< Episode 61: Craftsman (2) >
-His two eyes were blind.
-what? Inside the wall?
Wall eye.
Although it refers to blue eyes it also means people from the West.
Westerners are people who live in the western part of the central plains.
Although there was a distance of about the distance between the main gate and the back pavilion from the stall in the square Mok Gyeong-un who was a master of flower painting and had more developed five senses than ordinary people noticed blue eyes shining through the gaps in the mask.
-Are you sure?
-The eyes of the mask were protruding so it was dark inside so it was hard to see but I could see them.
-Hmm. That’s so strange. This may not be Seojang or Xinjiang but a person from the West region is an official of the imperial palace.
This was not uncommon.
Although it has interacted with the martial arts people in recent years and has become more open in many ways the imperial palace can still be said to be more closed and conservative than any other group.
As expected this country boasted that only the Han people were the center of the Central Plains.
Even Baehwagyo a religion that came from the West was said to be abusing the world and the people so they arrested all those associated with it and destroyed the Sajok.
It could be said that it was very unusual for the imperial palace of such a country to hire a Westerner as an official rather than a slave.
-There must be some reason.
-That’s a carefree answer. However it seems necessary to be careful just because a Westerner who has learned martial arts is a member of the Imperial Palace Geumuiwi. Don’t get involved for no reason.
-That’s right.
Anyway there was only one purpose here.
The goal was to seize the Seonghwa Spirit Pillar that was locked in the gold prison under the imperial palace.
Whether he was upset or what purpose he had it had nothing to do with him.
As we followed the hairy man guiding us a pig barn filled with the strong smell of livestock waste appeared.
The screeching noise was enough to sting my ears.
The hairy man led them into the barn without stopping.
Then the apostate monk Jae-jeong frowned and muttered.
“Did you really come to catch a pig?”
Mong Muyak shook his head and said to him.
“If you don’t know anything just follow along.”
“Are you telling me not to say anything with my open mouth? joy.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Mong Wuyak clicked his tongue as if he didn’t like it.
The hairy man who was walking through the barn stopped in an empty space among us.
Then he used a rake to push aside the straw that was piled up there.
Then there was an entrance made of wood.
The hairy man grabbed the rusty iron shackles at the entrance and pulled them up.
-Kkeeeeeek!
The door opened and a staircase leading into the basement appeared.
Seeing this Nie Chun said as if it was quite good.
“You did a great job creating this place.”
Who would imagine that such a secret underground is hidden in a pig pen barracks filled with the smell of feces?
The hairy man grinned and pointed toward the basement with his thumb.
“Please follow me.”
So they went down the stairs.
As we descended to a depth of about two stories a cavity about a dozen pieces long appeared.
The lantern-lit cavity contained various tools and work spaces.
The hairy man said pointing to a reception chair on one side of the studio.
“My father-in-law will be here soon so just wait…..”
-Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!
That was before the words were even finished.
Someone hurriedly came down the stairs and ran towards the hairy man.
He seemed to be a slaughterhouse worker as he was wearing a leather stand with blood on the front.
“Brother Song. “Please talk to me for a moment.”
Hearing his words the hairy man asked Mok Gyeong-un and his companions for understanding.
“Please wait a moment.”
Ganyang nodded and told him not to worry about this.
Then the worker and the furry man walked away from them and talked in whispers.
It was a whispering voice but as his level of martial arts increased Mok Gyeong-un’s hearing developed more and more and this was heard accurately.
“I’m in trouble.”
“What’s troubling?”
“It seems that the person who requested the production last time was a military attaché.”
“what?”
“So I think we’ll have to put them on hold for a while.”
Hearing their whispers Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.
It seemed like something was wrong with them.
Then a hairy man came up to them and bowed his head in apology.
“I’m sorry about this but could you wait here for a moment? “I think my father-in-law will be a little late due to an urgent delivery.”
“How difficult would that be? “If you do I will be waiting.”
Ganyang said it was okay.
Since he had come to make a request anyway he couldn’t help it.
After asking for their understanding the slaughterhouse people went outside and Ganyang looked at Mok Gyeong-un and Hubaldae and said
“It won’t take long.”
The apostate Monk Jaejeongjeong took issue with him.
“well. “Is that really the case?”
“yes?”
“I heard them talking earlier and the military officer said something. Did you not hear it?”
Jaejaejeong also seemed to have overheard their conversation.
Ganyang questioned this.
“Officers?”
“okay. “The owner said earlier that he saw the Gold Guards. Aren’t you referring to those guys?”
Ganyang stroked his chin as if he was troubled by his words.
The Gold Guards would have simply come to inspect and pick up the meat to be delivered to the imperial palace.
But I couldn’t figure out what this meant.
Seopchun said to him.
“If something happens to your father-in-law won’t your mission be disrupted?”
“that…”
“Didn’t you say that this is the only craftsman who can make bast masks in a timely manner?”
“….you’re right.”
The purpose of their visit here was to request the production of human skin masks.
A human skin mask is a leather mask that is made using human skin or pig skin and is indistinguishable from a real human face.
The owner of Hongbongyuk here was a slaughterer in sunny areas but had a reputation for making very elaborate bast noodles in shaded areas.
Of course there were not many people in Moorim who knew this.
“But even so if the military attachés are members of the Geumwiwi as Master Bokma said there is no benefit for us to intervene in the middle of the matter.”
“What does this mean that the coming day is market day? “I want it!”
It was truly extraordinary.
Since I was in a position to infiltrate the Geumui Committee there was no benefit in immediately causing friction with them.
This was because if they worked for no reason and were influenced by the demonstration department’s disregard everything would go to waste.
“Let’s wait for now. “It’s not like there is a second best solution.”
Everyone nodded at Mo Gyeong-un’s words.
That was around the time when all these years had passed.
At that time someone came down from above with the sound of a secret underground door opening.
I wondered if my father-in-law had come but no.
The person who came down was the hairy man who guided them.
However unlike before the hairy man’s facial complexion and expression were not that good.
Ganyang said this.
“Is your father-in-law there yet?”
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting but I think I need to apologize even more to the guests.”
“What do you mean?”
“The craftsman is currently unable to accept requests.”
“Are you saying he can’t take requests?”
In response Ganyang raised his voice.
Then the hairy man lowered his head and spoke in a creeping voice.
“I’m sorry but I cannot reveal the circumstances. So I hope the guests will return.”
“no. “Did you tell me to go back now?”
Ganyang jumped up from his seat frowning as if he was shocked.
He must have been frightened by this so the hairy man flinched and took a half step back.
Ganyang urged him.
“Are you breaking the rule of granting a request to the person who brought the card? And even though you came first didn’t you wait here to take care of their situation?”
“Oh I know. However I really can’t accept any requests right now. Even if guests threaten my life…”
At that time Mok Kyung-un opened his mouth.
“I smell blood.”
‘!?’
Everyone looked at him in confusion at his words.
Mok Gyeong-un then pointed his index finger at the hairy man’s hand and said.
“That hand.”
At these words the hairy man frowned.
How could he smell blood when he was nearly ten paces away?
At this the hairy man waved his hand and said.
“The job is slaughter so of course the smell of blood….”
“no. “It smells like human blood not cow or pig blood.”
“What is that…..”
“Nothing. “It seems like he was in a hurry to stop the bleeding because in addition to the scent of blood his hands also smelled like dried red pepper and pheasant amaranth.”
At these words the hairy man’s eyes widened.
Of course when he mentioned the smell of blood I couldn’t believe it but when he also mentioned wild pheasant and the amaranth of the great pheasant I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Both herbs were hemostatic herbs used in slaughterhouses.
Cuts often occur during slaughter and these were the herbs used in those cases.
But it must have been mixed with the smell of blood so you smelled this?
The surprised hairy man opened his mouth in a trembling voice.
“…How on earth do you do that?”
“iced coffee. “He studied a little about medicinal herbs.”
‘little?’
Everyone looked at Mo Qingyun in surprise at these words.
Is this possible just by studying a little herbal medicine?
The smell of leather and metal was so mixed in the basement here that it was almost impossible to smell anything else.
However it was amazing that Mok Gyeong-un was able to distinguish between the smell of blood and the smell of herbs from the hairy man’s hand.
Then a hairy man suddenly approached Mok Gyeong-un knelt down and spoke.
“Ho do you even know medicine?”
“Medicine?”
In front of Mok Gyeong-un who was questioning him a hairy man with his head down spoke in a pleading voice.
“Please help!”
* * *
A building located between the pig barn and the cow barn.
“Off.”
In one room of the building a man in his fifties with a bushy beard and wearing leather clothes was suffering with a pale face.
As expected both of Jangnyeonin’s wrists were cut off.
The butchers nearby tied cloth tightly around his upper wrists and tried to stop the bleeding but it seemed like the bleeding wouldn’t stop easily.
A butcher said to the distressed man:
“Jang-ju please be patient. “The congressman will arrive soon.”
“Haa…haa…More than that Song-ah….”
“Mrs. Mo chased after her right away so we will bring her back.”
“Quickly starting with Song-a…..Keuuu.”
“Calm down. “If this continues big trouble will occur.”
Although he was in pain because of his severed wrists the butchers tried to get up and tried to stop him.
At that moment the door opened and six men led by a hairy man came rushing into the room.
They were members of Mokgyeongun’s group.
One of the butchers jumped up and shouted.
“no. Brother Song. What are you doing? “Why did you invite the guests here?”
At those words the hairy man pointed to Mok Gyeong-un and pointed to an older man called Jang Ju.
“Mr. Zhang’s cut wrist is not stopping the bleeding. He’s calling his councillors but it may be four months before then. Please help me.”
“no. “What on earth is going on?”
Seeing this Ganyang was dumbfounded.
What on earth happened to cut off Jang Ju’s arm like that?
Seeing this Nie Chun and Meng Wuyue simultaneously looked at Mu Qingyun.
I don’t know what happened but Mo Kyung-un had previously reattached Meng Wuyak’s severed arm using magic.
That’s why he looked at it just in case.
-Jump jump jump!
At that time Mok Gyeong-un approached Jang Ju.
As a result the butchers next to him tried to block his path with wary eyes.
A hairy man called Brother Song urged them.
“I’m here to help you so don’t disturb me!”
The butchers who had stopped at these words soon stepped aside.
Mok Gyeong-un then approached the distressed Zhuang Zhou and quickly grabbed the acupuncture points on both of his arms.
-Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!
When I pressed the hemostasis point the bleeding from the cut area that had been wrapped with a cloth noticeably stopped.
Jangju who was distressed by this looked at Mok Gyeong-un with strange eyes.
“Ha…ha…who is the guest?”
“You can talk about that later. “Where are the severed hands?”
Mo Kyung-un looked around and asked.
That was because his severed hands were not visible.
At this the butcher next to him not the owner slammed the table in an angry voice and said
-bang!
“Those damned bastards wrapped Master Jang’s severed hands in leather and took them away.”
“You took my severed hand?”
Hearing these words Mok Gyeong-un looked embarrassed.
However after the bleeding was stopped Jangju said with difficulty that he was able to hold on for a little while.
“I don’t know who you are but please go back. “Right now I’m in a position where I can receive requests from someone or help someone…”
“Who are these people who took the two severed hands?”
“How can you ask that?….”
“If you want to save your life it would be better to talk.”
The butchers including Jang Ju looked like they couldn’t understand Mok Gyeong-un’s words.
How can you save a wrist that has already been cut off?
While he was puzzled the hairy man called Brother Song spoke to Mok Gyeong-un as if he were embarrassed.
“The person who cut off Lord Zhang’s hand and took it away is Geumuiwi. He apologizes but even if the guests follow him he won’t be able to get it back.”
“Damn it!”
In response to the hairy man’s words Seopchun spat out harsh words.
I thought it was impossible but it was the Gold Justice Committee.
If Geumuiwi a warrior of the imperial palace had cut off the hands of the craftsman who would make the bast cloth let alone the others there was no way to do anything right away.
Then Mok Gyeong-un took a step back.
“Master?”
Meng Muyak looked puzzled at him and called him.
Then Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said:
“I can’t help it. “I will be here soon so please wait here.”
“yes? “Yes Lord….”
-Sureuk!
Before he could finish speaking Mo Kyung-un’s new form dispersed like smoke before his eyes and disappeared.
The eyes of the butchers including Jangju widened at the sight.
* * *
Hongbongyuk a slaughterhouse is said to be large in scale but due to the nature of slaughter it was located in the southwestern outskirts of the city.
The road on the outskirts was surrounded by forests so there were few people around.
-Roar!
There was a procession of carts loaded with meat and at the back was a wagon and four Gold Guards wearing dark blue beer uniforms riding horses side by side as if guarding it.
Among them Geumwi with drooping eyebrows who was driving a horse on the right clicked his tongue and spoke.
“What a brazen girl.”
At this the bearded Geumuiwi who was riding a horse next to him said:
“That’s right. “No matter how much it is my father’s hand he is so fearless in chasing after me and causing trouble.”
“You’re not thinking.”
“Understand. “Who wouldn’t turn their eyes to the things of their parents?”
“Well that’s true.”
“But anyway what will Heavenly Father do with that woman? “The great man told me to bring him the hand he cut off but I don’t think I’ll give it back.”
With those words the bearded Jin Yiwi looked at the carriage.
In that carriage were Cheonho and that woman.
It was at that time.
A carriage moving forward along a procession of carriages suddenly stopped.
“huh?”
Curious to see what was going on the Gold Guards drove their horses to the side and looked at the front of the cart procession.
There someone with his face covered by a black cloth was standing with his back to me.
Geumuiwi whose eyebrows were drooping was dumbfounded and rode his horse to the front of the cart procession drawing his sword and shouting.
-Sreung!
“Who dares to block the front of the procession?”
At his shout the person with his face covered chuckled and said
“You’re stupid.”
“What?”
“Why would you cover your face if you were going to tell me?”
“How dare this guy!”
-Pot!
Jin Wei with his drooping eyebrows was angry and immediately jumped off his horse and swung his sword with fierce force towards the person who covered his face.
however
-Chaang!
The blade of his sword was blocked by the index finger of the person covering his face.
Geumuiwi whose eyebrows were drooping was so surprised that the blade was blocked with just one finger that he could not hide his embarrassment.
‘I’m a high expert!’
< Episode 61: Craftsman (2) > end
ⓒ Hanzhongwolya
