Chapter 143: Chapter 143
The provincial capital of Qinghai Province, Seonyeong.
Surrounded by mountains and with the Hwangsu River flowing from east to west, it was famous as a pleasant place for people to live, with no severe cold in winter and cool in summer.
Was that all?
It was a transportation hub leading to Urumqi in the west and Lhasa in the south, so it was always bustling everywhere, overflowing with people coming and going.
There was an exceptionally quiet place.
The Great Hall located in the dead center of Seonyeong!
It was the place where the Lord of Qinghai Province, who oversaw and was responsible for the current Qinghai Province, resided.
The gate guards protecting the Great Hall frowned as they looked at the young man in front of them.
“……Who did you say you came to see just now?”
“Princess So-hui.”
The gate guards’ expressions stiffened.
At the same time, the two quickly looked the young man in front of them up and down.
The visible appearance was quite outstanding.
Broad shoulders and a sharp but naturally handsome face.
It was an appearance that any young woman would turn her head to look at least once.
But that was all.
The clothes he was wearing were ordinary, and nothing particularly special could be seen.
If there was anything that caught the eye other than his face, it was the two swords worn at his side.
That only gave the gate guards a bad impression.
“Do you even know who the Princess is?”
“A princess is a princess.”
At the calm young man’s reply, the gate guards made eye contact with each other and opened their mouths.
“For now, I will relay the message inside.”
No matter how they looked at it, he didn’t seem to know Princess So-hui, but they couldn’t be sure.
Despite looking like that, he might really be someone related.
However, the possibility of that seemed low.
“But know this much.”
The middle-aged gate guard opened his eyes sharply and laid down a threat towards Cheon-hwi.
“I will convey your name to the Princess, but if the Princess says she doesn’t know you, this won’t be easily overlooked.”
Pretending to know a blood relative of the Imperial Family without knowing them was a huge crime even in Imperial Law.
It was a matter where one had to lay down their life.
That was why he even gave a final warning.
“I got it, so can you go quickly?”
The other party was apathetic.
A vein bulged on the gate guard’s forehead for a moment, but he suppressed his anger and turned around.
Afterwards, he whispered to the remaining gate guard.
“Don’t let him run away.”
“Understood.”
Soon, after firmly requesting the remaining gate guard, he went inside.
Seeing the gate guard go in, Cheon-hwi looked around with a bored expression.
“There sure are a lot of people.”
Unlike other provincial capitals in the Central Plains, Seonyeong was located on a high plateau, but it was more lively than any other provincial capital he had seen.
‘Was this why the Demonic Brain said we had to strike Seonyeong to conquer the Central Plains.’
He recalled the Demonic Brain, who in the past had passionately spoken while veins stood out on his neck.
… Seonyeong is an important trading hub connecting the Central Plains and the Outer Realms. If we dominate this place first, we can quickly recover the finances used when advancing into the Central Plains.
As per that passionate speech, if this many merchants were coming and going, it seemed more than enough to fill their funds.
That wasn’t all.
By isolating Qinghai from the Central Plains, they could have quickly subjugated the Sichuan Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Kunlun Sect.
However, that plan was scrapped.
Because he, who had been the Cult Leader, had no interest in it.
‘Why bother going all the way there?’
That was his feeling at the time.
But thinking about it now.
‘Tsk, maybe I should have given it a try.’
It was a little regrettable.
‘If I had fought the Central Plains back then, I would have seen more martial arts than I do now.’
When Cheon-hwi smacked his lips in regret.
‘……A guy like this knows the Princess?’
The gate guard, who was watching Cheon-hwi look around like a country bumpkin, snorted.
‘If you try to run away, I’ll……!’
When he put strength into his eyes.
Step… Step…
Just then, footsteps were heard from behind.
“You’re here……. Gasp!”
Thinking that the gate guard who had gone in a little while ago had come back out, he turned his head and froze in that state.
The one who came out was not the gate guard, but a beautiful woman draped in antique clothes.
Because it was Princess So-hui.
“P-Princess?”
Princess So-hui passed the surprised gate guard and approached Cheon-hwi.
“I was waiting.”
As Princess So-hui offered a greeting to the young man with a soft smile, the gate guard’s mouth fell wide open.
‘He really was acquaintances with the Princess…….’
For a moment, a cold sweat flowed down his back.
Because he belatedly remembered the actions he had shown towards the young man.
However, making his worries pale in comparison, Cheon-hwi didn’t even pay attention to him.
He spoke with a bored expression.
“Is everyone inside?”
Princess So-hui nodded her head.
“But you are quite late.”
“Well, there were various things that happened in the middle.”
Princess So-hui wanted to ask what on earth had happened, but she swallowed it down.
This was not the place to ask.
“Please follow me.”
She turned her body and went in.
Meanwhile, the gate guard earnestly prayed with a maximally stiffened expression that Princess So-hui and Cheon-hwi would just pass by.
Had that earnest wish gotten through?
Fortunately, the two passed by without saying a word, and soon he swept down his chest.
Then, he belatedly tilted his head.
The appearance of Princess So-hui welcoming the young man just now was very different from usual.
“It’s the first time the Princess has shown such an appearance…….”
While he had been a gate guard, had there ever been a time when Princess So-hui had welcomed someone that much?
There had absolutely never been a single time.
The gate guard muttered while looking at the backs of Princess So-hui and Cheon-hwi getting farther away.
“Who on earth is that person for her to…….”
* * *
Cheon-hwi followed Princess So-hui into the Great Hall and walked side by side.
‘Surprisingly, the inside is modest.’
Unlike the splendid exterior, the inside of the Great Hall was not that splendid.
There were golden ornaments seen sparsely, but their numbers were very small, as if they were just placed there for the sake of assortment.
‘I heard the Lord of Qinghai Province is a blood relative of the Emperor……. He’s quite modest.’
As he was walking while having such thoughts.
“……Did the business you went for go well?”
Princess So-hui brought it up in a low voice.
Cheon-hwi let out a chuckle.
Because he had grasped the intention of her sudden words.
“It went well. That’s why you also arrived safely in Qinghai Province, isn’t it?”
At the answer, Princess So-hui’s eyes shone.
At the same time, she wanted to ask Cheon-hwi more, and her mouth was itching, but she held it in.
This was the passageway of the Great Hall.
Because there was a chance it might be heard by a spy who had infiltrated this castle.
The conversation was cut off, and silence flowed.
After a moment of only footsteps ringing in the silence, the two arrived in front of a room door.
A woman was standing in front of the door.
Whether she had already been tipped off, the woman bowed her head as if she had been waiting.
“I have been waiting.”
After finishing her greeting, the woman raised her head, made eye contact with Cheon-hwi, and spoke.
“Guest. Before you go inside, you must leave your swords separately.”
Cheon-hwi stared at the woman.
This was no different from the Imperial Family.
With a calm expression, he handed over the two swords worn at his side to the woman.
“Thank you.”
The woman, who carefully received the swords with both hands, approached the door and spoke.
“Lord. Princess So-hui and a guest have visited.”
Then, an answer was heard from inside.
“Let them in.”
There were no words asking who it was or why they had come.
As if he knew everything.
“Please go in.”
As the woman opened the door and retreated with quick, short steps, the two went into the room.
Had they walked about ten steps like that?
At the front of the room painted in red and gold, a chair was seen in a high position.
A man wearing a golden dragon robe was sitting on the splendidly decorated chair.
The man’s cheeks were sunken in, and he looked frail, as if he was not in good health.
Cheon-hwi, who was scanning him, shifted his gaze.
Because a very familiar old man standing next to him caught his eye.
“You, you!”
The old man, the Divine Physician, opened his eyes wide the moment he saw Cheon-hwi and let out a sharp voice.
“You bastard! Why have you only come now!”
At the Divine Physician’s shout, the person sitting on the chair looked at him with surprised eyes.
He had seen the Divine Physician grumble until now, but he had never seen him shout before.
But to be shouting abruptly as soon as he saw that young man.
‘For him to be someone the Divine Physician treats this comfortably……. So-hui said he wasn’t an ordinary person, but I’m becoming even more curious.’
Then, the young man answered.
“I was late because I had a lot of things to do.”
The Divine Physician’s face distorted.
“A lot of things to do, my foot. Do you even know how many days have passed since that day…….”
“No matter how much time it took, isn’t the important thing that I arrived anyway?”
“This bastard……!”
The Divine Physician trembled his fists.
He was angry, but he didn’t really have anything to refute it. Just as he said, he had never even mentioned when he would come or anything like that.
At that time.
“Hahaha!”
The man sitting on the chair saw the two bickering and burst into loud laughter.
A moment later, after stopping his laughter, he asked.
“Are you Cheon-hwi?”
“You know well.”
“I didn’t know you would be such an interesting person.”
The eyes of the man, the Lord of Qinghai Province, deepened.
He had never seen him even once, but he was feeling a strange familiarity.
It was understandable since Princess So-hui and the Divine Physician had talked about him every single day until his ears bled.
He, who was examining Cheon-hwi, opened his mouth.
“Hmm. Just as my daughter said, you are imposing, and you show the temperament of a great man.”
“I am a bit like that.”
“Oho.”
The Lord of Qinghai Province’s eyes widened.
Usually, Daoists were humble and lowered themselves, but the young man in front of him was not.
He agreed to and accepted the compliment that was close to mere lip service as if it were natural.
The Lord stared at him with an even more interesting gaze and moved his lips.
“My daughter said she received a lot of help from you. She said that if it weren’t for you, her life would have been in danger, and Elder Divine Physician wouldn’t have come either…….”
As the Lord spoke while looking at the Divine Physician.
“That guy escorting me, my foot.”
The Divine Physician stuck his lips out a mile.
“I came on my own accord.”
‘You’re saying it like that?’
The corners of Cheon-hwi’s mouth twisted.
“Is that so? Then you can just keep staying here.”
Cheon-hwi, thinking it was a golden opportunity to shake off the Divine Physician, poured out his words, thinking it was right, and the Divine Physician was startled.
“What are you talking about!”
“Why? You said you came because you wanted to come to Qinghai Province. Since you’re here, just stay.”
“This bastard……!”
The Divine Physician beat his chest in frustration.
How could he not lose a single word!
It would be good for both of them if he just said one word nicely!
Meanwhile, the Lord of Qinghai Province looked at Cheon-hwi, who was playing with the Divine Physician, with surprised eyes.
‘To think the Divine Physician, who wandered around freely ignoring even the Emperor’s command, is unable to do anything.’
The Lord of Qinghai Province’s interest in the person named Cheon-hwi grew, but he quickly suppressed it.
Wasn’t there something he had to ask first before his interest in the other party right now.
At that time, the Lord of Qinghai Province’s eyes flashed.
Unlike his weakened appearance, the gaze he showed now was sharply alive.
“Where was the backing force you said you were going to deal with?”
“The Nine Dragons Gang.”
“Nine Dragons Gang……?”
The Lord of Qinghai Province frowned.
The Nine Dragons Gang was a sect name that had been frequently mentioned within Qinghai Province recently.
“Are you talking about the sect that killed this province’s Surveillance Commissioner?”
“That’s right. That’s the place.”
For a moment, the Lord of Qinghai Province gnashed his teeth.
“……Now I understand why the Surveillance Commissioner died away from home in the Nine Dragons Gang. Was he attacked while investigating after finding out that the Nine Dragons Gang was the backing force. I will show these bastards……!”
‘What is that nonsense again? What? The Surveillance Commissioner was attacked while investigating the Nine Dragons Gang?’
Cheon-hwi, watching the Lord of Qinghai Province burst into anger at the wrong place, moved his lips.
“The Surveillance Commissioner was the spy.”
“What……?!”
The Lord of Qinghai Province’s eyes shook.
The Surveillance Commissioner was one of his trusted subordinates who had followed him for decades.
“The Surveillance Commissioner was a spy? Why……. What benefit would there be for him to do such a thing…….”
“Because the Commander of the Eastern Depot offered him a position in the Imperial Palace, he fell for it hook, line, and sinker.”
“C-Commander of the Eastern Depot?!”
“Why would he target my father……?”
Unlike the Divine Physician and Princess So-hui, who were startled by the mention of an unexpected person, the Lord of Qinghai Province let out a sigh.
“The Commander of the Eastern Depot, huh……. So it was like that.”
His eyes sank deeply.
Hearing that the ‘Commander of the Eastern Depot’ was the backer, all his questions were resolved at once.
‘If he is the backer, everything makes sense. But why would he do such a thing…….’
Recalling the face of the Commander of the Eastern Depot flashing across his mind, he moved his lips.
“Is there perhaps anything else you found out?”
“No. That’s the end of it.”
The Lord of Qinghai Province nodded upon seeing Cheon-hwi answer with a shrug.
This was enough.
It was more than enough, overflowing.
Since they had found out the backer anyway.
“I received a lot of help from you.”
The Lord spoke with sincerity.
If it weren’t for the person named Cheon-hwi, not only himself but So-hui would have died too.
Srrk…
He placed his emaciated arms on the armrests and slowly raised his body.
Afterwards, he looked down at Cheon-hwi and spoke.
“Tell me if there is anything you want. I will grant you anything.”
It was words saying he would repay the help, but in reality, there were impure intentions mixed in.
‘If I place this person under my command…….’
By the time his eyes were stained with greed.
You will grant anything?
Cheon-hwi fell into thought.
If others had said it, they would have been ridiculed for spouting nonsense, but who was the other party.
If he wanted money, he could obtain a fortune, and if he wanted power, it was a being who could immediately bestow a position.
That was why most people would agonize over what to receive at those words.
‘I don’t really have anything.’
Cheon-hwi did not.
Money? If it was money, he already had enough.
Power? Who was he in his past life.
He was the Absolute Heavenly Demon, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
If it was power, he had tasted it to the point of being sick of it more than anyone else.
At least he thought about looking at martial arts manuals, but even that didn’t excite him when he saw the guards hiding on the ceiling and being vigilant.
‘Seeing that state, even if I looked, it wouldn’t be much.’
Cheon-hwi, who was contemplating, opened his mouth.
“Just make an offering to the Mount Hua Sect.”
Choosing the last remaining option after deliberating over everything.
“Don’t worry about the offering. I’ve already prepared it to repay the Mount Hua Sect’s help.”
The Lord of Qinghai Province spoke with a smile.
“Is there anything you want personally? How about a spiritual elixir? Or a renowned sword?”
He mentioned things that would make the eyes of a martial artist of Jianghu roll back in their head, but.
“Just the offering is enough.”
Cheon-hwi spoke nonchalantly.
Spiritual elixirs? Renowned swords?
He didn’t need them.
The Plum Blossom Divine Art was already on track, so even if he ate a spiritual elixir, there would be no great gain.
Didn’t he also have two swords.
Meanwhile, the Lord of Qinghai Province, who didn’t know Cheon-hwi’s inner circumstances, could not hold back his admiration.
“How can someone have so little material greed.”
Even when offered money, spiritual elixirs, and renowned swords, he refused, only wanting an offering.
That very figure could be called the paragon of a true Daoist.
‘I thought the Daoists of Jianghu were tainted by the secular world, but…….’
The greed contained in his gaze staring at Cheon-hwi had already disappeared.
‘He is someone far removed from the secular world.’
He gave up the thought of trying to appease him.
Trying to win over someone like that with money and power would only push them away.
There was only one thing he had to do now.
To continue this connection, he just needed to grant what he had asked for.
“I will prepare it as soon as possible and send the offering to the Mount Hua Sect.”
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