I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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44
Meanwhile, rumors about Seonwu slowly began to spread.
The rumors of what happened in Sangdang County reached An’ye County.
At the same time, what happened in An’ye County spread to Sangdang County as well.
Furthermore, the news quickly rippled out to other neighboring counties.
Stories spread rapidly across the northern region of Anhui Province, which bordered Henan Province, about two young senior and junior fellow disciples of the Peak Realm who had suddenly appeared.
Wang Pal, a former member of the Haoma Gate and currently an errand boy for the Beggars’ Sect, also loitered around Seonwu, keeping an eye out to see if there was any more information he could dig up.
Of course, he didn’t dare get too close carelessly, instead simply going about his work like an ordinary worker at the inn.
‘Where on earth did they pop out from?’
The only piece of information he had managed to obtain was the name of their sect: the Eunhak Sect.
It was a sect that had nearly gone extinct, meaning that while they possessed martial arts, they had no people left.
However, the two fellow disciples had reportedly obtained a fortuitous encounter and restored their martial arts.
That was the extent of it.
‘They said the one called the junior disciple actually looks a bit older.’
But well, that sort of thing could easily be reversed if one had a baby face and the other had an aged face.
It wasn’t an incredibly massive difference anyway….
Or perhaps the junior disciple truly was older in terms of actual age, but their titles were reversed based on the order of their entry into the sect and the master’s wishes.
After all, even in the Beggars’ Sect to which he belonged, the ranking of senior and junior fellow disciples didn’t necessarily follow chronological age.
‘And looking at the words leaking out about the course of the battle, it seems the junior disciple is a swordsman.’
Though he punished them only to the extent of breaking their bones without drawing his sword from its scabbard or severing any limbs, they said his sword technique was truly fierce and brutal.
‘Even if someone like me saw it directly, what would I really know… but what kind of sword technique is it?’
In the first place, he had never even heard of a sect called the Eunhak Sect.
‘And the senior disciple uses fists rather than a sword?’
He walked around carrying two swords, but he reportedly suppressed the Leader of Baekwol Sect using fist techniques.
‘Since the Leader of Baekwol Sect is also in the Peak Realm in his own right, he must have used his specialty.’
However, combining the testimonies gathered by the other guys, they said the junior disciple also mixed fist techniques into his movements while swinging his sword.
‘In other words, the martial arts of the Eunhak Sect consist of the sword and the fist. Hmm, quite standard.’
Even for sects that heavily emphasized sword techniques like the Mount Hua Sect or the Namgung Clan, they always possessed at least one martial art that utilized bare hands just in case of emergencies.
Usually, only one of the two would be the sect-defining ultimate technique, while the other was typically a bit subpar….
Though cases where both were equally considered ultimate techniques weren’t completely unheard of either.
The senior disciple is better at the fist among the sect’s martial arts, and the junior disciple is better at the sword.
It was a perfectly plausible scenario.
‘Even so, where on earth did they spring from?’
They were opponents far too burdensome to dig into deeply at the mere level of a man responsible for a single county.
By now, the information must have been sent up to the prefecture level as well, so wouldn’t someone start moving soon?
* * *
Amidst a mountain of gathered attention, Dan Suyeong returned.
“The talk is finished.”
Seonwu grinned.
“What did he say?”
“The magistrate judge will arrive in a few days.”
“Good.”
“In that case, will you wait for the magistrate judge?”
“I was thinking about doing that, but then again, if the magistrate judge arrives exactly when we are here and conducts the trial in the precise direction we want, it might seem a bit too coincidental.”
“Then…”
“The path coming this way from over there is pretty obvious, right?”
“Yes, we won’t cross paths blindly.”
Seonwu nodded his head.
“We shall leave, but let us deliver the desired verdict on our way out. Send the top leaders to the border to serve in the army in white clothes. Include the County Magistrate as well. As for the rest, have them focus on the defense of this place with about a flogging and a fine.”
“I shall convey that to the magistrate judge.”
“It’s a bit problematic if some random scoundrel crawls back into the spot vacated by those four leaders, though…”
“We can have the official authorities keep watch for the time being, and in the meantime, wouldn’t it be fine if the Feilong Sect sends people to take it over?”
‘Oh, that’s true.’
At Dan Suyeong’s words, Seonwu realized that this was exactly what it meant to have abundant human resources.
‘As expected, if we do that, I’ll at least be able to control the actions of White Moon Sect here.’
Of course, he would have to set up a double-monitoring system.
It would be troublesome if the subordinates sent from the Feilong Sect became equally corrupt, wouldn’t it?
He would make sure they only collected protection fees and absolutely never engaged in things like the Yama Debt Ring.
Should he just have them convert entirely into an orthodox faction?
That would be better.
“Fine. Then take it over, but as for the subsequent guidelines of conduct…”
Seonwu organized the matters that needed to be strictly observed.
[Oh, marvelous. If you do it this way, you can take over sects all over the place and swap them out into organizations under your command.]
At the sword’s praise, Seonwu tilted his head to the side.
‘Huh? That sounds like some secret conspiracy organization taking root all over Zhongyuan… Nah, it’ll be fine.’
There were over a thousand counties in the entire Zhongyuan.
Even if he scattered them like this, how many of those could he possibly occupy?
He was merely cutting out the guys who had way too many problems and dispatching healthy managers controlled by him in the shadows into their spots.
Since the existing official authorities couldn’t properly govern the Wulin, he had to step in additionally like this.
‘Hmm, boy. Playing the chivalrous xia is all well and good, but…’
Punishing wicked unorthodox martial artists was within the realm of a chivalrous xia.
However, inspecting corrupt officials who were difficult for even a chivalrous xia to touch…
‘It’s only possible because I’m a prince; it would have been difficult if I were just a regular chivalrous xia.’
He might be able to act crazy and strike down one person, but cleanly dismissing and punishing them everywhere he went was only possible because of a prince’s authority.
Furthermore, as for mobilizing the human resources to manage things afterward, he had masters he could bring along because he was a prince.
‘Ahem, I must give thanks to Imperial Father once again.’
He had wondered what to do after being handed an organization as massive as the Feilong Sect.
The place to use it had appeared immediately.
‘Right. In wuxia novels, they defeat evil and depict it as if everything worked out roughly fine after the chivalrous xia left, but…’
There was no way reality was that simple.
In novels, the author appropriately processes the scenes shown to the reader.
They show what they want to show and omit what they don’t want to show.
Through that, one ends up looking at and thinking about only those specific sides.
However, when it becomes reality, one even has to think about how to handle the vacuum of power.
It was just like the logic that if you pulled out a rotten tooth, you had to get an implant in that spot.
‘Good. I shall roam the land as a chivalrous xia of the Wulin and punish evil.’
And the Feilong Sect and the official authorities will be utilized for the aftermath.
It was truly desirable.
Doing the fun things himself and dumping the annoying but necessary tasks onto his subordinates.
This was power.
Even if I push it off to you guys, what are you going to do about it?
If I tell you to do it, you have to do it, what choice do you have.
Seonwu smiled as if the members of the Feilong Sect and the officials were right in front of him.
‘In the first place, governing well is the job of the official authorities, but since they can’t do it properly, I’m just making them do extra work.’
Of course, it was rather difficult for the framework of a country to be fully established in just a single generation, so he had no complaints about adding his own work on top of the framework his imperial father had built.
Rather, it felt rewarding.
“We can wrap up the business here to this extent.”
“Yes, Senior Disciple.”
“Then shall we leave just a word for the magistrate judge on our way out and head to our next destination?”
The primary ultimate destination was the Namgung Clan.
They would end up dropping by a few more places on the way, but what kind of guys would be waiting for them?
Seonwu departed filled with anticipation.
* * *
Upon hearing the news that Seonwu had left, the County Magistrate stroked his beard.
“They’re finally gone.”
Feeling as if a weight clogging his stomach had dropped down, he was highly satisfied.
“Bring the Leader of Baekwol Sect here.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Even though he was a criminal locked up in jail, the County Magistrate called the Leader of Baekwol Sect out instead of going to the jail himself.
“Did you call for me, my lord?”
“Have a drink. You’ve been through a lot.”
“I am sorry for causing you trouble, my lord.”
Originally, the relationship between the Leader of Baekwol Sect, who was a master of the Peak Realm, and the County Magistrate of An’ye County had been a bit more equal, but right now, the Leader of Baekwol Sect was in a weak position in many ways, making him much more polite.
“Ahem, for now, there are written confessions signed by your subordinates, and there are many testimonies, so it seems it will be difficult to make you entirely innocent.”
“I don’t want that either, in case it accidentally enters that fellow’s ears.”
“Then how do you wish for me to handle it?”
“In retrieving the Yama’s Debt, there is a side where my subordinates went to extremes to collect excessively contrary to my wishes, and I admit that I failed to supervise them, so please hand down a flogging accordingly.”
“Hmm, a flogging.”
Of course, they would strike him gently.
Whether they beat him with a cotton club.
Or whether he took the blows while gathering his inner energy to wrap himself in his body protecting astral qi.
At any rate, once he was struck, he would have received his punishment.
“Let’s do that. However, it will be quite laborious in many ways for me to clean up after this matter.”
“I have prepared a bountiful tribute bribe.”
Saying so, the Leader of Baekwol Sect pulled a bearer bill from his bosom and handed it over to the County Magistrate.
Looking at the amount, the County Magistrate smiled with deep satisfaction.
‘Haha, he really put in a generous amount.’
This much was quite acceptable.
‘Those two fellows, looking at it now, were blessed treasures that brought wealth to me.’
No matter how great the dignity of the official authorities was, a tribute bribe wasn’t something you could endlessly demand more of without reason.
If this side demanded too excessively, the other side was bound to launch a counterattack as well.
For instance, submitting a petition to the prefecture level.
Or moving further to stage an accident and find some sort of way out.
In essence, a tribute bribe was a transaction.
In exchange for me granting this kind of convenience with the power of the official authorities, you offer this much to me.
In that regard, the White Moon Sect was a fine trading partner.
‘Those orthodox faction guys have very little pricking their consciences, so they send only a tiny bit of tribute bribes.’
The Xiangzu fellows also put on airs, relying on their own personal networks, and lacked sincerity.
In comparison, how exemplary was the White Moon Sect?
They made good money dealing with the Yama’s Debt and whatnot.
Since they earned a lot, they had plenty to offer.
At the same time, since they operated a business that required the convenience of the official authorities, they offered tribute bribes in a generous proportion.
Mutual assistance.
Co-existence and co-prosperity.
They truly possessed manners.
“Do not worry. This much is more than enough to offset my trouble.”
“Thank you for looking greatly upon my small sincerity.”
“Are we not close?”
“Haha, indeed. Until the day you are promoted and leave this place, County Magistrate, I hope our connection continues to prosper.”
The two laughed together.
The County Magistrate quickly wrote the judgment document and stamped it with the official seal.
“Now, you can ease your mind, right? Shall we have a drink?”
“How can a criminal…”
“Haha, a judgment is a judgment, and this is a drink of consolation offered by me. It’s not like I’m reducing the punishment, so what does it matter?”
“Ahem, then I shall have just one glass. It is difficult for me to consume much since I am recuperating.”
“Ah, right. Dear me. Then have exactly one glass of medicinal liquor.”
While the two matched each other’s tune so enjoyably, a sudden commotion broke out outside.
“County Magistrate! We have a disaster.”
“What do you mean, a disaster?”
He was in a great mood after pocketing a hefty bearer bill.
“Gasp? Don’t tell me those two fellows have returned to throw another violent fit?”
“It is not that.”
“Then it must be nothing grand.”
“The magistrate judge is currently making an entrance.”
“What?”
In the Great Long Empire, a magistrate judge referred to a senior sixth rank official belonging to a prefecture.
And his authority was not merely the judgment of a trial.
In the first place, the first trial was conducted by each County Magistrate.
Not only did he review judgments brought up for a second trial, but more importantly, he held the authority to inspect the County Magistrate.
In short, while he was having a grand old time playing around, an audit had suddenly popped up.
“Go lock yourself in the jail immediately!”
“Yes, my lord.”
The County Magistrate moved busily, frantically trying to hide what needed to be hidden.
However, before he could even begin to respond, the door to the county office flew open.
“My… my lord!”
“Step aside!”
A rowdy noise echoed from outside.
Yeom Cheol-ryun, the magistrate judge, was a master of the High-Ascending Realm in his own right.
He was an opponent whom the constables or the head constable dared not block with physical force.
What that meant was that if Yeom Cheol-ryun made up his mind, cast aside his dignity, and unleashed his lightness technique within the county office, he would arrive at the County Magistrate’s office in an instant.
“Magistrate Judge Yeom. What brings you here?”
Had he not sent his own tokens of appreciation every season?
Yet, the eyes of Magistrate Judge Yeom looking at him were nothing but icy cold.
‘I must kill this fellow for me to live.’
If he shielded someone captured by the secret inspection of the Golden Dragon Guard guards, he himself would die.
Behind the magistrate judge, Seonwu was smiling, though the County Magistrate had no way of knowing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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