episode_0137

“Is it Hwangmyeong?…”

Shi Gong-myeong calmly nodded. Those who can be said to be the leading members of the Jeomchang faction will all know that Hyeok Kirin is a princess, so they will do whatever it takes to get involved with the emperor.

“I understand. Then, what do you plan on doing about the woman’s future?”

“For now, we are going to leave together.”

It is impossible to enter the imperial castle with a black cat. No matter what happens, it is an audience with the emperor. There would be an uproar as there was no way I could wear black spirit qigong or use cotton thread in the royal palace.

Still, it is possible to travel together.

As he was about to reach his peak, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to devote himself to training in the Jeomchang school, but he didn’t seem to like the option of remaining in Jeomchang alone.

“Is that so? Even if the situation changes, the door to the guesthouse will always be open. It is okay for you to return to the Jeomchang Sect after your audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and it is okay for you to remain in the guest hall. What would you like to do with the elixir?”

The fire attribute elixir was currently being produced at Jeomchang. There is about a month left until completion. Since I couldn’t get the earth elixir anyway, there’s no reason to rush to take the fire elixir, so I’ll just have to come back after having an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.

“I’ll come pick you up later.”

“Good. When are you planning to leave?”

“I’m planning to leave tomorrow morning.”

“Hehe, the shipping companies must be quite disappointed.”

As soon as I left the Jangmuninjeon and relayed the news to the Zen Masters’ residence, the Zen Masters were quite surprised, but they seemed to have just passed it over as they thought it might have something to do with Hyeok Kirin being a princess.

Since I wasn’t ready to leave at all, I had a lot of things to take care of. First, we stopped by Chaeseondang to replenish basic supplies for the trip, inspected a carriage that had been abandoned for nearly two months, and looked at the plump and fat horses in the stables.

First of all, I wrote a manual dexterity tutorial for Zen masters who have not yet completed their progress. Since I had experience taking care of Ryeo, it wasn’t that difficult.

There was a long way to go in order to turn Zen masters into gamblers, but if the goal was to provide skill at a level that would provide entertainment to children, there was not much left for Zen masters to learn.

dawn.

The Zen masters who came out to meet me, regretting our parting, frowned when they saw my bundle of homework. And I also frowned when I saw the bundle of homework the Zen masters gave me.

Because it was written by 11 people, it was twice as thick as my homework bundle. Seeing each other frowning, Black Cat and Hyuk Kirin burst into laughter.

“Well, I hope you get back safely. Oh, I thought I could take a month or two to catch my breath.”

“Don’t skip training just because you’re traveling. Giraffe, watch closely.”

“Haha, I understand.”

After seeing off the Zen masters, I left Jeomchangpa. As I drove the carriage, I saw the scenery of Jeomchangpa and Sunam Mountain moving away.

Masters, please take it easy and go in. How long do you want to watch?

I waved my hand to let them in, and the Zen masters also waved back. Of course it didn’t move.

“Hmm.”

It’s strange.

This body Hocheonan. I visited many places in this world of martial arts, but there was no place I stayed for long except Rongin Gaekjan. I was a stagnant person, and whatever goal I set, I solved it in the shortest time possible, so there was no place I stayed for a long time without any special reason.

If I stayed for two months, I stayed for a long time.

Seeing something so shabby, it seems like I’ve already developed an affection for it.

While I was unusually sentimental, there was a commotion inside the carriage.

“Ugh! Sojeo the black cat!”

“Time to see! Let’s touch the cheeks!”

“Why are you so obsessed with my cheeks!?”

“Because it’s chewy, soft, and addictive? Every time I saw it, I wanted to rub it, but since it was inside the Jeomchangpa, I couldn’t touch it, and there was so much piled up!”

I burst into laughter.

Anyway, I can’t see myself falling into sentimentality. Yes, if you have practiced martial arts diligently for about two months, you should go on an outing. It’s not like we’ll be separated from the people of the Fortune Chang faction forever, and we’re only a few days away from Sichuan Province.

“Here.”

Hearing the grumbles of Hyeok Kirin, who had been hit by a black cat, with one ear and letting them out with the other, he drove the carriage towards Sichuan Province.

*** ***

As a rule, Sichuan ronin always uses black lips in Sichuan Province. But a carriage driven by a Sichuan ronin is very suspicious. Thanks to that, I entered Sacheon Province using regular bamboo sticks today.

“Sichuan…is more vibrant than before.”

“That’s right.”

Should I call it a blessing in disguise? Sacheon Province was already very crowded with people, but now the streets were so crowded that they were bursting at the seams.

“Warrior, warrior! Do you have something to do in Cheonjung-ro?”

“…No?”

A 10-15 year old child between the child and the boy spoke up. I was a little late in responding because I had almost no experience of someone approaching me first in Sichuan Province. At first, I thought you were talking to someone else, not me.

“Warrior! Then divert the carriage somewhere else! Not long after the establishment of the bandit suppression monument, Cheonjung-ro is overcrowded these days! For people who drive carriages, the route using Cheonjung-ro is something to be avoided!”

“Uh, okay. Thank you.”

It appears that the public funds have finally been completed. Yes, it would be a huge crowd just from the dancers and their officials who wanted to make sure their names were properly stamped.

The boy accepted the leaflet handed to him as if it were obvious. Anyway, since I received the information, I can accept at least a leaflet.

“Oh…”

I was speechless for a moment after looking at the flyer.

[♚♚Recruitment of general officials for blind people ♚♚ When registering for 6 months, everyone will receive a silver ring ☜☜ 10% of a belt ※ ♜ How to blind people ♜ Can be taught at an early stage ￥ Depending on talent §§ Official officials §§ Senior officials ★Instant promotion possible★ Opportunity to become a master right away @@@ Immediate movement: Sogyeongmun in front of Yeongyang-ro Clothing Store.]

It seems that the sects of Sichuan Province are quickly adapting to survive.

When I received the leaflet written in advertising font, I was curious to find out how Sichuan Province had changed while I was away, but I pressed on and headed straight to the government office.

“Oh, are you here? It arrived faster than I expected.”

As always, Governor Sima Yeom welcomed us with an expression on his face.

“Governor: How did this happen?”

“I will explain it step by step. Shall we sit down first?”

Tea and refreshments are provided.

“First of all, how is Hyeok Kirin Daehyup doing…”

“Governor.”

“Ugh. Let me explain.”

First of all, Uncle Fan Sama Yeom, who was trying to hear about Hyuk Kirin’s current situation, quickly changed course after receiving Hyuk Kirin’s fierce gaze.

“Over the past two months, the Golden Family has almost disbanded. Well, most people who use the Golden Castle could not be free from the sins committed by the Golden Family. People with serious crimes were sentenced and their assets confiscated, and those with relatively light crimes were also fined. In addition, assets that had been illegally accumulated were confiscated, so that’s what happened.”

No, you are saying it as if you are very sorry. You had no intention of leaving Geumga, who had openly screwed over Hyeok Kirin.

I was so intent on pulling out even the smallest root.

Suddenly, I remembered the death book where Hyuk Kirin had written down the interviewees of the merchants he had visited, but I erased it from my mind for now.

What matters now is the emperor.

“The assets of the golden family were enormous. Treasures, precious metals, gems, other grains, etc. Assets worth almost 5,000 taels of material value were confiscated, and land, commercial rights, distribution rights, etc. were returned to the state.”

“So much money was poured in that a single governor could not decide on its fate, so he sent the money to the imperial capital. In the process, I also wrote an appeal.”

“Umm….”

And in the content of the appeal, Hyeok Kirin and my activities were mentioned.

“ I thought Ho Rongin would not want to be caught up in something like this, so I tried to bury his activities as inconspicuously as possible, but it was bound to be revealed. Your Majesty knows very well how I handle things.”

“The work to eradicate a corrupt merchant family and calm the chaos in Sichuan Province is a big deal and deserves praise, but it is questionable whether His Majesty will personally praise it.”

“How could a single governor understand the intentions of His Majesty the Emperor? I just follow the Emperor’s orders.”

Sima Yan grinned.

“Although it was a bit unexpected, I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to meet His Majesty the Emperor. It’s something we should be happy about, but I don’t know why you two are so serious about it.”

What Sima Yan said was not wrong.

It is a tremendous honor to meet the Emperor face to face. If I had been active with my name revealed, the fact that I had come face-to-face with the emperor would have put me in the ranks of a prestigious family that could make a living as a middleman.

Since it is a job to praise merit, the reward will also be generous.

The general way of thinking is to like something unconditionally, regardless of the reason. Although I was dissatisfied that the perfect situation to focus on martial arts was broken, it was something that could be said to be unfortunate.

“This is an opportunity to have an ‘audience’ with ‘Emperor His Majesty’. It is also a ‘never-come-again’ opportunity to see its existence.”

“….I see.”

Hyuk Kirin frowned at Sima Yeon’s meaningful words.

Right.

From Sima Yan’s words, I realized the emperor’s true intention in inviting us.

No matter how much I thought about this, it was not something that would warrant an audience with the emperor. The work in Sichuan Province was not a small one, but such was the nature of the work.

However, it seems that Sima Yan and the emperor thought that they could use this incident as an excuse to invite Hyuk Qilin to the imperial palace.

I guess I now have a good excuse to see my younger brother who has been away. Will it ever happen again that Hyeok Kirin, a martial artist, makes a contribution to the country, and that the contribution reaches the emperor’s ears? It was something that would never happen again in my life.

“Well, I understand the situation. When can I leave?”

“…Ronin?”

“Haha, Ho Rongin and Hyeok Kirin Daehyup can be said to be His Majesty’s guests. After preparing to receive you at the coffin, you can go comfortably.”

“No, Ho Rongin…is it okay? It is not normal to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. The imperial family has no choice but to reveal Ho Rongin’s identity.”

My identity will not be exposed or my reputation will increase as much as Hyuk Kirin is worried about.

“It’s okay. My identity will be known only within the palace, but it won’t be well known in the martial arts world anyway.”

Tangga’s work proves this.

Just as the crown does not know much about the affairs of the martial people, the martial arts people are also not interested in the affairs of the martial arts people. Even though the name of Sacheon Dangga was so high, there were many warriors who did not even know what status Dangga had.

Above all, there was almost no chance of the rumor spreading.

Should I say that just because the imperial palace reveals my face and name, that information will never go outside the palace?

This is the Jungwon Forest and there is no such thing as freedom of speech. It can be said that all rumors about the emperor and those in power are controlled by the imperial palace.

It is easy to think about the fact that the black cat did not know the identity of the white cat. It is closer to not recognizing the person’s identity rather than not knowing it, but it is proof that the imperial family is putting a lot of effort into controlling information.

People think that they are freely exposed to rumors from the imperial palace, but in reality, news from the imperial palace is not ‘known’ but rather ‘informed’ by the imperial palace to the public.

“More than anything, why would there be such a big rumor that it was such a great thing?”

It is unusual for me and Hyuk Kirin to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. Above all, Hyeok Kirin’s true identity is a princess. If the affairs of me and Hyuk Kirin leak out, the emperor will get tired, so he will completely block the information.

It was a profitable business if one could obtain royal compensation by selling one’s feet.