Wowww!!
As Jang Yi watched the Hat-wearing Guy’s performance from the closest spot, one word popped into his mind that could best describe the atmosphere of the current Chilbong Inn.
Ecstasy.
The throwing and catching of objects, followed by the dazzling display of sliding silver coins between his fingers, was far more extravagant than what was shown before the general. Every time dynamic movements reminiscent of a transformation mask performance unfolded, the silver coins appeared and disappeared between his fingers.
Next came the remarkably splendid skill of Gopae.
The actions of the Hat-wearing Guy performing tricks with the cheap Gopae lying around the inn were enough to elicit cheers with every act he completed.
Everyone in Chilbong Inn was ecstatic over the Hat-wearing Guy’s performance.
Thus, Jang Yi’s face turned pale.
[Jang, keep the atmosphere lively while I handle the rest.]
Isn’t it a bit too lively?
“Now, I have a Gopae in my fist. Wouldn’t it be strange if one of the numbers called out by someone in the audience came up? So, how about the Great Hero with the red headband give it a shot?”
“Fifteen!”
“Here you go.”
The audience member with the red headband caught the thrown Gopae perfectly. The person next to him checked the card and shouted.
“It’s fifteen!”
“Oh my!”
Whether he was aware of Jang Yi’s burdens or not, the Hat-wearing Guy continued his performance amidst the ecstatic atmosphere.
One could easily tell how much the audience was enjoying the performance just by looking at the expressions of those who grabbed the Gopae that was thrown to prove the trick. Even though they were just cheap cards rolling around the inn, they were holding them tightly as if they were pieces of gold.
With various tricks, the Gopae slowly disappeared from the hands of the Hat-wearing Guy. After tossing away one last card, the man showed his empty hands and made a bow.
“My skills end here.”
Wowww!!
“That was incredible!”
The Hat-wearing Guy, bowing in all directions, made Jang Yi gulp repeatedly. After such a performance, he was supposed to go up on stage and rally his comrades?
Just imagining it made his head spin.
“With the scorching heat of the scene, I’m worried someone might faint. So, the next one to calm this heat with a gentle breeze will be the speaker!”
The Hat-wearing Guy grabbed Jang Yi’s hand and led him to the stage. Jang Yi was acutely aware of the glance from the crowd, which hadn’t cooled down yet, and felt like he might faint any second.
Clap, clap, clap!
As the Hat-wearing Guy led the applause, the audience responded enthusiastically. Once the wave-like applause passed, the heat surrounding the stage cooled down enough for Jang Yi to regain his composure.
Jang Yi steadied himself while watching the Hat-wearing Guy slowly descend from the stage. That was an opportunity the Hat-wearing Guy had earned through hard work. There was no way he could let that precious expectation slip away due to nerves.
Though his heart raced and his head spun, Jang Yi forcefully tightened his stomach and raised his voice.
“Hello there, fellow comrades! Jang Yi has come up here to discuss the news I heard at the proclamation stage today!”
Jang Yi’s speech began.
* *
It had been quite a show.
Bong-pal only realized how excited he was after the performance of the Hat-wearing Guy ended.
Breaking the immersion, he felt a wave of lethargy hit him. It was only natural after pouring out his emotions with loud cheers, stomping feet, and flailing hands in exultation.
Perhaps considering that lethargy, Jang Yi’s speech began. To be honest, compared to the tricks shown by the Hat-wearing Guy, the speaker’s speech was quite bland, but Bong-pal thought it wasn’t too bad.
It was just the right level to soothe his tired body and the passion that had been expended in response to the Hat-wearing Guy’s performance.
So, Bong-pal listened to Jang Yi’s speech with a relaxed mind.
“As a witness to Princess Yuya, Great Hero Yeo Il-ye of the Red Bamboo Swordswoman testified that all the actions performed under the name Hyeok Gi-rin were indeed Princess Yuya’s actions, not a treason, and I couldn’t help but swallow hard in shock while accepting that fact. The one that emerged from Geum Myeong-wol’s mansion was indeed the same one who acted under the disguise of Hyeok Gi-rin.”
Jang Yi’s words gradually seeped in.
Bong-pal was also at the proclamation stage at the time of the announcement, so he was aware of what Jang Yi was saying, yet he silently listened to the speech.
The shocking news was so overwhelming that he couldn’t fully digest it. Chewing on the cheap liquor and meager side dishes, his distressed mind felt strangely organized.
“And so, Princess Yuya laid everything bare and departed.”
As Jang Yi conveyed Princess Yuya’s words, his speech came to an end.
“I stood there, left with no choice but to remain still. I was utterly confused. Faced with the utterly unexpected tales of the Great Hero Geum Myeong-wol, or rather Princess Yuya, I couldn’t help but ask myself what I truly desired.”
And that was the start of ‘Jang Yi’s’ story.
“While in deep thought, someone passed by and said, ‘The laws of the Imperial Family are strict, so Princess Yuya will likely not be able to avoid serious punishment.’ Hearing that, I thought to myself.”
“Why on earth should Princess Yuya be punished for something? She only ventured out to avoid conflict in Huang Nation and, in the Martial World, she never did anything deserving of reproach. Hence, I felt that I must act to prevent that from happening.”
“After inquiries here and there, I found one way. If we offer tribute to Princess Yuya, the Imperial Family might reconsider punishment. However, this requires the participation of many people. That’s why I stand here.”
At Jang Yi’s words, the guests who thought he was only preparing for a performance stirred restlessly.
“I came here because I want to help Princess Yuya.”
No sooner had he spoken those words than someone shouted.
“Why should we help!? Isn’t it true that using the name Geum Myeong-wol was a deception everyone fell for!?”
Bong-pal, wrapped up in Jang Yi’s words, found himself agreeing with that outcry. No matter what the situation, the fact that Geum Myeong-wol hid their true identity behind a mask remained unchanged.
“Exactly! That’s the truth! I thought Geum Myeong-wol was a genuine local of mine!”
“In the end, it means Geum Myeong-wol is a disciple of the Jeomchang Faction, right!?”
More angry shouts rang out. Bong-pal could understand their sharp emotions. Betrayal. The anger he felt upon realizing that Geum Myeong-wol, whom he had trusted, turned out to be a mere facade.
“I understand that feeling! I, too, who lived in Gwangju, wished and believed that the Great Hero Geum Myeong-wol was from Gwangju!”
Bong-pal was intrigued by Jang Yi’s shout.
If that were the case, why was Jang Yi on stage trying to help Princess Yuya?
Jang Yi quickly provided the answer.
“Look at this!”
What Jang Yi lifted up was indeed a tattered book. As soon as Bong-pal raised the book high, he realized what it was.
It was a book he had read in detail.
Geum Myeong-wol’s Mansion.
Illustrated within was a depiction of Geum Myeong-wol, grinning brightly, so there was no way to mistake it.
“If anyone has rushed all the way to Nangyang, you must have at least read the ‘Geum Myeong-wol’s Mansion’ at least once! And while reading that book, what kind of feelings did you harbor? I always had a warm smile. Riding the Bicheongmacha to save the world, and amidst it all, crying and laughing over even the little things with Seo Gong and the others.”
Bong-pal recalled his memories of reading ‘Geum Myeong-wol’s Mansion’ at Jang Yi’s words. That was indeed true. Until rumors of Geum Myeong-wol spread like wildfire, he too was completely absorbed in the daily life of Geum Myeong-wol.
“And today, how did the sight of Princess Yuya and her clarification strike you? Was she not different from the Geum Myeong-wol you perceived through rumors and books?”
Bong-pal could only shake his head inwardly at Jang Yi’s question.
The Yuya he had known, standing on the proclamation stage for the people who had rushed to Nangyang, was shocking enough for even someone like Bong-pal, who had no knowledge of the Imperial Family.
As royalty, she could have chosen a far easier and more comfortable option, yet she chose that path. Despite the power of Princess Yuya, she could easily fabricate lies, yet she chose to speak the truth. That integrity and honesty were undoubtedly the very facets of Geum Myeong-wol that made Bong-pal smile.
“Then, in your mind, can the Geum Myeong-wol you envision reconcile with the reality of Princess Yuya facing such a harsh punishment?”
No one answered Jang Yi’s question. There were countless guests in attendance, yet only the faintest stir could be felt; none responded to Jang Yi’s question with agreement or reproach.
Bong-pal felt the same. Geum Myeong-wol. Hyeok Gi-rin. Princess Yuya. Here were feelings of betrayal and favorability intermingling. As Jang Yi’s words scattered the pieces that had been in chaos in his heart, they all balanced on the scale of his emotions, but his heart did not tip towards either side.
In the end, Jang Yi made one last appeal.
“Please help me, no, help Princess Yuya, Hyeok Gi-rin, and Geum Myeong-wol.”
At that moment, Bong-pal’s heart wavered.
“I will help! You said we need to offer tribute, what should we prepare?”
Bong-pal’s declaration caused a stir. Amidst the commotion, someone challenged.
“What’s the point!? It’s already clear that Geum Myeong-wol was a fake! Are you not angry!?”
In response to that angry inquiry, Bong-pal replied.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if my judgment is right. However, one thing is certain. The reason I rushed all the way to Nangyang was that I was worried about the Great Hero Geum Myeong-wol. Just a mere farmer trying to survive has no business worrying about a formidable martial artist saving the world, but here I am, in Nangyang.”
“Then, upon arriving in Nangyang, I found that the Great Hero is the princess. Someone way beyond a mere martial artist. But… even knowing that, I still cannot help but worry about Great Hero Geum Myeong-wol. What can I do? I must do something.”
Bong-pal’s words shattered the silence.
“Damn it! You’re right! If a man is going to make a name for himself, he should at least do something! We’ve come all the way to Nangyang; it would be a disgrace to just turn back after being surprised!”
“…Well, it might be true that Geum Myeong-wol isn’t from my region, but after all, she is the princess of Huang Nation, so we can’t entirely disregard her.”
“Isn’t it ambiguous to get punished for what was accomplished in cooperation?”
One by one, people began to agree.
“So, what shall we prepare as tribute? My pockets aren’t exactly full.”
“Any ordinary gift will do! However, directly giving cash is out of the question! If we can prepare some light jewelry or cloth, it should suffice!”
“Let’s go! Strike while the iron is hot; we need to get that tribute prepared right away!”
Seeing the guests starting to move, Jang Yi clenched his fist. He did it! Successfully convinced the people to join him! Jang Yi turned to share the joy and thrill bubbling deep within him with the Hat-wearing Guy.
“Hey! We did it…!”
But after the performance, the Hat-wearing Guy, who had been among the front row listening to the speech, was gone.
Jang Yi panicked. Where had he gone? Was he simply taking a break? At such an important moment?
Looking around frantically, Jang Yi caught a glimpse of the Hat-wearing Guy. The figure he had just been with had already stepped through the entrance of Chilbong Inn.
Why?
Everything was going so well; he had shown splendid prowess, yet why was he quietly disappearing as if to escape?
Jang Yi felt a simmering doubt about the Hat-wearing Guy as he walked further away. The one who showcased skills that could undeniably be called world-class. Who on earth was this author?
“…Hat-wearing Guy.”
Jang Yi finally felt a sense of unease about the man wearing the hat.
It was too natural for him not to recognize it earlier, but upon reflection, it made no sense that the person he met in front of the proclamation stage was wearing a proper hat. The proclamation stage was a bustling hub filled with crowds, and it was only natural that something fragile like a hat would be crushed in a sea of bodies.
If that were the case, the Hat-wearing Guy must have approached that proclamation stage only after Princess Yuya had finished speaking. But why? Even if he allowed for the possibility of approaching the proclamation stage, why was he trying to help Jang Yi without hearing Princess Yuya’s proclamation directly?
“…Could it be.”
As various clues began to connect in Jang Yi’s mind—phenomenal dexterity paired with an astonishing skill in manipulating Gopae, the effortlessly natural way he wore the hat, and the reason he chose to stand with Jang Yi even if he wasn’t present at the proclamation stage.
A certain alias and name vividly emerged in Jang Yi’s mind.
Finally, the fact that he wore the hat so naturally made sense. The remarkable dexterity he had shown became comprehensible. It would be entirely reasonable for this individual to have acted for Geum Myeong-wol even if they weren’t present at the proclamation stage.
Jang Yi was seized by an impulse to run after him and seize him, but it was impossible.
“Hey! How do we offer tribute to the Imperial Family?”
“I’m worried this might end up being a trap.”
“What if it’s rude to give Princess Yuya a statue of Seo Gong?”
Numerous questions anchored Jang Yi’s feet. He couldn’t abandon the people he had just managed to persuade after so much struggle; all he could do was let out a sigh. Had that person orchestrated everything up to now? Having just figured out the Hat-wearing Guy’s identity, he couldn’t even say a word. How cruel that was.
Jang Yi looked at the disappearing figure with lingering regret. Ultimately, if he wished for a proper farewell, shouldn’t he respect the current circumstances?
‘Thank you.’
Thus, Jang Yi could only silently repeat the words he wanted to convey in his heart.
