I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 132

< Gleaming Eyes 2 >

“Not the Imperial family?”

“No. He went to the house of Wi Chung-hyeon, the Pyongsang Seosa [Head of the Sangseo-dae, overseeing court administration]. I’ve checked several times.”

Jo Kwang-yun unfolded the family tree of the inner court that Eum Young-moon had given him. He had heard of Wi Chung-hyeon and knew he was related to the Empress.

Sure enough, Wi Chung-hyeon was the Empress’s brother.

Wi Chung-hyeon was the eldest son, and the Empress the youngest daughter. Due to their age gap, it was said Wi Chung-hyeon raised her like a parent.

“These guys are really fast, aren’t they?”

“Yes. They’ve already started surveillance.”

“That means they’re that sensitive to power. No matter how greedy the Murim [Martial arts world] people seem, they’re like children compared to these guys’ lust for power. What’s more dangerous than the swords of the Murim people is their tongues.”

The Empress’s family probably isn’t just wary of Yang Ryeo-cheong. They must be watching all the women who caught the Emperor’s eye.

Perhaps they’re still monitoring the families of all the concubines.

Jo Kwang-yun was most curious about the Emperor mobilizing ten guards to protect the house. Was he worried the Empress’s family would do something?

“Gu Seung.”

“Yes.”

“You have to act like a bodyguard for this house now. You can’t go to the club, and don’t avoid their eyes. You have to pretend to be watched all the time. That’s the only way they won’t suspect anything.”

“I understand. Instead, I’ll call a few masters from the Hanahoe [A group or organization] to track down the guys tailing us.”

“Okay. It’s too naive to think only the Empress’s family is watching us. For the time being, this place will be the most important house in the capital. More than the Imperial Palace. Heh heh.”

* * *

“Sir Jo, three young ladies are here to see you.”

The guard officer, who volunteered as gatekeeper, took care of all visitors.

“Ah, they’re maids from my house. They’ve finally arrived.”

The three young women shrank into the house like innocent young ladies. But as soon as they entered Jo Kwang-yun’s room, their attitude changed completely.

“We greet the Clan Lord.”

The disciplined movements were not those of women, but of complete warriors.

“You’ve had a long journey.”

One of the three took out a letter from her bosom.

“This is a personal letter from Great Warrior Yeom.”

Jo Kwang-yun unfolded the letter, checked its contents, then carefully examined the three of them.

It was his first time seeing the women warriors of Changryong Gate [A specific group or organization].

“Great Warrior Yeom says you’re better than most men. Do you think so yourselves?”

The three exchanged glances, careful with their words.

“Why? Are you not confident?”

“No. We rate ourselves as above average.”

“In martial arts?”

“Yes? Oh, weren’t you talking about martial arts skills?”

“Including everything. From now on, you have to carry out a special mission in a place more dangerous than the gangho [Martial arts world], which cannot be compared to Dosan Sword Forest. It’s not something that can be done with martial arts alone, so I’m saying this.”

“Can you tell us where it is?”

A woman asked cautiously.

“The Imperial Palace.”

An unexpected answer, but the three didn’t show much change in expression.

He was convinced Yeom-shin had sent good kids.

Maintaining this level of composure is a hundred times better than most men.

“You will enter the palace as maids of the Empress’s private residence. There, you must protect the Empress… no, manage her, and be my faithful eyes and ears.”

The women still listened to Jo Kwang-yun without a word.

“Since your status will change to that of a slave, there will be more than one or two dangerous moments. Any of the numerous concubines in the Imperial Palace can kill you for ridiculous reasons. It is also common to be beaten for being rude, and your tongue can be pulled out, and your hands and feet can be cut off.”

Jo Kwang-yun looked at the three women’s expressionless faces and threw out the last words.

“I won’t ask if you’re confident, because it’s a difficult task you can’t be confident about. I’ll replace the question with this: Can you handle it?”

The three women exchanged glances and answered at the same time.

“We will do our best not to disappoint the Clan Lord.”

He liked the careful answer of doing his best, rather than shouting loudly.

“Since it’s a difficult mission, there will be a corresponding reward. Even if something unpleasant happens, I will pay the reward I promised, so you don’t have to worry about the future.”

There was a widespread rumor that Clan Lord Jo’s reward would be enough for three generations to live comfortably. The three women stood up and bowed deeply.

“We will never forget the Clan Lord’s grace.”

Jo Kwang-yun called Yang Ryeo-cheong.

“Say hello. This is the honorable person you will be serving in the future.”

The three women, who had maintained their composure even after hearing their lives were on the line, lost it as soon as they saw Yang Ryeo-cheong.

“Ryeo-cheong, you say hello too. When you enter the Imperial Palace, these are the only people you can rely on. They will check if your food is poisoned, and if assassins come in the middle of the night, they will protect you with their lives. You are entering as a slave, but you must not think of yourself as a slave. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, Brother.”

The three women were surprised once again by the word ‘Brother’.

“Please take good care of me in the future.”

The three women bowed to Yang Ryeo-cheong, who bowed politely.

“You should learn the etiquette of the Imperial Palace from today. There is nothing more foolish than getting into trouble because you don’t know etiquette.”

The three women, who had to go to a place where etiquette was more important than martial arts, had to work their heads instead of their bodies for a while.

* * *

A middle-aged man frowned at a stack of documents.

“Hey! What did you do with the summary I told you to make?”

The two men standing before him smiled.

“That’s the summary. If you want to see all the documents, we’ll bring them to you.”

“What? This is the summary? Hey! How many days has it been since you started the investigation?”

“That’s right. From Honam, Hobuk, Anhui, and even far away Sichuan. Do you know how many carrier pigeons have flown in from all over the Central Plains [China]? We organized all of that and included what we investigated here. It’s the summary.”

Another man added with a fuss.

“I wonder how many things this human being has been doing while wandering around. I wonder when he sleeps and if he eats. If I have to work like this guy to become a Central Plains tycoon, I won’t be rich.”

The middle-aged man shouted at the two talkative men.

“Stop talking nonsense and go out and wait. I’ll tell you what to do after I’ve seen all of this.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the two men left, the middle-aged man began to rummage through the documents.

As he read, his expression changed, and he muttered.

“Oh ho. A collection point… He’s got a good head.”

“Department store, Chosi [ancient market], Pyoguk [bank], Jeonjang [pawnshop]… He’s sweeping up money.”

“This bastard. He’s only dealing with rich guys.”

“This guy destroyed the famous Namgoong Family? He’s reckless.”

“A disciple of the Hwasan Sect [A famous martial arts sect]? How many identities does this bastard have?”

The man, who had been constantly muttering, closed his mouth after skimming through all the documents, and after drinking a cup of cold tea, he shouted.

“Hey! Come in.”

As soon as the two men came in and took a firm stance, the middle-aged man said.

“You’ve seen all of this, right?”

“Of course. That’s the summary we made after checking it several times.”

“Then… what do you think his martial arts skills are?”

“It seems his martial arts haven’t reached a very high level. He always stepped back whenever there was a fight.”

“Then how did he become a disciple of the Hwasan Sect?”

“Isn’t he just a lay disciple anyway? They probably taught him a bit of Plum Blossom Sword and let him act as a disciple. Jo Kwang-yun is safe if he sells the Hwasan Sect, so they gave him something big.”

“Hwasan lent him his name for money? Do you think that makes sense?”

“I don’t know if it’s true, but there are rumors he gave them gold bars and dozens of famous swords made by excellent artisans. As you know, rumors often turn out to be true, don’t they?”

“Hmm…”

The middle-aged man thought for a while, then slammed the documents on the desk and said.

“Follow this guy from now on. Pay special attention to whether he meets with court officials or administrators. He’s a guy who’s learned martial arts, so he might sneak out at night. Don’t take your eyes off him!”

The faces of the two men contorted.

“Um, it’s winter now. We might freeze to death if we stay up all night watching him.”

“If you die, I’ll be happy because I won’t have to see your faces anymore. Get out.”

The middle-aged man turned away as if he had finished giving instructions.

The two men had to follow their superior’s instructions with their mouths sticking out.

* * *

Jo Kwang-yun had dinner at home and went out at Hae-si (亥時) [9-11 PM]. It’s not unusual for a wealthy merchant to go to a courtesan house for a drink.

It wasn’t unusual that the Empress’s men were still quickly following him, as it was part of his daily life. But as soon as he left the gate and turned a corner, he felt another presence.

At first, he thought they had added more people, but he realized the new guys’ skills were far superior.

There was no way they would have sent the inferior guys first, leaving the skilled ones behind, so it was clear they were sent from somewhere else.

‘Damn it, they’re making a fuss.’

Jo Kwang-yun thought about taking Gu Seung with him, but he pretended not to know and headed to the club because these guys wouldn’t be finished in a day or two. The person who will be reverse tracking is already waiting at the club.

The two men were different from Jo Kwang-yun. It was a situation they couldn’t ignore.

“Hyung-nim [Older brother/term of respect]. That guy, don’t you think he’s tailing Jo Kwang-yun?”

“It’s not like he’s tailing him, he is tailing him. Who sent him?”

“Judging by the way he walks, he seems to be from a military family…”

“Isn’t he too shabby for a military family? He’s about the level of a rich man’s bodyguard.”

The two men exchanged glances.

“You follow that guy. I’ll stick to Jo Kwang-yun.”

A strange tail began.

Jo Kwang-yun walked leisurely to the club as if enjoying the cold winter air, and the others walked carefully, muffling their footsteps.

As soon as Jo Kwang-yun entered the club, the Empress’s man turned around without hesitation.

“That guy’s going back?”

“You keep following that guy until you get a clue about his identity.”

“Yes.”

The young man changed his target and started tailing again.

When the tail finally ended, the young man burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded.

“Huh, it’s Wi Chung-hyeon’s house? Heh heh.”

The man recalled the relationship between Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress. This is a serious matter that must be reported to the higher-ups.

The man ran to the Imperial Palace.

When he arrived at the West Gate and took out a badge engraved with the letter ‘West’ from his bosom, the soldiers guarding the gate hurriedly opened it.

He ran to the westernmost building, and a large sign with the words ‘West Wing’ was hung on it.

Do Young-jeon, the head of the West Wing, was the middle-aged man who had ordered Jo Kwang-yun to be thoroughly monitored.

“Why are you back already? What’s wrong?”

“Chief, the Pyeonganseosa family is already monitoring Jo Kwang-yun.”

“What? Pyeonganseosa means the Empress’s…?”

“Yes. I thought it was a matter that should be reported to His Majesty, so I rushed back.”

Do Young-jeon paced around the office, lost in thought.

Given the Empress’s personality, she may not end with just surveillance.

What if she kills Yang Ryeo-cheong in advance, thinking she’s a source of trouble?

< Gleaming Eyes 2 > End