The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 241

To be honest, the method I had originally thought of while talking with Ryu Ju-guk was not such a soft one.

After finding out the scheme that Jeong Il-hak had been plotting until now, I was going to secure the family heirloom in a safe place, and then, through Ryu Ju-guk, I was going to have the Left General arrest him.

Because whatever happens to him after that is none of my business.

But while talking with Ryu Ju-guk, the conversation I had with Minister Jeong kept coming to mind.

'Although my relationship with my eldest son has become a little distant... I believe that he will understand my true feelings someday. I hope that when that time comes, our relationship will naturally get better.'

It was what he had said when I was spending time with him, taking care of Minister Jeong's meals.

At that time, I had only thought that there was such a family situation, but after hearing roughly what had happened to Jeong Yi-hak, and after hearing from Ryu Ju-guk about the deal between Jeong Il-hak and the Left General, I can grasp the exact situation.

'Minister Jeong probably didn't know that Jeong Il-hak's ambition for success was that great.'

Perhaps Minister Jeong's retirement without giving any help to Jeong Il-hak was for Jeong Il-hak's sake in the long run.

Although I don't know the affairs of the imperial court or the circumstances of the officials well, that place is also a competitive society where one has to climb up with one's own ability.

In such a place, can a person who appears with his father's halo on his back be successful forever?

Although it might be possible at first, I think it will definitely not be the case later.

Because the time will come when Minister Jeong's influence will not reach, and at that time, he will have to make his way with only Jeong Il-hak's skills and connections.

But judging by Jeong Il-hak's personality, he doesn't seem to be the type of person who would have developed his own skills while his father's halo was still there.

So it seems Minister Jeong took the extreme measure of retiring without giving any help from the beginning, meaning that he should develop his own strength.

Because although he lacks a little will, if he passed the provincial examination with the highest score at a young age, it means that he has enough talent.

"Then what should I do now?"

Ryu Ju-guk asked me when I was thinking for a long time.

"For now, we have to pressure Jeong Il-hak. Do you know when a person is most cornered?"

“……?”

"It's when you start to feel frustrated because of the imbalance of information. Right now, Jeong Il-hak is running around trying to clean up what he has done, right? Go to him now and show yourself. And ask him what he's going to do about the fact that the family heirloom has disappeared. Then Jeong Il-hak will answer something. For now, just tell me what he answered."

"Hmm... I understand."

He, without any other questions, nodded his head and answered that he would.

Since Jeong Il-hak would have gone to break the formation installed in another direction, I told Ryu Ju-guk where he might be, and he immediately went to meet Jeong Il-hak and then disappeared.

"Let's see how Jeong Il-hak reacts."

Thanks to Ryu Ju-guk, it seems he can do the things that would have been very troublesome for me.

And thanks to him, I had the feeling that things that could have been complicated would be greatly simplified.

***

And that evening.

I, without anyone knowing, left the manor and headed for an inn a little away.

When I entered the inn, a servant greeted me.

"Taoist master. You're here?"

"Yes. Have there been any problems? Did the meals go well?"

"Yes. Unlike what you were worried about, they ate well. Although I put a pretty generous amount of food in the room, it comes out clean every day."

"That's a relief. It seems they are at ease."

"You're going up, right?"

"Yes. I'm going to."

I, as the servant guided me, reached the end of the room.

"I'll go down again."

"Yes. Thank you."

After he went down, I knocked gently.

"Who is it?"

"Minister. It's me. Unhwi."

The door opened slightly, and Minister Jeong revealed himself.

This was the place where Minister Jeong was hidden.

Minister Jeong, whom I had seen in a few days, had a much brighter face than before.

As the servant had said, his complexion had also improved, as if he had been eating well.

"Come in."

"Is there anything inconvenient about staying here?"

"Inconvenient? What's inconvenient? They bring me food when it's time, and I can sleep when I want to... my body and mind have been very tired, but I feel like I'm recovering from the hard times now."

He said with a bright smile.

It's so important for a person to eat and sleep.

To think that he, who had once lived without any shortage as the chancellor of the imperial court, is so happy while staying in such a shabby inn and eating the food that everyone else eats.

I can guess how much he has suffered mentally over the past year.

"By the way, was there any progress in what you were investigating?"

He asked me with eager eyes.

I, while bringing Minister Jeong here, had said this to him.

'What is tormenting Minister Jeong is not a real assassin, but a formation. I am investigating the person who installed that formation, so in the meantime, how about staying at an inn with a peaceful mind?'

He, at my words, had been very worried at first.

First, he seemed to be unable to accept the fact that the head of the family would leave the family for such a reason and stay somewhere else.

Moreover, if he were to fake his death... he was also very troubled about what to say to the people around him when he came back to life later.

But, with my persistent persuasion, he decided to do so.

Because I had promised that I would clean up the mess in a way that everyone could understand at the last moment.

"Yes. There was progress. I have found out to some extent who the culprit who has been persistently tormenting the minister until now is."

"Is that really true?! Who on earth has been making me so tired until now? Was it really that person, Jin Baek?"

I quietly shook my head.

And I asked him in a serious voice.

"Minister. Before I speak, can you promise me one thing?"

"What promise?"

"It is a promise that no matter what answer you hear from me, you will follow my will as I say."

"Isn't that a matter of course? I'm already doing that. If it's what Taoist Master Unhwi says, I can believe it even if you say you're making meju with red beans."

"Thank you very much for your trust."

"Isn't that a matter of course? You are the first person to help me like this. I have always been in a position to help someone, not in a position to receive such help..."

He looked at me with moved eyes.

Well, since he was in the position of chancellor, who would have helped him? It is understandable that he is moved to receive help that does not expect anything in return, like me, after always giving.

Although it was a separate matter, my heart was heavy because I had to tell the truth now.

"Sigh... then I will tell you everything about what I have found out about this incident so far."

And I slowly began to explain to him everything from the beginning of this incident to where I had found out.

Although the story was long, in fact, the content itself was not much.

That the culprit was his eldest son, Jeong Il-hak, and that the reason Jeong Il-hak had plotted this was because he had promised to give the Art of War of Wu Zi to the Left General, Jin Baek, and had entered the Hanlin Academy using his position and connections, but since Minister Jeong had said that he would never give up the family heirloom, he had plotted this.

Minister Jeong, who had heard this story, seemed to have received a considerable shock.

"Il-hak... in the end, it was Il-hak who did it. Is that what you're saying?"

"That's right. Your eldest son... was the culprit of this incident."

"This is the worst case among the various things I have been thinking about... haha..."

His eyes began to well up with moisture.

"The cleanest way to handle this is... in the end, there is no other way but for me to give up the family heirloom."

He said in a bitter voice.

"But what is the reason why you haven't given the family heirloom to your eldest son until now? You said it was a thing with a special meaning, so you could never give it up."

"The family heirloom, you say?"

Minister Jeong, with a small laugh, continued, "To be honest, no matter how much of a family heirloom it is, and how precious it is, what's so important about that damn book?"

"Yes? Then why until now..."

"I have been thinking wrongly until now. Actually, I already knew about Il-hak's tendency. So I also thought that if I gave the family heirloom to Il-hak, he would surely give it as a bribe and get a higher official position. But to think that he would get an official position with an item he hasn't even received yet... I really didn't think of that."

As he spoke, his expression worsened as if he were feeling more and more miserable.

"But in this situation, you're saying you'll join hands with the Grand General to avoid the immediate problem? That is the worst of the worst moves. How cruel a person the Left General, Jin Baek, is... until now, if you had given him the family heirloom, a big incident might not have happened, but if Il-hak really joins the Grand General's side, he might lose his life. Isn't it better to give up the family heirloom than to lose my son's life?"

He, after saying that, let out a deep sigh.

I, in a careful voice, said to him, "But, minister. If you give him the family heirloom this time and help him get out of the crisis... then will that really be the best thing for your eldest son?"

"It won't be good... it would be nice if he takes this incident as a lesson and decides not to use such a trick again, but..."

"He might repeat a similar thing several times. Since you helped him this time, he might think that you will help him again next time."

"But there is no other way, is there? For now, I have to save my foolish son, don't I?"

"There is a way to save your eldest son's life and also protect the family heirloom. If the plan goes well, you might even be able to change your eldest son's mind."

Minister Jeong, with surprised eyes, looked at me and asked, "Is there such a way?"

"Yes. But you can't have everything. The time will come when your eldest son will have to choose what to give up. But if he chooses the most worthless thing in that choice... then there will be no way to save him."

"What is the most worthless thing?"

"It is his official position and status. If he gives up his current official position, he can have all the rest. But if he says he can't give up his official position until the end, then there is nothing I can do to help."

"Then... what do you want me to do?"

I said in a cold voice, "If that happens... then you have to be prepared."

"Prepared..."

And he was silent for a long time.

Although he might feel resentful, there is no one he can resent.

In the end, the arrow will return to its owner.

He might think it is the sin of raising his child wrongly.

And so, after a little time passed, he looked at me straight.

In those eyes, there was not the look of an old man that I had seen so many times until now, but the will of a man who had once served as the chancellor of a country.

"I understand. What should I do? I will do everything I can... and if Il-hak still doesn't come to his senses... that will also be his choice."

"It must have been a difficult decision, but you have thought well."

I said to him with all my heart.

Now all the necessary things have been gathered.

The only thing left is to create the last chance for Jeong Il-hak to choose these things.

(End of Chapter)