TYNF 11

Chapter 11

Early in the morning, I finished my breathing and cultivation exercise and opened my eyes.

I rose from my bed, gazing at the faint moonlight filtering into the room. Fortunately, dawn had not yet broken, so I could move about without attracting anyone’s attention.

Quietly, I opened the door and stepped outside.

“Rrrr…”

In the hallway, I saw Jang Chuhyung lying down on a blanket. I had told him to sleep outside, and he had obediently followed that for several days now.

Perhaps learning martial arts had been physically taxing, because he was snoring deeply as he slept.

Even as I opened the door and slipped outside, closing it behind me, he did not wake.

Shaking my head at such a man, I walked slowly, leaving the annex and finally exiting the Jin household.

Some guards had started to follow me, but a single command to stay back halted them in their tracks.

They would still remember the events of a few days ago, so it would be difficult for them to perceive me as the same youngest noble of old.

The destination was clear in my mind.

In the Central Plains, there were quite a few places hidden from plain sight.

Among the sects that operated such secret locations, the Hao Sect had the largest number.

This jade token was my means of entering one of those places.

I walked along the quiet streets at dawn, heading toward the place I had in mind.

A little away from the main marketplace stood a shabby blacksmith shop. I stopped in front of it.

Even though no one passed by, the inside of the shop was brightly lit. At its center, a burly man sat on a chair, drinking heavily.

It was strange enough that someone would be awake at this hour, but no matter how I looked at him, it did not seem like he was running a legitimate business.

When I stepped inside, the man glanced at me.

“What’s the matter? We’re not open for business.”

I produced the jade token from my robes and showed it to him. His expression shifted from curiosity to immediate urgency, and he scrambled to his feet.

“…Wait here a moment.”

The man went outside to check the streets and closed the door behind him.

After confirming that no one was around, he returned and began manipulating the wall.

Click-clunk-

With a strange sound, the wall opened, revealing a hidden space.

The man bowed his head and gestured toward the space, so I naturally stepped inside.

It was dark at first, but as I moved further in, light gradually increased.

It felt as if something awaited at the end of the path.

Soon, countless torches illuminated the surroundings, revealing a vast space filled with people.

Before me lay the hidden underground market of the Hao Sect, buried in the deepest shadows.

I walked along the path, observing my surroundings.

Most of the goods sold here were items difficult to obtain elsewhere.

Things that could not be openly sold, stolen items, or even goods taken from people by killing them.

Other illicitly obtained items, which could not be sold in public, were also traded here.

One had to be careful; buying something without consideration could result in being accused of a crime—or, at worst, paying with one’s life.

Choosing items here required discernment.

As I surveyed the stalls, I finally stopped at one place.

An old woman grinned at me.

“You have a good eye. You didn’t glance at anything else, just stopped right here.”

I focused on the items laid out in front of her.

Many of them were strange: weapons and armor, assassination tools, and other miscellaneous devices.

Even at a glance, it was clear these were not items one could easily find in the Central Plains.

Among them, I found a wrist-mounted device.

It was the same kind that Horidokjo used long ago. Far superior in performance to the small hidden firearms produced by the Sichuan Sect.

It could be easily concealed on the wrist and fire five shots in succession. Because it was small, targets could die without realizing it.

It was a device that could protect oneself, even when one had not yet fully mastered martial arts.

“How much?”

“Hmm… that one? Forty-five silver coins.”

It was expensive for such a small firearm, but worth the price.

I nonchalantly handed over a silver ingot.

The old woman took it with a strange smile, fingering it as if she did not want to give change.

“Heh heh heh, want anything else? I can sell cheap.”

I couldn’t help but smirk.

Is there really anything better here?

I examined the items and finally took the most notable one into my hands—a weapon occasionally seen in underground markets, made by the Sichuan Sect.

It was not the deadly poison wine, but still an excellent choice.

“One silver ingot,” I said.

“You drive a hard bargain,” she chuckled.

“Pricing isn’t about bargaining—it’s about age,” she replied, laughing.

I frowned slightly but didn’t dwell on it. After all, I got what I came for.

Originally, I sought a spirit elixir or a strengthening elixir, or if lucky, poison wine. While enhancing my internal energy was important, this would also allow me to handle poison. I had not found any of those here.

Still, the firearm would suffice for now. I had used such devices before on deceased foes, and they were effective until they broke.

I didn’t linger any longer and stepped outside. The sun was starting to rise. I needed to return home quickly.

“No, where on earth have you been!”

Cough-cough-

“Went for a walk.”

“At this hour? I thought something happened and was running around looking for you since dawn!”

“Do you take me for a child? Cough-cough!”

I ate breakfast while listening to Jang Chuhyung’s noisy protests. Eating without worrying about poison felt truly good.

The neat meal seemed to clear my mind.

Eventually, I put down my chopsticks, having eaten enough.

Jang Chuhyung’s worried gaze softened.

“All done?”

“Yes.”

“How can a person survive eating so little?”

“It’s enough.”

The worry in his eyes shifted strangely.

“…Then can I eat?”

“Yes. You’ll need energy to practice martial arts.”

“Ha ha! Thank you!”

Jang Chuhyung beamed and grabbed his chopsticks, as if always prepared for such a moment.

I shook my head, amused, when a voice called from outside.

“Your Highness, it’s Yoo Hyun. Do you have a moment?”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Yoo Hyun entered, looking somewhat tired. He glanced at me and Jang Chuhyung, who were eating messily, and gave a wry smile.

Once he seated himself, he shook a string.

Jingle-jangle-

A maid hurried in.

“Bring tea and refreshments.”

“Yes!”

She bowed deeply and left. Shortly after, tea and snacks were placed in front of us as if prepared in advance.

Yoo Hyun began speaking.

“I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

“About those we captured. As you said, no matter how much we interrogate them, they reveal nothing. It seems meaningless to continue.”

“Indeed. Torture wasn’t meant to extract information. Kill those deeply involved with Hong Guhyeon, and hold the others until Father returns, then release them.”

“Even if released… they won’t live normally.”

“That’s the point of releasing them.”

She flinched. The maid trembled, no doubt understanding the implication. Perhaps among the captured were familiar faces. The fear would spread quickly, and information could then be controlled more smoothly.

Yoo Hyun seemed to understand my intention and watched the maid leave with a curious look.

“Then we will proceed accordingly. As for Hong Guhyeon, we interrogated his family first…”

“They aren’t really family, are they?”

“Yes. They were paid to pose as family. Same with the others who died.”

I sipped my tea and nodded. Of course. Always prepare for complications, especially when dealing with schemers.

“You needn’t push the investigation further.”

“What? Shouldn’t we find them?”

“They’ll come crawling on their own.”

Yoo Hyun groaned. Of course, those targeting the Jin household must be punished, so being told not to find them naturally caused confusion.

“Enough. Cough! What about Father?”

“He’s caught by a band of thieves. Even if the messenger reaches him immediately, it will take some time to return.”

“About a month, I suppose.”

“Yes…”

“Just thieves, yet they hold him? They must be strong.”

“Sometimes, skilled ronin end up in such groups.”

I chuckled. Skilled ronin could become dangerous, but the elite warriors of Nakyang Jin House, plus a mother once renowned in the martial world, are formidable. The fact that they were stalled by mere thieves? Unthinkable.

“Very well. To avoid unnecessary worry, keep this quiet. And… issue a summons.”

“A summons?”

“Yes.”

“What… summons are you talking about?”

Yoo Hyun tilted his head in confusion. A summons was usually issued to gather people.

“Some positions are vacant, so we’ll recruit people—maids, servants, guards, everyone.”

“What?!”

“Father’s side has likely lost some personnel, right?”

“Yes… I believe so.”

“If manpower is insufficient, schedules falter. So we recruit. Issue a summons.”

“Your Highness… I don’t understand…”

Yoo Hyun swallowed, unable to grasp the logic of issuing a summons in this situation.

I smiled at his bewilderment.

“And as usual…”

“…?”

“Do not remove Hong Guhyeon’s name. Act as if nothing happened.”

“…!”

The first trap to lure the schemers was slowly beginning to tighten.