Chapter 169

On the road from Luoyang to Beijing.

To reach Hangsan, located beyond the Taihang Mountains that embrace the western part of Hebei, Song Chaeji left with a promise to meet again someday. Yang Sodang also expressed her desire to see him and insisted he must visit Hangsan for a visit.

“Are you really not going to come back?”

Namgung Woo, who had seen off Song Chaeji and Eulju Jinin to the Hangsan Faction, asked Song Woojeol.

Originally, the two had maintained formal respect, but after Song Woojeol joined Changcheon Pavilion, Namgung Woo switched to a more casual tone, showing a slight deference.

Song Woojeol replied with an awkward expression.

“I was originally someone who left the family, so going back now would only make things awkward. I plan to visit you separately, brother.”

The Song Family Head had sent Song Chaeji to invite him to a family event. There was certainly gratitude for Song Chaeji, who had taken care of her cousin and effectively saved their lives by moving Namgung Woo.

But Song Woojeol was now Song Woojeol of Changcheon Pavilion, not the Song Family’s Song Woojeol.

Once things settled down, he planned to personally visit and express his gratitude.

Namgung Woo stopped at that.

It was a family matter. He didn’t want to become a superior who meddled in personal affairs.

“We’ve passed Baoding, so Beijing is really just around the corner.”

At this distance, it would take about three days to arrive.

The carriage provided by the Yi Royal Residence for Princess Jihyang was slower than using qinggong to run all day. Even though they had been given the lightest carriage possible for speed, it was still slower.

The four horses pulling the carriage were the finest among fine steeds. But no matter how good the horses, they couldn’t match the qinggong of peak masters.

Princess Jihyang, a peak master raised on imperial elixirs, could have easily run ahead. Ju Si-yeol had even considered telling her to just run ahead for speed.

Regardless of his affection for her, stabilizing the imperial family by reaching the Forbidden City as soon as possible was the priority. In the end, the difference was only a few days, so they chose to maintain the dignity of the royal family.

Some had hoped for something special to happen along the way, but nothing did.

They were just running along a well-maintained road, not through mountains. What could possibly go wrong?

“By the way, I heard there are bandits in the Taihang Mountains.”

Though calling them bandits might be a stretch.

They were more like a toll-collecting faction.

When Song Woojeol mentioned this as a past experience, he shrugged it off.

“Eulju Jinin and Chaeji could easily wipe out a small mountain stronghold. There’s the Green Forest Alliance near Mount Tai, but they’re practically an imperial puppet. They’re more like mountain guards than bandits.”

The power of martial arts is fair.

While talent divides the gaps, the power of martial arts isn’t reserved only for the virtuous.

Bandits who learn martial arts can become masters. From the imperial perspective, bandits and outlaws, who are less influenced by the martial world than by the government, have been treated as rebel strongholds and suppressed. But now, things are different.

The Ghost Gates that open deep in the mountains. When they open in remote valleys, detecting the evil energy is often delayed, and sometimes the entire mountain becomes infested with demons before anyone notices.

If there’s a Taoist temple or Buddhist monastery nearby, such things don’t happen. But the Central Plains are vast, and there are many mountains.

Sending people to untouched mountains requires a massive budget, so the imperial family left some bandits alone, letting them find the Ghost Gates themselves.

Meanwhile, they secretly orchestrated the creation of the Green Forest Alliance, effectively controlling the bandits.

Considering that Gaebang also started similarly, it’s possible that in time, the Green Forest Alliance might rename itself as a righteous faction and aim for a place among the Nine Sects and One Gang.

“I only learned about the imperial creation of the Green Forest Alliance during a mission. The current emperor is undoubtedly capable. He’s completely controlled the bandits to prevent another rebellion like the Unyang Uprising.”

“So the Green Forest Alliance is quite new?”

“Yes. It’s only been a little over five years. The groundwork started after the first suppression of the Unyang Uprising, but the proper alliance was formed around then.”

“Speaking of which…”

The last trace of the world’s greatest martial artist was said to be the suppression of the Unyang Uprising.

After repeated suppressions and uprisings, the emperor decided to root it out completely and deployed Mugeuk, bringing the rebellion to an end.

“After that, Mugeuk disappeared. Has the Martial Alliance found anything?”

The world’s greatest martial artist.

Though there was no direct connection, his name was something every martial artist held in their hearts, however faintly.

Namgung Woo was also curious.

A living legend of the martial world, comparable to Dongbang Hwa, who had caused a massive upheaval, and the Heonwon Family Head, who had subdued the Black Martial Alliance leader without a scratch.

Though called one of the Three Extremes, Mugeuk’s level was truly beyond the heavens.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know much about that. The Deputy Leader might have known something, but as the Assistant Leader, my access to information was limited.”

But Song Woojeol knew one thing.

“Back then, just before Master entered the imperial palace.”

At that time, Gwak Dan had mentioned something in passing. It was effectively their last meeting, so despite it being long ago, Song Woojeol remembered it.

“He said there was a monster.”

Before Gwak Dan entered the imperial palace, Mugeuk’s name hadn’t yet shaken the world, but even then, Gwak Dan had reached a level that made him marvel.

And seeing him, Gwak Dan decided to enter the imperial palace.

If that were all, it might just be a common evaluation of a strong person, but Gwak Dan added one more thing. At the time, Song Woojeol didn’t think much of it, but now it seemed quite significant.

“He also said he wasn’t human.”

A monster. Not human. Though a common expression, Song Woojeol knew Gwak Dan well.

Gwak Dan didn’t lie.

“It might have been true. He must have seen something.”

The Black Ghost Gate Master, who looked exactly like Namgung Woo and wielded the same martial arts.

And Pung Hyeon, who wielded Heavenly Boundary Power and called himself a god.

Even Namgung Woo, who had reconstructed his body with Heavenly Boundary Power, still found that power an unknown realm.

Having seen such beings, Song Woojeol wondered if Gwak Dan’s words might have hinted at Mugeuk’s true nature.

Gwak Dan’s special observation technique, which he had also taught Song Woojeol, and his status as a peerless master, might have allowed him to see something special in Mugeuk.

“By the way, are you interested in Mugeuk?”

“I just asked out of curiosity, but hearing that, I’m getting interested.”

Coincidentally, they were heading to Beijing. And they would be entering the imperial palace.

‘I’ll look into it separately when the time comes.’

A new task to add to their Beijing agenda.

Namgung Woo, the de facto fourth leader of Changcheon Pavilion (second being Paeng Ha-ryeong, third Namgung Baek), was quietly observed by the pavilion members as he had a private conversation with Song Woojeol. But soon, the walls of the next village came into view, and Namgung Woo had to be found.

So Un-pyeong, the official scout of Changcheon Pavilion, approached and said, “Leader, we’ve reached Seosu County. Shall we pass through?”

“No. Let’s stop for a bit. It’s lunchtime anyway. How far is it to Jeongheung?”

“About the same distance as we’ve already traveled.”

“Then let’s rest here before moving on. Inform the others.”

“Yes, Leader.”

§

That day, Changcheon Pavilion arrived in Jeongheung as planned by Namgung Woo and secured lodging.

About 200 li remained to Beijing. Though tomorrow would be tough, they planned to reach Beijing, so everyone went to bed earlier than usual.

After Paeng Ha-ryeong and Jegal Seon-a bid goodnight and returned to their rooms, and Princess Jihyang was half-dragged back by Yang Se-rim, Namgung Woo was about to sleep when…

“Family Head, I apologize for the late hour, but may I have a moment?”

Namgung Baek’s visit made Namgung Woo fold back the blanket he had just spread. He had a feeling he’d be up all night.

Since becoming what he was now, sleep had become more of a habitual action. The refreshment from a good night’s sleep could also be achieved through meditation.

“Come in.”

There was no separate reception room, so the two sat on chairs by the bed.

Namgung Woo could sense from Namgung Baek’s expression that the matter at hand was serious.

“This is something that should have been done when we first met, but I can’t delay it any longer, so I’ve come to see you at this late hour.”

“It’s fine. What is it?”

The first thing Namgung Baek should have done.

But for various reasons, it was postponed, and now, with Beijing ahead, it had to be done, even at this late hour.

“It’s about organizing the family head’s genealogy and adding your name to the family records.”

“Ah…”

It was about adding Namgung Woo’s name to the family registry.

In truth, this had been delayed because Namgung Woo had intentionally avoided it. As someone who wasn’t truly a descendant of the Namgung Family, he was at a loss for words.

But with the cooperation with the imperial family, and possibly discussions of marriage with Princess Jihyang, Namgung Baek judged that this had to be settled now.

“Family Head.”

“Yes, go on.”

“It’s fine.”

Namgung Baek calmly revealed what he had realized.

“I knew from the start that you were not originally a member of the Namgung Family.”