Ch. 19
At Cheongun's words, one corner of the Grand Eunuch's mouth rose strangely.
It was a sneer that seemed to say, 'Of course a guy like you would do that.'
Although his stomach turned slightly, the Grand Eunuch said calmly.
"Don't hesitate and speak. If it's something I can grant, I will."
"Then, although it's shameless, I will speak. By any chance... can I have a meeting?"
"What?"
"A meeting, I mean. Is it possible?"
"A meeting? What kind of meeting are you talking about..."
At Cheongun's sudden words, the Grand Eunuch tilted his head. But he couldn't finish his words because of something that came to mind and his mouth fell open.
He scowled.
He had already received a report about the incident with Xiaojian Jeong. It was an outrageous report that Cheongun had his eyes on Xiaojian Jeong.
He had let it go once, thinking it was just that. He had buried it because the parties involved had vehemently denied it, saying it was a misunderstanding.
But when he mentioned Xiaojian Jeong even in a place like this, the Grand Eunuch Jeongwon felt as if the thread of his reason was about to snap.
"You, you bastard! Who do you dare to insult!"
"Grand Eunuch! Insult? I clearly said that incident was a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding? Alright. Let's say that's that. Then what is it? Why do you want to see that child!"
The Grand Eunuch Jeongwon trembled and gritted his teeth.
Although Cheongun was sure to become a future power, his own power was still higher. There were many ways to deal with him without anyone knowing, but he was barely holding it in.
Cheongun held out both his hands and shook them.
"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I just wanted to give Xiaojian Jeong a gift because he entered the Eastern Depot."
"A gift? Hmph! Alright. Let's say it's a gift. Then what kind of gift is it?"
"I can't tell you that. It's just not a gift that will harm Xiaojian Jeong. Please don't worry."
Cheongun said, cupping his hands in a polite gesture.
Because his appearance was polite, the Grand Eunuch Jeongwon let out a long sigh and slightly suppressed his anger.
He glared at Cheongun and said coldly.
"Alright. I will arrange a meeting so you can see Xiaojian Jeong. But it must end in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
"Thank you."
"Hmph! But you must keep this in mind. If you try to do anything foolish to that child... I will have you executed by a thousand cuts."
Even at the Grand Eunuch's threat to kill him cruelly, Cheongun smiled. Although others had a deep misunderstanding, he was innocent.
Although the atmosphere was murderous, the conversation ended well.
Feng Tianhu left first, and Cheongun followed the Grand Eunuch and moved to another place.
The place he moved to following the Grand Eunuch was behind the Zining Palace, which was in the west-central part of the imperial palace.
He didn't know exactly what was done here. After waiting for a while in the guided room, a familiar face opened the door and came in.
"Xiaojian Jeong!"
"Your Excellency!"
Although they had only been apart for a few days, they were as happy to see each other as if they had met after several years.
"Come and sit here. We don't have much time, so we can't talk for long."
"Yes! I missed you so much, Your Excellency."
As soon as he sat down, Cheongun took out a book from his bosom. He handed the rather thick book to Xiaojian Jeong and said worriedly.
"I heard you entered the Eastern Depot."
"Yes. It's all thanks to you, Your Excellency."
"No. It's just that your superiors have finally realized how outstanding you are. More importantly, this is a gift from my heart, so learn it well."
"What is this?"
Xiaojian Jeong looked down at the book Cheongun had handed him.
There was no title on the cover. He was curious what kind of book it was. But since it was a book gifted by Cheongun, it didn't seem to be an ordinary book.
Cheongun smiled at the corners of his mouth as he looked at Xiaojian Jeong's curious expression.
"It's the Nine Flower Treasure Manual."
"Nine flowers of precious books?"
"Haha. Similar. This book is a martial arts manual."
Xiaojian Jeong was surprised at the words "martial arts manual."
"Then is it a manual from the Imperial Palace Armory?"
"That's right. They say that the Nine Flower Treasure Manual and the Nine Yin Divine Scripture are the most suitable martial arts for eunuchs. So I memorized it and came out to give it to you as a gift."
"Th-thank you."
Xiaojian Jeong was so moved that he shed a single tear.
It was not just any gift. It was a martial arts manual from the Imperial Palace Armory.
Xiaojian Jeong was so moved that he didn't know what to do.
"Hahaha. I'm glad you seem to like it."
Cheongun had prepared a gift after hearing the news that Xiaojian Jeong had entered the Eastern Depot.
Since the Eastern Depot also required martial arts, he thought that a martial art would be a good gift.
Since he didn't know what kind of martial art would be good, he asked the Blood Emperor for advice. The Blood Emperor had told him that two martial arts were perfect for eunuchs.
As the Blood Emperor had advised, Cheongun had examined the two martial arts and then made them into one manual. And he had even added annotations to the content to make it easier for Xiaojian Jeong to learn.
He opened the book and briefly explained it to Xiaojian Jeong.
"The Nine Flower Treasure Manual is outstanding in its internal energy mind method and swordsmanship. What it lacks is lightness skill and footwork, but the lightness skill and footwork of the Nine Yin Divine Scripture written here are outstanding. If you learn them together, you will surely become a master."
"Th-thank you."
Xiaojian Jeong's face was tearful and moved.
What Xiaojian Jeong needed most right now was silver and martial arts.
To move up within the Eastern Depot, appropriate bribes and martial arts were more important than anything else.
The martial arts taught in the Eastern Depot alone were not enough. He couldn't move up by learning the same martial arts as others.
The shortcut to success was to curry favor with the superiors and obtain better martial arts than others.
But Cheongun had brought a martial art as a gift. Not just any martial art, but a martial art from the Imperial Palace Armory.
The meeting time given to Cheongun was only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Cheongun told Xiaojian Jeong the order of learning the martial arts, its characteristics, and precautions.
"Xiaojian Jeong. You must learn the mind method first, and then the swordsmanship. They say that since the yin energy is strong, there will also be changes in the body. When the mind method surpasses the third star, you must then learn the swordsmanship, and the point to be careful of here is..."
"Yes, yes. I understand. I will learn the manual as you say, Your Excellency, and surely achieve great things."
Xiaojian Jeong steeled his resolve. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
To Xiaojian Jeong, who was steeling his resolve, Cheongun said one last thing.
"Yes, it's by no means an easy martial art. In particular, the lightness skill and footwork of the Nine Yin Divine Scripture were in Sanskrit, and I interpreted them. There won't be much difficulty in learning it, but if there's a part you get stuck on, look at the Taoist scriptures. It will be a great help."
"I understand."
Cheongun was able to say all his last words of request.
Because the meeting time was too short, he couldn't tell him more. If he had just one more day, he would have explained all the martial arts of the Nine Flower Treasure Manual to Xiaojian Jeong in detail, but that was a pity.
Sure enough, a voice from outside announced that the time was up.
"The meeting time is over."
Xiaojian Jeong looked out the door with a disappointed gaze and then looked at Cheongun and said.
"Your Excellency, why do you give such a precious external object as a gift to someone like me?"
He was really curious.
Why? Why was Cheongun so good to him?
He had received help from the moment he met Cheongun. He had received help several times after that.
Hadn't he even become a member of the Eastern Depot, which he had longed for so much, with Cheongun's help?
Cheongun smiled brightly and said to Xiaojian Jeong.
"Haha. It must seem strange. Don't think about it in a complicated or difficult way. Thanks to you, I was able to meet His Majesty the Emperor quietly. Meeting you was a help from heaven."
"Yes, but you would have been able to see His Majesty sufficiently even without me."
"The important thing is that I have formed a connection with you. From ancient times, the sages have emphasized the importance of connections. I also think that connections should be cherished. Many connections will pass me by in the future, but I hope to remain in a better connection with you, Xiaojian Jeong."
"..."
Xiaojian Jeong still had an expression of not being able to understand.
Cheongun smiled brightly as he looked at such a Xiaojian Jeong.
"Hahaha. I told you not to think about it difficultly."
"I'm sorry."
"Think of it this way. I will continue to support you in the future. You should also support me."
"I still don't have the strength to help you, Your Excellency."
It had been like that from the beginning. All he did was attend to Cheongun.
"Haha. That strength... the manual in your hand will give it to you, so learn it diligently. By the way, this is a secret. And I drew a painting, so sell this and use it well."
Cheongun took out a well-folded piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Xiaojian Jeong.
The two stood up from their seats. A voice from outside announced again that the time was up.
"If you have any difficulties, use my name. At the very least, don't forget that I am behind you."
"Yes. Your Excellency, please also achieve what you have set out to do. Please also don't forget that I am by your side."
Thanks to Xiaojian Jeong, he was able to handle things quietly. It was clear that he would receive a lot of help from Xiaojian Jeong in the future.
Xiaojian Jeong hugged Cheongun, who was about to leave.
Warak.
Cheongun silently patted Xiaojian Jeong's back.
At this time, the door opened and eunuchs came in.
"The time is up..."
"Heok..."
The ones who were coming in at the front froze. They were surprised to see the two hugging.
Cheongun turned his head. He saw the Grand Eunuch Jeongwon glaring at him as if to kill him with eyes that had become as big as gumballs from behind.
"You bastard! D-don't you dare separate right now!"
"Haha, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."
Cheongun smiled awkwardly.
◈ ◈ ◈
Inside the endlessly stretching canyon, there was a wide basin. It was surrounded by sheer cliffs, so it was difficult for people to even approach.
On one side of the basin, there was a waterfall that fell from the middle of the sheer cliff, and the stream of water that fell from the waterfall flowed across the basin.
A year ago, a man had appeared in that beautiful and rugged basin.
On one side of the basin, there was an old house made of stone, and he had started to live there.
He practiced martial arts without resting for a single day.
When it snowed, he practiced martial arts against the snowflakes, and when it rained, he unfolded his moves against the raindrops.
That day was no different.
Pabababang.
The sound of leather bursting broke the silence of the basin.
A man was practicing martial arts with his bare hands.
His brilliant footwork and sharp movements that cut through the air were like a single leopard.
That man was Cheongun, who had entered this place a year ago.
Cheongun practiced the martial arts of the Imperial Palace Armory while listening to the Blood Emperor's advice.
The Blood Emperor nodded his head repeatedly as he watched Cheongun train.
[With that much, you won't get beaten up anywhere now.]
In just one year, he had learned most of the martial arts to the sixth star or higher.
There were also several martial arts that he had mastered. It was possible because the Blood Emperor had personally guided him.
Pangpang! Pababang!
A blue energy rippled and poured out in all directions.
The Blood Emperor smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the blue energy that cut through the air.
[The Heavenly Mandate Divine Art has already reached the seventh star realm.]
The internal energy mind methods that Cheongun had learned were the Blood Emperor Divine Art and the Heavenly Mandate Divine Art.
The characteristic of the Blood Emperor Divine Art was that it was too conspicuous. The red haze that emanated from around his body was the problem.
If his enemies saw Cheongun unfolding the Blood Emperor Divine Art, they would surely recognize him at a glance.
They would either hide themselves or try to eliminate Cheongun.
So he had learned the Heavenly Mandate Divine Art of Cheon Eun-ja.
The Heavenly Mandate Divine Art was the unique mind method of the Martial Saint Cheon Eun-ja, who was called the number one in the world seven hundred years ago.
The Heavenly Mandate Divine Art, which even the Blood Emperor acknowledged as great, was the best divine art to replace the Blood Emperor Divine Art.
As the practice was coming to an end, the Blood Emperor called Cheongun.
[That's enough for now.]
At the Blood Emperor's call, Cheongun stopped his training. A light flashed in his two eyes and was quickly stored inside.
The two eyes that were revealed again were deep but ordinary. He had already reached the realm of storing his internal energy inside.
Cheongun looked around.
"A year has already passed. It feels like it hasn't been long since I came here."
(End of Chapter)