Chapter 28

Currently in the Midst of a Sinister Plan

Contemplation is the mental activity of deeply thinking, pursuing, and digging into the principles of things.
Lately, Bi Ryu-yeon had been spending more and more time lost in contemplation.

What he was thinking about so intently, the people around him could not know. That's why they felt a sense of unease, but since no one stepped forward to disturb him, Bi Ryu-yeon was able to remain deeply submerged in the lake called thought.

Recently, only one thought had been dominating Bi Ryu-yeon's mind. It was the fact that without disciples, he was bored, listless, and tired. Bi Ryu-yeon was deeply disappointed by the fact that there was no disciple to cook his meals, no disciple to do his work for him, no disciple to earn him money, and no disciple to attend to his needs. The more he thought about it, the more he missed the 16 disciples he had sent away not long ago. While he was with them, Bi Ryu-yeon had truly enjoyed a comfortable and leisurely life. They cooked for him, worked for him, cleaned for him, did his laundry for him, and even earned money for him... How comfortable he had been during that time.

His comfortable and leisurely life was all thanks to those 16 disciples. Therefore, the supreme proposition he was currently contemplating was just one thing: 'I need to find a decent disciple from somewhere!' Bi Ryu-yeon was in the middle of agonizing over what kind of disciple to get, how, and by what means, but one fact was making him very unpleasant. That unpleasantness was like throwing a stone named 'annoyance' into the quiet, abyssal lake named 'thought,' creating rough waves on the once-calm surface. These waves, named 'pissed off,' were pulling him from within the lake of contemplation to the shore of reality.

It was vexing his mind to a remarkable degree, even causing him to become extremely irritated. It was all because of one punk on the opposite side who was glaring at him with a murderous intensity, as if he wanted to chew him up and spit him out. He had heard that the guy was Jang U-gang, the only son of the Jungyang Escort Bureau's chief, Eighteen Swords Jang U-yang, and was currently 26 years old, but he was truly an eighteen-bastard. Of course, written in a refined manner, it's 'eighteen-bastard'; in truth, it was 'fucking-bastard'.

Wait a moment here!

People often make errors in usage when they get angry and resort to profanity. You can't just use swear words any which way. Among them, the most beloved curse is 'sib-pal-nom' (십팔놈, eighteen-bastard). Of course, when spoken, it's not 'sib-pal (十八) nom'. A strong accent is added, and it changes to 'ssib-pal-nom' (씹팔놈). However, this is an incorrect usage that ought to be corrected. How can one 'sell' a 'ssib' (bleep) that doesn't exist? 'Ssib' (bleep) is a slang and vulgar term for a woman's private parts, a vital organ that women have but men do not.

In the case of a man, one should use 'ssi-pal-nom'. Here, 'ssi' is short for 'ssi-at' (seed) and refers to sperm, one of the two major elements of conception, and 'pal' means to sell, or the act of buying and selling. In other words, 'ssi-pal-nom' is a vulgar term meaning 'a bastard who sells his seed' like a stud horse, or a male prostitute for women. 'Ssib-pal-nyeon' literally means 'a wretched woman who sells her ssib (bleep),' a very nasty word referring to a woman who works in a profession that earns money by selling her body, i.e., a prostitute. Note that a surrogate mother is not included in this, so let's be careful not to get confused.

Therefore, the correct usage of this vulgarism would be 'ssi-pal-nom' when the target of the curse is a man, and 'ssib-pal-nyeon' when it is a woman. There is no language in this world, be it a curse, slang, or vulgarism, that can be used carelessly. Let's keep this in mind. Of course, if there is a man who dares to use the insulting term 'ssib-pal-nyeon' towards a woman, that man can be called a true 'ssi-pal-nom'.

Anyway, whether it was because his first impression of that seed-selling bastard, Jang U-gang, was bad from the moment they met, or because he was so dissatisfied with something, he had been glaring at him as if to eat him alive throughout the entire escort mission. His eyes, filled with malice and hostility as if he considered him an 'enemy,' were grating on his already complicated nerves like a nagging wife. So how could he not feel unpleasant?

It wasn't that he hadn't thought, 'Should I teach him a lesson, or maybe touch him a few times like that other guy?' But for now, he held it in. For Bi Ryu-yeon, who held the beautiful(?) philosophy that 'a conscience is a conscience even if it grows hair,' this matter was a bit distasteful. So, for a while, he practiced self-restraint, something he didn't usually do, with the feeling of cultivating the Dao. But as expected, 'a while' was literally just a while, a single moment.

At first, he thought, 'Should I endure it?' since he was in a position of using and reusing the Jungyang Escort Bureau, but Bi Ryu-yeon's heart was not so generous. He was a man who acted with the firm belief, 'I can forgive a woman with a small chest, but I can't forgive a woman with a thick waist.' Oops, no! The example just raised was wrong. To put it again, he was Bi Ryu-yeon, who had always acted with the belief, 'I can tolerate a Guan Yu who shaves, but I cannot tolerate things that displease my eyes.' That said, to scold him openly was a bit hesitant due to the eyes of those around him. To put it nicely, he was indebted to them; to put it badly, or rather, to tell the truth, wasn't he the one using and reusing them?

So, what he was thinking about now, besides 'Urgent! Seeking Disciple,' was the profound and difficult problem of, 'How should I tease and punish that punk to hear a "Well done!"?' But, as expected, an event that proved the saying 'Heaven helps those who help themselves' was not the least bit wrong occurred a few days later.

After agonizing for a few days, Bi Ryu-yeon came up with several very ingenious and brilliant methods. Of course, this thought—proving the truth of the old proverb—was Bi Ryu-yeon's alone; it wasn't that others agreed. Operation name: 'Two Rabbits!' Bi Ryu-yeon had already given a name to the operation he had devised. Reviewing it once more, it was a very satisfactory plan. Now, all he had to do was choose the appropriate one according to the situation, substitute the variables according to the situation, and then apply it to the situation, and everything would be complete. The frightening thing about Bi Ryu-yeon was that he had thought of not just a single scheme, but multiple ones. The difference between a scheme and a stratagem is that a scheme is a large and deep ploy, a word that combines the meanings of 'plan' and 'intrigue,' and contains the meaning of 'intrigue.'

The fact that he didn't just think of one thing, but considered various situations and the variables that followed, was what made Bi Ryu-yeon so meticulous and well-prepared. What if he had set up one plan, and the environment or situation to execute that plan did not materialize? Would he swallow his tears and give up? That couldn't be. Bi Ryu-yeon had no pathetic hobby of swallowing tears depending on the success or failure of a plan he had painstakingly put together. His plans were designed only for success, and exceptions could not be tolerated. That is why he set up various operations for each, assuming various situations and the variables that followed.

If one goes wrong, there are others. All he had to do was choose and use one according to the situation. An outstanding strategist must prepare countermeasures for various situations. Only when one has set up as many stratagems as there are possibilities that can occur can one be called an excellent strategist. Of course, the true ability of a schemer is to adjust and manipulate the number of possibilities to a minimum. Looking at it from this perspective, it wasn't for nothing that Bi Ryu-yeon was once called a natural disaster. It was because there were reasons and grounds for it.

"Kehehehe..."

With a satisfied smile, Bi Ryu-yeon decided to wait for the right time. The stage was not yet properly set because all the actors had not yet gathered. In plotting such a thing, impatience is absolutely forbidden. A play begins only when the actors have gathered. What he had to do now was to wait for the right time, decide on the work to be performed according to the situation, and search for and choose the great actors to play the roles suitable for that work. Feeling cheerful, Bi Ryu-yeon, without paying any mind to the unpleasant gaze tickling the back of his head, lay flat on his back in a '大' shape and looked up at the blue sky. Looking at the endless blue sky, he felt as if a blockage had been refreshingly cleared. The endlessly high-looking firmament was just clear and clean.

Looking at the sky, he became intoxicated by its blue light and melted into a leisurely and peaceful feeling he hadn't felt in a while. The winter firmament without a single cloud, having shed its dark gray light and regained its blue hue, was as beautiful as a blue bird flapping its wings and flying endlessly high towards the end.

• The Blade of Flames, Yeomdo

The escort party was hurrying along, continuously shortening the distance to Nanchang.
The sun was now hanging in the middle of the horizon at the end of the earth, thickly scattering a red sunset and heralding the darkness of night.
It seemed the curtain of night was about to cover the stage.
Soon, the black silk curtain fell, and darkness arrived.
The lowered curtain of black silk was demanding that they stop and rest.

Until humans had the courage to defy the great power of nature, they had no choice but to obediently listen to her words. This was even more so when leading a large group. Today's destination was Zhuzhou, a town located on the outskirts of Hunan Province. It was a bustling city of medium size, a town located slightly below Changsha, a large city adjacent to Dongting Lake. From here, if they went a little further, they would reach the border of Jiangxi Province, where Nanchang was located. Zhuzhou was a town located near the border of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces.

"Whoa, whoa, everyone halt. We will rest here for today."

Jang U-yang stopped his horse in front of an inn and said to everyone. The name of the inn was 'Hwaunru'. It was a place that provided both meals and lodging, a fairly large-scale accommodation. Seeing a group of people stop in front of the inn, a young shop boy who looked to be about 15 years old and was guarding the door scurried inside to deliver the message. A moment later, a chubby man in his late 40s, dressed in a rather splendidly patterned blue silk outfit with a suitably fleshy face, hurriedly walked out. Judging by his attire and appearance, it might be a prejudice, but he truly looked the part of an innkeeper. He seemed to be the owner of this Hwaunru.

"Ah, my goodness. Bureau Chief Jang, welcome. It's been a truly long time since you've stopped by."

"Master Na, it's been a while. You must have received my message?"

"Yes, of course. I received the message sent from your esteemed bureau. I have prepared meals and lodging for 60 people for sure. And I have also completely emptied out warehouse number 2."

The owner of Hwaunru, Master Na, replied. Then he continued, smiling broadly.

"For some reason, many guests were looking for our inn today. I had to turn a few away to save 60 spots."

"Thank you."

Jang U-yang nodded his head and showed a satisfied expression. When an escort bureau travels while transporting goods, there are roads and towns they frequently pass through. Since they stopped in a town to rest, there was also the existence of a regular inn. They would make one inn a regular, make a contract with each other, and when they visited that town, they would unpack and rest at the designated inn. By doing so, they could not only receive much better treatment but also use the inn at a much cheaper price. Since an escort mission involves a large number of people moving together, the scale of the regular inn was naturally bound to be large.

It was not an easy task to solve the lodging and meals for more than 60 people at once in a bustling city. The rooms of the inns might all be full, or the number might be insufficient. Moreover, just because there weren't enough rooms, they couldn't carelessly split up the personnel to solve the lodging and meals. Splitting up the personnel meant that the security would become that much more lax, and the risk to the escorted goods would increase. That is why they designate one specific inn, make a contract with it, and do business. This Hwaunru was one such place.

Of course, since the owner, unless he was a god, wouldn't know when they would be staying, they would send a message first through a contact point set up in a bustling city, a planted contact, or an informant to make an appointment. It is said that in highly developed escort bureaus, they even use carrier pigeons for this purpose. The method used by the Jungyang Escort Bureau was to send a message through an advance party or a contact.

"Good. The goods to warehouse number 2! Except for the three on guard duty in shifts, everyone go to the dining hall, have dinner, and rest!"

"Yes, sir!"

All the escorts answered loudly. It seems that the escorts were a group that was not aware of the fact that a loud answer in the middle of a town was an act that inconvenienced the surroundings. Following Bureau Chief Jang U-yang's order, the people of the escort bureau began to move busily. They moved the luggage to warehouse number 2 and let the horses loose in the stable to rest. And they set up guards according to the determined order.

While others were working hard and diligently, moving their bodies, Bi Ryu-yeon had already entered the dining hall with Jang U-yang, taken a seat, and was waiting for a delicious dinner. Bi Ryu-yeon still hadn't done a speck of work.

It was the evening time when people were most crowded. The inn, which should have been lively and bustling at this time, was not in such a state now. An unfittingly heavy air of silence was pressing down on the entire inn. The inn was packed with over 100 people, but it was strangely quiet. Everyone was either maintaining silence or conveying their intentions in whispers. The air, as taut as a tightly drawn string about to snap, was suffocating people. All of this phenomenon was caused by the presence of a single person. The presence of the man was bestowing a great deal of quiet, stillness, and silence at this time, which should have been the most boisterous and lively.

The second floor of this inn was in the shape of a square with an empty center, a structure that allowed one to look down at the first floor through the empty space with a railing. Uniquely, the third floor of Hwaunru had the same appearance as the second floor. Bi Ryu-yeon was sitting by a window on the first floor waiting for food, and that man had also taken a seat on the first floor and was having his meal. The position he had taken was almost in the center of the first floor of the inn. Bi Ryu-yeon, along with Jang U-yang, was also staring blankly at the man.

He was a man in his mid-40s with a very peculiar appearance. Hair like a blazing flame, eyebrows like a deep sunset, and a roughly grown red beard. On top of that, he was dressed in red clothes, and even the scabbard for the saber with a uniquely styled hilt tucked into his waist was uniformly red. This man, who was all red except for his two eyes, was so red all over that he was reminiscent of a blazing flame. He had such a unique appearance that you could spot him at a glance even if you threw him into the middle of the famous crowded Beijing market.

From his dignified figure wrapped in red, a strong energy that overwhelmed others was emanating, adding to his majesty. This must be what it means to feel the dignity of a master. The sense of pressure and presence he gave off was truly that great.

Bi Ryu-yeon was looking at him with an amused expression, while Jang U-yang, sitting opposite him, was looking at him with eyes full of serious contemplation due to conflict. Jang U-yang knew who the man was. It didn't make sense for him not to know a master with such a unique and character-filled appearance. His distinctive red hair, red eyebrows, and red beard were proof that he had trained a certain martial art to near its extreme. So not only Jang U-yang, but almost everyone in the inn, including the escorts of the Jungyang Escort Bureau, knew the man. That is why this heavy and suffocating silence was possible.

He was one of the five most famous swordsmen in the Jianghu. It was impossible for Jang U-yang not to know him, who was called the blade of crimson flame, the best swordsman in Sichuan. The only person here who probably didn't know him properly was Bi Ryu-yeon. The problem that Jang U-yang was seriously contemplating now was whether he should go and greet the man or not. Normally, he would have quickly approached and greeted him.

But, the situation today did not look very good. Whether he was in a foul mood, he was sitting with his already fierce expression scrunched up even more fiercely, exuding a sense of pressure. Overwhelmed by his energy, which created a precarious atmosphere as if he would explode if touched, everyone in the inn couldn't even make a peep and had to just sit silently, clutching their hearts that had shrunk with anxiety.

That is why Jang U-yang was fidgeting. Because he was a man widely known in the Jianghu for having a bad temper, he didn't know what kind of trouble he might get into if he spoke to him for no reason. It wasn't impossible that he might pick a fight as a way of venting his anger. But if he didn't greet him, it was possible that he would bring it up later, so Jang U-yang was just looking for an opportunity, one way or another.

Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes, which were alternately staring blankly at the man and at Jang U-yang who was afraid of him, suddenly began to shine playfully. At the same time, his face began to fill with a fresh and vibrant energy, as if he were about to fly. It was a look that showed he was not affected in the slightest by the surrounding atmosphere. As expected, he was Bi Ryu-yeon, who had built a wall against emotions like 'tension' and 'seriousness.' It was unknown what he was so happy about, but Bi Ryu-yeon, with a broad smile, sprang up from his seat.

"My, Sir Bi. What's the sudden occasion?"

Startled by Bi Ryu-yeon's abrupt action of suddenly jumping up from his seat, Jang U-yang asked with a puzzled look.

"Oh, me? I suddenly need to use the restroom."

With a grin and a light smile, Bi Ryu-yeon said. With a sudden mention of the restroom, Bi Ryu-yeon got up from his seat and disappeared out the inn door. To Jang U-yang's eyes, it looked as if he were melting into the darkness.