People move according to their own gains and losses.
Occasionally, they may be swayed by emotions, but even that is for their own mental pleasure and satisfaction.
There is only one type that escapes the rule of gains and losses: the roving knights who look solely to righteousness in any situation. Those peculiar and eccentric types do not follow the logic of gains and losses.
And, those who gathered as witnesses for payment were certainly not the kind you could call knights.
Though they were supposedly doing it for others, those “others” were either their own family, close friends, or lovers. They had slandered someone they didn’t know to protect those close to them.
The monk understood their hearts. Everyone valued the lives of those around them more than the lives of strangers, unless they were followers of Mozi advocating universal love.
There wouldn’t be many who could confidently call them evil.
‘At least now.’
That’s why the monk…
‘Wanted them to settle their karma and move in the right direction.’
He wanted to guide them and lead all those who were not evil onto the right path.
‘Amitabha.’
According to the teachings of the Tathagata.
“Um, wa-what do you mean?”
“Did you not know? To be honest… I also didn’t know until I started investigating.”
“……All of them, dead?”
Cold sweat trickled down the necks of the middle-aged man and the woman.
“So, does that mean…”
There is no such thing as unreasoned favor in this world. The two people who had lived through all kinds of hardships at the bottom knew this truth.
From the beginning, when they were offered a large sum of money for merely exchanging a few words, they should have suspected it. In fact, they did vacillate in doubt.
However, they accepted the offer despite the doubts because they were desperate. How could they refuse when they urgently needed money?
Even if they didn’t receive the money and were dismissed after the job was done, they had no choice but to take the gamble. It was all or nothing.
But, they hadn’t realized that after the job was done, the witnesses would become not just ‘useless things’ but ‘trouble elements.’
Just like the countless puppets of Namgung Bin who died silently before-.
“Could we…?”
“Amitabha… how puzzling. So many sentient beings perished in regrettable accidents.”
“S-Sir, how do you know this? How did you investigate that all the witnesses for the Sword Sage were killed…?”
“In truth, I did not investigate this myself. A righteous female knight sacrificed her life to uncover it…”
Suddenly, the witnesses recalled their first contact with ‘the background player.’ They realized that the original identities of the people they were impersonating had all died of supposed accidents without anyone noticing.
They should have doubted it then. The middle-aged man and the woman scolded themselves for realizing it too late.
It wasn’t only them. Since the monk began speaking, every witness gathered for the trial had gathered around him, straining their ears.
“Damn, damn! We commoners were just expendable pawns from the start!”
“It’s not about being used and discarded but about being disposed of. Ha… it’s pitiful.”
“Even when I knew I might not get paid for doing the wrong thing, my life is too precious!”
“…Indeed.”
“Hey, what are you talking about? About disposal?”
“Did you not hear? This venerable monk said that all the witnesses who claimed the Sword Sage was guilty have died. Honestly, I understand. We were the biggest threat to them if we betrayed and revealed our false testimonies.”
“……!”
The woman’s words were calm, but those listening were not. Some lamented to the heavens, some struck the ground in frustration, and despair descended heavily.
“Is it true that this old monk said such words? Stop making absurd statements! They promised they’d pay me money!”
Suddenly, a man, unable to believe the reality, ran at the monk with his fists raised. It was a desperate struggle to escape the reality.
Tak-.
Kooong-!
“Ugh-!”
But his struggle was meaningless. The monk was not someone who could be overcome by the man’s attack, and instead, the man who lost his footing was thrown up into the air and landed clumsily on the ground.
A movement so concise that words were unnecessary. Though the witnesses had no knowledge or experience of martial arts, they noticed that the monk’s movements were unusual.
In the silence that enveloped the space, the middle-aged man who had some familiarity with the monk timidly moved his lips.
“Um… Who exactly are you, revered sir…?”
To which, the monk responded with an embarrassed smile while helping the man he threw down to his feet.
“Though I am unworthy, they call me Eun Gong.”
“…Master Eun Gong?”
Its impact was far beyond what the monk had imagined.
“Let me ask one favor only.”
Beul Rak said to the officers who surrounded him.
“Impossible.”
“…But I haven’t even said what yet.”
“What favor could a criminal in the middle of the trial have?”
“It’s not about being a criminal yet. And it won’t ever be. This certainly isn’t a request to escape, so at least hear me.”
Beul Rak spoke softly. His slightly cynical expression made the guard hesitate but eventually gave in.
“Hmph, then say your favor first. We’ll consider after hearing it.”
“Could you take me to the ward? There’s someone I want to see there.”
“Are you asking me to leave my post?”
“There is my wife there. I do not know what the future holds in the remaining trial, so I’d like to see her face once more.”
“……”
The guard hesitated, moving his mouth subtly. Having a spouse himself, he understood Beul Rak’s feelings. Moreover, he also had a suspicion from the previous trial.
“And if possible, could you give me one piece of paper? I want to leave a letter.”
“Letter? You’re getting ahead of yourself since I haven’t even agreed to deliver it.”
“Had I intended to cause trouble, I would have done so already. Please assist me.”
The trial was still in favor of the authorities. In the guard’s view, it was clear the Sword Sage would surely face execution once this trial concluded.
Seeing someone he once loved and the final desire to meet before death. The empathetic guard reluctantly agreed.
“Thank you. I will definitely repay this favor.”
After receiving a single piece of paper from the guard, Beul Rak made his way to the ward, accompanied by the guard. He went directly to the bedside where Soeun Yu lay resting.
Through the cracks in the window, warm sunlight poured in, and Soeun Yu still wandered in her dreams. Her pale and beautiful skin appeared even whiter in the light.
“Alright, if you’ve seen her face, let’s go.”
“Just for a moment, let me leave a single letter.”
“…You really insist. We don’t have time.”
The disgruntled guard watching on recalled his wife and children at home. He desperately wanted to finish his shift soon and return to them.
As Beul Rak sat gently beside Soeun Yu, he bit his thumb.
Gurk-.
A trail of blood flowed, like a stream, from between his teeth.
Finding this sweet respite, Beul Rak took the paper handed to him and pressed his bleeding thumb to it.
The red flower spread into the coarse paper, painting it with crimson petals.
Sliiiide-.
“Huup… Hwaaaa…”
Beside him, Soeun Yu breathed softly in her sleep.
Listening to her gentle breathing, Beul Rak moved his thumb deliberately. He was trying to leave behind a letter he hadn’t been able to write.
It wasn’t a problem if Soeun Yu didn’t wake up before he finished the trial, but it was meant for when she would wake up alone in the meantime. The words he couldn’t finish telling her in the visiting room due to her collapse, Beul Rak sincerely wrote out line by line with earnestness.
“Still not done? We better go now.”
“I’m done. Thank you for waiting.”
“…Your nonescape worries me more.”
After carefully placing the letter between her folded hands, Beul Rak stood up. The guard, with now a slightly more friendly posture, walked along with him.
Walking back to the court, the guard spoke.
“Even though I am not a martial artist, I grew up listening to your heroic tales.”
“…”
“Though I have become a low-ranked officer due to my stable salary… my childhood idol was you. The Sword Sage.”
“That was why you showed me such kindness.”
“Watching today’s trial, I definitely felt something was off. There were reasons in what you said… and suddenly, I started wondering if I had misunderstood all along.”
“I swear, I am innocent.”
“A common officer like me who cannot read can still feel it; there’s no way Lord Judge missed it.”
Thud, thud.
We soon approached the court where everyone was busy preparing the next session. Beul Rak and the guard stepped forward.
“I’ll believe you. So…”
“?”
“In this life trial, wash away the false accusations and rise once again to be the idol of my newborn son.”
“…”
“These days, government employees don’t spend enough time with their children. But to avoid stiffness when I do return home, I need to have at least one common ground.”
“Fuff.”
At the light joke, Beul Rak chuckled softly. He seemed somewhat refreshed inside.
“The trial shall now begin.”
When everyone involved in the trial gathered, and Pao Qing Tian sat at the upper seat, he spoke with a low but distinct voice for everyone to hear.
“So, the side of the authorities should clearly present their position…”
“Hold on! Please hold on a moment!”
Before Pao Qing Tian could finish his sentence, someone interrupted and cried out. The call came from the spectators.
“Testimony, why would you interrupt?”
“Judge, I must speak the truth. It’s something that must be said right now.”
Even though his impoliteness might feel jarring, Judge Pao simply gestured that it was okay. In fact, he was smirking faintly for some reason. Hong Ryun in the audience smiled slightly.
“Speak your piece.”
“Yes, it is… .”
Standing forward with clasped hands, the witness turned back with a heavy face and looked at the other witnesses behind him.
His expression was filled with a sense of preparedness. Each witness looked at him, nodding once. The man sighed deeply, then turned back forward.
“In truth, all of us committed perjury.”
Though it was a light statement, its weight was far from light.
It was the answer the witnesses had chosen. It was the only answer for those who were betrayed by their trusted allies. That answer was none other than wielding a different axe.
They couldn’t side with the authorities. While it wasn’t confirmed if their master was the “authorities,” from now on, they had to stand with the Sword Sage instead of the master behind them.
It wasn’t certain if it was the right choice. Regardless, it was necessary. If things continued as planned, there was only an ending of death awaiting them.
Master Eun Gong had assured them. No one but Eun Gong himself could be trusted in a world where even kin cannot trust each other. Clinging to the lifeline he subtly hinted at, the witnesses were firmly determined to reveal the truth.
“…Say it again.”
Pao Qing Tian’s voice turned cold.
The man took a deep breath and opened his mouth again.
“We committed perjury…”
“YIOOOM!!”
It wasn’t Pao Qing Tian who spoke. The shout came from the side, while Pao Qing Tian only smiled faintly.
The owner of the shout was the authority’s representative. His neck veins stood out in rage as he roared:
“How dare you mock the sacred court!”
The immense menace from the authority aimed at the man caused his eyes to roll back, revealing the whites.
Starting from the man’s sudden announcement of perjury to the representative’s excessive outburst, confusion spread among those present in the trial.
Taking advantage of the moment, the representative was attempting to kill the witness. Ostensibly, through a “mistake.”
But…
Bang-!
“Heh, no brawling in a sacred trial court, will you?”
According to the plan with Pao Qing Tian, Hong Ryun intervened, batting away the representative to stop him from meddling.
Taking the right timing, Pao Qing Tian, who had observed the process with calmness, shouted in a loud voice.
“Yiwang Fang, you scoundrel! What nonsense is this!”
This happened right at the start of the second trial.
