Chapter 330: Xi'an (1)
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Until heading to Gansu, I had to contemplate the word ‘Legitimacy’ quite a lot.
The concept of legitimacy was something that always came up when founding a nation.
Because a nation without legitimacy would be shunned by the people. If so, phrased in another meaning, legitimacy could also be called the understanding and acceptance of the people.
Then what was the legitimacy of Great Ming? In a situation where the perception of the Demonic Cult had already fallen to rock bottom, it was not easy for Great Ming to acquire legitimacy.
Ultimately, the conclusion arose that for Great Ming to gain legitimacy, the perception of the Demonic Cult had to be altered. Thinking that way, the reason I had obtained Legitimacy could also be explained.
Because I was attempting to change the perception of the Demonic Cult toward Cheong-hwa, and in fact, his perception had changed a little.
Normally, Cheong-hwa would have perceived anyone from the Demonic Cult as people who naturally deserved to be killed, but hearing that I, of all people, was the Heavenly Demon, he had shifted to a ‘let us wait and see’ stance. Although Cheong-hwa had not noticed, that alone was a massive shift in perception.
“Are your preparations all complete?”
In front of the Wudang Sect’s hanging plaque, several people had come out to see us off. Peng Chae-hyang, Zhuge Yan, Cheong-ui. If it were known that I was departing, more people would have come out to see us off, but from now on my movements were top secret, so we were leaving without announcing it.
“Yes.”
“I wish you a safe journey.”
Zhuge Yan gave a plain, simple farewell. Cheong-hwa, as well as Myeong-gyeong, wore reluctant expressions.
Understandably so; while the relationship between Namgung Hwi, Peng Chae-hyang, and Zhuge Yan had improved to some extent, that was not the case for Myeong-gyeong and Cheong-hwa.
Even so, Cheong-ui, the Sect Leader, did not reveal the slightest hint of discomfort toward Zhuge Yan. As expected, the dignity of a senior representing the Wudang Sect went nowhere.
“Brother. Have a safe trip. Daoists as well. Young Master Namgung too.”
I exchanged farewells with Peng Chae-hyang. Seeming as though she still wanted to go to Gansu together, Peng Chae-hyang subtly glared at Zhuge Yan.
Having been brought along as an errand boy, Namgung Hwi seemed to feel burdened instead, being squeezed among Wudang Sect members including myself.
“Seeing my cherished children of Wudang depart fills me with worry before anything else. Hui-yeong. Take good care of them.”
Cheong-ui said. Cheong-hwa furrowed his brows as if finding it absurd.
“Senior Brother Sect Leader. Shouldn’t you be saying that to me?”
“You have a somewhat childish side, so it won’t do.”
“Absurd.”
“Using that kind of tone toward the Sect Leader when everyone is watching is a problem in itself.”
When Cheong-ui spoke, I saw the people from the New Justice Association’s side subtly stifling their laughter.
Cheong-hwa, an illustrious master of the martial world widely known by the sobriquet Boundless Divine Sword, being reprimanded like a child before a village schoolmaster was enough to draw laughter.
“I will take good care of them.”
Cheong-hwa spoke up to the very end before turning his back. Shaking his head back and forth, Cheong-ui signaled to me with his eyes. It was likely not my imagination that it looked like him asking me to look after that fellow well despite how he was.
In truth, Cheong-hwa’s current age was younger than the age I had reached in my previous life. Considering such things, it felt as though it was indeed right for me to lead even Cheong-hwa.
When I stole a glance at Cheong-hwa, Cheong-hwa caught on like a ghost.
“What, are you truly planning to take care of me?”
“No way.”
“Good grief. From my senior brother to my disciple. Not a single one is trustworthy.”
I let out a wry smile. No matter how well I managed my expression, because Cheong-hwa knew the person I was, having my inner thoughts read was unavoidable.
“Come to think of it, it has been a while since master and disciples went on an outing together.”
I clapped my hands, refreshing the mood.
“Indeed. When was that? The three of us going out together—wasn’t the time we went to the Zhuge Clan in the past the only one?”
“That’s right. Back then Senior Brothers Myeong-il and Myeong-seong were there, but now they’ve been swapped for Namgung Hwi.”
Cheong-hwa, Myeong-gyeong, and Namgung Hwi already knew just how important this journey to Gansu was. As people accompanying this trip to Gansu, they needed to know what significance it held.
Rebellion against the Imperial Empire. Even if Cheong-hwa was a martial artist, he was ultimately a subject of the empire. There was no way he didn’t know what rebellion meant. And Myeong-gyeong, hailing from the imperial family, seemed to feel the weight of rebellion all the more heavily.
However, I wanted them not to harbor such thoughts, at least until we reached Gansu. Troublesome thoughts were enough for me to handle alone.
“Shall we go through Xi’an?”
“Why Xi’an? Why not go through Hanzhong?”
Cheong-hwa asked in wonder. As Cheong-hwa said, normally going through Hanzhong entered Gansu faster.
“If we are heading to Lanzhou anyway, taking a detour through Xi’an makes no difference.”
“That is true.”
“There are also things to see in Xi’an.”
“Things to see?”
“Because Xi’an is the front line where the New Justice Association and the Palace of Heavenly Worship clash right now.”
“Ah, you mean the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect.”
Originally, Hubei was also the front line since the Zhuge Clan and the Wudang Sect were adjacent, but with the Zhuge Clan entering closed-door seclusion, the remaining front line was only Xi’an.
“Yes. Seeing that Zhongnan hasn’t specifically requested support from the main headquarters, it doesn’t seem like any major problem has arisen. Still, I thought it would be good to check the situation directly once.”
“As a Society Leader, one truly has to pay meticulous attention in many ways. A person like me could never do it.”
“You certainly couldn’t, Master.”
“……Hearing it said so bluntly doesn’t feel particularly pleasant.”
At the banter between Cheong-hwa and me, Myeong-gyeong chuckled softly. When Cheong-hwa whipped his head around toward Myeong-gyeong, Myeong-gyeong feigned ignorance.
After being revealed as the Prince of Jianzhou, Myeong-gyeong had changed considerably. He didn’t roam around actively like in the past, nor did he act noisily. Whenever I checked on what Myeong-gyeong was doing, it was simply that he was solemnly practicing martial arts.
The process of a child becoming an adult was inevitable. Yet why did watching it feel so bittersweet? Even for Myeong-gyeong’s sake, Myeong-gyeong needed to become an adult, though.
―Master.
Glancing at Myeong-gyeong, I sent a voice transmission to Cheong-hwa.
―Why?
―Does the rest of the Wudang Sect know that Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong is the Prince of Jianzhou?
―Eh? What are you talking about?
Cheong-hwa’s puzzled voice echoed in my ears. I explained it a bit more clearly.
―I’m asking if other people know that Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong is the younger brother of the current Emperor.
“Whaaat?”
At my question, Cheong-hwa looked at me and shouted. To suddenly switch from voice transmission to spoken words.
I was about to chide Cheong-hwa, but seeing Cheong-hwa’s wavering pupils, I thought, ‘Uh oh.’
“No, wait a moment. My head is getting a bit hot.”
Cheong-hwa extended his palm toward me and banged his head against the tree beside him. At this rate, Myeong-gyeong couldn’t help but realize we had been communicating via voice transmission.
In truth, exchanging voice transmissions with someone in between wasn’t a very polite look. However, Myeong-gyeong blinked a few times and soon pretended not to notice.
Clearly, Myeong-gyeong had changed a lot. Had it been the Myeong-gyeong of the past, he would have bitten my head and refused to let go, asking why only the two of us were talking.
“Did you truly not know?”
Stepping subtly closer to Cheong-hwa, I whispered and asked. Cheong-hwa glared at me sharply.
“How would I know that?”
“No, I thought you would know.”
“Don’t tell me the feudal lord who took your side in Beijing was Myeong-gyeong?”
“Did you only know up to that point?”
“Yeah.”
I slapped my forehead. This was my oversight. I ought to have shared that Myeong-gyeong was the Prince of Jianzhou with Master at least. Come to think of it, I had only told people of the New Justice Association, including Namgung Hwi, and had no time to inform the people of the Wudang Sect.
On top of that, the probability of the Wudang Sect learning that Myeong-gyeong was the Prince of Jianzhou through other channels was slim. After all, who would believe that a core disciple of the Wudang Sect was the youngest son of the previous Emperor?
Furthermore, from the empire’s perspective, there was no way they would like such information floating around. It was a scandal of the previous Emperor. Thus, even if someone recognized Myeong-gyeong in Beijing, the Imperial Palace would have extinguished it before it could spread to Hubei.
Meaning Cheong-hwa had only heard that there was a feudal lord siding with me, and had remained ignorant of that feudal lord’s identity. With him right by his side, that is.
Cheong-hwa and I stared blankly at Myeong-gyeong at the same time. Myeong-gyeong was rubbing leaves on another tree with his fingers, feigning disinterest. Having grown awkward for no reason, Namgung Hwi was similarly wandering far off in another spot. Because it seemed the two of us were talking, he had stepped aside.
“……What should we do?”
Cheong-hwa looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders.
“What does it matter if he is the Prince of Jianzhou? The fact that Master is Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong’s master doesn’t change, does it?”
“Even so, he is royalty.”
“If Master tries to treat him like royalty, Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong will be immensely saddened.”
“Ahem……”
Cheong-hwa seemed to know that as well.
“I wondered why Myeong-gyeong suddenly became so mature lately; to think such a thing happened in Beijing. You should have given me a heads-up in advance.”
“I apologize. I was so busy I didn’t even think of it. Assuming you naturally knew.”
“Sigh. You rascal of a disciple. You don’t do a single thing properly.”
“A position like Society Leader has far too many things to pay attention to.”
“Don’t make excuses.”
Having spoken so, Cheong-hwa pulled his head from the tree. Then, clasping his hands behind his back, he stepped toward Myeong-gyeong.
“Myeong-gyeong.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Whoever you are, you are my disciple. Right?”
“Of course.”
“Even if you are a feudal lord of the empire.”
“……Ah.”
Myeong-gyeong let out a short gasp.
“You found out just now. Well, you would have found out anyway once we reached Gansu and met Prince Xian. I had no intention of deceiving Master.”
Myeong-gyeong tried to bow his head. But at that moment, Cheong-hwa’s large hand grabbed Myeong-gyeong’s small head, preventing it from lowering any further. It looked as though Myeong-gyeong’s head might cave in if he squeezed any harder. However, Cheong-hwa seemed to have his thoughts, so I decided to stay still.
“Ah, ah-ack. It hurts, Master.”
“Raise your head. Bowing when you have done nothing wrong is not the way of a Wudang person.”
With teary eyes, Myeong-gyeong looked up at Cheong-hwa.
“I didn’t know why you suddenly changed so much lately. It seemed clear something happened in Beijing, yet you didn’t even tell me.”
“……I am sorry.”
“If you say you are sorry one more time, you will face severe punishment.”
Cheong-hwa spoke in a stern voice. Myeong-gyeong’s mouth closed. It seemed he had nothing he could say right now other than words of apology.
“While I do not know all of your circumstances, we are master and disciple. Right?”
“Yes.”
“And by the rules of our Daoist sect, stories prior to entering Mount Wudang are consigned to taboo. Therefore, you have done no wrong. You admirably followed the rules of the Wudang Sect.”
“Is…… that so.”
Even with those words, Myeong-gyeong seemed unable to fully accept it. Cheong-hwa narrowed his eyes.
“Truly, I have failed to fulfill my full duty as a master to you all. Even if Hui-yeong wanders all over the place, Myeong-gyeong, you stayed by my side continuously, yet I failed to discern your feelings.”
“N-No. How could it be Master’s fault?”
“It is indeed my fault. So do not harbor guilt.”
Cheong-hwa said. Myeong-gyeong took on a solemn expression.
“Whether you are the Prince of Jianzhou, a feudal lord, or the Emperor’s younger brother, I will treat you without change.”
“……Yes. If you do so, I will be grateful.”
“Yet you seem to be treating us with a changed attitude.”
“……”
Myeong-gyeong was at a loss for words. I quietly watched.
“Every child becomes an adult, but you do not need to become one just yet. Within the fence of adults, including myself, you can advance slowly. Whatever it is, haste only brings trouble.”
“Master……”
Myeong-gyeong’s voice trembled with tears. Cheong-hwa continued.
“Act more like a child. Being a wise child, you will know when not to act spoiled. Do not pretend to be solemn out of keeping with your age.”
Cheong-hwa lightly flicked Myeong-gyeong’s forehead with his finger. Naturally, it wasn’t because of that, but tears poured profusely from Myeong-gyeong’s eyes.
“Master.”
Myeong-gyeong buried himself deeply in Cheong-hwa’s embrace. While Myeong-gyeong cried, Cheong-hwa looked at me. I flashed a grin at Cheong-hwa.
From behind, I was directly watching Cheong-hwa’s hands clasped behind his back trembling. Cheong-hwa had also not been able to easily shake off the sense of foreignness toward royalty, but had ultimately succeeded in concealing it. And that was the duty of an adult.
And just as Cheong-hwa said, wherever we went and whatever we became, there was no doubt we were master and disciple.
The sound of Myeong-gyeong crying like a child spread far and wide. Only then did I feel a bit of the burden on my heart lift as well.