Chương 24: Two Cedar Caskets

Torchlight pierced the darkness of the courtyard as the Imperial procession marched through the branch's gates. A vanguard of heavy cavalry secured the perimeter, followed by eighty uniformed infantrymen who fanned out to form a living barrier, their iron armor clattering in unison. Half of the soldiers carried large halberds, while the rest bore repeating crossbows – weapons designed to turn the sky black with armor-piercing bolts. And to remind rogue martial artists of their mortality.

The troops were followed by an ornate mahogany carriage, draped in crimson silk. When it finally rolled to a halt, an attendant scrambled out to place a wooden stepping stool by the door. Commissioner Gao stepped out, snapping a painted paper fan open with a phwwt. He was a stout, soft-looking man dressed in vibrant violet robes, with the magnificent peacock of a Rank Three official embroidered across the back. Despite the brisk night air, the man fluttered the fan rapidly to cool his flushed face.

The Commissioner was both angry and nervous, a combination made abundantly clear by his pinched eyebrows and pursed lips. He preferred his corruption highly organized, and a sudden smoke signal was a worrying breach of protocol. He was also furious that Branch Head Yu wasn't already there, groveling at his feet.

"Welcome, Lord Commissioner," a soft, respectful voice called out from the darkness. Chae-ha stepped forwards and into the glow of the courtyard lanterns, bowing deeply. She was dressed in her scholar's robes, the weighted hems swaying gently as she moved.

"Branch Head Yu extends his deepest apologies for not greeting you at the gates himself. I am junior Inspector Han Chae-ha. I have been sent to guide you and your esteemed retinue."

"A junior Inspector? Yu's manners are deteriorating. I expect to be met by the master of the house, especially when he's the one requesting my presence."

"You are completely right to be offended, my lord," Chae-ha agreed, keeping her head bowed and her tone soothing.

"But please rest assured, Branch Head Yu wishes to meet with you as quickly as possible. In the meantime, I have already instructed the servants to roll out casks of ale and roasted meats for your troops, which await them in the guest barracks. Please, allow me to show you and your personal entourage to the banquet hall, so you may rest after your long journey." Commissioner Gao waved his hand dismissively.

The bulk of the heavily armed troops broke off towards the barracks, leaving behind a much more manageable inner circle: twenty elite bodyguards, a few lieutenants, and a head clerk, all of whom would be joining the banquet. The young girl turned and began to lead the smaller procession through the compound. The courtyard had been scrubbed raw with lye and stiff-bristled brooms; any signs of struggle they may have missed, she was counting on the darkness to hide.

Surviving guards and servants were strategically positioned along their path, projecting an aura of total, mundane normalcy.

"The Branch Head has been on edge all day," Chae-ha prattled on, playing the part of an oblivious, gossiping clerk.

"Ever since that injured High Elder was rushed through the gates two days ago, the entire branch has been turned upside down. Nothing has gone according to schedule."

"Yes, my checkpoint guards sent word of that little theatrical display," Gao muttered, his eyes darting across the clean courtyards, finding nothing amiss. He seemed to relax a bit.

"A dying elder and a screaming Young Master. Although the last message from Yu said the man had fallen unconscious, and everything was under control?"

"I'm certain that everything is, my lord. You are in quite capable hands." The Commissioner nodded, but just above his slowly waving fan, his eyes narrowed slightly. If everything was fine, why, exactly, would that weasel be sending smoke signals? The group arrived at the ornate double doors of the great hall. As servants pushed them open, the sheer extravagance of the room poured out into the night.

Gold-leaf banners shimmered beneath festive lanterns, highlighting tables laden with fine white porcelain and gleaming silver serving trays. The Commissioner's elite guards immediately began to filter into the room, their postures relaxing as sect servants hurried over to pour cups of vintage wine for them. Commissioner Gao, however, stopped before passing through the doorway. His eyes swept the room, and as they did, his irritation rose.

"The decorations are adequate, but the host is still missing. Where, exactly, is Branch Head Yu?" Chae-ha pursed her lips, looking genuinely exasperated by her superior's behavior.

"He's been locked inside his private study, my lord. Doing what he described as 'necessary paperwork.' He's been that way ever since the High Elder woke up in the medical ward." The Commissioner turned to stare at her a little too quickly. The hand waving his paper fan went completely still.

"The High Elder... woke up?"

"Yes, my lord. Just this morning. They're planning to release him tomorrow," Chae-ha replied, her forehead furrowing in apparent confusion.

"The Branch Head has refused to leave his study ever since he found out. Oh! But he did give me a message to pass on to you." The young girl closed her eyes for a brief second, as if trying to recall the exact phrasing of something she had been forced to memorize. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"He said to tell you: 'The frost on the Great Peak is thawing early. The harvest must be brought indoors tonight, before the sudden flood washes the fields away.'" Chae-ha let out a small, anxious sigh and looked up at the Imperial official with wide, doe-like eyes.

"I had to ask him twice if I had that right, because it didn't make any sense to me. We don't even have any fields here at the branch. But he snapped at me and assured me you would understand. He also said that you would want to come join him in his office after you heard." The Commissioner's eyes widened as all the pieces fell neatly into place. No wonder the Branch Head sent a smoke signal; the High Elder woke up. Yu was panicking; he needed to finalize their deal – and conceal the evidence – tonight.

"I understand perfectly," Commissioner Gao replied. He turned to his Guard Captain, who was already reaching for a plate of roasted pork.

"I have private administrative matters to discuss with the Branch Head. Stay here with the men and enjoy the banquet." Without waiting for a response, the Commissioner turned back to the young girl.

"Take me to Branch Head Yu's study. Immediately."

"Right this way, my lord," Chae-ha bowed, permitting herself a small smile. It felt in character. She led the Imperial official away from the safety of his elite guards, guiding him down a quiet, empty corridor. When they reached the thick wooden door of Branch Head Yu's private study, Chae-ha reached out and pulled it open, bowing her head submissively and gesturing for the higher-ranking man to enter first.

Commissioner Gao strode eagerly into the dimly lit room, his eyes scanning the space for Branch Head Yu and his payout. Chae-ha entered the room silently behind him, her hands reaching out to grab the iron handle of the door. With a soft, metallic click, she pulled it shut – locking the two of them inside. Almost immediately, the man spun around.

"There's no one in here. What exactly do you think you're doi–" A needle dropped out of her sleeve and into her hand. Chae-ha braced the end against the leather patch in her palm, before stepping aggressively towards him. The words died on his tongue as he stumbled backwards in disbelief, raising his hands." Baek-pal Hwan-yeong-bo," Chae-ha breathed.

"108 Phantom Steps." He tried to push her away, but Gao was a bureaucrat, not a martial artist. The Commissioner's arms missed their target. Chae-ha spun underneath and behind him, ending the motion facing his back while in a low crouch." Mu-han-jeom," the young girl whispered.

"Infinite End: Foramen Magnum." With all her strength, Chae-ha exploded upwards. Pinching the braced needle between her knuckles, she drove the long, triangular piece of steel directly through the soft hollow at the base of the man's skull, and into his brain. There was neither a cry of agony nor a scream for help. The Commissioner simply fell forwards, dead. The only evidence of the crime was a small hole in the back of his head, which she quickly patched with a dab of alum.

Chae-ha hurriedly opened the door and called for Mu-cheon, sounding less composed than usual.

"We have no time, senior brother! Bring in those caskets, now!" Mu-cheon and the remaining members of the Tai-shan medical team rushed down the hall, carrying the Eye Demon's casket between them. They burst into the room, setting the casket down in front of Chae-ha and ripping off the lid. The young Inspector reached inside and withdrew Sa Jeong-gwi's wicked Bi-su. Mu-cheon watched as she uncorked the small vial she had found and gave the weapon a fresh coat of poison.

Still moving quickly, she motioned for one of the members of the medical team to flip the dead Commissioner over.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Mu-cheon asked.

"I can –" The young man's offer of help trailed off as Chae-ha plunged the evil blade deep into the Commissioner's chest, sending the tip between the ribs and straight into his heart. Scarlet blood began seeping out all around the wound, even as the necrotic poison began to spread and corrode the surrounding flesh. Chae-ha closed her eyes in silent relief. After a moment, she looked back at Mu-cheon.

"Looks like we made it in time, senior brother. He's still bleeding enough to be convincing. Let's spread some of this blood around." The remaining members of the medical team went to retrieve the casket containing Elder Ma's body. Under her direction, the small team carefully staged the scene. Once the bodies were properly arranged, they removed the cedar boxes and sent them back to storage for the time being. Mu-cheon looked down at Elder Ma's body, feeling conflicted.

Three days in the salted casket had left the man's features dried and sunken. Areas of discolored skin mingled with blood and salt to create a distasteful leathery patchwork. Anyone who looked at him for any appreciable amount of time would know the man hadn't died today – but they weren't planning to let anyone look at him for that long. The young man closed his eyes. What they were doing was sacrilegious, but there was no other choice. They were already in so deep.

He said a short prayer, silently begging the departed Elder to forgive their transgressions, before opening his eyes and steeling himself once more.

"Ready?" Chae-ha nodded.

"Just leave the desk intact. We'll need it later." Mu-cheon withdrew the Dae-jik-do from his back and held the blade in front of his face." Gye-san-byeok," he intoned.

"Mountain-Rending Cleave!" Splinters of wood sprayed everywhere as Mu-cheon swung again and again, deliberately hacking the furniture apart. Chairs lost their backs and legs, drapes were severed at an angle, and an entire oaken cabinet was cut in half. When he was finished, the medical team reverently laid Elder Ma's Cham-ma-do beside him to finish the scene.

"Keep making noise," Chae-ha instructed the medical workers, as a flood of Tai-shan guards began to filter in. She and Mu-cheon worked their way down the hallway and back to the banquet. They paused right outside the door that led to the ballroom and put on appropriately terrified expressions. Finally ready, Mu-cheon backed up slightly down the hallway. He ran forwards and slammed his muscular shoulder into the door leading to the banquet hall, causing it to fly off its hinges.

The young man burst into the room, Chae-ha stumbling along behind him.

"Send riders to wake up the Magistrate! Lock down the sect! Close every exit! Don't just sit there with your mouths open like stunned carp!" the young man screamed, his voice booming clearly through a room that had suddenly gone silent.

"The Hundred Ghost Pavilion has assassinated the Commissioner!"