Martial King's Retired Life

Editor: Areth Kyntaul

Liu Shan Menʼs City Manager

The atmosphere became really awkward.

Princess Hongzhuang isnʼt a girl of many words. My confession made her speak even less.

She was now walking in front silently, while an insolent man who had delusions for her was silently following behind her. She was very vigilant of the man.

ʼWhy is it that Iʼm an insolent man, if not a pervert, when I meet this Princess…?ʼ

”Stop!”

”What now?”

The Princess frowned and took a step back. She watched me with suspicion. She was one step away from saying ʼInsolent pervert. How dare you tease this Princess on the streets? Why not go hang yourself?ʼ

”No… I was trying to say that weʼve arrived.”

Princess Hongzhuang was looking for Lord San Shen.

ʼOf course, I canʼt click anybody into existence for her out of thin air.ʼ

ʼThe simplest and most direct approach would be for me to throw on some makeup, wash off my hair dye and make an appointment to meet her. But it wouldnʼt be reasonable if it was so easy. Not to mention, it would be impossible to convince her.ʼ

ʼHow am I supposed to explain to her that I managed to find a leader of the Demon Sect so easily when Iʼm a disciple of Mount Daluo? She might even suspect me of trying to fool her, for all I know.ʼ

ʼSecondly, the hair dye removal solution is very expensive, too!! Yes, itʼs true that Lao Dai runs the pharmacy, but the stuff in the medicine warehouse is reserved for the royal family. Not even he can just take them for his own use. He was nearly apprehended just a few days ago. I canʼt get him in trouble.ʼ

ʼThatʼs why I have to put on an act and pretend to take her around to search for information first.ʼ

This is our destination. This is the where most of the people from the west reside in the capital.

Princess Hongzhuang couldnʼt help but sigh softly when we arrived.

All we saw was skin, appearances, and people dressed totally unlike locals, or even people in the Central Plains. Most of these people had incredibly white skin and distinct facial features. Some had blonde hair and green eyes. Some had black hair and thick beards. Some dressed boldly, while others dressed modestly. Their clothes were colourful.

They looked vastly different to people from the Central Plains. It feels as though youʼve walked into a new world when you come here. It makes you feel as if youʼve returned to the west.

The majority of the people here were merchants and monks from the seven nations in the west.

Lots of monks were, actually, disciples of the Divine Moon Sect. However, the situation in the seven nations of the west was different.

The main sect that the Emperor was attacking was the one Old Ximen had led. The Divine Moon Sect held different opinions and was peaceful.

Many of their disciples were monks and preachers. They were called the Bright Sect. They were members of one of the factions of the Divine Moon Sect, the Bright Moon Faction. The way they conducted themselves was also the polar opposite of Old Ximen.

The Emperor seemed to consider them a counterbalance for the Demon Sect, so he welcomed them with open arms. However, the Bright Sect was founded only twenty years ago, so their doctrine and rules were the same as the Divine Moon Sectʼs. Even the god they believed in and the scriptures they read were identical.

As such, everybody thought it unbelievable when they saw this group on the streets of the capital, while others were called disciples of the Demon Sect.

Besides selling various delicacies from the west, as well as strange little things, they also sold translated versions of the Divine Moon Sectʼs scriptures.

Bored, I picked one up to flip through. These books came from my Shifu and Old Ximenʼs handwriting.

The old man with a big beard selling the books revealed a mysterious smile.

In a strange tone, he said, ”Chinese friend! This is our Divine Moon Sectʼs classic ʼRed Cloud Jingʼ. This book is the only copy of the book. The Grand Priest himself translated it. Thereʼs even a drawing of a candied haw inside, drawn by the Grand Priest himself. Candied haws! Candied haws! Itʼs great! Itʼs great!”

ʼThe Red Cloud Jing the Grand Priestʼs personally translated? I remember that the one my Shifu translated back then was…ʼ

I thought to myself that this was bad. As soon as I opened it…

ʼIsnʼt this the porn my Shifu randomly drew?!ʼ

ʼMy eyes are burning!ʼ

The Princess poked her head over and asked, ”Is it a good read?”

”I donʼt understand it. I donʼt understand it. Letʼs leave it. Letʼs leave it. Letʼs hurry.”

I quickly dragged the Princess off elsewhere.

She suddenly pulled back, as I was holding onto her soft white hands. She revealed an unhappy look and said, ”Brother Ming… Though you might… But you and Hongzhuang have no relationship, after all. Please show some respect.”

ʼI want to cry, but have no tears! I was trying to avoid giving you eye cancer, Miss!ʼ

I led the Princess into a restaurant I often went to, in order to relieve the awkwardness.

You could say that this is the restaurant with the highest-quality stuff on Bright Lane. They may sell food from the west, but they have all sorts of stuff. I heard that the boss spent a lot of effort and used many means to bring the chefs of the seven nations together. And so, this place has the best dishes of the seven nations of the west.

Princess Hongzhuang continued looking around after she had sat down. Her curiosity was piqued by the things she saw, ”Although I was born in the Capital, I started learning with a teacher from a young age. I travelled with Shifu to lots of places. We were usually away from the capital eight to nine months in a year. Iʼve never been here before.”

With a smile, I replied, ”I had a similar experience to you, Miss Li. I heard my Shifu speak about them. I am from Nanjing, but as far as I can remember, I was on Mount Daluo in the north. I only got a chance to leave after I had grown a bit older. I only sent a foot in Nanjing at eleven or twelve.”

Princess Hongzhuang smiled but didnʼt speak again. She didnʼt seem interested in what I had to say.

Sigh.

If it were not for my status as a Fuma candidate, as well as my confession, this princess would probably scold me whenever she wanted, without much thought. Given her temper, she would say whatever she wished. It feels really uncomfortable speaking to somebody whoʼs not being honest.

”Miss Li, have you never heard of this place before, either? Nanjing is your home, after all. All of your family and friends here.”

I randomly found something to speak about to break the awkward atmosphere. However, she froze up for a moment and then stopped speaking altogether.

The atmosphere became incomparably awkward.

…

ʼMotherfucker! People are about to congratulate for my new canʼt-pick-up girls nickname!!ʼ

”I…”

After a short moment passed, Li Hongzhuang finally spoke, ”I am a natural loner. I donʼt have any friends and am not close to my siblings. Furthermore, Iʼm always away from home, so we drifted apart. In the capital, I…”

She suddenly glanced at my constable token at my waist.

”Only Yiren speaks with me. Sheʼs my best friend.”

ʼIʼm so moved! She finally spoke! Thank you, Boss!ʼ

”Did Boss not take you around the Capital? According to what I know, sheʼs a woman that had been everywhere in the capital when she was fifteen.”

Princess Hongzhuang covered her mouth and laughed when she heard ”Boss.” Even her breath smelled nice…

”Thatʼs a very chic way of addressing her, but itʼs a great fit. Yiren has loved to stand out since she was young. Nobody could stop her from doing what she wanted to do.”

”Boss was like that since she was a kid…?”

”Everybody likes her; not just me. My siblings, my father and even his wives like her. She possesses a unique charm that attracts people to her.”

Li Hongzhuang faintly said, ”I loved learning how to wield a sabre, even more, when my Shifu taught me how to slash the air. I persistently trained without getting sick of it, until nobody was willing to accompany me anymore. Thatʼs when I travelled to find somebody to train with me. I came across Yiren, who was practising swordplay. The two of us became friends like that.”

I listened in silence. The Princess wasnʼt lying, considering how Boss usually behaves and her popularity. Even the Qilin Guardsʼ Long Zaitian fell for her.

”All right. Iʼm done with the idle chatter and donʼt feel awkward anymore. Itʼs time to get down to business, right?”

I froze up when I heard her say that.

ʼOh, so you were feeling awkward, too, Miss! Say so sooner! I had to go about it in such a roundabout way.ʼ

”If you have questions, please go ahead and ask. I shall do my best to answer.”

”Can we really find him here?”

”It seems you didnʼt know.” I shrugged. With a smile, I continued, ”He is from the West. That means, he looks the same as these people, which is different to people in the Central Plains. If heʼs in the capital at this time, he has to hide here and wait for an opportunity to run away. Even if thatʼs not the case, we can find out some information on him. What do you think?”

Li Hongzhuang nodded as if she strongly agreed.

Of course, that was just me spouting bullshit; Iʼm from the Central Plains, through and through. Plus, Iʼm not so stupid to let myself get captured.

Suddenly, there were people calling out from upstairs and on the streets.

”Lord San Shen of the Divine Moon Sectʼs painting! Lord San Shenʼs drawing! The rare hidden version from the west. This is exclusively distributed. One copper coin for one copy!!”

”…”

Li Hongzhuang reacted with surprise, ”You sure do know the Pugilistic World and your way around. We already have clues. How about we go and buy a paint-…”

I had flown off to him already!! With my token in my hand, I gave chase and shouted, ”Stop there, Punk! Hand over the drawing! Iʼm from Liu Shan Men and the manager of this city!”

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