Chapter 35

Chapter 35 — The Taoist Appears! (2)

Kim Jiseok answered as though it were nothing important.

"I've already heard the rumors that the secret royal inspector was coming. Come to think of it, if he reached Yeongsan, he must have passed through Eonyang first. Did anything happen in your county?"

"...No."

Choi Sihyeon shook his head.

"The inspector passed through Eonyang without even announcing his arrival."

"Hm?"

"That's why I came to see you. ...Does anything come to mind?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"I see. Still, be careful."

"What is there to be careful about? If I've worked diligently for the county, that's enough."

"Do you think I said that because I suspect you? The atmosphere in the royal court is strange! Perhaps..."

"Enough."

Kim Jiseok's expression hardened.

"I don't want to hear it."

"Tsk. That temper of yours..."

Choi Sihyeon clicked his tongue.

From the moment Kim Jiseok passed the state examination, he had drawn attention as one of the most important young talents in the country.

And yet Kim Jiseok behaved as though factional politics had nothing to do with him, never once bothering to watch anyone's mood.

Choi Sihyeon wanted to warn his old friend.

But Kim Jiseok remained stubborn.

"If your second matter is more of the same, I don't think we have anything further to discuss."

Choi Sihyeon let out a long sigh.

"No. I received a letter from the governor."

"...I see."

"He ordered me to wrap up the second examination quickly, but something about it bothers me. He told me to conclude the criminal proceedings formally and hurry the transfer along."

"So once Eonyang's ojagin completes the examination, if nothing unusual is found, I intend to return immediately."

Choi Sihyeon lowered his voice so no one else could hear.

"The governor seems extremely interested in this matter."

Kim Jiseok frowned.

"If he's so interested, why is he telling you to finish it quickly?"

"That's exactly what I wanted to tell you!"

Choi Sihyeon tapped the table with his fingers.

"Kim Jiseok, I don't think the governor trusts your records very much."

He paused.

"No. It may not be that he finds them difficult to trust."

"Perhaps he simply doesn't want to trust them."

"I know your character and integrity better than anyone, but..."

Choi Sihyeon sighed.

"...My friend, you can't live forever with your eyes and ears shut."

"I heard the governor summoned you privately and you refused."

"Is that true?"

"You know better than most how these things work. Why would you..."

Jo Jinkyung, the Governor of Gyeongsang Province, was one of the central figures of his political faction.

Perhaps the governor thinks Kim Jiseok has boarded another ship.

Viewed through the logic of factions, Kim Jiseok might one day become a major figure among the opposition.

There was no reason Jo Jinkyung would look kindly upon someone who had rejected his summons.

Kim Jiseok's face stiffened slightly.

Then he answered clearly.

"There were circumstances."

"And I imagine there has been some misunderstanding."

"The governor isn't that kind of man."

"...Of course not."

Choi Sihyeon shook his head as if giving up.

Kim Jiseok smiled faintly.

"And the proof that politics isn't everything is sitting right here, isn't it?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Otherwise, your actions would make no sense."

"......!"

Choi Sihyeon shot to his feet.

"...I hate you, Kim Jiseok!"

"Your term will be ending soon as well. I'll go ahead and find us a place in the capital."

"As if I'd ever drink with you!"

"If you don't like alcohol, tea is fine."

"Y-You really do enjoy tormenting me!"

Choi Sihyeon's face twisted with embarrassment.

Kim Jiseok merely laughed.

And he has the nerve to worry about me.

The truth was, Choi Sihyeon himself stood on the opposite side of Kim Jiseok within factional politics.

Kim Jiseok understood that.

He understood that Choi Sihyeon's position had grown complicated after the death of his younger brother, Choi Siyoon.

He understood the rivalry Choi Sihyeon felt toward him because of their families.

Kim Jiseok had once thought that if such a friend came to hate him, there was nothing to be done.

And yet...

Even now, Choi Sihyeon still worried about him.

That made it impossible not to think that there were things in life more important than petty political games.

"Y-You're seriously misunderstanding something! I only don't want to see you collapse uselessly!"

"Then I'll have to work hard to meet your expectations."

"You irritating bastard! Fine! I've said what I came to say, so I'm leaving!"

Choi Sihyeon stomped toward the door.

Then suddenly stopped.

"...Come to think of it."

"What are you planning to do about the dead Ibang's successor?"

Kim Jiseok's expression became unreadable.

"About that..."

Isu quietly adjusted his mourning clothes.

By principle, he should have put them on from the moment his father's death was confirmed.

But wearing mourning clothes for the Ibang while standing before the victims and representing them in court would have been inappropriate.

So only after the lawsuit ended did Isu finally dress himself in hemp.

He sighed with a complicated expression.

"What am I supposed to do?"

After the lawsuit with Park Jeongdo ended, Kim Jiseok had called Isu aside.

"We need someone to act in the Ibang's position for the time being."

"There is no suitable person in the county."

"I would like you to serve as acting Ibang."

"How could I possibly... serve as acting Ibang?"

Isu had fallen into deep thought.

"Considering Father's sins, I thought I would have no right to complain even if I were reduced to slavery."

"And now the magistrate is asking me to serve as acting Ibang instead..."

Isu had been so busy dealing with everything in front of him that he still hadn't had time to put his own life in order.

He hadn't even sorted out his complicated feelings toward his father.

"If he's asking me to serve as acting Ibang..."

"Then in truth, he's telling me not to observe the full three-year mourning period."

"I'd continue working while wearing mourning clothes..."

"And once the proper order comes, I would formally become the Ibang."

Under ordinary circumstances, it would have been strange for the son to inherit the position after his father committed corruption.

But...

"I said I wanted to become a fine local clerk."

"This isn't exactly the way I imagined it happening."

There was another major reason Isu had received the offer.

"Magistrate, you aren't planning to punish Lee Isu, are you?"

"That's right. Isu committed no crime."

"He's a pitiful boy. Won't you give him a chance?"

"I'm certain he'll become an excellent local clerk."

"...To think the victims themselves would defend me."

The more than one hundred victims who had visited Doyul had all petitioned the magistrate not to punish Isu for his father's crimes.

When every victim spoke in Isu's defense, public opinion naturally began to soften.

"..."

Isu thought for a long time.

And the longer he thought, the clearer his conclusion became.

"All right."

"I've decided."

He finished preparing himself and stepped outside.

Doyul's face twisted strangely.

"He's a strange man. Don't you agree?"

"He's definitely... strange."

"Just give the order, Young Master."

"Wait."

Do I... need to stop that?

"Come one, come all! Don't just stand there, take a look!"

Dun!

"Welcome! Come closer!"

The man before them looked perfectly respectable.

He was tall, with a physique rarely seen in Joseon.

His features were handsome and open, enough to make passersby turn their heads for another look.

On top of that, he had excellent speech and a strong, pleasant voice.

Naturally, people gathered around him.

"What's happening over there? Why are so many people gathered?"

"Hahaha! What kind of man has a face that pretty?"

The farmer's teasing only made the man laugh.

"Goodness, you're saying that after looking at me? My younger brother is twice as handsome. You'd faint if you ever saw him."

"If your brother is that handsome, why didn't you bring him instead of coming yourself?"

"Because my little brother is my treasure. I can't just take him out and show him to everyone, can I?"

The man's hearty laugh and obvious affection for his younger brother made the listeners smile.

"Haha, now that you put it that way, you're right! You look like an outsider. What brings you to a little countryside place like this?"

The man gathered everyone's attention.

Then suddenly lowered his voice.

"There is something that shines like a jewel, is precious, and everyone knows about it."

"And yet everyone desires it."

"What do you think it is?"

"...Hm?"

The man grinned and pulled a single coin from his robes.

It had been polished until it gleamed like a gem.

"...In the end, it's this, isn't it?"

"You're right. So what are you trying to say?"

"I shall show you a miraculous trick with this single coin."

...Huh?

Doyul stared at him in disbelief.

"Take this coin, place it against a bowl with a talisman attached like this..."

The man placed the coin beneath one of three rice bowls and began shuffling them rapidly.

That's...

"Then shake them like this..."

...a shell game.

"Ta-da!"

The man flipped over one of the bowls.

Instead of the coin...

A piece of jade rolled out.

"G-Gasp!"

"W-Wow!"

"Was that really magic?"

"There was definitely a coin in there. How did it turn into jade?!"

"Hahaha! Well? What do you think?"

The man looked extremely pleased with himself.

One curious farmer stepped closer.

"Hey! Just who are you? Did you really use magic?"

"Can't you tell by looking?"

"Huh?"

Dun!

"I'm a Taoist!"

What kind of shameless fraud is this?

Doyul stared at the self-proclaimed Taoist in disbelief.

But the spectators didn't seem to care.

"Hey! Then if I give you one coin too, can you turn mine into jade?"

"Why, of course!"

"What?!"

"O-Oh!"

"Here, take mine!"

"Mine too! Turn mine into jade!"

As more and more people crowded around and held out their coins, the man calmly took control of the audience.

"Now, now. Everyone settle down."

"If you wait your turn, I'll change them all for you."

"But where's the fun if I simply hand out jade?"

"And magic requires spiritual power. It drains quite a lot of energy."

"So..."

Shhk, shhk, shhk!

He moved the bowls rapidly.

"...why don't we put one coin inside and let whoever guesses where it is take the jade?"

"I'll do it!"

"M-Me first!"

"No, me!"

Doyul rubbed his forehead as people swarmed toward the man.

Seriously...

Now we even have a shell-game hustler crawling into the county?

"Young Master. Can you see it?"

Shhk, shhk! Shhk!

"See what? The scam?"

Doyul answered dryly.

Donggu, however, looked deadly serious.

"He's not ordinary."

"He mixes false moves into real ones. Feints inside dazzling exchanges."

"What?"

"A master recognizes another master."

"He's a master."

Doyul stared at him.

...A master of what?

Shell games?

"Young Master, that man's skill is extraordinary!"

"Even if he's amazing at cheating people with bowls, what do you expect me to..."

Just as Doyul and Donggu began bickering...

"H-Huh?"

The self-proclaimed Taoist suddenly shot to his feet after spotting Doyul.

He walked straight over.

Then stared closely at Doyul's face.

"......?"

Poke.

He poked Doyul in the cheek.

Doyul stared back in complete bewilderment.

The Taoist continued looking at him blankly.

Then suddenly burst into laughter.

"...A-Ahahaha!"

"No. No, it isn't."

"Haha... My apologies."

"...Excuse me?"

For just a moment, a trace of loneliness passed through the man's smile.

"You looked so much like someone I dearly miss that I couldn't help myself."

"...What do you mean?"

"If you don't mind, may I ask who you are?"

The man's frivolous demeanor had vanished.

Caught off guard by the sudden change, Doyul answered almost automatically.

"...My name is Kang Doyul. I serve as yulli here in Yeongsan and assist the magistrate."

"And you are...?"

"Ah."

"Yulli... Yulli, you say?"

"So you serve here in Yeongsan."

"That's right."

Hahaha. Interesting.

As if the magistrate would assign someone carelessly.

Cheongun had traveled a long way to meet Kim Jiseok.

And now, in Kim Jiseok's county, he had unexpectedly encountered a face he hadn't seen in a very long time.

One that felt painfully familiar.

And this young man worked directly under Kim Jiseok.

Which meant...

Things are becoming rather interesting.

Why don't I test his ability?

The man stared at Doyul for another moment.

Then smiled mischievously.

"My name is Cheongun."

"Cheongun?"

"Indeed."

"Since meeting like this must be fate..."

His voice lowered conspiratorially.

"How about you and I make a little wager?"