Chapter 276: Trap (2)
I openly looked Su Je-heon up and down. Just to get under his skin. At my discourteous glance, Su Je-heon’s expression hardened slightly.
“Welcome.”
“Indeed. My, you’ve certainly blossomed. Who would have thought a Wudang lay disciple of merchant origin would become the master of a colossal force like the New Justice Association?”
Sure enough, Su Je-heon started scraping at me with equal bluntness.
There was no one in Beijing who didn’t know about the conflict between the Martial Alliance and the New Justice Association. The New Justice Association itself had emerged as a faction standing in opposition to the Martial Alliance. Naturally, people’s eyes turned toward us.
“Is it as impressive as a mere wanderer becoming the Martial Alliance Leader?”
“Haha. This fellow, really!”
“Hahaha.”
Both Su Je-heon and I were laughing, but no one failed to read the tense battle of wills flowing beneath it.
“I have never once been ashamed of the name Ink Sword Hero that the jianghu bestowed upon me.”
“By the way, is the ‘hero’ in Ink Sword Hero the kind of ‘hero’ that means narrow? Like when you say?”
“Of course not. It’s the heroic hero from chivalrous hero. The East’s younger brother is quite amusing.”
Just as I had mocked the “hero” in Ink Sword Hero, Su Je-heon had twisted the “emperor” in Eastern Emperor into “younger brother.” It was truly a battle of tongues. Each other’s lips were, in themselves, a razor-sharp blade.
“Ah, I heard about your disciple. What a pity.”
I struck first, hard. Probing and playing games in a battle of wills wasn’t my style.
It was already all over Chang’an that I had slain Su Je-heon’s disciple, Cho Hae-ryang, in a duel.
For me—the one who had killed him—to bring it up first was an unmistakable provocation.
The sound of people swallowing nervously could be heard from the surroundings.
“What is there to pity? He was weak, so he lost. That is all.”
But contrary to what people feared or expected, Su Je-heon’s reaction was cynical. That deviated even from my own expectations, so I was surprised.
“I didn’t know the boy would be that weak. Or perhaps you’re simply strong. A strong one and a weak one clashed, and the weak one died. Beyond that, there is nothing to it.”
Su Je-heon spoke as if it were nothing. A disciple he must have taught for at least ten years.
Considering the relationship between Cheong-hwa and myself, this was an absurd situation. I wondered—if it were me standing in front of the person who killed me, could Cheong-hwa maintain such composure? Probably not. And if the roles were reversed, I would be the same.
“You’re cold-hearted.”
“What’s the use of boiling your blood over the past? Even if you seek revenge, you should freeze it over first.”
“I agree with that. When I think of the Zhoushan Archipelago, I feel my blood run cold as well.”
“It’s truly fascinating. At that age, anything you think of should make your blood boil, yet you can cool it down.”
Su Je-heon, strangely enough, offered genuine admiration. It was praise you wouldn’t easily direct at the person who killed your own disciple.
“Standing here at the entrance, we’re blocking people from getting in. Shall we go inside?”
“Let’s.”
I tucked Myeong-gyeong to my side, and Su Je-heon strode alone through the gates of the Forbidden City.
Even though it had been a long time since my last visit, the splendor of the Forbidden City had not rusted in the slightest.
From the Forbidden City onward, the reception Su Je-heon and I received diverged completely. People came to Su Je-heon in clouds, bowing their heads in greeting. No one was around me.
Those who had any acquaintance with me averted their gazes the moment our eyes were about to meet, pretending not to see. Inside the Imperial Palace, showing friendliness to me was more dangerous than most acts of suicide.
Su Je-heon was buried in a sea of people, while no one approached us.
“This really makes me feel like the villain.”
I let out a short laugh. But looking at Myeong-gyeong, his face had stiffened. He was so tense he couldn’t even react to my words.
“…My stomach’s a little upset.”
“It’s because you’re too nervous. Try to relax.”
“Easier said than done.”
At Myeong-gyeong’s grumbling tone, I burst out laughing. Myeong-gyeong glared at me when he heard my laughter.
The situation was perfectly understandable. To Myeong-gyeong, the Forbidden City was the place where his life had been threatened—nothing more, nothing less. The deeper we went, the paler Myeong-gyeong’s complexion became.
“Senior Brother.”
“What?”
“Breathe from your dantian. Focus on your breathing.”
“…Alright.”
Myeong-gyeong inhaled deeply and exhaled repeatedly. Even his breath trembled with tension. But I had my secret mantra.
“Did you do it?”
“I don’t really feel any less nervous.”
“You have to say the spell for it to change.”
“Spell? What spell?”
“Ah, whatever. Fuck.”
“…”
Myeong-gyeong stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. It was indeed too crude a word to draw from a Daoist’s mouth.
“Is that right?”
“Try it. Just pretend you’re being tricked.”
I spoke seriously. Because that spell was genuinely what I muttered to myself whenever I felt tense.
“I’ll do it in my head.”
“That’s only possible for experienced practitioners. Beginners have to say it out loud. That’s how the spell’s efficacy increases.”
“Myggh.”
Myeong-gyeong sighed. Naturally, I had never once seen the Wudang Daoists swear. I wasn’t much of a swearer myself either.
But sometimes you needed to curse. And for Myeong-gyeong, that time was now. For me as well.
“Ah, whatever. Fuc…”
“You have to say the whole thing.”
“A Daoist shouldn’t say such things…”
“It’s fine. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
“Ah, whatever. Fuck.”
“Well done. But can you do it a little louder?”
“Ah, whatever. Fuck.”
Several nearby people must have heard, because they all turned their heads sharply toward Myeong-gyeong. Myeong-gyeong’s face flushed red, perhaps from embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about other people’s stares. Ah, whatever—that spirit is what’s important.”
“Right. Ah, whatever. Fuck.”
Myeong-gyeong’s expression turned solemn. It was a difficult spell to teach such a young and innocent child, but by my standards, there was nothing that settled the mind like it.
“You really have lived a rough life, Junior Brother.”
“Not as rough as you, Senior Brother.”
At my words, Myeong-gyeong chuckled. I had lived a tough life myself, but from what I could see, Myeong-gyeong’s had been harder.
“Junior Brother.”
“Yes?”
“Later, tell me about what you were like when you were young.”
“Aren’t we not supposed to talk about life before joining Wudang?”
At my words, Myeong-gyeong looked at me as if I’d said something absurd.
“You’re a lay disciple. And I told you everything.”
“That was a joke. I’ll tell you after this is over.”
Myeong-gyeong nodded. His complexion had regained much of its color from the pallor earlier.
Having calmed Myeong-gyeong down, we headed to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the inauguration ceremony was being held. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was the main hall of the Forbidden City. It was that symbolic, that vast, that grand.
“Even coming here after a long time, it’s overwhelming.”
Myeong-gyeong covered his mouth with his hand and whispered. In the Central Plains, there was no hall as lavish and enormous as the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The plaza before the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with people, but it didn’t feel noisy or chaotic. Imperial Guard soldiers stood around holding spears, and since this was the residence of the Emperor, everyone was careful with their words and actions. The reason I had made him say the spell earlier was because once we entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there were things he couldn’t say.
“The atmosphere is so different from the New Justice Festival.”
“Of course. Merchants selling goods in the plaza of the Hall of Supreme Harmony? That would be ridiculous.”
I agreed with that. The people here were mostly famous figures—whether from the martial world, politics, or commerce. It was vastly different from the New Justice Festival, where all manner of commoners had participated.
Yet the number of invited guests was by no means fewer than those who had attended the New Justice Festival. In truth, many had come because the Palace of Heavenly Worship inauguration was being treated as an Imperial Court event. If you caught the Emperor’s eye here, your life could change.
As these were all influential figures, I saw many familiar faces. In the distance, I spotted the Zhuge Clan Head and Zhuge Yan, who assisted him. Mount Hua’s Violet Mist Divine Sword was there, as were the Company Lords of major merchant companies.
Yet none of them acknowledged me with so much as a glance. No one could acknowledge me here in the Imperial Palace, where I had declared myself an enemy. In that sense, we were an island.
Many people gathered in small groups, but around us, there was no one.
“This is actually better. Greeting people you’re not close with in places like this is a pain.”
“True.”
There were many Imperial Palace people here as well. Myeong-gyeong must have had quite a few familiar faces among them. They didn’t seem to have recognized Myeong-gyeong yet, but after spotting several people, he jumped in shock and pressed even closer to me.
I felt Myeong-gyeong’s small body trembling, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Hatred toward the Imperial Palace people who were inflicting this much terror on such a kind and innocent child rose belatedly within me.
“Senior Brother. Don’t worry. I’m here.”
“…My dignity as Senior Brother is in tatters.”
“It’s fine. Sometimes Senior Brother protects me, and sometimes I protect you.”
I placed my hand on the crown of Myeong-gyeong’s head and ruffled his hair. Myeong-gyeong shook his head vigorously.
“Deceiving the master and betraying the ancestors.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
That was how we kept each other’s nerves at bay through play. Because there were so many famous people here, simply watching them pass the time quickly.
Then, at some point, the air changed. The heated atmosphere suddenly turned frigid.
“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”
A gong that resonated to the core of one’s being rang out alongside a thunderous voice that echoed across the plaza.
Everyone fell silent and turned to face the Hall of Supreme Harmony. From within, the Emperor emerged slowly, clad in a golden dragon robe.
Seeing the Emperor’s bare face was exceedingly rare. Even when I had seen him before, there had been a curtain between us.
‘So that’s what he looks like.’
Perhaps because they shared a father despite different mothers, he bore a slight resemblance to Myeong-gyeong.
The moment the Emperor appeared, everyone prostrated themselves. Even I had no choice but to bow in this situation. Myeong-gyeong and I knelt on the blue brick floor.
“Everyone, rise.”
I was startled by the Emperor’s voice. Not by the timbre, but because I could feel a profound internal energy that resonated through the entirety of the vast Hall of Supreme Harmony plaza.
I had never imagined the Emperor practiced martial arts, so I was taken aback. And a faint sense of revulsion stirred within me.
The martial arts of the Imperial Palace and the energy of the Heavenly Demon that I possessed were fundamentally at odds.
People rose one by one and bowed their heads. No matter how curious one might be, you couldn’t stare openly at the Emperor’s face. We kept our heads bowed and listened to the Emperor’s words.
“I welcome all who have come to the Palace of Heavenly Worship inauguration ceremony. Of course, I too am merely one of the participants. The host of this ceremony is the Palace of Heavenly Worship.”
“Your Majesty is infinitely gracious!”
The people shouted. The Emperor, thankfully, did not drag on his words and calmly descended from his seat.
This was the extent of the Emperor’s intention to elevate the Palace of Heavenly Worship.
Once the Emperor had stepped down, a familiar figure ascended to the stage of the plaza. It was Seo Jong-haeng, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
“Then, let us now begin the Palace of Heavenly Worship inauguration ceremony.”
The gong rang out once more, loudly. Now was the time to truly steel one’s nerves. Because this was a trap I had walked into of my own free will.