Episode 263: A Day Out with Hyun Gong

Let’s rewind a bit to when Dang Moo-jin was sparring with the Three-Eyed Buddha.

Hyun Gong had left the Tang family estate, determined to retrieve the flying disc he’d sent soaring through the air. He could still picture it glinting in the distance.

“I thought I could at least bring it back to the estate, even if I couldn’t catch it with my hands.”

Hyun Gong didn’t doubt his martial skills, but manipulating objects in mid-air was a different story.

After all, it was no easy feat to match the talents of those like Dang Moo-jin and Namgung Myung, who had honed their skills in such arts.

“What a bother.”

Hyun Gong trudged in the direction the disc had flown, though he didn’t really expect to find it. How could he locate a small, thin piece of metal in the vastness of the city?

Yet, there was a reason he left the estate despite his doubts.

“Losing something valuable and not even pretending to look for it would only earn me scorn. I should at least make a show of searching.”

He planned to wander around the city until late evening or perhaps return to the estate by dawn. Returning at dawn, after wandering through the night dew, would make it harder for anyone to scold him.

With that in mind, Hyun Gong began to stroll leisurely through the city, treating it as a chance to enjoy his hobby.

An old man selling pancakes on the street recognized him.

“Isn’t that the Dragon Sword?”

“It’s been a while. But please, the nickname ‘Dragon Sword’ is a bit much.”

“Haha, then perhaps I should call you Jeong-eon.”

Hyun Gong offered a faint smile.

Thanks to his persistent efforts, the nickname Jeong-eon was becoming well-known in the city.

“It’s still a bit grand, but much more manageable. How have you been, sir?”

“Nothing much changes for me. Yesterday was like today, and today will be like tomorrow.”

“Your son who went on the trade journey should be back soon.”

“Ah, you remembered that?”

“How could I forget a story you shared with me?”

The old man, grinning widely, handed Hyun Gong a pancake.

Though it was a simple gesture of kindness, Hyun Gong insisted on giving the old man a coin in return.

One of Hyun Gong’s hobbies was to wander the city, humbly basking in the recognition of others.

It might sound odd, but “humbly basking” is quite an accurate description.

He hoped people would recognize him, but when they did, he responded with great humility.

What mattered was that many people recognized him, not how imperiously he could act in front of them.

Hyun Gong spent his time chatting with those who recognized him, responding leisurely and enjoying the interactions.

The people of the city regarded him as a kind and noble martial artist.

After some time, Hyun Gong entered a nearby inn.

The food wasn’t exceptional, but it was a place that drew a crowd at lunchtime.

The innkeeper greeted him with a bright smile.

“Jeong-eon! It’s been a while.”

“I’ve been meaning to visit. I’ve been to many inns on my way back from Mount Wudang, but none have dumplings as good as yours.”

“Shall I bring you some dumplings, then?”

“Please do.”

After a friendly exchange, Hyun Gong handed the innkeeper four coins and deliberately chose a corner seat.

One might think he’d sit in the center to enjoy the attention, but that would be foolish.

The inn wasn’t large, so even in a corner, people would still notice him. Essentially, it didn’t matter where he sat.

But there was a reason Hyun Gong preferred the corner.

Sitting prominently in the center would make him seem like a show-off, especially for someone skilled in martial arts.

However, someone of Hyun Gong’s stature sitting in a corner gave a different impression.

It suggested he was a humble martial artist who didn’t seek the spotlight.

As he waited for his dumplings, people began to fill the inn.

The patrons noticed Hyun Gong in the corner and nodded in acknowledgment.

Young, accomplished, yet humble—a model martial artist. That’s how people saw him.

Since he was the first to order, his dumplings were served first.

As the server carried the wooden tray of dumplings through the crowd, hungry eyes followed.

And then, the other patrons noticed something surprising.

“Eight dumplings!”

The inn charged four coins for six dumplings, but Hyun Gong’s plate had eight. Two extra dumplings, a gesture of favor.

Hyun Gong picked up his chopsticks with a calm demeanor.

He had to act as if he thought everyone received eight dumplings, unaware of the innkeeper’s special treatment.

Only then would his “humble basking” be complete.

Hyun Gong savored the subtle admiration and distance in the eyes of those around him.

The two extra dumplings, though seemingly trivial, symbolized the gap between him and ordinary people. A gap that no regular patron could bridge.

After finishing his meal, Hyun Gong continued in the direction the disc had flown.

Before long, he sensed a peculiar commotion in the area.

“What’s going on?”

He didn’t push through the crowd or ask questions. People would recognize him and approach with the story.

Sure enough, as he neared the source of the commotion, a vaguely familiar man recognized him.

“Isn’t that the Dragon Sword?”

All eyes turned to him. Hyun Gong feigned surprise.

“Shh! Please, keep your voice down. It’s overwhelming.”

“Oh, yes. Have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“It seems there was an assassin targeting the Northern Commander!”

“What?”

The Northern Commander was one of the top officials in the area, a man of considerable power and influence.

He also had ties to the Tang family.

Dang Moo-jin had treated the Commander’s chronic stomach issues, and through him, Hyun Gong had met Chu Sam.

Naturally, Hyun Gong was acquainted with the Commander.

The Commander regularly visited the Tang estate for treatment, and Hyun Gong often lingered around Dang Moo-jin.

But now, Hyun Gong felt a deep unease.

“This is too coincidental.”

The direction the disc had flown was toward the Commander’s residence.

And now, shortly after the disc was launched, there was this uproar.

“I need to assess the situation before it escalates.”

Hyun Gong made his way through the crowd toward the Commander’s residence.

A soldier stood guard at the gate, glaring at the crowd, but he posed no obstacle to Hyun Gong.

The soldier was startled to see him.

“Isn’t that Jeong-eon?”

“Hello. I’d like to find out what’s happened. May I enter?”

“Well, others can’t, but… go ahead.”

Hyun Gong calmly passed the soldier and entered the residence, surveying his surroundings.

He feared the worst—that the disc might have struck the Commander—but fortunately, the Commander was unharmed, pacing the courtyard.

Hyun Gong greeted him with a respectful gesture, and the Commander acknowledged him.

“Jeong-eon! I was just considering sending for someone from the Tang estate or the Cheongseong sect.”

“By chance, I happened to be nearby. Could you tell me what happened?”

“I just arrived myself, so I’ve only heard bits and pieces. Apparently, something sharp flew through the courtyard, nearly injuring my men. It seems to have been a hidden weapon.”

As the Commander finished, a servant showed the tear in his sleeve where the “weapon” had grazed him.

Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt, but the fabric was sliced cleanly, leaving a large hole.

The cut was unnervingly precise—a telltale sign of the disc’s path.

Hyun Gong’s heart sank, but he maintained his composure.

“At least no one was hurt. Did anyone see the assassin or the weapon?”

The Commander shook his head.

“That’s the strangest part. You’d expect to find a dagger or something, but there’s nothing. We only assume there was an assassin because of the torn clothing.”

Hyun Gong clenched his fist discreetly.

Thankfully, the disc hadn’t been discovered yet.

“May I take a look around the premises?”

“Go ahead.”

Hyun Gong inspected the area as inconspicuously as possible.

If the disc had grazed someone’s arm, where could it be now?

A short while later, Hyun-gong spotted a glint of silver beneath the stone wall—a hidden throwing blade. It was a biryun.

If an assassin had truly thrown a dagger, it wouldn’t have been able to burrow under the stones. But the biryun, being so thin, had managed to conceal itself beneath the wall.

“Thank goodness,” Hyun-gong thought, relieved.

He discreetly pocketed the biryun into his sleeve, ensuring no one noticed. This way, the Tang family would avoid any suspicion.

Returning to Bukdo-wi, Hyun-gong reported, “I couldn’t find any hidden weapons. But at least no one was hurt.”

Bukdo-wi’s brow remained furrowed. “It’s unsettling to call it fortunate. It feels like assassins are trying to send me a warning.”

People often connect events around them to themselves, and Bukdo-wi was no exception. However, Hyun-gong chose not to challenge Bukdo-wi’s concerns, instead opting to play along.

“Warning? What could they possibly warn someone as upright as you about, sir?” Hyun-gong replied, feigning indignation.

“It seems someone disapproves of my frequent visits to the Tang family. Haven’t I been visiting them almost every month?”

“But those visits were to check on your health, not for martial affairs.”

“They probably didn’t know that. Without certainty, they might have opted to threaten my subordinates rather than attack me directly. I suspect they used those Salmak operatives.”

Even though Tang Mujin had dismantled the Salmak leadership, the lower-level operatives scattered across regions remained untouched. It was impossible for Tang Mujin to eliminate every minor assassin.

Naturally, most of these lesser assassins continued to survive by taking small jobs in their respective areas. But Chengdu was an exception. There were no remnants of Salmak there, as Tang Mujin despised them, and they couldn’t operate without catching Namgung Myung’s attention.

Bukdo-wi, however, was unaware of these intricacies.

“Don’t worry, sir. There are no Salmak assassins in Chengdu.”

“No assassins? Then who could be targeting me?”

Hyun-gong was momentarily taken aback. Is that where this conversation was heading?

He quickly hid the biryun deeper in his sleeve and improvised, “I mean there’s no need for you to worry. I assure you, you won’t see any trace of an assassin again.”

Bukdo-wi’s face broke into a satisfied smile. “Is that so? If anyone else had said it, I might have doubted, but coming from you, Hyun-gong, I believe it.”

“It’s just an undeserved nickname,” Hyun-gong replied modestly.

“Your life has earned you that title. There’s no shame in it; you should be proud.”

Hyun-gong bowed slightly, acknowledging the compliment. “You’re too kind. I’ll continue to strive forward.”

“Even if I take your word for it, it’s hard to fathom why assassins would target me.”

Hyun-gong needed to respond. After a moment’s thought, he offered the first excuse that came to mind.

“Sir, this is something I learned from Wudang and Gongdong Mountains.”

“Oh?” Bukdo-wi’s interest piqued as Hyun-gong lowered his voice.

“There are rumors that the unorthodox sects are targeting the orthodox martial world. This incident might be related.”

“But I’m not a martial artist; I’m a government official. They know officials rarely get involved in martial disputes. Why would they stir up trouble unnecessarily?”

Realizing his mistake, Hyun-gong quickly shifted his story to avoid implicating the authorities.

“Didn’t you mention you practiced martial arts, sir?”

“My skills are hardly noteworthy.”

“Martial artists often misjudge. With your impressive physique and commanding presence, they might have mistaken you for a high-level martial artist. It’s not surprising if they momentarily thought you were one.”

Hyun-gong’s explanation was flimsy, but his skillful flattery masked its weaknesses. Unlike typical sycophants, Hyun-gong’s tone was calm and matter-of-fact, as if stating an undeniable truth.

Bukdo-wi burst into hearty laughter. “Is that so!”

“Though it may be late, the unorthodox and dark sects will soon realize there’s nothing to gain from involving you. And any remnants of Salmak hiding in Chengdu will be eradicated by the Tang family, so you have nothing to worry about.”

Bukdo-wi smiled contentedly. The relationship between the government and the martial world was distant, and Hyun-gong’s concerns were perhaps excessive. Unless Bukdo-wi himself was harmed, the authorities wouldn’t intervene over a mere cut on a subordinate’s clothing.

However, Bukdo-wi had taken a liking to Hyun-gong and felt indebted to him. Sometimes, the heaviest burdens are those of the heart, and Hyun-gong had lightened that load with his confident demeanor.

“Well, if I’m receiving, I should give something in return.”

“Pardon?”

“You mentioned the unorthodox sects might make a move soon? If I hear anything, I’ll let you know. After all, the government’s reach extends further than the martial world’s.”

“That would be incredibly helpful. But is it really okay to accept such a favor?”

“No problem. No one will know I told you.”

Hyun-gong’s eyes darted around. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, but it seemed to be ending on a positive note. He bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“Take care.”

With his shoulders squared, Hyun-gong returned to the Tang family estate. Tang Mujin was diligently practicing with the biryun alongside the Blood Rain Guest.

Hyun-gong approached Tang Mujin and handed him the biryun. “I found the biryun.”

“What? You actually found it?”

“Of course. I also helped maintain peace between the orthodox martial world and the Tang family.”

”…What nonsense are you talking about now?”

“You’ll find out someday.”

Hyun-gong strolled through the Tang estate with a confident air. Unlike when he roamed the streets of Chengdu, no one paid him any attention.