Chapter – 58
The Greatest Village’s Weakest
A plague spread in Jiangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang. The dead numbered seventy-eight thousand.
Ming History
Finally, the day of the finals arrived.
“Wear this.”
Yong So-baek, who had come to Jiang Liu’s guest room with Tae Cheong-hwan, held something out. Unfolding it revealed clothing and a bamboo hat.
Jiang Liu looked up.
“What is this?”
“What do you think?”
Yong So-baek spread out the clothing.
“The enemies will recognize you, so you can’t go out with your original face. You’ve lost the face you could walk around with.”
He then threw the bamboo hat as well.
“If you want to go outside, you have no choice but to cover it with something.”
Jiang Liu, who had been examining the bamboo hat he received, scratched his cheek.
“Ah, well. I don’t need it anymore.”
“What?”
“Just a moment.”
Putting down the bamboo hat, Jiang Liu placed a mirror on the table. He then began to fiddle with the face in the mirror.
Watching this, Yong So-baek frowned.
“You brat. Last time you stuck your eyes, nose, and mouth all over the place, and now you’re going to do the Disguise Art by yourself again?”
“Just wait and see.”
“We don’t have time, you fool! Do you think you can do it in just a few tries? Instead of wasting time, quickly put on the bamboo hat…”
“Ta-da.”
Jiang Liu turned his head in an instant. The turned face now wore Kang Gu’s face.
Kang Gu passed by Yong So-baek.
“I tried a few times and it worked.”
“……”
Yong So-baek and Tae Cheong-hwan, left behind in the room, stared blankly at each other.
***
The area around Huaqing Pavilion was a sea of people. Due to the limited size of the villa garden, spectators who couldn’t get in had surrounded the entire Huaqing Pavilion.
Of course, this wasn’t a particular problem for the three, including Kang Gu.
Entering Huaqing Pavilion, Yong So-baek assessed the situation.
The raised platform in the center of Huaqing Pavilion.
The arena positioned below the platform.
Gold and red silk decorated every corner of Huaqing Pavilion, and the flags of the Imperial Family and the Martial Alliance also rose at regular intervals.
Yong So-baek’s eyes turned towards the platform.
On the platform where Imperial Family personnel were seated, there was Bi Yeong-ja, the leader of Cheongseong, one of the Ten Leaders like him.
『I leave it to you.』
『Please don’t worry.』
Below the arena where the finals would be held was Musung Daesa, the Deputy Chief of Shaolin, in plain clothes.
『If necessary, step in. As per our initial agreement.』
『Understood.』
Furthermore, for some reason, even Hyeon Je, the elder of Wudang, was present, the entire Wudang sect having returned early due to their elimination. This one wasn’t usually cooperative, but if something happened, he wouldn’t just ignore it either.
Then, on this side, there were five supreme masters in the Ultimate Realm.
This time, we will catch him without fail.
Amidst numerous bloody incidents occurring throughout the Central Plains, not even a single clue had been found. For the Beggar’s Sect, famous for its intelligence network, it was a disgrace.
Yong So-baek looked back at Kang Gu. If it weren’t for this kid, they wouldn’t have come this far.
Just then, Kang Gu’s mouth moved.
“It looks like they’re about to start.”
As Kang Gu said, the platform above became bustling. Soon, Seo Taewi (太尉), one of the Three Dukes of the Ming dynasty, stood in the center of the platform. Behind him to the left, about twenty Imperial Family officials were lined up, and to the right, a similar number of Martial Alliance officials stood.
Unlike before, Seo Taewi, dressed in official robes, began the closing ceremony speech for the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament finals.
“As we welcome the season of harvest, adding beauty and abundance, the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, jointly hosted by the government and martial world, has finally reached its conclusion. First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the officials who worked hard to prepare this tournament. Also, to the participants who joined this gathering of harmony and friendship through the tournament, I offer my sincere words of thanks…”
As always, the speech by Seo Taewi, a government official, continued for quite a long time. For nearly an hour. Yong So-baek, unable to hide a yawn that leaked out amidst his tension, was in the middle of that.
“Well, let my speech end here. To further illuminate this occasion, a precious person has also come.”
As Seo Taewi looked back, one person walked out from the very back of the Imperial Family officials. He was young and dressed in plain official robes. Seo Taewi stepped aside from the center of the platform.
“It is His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“What the!?”
A double curse escaped Yong So-baek’s lips involuntarily.
“Damn it. What the hell is going on.”
With the unexpected appearance of the Crown Prince, the entire Huaqing Pavilion stirred. Yong So-baek made eye contact with the Martial Alliance officials on the platform. They also seemed flustered.
Bi Yeong-ja’s Sound Transmission flew over.
『What’s going on? Was this part of the plan you knew?』
『Know? If I knew, would I have planned it like this?』
It was exactly that. In fact, if the assassin’s target was Seo Taewi, they were prepared to tolerate up to a level of injury. Of course, Seo Taewi was also the highest-ranking official in charge of military authority, so they would have to block him somehow, but in the worst-case scenario, they had planned to sacrifice even one of the Taewi’s arms.
But if the target was the Crown Prince, the story changed.
Not even a hair’s breadth of injury was allowed. That meant they had to intervene in the situation much earlier than the original plan, and consequently, the probability of the assassin noticing something strange and things going awry increased exponentially.
Yong So-baek gritted his teeth.
“Anyway, these damn government rice-eaters always have to make a fuss…”
Now it all made sense. Of course, Seo Taewi was the highest-ranking official of the Imperial Family, but he seemed somewhat lacking as the target of an assassin who had infiltrated even the Five Great Families to set up this scheme.
That’s right.
The target was the Crown Prince, the Yanwang Seja (燕王世子, Prince of Yan’s Heir).
But even he, the Sect Leader of the Beggar’s Sect, had been unaware of the Crown Prince’s presence.
This meant there was a spy, whether in the Alliance or the Imperial Family. A high-ranking traitor who could have known in advance about the Crown Prince’s participation, which would have been top secret.
“Wow. The Crown Prince. They’re really serious about this turf war, huh.”
“……”
He really had no idea what this kid was thinking.
“Your Highness. This way.”
Guided by Seo Taewi, Yanwang Seja stepped onto the center of the platform. His thick, straight, soaring eyebrows were impressive. Resembling his father, he exuded a heroic aura from his entire body. After briefly looking around the assembly, Yanwang Seja opened his mouth shortly.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Wooooah!”
The entire Huaqing Pavilion erupted. He was the eldest son of the current Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Yanwang Seja who was already in charge of state affairs on behalf of the current Emperor who had gone on the Northern Yuan conquest. If nothing special happened, he would undoubtedly become the next Emperor, and in terms of internal affairs, it was already no exaggeration to say so.
Amidst that commotion, Yanwang Seja continued his speech. He had the power to instantly focus people’s attention.
“Twenty years have already passed since His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne. State affairs were in disarray, so the previous Huanglin Tournament was neglected. In a way, this tournament should be seen as the first proper Huanglin Tournament held by the Imperial Family.”
Just as Yanwang Seja was about to say something more, he smiled at Seo Taewi.
“The opening speech seems to have been sufficient, so let’s begin. If I continue any longer, something might happen to me too.”
The cheers of the crowd shook Huaqing Pavilion.
***
The finals that followed immediately were fierce. Attacks and counterattacks continued back and forth. Even Yanwang Seja, who had been relaxed throughout, couldn’t hide his excitement.
“As expected, it’s amazing! It’s a truly incredible match worthy of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament finals!”
Seo Taewi, guarding behind him, also had a greatly admiring expression.
“Indeed, duels between masters are the martial arts of the martial world. Truly unrivaled!”
The cheers of the crowd were also tremendous. Although it was a situation where ordinary people could barely see even the shadows, the constant sounds of air-breaking and gusts of energy alone made the intensity of the match palpable. In the midst of everyone watching the match and pouring out cheers until their throats were raw:
“It’s definitely one-sided.”
Yong So-baek, engrossed in Mo Yong-min’s movements, opened his mouth.
“Yeah. He really seems incredibly strong.”
Jiang Liu immediately continued.
“Even if we all attacked together, it wouldn’t be easy.”
Yong So-baek, who had been quietly watching the match, turned his head a beat late.
“What?”
Kang Gu’s eyes were fixed on the arena.
“It’s not the first time I’ve seen someone this strong… but anyway, among the supreme masters here, he’s probably the strongest. Overwhelmingly so.”
“……”
By Kang Gu’s standards, “supreme master” would refer to masters who had reached the Ultimate Realm, and currently, there were five such masters at Huaqing Pavilion. And for such masters to say that even if they all attacked together it wouldn’t be easy… It might be a problem to let him go and then catch him again, but if they attacked from the start with determination, there was absolutely no way they couldn’t subdue him.
Of course, he knew the kid had the ability to accurately gauge an opponent’s level without even checking their pulse, but this time it was absurd.
“That’s impossible. As I said before, that can’t be.”
Kang Gu didn’t take his eyes off the arena above.
“If I hadn’t fought Grandpa Jin-hwa, I wouldn’t have known either. I know because I fought him. He gives off a similar feeling to Grandpa Jin-hwa.”
“Grandpa Jin-hwa?”
“Yes. A grandfather who lived in the same village as me.”
“…!”
The same village as the kid meant Jangbaek-dong. And Jin-hwa of that Jangbaek-dong. If Yong So-baek’s own memory was correct, he was one of the Ten Great Ancestors of the former Quanzhen Sect, the “Greatest Under Heaven” from a hundred years ago, famous not only for his martial arts but also for various mystical arts and stealth techniques. Of course, it wasn’t surprising now that Jiang Liu, also from Jangbaek-dong, knew him, but the following words were the problem. That the assassin on the arena above was at a similar level to Jin-hwa, the former Greatest Under Heaven.
“Y-you mean that guy is at that level?”
“Probably.”
There was no reason or need to lie.
“T-then shouldn’t we change the plan? We should stop the match, even if it causes a commotion!”
“No.”
Kang Gu clenched his fist.
“Since we’ve come this far, there’s no other way anyway. We have to move according to plan.”
“So we just give up the people and let the assassin get away too!?”
“……”
Kang Gu had no words. He just silently watched the ongoing match on the arena above. Suddenly, something flashed through Yong So-baek’s mind.
“Y-you brat, are you counting on that thing you said you could do sometimes?”
“It will work.”
“What on earth is that? Whose training from Jangbaek-dong are you thinking of!”
“I didn’t learn it from anyone. I came up with it myself.”
“You invented a martial art technique by yourself?”
“A martial art technique?”
Only then did Kang Gu turn to look at Yong So-baek.
“But how do you know about Jangbaek-dong? Did I ever mention my village’s name before?”
“Ah….”
Yong So-baek’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish.
“That… well…”
As Yong So-baek, realizing his mistake, was trying to think of an excuse,
“Wooaah!”
Finally, with cheers, the winner of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament was decided. The judge’s pointing hand was, as expected, directed towards Mo Yong-min of the Mo Yong Family.
Yanwang Seja in the center of the platform shouted with an excited face.
“I will go down myself! I want to see that man right now!”
Seo Taewi tried to dissuade him.
“Your Highness. There are official ceremonies that must be held before the awards. The congratulations should be after the ceremonies are over…”
“Didn’t time get delayed because Taewi’s speech was so long? If we were going to follow the order, you should have kept it short from the beginning.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Seo Taewi gestured to the Geomwi and Dongchang guards assigned to escort as if he had no choice. Watching the Imperial Family officials descending from the platform, which wasn’t even in the plan, Yong So-baek spat out a curse.
“Damn bastards. They all just do as they please.”
He hurriedly sent a Sound Transmission to Bi Yeong-ja and Musung.
『Stay as close to the arena as possible. Not a single scratch should be allowed on His Highness.』
Exchanging glances, Bi Yeong-ja and Musung pushed through the spectators right up to the edge of the arena. Soon, the Imperial Family officials, led by Yanwang Seja, stepped onto the arena.
“The winner shall pay respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
But even after hearing Seo Taewi’s words, Mo Yong-min didn’t move a muscle. He just quietly scanned the front, back, left, and right of the arena. Mo Yong-min’s gaze returned to its original place. Towards Seo Taewi.
“The Taewi who oversees the nation’s military authority. The weak scholar has grown quite a bit.”
Seo Taewi’s eyebrows twisted.
“What did you say?”
“Don’t you recognize this face?”
“……”
A strange atmosphere began to swirl above the arena.
