Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: No Confidence in Protecting It, But in Dying Together
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I have no confidence in protecting it, but I have confidence in dying together.
The four sat around a table. Seated at the four cardinal directions were the heads of the four greatest clans in the Chacha Kingdom.
The old woman to the north was Manju Jeokhwa of the Storm Fury Manju Clan, while the massive old man in the western chair was Mujak Cheolli, head of the Imperial Dragon Great Heaven Mujak Clan. Mujak Cheolli sported a fine beard and had a most magnanimous look about him.
In the southern chair sat a middle-height middle-aged man who looked as sturdy as a rock. This was Hyeonul Cheolryeong, head of the Cloud Solitary Hyeonul Clan. And to the east was the seat of Hyeokse Ulmyeong, head of the New Wind Thousand Li Revolution Clan.
The four had gathered urgently because of the sudden appearance of Ak Muyoo.
"The Wind Sand Killing Clan's five hundred warriors have been wiped out."
New Wind Thousand Li Revolution Clan head Hyeokse Ulmyeong said.
"Did you say five hundred?"
Cloud Solitary Hyeonul Clan head Hyeonul Cheolryeong asked with a shocked face.
"That's right. And Cha Jiwoong's head was cut off too."
"Ugh!"
Groans escaped the group.
"They got rid of the rabbit, only for a tiger to appear."
Imperial Dragon Great Heaven Mujak Clan head Mujak Cheolli said, stroking his beard.
"That guy's no tiger. He's just a wild boar."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong said.
"What do you mean?"
"The bastard has no martial arts at all. He's just charging blindly. At least Cha Sawoong watched our moves, but this one doesn't give a damn."
"Have you found out who he is?"
Storm Fury Manju Clan head Manju Jeokhwa asked.
"We've been looking into it everywhere, but nothing special has come up yet."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong shook his head.
"We know he came and went through the north gate. Nothing on your end?"
Hyeonul Cheolryeong looked at Manju Jeokhwa.
"Nothing special."
Manju Jeokhwa shook her head. She didn't mention the order she'd given her subordinates not to open the gates for him five days later when he left.
"We need to make a decision."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong said.
"What kind of decision?"
"We succeeded in getting rid of Juraek Daega and Cha Sawoong. But Ruha brought in a new man, and he's holding the Heavenly Center Token. We can't just claim he's weaker than Ruha and forcibly took her while aiming for the High Citadel Cha Clan."
"What if he's just Ruha's puppet?"
Mujak Cheolli said.
"Even if he's a puppet, he's undeniably the head of the High Citadel Cha Clan. Plus, with Cha Jiwoong dead, the only man left to inherit the High Citadel Cha Clan is him."
"So he cut off Cha Jiwoong's head. What a guy!"
Manju Jeokhwa chuckled.
"This isn't the time to laugh, Manju Clan head."
"But I can't cry about it either."
"Don't you know that if the queen chooses him, we'll end up like dogs chasing a chicken and staring at the roof?"
"So you're saying we should start a rebellion?"
Manju Jeokhwa asked in a cold voice.
"This isn't rebellion. It's my firm belief that we can't entrust this country and its people to incompetents any longer."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong said firmly.
"I oppose it."
Manju Jeokhwa shook her head.
Hyeokse Ulmyeong looked at Manju Jeokhwa.
"Raising a rebellion means war. There are outside forces in the Heavenly Mountains, and the Wind Sand Killing Clan might send more troops. Fighting a war in this situation is too much."
"I see it as an opportunity instead."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong said.
The three looked at Hyeokse Ulmyeong.
"If we frame the outside forces as colluding with Ruha, all the blame falls on the High Citadel Cha Clan. It's the perfect chance for us."
Hyeonul Cheolryeong and Mujak Cheolli nodded in agreement.
"As always, let's go by majority vote. I'm for raising the great undertaking."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong placed his palm on the table.
"I oppose."
Manju Jeokhwa placed her open palm where it could be seen.
"I'm for it."
Hyeonul Cheolryeong raised his hand to the table and placed his palm down. Now only Mujak Cheolli was left. If he agreed, the undertaking would begin; if not, it wouldn't proceed.
"I..."
Mujak Cheolli raised his hand.
The group watched Mujak Cheolli with tense faces.
"I'm for it."
Mujak Cheolli pressed his palm to the table.
"Good. The great undertaking is approved."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong smiled.
"We need to decide what happens after we succeed before we start."
Manju Jeokhwa said.
"We can decide that after success."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong shook his head.
"I think differently. There are four of us. If we don't decide beforehand who becomes king after success, we'll fight among ourselves. Then the Chacha Kingdom might perish."
"Let's rotate the throne every three years."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong was unflinching, as if he had already planned the details.
"Three years?"
Manju Jeokhwa looked at Hyeokse Ulmyeong.
"Five would be nice, but we're not getting younger. So three years. What do you think?"
"Not bad."
Manju Jeokhwa nodded.
"You be queen first, Manju Clan head."
"Me?"
Manju Jeokhwa's eyes widened.
"We'll actively support the queen and focus on stabilizing the country."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong had yielded the throne to Manju Jeokhwa due to the power difference among the clans. Among the four, the Storm Fury Manju Clan had the strongest forces. If they backed out or sided with the queen, the undertaking could fail. To secure her firmly, they needed a fitting reward—and the best was the queen's seat.
"When is the undertaking?"
Manju Jeokhwa asked.
"In four days, it's the queen's birthday, and she'll choose her husband then."
"What if she picks one of your three sons? Will you still go through with it?"
"We agreed not to if that happens."
"You three already discussed it?"
Manju Jeokhwa looked at the three in turn.
"Hmph! Less a discussion and more chit-chat over drinks. The topic of the undertaking came up, so we concluded it then. We didn't tell you because with Cha Sawoong dead, we thought we wouldn't need to go that far."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong said awkwardly.
"I see. Then the date is four days from now, and the time is..."
"Hour of the Ox would be good."
"Got it."
Manju Jeokhwa nodded.
"Alright! There are eyes watching, so let's wrap up."
Hyeokse Ulmyeong stood.
"See you in four days."
"Indeed."
The four exchanged farewells and parted.
Manju Jeokhwa, stepping outside, boarded her carriage. Inside sat a massive woman. She was Geo Hwa, the Great Power Blade, the Storm Fury Manju Clan's strongest expert.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
The carriage set off immediately.
It took over an hour from the meeting place to the Storm Fury Manju Clan residence. She arrived just before midnight.
"A guest has arrived."
As she dismounted, the steward who opened the gate said.
"A guest?"
Manju Jeokhwa looked puzzled at the steward. It was too late for visitors.
"High Citadel Cha Clan head. He's been waiting since two hours ago."
"...Where is he now?"
"We've seated him in the guest hall."
"Bring him to my office."
"Yes."
The steward bowed and withdrew.
"Geo Hwa."
Manju Jeokhwa called as she walked.
"Yes."
"What do you think that guy's here for?"
"No clue at all."
"Me neither. Want to meet him together?"
"I'm curious what kind of person he is."
"Let's go."
The two proceeded. Entering the main hall of the Storm Fury Manju Clan residence, they headed straight for the office. Ak Muyoo, who had been looking around the office, turned as the door opened.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Cha Ak Muyoo, head of the High Citadel Cha Clan."
Ak Muyoo cupped his hands in greeting.
"Nice to meet you."
Manju Jeokhwa gave a slight bow.
"Here, take this."
Ak Muyoo held out something wrapped in paper and tied with string.
"What is it?"
Manju Jeokhwa asked.
"When you get on in years, your knees ache, and your whole body throbs even without doing anything. Winters feel colder too. Boil this up and drink—it works wonders."
"So..."
"It's tonic medicine."
"..."
"Heh!"
Geo Hwa, listening, burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing, you rascal?"
Manju Jeokhwa snapped.
"No one's ever given tonic as a gift?"
"Never."
"Tsk! When someone's old, you give tonic or cash."
"Why not cash then?"
"I wanted to a hundred times. But he's a puppet lord."
"Puppet lord?"
"You don't know what puppet lord means?"
"..."
"'Puppet' here comes from either arrow fodder or the slang for looking down on someone as a hot pants. So puppet lord means a figurehead clan head with no real power—just a name."
"So..."
"You've got the tonic already. Gonna keep me standing?"
"Right! Look at me. Sit."
Manju Jeokhwa gestured to a seat.
"Thank you."
Ak Muyoo sat.
"Geo Hwa, go get some tea."
"What kind?"
"There's that ginseng honey tea from Joseon. Brew a cup."
"...Yes."
Geo Hwa stared at Manju Jeokhwa a moment before leaving.
"So, how'd you end up puppet lord?"
"I happened to be at Cha Sawoong's deathbed. I'd done funeral rites before, so I knew how to handle it."
"You'd never met before that?"
"Didn't even know his name. We became sworn brothers there, and he gave me this."
Ak Muyoo pointed to the Heavenly Center Token.
"Why do you think the Cha Clan head passed it to you?"
"Think I look honest?"
"You look sly to me..."
"You see right. He figured someone honest and sly could save the clan amid jackals. Anyway, I accepted not because Ruha's pretty or I'd get her even if I wanted, or for the wealth. Just one thing: Cha Sawoong's eyes."
"But do you have confidence in protecting the High Citadel Cha Clan?"
"No talent for martial arts or making money, but one thing I'm good at. Know what?"
"How would I?"
"Fighting. Or war, rather. The last ten years, all I learned was survival. And I survived ten years of war."
"Were you a soldier?"
Geo Hwa asked, setting a teacup before Ak Muyoo.
"My friends call me Black Wind."
"...Black Wind Corps captain."
Geo Hwa looked at Ak Muyoo in surprise.
"Correct."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"So that's why the Cha head entrusted the token."
"Could be."
"But being Black Wind Corps captain won't protect the High Citadel Cha Clan, will it?"
"Of course not. Protecting a clan like that? No chance. No confidence there."
"Then?"
"No confidence in protecting, but confidence in dying together."
"..."
"Now, the reason I scraped together what little I had for this tonic."
"I'm ready to hear it."
"Please cut ties with those guys."
"..."
Manju Jeokhwa looked silently at Ak Muyoo.
"I've said my piece, so I'll head out. This tea's excellent."
"How far will you go?"
Manju Jeokhwa asked, eyes fixed on her teacup.
"In the last ten years, I've killed hundreds in the Border Wastelands. Maybe thousands. Two days ago, I slaughtered five hundred fifty Wind Sand Killing Clan warriors too. Didn't let a single one go—shoved this into the wounded ones' throats."
Ak Muyoo showed his demon hook.
"Got it."
"Then. Rest well."
Ak Muyoo bowed and left.
Manju Jeokhwa sat there motionless for a long while.
Geo Hwa waited by her side.
"What do you think?"
"Five hundred Wind Sand Killing Clan warriors aren't weak."
Geo Hwa said.
"True."
Manju Jeokhwa rose and went to the window. Ak Muyoo was riding out of the compound.
"Interesting fellow anyway. Impressive too."
"Qualified for ginseng honey tea?"
"From what I've seen so far, yes."
"Then...?"
"That needs more thought. Chances to become queen don't come often."
Manju Jeokhwa gazed out the window.
Slam!
The open window shut with a bang.