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The situation was changing swiftly.
The bearded high general could no longer raise his shaking hand.
It was possible to give up if it was easy, but he was now in a situation where he was leading 30,000 men.
Someone’s voice then said,
“They say that Murim’s Evil Faction differs from the Justice Faction. Seeing you, I understand why.”
My eyes moved to the speaker.
A person who had been hidden among the soldiers appeared. My left was closed, but his qi was clearly visible to my golden eye.
He was an ordinary person who didn’t learn martial arts. However, even though he had no armor, he carried himself like an official in his middle age.
“You are?”
“I am Go Jo-taek, in charge of the Guiju Province’s Punishment Judiciary.”
The Punishment Judiciary?
-Why? Is he someone with a high position?
Quite high.
He was the judicial head that oversaw sentencing and prisons in the province.
If he was someone from there, he would likely be within its structure or a head within it. Most likely, he was the one who oversaw the whole management.
Go Jo-taek, who had revealed his presence, then said to the high general.
“General Kang. Let us do this. Since he has responded to our summons, is there a point in escalating this further?”
A clever man. This whole situation could be sorted while saving the high general’s face.
“Ahem. If you say so, we must make sure there are no useless sacrifices.”
-Dumb idiot.
Short Sword growled.
It was a chance to save his pride, so he had to accept it. The high general glanced at one of his soldiers, who waved a flag. The 30,000 soldiers aiming at the sect instantly began to pull back.
‘Phew.’
I was internally relieved that this was solved like this, but I didn’t show it.
Go Jo-taek then told me.
“General Kang has already stepped back, so to save the face of the army… your sword-”
I had already let go of my sword before he could finish. I then clasped my hands.
“I am Baek, the leader of the Blood Sect.”
-Huh? Since when were you a Baek?
The Blood Sect’s founder and his lineage were clearly held through a hundred families, which was why he was called Baek. If I said I belonged to the Jin or So family, I would only be telling them of my ties.
There was no need to share my real identity with the world.
Go Jo-taek then said,
“We are quite shocked at this swift change.”
“If things can be resolved like this, why would I refuse?”
“Sir Baek, since you have been summoned for violating national law, would you entrust your weapons to us? We will return them to you.”
He was speaking carefully to me.
It seemed that they wanted to remove things that could threaten them. I laughed at this and said,
“Even if I don’t have a sword since I am of the Murim, my bare hands and feet are also dangerous weapons. Will you also request that I cut them off as well?”
“Sigh…”
As my words were impossible to answer, he sighed, shook his head, and looked at the man named General Kang.
General Kang visibly gave up and sighed. They knew that taking away my swords would be difficult.
Go Jo-take then asked me,
“Would you at least take off the demon mask? If you wear it, we cannot know if you are the real or fake sect leader.”
“It is a difficult thing to do at the moment for a reason. I will take it off if I am taken to prison.”
I cannot take off this mask now. I had been in a hurry, so I hadn’t even removed my makeup or worn a human mask.
Until I washed this face and put on a human skin mask, I would not show my face covered in makeup and become a laughing stock.
Would they force me to take off the mask?
“I want you to keep that promise. If you aren’t the real leader when you remove the mask, then we will not take it lightly.”
“Would that happen?”
“Then, please get in the carriage.”
‘Carriage?’
The man pointed at a fairly large carriage. It wasn’t an ordinary one either, but a carriage that was designed for use by high-ranking people.
I had been summoned for violating national law, yet they wanted me to use that kind of thing?
I was puzzled.
The man smiled and said,
“I will ride with you.”
… what are they planning?
Moments after I climbed into the carriage, it began to move. Go Jo-taek sat across from me and tapped the side of the carriage, and said,
“This carriage is made of a special material that stops sound from being heard. We can speak freely.”
What was his purpose for saying this? I was unsure as he spoke again.
“Actually, I didn’t expect that you would get into the carriage so easily.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Honestly, I didn’t think that you people from the Evil Faction are all that different from the Justice Faction.”
We were definitely different.
Whether it was the Justice Faction or the Murim Alliance, they typically had close relations with the government. This was because they weren’t feared, and being friendly to each other was beneficial.
That was why they helped the government in its operations.
However, the Blood Sect and Evil Faction weren’t like that.
“That is why I brought along the soldiers. I thought you would not easily follow the order.”
“We would have understood it better if a single messenger had been sent instead. It was a pity that so many people suffered such an inconvenience.”
The man was clearly puzzled by my response.
“If I wanted to reject the government, then there was no way we would have bothered visiting the official government office to receive approval for the sect to hold the event.”
“…I am unsure if that official knew of the Blood Sect.”
“Those who fail to keep up with times and are unable to respond will be swept away by the waves of the world. Our sect has no intention of harming people who lead the affairs of the state, nor do we harm good people.”
“Huh.”
He could only sigh at my words and then sincerely spoke.
“It seems that I need to apologize. I had preconceived notions about the sect and the sect leader.”
How could a government official apologize so easily? This was surprising.
Regardless of his rank, he seemed to be a better person than I thought.
“When we consider what happened 20 years ago, it would only be natural for people to think like that. It is the duty of the sect leader to change such prejudices.”
“How wonderful. We wouldn’t have been this concerned if we knew that the sect leader was such a dignified and cultured person.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
This man was quite capable of holding a conversation. If many people like him held official posts, then the conflict would become a thing of the past.
-Wouldn’t it be the other way around?
Actually, most people in Murim sought to be free of such things. They do not like being bound by the nation’s laws and simply want to use their power to its limit.
Therefore, Murim and government would inevitably collide.
Go Jo-taek stroked his chin and said to me,
“Didn’t you say that communication between people happens when they connect?”
“I did say that earlier.”
“After talking with you. I think we can resolve this situation.”
“The situation?”
I frowned. Has this situation become big enough to need resolving?
While I was being unsure, he said,
“Didn’t you think it strange that a war could suddenly happen as we summoned the sect leader to the middle of our army and then asked them to ride a carriage?”
“I was indeed puzzled.”
“Even though the bribery charge against an officer of the province wasn’t proven, matters related to the sect would turn the face of even the most stubborn.”
‘Hmm.’
I thought about this. To be frank, the Blood Sect was not some small martial clan.
It would have led to a huge battle even for the government if anything had gone wrong. It wasn’t just a matter of overdoing and pressuring it.
I had also thought it was a sudden trick by the Murim Alliance and responded silently to it.
“Can I ask something?”
“Go on.”
“Was the Murim Alliance the ones who moved you?”
He sighed at my question and smiled.
“It is as you thought.”
“Then this was from the Murim Alliance to…”
“Are you implying this was a ploy to put pressure on you by using us?”
‘…?!’
He had gone straight to the point I was about to speak about.
No, he likely saw the picture from both the Murim Alliance and our views.
“It’s been rumored that the government and the Murim had signed a treaty with each other. Do you think they would leave you alone since you could become a danger at any moment? Even those in the government are always looking at things in Murim.”
That made sense, in a way.
To the government, Murim was a dangerous existence even if they were in a close relationship. Of course, there was no way that they would only be blindly watched.
“And what is it that they know?”
“Do you think the amount of money or gifts the Murim Alliance brings is just a few pennies? They maintain good relations with the imperial family and high-ranking officials. This makes it hard for us provincial-level officials to ignore them.”
“Would you then raise your hand for the Murim Alliance?”
“No. If that was the case, I would have pressured the sect first without sending a messenger.”
If sending an army of 30,000 wasn’t pressure, then what is?
Was this all for show?
Then their ways were definitely different from the Murim idea of showing their strength.
“Then why have I been summoned? If the answer is already fixed before my summons, it would be difficult to respond to it.”
If it was obvious, then there was no reason for me to come.
He then responded.
“Which is why I am talking like this.”
Was he giving me a way out?
“Do enlighten me.”
“Actually, my superior wanted to hand this problem over on the pretext that bribes have also been paid by the Justice Faction.”
“Will that work, though?”
“But there is also a problem there.”
“And the problem is?”
Hearing my question, Go Jo-taek lowered his voice and whispered.
“At the moment, Princes Jin, Kyung, and Young are our allies.”
‘….!’
Princes Jin, Kyung and Young?
-Why are you that surprised?
They were the princes of the Great Yeon Empire.
-Princes!
This was unexpected.
Three princes who might become future kings were tied this closely to the government?
They were the grandchildren of the Empress Dowager and were aiming to take the position of the next crown prince.
There were more princes, but these three were the ones who had been considered possible kings. Between them, the real crown prince would then be appointed.
-You know this?
Of course, it would happen within two years.
Additionally, the state would hold a funeral ceremony in three years, and the crown prince would ascend to the imperial throne in just one year.
-The emperor falls ill?
This was not known to others, but he was probably already bedridden.
Otherwise, it would be strange for the state funeral to be held within just three years.
“You must be surprised.”
“Even though they are of Murim, seeing them try to get things done by using the princes is surprising.”
“Things have become difficult. The three of them are now on tour under His Majesty’s orders.”
“Did the Murim Alliance meet with them?”
“This seems to be the case.”
If that was the case, then this was outside my expectations. Was this a strategy that the second and third military heads had managed to come up with?
“Well, His Highness informed us that a soldier from the Murim Alliance had come to visit him. We had no choice but to summon you.”
“Then what needs to be done?”
“The provincial head had ordered us to carefully manage all the slips and money from your sect. All of the evidence had been burned.”
’Ah…
That was why he did this.
We thought he had already removed the evidence, but it seemed that this wasn’t the case. It seemed like they had been found, and it had been decided to handle it amicably.
Go Jo-taek said,
“If you simply respond to the summons and answer the questions at the trial in the government building, all of the charges will be cleared without anything else happening.”
“I would appreciate it if you could show me that much consideration.”
“However….”
“Hmm?”
“The princes have some doubts, especially Prince Jin, who is closest to becoming the crown prince. He follows Taoist teachings and is being taught by an elder of Wudang.”
Elder Joong Seon.
This was bad. The Wudang sect was one that pushed for Taoism to become the state’s religion.
The prince following a religion wasn’t strange, yet other religions also held sway.
The Buddhists, Shaolin, and even the Ami Sect were all active.
“Considering the relationship between the government and Murim, this shouldn’t have escalated that much, but I think this had something to do with the sect leader.”
“… I guess I need to move.”
“And there is one more thing to be wary of.”
“What is it?”
“Prince Young is someone who is interested in martial arts. Even if it wasn’t for that, he is also showing a lot of interest in the fact that the leader of the Blood Sect, which had once plunged Murim into chaos, was returning.”
“That’s not too bad.”
“I am telling you out of my own instincts, just in case you wanted to try your luck.”
“Luch, huh…”
Go Jo-taek was giving me a warning.
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“Heed my words. If you want to resolve this peacefully, I recommend that you do not touch any princes.”
I didn’t want to do that either.
But could the Murim Alliance have prepared anything that would go easily? They might already be digging a trap.
-Will it be fine?
We will have to see.
Fortunately, I already knew which of the three would become the crown prince. At that moment, he asked me.
“Aside from that, I am asking because just the two of us are here. Why did you come wearing such a horrible mask?”
Was that what he was curious about?
I sighed, chuckled, and then took my mask off.
When half of my made-up face was exposed, his eyes became wide.
“Is the sect leader a woman?”
Short Sword was laughing at those words. No, this was just makeup. Why am I being called a woman?
I had to answer with a straight face.
“I am a man.”
To which he laughed in reply.
“I know. With a man’s voice and such wide shoulders, how could anyone mistake you for a woman?”
“….”
This man knows how to joke around too.
Just like that, time passed.
I managed to remove the makeup and put on a human skin mask, allowing me to remove the demon mask.
However, using that mask all day was difficult, so I kept the demon mask just in case.
I arrived in Guiyang, about two hours away from where the provincial office was located. I managed to get closer to Go Jo-take after spending all day conversing with him in the carriage.
He was quite open-minded compared to other officials. I thought that knowing him would help us out a lot, so I managed to get quite a bit of information.
Swish!
The carriage, which had been moving for a while, then stopped.
It seemed that we had finally arrived at the Punishment Judiciary building.
Before we got off, he asked me.
“Brother Baek. I have said this many times, but you cannot pretend here no matter what happens with the three princes.”
“I know, Brother Go. How can I forget?”
“And stay as close as possible.”
I was mindful of that too.
It was only natural that things might flare up when we met the princes. But we were trying hard not to get on the government’s wrong side. Why would we do that with the princes?
When I exited the carriage, I saw a large building with a signboard that identified it as the Punishment Judiciary.
As I took a few steps down.
‘Hmm?’
I looked towards a place where someone with considerable qi was stimulating my senses. A young man in his 20s wearing a luxurious blue silk robe was there, walking towards me.
He seemed to be only in his mid-20s but was already at the level of a master.
‘Who is this?’
As I thought this, the officials around me knelt, and Go Jo-taek shouted.
“We greet the Imperial Prince Young!”
‘Prince Young?’
He was the crown prince of the nation. I wasn’t even ready to even kneel as he came over and addressed me.
“Are you the sect leader of the Blood Sect?”
“I am, Your Highness.”
“I thought I would die waiting for you. Are you strong?”
‘…!?’
The prince came to me on his own, so why even warn me to stay away!