Chapter 322: Cleanup (1)
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The cost of the wrecked Yicheng government office was decided to be split fifty-fifty between the Palace of Heavenly Worship and the New Justice Association. The county magistrate, the master of the government office, dared not show even a hint of displeasure. While I was merely a commoner, the Vice Palace Master of the Palace of Heavenly Worship was unequivocally a high-ranking official.
“Just what in the world happened inside?”
Having realized late that a fight had taken place, Cheong-ui and Cheong-hwa’s jaws dropped upon seeing the pulverized government office from the inside. They had barely held the collapsing structure together with a qi barrier; the moment Su Je-heon released the qi barrier, the office reached the point where it had to be completely demolished and rebuilt.
“We had a bit of a conversation.”
“Do you hold conversations with swords?”
“That can happen.”
“I suppose so.”
While to other people those might sound like absurd words, because they were martial artists, they understood what I meant.
Seeing Cheong-ui and Cheong-hwa for no reason brought Su Je-heon’s words back to mind. If it does not work out, is it enough to simply acknowledge it and step back? The reason I agonized like this was likely that I was not yet ready to acknowledge it and step back. How could I accept being abandoned by them?
“Why are you looking at us with such a wistful gaze?”
Cheong-hwa chuckled and gave my forehead a light tap. Cheong-ui took a sharp breath through his teeth and glared at Cheong-hwa.
“Other people are watching.”
Cheong-ui seemed mindful of the fact that I was the Society Leader of the New Justice Association. I waved my hands dismissively.
“It is fine. Almost only the people of the Wudang Sect came, didn’t they?”
“Even so.”
Cheong-ui smacked his lips in dissatisfaction. As I had said, this was Hubei, so for now only people from the Wudang Sect had come. If people from other sects were present, no matter how Cheong-hwa was, wouldn’t he have refrained? No, he might have done it anyway. I was not really sure.
“For now, let us return to the Wudang Sect. You can slowly tell us what you discussed with the Ink Sword Hero.”
Cheong-ui spoke with the tone that there was no rush.
“In truth, there is not much to say.”
“Really? What did you talk about?”
“Will you cooperate? No. That was the end of it.”
“You had such a brawl just to say that?”
“Yes.”
Cheong-ui looked at me as if dumbfounded. The state inside the government office was truly catastrophic. But what could be done? Su Je-heon was one of the foremost masters in the Central Plains, and my martial attainment had also risen considerably, so demolishing a building after exchanging just a few clashes was ordinary business.
“Where is Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong?”
“He is on Mount Wudang.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes. That child seems to have changed a bit too. Perhaps because he has reached fifteen years of age. Even when told to come along, he said he would stay behind to practice martial arts.”
“Is that so.”
I smiled. A feeling that was somewhat proud yet bittersweet. Normally, if he heard he would see me, he certainly would have tagged along. Myeong-gyeong was also forging his own life. It was about the age to do so as well.
Myeong-gyeong clearly possessed talent. After all, he was a swordsman whose sobriquet even the past-life me knew.
Just as Myeong-gyeong had entered deeply into my life, I must have entered deeply into Myeong-gyeong’s life as well. I was immensely apprehensive about what kind of impact that might bring. However, there was nothing I could do; I could only watch over him.
“Let us go for now.”
I clapped my hands. It was time to return to the Wudang Sect and sort things out.
* * *
Returning to the New Justice Association, I began by organizing my talents before anything else. Up until now, because situations were urgent, I had used them as they came, but the talents I could equip had a limit, and since I now had many talents, I had to be selective.
The talents I currently possessed were as follows:
Grade 3 ― Mangryang
Grade 3 ― Wind God
Grade 3 ― Awakening
Grade 3 ― Martial King’s Body
Grade 3 ― Unity of Body and Sword
All Streams Return to the Source, which controlled flow, was replaced by Wind God; the body arts talent was replaced by Martial King’s Body; and the sword arts talent was replaced by Unity of Body and Sword.
Even looking at other talents from here, there seemed to be none in particular worth swapping. The current setup was optimal.
Having matched them all to Grade 3, it was now time to ascend to Grade 2. The problem, however, was that Grade 2 talents were still far too distant.
[ Heavenly Eye ― Grade 2 ]
[ Price: Unavailable for Viewing ]
Seeing that it still displayed ‘Unavailable for Viewing’, it seemed some condition needed to be met, but I had no idea whatsoever what that condition was.
Furthermore, considering that the prices of Grade 3 talents had been priceless treasures of the martial world, I was deeply worried about what Grade 2 talents would demand. The phrase ‘one mountain after another’ was a fitting expression for times like this.
Yet looking back now, even when I unlocked high-grade talents, I had never unlocked them intentionally. They had always unlocked naturally according to how I lived my life.
Now I vaguely guessed the significance of this Martial Talent Shop. It was like a procedure or roadmap for the revival of Great Ming.
If so, it meant that as long as I took one step at a time to save Great Ming, the Martial Talent Shop would illuminate the path on its own. At the very least, the Martial Talent Shop was a companion helping me, not an obstacle to hinder me.
It would unlock them when the person I was could handle the talents. Thinking that way seemed to put my mind a bit more at ease.
Next was the business I, and the New Justice Association, had to handle. However, that was something to discuss with people like Peng Chae-hyang, Namgung Hwi, and Cheong-ui. I stepped out of the Society Leader’s office to summon them for now.
“……Ah. You were the Society Leader’s father.”
“Ah. Indeed. And you, Young Lady?”
“I am Peng Chae-hyang, assisting the Society Leader.”
“If you are from the Peng clan, is it the Peng clan I know of?”
“If you are referring to the Hebei Peng Clan, that would be correct.”
Stepping out of the Society Leader’s office into the corridor, an unexpected pair was conversing.
It was none other than my father and Peng Chae-hyang. The moment she realized he was my father, Peng Chae-hyang suddenly straightened her back with a tense expression. Father wore an unsightly, genial smile.
“Father.”
I walked over and addressed Father. Peng Chae-hyang already knew I had come out, while Father was startled as if only noticing after I called out.
“Oh, oh. You came out?”
“Why are you here?”
“Is this a place I shouldn’t be?”
“……That is not what I meant.”
I had vaguely heard the report as well. That they had prepared Father’s temporary lodging in the guest quarters of the New Justice Association. Thus, Father being in the New Justice Association building was nothing strange.
Yet why was it? Father being inside the New Justice Association building felt strangely like a personal intrusion. On top of that, seeing him meet Peng Chae-hyang made it all the more bothersome.
However, I also knew. That at this point, my justification to resent Father was lacking.
As time passed, only the largest grudges tended to remain. The grudge that remained between Father and me was the decision to send me to the Wudang Sect, and when I learned that originated from Mother, I was flustered.
Yet unable to overcome several decades of emotional momentum, I was snapping like this. I knew that, too, was un-adult.
“……Ahem. Then I shall head inside.”
Father tried to slip away while reading my expression. Peng Chae-hyang stood quietly in the middle, looking back and forth between my father and me.
I sighed and shook my head.
“No, Father. You may stay here. What were you talking about?”
“Ah, I was just looking around and ran into Lady Peng.”
“I see.”
The conversation between Father and me was choppy. This, too, was me trying in my own way. Father was looking at me with an expression that asked why this rascal was suddenly holding onto him and causing a fuss.
“Ha, haha. Respected Father. I only heard about you in passing from Brother—no, the Society Leader—and you look remarkably hale and hearty.”
Just then, Peng Chae-hyang suddenly cut in. Peng Chae-hyang’s eyes were spinning round and round. She seemed not to know what she was saying either.
Father asked back as if dumbfounded.
“……This fellow is not one to talk about me.”
“No, no. He talked about his father quite a bit more than you’d think. Right? Brother—no, Society Leader?”
“Uh, did I?”
“I told you he did, Brother. Honestly, what will you do if you are so busy that you don’t even remember what you said yourself? Hoho.”
Though I had known Peng Chae-hyang for several years, this was the first time I had heard such an artificial laugh.
No, before that, this was also the first time I had seen such an energetic atmosphere from Peng Chae-hyang. Originally, for someone of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Chae-hyang was a quiet and calm person.
I saw beads of sweat forming along Peng Chae-hyang’s forehead. Right now, she was putting up a struggle in her own way.
In an instant, I realized why Peng Chae-hyang was going that far. Right now, she had read the person I was.
Wanting to reconcile with Father, but unable to do so properly, she was trying to set the stage for me. Even I had not thought that I wanted to reconcile with Father. Because I, too, was clinging to useless pride. Peng Chae-hyang had noticed it about me before I did.
“Brother. Since we have handled almost all the business of the New Justice Association, how about showing Father around Mount Wudang? Mount Wudang is the superb scenic sight of Hubei, after all.”
“……Uh, should I?”
I stared blankly at Father. Father wore a bewildered expression, as if unable to feel any sense of reality at how the conversation was suddenly unfolding this way.
“Father.”
“Eh?”
“Shall we take a walk along Mount Wudang together? Mount Wudang is magnificent in any season.”
“With you?”
Father asked back. Father, too, seemed thoroughly uncomfortable.
Understandably so; I was a child he had been virtually estranged from for nearly ten years. And that was only from Father’s perspective; from mine, I was someone who had been estranged for several decades.
Therefore, reconnecting could only be uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“……”
Father fell silent. He seemed to be thinking about something. Then finally, Father opened his mouth.
“Then, let this young lady come along as well.”
“Pardon?”
Father pointed at Peng Chae-hyang. That was another variable. Peng Chae-hyang was also startled, placing both hands on her chest with her eyes wide open.
“Why?”
I asked. Father gave a sheepish laugh.
“To be honest, if I go with just the two of us, I don’t think there will be much to say.”
“There is plenty to say. It is just that we cannot bring ourselves to say it.”
Even while thinking I shouldn’t, I ended up speaking in a sharp, snapping tone again. However, hearing me speak like that, Father seemed relieved instead and relaxed the tension in his eyes.
“Whether it’s that or that. Isn’t it practically the same as not having words if you can’t spit them out?”
“Then……”
I looked at Peng Chae-hyang. Peng Chae-hyang seemed flustered. To be frank, I felt a bit apologetic for dragging her into such an awkward father-son relationship.
“First, we should ask Chae-hyang for her opinion.”
“Ah, that is true.”
Father agreed with that as well. However, Peng Chae-hyang gave her answer faster than expected.
“I will go.”
“Really?”
I asked back, not expecting her to give an answer right away like that. Peng Chae-hyang nodded solemnly.
“Thank you very much.”
Father let out a hearty laugh. I wore an awkward smile.
Peng Chae-hyang, Father, and I going on a tour of Mount Wudang. It was truly a suffocating combination.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that this was also an issue I needed to sort out. Up until now, I had simply shunned and looked away from it.
Fortunately, Peng Chae-hyang had pushed my back so that I could face it. Su Je-heon’s advice also flashed through my mind.
Clash with all your strength, and if it does not work out, acknowledge it and step back.
Clash with all your strength, and if it does not work out, acknowledge it and step back.
“There is no need to delay. Let us go right away.”
I gestured with my chin toward the outside. The clear Mount Wudang of summer was waiting for us.