Chapter 79: Non-Aggression Between Government and Martial World (3)
Chapter 79: Non-Aggression Between Government and Martial World (3)
"Slow down!! Slow down, I said!!"
"I’m already going really slow."
"Aaaaah—!!"
I was barely moving faster than a brisk walk, yet Ju Woo-rin wouldn't stop screaming.
As I ran using my lightness skill while holding the horse's reins, the stiffness in my body began to melt away. A person really needs to move to feel alive. I felt like I was going to die after being stuck in bed for the past few days.
"My back—! My back hurts!"
"That’s because you don't exercise enough."
I told her that sitting and staring at books all day is terrible for the lumbar spine. Horseback riding is actually great exercise.
Despite my advice, Ju Woo-rin remained plastered to the horse's neck, trembling uncontrollably. It couldn't be helped, really. A horse is a mode of transportation on a completely different level than a modern bike or scooter. It’s a living creature that thinks for itself and moves with its own muscles. If you aren't in sync with it... well.
Furthermore, if the rider is inexperienced, the horse starts becoming dreadfully stubborn. Horses are intelligent and quick-witted animals. If they realize the rider is afraid of them, they immediately get cocky and start running wild.
The only reason this one wasn't doing that was because I was the one holding the reins. This clever beast knew I was stronger than it.
"Shall we pick up the pace a bit?"
"I’ll die! I’m going to die! Wait, just a—!"
"I told you, if we waste too much time here, we won't reach our destination. Just bear with it for a bit."
"Aaaaaah!!"
We veered off the official road. We galloped across the autumn plains, the grass rustling beneath us.
The plains in the broad daylight—plains of an era without skyscrapers ruining the skyline or pollution blanketing the heavens—were as beautiful as a painting.
"Save me—!!"
It was a bit of a shame that Ju Woo-rin was huffing and puffing with her eyes squeezed shut, clinging to the horse for dear life. Maintaining my pace, I launched myself upward, kicked off the saddle, and landed behind her.
"Ack."
As I plopped down right behind her, Ju Woo-rin went stiff as a board. I looped the reins around her body and gave the horse’s rump a light pat as it snorted in dissatisfaction. Fortunately, the fellow found his rhythm again.
In that state, I pressed the reins into Ju Woo-rin’s hands.
"I—I can't! I can't do this!"
"It’s okay. It’s fine."
"What do you mean, 'fine'!! If you—if you really get off, I’ll—I’ll kill you!"
"Your speech is getting all mixed up."
She was losing her character.
Having apparently decided to abandon her refined vocabulary, a terrified Ju Woo-rin shrieked at me, tears even welling up in the corners of her eyes. I gripped the reins over her hands and nudged the horse’s flanks.
The horse let out a huffing sigh and began to gallop.
Soon, the wind was roaring past our ears. Ju Woo-rin didn't seem to notice. Unaware of how fast she was going or what the surroundings looked like, she simply clung to the horse's neck, shivering.
"Open your eyes."
"I said no!"
"You’ll really regret it. Trust me and open your eyes. Even if you tumble off right now without knowing how to break a fall, you won't die anyway. You saw it back then. Those Five Poisons Sect bastards couldn't even leave a scratch on me before they all died in a single move."
"Wh—what do you mean, 'couldn't leave a scratch'! I saved your dying hide!! I—I made a mistake! I should have just let you become a paraplegic!!"
"Wow, listen to her talk."
Now I’m pouting.
I immediately gave the horse another kick. The beast made its annoyance clear but didn't dare disobey, breaking into a full sprint. In truth, it had probably been a while since the horse had been able to run across a plain like this, so it wasn't being too difficult.
I didn't know how the Hao Clan had acquired it, but it was a well-trained warhorse. It was a reliable creature, capable of maintaining this speed stably even with two adults on its back.
Of course, Ju Woo-rin had no intention of trusting the animal. Dear me, does she not know that bonding with an animal begins with opening one's heart?
As if finally realizing the speed at which she was traveling, she let out a sharp cry and glared at me.
"You—you’re doing this on purpose, aren't you!"
"Yep."
"You... you wicked martial artist—"
"Look over there."
"Wh—what! Look at wha—"
As she shouted, Ju Woo-rin reflexively turned her head in the direction I was pointing.
The blue sky, the green fields, and the city of Beijing, which had already grown small in the distance. Even amidst the frantic swaying, there were the clouds floating serenely and the cool breeze brushing past her ears.
Faced with the speed that sent her hair flying wildly, Ju Woo-rin stared blankly at the sight for a long time. Only then did she relax her tension and sit up straight.
For a long while after that, we galloped across the plains in silence. Even when we slowed down to admire the fallen leaves of Mount Baekhwa or passed by mountain waterfalls, Ju Woo-rin didn't say a word.
I wondered if she was sulking, but that wasn't it. She was simply lost in thought, mesmerized by the mountains and fields.
When the horse finally started foaming at the mouth, I dismounted.
"Wa—wait. My legs. My legs have gone weak."
"Want a piggyback ride?"
"I think the sense of personal space among martial artists is a bit strange. Have you perhaps forgotten that I am a woman?"
"Ah, I forgot."
To be honest, what I saw was just a pretty, handsome man...
No, seriously, it wasn't that she looked like a woman who was good at cross-dressing; she looked like a 100% pure male. It was a disguise technique that even fooled the senses of a Super Peak master.
"..."
Ju Woo-rin looked at me as if I were pathetic before hopping off the saddle on her own. She landed before I could catch her and stood leaning against a nearby tree, her legs trembling like a newborn foal.
"Men are only ever dazzled by the colors they see..."
"No."
"Turn around."
"Huh?"
"I said turn around. Quickly."
As I turned toward the horse, I heard a rustling sound behind me. The sound of clothes brushing against each other. How long had it been? Just as I was starting to feel a bit bored...
"Stay still."
I heard footsteps approaching, treading on the fallen leaves of Mount Baekhwa. A light, small sound—rhythmic yet calm... the irregular steps of someone who hadn't learned martial footwork reached right behind my back.
And then, a soft rustle.
Along with the sound of sleeves fluttering in the wind, a pair of hands appeared in my field of vision.
"Eh?"
"Stay still."
They were slightly different hands than the ones I had seen before. A martial artist's eye instinctively checks the opponent's hands first. These were slender, snow-white hands that slowly descended over my eyes. There wasn't a single callus to be felt; they were clearly not the hands of a martial artist.
"Now, turn around."
I slowly turned my body. The hands covering my eyes followed my head, so I still couldn't see anything. I heard a soft, slightly nervous intake of breath.
Along with a rustling friction...
I heard the sound of something being bitten.
"Open your mouth."
"Tell me what's going on fir— mmpf."
"Hehe."
The moment I tried to grumble, something was forced into my mouth. Something sticky and slightly moist, so sweet it almost numbed my tongue.
It was a sugar-coated pill. A typical Beijing snack, boiled down in sugar and quickly fried.
It was the exact opposite of the time I had covered Ju Woo-rin’s eyes and fed her anti-poison wine. Without realizing it, I crunched down on the candy with my molars, just as she had with the wine.
Ju Woo-rin let out a small breath as she watched.
"Is your hunger somewhat appeased?"
"Mmm."
"Do not open your eyes."
Then she removed her hands. Feeling like I should do as I was told, I kept my eyes closed, and a small sigh reached my ears.
"You may open them now."
Her tone sounded somewhat dissatisfied for some reason.
I opened my eyes and looked ahead.
"Do I still look like a man to you?"
A woman stood there. She was smiling softly, playfully putting a fingertip stained with a piece of candy to her lips.
"Ju... Woo-rin?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
She was a woman as slender as a willow branch. As she stood there calmly tidying her hair scattered by the wind and looking my way, it was difficult to adjust. The scholar's robes of the Hanlin Academy suited her surprisingly well. I suppose fashion is more about the person wearing the clothes than the clothes themselves.
As I stared blankly, Ju Woo-rin laughed playfully and clapped her hands in front of my face.
"It is embarrassing to be stared at so intently. Do martial artists have no sense of etiquette?"
"No, uh... well. Sorry."
"Hehehe."
With nothing to say, I just rolled the candy around in my mouth, and she did the same with another piece.
She spoke with a coy expression.
"Are you going to just stand there? This is my first time leaving Beijing, and this is getting a bit dull."
"Hmm. Shall we explore Mount Baekhwa more?"
"No, take me somewhere where Beijing is visible."
"Huh?"
"Let us go somewhere where Beijing is beneath our feet. From this distance, it will surely look as small as a fingernail."
Having said that, she hopped onto the saddle and beckoned to me. She didn't seem afraid of the horse anymore; she even stroked its mane quite gently.
As I grabbed the reins and prepared to walk, she tugged on my sleeve and said, "What are you doing? We are wasting time. Get up here."
"Uh..."
"Are you acting shy now? Hehe."
No. It’s just, uh.
I hadn't really thought about it. Seriously. I’m really not that kind of person. I just felt a bit caught off guard.
Hmm.
"Hurry and get up!"
And so, I awkwardly sat behind her and took the reins. The horse slowly climbed the mountain path of Mount Baekhwa.
"Yes, this is what I wanted to see."
Before we knew it, evening began to fall. As the sun dipped, the plains seemed to burn brilliantly. The people of the Central Plains call this sight Hwa (splendor), and the region where such fields gather is named Hebei.
Far below the cliff, Beijing was visible. Just as she said, it looked as small as a fingernail.
Ju Woo-rin, munching on her candy, reached out toward the city and then clenched her fist tight.
"Where will you head next?"
"Well, I think I’ll go to Wuchang in the winter."
"Why? Is that not the stronghold of the Orthodox Martial Alliance?"
"It is, but I’ve been invited there."
Murong Cheong—that young lady said she’d come all the way to Tianjin, and if I don't go, I feel like I’ll definitely die in some ditch this time. I don't know if she’s just lost all sense of fear, but it’s a shame I couldn't stop her from coming alone to Tianjin, which is in chaos because of the White Lotus Cult incident.
Anyway, I’m curious. It’s the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, after all. The flower of wuxia novels. They even award titles like 'Dragon' or 'Phoenix' there.
"You live a busy life."
"I suppose so."
"Will you not ask about me?"
"You’ll probably go to the office at dawn and leave at dawn."
"Hehe, yes. I suppose I will. Just like before."
Ju Woo-rin grinned and took out a new piece of candy. She stared at it for a moment before suddenly shoving it into my mouth. She swallowed the sugar crystals left on her fingertips and continued.
"But I think I’ll be fine now."
"That’s good to hear. Why?"
"Because I don't think that Beijing fortress will feel so suffocating anymore. Now that I know how small and trivial it is, and that the people crowded inside are nothing more than puppets... what is the point of being afraid?"
"Like riding a horse?"
"Yes, like riding a horse. If you open your eyes and straighten your back, you realize how vast the world is."
Ju Woo-rin said this, patted her trousers, and stood up.
"Let’s go. I think I can sleep peacefully tonight."
Then, she bit down on the candy like it was anti-poison wine and climbed onto the saddle.
Ju Woo-rin fidgeted behind the saddle as if doing something. Soon, a cold sensation washed over me, and the presence behind my back changed.
Being this close, I could tell. This was a technique belonging to the realm of sorcery. It wasn't a disguise through internal energy, but more like a legendary fox spirit transforming into Daji. It was a technique so profound that even my ocular techniques couldn't detect it.
Well, I suppose one would need that level of skill to go to the Imperial Palace every day without their identity being discovered.
"Shall we have one last drink?"
"Sounds good."
With those words, Ju Woo-rin fell back into a long silence. We entered Beijing and found a tavern along the main road of Gwanggeomun.
"Pe—Young Master Peng?! What brings you to such a humble place...!"
"It would be a problem if it were humble. My family puts quite a bit of care into this place."
"Ha... haha! My mouth is my enemy! Please, come in! So-hyang! Attend to our VIP!"
I chose a tavern run by my family. Most of the taverns near Gwanggeomun were our family's businesses, and this one in particular was a place my other brothers didn't frequent.
In any case, both Ju Woo-rin and I had to be careful with every breath we took. Weren't we a pair of rebels?
"No need for service. I am here to catch up with a friend today, so just bring some snacks and leave us be for a while."
"Yes, of course, Young Master!"
The middle-aged manager, sweating profusely, guided us and then withdrew. Seeing that, Ju Woo-rin let out a giggle.
"You’re quite adept at this. Do you come here often?"
"This is just how my family business works."
"You seem to have completely forgotten what I told you before. Do you remember? I said this isn't a good place for a gentleman to keep company."
"What can I do? I’m the only gentleman in this family."
"Haha!"
Ju Woo-rin burst into clear laughter and picked up the wine bottle. She poured a drink into the cup in front of her and handed the bottle to me.
As I poured my own drink, Ju Woo-rin spoke.
"Hyeon-hwi."
"Yeah?"
Ju Woo-rin toyed with her wine cup. She hesitated for a moment, then squeezed her eyes shut and downed the drink in one gulp. In that state, without even opening her eyes, she spoke.
"The proposal I made to you is still valid."
"Proposal?"
"If I help you become the head of the Peng family, and through that, you help me... if I eventually ascend to the throne of the Son of Heaven."
She would give me the position of 'Below One Person, Above Ten Thousand.' If I wanted wealth, she would give me wealth; if I wanted fame, she would give me a royal title; if I wanted land, she would give me a vast territory rivaling that of a prince's estate.
It was a deal. She would help me seize everything in the Hebei Peng Family. In return, I would use everything in the Hebei Peng Family to help her seize everything under heaven.
Ju Woo-rin opened her eyes.
"Would you like to hear another proposal?"
"Go ahead."
"Stay by my side."
Ju Woo-rin’s gaze was flushed.
"Not as the head of the Peng family, and not as a martial artist. Just stay by my side."
"Then I wouldn't be of much use to you."
"No."
She spoke as she poured another drink.
"I wanted you for those reasons before, but not anymore. What I want from you is simply a friend to gallop across those Hebei plains with, and a hand to cast a shadow over my eyes in the sunlight."
She kept her gaze firmly fixed on my hand.
"So, stay by my side. That is my other proposal."
"That’s not a very balanced trade."
The previous deal was predicated on me becoming the family head. In other words, it was a kind of down payment—becoming the head of the Hebei Peng Family to help her with martial force from the shadows. It meant the Qingliu faction would provide all possible support in Beijing until I ascended to that position.
Her second proposal promised me nothing.
Understanding the meaning, Ju Woo-rin looked at me and raised her cup.
"Even if I ascend to the throne in the future, I cannot promise you anything 'official'."
"..."
Of course. She has to live as a man, and as such, she must take concubines to produce an heir. She would have to secretly bring in a man from a branch of the imperial family to pair with her 'concubines.' That was the cage she was born into. It was an inescapable fate.
However.
"I will give you all of my 'unofficial' things."
It wasn't the martial power of the Peng family. It wasn't the ruler of the Black Path who was closest to Beijing and could control the martial artists and commoners of Hebei. It was as if she desired me as a person... Peng Hyeon-hwi himself.
Ju Woo-rin was looking at me with reddened eyes.
"Well water does not invade river water. Haha, yes. I can even leave a clause of 'Non-Aggression between Government and Martial World' in the Great Ming Code. I will apply it to all the sects, gangs, and families whose names are recorded in the code. I promise. I will leave the name of the Peng family in the highest place so that it may endure throughout this country's history."
Ju Woo-rin said this and raised her cup.
"In exchange for that price, I demand you. Do not become the head of the Peng family. Stay by my side. Live with me... in the shadows of the Forbidden City."
Born in hell and forced to live there every waking moment, she had now seen the world outside. And as she was about to be dragged back into that hell, she looked at me with an expression that said she could no longer bear the loneliness and pain of surviving alone in that deep quagmire.
She didn't want the martial power of the Hebei Peng Family. She didn't want the authority of the Peng family head. She simply wanted a person named Peng Hyeon-hwi to live with her in that thick darkness. Not as a useful subordinate, but as a companion.
Listening to Ju Woo-rin, I closed my eyes for a moment. If I had a status window, wouldn't it be noisily alerting me that a new quest had appeared by now?
Ta-da! New Route: The Second-in-Command of the Imperial Palace!
It would be an attractive choice. To reign as a powerful figure over all under heaven after overcoming hardships and adversity.
But that was not my dream.
"Shouldn't you say such things only after you've ascended the throne?"
"After that, I might not need you anymore."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"Well, ten years at the latest."
Beyond the open window, far away. The Forbidden City at dusk overlooked the city. I looked at the shadow of the Forbidden City and smiled.
"Won't you need me even more then?"
"Do you think you can even become the family head within ten years? How arrogant."
"Could I possibly be more arrogant than someone who intends to become Emperor?"
"Haha! Yes, you are right. Yes... 'we' are arrogant. You and I are quite the arrogant pair."
What each of us desired was the highest point visible from our respective positions. So, despite our completely different births, personalities, and situations, we couldn't help but be the most alike.
Therefore. Because we clearly understood what the other desired and what the other would do. Because we understood each other more deeply than anyone else...
We could walk together, but we could never look at the same place. We could be bystanders wishing for each other's success, but we could never be companions.
Ju Woo-rin turned her gaze away, her face flushed from the alcohol, and spoke.
"I would risk my life for my goal. That is how I have lived, and that is how I will live. Without a single regret."
"I’m sure you will."
When I answered like that, she glared at me with an expression that said I was insufferable. She muttered something to herself and then tossed a word at me.
"That was a good drink."
"You’re leaving already?"
"I intend to spend the remaining time in my garden. You should head back now. No need to see me off."
"Yeah, it was fun."
"...It was fun."
She stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, "At least give me one day every month or so."
"I can't promise that."
"No, promise me. Even if you are too busy to stop by Beijing, at least think of Beijing on that day."
"How are you going to check?"
"Send a letter, you fool!"
I finished the rest of the wine and asked as I stood up, "As a friend?"
"...Yes. As a friend."
With those final words, Ju Woo-rin threw on her cloak and left abruptly. Because I understood what she had just tried to say and what her intentions were, I didn't try to stop her.
I just turned her down.
That was her own suppressed way of confessing. And as always, I ended up being the one to do the rejecting.
The taste in my mouth was bitter, so I looked at the table. The cup at Ju Woo-rin’s place was still full, without a single trace of having been drunk.
Ju Woo-rin smiled bitterly on her way back to her residence. In the distance, the Forbidden City drew closer and closer.
The Forbidden City had seemed so small and insignificant when she viewed it while galloping across the plains, yet looking up from beneath its shadow, it was so massive and grand—
And the watchtowers of Guangqumen, catching the sunset’s glow head-on, sparkled with such breathtaking radiance.
Beyond that.
The golden fields of the North China Plain, stretching out past the massive gate tower of Guangqumen, were truly...
Truly beautiful.
That was why she had almost let those words slip.
To plot for that Forbidden City, she could stake her very life.
But, if she could only gallop across those plains with him... she felt she could throw that life away.
Some words evaporate so lightly the moment they leave the lips.
So she had pressed her mouth tight against the urge to speak, not even taking a single sip of wine for fear her lips might part of their own accord.
Feeling as though she had crossed a line, she muttered to herself as she walked away alone.
"I got dumped."
*
It happened that night.
"Wait, what is this?"
I was warming up a bit at Purple Tiger Hall, having returned after a long time.
"Is this for real?"
The words escaped me before I could think.
My body felt strange.
It was, how should I put it...
"I can feel my Middle Dantian?"
I might have just become a master who looks down upon the world.