Chapter 87 – Where the Secret Words Lead (2)
I returned straight to my ho in Shandong.
Everyone was busy with their own tasks, and I had nothing urgent to do in Wuhan at the mont.
Having decided to decode the cipher, I was determined to see it through to the end.
After greeting my parents, I went straight to et Chief Jong.
“What’s this?”
Chief Jong asked, looking down at the several items placed before him.
“These are dicinal herbs good for your health. And this is a new robe, along with a few comfortable spring outfits I bought. They’re made by a famous tailor in Wuhan.”
“So why are you giving this trap?”
“Trap? It’s a gift.”
“A gift, you say?”
“It’s a gift to show my gratitude for introducing to a good disciple.”
Chief Jong snorted and asked.
“Hmph! Stop with the nonsense. Just tell what you want.”
“As expected, you see right through people!”
Chief Jong looked down at the gifts placed before him.
“Your ulterior motives are so obvious, how could I not see through them!”
“Haha.”
I took out the paper with the cipher from my chest.
“Please help decode this.”
Chief Jong took the paper with an expression that said, ‘I knew it.’
“Quite a difficult cipher.”
In other words, it also ant that he could solve it.
Gong Su-chan said he learned cipher decoding from his master, Chief Jong. Chief Jong was originally soone who wanted to pursue the path of a scholar, but sohow ended up becoming a chief. Soday, I’ll get to hear his story.
“Co back in the evening.”
“That quickly? Really…”
“Enough. Bring a bottle of liquor when you co.”
“Yes.”
As I was about to get up and leave, Chief Jong said.
“Is that guy doing well?”
Despite appearing so gruff, his care for his disciple was unparalleled among teachers.
“Yes, he’s doing very well.”
“Good then.”
I left the room, leaving Chief Jong absorbed in the cipher.
***
Song Hwa-rin’s day was devoted to training from beginning to end.
She had expressed to her father her intention to temporarily set aside Song family matters and focus on martial arts training.
What martial artist would stop their daughter from dedicating herself to martial arts?
Song Woo-gyeong gladly agreed.
Since that day, Song Hwa-rin spent her entire day practicing the Vibrating Splendor Sword Art passed down by the Byeok Clan Sword Manor.
Although it was still in the early stages, the more she practiced, the more she could feel how different it was from the martial arts she had learned before.
It was said that the Splendid Lady of Solitary Mountain, who had mastered this martial art, was a woman who lived a lonely life. Perhaps because of hearing this, the sword technique felt sohow lonely. Song Hwa-rin liked the sense of solitude emanating from the sword technique.
She leaped up from the ground and swung her sword powerfully.
Swish swish swish swish swish!
Her movents were fast yet graceful, precise yet powerful.
Although she hadn’t been practicing for long, it felt comfortable, like wearing a well-worn garnt, without any sense of unfamiliarity.
Considering that the Vibrating Splendor Sword Art was an advanced sword technique, this level of adaptation was almost unbelievable.
She could understand the reason. It was because when the Byeok Clan Sword Manor first taught her, they explained it in a way that was truly easy to understand.
If he hadn’t taught her and another master had taught this martial art, it would probably have taken years to reach this level of understanding.
‘He really is…’
As she turned around, thinking whether to call him incomprehensible or strange, she was startled and scread.
“Ah!”
Byeok Ri-dan was standing behind her. She was even more surprised because she had just been thinking about him.
“Sorry. I didn’t an to startle you.”
“It’s okay. But how did you…?”
“I suddenly had to co ho. I have to go back soon.”
“I see.”
“I have so ti until evening…”
As Byeok Ri-dan hesitated to continue, she quickly said.
“Wait a mont. I’ll get ready and co out.”
“Alright.”
She walked out of the training ground with graceful steps.
As soon as she was out of Byeok Ri-dan’s sight, she dashed off using her lightness skill. Washing up, putting on makeup, choosing clothes. There was so much to do.
Half an hour later, the two were walking in the marketplace.
Passersby glanced at her. Admiration was directed at Song Hwa-rin, while jealousy was aid at Byeok Ri-dan.
Byeok Ri-dan didn’t find this unpleasant at all. Rather, he felt proud and was secretly enjoying the attention.
The weather was particularly beautiful today, and in the clear blue sky without a single cloud, two birds were playing, flying in circles, one leading and the other following.
Spring was firmly taking hold where the cold had once reigned.
“How’s Wuhan?”
“Just more complicated than here. More people too.”
“There must be prettier won than there too.”
“I suppose so. Huh? What did you say?”
Byeok Ri-dan, who had answered mindlessly, turned to Song Hwa-rin with a start. She gave him a sidelong glance with an expression that said she had caught him.
Soon after, she spoke as if conceding.
“Right, it’s a big city after all, there must be many won prettier than .”
“Won prettier than you are…”
Knowing her ears would perk up, a mischievous impulse struck. Originally, he was going to say that it would be hard to find won prettier than her, but instead…
“Occasionally there.”
She pouted her lips.
“Hahaha.”
Knowing it was a joke, she laughed along. This was the first ti she had pretended to be upset like this, and the first ti she had laughed so brightly. With each eting, she kept showing new sides of herself.
Talking about this and that, they soon reached the end of the marketplace.
“Where should we go now?”
“Well…”
Byeok Ri-dan realized he had never leisurely walked with a woman like this before. Not just with won, but with anyone. His steps had always had a purpose.
“Let’s just walk a bit more.”
“Okay.”
The two walked back the way they had co.
When they reached the end, they turned back again.
That purposeless back-and-forth walk wasn’t boring at all.
When I returned ho after roaming around with Song Hwa-rin to my heart’s content, Chief Jong had finished decoding the cipher.
“I’ve decoded the cipher.”
Chief Jong handed over a piece of paper.
某月某時 (a certain month and ti), 河南省 (Henan Province) 方城 (Fangcheng) 秋家壯 (Joo Family Estate).
“Isn’t ‘某月某時’ this month?”
“Exactly eight days from now.”
It seed to an to gather at the Joo Family Estate in Fangcheng, Henan Province, eight days later.
Fangcheng in Henan Province was within a distance that could be reached in ti.
“Thank you so much for your help.”
“No need for thanks. But this… is it possibly dangerous?”
“Maybe.”
For a mont, concern flashed across his face as he looked at . But he didn’t express it. He stood up, holding the liquor I had bought.
“Next ti, I won’t fall for the trap.”
Looking at the liquor in his hand, I said,
“Hahaha. You’re too late. I now know exactly what kind of trap is needed.”
“You rascal!”
Still, he didn’t say he wouldn’t help again.
The next morning at dawn, after saying goodbye to my family and household mbers, I left ho.
My destination was Henan Province.
***
Upon arriving in Fangcheng, I learned that the Joo Family Estate was located on the western outskirts.
I headed there with the face of the Naless One. I also wore a wide-brimd hat pulled low. Although with my martial arts skills, no one could remove the hat against my will, I didn’t know what might be waiting there. It’s best to be cautious and then cautious again.
As I approached the place, more and more people appeared. There were martial artists and ordinary people. The martial artists seed to be quite skilled, and the ordinary people were wearing very expensive and fine clothes.
There were rchants accompanied by bodyguards, and people wearing the uniforms of escort agencies. They were carrying or transporting gifts-like luggage in their hands or on carts.
I casually asked soone who looked friendly:
“Where is everyone going?”
“It’s the birthday of Master Joo today.”
The birthday of Master Joo.
This is a day often used for secret gatherings in the martial world. With many people gathering, one could et without drawing attention.
“Where are you from?”
A man writing in the guest book at the entrance asked .
Instead of answering, I picked up the brush and wrote the na of Cho Byeok, who had been the owner of this cipher, in the guest book.
The man glanced at .
Since I was wearing my hat pulled low, he couldn’t see my face anyway.
I entered as if nothing was amiss.
It seed the master usually enjoyed high esteem, as the inside was bustling with well-wishers. It appeared that all the local notables had gathered.
From people greeting acquaintances to those eating the prepared dishes on the side, and even so whose faces were already red from drinking.
I stood to one side, observing the attendees.
Why had Cho Byeok kept the date and location of this birthday party encoded and stored?
When it seed anyone could attend like this?
When the courtyard was filled with well-wishers, Joo Do-chi[1], the master of the Joo family, ca out to greet everyone.
“Why have you all co for the birthday of this old man? It’s not that important.”
Then one of the guests said loudly:
“Of course we should co for the birthday of the great elder representing Henan.”
“What if the real great elders hear you say that?”
“To us, Master Joo is the great elder.”
The surrounding people agreed.
“Of course.”
“Absolutely.”
“Congratulations!”
The guests clapped and cheered.
Joo Do-chi raised his hand to get everyone’s attention, then said to all:
“Thank you. With the warm hearts of my martial arts brothers, this old man could die today without regrets. Please eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves before heading back. I’m truly grateful that you’ve co from so far.”
“Master Joo, may you live long and prosper.”
Cheers erupted from all directions again.
Up to this point, it was just an ordinary birthday celebration with nothing unusual.
But things changed from here on.
A woman approached and whispered to .
“You’re Master Jo, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
It seed she recognized because I had left my na in the guest book earlier.
“Please follow .”
The woman guided to the rear garden. There were so many people that no one paid attention to us.
A martial artist was standing guard in front of a separate building in the rear garden.
I imdiately recognized that he was a master. He was at least as skilled as Yeom Hwa, whom I had faced recently, if not more so.
A master of this caliber in a place like this?
Indeed, the situation seed far from ordinary.
I followed the woman into the building. Two n were already waiting in the spacious hall.
Judging by how they were standing silently without talking to each other, it seed they too had been guided here by soone, just like .
One was in his twenties, and the other in his thirties, both appearing to possess considerable skill.
Why were we gathered here?
Just then, the door opened, and about ten people entered. The martial artist who had been guarding the entrance led the way. The n who followed also appeared to have substantial martial arts skills.
If the man I saw at the door was at Yeom Hwa’s level, the n behind him seed to be about as skilled as the Fourth Friends of the Heavenly Blade.
Although the Fourth Friends of the Heavenly Blade had died by my hand with a single move, that was because it was . The Fourth Friends of the Heavenly Blade could be considered quite skilled.
One Yeom Hwa and ten Fourth Friends of the Heavenly Blade.
This was a formidable force rarely seen in such a small estate.
The man introduced himself briefly.
“I am Sim Hwang[2].”
It was unclear whether he was a martial artist belonging to the Joo family estate or an outsider.
“Before we begin, I’ll check the invitations first.”
Invitations?
Setting aside what they were about to start, I was inwardly startled. I didn’t have an invitation.
Sim Hwang stepped forward.
Fortunately, he didn’t co to first but went to the man next to .
The man took sothing out from his chest and handed it over.
What he took out was a small piece of paper. I felt relieved the mont I saw it.
It was the very paper that had been hidden inside the arrowhead.
That was the invitation. The reason Cho Byeok had kept it instead of discarding it was because this was the invitation.
Sim Hwang, who received the paper, dipped it into a bowl of water held by one of his subordinates who had followed him.
Blue color flowed from the paper. It seed they had applied a special dye that only they could verify.
He checked the other man’s as well, and finally, it was my turn.
When the paper was dipped, blue color flowed out again. It was a really good thing that I had retrieved it after decoding.
Sim Hwang turned around after finishing the verification.
It seed like he was just walking away, but then…
Swish!
He turned back like lightning and swung his sword.
My waist was bent backward, and Sim Hwang’s sword was extended where my face had been. I had narrowly avoided it.
Holding his sword pointed at , Sim Hwang said coldly.
“You’re not Cho Byeok.”
The martial artists standing behind rushed forward, drawing their swords.
I slowly straightened my waist and pushed aside the extended sword with my finger.
“You don’t understand the aning of an invitation. If you’re only going to invite familiar faces, why bother making invitations? You could just tell them to co.”
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