Chapter 399: Choice (1)

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The world shattered. Because someone’s soul had shattered. Since it was a world created by each other’s souls, it was natural that if one person’s soul shattered, the world also shattered.

And the one whose soul shattered was not me, but the Heavenly Demon.

My fist shattered the Heavenly Demon’s soul, but the Heavenly Demon’s fist could not shatter my soul.

“……Ah.”

I looked at the Heavenly Demon’s physical body standing before me. The Heavenly Demon’s body stood motionless as if turned to stone. His eyes were open, but they were not looking at anything.

The physical body is a vessel containing the soul. Without a soul, it was merely an empty vessel. Naturally, the Heavenly Demon whose soul was shattered also died. He was a corpse whose heart did not beat, merely standing still.

Returning to the real world, I was still the Martial God. I burned the Heavenly Demon’s corpse and turned it into a handful of ash.

Whatever happened to where the soulless body was buried, it was out of concern that if a grave for the Heavenly Demon were made, it would become noisy due to the followers of the Blood Cult.

However, as a result, there was no particular need for that. In the Heavenly Demon’s brain was the mother gu that governed all cultists of the Blood Cult, and as the Heavenly Demon died, all cultists of the Blood Cult who possessed the offspring gu died as well.

Of course, the Blood Cult matter was minor when looking at the Central Plains as a whole. The most important thing was the war between the government forces, the rebellions, and the rebel armies. For they were still fighting without knowing what had transpired in Beijing.

I traveled across the entire Central Plains and stopped the fighting. Because all the Immortals were dead, I was the only one who could tread empty air.

When I, floating in empty air, declared that the Emperor was dead and the Forbidden City had vanished, the government soldiers immediately lost morale. Because the Emperor they had to protect had died first, there was no helping it.

Thereafter, I strived to restore stability to the Central Plains through the New Justice Association. And inevitably, I had to ascend as Emperor.

Having displayed miracles, my becoming Emperor was the method to unite the Central Plains most swiftly.

‘At any rate, I kept my promise to Uncle.’

The dynastic name was set as Great Ming. It was a dynastic name that did not particularly matter how it was named. In the first place, because no commoners knew that Great Ming had existed before the Great Empire.

I had merely kept the promise with Uncle Zhu Mun-hwan. Because Uncle had asked me to become the Emperor of Great Ming. Of course, my Great Ming and Uncle Zhu Mun-hwan’s Great Ming had not the slightest connection. Right from the start, the Emperor’s surname was different, and there was no reason to say I inherited the lineage of the nation called Great Ming that existed before the Great Empire.

From then on, I seem to have lived truly in a whirlwind. Because I had experience running a merchant company, but no experience running an imperial court.

In the end, I received help from Wang Song and Hyeong Tae-seong, with whom I had ties. I also strived to recruit the Great Empire’s Prime Minister who had attempted to mediate our fight, but the Prime Minister refused, saying he could not serve two emperors. I respected that reason.

“Brother, are you not overworking yourself too much these days?”

I was plagued by intense work to the point where Peng Chae-hyang said so.

Serving as Emperor for about a year, I felt it: My talents did not lie in governing a nation.

Even so, because chaos would clearly visit the Central Plains again if I stepped down from the imperial throne immediately, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and do it.

The stability of the martial world was entrusted to Cheong-ui, the sect leader of Wudang. I recognized the independence of the martial world, stating my stance to maintain official-martial noninterference as before as much as possible. Simultaneously, with the point that martial artists could not violate imperial law.

Internal affairs were managed as much as possible by me, Wang Song, and Hyeong Tae-seong, while Cheong-ui stabilized the martial world.

Naturally, because it was a matter of replacing the dynastic name, there were growing pains. Several Commanders-in-Chief and Provincial Administration Commissioners who harbored loyalty toward the Great Empire staged rebellions, but they were suppressed as quickly as possible.

In this Central Plains, there was no one who could defeat me through martial force. I possessed martial power literally capable of cleaving Mount Tai with a single sword.

And seeing that miraculous martial power, all the rebel forces had no choice but to submit. Generally, people believed an emperor’s legitimacy descended from heaven.

When I displayed miracles that could not be explained unless by power bestowed by heaven multiple times, the rebel forces also inevitably lost support.

Had about two years passed like that? Only then did the nation called Great Ming and the Central Plains become stabilized.

Thereafter, I entrusted full authority to Hyeong Tae-seong. The imperial court had taken shape, a palace was constructed, and personnel were abundant.

Once signs showed that it could function without me, I declared without delay that I would step down from the throne.

Naturally, the ministers including Hyeong Tae-seong bowed their heads and dissuaded me.

“We still need Your Imperial Majesty. We have barely stabilized it, so the chaos……”

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”

Though the ministers’ outcries were desperate, even so, I had no intention of revoking my stepping down from the throne.

“You have no heir either, so what do you intend to do by stepping down now?”

“The Prime Minister can roll his thoughts on that. Or the Prime Minister can become Emperor. Sincerity speaking.”

At my words, Hyeong Tae-seong let out a sigh. But I seriously thought that Hyeong Tae-seong’s care for the people was so great that he was a talent more suited to be Emperor than me.

Ultimately, realizing that my will was firm, Hyeong Tae-seong gave up on persuading me.

“Then what does Your Imperial Majesty intend to do after stepping down from the throne?”

“Me? I intend to rest a bit.”

When I came out so boldly, even Hyeong Tae-seong was lost for words.

It was not a joke, but truly my honest feeling. What need was there to say more? I too wanted to enjoy life a bit.

Having concluded such a massive war, even after that, I had lived busily with almost no opportunity to meet the people I loved.

Sufficient people to assist Hyeong Tae-seong had been selected, so there would be no particular strain.

Hyeong Tae-seong earnestly pleaded that even if only while searching for a person suitable to be the next emperor, I should not step down from the throne. Saying that I didn’t need to work, so I should merely hold the seat. Clearly, if the emperor’s seat was vacant, it would be chaotic, so I had no choice but to accept at least that much.

Agreeing with Hyeong Tae-seong to merely maintain the emperor’s title, I stepped away from state affairs.

After escaping the grueling workload, the first thing I handled was marriage with Peng Chae-hyang.

I loved Peng Chae-hyang, and Peng Chae-hyang loved me, so there was no disagreement about marrying, but Peng Chae-hyang felt burdened by the position of Empress. Therefore, we decided to marry secretly.

“That Brother is the Emperor, I still cannot believe it.”

“I told you I retired. Don’t call me Emperor anymore.”

The wedding took place atop Shichahai. It was the place where Peng Chae-hyang and I had first met.

We had first met when I disciplined Peng Chae-hyang’s cousin, and Peng Chae-hyang came to demand an explanation for it.

“When I first met you, I never imagined I would become Brother’s woman.”

“I suppose so. It wasn’t on good terms that we met, after all.”

The difference from back then was that while it was a large ship at that time, right now it was a lone leaf boat. For two people to ride, there was no need for a massive ship.

We reached the center of Shichahai at night. It was tranquil. The nighttime lake without a ripple was filled with stars shining as if the sky were overturned.

“It is beautiful.”

“You too.”

At my words, Peng Chae-hyang chuckled.

“Your words have somewhat improved, haven’t they?”

“Serving as Emperor, my words had no choice but to improve.”

There was no need for formalities or rituals for marriage. Nor was there any need to announce to the world that we had married. We loved each other, and were perfect empathizers of each other.

A night lake. A small boat. Peng Chae-hyang and me. With that, there was no lack whatsoever for marriage. Rather, it was overflowing in abundance.

With a serious expression, I spoke to Peng Chae-hyang.

“Chae-hyang. Let us be together for a lifetime.”

“Hearing such an obvious statement spoken so solemnly makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”

Peng Chae-hyang smiled. I also smiled sheepishly. In truth, we had already lived like husband and wife continuously. We simply had not held the wedding ceremony.

“Thank you, Brother. I, too, wanted to be by Brother’s side for a lifetime.”

Soon, Peng Chae-hyang also spoke in a solemn voice.

Even if practically in a marital relationship, and even if love had already been confirmed, the wedding had to proceed solemnly. Knowing that, Peng Chae-hyang had received it seriously.

“I should be the one thanking you. For accepting me.”

I kissed Peng Chae-hyang.

My love was so profound that whenever I kissed her, a thrill welled up as if doing it for the first time. Just as I did, there was no room for doubt that Peng Chae-hyang felt the same.

Aboard the small boat, the marriage between Peng Chae-hyang and me concluded. Now Peng Chae-hyang had officially become my companion. To have gained a beautiful wife who did not exist in my previous life—it was truly a proud moment.

Thereafter, I decided to travel aimlessly throughout the Central Plains with Peng Chae-hyang.

Just as I had been plagued by imperial work, Peng Chae-hyang had also done all sorts of things to revive the Hebei Peng Clan. In time with my retirement from the throne, she handed over the clan head position to another cousin.

Like me, Peng Chae-hyang had no particular interest in such positions. Loving each other was enough for us. And we agreed upon the proposition that this was purely spending life.

Naturally, because the Central Plains was vast, there were many scenic spots. Though I had traveled extensively across the Central Plains in my previous life working as a merchant, I had no time to visit scenic spots, so it was a first experience for me as well.

They were truly days devoid of any thoughts or worries.

Eating delicious food and enjoying it, gazing upon marvelous scenery and marveling at it, and at night confirming each other’s love with Peng Chae-hyang and experiencing thrills.

After traveling the Central Plains, we even toured the Western Regions via Xinjiang. We marveled together looking at architectural styles, clothing, and cultures different from ours.

Indeed, the world was vast. Just because I had realized my Greater Self did not mean I knew all the cultures and cuisines of the world.

Experiencing food tasted for the first time, scenery seen for the first time, and people met for the first time, we accumulated countless memories.

Knowing each other completely, there was never a quarrel. We were a perfect married couple and lovers.

That one could fill the world with love was an idealistic tale. Yet at least, the lives of myself and the person I loved could be filled with love. That was enough.

Other people were other people’s stories. I still did not deny that the Heavenly Demon made struggle and wrath the basis of his life.

In truth, attempting to define human purpose bundled together was simply an overambitious attempt. Each of us was a unique existence.

“By the way, we seem too much like idle wanderers. Indeed, people seem to need to work.”

After traveling for over a year, Peng Chae-hyang spoke as if exhausted. I agreed with those words.

Indeed, humans had to work. Not that work was the purpose of life.

“Since Brother stepped down from the throne, what do you wish to do?”

“Well.”

I pondered Peng Chae-hyang’s question. I could run a merchant company like in my previous life, or serve as a martial arts drill instructor; options were broad.

“Let us return and think about it. Leisurely.”

I answered like that for now. We had enough leisure to postpone the answer.

And it was when our travels finally came to an end.

I saw text I had truly never expected. That distinct text floating in midair. There was no way I could fail to remember it.

It was the Martial Talent Shop, which I had no reason to open after the war ended.

It was natural. Because I had no further need to build martial power. Also, I had purchased both of the only two Grade 1 talents. There was no reason for the Martial Talent Shop to suddenly float before me.

[ Updating new items. ]

The Martial Talent Shop floated such text before me.

“Brother?”

As I stood still and quietly gazed into empty air, Peng Chae-hyang spoke worriedly.

Though I wished to answer so as not to worry Peng Chae-hyang, I could not answer at the text floating up again.

[ Truth ― God Grade ]

[ Price : Free ]

[ Happiness ― God Grade ]

[ Price : Free ]

[ You cannot purchase both talents. Please choose carefully. ]