The Prince Of The Fang Kingdom

Many people thought that Mount Gyorei, where Gyorei Cave stood, was part of the commercial capital Boushin. But in reality, it was land ruled by Taoist practitioners and Immortals, beyond even royal authority, so it was effectively a land inhabited by those outside the law.

This country was called the Fang Kingdom, and it was ruled by the royal Fang clan. The current king was a man named Fang Huchong, and he had four children.

Born as King Huchong’s second son, Lianghong was heading toward the commercial capital Boushin together with his guards in order to conduct an inspection. Having turned sixteen, Lianghong had been ordered by the king to inspect various parts of the country for the sake of his education.

“Shigou, how much farther to Boushin?”

Shigou, the Guardian Treasure General, who had been riding behind Prince Lianghong, urged his horse forward until he came alongside the prince.

“We are expected to arrive in about one koku.”

“I see. I hear commerce is thriving there, but is it an easy place to live?”

“Yes. It is said to be a splendid place surrounded by forests, though it is a little colder than the capital.”

“I see. And where will we stay during the inspection?”

“You are scheduled to stay at the residence of Yang, the county magistrate.”

The Fang Kingdom was divided into several provinces, those provinces into commanderies, and the commanderies into counties. Compared with Japan, the positions of commanderies and counties were reversed. A county magistrate was, in Japan’s terms, the administrative head of a region about the size of a commandery.

“The county magistrate’s residence, hm. I suppose the meals will be decent enough. Fine. More importantly, His Majesty ordered me to conduct this inspection properly. What do you think I should inspect?”

“Since Boushin is a commercial capital, perhaps you should examine the scale of its trade and the movement of its goods.”

“…Understood. By the way, is there anything unusual in Boushin? I promised my younger brother I would bring him back a souvenir.”

“Near Boushin lies the demon realm. How about something from the demon realm?”

“A good idea. My little brother would be pleased with that.”

The younger prince, Wiran, had a temperament that favored martial pursuits over letters, and he had a strong interest in the demon realm and yōma. So when he heard the words “products from the demon realm,” Prince Lianghong found them convincing.

When they arrived at the county magistrate’s residence, they received a lavish welcome from its master, Yang. It was inferior to life in the royal palace, but it was magnificent enough to make one think that this truly was a commercial capital.

Lianghong spent several days inspecting Boushin. Then, one day, Lianghong headed for Gyorei Cave together with his guards. The king had ordered him that if he went to Boushin, he should pay his respects at Gyorei Cave as well.

They rode on horseback as far as the foot of Mount Gyorei, and from there began climbing the mountain path on foot.

“Am I to offer greetings to an elder of Gyorei Cave?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Jin Weiru, the founder of Gyorei Cave, has become an Immortal and now resides in the Immortal Realm, so only the elders remain here.”

“Which elder am I to greet?”

“In the Main Hall, Elder Tsuen and Elder Mon should be waiting.”

“What kind of people are those two?”

“It is said that Elder Mon is highly skilled in alchemy and the making of treasure tools, and that she is an astonishing beauty. As for Elder Tsuen, I have heard that he manages the library and is also responsible for the outer disciples.”

“Fine. So this is just a formal greeting, then.”

“Yes. I believe it will be sufficient if Your Highness can simply get a sense of what sort of beings Taoist practitioners are.”

“What is the difference between an Immortal and a Taoist practitioner?”

“That is a difficult question. A Taoist practitioner cultivates and becomes an Immortal, but I have heard that only those who survive Heaven’s trial can become beings called Immortals, or deathless ones.”

“Heaven’s trial? What kind of thing is that?”

“I do not know the details to that extent.”

Lianghong looked at General Shigou with eyes that said he was useless.

“Then how is an ordinary martial artist different from a Taoist practitioner? I have heard Taoist practitioners use qi, but martial artists use qi as well. What is the difference?”

“A martial artist’s qi is used only for fighting, whereas a Taoist practitioner’s qi is used not only in battle, but also to extend one’s lifespan. Also, it is said that Taoist practitioners come to be able to use not only qi, but spiritual power as well.”

The prince also asked about spiritual power, but General Shigou did not know the details. By the time that conversation ended, they had arrived at Gyorei Cave. When they passed through the gate and went to the Main Hall, the two elders were waiting there.

One was a male Taoist practitioner who appeared to be over sixty, and the other was a beautiful female Taoist practitioner around thirty with overwhelming allure. The moment Lianghong laid eyes on Elder Mon, he could not look away.

Noticing that, Elder Tsuen twisted his face unpleasantly and released spiritual power from his body.

“Thank you for coming all the way to such a remote place.”

Elder Tsuen spoke in a voice that sounded welcoming. However, Lianghong sensed that something indescribable was being emitted from his body, and he began to have trouble breathing.

General Shigou, wearing a pained expression, stepped in front of Lianghong to shield him.

“Elder Tsuen, your spiritual power is leaking out. Please restrain it.”

After Elder Mon gave Elder Tsuen a look as though he were a troublesome man and cautioned him, the spiritual power that had been pouring out from Elder Tsuen vanished, and breathing became easier. However, the faces of Lianghong and General Shigou remained pale.

“My apologies. Elder Tsuen means no harm, so please forgive him.”

That was what she said, but General Shigou was convinced that Elder Tsuen had absolutely intended to intimidate them. Lianghong, on the other hand, newly recognized that this was the power of a Taoist practitioner.

After that, Lianghong and Elder Mon spoke together. Elder Tsuen stared coldly at the two of them without saying a single word, while General Shigou watched the movements of both elders without letting down his guard.

“Does His Highness Prince Wiran have an interest in the demon realm and yōma?”

“Yes. I would like to tell him about it, so would it be possible for me to observe the demon realm?”

When she heard that, Elder Mon showed a hesitant look.

“In that case, have the disciples guide him.”

Elder Tsuen summoned Rikyou, the inner disciple, and ordered him to guide Lianghong and his party to the demon realm, with outer disciples assisting as guards as well.

Rikyou led the princes to the Wallside Hall and called out the outer disciples. At that time, the only ones in the Wallside Hall were Yingjie, Kou, and Zengu.