“Muscle-Hanging Poison? If it’s a poison that twists the muscles, shouldn’t they have kept twisting even while they were unconscious earlier?”
“It does not react if there is no movement. Earlier, they were unconscious and not moving, so it seems it did not react. Once we touched them, it began reacting.”
“Ugh. So that’s why it reacted even worse when I touched them?”
“That appears to be the case.”
The captain, who had been examining the eunuchs’ condition, shook his head.
“They don’t seem to be in any state to answer. Is there no antidote for this?”
“There is, but the poison has already spread through their muscles. Even if we inject it, they will remain like this for the rest of the day.”
“Forget it. It seems we took the man called Jeok Wigang too lightly. We need information on him. Go find out everything about him in detail.”
“Understood.”
“Haah. Ever since that bastard entered the palace, it feels as though the palace has only grown noisier.”
“I was shocked when I heard the Hanlin Academy scholars had all resigned together.”
“And because of that, officials from the Six Ministries are leaving one after another too, damn it. What was he thinking, touching the Hanlin Academy? This is why you shouldn’t seat some country bumpkin on the Emperor’s throne. The work has only become more complicated.”
“Even if we become the real power in the imperial palace, it will be troublesome. Where are we supposed to refill that many practical officials from?”
“What else can we do? Damn it! We’ll have to offer the Hanlin Academy better terms, curse it all. Thanks to him, we have to share portions we didn’t even need to give them. Damn Jeok Wigang.”
“We must capture him and tear him limb from limb.”
“He does not seem to be an ordinary man. They say he returned after handling matters on the northern border cleanly. We thought too lightly of him. Now that we know he is not an easy man to deal with, we must prepare accordingly.”
“Understood. I will gather thorough information on him.”
“Good. Find out everything. What he eats, even how many times a day he relieves himself.”
“Yes!”
*****
The talents Jeok Wigang had selected gathered in one place.
None of them knew what was happening, so they were looking puzzled and asking one another if anyone knew anything, but no one did.
Then one person spoke.
“Looking at the faces of those who have come here, I recognize quite a few. Judging by this, whatever we have been summoned for does not seem ordinary.”
Another person answered him.
“I think the same. Every person gathered here is one of the Lower Gate’s talents. If people like this have been brought together in one place, it must mean something major is happening.”
“I am truly curious what that major matter might be.”
While everyone was murmuring and making guesses, someone opened the door and entered.
“Is this the place?”
The people who saw the man muttering as he came in were shocked.
“Th-that man—isn’t he Ghost Calculator?”
“That man is the Ghost Calculator, the god of calculation?”
“No, they even called Ghost Calculator? What in the world is going on?”
At Ghost Calculator’s appearance, the hall grew even noisier.
“Why is it so noisy here? Can’t you be quiet?”
At someone’s bark, they turned their heads and saw a man who had been quietly lying in a corner glaring at them with a face full of irritation.
“Hup! It’s Human-Heart Thief Yu Muncheol!”
“They even called that scum of a human being?”
A man pushed through the astonished crowd and calmed the hall.
“Ha ha ha! Everyone seems quite excited, so please settle down for now. If only talented people have been gathered like this, surely it means the Lower Gate has some great event ahead, and we have been chosen as the central figures of that event, no?”
“It’s Sword-Tongue!”
“Even Sword-Tongue is here!”
When the people recognized him, he smiled pleasantly and said,
“Ha ha ha. I am at a loss for what to do with myself, seeing such recognition for my unworthy self. Everyone here is far more outstanding than I am. You are all people who have lived diligently in your own lives. But right now, we have gathered here without knowing why. Are you afraid of this current situation?”
“No.”
“Ha ha ha! If you are not afraid, then enjoy it. The talents of the Lower Gate have all gathered, so surely nothing bad could possibly happen.”
At Sword-Tongue’s words, the people nodded.
“Hmph! I’m busy enough to die, and they made me come all the way here. And which bastard built this building like this? Tsk!”
A man was looking around at the structure of the building with dissatisfaction.
“Heavenly Craftsman!”
“All of you seem to be hiding quite a lot.”
“H-heuk! B-Black-and-White Heart!”
At Black-and-White Heart’s appearance, the people all backed away in a rush.
“Th-the Lower Gate’s Five Artisans are all gathered!”
“What in the world is happening?”
Looking around at the frightened people, Black-and-White Heart said,
“No need to be scared. Don’t worry. I won’t eat you.”
When Black-and-White Heart’s appearance made the hall surge again, Sword-Tongue frowned.
“I worked so hard to soothe them, and you had to ruin it? You know everyone fears you. Did you have to show yourself off like that?”
“I had to make it known I arrived, didn’t I? You’re the one who should shut that mouth of yours. Don’t you get tired? Talking like that all day?”
While Sword-Tongue and Black-and-White Heart bickered, someone else came in, and the hall instantly went quiet as everyone bowed their heads at once.
“We greet the Gate Master!”
It was the Gate Master of the Lower Gate.
“You have all worked hard coming here.”
“Why did you order us to gather here when this is not the Lower Gate headquarters?”
At Sword-Tongue’s question, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate nodded and said,
“All of you must be curious about that. But it is not something for me to explain. Another person will explain it to you.”
“When you say another person... who?”
“The Supreme Gate Master.”
At the words “Supreme Gate Master,” the people began murmuring.
“Are we finally going to meet the Supreme Gate Master we have only heard about?”
“Yes. Human-Heart Thief, Ghost Calculator, Sword-Tongue, Black-and-White Heart, and Heavenly Craftsman, step forward.”
The five people whose names had been called tilted their heads and came out.
“You will follow me. The rest of you, wait a little longer.”
“Where are we going?”
When Sword-Tongue asked, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate answered,
“The Supreme Gate Master wishes to see you first. Follow me.”
“Ha ha ha! What an honor. Let us go quickly.”
Only Sword-Tongue urged them on with a face full of expectation. The rest followed behind him with indifferent expressions.
*****
“I have brought them.”
The Lower Gate’s Five Artisans looked surprised at the Gate Master of the Lower Gate’s respectful manner, something they had never seen before.
Sword-Tongue was gritting his teeth as he held back the itch in his mouth.
“Come in.”
It was a young voice.
When the door opened and they entered, there were two men in official robes inside. One was sitting naturally in the seat of honor, and the other stood to one side with a blade at his waist, as if guarding him.
Sword-Tongue immediately realized what that blade was.
“A guard saber! Embroidered Uniform Guard!”
He shouted loudly before he knew it, then quickly covered his mouth.
The two men in official robes were Jeok Wigang and Ye Yahyeon.
At Sword-Tongue’s fuss, Ye Yahyeon frowned and brought a finger to his lips.
Sword-Tongue nodded at once and stepped back.
“My lord, forgive me. This one talks too much.”
“It’s fine. That can happen.”
After patting the Gate Master of the Lower Gate as if to comfort him, Jeok Wigang rose from his seat and said,
“Good to meet you. I am Jeok Wigang.”
When the Five Artisans only stood there blankly at Jeok Wigang’s greeting, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate spoke in an angry voice.
“Why are you standing there like that? He is the master of the Lower Gate!”
At those words, Human-Heart Thief spoke in a displeased tone.
“I don’t know about that. I never acknowledged him.”
At Human-Heart Thief’s words, Ghost Calculator, Black-and-White Heart, and Heavenly Craftsman nodded.
“That is right. We never acknowledged him either. Just because the Gate Master serves him as master does not mean the entire Lower Gate must follow him.”
“We follow the Lower Gate, not the Gate Master.”
“Did you say even a word to us beforehand? You chose a new master as you pleased, notified us afterward, and now you call him our master? We cannot acknowledge that.”
Their attitudes were sharp.
At that, Sword-Tongue stepped forward.
“Ha ha ha. My, my. Forgive us. Everyone is simply very upset that the Supreme Gate Master was seated without a word to them. I would be grateful if you would understand that point with your broad generosity.”
At Sword-Tongue’s words, Jeok Wigang nodded.
“Fine. I understand how you feel. If someone I had never acknowledged suddenly became master of the Lower Gate, I think even I would be dissatisfied. Good. I will earn your acknowledgment. What must I do for you to acknowledge me?”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, Heavenly Craftsman snorted and said,
“I cannot acknowledge anyone unless he is better at construction than I am.”
The Gate Master of the Lower Gate flared up.
“What? Then are you saying you have not acknowledged me either?”
“You realized that only now? I merely stayed because I like the Lower Gate. Not once have I ever served you as my lord.”
Ghost Calculator spoke.
“I, too, have no desire to serve someone weaker at calculation than I am as my lord. If you want my acknowledgment, you must be faster at calculation than I am.”
Black-and-White Heart spoke.
“I need nothing else. If that person’s qi is something I can acknowledge, that is enough.”
Human-Heart Thief waved his hand dismissively.
“I have no intention of acknowledging anyone, and I have no desire to associate with officials. I don’t know what this matter is, but leave me out of it.”
With those words, Human-Heart Thief tried to leave.
Just then, Jeok Wigang’s voice rang out.
“When you were young, your parents were falsely accused, but no one helped them. Because of that, your parents still cannot even move properly, correct?”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, Human-Heart Thief whipped around and glared at Jeok Wigang with a terrifying face.
“Did you investigate me?”
“I didn’t investigate. I only spoke based on the information the Lower Gate gave me.”
“That is right. If you read the information about me, then you must also know how much I hate officials.”
“Don’t be like that. I’ll give you a chance.”
“What chance?”
“A chance to clear your parents’ false charge.”
“Hmph! It’s too late. Even if the false charge is cleared, it will not restore my parents’ bodies.”
“What if I restore them?”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, Human-Heart Thief’s face turned like that of a vicious fiend.
“Are you mocking me? Or do I look like a fool to you? I called every physician said to be skilled. Every one of them said it was impossible. So do not even think of planting false hope in me. It will not work.”
“Why assume it can’t be done? It might be possible. And you should clear your parents’ injustice and show them the splendid figure of their son.”
“How exactly do you intend to clear that injustice? They have higher status than I do and possess far more. No matter how hard I struggle, I cannot defeat them.”
“Then you can become like them. Isn’t that so?”
“Do you think that is possible?”
“I’m telling you I’ll give you the opportunity.”
“Haah....”
Human-Heart Thief sank down onto the floor.
“Fine. I will listen. Let me hear exactly what kind of opportunity you say you will give me.”
At that, Jeok Wigang grinned and said,
“Are you acknowledging me?”
“Acknowledging you? Ha ha ha. No. I am merely saying I will listen.”
“Then if I heal your parents, will you acknowledge me?”
“Would acknowledgment be all? I would serve you as my lord.”
“Good. Then let’s begin one person at a time.”