Chapter 1080

Even as night deepened, the lights of Xining stayed lit.

The countless people still in the streets shared their joy freely, and the city’s leaders provided liquor and meat for them.

They hoped the small sparks of hope in those people’s hearts would burn a little longer—and a little brighter.

But while laughter still slipped through the gaps around the windows, the mood inside the pavilion was heavy.

“Judging by those long faces, I can guess how things are going.”

Jeok Cheongang broke the silence with a click of his tongue.

“Sounds like you’ve got some shitty news. Spit it out now instead of making a damn fuss later.”

“Well…”

Only Jeok Cheongang could say something like that. But with Jeok Cheongang on the receiving end, no one dared be the first to answer.

The leaders trailed off and exchanged glances. That was when I spoke up from beside the window.

“If it’s hard to say right now, let’s start with the situation inside the city.”

The martial world might spell it Fire Gate Clan and pronounce it bunch of bastards, but of course a young Disciple was easier to approach than an old monster notorious for his foul temper.

At my gentle tone, one of the leaders finally relaxed enough to speak.

“Things aren’t looking good.”

“Hmm. Not good?”

“That’s right.”

I pressed my lips together, then asked the speaker, “Understood. And your name?”

“Cheok Mo, Sect Leader of Qinghai’s Gonghwa Sect. I don’t know if you’ve heard of us.”

Of course I hadn’t.

I knew of Gonghwachun,¹ but I hadn’t memorized the dozens of martial sects in Qinghai Province. And his first answer had already made it clear I wasn’t likely to remember him, either.

“All right, then. Sect Leader Cheok of the Gonghwa Sect.”

“I’m listening.”

He nodded lazily. I met his gaze and continued evenly.

“Do you want to be here?”

“…?”

“You’re free to leave if you’re going to keep stating the obvious.”

“…!”

“And since when are we on such familiar terms? What do you think, sir?”

I turned to a middle-aged official dressed in silk robes. He swallowed before answering.

“H-How could I possibly contradict the Marquis of Shangshan?”

“Strange answer. I don’t recall asking whether you’d contradict me.”

“Y-You are absolutely right!”

“Sure. Anyway, I’ve been standing for a while, and my legs are getting tired. Is there an open seat?”

I could have stood there for days without a problem, and a slight turn of my head would have shown me plenty of empty chairs. But the official sprang from his seat.

“There’s one right here!”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. Especially when you’re so much older than me.”

“I-I don’t know what I should…”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Are you trying to get me cursed out? Make it look like some wet-behind-the-ears kid is throwing his rank around to bully an elder?”

“Th-Then I’ll sit.”

The official’s eyes darted back and forth as he cautiously lowered himself toward the chair. I muttered as if to myself.

“He’s actually going to sit. Can’t read the room at all.”

“…Pardon?”

“Hm? What?”

“What you just said…”

“Oh, did you hear that?”

“…Yes.”

“I was only talking to myself. Go ahead and sit.”

“……”

“Why do you keep making me repeat myself? Sit down.”

A truly clueless man might have eased himself into the chair. This official could only stare at me, his eyes trembling, unable to sit or stand.

Then again, he must have been good at reading the room to have landed such an important post as City Lord at a relatively young age.

That same instinct must’ve helped him siphon off plenty over the years.

Leaving the City Lord of Qinghai sweating through an imaginary squat, I glanced to my side. Jeong Hogun was smiling with a crooked twist to his lips.

I didn’t make a habit of bullying my elders, but what Jeong Hogun had told me on the way to Xining had washed away any guilt I might have felt.

A textbook corrupt official.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard—the imperial family’s foremost military force, with intelligence capabilities comparable to the East Depot—had obtained the information long ago. There was no room for doubt.

More important, though, was the state of affairs his negligence had brought about.

“I heard the city’s food stores are running low. What do you have to say about that, City Lord?”

“Th-That’s…”

“Just the number. No lies.”

“W-We had far too many commoners flood the city in a short time…”

“You’ve got a long tongue. Want me to shorten it?”

“On-One month! One month!”

He blurted out the answer, then added uncertainly, “…Probably.”

“That won’t do. Thousand Captain Jeong?”

Step.

Jeong Hogun strode forward at my call. The City Lord squeezed his eyes shut and cried out.

“F-Fifteen days! The food we have in storage will last fifteen days at most!”

“Fifteen days. Are you sure this time?”

“I stake my life on it!”

Men with plenty to lose didn’t gamble with their lives. That made his answer convincing—and infuriating.

A huge number of refugees had arrived in a short time, but Xining had only been like this for about seven days.

Qinghai was a border province. It was only natural that it would have more military provisions stored away than the Central Plains, in case of an invasion.

And yet there was only enough food for fifteen more days.

He really helped himself.

I sighed and looked at the City Lord. Sweat streamed down his terrified face from his impromptu leg workout.

“Why are you so scared? Anyone would think I was trying to kill you. Wouldn’t they?”

“Th-Then…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”

“Thank you!”

His face brightened at once. I added gently, “At least not right now.”

“I’ll devote my whole heart to serving the Marquis of Shangshan from now on… Pardon?”

“Why ask me to repeat it? You heard me.”

Three or four Embroidered Uniform Guards strode up behind him and surrounded him.

“W-Wait! You can’t do this!”

“Who says I can’t?”

It was a terrible turn of events for the City Lord. But I had saved the imperial family, and the Son of Heaven had personally appointed me a marquis. I had more than enough authority and grounds to do this.

Besides, his fate had been all but decided before I set foot in Xining.

“Send him off at sunrise. And don’t forget to give him some company for the journey. He might get lonely.”

“As you command!”

Jeong Hogun’s answer was firmer than ever. At his gesture, the other Embroidered Uniform Guards waiting nearby swiftly carried out their orders.

“Songak of Qinghai’s Regional Military Commission. Is that you?”

“I-I haven’t done anything wrong!”

“That’s for us to decide. Not you.”

“…!”

“These are the Marquis of Shangshan’s strict orders. Come quietly if you want to see tomorrow’s sunrise.”

It happened in an instant.

Generals in ornate armor and officials in robes as stiff as their necks were dragged out one after another, their faces pale.

Not one of them resisted. No—they didn’t even dare try.

The presence of Supreme Peak masters who could shake the world played a part. But if they opposed the imperial Embroidered Uniform Guard, their entire families could be branded traitors.

Beheaded as corrupt officials in league with the City Lord, or branded traitors and wiped out along with their families. Faced with that choice, they could do only one thing.

Accept reality.

And despair without end.

Unlike the men dragged out wailing as though everything was over, the people would rejoice and draw closer together once this tumor was removed.

And along with that—

“Looks like we’re finally ready to have a proper discussion.”

The dozen or so seats emptied in an instant. Yet the void they left was filled by the presence of the man who had emptied them.

Me.

Jin Taekyung, the Blazing Flame Divine Dragon.

“What does everyone think?”

“…!”

“…!”

Suffocating silence weighed on the pavilion.

Those close to me smiled without a sound. Those who didn’t know me exchanged dark looks.

Backs that had once been relaxed were now rigidly straight. Fingers tapped the table slowly, anxiously.

Perhaps some of them had dismissed me in private, or tried to diminish what I’d done. Rumors always grew in the telling. And in troubled times like these, people sometimes made heroes because they needed them.

But they were wrong.

There had always been people like that, everywhere. The result had always been the same.

And there had always been people who watched in silence, giving nothing away. Like the young Daoist who looked straight at me now while a few others avoided my gaze.

“Rumors are made from what people see and hear. As usual, I didn’t put much stock in them.”

His Daoist robes were neat, without a single wrinkle, and I couldn’t begin to read the depths of his eyes.

“But now that I’ve met you, fellow Daoist, I see once again that I was right.”

His voice was as calm and composed as his appearance.

“Rumors can’t be trusted. Sometimes the truth falls short of them. Other times… it far surpasses them.”

Rustle.

The young Daoist rose, clasped his hands in greeting, and spoke.

“I am Hak Eui, a First-Generation Disciple of the Kunlun Sect. It is an honor to meet you, Great Hero Jin Taekyung.”