Interwoven Clues After the successful assassination of the minor Kyoto official, Su Jin's reputation began to spread throughout the martial world. Her whereabouts were elusive, and no one could confirm her true identity. Yet, rumors circulated that she was cold and ruthless, acting like a ghost, causing many to fear her. This was precisely the result she had carefully orchestrated.
She didn't stop; instead, she continued walking down the thorny path of revenge. She knew that the enemies of the Ye family were not just one official; the true masterminds were the power-hungry ministers hidden deep within the court. The fall of each pawn was another step closer to her ultimate goal.
At this point, Su Jin was no longer just a vengeful assassin but also a strategist. She understood that revenge was not merely about killing enemies; it was about completely dismantling them, uprooting the very foundation of their power. For this, she began gathering more clues, closely monitoring every power move within the court.
In a secret midnight meeting, the Prince informed Su Jin that the next target should be a financial manager in Kyoto. This man controlled a large portion of the state's finances and was the central figure behind the ministers' embezzlement schemes. His fall would weaken their economic power. Su Jin knew this was a long-term chess game, where every move had to be carefully planned.
Journey to Kyoto After months of preparation, Su Jin decided to head to Kyoto herself. This city, once a symbol of her family's glory, was now the origin of her pain. To avoid suspicion, she disguised herself as an ordinary tea merchant, traveling with a trade caravan until she reached the outskirts of Kyoto.
Upon arriving, Su Jin was filled with complex emotions. The streets, palaces, and markets had once been familiar to her, but now she was no longer the carefree noble lady she had been. The bustling crowds at the city gate had nothing to do with her; she carried hatred and a mission, calculating how she would implement her revenge step by step.
She temporarily settled in a small inn within the city and began a detailed investigation of her target. After several days of reconnaissance, she discovered that while the financial manager appeared cautious, he lived a life of extreme luxury. He had a particular passion for collectibles and antiques, and every few days, he would secretly visit a renowned antique dealer.
Su Jin decided to exploit this weakness and use his greed as her entry point.
A Game within a Game A few days later, Su Jin disguised herself as a mysterious antique dealer and appeared at the shop of the well-known antique merchant. She brought with her an extremely rare ancient jade artifact, a treasure she had taken from Chu Lao's collection. She knew that once this jade appeared, the financial manager would be unable to resist.
Sure enough, within a few days, the financial manager himself arrived at the antique shop. The moment he laid eyes on the jade, greed flashed in his gaze. However, Su Jin did not immediately offer the jade for sale, stating instead that it needed further appraisal. This only heightened his interest and impatience. Days later, the financial manager returned, offering a high price to purchase the jade.
Through these encounters, Su Jin skillfully built a subtle trust with him. The financial manager gradually let down his guard, even going so far as to invite Su Jin to his mansion to discuss further "cooperation."
A Deadly Trap Su Jin's opportunity had finally arrived. She accepted the invitation to the financial manager's mansion. That evening, the banquet was lavish, with false politeness and flattery filling the conversations. Su Jin coldly observed the charade, now accustomed to such hypocrisy. Her focus remained solely on her goal: to kill this corrupt official and use this moment to disrupt the court's inner workings.
After the banquet, Su Jin, under the pretense of wanting to see his collection, quietly entered the financial manager's private study. In the corner of the study, she discovered several ledgers and documents—crucial evidence of the ministers' embezzlement. She quickly hid a few important files in her sleeve, intending to hand them over to the Prince as leverage later.
At that moment, the financial manager entered from behind, wearing a smug smile. "I didn't expect you to appreciate such treasures," he said. Su Jin turned, her face expressionless, and replied, "They are indeed worth admiring, but that's not the point today."
Her fingers lightly brushed the dagger concealed in her sleeve as she silently recalled the tragic night her family was massacred. In one swift motion, the dagger sliced through the air, leaving the official no time to react. Blood once again stained the room. The financial manager fell to the ground, his eyes wide in disbelief and terror.
Standing over his corpse, Su Jin felt no satisfaction, only a deeper emptiness. She knew that this road of revenge would not bring her peace—only more darkness awaited her.
Undercurrents The death of the financial manager quickly stirred waves in Kyoto. The power struggle within the court became even more apparent. The ministers grew more cautious, and Su Jin's movements became more clandestine. The Prince, secretly supporting Su Jin's actions, warned her that the next step would be even more dangerous.
Tensions within the court continued to rise. Corrupt ministers, suspicious of one another, feared becoming the next target. Meanwhile, Su Jin's reputation in the martial world soared. Her figure, ghost-like, appeared in every corner, striking with precision at the heart of the enemy.
At the same time, Su Jin began to realize that the cost of revenge was far greater than she had imagined. Each move brought her closer to her enemies, but the internal struggle within her deepened. She started to question whether she was becoming the very person she once despised—someone who would stop at nothing for power and vengeance.