Closer (3)
She woke up at the crack of dawn.
It was almost as if she never slept at all, going to bed late and rising early. I even wondered if she spent her nights in some sort of meditative trance instead of sleeping.
Every morning, she climbed the hill behind the house and returned, likely after some form of training.
Through Jeong-yeo, I learned from the staff that she hadn’t missed a single morning session since arriving here.
From this, I deduced something crucial.
She wasn’t here to protect Ma Jeong-su. If her intention was to guard him, she would have been his “escort.” But she wasn’t escorting; she was “observing.” Just as I was observing her.
For someone like me, who had resolved to eliminate Ma Jeong-su, this was a relief.
I considered tailing her to see what kind of training she was doing.
But I decided against it. The worst thing would be for her to discover my presence, so I didn’t take unnecessary risks.
In the end, I could only make a rough guess about her martial arts skills.
If I could reveal my own energy, I might gauge her level more accurately, but for now, I was keeping myself completely hidden. Judging by the absence of weapons, I assumed she practiced unarmed combat.
Her gait and aura suggested considerable skill.
Perhaps on par with or slightly below Si-gon? Considering her age, that was impressive.
Her martial prowess and the air about her…
The initial impression that she might be a secret weapon trained by some clandestine organization was gaining traction.
Regardless of who she was, I needed to use her.
I had to report back that Ma Jeong-su had been taken out by the hands of the Night Shadows. In that regard, her role was crucial.
The next night, I found myself standing by the pond, gazing into its depths.
The delicate white lotus shimmered in the water’s reflection, and the autumn breeze carried the scent of the blossoms. A few koi swam lazily, barely moving in the deepening night.
Why had she been staring at this? Did she want to save the koi? Or perhaps she wanted to kill them?
I glanced at the moon reflected in the water.
Maybe she wasn’t looking at the koi at all, but at the moon.
As I turned to leave, I noticed her watching me from the building’s entrance.
Normally, she would have just turned away and gone inside, but this time, she slowly walked toward me.
She came to stand beside me.
I pretended not to notice her, keeping my eyes on the pond without a word.
“Isn’t that stranger?”
She glanced at me as I spoke.
“Treating someone who’s clearly there as if they’re not—don’t you find that odd?”
She turned back to the pond and replied.
“Not at all.”
Her voice was so soft that an ordinary person wouldn’t have caught it. But I heard her clearly. Her first words.
I responded briefly.
“True.”
She looked at me, questioning why I had said that.
“Whether you live this way or that, it’s a lifetime all the same. Maybe it’s easier not getting tangled up with people and living alone.”
She turned her gaze back to the pond.
“Won’t you tell me your name?”
She suddenly asked, still staring at the lotus.
“Is a name that important?”
It was almost a soliloquy, but it was the first time she spoke properly.
“People are more important than names, sure. But you need something to call someone, right? I can’t just say, ‘Hey, you there.’”
She didn’t respond, and I spoke as if giving up.
“Fine. If you’re not going to acknowledge me anyway, what does it matter? Whether I call you Pond or Koi, you’re still you.”
She continued to look at the pond, expressionless.
For some reason, her solitude didn’t feel unpleasant. In fact, I felt a certain kinship. Perhaps it was because I realized my own life had been steeped in deep loneliness.
“Sorry if I said something unnecessary.”
At my apology, her lips twitched slightly. She seemed to hesitate, as if about to speak.
Just then, someone called out to me from afar.
“Galmu-in.”
Ma Jeong-su was gesturing for me from the building’s entrance. His appearance erased her hesitation.
“Yes.”
I answered loudly and ran toward him.
Ma Jeong-su asked with a stern face.
“What were you talking about with her?”
“Nothing much. I asked her name, but she didn’t answer.”
“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t concern yourself with that woman!”
His voice was laced with irritation.
“Sorry. It was just a chance encounter…”
“Come to my room later.”
“Yes.”
Ma Jeong-su went inside.
When I turned back, she had vanished.
When I entered Ma Jeong-su’s room, he was drinking alone.
“Come, have a drink.”
His earlier irritation had subsided somewhat.
I accepted the drink he offered.
“Drink it all.”
“Yes.”
I drank without hesitation, realizing there was one more thing I needed to address urgently.
The matter of poison.
In my past life, I had reached a state of immunity to all poisons. I could eat and drink freely without worry.
But this body wasn’t the same.
To achieve immunity, one’s constitution must change. It’s not about using energy to block poison; it’s about the poison having no effect at all.
Having achieved immunity once, I knew how it could be done.
First, I needed a potent poison. Something far stronger than what you could find in the market, with intense natural toxicity. Artificially created poisons wouldn’t work.
In other words, even the most potent man-made poison in the martial world wouldn’t suffice. It had to be a natural poison, like a snake’s venom or a toxic plant, and it had to be alive at the time of consumption.
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough. There had to be an antidote ready for the critical moment.
You had to be on the brink of death from poisoning and then cure yourself at the last moment. It was no easy feat, as you could die even after taking the antidote.
Another disheartening fact was that surviving didn’t guarantee immunity. Various factors had to align, and even then, the chances were slim.
It required bold courage and a stroke of luck.
Having achieved immunity once, I was willing to try again if I could gather the necessary materials.
But finding such poisons and antidotes was a rare opportunity, almost a miracle.
“The head of the main branch speaks highly of you.”
“I’m still lacking in many ways.”
“Here, have another drink.”
I took another drink.
He brought up the woman again.
“I understand you’re young and curious about women. But find yourself a good one, not someone like her.”
“Is she that bad?”
I asked with a joking smile, but Ma Jeong-su answered seriously.
“Worse. She’s as dangerous as a snake. You know how a man can ruin his life by getting involved with the wrong woman.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Even as we spoke, I noticed a flicker of annoyance on his face. It was clear what kind of relationship they had.
I didn’t bring her up again. There was no need to draw attention to that matter.
Eventually, Ma Jeong-su got to the point of why he had called me.
“I need some money…”
“I thought the main branch provided financial support.”
Jeong-yeo had given him ten thousand nyang. I had instructed her to be generous, as I intended to reclaim it all anyway.
“That’s not enough.”
“How much do you need?”
“One hundred thousand nyang.”
I feigned surprise, then asked innocently.
“When do you need it by?”
“The sooner, the better. No later than five days.”
“One hundred thousand nyang in five days?”
I put on a thoughtful expression, then spoke cautiously. This was the crucial moment.
“I have an idea.”
“What is it?”
“Have you heard of the Night Shadows?”
“The Night Shadows? Of course. Aren’t they the ones who lend money at high interest rates? I’ve heard they’re ruthless.”
“Exactly. They’re not people you want to deal with.”
I laid it out plainly, even emphasizing it a bit.
“They’re dirty, underhanded, and vicious. Once they hold a grudge, they won’t stop until their target is dead. They use forbidden weapons without hesitation.”
The martial alliance banned the use of projectile weapons and poisoned weapons, as they were seen as dishonorable. Getting caught using them would land you in prison.
But there were always those in the martial world who defied the alliance’s rules. The Night Shadows were among them.
“Are you suggesting I borrow money from them?”
“It’s the only way to get one hundred thousand nyang in five days.”
A silence fell between us.
“Do they even have that kind of money?”
“From what I’ve heard, the Night Shadows have amassed great wealth through secret dealings with local merchants. They should be able to provide one hundred thousand nyang.”
“Alright. Let’s say they have the money. Would they really lend such a large sum without collateral? I have nothing to offer.”
“Why do you say you have nothing?”
“What do you mean?”
“You yourself are the best collateral.”
“I’m the collateral?”
“You’re the heir to the Cheondo Clan. What better collateral could there be?”
A hint of pride crossed Ma Jeong-su’s face. In these desperate times, such flattery was like a refreshing rain to him.
Yet, he hesitated. The idea of dealing with the Night Shadows clearly made him uneasy.
In such situations, it’s best not to push. Instead, taking a step back can be more effective.
“I’m sorry, I must have spoken out of turn. Let’s pretend I never mentioned it.”
“Not a bad idea. Definitely worth considering.”
It was the only way he could think of to get the money he needed in just a few days.
“Can you get in touch with them?”
“Of course.”
Majungsoo, deep in thought, emptied his glass and spoke.
“Contact them.”
“Yes.”
I downed the rest of my drink in one go.
I felt a bit guilty, but I hadn’t yet removed the straw I’d stuck into him.
News reached the night watch.
“Majungsoo has contacted us, saying he wants to visit.”
At Yacheon’s words, Gucheol was taken aback.
“Could he have found out we killed Sigon?”
“Possibly.”
But even if he had, it was unexpected for Majungsoo to come in person.
“You should hide!”
“And if I do?”
“I’ll take responsibility and meet him.”
“Idiot! What do you think you can do?”
“I’m sorry.”
Yacheon shouted, but inside, he was pleased. Gucheol was a hot-tempered fool, but at least he was loyal to him.
“So, what should we do?”
They couldn’t just run away without knowing why he was coming. They couldn’t abandon the foundation they’d built over the years, nor could they show weakness to their subordinates.
The enforcers of the night watch were rough and ruthless. To control such men, you had to show grit and guts, even if it meant risking your life.
Yacheon steeled himself for a confrontation.
“Gather all the bold and skilled ones. Prepare as many weapons as possible. If he tries anything funny, we’ll kill them all. Running comes later.”
The next day, we rode a carriage to the night watch’s headquarters.
In the carriage were Majungsoo and me.
The mysterious woman watched us leave but didn’t join us. I suspected she might follow us separately, perhaps having applied some kind of tracking scent on Majungsoo.
“Do you think he’ll really lend us the money?”
Majungsoo seemed uneasy. If Sigon and Hwasun had been with him, he might have been more confident, but given the current situation, it was natural for him to feel intimidated.
“You need to be assertive.”
“Assertive?”
“Those who live in the shadows are weak against the strong and strong against the weak. Yacheon may have a fearsome reputation, but at heart, he’s no different from any other thug. Besides, we’re heading to a remote corner of Shandong. There’s no reason to be afraid.”
Majungsoo seemed to draw courage from my words.
“Having you with me is reassuring.”
“Think nothing of it. Leave this matter entirely to me.”
I met his gaze with a determined look, exuding confidence.
“Very well.”
Majungsoo would be relieved. If things went south, he could always pin the blame on me and make his escape.
And so, the carriage arrived at the night watch’s headquarters.