I Hate These Linked Quests - 3: Hoju-bu, Zhejiang Province
Hoju-bu in Zhejiang Province. If we're talking place names familiar to East Asians from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it's part of Huaiyin Commandery and Wu Commandery. A hotbed of rebellion where the Western Chu Overlord rose up alongside his uncle during the chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty. In fact, nearby Hoju-bu even had King Xiang's Castle built as an early stronghold for the Xiang clan's forces, so the connection between Hoju-bu and the Western Chu Overlord is no small thing. Discovering his legacy while digging in Hoju-bu? Everyone would buy that.
And in that very Hoju-bu, a massive tomb emerged with a flashy performance. Who could stay calm learning that what they'd thought was just a hill for over a millennium was actually a tomb?
[Zhejiang Northern Region Unrest.] His Highness Dong-gu Wang is doing his utmost to control crowds around the tomb, but he can't stop people from flocking to Hoju-bu itself.
[Jiangsu Region Chaos.] Massive crowds gathering in Suzhou, bordering Zhejiang.
[Anhui Region Turmoil.] Large numbers of murim fighters assembling; the Namgung family stirring.
[Fujian Region—]
[Guangxi—]
'Damn it.'
The inspectors scattered across the country—more precisely, around Zhejiang—sent up reports laced with what sounded like screams. The movements of the common folk and martial artists were far from normal.
At least, the silver lining was that the tomb hadn't been confirmed as the Western Chu Overlord's yet. People just knew a massive tomb had appeared dramatically, so they saw it as something extraordinary. They were buzzing with curiosity about what it might be.
But no one knew how long that curiosity and buzz would last. With this much attention, it was only a matter of time before someone theorized it was the Western Chu Overlord's tomb. And once that theory emerged, it'd spread across the Central Plains as fact.
'No way.'
The thought made my head spin; I squeezed my eyes shut. Put five humans together, and at least one is trash. Show people treasure beyond their station, and they'll get greedy for no reason. An eternal truth proclaimed by ancient sages.
In that scenario, how many pieces of trash would covet something as grand as the Western Chu Overlord's tomb? How many madmen would flock there with eyes rolled back in greed?
'Can't even guess.'
Everything in the Central Plains belongs to the Emperor? A tomb under government control? Such justifications wouldn't sway madmen with stars in their eyes. They'd fight the authorities tooth and nail for a shot at the Overlord's martial arts or weapons—life-changing power.
'But they're just individuals.'
Tragic, really. Even if some martial artist bold enough to clash with the government learned the Overlord's arts and grew strong, Daesong had twelve Hwa-gyeong masters on standby. Dare to steal from the state? Those twelve would descend and crush them.
The Overlord's descendants wouldn't shake the world—they'd become state criminals, ending up as cold corpses. Greed-blinded lunatics wouldn't see that obvious truth.
"Sorry, Samshik. You went to all that trouble to find it for me."
- Shiiik?
At my apology, Samshik poked his head out from my sleeve. I couldn't even look at him amid this historic mess. Our Samshik had found Huanan Wang's will... bought us time for the government to excavate first... Who could've predicted it'd spiral like this?
Blame Huanan Wang. If he had to curse the tomb with sorcery, why not just a concealment spell? Linking it to a will was overkill. At least let us decide when to excavate.
Of course, it wasn't confirmed as Huanan Wang's intent, but circumstances pointed that way. If it was mere coincidence, I'd die of frustration.
"Right Deputy Censor-in-chief, sir."
'Ah.'
As I glumly stroked Samshik's head, a clerk's voice came from outside.
"The Left Censor-in-chief urgently seeks you."
"Got it. On my way."
Dragging my heavy body up at news of my direct superior calling.
Inspectors everywhere screaming in reports, murim forces stirring. Even the office ghost, Right Censor-in-chief, sensed something off.
No—because she oversaw all intel, she knew the crisis's full gravity. Real-time chaos reports pouring in; how could she miss it?
'What now.'
Sighing softly en route to Right Censor-in-chief's office.
Grandfather had ordered total silence, and I'd agreed it was right. Now this blew up while I stayed mum—embarrassing to face her.
At her office, even Left Censor-in-chief was there. Great.
My two superiors in Dochalwon, together in one spot.
"You're here."
"Come in, Right Deputy. Sorry to summon you suddenly."
Bowing to the two Censor-in-chiefs—who greeted me in their distinct styles—I stood quietly before them.
Both present meant instant decisions on the spot. Major discussion ahead; tension inevitable.
"How much did you know?"
Left Censor-in-chief opened.
"...Huanan Wang's tomb yielded a will hinting at the Western Chu Overlord's. Grandfather ordered total secrecy, and I deemed it wise, so I obeyed."
"I see."
She nodded faintly, turning to Right Censor-in-chief.
"Then responsibility for this lies not with the living. If anywhere, with the dead or heaven."
"Left Censor-in-chief is right. If I were you, I'd have kept silent too."
Right Censor-in-chief chuckled softly, waving a hand. A teacup flew from her desk to me.
"Don't stand so stiff—relax, Right Deputy. How can man stop heaven's rain? We just pave the path for the flow."
Passing blame to heaven, absolving me. I sighed inwardly in relief.
I knew my innocence, but offended superiors could've been tiring. High officials' hearts are delicate.
"Thank you for understanding."
"No need. I worried you'd be stewing inside."
"His gut? More like his head's aflame."
"Heh, true enough."
Watching them laugh together felt odd. They did share a personal bond.
"Anyway, can't undo the revealed tomb. Why we called you: important matter."
"Speak freely."
"Excavating the new Hoju-bu tomb. Planning to join, Right Deputy?"
I nodded immediately. Grandfather suggested it; I was curious about the Overlord's arts. Barring surprises, I'd see it through.
"Yes. Since it emerged from Huanan Wang's tomb, I'll stay till the end."
"Good sense of duty."
"Overpraised—"
"Left Censor-in-chief's joining too. You two handle it."
I froze at the bombshell. Her too? She rarely left Kaepyeong.
"Uh, Right Censor-in-chief. Grandfather, His Highness Dong-gu Wang, His Highness Gu Gangwang are already set. Does Left Censor-in-chief really need to...?"
"Normally, no. But the whole realm knows before we even start."
"I'm not excavating directly—just checking martial artists approaching the tomb. Crowds will shield thieves eyeing state property. I'll handle them."
Irrefutable logic; I shut up.
A Hwa-gyeong Censor-in-chief as gatekeeper? Solid. Too solid.
Grandfather, Dong-gu Wang, Gu Gangwang, Left Censor-in-chief. Four of Daesong's Twelve Great Masters. But Grandfather wasn't satisfied.
"Secret dig's ruined—why not go big and grandiose instead?"
"Grandiose... how?"
Perplexing. Fancy excavation? Gold picks and silk-clad laborers hauling dirt?
"Left Censor-in-chief will deter thieves, but managing them solo's tough."
"True."
"So, requesting Shaolin and Wudang's aid. Trustworthy sorts."
Stronger fighters to guard against those coveting the Overlord's arts or gear. Not street randos—that'd be cats minding fish—but Shaolin and Wudang? Reliable, as Grandfather said.
State-favored sects betraying for loot? Instant sect annihilation.
"Bonus: invite the Abbot and Sect Leader too."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, and An—that works."
An meant Yangyang Wang Maeng An. Suddenly, seven of the Twelve Great Masters converging.
'What the hell.'
A dry laugh escaped at the snowballing scale. Even Founding War battles hadn't mustered seven Hwa-gyeong in one field.
Fear you, Huanan Wang. A dead man's spark terrorizing the living.
"Left Censor-in-chief, Abbot, Sect Leader guard outside; kings search inside. What do you think, Un?"
"That'd dig up even the First Emperor's mausoleum, not just the Overlord's."
"Keh heh, First Emperor's mausoleum. How intriguing if it existed."
I held back that it did. Grandfather would raze Shaanxi to find it.