Murim Troubleshooter Chapter 179 : Preparing for the Garden Banquet

Chapter 179: Preparing for the Garden Banquet

On the road from Mount Song to Beijing after leaving that eventful place behind,

I sat atop a carriage I had caught a ride on midway and reflected on the events of the past few days.

“Beyond-Heaven Beings… beings that have stepped beyond the heavens.”

Song Ryeong had let slip so strange information related to the Evil Stars.

Resting my chin on my hand as the carriage rattled along, I sank into thought.

“Could Ilwol have been such a being as well?”

The Mysterious Daoist I had only ever heard about from Hwang Geolgae, never once seeing his face.

Now that I thought about it, there was no way an ordinary master could casually create a Heart Cultivation thod capable of nurturing and accumulating the power of the stars.

I nodded to myself as if I had finally co to an understanding.

“Mujin, what’s Ilwol?”

Jo Harang, pressing close beside , asked with eyes brimming with curiosity.

“…It’s just sothing like that.”

I brushed it off vaguely.

The reason Hwang Geolgae hadn’t killed

and instead took

in as a disciple was probably largely because of the existence of the Starfall Heart Cultivation thod.

“Excuse , but are you really that Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin?”

The rchant driving the carriage turned his head and asked.

He was the rchant who had readily allowed

aboard after I gave my alias and showed a pale white Sword Flux when we first t.

“Yes, that’s —the unparalleled troubleshooter, Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin. Sounds like you’ve heard about .”

I scratched the bridge of my nose and spoke proudly. Lately my alias seed to be spreading across the Central Plains.

To think soone this far from Beijing would recognize

and react with such amazent.

Perhaps it was thanks to the Beggars’ Union operatives spreading word of my deeds all across the Central Plains.

“Of course I have! I’m a rchant from Sichuan, and there’s not a single person there who doesn’t know about the young master who boldly kicked down the main gate of the Tang Clan!”

It seed my fa had reached its peak in Sichuan as well as Beijing.

Well, who else would charge headfirst into the family that ruled Sichuan without even considering the consequences?

Only soone like , who had the strong backing of Tang Yeo-hye and confidence that the Clan Leader would survive by sheer luck.

“I heard you did such a reckless thing because you were trying to win a woman of the Tang Clan. Is that true, young master?”

The rchant’s eyes sparkled.

“…What? That’s not it.”

Just how did those Tang Clan bastards spread the rumors?

Could it be that the sham engagent I initially tried to force had been distorted like this?

Or maybe they kept things quiet to hide the clan’s disgrace, and the rumor spread in this strange way instead.

“How romantic.”

“I told you it’s not like that.”

I waved my hand at the rchant with a hollow laugh.

Romantic, my ass. I nearly had a heart attack dealing with all those Tang Clan martial artists rushing at .

“Still… our Mujin really is full of romance…”

And why was this one sulking now?

For soone who smashed everything around her whenever she drew her broadsword, she was unusually pouty.

“Hey, you know that’s not what happened. I already explained it.”

I was pretty sure I told her everything when we made peace after fighting each other at the Golden Dragon Academy.

“But still…”

Jo Harang pouted, saying that just thinking about that ti still made her feel strange.

What a troubleso woman.

“rchant, let’s just get going.”

This Sichuan rchant kept saying strange things.

I waved my hand, telling him to hurry.

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

The carriage rolled forward quickly as it swayed.

Even after becoming a martial artist capable of using Body Movent Technique, human nature remained the sa—standing was more comfortable than walking, and sitting was more comfortable than standing.

For long-distance travel, nothing was more convenient than a carriage that moved on its own.

Thus, even though it took so ti, we returned to Beijing at a leisurely pace.

When we arrived, Ilhong—who had been guarding the office alone for quite a while—greeted us with a terribly exhausted face.

Her hands were covered in iron dust and black powder, as if she had rushed out while making Thunderburst Bombs.

“Ilhong… are you preparing for war or sothing?”

I clicked my tongue at the sight the mont I opened the office door.

A huge pile of Thunderburst Bombs stacked in one corner of the room.

After the gifted barrel of black powder ran out, it seed she had even visited the Black Market to buy more with her own funds.

She must have asked a skilled blacksmith to make iron casings as well.

“When my head gets complicated… fiddling with sothing without thinking is the best…”

Ilhong muttered with hollow eyes.

We had a nice break, yet why did she look like this?

“Why is your head complicated?”

“Well… you two went off together and left only

behind! Just the two of you…!”

She suddenly raised her voice and poured out her resentnt.

Right. Better not dig any deeper.

Anyway, we reopened the office after returning to Beijing.

Since we hadn’t taken requests for quite so ti, I briefly worried we might have lost potential clients.

If business suffered, it would beco a headache in many ways.

“Ilhong, did anyone co looking for

while I was gone?”

“No? Not really.”

Ilhong brushed the black powder off her hands and answered bluntly.

It seed the residents of the Imperial Capital were still wary of the Imperial Household.

They were hesitant about getting involved with our office.

Of course, a few small rchants who didn’t have to worry about the Imperial Household had co by.

But the requests weren’t profitable and probably wouldn’t accumulate much Good Karma either, so I declined them after hearing them out.

“Captain, you used to accept requests even from kids without discrimination.”

Ilhong tilted her head, surprised at my refusal.

Jo Harang shrugged beside

and chid in.

“Well, Mujin’s earning money now. Guess he’s gotten picky.”

“Yeah, that must be it.”

These brats, seriously.

Subordinates slandering their own employer.

“It’s not that I’ve gotten picky. The requests were just too ambiguous.”

It was fine if they didn’t pay much money, but they should at least accumulate Good Karma.

The requests were things like roughing soone up or resolving monetary disputes between rchants.

From my perspective, they brought neither money nor Good Karma.

“If that’s the case, it’d be better to look for requests from outside the Imperial Household’s influence—requests coming from other regions.”

If I wanted proper work, I might have to search farther away.

For that, I’d probably need the Beggars’ Union to act as a bridge.

I had refused the gold Princess Peach Blossom offered and instead called them to Beijing, so I should have the right to ask for such a favor.

“Oh, right. Co to think of it, there was one more person looking for you.”

Ilhong snapped her fingers as if she suddenly rembered.

“Oh? Who was it?”

Like a fish biting unexpectedly in an empty pond, I asked with slight anticipation.

“My master was looking for you. She said that when this guy returns, I must send him to the training ground.”

She pointed toward the Eunseong Trading Company outside the window.

“That person… was looking for ?”

“Actually, she said both you and Miss Jo Harang should co together. What happened?”

Ilhong’s question reminded

of what happened before we went to Mount Song.

Soone who burst into the office, shouted “Sorry!” out of nowhere, and ran away like a wildcat.

“Cough.”

“Hmm.”

Jo Harang and I both groaned at the sa ti.

“So what are you going to do about this, wildcat?”

“Uh… I said I was sorry…”

We had barely returned from eting the master of the Purple Tenuity Star.

Now it seed we were about to face the master of the Heaven-Slaying Star—the kind whose fists moved before words.

“Wait, what happened? Don’t leave

out. Tell

too.”

“…It’s just sothing like that.”

Lately, things related to the Evil Stars seed to be happening quite often.

Even if she called , did she really think I would obediently go?

For the ti being, I decided to avoid the brewery that made premium liquor, the inn, and the Eunseong Trading Company.

Rustle. Rustle.

Warm sumr sunlight filtered through the window.

Cheonsugong had been reviewing a report brought by a subordinate since early morning.

The handwriting was neat and orderly.

But as he read line by line, his expression hardened like stone.

“Byeok Jinsang… that foolish man has finally caused a disaster.”

It wasn’t just the occupation of the Byeok Clan.

The report also suggested that while Byeok Jinsang served as Clan Leader, a considerable number of Thunderburst Bombs had been secretly diverted outside.

And this had to happen just before the autumn Garden Banquet, when all mbers of the Imperial Family would gather.

Cheonsugong’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

As the head of the Eastern Depot, the intuition he had honed over decades was sending him a grim warning.

It felt as if sothing disastrous was about to happen.

And Dan Mujin’s involvent made it even worse.

It was almost unfortunate—whenever that brat was involved, his ominous instincts always turned out to be correct.

“Your Majesty… what exactly are you plotting?”

He tapped the desk with his fingers and stared into empty space.

His gaze drifted past the Second Prince’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace outside the window.

Surely they wouldn’t attempt sothing during the Son of Heaven’s court audience…

Yet recalling the recent attempt to poison Princess Peach Blossom made a chill run down his spine.

Once people crossed the line, there was no longer any limit to what they might do.

The situation truly might lead to the disaster he feared.

“What should be done…”

Cheonsugong placed the report down and let out a deep sigh.

The more the Eastern Depot investigated the Byeok Clan incident, the more it revealed how ticulous the enemy was.

Every piece of evidence slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.

Even Byeok Jinsang, the only witness, had been found poisoned during transport.

“Ruthless bastards.”

His gaze grew cold.

As far as he knew, the only force capable of playing such tricks against the Eastern Depot was the Royal Guards.

Those who were supposed to serve as the Son of Heaven’s eyes and ears might be involved in a sche that could threaten him.

It was utterly absurd and beyond reason.

“Depending on how things unfold… the Garden Banquet may beco a blood-soaked gathering.”

The ominous feeling swelled as if he were witnessing the prelude to a massive storm.

“Um… Cheonsugong, soone has co to see you unexpectedly…”

A subordinate outside the door cautiously announced a visitor.

Judging from the confusion in his voice, the visit had clearly not been scheduled.

“At a ti like this, who could it be?”

The head of the Eastern Depot was not soone people could et whenever they wished.

A long and strict process was normally required beforehand.

Creak.

“Eunuch Saerye, have you been well? I ca to see your face after such a long ti.”

A dignified noblewoman entered with a warm voice.

Upon confirming the visitor’s identity, Cheonsugong instantly understood his subordinate’s flustered reaction.

Even the Son of Heaven occasionally struggled with this person—how could anyone in the Eastern Depot possibly stop her?

“…This humble servant Cheonsugong greets Imperial Concubine Hwang.”

Imperial Concubine Hwang Ma Juyoung, who bore the Third Princess and Third Prince and enjoyed the Son of Heaven’s favor.

In this Imperial Palace filled with malice and suspicion, she was the only one who seed to live in an entirely different world.

“I heard you’ve worked hard protecting my daughter lately. I, this Imperial Concubine, feel deeply grateful.”

Imperial Concubine Hwang gently raised her hand to stop his bow.

“…It is not worthy of such praise. Please withdraw such gracious words.”

Cheonsugong bowed even deeper.

No one had ordered him to do it.

In this palace that resembled a nest of demons, Princess Peach Blossom was the only imperial who truly acted like a human being.

That was why he had worked tirelessly to protect her upright character and cause.

“But Imperial Concubine Hwang… what brings you here today?”

Cheonsugong asked carefully.

This was the heart of the Eastern Depot, a place filled with secrets and conspiracies.

Even imperial family mbers usually sent soone and arranged a eting elsewhere.

It was unexpected for her to co personally.

“My daughter told

there is no one who understands the affairs of the Imperial Palace better than you. Next year will mark the Son of Heaven reaching the age of Knowing Heaven’s Mandate, and a grand banquet will be held. Though it is early, I wish to begin preparing a gift now and seek your advice.”

The age of Knowing Heaven’s Mandate.

Whenever the Son of Heaven reached certain ages—twenty, thirty, forty—the Imperial Household held grand ceremonies and banquets to pray for longevity.

“I cannot figure out what he might like. Cheonsugong, would you accompany

in this conversation for a mont?”

So she had co for consultation.

At a ti when Thunderburst Bombs had gone missing and conspiracies were unfolding, she wished to discuss what gift would suit the Son of Heaven’s birthday next year.

“Hmm.”

Cheonsugong let out a short groan.

But then he realized the timing might actually be fortunate.

He had already been planning to visit her because of the Garden Banquet.

“Imperial Concubine Hwang, if it would not be improper… may this humble servant also ask a favor?”

When Cheonsugong cautiously asked, the Imperial Concubine tilted her head with curiosity.

“Oh? What favor could it be? Speak.”

“In truth, suspicious movents have been detected regarding the Garden Banquet to be held in a few months. To protect Your Ladyship and the Imperial Family, I wish to summon an outsider. Would you grant permission?”

Unlike the Princess’s Palace where he could manage personnel freely, bringing an outsider into the Garden Banquet held under the Son of Heaven’s authority required the Imperial Concubine’s assistance.

“Suspicious movents… If you say so, then it must be true. But can one outsider stop such a thing?”

“Normally it would be difficult, but if it’s that insolent brat…”

Cheonsugong nearly lost his composure for a mont and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. In any case, he may be of great help.”

The Imperial Concubine’s lips curved slightly at his unexpected confidence.

“Oh? What kind of person makes you insist this strongly?”

“He is a troubleshooter in Beijing who once saved Princess Peach Blossom’s life.”

That brat had said after the incident that he could no longer involve himself with the Imperial Household because of his master.

But once you get involved in imperial affairs, it’s not your decision anymore, you brat.

Cheonsugong bowed his head and quietly spoke a certain na before Imperial Concubine Hwang.