Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 414

◈ Beijing (6)

In that moment, the appearances of Jeongyeonshin and Yongheemyeong became blurred.

The ground that had been supporting the two people’s feet was turned upside down in all directions. Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar filled the empty space.

A cloud of yellow dust rose up with it for a moment, and then an invisible shock wave from the point where the hand and the sword met roughly swept across the ground.

Hwaaaaak―!

The circular ripples tore the dust to shreds.

Several officials surrounding them were covered in sand at the unexpected spectacle.

Although they all radiate strong energy, they are not damaged by wind or anything like that.

Among them, an old civil servant wearing a red uniform slowly opened his mouth.

“… Clearly, there is a limit to the aerodynamics… … .”

The magistrate of Beijing, who governs the livelihoods and civil affairs of the people of the capital on behalf of the emperor.

He still pretends to be relaxed with an old expression, but he cannot hide his slightly trembling eyelids.

Most of the managers in this position were like that.

A middle-aged man wearing yellow military uniform glanced at them and shook his head.

“It is not a human skill. It is the secret of the four-stroke thousand-pound technique, which is often confused with the ability to control steel. If there are those who can control a thousand pounds with a feeble gesture, even if they exert a penny of force, the weight of the herbicide will be comparable to the current of the Yangtze River.”

The middle-aged man spoke as if mumbling.

Then, as he flicked his fingers at his chest, where a red and blue dragon was engraved, the dust on his body flew up and scattered in all directions.

“Anyway, I opened my eyes.”

The only middle-aged man in the vacant lot who doesn’t hide his admiration.

He is the Grand Commander of the Royal Guard.

He had round ears, as if he didn’t have a lot of blood from the nobles, and unlike the others, he was one step forward.

“I guess Your Majesty is quite pleased with them.”

Another old man in red uniform asks quietly.

In an instant, the surrounding air became chilly.

He was the Minister of War who had previously introduced himself to Jeong Yeon-sin as the head of the military, but he spoke with almost no formality.

“That could be the case. Since you were recently appointed to the position of Yeongban, it would be your first time meeting the new sword master.”

“I’m also curious about Yeongban’s thoughts.”

A few people interrupted him.

“what…….”

Daeyoungban didn’t answer. He just stared blankly at the two figures that had suddenly appeared through a gap in the dust.

Magwangikju and Shingeomdanju.

Jeong Yeon-shin was holding hands with Yong Hui-myeong while blocking the blade of the Ipsin Sword with the other hand.

With my ears and senses wide open, I could hear the presence of the Beijing aristocrats, and with my right hand I could feel a tingling pain.

“Were you planning to kill your superior?”

Beyond the long blade of the Ipsin Sword, Yong Huimyeong is making a breathtaking expression.

To Jeong Yeon-shin, it is a face that comes across as clever.

It was because of the sword that came down, completely cutting down the power of the extended Hwan-gang as if it was cutting through space rather than air.

He suppressed his anger with a blank expression. It was said that a gentleman is someone who does not show his discomfort to the outside world.

Jeong Yeon-shin had decided that she would never again toss and turn in bed after the incident with the shaman Gogeom. As an adult, she had set her sights on the world.

‘You have to be careful.’

He made a vow to himself. This resolution would remain unchanged for eternity, like the world made of flat land.

Jeongyeon Shin slowly removed both hands and opened her lips.

“I lost.”

“Let’s call it a draw this time. Your skills were so surprising that I took out a piece of Gongwolmu.”

“I glimpsed the Seven Lights. Was it Gongwolmu?”

“It was a technique to temporarily cover the sword with the Dragon Ring Sword. Isn’t it a timely move? I have what I call a dragon bone, but my shoulders are all sore right now, you punk. The urge to strike is so strong… .”

Yong Huimyeong spun the sword around to scatter light, then thrust the sword into the scabbard at his waist.

Immediately after he takes his hands off the sword hilt, he spreads his arms exaggeratedly and smiles.

“Anyway, it’s a divine being that is not lacking in natural beauty. It would be worth a try with the old man, the chief of the elder generation, before he lost his martial arts skills.”

“You are too kind.”

The corners of Jeongyeonshin’s mouth twitched slightly and then straightened.

He quickly erased his expression. He thought. Don’t be too excited or sad, and don’t open your mouth hastily.

That was when.

Damn it.

“You had faith in Yong Danju. Did you intend to absolve yourself of your sins against the royal family by hiring a new person?”

The eunuch approached. The hem of her red robe brushed the ground, and her seven-foot-tall body blocked the sun.

Yong Huimyeong raises his lips. His face, which had previously poured out insults to the eunuch, regained its composure after the fight with Jeong Yeonshin.

“What about the cotton? It’s just a nobleman’s favor.”

“Certainly, that would be enough to attract the attention of several royal families.”

The low, deep voice sounds like the King of Hell.

Jeongyeon Shin looked up at her right arm, the sleeve of which was torn to pieces.

This is because something as important as recalling the swordsmanship that Yong Hee-myeong showed in his head has come.

‘Eunuch of the case.’

He has been the right-hand man of the current emperor for decades. No other long-winded formalities are needed. He was also a figure who had a great influence on the appointment of the Purple Emperor.

Yong Hui-myeong said that as the head of Dongchang, Seo-chang, and Daenae-haeng-chang, he was the person who had the power to influence the appointments of all high-ranking officials.

Not only was the highest official position of the first rank given to her, but even the positions within the Northern Army of the three great imperial generals who were dispatched on the Northern Expedition were given to her as she had told the emperor.

Swish.

The eunuch who approached lowers his gaze toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I didn’t know we would meet this soon, but I thought we would meet again someday.”

She said.

Jeongyeonshin raised her head. After her transformation, it was rare for her to look up at someone, but in front of the eunuch, she had to raise her eyes.

If the metamorphosis had happened as planned, our eye levels would have been completely opposite.

Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin thought of the giant Pan-gu from the Shan Hai Jing.

The eunuch’s face, which had been staring at him blankly, turned even paler. His face literally looked like a ghost’s.

She opened her mouth slowly.

“…Is the gangster safe?”

“You are very correct.”

“I see.”

The eunuch naturally twisted his feet. He slowly turned his body along with his long flowing official uniform. It was the demeanor of a taciturn ruler.

“I will send word soon.”

As she walked toward the gate, the officials who had been observing them from the surrounding area also adjusted their clothes and followed the eunuch.

Separate from that group, several people, including the Chief of the Royal Guard, briefly greeted Jeong Yeon-sin and left.

“Your Majesty, I will see you again.”

“…Please take care of it.”

After even the eunuch Myungyeo turned his back and disappeared.

Suddenly, Yong Hee-myeong tapped Jeong Yeon-shin on the shoulder.

“At first glance, you might think that eunuch is a power-crazy servant, but in reality, he is a person who is loyal to the Emperor to the bone. It is said that he cannot bend his will easily. His mind is filled only with the imperial power and the safety of the country.”

“…okay.”

“You are an old man who values reason and reason more than anyone else. At my age, you can treat me like a gentleman, but you need to humble yourself before you wear purple clothes. If you ever have to meet me alone, treat me like an old man of high status. I may look young, but I am the same age as your maternal grandfather.”

“All right.”

When Jeong Yeon-shin nodded heavily, Yong Hui-myeong suddenly smiled.

“Well done.”

“yes?”

“You put ‘very’ before the word ‘correct’. You are a man who would be successful even if you held an official position in the middle of the Forbidden City. I am truly admirable.”

Jeong Yeon-shin just ignored her superior’s words. She stared intently at the dark spider hanging over the threshold.

The sun is setting in no time, and it’s hard to fathom how the day went by.

The high-ranking officials who were able to give their opinions on the suitability for the Purple Order of the Emperor were all beings whose intentions were difficult to fathom.

* * *

The next day, permission to enter the palace was granted.

A message came saying that if you have business, you can come and go freely in the fort.

It was a letter stamped with the Crown Prince’s official seal, indicating that he had been acting as regent intermittently for several decades.

“I’m not going now.”

Yong Hee-myeong said.

“There is no need to go into the middle of the Beijing snakes and get involved in trouble. The Emperor is not even here.”

“Then I will stay still.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered while sitting cross-legged on the main hall of the pavilion. Lately, he has been the embodiment of self-restraint.

Yong Hee-myeong’s face faintly shows a look of bewilderment.

“No, it’s okay if you go out for a bit.”

“Do you really… … .”

“The atmosphere of the city is strange. I can sense a strangely sinister atmosphere in this alley and that alley… I think that some dangerous spirits might appear. Maybe this will be an opportunity to win the favor of the Beijing people who desperately seek stability and authority.”

“Are you talking about a spirit?”

A feeling of intuition strikes Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind as she asks again. The purple river.

“I personally found out that His Majesty had left just before we arrived in Beijing. It seems that he wished to temporarily assist in the security of this city.”

“Wasn’t there a separate message?”

“Well, he is a person who speaks through actions and deeds rather than words.”

Yong Hee-myeong, who nodded, continued speaking.

“Even if I guess like this, it’s not as good as asking directly. I guess it’s better. I should visit you in person to urge you to get promoted.”

It is not difficult to talk about having a private meeting with the Emperor.

A word that attests to the status of the Purple Emperor. Or perhaps it is due to the symbolic nature of the title of the Lord of the Swords. Whatever it is, it is a position that Jeongyeonshin must step into.

“Of course, it’s not something that can be done just by looking for the Emperor. The eunuch’s words are not wrong. He tends to listen to various stories. Even though he entrusts the state affairs to the Zhou royal family and his subjects and is busy cultivating his martial arts skills, he fundamentally holds the country in his hands.”

“So you’re saying that we need to gain the favor of high-ranking officials?”

“When all of these things come together – cause, public sentiment, force, necessity – the color that appears is purple. It’s extremely difficult to obtain.”

Yonghee Myung went out the door, smiling.

“The eunuch said he would send a message, so go talk to him. He has already won the favor of Cheonrimdaeju and Seonmokryeongju, so I’m not too worried.”

The master of the swordsmanship of the time really disappeared, saying he would come to see the emperor. Only the summer wind swayed emptyly through the sunset.

Jeongyeonshin was left alone.

The reason was that even Shingeomyechi Yeonseohama was absent. He said that his family home was in Beijing.

And then came a message from the eunuch. It was written in elegant calligraphy, inviting me to a banquet.

Jeong Yeon-shin set out as soon as dusk fell.

“Hwang Ja… Magwangikju?”

“I can tell just by looking at your appearance. You’ve finally come out.”

“The end of the world is truly the end of the world. Traitors with sinister intentions are freely walking around the streets of Beijing.”

“Are you crazy?! The experts listen to everything!”

“Isn’t it true? It’s not about the people’s livelihood, but about seeking personal glory and honor… .”

“Please be quiet…!”

He passed by the Beijingers who were gathered in groups of three or five and gossiping. He walked along the water of the moat that surrounded the Forbidden City.

The air in Beijing was as clear as Xinye County where Zheng Jia Zhang was. The strange hostility of the people living there was not much different from that of Zheng Jia Zhang’s family.

But as the night grew darker, each person turned around to go home, their clothes shining in the moonlight. They were all made of silk.

Everything was new to Jeong Yeon-shin. It was fun to recall the castle walls and people’s behaviors that passed by her sight.

As I walked while receiving all kinds of attention, I soon arrived at my destination.

The pavilion was filled with orange light. The light from the numerous lanterns pushed away the night air.

“I will take you this way.”

A servant who looked quite human guided him.

Soon after, Jeong Yeon-shin sat down with the eunuch in front of a gorgeous sandalwood table. She was still wearing her red official uniform and black hat.

‘How frugal.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. The table setting between the eunuch and herself was simple. There was only a white bottle, two glasses, and what seemed to be a snack.

I don’t know if it’s because he’s not treating his guests well, or if he’s trying to set an example and act upright during a famine.

“I’ll get to the point and get to the point.”

The eunuch opened his mouth. His tone was slightly more relaxed than the conduct he had shown in the palace of Ip Hwang Seong earlier.

“The northern tribe’s forces are destroying the Great Wall. A considerable number of the royal family’s masters have marched north with the imperial army, and the martial artists who are running wild like idiots have no choice but to leave it to the Imperial Palace. You should know this. It will seem like the imperial family has abandoned the people’s livelihood.”

“I guess.”

“In such a chaotic time… the black swords of the Shingeomdan have gathered to seek my safety. If they were gathered in one place, they would have the power to threaten Beijing, but the swords that should only be swung toward the banner of stabilizing the people’s livelihood have moved of their own accord.”

The eunuch’s voice was quiet. It quietly descended into the pavilion where the night sky was clearly visible through the open ceiling.

“That’s where distrust and doubts arise. The power of the Iphwangseong can be moved as one wishes like a swordsman’s Igi-eogeom, and it has been revealed to the world. Is it right to give it another purple authority that can cut off the head of any official? Isn’t it putting too much burden on the government? Are the current Shingeomdan really the ones who only act for the sake of justice?”

“… … .”

“This is why the royal family cannot help but be cautious.”

Swish.

The eunuch’s red sleeve brushed the table. Before she knew it, she was holding a bottle of wine and pouring it into Jeong Yeon-shin’s glass.

A clear stream of water trickles down and fills the glass. Soon, a full moon appears in the glass.

A full moon casting a pale light above the heads of the two people.

The eunuch looked down at Jeong Yeon-shin’s glass.

“That glass is the livelihood of the people of the world. The full moon that filled the glass is like the martial arts that began to invade the people’s homes.”

She continued speaking slowly.

“The martial arts world is growing stronger day by day, and the martial artists who are facing famine are beginning to reveal their violent temperaments without hiding them. There is a limit to the power granted to people… Now, even the Ip Hwang Seong cannot handle the martial arts world and has reached a point where they have to band together.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yeon-shin admitted it calmly.

More than half of the thirteen thousand are scattered across the vast land, and countless small and medium-sized sects are dispersing and uniting under the banner of plunder, while even the masters who are difficult to track down are wandering the world.

There are also threats from outside, including the northern tribes.

Even if you look at Kangho, it’s like that. What would happen if you expanded the territory to include the supernatural beings?

“Our royal family has implemented policies to eradicate the martial arts world several times since the founding of the country, but martial arts are so mysterious that they only become more mysterious and powerful the more they experience turmoil. They never disappear. You are no different. Your family has suffered great calamity, yet you are still alive.”

“… … .”

“This fundamental skepticism is what forms the public opinion of the royal family. Does the Shingeomdan, which cannot look after the livelihood of the people of the world, have the value it once had? Even if it has three purple colors, the chaos that has arisen in the world of martial arts will spread even further. Like the full moon contained here.”

There was silence for a moment. The faint sound of insects slowly pierced the stillness of the moonlit night.

The eunuch stretched out his long index finger and tapped Jeong Yeon-shin’s glass.

“Now answer me. Can the Shingeomdan suppress this chilling full moon? What do you think of the martial arts world that will become even stronger, where only the strong survive in times of chaos? Will you be able to hold onto the lifeline without the gathering of the Black Swords in five years, ten years?”

The eyes of the imperial giant, whose face was whiter than moonlight, contained the pure spirit.

He sat up straight with his back straight. He had been like that from the time the eunuch began to speak until now.

A young man looking down at his drink while wearing a black robe with the right sleeve cut off.

He slowly moved his lips away.

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know?”

What kind of spirit did I expect? There was a slight disappointment on the eunuch’s face when I was young.

“If only I were still alive and not dead in five years… … .”

Jeongyeonshin slowly extended her hand.

“I am.”

The moment he wrapped his fingers around the glass, the bluish full moon on the surface of the wine slowly split in half.

“This is the powerhouse of this country.”

Jeong Yeon-shin concluded her speech calmly.