Chapter v20c14

## Lee Si-Geon’s Fury

– A Conspiracy Takes Root

A plume of smoke rose from a building hidden deep within the backyard of the Central Plains Merchant Guild’s Nanchang branch. A medicinal broth was simmering on a brazier. The physician’s hands moved busily, slicing herbs, while five maids fanned the five braziers tirelessly. The place, usually as quiet as an abandoned house, was bustling with activity today.

The finished broth was poured into a white bowl. The maid carrying the tray moved with reverence, her steps careful and measured. The person waiting inside was Yoon Yi-Jeong, the head of the Nanchang branch and one of the Twelve Jade Walls.

Yoon Yi-Jeong, standing by the bedside, took the bowl, blew on it a few times, and carefully brought it to the patient’s lips.

“The medicine is ready. Please drink it before it gets cold…”

“…”

But the patient, lying on his side, remained silent.

“Please drink it, Young Master! You’ve been unconscious for two days. You need to nourish your weakened body…”

He urged him again, bringing the bowl closer, but the patient swatted his arm away irritably.

*Whoosh!*

“Oh!”

He dropped the bowl, startled by the sudden movement.

*Crash!*

The bowl shattered on the floor, splattering the dark liquid everywhere.

“Young Master!”

He called out in alarm. Lee Si-Geon sat up abruptly, his arms flailing wildly, as if he were drowning in a swamp. His upper body was bare, his wounds covered in bandages.

“I can’t go back like this! I can’t!”

He shouted, his voice filled with frustration and despair.

“Young Master Lee, please calm down. It’s not good for your wounds.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong tried to soothe him.

*Glare!*

He felt a chill run down his spine as Lee Si-Geon glared at him. He sensed the killing intent in his bloodshot eyes.

“Y-young Master…?”

He gulped, his heart pounding. He quickly dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

“I-I’m sorry. I misspoke, M-master! I deserve to die.”

He didn’t care if he looked pathetic. There was no need to add fuel to the fire. The raging flames of anger could consume him. He was desperate to redeem himself.

“Don’t forget! I’m your master now. You belong to me. A servant who forgets his master deserves to be cast out.”

Lee Si-Geon said, his voice cold.

“Don’t forget! My fate is your fate.”

“Of course, Master. I would never forget.”

It was best to stay silent when your master was acting like a rabid dog.

“Good.”

He had regained his composure (or so he thought). He considered it a sign of his composure that he hadn’t killed Yoon Yi-Jeong on the spot, but his current state wasn’t very convincing.

“I can’t go back like this. What am I supposed to tell him? That I boasted and failed miserably? Should I tell him that?”

“O-of course not, Master.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong replied, sweat dripping down his forehead.

‘Damn it! Walking on a tightrope would be more pleasant than this!’

He cursed inwardly. Dancing barefoot on burning coals would be more enjoyable than this.

‘Did I make the wrong choice?’

But it was too late to change his mind. He had to calm his agitated master and find a way out of this predicament.

“No! I’m doomed! I’ll be stuck licking his boots forever! I won’t let that happen! I swore that day, when he defeated me and laughed at me, that I would crush his handsome face! I’ll never forgive him! Never! I’ll make him regret it. But… but…”

He could be punished before he got his revenge. The organization’s punishments were harsh and severe.

“Don’t worry, Master. We still have a way.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong intervened, realizing that the situation was getting out of hand.

“What way?”

“A way that you’ll remember as soon as your mind calms down, Master.”

He emphasized that he wasn’t taking credit for the idea. It was important to be tactful when dealing with a prideful superior.

“Really? Well, that’s obvious, but…”

Lee Si-Geon gestured for him to continue.

“Have you forgotten, Master? The two brats from Blue Dragon Manor. They still have ‘it.’ If we can get our hands on that ‘key’…”

He smiled meaningfully, implying that he didn’t need to say more. Lee Si-Geon understood. He jumped to his feet.

“Oh, the key! That’s right! We have that! If we get that, we can cover up all our mistakes! Why didn’t I think of that before?!”

The flames of desire reignited in his eyes, which had been flickering like dying embers. His gaze, which had been clouded with despair, now gleamed with newfound hope.

“I can’t believe I forgot about something so important! That’s right! We have that. The key to my future! If we get that, he won’t punish me, Yi-Jeong!”

“Yes, Master!”

“We’re attacking the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild! I’m summoning all thirteen of the ‘Thirteen Bloods.'”

“A-all thirteen…?”

Yoon Yi-Jeong muttered, swallowing hard.

Lee Si-Geon hadn’t brought them last night because he thought they wouldn’t be necessary. He had been arrogant, thinking that he could handle a couple of kids on his own.

“If only they had been there yesterday, I wouldn’t be lying in bed today. They would be…”

He shook his head.

“No, no, a bed is too good for them! A cold patch of dirt, barely enough for a grave, would be too good for them.”

“You’re absolutely right, Master!”

Yoon Yi-Jeong agreed.

“Then the problem is those two lovebirds.”

There was one more obstacle to overcome before they could attack the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild.

“You mean the Emei Goddess, Jin So-Ryeong, and the First Sword of Jeomchang, Yoo Eun-Seong!”

“Who else could possibly be a nuisance to me?”

He seemed to have forgotten about his encounter with Namgung-Sang and Mo Yong-Hwi.

“It’s too risky to attack them head-on, knowing they’re there. Even if we succeed, we’ll suffer heavy casualties.”

He didn’t want to upset his master any further, but he had to point this out.

“I hate to admit it, but they’re strong.”

Lee Si-Geon gritted his teeth, clutching his wounded shoulder. Yoon Yi-Jeong leaned forward, sensing an opportunity.

“Master, I have a plan. Hehehe!”

He said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

“A plan?”

“Yes! Give me one day, and I’ll take care of them.”

His mind was racing, a cauldron of cunning, deceit, and treachery.

* * *

## The Truth Behind the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild Attack

– The Stolen Hairpin

Furniture was scattered everywhere, tables overturned, chairs toppled over. Drawers, neatly organized and tucked away in their chests until dawn, were all pulled out, their contents – clothes, accessories, and other belongings – strewn across the floor.

Namgung San-San, returning to her dormitory room after her morning training, gasped at the sight that greeted her through the half-open door. It had been less than an hour since she had woken up, breathed in the crisp morning air, and practiced her swordsmanship.

“Is it a burglar?!”

‘Who would dare do this here!’

She was skeptical, but she couldn’t rule out the possibility. She tensed, her hand reaching for her sword, when she heard a familiar voice coming from the other side of the chaotic mess.

“It’s gone! It’s gone! It’s gone!”

The frantic voice, accompanied by the occasional glimpse of a hand emerging from the wreckage, belonged to someone she knew well. Every time the hand appeared, something flew through the air. It seemed like the hand was the culprit behind this disaster.

*Whoosh!*

The hand appeared again, and something else went flying. It landed behind her with a thud and rolled to her feet. It was a Buddha statue.

‘Even this…?’

She decided that it would be best to calm her down if she didn’t want to sleep outside tonight.

‘Sigh…’

She sighed and called out,

“What’s gone, Jin-Ryeong?”

The hand stopped moving. She seized the opportunity and continued,

“What is this mess? This isn’t your room! You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

“…”

A head popped up from the middle of the wreckage, which resembled a battlefield. It was Jin-Ryeong, her roommate and fellow member of the Vermilion Bird group, as she had expected.

“San-San~”

Her eyes were filled with tears, threatening to spill over. She flinched and asked,

“W-what? W-what’s wrong? I’ll help you if I can.”

Jin-Ryeong looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“It’s… it’s… it’s gone!”

“What’s gone? You have to tell me what’s gone!”

She was getting frustrated. Jin-Ryeong was so distraught that she couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.

“The hairpin! The one I kept in my jewelry box!”

She asked,

“The pretty jade one?”

“Yes!”

She nodded.

“The one with the flower and phoenix carvings?”

“Yes, yes!”

She nodded excitedly.

“The one you always wear in your hair?”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

She nodded even more excitedly.

“The one you refused to lend me?”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes! That’s the one! It’s gone! It was a birthday present from my aunt when I was twelve!”

“Hero Jin?”

She had known that Jin-Ryeong treasured it, but she hadn’t known the story behind it.

“Yes! It was the only feminine thing I ever received from my aunt, who only cares about swords. I cherished it so much.”

And now it was gone.

“Did you drop it during your morning training?”

Jin-Ryeong, like her, never missed her morning training. She had left earlier today because Jin-Ryeong was still getting ready. But she shook her head.

“No, that’s impossible. It’s not suitable for training, and it could get damaged or lost during the intense movements. I always keep it in my box when I train. I checked it this morning when I took out my hair tie. But… but…”

It had vanished, as if by magic.

“Is anything else missing? You had other jewelry that could be sold for money, right?”

They were martial artists, but they were also women, and they had a certain amount of jewelry.

“No, only that’s missing. Even my money pouch is still here.”

“That’s strange… They didn’t take your money pouch, only that?”

It didn’t make sense.

“Think carefully. Are you sure nothing else is missing?”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, a letter is also missing.”

“A letter?”

“Yes.”

“A letter from a man other than ‘Mr. Sang’? A love letter, perhaps?”

That would explain her panic.

“No!”

She shouted, her face turning red.

“Why are you getting so defensive? I just thought it might be something like that because you were so panicked. Who’s the letter from?”

She asked, her voice casual.

“My aunt.”

“Hero Jin?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. So only things related to Hero Jin are missing?”

“Now that you mention it, yes.”

It was true. The two missing items were both related to her aunt.

“Why would anyone take those?”

“I don’t know…”

That was the biggest mystery.

“Maybe… it’s a pervert who admires Hero Jin? Someone from the Lovers of Young Ladies Club…?”

“That’s actually quite plausible.”

They were capable of doing something like that.

“But this is a restricted area. No men are allowed here. The only one who could do this is Eldest Senior Brother, and he’s in prison.”

Jin-Ryeong said.

“That’s true. Then who could it be?”

They had no idea.