The Golden Banquet (1)
The moment Chil-ho laid eyes on the Nameless Hero again, a pang of emotion struck her heart.
She had once witnessed him kill a butcher. Even then, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him, and today was no different.
“Nice to meet you. Let’s get along well,” Im Yeon-jeong greeted her warmly.
“Yes, please take care of me,” she replied to Lee Ho.
“I didn’t expect such a beautiful woman in your organization. I thought it was just a bunch of gruff men,” he joked, expecting at least a hint of embarrassment, but both Lee Ho and Chil-ho remained unfazed.
Im Yeon-jeong shook her head. “What a dull bunch.”
Their actions were equally unremarkable. Lee Ho turned to Chil-ho and said, “Let’s head out.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll take our leave now,” they said, bowing with clasped fists before exiting the room.
The two walked side by side down the corridor.
Chil-ho had been sent here on Il-ho’s orders. The Nameless Hero had not only killed the butcher from Cheondo Gate but had also made contact with the Demon Spirit.
She had learned that when coincidences pile up, they are no longer coincidences. Originally, she had come to kill the Nameless Hero, but seeing him made her reconsider and decide to investigate further.
They entered the last room at the end of the corridor.
“So, you find this Nameless Hero suspicious?” Lee Ho asked.
“Yes,” Chil-ho admitted her mission honestly. She figured that making up excuses would only raise Lee Ho’s suspicions.
However, she didn’t mention that she had the authority to eliminate the Nameless Hero at her discretion. Nor did she reveal that Gwaemangryang and Chuirang were waiting nearby. She only said she was here to investigate on Il-ho’s orders.
“Approaching the Demon Spirit just because he killed a butcher seems far-fetched. From what I’ve observed, he doesn’t seem that suspicious.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Chil-ho replied without offering her own opinion.
“Besides, the Demon Spirit needs him. So take that into account during your investigation.”
“Understood.”
Lee Ho, well-versed in the organization’s ways, asked suspiciously, “Did you come with anyone else?”
“No,” Chil-ho replied.
Lee Ho scrutinized her, but he couldn’t detect any falsehood in her expression or demeanor. They were trained for this, after all.
“Go and rest. I’ll arrange for you to have free access to the facilities.”
I was quite surprised by Chil-ho’s appearance.
She had been among the crowd when I killed the butcher. She must have had a mission related to him.
Having failed that mission and now meeting with the Demon Spirit, it’s only natural that her organization would want to investigate me. She must have come because of me.
“What are you thinking about so deeply? Were you thinking about her just now?” Im Yeon-jeong asked, smiling.
“How did you know?” I replied with a grin.
“Men are so predictable.”
“Let’s continue our earlier conversation.”
“What were we talking about?”
“The Demon Spirit didn’t tell you something out of jealousy.”
“Jealousy?”
“That I like you.”
She was taken aback by my confession but soon burst into laughter.
“Hahaha. Are you trying to taste the forbidden fruit before you die?”
“Is liking someone such a wicked thing?”
“Don’t joke around.”
“I’m not joking,” I said seriously.
She stepped closer, bringing her face right up to mine, staring intently into my eyes.
I still couldn’t tell. Was the clarity in her eyes truly from innocence, or was it from some hidden malice I hadn’t considered?
“All the men who liked me are dead.”
“That’s good. I’m as good as dead anyway.”
I answered confidently, meeting her gaze without flinching.
Then, suddenly, she kissed me. It wasn’t a deep kiss, just a light peck.
As I stood there, stunned, she laughed and said, “I just wanted to show you what the forbidden fruit tastes like, since you’re about to die.”
My face turned red. This embarrassment was no act.
“Go on now,” she said, returning to her seat and picking up a book.
“See you later,” I said, but she didn’t look back.
I left her lab immediately.
That evening, I sat alone in an inn, drinking.
Im Yeon-jeong’s surprise kiss had caught me completely off guard.
Could she really like me? How long have we even known each other? Or was it just pity for someone about to die? No, that couldn’t be it. Then what was her intention?
I couldn’t decipher her feelings. I was bewildered, but I didn’t blame myself or regret it. I felt a twinge of guilt towards Song Hwa-rin, but it couldn’t be helped.
In truth, the one I should feel sorry for is Im Yeon-jeong. I’m willing to use her to uncover the truth behind these people.
Just one more step, and I’ll find out who’s behind them and then disappear, letting the Nameless Hero fade away while I build my influence as Byeok Lidan.
Knowing who my real target is makes all the difference in the world. Just one more step.
To do that, I need free access to the secret estate.
There are people there… clues must be there.
Three days later, the day of the Golden Banquet finally arrived.
From early morning, Jeongju was swept up in the festival’s excitement.
The streets were packed with merchants and the martial artists accompanying them.
Various events were taking place everywhere. Merchants from all over were selling all sorts of fascinating goods.
One merchant from the southern lands was even selling elephants and giraffes.
I made my way through the bustling market to the venue of the Golden Banquet’s opening ceremony, eager to see Ma Bong-gi.
A large crowd had already gathered there.
In the distance, a grand stage was set up, with seats for the prominent figures of the martial world.
The crowd was buzzing with conversation. Most of them were merchants, always keen on rumors and politics.
They exchanged news from all over the central plains.
They discussed which trading companies had succeeded, who owned the new ones, why some had failed, the troubles caused by the heirs of Cheondo Gate, and even how the appearance of the Nameless Hero was affecting commerce.
If one could hear such talk every day, all the information brokers in the central plains would surely go out of business.
Among them were a few brave souls voicing their discontent with Cheondo Gate’s tyranny.
But most merchants were very cautious when it came to the alliance leader.
A middle-aged man took the stage to announce the start of the Golden Banquet. His voice, imbued with inner strength, echoed across the packed venue.
“Honored guests from all over the central plains, we now commence the greatest festival in the world, the Golden Banquet!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireworks exploded in the sky, with smaller ones going off below.
The middle-aged man introduced the host of this year’s Golden Banquet.
He was a short, white-haired old man, the head of the Central Plains Merchants’ Union and the leader of the Continental Trading Company, Seong Wang-bo.
“This is a place for us merchants. During the banquet, you can stand tall and speak loudly. You are the stars of this event.”
A thunderous cheer erupted.
Seong Wang-bo then introduced another guest.
“Now, to honor this occasion, we have the most esteemed figure in the martial world, the leader of the Martial Alliance.”
Waaaah!
With a great cheer, Ma Bong-gi appeared.
Seeing him filled me with anger. It wasn’t his unchanged appearance that enraged me, nor the merchants applauding despite knowing Cheondo Gate’s tyranny.
It was the four women standing a little away from the stage. They were undeniably chosen for their looks.
I had heard before that Ma Bong-gi’s personal guards were all women.
Though he couldn’t change that after becoming the alliance leader, he still kept those women alongside the warriors of the Fierce Tiger Squad.
The thought of such a lecher leading the martial alliance made my blood boil.
I let his speech pass through one ear and out the other, scanning the surroundings. I spotted Ma Cheol-gun a little away from the VIP seats where the prominent figures were seated. He was conversing with the Demon Spirit.
I slowly made my way through the crowd towards them.
Ma Cheol-gun was meeting the Demon Spirit again after a long time.
The heirs of Ma Bong-gi had spread across the central plains to build their influence, and the one in charge of Henan was the Demon Spirit. Of course, Ma Cheol-gun was unaware that the Demon Spirit was secretly conducting a test.
“I heard your results in Henan haven’t been great.”
“What good is hard work? The heir will be you anyway.”
“Hah, you never know. If someone more capable than me appears…”
“Will you kill them?”
“You rascal.”
“Just kidding, just kidding. It’s been so long since we met, I couldn’t help but joke. Hahaha.”
Ma Cheol-gun laughed along, but his thoughts were different. He was most wary of the Demon Spirit, knowing he was the most adept at hiding his true intentions among the heirs.
“What about the others?”
“They didn’t come. Only Father and I were invited to this Golden Banquet.”
“Of course, they only care about the alliance leader and the next in line.”
“It’s not that. Recently, the martial world hasn’t looked kindly on our sect. That’s probably why only Father and I were invited.”
“When has our sect ever been spoken of kindly?”
“It’s worse than before. Especially after the incident with the Nameless Hero killing Yeom Daehyeop, people are looking at us with suspicion.”
“Yeom Daehyeop? He was just a butcher. I think it’s good he’s gone. It’s time for our Cheondo Sect to change.”
“Watch your words.”
“Well, I’ve said my piece, so I’ll take my leave. Let’s consider this a farewell! See you after the grand meeting!”
Mareongin turned and left without looking back.
As he walked away, he glanced at me from a distance. Our eyes met briefly, but we both pretended not to notice.
I was keeping an eye on Ma Cheolgun’s surroundings.
Two people were nearby. From what Mareongin had told me, the scholarly-looking middle-aged man was No Seonsaeng, Ma Cheolgun’s strategist. The man next to him was Samho, from a mysterious organization.
A little further away, seven skilled fighters stood guard. They were the Cheonryong Seven Swords, tasked with protecting the leader of the Cheondo Sect.
The Cheonryong Seven Swords were a cut above the eight experts who had been guarding Mareongin earlier.
Each of their martial skills was on par with Chudochi. It was as if seven Chudochis were standing guard. Moreover, their combined techniques were said to be formidable.
After assessing Ma Cheolgun’s security, I slipped away.
Mareongin’s carriage was waiting at the agreed location. As soon as I got in, he asked, “How did it look? Is an ambush possible?”
“It won’t be easy. The Cheonryong Seven Swords are no ordinary opponents.”
“They’re masters, indeed. But the real problem is Ma Cheolgun. He’s stronger than all of them combined.”
“I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“That man Samho, next to No Seonsaeng. If I were to launch an ambush, how would he react?”
“I think he’d just watch.”
“You’re not certain.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Find out for sure. I need to know how he’ll respond.”
“Understood.”
“We need to know when the Cheonryong Seven Swords will be away from him. Also, check if there are any other hidden experts.”
I was showing him how dedicated I was to the task.
“Seeing him in person makes me want to succeed in this assassination.”
Of course, I had no intention of assassinating Ma Cheolgun. It was just a ploy to stir Mareongin.
Mareongin couldn’t hide his eagerness. His eyes were intense, filled with longing. Just the attempt on Ma Cheolgun’s life by the Nameless Hero would be a significant achievement, but if the ambush succeeded, Mareongin would suddenly become the strongest candidate for succession.
“Ma Gongja.”
I looked at him seriously.
“I’m willing to risk everything for this. So, I have one request.”
“What is it?”
“Allow me free access to the underground of the manor.”
“Why?”
“I want to see her whenever I wish.”
Of course, I meant Im Yeonjeong.
Mareongin stared at me silently, likely weighing whether he could trust me. It wasn’t an easy decision. He was inherently distrustful of others.
Since meeting him, both of us had made efforts.
The outcome of my efforts now depended on his answer.
He didn’t respond to me directly but spoke to the coachman instead.
“Let’s return to the manor.”
Then he tossed the blindfold that had been beside him out the window.