Chapter 49 – Nakyang
Hanam Province
Although the range has expanded significantly now, the original meaning of the Central Plains referred to the area around Hanam Province.
From the time of Huanghao to the Song Dynasty, all the losers of this land set up their capital in Hanam Province.
In fact, it was a very livable place.
However, during the previous Won Dynasty, the capital was established in Habukseong. In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, the capital was also established in Hanam Province, but later moved to Bukgyeong in Habukseong.
…All of these are stories I heard from my master.
For a martial artist, he was surprisingly well-educated. I wonder what he did in his past.
His nickname was a bit unusual, though…
Anyway, there is a reason why I recalled these old memories.
It’s because we decided to stay in Hanam Province for a while instead of crossing over to the island where the headquarters of the Murim Alliance is located.
Hong Yeon-hwa was looking forward to it so much, how could I just pass it by? We rested enough and even gained some unexpected insights like a gift, so we should start moving soon.
I walked briskly with great anticipation for a few days.
I was on guard in case there were any bandits or Safa’s Madura lurking around, but nothing happened.
We arrived safely in Nakyang without any incidents that could use a sword.
***
“Oh! Oh my god…!”
While waiting in line to enter Nakyang, Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed my sleeve frantically, her pink eyes sparkling.
“You. You. Look at that!”
“What is it?”
“A huge castle gate!”
“Oh, yeah.”
It’s actually pretty cool, but seeing her acting like that makes me want to pretend I’m not impressed.
Perhaps she didn’t like my indifferent reaction, as she started tapping on Pung So-so’s arm.
“So-so! Look at that! The castle walls are also very long!”
“That, that’s right! It’s a castle wall!”
Pung So-so, who was used to all kinds of fancy things as a member of a prestigious family, responded awkwardly… It’s so awkward.
Even Pung So-so showed a subtle reaction, so Hong Yeon-hwa pouted and kicked the ground with her toes, looking upset.
Touching her soft cheeks, I told her a story that would make her feel better.
“You know the food in the booklet you saw before, right?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Most of them can be found here, right?”
“Huh!”
Like a duck-billed platypus that detects prey with its beak, Hong Yeon-hwa was surprised and excited.
“That, that’s true?”
“Of course.”
“Jin-ga is right. You can find almost anything here.”
Even Pung So-so chimed in, and Hong Yeon-hwa swallowed her saliva and stared blankly into space.
“Heh…”
Slowly, Hong Yeon-hwa’s lips curled up. It wasn’t hard to guess what she was imagining.
“Hey, hey.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know? In Nakyang, there’s a dish called the chief water banquet, which is a constantly changing soup dish with 24 different types of soup…”
Oh, so she wants to try that?
Starting with dishes that can only be found in Nakyang to dishes she’s never even heard of.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s voice was filled with excitement as she kept talking about it. We passed through the inspection and were able to enter the city.
As soon as we passed through the castle gate, the view was breathtaking. People were bustling around, going back and forth.
From ordinary farmers to busy merchants pulling carts, to wealthy aristocrats looking enviously at them.
There were also armed warriors with weapons on their waists or backs, leisurely looking around, and military officers sharply monitoring everyone.
It was a bustling city with more people passing through than the checkpoint we visited earlier.
The buildings in the distance were even larger and more magnificent.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s mouth hung open in awe as she took in all the sights. Why was she so excited before even entering?
But what came out of her mouth was a voice filled with indescribable complexity.
“It’s nothing. I just remembered something from the past for a moment.”
“Hong Unni?”
When Pung So-so called out to her in confusion at her sudden change, Hong Yeon-hwa slowly raised her head.
“If it’s about the past… is it about the Murim you were in?”
“That’s right. It’s getting late, so let’s move and talk at the same time.”
I glanced up at the sky, which was already covered in a red sunset, just as Hong Yeon-hwa said.
As we made our way through the bustling crowd, Hong Yeon-hwa showed off some impressive acrobatics that would surprise any warrior.
She then led the way and began to speak.
“First of all, there were no proper castles in my world.”
“What? Then what happens if enemies invade?”
“If we think we can win, we fight. If not, we surrender.”
“What kind of… oh.”
Pung So-so realized a little late and nodded her head.
“The Great Ming Empire has already fallen, right?”
The giant factions and their armies ruled over different regions like kings, but the Central Plains were vast. There were more than just one or two places where their power didn’t reach.
Since no one paid attention to them, the borders would have collapsed long ago due to frequent invasions.
“The castles in the interior that were far from the borders crumbled under the rule of the local powers.”
“It wasn’t because they fought against other powers?”
“No, they collapsed on their own.”
“Odaeseaga and Gupa-ilbang. No, even the gangs of Sapa did not consider each other as enemies.”
They focused on looting the unskilled peasants rather than fighting each other.
Of course, even in such times, there were people who shouted for justice. Sometimes, such people emerged among the commoners.
And that’s why the Murim League was created, to firmly establish their rule.
This Murim League, which was created to counter the organization called Sama-ryeon, was different from its very inception.
“The first thing the Murim League did when it was founded was to break down the castle walls.”
Castle walls were built to easily deal with stronger enemies.
The commoners who feared rebellion started to demolish even intact castles.
After all, they were stronger if they fought normally.
By the way, the remaining Sapa enjoyed themselves in the middle of the chaos, pretending to be messengers of the mainstream.
“That’s why the Nakyang that Lady Bon saw during the Battle of Jungma was completely different from what it is now.”
Collapsed castle walls, closed shops, corpses lying in corners, and people who died inside before their bodies did.
At that time, the undefeated warriors of Soryimsa who came down from Sungsan ruled Nakyang.
They created a private forest for themselves in Nakyang for the ridiculous reason that they would create paradise in the midst of chaos and suffering.
“It’s so ridiculous to see them enjoying meat, raping women by force, and committing murder as a pastime while displaying an invincible martial art based on mercy. You won’t know until you see it for yourself.”
“….”
“….”
It seemed like a joke, but Pung So-so and I couldn’t laugh.
Hong Yeon-hwa had told us about where she used to live a few times, but this was the first time she had told us in such detail.
Hong Yeon-hwa noticed our reaction and returned to her usual soft voice.
“Oops! There’s no need to look so serious. Didn’t I tell you?”
Swish.
Hong Yeon-hwa punched the air with her fist and continued speaking.
“Lady Bon beat them all up.”
“…Well, we won everything, but we got hit from behind by the hidden enemies.”
When I shrugged my shoulders to lighten the mood, Hong Yeon-hwa hit her forehead against my forearm.
“I got hurt a little, but it was Lady Bon’s victory since we killed them all! And if that attack hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have met you… Do you want me to wish for that?”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had stopped moving, looked up at me with her pink eyes wide open.
Lately, Hong Yeon-hwa had been acting cute all the time. The problem was that she was actually cute. I stretched my cheeks out of unnecessary resentment.
“Ugh! Where did you learn to act like this?”
“Ouch! It hurts! Why do you keep pinching my cheeks if you like it?”
Hong Yeon-hwa exaggeratedly flailed her arms, even though I didn’t pinch her cheeks that hard. In that moment, I couldn’t feel the weight of her previous words.
As we stood there for a moment, Pung So-so, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.
“But, Hong Unni, if the Murim League has been destroyed and the rebels have been dealt with, isn’t there no reason to go back?”
“Hmm?”
Hong Yeon-hwa broke free from my grip and tilted her head. Was she purposely seeking attention?
“That’s not the case.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because I am a Cheonma.”
If there was no way to go back, then there was no choice. But if it was possible, she had to return to where her followers were.
That was Hong Yeon-hwa’s duty as a Cheonma.
“It won’t always be a bad thing. If there are no problems, wouldn’t Myeonggyo become a new unified country?”
“Uh… really?”
Pung So-so, who had been tilting her head, suddenly looked hopeful.
We couldn’t help but seek wealth and prosperity.
