Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 401

401. Mantis Attempts to Stop a Cart

Nanjing City, Cheongpungmyeongwol Pavilion.

Even though it was midday, Unhyeon and Gaekong were seated in the Cheongpungmyeongwol Pavilion.

The room they occupied was the highest and offered the best view in the pavilion.

Naturally, it was also the most expensive, but Wolhyang didn’t mention the cost.

It wasn’t as if Unhyeon and Gaekong were requesting the company of entertainers or courtesans.

They were simply quietly enjoying tea or borrowing writing tools to compose letters.

“Are you sure this is alright?”

Swish, swish.

Yeonhwa asked as she walked down the hallway.

“The Tongpan [local magistrate] won’t stay still.”

Wolhyang, the owner of Cheongpungmyeongwol, offered a wry smile.

“I suppose not.”

That persistent and greedy Seo Geukyoon wouldn’t simply let things go.

“What are you going to do?”

Wolhyang sighed softly.

“Well? If it becomes truly unavoidable, I suppose we’ll have to pack up and leave together.”

Yeonhwa bit her lip.

That would mean a significant loss of time and resources.

It was too great a sacrifice to endure solely because of the Tongpan’s harassment.

But the truth was, there wasn’t a readily available solution.

“It’s alright.”

Wolhyang said suddenly.

“You don’t need to worry. I may not have a permanent home, but I know many places. I can easily provide for you all.”

Wolhyang confidently puffed out her chest.

But Yeonhwa’s expression didn’t brighten much.

She knew very well the extent of effort and sacrifice Wolhyang was enduring.

“What about those people?”

Yeonhwa asked, gesturing towards a room.

It was where Unhyeon and Gaekong were.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have them avoid this situation or ask for their help?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Smiling softly, Wolhyang said.

“I just want to see what happens.”

The current situation was not something that could be dismissed with the words ‘I want to see.’

However, Wolhyang’s eyes were shining with a strange light.

“Hoo, I understand.”

Yeonhwa knew she couldn’t change her mind.

“But please stay behind me when you’re with those people.”

Wolhyang smiled.

She knew Yeonhwa was worried about her.

“Okay. I understand.”

The two soon arrived in front of the room where Unhyeon and Gaekong were.

Yeonhwa took a deep breath and then reached out and opened the door.

Click.

Unhyeon had already turned his head to look at Yeonhwa.

Gaekong was drinking tea with a blank face, but Yeonhwa didn’t lower her guard.

Swish.

In the meantime, Wolhyang entered the room. No, she was about to enter.

Whoosh.

Yeonhwa immediately reached out and pulled Wolhyang back.

“Eek.”

Wolhyang let out a small scream of surprise, but Yeonhwa’s eyes remained fixed.

While watching Gaekong, Yeonhwa said quietly.

“I told you to always stay behind me.”

She was still wary of Gaekong.

To Yeonhwa, Gaekong was someone best kept at a distance, regardless of goodwill or hostility.

But Wolhyang looked like she was about to cry.

“Don’t pull me so suddenly.”

Wolhyang said, trying to cover her exposed shoulders.

Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.

“Ahem.”

Unhyeon cleared his throat and turned his head.

But Gaekong, who could be said to be the cause of the incident, was simply savoring the tea with an indifferent expression.

***

Early morning, Nanjing.

Vice Minister Seo Gaegang began his official duties in his office as usual.

Seo Gaegang frowned as he examined the reports from each department.

It was because there was no report on the arrest warrant he had ordered a few days prior.

‘Hmm?’

Seo Gaegang looked through other documents, just in case.

But there was no mention of the arrest warrant anywhere.

It had been completely omitted.

‘Dare a Chugwan [Judicial Officer]…….’

Seo Gaegang frowned.

‘Ignoring a direct order from me?’

The Chugwan, who was in charge of Nanjing’s judiciary, was known to be picky and rebellious.

So Seo Gaegang’s anger was even greater.

Seo Gaegang said to his aide in a blunt tone.

“Go and tell the Chugwan to come here immediately.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The aide bowed his head and immediately went outside.

Seo Gaegang frowned and looked down at the documents.

‘I’ll have to give him a wake-up call.’

If he set his mind to it, he could easily get rid of the Chugwan.

He needed to firmly establish who was truly in control of Nanjing on this occasion.

Because subordinates are always prone to harboring their own ambitions.

“Hmph.”

Thud.

Seo Gaegang threw down the documents and waited for the Chugwan to arrive.

But the Chugwan did not appear.

Instead, the aide brought the unbelievable news that ‘the arrest warrant was canceled by order of the Buyoon [Mayor].’

“What did you say?”

Seo Gaegang asked, frowning.

“Did you clearly say it was canceled by order of the Buyoon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The aide said, bowing his head deeply.

The Buyoon was the highest authority in Nanjing.

But why would he, who had been leaving most of the official duties to Vice Minister Seo Gaegang and simply waiting for his retirement, suddenly intervene?

The aide carefully continued, watching Seo Gaegang’s expression.

“……Also, the Chugwan said that he has nothing to say to the Vice Minister about this matter, so there is no need for a meeting.”

Gnash.

Seo Gaegang gritted his teeth.

But punishing the Chugwan’s impudence was a secondary matter.

Thump.

Seo Gaegang got up from his seat.

“I must meet the Buyoon.”

Seo Gaegang said with a sharp look.

There was not a trace of respect for his superior in that voice.

Click.

Seo Gaegang opened the door to the Buyoon’s office and entered.

“Oh, isn’t it Vice Minister?”

Buyoon Joo Deokil, who was tending to orchids, greeted Seo Gaegang with a smile.

He looked more like a gentle grandfather from the neighborhood than the Buyoon, the highest authority in Nanjing.

In fact, he was half right.

He left most of the official duties to Vice Minister Seo Gaegang and only cared for orchids in his office.

“Come this way and sit down.”

“……Thank you.”

Seo Gaegang, who was clearly uncomfortable, sat down.

Joo Deokil slightly rearranged the position of a flowerpot and then picked up the teapot and poured tea.

Pour, pour.

“I don’t know if the tea will suit your taste. Haha.”

“The weather is nice, why are you only in your office? You should go out for a stroll.”

Seo Gaegang said, as if throwing the words out.

It wasn’t because he was thinking of Buyoon Joo Deokil, but rather a sarcastic remark about him spending his time doing nothing.

“Haha, playing is only for when you have the strength. At this age, my only wish is to get through each day without any trouble.”

Click.

Joo Deokil put down the teacup and sat across from Seo Gaegang.

“So, what brings you here, busy as you are?”

“I heard that you ordered the withdrawal of the arrest warrant I issued.”

Seo Gaegang asked directly.

There was no attempt to be considerate of the other person by speaking indirectly, nor was there any courtesy shown to his superior.

But Joo Deokil smiled.

“Huhu, an arrest warrant…….”

He said, raising his teacup.

“Is this the time for you to be worrying about that?”

Seo Gaegang’s eyebrows twitched.

Slurp.

Joo Deokil drank his tea, making a noise.

Seo Gaegang frowned and asked.

“What does that mean…….”

“You’ve lost a lot of goodwill lately.”

Click.

Joo Deokil said, putting down the teacup.

“You often give instructions that violate regulations, and you treat your subordinates quite rudely. I heard you even shouted at the Chugwan to shut up and do as you’re told.”

Seo Gaegang spat out as if vomiting.

“It’s slander. It’s just malicious words spread by those who are jealous of me.”

There would be no evidence or witnesses.

Even if someone blew the whistle, it wouldn’t matter.

Everything Joo Deokil said now was too ambiguous to be clearly illegal.

“Is embezzling government funds and falsely accusing innocent people leading to their deaths also slander?”

Joo Deokil said in a soft voice.

Seo Gaegang stared intently at Joo Deokil’s eyes.

But the eyes of the elderly Joo Deokil were just filled with a gentle smile.

‘A sly old man.’

Seo Gaegang, unable to guess Joo Deokil’s inner thoughts, raised his chin.

“I’ve never heard of that before. How could I, who has received the Emperor’s grace, do such a thing? If such a thing had happened, I would gladly be punished according to the Imperial Law. But if this is someone’s slander…”

Grind.

Seo Gaegang said, glaring at Joo Deokil.

“They will surely pay the price.”

Seo Gaegang did not hide his eyes, which were burning with anger.

No one can prove what Seo Gaegang himself has done.

So, all he has to do is destroy those who have bared their teeth at him.

“Hahahaha. Yes, that’s right.”

Joo Deokil nodded and laughed.

Joo Deokil, who had been staring at Seo Gaegang for a while, suddenly said.

“I envy you. Your ambition. Some may say that your desire for power is excessive, but in a way, isn’t it a desire to move forward as an administrator?”

With a smile, Joo Deokil continued.

“But there are things in the world that you should never stand against. Opponents like natural disasters that you can only bow your head to and wait for them to pass.”

Seo Gaegang frowned.

‘What is he talking about?’

He couldn’t understand Joo Deokil’s intentions.

Joo Deokil’s voice was heard in Seo Gaegang’s ears.

“So, I always put others forward. It’s like a trick I’ve learned from decades of official life. It’s cowardly, but it’s better than being a mantis trying to stop a cart.”

The mantis is a predator.

The sight of a mantis chewing its prey alive is extremely cruel.

But no matter how much that mantis raises its head and burns with hostility, it cannot stop the rolling cartwheel.

So, 螳螂拒轍 (Dangnanggeo Cheol) [a Chinese idiom meaning ‘a mantis trying to stop a cart’] is a word that refers to recklessness.

But what does that have to do with Seo Gaegang now?

“Tsk tsk. You too…….”

Joo Deokil said with a seemingly pitiful expression.

“Is there no one else in the world to resist, so you had to offend the sensibilities of Eunuch Park?”

Thump.

At that moment, Seo Gaegang’s heart sank.

Eunuch Park?

Why is Eunuch Park, the Byeongpil Taegam [Director of the Secretariat] of Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a secret police agency] and the absolute power in the Imperial Court who holds the Dochalwon [Censorate, an oversight agency] in one hand, suddenly popping up here?

“Wh, what does that mean…….”

Thump.

Joo Deokil got up from his seat.

He, the chief of Nanjing, said to Seo Gaegang with a gentle expression.

“Thank you for your hard work in my place. Farewell.”

The conversation ended there.

Swish.

Joo Deokil turned his body and began to take care of the orchids again.

Seo Gaegang was at a loss in bewilderment and confusion.

But nothing would change by sitting here.

Seo Gaegang raised his body.

Wobble.

‘Ugh.’

At that moment, Seo Gaegang almost fell forward.

He had no strength in his legs.

Seo Gaegang grabbed the chair with one hand and stood up.

He turned his head and looked at Joo Deokil, but he had turned his back and was treating Seo Gaegang as if he didn’t exist.

‘Something, something must be wrong.’

It must be a misunderstanding or an error.

Why would he have offended Eunuch Park?

Seo Gaegang tried to think so.

He left the Buyoon’s office.

The moment he came out into the hallway and was about to turn his body.

“Stop.”

The voice that suddenly came was chilling.

Seo Gaegang tried to calm his uneasy feeling and turned his head.

Two unfamiliar military officers in the uniform of a senior military officer were standing in the hallway.

“Are you Seo Gaegang?”

Seo Gaegang flinched.

There was no way a normal senior military officer would use this tone with a Vice Minister.

“I, I am…….”

It was when Seo Gaegang was about to say something.

Swish.

An identification tag was thrust in front of Seo Gaegang’s eyes.

Seo Gaegang, who was already out of his mind, couldn’t see what was written on the identification tag.

But he could tell one thing. It was a tag that proved that he belonged to Dongchang.

The extrajudicial inspection agency that doesn’t care about evidence or even laws, the Dongchang, which is more terrifying than the Grim Reaper, had come to find Seo Gaegang.

“Let’s go.”

There was no explanation.

He just spat out a short word.

But Seo Gaegang’s vision went dark at that word.

Seo Gaegang’s thorough ‘peripheral management’ is of no use in front of Dongchang.

Because they don’t need evidence or even witnesses.

Thud.

The strong hand of the military officer grabbed Seo Gaegang’s shoulder as if urging him on.

At that moment, Seo Gaegang felt the ground collapsing beneath his feet.

The floor he had been standing on until just now disappeared like a lie, and the abyss was opening its black mouth.