"...But you know."
Gwon-geuk spoke casually to Shin Gi-su.
"Please speak, Alliance Leader."
"Now that I think about it, doesn't it seem like something's… wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
Shin Gi-su looked at Gwon-geuk as if he didn't understand. No matter how brilliant he was or how far ahead he could see while sitting still, it wasn't easy to grasp the true meaning hidden within such vague words.
"Wei Jeong-han's party is heading to Beijing, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"According to what you said, Wei Yan-ho, who's in that party, is going to have an audience with the Emperor, isn't he?"
"Heh heh heh, that's right."
Shin Gi-su laughed as if amused.
Of course, it was regrettable that they couldn't keep him detained in Luoyang, but Beijing was still close enough to be considered binding Wei Yan-ho to a nearby location. If he had gone all the way to Jiangnan where Guangdong was located, it would be difficult for the Orthodox Alliance's influence to reach there.
"No matter how I look at it, it was a divine move."
Shin Gi-su praised himself.
Gwon-geuk also had to acknowledge Shin Gi-su's skill. In truth, there was no one in the world who could control Wei Yan-ho right now. Strictly speaking, Wei Yan-ho wasn't affiliated with the Orthodox Alliance, so he had no reason to obey Gwon-geuk's orders, and since he held no official position, he was free.
As long as he didn't harm others, there was no one to stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
Even Wei Jeong-han, the only one who could move Wei Yan-ho outside of such relationships, was showing reluctance, so who could force Wei Yan-ho?
'There's only one.'
Only the Emperor who stood above all living beings in the world.
The thought itself might not be difficult. There were probably several others in the world besides Shin Gi-su who could think of binding Wei Yan-ho's feet through the Emperor.
But none of them could do it like Shin Gi-su. It wasn't the idea that was remarkable, but the skill to move the Imperial court at the right time and bind Wei Yan-ho's feet in this atmosphere where the government and martial world were wary of each other—that was what was remarkable.
It was remarkable, but…
"Yes, it was a divine move. It was a divine move, but…"
Gwon-geuk scratched his head vigorously.
"Look here, but no matter how much I think about it, shouldn't we consider whether this is really a good move?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Emperor summoned Wei Yan-ho, didn't he?"
"That's right."
"Then won't there be a situation where the Emperor and Wei Yan-ho face each other directly?"
Crash!
The teacup Shin Gi-su was holding shattered completely.
Only then did Shin Gi-su understand what Gwon-geuk was saying, and his face began to turn pale.
"Uh… what?"
I swear, Gwon-geuk was seeing Shin Gi-su this flustered for the first time.
This person whose words flowed like a clear stream whenever he opened his mouth was actually stuttering.
"So, that Wei Yan-ho in front of the Emperor will surely…"
"No, that can't happen!"
Shin Gi-su raised his hand and struck his own head repeatedly.
"Why didn't I think of that! They say when you get old, you should die!"
'I don't think it's because he's old…'
He wasn't sure, but Shin Gi-su definitely seemed to lose his reason slightly when it came to matters involving Wei Yan-ho. Of course, since Wei Yan-ho was such a peculiar fellow who had never once appeared in the martial world in a conventional way, it wasn't incomprehensible.
"What should we do?"
'Why are you asking me that?'
If I had to solve that myself, would I be crazy enough to pay expensive salaries to hire strategists? I'd do it myself with that money.
"Oh no… If we're not careful, the relationship between the government and the martial world might deteriorate to the worst possible state."
What made the Emperor frightening was that he was the one who governed the world. When you climb up a high mountain and look down, you see villages, not houses.
That was an inevitable result based on position. Someone of the Emperor's stature would likely regard a wrong committed by one martial artist as a wrong of the entire martial world. If they weren't careful, the relationship between the martial world and government, which had recently relaxed slightly, could become extremely tense.
"What kind of nerve did I have to…"
"Hiiik!"
Shin Gi-su, realizing what he had done, clutched his head.
This was the first time he'd felt such a sense of crisis since the time during the war with the Demonic Cult when his mistake had thrown Gwon-geuk into the middle of an enemy strike force.
"We have to stop it!"
"What method do we have now?"
"Some, somehow…"
"By now, haven't they probably arrived in Beijing?"
"..."
"Even if we use carrier pigeons, it's already impossible to stop them before they enter the Imperial Palace. And to speak honestly, an Imperial command has already been issued, so how do you suggest we stop it? Are you telling us to ignore the Emperor's command?"
"Some, somehow we can…"
"Give up."
Shin Gi-su's head dropped down.
"I suppose so."
"It's already too late."
"Sob, such a mistake."
Shin Gi-su engaged in thorough self-reflection.
He had been so focused on stopping Wei Yan-ho that he hadn't thought about the consequences. It was a mistake the old him would never have made.
'Why do things always go wrong when I get involved with that fellow?'
It was truly mysterious, but also a matter for which no answer could be found.
"There's no need to worry too much."
"Why is that?"
"Wei Yan-ho, that fellow is rather cute, isn't he?"
"..."
Cute?
That guy?
"Heh heh heh, from an adult's perspective, you can't help but find a fellow with a bit of mischief more endearing than one who's too upright. Since the Emperor wouldn't particularly favor a martial artist, such a fellow might actually be better than a typical martial artist."
"The probability of his head rolling is also higher, isn't it?"
"Heh heh heh, what is there to life? If things go wrong, you just go."
Shin Gi-su narrowed his eyes.
'How did I trust this person and fight wars?'
Because of Wei Yan-ho's existence alone, the two people who had maintained an unwavering trust relationship for decades began to look at each other anew.
"It would be fortunate if things work out well…"
"Things probably won't work out well."
"As expected?"
"But the results will be good."
"Pardon?"
"Don't you know? Every place Wei Yan-ho has visited has always had turmoil, but the results were so good that none of us could have achieved the same even if we had stepped forward."
"…Certainly."
"Trust him. I think the biggest solution to the countless incidents happening in the Central Plains right now is to send that fellow to wherever accidents are occurring."
"Alliance Leader."
"Hmm?"
"That's not it… Isn't it that accidents happen only where that fellow goes?"
"That's also true."
"This is the Imperial Palace we're talking about, the Imperial Palace! Do you understand what it means for an accident to happen in the Imperial Palace?"
"Didn't you send him there? So why are you getting angry at me!"
"Because you're saying such carefree things!"
"What? Am I raising my voice now? Carefree?"
Watching the two begin to bicker, the attendant sighed quietly.
'How did those people become…'
Just a few months ago, they were like immortals unmatched in the world…
The attendant shook his head quietly.
Today too, the strategy room was endlessly noisy.
***
"That's Beijing over there."
"Ooh."
Wei Yan-ho's eyes sparkled like a child's.
Of course, he had visited the famous big cities of the Central Plains. He had been to Kaifeng, been to Wuhan, and been to Luoyang too. But this was his first time coming to Beijing, the capital.
"It's huge."
Just looking at the large and towering city walls made him naturally think that place was extraordinary.
Moreover, how should he put it—the houses and buildings visible beyond the city walls seemed to overflow with vitality.
"It's a place where many things are new. Because its history isn't that deep, it's rather vibrant."
"I thought it would feel tremendously ancient…"
"Most people think that way."
Wei Jeong-han smiled gently.
It had been a while since he felt like—how should he put it—going on a trip with family.
'Looking back, I was incredibly busy.'
After Wei Yan-ho disappeared, there was no rest for the Guangdong Wei Family. They would set out on long journeys to find Wei Yan-ho, and when they returned, they would minimally replenish their strength and set out again—they repeated this for five whole years.
And even after finally finding Wei Yan-ho, they got caught up in various incidents and couldn't properly rest or have any leisure.
'This situation feels relaxing enough.'
Since they were on their way to enter the Imperial Palace having received the Emperor's command, normal people should have their hearts shrinking so much they couldn't breathe properly, but having experienced so many heart-shrinking incidents, this level didn't even make him nervous.
It felt like going for a neighborhood stroll?
Perhaps because they had left the Central Plains, which was tense with the Demonic Cult's movements, and come to Beijing where that influence didn't reach, their tension had naturally relaxed.
"So are we going to the Imperial Palace today?"
"No."
Moon Eun-ji answered.
"Entering the palace isn't such a simple matter."
"Can't we just go in?"
"Learning the related etiquette alone takes three days."
"…Do I have to go?"
"It's an Imperial command."
Wei Yan-ho clutched his head. Learning anything was now the most terrible thing for him. And he had to do that for three whole days.
"You should be grateful it's this much. Because His Highness the Prince pulled some strings to make it informal, but if you had tried to formally arrange proper court dress and have an audience with His Majesty, two weeks wouldn't have been enough."
"…Do all the people here live like that?"
"That's normal."
"Then I'll just live abnormally."
Wei Yan-ho sprawled out in the carriage.
"Originally, humans cannot do as they please."
"That's right."
"How wonderful it would be if everyone could live as they wished. But people have laws they must observe and positions they must maintain. Everyone desires a free life soaring through the open sky, but no one can achieve that."
"That certainly sounds right… Wait? Who am I talking to right now?"
Wei Yan-ho bolted upright from his seat and raised his head.
"Huh? Old man?"
"Blockhead."
Prince Lee looked at Wei Yan-ho and clicked his tongue.
"I heard you went out into the martial world and experienced countless things, but you haven't changed one bit."
"People die if they suddenly change."
"Tsk tsk, that's also true."
A slightly gentle smile bloomed on Prince Lee's face.
'This is strange.'
He was such a detestable and irritating fellow, but seeing him like this somehow felt a little welcome.
"Who might you be?"
Wei Jeong-han asked in surprise. He hadn't even sensed any presence, yet some old man was already sitting next to Wei Yan-ho in the carriage.
"He's the Inspector General."
"Ah. Inspector Gen… Cough! What?"
Wei Jeong-han was shocked and prostrated himself on the spot. Then the others also hurriedly threw their bodies to the floor.
But that was only their intention—none of them achieved that purpose. A force rising from the floor supported their bodies and prevented them from bowing.
'A master! And an incredible one at that!'
The moment Wei Jeong-han was surprised, Prince Lee opened his mouth.
"Since there are many watching eyes, let's go to my house first. I have something urgent to discuss."
The party looked at Prince Lee with eyes full of respect.
An Inspector General with such martial prowess. How remarkable…
"Do you have to show off just because you're strong?"
"..."
"How typical, so typical."
"Ahem! You blockhead!"
"You said there were watching eyes!"
"Who would even see me hitting just you, huh! Damn fool!"
The party's respect blazed up like wildfire then mysteriously subsided.