Chapter 377

So this is how I ended up giving New Year’s greetings to that rascal Kang Su-yang with exaggerated flair, and all the Sapa masters came in to bow deeply.

But I can’t just play coy about it, can I?

This is a prince, after all.

Even if he’s a fake, according to the laws of the nation, I have to treat him as a lord.

Whether he’s the real prince or just claiming to be one, if he asserts that he is, we have to treat him as such unless there’s solid proof otherwise. Questioning the bloodline of the emperor is downright treasonous.

However, there’s no need to feel wronged by a pompous fool impersonating the royal family.

The officials won’t let any impersonating of the royal family slide, not ever, not even if it’s a seven-year-old naive child—they’d chase them to the ends of hell.

Still, Yo Hwan-cheol couldn’t sleep at night.

Why? Because a sudden thought crossed his mind.

When that prince went outside, he should have bowed to Kang Su-yang one more time!

How grand it would have been to say, “After this bow, I’ll send you to the afterlife myself, so I’ll wish you peace ahead of time!” and exit so elegantly!

But of course, only when I lay on my bed thinking about these things do I come up with such brilliant ideas—it’s a specialty of those who can’t argue.

The Sapa masters were equally grim in the guest hall, heads huddled together looking forlorn.

“He’s definitely a fake, a fake prince for sure,” said Jo Kwang-ang, who fancied himself a master of strategy.

Moon Jeong-yeok chuckled contemptuously.

“You think such a dimwit would dare impersonate the prince just to wiggle out of a predicament? Do you really think such brainless fools would lead a sect representing an entire city? I get that you’re frustrated, but at least make sense!”

To this, Jo Kwang-ang scoffed and waved his finger in a dismissive manner.

“This is why you shouldn’t bother talking to someone who hasn’t read the classics at least three times. They say, ‘Use every resource available,’ and if you’re losing, ‘sacrifice a part to deceive the enemy,’ don’t they?”

“Not just a part, it seems like it’s all going to burn!”

“No, it isn’t. Ha. This is why those who don’t read military texts have to be told everything one by one.”

Jo Kwang-ang clicked his tongue.

“Wouldn’t it be simple to send a loyal subordinate to impersonate the prince and then just cut him loose after it’s done? You understand? That’s what ‘sacrificing the flesh’ means.”

“With the whole family in danger? Yeah right, would you?”

“So use every resource available! That’s what ‘using everything’ is all about. Please think sometime. When I go back, I’ll lend you a military text; make sure to read it and store it in your heart.”

The veins on Moon Jeong-yeok’s forehead visibly throbbed.

“Alright then. I’ll make a bet. I’ll bet that the prince is real; you bet he’s fake.”

“Hmph. You think I can’t bet? So, what, shall I bet an arm?”

“How about we bet our titles instead? If I lose, I won’t be the Number One Sword in Fuzhou anymore but a fool instead. If you lose, you won’t be the Master of the White Tiger Sect but the lousy master of strategy Jo Kwang-ang. How about that? If you think you’ll lose, you don’t have to accept it.”

This made Jo Kwang-ang furious.

“Ha! You think I wouldn’t? Just don’t try to act like it never happened if you lose!”

“Well, you’re the one who really wouldn’t mind, right? And let’s be honest, if we’re talking about that title of being the unbeatable master, you must be right about that? I’ve seen you drone on about strategy yet I’ve never seen you actually hit the mark.”

“You heard that too, didn’t you? It’s your responsibility to be a witness.”

“Hehe, how could I miss out on such a fun event? But what now? Shouldn’t we wait until the prince either leaves or is dealt with before we find out who he really is? Following your logic…”

The three sect leaders fell silent.

Of course, Sahun of the White Tiger Sect had been quiet the entire time.

It wasn’t because he was shy; the faction wearing white was considered an elite group, while the ones in black were seen as lower-tier, so Sahun didn’t dare speak.

Regardless, everyone, including Sahun, seemed almost pierced by the keen words of Jo Kwang-ang.

If this continued, wouldn’t their plans go down the drain?

Surely the Gye-rim Sword Faction must have sent a messenger to the Martial Alliance asking for support.

If the prince stayed too long, the Sado Sect’s plan to firmly establish itself in Guangxi via the salt workshop scheme would turn into dust.

They couldn’t just outright declare war with the Martial Alliance over just one poor province in Guangxi.

“And what about the Cheonhwa-geom, whether the prince leaves or gets dealt with? It seems the Martial Alliance has some capable strategists among them.”

The Cheonhwa-geom was related to the Divine Dragon.

To say they were the best amongst orthodox sects means that stepping on any toes could seriously tarnish the reputation of the whole orthodox martial world.

But as martial matters boil down to using a sword at the end of the day, it would indeed take a lot of guts to haphazardly throw someone into a perilous situation.

“Hmm, if the Master would take charge, the three of us will capture the Cheonhwa-geom. After taking the manor, what can the Cheonhwa-geom do? Just go home, I suppose. The Martial Alliance wouldn’t start a war over it, and if we get angry, we can just apologize.”

Jo Kwang-ang responded.

First attack, and then later release them—that was precisely the same ridiculous logic used by a certain militaristic state that bombed a certain bay in Qing’s homeland.

Even the reasoning was similar, thinking they wouldn’t want war, so they’d just strike, and then act as if an apology would suffice.

They say human thoughts tend to be rather alike.

Especially for those who are completely unrefined.

“Yeah. Well, go ahead and handle it. I’ve got my own plans, so I’ll be moving on my own.”

You all take care of your own business.

I’ll do my thing, and if anything works out, it’ll be all thanks to me, and I won’t be sharing any credit with you.

This left the three sect leaders thinking.

What a sneaky old man he is.

—-

Qing was being treated like royalty.

They even assigned a great disciple as a servant; it couldn’t get more extravagant than that.

Of course, nobody officially ordered it; the great disciple volunteered to be a maid, which under normal circumstances would warrant a stern scolding, but.

Letting it go silently could be seen as a sort of permission.

Plus, from Qing’s perspective, as a maid, she was loud, burdensome, and above all, really loud.

“Brother! Isn’t the weather beautiful and clear right from the start of the year? Such a lovely day! How about we enjoy the splendid views of Cheongsu Mountain!”

“You think this is a good idea while I’m supposed to be recuperating?”

“Oh dear! I nearly forgot! You’re so strong that I momentarily slipped my mind! Then how about the Gahwa Castle! Gahwa Castle has the best hot springs! They say soaking in their hot springs leads to a long life! Illness will flee! Good skin will appear! Bedsores will vanish; it’s the best hot spring!”

“Oh, a hot spring? There’s a hot spring?”

Qing’s eyes lit up.

Soaking in a hot spring was one of the few joys of a harsh life in the Central Plain.

Why do I say three? Because aside from food and killing, it leaves me a bit empty.

And you can enjoy both a feast and hot spring at the same time, which means two of my three greatest joys are combined into one!

Isn’t that the only legal drug authorized by the state? (The only prohibited drugs according to the national law are cigarettes.)

“That sounds great. Let’s go right away.”

Just as Qing was grinning at the thought of visiting the hot spring,

-Um, Young Lady Seomun, a letter has arrived for you!

A disciple from the sword faction spoke that while handing over a letter. Seeing the red envelope in Qing’s hands, Woo Na-ram went into a frenzy.

“Is that! A love letter? As expected! The Most Beautiful in the World! The Flower of Heaven! The Reborn Seossi! The Three Beauties!!”

“Could you drop the last one…”

“Oh! My apologies! That Three Beauties just stuck to my tongue! Young Lady Seomun, I deeply apologize!”

As Woo Na-ram said this, he stood on his hands, as if ready to throw himself into the ground over any light reprimands.

He seemed ready to really apologize that way, jokingly suggesting he should be hanging upside down if he felt guilty enough.

When asked about such a custom, he couldn’t pin it down and instead made up some tales about the Kitan tribes’ apology tradition he put together; he’d been doing this since.

However, standing on his head was better than kneeling, so Qing didn’t bother stopping him.

“Na-ram, you’re supposed to apologize for being such a nuisance.”

“Young Lady Woo Na-ram! For the entire year! Even if it’s all twelve months, I want to apologize!”

Woo Na-ram shouted from underneath his skirt, completely upside down.

The skin on the long, outstretched legs looked beautifully tanned, truly lovely.

But with Qing’s sight not quite sharp, and three days post coming back, he still couldn’t tell if it was a woman or a wild boar.

Qing held the envelope close to his nose, narrowing his eyes at its red seal.

So, it’s addressed to Seomun Qing.

Is it a love letter? Of course, that’s nothing new.

Thanks to the saying “brave men win beautiful women,” Qing was receiving love letters right and left. It wasn’t just one or two.

Qing ripped the letter open.

What kind of emotion-filled, lovey-dovey nonsense is going to delight me this time?

Generally, these love letters from the men of Central China were not worth much, same boring sequence praising Qing’s beauty, boasting about their family, bragging about their horses, along with generous promises of rewards for her favor.

Sometimes such letters even had widely accepted formats, describing how just seeing the Young Lady of Seomun made the birds shy and dare not to boast about their own beauty, and how the doves and crows stayed grounded out of jealousy of her looks.

This time, let’s hope for something innovative!

Qing unfolded the paper.

But there were just a few black characters on the white paper.

It was a love letter of just two lines!

“Oh?”

Qing squished the letter to his face like an old pervert.

And then Qing’s expression froze.

“I know your secret. I know your background.

Come to the Yungong Pavilion’s plum blossom room. I’ll be waiting.”

My secret? My background?

Qing’s pupils quivered.

The secret Qing was hiding merely consisted of the peculiar abilities visible solely to her eyes.

And about her background?

Qing’s head spun with thoughts.

What is this?

Could there be someone else who came to this world just like I did?

Without any clue about the martial world, if someone else knew way more than me, they might even set their assumptions just based on my fame.

Or maybe they had their means of finding out who I was?

“Na-ram, do you know where the Yungong Pavilion is?”

“Yungong Pavilion! How could a person from Namnyeong not know it! Yungong Pavilion means the best tavern in Namnyeong! And the best tavern means the Yungong Pavilion! It’s an eight-story pavilion that pierces the sky! Truly a skyscraper!! It’s Namnyeong’s pride!”

Woo Na-ram, still flipped upside down, answered, revealing only his pitch-black hair.

“Are you interested in the Yungong Pavilion? However, the Yungong Pavilion is just too expensive! No! Young Lady Woo Na-ram! I have to drain my savings from my five-month allowances! No!! I have to borrow money from the battlefield! Can I get up now? I have to rush to the battlefield!”

“No need to go into debt. Hmm. So, that’s how it is.”

If the meeting location is the best tavern in Namnyeong, it doesn’t sound like a hostile setup, so it brings some peace of mind.

Such a famous, and surely crowded, place wasn’t the type you’d want to make noise, and it implied Na-ram should also keep it down.

But that didn’t mean she could relax completely.

So, a reconnaissance was necessary.

To see how the layout looks, if there’s an escape route and if any suspicious folks are clinging together, etc.

“Alright, let’s go. And I’ve got plenty of cash. Let’s indulge ourselves until we burst with a feast, well, maybe not to the point of bursting.”

Having nearly burst from a meal earlier, Qing was trying to hold back from being overly indulgent.

Eating too much right after recovering and end up hurting herself was a greater loss; that would be a real food wastage.

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