Episode 40. Smile While You Still Can.

Hongsin had been struck on an acupoint, and her entire body was bound tightly with ropes, leaving her unable to move an inch.

To make matters worse, the location was an unspeakably squalid storage shed.

Rather than fear, a sigh escaped her involuntarily. Had she understood her opponent’s temperament from the start, she would have fled long ago.

Even so, she had constantly worried about what words she could use to coax the unidentified man posing as the Heukmyo Pavilion Lord should he appear. But no good plan came to mind. Because when she had gazed into those unfamiliar eyes up close, she had felt something strange.

‘He doesn’t seem like an ordinary madman.’

It was the first time even Hongsin had sensed such an extraordinary madness from a mere gaze. It was also strange that the feeling did not appear to be simple madness.

There was an arrogant air mixed with confidence and pride.

And there was also the feeling of stubborn obstinacy that refused to listen to others.

And that was not all. An ambiguity where one could not tell if he was jesting or serious was mixed not only into his gaze, but also the tone of his voice.

In short, Hongsin’s conclusion was that he was no ordinary madman. It was a conclusion drawn not merely from judging his gaze, but because she had exchanged blows and spoken with him.

But the one who abruptly appeared in the shed a short while later was not the fake Heukmyo Pavilion Lord, but Supervisor Byeok, whom she had seen several times before.

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Hongsin opened her mouth.

“Supervisor Byeok, why are you here?”

Supervisor Byeok answered as he entered.

“Why, I came by the Pavilion Lord’s orders. Please forgive my discourtesy.”

“If you know it’s rude, shouldn’t you get out right now?”

“How can one who receives orders do such a thing? You do as you’re told.”

People entered after him, set down a small desk and chair, then disappeared. Supervisor Byeok settled in and took out a thin brush and paper.

Hongsin asked, startled.

“What on earth are you doing?”

Supervisor Byeok smirked, brush in hand.

“I was told to draw Sinjang Hongsin’s face in detail. What strength does an old man like me have? If told to draw, I must draw. He is someone far more frightening than you expect. I am merely carrying out an order, so please do not resent me too much.”

Hongsin yelled sharply.

“Why my face!”

Suddenly, Supervisor Byeok looked like a lecherous old man in Hongsin’s eyes.

Supervisor Byeok extended his brush and measured her this way and that as if gauging the composition, then replied.

“He says that if the Sinjang suddenly tries to escape or refuses to cooperate with Heukmyo’s affairs, he will hand over the portrait I am making to the Murim Alliance. Have you heard of the anonymous tip system at the Murim Alliance? That is where it will be delivered. You made quite a name for yourself as a thief, did you not? Please stay still. I shall draw you in detail. By the way, I am not sure if I should say this, but…….”

“What?”

“Your figure is truly splendid.”

“Shut up!”

Supervisor Byeok laughed like a madman, brush in hand.

“Hehehehe, I meant it in terms of a work of art. Please do not misunderstand. I shall begin.”

“Where are you looking!”

“How can I paint without looking? Just as one paints a mountain upon seeing a mountain and water upon seeing water, I shall paint the Sinjang.”

Hongsin broke out in goosebumps at Supervisor Byeok’s nonsense.

“Supervisor Byeok, please call my Senior Brother.”

“He is taking a nap and will come when it is time. Please do not fuss.”

“Hey!”

“No matter that you are a Sinjang on par with the Pavilion Lord, hearing informal speech from someone the age of my granddaughter puts me in a foul mood. It is most unpleasant.”

“So what if it’s unpleasant?”

Hongsin blurted out in a fit of temper, then immediately regretted it. Supervisor Byeok threatened Hongsin with a pitying expression.

“Shall I draw the portrait in the nude?”

“…….”

Only then did Hongsin close her mouth. At that, Supervisor Byeok grinned broadly.

“Very well. It was a jest. I shall finish shortly, so please do not hate me too much. I too have no choice if I wish to survive.”

Supervisor Byeok picked up his brush again and scrutinized her this way and that as if measuring lengths, then spoke.

“Allow me to give you a piece of advice from one who has lived a long life.”

“I don’t need it.”

Despite being told it was unnecessary, Supervisor Byeok chuckled and whispered to Hongsin in a low voice.

“As you have no doubt realized, the Pavilion Lord I originally served is dead.”

Hongsin swallowed hard and listened to Supervisor Byeok’s words. The following words from Supervisor Byeok sounded as chilling as those of a strange old man guarding an abandoned shrine.

“He died without even putting up a proper resistance, slammed into a wall with all the bones in his four limbs crushed. There was no time to mourn. Well, I was not particularly heartbroken. I did not serve him out of any great affection, after all. By the way, I happened to see earlier that you merely received a single slap…… Listen carefully when he speaks with a smile. I too have not yet grasped the new Pavilion Lord’s personality. To be frank, I had expected Sinjang Hongsin to die with her limbs torn apart. Smile while you still can.”

Supervisor Byeok took his eyes off the painting and stared intently at Hongsin.

“Do you understand?”

Hongsin barely managed to nod her head once. Supervisor Byeok measured the composition this way and that with his thin brush once more, then spoke in his original voice.

“Very well. The posture is perfect. Please remain still.”

* * *

I had been taking a brief nap, and the moment I was roused by a thunderous roar echoing from the training grounds, I gave So Gunpyeong an order and trudged toward the shed.

Hongsin was sitting draped in the black changsam I had given her, her expression half-dazed.

I looked between Hongsin and Supervisor Byeok, then spoke.

“What is it? Hey, what’s wrong with her? Did she steal something again?”

Hongsin replied.

“I didn’t steal anything. Senior Brother, you’re here?”

“Yeah.”

When I glanced at Supervisor Byeok’s drawing, he asked with a pleased expression.

“My Lord, how is it?”

I nodded my head vigorously.

“You’ve captured Martial Sister Hong perfectly. Hahaha.”

“Thank you.”

“If Martial Sister Hong acts impudently, make several copies of this portrait and send them not only to the Murim Alliance, but also to any martial sect or great clan rumored to be hunting thieves. A bounty will naturally be placed on her.”

“Is there even any doubt? I shall do so.”

“Good. Go see to your work.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

I crouched down and met Hongsin’s eyes.

“Shall I untie you?”

“Yes.”

“Your Gyeonjeong point will unseal itself soon, so that won’t do.”

Hongsin spoke in a resigned tone.

“Still…… who are you? The trajectory of your martial arts is different, the characteristics of your movements are different, your voice is different, and your personality is different as well. Above all, your gaze, the shape of your pupils, even the look in your eyes are different from Senior Brother Myo’s.”

“Is it because you’re a thief? Your powers of observation are impressive.”

“You can’t hide your identity with just a mask. Just who are you to be so rude to Daenachal’s disciples? Can you endure our Master’s wrath?”

“If I feared Daenachal, I wouldn’t have done something like this in the first place. Martial Sister Hong.”

“Don't call me Martial Sister.”

“Thieving wench.”

“Call me Martial Sister. Anyway, Fake Senior Brother, you kept me alive because you want something from me, don't you? Money is the most important thing to me in life. As long as the sum is sufficient, I can fully cooperate with Fake Senior Brother's business.”

Hongsin smiled with her eyes as if wagging her tail as she spoke. I wasn't one to beat around the bush, so I got straight to the point.

“I'm thinking of killing Daenachal.”

“…….”

Hongsin's expression suddenly sank.

“Master Daenachal is strong. Stronger than the people of the martial world know. He has hidden his true strength well within his evil reputation. I think Fake Senior Brother's skills are somewhat insufficient.”

“Well, I'll take such trivial information into account. I'm a straightforward man. I only need to confirm whether you have the heart to betray Daenachal. Though even if you said right here and now that you'd betray him, I wouldn't believe you.”

“Then what do you want me to do? If you won't believe me even if I say I'll betray him.”

“What do you mean, what do you do? You either kill all the Twelve Divine Officers or keep them locked in this barn, then strike Daenachal. Isn't it right to cut off the limbs before carrying out the grand scheme?”

“Like Senior Brother Myo?”

I replied as I stood up.

“Shall I send you to the rabbit's side too?”

“No. Anyway, how long are you going to keep me locked up like this?”

“Branch Lord So will soon concoct and bring a poison. Who do you think this poison is for? Of course, our Martial Sister Hong will take it.”

Hongsin, her face turning pale, spoke as if trying to placate me.

“Senior Brother, please don't do this. Just give me an order instead. I will carry it out thoroughly without betraying you. After all, you've already drawn my portrait, haven't you?”

“Yeah. I don't believe you.”

After all, those of the unorthodox path are not to be trusted, nor can they be trusted. I knew that especially a woman with a thieving habit like this uttered nothing but lies.

Just then, Sogunpyeong entered, having placed a black medicinal pellet upon a white cloth.

“My Lord, this is the Jahagodok you spoke of.”

“Feed it to her.”

Without a word, Sogunpyeong approached, opened Hongsin's mouth with his hand, and shoved the Jahagodok inside. Sogunpyeong looked at Hongsin, then asked me,

“She isn't swallowing. What should I do?”

“Beat her until she swallows.”

The moment I finished speaking, Hongsin gulped down the Jahagodok. Hongsin spoke to me with a resigned expression.

“Speak. What do you want?”

Based on what I remembered from the Twelve Divine Officers strategy guide and what I knew from my previous life, I gave the order.

“I'll give you ten days. Return by then to take the antidote. Kill Baekja, Hwang-o, and Noksul. Why do you think I only told you to kill these three?”

Naturally, Hongsin knew the common trait the three Divine Officers shared.

“They are officers who earned their evil reputations through brutality, murder, and robbery. But killing three people in ten days is impossible. Kill me now.”

“Don't say what you don't mean. With your skills, one is plenty.”

“Just one?”

“If you bring the head of just one of the three within ten days, I'll give you the antidote. Let's continue our talk then. Untie her.”

Sogunpyeong approached and loosened the tightly bound ropes. I approached Hongsin, who was still stiff because her acupoints had yet to be released, and spoke.

“You've mastered thievery, so you know the basics of assassination. Honestly, if you set your mind to it, ten days is plenty. Since the Twelve Divine Officers are permitted to fight duels to the death among themselves, it won't be a capital crime against Daenachal.”

“If your skills are sufficient, why don't you kill him yourself, Senior Brother?”

“It's inefficient for the commander-in-chief to do what a general is capable of. Naturally, Martial Sister should do it.”

Only then did I release Hongsin's acupoints. Hongsin answered, rolling her neck this way and that.

“By the way, at least tell me who you are. I really can't get a read on you. Did you come from the Martial Alliance?”

“I'm a shopkeeper from the next neighborhood over.”

Perhaps thinking I had revealed my identity too quickly, Sogunpyeong hurriedly looked at me.

“……!”

Hongsin retorted,

“You have no intention of telling me. Understood. I'll kill at least one of the three and come back, so let's talk again then.”

When Hongsin gave such an unexpected reply, this time Sogunpyeong looked at her in surprise.

“……!”

I called out to Hongsin, who was trying to hurry out of the barn.

“Martial Sister.”

“Yes.”

“You like gambling, don't you?”

“I do.”

“When is gambling the most thrilling?”

“When you win with the underdog odds.”

I tied Hongsin's interests and the direction of her life to the underdog odds of gambling.

“No matter that you took the Jahagodok, the decision is yours. If you stick with Daenachal, get detoxified, and expose my identity... even if you win a war against me, the reward won't be all that great.”

Hongsin turned to look at me.

“What's in it for me if Fake Senior Brother wins?”

“Nothing much.”

“If there's nothing much, why should I take Fake Senior Brother's side?”

“An old master ordering his disciples to bring him young women, bring him money, kill someone, steal something. You won't have to witness such pathetic spectacles anymore.”

“Won't it be hard to kill him because of the Four Divine Officers and the guards?”

I poked Hongsin's forehead with my finger and said,

“That's what I'm saying... that's why it's the underdog. Think it over well for ten days.”

“I'm off.”

Hongsin walked a few steps from the barn, then suddenly used her lightness skill to sprint, lightly leaped over the wall, and vanished in an instant.

Sogunpyeong asked me with a disgruntled expression,

“I made the Jahagodok too carelessly. Will it be alright?”

“What did you make it with?”

“I just roughly mixed some laxatives and digestive medicine together and kneaded it with my bare hands. She might soil herself while running.”

“As expected of our Branch Lord So, meticulous as always.”

“What if she realizes it's not a Gu poison?”

I lifted my mask and grinned.

“It's fine. To a gambler, the underdog odds are the true Gu poison.”