chap 454

Zhu Won-Gong, with eyes wide in disbelief, stammered out his question, voice trembling.

"W-what did you say?"

Has this bastard been deaf all this while? He keeps making me repeat myself.

I ignored the astonished onlookers, whose eyes darted between Zhu Won-Gong and me, mouths agape in shock. I reiterated firmly.

"Get down."

"But, I am Zhu Won-Gong!"

"I don't care if you're the main character or Zhu Won-Gong. Get down." [Note: the word for "main character" is juingong, which is phonetically similar to this person's name.]

"You too are a subject of this great nation. How dare you commit such rudeness towards me, a blood relative of His Majesty the Emperor!"

"And I have a friend named Johnson. If he were here, he'd commit something else."

"…!"

"I'll say it one last time. Get down."

Though he had no way of understanding my meaning, the threat in my tone was easy enough to understand.

Zhu Won-Gong, who had been instintively wiggling his buttocks, slowly got to his feet.

Though this was a scenario unlike any he had faced before, and his eyes darted about nervously, he clung to his royal status.

"Do you think you'll be safe after this?"

"Well, I think I will be."

"To insult royalty... this is treason!"

"Don't lose your hair, man. You'll be fine."

"What kind of man...!"

I responded with a shrug, my tone casual but not entirely without merit.

Born of the Zhu family, akin to the Emperor himself and descendant of dragons, Zhu Won-Gong's noble blood was undisputed.

Despite the non-aggression pact between Murim and the government, any disrespect toward royalty was seen as a grave offense.

It wasn't for no reason that the Jaegal family member beside me was fidgeting nervously, like a dog desperate for relief.

"It might be best to stop now."

I frowned at the Jaegal family member's whisper.

"Why?"

"Huh, what?"

"What did I do? I didn't curse, I didn't threaten to kill anyone. They started the aggression, not me. All I did was tell him to get off the palanquin."

"…Well, yes, that's true. But he is still royalty, isn't he?"

"Even among royalty, there's levels to it, isn't there? If we're talking about eighth cousins, it's hardly the same bloodline; it's more like just a few drops of blood. If I spit into the Yangtze, I would be eighth cousins with the river."

"...Master Jin, please."

"It's fine. I spoke softly, so no one could have heard it."

As the Jaegal family member and I exchanged these whispered words, Zhu Won-Gong, misinterpreting our hushed tones as conspiratorial, bellowed with newfound fury.

"It seems you've finally grasped the situation. But it's too late. Soon, the royal army of a hundred thousand will mobilize to annihilate you and all the traitors' families!"

"Oh, a buster call." [Note: this is a One Piece reference, for those who don't know.]

"What have you been saying all this time, this traitorous scum!"

"Gasps!"

"Eek!"

Rage blazed in Zhu Won-Gong's eyes, prompting the commoners to gulp nervously and bow deeply. By then, the crowd was scattering, each person eager to escape the unfolding drama.

They seemed to be dodging unnecessary trouble, which meant fewer eyes on me — not an unwelcome development.

'At the drop of a hat, they threaten to annihilate entire families.'

Is this their usual response to mild irritants?

The Jaegal family member sighed and murmured to me.

"Don't be too scared. The talk of a hundred thousand troops is just a bluff."

"…Do I look like a fool to you? As if I'd believe that."

"Initially, Master Zhu here leveraged his royal status to embezzle assets and ended up in exile. He's not likely to want to escalate things. Better to apologize and step back."

"Wait a minute. Exile?"

"Yes."

"That guy?"

"He's still royalty. No matter how distant the kinship, you can't just ignore blood ties. And even though he's so far from the line of succession, even if he commits a crime, he's still afforded a certain leniency."

"In other words, he's such a piece of shit that no one around him cares?"

"…Master Jin, please choose your words more carefully."

I chuckled at the Jaegal family member's admonitions, dismissing them casually.

A royal, not at the palace but mingling with commoners on the roads of Hubei Province? He was even less consequential than I initially thought.

That was pretty obvious when he began talking about eighth cousins.

"First, I'll gouge out those arrogant eyes of yours that failed to recognize my noble self, then dismember you…"

"Alright. I get it. But let's look at this first and then talk."

Nonchalantly, I tossed an item I had retrieved from my pocket at Zhu Won-Gong, who was in the midst of his pompous tirade.

As he caught it, his chest inflated with pride, he flailed his arms dramatically and collapsed, dropping the item.

"It's a hidden weapon! A hidden weapon! This scoundrel is trying to assassinate royalty!"

"…Quite the spectacle, truly."

And the next moment.

The 'hidden weapon' at Zhu Won-Gong's feet scattered brilliant light, capturing everyone's attention.

"Huh?"

Zhu Won-Gong's confusion was palpable as he stared down at the object.

"Huh? Wha, what, what!"

His confusion quickly escalated into sheer astonishment.

Zhu Won-Gong's eyes shifted back and forth between the token of the King of the Northern Mountains, adorned with intricate designs of clouds and dragons, and me. [Note: as a reminder, this is the little Prince who was fan of the MC that we saw in manhwa chapter 98.]

"I shall bestow my mercy upon you and forgive you."

"...."

Fucking nonsense.

* * *

"So, you were on your way to Dongting Lake?"

"Yes! No, that's right!"

Zhu Won-Gong nodded emphatically, encouraged by my calm demeanor.

The low-ranking martial artists employed by his retinue worked alongside the newly arrived government troops to maintain order among the crowd, while Cheong Pung, having just procured a significant batch of dumplings, looked on with wide-eyed wonder upon hearing mention of Dongting Lake.

"Wow, Dongting Lake!"

Zhu Won-Gong, now aware of the identity of this dumpling ghost, cast a nervous glance at the sword hanging from Cheong Pung's belt.

"If you wish, I could invite you…"

I murmured.

"You're saying things you don't mean."

"No! You misunderstand..."

"Are you prone to such misunderstandings often? Attacking someone who's just passing by quietly seems to suggest so."

"That is… I must apologize once again. I had no idea you were carrying the token of the King of the Northern Mountains."

"Ah, if it weren't for the token, you would have brought a hundred thousand troops, annihilated my family, gouged out my eyes, and then dismembered me?"

"What sort of thing is that to say. Ha, haha."

His forced laughter did little to mask his discomfort.

'I didn't realize the token could be so effective.'

There was a clear reason why Zhu Won-Gong was being so submissive.

Even animals are assessed based on their lineage, regarded as either purebreds or mixed breeds. So naturally, among royalty, who claim the most noble of bloodlines, the scrutiny is far more intense.

Zhu Biao, the King of the Northern Mountains, stands uniquely in the royal hierarchy. As the only full brother of the Emperor and the sole feudal king directly appointed by him, he wields considerable influence. [Note: a feudal king is a king in every sense of the word over their designated land, but they answer to a higher king or emperor who resides in another place.]

After the death of the previous emperor, Zhu Biao became the Achilles' heel of the ruthless emperor who eliminated many of his kin in the struggle for the throne.

In stark contrast, Zhu Won-Gong, an eighth cousin within the sprawling royal family, barely scratches the surface of this direct lineage.

The direct royal bloodline carries undeniable legitimacy and authority, rendering Zhu Biao a much-revered figure compared to the distantly-related Zhu Won-Gong.

'This is what they call 'using barbarians to control barbarians.'

Barbarians are overthrown by barbarians, and weaker dragons by stronger ones.

To think that my most enthusiastic fan club president would give me such authority... the more I think about it, the more it fills my heart with joy.

"Well, anyway, that aside. What are you planning to do at Dongting Lake?"

"Well, the weather is nice, so maybe some boating…"

At my incredulous expression, Zhu Won-Gong quickly corrected himself.

"Boating, and since the atmosphere in Hubei Province isn't great lately, I thought I'd inspect the people's conditions."

"…Maybe you should inspect your own life first. Weren't you exiled for embezzling a fortune through back channels?"

"Cough, ahem!"

"And you're gathering all these people for a boating trip? In these troubled times?"

Those in Hubei Province who are aware are trembling with anxiety amid the spreading ominous rumors, and here's this exiled royal planning an extravagant outing on Dongting Lake.

If Mr. Lee Si-Guk were to hear of this, he'd have every right to smash their heads in with a hammer. [Note: 이시국 literally translates to "in these times", however, the phrase has been contemporarily coined as "Mr. Lee Si-Guk". This term came about when a Korean actor named Lee Si-Eon, decided to take a trip to Japan at the height of tensions between the two contries due to trade disputes and compensation agreements for "comfort women" and forced laborers from World War II. Since the tensions in Hubei are high, and particularly the tensions around Dongting Lake, it's a stupid decision to go for a boating trip.]

'As usual with those who have everything.'

I shook my head in disapproval and stood up, ready to depart from this farce.

It seemed everything was quieting down, and I was poised to leave without further involvement, but Zhu Won-Gong saw it differently.

"Wait, just a minute. Where are you going?"

"I'm too busy to go on a boating trip on Dongting Lake. What about it?"

"If I've offended you, let me apologize once again. In that spirit…"

As Zhu Won-Gong signaled with his eyes, warriors from the Blue Heroes Gang, already on standby, approached with a magnificent palanquin.

Even before the cloth was drawn, a subtle fragrance teased my nose.

'No...it can't be.'

There's an old saying, 'That which you never expect can kill you'. Once again, it is proven true.

"Show yourself."

No sooner had Zhu Won-Gong spoken than the curtain of the palanquin was flung open.

In the next moment, the sight of a woman delicately stepping out of the palanquin involuntarily drew a gasp from me.

"…Hmm."

It's often said that celebrities are either pretty or handsome.

However, the woman before me possessed a beauty that surpassed those conventional descriptors.

'Stunning.'

That seemed the most fitting word.

Her allure was so striking that even I, aware of Zhu Won-Gong's schemes, couldn't help but be impressed.

She was so breathtaking that Goong Gi-Bang frantically washed his face with his own spit, and Hyuk Mu-Jin stood agape. Cheong Pung, who had been affectionately admiring his meat and vegetable dumplings, let them fall to the ground as he looked up.

The silence was palpable, punctuated only by Zhu Won-Gong's voice.

"This is the singer I keep by my side. As you can see, her beauty could rightly be called peerless in the world, and her skill with melodies is so exquisite that anyone would be captivated by her performance."

Well, even without the music, it seems she could steal people's souls.

My face betrayed my awe, earning a smug grin from Zhu Won-Gong, who then prompted the woman.

"What are you doing? Why don't you come and say hello?"

Her red lips slowly parted.

"I am Hongran. I am immensely pleased to meet such distinguished guests."

"…Oh."

"…Wow."

"…Umm."

Gasps erupted from all around before the shock of her appearance could even settle. Her voice was clear yet enchanting.

Hongran. The name, meaning 'red orchid', suited her perfectly.

'Of course, her real name would be different, and she's not really a singer.'

Like many courtesans, including Wolhwa, Hongran concealed her true identity.

And unlike Zhu Won-Gong, ignorant of martial arts, she had acquired a certain level of martial arts mastery.

- Lower District Sect?

At my Sound Transmission, her delicate shoulders flinched, and then Hongran nodded slightly.

'I thought so.'

The sect was renowned, second only to the Beggar Sect in the number of its disciples.

Zhu Won-Gong, beside me, seemed oblivious to this fact. Yet, like other courtesans from the Lower District Sect, Hongran was trained in sufficient martial arts to protect herself.

"So, what do you say, Master Jin? If you give me the chance, I will treat you properly. Of course, Hongran will sit by your side…"

'Let's see if you still won't come with me.' That was written all over the smug face of Zhu Won-Gong. Looking intently at Hongran, I opened my mouth with a smile.

"I'm still much too busy."

"Then let's get going, shall we? Wait, what did you just say?"

"Why are you so flustered? I'm pretty sure I mentioned I was busy with something important. Or is my memory failing?"

"Ah, no. But still, with Hongran here…"

I raised my hand to cut off Zhu Won-Gong. I had already wasted enough time tangled up in this needless affair. If I were the type to be led astray by beauty, I wouldn't have survived this long.

"You should just enjoy yourself moderately. It's better to go home and stay quiet. That's all for now."

Just as I was about to turn away, Zhu Won-Gong presented something.

"Wait! How about this then?"

"...?"

"I've heard a rumor that His Majesty, the King of the Northern Mountains, got your signature, Master Jin. Please, could you do the same for me..."

"…!"

It looks like my fan club is about to get a new member.