Heavenly Inquisition Sword

C330 – Would they give an important mission to someone with such a low rank?

The day before the wedding.

As usual, Dong Yuso, the inspector of the *Golden Guard*, appeared unannounced to visit Yeon Jeokha.

Concerned about curious gazes, Yeon Jeokha took him to Mount Bangsan, behind the house.

When they reached a midpoint from which the entire Seokjang village could be seen, Dong Yuso spoke while contemplating the landscape:

—Young Master Yeon, I heard you were recently appointed as the *Great Protector of Nokrim*. Congratulations.

—Is it something worthy of congratulations?

—Jeje, being the *Great Protector of Nokrim*, doesn’t that mean you are now a prominent figure in the ranks of the dark paths (*Sapa*)? It’s a position worthy of celebration.

—Nokrim has always been in conflict with the officials. It’s strange to receive congratulations from you.

Yeon Jeokha didn’t lower his guard.

He knew that Dong Yuso only appeared when he had something to ask for, much like the *Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord*.

—Young Master Yeon is no ordinary Nokrim. The imperial court considers him a person of great value.

Dong Yuso cast a calculating glance towards Yeon Jeokha.

This was partially true. Previously, Dong Yuso had informed the imperial palace that “Namjin and Yeon Jeokha were the ones who organized the *Heaven and Earth Alliance*”. Therefore, the court didn’t see Yeon Jeokha as just a bandit leader.

—At the end of the day, I’m just a thief.

—What are you saying? No one in the world would dare call you a thief.

Yeon Jeokha didn’t answer.

He knew they only avoided saying it to his face out of fear. He wasn’t interested in having obvious conversations with Dong Yuso.

—By the way, I heard you were the one who introduced Yu-hwa’s fiancé.

—Jeje, your eldest cousin seemed charming, so I decided to play matchmaker.

—And there’s no other reason behind this?

—One of my subordinates had a nephew who seemed like a good option, so I made the connection. Besides, lately, I’ve noticed that the people around you seem a bit problematic, like flies buzzing around.

In short, Dong Yuso had acted before anyone else could take advantage.

Yeon Jeokha finally understood what had happened.

He remembered the conversations he had heard during Yu-hwa’s maturity ceremony, and it seemed that Dong Yuso had gotten ahead.

—Well, if that’s all, it puts my mind at ease.

—What other reason could there be? Jin Wusaeng only has the rank of *so-gi* (*low-ranking official*) in the *Golden Guard*. What could be behind that?

Yeon Jeokha glanced sideways at Dong Yuso.

*”So Yu-hwa’s fiancé is called Jin Wusaeng?”*

—I’m not very familiar with the structure of the *Golden Guard*.

—The *so-gi* is a low rank, they supervise ten subordinates.

—Well, at least it’s not the lowest of all.

—Jeje, you say that. The *so-gi* is a warrior selected after passing the military exam. Above them are the *chong-gi* (*general officers*), a position that Jin Wusaeng could aspire to reach if he accumulates merits for more than ten years.

Yeon Jeokha understood Dong Yuso’s message: “It’s a low position, so there can’t be a hidden motive behind the introduction.”

But what he said next made Yeon Jeokha frown.

—The *so-gi* are nothing more than the hands and feet of the *Golden Guard*. You don’t have to worry too much about him.

—The hands and feet?

—Exactly.

Dong Yuso said it naturally, looking at him with an impassive expression.

The audacity of his tone made Yeon Jeokha sigh.

—So, what you mean is that the *so-gi* are the ones who work in the field, right?

—It could be interpreted that way.

—In that case, is there any mission assigned to Jin Wusaeng?

—What important mission would they give to someone with such a low rank? If anything, that would be for the *chong-gi*.

—Ah, I see. So, the mission of his superior, the *chong-gi*, must be something significant?

—Of course, the *chong-gi* are not assigned trivial tasks.

—And what kind of mission is that?

—Hmm, it’s confidential, but between you and me, there are no secrets. At the next *Lantern Festival* (January 15th lunar), a great ritual will be held at the *Gunguksa* temple in Kaifeng. That ritual will be led by Master Hyeonjang of the *Yoomyung Cult*.

—…

The name of Master Hyeonjang of the *Yoomyung Cult* made Yeon Jeokha look at Dong Yuso with a somber expression.

He remembered hearing something similar before.

Dong Yuso had mentioned that the northern inspectors of the *Golden Guard* tried to assassinate Hyeonjang and suffered heavy losses.

*”These lunatics won’t be planning another madness, will they…?”*

Before he could think about it further, Yeon Jeokha hastily interrupted him:

—Ah, I don’t want to know more. It’s a confidential matter of the *Golden Guard*, and I’d rather not hear anything else.

—Jeje, what secrets could there be between you and me?

—My brothers always say that even between spouses there should be secrets. So, please, leave it at that.

Yeon Jeokha abruptly ended the conversation and began to descend.

—It’s hot, and I’m thirsty. Why don’t we go back now?

—Aren’t you more curious about Jin Wusaeng? Maybe his personality or something similar?

—No, I’m not interested.

—But it could be important for Miss Yu-hwa.

—I’m sure he introduced someone decent. I just hope he doesn’t make her cry. If he does, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself and do something terrible to him.

Yeon Jeokha’s cold tone left Dong Yuso momentarily speechless.

He had only thought about using Yeon Jeokha for his own purposes, but he hadn’t anticipated his protective reaction towards Yu-hwa.

*”What exactly was Jin Wusaeng like…?”*

He tried to recall details about Jin Wusaeng, but he didn’t know much. He only knew that one of his subordinates mentioned that he had a nephew suitable for the occasion.

While Dong Yuso hesitated, Yeon Jeokha had already walked quite a distance.

Dong Yuso, with a somber face, started walking after him, feeling uneasy.

He wanted to let him know all the remaining information, but he held back. The safety of many people in *Namjin* depended on keeping that matter secret.

—

**The day of the wedding.**

The ceremony was held as a grand feast for the entire Seokjang village, just as it had been during Yu-hwa’s maturity ceremony.

The women of the village came to help prepare the food, and the event became a community celebration.

There were so many guests that tables had to be placed even outside the house fence.

Guests first passed through the front door to greet, and then they were guided to the tables outside.

Yeon Jeokha, as the only close relative on his uncle’s side, stayed by his side to receive the guests.

Around 11 am, just as he was starting to feel exhausted, the groom’s group arrived.

The groom, dressed in luxurious ceremonial clothes, was accompanied by more than ten carriages.

The carriages, which seemed to exude wealth and elegance, filled the street in front of the house, as they couldn’t enter the courtyard.

As Yeon Jeokha followed his uncle to bow in greeting, his gaze stopped at one of the faces in the groom’s group.

“A familiar face?”

Among the group of people on the groom’s side, Yeon Jeokha noticed a familiar face.

“Eh? Those two…?”

They were, without a doubt, Baek Musang and the elderly man he had called “Sir” during the journey.

Suddenly, he remembered the conversation he had with Baek Musang on the way.

—It seems there are problems with the in-laws, so the old man is not very enthusiastic about the wedding. Even the nephew, the groom, seems like he’s not very convinced.

—Then why are they doing it?

—It must be because the family is forcing him. Maybe they have no other choice.

—If there are problems with the in-laws, why push the marriage?

—When it comes to families of officials, there are always reasons that can’t be said out loud.

“The wedding they were talking about was Yu-hwa’s… How small the world is.”

Yeon Jeokha especially remembered the words about “the groom not being very convinced.”

A feeling of unease suddenly invaded him.

“What? Are you telling me that they are forcing Yu-hwa to marry someone who doesn’t even want her?”

There was no doubt that Dong Yuso, the inspector of the *Golden Guard*, had pressured his subordinate to accept this marriage.

With a cold gaze, Yeon Jeokha turned his attention to the groom, dressed in an elegant ceremonial suit.

“Jin Wusaeng, right?”

Although the young man tried to maintain a neutral expression, Yeon Jeokha could detect the disgust in his eyes.

Shortly after, a man in his fifties from the groom’s side approached.

Upon seeing him, Lee Wooseok bowed his head quickly.

—Welcome, dear father-in-law! Jeokha, greet him.

The man, called Jin Cheonggyo, turned his head towards Yeon Jeokha with a hesitant expression.

*”Is this really the innocent-faced young man, the famous Yeon Jeokha of Nokrim, known for his terrifying reputation in the Murim world?”*

After exchanging a visual greeting with Lee Wooseok, Jin Cheonggyo slightly bowed his head towards Yeon Jeokha.

—I’m Jin Cheonggyo.

—I’m Yeon Jeokha.

With an expressionless face, Yeon Jeokha responded with a single word before looking away.

Yeon Jeokha’s cold demeanor left Jin Cheonggyo visibly disturbed.

Although he knew the *Golden Guard* respected Yeon Jeokha, he was also aware of his fearsome reputation.

**The Great Protector of Nokrim.**

A master so formidable that even the *Yoomyung Cult* had offered a reward for his head, although their attempts to assassinate him ended in failure.

In Nokrim, they called him the “Little Demon.” And outside Nokrim, they saw him as a merciless demon, willing to eradicate even his own relatives if he deemed it necessary.

As a shiver ran down his spine, Jin Cheonggyo swallowed dryly.

*”It’s impossible to know what he’s thinking. Behind that innocent face, he really is a terrifying demon. What could have displeased him?”*

At that moment, Lee Wooseok patted Yeon Jeokha on the back.

—Hey, boy! You can’t behave like that in front of your father-in-law. You’re going to scare him. Ha, ha, dear father-in-law, I hope you understand. This boy grew up in difficult circumstances, so he doesn’t know much about manners.

—Oh, oh, it’s okay. It’s understandable. Young people nowadays are usually more free in their behavior. It doesn’t bother me at all.

Although, of course, Jin Cheonggyo thought that his own son would never behave like that. If he had, he would have received severe punishment with a rod.

While trying to maintain a kind smile, Jin Cheonggyo glanced sideways at Yeon Jeokha to read his mood.

However, Yeon Jeokha didn’t take his eyes off Jin Wusaeng, the groom, watching him with the intensity of a predator.

For his part, Jin Wusaeng wasn’t comfortable with the situation either.

Although outsiders didn’t know it, Lee Wooseok’s family hadn’t been easily accepted as a good match.

First, because they were poor and of little importance. And second, because having a connection with a “great demon” like Yeon Jeokha was seen as a problem.

Despite these difficulties, Dong Yuso insisted on arranging the marriage, convinced that Yeon Jeokha was a valuable ally.

*”So I have to spend the rest of my life with a woman from this lost village? What a disgrace!”*

Jin Wusaeng remembered the women he had seen when entering the village: they all seemed older for their age, tired from years of hard work in the fields.

To think that his future wife would be one of them filled him with frustration.

*”Is this how my life ends?”*

As he lamented his fate, something caught his attention: a piercing gaze.

Looking up, he realized that the young man next to his father was watching him brazenly.

“A young man from the bride’s side? And why does he have such an arrogant attitude? He’s even younger than me.”

Everything seemed to annoy him at that moment. He looked at the young man with disdain before turning his head with disdain.

“A *Golden Guard* officer like me, facing a villager in a duel of stares? That would be ridiculous.”

As he tried to maintain his dignity, the house door opened briefly, and something inside caught his attention.

For a fleeting moment, Jin Wusaeng saw the bride, Lee Yu-hwa, elegantly dressed for the ceremony.

Suddenly, his frustration and disgust disappeared.

*”Is this a twist in my fate?”*

Yu-hwa’s beauty left him astonished, filling his face with vitality as if he had found water in a desert.

As he tried to maintain his composure, a sound broke the atmosphere.

—¡Hmpf!

The disdain, laden with energy, that Yeon Jeokha let out with his nose filled the place with a frosty atmosphere.

The bustle of the wedding stopped, and the atmosphere became tense, as if an ice cave had emerged in the middle of the celebration.