Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Simply Because It Doesn't Stop

Northwest side of Luoyang City, the magistrate's temporary office.

After handling morning business, Magistrate Yang Daeryang entered the inner courtyard briefly. He had a guest to meet in the inner courtyard's reception room rather than the government office.

"Branch Leader Hwangbo, I made you wait."

"Murim Alliance Luoyang Branch Leader Hwangbo Gak greets the Henan Magistrate."

Separate from the government and Alliance's friendship, the peacetime principle was non-interference in government affairs.

Therefore, high officials didn't have official meetings with martial artists.

That was the reason for meeting Hwangbo Gak in the inner courtyard.

Yang Daeryang looked at Hwangbo Gak who bowed deeply.

Though a martial artist, he had no hesitation in showing such courtesy.

'Politically skilled.'

Many people wanted to meet him as the new magistrate.

Hwangbo Gak wasn't one. He had maintained a position of "call if needed."

Yet meeting in person, he lowered himself completely.

'An attempt to confuse what position to take regarding me.'

It was like watching high officials he'd experienced in the capital.

"Since your bold measures after assuming the magistracy, martial artists including myself have been impressed by your decisiveness, Magistrate. Particularly I, Hwangbo Gak, have been pondering from afar how I might help the Magistrate. Since you called me today, I merely rushed here at once."

Yang Daeryang understood what Hwangbo Gak was saying.

[I was watching whether you were doing well. Why did you call?]

"I have heard of Luoyang martial world's lofty spirit, and know this is possible because of the Murim Alliance's leadership. After taking office, I wanted to discuss Luoyang's future with Branch Leader Hwangbo, but my predecessor's lack of virtue was so excessive I could hardly spare time. Thank you for responding to my request."

Hwangbo Gak also understood Yang Daeryang's words.

[Cleaning up the shit my predecessor left comes first. You were later, but now I have some time.]

The two looked at each other and smiled.

'This sly snake who doesn't even seem like a martial artist.'

'This pale-faced young bastard.'

Both drank a sip of tea.

Then they exchanged small talk briefly.

Yang Daeryang recalled Jin Yeomyeong.

Somehow he felt more goodwill toward the rough Ink Sword Hero. Jin Yeomyeong had been truly comfortable to deal with.

When he went to the trouble of visiting, he'd sharply asked if he'd abandoned Luoyang.

"Branch Leader Hwangbo. Why is the Ink Sword Hero leading Luoyang's Black Path subjugation?"

After maintaining full courtesy, he also struck hard with a question.

A time-buying sip of tea went down.

"Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong is a warrior belonging to the Murim Alliance's Outer Hall. His actions are actions conducted under the Alliance's jurisdiction. Luoyang's Black Path subjugation is no different from being done by the Alliance."

[You'll be disappointed if you think it's only his achievement. It's also the Alliance's merit.]

Yang Daeryang also swallowed a sip of tea.

"I heard he submitted a leave application. Then isn't he separated from the Alliance for a while?"

[Where are you trying to stick your spoon! Do you think I'm a fool? Not to know that?]

At the word leave, Hwangbo Gak's face hardened.

That even the Henan Magistrate knew about the Ink Sword Hero's leave was extremely unexpected.

"Hehe, the main Alliance hasn't approved yet. It hasn't been long since he applied for leave. The reason was bizarre—"

"I heard it's childcare leave. I thought it truly admirable."

"Hearing that, I felt I should give childcare leave to Henan officials too."

"...In the government?"

"That's right. Fathers also want to see their children's faces."

Hwangbo Gak couldn't find words to say.

He couldn't tell the magistrate to throw away something like childcare leave.

He'd been overwhelmed by Jin Yeomyeong.

Though extremely displeased, he didn't show it.

Instead, he changed the topic.

Trying to pull out of an unfavorable subject.

"Then did you call me today to discuss Black Path subjugation?"

"Rather than discuss."

Yang Daeryang wanted to tease Hwangbo Gak more but decided to stop here.

This wasn't the request the Ink Sword Hero had conveyed.

"To inform you in advance. Black Path have plundered commoners too much. The government must step forward. Going forward, I plan large-scale Black Path subjugation throughout Luoyang and furthermore all of Henan."

"Henan's people will praise the Magistrate's grace. The Murim Alliance will support the government as always. At the Luoyang branch too, including the Ink Sword Hero, all members—"

The magistrate mentioned Jin Yeomyeong again.

"I'm thinking of centering it on the Ink Sword Hero and the Black Path Extermination Corps."

Hwangbo Gak wanted to shout angrily but couldn't. He bit his molars hard—kwaak—exercising patience.

"...You said the Ink Sword Hero and the Extermination Corps?"

"That's right. Since the Ink Sword Hero founded it, it should be trustworthy."

Jin Yeomyeong for some reason wanted to restrict the branch's movements.

If the government now firmly stated they'd center on the Extermination Corps, the branch would inevitably be constrained.

'Not only because of Jin Yeomyeong's suggestion.'

Branch Leader Hwangbo Gak had come to meet the previous magistrate frequently. It could have been merely visits for government and Alliance friendship.

But he came too often.

One of two things. Either already colluded, or if not, close to politics.

Either way, Yang Daeryang found it objectionable.

Yang Daeryang waited.

Hwangbo Gak would react somehow—opposing or disparaging the Extermination Corps.

"I understand the Magistrate's intent well. The branch will also wholeheartedly support the Ink Sword Hero and the Extermination Corps."

Hwangbo Gak didn't get drawn in.

"Hmm. I receive the Branch Leader's sentiment well."

"I merely do my utmost."

Now the branch would play a supporting role for the Extermination Corps. If problems arose in Black Path subjugation, it meant it wasn't the branch's responsibility.

Was he securing the rear position?

Yang Daeryang again recalled his thought that Hwangbo Gak was like a capital politician.

Now the main topic had ended.

"Now, let's stop that talk. Going forward, Luoyang—"

Afterward was general discussion. After briefly exchanging meaningless words, Hwangbo Gak left.

Glancing once at the well-built retreating figure.

"Luoyang's public order seems to depend more on the Ink Sword Hero than the Branch Leader. Since there's more than one request."

Along with the soliloquy, he took out a letter from his chest.

Sent by Captain Zhu Hochong at the Ink Sword Hero's request.

The core content was asking him to attend Guyang Je's banquet.

Since Guyang Je was intimate with the Black Path King, this banquet wouldn't have good intentions. Yet they told him to go.

they told him to attend with lax security.

Saying the Ink Sword Hero would compose poetry and go beside the magistrate.

The Ink Sword Hero had conveyed the reason without circumlocution.

[He asks you to become bait. This is not my opinion. It's the Ink Sword Hero's opinion.]

Confusion was felt in Captain Zhu's writing.

The magistrate chuckled—pisik.

Among the Three Yang trading companies, Great Ocean and Xinyang had collapsed.

Black Path sects were fleeing Luoyang.

The group antagonistic to Golden Cloud Trading should naturally collapse.

Banyang Trading was actually competing with Golden Cloud Trading in various places.

How was this possible when Magistrate Yang Daeryang was friendly to Golden Cloud Trading?

Because those of different faction from the magistrate still remained in Henan.

Immediately, the Provincial Administration Commissioner handling administration and the Surveillance Commissioner handling inspection were opposing every instruction from their superior the magistrate.

'The previous magistrate's forces were deeper than expected.'

In the capital, three Grand Secretaries were fiercely conducting factional fighting.

If dominating Henan was delayed, other factions might find fault and replace the magistrate again.

'Time for a bold move.'

Jin Yeomyeong proposed that move.

Attending the banquet and experiencing an assassination attempt?

More than enough justification to hold Guyang Je accountable.

Just imprison him under investigation pretext and make him speak everything he knows.

Meanwhile, Banyang Trading would be dismantled by government and Golden Cloud Trading.

Yang Daeryang swallowed the last sip of tea.

A move using his own life as bait.

Yang Daeryang needed such a move.

There was one question.

"Does Jin Yeomyeong compose poetry?"

Good poetry enough to rank too.

"Ah, poetry is truly difficult."

Scholar Bang Wongeol smiled and nodded.

"Not something done overnight. Hero, if someone asked you to teach martial arts in one day, what would you say?"

"I'd have nothing to say."

I'd look at them like a madman.

"So when I asked you to teach poetry, you looked at me with such eyes?"

Would Taebok want to cultivate learning?

If Taebok didn't want to, that would be the end of it.

But if he wanted to study, a path to do so had opened.

Because an academy producing top examination passers would be created nearby.

"However, since the Ink Sword Hero is finding an academy location and even investing money, how can I not do my utmost?"

The house problem involving Tiger Might Society was being handled by the government at the magistrate's instruction.

Banyang Trading first took a step back and offered compensation. They seemed to recommend moving into other houses Banyang held.

I told them to receive monetary compensation then visit Golden Cloud Trading.

Though Golden Cloud Trading didn't handle land, they had the trading company's reputation. If Golden Cloud Trading mediated, there'd be no trickery.

In that process, I also asked them to find an academy location.

"A good location will become available. Just devote yourself fully to education."

"Hahahaha, thank you. Now, let's look at this poem."

"The rhyme scheme the speaker utilized in this poem—"

The voice reaching my ears stretched out as the scene before my eyes also blurred.

I'd even done breathing regulation for a clear mind, yet how.

"Uh, excuse me, Ink Sword Hero?"

"Hut?! Is it the enemy!"

Scholar Bang looked at me with a dumbfounded gaze.

"How about walking the courtyard briefly?"

I scratched my head with an embarrassed heart.

Bang Wongeol first descended to the courtyard and walked. I also moved steps beside him.

"Hero, aren't martial arts formulas also extremely complex?"

Martial arts formulas.

Most were composed of metaphors—training was only possible after grasping the true meaning.

"That's right. Extremely complex."

"I know the hero's martial arts are formidable—was there no difficulty learning martial arts formulas?"

"Maybe because I thought of it as martial arts while learning, there was no difficulty. Rather, my master said my insight in understanding formulas alone was excellent."

Huh, a frustrating fellow in everything else. You understood this formula after hearing it once?

Y-yes... I understood it...

I'm praising you now.

Oh my... that such a dull fellow was born with martial talent...

Born with martial talent.

He'd praised me like that too.

"Then the hero has a good head."

"Thinking about it, it's natural. If your head weren't good, how could you lead jianghu affairs?"

"Though I'm not that old, I have much experience."

I learned much after coming to jianghu.

Especially, I learned much meeting Namgung Jeheon and Zhuge Sheng.

"Embodying experience to make it one's own is another matter entirely."

"Now, the hero has a good head. But since it's such an unfamiliar field, it seems difficult to learn. Rather than that, try thinking of poetry as martial arts formulas."

"Think of poetry as martial arts formulas?"

Whether possible—no, before that, I didn't know if doing so was even acceptable.

"There's a reason I found martial arts formulas easy to understand."

"Should I say I felt it? I believed in the true intentions of the ancestral masters who left formulas for later generations."

Scholar Bang nodded greatly.

"Hero, in approaching poetry, don't look at the phrases."

"It's writing yet don't look at phrases?"

"That's right. In the hero's case, following the poet's true intention should come first."

A teacher who would produce top examination passers in the future.

I brought one poem from where I'd been studying, though skeptical.

I read the poem slowly down.

Excluding head rhyme, end rhyme, and such—just focusing on the poet's heart.

The poet returned to the capital that experienced war.

Past splendor disappeared, even walls collapsed—a ruined capital.

Suddenly a single petal flew before the poet's eyes and fell to the ground.

Only this petal was unchanged from the past.

Was that petal the passed time itself?

With a long sigh, raising his eyes—

Ah, countless petals scattered down.

Time was flowing down uncontrollably.

I still didn't understand the sentences.

But I understood the poet's heart.

The poet felt impermanent time and his own powerlessness.

"I happened to pick this kind of poem."

The war experienced in childhood came to mind.

Also, the war with the Demonic Cult before returning was vivid.

After all that time passed, if I had no way to turn back while left alone,

what would I have felt?

A famous poem indeed.

A flower seemed to fall before my eyes.

If that time touched the ground and disappeared, it couldn't be reversed.

I approached before the flower visible only to my eyes and reached out my hand.

However, how could it be caught?

The flower scattered in the blowing wind.

My hand couldn't reach, so I drew Mukheun.

To a swordsman, there's only the sword.

A flower settled on Mukheun's sword tip.

Following the poem, raising my eyes,

abundant flowers fell.

Each blossom held memories of passed time.

I moved Mukheun following the flowers.

Not quickly, yet in a way quickly, like time itself.

Receiving time, I too came to move following time.

That time seeming slow yet unsurpassably fast was simply because it didn't stop.

I didn't stop Mukheun.

I moved until all flower petals settled on the sword tip.

Petals overlapped and overlapped.

Becoming a single petal, it looked at me.

Thus I contained time in the sword.

Coming to my senses, it was Scholar Bang's inner courtyard.

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I had just seen one sword path flowing together with time.

"Like martial arts formulas. I should read it that way."