Chapter 041
Life in the imperial palace was monotonous. From the outside, it might seem like the most splendid existence possible, but beneath that veneer of monotony lay a fierce struggle for survival. Ju Geumye had lived such a life for over twenty years. It would be stranger if she hadn't felt stifled. How could anyone not feel suffocated by palace life, bound by countless rules and protocols? Perhaps that was why she had become so engrossed in the book "Wudang Sword Hero." At least, that's how she evaluated herself.
"Father, really..."
Recalling her recent conversation with Emperor Myeongjeong, Ju Geumye unconsciously allowed a smile to form at the corners of her mouth. If asked whether she loved Baek Sugyeong, she could firmly say no. At least for now. What Ju Geumye currently felt toward Baek Sugyeong was closer to admiration than love. Of course, it was true that she had no intention of giving up on him.
"Before being a talented man, he was the first person to ever refuse my words."
The princess of the Zhou Imperial Family. With that status alone, she could bring countless people to their knees. Even the most powerful officials were like candles in the wind before Emperor Myeongjeong, who had established the current era of great peace. Moreover, Ju Geumye's authority as Emperor Myeongjeong's only daughter was nearly as formidable. It was no exaggeration to say she possessed enough authority to make numerous powerful officials tremble with a single gesture. She was the only princess in the current Zhou Imperial Family. Furthermore, as the only member of the imperial family to be granted the title of Princess, she was essentially already designated as the next emperor.
"He looked afraid, yet somehow didn't seem afraid at all."
Ju Geumye rested her chin on her hand, tapping the table with her index finger. Baek Sugyeong was a man of conviction. Even though she could have had his head removed right then and there.
"Is he really just an ordinary scholar?"
She couldn't help but doubt it. How many martial arts did he know? In "Wudang Sword Hero," he had described over dozens of martial arts techniques. Among them were demonic arts that would have been terrifying if they actually existed in the martial world. Had Baek Sugyeong experienced them himself, or were they his creations? The questions about him were difficult to dismiss.
"If he's a Grandmaster who has mastered all the martial arts in the world, he's someone I can't let slip away..."
In the martial world of the past, there certainly existed formidable masters who had compiled all the martial arts of both orthodox and unorthodox factions—truly worthy of being called heroic. The warriors of what was now called the Old Murim. Those who had clashed with the masters of the Yuan Dynasty's court martial world before the Zhou Imperial Family was established, and who had faded away while staining the martial world with blood. It was thanks to their sacrifices and help that the current Zhou Imperial Family could exist. The wind gently rustled Ju Geumye's hair as she sank into deep thought.
"He might be a hermit from the Old Murim."
From the remnants of the former Sun Moon Cult who had cooperated with Yuan to turn the martial world into a sea of blood, to those who had broken away from the Sun Moon Cult to form a group called the Blood Cult. Perhaps Baek Sugyeong had interacted with both orthodox and unorthodox factions indiscriminately. Otherwise, how could he be so proficient in martial arts?
"If that's why he wrote 'Wudang Sword Hero,' it makes sense."
The current martial world was called the New Murim. It hadn't been long since its severance from the past and its rise from the ashes. Perhaps only about 200 years had passed.
When people speak of the martial world's history spanning over a thousand years, 200 years isn't really considered a long time. Not very long, but not very short either. To be precise, about 250 years had passed since the emergence of the New Murim.
"If that's the case, he must be an incredibly powerful master."
She felt a bit embarrassed. She had shown off her martial arts in front of such a person. Ju Geumye's face flushed slightly as she fanned herself, trying to forget that unseemly display.
"What could Father be thinking..."
A brief sigh escaped her. But she didn't feel bad about it. Emperor Myeongjeong had said he would respect her wishes. Even without her, there were several outstanding individuals among the collateral imperial family. If Emperor Myeongjeong adopted one of them as his son, there would be no major issue in continuing the imperial lineage.
Of course, there would be tremendous opposition from officials both great and small...
"Countless mountains and rivers gather to form the jianghu, and countless people cultivate and clash in martial arts to form the martial world..."
Recalling Baek Sugyeong's words, Ju Geumye looked out the window. The not-yet-melted snowflakes sparkled like mirrors reflecting sunlight, like the perpetual snow said to exist only on Mount Tianshan.
...
'…nothing is going right.'
Gal Yerung sighed deeply with her hand on her forehead. It had been good to approach Baek Sugyeong under the pretense of being the daughter of the Chairman of the Ming Wang, but there wasn't enough justification. She had planned to have him stay at the villa she had prepared when he went down to Wuhan. The plan itself had gone awry when he decided to spend the winter in Luoyang. On top of that, the incompetence of the Luoyang branch members.
"Ah, my head hurts."
At least she was still receiving reports about So Ssanga and Namgung Somin's movements from the Silkworm Assassin she had secretly attached to Baek Sugyeong, but she still felt uneasy.
"I need to return to Master Baek's side quickly."
Her heart was anxious, dealing with the fools at the Luoyang branch alone while those two foxes were around him. She was gathering information about Baek Sugyeong from all directions using Hao Sect's informants, but it still wasn't enough. Had he really fallen from the sky? At this rate, the plan to bring Baek Sugyeong into Hao Sect's grasp would face major setbacks.
"And now that woman from the Beggars' Sect has started to move too."
There are two sects that are never left out when discussing information in the world. One is the orthodox Beggars' Sect, and the other is the unorthodox Hao Sect. For Gal Yerung, who had been in charge of overseeing information among the three commanders of Hao Sect, Sangchwi of the Beggars' Sect, who led their intelligence organization called the Throat Dog Gang, was an irritating existence. Moreover, there were even rumors that Princess Nakhong had personally visited Luoyang recently.
"The Sun Moon Cult's leader has started doing crazy things for some reason, and now a princess has personally visited Luoyang from the imperial palace. What on earth is going on?"
Something about the martial world seemed strange ever since she learned about Baek Sugyeong. It was dizzying to hear people openly discussing the contents of the seventh volume of "Wudang Sword Hero" on the streets of Luoyang and debating what the eighth volume might contain, as if the influence spread by the book was that powerful. It almost seemed like this vast world of Central Plains revolved around Baek Sugyeong.
Gal Yerung rubbed her shadowed forehead.
"I'll get wrinkles..."
The martial world's affairs were already giving her a headache, and now the imperial palace was involved too.
Moreover, Princess Nakhong was Emperor Myeongjeong's only daughter and likely to ascend as the next empress. She wasn't too young, nor did she lack legitimacy. In the dozens of generations since this country was established after the fall of Yuan, there had been female emperors before, so there was no reason to oppose Princess Nakhong's ascension.
"This means the imperial palace is also keeping an eye on him. Dragon Gate Li Clan, the imperial palace... how many more complications will there be?"
A slight resentment toward Baek Sugyeong welled up. But perhaps this pain was necessary for Hao Sect to emerge into the light.
"I need to go back soon."
Gal Yerung rose from her seat. She had been away from Baek Sugyeong's side for too long.
"I can't let those foxes take Master Baek away."
The moonlight shone brightly above her as she quietly left the Luoyang branch.
...
"My ears are itching..."
"Would you like me to clean them for you, Owner?"
"No need. It's already impolite of me to visit Guild Leader So while she's working."
So Ssanga chuckled at Baek Sugyeong's words.
"You haven't been drinking Pingwei powder lately."
"I had some recently. I had some stomach issues."
Very few people knew that Ju Geumye had visited the Dragon Gate Li Clan. If anyone did know, it would probably be organizations actively gathering information like Hao Sect or the Beggars' Sect, and others would pretend not to know even if they did. It was said that numerous martial artists avoided antagonizing the imperial palace. That's why Baek Sugyeong was keeping that fact secret from So Ssanga, Namgung Somin, and Gal Yerung.
"Oh my."
So Ssanga put on a worried expression.
"You were doing better lately, but again..."
"I don't understand why wanting to live an ordinary life is such a great sin. At this point, I'm starting to think the Heavenly Emperor is telling me to eat dirt."
Baek Sugyeong shook his head. What's wrong with wanting to live quietly and ordinarily? Such a modest wish, but nothing has gone right since "Wudang Sword Hero." At this point, he regretted writing it.
"I should have farmed instead of running a pavilion after retiring to the countryside."
"Then I wouldn't have met you, Owner."
Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile. Unconsciously, words flowed out like a sigh.
"Still, it would have been better than steamed buns and golden canned food."
"Do you like grilled dumplings?"
"No... it's nothing. Just a slip of the tongue. Please forget it."
A question mark appeared and then disappeared above So Ssanga's head. Baek Sugyeong's eyes turned toward the window.
"They'll be here soon."
It was almost time for the person sent by the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company to arrive.