Chapter 166: Min-gong. The One Who Serves the People (1)
“Our captain was the guest chef?”
Hyeonjeong stared at Il-gwang in disbelief. The sight of his bloated face and startled eyes was quite funny.
The reason why Il-gwang and Cheong-hae kept quiet from the other members was because of So-mu’s comments. Now the seal has been released.
“Is that so? I was a regular at that place.”
Il-gwang emptied his glass and quenched his appetite. My mouth watered when I thought about Soho Tavern”s meat noodles.
“Oh my god… I can”t imagine.”
So-mu smiled and filled the drinks of his subordinates.
“I was a regular at Cheong-hae. After I was excommunicated, I used to come alone every day and get drunk and whine.”
Cheong-hae’s face, which had been silently observing, instantly turned red.
“Phew. Captain, what should I do if I tell you that?”
“Well, there”s no reason to hide it anymore.”
At that time, Il-gwang and Hyun-jeong exploded at the same time.
“Hahaha! This guy, I knew that.”
“Isn”t it surprising that Priest Cheong-hae went through those times? It”s in the past, so forget it now.”
So-mu nodded and raised his glass.
“That”s right. Like Hyeonjeong said, all the memories you want to forget will be washed away with this one drink.”
Il-gwang and Hyeon-jeong. And Cheong-hae also raised his glass high at the same time.
“You drink it at the same time!”
“Of course.”
“Now, drink!”
Smiles were blooming on the faces of these four people who emptied their glasses.
They drank five more drinks in succession. And it was about time that the atmosphere became friendly. So-mu stood up, emptying his drink alone.
“I have some work to do, so I”ll have to go first. Drink slowly.”
Il-gwang asked with a regretful expression.
“Where are you going, Captain?”
“I think I have a guest. See you later at the barracks.”
Il-gwang shined in my eyes and I looked outside the guesthouse. Then, I felt a pure yet heterogeneous flow of energy.
A subtle aura that you wouldn’t even notice if you weren’t conscious of it. He was one of the masters I met at the Martial Alliance today.
Cheong-hae asked curiously.
“What”s wrong, Il-gwang?”
“Someone came looking for me. I think it”s Amifa”s long letter?”
“Our captain? What happened?”
“How should I know that? Don”t worry about it, let”s just have a drink.”
By the time the remaining three were drinking again.
So-mu finished paying and went out the door of the guesthouse. A nun was standing like an old tree, putting her hands together.
“What happened”?”
“Is this disappointing? You”re treating me like it”s your first time meeting me.”
So-mu smiled silently and started walking down the road with his.
“You know very well. I am no longer from that world.”
So-mu had a special relationship with the Geumjeong incident. His tone of voice was a bit softer than when dealing with other elders of the Martial Alliance.
“I heard the news. I heard you started a house with the Okhwa Goddess?”
This was something that only the executives of the Martial Alliance knew secretly.
So-mu was a little taken aback by his sudden question.
“…We”re not living together yet.”
“So you didn”t even get married and had a daughter first?”
So-mu did not deny it. Instead, he looked at her with strange eyes.
“Think what you want. But why are monks so interested in worldly affairs?”
Geumjeongsae was drawing a river between his eyebrows as if he was grumpy.
Amifa’s doorkeeper, she was always full of spirit and dignity, but now she seemed like nothing more than a grumpy woman.
“You”re not asking because you don”t know, right?”
After thinking for a while, So-mu was able to think of something. And a meaningful smile appeared on his face.
“Hehe. Now that I think about it, you and Yeon-mae were enemies and competitors. I heard you two clashed once before? What happened?”
The Geumjeong incident and Okhwa Goddess fought in opposing forces. Both women had great temperaments, so I was secretly curious about the outcome.
I couldn’t ask Seo Seon-hwa outright, but the situation was different now.
“””.”
The Geumjeong incident remained silent. It was clear from the way her eyes were shaking. It was by no means the expression of a winner.
“Your pride must have been hurt a lot. A seasoned swordsman from the political faction was defeated by a young rookie from the Demonic Cult.”
“Why don”t you stop talking about that? It still makes my blood boil when I think about that time.”
“Yeonmae has retired as a strongman like me, so don”t take it to heart anymore.”
“Now you”re even saying we”re lovers. At some point, you said I”m the only comrade you can trust in Jianghu?”
“Now times have changed, and so has the situation.”
Tendons sprouted from Geumjeongsae”s forehead. So-mu’s eyes were fixed on his shiny head.
One side was charred black. The traces left by Yeonseohwa’s Black Dragon God seemed clear.
“…Why? Is this your first time seeing a bald head?”
So-mu shook his head once with a bitter expression.
“You”ve become more angry. Now, let”s keep our temper down. It”s because the monk is so impatient.”
Geumjeongsae, who was silent for a moment, sighed.
“I definitely feel like I”ve become irritable these days” There”s a problem in our Amifa.”
“Is it so much that even Moonju can”t handle it?”
“Yes. There is a child born with the energy of a celestial being.”
Heavenly Killing Star. Although he showed great martial ability, he was known to be destined to become a madman because he has a naturally strong spirit.
“It”s a strange fate to be born into a Buddhist sect. But if I lead the Ami faction well, right?”
“It”s easier said than done. He”s only 11 years old, and he can”t treat even his first disciples carelessly. Recently, he accidentally killed two of his opponents during sparring. I don”t know if it was really a mistake.”
So-mu, who was imagining it, shook his head excitedly.
“It would be a good idea to stop martial arts training and focus on studying Buddhist texts.”
“I guess so.”
Contrary to what was said, the Geumjeong incident had no intention of doing so. This was because he had to win in the secret martial arts competition of the later indexes to be held two years later. In the meantime, where would there be time to study Buddhist texts? It was planned to transmit all of Emei’s secret teachings, including Bulgwangilseonji.
The two of them had been talking for a long time and were ready to say goodbye.
“I have to go now. My daughter is waiting.”
Geumjeongsae crossed her arms and snorted.
“Where are you waiting? In the barracks? Where is the father who is raising his daughter in a military camp full of soldiers? Instead, send her to Emei. I will take good care of her.”
So-mu immediately shook his head without the slightest hesitation.
“You want me to shave my daughter”s head and make her a nun? I refuse.”
Perhaps already anticipating the reaction, Geumjeongsae burst out laughing. After saying goodbye, she turned and walked away.
“Tsk tsk. Nothing has changed since then.”
So-mu, returning to Jangan, was clicking his tongue.
It was quite a long time ago, when I first started dating her. He was a person who lived without hesitation along with openness.
Not long after launching the light movement technique, we were able to face the strong walls of Jangan. The closer he got to the gate, the more questions came to his mind.
The atmosphere of the city was so different from usual that it could be felt from afar.
“Hello, Captain!”
The gatekeepers recognized So-mu’s face and stood up with their feet together.
“What”s going on? Why can”t I see any residents?”
It was definitely different from usual. Recently, the population of Jangan has increased significantly, so it was normal to see a bustling scene unfolding from the gate. But now, the wind was blowing like a ruined city.
“It’s not an ordinary uproar. It started today when people came from Hanzhong and spread the news. The residents of Jangan City and they all joined forces and rushed to the palace.”
So-mu remembered the scene he saw in the center of Hanzhong a few days ago. It seemed like some of them had come all the way here. I should go there first.
“I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”
“all right!”
So-mu nodded and headed toward the palace. The heat could be felt from far away.
As I turned the corner, I saw the main road leading to the palace. And there So-mu”s steps stopped.
An innumerable crowd of people filled the entrance of the vast palace, bowing their headed.
People shouting something in unison. So-mu, who witnessed the scene, was heartbroken.
“Long live His Majesty Emperor Jang Yang!!!”
“Long live His Majesty Emperor Jang Yang!!!”
“Long live His Majesty Emperor Jang Yang!!!”
There were no people of any age or gender. Even people who were physically uncomfortable were seen. It seemed as if all the residents of Jangan Province had flocked out.
Soldiers formed a wall around it to control the streets of the palace, but there seemed to be no friction with the people.
“How could this happen”” ” .”
People wearing the uniforms of the relief corps belonging to Hanzhong were also seen. It seemed like villagers outside the castle had also joined in.
At that time, someone spotted So-mu and came to the side. He was a one-armed warrior from the Sanwa tribe.
“You are here. What do you think?”
“The people are trying to make someone emperor. And that by force. Has anything like this ever happened in history?”
Baekyak shook his head and muttered softly.
“Hundreds of emperors have reigned over this land, but there has never been a case like this. I wonder what kind of world will open up here.”
“I”m looking forward to it too. But why hasn”t the general come out yet?”
“It looks like he hasn”t made a decision yet. He hasn”t come out of his office for several o”clock.”
“He is a person who hates the very existence of the emperor. Moreover, he has no greed for power, so he would be unwilling.”
“What should I do?”
“…I guess I”ll have to meet him in person.”
So-mu, overcome by unknown emotions, silently looked around at the residents.
After a while. Suddenly, her eyes stopped for a moment. It was because I spotted a familiar child among the crowd.
“Long live grandfather!”
The girl raising both hands was clearly my daughter. Next to him were Baeksang and Baekah.
So-mu walked through the crowd and approached So-so with a bewildered expression.
“Why are you here?”
So-so, who found his father, smiled brightly and pointed somewhere.
“They say they”ll give you snacks if you stay here. Hehe.”
As I looked around, I saw residents handing out dumplings and rice balls on one side.
So-mu sighed and hugged his daughter.
“I can”t use it when a government official comes to a place like this.”
“Hmph. I haven”t received the snack yet.”
“What should I do with the salary I received from Sunlagun? Why not just buy it and eat it?”
So-so’s face, buried in his father’s chest, took on a stern expression.
“I don”t like it. I won”t use that.”
“Phew. How much did you save?”
So-so giggled to himself, wondering what was good.
“You don”t have to know. I”m richer than my father. Hehehe.”
“I”m so envious of that. If you have a thick wallet, your heart will also feel secure.”
So-mu slowly disappeared holding his daughter.
And then Director Baek Yak appeared where he was. He glared at the two remaining children.
“Why did these guys come here without even telling their father!”
He slapped each child’s buttocks with his only right hand and then picked up his youngest daughter.
Baek-ah said with tore streaming down her face.
“Hey. So-so asked me to come.”
Baekyak sighed and motioned for his son to follow him.
Then, he spoke to Baek-ah in her arms in a soft voice.
“You shouldn”t treat your sister without loyalty. Are you that hungry?”
“””yes.”
Baek Yak was the general of the State of Hui until not long ago. At the time of surrendering to Jang Yang, he had no property, so his life was not good.
I couldn’t remember the three of us ever eating together. Baekyak prepared his meals in the cooking barracks, and the children always ate free food provided by Seolhwawon.
But from now on things were different. This was because today was the day he received his first green bonus as an officer in the corps.
“Then, let”s eat something delicious as a family today. If there”s anything you want to eat from now on, tell your father about it.”
His son, Baeksang, followed behind him and asked.
“I want to eat duck meat, Dad. Can you buy it for me?”
It was a day when Director Baek Yak felt strength on his shoulders.
“Well, of course. But I don”t know if there are any restaurants open right now.”