Black and White Martial Emperor

Pretty rough thing to say on a first meeting.

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“So I’m rumored to be a butcher of all under heaven?”

He took it with easy cheek. Hwa Jincheon burst out laughing.

“You thought it wouldn’t spread? They say your axe work is art. Heard you used Ming skulls instead of firewood?”

“They weren’t even fit for kindling.”

“With their skulls stuffed full of shit, I can believe it.”

“Indeed.”

“They say you even tried to kill Ming Cheon?”

“Is that so shocking?”

“Not shocking. Sparing an enemy who’s trying to kill you? Sounds pretty in a story, but to the one actually on the field it’s dreamland bullshit.”

Hwa Jincheon cocked his head.

“The issue is this: when the match was already decided, you raged about cutting off his limbs.”

Je Gal Ahyeon started and looked at Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong admitted it, calm.

“I did. I collapsed on the way and didn’t complete the objective, though.”

“Why do that? The outcome’s set, the situation’s settling—what need to inflict that kind of disgrace?”

“You’re being funny.”

“Funny?”

“Unless it’s necessary, I don’t insult an opponent.”

“What is hacking a man to pieces if not an insult?”

“He said he’d sever my arms and legs, cut off my head, pickle it in salt, and toss it at my father’s feet.”

“...”

“Most days I can let things go. Not then.”

Watching Yeon Hojeong with an indistinct gaze, Hwa Jincheon shrugged.

“As a rule, you’re not someone to prod.”

A faint smile touched Yeon Hojeong’s lips.

“You saw it all?”

Hwa Jincheon’s eyes flashed.

“So you knew?”

“A disciple resembles his master. When I first met the Rear Beggar, it was just like this.”

“To resemble that flea of a brat—seems I’ve still got a ways to go.”

He tossed it off like a joke, but inwardly Hwa Jincheon was surprised.

“Sharp.”

Those who deal in information look first to the disposition of the person at a situation’s core, before tracing causes and effects.

It was what he always drilled into his disciple. In the end, incidents are made by people; see the person clearly, and you can seize the pulse of the affair.

And this young late-bloomer seemed to know that already.

“Not ordinary. He didn’t so much as flinch when I came. Maybe he didn’t predict it, but he knew it wouldn’t be strange if I did.”

Hwa Jincheon let out a sigh.

“I don’t know what becomes of the Beggars’ Union from here.”

“Sir?”

“When a tiger learns to think like a man, a whole region turns into hell. My disciple’s gone and befriended a tiger with a human mind—he won’t live out his years either.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not some mad dog that bites anyone to death.”

“If you were, he couldn’t have gotten close enough to befriend you.”

“True enough.”

Chuckling, Hwa Jincheon turned to Je Gal Ahyeon.

“Eldest daughter of the Je Gal?”

Je Gal Ahyeon bowed at the waist.

“I was hesitant to intrude on your conversation, so my greeting is late. Je Gal Ahyeon of the Je Gal Clan pays respects to the Union Lord.”

Hwa Jincheon scratched his head.

At least he shed less dandruff than his disciple.

“You—should you be here?”

“Eh? M-me?”

“Yes, you.”

Je Gal Ahyeon showed a flustered face.

Hwa Jincheon snorted a laugh.

“I hear the Namgung sent matchmakers?”

“...!”

“I don’t know if the marriage will come to pass, but at least until then, you might want to keep yourself proper. A man is still a man, even if not yet of full age—the Namgung won’t like this.”

Je Gal Ahyeon’s face went stiff.

She hadn’t expected someone to bring up a matter of grave import between houses out of nowhere. She was so taken aback she couldn’t open her mouth.

Hwa Jincheon burst into hearty laughter.

“Heh heh, did I bring up nonsense?”

“...”

“My apologies. Even at my age I can’t keep my mouth in check. Just a stray curiosity—indulge me this once.”

“I’m... all right.”

Hwa Jincheon lifted both hands.

“An old beggar came and spoiled the mood. I’ll take my leave. My apologies for entering without permission.”

Yeon Hojeong cupped his fists.

“Go safely.”

“If fate runs, we’ll meet again.”

Hwa Jincheon, ambling along, stopped in his tracks.

“Ah! But do you know this?”

His eyes went to Je Gal Ahyeon.

Her eyes went round.

“Do you think your father didn’t know this?”

“...Sir?”

“He sent his daughter to the Yeon Clan’s eldest son. You think he didn’t consider how that would look to the Namgung?”

“...!!”

“As you know, your father is counted first among the clever in the rivers and lakes. He’s the Master of Divine Mechanisms of the Je Gal.”

Shock colored Je Gal Ahyeon’s face.

Hwa Jincheon grinned.

“Between parents and children—there’s something truly good there. Don’t you think?”

With that, Hwa Jincheon took his leave.

Yeon Hojeong wore a nettled expression.

“Things just got tiring.”

Shin Mo asked, puzzled,

“Do you mean the Union Lord?”

“Yeah.”

“Why...?”

After a moment of thought, Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“No. Forget it. I’m overthinking.”

The look in Hwa Jincheon’s eyes as he watched him was anything but ordinary.

He’d stepped back from the front lines some time ago, and rumor had it he’d soon hand the Union Lord’s seat to his disciple.

That didn’t mean the Union Lord’s divine eye had dulled. In just a few exchanges, he’d taken Yeon Hojeong’s measure.

What Ga Deoksang had taken months to piece together of Yeon Hojeong’s true face, he’d pierced in a snatch of talk.

“As expected.”

In Hwa Jincheon’s figure, he saw Ga Deoksang.

But the Ga Deoksang from the Dark Emperor days—similar to him, yet different. Perhaps because of temperament, he’d been more open-chested, with a frank streak.

In other words, he had human charm. Only, when it came to running an organization like the Beggars’ Union, Hwa Jincheon’s caution might be the better fit.

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.

“I thought we’d landed a good patron. Looks like it’ll be hard to enjoy that for a while.”

He might even lay down a strict order for Ga Deoksang not to entangle with him.

“No helping it. And to be fair, I’ve been imposing quite a bit.”

Letting «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» out a long breath, Yeon Hojeong looked to Je Gal Ahyeon.

“Let’s go eat.”

“...”

“Hey.”

“Gasp—m-me?”

“Who else.”

Je Gal Ahyeon looked flustered.

“Could what the Union Lord said be true?”

“What—about the betrothal?”

“Mm.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“High probability. Even if we weren’t talking the Seven Great Families—any house head knows what it means to send a daughter onto a battlefield.”

“...!”

“So, in that light, the Je Gal Clan Lord used me. For all I know, even the Lesser Celestial Mechanism Pill—call it a return of favor, but it might be a gift in place of an apology.”

Je Gal Ahyeon’s jaw dropped.

Yeon Hojeong started toward the inner room.

“I’m going to change my bandages and come out. Think ahead about what you want to eat. Captain Shin, help me with the bandages.”

“As you wish.”

Just then, Je Gal Ahyeon cried out.

“Wait!”

Yeon Hojeong turned back.

“Why?”

“It’s just...”

She hemmed and hawed.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“The Namgung sending matchmakers.”

“What’s there to think. It happens.”

“It happens...”

“Isn’t it the Second Young Master? The one who sent them?”

“Right.”

“The Namgung are the preeminent sword house. But with the Ming Clan of the Nine Provinces and the Mo Yong Clan that’s been on the rise lately, they haven’t been able to stretch as they’d like.”

“...”

“So they marry into one wing of the Seven Great Families and expand their base. And their son happens to fancy a certain young lady—perfect cover of propriety.”

“Hm.”

Yeon Hojeong spoke with a rather serious face.

“Of course, no one knows what the Namgung Clan Lord himself thinks. But the moment the match is made, nearby powers will start to tense. Dozing off there just earns you checks.”

“True.”

“A man on the level of the Namgung Clan Lord won’t just sit and take it. He won’t be blind, either. Meaning—he’s nursing ambitions of considerable size.”

Je Gal Ahyeon tossed out a question.

“What about the Yeon Clan?”

“My house?”

“...You say that very familiarly.”

“My house what?”

“I’m asking if the Yeon Clan is also factoring in marriage as a strategy for expansion.”

Sensitive, if anything.

Yeon Hojeong let out a small laugh.

“Father said: since it’s the person you’ll spend a lifetime with, don’t look at her household—look at her heart.”

“...!”

“Stylish, isn’t it? In these times-that-aren’t-quite-times-of-chaos, few live with that kind of romance. That’s why I like my father.”

Je Gal Ahyeon smiled.

“He’s truly splendid, your father.”

Yeon Hojeong turned again.

“Wait. I’ll change my bandages and come out.”

With that, he went into the room.

The silly grin faded from Je Gal Ahyeon’s face, growing steadily serious.

“...I hope he isn’t overdoing it.”

****

“Woof!”

Thwack!

“Gyaaah! Why hit me again!”

“Oh, it was you? I thought some rabid dog was barking.”

Ga Deoksang rubbed his head.

“Gonna raise a lump, damn it.”

“Damn it?”

“...Heh. You must’ve heard wrong. Would I say that to my master?”

“Cut the crap.”

Hwa Jincheon strode down the official road.

Clicking his tongue, Ga Deoksang followed after.

“How was he?”

“Yeon Hojeong?”

“Yes.”

“More than the rumors.”

Ga Deoksang’s eyes lit.

“So even in your eyes, he’s a bit extraordinary?”

“Yeah. If anything, the rumors felt understated. He’s so extraordinary it’s dangerous.”

Ga Deoksang’s face hardened.

Hwa Jincheon shook his head.

“Do you know what impression he gave me?”

“...”

“A Demon.”

“...!”

“Within that mysterious current of qi, he’s the sort who cultivates a barren land where not even a blade of grass could grow. To make that land fertile, he’ll turn the world into mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I’ve seen countless martial folk, and I’ve never seen anyone as dangerous as him.”

A faintly disgruntled look crossed Ga Deoksang’s face.

“He’s not that kind of man.”

Unexpectedly, Hwa Jincheon nodded.

“Maybe not.”

“Sir?”

“His nature is that barren—but seen another way, he also smells of people. I don’t know if the Yeon Clan Lord tended him well, or if he’s cultivating himself.”

Ga Deoksang’s face brightened.

Hwa Jincheon tossed out a tease.

“What—happy to hear your friend praised?”

“He’s not my friend. I’m ten years older, at least.”

“The age for counting before making a comrade is over, disciple.”

“Heh.”

“Keep a close watch. I still think I drilled you right about not falling into evil. If you see him veering into the demonic path, smash his skull.”

“Easier said with strength.”

“Hrmp. Which is why I told you to stop gallivanting and start refining the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.”

“When the time comes.”

“You keep it up and I’ll really kick you out of the Rear Beggar seat.”

“I could live with that.”

“Ugh. And this is the brat I call disciple.”

Ga Deoksang slid in a question.

“You handled the Je Gal Ahyeon side clean, right?”

“At my age, you expect me to take the blame glares in your stead? Next time, you do it.”

“Haha. I’ll think about it.”

At his disciple’s cheek, even Hwa Jincheon couldn’t help a wry smile.

Walking the official road, Hwa Jincheon looked up at the sky and suddenly felt a formless unease.

“Heaven’s Mechanism...”

Time to go pay a fortune-teller a visit.