WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Episode 44: King Jin (2)
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The Ministry of War was one of the Six Ministries.
Among the six administrative bodies, the Ministry of War oversaw military authority, in other words, all military affairs.
Within it was the Ministry of War Registrar Office, which handled practical affairs. Among its twelve departments, the Inner Palace Administration Department held the greatest authority.
Someone arrived at the Registrar Office that oversaw that department.
It was O Mu-yang, the Censorate's fourth-rank Left Assistant Censor.
Step, step!
"Hm?"
A fifth-rank Assistant Office Director spotted O Mu-yang's arrival, bowed in greeting, then informed the fifth-rank Office Director they served.
"Office Director. The Censorate's Left Assistant Censor has arrived."
The tall young official with an eyepatch over their left eye rose from their work and greeted O Mu-yang.
They were the Office Director, the head of the Ministry of War Registrar Office.
"Greetings, Left Assistant Censor."
"Hahaha. I apologize for dropping by so suddenly when you must be busy with official business."
"Not at all. Since you're here, please come to the reception room. I should at least offer you a cup of tea."
"Thank you. Very well."
O Mu-yang and the Office Director entered the reception room together.
Once the door closed behind them, the situation changed.
After stroking their beard, O Mu-yang promptly dropped to one knee and performed a Fist-and-palm salute.
Thump!
"Greetings to the future Master."
That was right.
The tall young official with an eyepatch over their left eye, the one serving as the Office Director, was the future Master whom O Mu-yang served.
The Office Director waved a hand as if annoyed by the formality.
Then they crossed their legs arrogantly in their chair.
"I told you not to come to the Inner Palace Administration Department during the day, when there are too many eyes around."
"My apologies. It was urgent enough that I had to deliver it in person."
To anyone unaware of the truth, it would have been an odd sight.
The higher-ranked fourth-rank Left Assistant Censor was groveling before a fifth-rank Office Director.
Of course, their relationship could not be measured by official rank.
The Office Director asked curiously, "Something urgent? What happened?"
"King Jin has finally moved."
"King Jin?"
One of the Office Director's eyebrows rose at the report.
King Jin, who had remained firmly in place despite every scheme the Emperor's faction had used against him, had finally made a move.
A smile curled across the Office Director's lips, followed by a soft laugh.
"King Jin is no different from anyone else when it comes to blood relatives."
"Yes. I never expected him to crawl out of there on his own."
"Planting that spy was worthwhile after all."
It had taken nearly two years to learn that Princess Seo, King Jin's daughter, was at Changcheon Martial Academy.
No matter how careful King Jin was about preventing leaks, their prediction had proven right. Since she was his child, he would contact her somehow, even if only occasionally.
That had allowed them to deceive Princess Seo and force King Jin into action.
"He's coming to the imperial capital, then."
"It seems he's almost here."
"He's fast."
"It appears he's traveling quietly with only a minimal escort. Even so, he cannot evade our eyes."
"So he intends to avoid becoming entangled with anyone."
"That seems to be the case."
"What about the Emperor's faction?"
"The Imperial Palace's Flying Horse Brigade has already mobilized."
"The Flying Horse Brigade?"
A strange glint appeared in the Office Director's eyes.
The Flying Horse Brigade was one of five secret organizations the Imperial Palace had cultivated since the incident seventeen years ago.
The Imperial Palace had opened the Imperial Palace Martial Archive and poured vast wealth into raising those five organizations. Their leaders possessed martial prowess comparable to the heads of the Nine Sects and One Clan, while the Chief Brigade Leader and Deputy Chief Brigade Leader who commanded them were said to be even stronger.
There were even rumors that the Chief Brigade Leader rivaled the two Grand Elders who guarded the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace had spent a long time building its strength.
"So even the Flying Horse Brigade has moved. They have no intention of letting this chance slip away."
"That is likely."
"At last, the picture we wanted is taking shape."
"Yes. The time we've waited for is coming."
If King Jin was dealt with through this matter, the senior ministers who remained from the Former Emperor's reign would naturally lose their positions as well.
Once that happened, the things they had prepared for so long could begin.
The Office Director rose from their seat.
"I understand. Then, to prepare for any possibility..."
"Ah! Future Master, there is one more thing I must tell you first."
"One more thing?"
"Before the Flying Horse Brigade acts, I believe we must personally detain one person for the sake of caution."
"One person? Who is it?"
O Mu-yang answered in a low voice.
"Inspector Censor Yu Jin-sung."
Until receiving that shocking news not long ago, they had intended to let Yu Jin-sung die for the spark of the Grand Plan.
Now, though, Yu Jin-sung was someone they absolutely had to capture.
They had to prevent the worst variable Sa Mu-heo had warned them about.
* * *
'!?'
Princess Seo, Hong Na-yeon, was momentarily dumbfounded by Mumu's words.
What she wanted to ask was for him to protect her father from the Emperor should the worst come to pass, so King Jin would not be in danger.
She had never expected such dangerous words to come from Mumu's mouth.
'D-deal with the Emperor?'
Even martial artists could not casually speak of, much less entertain, treason against the Emperor, the ruler of the country.
If anyone else had been present, it could have become a serious problem.
Fortunately, there was no one nearby except the two of them.
"You can't say things like that carelessly, Mumu."
"Why not?"
"What do you mean, why? That's treason..."
"The Emperor is the one making you and King Jin suffer, Senior. Wouldn't everything be fine if that bad Emperor were gone?"
"..."
He was right, but he said it so freely.
Whenever she spoke with this child, he seemed innocent, yet his simple logic sometimes made her feel as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.
Hong Na-yeon stared at Mumu's face.
'...It still doesn't suit him at all.'
She still had not grown used to his fierce appearance.
A snort of laughter escaped Hong Na-yeon's lips.
'He's such a strange child.'
Even after learning she was a member of the imperial family, Mumu's attitude had not changed in the slightest.
Come to think of it, he still called her Senior.
Anyone else would have begun calling her Your Highness and watching every word they said.
That was what made him different.
Hong Na-yeon asked, "Do you really mean that?"
"If you want me to."
'If I want him to...'
Hong Na-yeon's cheeks reddened slightly.
A man was saying he would do even something nearly impossible for her.
Mumu's words made her heart pound.
"What's wrong? Your face is red."
"Ah!"
Feeling suddenly embarrassed, Hong Na-yeon covered her face and turned away.
Her cheeks burned, her heart raced, and the feeling was strange.
She did not know why she was reacting this way.
She tried to calm herself by regulating her breathing.
'R-right. There's no way he could seriously mean he would do something to the Emperor.'
What Mumu had said just now was surely meant to comfort her while she was feeling discouraged.
It could not be because he saw her as a woman.
This child was simply warm-hearted...
Hong Na-yeon glanced sideways at Mumu.
'...'
Mumu was tilting his head.
Strangely, even though he wore a Skin Mask, she felt as though she could see his real face.
There was no one around.
They were alone.
"Mumu..."
Her pounding heart overwhelmed her, and Hong Na-yeon unknowingly began reaching toward Mumu's face.
At that moment, Mumu abruptly turned his head.
Hong Na-yeon, who had been swept up in the moment, could not help feeling awkward.
'What was I just about to do...'
"Can you see that over there?"
"Hm?"
At Mumu's words, Hong Na-yeon looked in the same direction.
Something was visible through a cloud of dust.
It appeared to be a group of riders.
Even from afar, there had to be well over a hundred of them.
Thududududu!
As the riders drew nearer, the sound of pounding hooves grew louder.
People dressed in black sat atop the horses.
Hong Na-yeon frowned.
'Masks?'
Every one of them wore a mask over their face.
This was a broad road across open plains, so it was not unusual to see many people traveling on horseback.
But if they were all masked, that changed things.
Sensing something suspicious, Hong Na-yeon said, "Mumu... We should retreat to where the others are first."
She did not know whether they were enemies or simply happened to be wearing masks, but there were far too many of them, so she suggested retreating.
Mumu shook his head.
"I think we should wait a moment."
"Wait?"
"If they're enemies, we can't let them meet up with the others."
'Ah!'
A gleam appeared in her eyes at Mumu's words.
She had thought this child was simply innocent and naive, but he had more insight than she expected.
As Mumu said, returning now would cause them to meet the Censorate's escort procession approaching from behind.
Their injuries had not fully healed, so they could be placed in danger if a fight broke out.
"...You're right. But are you..."
Hong Na-yeon let out a soft breath before she could finish asking whether he would be all right.
It was a meaningless question.
The man before her had defeated even the Four Immortal Masters and sent a river surging like a tidal wave after an embankment collapsed back upstream with a single fist.
Worrying about Mumu was almost laughable.
Thududududu!
Before long, the mounted masked figures approached them.
Hong Na-yeon secretly hoped it was all a coincidence and that they were not enemies, but that hope was no more than a hope.
As they came closer, the masked figures on horseback drew their weapons.
That confirmed it.
'Enemies!'
They were enemies.
Hong Na-yeon pulled the ornate bow from her back.
It was Flowing Fire Scarlet Star, a famous bow gifted to her by the Sichuan Bow Emperor.
Its bowstave was made from redwood, known for its exceptional elasticity, allowing the string to be drawn farther than an ordinary bow and doubling its power.
Click!
She drew five arrows at once, nocked them, and pulled back the bowstring.
Creeeak!
Hong Na-yeon glanced at Mumu.
He was fiddling with the golden bracelet around his left wrist.
What was he doing?
After wondering that, she turned her attention forward.
Thududududu!
The masked riders entered her arrows' range.
Hong Na-yeon slowly steadied her breathing.
'I can't keep relying on his help.'
With Mumu here, she decided to make the most of this chance for a real fight and unleashed an Ultimate Technique of the Flowing Fire Bow Art.
'Flowing Fire Bow Art. Sixth Technique, Five Blossoms Gentle Willow Arrow!'
The instant she released the drawn bowstring,
Papang!
Five arrows traced arcs through the air, soaring above the masked figures instead of toward them.
The masked figures leading the charge sneered.
"Where are you aiming?"
Then,
Papapak!
"Urgh!"
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
'!?'
The arrows that had flown upward curved unpredictably and came down from above, striking two careless masked figures.
Clang!
Clang!
Of course, not all of them had let their guard down.
Two masked figures seemed more skilled than those who had been hit. They watched the arrows until the end and knocked them away with their weapons.
"Hmph!"
"What petty trick is this!"
The two who had blocked the arrows looked pleased with themselves.
But the problem was the final arrow.
Thwack!
Neigh!
"W-what?"
The final arrow pierced the head of a horse in the middle of the group, throwing the masked figure riding it to the ground along with the horse.
Crash!
The fallen horse and masked figure tripped the charging horses behind them, causing four more horses to fall in succession.
Hong Na-yeon gave a small cry of delight at the sight.
She had not intended the final shot, but with five arrows, she had taken seven masked figures out of action.
"How was that, Mumu? Seven with one draw of the bowstring. I did well..."
Fwaaaaaang!
At that moment, an overwhelming blast of wind pressure whipped her hair wildly across her face.
Kwakakakakakakakakabang!
A thunderous roar loud enough to hurt her eardrums erupted.
Neigh!
Even her horse was startled and began to rear.
"Easy!"
After barely calming it down, she swept the hair stuck to her face back.
Her vision cleared.
'!!!!!!'
Hong Na-yeon was left speechless by the sight before her.
Sssshhh!
Mumu held his blackened, steaming fist out before him.
From his fist outward, the plains had been destroyed in a fan-shaped swath.
Everything within its range had vanished.
Aside from five riders at the far left and right edges who had luckily fallen outside the blast's reach, every one of the countless masked figures had disappeared without a trace.
"Ah! What did you say just now?"
Mumu turned toward Hong Na-yeon and asked.
"..."
She had been about to boast about taking out seven with one draw of her bowstring.
Now she felt too embarrassed to say it.
Footnotes:
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