Tightening Discipline - 1
The report bearing my name and Gu Gangwang's name went up through the Left Censor-in-chief to the Emperor. And the reply came back faster than expected.
The sorcery discovered at Hengshan is a tragedy born of the merciless brutality of chaotic times. How could we not grieve when a rightful Son of Heaven, bound to follow Heaven's mandate, was absent, allowing such an unthinkable calamity to unfold?
Even if the victims of this sorcery were barbarians, those barbarians too could have become subjects of All Under Heaven through enlightenment and civilization.
Thus, We accept the noble intent of Hengshan's sect leader. Let the sect leader, in Our stead, soothe the anguished spirits of those who perished so tragically.
In short, it was approval for the sect leader to perform the reburial rites. I let out a sigh of relief. I'd worried the Emperor might take offense at holding a rite for those evil spirits from Woye, but fortunately, His Majesty focused on the hundred pitiful humans who died gruesome deaths and the Taoist compassion seeking to console them. For someone who'd imagined prostrating himself before the throne, it felt like being pulled from hell.
"As expected. His Majesty has always been mild-tempered and full of compassion, even as crown prince."
Gu Gangwang, who checked the reply with me, nodded as if it were only natural.
Tell me if you knew.
I felt a bit wronged. Our names were on it together, but I'd been the only one fretting. Gu Gangwang had known the current Emperor since before he was emperor, back when my great-grandfather was just a rebel leader. But I was a newbie born after the Song had taken root. Royal blood or not, I wasn't close enough to gauge the Emperor's temperament that well.
"...It's a relief we can deliver good news to the sect leader before we leave."
I glanced at Gu Gangwang with mixed feelings and spoke up. With the spirit beast incident resolved, it was time to leave Hengshan. But fulfilling the sect leader's request first would let us depart with clear consciences. Truth be told, if the Emperor had refused, I'd have felt uneasy too. Who could walk away unmoved after seeing those hundred skeletons denied even burial due to human sacrifice?
"Keh."
Gu Gangwang let out a short chuckle at my words.
"Why do you laugh, Your Highness?"
"It's just surprising a normal kid like you came from that man. He'd have torched the bones and cremated them before even asking His Majesty's permission."
No way.
The more I heard about Grandfather's temperament, the dizzier I got. If it were just one or two stories from acquaintances or grudge-holders, I'd laugh it off. But everyone I met said the same—there had to be something wrong with Grandfather.
You were born in the right era.
If Grandfather had been born in peacetime instead of chaos, he'd have been arrested as a counterrevolutionary. Hero of chaos, criminal of peace. The thought alone tightened my chest.
As soon as imperial approval came down, Hengshan Sect mobilized all hands for a massive reburial. And Gu Gangwang vanished without even bidding the sect leader farewell. With no business left, slipping away quietly was best for the sect—or so he said. Sound logic, so I didn't stop him.
"Thanks to the Left Vice Inspector General, the departed can find peace. As one Taoist, I offer my gratitude."
"Your words overhonor me. Without His Highness Gu Gangwang's aid, it would have been impossible."
"Ho ho, is that so? A pity His Highness left already. With no knowing when we'd meet again, courtesies should be exchanged each time."
The sect leader smiled ruefully, then bowed deeply to me with clasped hands.
What the—?
I stared blankly, caught off guard by the sudden shift. I was a rank-4 official and a king's grandson, but the sect leader was a founding merit subject who'd helped revive Great Song. And twice my age—no need for such a deep bow. Yet there he went, bending low before his own elders and disciples, who could be seen as my subordinates.
"Sect Leader, this was possible only through His Highness Gu Gangwang's help and His Majesty's mercy. Such courtesy is too much for me."
I snapped to and tried to raise him, but he held firm.
"I said it moments ago—this old man stands here not as Hengshan Sect Leader or Great Song merit subject, but as a mere Taoist."
Just that he was a Taoist now, nothing more.
"Thank you for washing Hengshan's blood away."
"Thank you, Lord Left Vice Inspector General!"
"Thank you!"
As Hengshan's Taoists bowed in unison, my mouth wouldn't open.
Is this murim?
A bittersweet pang hit me. This was murim that knew righteousness and chivalry—murim that hadn't stayed silent but fought the Mongols. How wonderful if every sect and clan in the Central Plains matched Hengshan.
The moment we left Hengshan Sect, I headed straight for Kaepyeong. I hadn't told Han Un, but among the imperial edicts His Majesty sent was one addressed to me, Gu Gangwang.
Gu Gangwang, come to Kaepyeong at once to discuss the peace of All Under Heaven.
A single sentence, yet weightier than any mountain.
The others are probably there too.
I pushed my lightness skill to the max, age be damned. If His Majesty summoned me, the other kings had likely been called too. We were all busybodies—arriving late meant endless nagging. A hassle at my age.
"G-Gu Gangwang, Your Highness!"
"Good work, all. I'm heading in."
"Th—"
Of course, I didn't forget to greet the gate captain verifying faces. They'd report upward once they confirmed mine. Straight to the palace after that.
"You're late, Gu Gangwang."
"Old age slowed my feet."
Regrettably, the others had beaten me there.
"I came from Hengshan. Bound to be late."
"Nang-jung Wang from Sichuan arrived before you."
"Damn it."
There was Nang-jung Wang, waving lazily. Did he ride a cloud? How'd a Sichuan dweller beat me?
"The Day Kings haven't arrived yet."
"Eh, don't they live in Kaepyeong?"
"That's why they're taking it easy."
I chuckled at Dong-gu Wang, then plopped into a seat. Folks should live central, not provincial. Gu Province wasn't bad, but nothing beat capital convenience for emergencies.
"By the way, Gu Gangwang."
"What is it, Jung San Wang?"
"What happened at Hengshan to make His Majesty summon us?"
At Jung San Wang's question, Nang-jung Wang and Yangyang Wang, who'd been silent, turned to me. They'd rushed here without details.
Hmm.
I stroked my beard, pondering. His Majesty likely issued bare summons to prevent leaks en route. Should I spill first?
Better to.
Short debate. Revealing it mid-meeting would waste hours calming these hotheads. Preempting now was easier.
"Traces of mass human sacrifice at Hengshan. Pre-dates the Mongols' expulsion north of the Wall."
"What?"
"Mongols?"
Predictably explosive. But worse was coming.
"The rite generated massive qi artificially, which spread over Hengshan and birthed two spirit beasts."
Jung San Wang, foaming at the mouth, tilted his head.
"Uncontrolled qi birthed spirit beasts?"
"Yes."
"...So if northern Mongols control their qi properly, they could make something worse."
I nodded silently at the grim hypothesis. I thought so; His Majesty too. Hence the summons.
"Goddamn it."
Nang-jung Wang's low curse spoke for us. Truly goddamn.
The deer's ride was surprisingly smooth. Not that I cared to know, but now I did. Gentle motion, minimal jolts, and faster than a horse at full gallop.
All deer like this?
No, probably the spirit beast factor. If regular deer were this good, we'd ride them over horses.
- Kki-iing?
"Yeah, right at the next turn."
- Kki-ing!
Staring blankly at the sky, I gave directions at the deer's cry. Impressive beast. First time out of Hengshan, so no auto-pilot, but point the way and it handled the rest.
How'd it come to this?
Stroking the antlers of my mount with mixed feelings, I eyed Jo Wi-cheo on the doe beside me and the carriage trailing behind.
Gu Gangwang's "spirit deer carriage" talk had seemed an old crank's joke. Who rides deer—spirit beasts, no less?
"Take those children with you, Left Vice Inspector General. We can't separate them from the one they follow like a parent, nor kill them."
But the sect leader, hearing the "delusion," embraced it fully. Now here I was, test-driving deer I never asked for.
Initially, I'd planned walking them beside the carriage. But when they tried boarding, the once-docile beasts threw fits—like protesting, "You'd ride that when we're here?"
What choice? Better I sacrifice than let tamed spirit beasts revert to feral.
Damn it.
Shame surged; I bit my lip. I'd roam the Central Plains on deer now. Spirit beasts, so outliving me seemed unlikely. One small comfort: No duty pigeon despite time since leaving Hengshan.
Stay holed up in the capital for now.
Return naturally, no deer-riding needed. Future assignments unavoidable, but I could stall till then.
Please.
I prayed inwardly. No pigeons. No assignments sending me deer-back elsewhere.