Chapter 476 ·Westward (1)

While ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Il-mok sat there sulking over his doomed retirement, a massive political hurricane was tearing through the Hall of Peaceful Diligence to the news brought by Jong-ri Chu.

"Your ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Majesty! We need to mobilize the army and march westward this instant!"

"Indeed! ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Should the Muslims consolidate into one massive empire, we would find ourselves sharing a border with a vast empire of enormous power!"

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the hawkish ministers voiced this argument, the moderate faction rushed to counter them.

"Are ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you out of your minds? The Hong Dynasty is barely holding itself together right now. We don't even have enough hands to take care of our own people, let alone go fighting some foreign war!"

"We’re ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍still bleeding from the last war! There's absolutely no reason to jump into someone else’s mess and waste innocent lives!"

"Damn right! It’s safer for us to step back and watch how the matter unfolds first and wait for the time when the Muslims have exhausted each other through civil war!"

Even though they were supposed to be the moderates, their ferocity was no less than the hawkish ministers.

Naturally, the radicals clapped right back.

"Oh, and what’s your brilliant plan when the eastern coalition of those Muslims collapses overnight while we're unprepared? What then?”

"Peace is won by force! It is a sorrowful thing when innocent blood is shed, but if we shrink from war out of that fear, the worst possible outcome will find us in the end!"

Neither side was willing to give an inch.

When situations like this arose in the Hong Dynasty—founded on the doctrines of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—had a way of resolving themselves by a rather straightforward method.

"So? You want to take this outside to the arena?"

"Hah. You think I’m scared of you?"

The ministers had naturally split into two camps and were now radiating fierce killing intent at each other.

Before long, every minister's gaze turned toward Il-mok.

Il-mok, who held the office of Grand Preceptor—the mediator between all the various ministries.

But these were not looks asking him to mediate.

As Grand Preceptor, it was Il-mok's official duty to arbitrate disputes among the imperial ministries. But if you look at these people, they aren’t looking for arbitration.

They all knew that the moment he broke his silence and chose a side, the balance of power would shift decisively in that faction's favor.

Reading their intentions, a wave of frustration washed over Il-mok.

‘Do these lunatics have nothing in their heads except fighting?’

Even the so-called moderates were radiating anything but a moderate aura.

But regardless of whether the ministers were all lunatics, if Il-mok was forced to pick a side, he’d definitely lean moderate.

Given the choice between being dragged into another war and enjoying a peaceful honeymoon right where he was, his preference was obvious.

The problem was that, as one of the ministers had pointed out, taking a wait-and-see approach carried a severe risk of the worst-case scenario happening in the near future.

If they sat idly by, they might suddenly find themselves sharing a border with a massively aggressive empire to the west.

Il-mok was still wrestling with the problem when a man whom no one had been paying much attention to since he picked neither side opened his mouth.

"Your Majesty, while both sides make fair points, this is hardly a matter that needs to be settled through trial by combat."

It was Zhuge Mun.

"And why do you say that, Minister of Finance?"

Wi Jin-hak asked with evident interest.

"Because we lack concrete intelligence. As the saying goes, when the lips are gone, the teeth freeze. Should the eastern coalition of the Muslims collapse, we risk facing a dire situation on our own borders. On the other hand, if the eastern coalition has the strength to hold out over the long term, then aiding them would be no different from raising a tiger cub that will one day turn on us."

"In other words, the first priority is to properly assess the balance of power between the western side and the eastern side of the Muslims. Am I correct?”

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

One of the ministers who had been quietly listening to the exchange between the Holy Emperor and the Minister of Finance raised his objection.

"The Minister of Finance's reasoning appears sound on the surface, but it carries a critical flaw. If the eastern coalition collapses while we are still in the process of assessing the strength of both sides, we will be left facing the worst possible outcome. Furthermore, the distance between Xi'an and the Western Regions is simply too vast. It would take far too long to send personnel to the west to gather intelligence and then wait for them to return here so we could formulate a decision."

The man who voiced this counterargument was none other than Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang.

Yet to everyone's surprise, Zhuge Mun smiled at Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang's observation rather than bristling at it.

"The Minister of Education makes a fair point, Your Majesty. That is precisely why the person dispatched west to assess the strength of the empire and the eastern coalition must be granted the authority to decide whether or not to commit to the war."

To decide whether to go to war or not. 

By all rights, this supreme authority belonged exclusively to the Holy Emperor.

In short, whoever was dispatched west needed the authority to speak in the Holy Emperor’s stead.

Naturally, a handful of names came to mind for both Holy Emperor Wi Jin-hak and the assembled ministers.

The first to come to mind was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baek Un-hak.

It’s a perfectly logical choice since foreign affairs falls into the domain of his ministry.

But almost immediately, every minister inwardly shook their head.

It was not that they dismissed Baek Un-hak's abilities.

No one could deny Baek Un-hak’s impressive track record in proselytization.

In just two short years, he had successfully converted a vast portion of the northern nomads.

The problem was that his abilities were concentrated entirely in proselytization.

The second name to come to mind was the second-ranking figure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the very man who had brought this matter to their attention.

Jong-ri Chu.

But they all quickly reached the same conclusion as the first one.

Granting a Vice Minister with the authority to act in the Holy Emperor's stead was simply unthinkable.

Who, then, possessed the standing to act as the Holy Emperor's proxy?

Naturally, every gaze in the room settled on Il-mok.

The Grand Marshal certainly carried enough qualifications for the task, but while the radical faction might have supported him, the moderates would have fought to the death to stop his appointment. 

Besides, had the Grand Marshal been present today, he undoubtedly would have sided with the radicals.

Forget about speaking; it’s more likely for him to draw his greatsword at the first sign of debate and turn the council chamber into a warzone before the formal dialogue even began.

As the gazes of the entire court settled on him, Il-mok’s face twisted into fury and frustration.

He didn’t even bother to show his displeasure to the Holy Emperor.

‘I'm still on my honeymoon, you psychos!!!’

To send a newlywed off on a foreign deployment...

As far as Il-mok was concerned, that alone deserved a World-Destroying Primordial Jade Palm.

* * *

Once the storm had quelled, Il-mok took his leave and returned to his home.

It was late, but instead of setting the mood for some newlywed romance, Il-mok looked at Jin Hayeon with an incredibly serious expression.

"My dear, something came up during this morning's council.”

He recounted the entire discussion to her before concluding, "It was obvious His Majesty wants me to take charge of the West. I asked for time to think it over and held off on giving a final answer."

"…Is there something in particular weighing on my husband’s mind?"

From what Jin Hayeon had heard, it seemed right in every respect for Il-mok to step forward.

Not because he was her husband, but because Il-mok had the ability to match the task.

Il-mok hesitated for a moment at her question before answering honestly, "To be honest, I've been considering stepping down these past few days."

"Stepping down? What do you mean by that?"

She asked with an uncharacteristically startled look, and Il-mok elaborated.

"I have never been particularly fond of being the one in charge. My dream was always a life where I could work moderately and rest moderately. Now that the nation is gradually stabilizing, I was hoping to quietly slip away with you to some secluded place and spend our days in peace.”

The moment she heard Il-mok's true feelings, Jin Hayeon was suddenly reminded of something she had heard a long time ago.

‘Come to think of it, he’s always been this way.’

Because of this specific facet of his personality, she had once mistaken him for a lazy and unambitious man.

When she had called him out on it back then, he had answered her thus.

She had dismissed it as a weak excuse at the time. But now she knew better.

Had she not watched from his side as he threw his life on the line to save every last one of the soldiers under his command?

Her husband was a man who gave everything he had when responsibility fell to him.

Jin Hayeon fell into thought.

As a devout follower of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a part of her desperately wished for him to stay.

She wanted him to serve the nation and lead everyone into a golden age.

But before she was a devoted follower of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult she’s now his wife.

She had no wish to compel her husband to do what he did not want to do.

After some time spent with these two sides of herself in disarray within her mind, Jin Hayeon gathered her thoughts and spoke in a composed tone.

"If husband wishes to resign, I as your wife will gladly go wherever you go. But are you really okay with walking away right now? If you leave, the flames of war may engulf the Hong Dynasty once again. And all your effort might be in vain.”

"…Hah. That is the very thing that has been troubling me as well."

"In that case, how about resigning until all of this is over. Until this one last matter is concluded?”

"Hmm. Just this one last job?"

When Il-mok asked in return, Jin Hayeon nodded firmly. “Please think of it this way, husband. If you retire right now and the flames of war reached the Hong Dynasty, your dream of living a peaceful life would be in ashes.”

"Hahaha. I guess you are right. Resigning now would only mean getting dragged right back into the fray later. Thank you for reminding me that, my dear.”

Il-mok laughed with genuine warmth, then added with a gentle smile playing at his lips.

"I really don't know what righteous deeds I did in my past life to end up marrying a woman this wise and beautiful. Hahaha."

Jin Hayeon lowered her gaze, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks.

Whoosh.

Moments later, the candle illuminating the room was snuffed out, replaced by a scorching passion of newlyweds' life.

* * *

Several days later, a procession of carriages departed Xi'an and set out westward.

At the heart of the convoy, Il-mok sat alone inside the largest carriage while his wife and two maids rode escort outside.

Ju Seo-yeon had returned to the Hidden Guard Pavilion after a meeting with Jin Hayeon and Il-mok, and thus did not join them on this journey.

Inside his spacious carriage, Il-mok’s expression was rather fierce.

His foul mood had nothing to do with riding alone.

Jin Hayeon had rightly pointed out that sharing a carriage during an official procession would spark unnecessary rumors, and Il-mok agreed on that.

He was furious at the sheer audacity of the universe for giving him a giant middle finger when he was supposed to be drowning in his wife's embrace.

‘Those motherfuckers really got a death wish.’

Her advice had certainly brought him clarity, but being clear-headed did nothing to make his predicament any less infuriating.

Barely a month after his wedding, he was being deployed abroad. What good was bringing his bride along when they were marching straight into a bloody war zone?

‘Let’s finish this quickly and come back.’

If he wanted to secure a quiet and comfortable life with his wife, he needed to wrap up this godforsaken assignment at breakneck speed.

‘Even if I have to burn the whole place to the ground.’

To get his cozy life with his newlywed wife, he didn’t mind dropping a nuke or two at those bastards.

* * *

After roughly half a month of traveling westward by carriage, Il-mok's party arrived at a waystation on the western edge of Xinjiang.

It was a city he knew well after passing through it countless times back when he led merchant caravans in and out of the Muslims’ territories.

Today, it stood as the closest settlement to the border dividing the Hong Dynasty and the Muslims.

Il-mok wasted no time in making for the command headquarters, where he presented the imperial decree to Ouyang Pae.

After receiving the decree, Ouyang Pae spoke.

"I'll issue the orders to assemble the men at once."

The decree was short and to the point.

Hand over half of the Western Military Command to Grand Preceptor Il-mok.

The only reason they were leaving half the men behind was just in case things went awry.

There was no guarantee that the eastern coalition of the Muslims would not attempt some shady schemes.

To defend the border with the remaining half of the forces, Ouyang Pae was to remain at his post in Kashgar.

Several days later, half of the Western Military Command's forces had assembled at the waystation, and Il-mok set out with them into the Muslims’ territory.

Watching the massive army of fifty thousand disappear over the horizon from atop the city walls, Ouyang Pae cocked his head in confusion.

"Huh. Was the Grand Preceptor always that violent?”

The man looked less like a diplomat and more like a madman marching out to wipe every single living enemy off the face of the earth down to their ninth generation.