The Emperor Wants Him

Translator : Elizabeth

In the rattling carriage, I clutched the letter I hadn't managed to open yet because I had left so hurriedly.

Honestly, I didn't intend to leave this urgently.

But, I really never imagined that a mere eighteen-year-old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girl would look at me with those eyes.

If she were just a bit older, engaging in something like a forbidden romance might not have been a bad choice, but she was still too young no matter how you looked at it.

'In the first place, I have to create a Cultivation Method now; what romance?'

I hurriedly erased the stray thoughts.

All I need is martial arts. As long as I can learn martial arts, I don't need trivial things like dating.

Especially now, I was in a situation where I had to break through the wall as soon as possible.

If I neglected the accumulating internal energy, it wouldn't be strange if I fell into Qi Deviation (Ju-hwa-ip-ma) in an instant.

If that happens, it's all over. I'll probably go mad or never be able to handle Qi again.

"By the way, what does this old geezer want this time?"

I opened the letter stamped with the Imperial Seal.

Looking at the content, it was indeed a letter sent by Baekrok.

Hmm, well, I don't feel too bad about it.

I continued to move my gaze.

What reward could there be? Now I planned to just demand a few sacks of rice from that senile Emperor who kidnapped people out of nowhere, and return this identification plaque.

Surely he wouldn't hold back a leaving person. If he really does, then you guys are all fucked. My sword will cry very sorrowfully like the Crying Ghost.

Still, my steps were light at the thought that I did a good deed.

They say well begun is half done, so this world, which was a bad ending, will probably run pretty well now.

Since my sister didn't say much else and expressed that it was okay to leave, it should probably be fine.

'But really, where should I start? The standard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is the Namgung Clan, so should I change my name to Namgung?'

Thinking about how to create the Gangho (Martial World), I arrived at the Golden Dragon Palace.

Mumyeong headed straight to Baekrok.

At this, Baekrok said:

"Go to the Geumnyong (Golden Dragon) Hall immediately. His Majesty is waiting for you anxiously."

"No, can't I rest a little?"

"There's no reason you can't. You did establish a fitting merit after all. However, how about showing your face even for a moment? His Majesty has been waiting for you day and night."

At Baekrok's earnest tone, Mumyeong inevitably headed straight to the Golden Dragon Hall.

"Mumyeong, you have truly returned well."

The Emperor welcomed Mumyeong, who came for an audience, very gladly.

Putting aside his dignity, he opened both hands wide and approached Mumyeong.

Mumyeong tsk-ed and performed the proper etiquette without hiding his burdened expression.

"Your subject only did what had to be done."

The air in the Golden Dragon Palace was always heavy.

Even if decorated with silk curtains and golden pillars, what filled it was only suspicion, calculation, and gazes plotting treason.

In the center of it, Mumyeong knelt.

"If you hadn't cut the Crying Ghost, the Hyeonmu Palace would have faced total devastation."

Mumyeong lowered his head.

"Your subject was merely lucky."

"Hoho, excessive modesty becomes poison. You may proudly puff out your chest. You have accumulated merit that duly allows it."

The Emperor said.

"Until now, there has been no martial artist who subjugated an evil spirit. However, you did it. I was deeply moved by this. Saying, 'Ah, right! This is it! My eyes were not wrong after all!'"

The Emperor could not hide his excitement.

Soon, taking a deep breath, the Emperor approached even closer to Mumyeong.

"Therefore, I intend to bestow upon you a reward fitting your merit. Tell me whatever you desire. Whether it be gold, land, or a government post. I will give you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everything I can."

Mumyeong was silent for a moment, then raised his head.

The gazes of the two met in the air.

"What your subject desires is not much."

Mumyeong said.

"Just a few sacks of rice are sufficient."

For a moment, the Emperor's face stiffened.

"...Is that all?"

"Yes."

Mumyeong spoke calmly.

"Where your subject stayed, a single grain of rice often replaced a life. Therefore, to your subject, rice is more precious than flashy rewards."

"...To establish such merit and ask for only a few sacks of grain. Think about it a little more."

The Emperor was flustered for the first time. To think a man with this level of martial arts was born with such a humble nature?

No matter how Baekrok advised that he would be difficult to handle, he never dreamed it would be to this extent.

Meanwhile, Mumyeong was thinking like this:

'If I ask for too much for no reason and get caught by the tail, I'm fucked.'

He was only thinking about escape.

"Think carefully, Mumyeong. You are the one who cut away the greatest disaster in the history of the Cheondo Kingdom. Gold, land, official positions—truly, I can grant you anything. So, how about answering carefully?"

Mumyeong went Hmm—and tilted his head.

"Then may I receive a few swords?"

"Do as you wish. You may take famous swords. But, is that all? I could give you even more."

"Anything else is just a burden to your subject."

The Emperor drew a breath.

"I am a martial artist who pursues only martial arts. Also, I held the sword to protect the people who might be starving somewhere even now. Therefore, everything else is a burden to me."

The Emperor realized.

Mumyeong is trying to leave right now.

Therefore, for the first time, he felt an unknown emotion.

A strange attraction as if facing something he had been looking for for a long time.

Ah, I don't want to let him go! Such thoughts circled in his mind.

"Do you truly wish to leave? Even though I say I will give you anything?"

"Yes."

"Even though this Golden Dragon Palace needs you?"

Mumyeong raised his head.

He recited the lines he had prepared in advance.

"What Your Majesty desires is not your subject, but merely a usable sword. However, rather than becoming a sword, your subject wishes to remain a person. Since your subject was born humble. I just want to enjoy a simple life."

"..."

At this rate, he would have to let him leave helplessly.

No matter if he is the Emperor, isn't winning a person's heart something that doesn't go according to will?

He lived such a life. A lonely life trusting no one and keeping no one in his heart.

That is why he knows even better.

By force, he cannot obtain this man. Yet, he is more valuable than anything to just let go.

I mean, I don't want to miss him even more because I can't catch him.

"Mumyeong."

The Emperor said.

"If you stay in this palace, Cheondo can change."

Mumyeong raised the corners of his mouth.

"That is why even more so, your subject must leave."

Mumyeong thought, That was smooth. With this much, even the Emperor should let me go. Finally, entering the martial world!

As he thought, the Emperor said nothing.

Under the high ceiling of the Golden Dragon Hall, he was just tilting his head back.

"...Lord (Gyeong)."

The Emperor opened his mouth slowly. Now the Emperor addressed Mumyeong with respect. Because he thought he was a person worthy of it.

"You are a truly strange person. Establishing the greatest merit in this palace, yet trying to turn your back so lightly."

Mumyeong didn't answer on purpose. He was just thinking something like, Just let me go already.

"I do not wish to hold onto you by force."

Done! Mumyeong clenched his fist tight.

"Then I will take it as such and take my lea—"

"—However, I do not wish to just send you away either."

What is this? Why is this person suddenly like this?

Cold sweat flowed down Mumyeong's back. Because a future where he fights a massive battle with the Imperial Family was drawn in his mind.

In that instant, the Emperor placed his hand on Mumyeong's shoulder.

"Mumyeong. You are straighter and freer than anyone in this palace. Surely I cannot stop you from leaving. Nevertheless, I am endlessly regretful that you are leaving."

Then, the Emperor brought up an unexpected proposal.

"So, I will do as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you say. However, may I ask just one favor?"

"...I will listen."

At Mumyeong's words, the Emperor laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! Thankful words indeed. Right, how about this. Not as Emperor and subject, but just as fellow martial artists, I wish to go hunting together with you. Even though I look like this, I shoot an arrow quite well."

The Emperor's eyes were serious.

"I want to know more about you. Right, as you said, not as a sword, but you as a martial artist."

Mumyeong looked at the Emperor for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"...If it's just for a day..., yes, there's no reason I can't."

"Good. Then tomorrow at midnight. Come find me at this Golden Dragon Hall again."

Just one day.

After that, it's escape from this Golden Dragon Palace.

Mumyeong thought so.