—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I looked at the women outside the window for a moment before turning my attention back to the documents.
They were documents sent by Hano, detailing the current movements of the unorthodox sects.
Previously, I had exchanged letters with Hano, the branch manager of the Hao Clan in Yangwi, discussing the current situation and some possible ways to overcome it.
Of course, it was up to them to decide which of the things we discussed to use, or whether to use any at all.
It seemed they had ultimately decided to use one.
The principle of non-interference between government and martial affairs applied to both the government and the martial world.
However, there were certainly cases where this principle didn’t hold.
The first was the issue of treason.
As soon as this topic was brought up, a bloodbath would ensue, regardless of whether it involved orthodox or unorthodox sects.
Once talk of treason reached the central authorities, everyone had to keep their mouths shut.
If you got caught up in it, your entire clan could be exterminated.
The second was gunpowder.
While not as severe as treason, if there was information and evidence that a sect possessed gunpowder beyond the permitted level, the government would immediately launch an investigation.
There were a few other taboos, such as assassination or kidnapping of members of the imperial family, but among them, the Hao Clan had chosen to attack the new Black Heresy Alliance Lord’s forces using the gunpowder angle.
Treason was simply too big of an issue.
Of course, among the sects that had actually colluded with the new Black Heresy Alliance Lord, there were some that concealed it, and some that didn’t.
But did that matter?
From Wang Hwi’s perspective, if a war broke out, he would be defeated. He had to act in a way that maximized his self-preservation.
“Haha.”
Of course, in the process, Wang Hwi’s reputation within the unorthodox sects would likely suffer. After all, a martial artist, and the leader of an unorthodox sect at that, had used the government.
Still, it wouldn’t be a big problem.
Wang Hwi had used the Hao Clan as a shield.
‘According to the Hao Clan’s investigation, there were reports that sects within the Black Heresy Alliance were in possession of items prohibited by the Empire! Though they are an unorthodox sect, they are still subjects loyal to the Empire! Moreover, the Hao Clan has long served as the eyes and ears of the unorthodox sects! As the Black Heresy Alliance Lord, how could I ignore the information they risked their lives to obtain? I can only trust them!’
Reading Wang Hwi’s speech written in the letter, I smiled bitterly.
It was a bit funny how he claimed he was simply trusting the Hao Clan, his subordinates.
He must have been jumping for joy on the inside.
Of course, from the Hao Clan’s perspective, they might feel like they were just being used, but the important thing was that this matter was related to the government.
In other words, the Hao Clan, which had necessarily been on bad terms with the government, had extended a hand to the government through the Imperial Recruitment Department.
Since the government owed a debt to the Hao Clan from a past incident, they would likely provide more support and try to protect them, even to erase the past, so those who had been wronged wouldn’t be able to retaliate easily.
And they even had a justification.
The Hao Clan was simply doing their duty for the Empire.
But someone was going to retaliate against the Hao Clan because they didn’t like it?
The Hao Clan was simply fulfilling its role for the Empire, but someone had a problem with that and wanted revenge?
Then the card the government could play was this:
Then you are traitors.
So the other unorthodox sects would just have to grit their teeth and bear it.
In the end, it wasn’t a bad thing.
Most of the forces of the sects I wanted would be greatly reduced, or they would have to seal their gates.
The hot-blooded ones would have to suffer on the battlefield for a few years.
The important thing was that the number of people who would start a war alongside the Iron Blood Corps in Cheonsang Myeongwol would be reduced,
the Hao Clan would be protected by the government and become more stable than before, and Wang Hwi would be able to find some stability for the time being.
Of course, the new Black Heresy Alliance Lord, the wronged unorthodox sects, and the Iron Blood Corps who were trying to use them would be a bit heartbroken… but that was actually what I wanted.
Anyway, although Wang Hwi’s position had been somewhat narrowed due to this incident, considering that gunpowder was actually found in quite a few places,
And those where it wasn’t found were released, he would be able to regain his position to some extent.
That should be enough to delay the outbreak of war with the new Black Heresy Alliance Lord.
At least for a few months.
That was enough.
Now, I needed to prepare the next card…
I tapped the desk and lit my pipe.
I inhaled the thick smoke to awaken my mind, then set down the pipe. Then I took a sip of the Cheonil Plum Blossom tea that Sayun had given me.
My tense mind gradually calmed down, and my thoughts began to turn.
Now there was only one thing left to do.
To make the Sword Saint, who rarely engaged in external activities, come outside.
Of course, even in Cheon Sang Myeong Wol, a master of the Sword Saint’s level rarely engaged in external activities.
Even Doje, the head of Mun Woljeong, only moved within the sect unless there was a special occasion.
Still, considering that Doje didn’t completely stay within Mun Woljeong, the Sword Saint seemed a bit excessive.
Last time when I invited the Hong Seong Clan members for a meal, and when I served medicinal cuisine after Yohan arrived, she had just told her disciples to go without her, hadn’t she?
Even the ‘Southern Sea Old Fisherman’, a master of the Sword Saint’s level in Cheonsang Myeongwol who was known for not associating with people, wasn’t this bad.
There must be some reason for it…
The Sword Saint dies in the prologue, and the information about her is limited and sporadic, so I couldn’t really say anything based on that alone.
And I couldn’t just ask her disciples like Hong-ryeon or Sayun.
Still, considering that she had readily come out to help when I asked for her assistance during the duel between Hong-ryeon and Chae-jin, it didn’t seem like she completely disliked me.
“Huuuuum…”
“Is something wrong?”
At that moment, the door opened and Yohan entered. She was holding a cup of green juice.
Normally, Chae-jin would bring it, so why was Yohan carrying it?
“The clan leader called her for a moment. She said a newly made talisman was completed.”
“Ah. I see.”
“But what’s the matter?”
I looked at Yohan. Come to think of it, she was older and had been a disciple of the Emei Sect.
Also, since she had worked in the Imperial Palace, there was a high possibility that she knew a lot of information.
Maybe she knew the reason why the Sword Saint never came out.
“Do you happen to know why the Sword Saint doesn’t go outside?”
Yohan’s expression became serious. The weight of the name ‘Sword Saint’ was clearly something she couldn’t easily speak of.
If she didn’t know, it couldn’t be helped. I would have to…
“Well… As far as I know, the Sword Saint stopped her activities in the martial world after she brought back her last disciple.”
After she brought back Sayun?
“After becoming the leader of the Hong Seong Clan, she was very active. Her achievements were even known in the Imperial Palace. But as soon as she gathered all her disciples, she shut herself up in the Hong Seong Clan. People in the Imperial Palace talked about the reason for this. Hmm… I don’t know if this is correct.”
“Please tell me even if it’s just a guess. If it’s a story from the Imperial Palace, it might provide an answer.”
“In the past, when the Sword Saint was performing her acts of chivalry, a Grand Scholar of the Imperial Palace invited her. I overheard something back then… It seemed she felt quite burdened by becoming the clan leader… that’s what the Grand Scholar of the Imperial Palace said.”
.
.
.
The story Yohan had told me kept lingering in my mind.
Even as the sun set and evening approached.
The Sword Saint felt burdened by becoming the clan leader… Thinking about it, it wasn’t that strange.
After all, she wasn’t originally supposed to be the clan leader.
I sat in the backyard, smoking a pipe, and continued to think. And then, a bright voice was heard.
“Ah! Innkeeper!”
“Hm?”
When I looked in that direction, I saw familiar faces.
It was Hong-ryeon and Sayun.
Unlike earlier in the day, Hong-ryeon, who had come down wearing her Hong Seong Clan uniform, smiled and bowed slightly.
“We brought the medicinal herbs we promised.”
“Ah, that’s great. Wait a moment.”
It was much better to process these herbs properly rather than using them as they were, as it greatly enhanced their medicinal properties.
We took out the herbs neatly arranged on the cart, spread them out in the backyard, and began preparations for drying and processing them.
While the servants were busy moving around, Sayun smiled brightly and handed me some silver.
“Hm? What’s this?”
“I’d like to buy some sweets.”
“Really? You can just take them. The quality of the herbs is better than I expected.”
It wasn’t a joke, they really were. Even the servants were all admiring the quality, saying how good it was here and there.
But Sayun slowly shook her head.
“That’s one thing, but… well, for my older sisters and…”
“And?”
“…I want to give some to our master.”
“How thoughtful.”
Hong-ryeon seemed to think similarly. She stroked Sayun’s head, and Sayun smiled at the gesture.
“Ah, and when are we going to Yangwi?”
“I’ll send someone as soon as we’re ready. But are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes. If you’re busy, you don’t have to go. The First Disciple of the Hong Seong Clan has a lot to do, right?”
A voice came from outside. It was Chae-jin, who had returned from the clan leader. As she spoke with a smile, Hong-ryeon replied with a smile.
“It’s fine. This is important too.”
And she stroked Sayun’s head.
“My fellow disciples are also doing their jobs well, so I’m not worried. Ah, is it a burden for you?”
A burden? Not at all. I shook my head, and Hong Ryun acted as if to say “See?”, while Chae-jin let out a deep sigh and approached me.
“But what are these?”
“Medicinal herbs we agreed to purchase from the Hong Seong Clan.”
“Hmm… the quality is good.”
It really was, wasn’t it?
She spoke briefly and then looked at Sayun. She crouched down and smiled brightly.
“If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me anytime. Your First Senior Sister is a strong person.”
“Yes! I think so too! But wouldn’t it be even better if we could help our First Senior Sister? She used to be so busy all the time. But lately, she smiles a lot and has more free time. So we’re trying to work even harder.”
“Huuuung… I see. That’s nice, isn’t it?”
“Are you envious?”
“…I can’t say I’m not. Sigh. Getting pushed around here and there, I guess I’ll just have to hang out with the innkeeper.”
As Chae-jin approached with a smile, I pointed to the herbs.
“There’s no time to play, so let’s help sort those out.”
“Ufufu~. Yes~!”
“…I’ll help too.”
“Ah! Me too!”
If they were going to help, I was happy to accept.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
