Hubei is Always Cloudy - 1
The banquet at Ak Wangjeo concluded in grand success, showcasing Ak I-yeon's revival and the bond between our two royal houses.
"Ak Wang, are you crying by any chance?"
"Shut it."
The two eldest figures bickered constantly, but it still ended splendidly. Considering their relationship, wrapping up with mere teasing and curses counted as mild. Of course, not teasing at all would be ideal, but for Grandfather, ribbing Ak Wang was like a passive skill. As natural and instinctive as breathing—impossible to stop.
"Don't soak your pillow alone in tears. Come visit if you're bored. We can share a drink."
"Have you gone senile already? Shut it, for heaven's sake."
And so Grandfather and Ak Wang bid farewell, flaunting their heartwarming friendship to the very end. So heartwarming it nearly suffocated onlookers.
"Your Highness Ak Wang is always welcome, but our daughter-in-law can visit anytime too."
Apart from the elders' squabbling, Mother gently took Ak I-yeon's hand and spoke. Now that she could go out, she should come to Giwangjeo whenever she liked. They'd welcome her with the utmost hospitality, treating her like family.
"Yes, Mother. I'll come pay my respects often."
Ak I-yeon's bright smile and pure response warmed a corner of my heart. Even without me in Kaepyeong, my parents would treat her like family. And while I roamed the provinces, she'd visit them often, offering comfort. I couldn't properly fulfill my roles as son or lover, yet I had far more blessings than I deserved. Thanks to that, they filled the warmth in my absence.
"Gaga."
Watching Mother and Ak I-yeon fondly, she turned to me, still holding Mother's hand.
"This girl will serve Father and Mother with utmost devotion, even for Gaga's share. So please, Gaga, harbor no worries."
"No need to try that hard for this fool's share."
"Oh my. Is that so?"
Ak I-yeon giggled at Father's jest. I wanted to laugh along, but my conscience pricked too much.
The best filial piety a child could offer was frequent visits, yet I was always off touring the provinces.
"Un-a."
"Yes, Father."
"Think of it as gaining a daughter in place of your son. No need to worry."
His words swelled my chest with pride.
"So don't look back. Devote yourself to state affairs. That's the greatest filial duty for a royal grandson."
"I'll keep it in mind."
Yet knowing it was Father's way of comforting and encouraging me, I bowed my head. He took immense pride in being a member of Giwangga, which contributed greatly to Daesong's founding, and as a descendant of Gi Chung Mu Wang. To him, my dedication to national duties served the realm, the people, and Giwangga—especially since I'd inherit Giwang's position someday.
Those who rule from on high must master state affairs and understand the people's lives. That was Father's creed and teaching.
"...Still, don't forget to send letters. You write to your fiancée religiously, but go radio silent on your parents."
"Ah, yes. I'll write often."
His follow-up jab left me sheepish with a wry smile. One more letter to write daily.
My dreamlike life in Kaepyeong had ended. A fleeting sweet dream, but I was content. By original schedule, I'd be in Gansu by now, not here—detoured to Kaepyeong under pretext of transporting tribute. Enjoying unbudgeted happiness was greed enough.
And in that brief time, Ak I-yeon had recovered. She'd fully purged the qi deviation's aftereffects and could resume her path as a martial artist.
The best time ever.
Short, but more fulfilling than any other. I'd have been satisfied even leaving after mere hours, not days.
"My lord."
"Yeah, speak."
Jo Wi-cheo's voice made it even more satisfying. Ak I-yeon's recovery gladdened me as a man; his realm breakthrough delighted me as an official. Next time we tangled with parakho scum, it'd feel less like manual hunting and more like an auto-clear sweep.
Super Peak puts him on par with most sect leaders or family heads.
Daesong's Twelve Great Masters were all Hwagyeong experts, and among them, only Shaolin's Abbot Hyun-seung and Wudang's leader Taegyeok Geomgong hailed from murim, not officialdom. Jo Wi-cheo had reached a level rivaling heads of major sects, excluding those two.
Subtleties like early, mid, or late Super Peak didn't matter. He had both the realm and state authority.
"Where to next, sir?"
I quelled my twitching lips at his question.
"Good question."
Where indeed? By plan, Gansu—but that assumed starting from Shaanxi. Departing from Zhili changed things. This provincial tour aimed to stir chaos in murim internals and foster government-friendly factions. Better prioritize over Gansu, which had scant murim presence.
Hubei, then?
I pulled up a mental map of the Central Plains. Adjacent to Zhili for easy access, teeming with murim sects ripe for disruption. Hubei fit perfectly.
Hubei...
Problem was, it had too many murim forces. Just the big ones I recalled numbered who-knows-how-many.
No middle ground anywhere.
I sighed unwittingly. Gansu ached from murim scarcity; Hubei from excess.
"...Hubei first."
No better option, so Hubei it was. Sure, murim overflowed there, but so did government-friendly sects.
Hubei. North of Dongting Lake—formerly Hyeongju. In chaos, a hotspot all warlords coveted; in peace, a rice basket thriving in agriculture, fishing, and mining. Its wealth spawned countless murim sects, including Wudangpa, one of righteous murim's twin giants.
Hence a king holds it down.
That tangle of factors prompted the court to appoint a king overseer. Impressive. Even Habuk, with Peng and Hengshan and Hang-san-pa, was a mere viper's nest; Hubei was hellish beyond that.
No wonder officials posted there caroused with friends beforehand, lamenting it as their last sane drink.
And I'm diving in willingly.
Not entirely—Jwa Do-eosa ordered nationwide tours, so Hubei was inevitable. I just accelerated it.
Thus, teary-eyed, to Hubei.
Something up?
Yangyang—border of Zhili and Hubei, seat of Yangyang Wang—greeted us with an eerie vibe. Muttering commoners, patrolling soldiers, wary glances at outsiders—
"Two men riding white deer side-by-side would draw stares from anyone."
Jo Wi-cheo dispelled my last doubt. Fair—I'd gawk too.
"Excuse me..."
As we scanned Yangyang's mood, a haggard official approached.
"Are you Left Vice Inspector General, my lord?"
"Yes."
He bowed hastily in salute.
"Honored to meet you, Left Vice Inspector General. I'm Jeong Dae-yu, serving at Yangyang Wang's residence by his grace."
Yangyang Wang's man, so I dismounted Kki-ing-i. His deferential tone suggested lower rank, but lording over a king's envoy was rude.
"Left Vice Inspector General Han Un. Delighted to meet a patriot aiding Yangyang Wang's Highness for Hubei's and the realm's peace."
"Aigoo, too kind. I'm humbled, sir."
His forced smile amid exhaustion and gloom stirred pity. Officials everywhere would ache seeing him feign cheer.
"What brings you?"
Best expedite—swift dispatch was my kindest act.
"Yangyang Wang summons you, sir."
Noticing my intent, his face brightened slightly.
Damn.
Now my turn to gloom. En route from Zhili to Hubei, courtesy dictated notifying Yangyang Wang—I was just passing his home. Skipping greetings lacked decorum. I'd expected notes on Hubei cautions or a quick quest from his office...
A face-to-face event instead.
"Any idea why?"
Stifling a sigh, I asked. Better know before facing a king.
"A clash between Wudangpa and the Je-gal family."
"What."
Hubei's top murim powers colliding bleached my mind. Maybe better ignorant.