Chapter 55
The Blood Emperor smirked and said.
[Don't worry. After a few guys, there won't be any more who step forward. More importantly, those guys might pick a fight, so make sure to nail it down.]
Fortunately, as the Blood Emperor had said, after about a dozen people had stepped forward and revealed their names, no one else asked for an introduction.
Cheongun struck first before they could open their mouths.
"As you heroes know, this incident is related to a rebellion. I also can't believe that the Zirong Palace has plotted a rebellion, but the evidence is too clear. Also, since this is an imperial order, please do not step forward."
Cheongun warned the martial artists again.
But this time too, there was someone who stepped forward.
Cheongun's softened tone and young-looking appearance had instilled confidence in that person.
"Hmph. No matter how much of an imperial order it is, it has been a long-standing custom for the government and the martial world not to interfere with each other. To come here now and threaten the Zirong Palace like this..."
The man could not finish his words.
Seogeok!
Thud.
A red line was drawn on his neck, and it split open, and a fountain of blood gushed out.
"Th-this..."
The man staggered back a few steps and then collapsed.
Cheongun had taken his life without the opponent even noticing.
At first, people did not know what had happened and just stared with wide eyes. But they soon understood the situation.
As evidence of that, a clear sword was held in Cheongun's hand.
"What is this?"
"To kill a person carelessly, are you crazy?"
"Pacification Envoy, what are you doing!"
Arrows of criticism were shot at Cheongun from all directions. There was a movement to question Cheongun's crime at any moment, murmuring.
But the key figures of the righteous path who were standing at the front did not step forward.
Cheongun said coldly to such martial artists.
"Do you think I'm funny because I look young? Or, do you think the imperial order is funny?"
At Cheongun's sharp words, which he said with a hardened expression and coldly, the surroundings became as quiet as a dead mouse.
Cheongun growled again as if to nail it down.
"I clearly said it, but were my words so funny? Who else will step forward? Anyone who wants to die, step forward!"
Cheongun's softened tone had changed fiercely. Even the surrounding air had changed coldly.
The people of the great sects, including the nine great sects, also held their breath. No one had seen properly the single sword that Cheongun had just unfolded.
Recalling that it was Cheongun who had broken the city gate a little while ago, they kept silent.
As no one else stepped forward, Cheongun gave an order to the Jinyiwei who were standing behind him.
"Jinyiwei, from this time on, close the Zirong Palace and arrest all related people!"
"I receive the order!"
The Jinyiwei quickly stepped forward from behind.
The martial artists, who had been the biggest problem, could not step forward, being pushed by Cheongun's momentum. It was possible because it was a power that was mixed with authority, not just simple force.
Although it was a matter of pride for the martial artists, there was no reason for them to lose face.
Cheongun had asked for their understanding twice. He had also spoken with an appropriate level of respect.
Since the Pacification Envoy, Cheongun, had shown the minimum etiquette, they had obtained a justification to retreat.
The work proceeded quickly.
As nearly a thousand Jinyiwei stepped forward, the Zirong Palace was quickly disarmed.
The martial artists who had gathered here also had to write down their sects and nicknames one by one.
Sometimes, there were also those who protested.
A well-built man frowned and threw down the brush he was holding.
"Are you asking again because you don't know who I am?"
"Then do you know anything other than that I am a Jinyiwei?"
"How would I know that?"
"So just write it down without talking nonsense. Your sect is missing here. How would I know your nickname? There are many people waiting behind, so hurry up and write your sect again."
The Jinyiwei did not care and grasped their personal information in detail.
* * *
A rumor quickly spread beyond Anhui Province and throughout the Central Plains.
It was a rumor that the Zirong Palace of Anhui, which had been on a roll in the martial world, was related to a rebellion.
The places that were related to the Zirong Palace submitted numerous petitions to the Emperor, saying it was ridiculous.
Most of the petitions were about the Zirong Palace's activities against the evil and demonic paths in the past and that they were absolutely not related to a rebellion.
The officials who were related to the righteous path martial artists also went to the Emperor and said with one voice that it was unfair.
No matter what happened outside, Cheongun did his own work.
"So, what did your master say?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, twenty scholars have come with me, and they said that the scholars in Anhui will also help. Here is a letter from Master Miao Qing."
There was a vast amount of data in the Zirong Palace.
There was so much that it would be impossible to grasp it even if it took several years if it were handled by the power of soldiers.
It was half a day's run to Kaifeng. Cheongun had asked for help from the Tianxiang Academy, where his master was, to classify and grasp the vast documents of the Zirong Palace.
As soon as Wei Jintian had received the letter, he had hurriedly sent the scholars as an advance party.
"You've worked hard. The scholars who have come with you must be very tired from the long journey, so you must take good care of them so that they are not inconvenienced."
"Yes, Your Excellency, please do not worry."
"Yes, tell them that I will go and see them as soon as the work is over."
"I understand."
The man who had brought the scholars went out.
"Have the people from the caravan come?"
As Cheongun asked, Baihu Yun Shiping, who was standing on one side, took a step forward. But his expression was not bright.
"We have asked for help from several caravans in Henan and Anhui, but they have all refused."
"Refused."
It was something he had expected to some extent.
Like the righteous path, the business world also did not think well of Cheongun's current actions.
In particular, the business world of the nearby provinces, including Anhui, was murmuring.
"Your Excellency, it is said that there were many places that traded with the Zirong Palace. From their perspective, they are reluctant to help with the investigation."
"Are you saying they want to keep their loyalty?"
"It seems so."
There were many similar parts between the martial world and the business world. In particular, it could be said that the business world was more severe than the martial world.
Merchants valued credit and loyalty. Although he didn't know if this incident was related to such a part, they all turned their heads away from Cheongun.
But he could not not receive the help of the merchants. To look at the ledgers and know the flow of funds, the help of the merchants was absolutely necessary.
If he looked at that flow, he would be able to find the ones who were related to the Zirong Palace. It was a necessary investigation to catch the tail of the ones who had destroyed the Heavenly Cult.
"It doesn't matter, so arrange a meeting with the caravan leaders. Add that you will remember the caravans that do not come."
"I understand. I will contact them again."
At Cheongun's words, Baihu Yun answered. It was an order to arrange a meeting even if he had to threaten them.
There were quite a few caravans that delivered goods to the country. It was a threat that the delivery destination could be changed if they did not cooperate.
Cheongun had no time to have a war of nerves with the merchants. He had a mountain of work to do.
As Baihu Yun took a step back, another person stepped forward. It was Baihu Xue Zhong, the deputy commander of Xiong Tian.
"Your Excellency, we are interrogating them, but it seems they do not know about the ones who have disappeared."
Hyeokryeon Hui and the martial arts teacher had disappeared like a ghost.
He had clearly surrounded the Zirong Palace, and he had formed a net in the sky and on the ground so that not even a single ant could escape and had guarded it.
But they had disappeared without a trace.
'Where on earth did these guys disappear to?'
Cheongun had intended to capture Hyeokryeon Hui this time. But he had slipped away like a ghost.
Cheongun, who had frowned, looked at one of the well-built Baihu Zhangs.
"Are you still searching the Zirong Palace?"
"Yes, we are searching everywhere."
The sixth group leader, Baihu Ha Man, was in charge of the search. Unlike his appearance, he had a meticulous personality, so he had discovered several secret passages in one day.
But since the Zirong Palace was so wide and old, there were also many hidden places.
"Look carefully. The secrets of the Zirong Palace are important, but it's also important to catch them."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The sixth group leader took a step back.
Cheongun looked at Xue Zhong, who was still waiting for an order, and said.
"Deputy Commander Xue, from now on, help Baihu Ha Man and find out if there are any secret passages or spaces where they could be hiding. If you coax the prisoners and the servants who were working, something will come out."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Fortunately, he had secured evidence and a witness that Hyeokryeon Hui had been here. Although he was relieved, he had not handled the matter perfectly.
'I've bought some time for now. Now I just have to find them...'
An inspector would come in a few days.
It was said that it was composed of the Five Military Governor's Offices and the Eastern Depot. Although the Jinyiwei had also tried to come, the issue of fairness had been raised.
In the end, a contact had come in a hurry that the Jinyiwei had been excluded from this inspector's party.
"Everyone, handle the tasks you are in charge of quickly."
Cheongun sent the Jinyiwei out.
He had thought everyone had gone out, but one person remained.
It was the garrison commander of the Jinyiwei garrison in Anhui, Thousand-household Commander Song In-ho.
Cheongun looked at Song In-ho's hardened face.
"Do you have something to say?"
Thousand-household Commander Song hesitated for a moment and then gritted his teeth and opened his mouth.
"Your Excellency, no matter how much I think about it, it seems the matter has gotten too big."
"What, is there a problem?"
"This is the Zirong Palace. Petitions are flooding in because we have touched the Zirong Palace."
"So?"
"What do you mean, so? We have to appease the righteous path martial artists. Even now, please narrow the scope of the investigation and release the ones among the arrested Zirong Palace warriors whose crimes are minor. Don't you know that Hyeokryeon Hui has already escaped?"
Song In-ho's voice gradually rose. He was getting a little excited.
Cheongun could not understand the meaning of such a Song In-ho's words.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Why should I do that? Are you saying we should cover up their faults just because it's the Zirong Palace?"
At Song In-ho's incomprehensible words, Cheongun made a slightly displeased expression.
But Song In-ho did not retreat and told his thoughts.
"Your Excellency, how are you going to handle the aftermath? Many righteous path people have come to me and have gone after complaining that it's unfair. If time passes like this, you will not be able to handle it, Your Excellency."
At a glance, it sounded like he was worried about Cheongun. But to Cheongun's ears, it sounded like he was worried about himself, not him.
"That is something I will handle entirely. Thousand-household Commander Song, don't worry and just move as ordered."
At Cheongun's words, which he had cut off, Song In-ho's face turned red. It was an expression that said he thought he was being ignored.
But he could not argue with Cheongun. Since he had already said he would take all the responsibility, it was difficult to confront him further.
But he could not retreat like this.
"Alright. Let's say that's that, and there is one more problem."
"What is it?"
"The Zirong Palace master and the elites have all been killed. But you are not investigating that incident and are investigating other things."
"Why should we investigate their deaths?"
"That is..."
"They died before we came in. And they are not ordinary commoners but martial artists. As you know well, we should not interfere in the affairs of the martial world. No matter how many have died, or who has died, that is their business."
Song In-ho looked at Cheongun and said with a frustrated expression.
"Your Excellency, if the inspectors come, you will definitely be pointed out for that. If you're not careful, the spark could fly to you and the entire Jinyiwei, Your Excellency."
"Why? Have the inspectors ever interfered in the affairs of the martial world?"
"That's not it, but..."
"More importantly, why are you so interested in that?"
"It's not that I'm interested, but since dozens of people have died..."
"That is something the remaining people of the Zirong Palace can investigate on their own later. To be honest, I also want to investigate, but if we investigate that, the martial artists of the martial world will probably dislike it even more. Saying that the government is interfering in the affairs of the martial world."
Song In-ho also had nothing to say to that.
Come to think of it, that was an internal matter of the Zirong Palace. As Cheongun had said, there was no need for them to step forward.
Weren't they already in an uproar, saying they were touching the righteous path of the martial world?
"You may go now."
In the end, Song In-ho bowed his head and left the room.
Cheongun finally looked at the Blood Emperor.
"Blood Emperor, do you think Hyeokryeon Hui is hiding? Or has he run away?"
[I think he has run away. There must be a secret passage somewhere.]
At the words "secret passage," Cheongun nodded his head and stood up from his seat.
"I think so too. Shall we go and find it?"
[I understand. I was bored anyway, so that's good.]
(End of Chapter)