Chapter 146

Every meeting must eventually end in parting.

As the familiar six-horse carriage drew near, Zhu Bao held out something about the size of my palm.

“What is this?”

“My reward for today’s meeting.”

“Oh, you really didn’t have to…”

I accepted it and took a closer look. It was some kind of gold medallion.

Clouds and a dragon had been delicately engraved into its surface, which flashed brilliantly in the sunlight.

Ding.

System

• The Quest target is extremely pleased with today’s meeting!

• As a Quest Reward, obtained Prince Shangshan’s Token!

“It is my token. If there is anything else you desire or a wish you would like granted, bring this token and come find me. I shall fulfill it to the best of my ability.”

“Oh.”

An exchange coupon.

Twenty coupons from a Chinese restaurant would get you a large serving of sweet-and-sour pork. Since this was an exchange coupon from Prince Shangshan, I might be able to trade it for all kinds of elixirs or treasures.

I do need a weapon, too.

Thanks to absorbing the Blazing Flame Divine Pill, I had more than enough internal energy.

It was just a shame that I didn’t have a decent spear. I’d been using and discarding other weapons like disposable chopsticks from the very beginning.

Should I just trade it in right now?

I considered it for a moment, then shook my head.

The greatest danger had already passed. With no urgent need, trading the prince’s token for a single weapon would be a waste.

“Thank you. I really wanted something like this.”

When I bowed deeply from the waist, Zhu Bao rose onto his tiptoes and gently ruffled my hair.

“I am happy that you like it.”

“……”

This felt really strange. I’d let it slide because he was cute.

Meanwhile, the carriage that would take us home came to a stop. As I was about to climb aboard, Zhu Bao waved at me.

“Take care! Come again!”

Next time, you should come to me, you little punk.

There were only a little over two weeks left until New Year’s Day. I would probably see the young prince again around then.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“I’ll return, Your Highness.”

The carriage was so large that even its entrance was wide. Hong Jin and I climbed aboard side by side.

“……Hm?”

Wait a minute. That had been so natural that I’d almost let it pass.

I stared at Hong Jin in disbelief.

“What is it?”

“Hm? Why?”

“This carriage is going to the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

“I know. That’s why I got on.”

“What?”

“You know what they say—strike while the iron is hot. Shouldn’t I take this opportunity to speak with the Lesser Family Head Jin?”

Hong Jin smiled pleasantly and snapped his fingers. An official came running over like the wind.

“Deputy Military Commissioner. Do you have an order for me?”

“We’re visiting without an appointment, so we should at least bring plenty of gifts. Don’t forget to send a messenger ahead to offer our respects.”

“I shall carry out your orders!”

Li Feng also issued an order to one of his officers.

“He is an honored guest. Escort him to the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

“Yes, sir!”

At the two men’s commands, nearly a hundred soldiers and a hastily assembled delegation began moving in perfect order.

Cheongpung, who had been about to climb aboard after us, gave a small round of applause at the sight.

“Wow.”

Having obtained the royal guard gear set he had longed for so desperately, he decided to stay at the Jin Family of Taiyuan for the time being.

Li Feng dipped his head toward me.

“I entrust Martial Uncle to you.”

“Of course.”

Even without hearing him say that, Cheongpung was someone I wanted to befriend first.

If I used him as a bridge to strengthen the Jin Family of Taiyuan’s relationship with Huashan, our family’s future would surely be bright.

Besides, he’s an interesting guy.

Cheongpung waved with a sunny smile.

“Martial Nephew Li Feng, don’t worry about me! Interesting things keep happening whenever I’m with Young Master Jin!”

“Just in case, let me say this now. Don’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes!”

At least he was good at answering.

I turned toward the people who remained behind.

“What have you decided to do?”

The young prodigies of the Five Gates of Shanxi answered hesitantly.

“We plan to stay at Honghwa Inn until New Year’s Day.”

“There isn’t enough time to visit our families and return…”

“To be honest, we don’t even dare go back.”

“If I return now, my father might kill me.”

Their answers couldn’t have been gloomier.

Then again, rumors about what had happened the day before were probably already racing across the land like a winged horse, so their fear was understandable.

I clicked my tongue as I looked at them.

“Behave yourselves until New Year’s Day. I’ll smooth things over with the Sect Leaders later.”

“R-Really?”

“But in return, each of you needs to do your part. You know what I mean, right?”

“The Seongun Escort Bureau… Yes, sir. We understand.”

The tide could no longer be turned. By now, both these young men and the Sect Leaders of the Five Gates of Shanxi would know that.

From now on, all they could do was grow as large as possible under the Jin Family of Taiyuan.

“All right, then. Do your best, and I’ll see you on New Year’s Day.”

“What?”

“Why? What is it?”

“W-we’re going the same way.”

“Where? To Honghwa Inn?”

“Yes.”

I tossed one final remark at the bewildered young men.

“This is the express carriage to the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

Bang!

The carriage began moving almost the instant the door slammed shut.

The inside had been spacious even with six people seated in it. Cheongpung, Hong Jin, and I each claimed several seats and leaned back against the soft cushions.

“I think I could live here.”

Cheongpung continued with a blissful smile.

“When I lived with Grandfather, I slept on grass or rocks. I don’t think I could live like that anymore.”

He’s a primitive man discovering civilization.

Hong Jin gave him a curious look.

“Then have you always lived on Huashan, Young Master?”

“Yes. Ever since I was very young. But apparently I wasn’t born on Huashan. I asked Grandfather about it once, and he said I came to Huashan when I was three or four.”

That figured. No matter how great a master the Sword Saint was, even he had his limits when it came to raising a child.

Reaching the Supreme Peak realm wouldn’t make milk come out of a man’s chest, after all.

“……”

Actually, a Supreme Peak master might be able to do it.

They were monsters who could use Sword Energy and Sword Force. Producing a little milk couldn’t be beyond them.

I imagined a white-haired old man nursing a newborn baby.

“Ugh.”

“Benefactor, are you all right?”

“Young Master Jin, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I just felt a little nauseous.”

“Oh my, that won’t do. Here, lie down on my lap.”

“……”

Maybe I should just smash his knee.

When I hurled silent curses at him with my eyes, Hong Jin covered his mouth and laughed.

“Hoho. Young Master Jin really is so much fun to tease.”

If a beautiful woman had said that, I would have laughed along with her. But Hong Jin was unmistakably a man. No amount of white powder on his face or lipstick on his lips could change that fact.

He said he used to be a palace attendant.

Didn’t that make him a eunuch?

I’d once heard that not every palace attendant was necessarily a eunuch. But there was no way to tell whether Hong Jin was equipped or not.

“Young Master Jin.”

“Y-Yes?”

“What are you looking at?”

“Ah, I thought there was something stuck there.”

Damn it. He caught me.

He wasn’t a Murim martial artist, but his ability to read the situation was on the level of a Peak master. I quickly pulled my gaze away from Hong Jin’s lower body and changed the subject.

“By the way, how did Great Hero Li Feng end up joining the military?”

“Assistant Military Commissioner Li? He passed the military examination, of course. After that, it was smooth sailing all the way.”

“As expected of a Huashan lay disciple.”

“I can’t say that had no influence, but that wasn’t the only reason. Becoming a Third-Rank Assistant Military Commissioner in only ten years is extremely difficult.”

“Third-Rank means…?”

“What’s Third-Rank? Is it something you eat?”

I vaguely understood that it was a high position, but that was about it.

Seeing that Cheongpung and I had no idea what he was talking about, Hong Jin explained patiently.

“It’s a high office. There are only four such positions in each province, and Assistant Military Commissioner Li is among the top three in the military hierarchy.”

Hong Jin counted them off on his fingers.

“First is the Military Commissioner, the commander in chief. Then me, directly beneath him. And third is Assistant Military Commissioner Li. Of course, His Highness Prince Shangshan stands above us all.”

“The Military Commissioner?”

“He’ll be retiring soon. He was born the son of a Grand General, accomplished a little, and has a tremendous fondness for bribes.”

A corrupt military official. The kind whose petty corruption had become a way of life.

With the commander in chief being that kind of man, it was easy to understand why security in Shanxi Province had been such a mess lately.

“The current Military Commissioner is incompetent. You only need to look at the mounted bandits roaming freely the moment the Mount Heng Sword Sect collapsed.”

“If he’s that incompetent, why not just…”

I swallowed the rest of the sentence before it left my mouth.

Who was I to meddle in someone else’s workplace? Especially when they were all high-ranking government officials.

Seeing my reaction, Hong Jin kindly added an explanation.

“The Military Commissioner is appointed directly by the Emperor. The same goes for dismissing him.”

“Oh.”

“Well, at least he has no ambitions beyond that. I like bribes too, so I’m hardly in a position to criticize him.”

What kind of person was this?

I’d seen plenty of politicians on television proclaiming their innocence against accusations of accepting bribes, but Hong Jin was the first person I’d met who openly admitted to liking them.

“Why? Did I look that upright?”

“No. You did look like someone who would enjoy bribes, but…”

“But you didn’t expect me to say it so openly?”

“Well, yes. Honestly, I’m a little flustered.”

“Young Master Jin. Do you know what?”

Hong Jin continued with a serious expression.

“I don’t have a thing.”

“What?”

“I’m a eunuch.”

“……”

What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

I’d suspected as much, but I hadn’t expected him to drop a bomb like that out of nowhere.

Cheongpung, who had been looking out the window, abruptly joined in with a curious expression.

“What’s a eunuch?”

“……Please, please shut your mouth.”

He’s saying he doesn’t have his thing—his thing!

Every second dragged by. Sweating coldly, I forced myself to speak.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. Some people live without one, and some live with one. Right?”

“Th—that’s right.”

His admirable attitude made me solemn for no reason.

Meanwhile, the mountain-dwelling primitive who didn’t know what a eunuch was kept chattering without the slightest hint of tact.

“Benefactor, could you please tell me what a eunuch is?”

Even if I die, I’m not telling him. Never.

Even if I explained it, there was a 99.99 percent chance he would say something like, Wow, I’ve never met anyone without a dick before!

But Hong Jin remained composed.

“A eunuch doesn’t have a dick.”

“Wow, I’ve never met anyone without—”

“Oh, shut up already!”

Cheongpung sucked in a startled breath.

“B-Benefactor.”

“Calm down, Young Master Jin. If he grew up in the mountains, it’s understandable. And besides, it’s not as if I’ve only been living as a eunuch for a day or two.”

“Still, that was too harsh.”

“Was I in the wrong? I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s fine. Chin up. Yours is still attached.”

Decades of experience as a eunuch hadn’t gone anywhere.

Hong Jin waved a hand as if to calm us down, then continued as though nothing important had happened.

“I’ve never regretted my decision. When your own family is starving to death, what wouldn’t you do? Am I wrong?”

“Of course not.”

“I—I would have done the same!”

Whatever Hong Jin said now, we had to agree with him. Cheongpung and I could only nod, feeling like condemned criminals.

“I’m not an upright man, but I’m not cowardly enough to betray a trust. If I were, I wouldn’t have continued serving His Highness all this time.”

Hong Jin gazed out the window with hazy eyes.

“Long ago, I served at the late Emperor’s side. He ordered me to assist His Highness Prince Shangshan.”

“The late Emperor?”

If the previous Emperor had entrusted Hong Jin with such a request, Hong Jin must have held a considerably high position among the palace attendants even back then.

Hong Jin nodded and continued.

“I came to the frontier in what was practically exile, but… I’m satisfied with things as they are now. Truly, this is enough.”

Despite his words, an unmistakable light shone in his eyes.

Ambition? Hope?

Before I could understand what that light meant, it disappeared, and the coachman’s quiet voice reached my ears.

“The Jin Family of Taiyuan is in sight.”