The Martial Field
Yu Gyeong entered the palace, filled with a thread of anticipation. What could Ho Cheon-an possibly have called him for?
Right now, he wouldn't be offering some clever trick to resolve the issue surrounding Hyeok Gi-rin.
“Could it be that the man named Ho Cheon-an has devised some clever plan?”
“Um... Personally, I have my doubts.”
Contrary to Yu Gyeong's expectations, Sama Gyeong-hwi took a negative stance.
“Oh, think positively. Ho Cheon-an did manage to swallow the imperial edict, didn't he?”
Sama Gyeong-hwi smiled bitterly and lowered his head.
'Ho Cheon-an. That guy probably assumed that Yu Ya Gongju, that is, the Hyeok Gi-rin he knew, was Du-jak's younger sister.'
When Yu Gyeong voiced his thoughts, Sama Gyeong-hwi recalled Ho Cheon-an's state. His face suddenly paled, and he broke out in cold sweat.
'Perhaps the clue that Yu Ya Gongju and the Emperor are siblings was included in Yu Gyeong's thoughts.'
There were clues, of course.
Sama Yeom and Hyeok Gi-rin had been active in Sichuan simultaneously, so he had the opportunity to observe Sama Yeom's attitude toward Hyeok Gi-rin. And most importantly...
'Even though the princess tried to hide it, the explanations were too immediate.'
No matter how quickly things were handled, some minimal time was required. Yet, when Yu Gyeong, disguised as Du-jak, appeared in a state of despair, it hadn't even been a day. Naturally, Ho Cheon-an would have suspicions.
There was a limit to how long Hyeok Gi-rin and Ho Cheon-an could stay in the palace, so the gaps that had to be revealed were unavoidable. He couldn't invest days in killing suspicions, so he had no choice but to press on.
Seeing his face once a day, he could check Hyeok Gi-rin's mental state and give appropriate advice.
However, it was practically impossible to guess the circumstances of these two people entangled with the imperial family.
'Ho Cheon-an would be helpful in his current state... but the Emperor seems to have too high expectations.'
Sama Gyeong-hwi also acknowledged Ho Cheon-an's gambling skills. And he recognized that the person himself had a keen sense.
He had noticed that the acquaintance was from the royal family and simultaneously realized that his own actions were the cause of the sibling quarrel, yet he hadn't shown any signs of agitation outwardly.
Sama Gyeong-hwi also hoped that Ho Cheon-an would provide a breakthrough in this situation, but since Yu Gyeong's expectations were too great, he deliberately uttered some negative words.
Controlling Yu Gyeong's tendency to lean towards one method was also one of the duties of the head of the Eastern Depot, Sama Gyeong-hwi.
“Sigh. Since you've been wandering around the palace using a fake identity, you should relax your shoulders a bit.”
Yu Gyeong, who was about to give him a scolding, had read Sama Gyeong-hwi's intention. It was a story that made one want to shake their head at Sama Gyeong-hwi's position, who had undergone countless disguises and changes of clothes to rise to the position of Eastern Depot Director.
Sama Gyeong-hwi's expression hardened as he was about to open his mouth for a light complaint.
“Your Majesty. Stick close to me.”
“...What's going on?”
A massive aura was felt. It wasn't threatening, but even Sama Gyeong-hwi, a super-peak martial artist, felt a great pressure.
“A strong aura is felt from the direction of the martial field.”
What was Ho Cheon-an up to? Sama Gyeong-hwi frowned. For Sama Gyeong-hwi, Yu Gyeong's safety was the top priority. Before he could say to return immediately, Yu Gyeong spoke faster.
“Let's go.”
“Your Majesty! It's dangerous! Call the Golden Army to secure safety first...!”
“Did he not call me?”
Yu Gyeong smiled faintly. Sama Gyeong-hwi read the firm resolve in Yu Gyeong's expression and was momentarily taken aback.
“Haven't you seen that guy's skills at the gambling table? When a remarkable person shows off their skills, something remarkable happening is natural, in a way.”
“However...”
“Let's go.”
With Yu Gyeong's firm tone, Sama Gyeong-hwi sighed inwardly and drew his sword. Since the master's will was set, he had no choice but to follow. Holding the stiff sword after infusing internal energy, Sama Gyeong-hwi approached the martial field while on guard.
And what they saw was Hyeok Gi-rin, enjoying the moment of enlightenment with half-closed eyes, and Ho Cheon-an watching over her.
“Well...”
Sama Gyeong-hwi was about to shout loudly but, upon Ho Cheon-an's gesture to be quiet, reflexively lowered his voice. Yu Gyeong, who had mastered the common sense of martial artists as well as being a martial artist himself, approached Ho Cheon-an while silencing his footsteps.
“Before meeting the two of you, I tried to lightly spar with Hyeok Gi-rin senior.”
Upon hearing Ho Cheon-an's words, the two wondered what he was saying.
“Then, suddenly, it seemed like he had realized something and entered the current state. I delivered a message to the two of you to meet, but the situation doesn't seem favorable.”
“...Is Hyeok Gi-rin senior all right?”
“He's just obtaining enlightenment. Watching over Hyeok Gi-rin senior so that no one disturbs him should be sufficient.”
Ho Cheon-an's words made the two look back at Hyeok Gi-rin again.
Blurred, densely condensed qi was swirling around Hyeok Gi-rin. This was the first time the Eastern Depot Director Sama Gyeong-hwi was witnessing the moment of enlightenment.
It was a mysterious sight. Instead of Hyeok Gi-rin's body, which didn't move at all, the qi sometimes contracted and expanded, showing a dynamic appearance as if continuing life activities. Hyeok Gi-rin's figure was like a giant heart, and the qi of the entire martial field flowed in and out through Hyeok Gi-rin like blood.
The two watched the spectacle in silence. Why Ho Cheon-an was just staring at Hyeok Gi-rin was a sight that needed no further explanation.
Yu Gyeong was mesmerized by the spectacle. Even someone like Yu Gyeong, who wasn't a martial artist, could follow the vast qi flow and the condensed qi swirling around Hyeok Gi-rin with just their eyes.
“Truly... it's gentle.”
Yu Gyeong muttered to himself without realizing it. Hyeok Gi-rin was exerting a massive power. Although Yu Gyeong was unfamiliar with martial arts, he could tell that if even for a moment the qi Hyeok Gi-rin was wielding moved towards him, it would be powerless like a candle in the wind.
However, he wasn't afraid.
It wasn't because of blood ties.
He could feel gentleness and warmth even in the flow of that vast qi. These meticulously and softly flowing qi... were not things meant to harm people. They were qi flows that wanted to protect people and embrace them.
Although Yu Gyeong didn't know the character 'Wu' in martial arts, somehow he understood that fact.
It was possible because he was in the process of obtaining enlightenment.
It was something he could understand because the path (Dao) accumulated by the martial artist Hyeok Gi-rin was opening a path (Road) with a few words of insight and knocking on the door of heaven to surpass limits.
'So this was you.'
The inner thoughts of Hyeok Gi-rin that she couldn't express herself. The Hyeok Gi-rin who couldn't express because she had no achievements to boast of, didn't want to burden her brother, and whose true face was hidden in her turbulent emotions, had appeared in the world following the path of enlightenment.
Yu Gyeong observed the pulsating qi flow.
The qi flow that was like a heartbeat was none other than the martial artist Hyeok Gi-rin. No, it was the very person Hyeok Gi-rin that Yu Ya Gongju had built up after leaving the palace.
Ho Cheon-an quietly placed his hand on Sama Gyeong-hwi's shoulder.
“Since the two of you have come, my tension has eased, and my legs feel weak.”
Sama Gyeong-hwi, who had been immersed in Hyeok Gi-rin's enlightenment scene like Yu Gyeong, snapped back to his senses.
“It's embarrassing, but I haven't swung a sword for quite some time, so I got carried away just now. I'd like to rest, but could you support me to a place where I can rest?”
Sama Gyeong-hwi reflexively almost retorted that it was nonsense. Seeing Hyeok Gi-rin and Yu Gyeong, it was obvious he had sparred with Hyeok Gi-rin, but a sturdy first-rate martial artist having his legs give out after just swinging a sword a bit.
However, instead of answering, Sama Gyeong-hwi looked at Hyeok Gi-rin and Yu Gyeong.
“...Then, so be it.”
Logically, this was an unreasonable decision. No matter how much Hyeok Gi-rin, in the state of no-self, if something unfortunate happened, even Yu Gyeong, a commoner, could suffer significant injuries just from the aftermath.
Sama Gyeong-hwi thought. If someone later interrogated him about the grounds for this decision, he probably wouldn't be able to answer.
He didn't know what would unfold before the two left behind, and despite abandoning the duty to ensure Yu Gyeong's safety, he could only say that he vaguely thought it might be okay just by looking at Hyeok Gi-rin's appearance.
Nevertheless, Sama Gyeong-hwi supported Ho Cheon-an's shoulder.
'Did he get carried away by the enlightenment?'
Sama Gyeong-hwi let out a laugh and exited the martial field with Ho Cheon-an.
Only Hyeok Gi-rin, who was digesting the enlightenment, and Yu Gyeong, who was watching her, remained in the martial field.