40. Reflux

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A portion of the government army stationed in Anhui moved to Henan.

With the government army of Zhejiang and even the Namgung Clan’s five thousand troops collapsing so futilely, they judged that the matter was too serious for a single province to handle.

 

 

Consequently, the imperial court temporarily reorganized the structure and issued an emergency decree to Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces surrounding Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, allowing them to quell the disturbance.

 

 

Simultaneously, they sent an envoy to Daegoryeo to prevent any potential invasion in advance, and issued an imperial edict to the Murim Alliance, ordering them to assist the imperial army in suppressing the rebel forces.

 

 

From the Murim’s perspective, it was a rather displeasing situation, as the imperial court kept changing its stance, but they couldn’t ignore an imperial edict.

Moreover, from their point of view, if even the Namgung Clan fell after the Ewha Palace, they couldn’t simply stand by and watch.

 

 

 

 

 

“The Imperial Court says they’re finally sending down the central army.”

“Hoo….”

 

 

At the words of Murim Alliance Leader Dokgo Wol, the elders sitting in the conference room sighed.

The Imperial Court dispatching troops and generals meant that they viewed this matter not as a mere Murim affair, but as a challenge to the nation and the Imperial Court.

 

“And… the Jinyiwei and Dongchang are also sending people.”

“This has become troublesome, really.”

“Amitabha….”

 

The involvement of the Jinyiwei, the Emperor’s personal guard, and the Dongchang, the intelligence agency, was one of the most dreaded things in the Murim. If they got involved, the initiative would shift to them, and there was a risk of being falsely accused and imprisoned.

 

 

This was no exception even for the heads of large clans, and the Jinyiwei and Dongchang regarded the elders of each clan or family as ‘insignificant beings who rely only on their martial prowess despite being commoners,’ so they could be treated even worse.

 

 

“So, who’s coming?”

“From the Jinyiwei, it’s coming Ju Yeryeong Jinmusa (Pacification Envoy), and from the Dongchang, it’s coming Yi Jaseong Cheomhyeonggwan (Adjudicating Officer).”

“Ju Yeryeong…? Could it be…?”

“Yes. It’s ‘that’ Ju Yeryeong.”

“…”

 

 

A deep sigh was added to the elders’ expressions.

 

 

Jinmusa is a high-ranking official of the fourth rank, and a position with considerable influence within the Jinyiwei, with only two people holding it.

Just having someone in that position come was tiring enough, but Ju Yeryeong was famous for having a terrible personality, and because she was a distant relative of the Emperor, even her superiors couldn’t touch her properly, making her an absolute power in herself.

 

Moreover, even though she herself had learned martial arts, she severely disdained the Murim, and even spoke informally to elders and seniors who were much older than her, calling them “hey you.”

 

 

Of course, she had her own justification. Even though they were Murim people, they were still ordinary citizens, and unless they had received a separate title or entered government service, they were merely commoners. From her perspective, it was natural to treat them informally.

 

 

 

“That woman is a Jinyiwei to the bone, this has become truly tiring.”

 

The Imperial Court’s determination not to let this go easily.

Judging by the fact that they even sent an envoy to Goryeo, their sense of crisis must be considerable.

 

 

“If the Dongchang is also coming…”

“Haa…”

 

 

Since when did the Murim Alliance’s conference room become such a lump of sighs?

It was truly lamentable from the Murim people’s perspective, but there was no other way.

 

 

“Cheongun-dosa-nim, what about the Demonic Faction?”

 

When Dokgo Wol asked the elder of the Cheongseong Sect, he replied with a troubled expression.

 

 

“They’re still running rampant. Their movements to appease the Tang Clan bastards, and the fact that they’re sending messengers in all directions, are ominous.”

“I heard that the Ewha Palace and Jansalma have joined the Harem Palace, is there any explanation for that?”

 

Originally, the Black Heaven Alliance of Sichuan had misunderstood that the Namgung Clan had destroyed the Ewha Palace and was about to start a righteous-demonic war.

But it turned out that Jansalma and the core of the Ewha Palace had conspired to join the Harem Palace, and rather, the Namgung Clan, which was trying to quell the rebel forces, suffered annihilation.

 

 

Naturally, the Black Heaven Alliance, the sky of the Demonic Faction, should have an explanation for this, but judging by the fact that even the Cheongseong Sect, which is closest to them, hasn’t heard any news, their internal affairs must be quite chaotic.

 

 

“I know that they’ve sent people to the government and the Imperial Court, considering the pressure from the Imperial Court… but there’s no particular word to us.”

“Hmph! That’s just like those Demonic Faction bastards. The typical strong-weak-weak-strong.”

 

 

The elders clicked their tongues and cursed the Black Heaven Alliance, and Dokgo Wol fell into contemplation.

 

‘With things having escalated to this extent, the Imperial Court won’t leave the Demonic Faction alone… the situation is difficult, but if we punish the Harem Palace, an opportunity will come to us.’

 

 

Originally, the Demonic Faction had a much larger area of secured territory, but if you look closely, most of the prime land is held by the Righteous Faction.

Moreover, the Harem Palace has taken away Zhejiang Province, one of the Demonic Faction’s biggest golden lands, so the gap has widened even further.

 

 

What if the Imperial Court intervenes in this situation and suppresses the Demonic Faction?

Since the Ewha Palace was involved in this, no matter how much the Black Heaven Alliance bows its head, it won’t be able to avoid the Imperial Court’s sword.

 

 

‘The problem is those women…’

 

 

Tok. Tok.

 

 

The sound of him tapping the table, deeply immersed in thought, continued to echo, and the elders quietly left the conference room, knowing that the Alliance Leader was in deep contemplation.

 

 

 

‘She was definitely stronger than me.’

 

 

Dokgo Wol groaned, thinking of Seo Hyeon, whom he had seen several times in the previous conference room.

A fearsome martial arts skill hidden behind a beautiful figure.

She, who had defeated the elder of the Hwasan Sect so easily, was clearly a master beyond Dokgo Wol.

 

Dokgo Wol is currently regarded as the supreme master in the Righteous Murim.

People knew that he was several levels ahead of Namgung Geo-hwi, the Righteous Knight of the Namgung Clan.

In reality, he was about two levels ahead.

 

 

Anyway, the important thing was that, according to his senses, Im Seo-hyeon was much stronger.

And she was said to have been defeated miserably by Jansalma.

 

 

‘I knew that bitch was strong. But if Im Seo-hyeon was defeated with such a severe gap that the expression “miserably” is used… I have to assume that she’s much stronger than I expected.’

 

 

Already two strong people surpassing the supreme master.

But the only strong people known from the Harem Palace’s fight against the Ewha Palace and the Namgung Clan were not just them.

In particular, if the rumors are to be believed, Explosive Fist Bong and Cherry Blossom Divine Maiden are even more than Jansalma.

 

 

Then there are already four masters stronger than Dokgo Wol.

 

 

 

“This situation is absurd, really. Is this a crisis that can be an opportunity? Or is it a prelude to a downfall that can’t be avoided…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“I really don’t like Murim people.”

 

 

Ju Yeryeong Jinmusa of the Jinyiwei, leading 20 Junggi (Centurions) and 40 Sogi (Decurions), coming down from Suncheon Prefecture (Beijing).

Yi Jaseong Cheomhyeonggwan of the Dongchang, leading a similar number of people, was quietly riding his horse beside her.

 

 

Behind the two groups, the 20,000-strong central army was lined up, and its power was ominous.

 

 

“What else do you dislike so much?”

“Isn’t the Dongchang the same? I thought you’d think similarly.”

“I’m not as out of the blue as Jinsa-nim.”

“Out of the blue, my ass.”

 

 

Ju Yeryeong glared at him.

She hated the Dongchang as much as she hated Murim people.

No, to be precise, she hated the Murim as much as she hated the Dongchang.

 

 

She considered Yi Jaseong to be a better person among the Dongchang, but he was still a eunuch, so he couldn’t escape her disgust.

 

 

“They think that if they learn martial arts, they’re all Murim people. In short, they think they’re the origin. Commoners who live off the Emperor’s grace.”

“Hmm… well, the origin of martial arts is Daruma of the Shaolin Temple, so… it’s not entirely wrong, but.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What’s with that voice for a man?”

“…Because I’m a eunuch.”

 

Even in the short span of a few words, her words were erratic.

She was a woman who was very difficult to deal with, but because her status was like a gangster, he had no choice but to listen quietly.

 

 

“Once we arrive, I’m going to have to deal with those old geezers from the Murim Alliance first. They’re always talking about ‘justice,’ but they’re in that state, so this mess happens. What were they doing while things were happening in Zhejiang?”

“…”

 

 

Strictly speaking, the words that Zhejiang was the territory of the Black Heaven Alliance came up to his throat, but he held them back.

 

 

“The government officials are the same. They’re all full of incompetent people.”

“Rather than that, shouldn’t we first find out about those things called the Harem Palace?”

“Finding out is the job of the underlings. You and I were sent to go and deal with them. We’re not at the level to collect information while getting rained on, are we? And the Murim Alliance bastards probably know most of the information. If we roughly pry it out, everything will come out, right?”

“…I’m sorry to say this…”

“If you’re sorry, then don’t say it.”

“…If you stimulate the Murim Alliance too much, it won’t be good for the Imperial Court either. We also have to keep Goryeo in check, and there are the Xiongnu. There’s also the Southern Barbarians in the south.”

“So, you’re saying we should go in with our tails between our legs? We’ve been doing that all along, so they don’t know how scary the Imperial Court is and they’re crawling all over us.”

“…They don’t ignore the Imperial Court either.”

“Aah, really. How is it not crawling all over us when they forget the status given to them by the Son of Heaven and create their own forces to act like nobles? Are you in league with them too?”

“Surely… that can’t be…”

 

 

It’s impossible to communicate.

Yi Jaseong, even though he was in the Dongchang, had seen many people who hated Murim people, but Ju Yeryeong was beyond that.

He didn’t know what had caused her to have such a great aversion, but it was very tiring.

 

 

‘Hoo… I hope she doesn’t do anything when we get there. But that’s unlikely.’

 

 

He was worried about the future for no reason.