I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 41: A Commoner’s Duty

Commanding Officer Eom Gyeonghan emerged from his thoughts.

He raised his eyes.

A young man with a gentle expression was looking at him with a puzzled face.

Though he looked like a frail and unremarkable youth—someone who could be called a Confucian scholar—he was the Palace Master.

Ordinarily, someone whom a man like Eom Gyeonghan wouldn’t even be permitted to meet. Perhaps even a being forever veiled in mystery.

The Dragon of the Heavenly Flame Palace, who was said to dwell among the clouds—this was him.

“It is the duty of kings and nobles to defend the state,

but the rise and fall of the world is a matter even a lowly commoner must bear.”

The fate of the world rests even on the shoulders of a mere commoner.

Like those words, Eom Gyeonghan had always seen himself as a mere commoner.

He might not have the power to move nations, but he believed it was his responsibility to raise sword and spear to protect the world.

So he had lived his life with that line engraved in his heart—and had risen to the rank of general, to a post tasked with defending the country.

But today, he had come face to face with one who truly protected the world—someone who looked like a mere commoner.

Eom Gyeonghan gazed quietly at Jincheon.

The bewildered expression of the young Palace Master, clearly confused by Eom Gyeonghan’s silent stare—was strangely paradoxical.

‘The fate of the world... rests in this one’s hands?’

It wasn’t exaggeration. It wasn’t poetic flourish.

A man who had lived on the front lines could tell clearly.

If the Palace Master were to withdraw his will, the magical beasts of the Great Desert would immediately topple the Great Wall and pour into the world.

If this young man—who appeared so ordinary—were to change his mind, the entire region of Gansu would become overrun with beasts in an instant.

The security of the entire realm would be threatened.

So no—saying “the fate of the world rests in his hands” was not excessive in the least.

And yet, face to face with Jincheon, Commanding Officer Eom Gyeonghan found his heart in disarray.

‘...I can’t understand.’

He was too ordinary.

Eom wondered if perhaps Jincheon was concealing his true power, but—assuming Eom’s own judgment was accurate—that didn’t seem to be the case.

He showed none of the presence or overwhelming energy that should come with such authority. He wasn’t pretending to be ordinary—he simply was.

Above all else, he was very young.

‘Has some kind of upheaval occurred in the Heavenly Flame Palace?’

The inner workings of the palace, veiled in mystery, were far beyond the reach of an outsider like Eom Gyeonghan.

What’s more, this was the Palace Master of the Heavenly Flame Palace.

Just as the Emperor, calling himself the Son of Heaven, ruled over the land, this man—this Dragon—could twist the fates of thousands with a single whim.

Clumsy probing or careless words would never reach him.

In the end, Eom Gyeonghan had only one choice.

“Palace Master.”

“Ah, yes.”

The youth, Jincheon, answered with surprise.

Perhaps taken aback by Eom Gyeonghan’s sudden respectful tone, his manner of speech even changed.

Commanding Officer of Gahyeok Pass, Eom Gyeonghan, spoke sincerely and with utmost formality.

“Please, I entrust this to you.”

The young Palace Master, Jincheon, nodded and replied,

“Yes. Do not worry. No, rather—worry not.”

As if only then remembering his formal tone, he corrected his speech mid-sentence—but Eom Gyeonghan paid it no mind.

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“Thank you, Palace Master.”

If he said not to worry, then that was the end of it.

How could a mere human like himself dare to question the words of the Dragon?

Eom Gyeonghan understood there was nothing more he could do.

“I shall now take my leave.”

As Eom Gyeonghan rose, the one who looked taken aback was Jincheon.

He had created such a solemn atmosphere, as if preparing to speak of something grave—only to finish with a simple request.

To say “please take care of this” to the leader of a native sect... wasn’t that little more than a polite formality?

Jincheon’s reply had also been just that.

“Wait, why so soon...”

Jincheon spoke without thinking, but Eom Gyeonghan gave a bitter smile.

“How could I dare linger? I’ll pay the bill, so please enjoy yourself...”

“No, no.”

Jincheon shook his head.

“How could I possibly impose on a public official handling the affairs of the state? I’ll take care of the bill here, so don’t trouble yourself.”

From the way he had treated the server earlier, it was already clear what kind of person he was.

And Jincheon was no stranger to the circumstances of officials—especially upright, rigid men like Eom Gyeonghan.

The fact that someone like him had been posted to a place as harsh as Gahyeok Pass said enough.

He couldn’t bring himself to let such a man pay for a meal.

“But still...”

Even at Eom Gyeonghan’s protest, Jincheon did not back down.

“No. At least this once—please allow me to pay.”

Jincheon looked straight at Eom Gyeonghan and said,

“Though I may not be your liege, your loyalty deserves to be rewarded.”

In that moment, Eom Gyeonghan could hardly believe his ears.

—

“Your loyalty deserves to be rewarded.”

—

A heavy weight dropped into the heart of the middle-aged warrior who had lived his whole life as a soldier.

It was such an obvious truth.

But in all his life, who had ever said such a thing to him?

Many had spoken of loyalty.

But most used it as a pretense to rebuke him—or to justify their own authority.

Some even mocked loyalty itself, treating it as an outdated ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) relic of a bygone generation.

So Jincheon’s words came as a shock to the veteran officer.

And more than that—those words came from none other than the Dragon of the Heavenly Flame Palace.

‘...Hah.’

Heart moves heart, and sincerity calls to sincerity.

Loyalty might not be swayed by circumstance—but in the end, it was a matter of the heart.

And so, for one who cherished the heart, it was only natural that sincerity would stir within him.

‘Truly...’

Eom Gyeonghan was filled with awe.

Eom Gyeonghan thought he was beginning to understand—just a little—why the people of the Heavenly Valley offered such blind loyalty to their Palace Master.

Just as only the heart can answer the heart, the only true response to loyalty is more loyalty.

Swish.

Eom Gyeonghan straightened his posture.

He placed his hands together and bowed his head, offering a solemn and respectful salute.

“Your words alone... are more than enough.”

“Ah, no—but still...”

Before Jincheon could say anything more, Eom Gyeonghan turned and walked away.

Knowing there was no way to stop him now, Jincheon quickly spoke up.

“Gi Cheonhwa, Po Cheonhwa. Please escort the Commanding Officer.”

Letting him go like this would be improper.

At Jincheon’s command, Gi Seoran and Po Eunryeong immediately responded.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

They rose from their seats.

Eom Gyeonghan did not pause. He continued down the stairs.

Step. Step.

When he first learned the truth about the Heavenly Flame Palace and the Great Desert, Eom Gyeonghan’s initial reaction had been entirely reasonable.

To report the shocking truth to the imperial court and the royal family at once, and beg for action. Even if it cost him his life, to block the monsters—though it might be impossible.

But at that moment, Eom Gyeonghan remembered the advice of his senior, the Provincial Commander Im Hochung, stationed in Nanzhou.

“The Great Desert is a place where anything can happen.

You must always remain cool-headed in your judgment.”

Before his assignment to Gahyeok Pass, Eom had visited his superior and senior officer, Im Hochung, who offered that warning.

“And never forget—your duty is to protect the world.”

At the time, he’d thought it was just obvious advice. A ceremonial maxim.

But... was it?

After deep thought, Eom Gyeonghan reached a conclusion.

The imperial court already knew.

They knew about the monsters of the Great Desert—the magical beasts straight out of Shanhaijing—and they knew exactly who was holding them back.

That’s how someone like Eom, who had no ties to any major faction, could be appointed Commanding Officer of Gahyeok Pass.

Because this was a place where the Commanding Officer could do nothing—must not do anything.

“Hah.”

The sense of futility he felt on the day he realized that—was beyond words. It was as if his entire life as a soldier had been rejected.

Perhaps it was that sense of rebellion.

When Eom Gyeonghan heard the news that the Dragon had come to Jucheon, he had gone out to meet him, almost on impulse.

He wanted to see for himself—what kind of man was being revered as a living Dragon?

Even if that was considered rude by their standards.

The result had exceeded all expectations.

Step. Step.

He soon reached the entrance to Tianshan Daeru.

His four deputies had joined him along the way, and the two women Jincheon had instructed to escort him were now standing behind him.

Young and beautiful, yet with chilling and eerie eyes.

“Cheonhwa...”

A moment ago, the Palace Master had clearly called them Cheonhwa.

And his lazy deputy—he’d once said:

“I’m just a half-wit who didn’t even make it to Cheonhwa.”

“Heh.”

Eom Gyeonghan let out a bitter chuckle.

He was no stranger to martial arts.

There were experts in the military. The truly elite among them were often part of the empire’s secret and dangerous organizations.

That made it even easier for him to understand just how extraordinary his seemingly lazy deputy really was—especially when he had released sword qi against those beasts.

And the people that this deputy praised endlessly? They were Cheonhwa.

These beautiful women now standing before him.

“So that’s why he made that suggestion.”

After the incident in the Great Desert, Eom Gyeonghan had started listening more closely to his deputy.

He accepted most of his suggestions, and implemented them too.

Thanks to that, he had been able to meet the Dragon who roams among the clouds.

But there was one thing Eom had refused—absolutely.

“You want to bring women into the military?”

“No, not women—masters. Where’s the gender line in martial arts?”

“Denied.”

Eom had shut it down immediately. His deputy had clicked his tongue.

“Tch. They’re way stronger than me, though. Even just one of them would be a huge help.”

Though the lazy deputy grumbled, Eom hadn’t listened any further.

Yes, it was possible to bring women into the military under the status of local collaborators.

But the problems outweighed the benefits.

And after seeing the looks people gave Gi Seoran and Po Eunryeong, Eom was sure his decision had been right.

Even he had trouble looking away from them. What hope did the others have?

“That’s enough. Thank you.”

Eom said to Gi Seoran.

Gi Seoran and Po Eunryeong dipped their heads in a polite bow.

Commanding Officer Eom Gyeonghan turned without hesitation.

Swish.

As he stepped out of Tianshan Daeru and made his way back to his official residence, his thoughts remained with the Palace Master he had met—the Dragon who moved among the clouds.

The Dragon had moved.

That alone was extraordinary.

So—what was he to do?

Informing the imperial court and royal family wouldn’t be wise.

They had sent him here without a word. They didn’t want him to know.

But silence was not an option either.

The answer wasn’t hard to find.

Eom Gyeonghan decided he would write a letter—for the first time in a long while—to his senior, Provincial Commander Im Hochung, stationed in Nanzhou.

That would be enough.

Commanding Officer of Gahyeok Pass, Eom Gyeonghan, slowly urged his horse forward, back toward his residence.

And thus, his meeting with the Dragon came to an end.