Chapter 797: I Plan to Bring Someone Even Higher.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 797: I Plan to Bring Someone Even Higher.
Outer Guest Room
Regional Military Commissioner Lee Geom-han sat in the seat of honor with a solemn expression.
Behind him, Assistant Regional Military Commissioner Ju-tae and Vice Regional Military Commissioner Hwang Geol stood respectfully in attendance.
The three of them remained silent, simply waiting and waiting.
They were waiting for the man at the center of this entire affair to return.
After an unknown amount of time had passed—
"He certainly keeps us waiting a long time."
Regional Military Commissioner Lee Geom-han spoke, his brow furrowed deeply.
A significant amount of time had passed since they had announced their arrival. Yet, the man hadn't even shown his face. Irritation began to well up within him.
"He likely thinks he’s engaged in a battle of wills," Vice Regional Military Commissioner Jang Geol, who was standing behind him, chimed in.
"A battle of wills? A mere commoner against me, the Regional Military Commissioner?"
Lee Geom-han spoke with an expression of utter disbelief.
The difference in status between Jang Sun-woo, a mere commoner, and himself, a Second Rank official and Regional Military Commissioner, was no exaggeration to call the difference between heaven and earth. How could such an insignificant person even dream of a power struggle with him?
"What would a fellow who knows nothing but how to throw punches understand? Please, do not pay it much mind. In the end, he will come crawling into this room with a groveling look on his face."
Jang Geol began to soothe the angry Lee Geom-han, intending to suppress any unnecessary rage.
"Tsk, tsk. This is why I despise the Murim lot. Just because they can fight a little, they act as if the world belongs to them. So arrogant."
Lee Geom-han clicked his tongue repeatedly.
"I cannot understand why His Imperial Majesty leaves the Murim alone."
Lee Geom-han began to vent his frustrations. He could not comprehend the Imperial Court’s behavior in leaving these rude, ignorant outlaws to their own devices.
"Is it not perhaps the wise judgment of His Imperial Majesty to efficiently govern this vast land of the Central Plains? If the outlaws kill and check one another, it is ultimately a gain for the Imperial Court."
"Why go through such a hassle when we could simply kill them all?"
Regional Military Commissioner Lee Geom-han shook his head as he spoke. He felt the Emperor’s method was inefficient. If it were up to him, he would have raised an army to completely subjugate them and mold them to his will.
He would firmly establish a hierarchy for those beast-like martial artists, showing them exactly who held the upper hand. The world would have been a much better place that way.
"Indeed. I don't understand it either."
Vice Regional Military Commissioner Jang Geol agreed, chiming in with Lee Geom-han’s sentiment. He knew it was nonsense, but he felt it was better to flatter his superior.
"So you think so as well."
Perhaps pleased with the answer, Lee Geom-han wore a satisfied expression. He felt validated knowing he wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Is it not obvious? Martial artists are nothing more than thugs with a fancy name."
"Hahaha! Your insight is truly refreshing!"
Just as the two were continuing their criticism of the Murim—
Creeeeeak.
The sudden sound of hinges grinding reached Lee Geom-han’s ears. He quickly turned his gaze forward.
There, he saw a very familiar man.
"Calling us thugs is quite hurtful. We have never harmed the common folk, nor have we committed any crimes."
The man, Sun-woo, spoke as he stepped into the outer guest room.
"Hmph, that remains to be seen," Lee Geom-han snorted.
"You seem to be a man who lacks trust in others, Commissioner."
"I never trust the words of martial artists. Among those who call themselves such, not a single one is truthful."
"You are quite prejudiced, Commissioner," Sun-woo replied, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Lee Geom-han.
"It is not prejudice; it is fact."
Meeting that gaze, Lee Geom-han glared back, refusing to back down. Their eyes locked in a silent confrontation.
After a moment—
"Bring them out."
Lee Geom-han finally spoke.
Thud.
Thud.
At his word, Ju-tae and Jang Geol each picked up a massive chest and placed them on the table. Then, they threw the lids open.
Heaps of gold coins were revealed within.
"Exactly fifteen gwan of gold."
Lee Geom-han stared at Sun-woo with cold eyes.
"I believe a week was more than enough time to save face. Since I have waited that long, your reputation should be intact. So, take this. And then, make the announcement. State that the Uicheon Alliance will be established in Jinan, not Nanchang."
Lee Geom-han spoke with an expression as if he were granting a great favor.
Slide.
He pushed the chests toward Sun-woo until they were right under his nose.
Sun-woo looked down at the chests. His vision was filled with the yellow glint of gold. He stared at the gold with a dry, emotionless expression.
Swish.
He reached out and slowly ran his hand over the gold coins inside the chest.
Grin.
Seeing this, a thick smile spread across Lee Geom-han’s lips. The immense pleasure of having brought a high-and-mighty ruffian to his knees with money surged through him.
'Heh... In the end, you're just human.'
He was certain that Sun-woo had accepted his proposal.
"My Lord."
Sun-woo, who had been stroking the gold, spoke calmly.
"What is it? Is there a problem?"
"I think you’ve misunderstood something."
Sun-woo looked Lee Geom-han straight in the eye.
"Misunderstood?"
"I have no intention of accepting your proposal."
"What?!"
"So, please take these chests back."
Sun-woo raised his hand and lightly pushed the chests away.
Slide.
The chests slid back and stopped precisely in front of Lee Geom-han.
"Are you defying my command right now?!"
"Did I not tell you from the beginning? I have no intention of withdrawing my statement."
Sun-woo spoke with a nonchalant expression.
"You... do you think you can handle the consequences?" Lee Geom-han growled in a low voice.
"Handle what?"
"I asked if you can handle making me your enemy!"
"If it is something I must handle, I will do so as many times as necessary," Sun-woo replied as if it were nothing. "Can you handle it, Commissioner?" he asked back, staring at Lee Geom-han.
"What!?"
"Making me your enemy, I mean."
Sun-woo’s eyes began to glint coldly.
"How arrogant! A mere commoner...!"
The Regional Military Commissioner felt an overwhelming sense of insult. The thought that a "thug," whom he considered the lowest of the low, had dared to mock him was infuriating.
"Assistant Commissioner! Vice Commissioner! Arrest that man! If I do not throw him into a dungeon, I shall not live out my natural span!"
Lee Geom-han, trembling with rage, gave the order to Ju-tae and Jang Geol.
Shring.
Upon receiving the order, the two men immediately drew their swords. They began to slowly close in on Sun-woo.
"Do you really think you can arrest me?" Sun-woo asked, watching them approach. He was asking if they truly believed they could suppress him.
"If you resist, you become a traitor."
"A traitor who defied the solemn command of the Imperial Court."
The two officials spoke in a flat tone.
"Since when did the Regional Military Commissioner’s command become the command of the Imperial Court?"
"The Regional Military Commissioner is an official of the Imperial Court carrying out the orders of His Imperial Majesty. To defy his words is synonymous with defying the Imperial Court itself."
"Hahaha... That is certainly a convenient logic."
Sun-woo burst into laughter.
"Do not resist. Unless you wish to become a traitor."
"One wrong move, and the Murim could be wiped out because of you."
The two officials warned him as they slowly leveled their swords, telling him not to resist.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, they swung their blades, aiming for his arms and legs. It seemed they intended to disable and suppress him in a single stroke.
"I decline."
Then, the unexpected happened.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
CRASH!
The two charging officials were sent flying backward, slamming into the wall.
"You bastard! This is rebellion against the Imperial Court!" Lee Geom-han screamed at the sight.
A mere commoner had harmed officials personally appointed by His Imperial Majesty. How could this be called anything but treason?
"It was self-defense. How could I stand still while swords were being swung at me?" Sun-woo replied calmly.
"You should have stayed still! No matter what they did, you should have just taken it!"
Lee Geom-han’s face was flushed as he raised his voice.
"I will exterminate your three clans! I will tear apart every single person related to you. If it’s a man, I’ll castrate him, chop off his limbs, and hang him. If it’s a woman, I’ll chop off her limbs and let the soldiers use her as a plaything! Just because they are related to you!"
Lee Geom-han’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"You truly do as you please. You persecute as you please, and now you even try to kill as you please."
Sun-woo spoke with an expression of disbelief. Seeing the man try to frame him for treason after attempting to harm him first was absurd. How could someone be such trash?
"That is what status is! That is what power is!"
"So you’re saying that if one has status and power, they can act this recklessly?"
"Of course! With the Imperial Court behind me, what is there that I cannot do!" Lee Geom-han shouted with a confident air.
"The Imperial Court would be quite disappointed to see you like this."
"Heh... Are you planning to report this to the Court? Don't bother. No one will listen to you."
Lee Geom-han let out a vile laugh.
"From the Five Military Commanderies to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and even the Eastern Depot—there isn't a single person in the Imperial Court who hasn't taken my money. Who exactly do you think would listen to your words and oppose me?"
Lee Geom-han had spent an enormous amount of money greasing palms to advance his political career. There was no one in the Imperial Court who would dare act as his enemy.
"Then I suppose I just need to bring someone even higher, don't I?" Sun-woo said, pointing his finger straight up.
"Bwahahaha! Do you plan to bring His Imperial Majesty himself? Or perhaps Princess Gyeonghwa, who is currently in closed-door meditation?"
Lee Geom-han burst into jovial laughter. Even as he said it, he knew it was such utter nonsense that it could only be called a cruel joke.
There were only two people with a status higher than the Five Military Commanderies, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot.
The Emperor, known as the Son of Heaven.
And Princess Gyeonghwa, who had been appointed Grand General after the death of Lee Yeon.
But there was no way those two would step forward for a mere commoner. Why would such holy beings of noble and great bloodlines personally intervene for a nobody?
"That is exactly what I plan to do."
Sun-woo’s soft voice rang in Lee Geom-han’s ears.
"Wh-what!?"
Lee Geom-han asked back, his expression turning bewildered.
"I plan to bring someone even higher. Someone whose position is vastly superior to the Five Military Commanderies, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and certainly you."
Sun-woo spoke with a relaxed smile.
Shiver.
Meeting that smile, Lee Geom-han felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Sun-woo’s utterly composed smile triggered a deep-seated anxiety within him.
'It... it's a bluff... surely... it's a bluff... Someone higher... there's no way... such a person exists.'
Lee Geom-han shook his head vigorously, trying to deny it. It was impossible. What kind of connection could a mere commoner have to bring forth the Emperor?
"You! There's a limit to how much one can bluff! How dare you lie in my presence...!"
"Please, come in."
Sun-woo cut Lee Geom-han off and glanced behind him.
Creeeeeeak.
The closed door slowly began to open.
A woman revealed herself.
Red hair and red eyebrows, as vivid as a blazing fire.
Eyes as deep and red as molten lava.
The woman’s appearance, where all these unique traits harmonized, was breathtakingly beautiful. She was reminiscent of a goddess from myth.
The woman slowly raised her gaze. She glared at Lee Geom-han, who was sitting in the seat of honor. Her eyes were filled with rage.
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
Meeting that gaze, Lee Geom-han’s entire body began to shake violently, like a leaf in the wind.
He knew her identity all too well. No, he had no choice but to know.
In the Central Plains, there was only one peerless beauty with such distinct features.
The shield that protected the Imperial Court.
The woman hailed as the Imperial Court’s greatest power.
"...P... Princess Gyeonghwa..."
It was Princess Gyeonghwa.