjangsan had already sensed that Seokgeon had come because he needed someone connected to him by the stubborn bond of blood.

After what happened at the guesthouse in Aju County City, no one treated Seokgeon with any respect.

Cheongsu lowered his head slightly and spoke haltingly.

“...There’s no one else I can trust with this. I thought that maybe you... Brother Jangsan... might still be able to find a way.”

Hearing Seokgeon call him brother left Seokjangsan with a truly strange feeling.

Seokgeon had called him that once before, when Kwak Yeon forced him to.

But this time was entirely different. The word sounded awkward, yet also stirred an unexpected ache in his heart.

“...?”

When Seokjangsan silently waited, Seokgeon cautiously continued.

“I think... something may have happened to our master.”

*****

Taoist Hyeonam quietly studied the two second-generation disciples who had come to see him first thing that morning.

He was well aware of the relationship between the two young men, who resembled each other in some ways yet differed greatly in others.

That was why he had looked at them in surprise when Seokjangsan entered almost as though leading the hesitant Cheongsu by the hand.

As the silence in the room stretched on, Seokjangsan spoke.

“Martial Uncle Hyeonam, you are permitted to leave the manor despite Martial Uncle Uncheon’s order restricting the disciples from going out, are you not?”

“That is true, but...”

Taoist Hyeonam nodded before continuing.

“Leaving the Outer Fortress is another matter. I am also reluctant to lie to Martial Uncle Uncheon merely to leave the city.”

Seokjangsan said,

“Martial Uncle, please consider Cheongsu’s position. Should Taoist Hyeongong prove to be safe and sound, and all this turn out to be an unnecessary disturbance, Cheongsu would find himself in an extremely difficult position as his disciple.”

“...”

“And should something untoward truly have happened to Taoist Hyeongong, then saving time is more important than anything else.”

Taoist Hyeonam studied Seokjangsan for a moment.

“Well now. You remind me of someone.”

Seokjangsan naturally knew that the “someone” in question was Kwak Yeon. He also understood what Taoist Hyeonam meant by it.

“Martial Uncle, thank you sincerely for taking your disciples’ troubles to heart.”

“I will go beyond the Outer Fortress and search for Senior Brother Hyeongong. But first, there are several things I need to know.”

When Taoist Hyeonam fixed him with a sharp look, Cheongsu flinched.

“Martial Nephew Cheongsu, it seems there is something you would rather conceal.”

As befitted an enforcer of the Precepts Hall, Taoist Hyeonam could infer a person’s thoughts from the smallest reaction.

“If we are to find Senior Brother Hyeongong as quickly as possible, your help is indispensable.”

“...!”

“You saw for yourself how vast the marketplace beyond the Outer Fortress is. Searching for him without a single clue would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. An entire day would not be enough. And if evening falls before we find him, Martial Uncle Uncheon will naturally discover what we have done.”

“...”

When Cheongsu lowered his head and continued to hesitate, Seokjangsan spoke.

“Geon, Martial Uncle Hyeonam is not trying to uncover our master’s faults. Had he been someone we could not trust, I would never have brought you here.”

Cheongsu trembled, then turned toward Taoist Hyeonam.

“Martial Uncle Hyeonam, please ask whatever you need to know.”

Taoist Hyeonam gave Seokjangsan an approving glance before questioning Cheongsu.

“Do you know why Taoist Hyeongong went out every night?”

“...I do not.”

“Do you have even the slightest suspicion?”

“Well... I delivered several letters to Master from a man he called his clan uncle.”

“If he is Senior Brother Hyeongong’s clan uncle... that would be the master of the Cheongo Merchant Guild.”

“That is also my understanding.”

“Meeting his clan uncle, the Cheongo Merchant Guild Master, would be understandable. But it does not explain why he remained out all night, every night, and returned only around dawn.”

“...!”

Taoist Hyeonam watched Cheongsu’s eyes, then abruptly ordered,

“Tell me everything you know.”

Cheongsu bit down hard on his lip before answering.

“Whenever Master returned at dawn, his clothes reeked of incense. And when he changed back into his Taoist robes, I sometimes saw him carrying a heavy money pouch.”

“The scent of incense could have clung to him in a teahouse or wine house. But there must be a reason you mentioned the money pouch.”

It was common knowledge that Taoist Hyeongong habitually carried one despite being a Taoist.

“Of course, you would not have brought it up without cause.”

Perhaps because he had finally begun speaking, Cheongsu answered without further hesitation.

“I remember being surprised because the pouch had been nearly empty the previous evening, but was bulging when he returned at dawn.”

Taoist Hyeonam’s brow furrowed sharply.

“So that is why you have been secretly pacing about in distress since early this morning.”

“...!”

Cheongsu drew his neck in, but Taoist Hyeonam spoke calmly.

“I am not scolding you, so there is no need to be so tense. Tell me honestly what you think.”

“I... I would not dare voice such a disrespectful suspicion.”

“Then I will say it for you.”

“...”

“Gambling.”

At Taoist Hyeonam’s single word, Cheongsu’s head drooped helplessly, while Seokjangsan’s eyes widened.

“...?”

“Unless Senior Brother Hyeongong’s money pouch is an inexhaustible treasure, what else could make his silver multiply overnight?”

A heavy silence filled the room for some time.

“Martial Nephew Cheongsu, return to your quarters. Martial Nephew Seok, you will come with me.”

Seokjangsan’s eyes widened at Taoist Hyeonam’s words.

“You mean for me to accompany you beyond the city?”

“Who else can I take but the one person who has already heard all of this?”

After leaving through the Outer Fortress gate, Taoist Hyeonam and Seokjangsan swiftly searched the marketplace.

At last, Taoist Hyeonam spotted the emblem of the Hao Sect in one corner of a shop door and knocked without hesitation.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“I’m coming!”

A hurried voice sounded from within, and the shop door opened.

“Good heavens! What brings Taoist masters to a butcher shop...?”

Taoist Hyeonam took out a piece of silver and placed it in the butcher’s hand.

“Circumstances prevent us from observing your sect’s customary contact formalities. I ask your forgiveness.”

“Master Taoist, what are you...?”

CLINK!

Another piece of silver landed in the butcher’s palm.

“Please bear in mind that the more silver I add, the more face your sect will lose. Of course, should the weight exceed a certain limit...”

Taoist Hyeonam gestured toward Seokjangsan.

SHING! CLICK!

Seokjangsan drew his sword halfway, then returned it to its sheath. A chilling wave of sword qi swept through the shop and vanished.

“Wudang will have no choice but to defend its own honor.”

The butcher’s face stiffened at Taoist Hyeonam’s cold words.

“I understand perfectly. I ask only that what happens here today remain an absolute secret.”

Taoist Hyeonam nodded.

“We are hardly in a position to speak of it elsewhere. I also regret having to resort to such discourtesy.”

He paused, then gave the butcher a clasped-hands bow.

“I will repay this favor properly in the future.”

The butcher’s expression brightened at the sight of Taoist Hyeonam maintaining his courtesy even while exerting such pressure.

“The manners of a great orthodox sect truly are different. Thank you for treating an insignificant man like me with such respect. Ask whatever you wish, and I will answer.”

“We are looking for a gambling den on this street.”

The butcher looked troubled.

“As you know, Master Taoist, gambling houses are forbidden within the Martial Alliance’s territory.”

When Taoist Hyeonam’s expression hardened, the butcher hurriedly continued.

“There is one rumor. However, none of our members have confirmed it personally, so I cannot guarantee that it is true. You see...”

“Just tell us where it is. We will verify the rest ourselves.”

A short while later, Taoist Hyeonam and Seokjangsan left the butcher shop and quickly crossed the marketplace.

Before half a meal’s time had passed, they reached the bank of the Yangtze River.

After passing through a dense grove of willows, they discovered a temporary dock hidden in a recessed bend of the river.

Taoist Hyeonam frowned.

“A gambling ship was clearly moored here.”

Seokjangsan asked with a grim expression,

“Martial Uncle, is there no way to find it?”

Taoist Hyeonam shook his head.

“Unless it returns after nightfall, finding it in broad daylight will be difficult. It will be disguised as a merchant vessel or pleasure boat. And even if we locate it, there is almost no chance Senior Brother Hyeongong will still be aboard.”

“...?”

“The gambling ship would have operated only through the night before departing. Why would Senior Brother Hyeongong remain there?”

“I see.”

Seokjangsan nodded slightly, then asked uneasily,

“Then where should we begin searching for Martial Uncle Hyeongong?”

“Let us return to the marketplace first. He may be with the Cheongo Merchant Guild Master.”

The two had turned and were walking back across the empty dock when—

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

A group of people came racing through the willow grove.

“Ah!”

The man leading them let out a low exclamation when he spotted Taoist Hyeonam standing on the dock.

“Are you not Taoist Hyeonam of Wudang? What brings you to a place like this?”

Taoist Hyeonam recognized him as well.

“Cheongilja of Qingcheng.”

Instead of answering, he returned the question.

“What brings our fellow martial artists of Qingcheng to such a secluded place?”

Cheongilja’s face filled with discomfort.

Seeing it, Taoist Hyeonam’s own expression turned equally troubled.

“...!”

“...!”

The strange situation, in which neither man could speak openly, paradoxically revealed their thoughts with perfect clarity.

Not long afterward, when members of the Mount Hua Sect also appeared at the temporary dock, every heart there sank.