Chapter 679
Chapter 679
Chapter 679. Killing Two Birds with One Stone (2)
I asked Master Hwangbo Seonyu.
“I do not quite understand what you mean. Why are you suddenly asking whether Madam may go as an instructor at the martial arts academy?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, do not misunderstand. Inah asked me to ask this.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“I do not misunderstand.” (Eun Seoho)
“It seems Inah no longer wants to simply kill time in the clan. While doing so, she must have heard about the martial arts academy, because she made this request of me.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
However, I think it would be best if the instructors of the martial arts academy were not over forty years old.
That is not because I look down on the elderly, but for the sake of continuity in education.
Because I want the instructors we invite now to be in charge of teaching for as long as possible.
And if the instructors are older, when problems arise from clashes of opinion with the acting principal of the martial arts academy, mediating and settling those conflicts could also become difficult.
Even so, it would be a shame to refuse such an outstanding heroine as Hwangbo Inah.
Her martial power and experience would be of great help.
As I was pondering for a moment, a good idea occurred to me.
“In that case, I would like to ask her to take on a different role instead of instructor.” (Eun Seoho)
“A different role?” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“I would like her to serve as the dormitory supervisor.” (Eun Seoho)
“Dormitory supervisor?” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“Yes. In the martial arts academy we are building this time, all students will live in the dormitory.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“That is why the dormitory supervisor must be outstanding in many areas and have backbone. It is a position where one must care for the students while also sternly scolding and disciplining them for improper behavior.” (Eun Seoho)
As if he immediately understood my words, Master Hwangbo Seonyu gave a faint laugh.
“She would also have to catch and beat down the bastards who sneak out at night.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“It seems you have experience.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he quickly waved his hand.
“What experience! I am simply saying that is how it would be.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
The more flustered you are, the more suspicious it becomes.
“In any case, it is a good proposal. I will speak to Inah about it.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
“I will leave it to you.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then I apologize for coming so late at night. Rest comfortably.” (Hwangbo Seonyu)
Like that, Master Hwangbo Seonyu left my quarters, and I scratched the nape of my neck.
Now I can sleep, right?
By the way, seeing that he did not mention Mister Hwangbo Wook, it seems the Clan Head alone still knows about that matter.
Seeing that things are still quiet, it seems he is gathering evidence so he can handle it decisively.
He intends to move carefully.
Perhaps that is why the world calls Hwangbo Clan a tiger’s den in another sense.
A tiger moves carefully, after all. It does not act rashly.
But why did Mister Hwangbo Wook do that?
. . .
At that hour.
There was someone who slipped out of Hwangbo Clan.
Wearing a black bamboo hat that hid his face and even a black long robe, his figure melted into the darkness.
The place he arrived at after moving covertly was a small tavern in Jinan.
Of course, since the liquor ban had not yet been lifted, it was effectively closed.
Knock knock, knock, knock knock, knock.
He knocked on the door as agreed and spoke.
“Are you there?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Come in.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
He went inside. In the dark tavern, a man was sitting.
He was a man wearing a blue eyepatch over one eye.
“Welcome, Mister.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“I apologize for being late.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Not at all. I understand.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“Please sit.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
The one who had arrived late took his seat and removed his bamboo hat.
His identity was none other than Hwangbo Wook.
“This is serious. Whetstones have been supplied to Hwangbo Clan.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“What do you mean?” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
Drip, drip.
The man with the blue eyepatch poured tea into a teacup and spoke.
“The main clan clearly pressured them so they could not supply whetstones to any place we did not permit. Naturally, Hwangbo Clan was not permitted.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
Slide.
He pushed the teacup forward and continued.
“I am curious who dared to defy our Namgung Clan and do such a bold thing.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
Hwangbo Wook shook his head and said.
“That sort of pressure was useless. It was a place completely unexpected.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“...?” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“A man named Eun Seoho of Eunhae Trading Company purchased a mountain this time, and they say that place was a stone mountain that produces stone capable of making whetstones.” (Hwangbo Wook)
At those words, the one with the blue eyepatch furrowed his brow.
“Of all things...” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“What do you intend to do now? At this rate, our contract cannot be fulfilled.” (Hwangbo Wook)
The one with the blue eyepatch thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“In that case, you will have to help us a little more. Only by taking that quarry into our hands as well will our contract be fulfilled.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“Very well. What should I help with?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Please find out information such as the precise location of the quarry and approximately how much stone can be mined there.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“Understood.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“By the way, are you truly all right with this?” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“With what?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“With your grandfather bowing his head to the main clan. For the Clan Head of one clan to bow his head to another clan is rather damaging to one’s pride, is it not?” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“It does not matter. It is not as if the clan will collapse just because Grandfather bows his head once to Namgung Clan, and if I receive the spiritual medicine and my martial arts become stronger, would that not be better?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Hahaha, that is also correct.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“If I can become stronger, that much does not matter to me. Then I simply need to find out about the stone mountain that man Eun Seoho purchased?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Yes. After that, we will handle the rest ourselves.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
The one with the blue eyepatch asked carefully.
“By the way, it seems you harbor ill will toward this man named Eun Seoho.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“Of course I do. He is a bastard who used me like a porter, despite being a mere merchant.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“Ah... I heard that story. It is quite the topic of conversation in the marketplace.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
“Sigh, even now, I am holding back my boiling rage by recalling the old tale of the humiliation of crawling between the legs.” (Hwangbo Wook)
“I ask for your assistance. If things go well, we can repay that humiliation too.” (Blue-Eyepatched Man)
Crack!
It was then.
The ceiling broke apart and a group of people landed on the floor.
“Gasp!” (Hwangbo Wook)
Seeing them, Hwangbo Wook could not help being horrified.
The pattern depicting Mount Tai engraved on their clothes was proof that they belonged to Hwangbo Clan.
And the three characters Taebo Unit embroidered on the left side of their chests.
They were the Clan Head of Hwangbo Clan’s personal guards.
“Damn it! Why are they here...?” (Hwangbo Wook)
The fact that they had appeared here meant his grandfather had been suspicious of him.
He had never told anyone about this contract.
He had always moved secretly, and he had never done anything that would arouse anyone’s suspicion, so he had never even imagined he would be caught.
He quickly waved his hands and made an excuse.
“U-Uncle! So this is...” (Hwangbo Wook)
The Captain of the Taebo Unit spoke in a low voice.
“Do not think of making excuses. We have already heard everything that was said inside here.” (Taebo Unit Captain)
He gave an order to the warriors of the Taebo Unit.
“Arrest every person inside here without leaving a single one out. Including that thing.” (Taebo Unit Captain)
“Yes!” (Taebo Unit Warriors)
. . .
After Master Hwangbo Seonyu left, I lay down on the bed.
Can I sleep comfortably now?
However, just as I was about to fall asleep, I had no choice but to sigh and rise from my seat.
Because of the noisy commotion I sensed through my perception.
Bang!
Palgap opened the door and rushed inside urgently.
“Young Master! Young Master! This is serious! Hwangbo Clan has been turned upside down!” (Palgap)
“What happened?” (Eun Seoho)
“They say Hwangbo Clan Head’s personal guards arrested people who had been plotting to harm Hwangbo Clan. But they say Mister Hwangbo Wook was among them!” (Palgap)
Ah...
So they finally obtained decisive evidence.
“Whew, then I should go out.” (Eun Seoho)
I nodded and got down from the bed, then put on my outer robe.
“So, where is everyone now?” (Eun Seoho)
“They are gathered at the great training ground.” (Palgap)
I arrived at the great training ground together with the escort warriors.
Even though it was the middle of the night, countless people were gathered there.
“The fact that Mister Hwangbo Wook was secretly communicating with Namgung Clan could be called a disgrace to the clan, yet they are revealing it openly to everyone like this. As expected of Hwangbo Clan.” (Myeongjong)
Then again, Hwangbo Clan has a family tradition that values fairness and openness.
But that is not the only reason.
“That may be part of it, but there is another reason as well.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Warrior Changwoon tilted his head.
“There is another reason?” (Changwoon)
Perhaps because Warrior Myeongjong and Warrior Changwoon have lived as disciples of the orthodox Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect, they have a tendency to look at the world too uprightly and honestly.
Of course, that is not to say it is a bad thing.
Being able to see the world that way could, in some sense, also be called a blessing.
I nodded and explained.
“Yes. Only by interrogating him publicly like this and revealing the detailed circumstances can Namgung Clan be prevented from saying something different later.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah...” (Changwoon)
“It is good to be fair and aboveboard, but you must also know how to grasp and use tricks. If you are only blindly fair and aboveboard, you will be taken advantage of by those who exploit others.” (Eun Seoho)
“You are right. But... it is also a sad reality.” (Changwoon)
“That is true.” (Eun Seoho)
We blended in among the others at the great training ground and looked inside.
Mister Hwangbo Wook was sitting bound to a chair.
He must have been dragged there rather roughly, because one side of his cheek was bruised and his lip was split and bleeding.
“Oh no! Wook!” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
At that moment, a woman came running.
“Mother!” (Hwangbo Wook)
“What is going on? Why are you here in such a state?” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
“Mother! I am innocent.” (Hwangbo Wook)
Ah... so that woman is Mister Hwangbo Wook’s mother.
“Release my son at once! My son is the Young Master’s son! There is no reason for him to be in this state!” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
She screamed fiercely, but those wearing uniforms embroidered with the characters Taebo Unit did not budge.
“Step aside.” (Taebo Unit Warrior)
“At present, Hwangbo Wook is a criminal.” (Taebo Unit Warrior)
At that, she appealed to the Young Master standing beside her.
“Husband, he is our son. Our son!” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
“Sigh... There is nothing I can do either.” (Hwangbo Seokgil)
“Husband!” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
“If you are a woman of Hwangbo Clan, maintain your dignity.” (Hwangbo Seokgil)
At that moment, Hwangbo Clan Head appeared, and their conversation could not continue further.
“How noisy.” (Hwangbo Se)
“F-Father-in-law!” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
She ran to the Clan Head and knelt before him.
“My son has done absolutely nothing wrong. Please understand.” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
“Daughter-in-law.” (Hwangbo Se)
“Yes, yes. Father-in-law.” (Hwangbo Wook’s Mother)
“Be quiet and put yourself in order.” (Hwangbo Se)
Hwangbo Clan Head did not say anything more to her and declared to the assembly.
“From now on, the public interrogation shall begin.” (Hwangbo Se)
Everyone’s eyes focused on Hwangbo Clan Head.
“Recently, I sensed that Hwangbo Wook’s behavior was unusual, and so I ordered a trusted subordinate to monitor him.” (Hwangbo Se)
Thankfully, he is hiding my involvement.
“Thanks to that, I learned that Hwangbo Wook was secretly communicating with those of Namgung Clan.” (Hwangbo Se)
He looked at Hwangbo Wook and asked.
“Hwangbo Wook! Do you have any rebuttal?” (Hwangbo Se)
Hwangbo Wook violently shook his body and cried out.
“G-Grandfather! Your grandson is innocent. Your grandson merely exchanged with Namgung Clan for the sake of friendship!” (Hwangbo Wook)
“This is not a place between grandfather and grandson, but between Clan Head and criminal. Use the proper address!” (Hwangbo Se)
“Hrgh!” (Hwangbo Wook)
At that solemn force, Hwangbo Wook drew in a sharp breath.
“You merely exchanged with them for friendship? Then why did you dress in black and go out to meet them in secret?” (Hwangbo Se)
“That is... I did so because I thought you would oppose it if I said I was exchanging with those of Namgung Clan.” (Hwangbo Wook)
At that answer, those around him nodded.
“Indeed, in a situation where relations with Namgung Clan are not good, he could not have revealed that.” (Hwangbo Clan Member)
“That is understandable.” (Hwangbo Clan Member)
At the reaction of those around him, Hwangbo Wook’s complexion gradually began to improve.
“You do have quite a talent for spouting nonsense.” (Hwangbo Se)
Hwangbo Clan Head clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded.
In other words, that means he has certain evidence.
“Taebo Unit Captain.” (Hwangbo Se)
“Yes!” (Taebo Unit Captain)
“What did you hear there?” (Hwangbo Se)
At that question, the Captain of the Taebo Unit answered.
“Hwangbo Wook informed those of Namgung Clan in detail about the main clan’s situation. And he had made some sort of contract, and we heard him confirming that as well.” (Taebo Unit Captain)
“What contract was it?” (Hwangbo Se)
“As a result of interrogating the Namgung Clan person at the scene, it was a contract in which Hwangbo Wook would receive spiritual medicine from Namgung Clan in return for helping the Clan Head of Hwangbo Clan bow his head to Namgung Clan.” (Taebo Unit Captain)
“...!” (Hwangbo Clan Members)
At those words, everyone was shocked.
“N-no! I-it is a lie! I never made s-s-such a contract.” (Hwangbo Wook)
Mister Hwangbo Wook protested.
At that moment, the Captain of the Taebo Unit took something out from his robe and held it out.
“And by interrogating the person from Namgung Clan, we found this contract.” (Taebo Unit Captain)
The Clan Head received the contract and examined it, then soon let out a sigh and handed it to the Young Master.
“Look.” (Hwangbo Se)
At that, the Young Master and the other family members passed it around.
And finally, it was thrust in front of Mister Hwangbo Wook.
“Are you still denying it, even with the evidence here?” (Hwangbo Se)
“It is not my signature!” (Hwangbo Wook)
At that, Hwangbo Clan Head shouted.
“Silence!” (Hwangbo Se)
“...” (Hwangbo Wook)
“To be honest, I could have ordered you to be summarily executed on the spot. Even so, the reason I did not do that and created this place is because there was something I expected of you.” (Hwangbo Se)
“...” (Hwangbo Wook)
“If you admitted your crime, I even considered forgiving you once. But the sight of you disappoints me.” (Hwangbo Se)
The Clan Head looked at everyone and said.
“I shall deliver judgment. The criminal Hwangbo Wook, as a member of Hwangbo Clan, secretly communicated with outsiders and plotted a scheme that could destroy the clan’s honor. Therefore, I order Hwangbo Wook’s inner arts to be abolished, and then for him to be confined.” (Hwangbo Se)
It was then.
“You fucking bastard! Who are you to pass that judgment on me?” (Hwangbo Wook)
Uh...?
“Did I ask to be born into this shitty clan? And I only did it because they said Namgung Clan would give me spiritual medicine and money if you lowered your head just once. Is that so wrong?” (Hwangbo Wook)
“...” (Hwangbo Clan Members)
“I hate this suffocating clan too! Namgung Clan is far better than a clan like this!” (Hwangbo Wook)
“...” (Hwangbo Clan Members)
The great training ground fell silent in an instant.
Wow... that stupid bastard just caused an unprecedented disaster.