Chapter 294: Promise (1)
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“Have you lost your mind?”
That was my first line. Zhu Wenjing’s brow furrowed deeply.
“How impudent.”
“Because it is the sort of thing only a madman would say.”
“And why is that?”
“Why, you ask. I am not of the Zhu clan. I am of the Muk clan.”
Great Ming was the nation of the Zhu clan. If someone of the Muk clan suddenly became emperor, that would not be Great Ming. They did not call a change of dynastic surname ‘changing the surname’ for nothing.
“If I cared about surnames, why would I be protecting that child?”
“Still, that is different from becoming emperor.”
Words came out fast at something I had never once considered. Zhu Wenjing’s voice, by contrast, changed neither in pitch nor speed.
Even while thinking of overthrowing the Imperial State, I had never once thought of becoming emperor myself. I had assumed that if I overturned the Imperial State, someone else would naturally become emperor.
“How is it different? The Emperor’s bloodline exists separately. If one acts as an emperor should, that one is the Emperor.”
“Do I look like an emperor?”
I asked in earnest. I also turned to look at the dazed Myeong-gyeong.
“Senior Brother. What do you think?”
“I do not think so.”
“Right?”
Myeong-gyeong and I agreed. My Senior Brother’s support would not help much in this situation, but it felt as though I had gained a very large ally.
“Child. I wish to ask you. Why do you think Muk Hui-yeong is not emperor material?”
Zhu Wenjing asked Myeong-gyeong rather than me.
“No, you should be asking me.”
“Be quiet. This child too is one of the people. Is the people’s voice not what matters most to an emperor?”
“I am people too.”
Zhu Wenjing ignored my words and stared fixedly at Myeong-gyeong.
“Um. Junior Brother is, first of all, kind. I think that makes him unsuited to being emperor.”
Myeong-gyeong answered straight. It was praise of a sort, or something like it. Zhu Wenjing laughed.
“Explain a little more deeply.”
“I think an emperor sometimes needs to be ruthless. When making policy, or when giving orders. I think it is a position hard for a good person to bear.”
Seeing him answer his great-grandfather so neatly made me wonder why he was so adorable. I forgot the situation and smiled. Zhu Wenjing seemed to feel the same and smiled the same smile.
“What you say is hardly wrong. Sometimes an emperor must show cruelty as well. But an emperor must keep goodness deep within, and know how to pity the people.”
Zhu Wenjing looked back at me.
“And this fellow keeps goodness deep within, yet also has the decisiveness to cut away what must be cut like a blade. His not being of the Zhu clan is his only flaw, but he is a most fitting choice.”
Being praised like that was somehow embarrassing. I had never once thought of myself as good.
When I ran the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company in my past life, I quickly dismissed employees whenever the company seemed to shake, and I had also swindled guests from other regions.
“I am not that good a person. Everyone is mistaken.”
“There is no one in the world who is only good, and no one who is only evil. The question is whether goodness or evil lies deepest in the heart. You clearly lean toward goodness.”
“If you judge by that, there are not many good people in the world.”
“True. But there are not many with your decisiveness, political sense, and ability to run a nation economically. That is your ability.”
“Is running one merchant company the same as running a nation?”
“Every emperor, without exception, has no experience governing a nation before ascending the throne.”
I was at a loss for words. I was born of a humble house. That I should be emperor.
“Of course, in my heart I would like you to be the founding emperor of a new Great Ming and pass the throne to my descendants, but that would be too much my own greed.”
“…Haha.”
Now we were even discussing succession. My head spun at how fast the conversation was moving.
“But why entrust the throne to me? What meaning is there in a Great Ming that is not of the Zhu clan?”
“What does it matter whether it is Zhu or Muk when building an age of good governance? I have already transcended such things.”
“The words are too sudden. It is hard to respond.”
“Then what, you can simply train in the formation and leave as you are.”
“How cowardly of you.”
“Sometimes an emperor must be cruel as well.”
I bit my lip. But I felt I had to grow stronger. I did not know how many more old monsters like that existed.
Being strong for my age no longer meant anything. I had to become absolutely strong. For that, the formation alteration Zhu Wenjing offered was essential.
“But how much time can you buy me?”
“How much do you want?”
“As much as possible, of course.”
“As much as possible. I will try. I do not know my own limits well, after all.”
“I see.”
“So, will you accept?”
I hesitated. Emperor. Emperor…
A position standing above all the people. I had never once thought myself superior to others. The people in the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company were people who had contracted with me, not people I ruled.
If someone like me took the throne, would not the hierarchy instead collapse and throw the Imperial State into chaos?
Yet I also felt I could govern the nation better than the present Emperor.
“I will try, I suppose. Nobles and ministers are not born from special seed, are they?”
“A good mind.”
That was how I decided to become emperor. Zhu Wenjing smiled as though satisfied.
“The formation will shake severely. It must undergo quite a lot of alteration.”
“How much of my time are you going to secure?”
“Heh heh, you may look forward to it. I am pouring in an immortal’s divine power whole.”
“Eh?”
As I asked again, the Forbidden City shook greatly. When Myeong-gyeong staggered and nearly fell, I caught him.
“Wait, Immortal.”
Even when I called, Zhu Wenjing did not answer. His jade-colored light grew fainter and hazier. Naturally I had wanted him to alter the formation from intact goodness, not offer up everything.
“Immortal! Immortal!”
“Your form of address has grown polite.”
“You do not need to use power to that extent.”
“Heh heh. Are you worried I will die?”
“If so, then yes.”
“How amusing. Do you think death exists for an immortal? Life and death are human problems.”
“Right? You are returning to the Upper Realm?”
“No. When my divine power is spent, I will vanish.”
My heart lurched at those words. In a way, Zhu Wenjing and I were connected. Was vanishing not the same as death?
“Do not judge by human standards. Eternal annihilation and eternal life are not the same.”
“Why go this far?”
“Why, you ask. Because it is my obsession. Do not mistake that I do it for you.”
Zhu Wenjing’s presence vanished. The jade light scattered, leaving only a faint halo. I stared at it blankly.
Had he vanished because I asked? Had I killed a person? I could not help thinking that.
Of course, calling it death was awkward for an immortal. But was vanishing not the same as death? The human brain could explain it no other way.
Even if Zhu Wenjing said it was what he wanted, seeing him vanish before my eyes was cruel to me.
“The Zhu clan makes things very hard for me.”
“I am of the Zhu clan too.”
“The characters are different.”
Zhu Mun-hwan or Zhu Wenjing. What they asked before vanishing was similar too.
Both were character rotations, so were they of the same generation? I could not know that far, but I felt I should avoid anyone named Zhu from now on.
“That was a mysterious experience.”
Myeong-gyeong held out his palm toward the jade light falling from above and murmured. Well, people rarely met immortals, so he was probably still dazed.
“So we train now?”
Myeong-gyeong looked back at me. I nodded.
Yes. There was no turning back now. I might as well try being emperor once. Zhu Mun-hwan would probably be pleased if I saved Great Ming. Or not.
In any case, Zhu Wenjing had poured in all his divine power, so we had bought much time in this formation. It was enough of a great fortune for me, and for Myeong-gyeong as well.
“Shall we begin?”
I clapped my hands. Myeong-gyeong too, knowing he had gained a great fortune, wore a solemn look in his eyes.
* * *
“You have made your decision.”
“Made what?”
“There is such a thing.”
Hyeon-wol sat in meditation on the hermitage roof and looked north. Toward where the Great Desert lay.
Below the hermitage, Cheong-hwa was sweeping the courtyard in the rain.
“Master is always like that. He stirs curiosity and then plays ignorant when asked. A manner of speech that is terribly irritating.”
“So that is where the child learned such rudeness.”
“As the saying goes, beans grow where beans are planted, and red beans where red beans are planted.”
Hyeon-wol looked down at Cheong-hwa below the roof as though exasperated.
“In any case, even if I told you, you would not understand. I myself find it hard to understand precisely.”
“At least try. You never know. It might be a case of the child surpassing the teacher.”
“You think so?”
Hyeon-wol smiled and pointed at the sky with his hand.
“There are stars, are there not?”
“Stars? Stars in the sky?”
“Yes. Even the stars in the sky are not eternal.”
“They are not, I suppose?”
“When a star vanishes, do you feel fear?”
“That is a strange question. I cannot grasp your intent at all.”
“That is why I do not tell you.”
“That is even more irritating.”
Hyeon-wol laughed loudly and looked at the sky. The sun was slowly setting.
“By the way, why do you make me clean? I am not at the level of cleaning a hermitage like this anymore.”
“How could I make the disciple of Elder Baepun do such a thing? That would be embarrassing.”
“You could just order me.”
“Enough. I do not want to be cursed for growing old for nothing.”
“It is fine when I am the one eating, though.”
“You always do it inwardly, so it is fine.”
Cheong-hwa pouted and shook the broom. She swept away all the dust settled on the hermitage and the maple leaves piled in the courtyard.
“It is about time.”
“Who is coming here?”
“Familiar faces are coming.”
“You are only telling me half again.”
“Is it not amusing? Life is the pleasure of unraveling something. It is as though I keep throwing you reasons to live.”
“I do not need that.”
Hyeon-wol stood and straightened his clothes. Today’s Master was somehow different. Usually he lived like a dead man, then suddenly appeared, made Cheong-hwa clean the hermitage, and even tidied clothes he normally ignored.
“What guest is coming?”
“You can see them now.”
Hyeon-wol shaded his eyes with his hand and looked beyond Wudang Mountain. Cheong-hwa followed his gaze but saw nothing.
Wind blew over the place where the hermitage stood. Cheong-hwa thought little of it at first, then flinched. This place was sealed by a formation. Wind should not blow here.
“What…”
When Cheong-hwa looked at the hermitage roof, several people were already standing beside Hyeon-wol.
“…Ah.”
Cheong-hwa looked closely at them, then immediately prostrated herself.
“I greet my Martial Uncles.”
Those gathered were all the martial uncles of Wudang’s Elder Baepun. It was a wonder to see martial uncles one had not known for more than ten years whether they lived or died appearing one by one.
“Heh heh. It has been long.”
“Cheong-hwa has grown much. White is already showing at her temples.”
“Time is always fast.”
Cheong-hwa, now an elder of the Wudang Sect herself, found such treatment awkward. But compared to the elders of Baepun’s generation she was still very young, so Cheong-hwa could not think of lifting her head.
“Why have my Martial Uncles…”
Cheong-hwa asked. Hyeon-wol folded his arms and turned slightly. Northeast. Toward where Beijing lay.
“Someone broke a promise without fear.”
Cheong-hwa trembled at her Master’s cold tone.