Episode 350: The Palm
“Let’s meet again if fate allows.”
Wang Ho bowed to his companions and returned to the inn to find the merchant.
Now, the only clue to finding Baek Hyang-a was a single corpse.
Tang Mujin made his decision.
“First, identify the body. Then use that as a lead to track down Baek Hyang-a.”
The first step was to determine the identity of the deceased.
Fortunately, the body had a distinctive feature: a small extra finger beneath the left pinky.
A six-fingered hand was more than enough to serve as a clue.
Tang Mujin and his group went around the nearby villages, inquiring about any missing or deceased individuals with such a feature. They received a crucial lead from a local innkeeper in a village a bit further away.
“A six-fingered person? Sounds like Maeng Ga. He had an extra finger about half the length of a pinky under his left pinky, right?”
“That’s correct. Do you know him?”
“Of course. Did something happen to Maeng Ga?”
“He’s dead.”
Tang Mujin spoke with a feigned somberness, but the innkeeper unexpectedly laughed.
“Well, well, I heard the birds chirping loudly this morning. It’s been a while since I’ve heard good news.”
“Seems he wasn’t a very good person.”
“That’s putting it mildly. He was notorious in our hometown. See these missing front teeth? That’s his doing.”
The innkeeper opened his mouth to reveal two missing front teeth, a comical sight.
He then launched into a tirade of curses, recounting everything from Maeng Ga’s petty thefts in his youth to rumors of him beating someone to death.
Tang Mujin asked the innkeeper, “Do you know who might have killed him?”
“There are plenty. Few around here didn’t hold a grudge against Maeng Ga.”
“It wasn’t the work of an ordinary person, so it’s likely unrelated to past grudges. Have there been any rumors of martial arts experts appearing around here recently?”
“Experts? Oh!”
The innkeeper furrowed his brow in thought, then clapped his hands as if something had dawned on him.
“There’s been talk of martial artists freezing to death at the hands of an expert recently. Seems Maeng Ga met the same fate.”
“That’s right.”
“The world is a dangerous place, but sometimes that works in our favor. I don’t know who the expert is, but there are plenty of rumors.”
“Could you tell me more?”
“There’s the Hwang family in the village below, known for their martial arts skills. Two days west, there’s a master named Seo, and his brother is also quite skilled…”
Innkeepers often share stories hoping for a tip, but the innkeeper seemed pleased enough with the tale Tang Mujin shared that he didn’t ask for money.
Among the stories, one stood out.
“Two foreigners settled in the neighboring village. Despite being outsiders, they’re said to be formidable, and even seasoned martial artists bow their heads to them. No one’s seen them in action, though.”
Even though this was a remote northern area, it wasn’t common to encounter martial artists from the Northern Ice Palace.
The two foreigners the innkeeper mentioned were likely the ones who fled the Northern Ice Palace with Baek Hyang-a.
Tang Mujin handed the innkeeper a silver coin and asked, “Could you tell me more?”
The group arrived at the village the innkeeper had mentioned.
However, they didn’t explore the village openly as usual. They couldn’t gauge Baek Hyang-a’s skills.
Meeting Baek Hyang-a unprepared could lead to trouble, so Tang Mujin’s group moved stealthily, carefully surveying the village.
While they were quietly observing, Namgung Myung’s voice reached them.
Namgung Myung was hiding behind a cart filled with rotting compost, peeking out at something.
The rest of the group slowly approached Namgung Myung. Tang Mujin joined him behind the cart. Despite the compost, there was no foul smell.
The group followed Namgung Myung’s gaze.
There were a few houses, not much different from the others, but one stood out.
Two foreigners, one large and one smaller, were doing chores.
Both seemed quite skilled. The larger man was among the top martial artists, and the smaller one was likely above average.
The group’s attention turned to Seolhwa.
As expected, Seolhwa’s expression was tense.
“That’s Daebyeok Gakju and Sosang Gakju. The big, sturdy one is Daebyeok Gakju. The smaller, rounder one is Sosang Gakju.”
Seolhwa spoke as she tried to stand.
But Hyun Gong pulled her back down. The presence of Daebyeok Gakju and Sosang Gakju suggested Baek Hyang-a might be nearby.
However, even after a long wait, Baek Hyang-a was nowhere to be seen. They subtly adjusted their angle to peer inside the house, but still nothing.
As they pondered the situation, Sosang Gakju suddenly flinched.
His gaze was fixed on the cart where the group was hiding.
‘Damn!’
Seolhwa’s foot was sticking out from under the cart. Unlike the others, she wasn’t used to hiding.
She quickly pulled her foot back, but it was too late.
Sosang Gakju approached the cart, and soon his eyes met those of Tang Mujin’s group.
Sosang Gakju was far more shocked than Tang Mujin’s group. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
It was only natural. Who would expect three top martial artists and two skilled ones hiding behind a shabby compost cart?
“Hoo…”
Namgung Myung sighed, standing up and drawing his sword.
Sosang Gakju’s hand moved towards his waist, but he didn’t draw his weapon. He saw no chance of winning.
So Sosang Gakju dropped to his knees and bowed.
“Oh my! Isn’t it the young lady!”
”…?”
An unexpected reaction. But Seolhwa didn’t accept the greeting.
“How dare a criminal call my name? Where’s Baek Hyang-a? What about the secret manual and the Millennium Ice Crystal?”
“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding! Baek Hyang-a isn’t here! We don’t have the manual or the ice crystal! We’ll explain everything, so please calm down!”
Sosang Gakju glanced back. Unlike the bowing Sosang Gakju, Daebyeok Gakju, who was further away, seemed to want to flee.
But Daebyeok Gakju didn’t run. Judging by Tang Mujin’s group’s skills, it was clear he’d be caught and killed if he tried.
Daebyeok Gakju hesitantly approached and knelt beside Sosang Gakju.
Seolhwa drew her sword with a cold expression. It was a clear threat.
“You want to make excuses? Go ahead. But if you don’t convince me, you’ll die here. And it won’t be a quick death. You’ll suffer unimaginable pain. I have the world’s best torturer by my side!”
”…”
It wasn’t the most flattering introduction, but it wasn’t a lie either, so Tang Mujin said nothing.
Sosang Gakju began to explain the situation calmly. His command of the local language was even better than Seolhwa’s.
“I have a rough idea of the misunderstanding. The people of the Northern Ice Palace must think Daebyeok Gakju and I are in cahoots with Baek Hyang-a.”
“So you’re saying you’re not? How shameless!”
“It’s true! We were deceived by Baek Hyang-a!”
It wasn’t entirely convincing, but it was worth hearing. Seolhwa pointed her sword at Sosang Gakju.
“Explain in detail.”
“As you know, Daebyeok Gakju and I had many interactions with Baek Hyang-a. Daebyeok Gakju taught her martial arts, and I, who managed the elixirs, taught her how to absorb their energy.”
“So you were close enough to conspire with her to steal the manual and the ice crystal and run away? Doesn’t sound like there’s much room for leniency.”
Seolhwa’s tone was oddly triumphant as she pressed Sosang Gakju.
She seemed proud of herself for using the difficult word “leniency.”
Sosang Gakju bowed his head again and continued.
“No, it’s not like that! We were tricked. As you know, Baek Hyang-a knew the location of the ice crystal and the manual. She secretly stole them and then asked us for help, pretending she just wanted to see the outside world for a night. We were too soft-hearted to refuse.”
“That’s right.”
As Sosang Gakju laid out his excuses, Daebyeok Gakju nodded in agreement beside him. It seemed Daebyeok Gakju wasn’t as fluent in the local language as Sosang Gakju.
Sosang Gakju continued his explanation.
“As soon as we left the Ice Palace, Lady Baek ambushed us. I’m ashamed to admit it, but we were caught off guard and had no choice but to succumb. We lost consciousness. When we finally came to and tried to return to the palace, it was clear something was terribly wrong.”
The Master of the So-Sang Pavilion spoke with deep emotion.
“That’s when we realized—ah! We must have been framed as accomplices with Lady Baek! If we went back, we’d either be killed or severely punished. If we were guilty, we would accept our punishment. But to be punished for a misunderstanding? That was something we couldn’t bear. So, we ran. I’m sorry.”
Tears streamed down the pavilion master’s face, overwhelmed by emotion.
Yet, Hyun Gong stood with arms crossed, looking at the pavilion master with a detached expression.
Finally, the Master of the Dae-Byeok Pavilion stammered, “Miss, please give us a chance. Let us atone for our mistakes by serving you.”
Their excuses ended there. The two pavilion masters prostrated themselves, leaving their fate in Seol-Hwa’s hands.
Seol-Hwa was too conflicted to give an immediate answer.
The others felt the same.
It was a moment for discussion and exchanging opinions.
Dang Mu-Jin turned to the least scheming member of their group, Hong Geol-Gae.
“Hong Geol-Gae, can you keep an eye on them for a bit?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I need to have a quick talk and I’ll be back.”
“Alright.”
Hong Geol-Gae agreed without hesitation.
Dang Mu-Jin led Namgung Myung, Hyun Gong, and Seol-Hwa behind a nearby building.
Namgung Myung started, “Their story sounds plausible, but something feels off. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
Dang Mu-Jin and Seol-Hwa nodded in agreement. Their thoughts mirrored Namgung Myung’s.
In times like these, it’s best to consult an expert. Naturally, all eyes turned to Hyun Gong.
Sensing an opportunity to impress Seol-Hwa, Hyun Gong cleared his throat and began.
“Ahem. Let’s break this down. Seol-Hwa, did Baek Hyang-Ah really know the location of the Eternal Ice Crystal and the secret manual?”
“Yes, she did. She was adopted into the palace, so she knew quite a bit.”
“But it wouldn’t have been easy for just anyone to get their hands on them. Stealing the crystal and the manual wouldn’t have been a simple task for Baek Hyang-Ah either. And then to say she couldn’t get past a single door and needed help from those two? That doesn’t add up. I don’t know how formidable the Ice Palace’s doors are, but still.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
Dang Mu-Jin, Namgung Myung, and even Seol-Hwa nodded.
Hyun Gong continued, “The Master of the Dae-Byeok Pavilion teaches martial arts, and the Master of the So-Sang Pavilion manages the elixirs, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“It’s more realistic to think that the So-Sang Pavilion Master stole the elixirs and the Dae-Byeok Pavilion Master took the manual, rather than Baek Hyang-Ah doing it all secretly.”
The group found themselves nodding along.
The more they thought about it, the more Hyun Gong’s reasoning made sense.
“And they claim they were ambushed by Baek Hyang-Ah and survived without major injuries? After getting everything they wanted from the palace, why would she leave them alive? Whether Baek Hyang-Ah was the mastermind or not, it’s clear those two aren’t victims. At the very least, they’re accomplices.”
“That makes sense too.”
“And most importantly, their story doesn’t match what we heard at Gongdong Mountain. The man who died there said the pavilion masters were the ones in control.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Seol-Hwa smiled, impressed by Hyun Gong’s seamless analysis.
Namgung Myung spoke up, “Alright, should we dig for more information and then deal with them?”
But Hyun Gong shook his head.
“No, that’s not a wise choice. Those two are our best lead to finding Baek Hyang-Ah. If we kill them and she catches wind of it, she might disappear for good. In the worst case, we might never find her.”
Dang Mu-Jin frowned, thinking deeply before pointing out sharply, “They didn’t ask Seol-Hwa to spare their lives. They asked for a chance to atone by staying with us. They’re not just trying to survive; they have some ulterior motive.”
Hyun Gong agreed with Dang Mu-Jin’s assessment.
“I think so too.”
“It seems like they’re planning to betray us at some point. Are we just going to let that happen?”
Hyun Gong chuckled.
“Dang Mu-Jin, even the best hunter can’t notice a tiger sneaking up while they’re chasing a deer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone plotting to stab you in the back often fails to watch their own. Let them scheme all they want. Let them try to stab us in the back. They’re all within my grasp.”
Hyun Gong smiled—a smile so confident it bordered on arrogance, yet no one could doubt it.
Indeed, it was the kind of smile only a true master could wear.
Hyun Gong declared, “I always strike first.”