Jang Geon, who had already sensed someone's presence, turned his head to identify the person clapping. He felt a rare sense of tension. He had thought it was just one person, but there were two spectators. His older brother Jang Yun, and a large man he hadn't sensed. The man who had clapped was the large one.
"Remarkable skills. I've never seen such a performance before. May I ask who your teacher or school is?"
The large man asked with a voice as booming as his size. Jang Geon nodded slightly in response.
"I've learned a bit here and there, so it's hard to name a specific teacher."
"Hmm. So you learned these skills without a proper teacher. Truly impressive."
As the man nodded with a peculiar expression, Jang Yun stepped forward.
"This is Mr. Jian, the head of the Shinsachun Merchant Association. He came here for matters related to the branch, and we were taking a walk and discussing things. However, he saw your martial arts."
"I am Jian Wuying. I lead a small merchant group and a few employees."
Jian Wuying greeted with a bow. His long limbs and large build made even this small gesture seem grand and elegant. Jang Geon returned the bow.
"Jang Geon. A wanderer."
Upon hearing his brief introduction, Jian Wuying's eyes widened, and he laughed heartily.
"What a unique person! Young men usually inflate their names, reputations, and jobs, but to call yourself just a wanderer? Hahaha!"
"You seem quite humble for someone in a position like yours."
Jang Geon's retort made Jian Wuying laugh even louder.
"Hahaha! If you see me that way, I'm grateful! Your remarkable skills and robust appearance are quite appealing! Do you have time tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner."
It was a sudden invitation from the head of the Shinsachun Merchant Association. Since the heads of local merchant associations usually numbered no more than five, Jang Geon was being invited by one of the top five merchants in Shinsachun. However, Jang Geon wasn't particularly impressed.
"Maybe. I might leave Shinsachun this afternoon, so it might be difficult."
"Not this afternoon? Do you have urgent business?"
No, he didn't. He just felt that if he didn't leave quickly, his sister-in-law might catch him and make him spend the rest of winter there. As he hesitated, he noticed Jang Yun's expression.
He couldn't speak, but his eyes and face were pleading. Please accept the invitation. Don't mention the mistakes of your youth. It was a desperate look he hadn't seen since he was young, after he learned Jang Geon's secret.
"…No, it's not that urgent."
"Is that so? Then will you accept Mr. Jian's invitation? I've hired a new chef, and his cooking is excellent. I've gained weight recently because of him. Hahaha!"
Jian Wuying laughed again and made another offer. Jang Geon chuckled at his persistence. He was curious how a merchant had managed to evade his senses. His keen senses were something he had always been confident about, so his pride was a bit hurt.
He finally nodded.
"Sure. See you tonight."
Jian Wuying's face lit up with satisfaction.
"Great. I'll have to scold the chef today. Oh, and Mr. Jang, will your brother join us too?"
"Of course, if you invite him, I'll naturally go too."
Jang Yun nodded with a smile, and Jang Geon's lips curled into a strange smile. He hadn't mentioned that they were brothers, but Jang Yun's introduction or their conversation might have given it away. However, if they had talked, Jang Geon would have heard from this distance, so that wasn't the case.
After Jang Yun and Jian Wuying left, the siblings Jang Sang and Jang Yeong, who had been waiting quietly, approached.
"Uncle! That was amazing! Show us more!"
"Show us more!"
Jang Geon turned to look at the two people walking away. Seeing Jang Sang's excitement and Jang Yeong's enthusiastic imitation, he couldn't help but chuckle. He decided to play with the children a bit more.
* * *
After playing with the children for a while, Jang Geon, exhausted by their boundless energy, had to find another way. Fortunately, he found a Go board in a corner of the room and taught the children how to play Gomoku, a simpler version of Go. This allowed him to escape the role of the clown.
Sitting in a chair, Jang Geon watched Jang Sang and Jang Yeong play Gomoku. Jang Sang was ten, and Jang Yeong was four, so it was natural for the older brother to win. However, their match didn't end easily. Jang Sang wasn't lacking in skill, and Jang Yeong, despite her innocent appearance, was no ordinary child.
Watching them quickly fill the board with black and white stones, Jang Geon understood why his sister-in-law had separated the children from the family elders.
Originally, Jang Yun, the eldest son, was supposed to inherit the family business, while Jang Geon and the youngest, Jang Yan, were to become officials or imperial guards. Jang Geon had shown great talent in martial arts, making this plan seem feasible.
However, Jang Geon refused to join the military and left home. Moreover, Jang Yan, despite extensive preparation, failed to become an imperial guard. Thus, Jang Yun's intelligent children became the next targets.
"How much more can the family grow…?"
Jang Geon smiled bitterly. The Jang family of Hunan wielded considerable influence with their substantial funds, but they couldn't compare to the ancient noble families. Even if a few members became imperial guards, it wouldn't make a significant difference. To Jang Geon, the adults' obsession with expanding the family's influence and the honor of becoming officials was unappealing.
He had already seen in his previous life how miserable the lives of children forced into greater success could be.
"What? Uncle, what did you say?"
Jang Sang, who had been playing Gomoku with a serious face, suddenly looked up, having heard Jang Geon's muttering. Jang Geon shook his head, signaling not to mind. Jang Sang grinned and focused back on the game, while Jang Yeong, with a runny nose, aggressively pushed her brother.
As Jang Geon watched the board filled with black and white stones, he turned his head, sensing someone's presence. This time, it was indeed one person.
"Ah! Nurse!"
Jang Sang, who was about to lose, stood up slightly at the sight of the middle-aged woman at the door, seemingly using her appearance as an excuse to end the game.
Ignoring the boy's cunning, the nurse bowed to Jang Geon.
"Hello, young masters. I'm Ms. Lee, the nurse. It's nice to meet you. I've heard about you from Mr. Jang."
Jang Geon bowed silently, and Jang Sang and Jang Yeong approached the nurse.
"Nurse, are you feeling better?"
"Ah, I couldn't rest with worry for you, my young master."
Jang Sang approached her naturally, and the nurse gently stroked his head. It looked like a scene between a young grandmother and her grandchild. However, as Jang Yeong approached, she suddenly paused and tilted her head.
"…Nurse?"
"Yes, young master. What's wrong?"
The nurse smiled at her. On the surface, she was a middle-aged woman in her forties, with a slightly bent back and a normal appearance. She continued to stroke Jang Sang's head while looking at Jang Yeong.
At that moment, Jang Geon silently moved and grabbed the nurse's wrist. A crack sounded from the captured wrist.
"Ouch!"
"What? What? Uncle?"
The nurse immediately screamed. Jang Sang, freed from her touch, called out to Jang Geon, not understanding the situation.
Without hesitation, Jang Geon punched the nurse's chest and kicked her ankles. The nurse grunted and collapsed, unable to fully fall to the ground because her right wrist was still held.
"Nurse! Uncle, why did you do that suddenly!"
Jang Sang, startled, stepped back, calling out. The nurse, also confused and in pain, had a distorted face. Jang Geon, however, remained expressionless and raised his right fist again, this time aiming for her face.
At this decisive move, a needle suddenly protruded from the nurse's free left sleeve. She swung it, and Jang Geon, letting go of her wrist, stepped back.
With her free wrist, the nurse quickly rolled backward and sprang up. Her movements, though brief, were clearly not those of an ordinary middle-aged woman.
Jang Geon, stepping back, moved Jang Sang and Jang Yeong behind him. The nurse, with a grim face, shook her right wrist and spoke, sounding aggrieved.
"Why are you doing this… Ah!"
The nurse suddenly clamped her mouth, and Jang Sang and Jang Yeong, frightened, stepped back. Her previously high-pitched voice had turned into a low, male voice.
Jang Geon dusted off his hands and said,
"Disguised as a woman. Quite unique."
The nurse, realizing that the transformation she had used to change her voice after being hit in the stomach had been undone, had a cold expression.
"…How did you know?"
"Having seen you a few times, I can now tell. Are you from the Black Dragon Corps?"
Hearing Jang Geon's answer, the nurse's expression turned from cold to blank.
"That's not something a mere second son of a merchant family should know."
"Then why is a mere second son of a merchant family disguised as a nurse and infiltrated here?"
The nurse, fixing her gaze on Jang Geon, adjusted her wrist, which was still trembling, without flinching.
"…If you know that name, you should know who we are working for."
Jang Geon didn't answer. His mind was racing. Why was the emperor's secret organization, which operated in the New Continent, here? He needed to confirm, but from Jang Yeong's reaction, it seemed the nurse had infiltrated recently, not from the beginning. It was likely a replacement during the time she claimed to be sick.
Was the Jang family of Hunan in the emperor's bad books? It seemed insufficient. If they were truly in the emperor's bad books, imperial guards would have turned the merchant association into a bloodbath and burned it down.
Although he didn't know much about the Black Dragon Corps, Jang Geon had a good understanding of their style from his previous conversation with the unknown guest. They were a covert organization that gathered information in the New Continent using the emperor's old edicts and authority, often clashing with the imperial guards and other royal family members.
After organizing his thoughts, Jang Geon, holding the hilt of his sword with his left hand, said,
"Well, I need to know why you're here first."
"…Do you dare to interfere with our affairs?"
"Whatever it is, it's not something these kids should be involved in."
The nurse, hearing this, pulled out another needle from her right sleeve and crouched, ready to attack. However, Jang Geon remained calm. Jang Sang, frightened, hugged his sister.
Jang Geon noticed the nurse's eyes trembling subtly. Despite her blank expression, it was a sign of unease. The nurse realized her emotions had been detected.
She immediately launched herself, not at Jang Geon but toward the window.
The paper and wooden frame of the window shattered as she broke through. Jang Geon, moving slightly later, followed closely. The nurse was fast. If he had been momentarily stunned by her sudden change from an attack to an escape, even Jang Geon might not have been able to stop her from leaving the courtyard.
However, Jang Geon was faster.
"Ugh!"
The nurse, trying to jump over the wall, stumbled and rolled on the ground. The white flash of Jang Geon's sword had grazed her left thigh.
Even as she rolled, she threw a needle at Jang Geon in a quick counterattack. Though it was a surprise attack, Jang Geon caught the needles between his fingers with ease.
Red blood gushed from the nurse's thigh. She glared at Jang Geon, her face contorted, forgetting her previous composure. Jang Geon, pleased with the needles he had caught, put them in his pocket and approached her.
"Thinking for a moment, the Jang family wouldn't do anything to offend the imperial guards. They're obsessed with becoming officials. So why are you here? What did you do to the head's two children, and how did you plan to use it against him, even using a disguise?"
As she listened, the nurse, seeing Jang Geon approach, trembled and suddenly clenched her teeth. Jang Geon, realizing what she was about to do, quickly grabbed her jaw.
"Ah."
Her trembling body, unlike her clenched jaw, confirmed his suspicion. Jang Geon quickly pressed acupoints on her body with his index and middle fingers to relax her jaw and slow her digestion.
However, before he could finish, the nurse's jaw opened on its own. Bubbles of foul-smelling blood foam rose from her mouth. A moment later, her eyes rolled back, and she stopped moving.
Jang Geon, holding her body, slowly stood up and smiled.
"…This is really disgusting. It's worse than I thought."
Despite the smile on his lips, his eyes were cold.
The people from the merchant association and Jang Yun's couple, hearing the commotion, saw the dead nurse and Jang Geon's cold smile.