Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 157



Only Noblemtl

157. Reunion in Memories (3)

The main gate of the palace is not open to anyone. The great gate is only opened when the imperial family is in procession.

So, ordinary people like me could only go through the side door in the corner. Of course, even though it was a side door, the security was not that tight.

“Where are you from?”

The soldier in the golden armor asked me in a harsh voice as soon as he saw me. Weapons not allowed in the martial arts world. Those with long spears on the ground must be the Royal Guard.

The Imperial Guards that guard the Emperor’s palace are different from the Imperial Guards. While the Imperial Guards are an intelligence agency that externally supervises, arrests, and interrogates, the Imperial Guards are the personal guards that directly protect the Emperor.

Unlike the Golden Guard, these soldiers come into direct contact with the Emperor, so they are made up of people with not only high martial arts prowess but also great loyalty.

“For your information, if you are a merchant or a laborer, you must enter through the side door of the north gate.”

The Royal Guard’s words were cold, almost to the point of being sad. It wasn’t a tone of victimization, but rather a tone as if someone like you were talking to us.

My current appearance is that of a typical merchant carrying a bundle. It is not a new thing that the palace has been praising agriculture and looking down on commerce, but it is sad to see such blatant discrimination. After all, if the emperor is like that, the guards nearby must have been even more so.

“No. I came because I had someone to see.”

“Have you made an appointment? What’s your name?”

The Royal Guard soldier took out a piece of paper and looked through it.

The palace is not a place where you can freely come and go just because you are friendly with one of the officials.

Rules were so strict that you had to make an appointment in advance to enter, and if a visitor caused any trouble, the manager who brought them in was held directly responsible.

I, too, have been to the palace several times in the past, so I know that there is such a procedure.

“The name is Muk Hwi-yeong. I think it’s not on the list… … .”

As I said that, I tried to take out the scepter I had in my bosom.

At least if you have the Royal Guard badge, you can enter and exit on your own.

But the Royal Guard cut me off as soon as they heard my name.

“Yes. Next time, tell me your name first. I’m running out of time. I’ll call the manager who made the appointment, so please wait here for a moment.”

“Yes? Oh, yes… … .”

I was puzzled by the story that came up so suddenly. Who did I have an appointment with?

The appointment is a direct report from the manager to the Geumui Army. Who on earth knew I would come today? I wondered, but the answer would come out soon, so I waited quietly.

Not long after, a man wearing a blue robe walked towards me and nodded.

“Hello. I am Bae Byeong-hyo, a secretary at the Dochalwon.”

“Ah. Yes. It’s Mukhwiyoung.”

Bae Byeong-hyo took me straight to the hall where the inspector worked.

The answer was clear. There was only one person in the temple who was interested enough to track and observe my location.

In front of the pavilion, the person I expected was there.

“It’s been a while.”

“It’s been a while, Elder Ubudo.”

I nodded. Wang Song, the chief of the Office of the Inspector General. He was the one who had made the appointment to meet with me.

Wang Song pointed to the pavilion across from the main hall with his finger.

“It’s a bit stuffy to talk inside the building, so let’s talk outside in the pavilion.”

“great.”

The temple official bowed to Wang Song and entered the main hall. Of course, I also refused to enter the temple building. What could I possibly talk about in a building that seemed to have strong security? If I wanted to talk about something personal, a pavilion like that would be better.

“How are you? How have you been?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

“Thank you for what? What did I do for you?”

“The badge given by the Ubudo Eosa is of great help.”

“Oh, that’s what it was. But don’t say too much. It won’t do any good if you reveal it for no reason.”

Wang Song laughed heartily. Of course, I had no intention of abusing it. Now that I know that the Geumuiwi and Dongchang are arch-rivals, there is no reason for me to spread this information widely. That is why I only use it when absolutely necessary.

“Did you meet the Northern Warrior outside?”

“Ah, the Northern Warrior. Yes. I saw you in Shaanxi.”

When I say the Northern Warrior, I mean Baek Yu-gyeom, whom I met in Shaanxi. It seems that the story has already spread. Since the Imperial Palace is a small society, I know that rumors spread quickly.

“The Northern Warrior praised you a lot.”

“Really? I’ve never done anything to deserve praise.”

“Do you really have to fart to praise someone? If you like their way of doing things or their skills, just praise them.”

“okay.”

Although Wang Song didn’t say anything, it seemed like the Dochalwon and Geumuiwi were quite close.

It was like that from the beginning when Wang Song introduced me to the Royal Guard. The Royal Guard and the Royal Guard are both sensitive places when it comes to introducing people. The fact that they put me in a room with my identity unknown at the time meant that Wang Song had influence within the Royal Guard.

“By the way, how did you know I was coming today and make an appointment to see me?”

I asked what I was curious about. Wang Song laughed heartily.

“I knew you were in Beijing, so I made a reservation for a meeting every day. I thought you would come someday. You ended up coming, didn’t you?”

“Ah, that’s right, that’s right.”

I felt a pang as I was hitting the drum. In fact, I had planned to say hello to Wang Song or Hyeong Seong while I was in Beijing, but I had no intention of meeting Wang Song in this way. It was because I had nothing good to say.

Suddenly, I was struck by a fearful thought. If he came all the way here to find me, he must have some purpose. If it was a request from the Ubudo Eosa of the Dochalwon, he would definitely be tired. If he were to ask me to dig up the internal affairs of the Geumuiwi… … .

“Hey. What are you thinking?”

Wang Song-do, being an experienced manager, easily figured out that I was thinking of something else. I shook my head.

“No. Since we met the elder, we should focus on the elder.”

“How shameless. Weren’t you thinking of something else just now?”

“Actually, that’s true.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I was wondering if there was anything Ubudo-Eosa would like me to do.”

Wang Song blinked and then laughed heartily. The court ladies walking around the palace glanced at the pavilion where we were sitting.

“This is really disappointing. Do I seem like the kind of person who only calls when I have something to do? I just wanted to say hello since it’s been a while since we last met. Seriously.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

I apologized sincerely. After all, managers are people too. People who thirst more than anyone else for the affection of purposeless human relationships.

He wanted to talk to me about the past purely. If Guan Shuye is someone in my memories, then Wang Song is someone I met again with the same memories. I also felt like I had become a person who was too worn out by the world.

“But this time, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You’re right.”

“… … Ahem.”

Withdrawal of message. After all, human relationships in the world are made up of only purpose and desire. It’s like a damn world.

“What is it?”

“I heard from my Northern Warrior that your martial arts skills are quite strong.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s that strong.”

“Oh my. If you can rub it with that toadstool, doesn’t that say it all?”

Baek Yu-gyeom is a more talkative person than I thought. Or not. Well, I thought it might have been an official report.

“Is there anything that requires my skills?”

“It’s nothing.”

“What is it?”

“I have a friend who is my godfather, and he recently came to Beijing. He asked me to stay with him for a while while he is touring.”

“An escort?”

“Yeah. It won’t be that long. I’ll just be there for about two weeks.”

I was getting hungry. I was planning to stay for two weeks and then leave for Shanxi. That would mean I would have no time at all.

When I hesitated for a moment, Wang Song quickly added.

“Of course, I’m not asking you to escort me all day. I have some sense of shame, after all. That guy is staying at my house right now. When he comes back home, I don’t have to escort him.”

“At least you’ll be home by dinner time, right?”

“I don’t know until then.”

“Or it’s a bit difficult. I have something to do.”

“Let’s come to an agreement on that. We’re similar in age, so we’ll be able to communicate well.”

Have you ever seen such a shameless old man? However, Wang Song’s request was something that was personally difficult to refuse.

It wasn’t that burdensome of a request, and I couldn’t guarantee that I wouldn’t have any regrets towards Wang Song in the future either.

But, considering that I might encounter a demonic cult spy a month later, I couldn’t afford to slack off on my martial arts training.

Suddenly, a good idea occurred to me. Actually, I was thinking of going to the Royal Guard and learning some martial arts.

This is because the commander of the Royal Guard, the Commander-in-Chief, was also famous as one of the three greatest masters of the Imperial Palace.

However, there was an element of anxiety. I didn’t know what kind of person the commander was, what he thought of me, or even whether he knew of my existence. So if the commander didn’t like me, he might not recognize my martial arts.

Fundamentally, the difference between a 7th rank inspector and a 2nd rank provincial commander was so great that they could not even speak carelessly.

That’s why I prepared a few things in preparation for that. Anyway, if Wang Song could mediate in the middle, it would be a great help.

“Then can I ask you a favor too?”

“If it’s easy, then of course.”

Look at how he’s thinking it’s easy. He’s an experienced fox. That’s probably why he’s being given high honors in the temple.

“I would like to learn some martial arts from you, Commander Do.”

“If you’re talking about the Commander of the Royal Guard… … you’re talking about the Commander of the Royal Guard.”

Wang Song showed an embarrassed expression. Information about the palace masters was a national secret. Even the martial artists only knew their names and ranks, and personal information such as their martial arts skills, appearance, age, and personality were completely hidden.

“It wouldn’t be difficult for you to give me a leg up, since the commander accepted you in the first place.”

“Then you know who I am.”

“That’s natural. And maybe it can be easily solved. The old commander sometimes gives teachings to the inspectors while they are training.”

“Oh. You are such a kind person.”

“Hmm. I guess we’ll find out when we meet in person… … .”

Wang Song’s words trailed off. It would be difficult for the Commander of the Royal Guard to speak carelessly to an official who was much higher in rank and influence than the Commander of the Royal Inspectorate.

But I was a bit uneasy because the reaction to the words “detailed” was lukewarm.

“Anyway, I can help you arrange a meeting. The commander usually stays at the palace unless something really big happens. He’s probably still there.”

“Yes, I understand.”

So we reached an agreement. I immediately left the palace to make another agreement.

It was Wang Song’s house where the person I was supposed to escort was.

If I were to make time to learn martial arts from the commander, his cooperation was of the utmost importance.

And when I went to Wang Song’s house and met that person, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

The official was preparing to go out, his eyes wide open.

“… …Why are you here?”

“… … What should I say?”

The person who was serving Wang Song as his godfather was none other than Gwan Seo-ye, the successor to the Yunjang Sangdan and my close friend before returning to the throne.