Chapter 101: Those Who Cannot See the Flow of the Times (3)
After the promised moment of time had passed,
“I shall render my verdict.”
Taihuan Gong opened his mouth.
At this very moment, in this courtroom, no one was allowed to speak.
“The suspicion raised by Gaebang is reasonable, but it stems from prejudice against Assemblyman Seok Muwol’s origins. Assemblyman Seok has clarified the foundations of his technique and submitted the details as evidence.”
Cheong Ganggae lowered his head deeply.
It was already out of his hands, and it was too late for him to take responsibility and act rashly.
“Gaebang refused to submit the method for making the hangover remedy as evidence. Therefore, regarding the accusation that Assemblyman Seok Muwol of the Morongse family stole and sold Gaebang’s formula, I declare Assemblyman Seok not guilty.”
Not guilty.
No crime.
The desire was there to immediately charge Gaebang with false accusations, but using the trial as a means of revenge would provoke a strong backlash from Gaebang.
I may not know much about politics, but from Taihuan Gong’s gaze, I could clearly understand what I had to do.
Forgiveness—was not an option.
Gaebang had undoubtedly committed the crime of slander and false accusation, and Morong must seek retribution for it.
However, the method should not be one of martial justice—hunting down Gaebang’s beggars on sight or smashing their plaques.
The resolution must be achieved through methods available to a physician.
The plan was already set, with investigations into the pills Gaebang was selling or keeping as secret formulas completed.
As soon as the judge finished speaking, the plan could be put into action immediately.
“Arbitrating disputes between martial sects and noble families and determining right from wrong is certainly a new experience, but the process has been fraught with many concerns.”
?
“One never knows when martial artists might recklessly attack the judge or the officials present in court with their swift movements.”
Taihuan Gong gave me a faint smile and signaled with his eyes.
“Thus, there are two options: either weaken the martial artist before they step into the courtroom, or ensure that the authorities judging them are strong enough to subdue them when necessary!”
Ah.
I see.
Taihuan Gong didn’t come here for no reason.
“I have heard that in the martial world, there is something called Sangong Poison! It temporarily prevents the accumulation of internal energy, making it impossible for martial artists to use their energy for a short while.”
Sangong Poison.
Before standing trial, all martial artists must consume Sangong Poison before entering the courtroom.
If such a law were established, martial artists would have no choice but to drink the poison and enter a defenseless state, in accordance with the law.
It would be national law, and violating it would be tantamount to defying the emperor’s decree.
“However, it is not permissible to force martial artists to consume poison indiscriminately. No matter how effective it is, poison is still poison, and one cannot forcibly make someone drink it just because they are appearing in court. Therefore, the court shall develop Sangong Medicine for martial artists.”
It was not poison.
Poison is used to kill or harm, but Sangong Medicine would serve only as a measure to ensure the smooth conduct of trials and the safety of judicial officials.
What if someone refused to take Sangong Medicine?
—”You scoundrel! As expected, when things don’t go your way, you act just like a martial artist, resorting to violence! You’re planning to use your internal energy to cause a ruckus and escape from trial, aren’t you?!”
Immediately, the authorities would move to capture that martial artist.
“S-Sangong Medicine, you say?”
“That’s correct. Cheong Ganggae, is there a problem?”
“T-Taihuan Gong! Are you planning to render all martial artists powerless and then seize them?!”
“A martial artist who commits a crime is not a martial artist, but a criminal. Those who live under the emperor’s rule must, if they break the law, be punished accordingly.”
Since they attempted to use martial force within the domain of law, the nation had no choice but to exercise its legal authority with military strength.
“Do you think the court has remained idle until now simply because it was unable to deal with the martial world?”
The imperial family, too, possesses military strength.
“Even if a very special exception were to exist, aside from that one case, everyone is ultimately under the supreme authority of the one who stands above all.”
“Kuh… Ugh…!”
“If I let this go unchecked, will Cheong Ganggae attempt to exert force through his martial skills?”
“……!!”
Cheong Ganggae’s expression hardened.
With Taihuan Gong’s words, he realized the truth.
Taihuan Gong had never intended to side with Gaebang from the very beginning.
Even if the trial had leaned in Gaebang’s favor, Taihuan Gong would have still ruled in favor of Morong, regardless of the circumstances.
“This…!”
Cheong Ganggae gritted his teeth, but he could not throw a punch.
“Are you intending to resort to violence in a courtroom?”
As Taihuan Gong raised his hand behind him, a sharp pat sound rang out, and two men in black official robes appeared.
“!!”
They had the word “Justice (æ¿)” affixed to their faces like talismans on jiangshi (hopping corpses).
For a brief moment, my heart dropped, thinking they might truly be jiangshi, but they were simply warriors with such an appearance.
“Go ahead and try. If this is Gaebang’s will, then the court will not remain idle either.”
How would the court respond if martial artists ran amok?
The best solution would be to resolve matters through dialogue, but if martial artists were the first to draw their swords or throw their fists, then force must be met with force.
Rather than mobilizing hundreds of constables to deal with a few supreme martial masters, the imperial family had been nurturing its own martial warriors for a long time in preparation for such cases.
The Jin Yiwei, the Eastern Depot—
Ever since the martial world had been tolerated to some extent, the court had been cultivating its own power to counteract their potential threats.
However, the ones standing behind Taihuan Gong right now…
“Something feels off.”
They weren’t Jin Yiwei, nor were they from the Eastern Depot.
And they certainly weren’t Taihuan Gong’s personal soldiers—no matter how powerful he was, openly bringing private troops to an official proceeding would be a significant political burden.
‘Ah.’
I see.
They weren’t from the Jin Yiwei or the Eastern Depot—this was another military organization that had been secretly prepared in advance.
“Allow me to introduce them. Over the past twenty years, the court has been planning and organizing this group, which has now officially launched as a new law enforcement division.”
Swish.
“They are called Yacha (å¤).”
The two black-robed martial artists stepped forward in front of Taihuan Gong.
Their gazes, beyond the talismans marked with “Justice,” were locked onto Cheong Ganggae.
Cheong Ganggae’s legs gradually began to tremble, and then—
Thud!
He fell to his knees.
It is not shameful to kneel before an absolute superior, but realizing the undeniable gap in strength must have been agonizing.
“Listen well, warriors of Gaebang.”
Taihuan Gong stood from his seat, holding a gavel.
“Do not waste the administrative power of the state on such disgraceful matters ever again.”
The verdict had effectively been sealed.
* * *
A short while later.
“The bloodshed seems like it will be greater than expected. Will that be alright?
Wouldn’t you agree, Lord of Liaodong?”
“Taihuan Gong’s words are correct.”
I was summoned by Taihuan Gong while seated in the presence of the Lord of Liaodong.
“What do you think, Representative Seok?”
“If I can be of even the slightest help in serving the country and caring for the people, then even if my profits decrease, how could that be considered a loss?”
“Decrease, huh? Haha, there’s a sharp edge to your words.”
“If a physician were to give out medicine to just anyone, it wouldn’t be long before the building was swarmed with beggars looking to get it for free.”
Taihuan Gong smirked.
Considering that those who had tried to target us this time were from Gaebang, he surely understood who I was referring to with the term ‘beggars.’
“In that case, you’ll need a way to drive them away. What do you propose?”
“For now, we’ll use the clinic’s internal staff to remove them and clean up, but those who are expelled will likely bear a grudge.”
“A grudge?”
“People who come expecting to get something for free tend to develop a nasty attitude when they don’t get it, even if it was never theirs to begin with.”
“True. So, what will you do?”
This wasn’t just a question about Representative Seok.
It was a question about the direction of the Morong family.
“We will need the assistance of the authorities.”
“A textbook answer—and a perfect one at that.”
Taihuan Gong grinned.
“Yes. Just because they are martial artists doesn’t mean they are exempt from the solemn authority of the law. Until now, the Martial Alliance has handled disputes among martial artists according to its own laws, but from now on, it should be the authorities that intervene.”
The government must have been preparing for this for some time—perhaps even long before now.
The two Yacha standing behind Taihuan Gong were proof of that.
“Oh, right. Let me introduce them. Though I believe you’ve met before.”
“…What?”
“Greetings, Representative Seok.”
“It has been a while.”
The two Yacha lifted the paper veils covering their faces.
“…Oh.”
Why were they here?
“I’d love nothing more than to tear apart the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult if I could, but I must admit, his petty vengeance has indirectly scattered such outstanding talents across the land, for which I am grateful.”
“…So you’ve decided to use the Hidden Poisons?”
“That’s right.”
Taihuan Gong’s Yacha were the Hidden Poisons of the Demonic Cult.
And the Heavenly Demon had sent assassins not only into the martial world of the Central Plains but even into the imperial palace.
“They bear a deep grudge against the Heavenly Demon. You, of all people, should know why.”
“Yes. I know very well.”
I lowered my gaze toward the two men.
“I treated their wounds… together with my master.”
The Heavenly Demon would take orphans, whether young men or boys, and mutilate them to turn them into eunuchs.
And my master and I had worked to treat them, ensuring they didn’t die from their injuries.
“Now, they are government officials. Even more deeply embedded in the state than Morong’s integration into the authorities.”
They might have been martial artists in the past—
“But now, they are ‘civil servants’ who receive salaries from the state.”
Once they work for the government, they are nothing more than bureaucrats who happen to have learned martial arts in the past.