Southern Edge - 1
Now it was finally time to leave Tianzhou. No, it was time to move on from Fujian altogether to some other region. We'd swept through the bandits across all of Fujian in a major campaign and even established a new Ha-o-mun here, so I could confidently say we'd done more than enough. If any more incidents cropped up now, it would mean Fujian itself was cursed.
Just head straight to Yangguang.
Yangguang. The collective name for Guangdong and Guangxi, at the southernmost edge of the Central Plains. Though it joined the Central Plains cultural sphere relatively late, it had always been a refuge for countless people fleeing Central Plains wars. That gave it a strong sense of identity as part of the Central Plains despite its fringe status. No wonder the Southern Song had burned its final flames there. A faint—very faint—sense of anticipation stirred in me.
Yangguang was a place where Central Plains identity and loyalty to Daesong reached their peak. Surely that meant I could pass through without much fuss—
As if.
Of course, that sliver of hope was swiftly crushed by my past experiences. Had incidents happened in other regions because of weak Central Plains identity or lack of loyalty to Daesong? Identity and loyalty had zero correlation with incident rates. The only real indicator was population. More people, more incidents; fewer people, fewer incidents. And regrettably, Yangguang's population was among the highest in all the Central Plains.
A truly lamentable state of affairs.
But if I endure this one, I'm heading home.
I took a deep breath inwardly and steadied my resolve. Yeah, just get through this one. Once I'd inspected Yangguang, I'd have covered every region in the Central Plains. No more places left to check, so straight back to Kaepyeong. Time to burn my final flames brightly, just like the Southern Song at Aishan in Guangdong. Like adorning a beautiful finale.
- Kki-ing?
- Kki-ong?
As I stoked my determination alone, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i lifted their heads from munching their feed. They must have sensed something off in their master's aura.
"You two can rest soon, too."
I gently stroked their necks. If I had to name the ones who'd suffered the most after me and Jo Wi-cheo, it'd be these two in a heartbeat. Ever since joining me at Hengshan, they'd been trekking across the entire Central Plains. Not even Ochu-ma or Jeok-to-ma had logged as many miles.
- Kki-ing! Kki-i-ing!
- Kki-o-ong!
At my words, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i's eyes sparkled with joy. I got it. Even sturdy spirit beasts weren't meant to shuttle from the northern edge to the southern, eastern to western extremities of the Central Plains. This insane itinerary was why they still hadn't had foals, despite being such a harmonious couple. It was a crime against their love—all because they'd picked the wrong master.
Sorry.
But as their master, I hadn't even managed to get married, so let's call it even. At least they could still call themselves a couple anywhere. Their situation seemed better than mine.
...Almost fully grown.
In my embarrassment and guilt, I kept petting their necks, and my gaze drifted to Kki-ing-i's right antler. The horn that had been so grotesquely broken had now reached full recovery. By the end of the Yangguang pilgrimage—giving it ample time—it should be completely regrown by the time we returned to Kaepyeong.
"You've worked hard."
- Kki-i-ing~
I lightly touched Kki-ing-i's antler, and he licked my cheek in return.
- Kki-o-ong.
Kki-ong-i followed suit on the other cheek. I appreciated their affection, but... I'd just washed my face...
Better than when they were going berserk, I guess?
Suddenly recalling their Hengshan days, I let out a chuckle. Back then, there was no spirit beast as demonic as them. With Jwa Do-eosa's permission, I'd have caught and turned them into spirit beast stew on the spot. Never dreamed they'd end up like family. And starting with these two, all sorts of spirit beasts gathering around me? Even less.
It had been ages since I'd received a send-off from murim folk rather than officials.
"Great one's grace! We will never forget it! Engrave your grace eternally in our hearts! We will make a Ha-o-mun that brings no shame!"
And a tearful one like this? Pretty much a first.
A bit embarrassing. Not even when leaving merit sects, friendly sects, or noble houses had I gotten farewells this intense. It meant Jang Gang was truly grateful, which was heartening, but the sobbing prostrations? Maybe tone it down.
Murim folk weeping and kowtowing before an official. To uninformed civilians, it'd look like "another day of the bureaucracy crushing murim."
I didn't want this warm parting misunderstood like that.
"If the grace I bestowed on the Munju is a speck of dust, then the Munju's great cause is a mountain. I merely gave his back a little push; what was achieved was ultimately the Munju's doing. Rather than engraving my grace in your heart, hold today's great cause eternally within it."
"Yes! I will keep it in mind!"
I patted Jang Gang's rapidly nodding shoulder and personally took his hand to help him stand. This might be our last conversation, so I wanted to leave him with only the best impression.
"I look forward to the endless prosperity and loyalty of the new Ha-o-mun."
"We will never disappoint you!"
His resounding reply satisfied me. If only every murim denizen resembled Jang Gang even ten percent...
I kept staring at the receding figures of the immortal-like lord and Immortal Lady, along with their three escorts, until they vanished completely from sight. Until all three were gone.
Heaven-sent beings.
My lips curled up involuntarily. Of course, I knew they were human. Immortal-like and fairy-like, sure—but obviously not actual immortals. Still, this lord who appeared before us felt more divine than any unseen immortal who ignored our people's suffering. He'd bestowed such great grace upon us. And wasn't he a vassal of His Imperial Majesty, son of Heaven? So calling him heaven-sent wasn't wrong.
"Munju."
"What, Gurrona?"
"Can't we discuss when we'll meet the great one again? Shouldn't we at least do a full rite?"
An excellent idea. We were seeing off immortals we might never meet again. Ending it with a single bow would be disrespectful.
"Everyone! Pay respects to the great one!"
At my command, the disciples gathered for the send-off bowed in unison. The great one wouldn't see, but it didn't matter. From now on, whether he knew or not, we'd devote ourselves to the lowly folk and the realm, to all the people. Think of it as practice—not bad at all.
"This crazy old fool! Bows aren't done twice!"
"Twice means double the goodness, no...?"
"Shut it!"
I ignored the minor commotion from the back.
...Gotta study Central Plains speech more.
I'd meant to ignore it, but the awkward pronunciations made me rub my chin. We had to live for the Central Plains and its people now. Who'd trust us if we couldn't even speak properly? Beyond mere comprehension—we needed fluency. So for the time being, prioritize studies over martial arts. Fine among ourselves, but to grow closer to Central Plains folk, effort was needed—
"Ha-o-munju."
"Ah, Branch Lord."
The Branch Manager had approached right beside me unnoticed. Embarrassing. He'd yielded the send-off to us for our sake, yet I'd been lost in other thoughts and missed his arrival.
"It seems Jwa-cheom Do-eosa has departed."
"Yes. He gave us his final words of advice before leaving."
"Haha, that means great expectations for Ha-o-mun."
A grateful yet daunting statement; I bowed silently. An honor to bear his expectations, but failing them would disappoint even myself.
"More importantly, Munju—the martial arts manuals for Ha-o-mun from Kaepyeong have arrived."
"Already?"
"Hanlim Academy scholars copied them faster than expected. They seemed thrilled to produce manuals for the new Ha-o-mun themselves."
Still unfamiliar with Central Plains culture and systems, I didn't fully grasp Hanlim Academy. But from today, I'd remember it as a grateful benefactor for Ha-o-mun.
"Sent them to the main hall, so check them at your leisure."
"Thank you for your consideration, my lord."
Learning transport was complete, I bowed in thanks again. If my life had fortunes, first was my fateful encounter reaching Chojeoljeong; second, meeting the great one and Branch Manager.
Strange. The great one had said ten manuals would come, but there was one extra beyond what he'd listed.
Is this the additional one?
I compared the names he'd mentioned before leaving with those on the manuals, then picked up the lone extra.
What the hell is this.
A manual with an absurdly grandiose name had arrived. A divine sword that annihilated six states and pacified the heavens. Even the name screamed supreme art. Why on earth had it come to Ha-o-mun?
A letter?
Flipping the manual in confusion, I spotted a letter tucked inside. I swallowed hard without thinking. A letter accompanying such a monumental art couldn't be trivial. Maybe the capital had sent it to test our Ha-o-mun.
Trembling, I unfolded it.
If you're reading this letter, you must be the Munju of the new Ha-o-mun!
If you're wondering who I am, just know I'm a Hanlim Academy scholar!
I'm sending this letter for no special reason—while selecting arts to send to Ha-o-mun, I thought it best to give this Myeol Yuk Guk Pyeong Cheon Sin Geom exclusively to the Munju, so I wrote it!
This Myeol Yuk Guk Pyeong Cheon Sin Geom is the art of Wu'an Lord Baek Gi from the Warring States era. The manual sent to you is a diluted version of that art!
Regrettably, the original couldn't be shared, so we sent the diluted one!
Even diluted, it surpasses most superior arts, so no need to feel shortchanged!
By the way, Wu'an Lord Baek Gi—
I quietly folded it back up. Strangely, reading the words made my ears hurt.