Chapter 277: Trap (3)
The Emperor descended to the front row of seats, and only then could people raise their heads to look at the stage.
In response, Seo Jong-haeng, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had ascended the stage, began conducting the ceremony with a relaxed demeanor so at odds with the man who had once treated martial artists as mere vagrants that it was hard to believe it was the same person.
“Fellow Daoists of the Central Plains. Greetings. I am Seo Jong-haeng, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
People gazed at Seo Jong-haeng with wonder. After all, no matter how extraordinary the people here might be, the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a dragon among clouds. This was likely their first time seeing him in person.
“First, I humbly attribute the glory of this historic milestone of the Imperial Court—the Palace of Heavenly Worship inauguration ceremony—to His Majesty the Emperor, who has graciously entrusted this humble servant with its conduct.”
Seo Jong-haeng made a deep bow toward the Emperor. Was it necessary to grovel that much to rise to the rank of Senior Second Rank? It wasn’t easy.
“There are martial artists present here today, so I hesitate to speak, but the arrogance and lawlessness of the current martial world has reached the heavens. The Imperial Palace had turned a blind eye to the martial world because it thought it would benefit the common people. But in truth, many martial sects exploited the commoners rather than looking after them.”
As expected. He cut straight to the chase with criticism aimed at the martial world. But the martial artists in attendance didn’t bat an eye.
They knew that the arrogance and lawlessness reaching the heavens, which Seo Jong-haeng spoke of, was not directed at themselves.
I could feel people’s gazes gradually converging on me. Some whispered and pointed in my direction.
“There’s the Eastern Emperor.”
“Is that the Eastern Emperor? He’s so young.”
“Why wouldn’t he be? That’s why he’s so insolent.”
It sounded as though they were deliberately speaking loud enough for me to hear, but I ignored them. They were only saying it because they knew I couldn’t do anything here. Such petty people weren’t worth dealing with.
Sure enough, Seo Jong-haeng looked directly at me with undisguised bluntness and continued.
“Of course, I am not speaking of all the chivalrous heroes of the martial world. The Martial Alliance and the orthodox martial factions are currently cooperating closely with the Imperial Court to uphold righteousness. I am speaking of those arrogant factions that claim to pursue a new orthodoxy.”
I hadn’t expected him to be this brazenly shameless. If this was the trap, I was almost disappointed. Gathering your own people together and condemning the enemy. But thinking about it, the Imperial Court had always been that insidious and cowardly.
“They are inciting the martial world, demanding that the vast majority of innocent martial artists side with them. Is this not a terrifying thing?”
“Indeed!”
Someone shouted loudly. Was this a plant? Really, from start to finish, there wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t petty.
“In that regard, the Imperial Court can no longer sit idly by and watch. The Empire has cooperated with the Martial Alliance to create the Palace of Heavenly Worship. From this moment forward, the Martial Alliance is the Palace of Heavenly Worship, and the Palace of Heavenly Worship is the Martial Alliance.”
“Ohhh.”
The people were stirred. Even I was somewhat surprised by this.
Did they mean the orthodox Martial Alliance would be swallowed entirely by the Palace of Heavenly Worship? Or did they mean the Martial Alliance would simply be renamed the Palace of Heavenly Worship? But given that the inauguration ceremony was being held at the Imperial Court, the former was more likely.
“Therefore, the Martial Alliance Leader will from now on serve as the Vice Palace Master of the Palace of Heavenly Worship. He has graced us with his presence today as well.”
Su Je-heon waved his hand at the people as he acknowledged them. In the meantime, Seo Jong-haeng lavished praise upon Su Je-heon’s face.
“As you all know, Hero Su bears the sobriquet Ink Sword Hero, a testament to his profound sense of justice. Despite not hailing from the traditional lineages of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families, he possesses outstanding talent and diligence, earning a place among the Five Great Sword Masters Under Heaven. In that regard, the Imperial Court has determined that Hero Su is the suitable person to serve as Vice Palace Master of the Palace of Heavenly Worship.”
The people gazed at Su Je-heon with envious eyes. It was understandable. The Palace of Heavenly Worship was under the direct command of the Imperial Court.
To the Imperial Court, the Martial Alliance was nothing more than a gathering of hired swords. So being promoted from a mere hired sword to Vice Palace Master of the Palace of Heavenly Worship was indeed a significant advancement.
Was this truly what Su Je-heon had wanted? Had all his heroic deeds up to this point been merely the stepping stones for this? I watched from afar as people congratulated Su Je-heon, lost in thought.
“Vice Palace Master, please ascend to the stage.”
At Seo Jong-haeng’s words, Su Je-heon strode up the steps of the stage with majestic bearing.
Court music began to play from the surroundings. The classical melody seemed to bless Su Je-heon. He stood on the stage with a proud expression.
“Fellow Daoists of the martial world. I am the former Martial Alliance Leader, Su Je-heon. There is no more Martial Alliance, I should say.”
Su Je-heon’s quip drew laughter from the crowd. Since virtually everyone here, excluding Myeong-gyeong and me, was on the same side, a friendly atmosphere was inevitable.
Moreover, with the Emperor watching from the front row, they had to force the atmosphere into one of warmth and harmony.
“First, I offer my deepest gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor for granting me this most honored position.”
Su Je-heon, following Seo Jong-haeng’s lead, also made a deep bow toward the Emperor. As expected, birds of a feather flock together.
“I, Su Je-heon, as Vice Palace Master of the Palace of Heavenly Worship, do hereby pledge to rectify righteousness and take upon myself the task of purifying the currently turbid martial world.”
“Very good. Vice Palace Master, please take your seat behind the stage.”
Seo Jong-haeng nodded and sent Su Je-heon to the back.
“From this point forward, the address shall be delivered personally by His Majesty the Emperor.”
At Seo Jong-haeng’s words, the murmuring voices that had persisted until now fell completely silent. The Emperor slowly ascended the stairs.
“I had originally not intended to interfere greatly with this inauguration ceremony, but this is not merely the Palace of Heavenly Worship’s event. It is also an Imperial Court event. Many of the Court’s martial artists have also transferred to the Palace of Heavenly Worship, leaving numerous vacancies. Therefore, I shall take this opportunity to bestow rewards according to merit.”
Rewards according to merit. Normally, this was something the Imperial Court’s ministers discussed among themselves. Doing it before such a large crowd had to be for a reason. I watched the Emperor with tense eyes, unsure of what he was scheming.
“First, I wish to recognize the service of Seo Jong-haeng, who has toiled as Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
The Emperor spoke. As if it had been arranged beforehand, Seo Jong-haeng stepped forward and knelt before the Emperor.
The Emperor looked down at Seo Jong-haeng and continued.
“You have led the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Great Empire, defeating all manner of enemies threatening the Empire with loyalty and wisdom. This achievement cannot go unrecognized. Accordingly, a proper reward must be bestowed.”
“Your Majesty is infinitely gracious!”
“Therefore, I specially grant you the position of Right Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Five Lakes Regional Command. I entrust you with more important affairs of the Empire, and I hope you will fully utilize the loyalty and wisdom you have thus far displayed in service to the Empire, and continue to assist me.”
Seo Jong-haeng’s face was flushed with excitement. The Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was Senior Second Rank; the Right Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Five Lakes Regional Command was Junior First Rank. One might think it was merely a single step, but advancing one step from that position required truly earning the Emperor’s trust.
“Your Majesty is infinitely gracious!”
Seo Jong-haeng struck his forehead against the stage in prostration.
“You must now devote even greater effort to your new duties. You are exceedingly wise, so I trust you already know what I would say without my further elaboration.”
“I am grateful for your words.”
Starting with Seo Jong-haeng, a flurry of official titles began to be bestowed. From Junior First Rank to Senior Second Rank, Junior Second Rank… It was indeed a massive overhaul and reform. This meant that many Imperial Court people had moved to the Palace of Heavenly Worship, and that the Court was paying great attention to it.
I hadn’t expected them to bestow titles so publicly like this. This was a development even I hadn’t anticipated, so I simply stood there in a daze.
“For the position of Deputy Commander of the Hubei Regional Command, I wish to appoint a special individual. This is the recommendation of Seo Jong-haeng, who is now the Right Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Five Lakes Regional Command.”
People’s eyes filled with curiosity. I was curious too. Who would it be?
“I hereby bestow this office upon Muk Hui-yeong of Hubei.”
“…?”
I doubted my ears for a moment. And it seemed others doubted theirs as well.
Even before the Emperor, the commotion was loud enough to be heard. The people’s agitation was considerable.
But the Emperor paid no heed and continued explaining the reason for my appointment.
“He has successfully led a merchant company, possesses a thorough understanding of martial organizations, and his personal martial strength is beyond what one would expect of someone who has barely passed twenty. It would be a great loss to leave such a talent of the Great Empire in the common world.”
I was still dumbfounded. And then I realized—this was the true nature of the trap. Honestly, it left me stunned.
I was twenty-three years old. The Deputy Commander of the Regional Command was a high-ranking Junior Second Rank position, effectively the vice commander of an entire province. To entrust it to a greenhorn like me, who had no experience as an official—they had to be truly insane. Not just a little, but thoroughly insane.
“Muk Hui-yeong of Hubei, come to me.”
The Emperor spoke. People’s eyes converged on me.
Hundreds, thousands of gazes fixed upon me. I let out a hollow laugh. It really was a well-crafted trap.
Of course, this Deputy Commander position hadn’t been given for the sake of Muk Hui-yeong the person. It was bestowed because Muk Hui-yeong was the Master of the New Justice Association.
It was an act of demoting the New Justice Association itself to a mere military office of Hubei.
‘Whoever came up with this is quite clever.’
Seo Jong-haeng had made the recommendation, so did Seo Jong-haeng devise it?
I climbed the steps to the stage where the Emperor sat, one foot at a time. To see the Emperor this close. In the past, it had been truly majestic and even intimidating. Now, all I felt was my heart turning cold.
“Muk Hui-yeong of Hubei, receive the imperial sword from me.”
I ascended to the stage and knelt on one knee. The Emperor extended a golden sword toward me.
But my answer was already decided.
“Your Majesty. I humbly beg your pardon, but I cannot accept the imperial sword.”
The Emperor chuckled, as if he had already anticipated my answer.
“Do you refuse my grace?”
I dared to raise my head and look at the Emperor. His eyes glinted with amusement. As if he were looking at a small animal. He did not see me as a human being.
“Yes. I am deeply sorry, but I have no choice but to refuse.”
“No choice but to refuse? Do you have a reason?”
The killing intent of the Imperial Guards surrounding the Emperor prickled my skin.
If I had no reason here, it seemed they would draw their swords immediately.
That, too, was part of the scheme—appointing me knowing I would refuse.
But I corrected my thinking: this was in fact an opportunity. Somehow, the situation had aligned perfectly for me to clearly state the very purpose of my coming here.
“I do have a reason.”
“What reason do you speak of?”
People watched the stage with tense eyes. Of course, I could see through their scheme, but to an uninformed observer, I appeared to be a reckless lout kicking away the Emperor’s grace and repaying it with insult.
I turned my head slightly and met Myeong-gyeong’s anxious gaze. The moment our eyes locked, Myeong-gyeong’s anxiety deepened.
“This servant is a retainer of the Prince of Jianzhou. How can you ask me to leave behind the young prince who has not yet come of age?”
I struck my forehead hard against the stage. A loud thud echoed across the vast plaza.
I had not come merely with the title of New Justice Association Master.
I had come to hold accountable the person who had robbed Myeong-gyeong of the innocence he had lost, the experiences he should never have had, the respect he should have rightfully enjoyed, and the smooth childhood that had been stolen from him.