Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Upon hearing my question, the woman trembled, her chin and hands shaking as she struggled to form a response.
“T-Taehwa Mun… The third son, Jin Dae-seung…”
“The third son of Taehwa Mun? Understood. We will apprehend him at once and…”
Having confirmed the man’s identity, I assured her she had nothing to fear, as we were specialists in these matters.

Shocked exclamations erupted from both Gu-Pae and my sister.
“Taehwa Mun!?”
“You’re certain it’s their third son!?”
I glanced around at their stunned expressions, sensing the atmosphere grow heavy and tense. Something was wrong.

My sister’s voice then reached my mind directly.
[They are part of the same righteous alliance. Taehwa Mun is one of Sichuan’s most influential sects, ranking just below Aemi and Cheongseong. There is a significant complication I will clarify shortly.]
My education from my sister and Mandok Shingun had covered that the dominant powers in Sichuan were Aemi, Cheongseong, and our own Sicheon Tangmun, with various minor sects below them. This man was from a faction just a step down from the top.

Noticing the strained silence, the woman asked nervously, “Wh-what is it? Is something the matter?”

Exchanging a look with my sister, Gu-Pae moved forward to comfort her.
“Not at all, it was merely a surprise. Now that we know who he is, we can trace his whereabouts. You should rest now. Bathe, change into fresh clothes, and recover. We will handle the gambling den owner. Eat well and sleep; good news will find you soon.”

After Gu-Pae spoke, the woman bowed her head three times in profound gratitude.
*Thud, thud, thud!*
She kowtowed with such force that her forehead began to bleed.
Alarmed, my sister summoned a physician from the clan’s medical office to tend to her wounds.

Once the woman had been treated and left with officials, Gu-Pae let out a sigh.
“Hmm… This appears to be more tangled than we anticipated.”
“Indeed. I believe Grandfather and Father must be informed,” my sister agreed, nodding solemnly.

I asked her what the grave issue was and why everyone was so uneasy.
“Sister, you mentioned an important problem. Is his family that powerful?”

A slight frown crossed my sister’s face before her expression softened. She explained calmly, “His family’s influence is not the issue, provided the accusations are true. We could manage that discreetly.”
“Then what is it?”
Her following words were less comforting.
“Yet in the martial world, oaths and pledges are sacred. When someone swears upon their martial honor, their lineage, or their title, they are bound to that promise for life.”
“Really? So the martial world operates on a system of credit?”
I nodded, surprised that such a violent realm placed such value on trust. My sister went on.
“Moreover, our family holds a pledge with Taehwa Mun.”
“A pledge? With Taehwa Mun?”
“My great-grandfather was once the recipient of a great kindness from them. In return, our family vowed that if Taehwa Mun were ever to commit a major transgression, we would grant them forgiveness one time.”

“What!?”
I was astounded. My mind raced to grasp the implications of this ancient promise.
It sounded like a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card from a bygone era.
“So, Taehwa Mun essentially holds a card of immunity?”
This meant the pledge from our family allowed Taehwa Mun to avoid punishment for one major crime, no matter how severe.

Quickly comprehending the situation, I instructed Gu-Pae to look after the woman and proceeded directly to the Tang Clan’s headquarters. It was evident this matter required a council with the family elders. The seriousness of the situation demanded attention, immunity card or not.

Upon reaching the Tangmun, I assembled Mandok Shingun, my father-in-law, and mother-in-law, who were about to retire for the night, and relayed the day’s events.
“And so, that is what occurred. I am uncertain how to move forward, Grandfather.”

After my sister finished speaking, Mandok Shingun and my father-in-law exploded in anger.
My mother-in-law, whose heart was more tender, was nearly moved to tears by the woman’s plight.
“Taehwa Mun is a respected sect in Sichuan, and its master is a righteous man! How could such a monstrous individual emerge from that noble line?”
“Is it not horrifying?”
“That demonic wretch is loose in Sichuan! And this woman is now sheltered in our clan’s quarters in Seongdo?”
“Yes, Father. For the time being, I have directed our physician to care for her.”

Once the initial fury subsided, the elders understood the reason for our late-night visit.
They traded grave looks and asked, “You wish to aid this woman in securing vengeance, but the ancestral pledge with Taehwa Mun stands in the way, is that it?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”

The two men fell into a deep, silent contemplation.
Although my grandfather was the clan patriarch, my father-in-law held final authority in family decisions.
After a moment of hesitation, my father-in-law turned to my sister and me, his tone solemn and resolute.
“The vow of our ancestors is tied to the honor of the Tang Clan. If we break our word to help this woman, who will ever trust our promises again? We cannot assist her. The poison of our clan and the blood of our lineage must never be used to aid her.”
“Father! Grandfather! I beg you to reconsider!”

Was an unjust decree still to be obeyed? As much as I believed in a society built on credit, this harsh verdict left me reeling.
Naturally, I pleaded for them to reconsider, but as I did, my sister squeezed my hand and her voice sounded in my mind.
[We will acquiesce and depart. It is already handled.]
“?”
“My sister, the Tang Clan’s Huaeun, will obey the head’s command.”
My sister bowed respectfully and, seeing my stunned confusion, gently guided me out.

She led me back to the carriage and, taking my arm, said, “We must make haste. There is much to do if we are to help that unfortunate woman.”

Though my sister said we had work ahead, the situation was complex. I questioned her.
“Wait, but Father explicitly forbade us from helping her.”
A bright smile spread across her face. “Yes. Father said the Tang Clan’s poison and bloodline must not assist her. But So-ryong, you are not of the Tang Clan, are you? If you help her without employing the clan’s poison, it will be permitted. I believe the original pledge was to grant one concession in our dealings with Taehwa Mun.”
“!”
I was speechless. It seemed the rules of the credit-based society were being cleverly interpreted.
When others employed such tactics, it might seem underhanded, but when we did it, it felt reassuring. My appreciation for the Tang Clan was growing.
Though, I did wonder if this was a test of my loyalty, a kind of initiation into the family.

***

The following morning, at first light, I called for Gu-Pae and relayed the outcome of the previous night’s discussion with Mandok Shingun and my father-in-law.
“…And that is what was decided,” I concluded.
Gu-Pae nodded in understanding. “At least you have their conditional approval, but they will undoubtedly insist we conceal any connection to the clan. Our options will be limited.”
“Nevertheless, it is good we have a path to help.”
“True. However, I will begin by investigating his habits and routines.”

Gu-Pae mentioned his past experience in the Poison Squad (Myeoldokdae) and suggested starting with intelligence gathering, which I agreed was sensible.
I was privately concerned about entrusting the investigation to the so-called “wretched” union he mentioned, but kept my doubts to myself.
*‘Are we really relying on beggars for intelligence?’*

That afternoon, as Gu-Pae left to delegate the task to the “Gaebang,” I invited the woman for tea to check on her well-being.
“Did you rest well last night?”
“Yes, thanks to your kindness…”
She looked significantly improved from the day before; cleaned, dressed in fresh garments, with her hair neatly arranged. The crickets were silent during the day, leaving her mentally clear, though the scars on her face remained.
The clan would supply ointments and treatment for her burns, and I was confident she would heal. Her overall condition was surprisingly stable.

While we were discussing how she began raising crickets, Gu-Pae’s voice called from outside.
“Ah, Miss. A guest has, well, arrived…”
“A guest? Show them in.”
I granted permission, and to my astonishment, Gu-Pae entered not with a typical guest, but accompanied by a disheveled beggar.
Gu-Pae stood stiffly, looking like a soldier reporting uneasily to his superior.
*‘What is this? Why has he brought a beggar here?’*
I raised an eyebrow in question, but the greatest surprise was my sister immediately rising and greeting the elderly beggar with deep respect.
“Greetings, Elder Geol-hwang of the Gaebang. What brings someone of your stature to Sichuan?”
“The Beggar Elder?”
The woman seemed to recognize him as the beggar from her story.
As I looked between the beggar, my sister, and the woman, my sister’s urgent telepathic message arrived.
[So-ryong, you must greet him properly. Elder Geol-hwang is one of the Three Monarchs of the martial world, a peer to Lord Gwon-hwang. He is among the three most formidable figures in all of martial arts.]
*‘This beggar is a martial world monarch?’*
Stunned, I bowed and offered my respects since my sister insisted.
He nodded with interest, a mischievous grin on his face.
“Hehehe. I had heard Lord Gwon-hwang never took disciples, so I was curious when he passed on his arts. A most interesting fellow, to be walking around with such… unsightly creatures upon your person.”
The beggar seemed aware of the centipedes coiled around my body, a secret known only to the highest echelons of the martial world and my immediate family. I was taken aback.
The beggar laughed heartily at my reaction. “Hehe, so you are new to the martial world, then? Your betrothed will tell you more about me.”
[Geol-hwang is the former leader of the Gaebang. There is no rumor in this world he does not know.]
At my sister’s explanation, my trust in the beggar grew. He knew of me and possessed a formidable reputation.
He spoke again. “Do you know why I am here?”
“Could it be regarding Taehwa Mun?”
He nodded at my guess. “Precisely. That is my purpose.”
“Have you come to prevent us?” my sister asked, puzzled.
The beggar shook his head. “No. I lack direct evidence, so I cannot act myself. But knowing that child’s circumstances, how could I not offer aid? You are pursuing justice and virtue. I have come to assist.”
“Eh?”
My sister and I blinked in surprise at his sudden offer of help.
The beggar tapped his temple. *Tap, tap.*
“You require information, do you not? Also, I am curious to see how the successor of Lord Gwon-hwang will manage this affair.”
*‘So he’s here to watch the spectacle?’*
Gu-Pae had brought a spectator when he was supposed to be securing intelligence. His nervousness was plain, and I shot him a questioning look, making him scratch his head in embarrassment.

***

Though the beggar’s sudden arrival was disconcerting, he quickly proved his usefulness.
“I have tracked his movements: the slums on the outskirts of Seongdo, twice. I have had suspicions about him for five separate incidents thus far,” the beggar continued.
“That many?”
“Indeed. I uncovered his activities a few years ago and have compiled information through my network. Lately, he has grown cautious, making him harder to trace.”
The beggar confirmed the man was even worse than we had imagined and seemed expertly adept at operating in secrecy.
“So, he only leaves the gambling den approximately once every three days, and never ventures beyond the gates of Taehwa Mun?”
“Correct. Since the incident in Songga Village, he has lain low for some reason. That is why I proposed using poison.”
“I understand.”

It was evident we would need to deal with him inside the gambling den. However, a problem remained.
The establishment served food and drink to patrons who had lost their money, encouraging them to stay and consume more. While procuring poison wouldn’t be difficult, how could we ensure it reached him specifically amidst the crowd?
If we directly offered him a drink, we would be the prime suspects when he fell. I turned to the woman, who had worked in the kitchen, and asked, “You mentioned you poisoned his food while working in the kitchens. How did you manage it?”
She nodded. “Occasionally, when a high-stakes gambler arrived, he would make very specific demands, like food without crab or shrimp. That was when I introduced the poison.”
“Crab and shrimp? Does he dislike them?”
I wondered if he was merely fussy, but Geol-hwang provided the answer from the side.
“That scoundrel claims something happens to his body if he eats shellfish or shrimp.”
“Ah, so he has an allergy!”
Bingo!
The man was allergic to shellfish, and now I had the perfect method to eliminate him.
*‘It seems I am truly a part of the Tang Clan now…’*
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness, but I smiled at Gu-Pae and gave him his next order.
“Gu-Pae, go to the Tang Clan at once and bring me what I request.”
“Lord So-ryong, did the clan not forbid the use of poison?”
Gu-Pae flinched, thinking I wanted a clan poison.
I smiled and replied, “No. I need you to bring me Huangfenchong (Yellow Powder Worm).”
“Huangfenchong?”
“Indeed. I am going to kill him in a most delicious manner.”
“?”
Everyone stared in confusion, unable to comprehend my plan.