Chapter 251
Chapter 251
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Rescuing a Brother-in-Law (2)
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Myosan.
Myo Hyang's only sibling. He and I weren't particularly close, but I still had some good memories of him.
Myosan had also done odd jobs and studied at the West Wing of the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, so we would often run into each other.
Whenever we did, he'd ask how his sister was doing, and we'd exchange a few words.
Sometimes, when I was training in the empty lot of the West Wing, he would bring me rice balls and tea.
‘I heard you have to eat a lot if you move a lot. Eat up and keep going.’
Looking back now, I think he was just trying to look out for me since we were the same age.
In any case, as years passed and he came of age, Myosan left to study in Nanjing, the emperor's residence, with Myo Hyang's full support.
He continued to work hard and passed the state examination the year before last. I heard he was now serving as a Compiler of the seventh rank in the Hanlin Academy.
Although being a government official wasn't what it used to be, it was one of the greatest achievements an orphan could hope for.
And now, suddenly, we couldn't contact him.
‘That bastard… Don't tell me.’
Did he get successful and decide to ignore his own sister?
For a moment, I imagined a scenario straight out of a melodrama, but I quickly shook my head.
‘Don't get too close to my sister.’
‘Hey, it's not me clinging to her, it's your sister clinging to me.’
‘Still, don't cling.’
He was the kind of guy who'd doted on his sister since they were kids.
For a guy like that to not reply to a letter announcing his sister's marriage was unthinkable.
‘No matter how I think about it, this is strange…’
I wondered if the Gugutok message had failed to send, but Myo Hyang said she'd already sent it five times.
No matter how bird-brained the Gugutok software was, at least one of those should have arrived.
In other words, Myosan was either too busy to reply, or something had happened to him.
‘I'll have to ask the Open Gate.’
* * *
One day, as I was spending my time comforting Myo Hyang, whose worries deepened with each passing day, I received a message from the bald guy.
*Bang!*
"What happened?"
"Could you please not break down my door?"
"That's not what's important right now."
Yong Ma-san sighed and handed me a letter.
"Here."
"..."
The letter's contents were as follows.
A rebellion had recently broken out in Nanjing and been suppressed, and Myosan's name was on the list of traitors.
Furthermore, the emperor himself was investigating the incident, and the executions would be carried out as soon as the investigation was complete.
"Son of a bitch."
*Crumple.*
I unknowingly clenched my fist, crumpling the paper.
There was no way a guy like Myosan, who had no backing, let alone a decent family, would get involved in treason.
He must have been caught in some kind of scheme.
The Imperial Palace had always been a world overflowing with dark intrigues.
"What do you plan to do?"
There was nothing to think about.
"I have to save him."
"It won't be easy."
He wasn't wrong.
Even if the imperial family had lost its power, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, where Nanjing was located, were under the emperor's direct control. Ten thousand Imperial Guards protected it like an iron fortress.
Moreover, Nanjing was at the eastern edge of the land, far beyond the reach of the Nine Dragons Fortress in the west.
Conversely, the Imperial Palace couldn't exert its influence this far west either.
"I'll drag him out even if I have to grab the emperor by the throat."
"No matter how skilled you are, Hall Master Jin, invading the Imperial Palace is a dangerous act."
"The Imperial Guard is no match for me."
"Even if you get past the Imperial Guard, there are a hundred members of the Golden Shadow Guard, the unit that protects the palace. I've heard they possess a fighting force comparable to a major sect."
"They're still just a bunch of dogs licking the emperor's ass."
"The former commander of those dogs was none other than the Iron-Blooded Hegemon. He may be a fugitive living under a false accusation now, but it's a well-known story that he trained many masters like himself during his time with the Golden Shadow Guard."
"Seriously?"
Why was that old man so diligent in his youth? He's just a lazy middle-aged man now.
He's truly no help at all.
"The only way is to mobilize the forces of the War King Sect..."
"How so?"
"We'll disguise ourselves as a merchant caravan, infiltrate the capital, and then storm the place to rescue him. After that, we'll escape on horseback; they won't be able to catch us."
"...Have you forgotten the Lion's League is right next door? If you get caught, annihilation will be unavoidable."
"Dammit."
In that case, a direct assault is the only option.
"...Right, where is he being held?"
"They say he's in the prison right next to the Imperial Palace. This isn't confirmed information, so I'm having it double-checked."
"Then I won't have to climb over any walls..."
"...You're really going to do it."
"There's no other way. He's my future wife's only sibling."
"I knew Lady Myo would be involved."
The bald guy nodded, his eyes filled with resolve.
"Very well. I will help. I'll gather all the Open Gate informants in the area and send them to Nanjing."
"So you weren't planning on helping me before? Where's your conscience?"
"..."
And so, Yong Ma-san and I spent the entire night planning our strategy.
* * *
The next morning, at dawn.
"You're back?"
After a night of discussion, I returned to find Myo Hyang waiting up for me.
"You've been waiting all this time?"
"How could I possibly sleep when my husband hasn't returned?"
"Heheh. Looks like I've found myself a good wife."
"Then you'd better treat me well from now on."
"Of course, I will."
Myo Hyang took my coat and asked, her eyes filled with worry.
"Still... no news?"
"...Not yet. Yong Ma-san is looking into it from all angles, so let's just wait a little longer. He's a seventh-rank Compiler, for goodness' sake. I'm sure he's fine."
"Of course."
As I spoke with feigned nonchalance, she smiled, looking slightly relieved.
"You must be tired. Let's get to sleep."
"Yes."
An hour after we lay down in bed together.
I looked down at Myo Hyang, who had fallen fast asleep.
He is my future wife's only sibling. I can't let him die, no matter what.
I can't let her be heartbroken right from the start of our marriage.
"I'll be back."
Leaving her side, I went outside to find the Fifth Lord, U Je-jun, and the Deputy Lord, Sama Heun, waiting for me.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this unnecessary business."
"This concerns the future mistress of the War King Sect. It is no different from the sect's own affairs."
"Thank you."
"Not at all."
"I'll explain the details on the way."
"Yes, sir."
The plan was simple.
Infiltrate Nanjing with a minimal team, break into the prison with the help of the Open Gate, cause a ruckus, and get Myosan out.
Of course, it was problematic for me, the Lord's only disciple and the Hall Master of the War Dragon Hall, to go myself.
Considering our relationship with the Lion's League, getting captured would be a disaster of epic proportions.
Yong Ma-san had also expressed considerable concern.
‘Hall Master Jin, you are the Lord's disciple. If something were to happen to you, the entire Nine Dragons Fortress would be shaken. How about sending a trustworthy master to handle it instead?’
However, the War King Sect's forces were all gathered in Hanzhong. Even if I sent a carrier pigeon, it would take ages for them to get here.
It would be different if he were caught up in something else, but this was a case of treason.
With no telling when Myosan might be executed, going myself was the fastest option.
*Thud-thud-thud-thud.*
*Hee-hee-hing!*
Just then, the sun began to peek over the eastern horizon, illuminating the world.
* * *
The journey was smooth.
Along the way, we received help from the Open Gate, taking deserted roads to make swift progress.
The Open Gate even arranged for a boat to take us down the Yangtze River as soon as we entered Hubei.
It was the fastest way to travel from the west of the Central Plains to the east.
Seven days and nights later.
Our boat docked at a port near Huixian in Anhui Province.
"At the Nanjing port, they inspect everyone who disembarks. If you don't have an ID tablet, you'll be arrested on the spot, so you must travel by land from here."
"Where should we go?"
"Our brothers will be waiting for you, Hall Master, outside the south gate of Nanjing. You should be able to get help from them."
"Good work."
As a token of my gratitude, I took out a piece of gold from my robes and offered it to the boatman, but he waved his hands and refused.
"I was only following the Gate's orders. I cannot accept personal payment."
"Take it. Even though your master and I are friends, I should still pay for using your people. If you really don't want it, use it to buy a drink for the colleagues who helped with this operation."
"...Thank you."
Leaving the boatman behind, I turned to see that U Je-jun and Sama Heun had already led the horses down to the pier.
*Hee-hee-hing—*
Whitey, my horse, neighed happily as his hooves touched solid ground.
"Let's go."
* * *
A wide, flat road, the likes of which were rarely seen in the martial world.
This was the road to Nanjing, the capital of the current empire and of previous dynasties.
Even though the emperor had been reduced to a mere figurehead, the atmosphere was tense due to the recent rebellion against him.
For example.
*Clank. Clank.*
The Imperial Guard patrolled the roads.
"Halt."
"Yes?"
"You look like martial artists... Where are you headed?"
"We're on our way to visit a relative nearby."
"Don't even think about causing any trouble."
"We'll keep that in mind."
Their attitude was somewhat coercive, but Sama Heun, who had extensive experience wandering the Central Plains, handled the guards skillfully, as if it were nothing.
Meanwhile, watching them, I understood why the current imperial family had lost its power.
‘So this is why…’
It was a timeless truth that the mindset of those at the top trickles down to those at the bottom.
The fact that these underlings treated us with such disdain was proof that their superiors looked down on martial artists.
They should be actively recruiting talented individuals to rebuild the nation, but instead, they ostracized them. No wonder they weren't making any progress.
After that, we were stopped for inspection several more times.
Some of them blatantly demanded bribes, and one who seemed to be of high rank even coveted Whitey.
I could understand the ones demanding bribes, since this was an era where official salaries were dogshit, but I couldn't tolerate anyone touching my boy.
When he demanded I hand over Whitey, I nearly smashed his face in with the War King's Thirteen Strikes.
I would have, if not for the appearance of a meddlesome young man.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Who dares... *Gasp!* M-My lord!"
"A commander of the Imperial Guard, sworn to protect His Majesty's roads, engaging in banditry! I will report your conduct to the Chief Commander in full detail!"
"P-Please, forgive me just this once! It's just that it's so hard for a humble man like me to make a living..."
Once the matter was more or less settled, Sama Heun stepped forward on our behalf to thank him.
"Thanks to you, we were able to avoid a difficult situation. Thank you."
"I merely cleaned up an unsightly mess. Please don't concern yourselves."
After receiving our thanks, he gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
Beside me, U Je-jun murmured in admiration.
"He has a good feel about him. Judging by his considerable martial skill, he must be a young military officer from the imperial city."
"He's no military officer."
"Sir?"
"He's a master. A true master who surpasses the transcendent level."
"..."
I felt as if I were looking at a tiger in the mountains.
"It seems I've underestimated Nanjing."
This place might just be a dragon's pool and a tiger's den.