Chapter 602
Chapter 602
Chapter 602. Hainan Island (4)
A thatched hut in the forest.
It was one of the Royal Guards’ safe houses.
Inside it, a man was tied up, unconscious, and suspended in midair.
The tendons and meridians in his four limbs had been severed.
Master Jang Won had found the letter in his possession, the one he was sending to those he was colluding with, and in his fury, personally severed the tendons and meridians in that man’s four limbs.
“All you have to do is bind him……” (Eun Seoho)
“No. If he is a Royal Guard, he can break free of bindings and escape any number of ways.” (Jang Won)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
When he put it that way, well, there was nothing I could do.
Still, with things like this, it feels as if we have become the bad guys.
But it is not as if this is the first time something like this has happened.
I looked at Warrior Yeo Eungam and nodded, and he splashed water on the tied-up man.
Splash!
He regained consciousness and opened his eyes, and then, as if grasping the situation, shouted.
“What is the meaning of this?” (Mogyeong)
“What is the meaning of what you have done, you bastard?” (Jang Won)
Master Jang Won threw the letter he had been carrying right in front of his face.
Thak!
His eyes trembled when he saw the letter that had fallen to the floor.
“To think that all the investigators dispatched here until now died because of you, Mogyeong! Ha!” (Jang Won)
Ah, so that man’s name was Mogyeong.
It seemed the name Eulja was a kind of code.
“…….” (Mogyeong)
“Why did you do it?” (Jang Won)
“Why do you ask?” (Mogyeong)
“Because I want to at least know the reason.” (Jang Won)
At that question, Mogyeong answered without hesitation.
“Of course, it was because of money. Hehehe. They paid me quite a lot.” (Mogyeong)
“You betrayed His Majesty the Emperor and your comrades merely for money?” (Jang Won)
“Merely money?” (Mogyeong)
He grinned.
“You need plenty of money to eat well and live well, don’t you? Does loyalty to the Emperor or faithfulness to comrades put food on the table?” (Mogyeong)
“…….” (Jang Won)
“Am I wrong?” (Mogyeong)
Phew, this will not do.
His face was turning bright red with rage; at this rate, Master Jang Won might burst a blood vessel and die first.
I stepped forward and said,
“Of course, money is the best, and loyalty to the Emperor or faithfulness to comrades does not put food on the table.” (Eun Seoho)
“Oh…… As expected, perhaps because you are a merchant, you understand me well.” (Mogyeong)
That meant he knew who I was.
It was a good thing we kidnapped and confined him in advance. I had nearly ended up having my identity exposed to them.
I should thank Miss Seohyang.
I raised my head and smiled at him.
Right now, behind me, Master Jang Won had an expression as though he felt betrayed by what I had said.
“But even if you have plenty of money and eat well and live well, can that truly be called eating well and living well as a human being?” (Eun Seoho)
“What?” (Mogyeong)
“If you disregard such things and think only of eating well and living well, are you any different from a pig in a pigsty?” (Eun Seoho)
* Kkui? Kkui! (Geumryeong)
Mm, you are saying that is not you?
That you are a hanhosu who knows morality?
Of course. Naturally.
I slipped my hand into my sleeve and patted Geumryeong’s bottom.
“We are called human beings because we know the duties of a human being and put them into practice. Is that not so?” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Mogyeong)
At my words, he could not readily present an objection.
“Now then, please answer what I ask you.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“Who was the person you were trying to deliver this letter to?” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Mogyeong)
“Please answer.” (Eun Seoho)
“That was just something I wrote to keep for myself.” (Mogyeong)
As if he could endure no longer, Master Jang Won swung his fist toward his face.
Thud!
“Keuk!” (Mogyeong)
“Let us make this easy.” (Jang Won)
“I do not know what you mean.” (Mogyeong)
At that, Master Jang Won drew his sword, stabbed it into his thigh, and twisted it mercilessly.
“Uuuugh!” (Mogyeong)
Oh my, that must hurt.
But why is he not opening his mouth?
Is it stubbornness?
Or perhaps he is thinking of avoiding an even greater punishment.
The bigger the matter grows, the greater the punishment he will receive as well.
So that the punishment that would end with beheading or hanging does not become something terrible and cruel like death by a thousand cuts.
Ah! Then before that, he might take his own life……
“Be careful! He might bite his tongue.” (Eun Seoho)
Thwack!
Crunch!
Huh…… He is a frightening man. Master Jang Won.
He simply smashed his teeth with his fist.
“Uugh…….” (Mogyeong)
Watching him groan, Master Jang Won said,
“You are also a member of the Royal Guards, so you should know, should you not? That when it comes to torture, there is no one who can match our Royal Guards?” (Jang Won)
“…….” (Mogyeong)
His eyes shook violently.
“The ship heading for Hainan Island leaves tomorrow, so we still have plenty of time, and this is a place with no one around. Good, let us have some fun.” (Jang Won)
.
.
.
A short while later.
I once again made a vow.
I would absolutely never do anything to get on the Royal Guards’ bad side.
That was because the man named Mogyeong confessed everything in one sijin.
“Tsk! To think he could not even last more than one sijin! He was disqualified as a Royal Guard from the start.” (Jang Won)
Excuse me……
Lasting an entire sijin is impressive, you know?
In any case, thanks to that, we grasped to some extent the person he had intended to deliver information to and the circumstances until now.
First of all, the important thing is that the county magistrate of Seomun County is involved in this matter.
Of course, I had expected it to some extent, but having only circumstantial evidence and having physical evidence too are different things.
And we also received a written confession like this.
We locked him in the prison here. Perhaps because it was a Royal Guards safe house, though small, there was also a prison.
Then we returned to the inn and wrote an interim report on this matter.
At the same time, we also wrote a request for support.
Because support was needed to completely shake down the Mu Trading Company and Seomun County.
“Master Jang.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Jang Won)
“Please choose the fastest-footed person and have them deliver this letter to the Hunan Provincial Military Commission.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Jang Won)
There was also a Provincial Military Commission in Guangdong, but the reason I requested support from Hunan Province was because I considered the possibility that he might be connected to this matter.
Of course, that was the worst-case scenario, but I could not recklessly rule it out.
In any case, in the current situation, I had to proceed with the work while thinking that the officials of Guangdong Province could not be trusted.
Imperial Guards dispatched in utmost secrecy were waiting in Hunan Province, and Royal Guards had also been dispatched there.
So the Hunan Provincial Military Commission or Surveillance Commissioner would command them and thoroughly shake down Guangdong Province.
Then what would I do?
I would go to Hainan Island and shake down that side.
.
.
.
The next day.
I woke up early in the morning.
Since it was the day we were going to Hainan Island, Palgap also moved busily from morning.
I headed to the Mu Trading Company with the escort warriors.
The gatekeeper welcomed me warmly, and I headed to the reception room under cordial treatment.
After waiting there for a while, Chief Agent Wang Seok hurriedly entered.
“What brings you here so early in the morning?” (Wang Seok)
“I visited because I was curious about the status of the grain purchase.” (Eun Seoho)
“Please do not worry. It is proceeding without a hitch.” (Wang Seok)
Proceeding without a hitch, my ass.
His eyes were already rotten from the start.
“I am leaving for Hainan Island today.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, so you are finally going in.” (Wang Seok)
“Yes. Since I found a ship later than expected, I believe I will be delayed somewhat from my schedule and it will take about three or four days longer.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Wang Seok)
“I will stop by again on my way back to Beijing, so I would like to receive the twenty thousand seok of grain we contracted for then.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood. We will prepare it so that you can take it right away at that time.” (Wang Seok)
“Then I will take my leave. It is nearly time for me to depart.” (Eun Seoho)
I rose from my seat, and he bowed politely.
“Please have a safe trip.” (Wang Seok)
I left the Mu Trading Company.
This should be enough time for the Royal Guards and Imperial Guards from Hunan Province to march over.
“Ah, Warrior Myeongjong. Let us stop by the market for a moment.” (Eun Seoho)
“Why?” (Myeongjong)
“There is something Deputy Gwak told me to buy, so I have to purchase it.” (Eun Seoho)
At the market, I purchased what she had requested.
It was none other than an umbrella.
Seeing as she asked me to prepare this, will it rain today?
After returning to Haega Inn like that, I headed to the harbor with Master Jang Won.
“Welcome. We greet Master Seonhyeop Mirang.” (Sailors)
The eyes of the sailors looking at me were full of goodwill and admiration.
Did they say they were from Hainan Island?
“We will do our utmost to serve you.” (Sailor)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
We boarded the ship, and the ship set off immediately.
“From here to Hainan Island, it takes around two sijin to two and a half sijin.” (Sailor)
In other words, if it were by land, it would be close enough to go out for a day trip.
“Is the sea route to and from Hainan Island rough?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, a sailor answered.
“It is not an easy route compared to the time it takes. The wind is strong, the waves are rough, and there are reefs as well. But once you are at our level, you can avoid those dangerous places. Hahaha. So you do not need to worry.” (Sailor)
“I heard that quite a few ships traveling to and from Hainan Island get stranded.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes, it is truly regrettable.” (Sailor)
“I heard that because of that, the relief grain and relief funds sent by the Imperial Palace to Hainan Island did not arrive properly.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right. In truth, at the time, many sailors and shipowners volunteered. We said we would transport that food and the materials needed for repairs without pay.” (Sailor)
“Without pay?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. How could we refuse work for Hainan Island? But……” (Sailor)
He glanced around and then came closer to me and whispered.
“The higher-ups did not entrust that work to us, and entrusted it to fellows who were doing it for the very first time.” (Sailor)
“Ha! Is that so?” (Eun Seoho)
“And then what was the result? Did they not become water ghosts? On top of that, all those precious things fell into the sea…… Aigoo.” (Sailor)
“Oh dear! That was truly regrettable.” (Eun Seoho)
I also sighed with a regretful expression.
Because those things had gone into the bellies of the wrong bastards.
“And so, the people of Hainan Island were on the verge of starving to death, but the Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect brought an enormous amount of grain, and the shipowners of the Hainan Sect rushed over and transported it to Hainan Island. Thanks to that, the people of Hainan Island avoided starving to death.” (Sailor)
“Are things all right now?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. Hainan Island is a place where farming goes fairly well and there is a lot of fruit, so now that the crisis has passed, things are all right.” (Sailor)
“That is truly fortunate.” (Eun Seoho)
“The Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect said that Master Seonhyeop Mirang shed tears upon hearing the story of Hainan Island and gave a donation.” (Sailor)
Ah……
“Thanks to that, I was able to provide for my family as well, so I do not know how I should repay this grace.” (Sailor)
“I merely did what I had to do.” (Eun Seoho)
Only then did I think I understood why the sailors were looking at me that way.
Because they had received practical help from the donation I gave.
This is somewhat embarrassing.
I did it with the purpose of creating a dock for the Eunha Trading Company’s ships on Hainan Island, but they were this grateful.
By the way, according to the sailor’s words, there were more than one or two suspicious things.
Fellows doing it for the very first time……
Surely not?
“By any chance, have a large number of outsiders ever entered Hainan Island?” (Eun Seoho)
“Outsiders…… Come to think of it, from some time ago, people we had never seen before began appearing.” (Sailor)
Just as expected.
I subtly changed the topic.
“I see. By the way, I would like to have pearl jewelry made as a birthday gift for my wife, and I was recommended the Cheon Clan of Hainan Island. Would it be all right to seek him out?” (Eun Seoho)
“He is indeed someone who handles pearls…… but I recommend that you seek out the Yeon Clan.” (Sailor)
Judging from his expression, although he did not say it, there was certainly something he felt reluctant about.
“Is there perhaps some problem with the Cheon Clan?” (Eun Seoho)
“There is no problem with Cheon himself, but…… from some time ago, he brought in a large number of outsiders, and they have been causing some problems, so it is rather uncomfortable.” (Sailor)
“Is that so?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. He was the one who brought them in, but he did not particularly pay any attention to it. Only after the Hainan Sect sternly warned them did they finally quiet down, but to be honest, I do not like them.” (Sailor)
There is something here!
“By any chance, those people…… are they martial artists?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. They are people he hired, saying they had to guard the pearls.” (Sailor)
Then I should pay a visit to this person called Cheon.
At that moment, a sailor took a bowl and headed toward the bow, then placed something in that bowl and burned it.
Then red smoke began to rise.
“What is that?” (Eun Seoho)
“It is a sign that this is a ship returning to Hainan Island.” (Sailor)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
A short while later, the ship I was on arrived at Hainan Island.
“You may disembark now.” (Sailor)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
“Here is the fare.” (Palgap)
Palgap held out the fare in my stead, but he waved his hand.
“No! How could we shamelessly accept fare from the benefactor who saved the lives of our families and also saved Hainan Island?” (Shipowner)
“No. You must take it.” (Eun Seoho)
I took the money from Palgap’s hand and personally placed it in the shipowner’s hand.
“In all things in the world, a proper price should naturally follow. And you must fill the stomachs of the family waiting for you at home.” (Eun Seoho)
“……Thank you.” (Shipowner)
“Then I will use your ship again at the promised time.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. Even if it is not at that time, please contact us whenever you need.” (Shipowner)
At that moment, around ten people wearing martial arts uniforms ran toward us.
Judging from their attire, they seemed to be disciples of the Hainan Sect.
Two of them stopped in front of us, unfurled the large scroll with poles that they had brought, and held it high.
[We Welcome to Hainan Island the Visit of Master Seonhyeop Mirang, Young Master of the Eunha Trading Company and Benefactor of Hainan Island]
Hm? What is that phrase?
And four other disciples took flowers out of a large basket and approached us while scattering them.
Hainan Island is an extremely warm place.
So flowers bloom year-round, and it would not be difficult to obtain flowers at this time.
But…… this kind of welcome is too excessive.
Fwish!
At that moment, Miss Seohyang opened her umbrella, and only then did I think I understood why she had asked me to procure an umbrella.
It is raining today after all.
Since a rain of flowers is also rain.