Chapter 504

When Qing hears “military tent,” she can’t help but think of the military tents from her hometown.

A long, rectangular building crowded with tenants like ants.

And now, finally, she’s seeing a proper Ming dynasty military tent.

What the heck? Why is it the same?

Qing felt a little flustered.

Aside from the fact that it’s surrounded by solid city walls instead of barbed wire, it looked very much like a big military base with long rectangular brick buildings impressively arranged around a spacious parade ground.

Well, if the buildings are tall, they’re vulnerable to cannons, and the wooden structures are weak and easily burnable, so they build with stone.

Plus, a military has to gather strength, so heating and cooling are chosen to endure military duty hardships, designed to accommodate the maximum number of personnel.

Thus, the birth of this long, rectangular brick building!

The only difference was a couple of stylish Shandong houses attached, probably the officers’ quarters? Quite a reminder of deprivation, I’d say.

A woman can’t serve in the military.

Even if she wants to, she can’t.

Not only that, but if caught, it’s a death sentence, along with the extermination of her entire family.

Because there were so many cases of families disguising their daughters as boys to send them to military duty, that became national law.

So, these poor men are living together in a city of twelve hundred people without a single woman!

Of course, there are ways to escape military duty.

You can pay to be exempted, or give birth during leave and then hand over your child once they grow up.

Anyway, the beautiful woman boldly striding through a city full of men is causing quite a stir.

There are guys running by with their shirts off—oh wait, didn’t I see those guys earlier? Have they already looped around?

To Qing, they all looked like very solid and impressive soldiers.

Why? Because every soldier she saw stood upright, with serious expressions and eyes filled with pride, flexing their muscles with their bare torsos glistening.

As she continued on, she spotted naked men washing themselves in a small stream.

Some of them freaked out and hid when they saw Qing, while others stood there grinning confidently.

Oh, my eyes!

Even though Qing wasn’t someone to panic at the sight of naked men, she couldn’t deny the intense damage to her eyes, almost as if she was injured inside.

And finally, there it was, a rather nice-looking government office.

As Qing approached, the soldier who had been guiding her finally spoke up with some difficulty.

“Uh, that way, please.”

“Oh. So, I wasn’t going straight there, huh?”

Thus, to a remote corner of the guest hall.

As she sat there sipping tea, she wondered why there was no news despite waiting so long.

After quite a while, a man named Yang Samok finally appeared and asked:

“May I have the name of the esteemed guest? And what is your reason for requesting an audience with the Great General?”

“Great General? Oh, yes. I came to speak with the Great General. Has the token been delivered?”

“We will follow the reporting system and will report it now, but, um, did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

“Is there no other item or person arriving?”

“None.”

“Um, if there’s anything urgent to tell the Great General…”

Yang Samok casually tapped the pouch at his waist.

The sound of jingling coins.

Of course, Qing was now quite familiar with Central Plain customs.

She understood the implication but just pretended not to notice, staring blankly instead.

“Is it heavy?”

“No, not at all.”

His disappointment was palpable as he slumped his shoulders and left.

And how long passed?

“The Great General refuses to meet.”

“Hmm. Not meeting? Are you sure? I really need to speak with him?”

Qing narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Yang Samok suddenly felt a chill.

“You’re saying he refused to meet even after seeing the token? Really? I never imagined I’d be treated with such disregard.”

“Just wait a moment, wait a moment, please!”

Luckily, Yang Samok had a quick wit, mumbling that before running off in a hurry this time.

Wasn’t he just dawdling before?

And soon after.

The commander of Shandong Province, the Great General, dramatically rushed in.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold, he dove down, *bam!* kneeling and bowing his head, hands together—what a splendid display of submission!

Wearing shiny armor, he flew down but managed to stick to the floor, proving he had some martial skills as the provincial commander.

Behind him, Yang Samok trembled as he shook and, the moment Qing looked at him, he crumpled down to the ground.

Qing felt a thrilling shiver run down her spine.

This is… the power of a princess?

I made these people tremble!

I can dominate these people!

However, unlike sadistic attention-seekers, Qing’s sense of dominance was based entirely on truth.

As Qing waved her hand, Yang Samok crawled out hurriedly and locked the door with a *thud*.

“That esteemed guest…”

“I’m Seomun Qing, a disciple of the Divine Maiden Sect. The lady gave me the token, but due to matters concerning the Imperial Palace, I hope you can understand that I can’t disclose the details. If the lady doesn’t grant me permission, I can’t reveal anything.”

“Lady” is actually a very broad term, often used for someone of significant stature.

But when a woman presents the Empress’s token, who can she possibly be?

Tokens come in different ranks.

The tokens distributed by the Imperial Family indicate if the person is an acquaintance, friend, longtime friend, relative, or benefactor, with each token having its own significance.

However, the one the woman brought wasn’t just any token—it was the Empress’s.

A precious individual is bestowing their token upon you.

In other words, it implies treating this woman with the same regard as one would a royal.

If word got out that she was a princess, that might be a bit awkward.

Having people collapse and bow their heads everywhere she went sounds kind of amusing, though.

However, calling the mother “Representative Ho” or “Lady” could be a rather disrespectful title, but nevertheless, now that she’s shown the token, this news will inevitably reach the palace, but that’s that.

“Please, feel free to sit. I’m the one who came here indiscriminately asking for a favor.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I think ‘my lady’ sounds too old, um, never mind.”

Qing almost asked them to just call her Seomun Soja but then thought that might not be the best decision for the Great General.

“I have a reason I need to get to Hangzhou, but some rogue elements in the Martial World are trying to block my path. I’d like to ask for some protection—by the way, do you know where the Commander of Jiangsu Province is stationed?”

“There is no Commander of Jiangsu Province. However, the General Government Office of the Central Army is located in Hezhou County, Anhui Province.”

To make it easier, in terms of Qing’s hometown style, the Commander would refer to a battalion while the General Government Office refers to the military command center.

The man kneeling in front of Qing is the commander of the Central Plain’s battalion.

“Hezhou? How did the name of the city end up being Hezhou? Um, where’s Hezhou located?”

“It’s about a hundred seventy li northwest of Nanjing.”

“Hmm. That’s not too far, but it might require a detour. However, having the Shandong military go to Hangzhou might be too much of a burden…”

At that, Wang Sang-ryong’s eyes lit up.

If saying it’s a burden means the helping side has to show courtesy, then by Central Plain customs, if they’ve received the courtesy, they should naturally offer a corresponding reward.

In short, danger means opportunity!

It might be a stepping stone to rise further than what they thought was the limit in their current position!

“Your esteemed person recognizes the circumstances of the sword you wield; I couldn’t even dare to fathom the grace forged in light of this! However, we are always loyal blades under the Empress. Please feel free to use us against your enemies whenever necessary!”

“Oh, a timeless loyal subject.”

“Timeless” implies a term used to mean ten thousand ages—this means all of history when someone refers to being the best of loyal subjects.

“How can you say such flattering things! I, Wang Sang-ryong, am so touched that I’d dare to shed tears here, if you’d allow me to cry.”

“Oh… please don’t make any noise.”

“Ugh, urrgh…!”

At that moment, Wang Sang-ryong was genuinely pretending to cry.

Qing continued to be amazed.

What is this? Is this the mannerisms of the Central Plain?

Not sycophantic to the point of absurdity, but rather it felt impressively sophisticated.

“I have a certain reason for detouring five cities to reach Hangzhou, and I live as someone in the Martial World, so I can’t disclose my other identity. However, this time, with so many rogues from the Sapa after me, I seek military assistance.”

Yet, Qing was still unaware of how powerful the upward instinct of the government officials is.

That is, information leaks easily.

Another identity!

Wang Sang-ryong’s loyalty soared even higher!

“How dare they target your esteemed self!? Please grant me fifteen—no, ten days’ time! I will crush those disrespectful traitors who oppose you with our three thousand cannons without mercy!”

“Oh wow, three thousand cannons.”

That sounds somewhat interesting to see.

After all, the concept of Official Imposition of Non-Interference didn’t just come out of nowhere. If martial artists rampage and assassinate, the officials can handle it, and if they get really pissed, they can mobilize cannons and troops, making it impossible for the Martial World to retaliate.

Just think about it: three thousand cannons from a single fortress! Sixty-one thousand cannons from twenty-one military command posts!

Mutually assured destruction!

However, in reality, the officials might be the more anxious ones.

While the country has collapsed many times, the Martial World continues to survive just by changing the name of their country.

The concept of Official Imposition of Non-Interference is merely an excuse for officials who want nothing to do with martial artists.

“No! The military can’t shed blood over this. This is merely a personal affair for me to resolve, and I only want you there to ensure those rascals can’t approach.”

With that, Qing wore an expression of deep contemplation.

Here she was, impersonating someone else and engaging in acts she couldn’t dare speak about, only to have her expression remain that of an innocent victim.

In truth, Qing felt quite wronged.

Unyeonjeong, that nasty piece of work. Seeing her evil deeds, it’s no wonder she deserves to be impersonated.

Why is she doing this to me? What wrong have I done?

Why is it wrong to turn a world-class villain into a fool?

And these Sapa idiots too.

Now that the Heart Consumption Technique competition is over, they should just gracefully accept and head home.

But they’re groveling around like pathetic little worms.

Ugh, get a life, losers. What am I even doing here?

Unbeknownst to Qing, Wang Sang-ryong was only emotionally moved.

“How can someone as esteemed as you say it’s personal? Please, withdraw such a statement! Your esteem is the will of heaven! The matters of my lady are undoubtedly matters of state!”

“That’s kind of you, but innocent blood shouldn’t be spilt.”

“Cough! How am I to repay such boundless grace? Even if a bolt of lightning were to strike me down here, I would die smiling!”

For reference, saying “Like the great rivers and seas” means having a vast heart like the greatest waters, representing the greatest generosity.

Wang Sang-ryong raised his hand dramatically.

“I’d like to propose a toast to you, esteemed guest… if you’re comfortable with it.”

“Um, maybe so? But keep the volume down, someone might be listening.”

At that, Wang Sang-ryong’s loyalty erupted like a volcano!

She’s definitely royalty! At the very least, a member of the imperial family!

Especially since it was said that the Emperor, overworked, had been exhausted lately and had taken to treating himself with medicinal wine and cultivating his spirit through meditation for several years.

As expected, officials have to respect their superiors even in thought.

To say he has been healing with medicinal wine and meditating for years implies the emperor has been wallowing in idleness, which in turn means the Empress holds immense power.

(Of course, the Empress might feel a bit wronged. Power my foot.)

In any case, since she’s directly connected to the Empress, her having a token means she’s likely to be one of the princesses.

How could he miss such an opportunity?

Wang Sang-ryong was getting close to figuring out Qing’s true identity.

And this is why they say senior officials can be terrifying.

Although, whatever conclusion Wang Sang-ryong’s opportunistic loyalty might lead to, neither he, Qing, nor the heavens and earth knows just yet.

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