Chapter 50 – Planting the Heart (3)

Chapter 50 – Planting the Heart (3)

"It's you."

Yue Fei remembered So-mu. Furthermore, his tone was not that of a superior addressing a subordinate. It meant he had guessed So-mu's true identity to some extent.

It was something So-mu had already anticipated.

"Please speak freely, General. I am merely a military officer."

So-mu had set aside his reputation in the martial world long ago. Now, he only focused on his duty.

"Go back."

It was the reaction So-mu expected. As Jang Yang had said, Yue Fei was a man of unyielding resolve, but lacked flexibility.

"If you leave this place, you can live the rest of your days in peace."

"If I had wished to walk out, I would have done so long ago."

Yue Fei's words were true.

He was a master who had reached the peak of the Flower Realm.

By contrast, the dungeon's security was laughably lax. Perhaps the imperial court was secretly hoping he would escape on his own.

"The court has already resolved to execute you, General, by any means necessary."

"If I walk out of here on my own, it would be tantamount to admitting to treason. I have never done anything shameful in my life. What value is there in surviving in disgrace?"

Further persuasion was pointless. So-mu was certain that no one in the world could sway Yue Fei's mind.

"If there is anything I can do to assist you, please speak."

"My son should be in this dungeon as well."

"Do not worry. I will take him with me."

Yue Fei shook his head weakly.

"That is not my request. Tell him not to submit to injustice, and to die with honor."

Speaking with Yue Fei felt like suffocating from sheer frustration.

So-mu understood his personality instantly. He was a highly capable and loyal commander, but he was also a man who refused to flatter the court, never hesitating to speak the raw truth. An emperor who favored sycophants and eunuchs would never tolerate such a general.

"Understood."

"Please look after my junior martial brother."

Yue Fei closed his eyes, his head dropping once more. For his battered body, merely speaking was an immense struggle.

In the deepest cell of the dungeon, a young man was chained. So-mu recognized him as Yue Fei's son, Yue Yun. He had been subjected to similarly brutal torture, but his condition was far worse. Lacking his father's level of martial arts, he felt the pain much more acutely.

He was already unconscious. So-mu did not have the heart to wake him just to pass on Yue Fei's grim message.

His gaze shifted to the opposite cell. There lay a middle-aged man whose condition was even more critical than the other two.

Jang Yang had mentioned him before. He was Zhang Xian, Yue Fei's subordinate commander, and the first to be imprisoned. He had already been reduced to a complete wreck.

'To endure until they were broken like this…'

So-mu shook his head with a sigh and slipped out of the dungeon. He had to find another way.

He concealed himself on the roof of the Censorate headquarters, waiting for dawn.

Watching the fading moonlight, So-mu felt a deep sense of melancholy. Lost in thought, he watched the sun slowly rise over the horizon.

Some time later, the interrogator who had received orders from Man Sa-seol the previous night returned. So-mu focused his hearing, listening to their conversation inside the office.

"Did you complete the task?"

"Yes. We managed to locate one of his former subordinates still in the capital. Here is his information."

"Since Zhang Xian refuses to cooperate, we must find someone else to take his place. This fellow should do nicely."

"What is your plan, Censor?"

"Go and arrest his entire family immediately."

"Pardon? On what charges…?"

"Just lock them up first! We can fabricate the charges later!"

"What about the children?"

*Clatter!*

The sound of an object being hurled echoed.

"Are you playing games with me?! Lock them all up, this instant!"

A moment later, the interrogator emerged from the Censorate building. He gathered a few sentries and began whispering instructions.

It was not difficult to guess their scheme. By threatening to torture and murder the man's family, they intended to force him to falsely accuse Yue Fei.

So-mu pondered the situation.

General Jang Yang's petition would carry no weight in this court. He had considered assassinating Man Sa-seol, but causing a disturbance within the palace would yield no benefits. It would only increase the guard presence and restrict his own movements. Yet, he could not stand by and watch this scheme unfold.

'There is no need to rush.'

So-mu quietly shadowed the sentries. Since he was a military officer of the junior sixth rank himself, he had no need to hide in the open streets.

The six sentries left the palace grounds, heading toward a secluded district of Lin'an. After two hours, the streets grew quiet, leading into a slum on the outskirts of the city.

So-mu slipped off his official uniform, hiding it away, and grabbed a set of plain civilian robes to wear.

'Once I confirm the location, I will move.'

A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at their destination.

The sentries huddled near a dilapidated house, whispering to one another. They were clearly planning their raid. So-mu had to act before they breached the house.

"Excuse me, I'd like to ask for directions. Where is the local physician's clinic?"

The sentries grimaced in annoyance. To have an interloper interrupt them at such a critical moment was highly irritating.

"Get lost before we beat you to a pulp."

"I only asked for directions. Isn't that a bit harsh?"

As So-mu drew closer, one of the sentries lunged with a kick. But the strike missed completely, leaving the sentry off-balance and stumbling.

"Why are you attacking me?"

The sentry's face flushed with anger. To have a mere peasant dodge his strike was a blow to his pride, even if it had been a fluke.

"You bastard!"

A punch flew at So-mu, but in his eyes, it moved as slowly as a slug. Tilting his head to let the fist slide past, he said, "If you continue to attack, I will not stand by."

So-mu was intentionally baiting them.

His tactic worked perfectly. Enraged, all six sentries launched a coordinated attack.

Moments later, So-mu's fists began to connect with their bodies.

*Thud! Crack!*

"Urgh!"

"Ugh!"

As he incapacitated them, So-mu systematically sealed their acupoints, ensuring they wouldn't wake for at least two hours.

Having resolved the threat in moments, he hurried to the house.

Pushing the door open, he saw a terrified family huddled inside. Two of the children were about So-so's age.

"Do not fear. I mean you no harm."

A middle-aged man in tattered clothes stepped forward, shieldingly placing himself in front of his family. "Who are you?"

"We have no time, so answer quickly. Were you a subordinate of General Yue Fei?"

"Yes, I was a centurion under his command."

Though he was terrified, the man answered without hesitation, his voice filled with pride for his former general.

"If you wish to protect General Yue Fei's honor, you must leave Lin'an immediately."

"Why should I listen to a stranger?"

So-mu gestured toward the yard. Outside, the unconscious sentries lay scattered on the ground.

"If you do not leave now, they will capture your family and torture them until you agree to falsely accuse General Yue Fei."

"…"

The sight of the unconscious guards left no room for doubt. The man realized they were out of time. Without another word, the family quickly packed a few essential belongings.

Watching them, So-mu felt a wave of concern. With two young children and a disabled wife, they would likely be captured before they could even clear the city gates.

"I will escort you to the gates. Lead the way."

So-mu knelt down, gesturing for the children to climb onto his back. The man hoisted his wife onto his shoulders and turned to his children, "It is alright. He is a good man."

With a child resting on each of his shoulders, So-mu ran toward the city gates, keeping pace with the father.

* * *

*Crash!*

A desk shook violently, nearly splitting. Man Sa-seol's face was contorted with absolute fury.

"What on earth were you doing?!"

"F-Forgive us, Censor. A rogue martial artist pick a fight with us right outside the house…"

"Then you should have captured them at the gates, you fools!"

"We searched the gates, but they had already fled the city."

"You useless bastards…"

Man Sa-seol clutched his forehead, leaning back in his chair as a wave of dizziness washed over him. Letting out a heavy sigh, he muttered, "I have to deliver the interrogation report to Prime Minister Qin Hui by tomorrow. What are we going to do now?"

"If we report that he is innocent, you will be stripped of your rank, Censor. Let me draft a confession myself and frame him for a severe crime instead."

They had no other choice. Though they lacked evidence, they would have to rely on the Prime Minister to handle the fallout.

"Write that Yue Fei and Zhang Xian are sentenced to ten years of imprisonment, and Yue Yun to three."

"Understood."

Their conversation was overheard by So-mu, who was listening from the shadows.

* * *

The following day, Man Sa-seol headed to Qin Hui's office near the imperial palace. The security surrounding the estate was watertight, making it difficult for So-mu to approach.

His main concern was Qin Hui's personal bodyguard, who was hidden somewhere nearby. So-mu could sense the guard's presence, but could not pinpoint his exact location.

With great effort, So-mu managed to reach the outer edge of the office roof, completely concealing his presence.

"Prime Minister, the interrogation report is complete."

Qin Hui remained silent, likely scanning the document.

A quarter of an hour later, a cold, irritated voice echoed.

"Are you playing games with me?"

"Pardon…?"

"His Majesty wants Yue Fei dead!"

"But no matter how hard we tried, we could not find any evidence of treason."

"If Han Shizhong arrives tomorrow, we will lose our chance to eliminate him. Today is your last chance to decide your own fate."

"Please guide me, Prime Minister."

"Kill him."

"If Yue Fei dies in the dungeon, won't suspicion fall on me?"

Qin Hui was attempting to use Man Sa-seol as a pawn to commit the murder. But Man Sa-seol was not so easily swayed.

"It just so happens that the post of Vice Minister of Rites is currently vacant. If you cannot even handle a simple task like this, I will have to question your utility."

"Sigh… Forgive me, Prime Minister. But why are you so determined to kill Yue Fei? Since I am risking my life, I would like to know the reason."

"Very well. It is no secret anyway. Yue Fei has constantly clashed with His Majesty and the civil officials during court assemblies. In the midst of that, he made a fatal error."

"What was it?"

"A few years ago, His Majesty suffered a loss of his virility. Because of this, he has been indulging in deviant behaviors in private."

"I am aware of that, Prime Minister."

"Yet Yue Fei had the audacity to directly urge His Majesty to appoint an heir. Though he meant well, he touched a sore spot."

"What a fool."

"To dare speak of an heir before me… he must die."

"If I resolve this matter, I trust the post of Vice Minister of Rites will be mine, Prime Minister."

"I will promise you even more than that."

"Understood."

Man Sa-seol let out a heavy sigh as he left Qin Hui's office.

Returning to the Censorate, he summoned his most trusted subordinate, the strongest martial artist in the department.

After a long whisper, the agent emerged from the building. Every movement was observed by So-mu.

As night fell, the agent donned a mask, transforming into an assassin. His destination was, as expected, the dungeon.

"W-Who goes there?!"

The sentries guarding the dungeon drew their weapons in alarm. But the assassin did not reply, lunging through their ranks. His sword flashed, cutting down the guards.

*Slash! Thrust!*

*Thud!*

Before the two guards could even hit the ground, the assassin slipped into the dungeon.

And slipping in right behind him, a military officer followed like a shadow.