Chapter 18 - The Princess (5)
The Princess (5)
Translator : Elizabeth
The day after the Cheon-do-seong visited, I stayed in my quarters all day long.
At first, I stayed with Baekrok, but now I was given a separate detached house, so I was alone.
In other words, I had nothing particular to do.
Baekrok was busy handling state affairs, and there were no missions from the Imperial Family, so it could be seen as truly a life of leisure.
"Good."
I roughly finished breakfast and sat down in the yard.
It's the perfect environment to concentrate.
The Emperor told me to take a few court ladies, but I refused, and the detached house was located moderately far from the Golden Dragon Hall.
In other words, there are zero disturbance factors.
I sat cross-legged.
Now the flow of Qi is somewhat organized. The aftermath from the Hyeonmu Palace has almost disappeared.
It means now is the right time if I intend to create a Cultivation Method.
But, how do I create a Cultivation Method?
I closed my eyes and pondered deeply.
To learn martial arts, enlightenment is needed.
That enlightenment finds answers through chants (Gu-gyeol) and key principles (Yo-gyeol).
However, there are no martial arts manuals here.
Does that mean I create forms (Cho-sik) myself? Something that isn't even martial arts would surely be born.
In reality, it was no different from an idiot claiming he'd make his own workbook to get into college.
'What to do...'
First, I started Un-gi-jo-sik (Meditation for circulating Qi).
I open the pathways of Qi and feel the heat of the acupoints.
The medicinal herbs from the Hyeonmu Palace. I felt they had been completely absorbed.
That was fortunate at least. If I didn't even have a means to increase Qi, I would have probably remained at a third-rate level roughly.
'Let's think.'
I connected all the forms (Tu-ro) and techniques (Cho-sik) I knew in my head.
Thrust, dodge, leap.
I fought hundreds of life-or-death battles.
While hours passed, I exchanged countless blows in my head.
I didn't even know time was passing.
Is the sun setting already?
'Tsk. I intended to go visit Rang-i (Si-yeon).'
That's a bit of a shame.
Since it came to this, I closed my eyes again to think about the Cultivation Method even a little more.
It was then.
As I operated Qi, the Cheong-roe-geom hanging at my waist vibrated.
And, once again.
That scenery.
Blue lightning struck from the sky.
The ground was cracked dry, and waves crashed in.
I was standing in the middle of that disaster.
'...Lightning, huh.'
I looked around.
Blue lightning is striking the ground randomly. At a speed hard to even capture with eyes.
'I'm envious.'
Such a thought occurred. If only I could unleash a quick sword (Kwae-geom) as fast as that lightning.
No master would be able to block the first strike.
Boom! Boom!
The lightning struck closer and closer.
The lightning split into several branches approached with a momentum as if to devour me right away.
"Meditating?"
The lightning asked.
No, the lightning?
At the abrupt voice, the scenery crumbled.
Like a mirage. Lightning, ground, waves, everything scattered away.
I opened my eyes.
"Looking now, you have quite a scholarly hobby, don't you?"
When I opened my eyes, the Cheon-do-seong was shaking two liquor bottles.
She sat opposite me very naturally.
"Here, this."
She thrust a liquor bottle at me.
"It was a good moment though."
"Did you have lewd thoughts or something? Then I'm a bit sorry."
The Cheon-do-seong opened the bottle.
She really came. And in just one day. Geez, a woman with good execution.
A sigh came out naturally.
"What brings you here at this late night?"
"It's not finished yet. The conversation."
"If you had ambushed me, the conversation would have been over long ago, why didn't you?"
"What do you take me for? But well, admitted. Honestly, I did consider it."
She gulped down the liquor bottle.
"Originally I came to cause a big accident. To take your head."
"But?"
When I asked, the Cheon-do-seong exhaled—Phew—and grumbled.
"Got caught. Got caught really badly. Thanks to that, it was so annoying. The Cheon-ui-o-seong shouldn't wander around when it's not wartime or whatever. Bringing up such ancient oaths, geez."
"Then why did you come?"
"I wanted to fight properly but it's regrettable too. And I have some things to say roughly."
"I have nothing to say to Cheon-do-seong-nim though."
"That's why I brought alcohol. Drink. It's quite precious liquor."
The Cheon-do-seong giggled.
"Ah, really shameful. Having such a fun-looking guy in front of me and just flapping my mouth."
The Cheon-do-seong slightly lifted the bamboo hat she had pressed down.
It was the moment her red eyes were revealed for the first time.
"As expected, you must become my disciple. Then we can clash swords every day under the pretext of sparring. How about it? Doesn't it tempt you?"
I am also a martial artist. Naturally, I want to exchange martial arts with a strong person.
However, if I become this woman's disciple, it's obvious I'll be bound to that place called Cheon-ui-won.
I already have a promise with the Emperor, and I didn't want to extend my hand any further.
In the first place, this woman. She's fucking noisy, it's tiring.
"Did you come to talk about that?"
"No, there are other things too."
I provoked her on purpose.
"The Cheon-ui-o-seong must have nothing to do. Seeing you move your steps personally for a nobody like me."
"We're busy in our own way. Except the problem is wielding a brush instead of a sword. Well, that guy Yang-baek became half-crippled anyway so he won't have anything to do, he'll handle it well on his own."
"Must be nice to be at ease."
"You're formidable too? Meditating all day like this. By the way, you smell like sweat. Sweaty constitution?"
It's an inevitable process for Un-gi-jo-sik.
However, she won't understand even if I explain anyway, so let's just shut up.
But doesn't this woman get angry?
Ultimately, the Cheon-ui-o-seong are much higher people than someone like me.
Thinking like that, it's a situation where it wouldn't be strange if she drew her sword right now.
However, the Cheon-do-seong showed no particular sign of anger. She was just nonchalantly drinking from the bottle.
"Don't like alcohol?"
"I go crazy for it."
At this point, I have no choice but to play along. I drank the alcohol straight from the bottle like the Cheon-do-seong.
"Hmm, I like you as expected."
The Cheon-do-seong smacked her lips.
"You should have just killed Yang-baek. Then I would have killed you, or forcibly taken you as a disciple, made it certain. Now the justification is lacking."
"Looking at it, you seem to value face, so why didn't you kill him first, Cheon-do-seong-nim?"
"Can't. Can't. No matter what, how can I kill my own disciple. That goes against the Heavenly Laws (Cheon-ryul)."
Since I'm at it, I decided to ask everything I was curious about.
"You knew Yang-baek was hitting on the Princess. Wouldn't it have been good if you stopped that in advance? Then we wouldn't have to blush at each other like this."
"Umm. An organization needs guys like that too. Well, as you said, the top water isn't clean to begin with. I accepted it thinking it's my fate."
"If you keep turning your eyes away like that, it will become uncontrollable."
"Pfft—Are you worried about me? That's not it. If that guy really crossed the line, I would have sliced him by now."
I looked straight into the Cheon-do-seong's eyes.
"Muddy water is muddy water even if you stir it."
The Cheon-do-seong also looked at me.
"However, no one would rashly try to drink it. Nor try to mix with it."
For a moment, our gazes entangled in the air.
Hmm. Indeed.
A human incompatible with me. This one.
"As expected, I don't want to go under you."
"I expected it. Seemed like it."
The Cheon-do-seong nodded.
I changed the subject.
"So, what is the other story?"
"Ah. Right. Actually I came because of that but I forgot."
The Cheon-do-seong suddenly took out her saber.
Then Swish—! drew a line.
"You, are dangerous right now. If we're judging, about this much?"
She marked a dot right in front of the line.
"Seems roughly so."
"No, not because you beat my disciple, but because of Her Highness the Princess."
"What kind of sound is that again?"
Really, what kind of bullshit is this.
When I tilted my head, the Cheon-do-seong shrugged her shoulders.
"At first I thought you and Her Highness the Princess were having an affair or something. Because the person who stayed quiet until now moved."
"It hasn't been long since we met. Far from an affair, we haven't even talked much."
"That's why I'm telling you not to get involved unnecessarily. You're strangers anyway. Don't buy trouble."
"Why give me even this advice? Honestly, we're not that close."
"Because my blood boiled after a long time. Then, as a martial artist, I can give this much advice. I am this merciful."
I don't need useless self-appeal though.
The Cheon-do-seong tapped the dot marked in front of the line—Tap tap.
"Don't cross the line anymore. Then you really die. I still want to make you my disciple, you see."
"I'll listen for now."
"Ah, up to here. Detailed circumstances are classified. No matter how much of a crazy bitch I am, I can't break the oath."
Oath.
"What is that oath anyway?"
"The Cheon-ui-won and the Imperial Family bisect power. In wartime, Cheon-ui-won. So in peacetime like now, the Imperial Family takes the main duty. In other words, I cannot intervene. There are other things too, but it gets too long and boring."
I bowed my waist.
"Well, thank you for informing me."
At this, the Cheon-do-seong cocked her head as if unexpected.
"What? You know how to thank honestly too?"
"How would I have survived until now if I was only rude. I should be thankful for what is thankful."
The Cheon-do-seong opened her eyes wide.
"Ahahaha! That's right. Yep. Your words are right. Then as a meaning of gratitude, grant me one favor."
"I have a prior engagement anyway."
"Stingy. It's simple, so don't back out like that."
She pointed her saber at me.
"Let's clash just one move. Really just one move."
"Wasn't it that we shouldn't clash swords?"
The Cheon-do-seong twisted up the corner of her mouth.
"Other Four Stars won't say anything about this much. It's just practice. Right?"
I pondered for a moment, then stood up.
Yes, honestly I was curious.
Just what level of skill the old fart gathering called Cheon-ui-o-seong possesses.
"If it's just one move, good."
"Nice!"
Looking at the Cheon-do-seong clapping, I gripped my sword hilt.
It was the moment I drew the Cheong-roe-geom—Shing—!
"Hmm?"
The Cheon-do-seong's eyes narrowed.
"Divine Sword (Sin-geom)? Where did you get that?"
"Divine Sword?"
She suddenly took a step closer and looked closely at the sword.
"Ah, you brought it from the Cheon-byeong-gak? You picked a pretty good one. You must have good eyes."
She clicked her tongue—Tsk.
"If not for that damn oath, I would have brought my weapon from the Cheon-byeong-gak too."
Whatever it is, this Cheong-roe-geom seems to be a pretty good item even in the eyes of the Cheon-ui-o-seong.
Indeed, it was a sword that looked extraordinary at a glance.
"More than that, aren't you coming?"
Anyway.
If a martial artist drew a sword, is there a need to converse lamely with mouths?
She also took a stance at my words.
She held that long saber with just one hand.
"Right. As a martial artist, it should be so. Let's see the skill of the prospective disciple."
The Cheon-do-seong's figure sank low.
The playful eyes were dyed blood-red.
I raised my sword.
Suddenly, the scenery I saw earlier came to mind.
Lightning-like movement.
There is no way a mere human can mimic such a thing.
So, I'm just imagining it. How did that bastard move so fast? Like that.
Boom!
The Cheon-do-seong moved first.
No, she disappeared.
Before I knew it, she was smiling right in front of my eyes.
Then Swish—!
The Cheon-do-seong swung her saber.
However, it's far. The distance hasn't narrowed enough.
...No.
Her saber extended. Like the Ruyi Jingu Bang. In an instant, it looked like it extended.
Too late. I was too careless. I immediately pulled up internal energy, but the Cheon-do-seong's saber had already reached point-blank range.
At that time, Crackle—!
A tingling sensation shot up from the tip of my toes.
It was a sensation I felt for the first time in my life.
Clang—!
My sword and the Cheon-do-seong's saber collided.
The Cheon-do-seong opened her eyes wide.
"..."
Her eyes sank.
Grind-grind-grind!
But fuck, what strength.
At this rate, I'll be pushed back.
I set my sword obliquely and rotated half a turn with my left foot as the axis.
Whish—! She lost her balance and was bounced off.
She didn't fall.
Thud—! She stamped the ground with her peculiar superhuman strength and endured.
The Cheon-do-seong's bamboo hat rolled on the floor.
"...Ha."
The Cheon-do-seong swallowed a hollow laugh.
"What is this guy really doing?"
Soon red eyes stared at me blankly.