Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 333

Chapter 333
General Maeng and his son departed together, and moments later, two men entered the office of the Jinmusa—individuals whose appearance all but declared their identity as eunuchs.

They were advanced in years, their features an indistinct fusion of masculine and feminine traits, creating a pronounced androgyny. Their green official robes and round hats lacked wings, and their smooth, hairless chins immediately drew the eye. Their look alone made it obvious—they were eunuchs.

*What’s happening? Did something go wrong outside?*

I had been told these eunuchs were here to take me away, and I instinctively recoiled. Yet, General Maeng and his son had just assured me they would manage the situation and send the Dongchang agents packing.

「“There’s no need for alarm, Young Hero So. It appears the Dongchang is merely here to object because we reached you first. However, there is no requirement to surrender you. The Dongchang and the Imperial Guard possess equal authority—they cannot issue commands to us.”
“Precisely, young man. You are too easily startled. My son and I will address this; you simply remain here and enjoy your tea. The Dongchang? A trifling matter.”」

They had asserted that since the Imperial Guard had taken me into custody first, the Dongchang had no legitimate claim. Yet now, these men were entering the office, their expressions and posture telling a completely different story. I could only stand there, feeling increasingly awkward and uncertain of what was to come.

“Please, be seated,” General Maeng offered.

One of the eunuchs, his voice an ambiguous blend of male and female tones, looked at me and inquired, “Hm? And who might this young person be?”

“Ah, this is the young hero responsible for capturing a commander of the Blood Cult,” General Maeng clarified.

The eunuch’s voice immediately took on a sharper edge. “Are you stating that you did not incarcerate a criminal in the dungeons, but instead have kept him here in your offices?”

“I believe you are laboring under a misapprehension, Chief Eunuch,” General Maeng replied, his composure unshaken. “The only individual who is a criminal is the woman from the Blood Cult. This young man is the one who apprehended her. To be exact, he delivered the very mastermind behind the attack on Her Highness the Princess. If anything, he is deserving of a reward, not to be treated as a culprit.”

*That’s right! Tell them, Elder!*

Just as General Maeng said, I deserved recognition, not this talk of detention.

But the eunuch was insistent. “Even so, as the matter has not yet been fully investigated, should he not currently be considered a criminal?”

*What in the world!? What happened to innocent until proven guilty!?*

Of course, this world was modeled on ancient China—such a concept did not exist here.

I must have worn a look of pure astonishment, for General Maeng offered a cunning smile and said: “Do you truly intend to take the only son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang family down to the dungeons for torture? Should that occur, I will not be able to so much as sip a cup of water from tomorrow onward. However, if you are determined, you are welcome to take him and conduct the interrogation yourself, Chief Eunuch.”

“The S-Sichuan Tang family’s son-in-law!?”

The eunuch’s face flooded with panic. To be honest, mine likely did as well. Was he seriously suggesting I could be handed over for torture!? Even in jest, that was going too far…

Still smiling, General Maeng continued: “But if you proceed to take the Tang family’s son-in-law—a man who has committed no crime—and subject him to torture, then starting tomorrow, you should not only monitor everything you consume, but also be cautious with every breath you take. You are well aware of that family’s capabilities. Should they wish it, they can cause a man to perish without a single soul discerning the reason.”

Upon hearing this, the chief eunuch—the “Jang-in Taegam”—snapped.
–*Crack!*
“Ugh!”
“Why was I not informed of this!?”
“M-my apologies! That intelligence never reached our department either…”
“If the Imperial Guard is aware of this, why are we not!? This is intolerable!”

Evidently, the Dongchang had been unaware of my status as the Tang family’s son-in-law. And judging by his expression, the eunuch was prepared to murder someone over this failure.

General Maeng swiftly intervened to diffuse the tension and performed the introductions.
“Now, now, let us all compose ourselves and proceed with formal introductions. Young Hero So, this is Chief Eunuch Wi Chung-heon, the head of the Dongchang. And beside him is Yoo Heon, from the Department of Carriages. Gentlemen, this is So-ryong—son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang family and son of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace Lord.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am So-ryong, son-in-law of the Tang family and son of the Beast Palace.”
“Well, well. The son of the Beast Palace as well? It is an honor. I am Wi Chung-heon.”

His voice was now cordial, his gaze friendly—a complete transformation from his earlier demeanor. Then, the moment he finished addressing me, Wi Chung-heon turned a murderous glare toward Yoo Heon.
–*Grit.*
“You were also unaware of this, were you not? When this concludes, assemble every last member of the Dongchang. Not one will escape reprimand. The very idea that the Imperial Guard possesses knowledge we lack—it is utterly humiliating…”

It was clear the Dongchang could not abide being second to their rivals in intelligence gathering, even within the secret police sphere. Of course, General Maeng was only privy to this information due to his personal connection to me.

I glanced at him. He was grinning like a mischievous child. His son was also smiling broadly. They appeared utterly delighted to witness their rivals being berated in person.

“Let us reserve the assigning of blame for later,” General Maeng interjected. “We are all gathered for the same purpose, are we not? Let us confer and discuss matters.”
“The same purpose?” I exclaimed without thinking.

General Maeng nodded and sought confirmation from Wi Chung-heon. “This concerns an internal palace affair, but since this young man captured a pivotal member of the Blood Cult, I deem it suitable to include him in our discussion. He shares our objective of eradicating the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect. He may possess intelligence that we do not.”

The two eunuchs exchanged looks and nodded their agreement.
“So long as he vows never to speak a word of this beyond these walls.”
“Naturally.”
“Very well. Then let us begin.”
“Yes. First, we must establish the commonality of our goals—only then can genuine cooperation occur.”

Both men led elite secret police organizations, and it showed. Their discourse was methodical and exact.

General Maeng’s son—a high-ranking officer within the Imperial Guard—commenced the briefing. “Through the woman captured by this young man, the former leader of the Bloodshade Unit, we have confirmed that Eunuch Heo is connected to the Five Venoms Sect, which now serves as a shell for the Blood Cult. I presume you are both aware that the Bloodshade Unit functioned as the intelligence arm of the Blood Cult during the upheaval two decades ago?”

“We are.”
“Furthermore, Young Hero So informed Commander Ak that the Five Venoms Sect has fully assimilated the Blood Cult. We of the Imperial Guard believe Eunuch Heo represents a significant threat to His Majesty, and we were preparing to neutralize him.”

The two eunuchs nodded at this. Surprisingly, it was not Wi Chung-heon who responded, but Yoo Heon, the one who had been struck.
“From the Dongchang’s viewpoint, even if Eunuch Heo and the woman he introduced to the palace have no ties to the Five Venoms Sect—it is irrelevant. Our stance remains unchanged. They must be eliminated.”
“…What?”

Eunuch Yoo spoke of discreetly removing Eunuch Heo without a trace of hesitation. He elaborated on his reasoning. “The hierarchy among eunuchs is supreme. And during the emperor’s procession, he had the audacity to show me disrespect, then presumed to escort His Majesty to a brothel under his own control. Furthermore, within the Naemyeongbu’s structure, he persistently maneuvers the woman he brought in into His Majesty’s private chambers—this has provoked significant turmoil among the other consorts and concubines. Therefore, regardless of whether he and this ‘Baek Beauty’ are associated with the Five Venoms Sect, for our purposes, they are. This is not solely the Dongchang’s decision—it is also a direct request from the madams themselves.”

Once again, much like during the incident with the princess, it was starkly clear—secrets within the palace walls were a lethal matter. Earlier, when they had offhandedly said, “Just do not speak of it,” I had assumed it was not a serious concern. But now? What sane person would dare repeat any of this elsewhere? The politics of the imperial palace were truly terrifying.

A shiver ran down my spine at Eunuch Yoo’s blunt words.

It was then that General Maeng’s son spoke again, his demeanor calm as ever. “I comprehend your position. However, rather than inventing charges, it is preferable to verify the facts. Young Hero So, are you absolutely certain that woman is the commander of the Bloodshade Unit?”
“I captured and questioned her myself.”
“Is there any possibility she was lying?”
“None. We employed a truth-compelling poison—administered twice for verification. Furthermore, she has trained in Blood Cult martial arts. Her elevated blood pressure and distinct internal energy patterns are unmistakable—conclusive evidence.”
“Then it is settled,” the eunuchs nodded, visibly relieved.

The mention of a confession under the influence of a Tang Clan poison instantly forged a bond of trust with both the eunuchs and the Maengs.

However, something still troubled me, so I voiced my concern. “I do not know if this ‘Baek Beauty’ is affiliated with the Five Venoms Sect or not.” I knew Eunuch Heo was involved, but she was an unknown. Even though they seemed prepared to condemn her regardless, I felt compelled to mention it.

The eunuchs exchanged a glance that seemed to say, *You naive young man.*
“You are concerned about falsely implicating an innocent woman. But she has already committed a serious offense by violating the protocols of the Naemyeongbu. The Empress, in her time, showed generosity and consideration even to the other concubines. This woman, in contrast, has disregarded the other consorts solely due to the emperor’s favor. That alone justifies punishment. And if Eunuch Heo is indeed with the Five Venoms Sect, she will not survive long in any case.”

It was a fair point. Even if she were innocent, no one would believe it.

Before I could add anything else, General Maeng’s son looked to the eunuchs and asked, “As this matter was requested by the madams themselves… shall the Dongchang take responsibility for it?”
“If you would permit us, the Dongchang would be deeply indebted for this courtesy,” one eunuch replied.

I tilted my head, somewhat confused by this exchange of “courtesy” between the Dongchang and the Imperial Guard. Just then, General Maeng’s voice reached me via sound transmission:
[*“The madams requested the Dongchang handle it, so for the sake of their prestige, they must be the ones to resolve it. By conceding to them here, we secure a favor from them. It is a beneficial exchange.”*]

Politics… so incredibly convoluted. I much prefer straightforwardness.

Just as I was thinking this, the two secret agencies finalized their arrangement.
“Then we will transfer the woman to you. And regarding Young Hero So—he will be kept out of this affair to prevent any complications.”
“Agreed. We would not want His Majesty suddenly commanding his son-in-law to be interrogated.”
“Do you have any objections to the fate of the Blood Cult woman?”
“So long as her death is swift, I have no quarrel.”
“Understood.”

The discussion concluded with efficiency. Shortly after, the Blood Cult commander—Nanhwa—was brought up from the dungeon and formally handed over to the Dongchang.

***

I remained in the office while matters were settled. By noon the following day, Dongchang Chief Wi Chung-heon, General Maeng, and his son rushed into the room, their faces pale with alarm. I had been napping on a long bench and was nearly startled out of my skin.

“So-So-ryong!”
“Young Hero So!”
“By the heavens!”

They all cried out in unison, their voices filled with panic: “Young Hero So! A catastrophe has occurred! That Blood Cult commander—she is dead!”
“What!?”
“Just as the interrogation was to begin, she suddenly clutched her stomach in terrible pain—her abdomen ruptured and she perished! Do you know anything about this?”
“Wait… could it possibly be…?”
“You have some idea?”

Hearing of her stomach exploding immediately brought something to mind—the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites. I had learned of them from Nanhwa herself and from Cheong-yu. Twin parasites that boost martial power and serve as a loyalty safeguard. If one is captured or turns traitor, the pair detonates from within. If one dies, the other perishes as well.

Clearly, the Five Venoms Sect—or the remnants of the Blood Cult within it—had discovered her capture and activated them remotely. They had likely anticipated this scenario and planted the countermeasure.

This situation had just become vastly more complex…
“The Blood Cult, now consumed by the Five Venoms Sect, had implanted her with the Twin Parasites. They must have learned she was captured and activated the mechanism.”
“Curse it! Now our evidence is destroyed!”
“This could recoil on us terribly! Eunuch Yoo, the one who reported on Eunuch Heo, could pay with his life!”

According to Eunuch Wi, it could now appear that Eunuch Yoo had submitted a false report motivated by jealousy. We all sat in stunned silence, desperately searching for a solution. Two hours passed without a single viable idea.

As we exchanged helpless glances, General Maeng’s son released a sigh of utter frustration. “If only Her Highness the Princess were here… we could appeal to her to warn His Majesty of the danger posed by Eunuch Heo. At this juncture, only divine intervention can salvage this…”

Involving the princess now would mean gambling with Eunuch Yoo’s life. There had to be another path…

Wait. Divine intervention? That phrase triggered a recollection—an ancient legend.
“Elders. I might have a notion. What if… we were to do this?”
“You have a strategy?”
“I do…”

I laid out my idea to them in a hushed tone. All three men stared back at me, utterly astounded.
“You can truly accomplish such a thing?”
I offered them a small demonstration—just enough to validate it. Their expressions transformed into ones of awe and excitement.
“This—this will most certainly succeed!”
“No one would ever dare to doubt it after this!”
“It is nothing short of brilliant!”

The three of them were overcome with admiration. And it made perfect sense—it was precisely the sort of thing that monarchs could never disregard.

Plans immediately began to take shape. Details were fleshed out. A full strategy was born.