Chapter 143: When the Star Loses Its Light (4)
“Have you all gone mad…?”
To think his subordinates, who had never dared to utter a word, would pull off a collective mutiny. It was completely unimaginable.
Now, there was only one person Yu Gwang-se could rely on.
Sama Cheol, the fiercest general of the army who led the Yongmu Army. He sat there with a stiff expression, deep in thought about what to do.
Noticing this, So-mu sent him a message via sound transmission first.
— A star that has lost its light is bound to fall. I hope you make the right judgment. A single choice will determine your life or death.
Sama Cheol quickly analyzed the situation.
Everyone had resolved to impeach the General-in-Chief. Now that they had bared their fangs, this would only end with one side dead. He had to choose which side to stand on.
Between So-mu, whose depth of martial power was unfathomable, his subordinate Il-gwang, and Yue Fei, even if he supported Yu Gwang-se, it was not a force they could match.
Having finished his calculations, he stood up and muttered, “Throughout your life, you acquired wealth and power in abundance, but you failed to win the hearts of your subordinates. It seems our path together ends here, General.”
To think even Sama Cheol, whom he trusted till the end, would betray him. Yu Gwang-se could not accept the reality of the situation.
“You are committing treason! I am the General-in-Chief of this country!!!”
As he shouted in fury, he heard So-mu’s voice in his ears.
— The Minister of Bureau of Military Affairs said the same thing. Right before he died.
Yu Gwang-se’s eyes trembled violently.
The Minister of Bureau of Military Affairs, Zhang Jun, who had gone missing. He was one of the four great generals, revered alongside himself. So-mu was practically admitting that he had killed him.
“Y-You dare…”
Yu Gwang-se could not finish his sentence. So-mu’s right foot drove straight into his chest.
The attack was lightning-fast, leaving no room to even think of dodging. Crossing his arms to block was the most he could manage.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
With a sharp groan, Yu Gwang-se’s body slid backward. Ripping through the canvas of the command tent, he stumbled outside, bewildered by the sheer brute force.
At that moment, Il-gwang, who had been watching silently, threw a punch that blew away the rest of the tent’s awning.
Drawn by the sudden commotion, soldiers began to gather.
So-mu walked forward unhurriedly, closing the distance to Yu Gwang-se.
“How many people shed tears of blood because of you? How can someone who orders the looting of his own citizens call himself General-in-Chief? How will you compensate for the soldiers who died due to your incompetence? It is time to pay for your sins.”
Yu Gwang-se felt his breath catch in his throat.
It was his first time being overwhelmed by pressure as a Flower Realm master. He could not collect his thoughts in this baffling situation.
At that moment, a final opportunity presented itself.
“If you don’t mind, could you leave this to me?”
It was Yue Fei, who had approached with his spear in hand.
So-mu stepped aside without hesitation. This was actually what he had secretly hoped for. For Yue Fei to take command of the army, he needed to demonstrate his martial prowess.
This was the plan they had originally conceived with Jang-yang, though some adjustments had been made along the way.
“Do you think you can face me?”
Yu Gwang-se looked around even as he spoke, likely plotting his escape.
But there was no way out. Il-gwang and Sama Cheol blocked his path of retreat.
Just then, Yue Fei made an intriguing proposal.
“The victor takes command of the allied forces. But the loser dies.”
It was a proposal Yu Gwang-se had no reason to refuse.
A duel to the death. This was his last chance to overturn the situation.
Yu Gwang-se looked at the gathered soldiers. Since the vice-commanders had all mutinied, his orders would not work. He had to make things clear to the soldiers to sway public opinion.
“Listen, everyone! From this moment on, I will duel this rebel! Regardless of the reason, the victor will be the commander of the allied forces!”
If Yu Gwang-se won, the coup would fail. Yue Fei and the others would lose their justification and the support of the soldiers.
Despite this, Yue Fei’s face showed no change in expression. He merely flicked his left foot. A spear rolling on the ground flew toward Yu Gwang-se’s chest.
Yu Gwang-se caught the spear, a mocking smile appearing on his face.
At that moment, Yue Fei’s spear pointed at his heart.
“Do you have the confidence to withstand the Yue Family Spear Technique?”
“You have grown soft, Yue Fei. That decision was a mistake.”
***
A middle-aged man walked through the palace of Chang’an Fortress with a shocked expression.
He was missing an arm, limped as he walked, and his upper body was wrapped in bandages. He looked like he had just risen from his sickbed.
‘What on earth has happened to this place…?’
It was Baek Yak, the Hui general who had survived by a hair’s breadth.
As he looked around, he could not close his mouth in amazement. Was this not the palace where the wailing of the citizens had once never ceased?
The master of the fortress had merely changed, yet it had become a completely different world.
Couples strolled through the palace with bright expressions. People relaxed at open-air tea stalls, and merchants hummed tunes. An exclamation escaped his lips.
“Merely because the master of the fortress changed, how could…”
Looking around, he examined the paper in his right hand. It was a simple map given to him by a medic at his quarters.
Soon, his steps halted in front of a grand pavilion, the Hall of Benevolent Physicians.
“Was this pavilion not built as the Emperor’s office…? To think this is now a clinic…?”
Over a hundred medics, and soldiers and civilians mingling as they received treatment—it was a sight he had never imagined.
An hour later, Baek Yak walked out of the clinic. A packet of medicine was clutched in his sole right hand.
His mind was in disarray. The order of the world as he knew it had been completely turned upside down.
As he limped back, he felt someone approach.
“Since you came all the way to the Hall of Benevolent Physicians, you should have greeted me before leaving. Why are you just going?”
An old man with white hair was walking over. It was Captain Mo Cheong of the medical unit.
“The Sanwa tribe does not forget a debt of gratitude. I will surely repay you.”
“Who saved you to get repaid? I only helped because So-so was desperately trying to save you.”
It was the name of the child who had visited him while he was confined to his quarters.
Baek Yak bowed deeply to Mo Cheong.
“I owe you my life.”
“Now it feels a bit worthwhile to have saved you. Come to think of it, this must be your first time seeing this place since the master changed.”
“Yes. I know the master of the fortress well. Military Governor Jang-yang. His name is famous even in the Hui Dynasty.”
“You have it wrong. The master of this place is not the General, but the people. Can you not see that for yourself?”
“How could I not know that this palace was built using the forced labor of the people to serve the Hui Emperor…? But… I am a bit confused.”
“About what?”
“I know the Emperor of the Song Dynasty died without an heir. If so, the Military Governor is no different from a king here. The world must have order. If the dignity of the ruler is compromised like this, how can he govern the people? For the people to occupy the palace is…”
Just then, a voice answered from behind him.
“The people are not subjects to be ruled, but to be served. Without the people, how can there be an emperor or a nation?”
An elderly farmer with a gentle expression was approaching. Having just finished his work, his trousers were rolled up to his thighs.
Holding his hand was a young girl. As if she had been helping with the farm work, she grinned, her face smeared with mud.
“Hello, uncle! Are you not hurting anymore?”
Coincidentally, it was the child he knew. To think he would meet So-so here. A small smile appeared on Baek Yak’s face.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can walk now.”
At that moment, Mo Cheong turned away, pretending to be busy.
“Haha. I have urgent business, so I must be off.”
Once Mo Cheong left, the farmer led him along.
“Then let us see if your words are correct.”
Baek Yak could not refuse.
He knew at once that this man was no ordinary farmer. He had a remarkable presence that was different from that of a martial arts master. It was like facing the vast sea.
He silently followed behind the farmer and So-so.
Many things had changed. Wherever they went, crowds gathered, and the atmosphere was lively. Every corner was filled with vitality and warmth.
‘Everyone looks happy. How could it change like this…? What was I doing in the Hui Dynasty all this time…?’
A sigh of regret, mixed with all kinds of emotions, escaped his lips.
Their steps halted in front of the largest pavilion in the palace. It was Snow Flower Academy, established to care for the orphans of Shaanxi.
The three of them watched over the wall from a distance. About two hundred children were in the front yard, drawing pictures.
So-so, standing on her tiptoes to peer over the wall, pointed.
“Baek-sang and Baek-a are over there!”
Seeing his children, Baek Yak’s eyes trembled. Soon, he could not hold back his tears.
His young son, who had stolen herbs every night, and his daughter, who was always starving, were now smiling brighter than ever.
The farmer, noticing the situation, let out a hearty laugh.
“What a relief. It seems to be their first time, but they are getting along well with the other children.”
“I have never seen my children smile like that before.”
“Haha. Then today must be a truly happy day for you. Congratulations.”
“Thank you for saying so. But where did all these children come from…?”
“They are all orphans who lost their parents in the war. As of today, there are one thousand and five of them. This facility can accommodate up to twelve hundred children.”
“How do you know the exact number of children…?”
The farmer continued without paying attention to the question.
“To practice the order you speak of, we would have to expel all these children from the palace. But if not here, there is nowhere else to house them. What should we do?”
Baek Yak felt deeply ashamed. Flushing, he replied in a hushed voice, “My thoughts… were narrow.”
“Do not take it to heart. Haha.”
“As you said, today is the happiest day of my life. The parents of those orphans in heaven must feel the same way. The master of this fortress has done a truly wonderful thing.”
“I cannot agree with that. How could this be the result of a single person’s effort? It was possible because outstanding talents worked together.”
“Regardless, I would like to meet him in person.”
“You will have the chance. In any case, we should head back.”
“Yes…”
Baek Yak also did not want to disturb the children’s play.
He bowed to the farmer to bid farewell, intending to return to his quarters.
“I will take my leave now.”
Watching him limp away with his packet of medicine was a pitiful sight.
So-so quickly called out to his retreating figure.
“Uncle!”
“…Yes?”
“Do you know how to play xiangqi? I’m going to play with Grandfather. Do you want to join us? Heehee.”
There was nothing for him to do back at his quarters anyway. He would just be lying down under the supervision of the guards. Playing xiangqi was a temptation too hard to resist.
Baek Yak glanced at the farmer and said, “Xiangqi… I know how to play, but… is it alright?”
“Haha. If you don’t mind, join us.”
Having joined them, Baek Yak followed them into a small pavilion on the outskirts of the palace.
Once the game began, laughter never ceased inside.
An hour later, the farmer stood up.
“It seems I won this round.”
“Hmph. Grandfather, you’re mean!”
“Hahaha. Did I not yield a horse and an elephant to you? Now, play against that uncle.”
Another hour passed. Suddenly, someone approached the pavilion and shouted:
“General! A dispatch from Captain So-mu has arrived!”