Chapter 796: I Will Inflict the Most Terrifying Punishment Upon Him.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 796: I Will Inflict the Most Terrifying Punishment Upon Him.
"How dare a mere Regional Military Commissioner!"
Neung So-hwa’s face flushed crimson as she raised her voice. An uncontrollable rage surged from the depths of her heart.
"What happened? Why are you so angry?"
Seeing her like this, Yorang asked with a puzzled expression. It was rare to see Neung So-hwa, who was always calm, composed, and dignified, vent her anger so openly.
"Sun-woo was threatened by the Regional Military Commissioner."
Neung So-hwa continued in a frigid tone.
"The Regional Military Commissioner threatened Sun-woo?"
Yorang’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Indeed! How can I not be furious!"
Neung So-hwa began to pour out her resentment.
"I don't know much about these things... but is a Regional Military Commissioner higher in rank than you?"
"Of course not! A Regional Military Commissioner is merely a Second Rank Official!"
"What about a Commandery Princess?"
"A Commandery Princess is also a Second Rank Official."
"Then aren't you the same?"
"I am a Commandery Princess, but I have also been granted the rank of Grand General. A mere Regional Military Commissioner who governs a single province is in no position to look down upon me!" Neung So-hwa continued, her voice thick with indignation.
As the Grand General, Neung So-hwa commanded the entire Imperial Army. To her, a Regional Military Commissioner was a trivial, insignificant existence. Yet, such a person had dared to insult her most beloved husband.
How could she not be enraged?
To Neung So-hwa, who believed a husband and wife were one in spirit, an insult to Sun-woo was no different from an insult to herself.
"He must be insane."
Bukgung Yeon, who had been listening silently, spoke up. Her voice was laced with murderous aura. She slowly began to rise from her seat.
"...Where are you going?"
Yorang asked, sensing the ominous atmosphere.
"To kill him."
Bukgung Yeon replied flatly. A mere official had dared to persecute her beloved husband. She could not stand by and watch. She would go right now and turn him into an ice statue, ensuring he could never wag his glib tongue again.
"I'm coming too! I want to get revenge for Sun-woo!"
Hearing this, Yorang raised her hand high.
"No, both of you stay put. I will handle this. I shall utterly bury that insolent fool."
Neung So-hwa looked at the two of them as she spoke.
"No, I'll go. I'm from the North Sea anyway, so the laws of the Central Plains won't apply to me," Bukgung Yeon argued, shaking her head.
"I'll go! I'm a spiritual being, so I don't have to follow human laws!" Yorang chimed in, refusing to back down.
"I told you, I will go."
"No, me!"
"I said it's me!"
The argument among the three women began to drag on. All of them were desperate to avenge the humiliation Sun-woo had suffered.
"......P-Please, wait a moment!"
Geum Jeok-hwa, who had been quietly observing their exchange, finally spoke up. The three women turned their gazes toward her, their eyes filled with silent questions.
"........I believe... it is only right that Commandery Princess Gyeonghwa goes."
She voiced her opinion, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why?"
"Why is that?"
Yorang and Bukgung Yeon asked simultaneously, looking unconvinced.
".....Wasn't Commandery Princess Gyeonghwa the one Sun-woo sent the letter to? This means... he likely intends to ask for her help."
Geum Jeok-hwa began to explain her reasoning calmly. Sun-woo had sent the letter specifically to Neung So-hwa so that she would be the first to know. What did that imply? It was a request to use her power to crush a lesser power.
"............."
The two women fell silent. Her reasoning was undeniably sound. Come to think of it, Sun-woo possessed more than enough martial strength to kill a Regional Military Commissioner himself. The fact that he hadn't handled it personally and had sent a letter instead meant that martial force wasn't what was needed.
Soon, Yorang and Bukgung Yeon’s expressions turned visibly sullen. They felt a pang of regret at missing the chance to be useful to Sun-woo.
".....Do not worry. I will go personally and ensure he pays dearly."
Neung So-hwa spoke as she looked at the two dejected women. She understood exactly how they felt.
"What are you going to do?" Yorang asked curiously, wondering what her definition of "paying dearly" was.
"Do you know what those in power fear most?" Neung So-hwa asked, looking at Yorang.
".......Hmm.... I don't know?"
Yorang looked puzzled. Having no obsession with power herself, she couldn't fathom what a powerful man would fear most.
"It is losing that power."
Neung So-hwa spoke with a chilling expression.
"I will inflict the most terrifying punishment upon him."
Her eyes began to glow with a cold light, sharp as the bitter cold northern wind.
*
"Hahahaha! And then he said his mind hadn't changed! You should have seen him, trying to act tough with that expressionless face!"
Regional Military Commissioner Lee Geom-han burst into boisterous laughter.
"Kwahahaha! Indeed, sir. He might have looked calm on the outside, but I bet he was shaking with fear on the inside."
Beside him, Vice Regional Military Commissioner Hwang Geol chimed in, laughing loudly.
"Of course he was. No matter how much of an outlaw he is, he must fear the Empire’s million-man army."
Lee Geom-han nodded in agreement.
"Hahahaha, things are going to work out perfectly. Here, have a drink, sir."
Hwang Geol said, lifting a bottle of liquor.
"Very well, pour me one."
Glug, glug, glug.
Lee Geom-han’s cup was soon filled to the brim.
"Why don't you have a drink as well?"
Hwang Geol turned his gaze to the side and spoke.
"......I still have some left in my cup."
Assistant Regional Military Commissioner Ju-tae replied, lifting his cup.
"What? You haven't finished your drink yet?"
Seeing this, Lee Geom-han put on a stern face. How could a subordinate nurse his drink when his superior had already emptied his? It was unacceptable.
"I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment..."
Ju-tae immediately apologized with a contrite expression. He knew better than to provoke the hot-tempered Regional Military Commissioner.
"What? Does that mean you weren't paying attention to my story!"
Lee Geom-han frowned deeply, his eyes bulging. He was furious at the perceived slight.
"........I was reflecting on what you said. I am sorry."
"What on earth were you thinking about! If your excuse doesn't satisfy me, I'll punish you personally!"
".........I was thinking about Jang Sun-woo."
"About Jang Sun-woo?"
"Yes....... It wouldn't be easy to act so bold unless he had something to rely on. So, I was wondering if he might have some kind of powerful backing."
Ju-tae spoke in a respectful tone. He was worried. Jang Sun-woo’s refusal to yield to the Regional Military Commissioner was troubling.
A Regional Military Commissioner was essentially the king of a province, overseeing all military affairs. He possessed immense power, capable of mobilizing tens of thousands of troops at a moment's notice. Yet, in front of such a man, Sun-woo hadn't shown the slightest hint of intimidation. Instead, he had been defiant, as if telling them to do their worst.
This led Ju-tae to worry that Sun-woo might have someone even higher than a Regional Military Commissioner backing him.
"You think that brat is acting bold because of some backing?"
"I believe it's a possibility."
"Nonsense!"
Lee Geom-han roared, raising his voice. He found the idea preposterous.
"I maintain close ties not only with the Five Tiger Commanderies but also with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. Who could possibly pressure me on his behalf?"
They say money can even make ghosts do your bidding. The Regional Military Commissioner had used the wealth he amassed in Jinan to grease the palms of numerous organizations. In terms of backing, he was second to none. He felt as though everyone except the Emperor himself was on his side.
How could the backing of a mere martial artist pressure someone like him? Unless he had the Emperor’s support, it was impossible.
"But....... just in case..... if he's related to the Imperial Court..."
"You have quite the imagination. Ju-tae, how could the noble and great Imperial Court have anything to do with a lowly martial artist? Do you really think the Imperial Court and a common warrior belong together?"
"................"
Ju-tae fell silent. Even he had to admit it sounded absurd. The Imperial Court was a place where noble and great bloodlines gathered. There was no way a rootless martial artist would have any connection to such a place.
"I have spoken out of turn. I apologize."
Ju-tae immediately offered a polite apology. He wondered if he was being too pessimistic.
"Hmph, you're a good man, but you worry far too much. If you keep living like that, you'll die of hwanbyung before long."
Satisfied with the apology, Lee Geom-han spoke in a slightly softened, lecturing tone.
"I will be more careful."
"Fine. I'll let it slide today with a penalty of three drinks. Don't repeat the same mistake."
"Thank you, sir."
Ju-tae bowed his head, expressing gratitude for his leniency.
"Good! Now, raise your glasses. Let's drink again! Hahahaha!"
Lee Geom-han, his mood restored, laughed boisterously. He looked incredibly happy.
*
"Alliance Leader, are you sure about this?"
Elder Lee Se-jin asked with a worried expression.
"It's fine. Please don't worry too much."
Sun-woo replied nonchalantly.
".......No, how can I not worry? He is the Regional Military Commissioner! The man who reigns like a king over Shandong Province!"
Lee Se-jin spoke, looking completely unconvinced.
The Non-aggression Pact between Government and Martial Arts—the idea that the government and the Murim do not interfere with each other—existed only because of the government's leniency. Because the land was so vast, they allowed martial artists a degree of autonomy for the sake of efficient management.
If not for the government's tolerance, the Murim would have been wiped out long ago. The power possessed by the government far surpassed that of the Murim.
That was why he couldn't help but worry. Sun-woo was talking about defying the Regional Military Commissioner and refusing to back down.
"Listen, Alliance Leader. Look at the bigger picture....... If we're not careful, the alliance could be destroyed before it's even officially founded."
He began to try and persuade Sun-woo. To him, defying the Regional Military Commissioner was simply too dangerous.
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
Sun-woo replied with a gentle smile.
"Do you have a plan?"
Lee Se-jin asked, looking at Sun-woo with a glimmer of hope.
"I intend to have a conversation with him."
"A conversation?"
"Yes."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all."
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone.
"There's no way that will work! That greedy Regional Military Commissioner will never give up the enormous taxes the Cheonmu Alliance brought to Jinan!"
"He will give them up."
Sun-woo spoke with absolute certainty.
"What!?"
"I will make sure of it."
"S-Surely... you don't mean... assassination...?"
Lee Se-jin asked, his expression turning grave. He feared Sun-woo might try to kill the Regional Military Commissioner in secret.
"You can't! Assassination! How could the Leader of the Uicheon Alliance do such a thing? Besides, if you're caught, the entire Murim will be doomed! No, absolutely not!"
Lee Se-jin began to protest vehemently. Assassinating a Regional Military Commissioner, a servant of the Emperor, was unthinkable. If such a thing happened, the history of the Murim could be completely severed in their generation.
"I have no intention of assassinating him."
Sun-woo shook his head.
"Then... then what...!!"
Knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Alliance Leader, the Regional Military Commissioner has arrived."
Joo So-yang’s clear voice rang out. Hearing her, Sun-woo smirked and slowly stood up. He began to walk toward the door, passing by Lee Se-jin.
"W-Wait! Alliance Leader! Tell me what you're going to do before you go!"
Lee Se-jin turned around hastily and shouted at Sun-woo’s retreating back, desperate for an answer.
Sun-woo paused for a moment.
"Power is bound to surrender to even greater power."
With those words, Sun-woo resumed his walk toward the exit.
Creeeeeak.
Thud.
Only Lee Se-jin remained in the room, staring blankly at the closed door.