Chapter 77: Non-Interference Between Government and Martial World (1)
Chapter 77: Non-Interference Between Government and Martial World (1)
"Now, drink this all down. That’s it. Good boy."
As I gulped down the pitch-black herbal medicine offered by an old man I’d never seen before, Ju Woo-rin approached and handed me a sugar-coated pill.
"It must be bitter. Eat this."
"I’m not some seven-year-old kid..."
I took it anyway since she gave it to me. It was sweet.
"Now, give me your hand."
This time, a man from the Tang family, who was wearing a very warm smile on the other side, took my arm.
In an instant, several gold needles were pricked into my skin, and a warm internal energy began to seep through them.
"Truly strange. Is it his constitution...? Immunity to All Poisons? No, seeing as there was a poisoning process, perhaps his detoxification ability is simply extraordinary. Hmm..."
The man muttered to himself for a moment before pulling his hand away.
"There’s no trace of the Heavenly Silkworm Purple Blood Tear. I’ve watched over him for three days and nights, yet I can’t feel even a shred of poison. I personally neutralized the poison from the Five Poisons Sect, so I’m certain of that, but the case of the Heavenly Silkworm Purple Blood Tear is incomprehensible."
"There were no signs of damage to his True Qi either. Is that correct?"
"Indeed. The flow of True Qi in both his positive and negative meridians is continuous and unbroken. In fact, he’s as robust as a martial artist who has mastered external arts."
"That is what it means to be of the Peng family’s direct lineage. Ho-ho, I’m glad to see you’ve regained your health. Now this old man can leave with a light heart."
"Thank you for your help, Elder."
"It was nothing. My friendship with this lad from the Tang family is not small, so this much was as easy as flipping one's hand."
The old man stood up with a warm smile.
I heard that this man was Elder Seo, a member of the Imperial Medical Bureau, who had been urgently invited and had looked after me for several days while I was unconscious.
"I’ll leave the prescription behind, so make sure to take the medicine every day for the next fifteen days, young man of the Peng family."
"I, Peng, have received a great favor."
"I’m glad you think so. There aren't many opportunities to do a favor for the Peng family. Ho-ho-ho."
Elder Seo left the room with a chuckle.
In the room, which was heated a bit excessively, Tang Mok-han was still looking at me with a subtle expression.
"You."
"Yes?"
"Once you’re fully recovered, would you like to come to the Tang Family Estate with me?"
"Huh...?"
Why do my friends from the Orthodox Faction always try to take me to dangerous places?
"I want to confirm whether this is due to your constitution, a coincidence, or some other factor."
"No thanks."
Is he trying to use me as a lab rat?
"Hmm. No, I suppose not. If I took you, those old monsters of the Peng family would probably try to tear us limb from limb. What a pity."
"A pity indeed. Haha."
"Right. Anyway..."
Tang Mok-han removed all the needles from my arm, nodded as he carefully examined the droplets of blood on the tips, and then packed his needle case. He stepped back and suddenly knelt on one knee.
"Uh, Senior?"
"We owe you a great debt, Young Master."
"Senior, this is making me very uncomfortable..."
"Whenever and at whatever time you enter Chengdu, Sichuan, our family will treat you as our greatest benefactor."
"I get it, so please stand up."
"Thank you, truly, thank you...!"
After a long struggle, Tang Mok-han finally left, looking slightly tearful.
Over the past few days, at least Baek Seo-ui, Ju Woo-rin, and Tang Mok-han had heard the full story of the incident from me.
The fact that the Gu poison of the Five Poisons Sect had almost spread throughout Beijing.
The scheme of the Five Poisons Sect that took advantage of the Western Depot’s attempted rebellion.
The annihilation of the Western Depot’s main martial artists and the disposal of the Five Poisons Sect’s Gu poison.
Now, the only Gu poison remaining with the officials in Beijing was...
"The martial arts of the Murim are truly mysterious. To think that once the Mother Gu dies and the control is lost, the Child Gu would naturally melt and die inside the body."
"And you still have no idea when you were poisoned?"
"Well, unfortunately, no. We often work late into the night, so if a Gu egg was in the food we ate then, there’s no way we would have noticed."
"I suppose so."
Who would thoroughly check the ingredients of a snack eaten during overtime? You’re tired, so you just fill up on calories first.
"The entire Qingliu faction has been in an uproar over this incident."
"Haven't you been away from the office for several days? Is it okay?"
"I have a mountain of desire to just resign like this... but I’ve stepped back after saying I need to rest for fifteen days due to an illness. In truth, what illness could be more toxic than Gu poison?"
As she spoke, Ju Woo-rin rummaged through the bundle Tang Mok-han had left behind.
From the pouch came several items, including bright yellow gold pieces and a Tang family plaque, as well as the Anti-Poison Wine, which had completely regained its color.
As expected of the Great Sichuan Tang Family, who are thorough in both favors and grudges.
One of those gold pieces was worth seven strings of silver, or seven taels. He had left several of them, enough to fill a small box even if they were silver.
To put it in easily understandable terms, he had just donated several hundred million won.
And if you add several hidden weapons from the Tang family’s signature line and the special Anti-Poison Wine...
Elder Tang Mok-han truly has the air of a Great Hero.
Just then, Ju Woo-rin placed her finger on the Anti-Poison Wine and hesitated.
"Come to think of it, Hwi."
"Yeah?"
"This thing called Anti-Poison Wine."
"Yeah."
"You’re supposed to use it by holding it in your mouth, right?"
"Right?"
"Hmuuuuuu."
She then looked at me with a playful, narrow-eyed gaze.
"Hmuuuuuu."
I think she heard something. From that ungrateful and shameless Sichuan hillbilly, Tang Mok-han.
"Hmuuuuuu."
I looked at the smirking Ju Woo-rin and had to force myself to turn my head away.
Those wicked Orthodox Faction rascals.
*
29. Non-Interference Between Government and Martial World.
Tang Mok-han glanced back at the receding outer walls of Beijing on his way to Sichuan.
With a feeling of, My, what a massive fortress.
That was where the high battlements stood, and even higher than those, the Forbidden City looked down clearly upon the world.
Those massive structures, so imposing it was hard to imagine they were man-made, cast long shadows over the city.
And beneath those shadows, countless insects would be swarming.
In the dampest and darkest earth, the lowliest insects. Even more dismal than the Tang family’s Hall of Ten Thousand Poisons.
"...Pavilion Lord."
"Hmm?"
"Will you be alright?"
"About what?"
the middle-aged man walking beside him asked cautiously. He was a grateful family retainer who had followed him all the way to Beijing. He was the one who had carefully examined the Young Master of the Peng family when he collapsed and prepared his medicine.
When Tang Mok-han asked back, the man finally chose his words.
"Peng... the Young Master’s constitution was extraordinary. No matter how great a favor we owe him, he is a man destined to become a Great Demon of the Black Path Demonic Alliance. His constitution will surely be a great threat to the Tang family—"
"You must act with caution."
"Pavilion Lord."
"Do you intend to violate our family’s mottos and laws yourself?"
Never forget a favor or a grudge (Baoen Xuechou). Like a monolith standing tall through a thousand years of wind and waves.
The Tang family does not forget.
They repay even the most trivial merit twofold and carve even the smallest grudge into their bones.
That was the law of the Tang family, and the conviction that had maintained the Sichuan Tang Clan as an Orthodox sect.
Peng Hyeon-hwi had clearly saved the future of the Tang family.
He had rescued the eldest Young Master of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
They had found and collected the remains of the Child Gu and Mother Gu from the ruins left by the martial artists of the Five Poisons Sect, and it wouldn't be difficult to research them and synthesize a detoxification method.
Therefore, this favor was one that could never be forgotten. Even if Peng Hyeon-hwi’s constitution was...
"However, Pavilion Lord. The 36 Heavenly Stars will bring great calamity to the Martial World..."
"Shh."
Tang Mok-han glared at the retainer, even letting out a hint of killing intent.
"Do not speak recklessly of things that are not certain!"
"I-I apologize, Pavilion Lord!"
"Forget it. If I hear of Young Master Peng’s business from anywhere else, I will surely punish you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes!"
Ignoring the terrified retainer who had shut his mouth, Tang Mok-han gripped the horse's reins again.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling of that word sticking in his mind and whispering to him.
Suddenly, Tang Mok-han looked up at the sky, searching for the stars that would be somewhere up there.
Occasionally, those born with the destiny of the stars are born upon this earth.
Heavenly Star, Heavenly Killer Star, Heavenly Solitude Star, Heavenly Chief Star, Heavenly Prestige Star, Heavenly Defeat Star, Heavenly Hero Star...
As the Taoists say, the 108 Demon Lords who ascended to the heavens and look down upon the earth.
As is often the case with such myths and legends, it might be nothing more than a far-fetched story, yet traces of such individuals can easily be found throughout history.
He hadn't had the chance to confirm which one the boy was born under.
But the moment he saw the traces of the broken life-source, shattered by the Heavenly Silkworm Purple Blood Tear, knitting itself back together, Tang Mok-han had realized it for himself.
I only hope he does not lose that heart of his.
He suppressed the chilling sensation and shook off his idle thoughts.
*
Baek Seo-ui poured tea into a cup with a solemn etiquette that was like a painting.
The fragrance of the clear White Hair Silver Needle tea filled the VIP room of the gisaeng house.
Trickle. The teacup filled, and he offered it again according to etiquette.
With a respectful attitude, as if presenting a tribute.
The old man sitting across from him lightly picked it up.
"Good tea."
"I’m glad it’s to your liking."
Deep wrinkles and deep-set eyes. Hair that had turned pure white.
Yet, beneath that, his face was smooth without even a trace of a beard, creating a strange, clean-shaven look.
A voice so thin it was unpleasant to hear flowed from the old man’s mouth again.
"We are people who always keep the concept of 'Righteousness' (Zheng) by our pillows."
"..."
"That is the final line permitted to us. For people like you... well, you might wonder if there is any 'Righteousness' in what we do, but nevertheless, there is a Righteous Path in the world, and it is only one. To put it another way, it is unique and peerless. What do you think that is?"
The old man set the teacup down without drinking.
"It is His Imperial Majesty. The only one in the world, the Supreme Master of the world—what he commands is our only Righteous Path. And what that means, in turn, is that as long as we do not cross that path, we are qualified to govern everything bestowed upon us by the Son of Heaven."
His Imperial Majesty, who sits at the highest point in the world.
And those who are his eyes, his mouth, sometimes his ears, and again, occasionally, his hands.
In short, it referred to the Eunuch Bureau.
They possess the authority over everything the Emperor permits.
No one could argue against this.
Who could object to a master reaching out to take his own property?
The world belongs to the Emperor, and they are the Emperor’s hands.
The old man said this as he looked at Baek Seo-ui.
"Now, when we discuss this matter, is there any reason for us to show consideration for you?"
"..."
Baek Seo-ui looked at the old man calmly.
His mouth spoke of nothing but loyalty, but Baek Seo-ui already knew the circumstances behind his secret alliance with the Five Poisons Sect to prepare for a rebellion.
That was why a powerful man of such high rank as this old man wanted to directly meet the representative of lowly people like the Hao Clan.
To see how much they knew. How they intended to use that knowledge.
Which side they would lean on. Whether they could be used, and if not, how to pull them out by the roots.
Looking at the old eunuch, Baek Seo-ui opened his mouth.
"The eccentrics of the Southern Barbarians dared to plot treason."
"..."
"We merely tracked them, thwarted their scheme, and buried it beneath the earth once more."
They handled it so that no one would know.
And they had no intention of telling anyone.
"The Gu poison they utilized is a forbidden item subject to the ultimate penalty under the Great Ming Code. As the situation was urgent, we dared to perform the state’s duty on its behalf, but fortunately, it was concluded without any particular disturbance... I wonder if you could be so generous as to understand it in that light."
"I have heard much about the Hao Clan."
"If that is the case, you must know that we collect stories."
Baek Seo-ui lifted his teacup and moistened his lips.
"We merely collect them."
"And you do not use them?"
"Yes, sometimes. Isn't it enough to simply hold onto certain stories?"
"Only fools try to swallow things that exceed their station."
"Indeed. Therefore, I would like to make one request of you, Great One."
"Speak."
Baek Seo-ui set down his teacup and looked at the old man.
After a long moment, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Well water does not invade river water (Jingshui bu fan heshui). Would you consider this our Righteous Path?"
"How dare you...!! How dare you say such words before me?"
The old man’s brow furrowed fiercely.
Well water does not invade river water. In other words, it meant that those who are not martial artists should not interfere in the affairs of the Martial World.
And that was something nearly impossible in this city of Beijing.
How could it be otherwise? One could not simply allow armed warriors to roam freely in front of the Imperial Palace; it was no different from directly challenging the Emperor’s authority.
However, Baek Seo-ui continued, undeterred by the old man’s wrath.
"If you would be so generous as to grant this, the stories regarding you will never be revealed by our sect."
"That alone does not balance the scales."
"Then what would you have us do?"
"The Western Depot... will surely be established. We will no longer attempt it in secret as we have until now. If your leader directly assists in this matter, I will ensure that your arrogant words can be recorded for generations to come."
"I will inform the Clan Leader."
Only then did the old man’s brow relax as Baek Seo-ui bowed respectfully.
If the Hao Clan Leader, famous as one of the Fifteen Lords of the Central Plains, directly assisted in the reconstruction of the Western Depot, there would be no need to worry about the Qingliu faction or the recently disobedient Eastern Depot.
The losses incurred this time could be offset by the gains that followed.
When the world changed, he could uproot the Peng family, the Hao Clan, and all the other riffraff who had stood in his way.
The old man sipped his tea, moistened his lips, and stood up.
"Then I shall look forward to your reply."
"Safe travels, Great One."
The Imperial Palace Eunuch Bureau. The pinnacle of the Twenty-Four Offices. The Directorate of Ceremonial.
The confidant of the Noble Consort, said to be one of the top three within that organization.
The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses, Wang Jik.
He gave a sidelong glance at the bowing Baek Seo-ui before leaving the gisaeng house and heading toward the Imperial Palace.
"Brother, will the Eldest Sister permit this?"
"Certainly not."
"Then...?"
"We’ll have to close down our operations in Beijing for a while. If we get any more deeply involved, it’ll be hard to guarantee the lives of our disciples, regardless of how things turn out."
"Ugh... this is why I hate Beijing."
As Dan So-hye grumbled with a frown, Baek Seo-ui laughed brightly.
"If they were trying to establish the organization without the Imperial family’s authorization as they have until now, we could have done something, but as Lord Wang said, if they’re going to establish it officially from now on, it’s no longer a matter of the Martial World. We have no choice but to warn the Qingliu faction and withdraw."
"Until when? If we give up on Beijing forever... honestly, it seems like we’ll have no way to get information from the Six Ministries."
"It won't be that long."
Baek Seo-ui flicked his finger, turning the cup Wang Jik had drunk from into powder, and then wiped his hands on a towel.
As if something dirty had touched them.
"And when that day comes, the government will no longer be able to interfere in the affairs of the Martial World."
On the day Ju Woo-rin ascends to the throne, she won't be able to ignore the only martial arts sect that supported her most closely.
Hadn't they handled many tasks on her behalf that would qualify them as founding contributors?
So then, the Martial World would finally be able to dream of its own world, free from the domain of the government.
If one had to give it a name, what should it be?
"Non-interference between government and martial world."
So unstylishly, without any metaphor.
And thus, with even more simple and plain words.
"Tell Brother Peng as well. Tell him not to stop by Beijing for a while. If Lord Wang finds out he’s been tricked, he’ll try to uproot the Hao Clan from Beijing."
"But his home is in Beijing?"
"Even if Wang Jik is a powerful official, would he dare to plot against the walls of the Hebei Peng Family without a justification? He’ll be more than happy to just ignore them as long as the Bloodhound Asura is sitting there quietly. Don't worry."
"Brother Peng is going to be wandering around far-off lands for a while."
"A direct disciple of the Eldest Sister is supposed to live that kind of life. After experiencing the vastness of the world and the hardships of the common people beneath it, won't he be reborn as a fine member of the Hao Clan?"
Baek Seo-ui left the room with a chuckle.
And at that moment, Peng Hyeon-hwi was...
"No, why are you so good at this?"
"Hehe, didn't you know that playing Go is included among the virtues of a scholar?"
"I remember the Master telling us not to waste time on things like Go."
"He said it’s better to play Go than to do nothing at all. Your learning is shallow. Is it because you quit your studies after the county exams?"
"Hey, if I had really been serious, I would have taken first place in the provincial, metropolitan, and palace exams."
"Hahaha! That would have been interesting. I wouldn't have been bored."
He was playing Go.