Did I get discovered as Ho Pil?
The gaze of the Deputy Medical Official looking at me was filled with certainty that he knew everything. Was he searching for clues to pin me as Ho Pil? Or was he just planning to make me take the fall for Hwa-rin?
“Ho Pil? What are you talking about?”
I, who wasn’t the black silhouette yelling, “That’s right! I am the culprit! I practiced tap-dancing every evening after work to commit murder!” decided to dodge responsibility for now.
“Here is the manuscript of The Rise of the Tang Family. With the intense smell of ink coming from this child, I initially had no doubts that this child was Ho Pil.”
Wasn’t he bluffing? He spoke as if he were in the solution section of a mystery comic.
“I don’t know what misunderstandings you’re having.”
The Deputy Medical Official grabbed my wrist and shook his head lightly before speaking.
“Studying medicine doesn’t just allow one to assess a person’s internal organs and meridians at a glance. There are things one can gauge from a person’s appearance.”
No way this guy thinks I’m the culprit based on facial features, right? Doesn’t he know the rule of detective comics? The one who looks most like a criminal isn’t the criminal.
“Are you saying Yoon-ho looks like Ho Pil? Let him go! Ugh!”
As Hwa-rin approached the Deputy Medical Official, he caught her wrist with his other hand.
“When I checked your pulse a moment ago, I carefully observed this child’s hands. I found traces of long hours spent diligently training in the Poison Technique and Stealth Techniques of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
The Deputy Medical Official showed me Hwa-rin’s palm.
Oh snap. I realized what the Deputy Medical Official was getting at. He caught on there.
“And what’s that supposed to mean? Let go!”
When Hwa-rin resisted, the Deputy Medical Official lightly released her hold and looked at me.
“You have a knowing expression. Yes, this child has no calluses from long hours of writing, but you have calluses. Are you still going to dodge responsibility, Ho Pil?”
The Deputy Medical Official showed the callous on my hand and then let go of my wrist. To present such decisive evidence! The middle-aged detective is no joke.
“Haha. If you live as the bookstore owner, there’s bound to be a lot of calligraphy.”
“You said you were a storyteller. Right. Knowing about a case from over twenty years ago and turning it into an interesting story are indeed two different things. If you were a capable storyteller, it would be a piece of cake for you to write about the case this child mentioned. Isn’t that right?”
It seemed the Deputy Medical Official was convinced I was Ho Pil despite my attempts to dodge responsibility.
I was cornered. The manuscript for The Rise of the Tang Family is right here, so Ho Pil must be me or Hwa-rin. Moreover, the evidence and circumstances are pointing towards me as Ho Pil.
“No, I’m not! I’m not Ho Pil!”
Noticing the situation was getting out of hand, Hwa-rin stepped in to defend me a moment late.
“Child, even if you call him a barbarian, it’s commendable that you care for your friend.”
This old man is treating me worse than how he looks at Hwa-rin like a dear granddaughter!
Is it just our people together, while a barbarian means nothing?
“Shut it! I’m Ho Pil!”
“Alright, if you’re saying so, then prove it.”
“What?”
“Deputy Medical Official. You praised The Rise of the Tang Family, right?”
The Deputy Medical Official, ignoring Hwa-rin’s confused expression, called to the Deputy Medical Official who had been watching from the back.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not calling you to scold you. Since you know The Rise of the Tang Family well, have this child write out a line from it on a piece of paper.”
“Huh? Okay. Then… Please write down ‘Welcome. To my Poison Kill Space—’ here.”
The Deputy Medical Official quickly prepared a blank sheet of paper and a brush on the desk and called for Hwa-rin. I know what they’re trying to do. This is the confirmation shot.
“Yoon-ho….”
Hwa-rin looked up at me, seemingly realizing what to do. I wanted to refuse, but I had no justification. No justification.
Realizing she couldn’t escape, Hwa-rin looked at the papers I’d written around us and began to write down the line the Deputy Medical Official mentioned.
“I did my best, but the handwriting is different.”
The Deputy Medical Official approached the desk and picked up the paper Hwa-rin had written along with the manuscript I had written for The Rise of the Tang Family. Hwa-rin’s lines. And my manuscript. Anyone could tell the handwriting was different.
Neither Hwa-rin nor I could say a word at the clear evidence.
——————
“One arm will do.”
After a moment of silence, the Deputy Medical Official made a thunderous announcement that broke the silence.
“Huh?”
What did he say he’d do?
“Deputy Medical Official, draw your sword.”
“What are you doing! I told you to write, not to cut off Yoon-ho’s arm!”
Hwa-rin, surprised, jumped in front of me to block the Deputy Medical Official.
“I only did it for Hwa-rin.”
Since I was found out, let’s try to use goodwill for now. I only did it for my friend; I’m not pursuing any selfish gain. Why are you doing this to me? I pleaded with the Deputy Medical Official in a sincere tone.
“Yes, I understand. In your own way, I will protect this child with my name.”
“And while you’re at it, you could protect me, right?”
“This child needs protection. She belongs to our family. But if there is a crime, it will likely be due to the old snakes of the family and the poisoners who cannot let go of their obsession, and they will undoubtedly aim for this child. Therefore, you, barbarian, must take all the blame and offer your wrist. Ideally, it would be the wrist you write with.”
Did you just give me both wrists?
For our precious family’s illegitimate child, you’d say it’s fine to cut off the wrist of a barbarian instead? I should’ve recognized this from the moment he shook his head—it’s total barbarian discrimination!
I think I was mistaken about their so-called righteous behavior. The Sichuan Tang Family is trying to maintain their morals, and within those morals lies the distant illegitimate child of the family, but it seems the black-haired barbarian doesn’t count.
“If The Rise of the Tang Family is the issue, I’d rather go to Yoon-ho and explain things myself!”
“Child, even if you understand your barbarian friend’s feelings, that’s something you’re saying because you don’t know the Sichuan Tang Family.”
The Deputy Medical Official looked at Hwa-rin with pity.
“What?”
“The Sichuan Tang Family has many ways to extract a confession from wrongdoers. In that process, if you were someone related by blood to the family, that barbarian here could end up as a cripple. If an interrogation is conducted, both of your sins will be revealed. Giving up your wrist here is a way to avoid that situation.”
“Shut up.”
“Haha. Child, do you think I take pleasure in cutting off your friend’s wrist? I’m saying this so that I can desperately protect you from any additional punishment for Ho Pil should we bring it up in the Tang Family. Now, move aside. Do you want to see Tang Geoh punished and not receive treatment?”
“What about Yoon-ho? Yoon-ho has to keep writing in the future!”
“If you lose your wrist, you won’t be able to use martial arts, but you will be able to hold a spoon, and you… can write again someday. Deputy Medical Official.”
“Absolutely, not!”
As the Deputy Medical Official took a step forward, Hwa-rin released murderous intent and yelled.
“Ho Pil. You’re quiet.”
“……”
Ignoring the Deputy Medical Official, who was pouring out murderous intent, I was suddenly addressed by a silent gaze.
“I understand your frustration. However, I’ve heard that in barbarian countries, thieves get their hands cut off. If you’re a barbarian, you’d know it well. Since you committed a crime, if you just give me one wrist, I’ll protect this child and help you live without worries in this bookstore. Don’t complicate the situation.”
If you get caught stealing in Joseon, you get a whipping. What the hell. Is this some Hammurabi code? A barbarian gets his wrist cut off for stealing—what an uncivilized law!
“Yoon-ho, absolutely not.”
Hwa-rin. I think you’ve misunderstood that just because I wasn’t saying anything, I was going to give up my wrist. I had no such intention.
I was looking for a way out.
————
The cost of using a loophole.
The tangled knots of misunderstandings. I tried cutting them down with the sword of new misunderstandings, but in the end, the knots I couldn’t untie rolled around on the ground and clung to my ankles.
The Deputy Medical Official’s words were rational.
Even if wrapped in goodwill, crimes don’t just disappear.
If not everyone can be happy, then someone must be sacrificed. Just a barbarian’s wrist. In the Deputy Medical Official’s view, it would be a cheap punishment.
‘Should I give up my wrist?’
I desperately looked at Hwa-rin, who was protecting me.
‘I didn’t expect this situation, but there’s still one method left to use.’
The issue is whether using that method is the right thing to do.
Using this method might not just mean one arm but could cause me to throw myself into a tiger’s den.
Should I offer my wrist to the tiger? Or should I stick my head into its mouth and hope it doesn’t bite?
Even until Hwa-rin was protecting me at this moment, I continued to worry.
“Step one more foot closer.”
Hwa-rin’s fierce voice jolted me from the swamp of my thoughts.
“Child, it’s just the wrist of a barbarian. When you go to the Sichuan Tang Family, you can make better friends. If it’s about liking, I’ll introduce you to a good child.”
“Shut up! Don’t say that casually! There’s only one Yoon-ho in the world!”
Hwa-rin, you just said something a bit touching, but I hardly ever get touched.
If it weren’t for this situation, I would’ve paid for dinner tonight. Instead, I followed Hwa-rin’s words while blushing and laughing at Hwa-rin getting all angry. What a pity.
“Haha. Twenty years ago and now. Why on earth do you pour personal feelings onto a barbarian and risk making a mess?”
The Deputy Medical Official sighed, as if recalling a past experience upon seeing Hwa-rin’s actions.
If I’m going to make a scheme, now is the chance.
“Hwa-rin, move aside for a moment.”
“Hey, no.”
“It’s okay. Just trust me.”
I carefully grabbed Hwa-rin’s shoulder and pushed her aside. Hwa-rin looked at my actions with uncertainty, but after my words to trust me, she reluctantly shifted her body.
“Have you finally come to a resolution? If you just offer your wrist, I promise once more that I won’t cause you any harm afterward.”
Assuming I was going to offer my wrist, the Deputy Medical Official spoke confidently.
‘Should I offer my wrist to the tiger? Or put my head into the tiger’s den?’
From days spent homeless with just a piece of bread, through to becoming a barbarian storyteller, and now as a barbarian writer, Ho Pil.
Finally, I managed to find my footing. Hope began to appear.
How can you cut off the hand that writes for me?
You think you’re just cutting off an uncivilized barbarian’s wrist, but you’re actually cutting off my hope.
Living without hope isn’t living; it’s rotting.
Wrist and life.
The answer is already decided.
“Deputy Medical Official, have you read The Rise of the Tang Family entirely?”
I looked at the Deputy Medical Official with a confident expression and asked.
“I have read it all.”
“Then do you remember the name of the Joseon courtesan Du Eung-hyang appearing in Volume 2? What was her original name?”
The Deputy Medical Official indicated that he thought the fictional character Du Eung-hyang was a real person.
The Color Demon incident is a hidden story. Even if he knew it in detail, it would suggest he accompanied the hunt for the Color Demon or knew someone similar to Du Eung-hyang.
“Twenty years ago, how could I remember the name of a barbarian courtesan?”
The Deputy Medical Official laughed, seemingly amused at how I could be so curious.
No, you’d remember. Even if you don’t, you should help me remember.
“Hyang-a. Twenty years ago, the name of the apprentice courtesan who shared a love with the current Tang Family Head.”
“…… Right, that was her name. Wait…? How do you know she was an apprentice courtesan?”
The Deputy Medical Official’s eyes widened as he stared at me.
How do I know? Of course, I know. I have no reason not to.
“It’s an urgent mission now, but once I return, I’ll take you and make you a proper member of the family. The Tang Family Head said that as he left after sharing their first with Hyang-a.”
“How do you know that?!”
Ignoring the Deputy Medical Official, who shouted, I confidently walked to the desk and pulled something out from the drawer.
What I pulled out was a bracelet.
The bracelet I obtained from a Joseon person killed by bandits while Cheon So-hee and I were on our way to the Head of the Seong Family. Its name is…
“Bracelet of Remembrance?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It’s the Bracelet of Remembrance.”
Let’s change our attitude from now on.
I nonchalantly tossed the bracelet engraved with the pattern to the Deputy Medical Official.
“W-How do you have this?”
“The Tang Family Head couldn’t tell anyone else, but in fact, a child was born between the two of them.”
“Huh?”
“Due to a secret mission, I cannot write my name. If my mission takes longer, come find me at the Sichuan Tang Family with this Bracelet of Remembrance. The young Tang Family Head said that and left.”
“Are you saying that now…?”
The Deputy Medical Official looked at the blank Bracelet of Remembrance and then at me in shock.
Even if I enter a tiger’s den, I’ll survive if I keep my wits about me.
No. When did I, Kang Yoon-ho, keep my wits about me until I was bitten by a tiger?
If the tiger is aiming for my wrist, I will scold it. If it aims for my neck, I will make it bow.
I’ll fool the tiger.
Fooling the tiger aiming for my neck is familiar to me. And the tigers I’m fooling now…
“The child born between the Tang Family Head and the Joseon courtesan Hyang-a twenty years ago… that’s me.”
The Sichuan Tang Family.
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