Chapter 037
"What exactly do you mean by that…?"
"That changing the world with a few lines of writing or a few books isn't easy. You should know that well, shouldn't you?"
Baek Sugyeong's mouth sealed shut as if covered with wax.
To change the world with a few lines of writing would require the abilities of an immortal. Those who brought great changes to the world were mostly pioneers and trailblazers. But Baek Sugyeong had changed the martial world, the world of Murim, in a different way from such people.
Ju Geumye spoke.
"I say this because I highly value your abilities."
Murim—the world of martial artists that many palace officials dismissed as a realm of arrogant vagabonds.
A land where countless martial arts, martial artists, and sects grew densely like underbrush.
That's why it was called Murim, the forest of martial arts.
For this reason, the imperial court observed but did not interfere.
This policy of non-intervention, maintained through dozens of generations of emperors, was now about to be broken during Emperor Myeongjeong's reign.
The person who had triggered this change was none other than Baek Sugyeong.
As Ju Geumye calmly explained this, Baek Sugyeong struggled to hide the shock evident on his face.
'…I can't believe it.'
A recruitment offer? From the imperial palace, no less?
"Are you… truly serious?"
Though the situation was bewildering, Baek Sugyeong picked up his teacup, trying his best not to show his emotional turmoil.
To his carefully controlled question, Ju Geumye replied.
"Yes. My imperial father and I highly value your abilities, Baek Sugyeong. The Wudang Sword Hero has long surpassed what could be called 'just a few lines of writing.'"
"You flatter me too much, Princess."
"Excessive courtesy is discourteous."
With those words—that too much politeness violates proper etiquette—Ju Geumye silenced Baek Sugyeong and continued.
"There's a saying in the marketplace that the imperial court fears martial artists so much that they pretend not to see them. Have you heard it?"
"I have."
"It's not entirely wrong. The imperial dynasty has always kept an eye on the martial world. We simply haven't interfered."
"The tacit agreement of non-aggression between officials and Murim…"
"The imperial court established a policy of observing but not interfering. It was a principle set by our imperial ancestors dozens of generations ago."
Ju Geumye rested her chin on her hand as she spoke.
"The concept of non-aggression between officials and Murim didn't exist in the Central Plains until the Wudang Sword Hero proposed it."
'This is insane. This Central Plains has clearly gone mad.'
Baek Sugyeong thought this as he covered his face with both hands.
"Heavens above…"
'Why are you doing this to me?'
Swallowing these inner thoughts, Baek Sugyeong listened as Ju Geumye continued.
"The imperial court must keep Murim in check to survive."
That wasn't wrong.
In martial arts novels, when the imperial court appeared as the hidden villain, it was usually because they feared the power of Murim and sought to diminish that power, forcing martial artists to kneel before the throne.
It wasn't strange, really.
The power of martial artists was often described as heaven-shaking and earth-shattering.
Masters who reached the pinnacle could single-handedly sweep away thousands of soldiers, and they truly possessed such abilities.
And such masters were scattered throughout the Central Plains like grains of sand.
How could one not fear them?
How could one not be wary?
From the imperial court's perspective, it must feel like having a blade held against their throat.
"The Sun Moon Cult beyond the Tianshan Mountains and other martial factions growing in power outside our borders are concerns for the martial world, but the same applies to the imperial court."
"The martial world is a realm where power is concentrated enough to look down on imperial might. From the imperial perspective, it must feel like having a blade held to your throat."
"Yes. That's why we need your abilities, Baek Sugyeong."
As she said this, Ju Geumye used the Heavenly Pole True Cult as an example.
"The Sun Moon Cult beyond the Tianshan Mountains, which the Wudang Sword Hero calls an evil cult like the Heavenly Pole True Cult, has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people during past bloodbaths in the martial world. That's why the imperial court has been trying to control Murim."
"But didn't you say it was a policy of non-intervention?"
"…On the surface, yes."
At Ju Geumye's words, Baek Sugyeong frowned deeply.
His instincts warned him that going any deeper into this conversation would lead to a point of no return.
"I don't wish to hear any more details, Princess."
"Why not?"
"I have no intention of entering the imperial palace. As I said, I'm just a scholar who wishes to live an ordinary life. Although I'm currently unable to do so…"
Baek Sugyeong spoke firmly.
"Moreover, you speak of controlling Murim… but aren't you really trying to take the reins of the martial world? The power of martial artists is strong enough to be used as military force."
"That's…"
She'd been seen through.
Ju Geumye's expression stiffened slightly.
Baek Sugyeong continued.
"In the historical records, there are accounts of martial artists helping the imperial dynasty in times of crisis. Of course, this was limited to the orthodox factions."
"…Yes."
"Do you think peace would come if you swept away the unorthodox factions and evil cults, leaving only the orthodox sects?"
"Wouldn't it?"
At Ju Geumye's words, Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile.
"Countless mountains and rivers form the martial world, and countless people cultivate martial arts and clash with each other—that's why it's called Murim, the forest of martial arts. Competition is the essence of Murim. Even if the orthodox factions ruled, would there truly be no darkness at all?"
Though he spoke indirectly, Baek Sugyeong was making his point clear.
'Don't even think about controlling the martial world.'
A shadow briefly crossed Ju Geumye's forehead.
"Are you saying we should let the martial world continue as it is?"
"The martial world is like clouds. It's a dream. Even if you try to grasp it, it will slip through your fingers. If you try to force it down, it will resist. Didn't the Yuan Dynasty collapse for that very reason?"
"That's…"
Baek Sugyeong said:
"I'm merely a scholar living in the martial world. I appreciate your high regard for my talents, but I have no intention of entering the imperial palace."
"Why not?"
"Isn't the imperial palace a cage? Do you truly believe a bird trapped in a gilded cage can be happy?"
It was a statement that left Ju Geumye speechless.
Baek Sugyeong lightly tapped his teacup.
Ripples spread gently across the surface of the tea.
"The tacit agreement of non-aggression between officials and Murim exists for this reason. Cooperating and coexisting without invading each other's domains. If both sides maintain their boundaries, neither the imperial court nor Murim will have cause for discomfort."
"Isn't human affairs unpredictable?"
"Indeed. That's why we call it the world of humans."
Baek Sugyeong smiled.
Looking at him, Ju Geumye said:
"Don't think I'll give up just because you refused. Baek Sugyeong, I'll retreat for now, but next time, surely…"
"No matter how many times you come, my answer will always be the same, Princess."
"How bold. Life in the imperial palace is like a cage… perhaps that's true. But isn't it less dangerous than the martial world?"
That struck at Baek Sugyeong's fears.
'Was this the blood of rulers at work?'
But Baek Sugyeong's mind remained unchanged.
"I'd rather break than bend."
"How foolish."
"Isn't that what makes us human?"
At Baek Sugyeong's words, Ju Geumye sighed.
"If that's your will, I can't force you. Very well. I'll leave for now. But remember that I, and the imperial messengers, can find you anytime."
With those words, Ju Geumye vanished from before Baek Sugyeong's eyes as if disappearing into thin air.
Only a mysterious fragrance remained where she had been, like the lingering presence of a cloud.
Looking at the spot where Ju Geumye had departed so suddenly, Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile.
"…So she was a martial arts master."
His life might have been in danger.
Thinking this, Baek Sugyeong touched his neck.
...
"Baek Sugyeong… he had more conviction than I expected."
Her first impression was of a frail scholar.
But as they conversed, that impression faded, replaced by the image of a person with strong convictions.
At first, she had underestimated him when he performed a full kowtow upon seeing her, half in a daze, but talking with him gave a different impression.
Above all, she sensed his wariness toward her.
Probably because Ju Geumye was of imperial blood, but there might be other reasons as well.
"They say he travels with three women… Could it be that I'm not as beautiful as they are?"
Ju Geumye was confident in her beauty, but since she hadn't seen the three women he supposedly traveled with, such wild thoughts ran unchecked.
Pausing her runaway thoughts, Ju Geumye sighed.
"I never expected him to refuse our offer. Perhaps I should have mentioned a noble title?"
The truth was, Baek Sugyeong had expressed his thoughts so clearly that there hadn't been time to discuss it.
How could someone of Baek Sugyeong's caliber be brought into the palace without offering a title?
She had thought that granting him land, a title, and a stipend would leave him no choice, but his unexpectedly firm stance had diverted the conversation, causing her to miss the opportunity to mention these things.
"Would it have been different if I'd mentioned it first?"
If she had mentioned the land, title, and stipend, perhaps Baek Sugyeong's response would have been different.
No matter how successful Baek Sugyeong was as the "Wudang Sword Hero", offering a stipend, title, and land was another matter entirely.
Of course, this also meant that Ju Geumye and Emperor Myeongjeong valued his worth highly enough to consider such things.
"I should return to the palace for now."
She unhesitatingly removed the clothes she was wearing and changed into different ones.
After taking off her red garment, Ju Geumye put on an elaborate dress.
As her attendants took the discarded clothes, she removed the hairpin securing her hair and rearranged it before leaving the room.
"Officer Jin!"
"At your service, Princess."
Having toured the martial world, it was time to report to her father, Emperor Myeongjeong, about the changes brought about by Baek Sugyeong's writings.
Her hair fluttered in the wind.
Embroidered Uniform Guards surrounded Ju Geumye.
Forming a protective formation around her, the palanquin carrying her floated up into the empty air.
From between the curtains of the palanquin, Ju Geumye's voice drifted out.
"Let's go."
"As you command!"
Inside the palanquin moving away from Luoyang, Ju Geumye recalled something she had forgotten to ask.
"Come to think of it, I forgot to ask when the next volume will be released. Next time, I must bring him into the palace and have him write there."
With this resolution, the palanquin carrying Ju Geumye shot through the air like an arrow.
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📚 Author's Note:
Big thanks to NekoParaXP for the 3 shiny Power Stones!
🐧