Chapter 133
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Heaven Filled with Righteousness, Northern Blade Southern Spear
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"In the center of the world, righteousness abounds, yet in the north a sharp blade always hangs overhead, and in the south a spear sharp as an awl stands toward the sky—how can it be called peaceful? (天中充義, 北刀南槍)"
These words, penned by a certain wandering scholar as he roamed the land, were said to express the current state of the martial world most accurately.
The righteousness at the center of the world referred to the Justice Martial Alliance in Wuchang, Hubei Province. The sharp blade was the Northern Blade Union of Gansu, and the spear was the Southern Heaven Alliance, known as the Iron Army.
Of course, the Demonic Cult held firm in Xinjiang, but they had locked their doors and secluded themselves for so long that it was no exaggeration to say the current rivers and lakes were dominated by the Justice Martial Alliance, the Northern Blade Union, and the Southern Heaven Alliance.
They had fought for a long time, and that battle continued even now.
However, no matter how fierce their clashes, there was one thing they absolutely had to uphold.
That was the principle of no invasion between officials and martial artists—guanwu bu qin. In other words, the government and the martial world did not infringe upon each other's domains.
Of course, minor frictions and quarrels occurred daily without fail, but war—especially all-out war—was another matter entirely.
Large-scale battles inevitably harmed the common folk, which encroached upon the domain of the government, whose very purpose was to protect the people. It would give the authorities cause to intervene.
No matter how formidable a martial force, it could not compare to the imperial army backed by the Emperor himself.
Wasn't it obvious? To oppose the imperial army was tantamount to defying the Emperor, which led straight to charges of treason.
Thus, even the bold Northern Blade Union limited itself to maintaining a branch in places like Lanzhou, where the city lord exercised direct authority.
* * *
"Any unusual activity at night?"
"None, sir. With the cooperation of the garrison troops, we stationed warriors across the entire city walls, but no infiltrators slipped in."
"Understood. However, with the Vice Leader and the Ghostly Three Freaks here, keep the surveillance thorough."
"Yes, sir."
Yi Il-chang, the Patrol Division Chief of the Northern Blade Union Lanzhou Branch, eyed those passing through the city gate with a piercing gaze.
Lately, the branch's warriors had been forming night patrols to scour the city streets, while closely monitoring those being inspected by garrison troops at spots just beyond the gate.
It was all to guard against spies from the Justice Martial Alliance.
Even if full-scale war was unlikely, they couldn't slacken their vigilance while squarely facing off against the Justice Martial Alliance.
Passing the garrison's inspection offered no guarantees of safety. Could spies truly be judged by appearance alone?
Changing their looks was child's play for them, so whenever Yi Il-chang sensed anything suspicious, he immediately dispatched warriors to tail them discreetly.
In the past, any merits earned were usually snatched by the branch chief, but this time was different.
This was a campaign led personally by Vice Leader Go Ja-heung, and the Ghostly Three Freaks—idols to the Northern Blade Union warriors—were here as well.
Catching even a single Justice Martial Alliance spy could change one's life.
It might propel him from a mere branch position to a key post at the Northern Blade Union headquarters, wings sprouting as he soared. He had to keep his eyes peeled.
"Open the gate and let them out!"
"……?"
As Yi Il-chang indulged in such sweet daydreams, a commotion stirred at the gate.
What was this?
Yi Il-chang whipped his head toward the gate and focused.
A coachman driving a carriage screened off to hide its interior was arguing with the garrison troops.
The uproar drew the eyes of every passerby, and at last, Hwa Pyeong, the Total Banner Captain and true power at the gate, stepped forward.
He strode up aggressively and examined the token the coachman presented. His face drained of color.
"You lot! What are you doing? Clear the way at once!"
"……?"
Yi Il-chang craned his neck further toward the gate.
For Hwa Pyeong to act this way, the carriage's occupant was surely a government official—and a very high-ranking one at that.
"Division Chief, shall we tail them?"
"……."
Yi Il-chang pondered at his subordinate's tentative suggestion.
His mission was to monitor suspicious entrants to the city, but judging by Hwa Pyeong's reaction, the carriage held someone from the government offices.
Even in war with the Justice Martial Alliance, provoking a government figure would bring nothing good.
"Stand by for now."
"Yes, sir."
After holding his subordinate back, Yi Il-chang approached Hwa Pyeong, who was sighing in relief as the carriage departed.
"Captain Hwa."
"Ah! Patrol Chief Yi. Out on rounds yourself?"
Hwa Pyeong, whom he knew well, greeted him warmly.
It was the fruit of Yi Il-chang's tireless "lubrication" efforts as the branch's Patrol Division Chief.
"Yes. Circumstances being what they are."
"I heard Cheongyang was taken back by the Justice Martial Alliance?"
"Unfortunately so."
"That's a shame."
"……."
His words feigned concern, but Yi Il-chang knew full well there was zero real interest.
To a government man like him, the martial artists' wars were just a fire across the river—someone else's spectacle.
"By the way, what was that carriage? Who was in it to startle you so?"
"……."
As Yi Il-chang drew close and slipped a money pouch from his sleeve with the question, Hwa Pyeong startled and asked urgently.
"Patrol Chief! You didn't send men after that carriage just now, did you?"
"Pardon?"
"Tell me. Did you or didn't you?"
"Ah, no, not yet."
"Phew... That's a relief."
Clutching Yi Il-chang's shoulders and shaking him as he asked, Hwa Pyeong finally pocketed the pouch and patted his chest again.
"Don't even glance at that carriage."
"……?"
"Get tangled up, and it's not just your head—mine flies too."
"What do you mean?"
"It's the city lord's guest."
"The city lord's?"
"Yes. Apparently kin through marriage. Just stopping by to pay respects during a rivers-and-lakes tour."
"……."
Yi Il-chang blinked his wide eyes and stared in the direction the carriage had vanished.
A split-second judgment had preserved his life.
The city lord's guest, no less... He and the whole branch might have been booted out otherwise.
"Still, today's a bit light, eh?"
"Pardon?"
Hwa Pyeong tossed and caught the pouch with a disappointed air.
"You're not as generous to me as before. This pouch is feather-light..."
"……."
Yi Il-chang gave a wry smile and proffered another pouch.
"Then could we join the inspections...?"
"Inspect away. How much has the Northern Blade Union done for Lanzhou's security? More than enough reason, of course!"
"……."
Security, my foot—it was all about the pouch.
* * *
Inside the carriage that had passed through Lanzhou's gate.
Swish.
Someone peeked by lifting the window curtain slightly, then relaxed.
"Good, no one's tailing us."
"……."
The person opposite nodded at the words.
"Being the Gansu Governor's in-law is handy. The garrison backed off quick."
"Power's a wonderful thing."
The one who answered casually with a laugh was none other than Yu Hyun, and his fellow passengers were Latent Dragon Squad members.
The reason they had come all the way here by carriage was Vice Leader Go Ja-heung of the Northern Blade Union.
Not long ago, they had learned he was leading the front lines, and after much searching, confirmed he was at the Northern Blade Union Lanzhou Branch.
But there was a problem.
Infiltrating the vast front lines was one thing, but the branch where Go Ja-heung was located lay deep within Lanzhou's inner city.
How could they breach a place guarded by both garrison troops and Northern Blade Union warriors?
Moreover, it was Northern Blade Union territory. Despite the no-invasion principle, Lanzhou's garrison was inevitably friendly to them.
Stumped, the Latent Dragon Squad racked their brains in endless deliberation, only for Yu Hyun to scoff.
What was there to agonize over?
The Gansu Governor was from the Dam Clan Manor.
A Hubei Dam Clan Manor native, no less—cousin to his own brother-in-law Dam Cheon-u, making him in-law by marriage.
Plus, he was a figure of immense trust in the Five Armies Governorate, a key military organ. How delighted Yu Hyun had been.
Makes sense, given Gansu borders foreign lands with constant wars; the governor had to be a military heavyweight.
So they visited the nearby county office and sent a messenger pigeon.
Addressed to his sister Yu Jeong-hye at Yu Clan Manor.
What good would sending to useless Dam Cheon-u do but earn nagging? The Dam Clan Manor trusted daughter-in-law Yu Jeong-hye more anyway.
True to her role as a key player at Changjo Water Park, Yu Jeong-hye contacted her in-laws at the Dam Clan Manor upon receiving the letter, and the result was...
Safe passage. Complete clearance.
Inspections? Searches? Not once.
They didn't even check who was in the carriage; the county-provided coachman flashing a Dam Clan Manor-stamped document sufficed.
If the gate garrison waved them through, what could the Northern Blade Union do?
"But is this really okay?"
"Hm?"
"Us martial artists using the government..."
Nangong Hye glanced cautiously, but Yu Hyun showed no hesitation.
"It's fine for me."
"……."
"I'm a Yu Clan Manor son before I'm a warrior, and to the Dam Clan Manor, an in-law bachelor."
Nangong Hye gave a wry smile at Yu Hyun's utterly confident expression.
Well, what could she do?
In-laws visiting for some bonding—who were they to care?
He was the sort who'd use even eighth cousins if needed.
"Cut the nonsense and steel yourselves from now on. The government's power may be greater, but this is Northern Blade Union turf. Their eyes and ears will be everywhere, even in the offices."
"……."
"So act the part. You're not Justice Martial Alliance warriors now— you're the Gansu Governor's in-law bachelor's escorts. Keep that in mind."
"Understood."
The Latent Dragon Squad members murmured their acknowledgment at Yu Hyun's urging.
By then, their carriage had traversed the official road to arrive at the city lord's office in the inner city's heart.
"We've arrived."
The coachman's polite voice came from outside.
"Alright, everyone cover your faces."
"Yes, sir."
At Yu Hyun's command, the Latent Dragon Squad donned their pre-prepared bamboo hats, pulling them low.
Yu Hyun did the same, of course.
His name might not have spread to the Northern Blade Union yet, but better safe than sorry.
Especially the Latent Dragon Squad, known as "dragon in a beggar's guise" with no small fame. If spotted, it was over.
As Yu Hyun and the squad disembarked, an armored general saluted crisply.
"The city lord awaits. Please follow me."
"Yes."
Yu Hyun replied courteously and trailed the general.
Fitting for the city lord's office, it was finely built.
Marble steps carved from stone, manicured garden trees...
But no time to linger; it wasn't a long stay.
The stated purpose was just a courtesy visit to his in-law while passing through on a tour.
Of course, on the way back, the carriage would carry one extra passenger...