novelraw Chapter 179 : Preparing for the Garden Banquet
Chapter 179 : Preparing for the Garden Banquet
Chapter 179: Preparing for the Garden Banquet
On the road from Mount Song to Beijing after leaving that eventful place behind,
I sat atop a carriage I had caught a ride on midway and reflected on the events of the past few days.
“Beyond-Heaven Beings… beings that have stepped beyond the heavens.”
Song Ryeong had let slip some strange information related to the Evil Stars.
Resting my chin on my hand as the carriage rattled along, I sank into thought.
“Could Ilwol have been such a being as well?”
The Mysterious Daoist I had only ever heard about from Hwang Geolgae, never once seeing his face.
Now that I thought about it, there was no way an ordinary master could casually create a Heart Cultivation Method capable of nurturing and accumulating the power of the stars.
I nodded to myself as if I had finally come to an understanding.
“Mujin, what’s Ilwol?”
Jo Harang, pressing close beside me, asked with eyes brimming with curiosity.
“…It’s just something like that.”
I brushed it off vaguely.
The reason Hwang Geolgae hadn’t killed me and instead took me in as a disciple was probably largely because of the existence of the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method.
“Excuse me, but are you really that Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin?”
The merchant driving the carriage turned his head and asked.
He was the merchant who had readily allowed me aboard after I gave my alias and showed a pale white Sword Flux when we first met.
“Yes, that’s me—the unparalleled troubleshooter, Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin. Sounds like you’ve heard about me.”
I scratched the bridge of my nose and spoke proudly. Lately my alias seemed to be spreading across the Central Plains.
To think someone this far from Beijing would recognize me and react with such amazement.
Perhaps it was thanks to the Beggars’ Union operatives spreading word of my deeds all across the Central Plains.
“Of course I have! I’m a merchant from Sichuan, and there’s not a single person there who doesn’t know about the young master who boldly kicked down the main gate of the Tang Clan!”
It seemed my fame had reached its peak in Sichuan as well as Beijing.
Well, who else would charge headfirst into the family that ruled Sichuan without even considering the consequences?
Only someone like me, who had the strong backing of Tang Yeo-hye and confidence that the Clan Leader would survive by sheer luck.
“I heard you did such a reckless thing because you were trying to win a woman of the Tang Clan. Is that true, young master?”
The merchant’s eyes sparkled.
“…What? That’s not it.”
Just how did those Tang Clan bastards spread the rumors?
Could it be that the sham engagement I initially tried to force had been distorted like this?
Or maybe they kept things quiet to hide the clan’s disgrace, and the rumor spread in this strange way instead.
“How romantic.”
“I told you it’s not like that.”
I waved my hand at the merchant with a hollow laugh.
Romantic, my ass. I nearly had a heart attack dealing with all those Tang Clan martial artists rushing at me.
“Still… our Mujin really is full of romance…”
And why was this one sulking now?
For someone who smashed everything around her whenever she drew her broadsword, she was unusually pouty.
“Hey, you know that’s not what happened. I already explained it.”
I was pretty sure I told her everything when we made peace after fighting each other at the Golden Dragon Academy.
“But still…”
Jo Harang pouted, saying that just thinking about that time still made her feel strange.
What a troublesome woman.
“Merchant, let’s just get going.”
This Sichuan merchant kept saying strange things.
I waved my hand, telling him to hurry.
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
The carriage rolled forward quickly as it swayed.
Even after becoming a martial artist capable of using Body Movement Technique, human nature remained the same—standing was more comfortable than walking, and sitting was more comfortable than standing.
For long-distance travel, nothing was more convenient than a carriage that moved on its own.
Thus, even though it took some time, we returned to Beijing at a leisurely pace.
When we arrived, Ilhong—who had been guarding the office alone for quite a while—greeted us with a terribly exhausted face.
Her hands were covered in iron dust and black powder, as if she had rushed out while making Thunderburst Bombs.
“Ilhong… are you preparing for war or something?”
I clicked my tongue at the sight the moment I opened the office door.
A huge pile of Thunderburst Bombs stacked in one corner of the room.
After the gifted barrel of black powder ran out, it seemed she had even visited the Black Market to buy more with her own funds.
She must have asked a skilled blacksmith to make iron casings as well.
“When my head gets complicated… fiddling with something without thinking is the best…”
Ilhong muttered with hollow eyes.
We had a nice break, yet why did she look like this?
“Why is your head complicated?”
“Well… you two went off together and left only me behind! Just the two of you…!”
She suddenly raised her voice and poured out her resentment.
Right. Better not dig any deeper.
Anyway, we reopened the office after returning to Beijing.
Since we hadn’t taken requests for quite some time, I briefly worried we might have lost potential clients.
If business suffered, it would become a headache in many ways.
“Ilhong, did anyone come looking for me while I was gone?”
“No? Not really.”
Ilhong brushed the black powder off her hands and answered bluntly.
It seemed the residents of the Imperial Capital were still wary of the Imperial Household.
They were hesitant about getting involved with our office.
Of course, a few small merchants who didn’t have to worry about the Imperial Household had come by.
But the requests weren’t profitable and probably wouldn’t accumulate much Good Karma either, so I declined them after hearing them out.
“Captain, you used to accept requests even from kids without discrimination.”
Ilhong tilted her head, surprised at my refusal.
Jo Harang shrugged beside me and chimed in.
“Well, Mujin’s earning money now. Guess he’s gotten picky.”
“Yeah, that must be it.”
These brats, seriously.
Subordinates slandering their own employer.
“It’s not that I’ve gotten picky. The requests were just too ambiguous.”
It was fine if they didn’t pay much money, but they should at least accumulate Good Karma.
The requests were things like roughing someone up or resolving monetary disputes between merchants.
From my perspective, they brought neither money nor Good Karma.
“If that’s the case, it’d be better to look for requests from outside the Imperial Household’s influence—requests coming from other regions.”
If I wanted proper work, I might have to search farther away.
For that, I’d probably need the Beggars’ Union to act as a bridge.
I had refused the gold Princess Peach Blossom offered and instead called them to Beijing, so I should have the right to ask for such a favor.
“Oh, right. Come to think of it, there was one more person looking for you.”
Ilhong snapped her fingers as if she suddenly remembered.
“Oh? Who was it?”
Like a fish biting unexpectedly in an empty pond, I asked with slight anticipation.
“My master was looking for you. She said that when this guy returns, I must send him to the training ground.”
She pointed toward the Eunseong Trading Company outside the window.
“That person… was looking for me?”
“Actually, she said both you and Miss Jo Harang should come together. What happened?”
Ilhong’s question reminded me of what happened before we went to Mount Song.
Someone who burst into the office, shouted “Sorry!” out of nowhere, and ran away like a wildcat.
“Cough.”
“Hmm.”
Jo Harang and I both groaned at the same time.
“So what are you going to do about this, wildcat?”
“Uh… I said I was sorry…”
We had barely returned from meeting the master of the Purple Tenuity Star.
Now it seemed we were about to face the master of the Heaven-Slaying Star—the kind whose fists moved before words.
“Wait, what happened? Don’t leave me out. Tell me too.”
“…It’s just something like that.”
Lately, things related to the Evil Stars seemed to be happening quite often.
Even if she called me, did she really think I would obediently go?
For the time being, I decided to avoid the brewery that made premium liquor, the inn, and the Eunseong Trading Company.
Rustle. Rustle.
Warm summer sunlight filtered through the window.
Cheonsugong had been reviewing a report brought by a subordinate since early morning.
The handwriting was neat and orderly.
But as he read line by line, his expression hardened like stone.
“Byeok Jinsang… that foolish man has finally caused a disaster.”
It wasn’t just the occupation of the Byeok Clan.
The report also suggested that while Byeok Jinsang served as Clan Leader, a considerable number of Thunderburst Bombs had been secretly diverted outside.
And this had to happen just before the autumn Garden Banquet, when all members of the Imperial Family would gather.
Cheonsugong’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
As the head of the Eastern Depot, the intuition he had honed over decades was sending him a grim warning.
It felt as if something disastrous was about to happen.
And Dan Mujin’s involvement made it even worse.
It was almost unfortunate—whenever that brat was involved, his ominous instincts always turned out to be correct.
“Your Majesty… what exactly are you plotting?”
He tapped the desk with his fingers and stared into empty space.
His gaze drifted past the Second Prince’s Palace and the Empress’s Palace outside the window.
Surely they wouldn’t attempt something during the Son of Heaven’s court audience…
Yet recalling the recent attempt to poison Princess Peach Blossom made a chill run down his spine.
Once people crossed the line, there was no longer any limit to what they might do.
The situation truly might lead to the disaster he feared.
“What should be done…”
Cheonsugong placed the report down and let out a deep sigh.
The more the Eastern Depot investigated the Byeok Clan incident, the more it revealed how meticulous the enemy was.
Every piece of evidence slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.
Even Byeok Jinsang, the only witness, had been found poisoned during transport.
“Ruthless bastards.”
His gaze grew cold.
As far as he knew, the only force capable of playing such tricks against the Eastern Depot was the Royal Guards.
Those who were supposed to serve as the Son of Heaven’s eyes and ears might be involved in a scheme that could threaten him.
It was utterly absurd and beyond reason.
“Depending on how things unfold… the Garden Banquet may become a blood-soaked gathering.”
The ominous feeling swelled as if he were witnessing the prelude to a massive storm.
“Um… Cheonsugong, someone has come to see you unexpectedly…”
A subordinate outside the door cautiously announced a visitor.
Judging from the confusion in his voice, the visit had clearly not been scheduled.
“At a time like this, who could it be?”
The head of the Eastern Depot was not someone people could meet whenever they wished.
A long and strict process was normally required beforehand.
Creak.
“Eunuch Saerye, have you been well? I came to see your face after such a long time.”
A dignified noblewoman entered with a warm voice.
Upon confirming the visitor’s identity, Cheonsugong instantly understood his subordinate’s flustered reaction.
Even the Son of Heaven occasionally struggled with this person—how could anyone in the Eastern Depot possibly stop her?
“…This humble servant Cheonsugong greets Imperial Concubine Hwang.”
Imperial Concubine Hwang Ma Juyoung, who bore the Third Princess and Third Prince and enjoyed the Son of Heaven’s favor.
In this Imperial Palace filled with malice and suspicion, she was the only one who seemed to live in an entirely different world.
“I heard you’ve worked hard protecting my daughter lately. I, this Imperial Concubine, feel deeply grateful.”
Imperial Concubine Hwang gently raised her hand to stop his bow.
“…It is not worthy of such praise. Please withdraw such gracious words.”
Cheonsugong bowed even deeper.
No one had ordered him to do it.
In this palace that resembled a nest of demons, Princess Peach Blossom was the only imperial who truly acted like a human being.
That was why he had worked tirelessly to protect her upright character and cause.
“But Imperial Concubine Hwang… what brings you here today?”
Cheonsugong asked carefully.
This was the heart of the Eastern Depot, a place filled with secrets and conspiracies.
Even imperial family members usually sent someone and arranged a meeting elsewhere.
It was unexpected for her to come personally.
“My daughter told me there is no one who understands the affairs of the Imperial Palace better than you. Next year will mark the Son of Heaven reaching the age of Knowing Heaven’s Mandate, and a grand banquet will be held. Though it is early, I wish to begin preparing a gift now and seek your advice.”
The age of Knowing Heaven’s Mandate.
Whenever the Son of Heaven reached certain ages—twenty, thirty, forty—the Imperial Household held grand ceremonies and banquets to pray for longevity.
“I cannot figure out what he might like. Cheonsugong, would you accompany me in this conversation for a moment?”
So she had come for consultation.
At a time when Thunderburst Bombs had gone missing and conspiracies were unfolding, she wished to discuss what gift would suit the Son of Heaven’s birthday next year.
“Hmm.”
Cheonsugong let out a short groan.
But then he realized the timing might actually be fortunate.
He had already been planning to visit her because of the Garden Banquet.
“Imperial Concubine Hwang, if it would not be improper… may this humble servant also ask a favor?”
When Cheonsugong cautiously asked, the Imperial Concubine tilted her head with curiosity.
“Oh? What favor could it be? Speak.”
“In truth, suspicious movements have been detected regarding the Garden Banquet to be held in a few months. To protect Your Ladyship and the Imperial Family, I wish to summon an outsider. Would you grant permission?”
Unlike the Princess’s Palace where he could manage personnel freely, bringing an outsider into the Garden Banquet held under the Son of Heaven’s authority required the Imperial Concubine’s assistance.
“Suspicious movements… If you say so, then it must be true. But can one outsider stop such a thing?”
“Normally it would be difficult, but if it’s that insolent brat…”
Cheonsugong nearly lost his composure for a moment and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. In any case, he may be of great help.”
The Imperial Concubine’s lips curved slightly at his unexpected confidence.
“Oh? What kind of person makes you insist this strongly?”
“He is a troubleshooter in Beijing who once saved Princess Peach Blossom’s life.”
That brat had said after the incident that he could no longer involve himself with the Imperial Household because of his master.
But once you get involved in imperial affairs, it’s not your decision anymore, you brat.
Cheonsugong bowed his head and quietly spoke a certain name before Imperial Concubine Hwang.