190. The Dragon’s Game (1)
Early in the morning, Jeok Se-hwa entered the Seowon [a private Confucian academy] to help prepare meals for the guests, and was slightly surprised to find Old Madam Dang Un-yeong already there.
Dang Un-yeong sat on a bamboo mat, drinking tea with Old Master Namgoong. The sight of the two white-haired figures was as serene as a classical painting.
“Welcome, Miss Se-hwa,” Sa Su-yeon greeted her. Jeok Se-hwa, startled from her reverie, returned the greeting.
“Good morning.”
“Yes, good morning,” Son Bin said with a smile, bowing his head.
“Thank you so much, Miss Jeok.” He felt a renewed sense of gratitude. She was not only helping to serve the guests this time, but had also assisted him greatly in the past.
“You’re welcome. Oh, and a letter arrived for you, Young Master Son.”
“A letter?” Son Bin looked puzzled. He had only recently replied to the backlog of correspondence that had accumulated.
Jeok Se-hwa had received more letters than he expected while he was away from the Seowon. Most were from Miss Namgoong Hyang, but some were also from Miss Moryong Rin.
He had only recently taken the time to read each of those letters and write lengthy replies. He felt particularly sorry for Miss Namgoong Hyang, whose letters had continued steadily even when she hadn’t received a response for some time.
“Eun Cho-bin brought it late last night.”
Eun Cho-bin was the acting head of Soeun Escort Agency. She was Soso’s older sister, a close friend of Jeok Se-hwa, and a young woman who had accompanied Son Bin on his escort missions.
“She wanted to deliver it in person, but couldn’t find the time. She thought it would be better for me to bring it than the guards…”
“It’s fine for her to come late. Please tell her that,” Son Bin said, taking the letter.
He suddenly recalled his time with Soeun Escort Agency. He had met Old Master Namgoong and Miss Dang Wol-ah during that escort mission; it was no ordinary connection.
“How is Eun doing?”
“She’s incredibly busy, but she seemed healthy.”
Son Bin examined the letter. It was quite luxurious, but the sender’s name was missing. He tilted his head, then opened it.
Rustle.
A short sentence was written in a swift, elegant script. The moment Son Bin saw the writing, his face hardened.
“What’s wrong?” Jeok Se-hwa, noticing his change in demeanor, asked. The others, who had been relaxing, also turned to look at Son Bin.
Son Bin looked up at Sa Su-yeon, who stared back with a puzzled expression.
“Okryong sent me a letter.”
Sa Su-yeon’s face immediately paled. She wasn’t the only one affected. Old Master Namgoong shot up from his seat.
“Okryong? Could it be…”
“No,” Son Bin shook his head. “Judging from the contents of the letter, it seems to be a new Okryong.”
The signature was Okryong, but it wasn’t the Okryong that Son Bin and Sa Su-yeon had met.
“A new Okryong?”
“Yes.” Son Bin recalled the young man he had seen in the snowy mountains. At that time, Okryong had called him ‘Little Dragon.’ Could he have succeeded the previous Okryong?
Rustle.
“What did he say?” Dang Hwa-ryeon stepped forward and asked. Her tone was polite, but her eyes were serious.
“He invited me.”
“Don’t go,” Dang Hwa-ryeon said before Son Bin could finish. “You don’t know what might happen if you go.”
“Do you know him?” Son Bin asked. Dang Hwa-ryeon bit her lip.
“He is the Lord of the Yunnan Blood Dragon Gate [a martial arts sect based in Yunnan province, known for its ruthless tactics].”
Dang Hwa-ryeon continued, “And he is also the biggest sponsor of the Blood Phoenix Society [a mysterious organization with potentially nefarious goals]. In fact, the Blood Phoenix Society is practically his creation.”
“So that’s why,” Son Bin nodded.
“He wants me to attend the Blood Phoenix Society’s meeting.”
“Then that’s even stranger,” Sa Su-yeon said. “Why would he send such a letter? There’s no reason for Young Master Son to go to such a place.”
Son Bin had no interest in either the Blood Dragon Gate or the Blood Phoenix Society.
“That’s not entirely true,” Son Bin said with a wry smile. The letter rustled in his hand.
“He says he found something in the snowy mountains. He says he wants to return something that belongs to me.”
“Could it be!” Sa Su-yeon’s face changed instantly.
“Calm down, Miss Su-yeon,” Dang Wol-ah said quietly to Sa Su-yeon. “He only said it belonged to Young Master Son and didn’t specify what it was. Most of the time, talk like that is a trick.”
Sa Su-yeon bit her lip at Dang Wol-ah’s words. “That’s right. But…”
Son Bin said quietly, “The problem is that I can’t afford not to go.”
Even if it was just a meaningless piece of cloth, he had to check it out.
His eyes, fixed on the letter, reflected his complicated feelings. Dang Hwa-ryeon’s face hardened.
*
*
*
In a large hall decorated in red and gold, several old Taoists stood nervously.
Though their clothes seemed out of place amidst the splendor, their long, divine beards and white hair suggested they were no ordinary Taoists.
Tap.
A eunuch in red robes hurried in, bowing low. He announced in a thin, clear voice, “The Emperor is here…”
“Stop it,” the old emperor interrupted before the eunuch could finish. He entered the hall, clad in a splendid golden dragon robe. Sharp-eyed guards followed closely behind.
“I told you, you don’t have to do that, even when you come to the detached palace [a villa used for leisure].”
Following the emperor’s desire for a relaxed atmosphere, the eunuch immediately stopped speaking and bowed.
Step, step.
The emperor was old and corpulent. His face was round and flushed with fat, and his eyes were so narrow that his pupils were barely visible.
The old Taoists quickly bowed their heads. Meanwhile, the guards stood on either side, their eyes gleaming with vigilance.
Thud.
The massive emperor settled into the prepared seat at the front of the hall, in a position of prominence. The large, ornately decorated chair seemed barely able to contain him.
Swish.
As the emperor sat, the old Taoists knelt and bowed in unison, their white hair touching the floor.
The emperor looked down at the bowing Taoists with a displeased expression.
“Hmm.” However, he said nothing more. The old Taoists began to sweat, unsure of what to expect. The emperor did not tell them to rise.
No one dared to speak or move. After what felt like an eternity, the emperor finally spoke.
“Raise your heads.”
The emperor’s discomfort was evident in his tone. The old Taoists cautiously raised their heads.
“Who did you say you were?”
The white-haired Taoist kneeling in front answered, “I am Cheongsu, the head of Wudang [a famous Taoist sect and mountain range].”
“Wudang, Wudang…” the emperor muttered to himself.
“Early on, the late Emperor favored Wudang, building countless pavilions and Taoist temples, and bestowing vast lands in the area. He even personally visited Wudang.”
Wudang had enjoyed the imperial family’s favor for generations. Even when dynasties changed, their position remained secure. Wudang was useful in maintaining public order.
There was even a time when Wudang Mountain was referred to as the imperial family’s villa, so the emperor’s words were somewhat exaggerated, but not entirely untrue.
“Therefore, you should repay the imperial family’s grace with loyalty. Why haven’t you come to me and shown yourselves all this time?”
The emperor’s words were like ice. He was questioning Wudang’s distancing from the imperial family, a decision influenced by Hwanghak Jin-in [a prominent figure within Wudang].
‘Oh, I didn’t expect it to be this bad…’ Cheongsu Jin-in closed his eyes. It seemed things would not go well today. The other old Taoists were also sweating.
“I dare to speak,” Cheongsu Jin-in said, steeling himself to bear the emperor’s anger on behalf of Wudang. He quietly recited the Taoist name and began.
“Since ancient times, Wudang has never ceased performing rituals to heaven, solely for the imperial family’s well-being and the peace of the world. Our reason for not visiting the imperial palace is simply that we wished to silently fulfill our duties, never because we had forgotten the imperial family’s grace.”
Cheongsu Jin-in referred to himself as ‘small subject,’ implying that he was a loyal servant who performed his duties discreetly.
The elderly emperor chuckled. “You call yourself a Taoist, but your words are certainly smooth.”
It was a sarcastic remark, but the emperor’s tone had softened.
“Get up.” At the emperor’s command, the Taoists rose to their feet in unison, though they did not dare to look up.
Rustle.
The eunuch held up a small box wrapped in red silk and presented it to the emperor.
“What is this?” the emperor asked, frowning.
“It is called Jasodan [a legendary elixir],” Cheongsu Jin-in replied.
“Jasodan?”
“It is a panacea passed down in Wudang for generations, said to revive the dead, rivaling the Great Revival Pill of Shaolin [another famous martial arts sect]…”
“Tsk,” the emperor openly clicked his tongue, cutting off Cheongsu Jin-in’s words.
“You said you performed rituals for the peace of the world, but why did you bring this? Do you take me for a foolish ruler who seeks only personal comfort?”
Though he didn’t raise his voice, it was clear the emperor was angry. The Wudang Taoists were mortified.
The Jasodan was a legendary treasure. It should have been a gift the elderly emperor desired above all else.
They had offered even their sect’s sacred object to gain favor, but it had only earned them his displeasure.
“Ahem.” As if uncomfortable, the emperor rose from his seat.
“Please wait a moment, Your Majesty,” a voice like rolling jade beads suddenly called out from the side.
Cheongsu Jin-in and the old Taoists involuntarily looked towards the source of the voice. A young woman dressed elegantly was quietly entering the hall.
Step, step.
Her palace attire, not flashy but full of antique beauty, and her restrained etiquette revealed in every movement, captivated even the old Taoists.
“Oh, isn’t that Princess Gyeonghui [a title indicating a close relationship to the emperor]?” The emperor’s face lit up. The emperor, who had been angry moments before, smiled brightly at the sight of her.
Rustle.
Princess Gyeonghui knelt on one knee before the emperor and bowed her head. The emperor, who had been standing, sat back down to receive her courtesy. Sparkling hair ornaments shone in her glossy hair.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Get up quickly,” the emperor said with a pleased expression.
Princess Gyeonghui raised her head and straightened her back. The luxurious silk of her gown flowed down her body in graceful lines.
‘Princess?’ Cheongsu Jin-in was taken aback.
The title of ‘Princess’ was generally given to daughters of the imperial family close to the emperor. He didn’t know the exact relationship, but she was certainly of imperial blood.
“Isn’t Your Majesty’s well-being the peace of the world?” Princess Gyeonghui said in a beautiful voice.
“Therefore, I believe it is right for Your Majesty to gladly accept their loyalty.”
“Is that so?” Princess Gyeonghui’s appearance made even the old emperor smile. She continued, “Yes. And a performance by entertainers is prepared in the back garden. The Empress said she was inviting you to come.”
“Really? Then I can’t refuse,” the emperor nodded with a pleased expression. He rose from his seat, then suddenly looked at the old Taoists bowing before him.
“I will overlook this matter for the sake of Princess Gyeonghui,” the old emperor said in a voice still tinged with displeasure. The old Taoists didn’t dare to say anything and bowed even lower. Cheongsu Jin-in closed his eyes and recited the Taoist name in his heart.
“Also, from now on, I will entrust your affairs to Princess Gyeonghui, so discuss everything with her.”
Who would object to the emperor’s words? The old Taoists bowed their heads.
“Let’s go.” The old Taoists quickly bent over. The eunuch immediately cleared the way, and the massive emperor left with the guards.
Step, step.
The hall was empty in an instant. The only people left were the guards who had been guarding the hall from the beginning, the old Taoists of Wudang, the young woman called Princess Gyeonghui, and the eunuch who followed her.
Click.
The old Taoists turned their heads at the small sound. Princess Gyeonghui was opening the small box containing the Jasodan. It had been presented to the emperor, but she showed no hesitation.
“Is this the Jasodan?” she said to herself. The refreshing scent of the elixir filled the hall.
Clack.
The box was closed. The Taoists couldn’t take their eyes off Princess Gyeonghui.
She had been entrusted with all matters concerning Wudang by the emperor.
Not only that, but she was so beloved that she could quell even the emperor’s anger with a few words.
Judging from the emperor’s attitude towards Wudang, Princess Gyeonghui held the power of life and death over them.
Swoosh.
Princess Gyeonghui handed the box containing the Jasodan to the eunuch standing next to her, who respectfully received it.
“It’s been a while, Headmaster,” Princess Gyeonghui said with a bright smile. Cheongsu Jin-in was flustered. Had he ever met her?
“You won’t remember. I didn’t reveal my identity, and I didn’t look like this back then.” Wudang was a place where countless people came to worship every day. If she had hidden her identity and changed her appearance, he wouldn’t have recognized her.
“Ah, but you might remember this person,” Princess Gyeonghui turned her head towards the outside of the hall.
“Come in.” As soon as she finished speaking, several people entered the hall.
It was a woman and two young men, but the young man at the front, who looked like a nobleman, immediately caught Cheongsu Jin-in’s eye.
Step, step.
He walked with a confident stride. The moment Cheongsu Jin-in saw his handsome face and intense eyes, he remembered.
‘This young man is…’ He was one of the visitors who had brought a letter of recommendation from a Wudang secular disciple. He hadn’t been able to grant his request to spar with one of the Wudang Seven Swords, but his spirit and eyes remained in his memory.
Thud.
The young man and his party knelt before Princess Gyeonghui.
“We greet Your Highness.”
Princess Gyeonghui smiled. “Get up. Hang-ah, So-ha, and…” Looking down at the young man, she said, “Cheongrang Sword Wei Gong [a title indicating skill and loyalty].”
Wei Ga-jin, the Cheongrang Sword, who had shown outstanding skills among the guards and was trusted by Princess Gyeonghui for his unwavering loyalty, stood up.
Princess Gyeonghui, who had received his courtesy with a pleased expression, turned her body, her gaze directed straight at Cheongsu Jin-in.
“Your Majesty is the one who governs the world according to the will of heaven,” Princess Gyeonghui’s voice was full of dignity. An overwhelming force that one could not imagine from a slender woman resonated in her voice.
“It is the duty of all subjects and people to be loyal to the imperial family according to that will. From the civil and military officials above to the lowly below, so-called martial artists are no exception.”
Sweat flowed down Cheongsu Jin-in’s back. Princess Gyeonghui’s words were a stark statement of the imperial family’s view of the martial arts world.
“However, the clans and sects wield their swords according to their own interests, and sometimes even hesitate to disturb Your Majesty’s mood, so how can this not be a disloyal act?”
Historically, the martial artists of the reclusive world were sometimes the main forces in the founding of the country, and sometimes they were righteous soldiers in charge of local security in areas where the central government’s control did not reach.
But at the same time, they were always subject to the control of the government.
If you think about it, it’s natural. Even if it is temporarily helpful, which power would continue to tolerate an uncontrolled armed group?
Therefore, from the imperial family’s point of view, the martial arts world was nothing more than a necessary evil that must be dealt with at any time.
“How could we dare to wish for chaos in the world?” Cheongsu Jin-in said, reciting the Taoist name in his heart.
“Among the martial artists, there are those who practice chivalry and care for the people. They are…”
“The Four Great Orthodox Sects and the Five Great Clans [influential and respected martial arts organizations],” Princess Gyeonghui cut off Cheongsu Jin-in’s words.
“And are you talking about their Martial Arts Alliance [a coalition of martial arts groups]?”
Cheongsu Jin-in was not surprised. She was secretly visiting Wudang with a man named Cheongrang Sword. Princess Gyeonghui was by no means ignorant of the state of the martial arts world.
“That’s right,” Cheongsu Jin-in replied in a calm voice.
“But that’s not all, is it?” Princess Gyeonghui smiled slightly.
“I happened to meet someone while traveling around the world. The meeting was truly shocking. Cheongrang Sword Wei Gong was completely defeated.”
Cheongsu Jin-in also smiled faintly. It seemed she had met a master of the martial arts world.
“There are many eccentric people in the martial arts world. And…”
“Oesa [a term for rogue or unorthodox martial artists],” Princess Gyeonghui said, freezing Cheongsu Jin-in. She smiled triumphantly.
Even So-ha, who could find out everything in the world, couldn’t figure out Saja-hyeok. Like a phantom, Saja-hyeok didn’t exist anywhere.
But So-ha didn’t give up and barely managed to uncover the word ‘Oesa’.
“You know, don’t you?”
“Ahem,” Cheongsu Jin-in coughed.
On the other hand, the old Taoists with him couldn’t hide their puzzled expressions. It was an unfamiliar word even to them, who held key positions in Wudang.
“They only hone their martial arts and have nothing to do with the martial arts world. They are like those who live in seclusion in deep mountains and valleys…”
“Is that so?” The smile disappeared from Princess Gyeonghui’s face.
“Your Majesty does not desire extreme courtesy or precious elixirs. What Your Majesty wants is only the well-being of all the people in the world. Do you understand?”
Princess Gyeonghui’s gaze towards Cheongsu Jin-in was extremely cold.
“I will judge who is worthy of that will and who is against it, whether it’s Wudang, the Martial Arts Alliance, or Oesa.”
Crack.
Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes shone.
“There are absolutely no exceptions.”
Cheongsu Jin-in was certain. Princess Gyeonghui wanted control of the entire martial arts world, and Wudang could no longer back down from this.
Without realizing it, Cheongsu Jin-in recited the Taoist name. A cold smile lingered on Princess Gyeonghui’s red lips.