Absolute Warrior V3C3: A New Identity
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Crimson Tiger walked out of the Mainland Bank, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his heart.
Although the Nanchang Branch Manager, Yang Seohong, was visibly startled by the huge sum of thirty-five thousand taels he had deposited, he accepted the money without questioning its origin and arranged for it to be transferred to the North Sea Branch, just like before.
With the addition of this last sum, he no longer had to worry about money for Seohyeon's treatment. He was still inescapably tied to the Association, but at least he wasn't desperate to earn their money anymore.
This meant that he could escape the Association if necessary.
However, Crimson Tiger considered that to be a last resort. As Gahwa had said, he should lay low for now, or at least pretend to do so.
Instead of returning to the Association, he wandered through several alleys, making sure he wasn't being followed, before finally stopping in a secluded alley.
He took off the human skin mask he used only for bank transactions and stowed it away. He had started practicing transforming into that face by looking into a bronze mirror, so he should be able to discard the mask soon.
Since things had come to this, he was trying his best to acquire multiple faces.
After changing into a new face, Crimson Tiger went to the Autumn Moon Palace, the brothel that Gahwa owned.
"Welcome, Sir!" the courtesan at the entrance greeted, smiling charmingly. "Did you come alone?"
"I intend to just have a light drink before leaving."
"Hoho, very well. Please, come this way."
Crimson Tiger followed the courtesan down a familiar corridor. Whenever he came looking for Gahwa, he would walk down this corridor and go upstairs, but naturally, the courtesan didn't realize he was the man who used to secretly seek out their former mistress.
That won't happen anymore.
He didn't think she would be here. After revealing her identity to him, she would surely have left this place.
Still, he thought he should at least come and confirm it in person.
The courtesan led Crimson Tiger to a small room at the end of the corridor, then smiled and said, "Please wait a moment. The girls will bring you a drinking table."
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"Call the prettiest one for me." Crimson Tiger said, patting the courtesan's butt lightly.
"Then I'll have to come back myself, won't I?" The courtesan giggled and left the room.
As soon as she was gone, Crimson Tiger also exited the room. From experience, he knew that he had about fifteen minutes until the drinking table arrived.
Since the Pavilion Master's residence was on the top floor, he slowly climbed the stairs. Two sturdy men, hired blades employed by the brothel, stood guard at the top of the stairs on the highest floor.
He raised a finger and poked the air twice, firing two qi projectiles.
FLICK! FLICK!
Struck by the qi blasts, the two men immediately slumped forward, having fallen asleep the instant their acupoints were sealed.
Leaning them against the wall, Crimson Tiger slowly walked down the corridor. Their room was at the end.
When he reached the room, he slowly opened the door, but the room was empty.
He quickly searched the room, rummaging through drawers and examining bookshelves, but he found nothing significant.
Finally, he discovered a secret safe behind a hanging scroll on the wall.
Crimson Tiger examined the mechanism. It wasn't a safe made with a particularly sophisticated device, and disassembling safe mechanisms was part of the basic training for the Twelve Phantoms.
He began to deconstruct the mechanism, and after a short while, he opened the safe door.
The inside was completely empty. It seemed that she had taken everything important with her when she left.
Crimson Tiger sighed, but at that moment, his keen eyes caught the dust on the table. The thick layer of settled dust indicated that she had been gone for several days.
Indeed, she had stopped working here right after exposing her identity to him.
I already anticipated this.
He closed the safe door and scanned the surroundings more carefully, but still couldn't find anything related to the Third Young Lady. As expected, his opponent wasn't going to make things easy for him.
After erasing all traces of his intrusion, Crimson Tiger left the room. He skillfully woke up the men whose acupoints he had subdued, and then returned to his room.
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Two courtesans were waiting there with a drinking table.
The two women cooed and made a show of affection. "We've been waiting eagerly for you, young master."
"Eagerly? You both have dark circles under your eyes. Take care of them before you say such things."
The courtesans smiled faintly.
"Alright, pour me a drink," Crimson Tiger humored them.
The courtesan sitting on his right poured the alcohol, while the one on his left fed him a side dish.
"We haven't seen you before, sir. Is this your first time here?"
"Yes, that's right. I'll be joining the Association soon."
It wasn't a complete lie. Whether as a warehouse manager or something else, he would soon be assigned a new cover identity.
"Oh my! You're a hero of the Association!"
"Me, a hero? Nonsense! I'm just a run-of-the-mill pitiful soul struggling to make a living."
The women chuckled at his words.
Working as courtesans here, they met all kinds of men. Whether their personalities were truly humble or not, their behavior in front of courtesans was always the same: exaggeration and bluffing. Even a third-rate gatekeeper would become a great hero, and a mere porter a head escort in front of a courtesan.
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"So go ahead and pour me drinks and give me whatever extra you can, huh? Within reason, of course!" Crimson Tiger added.
The women laughed again. With the man acting so… human, their tension eased slightly.
Furthermore, even after he started drinking, Crimson Tiger maintained a respectful attitude and didn't grope their thighs or breasts.
This made them like this rare, gentlemanly client even more. If only all customers were like him, being a courtesan might actually rank as one of the top ten jobs a woman could have.
As such, they readily answered his questions.
"I've heard that the Pavilion Master here is quite beautiful."
"Oh yes, she has quite the looks. Still not better than me, though."
The women giggled.
"How much does it cost to have a drink with her?"
"Men these days. If she's pretty, you'd sell your cow and your house, wouldn't you?"
The courtesans shot him glances that weren't entirely unfriendly.
"Hahaha! What's a cow or a house? I'd risk my life for a beauty!"
"Well, I suppose we make our living thanks to such foolishness from men."
"We don't need your life! Just this is enough." One woman made a circle with her fingers.
Crimson Tiger took some coins out of his pouch. "I guess I should give this much. Hahaha!"
"Eeeeeh? Only four taels?"
"You brats get easy tips all the time, aren't you getting too greedy? If you don't want it, give it back!"
"Of course not, and we don't get tips for doing nothing. Just look at these eyebags!"
The women giggled and divided the coins among themselves.
"Anyway, wake up from your dream. Even if you risk your life, you won't be able to see the Pavilion Master this year."
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"Why?"
"She left a few days ago, saying she was going to visit her hometown. I heard that she'll be gone for a long time this time."
"Where is her hometown?"
"Where was it again?"
"Didn't she say the North Sea?"
"Ah, right. She said the North Sea."
"That's top secret, but… there's also a rumor that she went to see a hidden daughter."
Crimson Tiger's expression hardened. It was a warning, a warning left for him. A warning that she knew exactly where his daughter was, so don't interfere in her affairs.
And she knew that he would come here.
"Sir? Are you all right? You suddenly froze."
"It's not like she's gone forever, is it? When the Pavilion Master returns, we'll put in a good word for you. Give the Pavilion Master the house, and give us the cow."
The two women looked at each other and laughed at the lame joke.
Crimson Tiger chuckled softly and relaxed his stiff expression. There was no need to get angry. There was also no need to panic. Just confirming that his opponent wasn't merely bluffing was enough of a victory.
"You two definitely aren't worth more than four taels! Come on, let's drink."
More wine cups were exchanged. When he felt that he had drunk enough, Crimson Tiger pushed the women who were clinging to him, begging him to stay all night, away and left the Autumn Moon Palace.
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As he walked through the night streets, his expression was somewhat tense.
The First Young Lord and the Third Young Lady. Neither was an easy opponent. They were foes against whom a single mistake could lead to great disaster. While dealing with both of them, he had to avoid conflicts as much as possible.
When Crimson Tiger returned to the safe house, he found Yeon waiting for him.
"Your new cover identity has arrived," Yeon said, handing him an envelope. "Where is it this time?"
Crimson Tiger opened the letter and read it. "Really? Here?" he muttered in surprise.
He looked down at the contents of the letter again.
His new identity was the manager of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant, a restaurant in the Inner Court of the Association. There were several such places in the Inner Court, and the Hundred Flavors Restaurant was a place frequented by mid- to low-level martial artists.
Crimson Tiger blinked in shock. "This new job doesn't really suit me, does it?"
Yeon nodded quietly. "Very much so."
Crimson Tiger muttered softly, as if to himself. "Calling me to the Inner Court?"
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Most of the cover identities assigned to him were minor positions in the Outer Court, positions overflowing with free time, but this place belonged to the Inner Court. It would probably be busier than his previous assignments, and it was also a place where he would have frequent contact with Inner Court experts.
Why was he sent there? It didn't seem like Gahwa, or rather the Third Young Lady she worked for, was behind it. She hadn't shown any signs of it when they had met earlier.
Suddenly, a thought struck him and he winced.
"Did something occur to you?"
Crimson Tiger nodded and narrowed his eyes. "The First Young Lord is behind this!"
"The First Young Lord? He assigned you to the Inner Court? Why?"
An ominous shiver ran down Yeon's spine.
Crimson Tiger, on the other hand, replied calmly, "…He probably wants to see it at least once. The sword that killed his child, that is.
The next morning, Crimson Tiger went to the Association's Inner Court, wearing the new face he had made yesterday. He would use it as the face of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant Manager.
"State your affiliation," a guard at the Inner Court entrance said sharply, stopping him.
Crimson Tiger stretched his senses. About ten martial artists were standing guard at the small guard post, all of them martial artists from the Guard Hall, which was responsible for defending the Inner Court.
skills. He assessed their strengths. Unlike the guards at the gate near his former post at the Second Warehouse, the martial artists here were elites.
He silently handed over the notice of his new assignment.
"Ah, you must be the new manager of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant."
"My name is Jin Ho. Pleasure to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Jin. I am Sin Hong, the Guard Captain of the Inner Court First Gate. We'll probably see each other often."
The Hundred Flavors Restaurant was the place where these guards ate. Due to the tedium of standing guard in the Inner Court, they were always desperate for good food, so there was no harm in being friendly with the restaurant manager.
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"Congratulations on your appointment."
"Thank you. I'll arrange a celebration soon. On the house, of course."
Sin Hong and his subordinate martial artists smiled, anticipating his hospitality.
Crimson Tiger passed through the First Gate, which marked the entrance to the Inner Cour. The true Inner Court, however, lay beyond the Second Gate. The security there was famously much stricter than here.
Thus, strictly speaking, this place was the outskirts of the Inner Court.
Crimson Tiger walked towards the eastern area where the Hundred Flavors Restaurant was located, feeling slightly nervous.
It wasn't because of the job. Whether a warehouse manager or a restaurant owner, he'd eventually adapt given time.
No, what he feared was the First Young Lord's intentions, and the terrible events that would inevitably unfold soon.
He took a deep breath and gazed up at the blue sky, trying hard to transform his anxiety into excitement. While doing so, he arrived at the Hundred Flavors Restaurant.
"Welcome, Manager!"
As he entered, a loud shout and thunderous applause erupted. About twenty men and women were lined up on either side to welcome their new manager.
Crimson Tiger smiled. "Greetings, I am Jin Ho, your new manager. I look forward to working with all of you."
A middle-aged woman with a benevolent, good-natured appearance but an air of authority stepped forward from the group. "I am Hong Maerang, the head maid here," she introduced herself.
Next, a middle-aged man with a stubborn mouth and a blunt expression stepped forward. "Head Chef Gong Suk. I'm in charge of the kitchen."
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Crimson Tiger greeted the two actual supervisors of this place with clasped hands.
He had learned something while working under various cover identities. There was no need to be friendly with everyone. He only needed to treat the most senior among the employees well.
In this case, that would be these two individuals.
"It's nice to meet you all. Let's get along well from now on, like a family," he said amicably.
Everyone applauded again. Compared to the previous manager who had flaunted his authority, Crimson Tiger seemed gentler somehow, and that made a good impression on them.
Hong Maerang shouted loudly, "Alright, alright, you'll see him until you're sick of him soon, so stop staring and get back to work."
As they turned away, two women whispered that he was handsome, causing everyone to burst out laughing.
Crimson Tiger's face flushed with embarrassment.
"You look younger than I expected." Hong Maerang remarked.
Crimson Tiger chuckled softly. Controlling his apparent age still wasn't easy. He had tried to make his face look like he was in his mid-forties, but it seemed that he looked younger than he intended.
"How should I address you from now on? Head Maid Hong?"
"That works, but I'd prefer you to call me Hongmae."1
"Alright then, Hongmae. Can we talk for a moment?" Crimson Tiger moved to sit at a nearby table.
"Not here, please come this way," Hongmae said, guiding him elsewhere.
Near the kitchen, off to one side, was an exclusive area set aside for the manager. It contained a desk and chair for office work and even a long bench in front of it for receiving guests. A small partition had even been put up, making it look quite decent.
"This is your seat, Manager."
"Haha, nice."
The two sat across from each other at the desk.
"I have a few questions," Crimson Tiger began.
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"Ask me anything," Hongmae said.
Her words seemed to contain her entire personality—straightforward and easy-going.
Crimson Tiger asked, "What kind of person was the previous manager?"
"There's not much to say. He left after exactly three months, and the manager before him stayed for six months," Hongmae replied, giving Crimson Tiger a look as if she expected the same from him.
After all, the position of restaurant manager was just a stepping stone for the young nobles of the Association. Hong Maerang and Gong Suk did all the actual work.
"Could you explain the work here?"
Hong Maerang blinked in surprise. "Are you planning to actually work?"
"Even if I plan to slack off, wouldn't it be more comfortable to know what work I'm slacking off on?"
"Heh, it sounds like you've done your fair share of slacking off." Hong Maerang remarked.
Crimson Tiger smiled good-naturedly.
Hong Maerang explained simply, "The martial artists from the Guard Hall eat here twice a day, morning and evening. There are one hundred and twenty of them in total, and they come to eat in two shifts one hour apart. Therefore, we have to prepare meals for sixty people four times a day, morning and evening.''
Crimson Tiger looked around. The dining area was indeed spacious enough to accommodate over a hundred people.
It would indeed get quite busy if sixty people rushed in at once.
"What's my job?"
"First, you must take orders. They can choose one of three set meals. Next, you have to serve the food, so your arms might get a little sore. You also have to clear the empty plates and bowls. Oh, and count the people. I don't know why it has to be reported, but you have to keep track of how many people come every day."
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"That sounds like a lot of work."
Hongmae grinned. "Just kidding. We'd never force the manager to do such things. Just leave it to me. All you have to do is approve the menu for the next day. Besides that, there's some miscellaneous paperwork, but you don't have to read it, just stamp your seal, chop chop."
"That's my specialty."
"For the rest of the time, instead of making the subordinates nervous by watching over them unnecessarily, it'd be good if you just went out and enjoyed yourself."
"That's something I can do as well as I can stamp seals. There will probably be many days when I don't show up at all."
"We definitely won't miss you. Don't worry, and get plenty of rest."
"Hahahaha!"
Hongmae smiled as she watched the Crimson Tiger laughing heartily. Somehow, her first impression of Crimson Tiger, who didn't seem like a stuffy person, wasn't bad at all. "Alright, I'm busy now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime."
"Will do."
Hongmae rose to her feet, when she suddenly seemed to remember something. "By the way, Manager, do you know any martial arts?"
"Why do you ask?"
She pointed to the sword at Crimson Tiger's waist.
Crimson Tiger tapped the sword and said confidently, "I can cut down even a first-class master with a single stroke. Let me know if anyone complains about the food. I'll slice out their tongue first."
Hong Maerang grinned. "Ah, I see. That thing is just for decoration. That's a relief."
"Huh? Why is it a relief?"
"In my experience, the stronger the martial arts of the previous managers were, the sooner they left," Hong Maerang said before turning away.
Crimson Tiger chuckled softly. In other words, she was saying that his first impression wasn't bad and it would be okay if he stayed for a while.
Unfortunately, that was an unlikely wish. He would have to be absent often, and eventually he would leave.
He suddenly thought of Gong Cheol from the warehouse. Gong Cheol must be very worried since all contact with him was cut off when he was taken by the Inquisition.
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Crimson Tiger wanted to send a message just once, but he knew he shouldn't. Involving Gong Cheol in his life unnecessarily would put him in danger. The only thing he could do for him was to wish from afar that things would go well with the woman he had been introduced to.
After examining the dining area, he entered the kitchen. There were about ten cooks working inside.
When he saw their eyes focused on him, he smiled and said, "Don't mind me, just continue with your work. I'll just take a look around."
Cooks who looked experienced handled knives skillfully, while young assistant cooks carried ingredients and washed dishes. The etiquette and discipline of the kitchen here was just as impressive as that of a prestigious martial family.
Gong Suk asked abruptly, "Is this your first time?"
"What do you mean?"
"Coming into a kitchen."
"How did you know?"
"It's obvious from the way you're looking around."
Crimson Tiger chuckled softly. He knew this feeling well. Just by looking at the way someone held a sword, he could tell their skill level and state of mind.
Similarly, Gong Suk was the supreme master of the kitchen. He must have read the inexperience of a kitchen novice in Crimson Tiger's gaze.
"You saw through me. Please take good care of things from now on," Crimson Tiger admitted frankly.
Gong Suk looked away and resumed chopping.
He's truly a blunt man, yet he has a charm that inspires trust rather than frustration.
Crimson Tiger went out through the door at the back of the kitchen. Behind the main building was a large courtyard, and next to the back gate was a warehouse for storing food ingredients.
Going out through the back gate, he slowly walked around the surrounding area, familiarizing himself with the terrain.
Although he knew the geography of the association well enough, it was always better to err on the side of caution. After all, in a critical situation, knowing if there was a small alleyway up ahead could spell the difference between life and death.
When he finished surveying, he returned to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant. It was already dinner time, and the place was buzzing with about sixty martial artists.
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"Hongmae! How are the side dishes today?" a middle-aged guard asked.
Hong Maerang, who was carrying the dishes, replied loudly, "Unfortunately, the abalone dish you so desperately want isn't available today either."
"Are you serious?"
"Don't complain to me, go to the Association Chairman and tell him to increase the Hundred Flavors Restaurant's food budget!"
"Huh! As if I wouldn't dare! I'll go tell him right now!" The guard shot up as if he was about to run off.
Hong Maerang playfully remarked, "Just know this before you go."
"Know what?"
"The Association Chairman will tell me this: Dock that fellow's monthly salary to buy the abalone!"
Everyone laughed heartily at Hong Maerang's joke. The guard who had stood up also chuckled and sat back down, as if he had only been joking from the very beginning.
"That is absolutely out of the question. My kid's martial arts academy fees recently went up again."
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Even though Hong Maerang dared to make fun of the Association Chairman so freely, no one reprimanded her. It seemed that she had a personality that allowed her to make banter freely, and she was at ease with the martial artists.
Crimson Tiger raised his voice, "Don't worry, you'll be able to taste that abalone soon."
Everyone's eyes turned to Crimson Tiger.
Hong Maerang introduced him, "This is our newly appointed restaurant manager. Today's his first day of work."
The martial artists rose from their seats, bowed slightly, and greeted Crimson Tiger with clasped hands. Like the gatekeepers before, they didn't disrespect him at all. In the end, needlessly displeasing the man who controlled their food would only backfire.
Crimson Tiger smiled good-naturedly. "No need to go to the Association Chairman. I'll dock my own monthly salary to treat everyone to abalone."
Everyone laughed heartily at his words.
"That's very generous of you. In any case, as a manager, your salary must be higher than ours, right?"
Everyone burst out laughing again, and Hong Maerang shot a grin at Crimson Tiger.
All in all, the initial introductions seemed to have gone well.
Previously, at the warehouse, Crimson Tiger had been passive. This time, however, he decided to be a little more proactive.
After all, the more difficult the situation, the brighter one should act, right?
That evening, a welcome party was held for Crimson Tiger. Gong Suk had prepared several special dishes, and every time a new dish was served, the workers cheered loudly.
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"Alright, let's drink till we drop tonight!" someone shouted.
Crimson Tiger mingled politely with the workers, and everyone sincerely rejoiced at the appointment of a good superior.
The male workers were mostly young, while many of the women were middle-aged. It seemed that the reason for this was that one of the previous managers believed that grouping young men and women together decreased work efficiency.
After a few rounds of drinks circulated and the atmosphere mellowed, the shaggy-haired bachelors chanted in unison, ""We need women! Bring on the women!"
The middle-aged women burst out laughing.
"You boys obviously don't realize it, but we're women too."
"You probably were, once upon a time."
"Don't underestimate the term 'mature beauty'."
"Mature beauty, my ass! We should at least be able to tell you apart from our mothers from behind!" a young man countered.
Another woman retorted, "Ah! Are you referring to those skinny things who are only after your cash?"
"That's right, we sweated hard for them today too."
"Wake up. Those types hate sweaty men!"
"But without money, we don't even get the chance to experience the pain of being hated!"
Crimson Tiger chuckled as he listened to their playful banter. Although they constantly hurled insults at each other, he could sense their mutual trust and affection.
Hong Maerang took the side of the middle-aged women and led the teasing of the young men. To his surprise, she was still single.
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On the other hand, the Head Chef Gong Suk had a family with three children, so he sat apart from the rowdy men, instead discussing cooking with an apprentice chef next to him.
Crimson Tiger wondered if his hardworking aura came from being a family man. After all, his own life had changed completely after Seohyeon's arrival.
"Come on, drink up." Hong Maerang offered a drink to Crimson Tiger. "Since this party is for you, Manager, please say a few words."
"I don't really have anything to say."
"Aha, so you have nothing to say to your insignificant underlings?"
"Ahh, seriously!"
Finally, Crimson Tiger stood up, and the noisy venue quieted down for a moment.
"As you all have noticed, I don't know much about this job. I also don't know how long I'll be here. While I'm here, though, let's all get along well," he said simply.
"Eh? Is that all?"
"What else is there to say?" Crimson Tiger exclaimed, but seeing everyone's expectant looks, he added, "I really dislike ungrateful bastards who repay kindness with spite, so let's not be like that. Let's be nice to one another."
Everyone cheered and clapped loudly.
"…Was that lousy speech really worth applauding over?" Crimson Tiger mumbled, waving his hands dismissively as he sat back down.
Although he'd spoken on impulse, these were his sincere feelings.
Additionally, there was another type of person he disliked, but he kept it to himself. These were the people whose selfishness, venomous words, betrayal, and treachery provided stark proof of how frightening the jianghu truly was. They reminded him that he lived in a "Mountain of Blades, Forest of Swords", and made him painfully aware that he still wasn't ruthless enough.
Because deep down, he still wanted to live as an honest, upright person.
"Alright, let's all have a drink together!" Hong Maerang proposed a toast, and everyone raised their cups.
Crimson Tiger smiled. For now at least, he could let his guard down. It had really been too long since he'd felt so comfortable.
If only all this crap would end quickly… then I can live happily ever after with Seohyeon and Master…
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At a quiet lakeside not far from the Hundred Flavors Restaurant, Baek Museong and Gu Yangseo sat side-by-side, fishing.
"You've worked really hard," Baek Museong praised.
Gu Yangseo lowered his head, feeling pleased with himself. Just a short while ago, he had been so worried about the outcome of Crimson Tiger's mission that he thought he was going crazy, but now he wanted to grin broadly and shout out loud, "We pulled it off perfectly!"
However, he couldn't do that in front of the First Young Lord. This was, after all, a mission that involved the murder of his child. Hiding his true feelings, Gu Yangseo forced a sad expression on his face as he replied, "I've confirmed that the Mystery Pavilion Master hasn't noticed the true goal of the mission."
"Good."
Gu Yangseo asked cautiously, "But why did you summon Crimson Tiger to the inner court?"
Baek Museong hesitated. It was by his request that Crimson Tiger was assigned a new identity as the manager of the Hundred Flavors Restaurant. In fact, when he heard the news that Crimson Tiger had returned, he wanted to visit him right away.
Nevertheless, when he thought about actually meeting the Phantom, his courage failed him. He was terrified that his composure would crumble. He was worried that if Crimson Tiger turned out to be too weak, he might try to kill him.
That wasn't what he wanted.
Gu Yangseo's anxiety grew with every passing second of silence. Crimson Tiger was his most important subordinate. If his hunch was correct, he would have to stop the First Young Lord somehow.
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As if reading his mind, however, Baek Museong asked, "Are you worried that I might kill him or something?"
"Yes… that's right." Gu Yangseo answered honestly.
Crimson Tiger was the sword that had killed Baek Museong's child. It wouldn't be strange if Baek Museong wanted to take revenge regardless of the repercussions.
Baek Museong smiled. "To be honest, I thought about it, but I decided against it. If I kill him…"
He left his sentence hanging. For some reason, he felt that if he killed Crimson Tiger, he would, ironically, never be able to shake off the guilt of sending an assassin after his own child. That sin would be forever branded upon his heart.
"Well, it doesn't make sense to just throw away such a talented pawn, does it?" he finally said, giving an answer that contradicted his true thoughts.
"Then why did you summon him to the inner court?" Gu Yangseo asked.
"I just wanted to keep him close…and see him at least once."
Gu Yangseo gulped nervously. That just screams danger to me!
He didn't feel good about it at all. If Baek Museong wanted to meet Crimson Tiger, he could just go find him wherever he was. The very thought of keeping him around didn't bode well.
Still, he hid his inner thoughts and instead said, "He's a very competent man. You'll like him when you meet him."
"All the more reason I want to meet him."
"He is also indispensable to the Radiant Hall." Gu Yangseo stressed.
Baek Museong smiled faintly and changed the subject. "How do you think the Evil Coalition will react?"
"They must be in an uproar by now , but they won't be able to make any conspicuous movements. The fact that the Ironblood Commander has been assassinated will significantly lower their morale. They'll probably deal with it internally somehow."
"Keep a constant eye on them."
"Of course."
"Thank you, Director Gu. I will never forget this."
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Gu Yangseo bowed deeply. These were the words he had been waiting for. When the First Young Lord became the successor and seized real power, he himself would become the Mystery Pavilion Master.
"May you be well until we meet again!" he said, rising from his seat and walking away from the lake.
POOF!
When Gu Yangseo was gone, Jin Chung appeared.
"It's over now," Baek Museong said absentmindedly.
"Yes, it is," Jin Chung replied, but he knew that his master had not yet let it go.
If he had truly come to terms with the deed, he wouldn't have summoned Crimson Tiger to the Inner Court.
Regardless, there was one more important issue, and Jin Chung was debating whether or not to mention it.
Gu Yangseo, who was ever the perceptive one, definitely hadn't mentioned it, but he was under no obligation to do so.
Therefore, the burden had fallen on Jin Chung to deliver those words. If he didn't speak, the matter would be buried forever.
Jin Chung debated whether or not he should say it. He had been shocked when he first read Crimson Tiger's report, and Baek Museong would only be more affected if he heard the truth.
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Since it's the Ironblood Nines, we always thought that the child was a son. Who would have known that he was actually a she? At the end of the day, does it make a difference whether it was a son or a daughter? She's already dead.
No, it would definitely make a difference. The First Young Lord would only be more heartbroken if he knew the child's gender.
In the end, Jin Chung decided not to report it.
Gazing at the shimmering lake, Baek Museong repeated distantly, "It's all over now…"
Jin Chung too stared at the lake, his eyes reflecting its deep, dark waters.
No, it's not yet over. For me or for you.
Translator's Note: Due to Easter prep and celebrations, updates resume on Sunday.
Footnotes:
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Hongmae: i.e. "Younger Sister Hong". ↩
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