Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 200
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Chapter 200. You Cannot Know a Person’s Heart
Namjikrye Province, south of Hefei, Sohori
Musansocho Mansion, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
A man urgently knocked on the side door of Musansocho Mansion, which was firmly shut.
Bang, bang, bang.
In the dim light of dawn, the man, wearing a bamboo hat, concealed his face. Shortly after, a noise came from inside, and a servant slightly opened the door and peeked out.
“Who’s there? Who are you to come at such an early hour?”
“I’ve come to see the Mistress of Musansocho, the Martial Mountain Maiden. Is she home?”
“Our mistress left for Zhengzhou some time ago. Who are you?”
“Then who is in charge here?”
“The steward is still here.”
The man with the bamboo hat nudged the door open with his foot and said:
“Take me to him.”
“But I need to know who you are first. I can’t lead just anyone in the middle of the night. It could cost me my life if something goes wrong.”
The man with the bamboo hat pulled out a badge from his chest and brought it close to the servant’s face. The letters engraved on the badge, which glowed faintly in the dark, read “Namjin Musa.” However, the servant, who couldn’t read, merely tilted his head.
The man with the bamboo hat whispered in the servant’s ear:
“I’m with the Jinyiwei. It’s urgent, so hurry up.”
“Ah! Yes, yes.”
Upon hearing “Jinyiwei,” the servant quickly bowed.
Reception Hall
The man with the bamboo hat and Deputy Leader Hyeolgwi Wan Saseok sat facing each other. Wan Saseok, who had been forcibly awakened, looked at the man with bloodshot eyes.
“I don’t know why I have to meet someone from the Jinyiwei at this hour.”
“I understand. I’m here to deliver something.”
“What is it?”
The man with the bamboo hat handed over a letter.
“What is this?”
“The masters of the Justice Alliance are departing from Nanjing to Zhengzhou along four different routes. This letter details the paths they are taking.”
“What? Is this true?”
Wan Saseok quickly grabbed the letter, fearing the man might change his mind.
The man with the bamboo hat, Ji Ilgang of the Jinyiwei, smiled slightly and said:
“If you want to strike the Justice Alliance, you must pass this on as quickly as possible.”
“How do I know this is true? And why would the Jinyiwei give us such valuable information?”
Wan Saseok eyed the man with suspicion.
“To us, there’s no difference between righteous sects and evil sects. There are those who don’t want the Justice Alliance to become too powerful. Or perhaps it’s because the Yoomyung Cult has a good relationship with the imperial court and wants to help them. Isn’t that reason enough?”
“Ha, ha. I appreciate your words.”
Wan Saseok thanked him first. In any case, time would reveal whether the letter was genuine or not.
Ji Ilgang lowered his hat further and said:
“You know, no one should know I was here.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep it a secret.”
“The servant who led me here knows my identity. You must silence him.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll personally take care of him.”
Only after receiving this assurance did Ji Ilgang rise. Wan Saseok didn’t stop him as he vanished into the darkness.
———————
Kaifeng, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
That night, Magistrate Sa Yeonhui of Kaifeng City, who had been working late, was heading home. As he approached the main gate, which should have been closed, he noticed it was slightly ajar, and the house was lit from within.
When he entered, the servants rushed to greet him.
“What’s going on here?”
“The young master was attacked while he was out.”
“What? My eldest son was assaulted? How badly is he hurt?”
“They broke both his arms, as well as his teeth and nose.”
Before the servant could finish speaking, Sa Yeonhui ran towards his eldest son’s room. When he entered, the people inside quickly rose. His wife, Shin Yu-jeong, came out to greet him with a bow.
“You’re back?”
Sa Yeonhui looked at his wife and then hurried over to his son’s bed.
His son, Sa Munjeong, tried to rise when he saw his father, but the physician stopped him.
“What happened here?”
With a dark expression, Sa Yeonhui looked at his son.
“I went to see the river and was attacked on the way back.”
“When? Where? Do you know who it was?”
Sa Yeonhui, as a Magistrate, asked detailed questions.
“Around one in the afternoon, I was taken from the Huashang Inn. It was an unknown old man, he seemed like a master of Murim.”
“You were kidnapped from an inn in broad daylight?”
“Yes.”
“How many were there?”
“I think there were two.”
“Two?”
“Yes, one was an old man, and the other seemed to be a teenager.”
“Do you remember their features?”
Shin Yu-jeong, who was listening, slid two sheets of paper forward.
“I had an artist draw them.”
“Well done.”
Sa Yeonhui took the drawings and carefully examined them. An old man with a goatee and a young man with narrow eyes. Though he tried to recall, he couldn’t associate those faces with any names.
Sa Yeonhui stared intently at the drawings and then turned to the head guard, Jang Ryang.
“Chief Jang, do you recognize these men?”
Jang Ryang shook his head.
“I heard the descriptions, but I don’t recognize them.”
“Hmm!”
Sa Yeonhui grunted.
Jang Ryang had been a renowned master in Henan. If he didn’t know them, it meant the culprits weren’t local.
“Could they be from another region?”
With the conflict between the Justice Alliance and the Yoomyung Cult, many Murim masters were wandering about. The culprits were probably among them.
Shin Yu-jeong, looking worriedly at her son, said:
“Poor boy! So kind and gentle, and those wretches did this to him. You must catch those criminals.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch them and bring them to justice. The imperial court is also against the Murim-in. I won’t let this slide.”
“That’s how it should be. These acts cannot go unpunished.”
Suddenly, Sa Yeonhui remembered something and asked his son:
“Why did you go so far without guards? I always told you to take escorts.”
“I wanted to clear my head, and this happened. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Tsk! Don’t you know the world is in turmoil because of the Murim-in’s conflicts? It’s fortunate you survived, but it was a reckless action.”
“…”
Sa Munjeong, embarrassed, lowered his head.
Then, his mother, Shin Yu-jeong, intervened on his behalf.
“Don’t scold him too much. He’s been frustrated with his studies and needed a break. He probably just went out to clear his mind.”
“For now, don’t leave the city. The same goes for everyone. It’s dangerous to encounter Murim-in in isolated places.”
“Yes.”
Everyone in the room nodded at the head of the household’s warning.
——————
The following day.
As soon as he arrived at work, Sa Yeonhui called in Subcommander Cheon Yangji.
“Yesterday, my eldest son was assaulted near the river.”
“Is your son alright?”
“Those bastards broke both his arms, his teeth, and his nose.”
“My God! Who would do such a thing?”
“I want you to find out who they are. Fortunately, it happened in broad daylight, and he saw them clearly.”
Sa Yeonhui placed the drawings on the table.
“My wife called an artist last night to draw the assailants.”
Cheon Yangji picked up the drawings, and his eyes widened in shock.
‘Oh no! Do they resemble Shim Tong and Yeon Jeokha?’
Startled, Cheon Yangji said:
“Why are you so surprised? Do you know them?”
“No, I just know someone who looks like them, but I don’t think it’s them.”
“Who are they?”
“Before I tell you, are you sure it was an assault?”
“They broke his bones and robbed him. What else could it be?”
Sa Yeonhui looked at Cheon Yangji impatiently.
After a pause, Cheon Yangji looked at the drawings again and said:
“The people I know are the Grand Inspector of Nokrim and his assistant.”
“The Grand Inspector of Nokrim? Are you saying the old man is the chief and the young man his assistant?”
“No, the young man is the Grand Inspector of Nokrim, and the old man is his bodyguard.”
“I thought Nokrim ranked people based on their skill.”
“That’s right. Yeon Jeokha has reached the highest level.”
“How do you know these men?”
Cheon Yangji detailed the recent events.
“Why would they commit an assault in their own inn?”
“That’s why I said they look alike, but I don’t think it’s them. Why would they spit on their own plate?”
“…”
Sa Yeonhui couldn’t refute his logic.
There was a moment of silence between them.
Finally, Sa Yeonhui said:
“You must speak with them and find out the truth.”
“I will.”
Cheon Yangji carefully folded the drawings and put them away.
Sa Yeonhui, watching him silently, spoke coldly:
“If it turns out they are the culprits, I will make them pay.”
“Yeon Jeokha isn’t a ruthless criminal. I don’t think it was him.”
“There’s a saying: ‘You can know the deep waters, but not a person’s heart.’ Especially if they’re from Nokrim. Don’t trust them too much.”
“Yes. I always keep in mind that they are from Nokrim.”
“You may go.”
“Yes.”
Cheon Yangji bowed and left.
Sa Yeonhui, alone, stroked his beard with a complex expression.
Everything was out of place.
Why would a young and vigorous bandit buy an inn and retire?
And why would he rob his own establishment?
“What an incomprehensible world.”
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