Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Envoy (2)
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The Military Affairs Department.
A department directly under the Lord of the Fortress, it handled not only the administrative duties of the Nine Dragons Fortress but also served as a court that determined criminals' punishments, a diplomatic body that decided foreign policy, and a strategic staff that planned for war.
It might seem like a monstrous hybrid, but all of the Five Hegemons of the world operated such an organization.
In the martial world, where there was no compulsory education, martial artists were a breed whose default trait was being thick-headed.
That's why they had to hire renowned scholars from the outside or cultivate them internally to handle the brainwork.
And the current brain of the Nine Dragons Fortress was Yu Deung, known as the 'Celestial Visionary' for his ability to see through the heavens.
He was a descendant of a Confucian scholar family ruined by the Ten Demon Alliance in the past.
Considering the Nine Dragons Fortress's sphere of influence, which had recently expanded to include Yunnan Province as well as Sichuan, he was a figure comparable to the prime minister of a nation.
And I had achieved the feat of meeting this Yu Deung twice in the shortest period of time.
“Jin Mujeon, Squad Leader of the First Squad of the Outer Hall! I have come running at the call of the sky-like Grand Chancellor!”
It felt a bit excessive, but well, it's always good to be polite to people in high positions.
Perhaps it had an effect, as his gaze, which had been fixed on the documents, turned to me.
“...Sit.”
“How could this lowly one dare to face the Grand Chancellor? I will stand here and listen.”
“That's an order.”
“Yes, sir.”
As I quickly sat down, a servant girl came out and brought tea.
Judging by her disciplined movements, the servant girl seemed to have practiced martial arts to some extent.
*Slurp.*
The Grand Chancellor took a sip of his tea and spoke.
“The strategists of the Military Affairs Department have been debating how to punish you.”
“Pardon?”
A question arose at the sudden remark.
Why would I, a law-abiding citizen, be punished?
I looked at him with an expression of utter bewilderment, as if I'd lost my marbles, and the Grand Chancellor sighed before beginning his explanation.
“Did you not abuse your position as a squad leader of the Outer Hall to obstruct the legitimate commercial activities of the White Dragon Hall?”
“Are you saying we should have just watched as they brought in dangerous goods? We were simply doing our job.”
“...This is the first I've heard of cotton cloth being a dangerous item.”
“You must not be aware, but when cotton cloth gets wet, it becomes tough enough to kill a person. You can think of it as a type of whip. For such a deadly weapon to be circulating... isn't the thought horrifying?”
“What about the rice, then? Is there anyone in the world who doesn't eat rice?”
“You must not be aware, but eating too much rice can cause obesity and various diabetic complications. In a way, it's no different from poison.”
“The rumors that your silver tongue has reached the state of mastery were true. To spout such nonsense in front of me.”
“Hehe, you flatter me.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Grand Chancellor furrowed his brow and continued.
“The matter with the White Dragon Hall only resulted in financial damages, so I can let that slide, but how will you explain inflicting serious injuries on the head of the Disciplinary Corps?”
“You have to consider that self-defense. I can't just offer my neck to someone who came to kill me, can I?”
“How can you be so certain he came to kill you?”
“If you consider the circumstances…”
“I'm asking if you have proof.”
To discuss evidence in the martial world, where fists take precedence over the law. As expected of the greatest mind in this world.
“If you beat it out of the Disciplinary Corps members, you'll find out his impure intentions.”
“The members of the Disciplinary Corps are the Lord's direct subordinates.”
“Am I not also a loyal subordinate of the Lord?”
If I get paid to work, I'm a loyal subordinate. What else?
“...You never back down, do you.”
“I have no history of losing with words.”
“Perhaps I should call you the 'Mouth Dragon' instead of the 'Fighting Dragon'.”
“You flatter me.”
“...”
A cynical smile played on the Grand Chancellor's lips.
*Thwack.*
He pulled out a bundle of papers from under his desk and threw it at me.
It was a collection of written opinions from various people.
“These are the opinions of the scholars from the Military Affairs Department. As you'll see if you read them, most argue that you should be severely punished.”
Hearing his words, I suppressed my anger and exhaled sharply through my nose.
Severe punishment, without even knowing the full story.
From now on, I'll make sure it takes the scholars of the Military Affairs Department at least two days to pass through the fortress gates, and if they're ever caught urinating in public in the outer fortress, I'll give them a good beating.
“However, one person offered a dissenting opinion. Read the one on top.”
As the Grand Chancellor said, I picked up the opinion paper on top.
“Huh?”
I saw a familiar name and read it again.
“So-pyeong?”
It was an opinion paper written by Yu So-pyeong.
However, he belonged to the First Squad of the Outer Hall. He was in neither the department nor the position to submit such an opinion.
“Why is this here?”
“Yesterday, a meeting was held in the Military Affairs Department to decide your punishment.”
The Grand Chancellor sipped his tea and continued.
“He submitted it, claiming to be your defense. Even though he wasn't qualified.”
“Then why is his opinion paper included here?”
Hearing my question, the Grand Chancellor showed a brief but satisfied smile.
“Because it was so well-written. All the scholars of the Military Affairs Department agreed with it.”
At his words, I examined the paper.
The twelve-page document listed the events that had transpired based on facts, and used them as grounds to argue for my innocence.
It was very logically and well-written, but.
'A petition is still just a petition.'
It couldn't be considered a defense so brilliant it would make your eyes pop.
How good could a defense written by a scholar who just quotes Confucius and Mencius be?
“What do you think? Isn't his insight truly remarkable?”
A man of the Grand Chancellor's caliber couldn't possibly not know that.
So, if he's reacting like this, it means the 'son advantage' is significant.
'He seemed so indifferent last time... Is he a tsundere type?'
Just like my dad in my past life, who pretended not to care his whole life but bought me a car as soon as I got into university.
Now, I pretty much had the answer.
“Hah! Such writing! It's like I'm reading Zhuge Liang's Chu Shi Biao!”
The plan was to play along and get a not-guilty verdict.
“Hahaha, the Chu Shi Biao! You thought so too?!”
“As they say, you can't deny blood, can you?”
“Hahaha, you rascal. I didn't see you as the type.”
The Grand Chancellor laughed with a very satisfied expression, then.
“You have a knack for this. You pass.”
His expression changed in an instant.
Startled by his 180-degree shift in attitude, I watched as he began to spout incomprehensible words.
“Powerful martial arts, an excellent silver tongue, and the ability to flatter when necessary. You're perfect.”
“Perfect for what...?”
“Perfect for going to the Righteous Path Alliance as an envoy.”
“What?”
His subsequent explanation was as follows.
With the level of friction with the Ten Demon Alliance on the rise, the Grand Chancellor felt the need to form a military alliance with the Righteous Path Alliance, which was close by and on decent terms.
The idea was that simply forming an alliance would prevent the Ten Demon Alliance from making any rash moves.
However.
“There was no one suitable to send as an envoy.”
“But there are eight Hall Masters in the Inner Fortress alone...”
“The Green, Blue, and Red Dragons cannot leave the fortress as they must keep the Ten Demon Alliance in check. Sending the Silver and Gold Dragons would mean they'd only look out for their own interests, and if I sent the Black and Gray Dragons, they would likely just concede everything. All that's left is the White Dragon, and thanks to someone, he's currently bedridden.”
“Ahem, perhaps the Grand Chancellor could go instead...”
“Do I look like I have that much free time?”
“I'm busy too, you know.”
“A few scholars from the Military Affairs Department suggested that you be expelled. The kind of expulsion where they sever the tendons in your limbs and shatter your dantian.”
“For the sake of the Nine Dragons Fortress, I will gladly go, even if my body is crushed.”
“Good.”
A sudden question prompted me to ask.
“But isn't it a bit strange for someone like me, with neither the standing nor the reputation, to go?”
No matter if the other party is an alliance of religious groups that believe in Laozi and Buddha, there's still a certain hierarchy in the world.
If someone like me, who isn't even at the level of a Vice Hall Master of the eight Inner Fortress Halls, went, I would surely just be ignored.
They might even throw a fit, claiming we were disrespecting them.
“Who said you were the representative?”
“Then who is the representative... Don't tell me?!”
That was right. Excluding the eight Hall Masters of the Inner Fortress and the Grand Chancellor, there was only one person left.
“There are nine halls in the Nine Dragons Fortress. The Outer Hall is one of them.”
It was Bukgung Baek, known as the Great Demon Lord of the Righteous Faction.
“If any incidents occur, it will be your responsibility, so you'd better attend to him well.”
But why...
* * *
Despite being hastily assembled, the envoy's delegation was not small.
This was because each hall, not wanting to miss the opportunity to interact with the Righteous Path Alliance, had rushed to dispatch their ace.
Just as expected of the Central Plains' martial world, where everything lives and dies by 'guanxi'.
The total number of people in the assembled delegation was ten.
There was Bukgung Baek, myself, the aces from each hall, and Yu So-pyeong, who was responsible for all the paperwork.
“Why on earth am I…”
“The Grand Chancellor insisted that I bring you along.”
“...”
The journey was, of course, smooth.
After all, no one would dare obstruct a delegation led by the infamous Bukgung Baek.
It was so smooth, in fact, that...
“To achieve the Way through the sword is to... willingly embrace the mindset of…”
“If you train the sword without sleeping, you'll become twice as strong…”
Wi Ji-pung and Dan Un discussed swordsmanship, spouting all sorts of crazy talk.
“The commercial district near Nine Dragons Lake…”
“There's a rumor of a gold mine on White Horse Mountain…”
Silver Dragon Spear Lee Jong-san and Gold Dragon Sword Geum Pil-dae shared information on various investment opportunities.
As for Jeon Muk.
“Can't you back off a little?”
“If not me, who else will attend to you, brother?”
“I told you, I don't need any attending to.”
“I've heard the martial world is a place where anything can happen, anytime, anywhere. We must always be prepared.”
He stuck to my side like glue.
Finally, Jeok Il.
*Shudder.*
“Seriously, stop sending that killing intent. The back of my head is tingling.”
“...”
He was glaring at me, emanating killing intent.
It seemed he'd heard the news that I rejected Jeok Hwa-ran's confession.
Instead of blaming his narrow-minded sister, he was pinning the blame on me. Just as expected from the young master of a clan of psychopaths.
When this continued for several days, Yu So-pyeong, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.
“Young Master Jeok, Laozi said that the highest good is like water. It means that water that flows according to its nature is the purest. Though I do not know the details, isn't the relationship between a man and a woman the same?”
Seeing this, I couldn't hide my astonishment.
My god, he was teaching the ways of Laozi to that killing fiend.
I was so worried he might draw his sword that I prepared to bolt, but the scene that followed left me even more astounded.
“...There's a point to that. Very well. As Scholar Yu says, I will wait and see.”
Jeok Il had accepted the mediation. And very positively, at that.
'...No way, that actually worked?'
It was the moment I realized the greatness of Taoism.
And that wasn't all.
“Confucius said, 'When three people walk together, one of them is bound to be my teacher. I will select their good qualities and follow them, and see their bad qualities and correct them in myself...'”
“Hearing that brings a certain passage to mind. 'A man can enlarge the principles of the Way; the principles do not enlarge the man...'”
“Mencius said…”
Watching the two, who had become friends after that incident, show off their knowledge and engage in discussion, I was left speechless.
'He was an intelligence-based character...?'
Hearing the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius spouting from Jeok Il's mouth, I finally understood the meaning of 'chaotic chaos'.
Among such madmen.
“The birth of the Righteous Path Alliance... The first leader was the Sword Immortal of Mount Hua... The total number of members is…”
I was engrossed in studying up on the Righteous Path Alliance.
After all, you have to know your opponent to negotiate.
At the same time.
“Hall Master, when we arrive at the Righteous Path Alliance, you just need to nod your head. No, you *only* need to nod your head. Understood?”
“...”
I was also managing the biggest risk of this negotiation: Bukgung Baek.
No matter how gentle the Righteous Path Alliance might seem, martial artists are fundamentally akin to gangsters.
A single act of trolling from Bukgung Baek could ruin everything.
'Keep this in mind. If the negotiations fail, you will bear all responsibility.'
'How will I be held responsible...?'
'How else? Expulsion.'
Recalling the Grand Chancellor's warning, I kept an even tighter leash on Bukgung Baek.
Twenty days passed like that.
Finally, we arrived at our destination: the Righteous Path Alliance.