Commander Seol Tae Pyeong had been kidnapped by an unknown group of assassins.
Their purpose remained unknown, and although the warriors of the Red Palace went out to investigate, they couldn’t find a single trace.
It seemed that the kidnappers were very good at stealth.
Suspicions pointed towards the Black Moon Unit but it wasn’t easy to catch their tail as they lurked in the dark.
Currently, Seol Tae Pyeong’s fate was uncertain, and without knowing their intentions, it was impossible to guess where or why they had taken him.
This was the information that Jang Rae, the warrior commander of the Red Palace, relayed to Seol Ran who was currently working in Great Prison Hall.
“Wh…at…? Is that… is that true, Warrior Commander …?”
Upon hearing the news, Seol Ran lost all strength in her legs and fainted.
In front of the Chief Councilor’s office, two officials stood with their heads bowed and eyes tightly shut.
Minister of War Lee Soo and Minister of Justice Ahn Seo Yeol.
They held the highest positions among those responsible for maintaining palace security.
The three great high officials were the most authoritative officials in the palace.
And right below them in rank were the ministers of each department.
“We have no excuses.”
A military officer of the upper fifth rank had been kidnapped right inside the Imperial Capital.
He wasn’t some low-ranked official or a mere laborer; he was a dignified fifth-rank commander who had even received his own fief.
It would have been one thing if the matter had been handled quietly, but the news spread throughout Cheongdo Palace overnight which caused a massive uproar. The sheer absurdity of it all was beyond belief, and they felt like their common sense was being betrayed.
“I will address this issue at the morning council meeting. If you have any excuses, present them now.”
The head of the Jeongseon clan and the father of the Vermilion Princess. Chief Councilor In Seon Rok
He spoke sternly to the two ministers. His voice was lower than usual, but this could only be a sign of his deep-seated anger.
Who held the highest authority in Cheongdo Palace aside from the imperial family? It was the three councilors.
Among them, the most influential and authoritative was In Seon Rok. To fall out of his favor was tantamount to ending one’s career in the palace.
“W-We will definitely find the kidnapped commander… If we search every corner of the Imperial Capital, we can locate him quickly…!”
Minister of Justice Ahn Seo Yeol spoke urgently and his voice was trembling with fear.
In Seon Rok clicked his tongue in disapproval. A person’s true nature was revealed in times of crisis.
Seeing Ahn Seo Yeol sweating and panicking, it was clear what kind of man he was.
“As someone in a guilty position, I have no excuses, but may this little man speak his thoughts on the matter?”
However, Minister of War Lee Soo spoke with a calm and strong tone.
Although the voice carried an apologetic tone, it also seemed to imply that there was something that must be addressed.
Chief Councilor In Seon Rok actually preferred people like Lee Soo.
“Speak.”
“The whole story is unusual. There were far quieter ways to kidnap the commander. They could have targeted him while he was sleeping or during the days he stayed in the Hwalseong District.”
Lee Soo continued his report in a serious voice.
“However, kidnapping someone of the commander’s rank so openly like this… It feels as if they are beating a drum to draw people’s attention. It might be presumptuous of me to say this as I failed to prevent it, but I believe these circumstances need to be addressed as well.”
“…Can you take responsibility for your words, Minister of War?”
“…If necessary, I will. However, that is my opinion.”
Having said that, Lee Soo bowed his head and fell silent.
Chief Councilor In Seon Rok stroked his beard and organized his thoughts.
Recently, there have been frequent reports of suspicious activities near the palace. Based on circumstantial evidence, they seemed to be members of the Black Moon Unit. A wanted order was also issued to arrest them if they could.
Could it be that their surveillance of the palace was just to kidnap a commander from the outskirts of the capital?
Why? For what reason?
It didn’t make sense. Unless someone held a grudge against Commander Seol Tae Pyeong, the Black Moon Unit had nothing to gain by kidnapping him.
Minister of War Lee Soo suggested that it seemed like a distraction to divert attention from a more significant scheme.
There was no concrete evidence, but the Chief Councilor found himself strangely drawn to the Minister of War’s intuition. Regardless, the situation had escalated enough to warrant deploying sufficient personnel.
“…I will have my people investigate further.”
“Ah, Ha Yeon-ah, what brings you to the main palace? It must have been quite difficult for you to come out of the inner palace.”
“F-Father…”
Just as he left the urgent meeting in the main palace and stepped outside, he found the Vermilion Princess accompanied by numerous maids, waiting for him.
Though he was pleased to see his daughter who was precious to him come all the way to the main palace, she was not the kind of person who would come to a place like this for no reason.
Hiding his surprise, the Chief Councilor asked the Vermilion Princess what had brought her there.
“L-Last night… I heard a warrior from the main palace was kidnapped… Father… I’m really worried about the palace’s security…”
“Yes, I’m already dealing with that matter. It must have been quite a shock.”
“Father… could it be that the warrior is…”
“You don’t need to worry so much. He is a commander managing a small fief in the outskirts of the imperial capital. I’ve assigned many people to handle the situation, so it will be resolved soon.”
Blood drained from the Vermilion Princess’s face when she heard those words.
The Chief Councillor felt strange as he watched her expression.
His daughter In Ha Yeon was born as a beautiful woman and possessed outstanding beauty even among the well-nurtured noblewomen. Yet her spirit was as fierce as any man’s and she seemed like someone who would remain calm even before a wild beast.
However, when he observed the Vermilion Princess’s expression now, her lips were trembling as if she were scared. It felt like a hole had been punched through his chest.
He thought he knew his daughter better than anyone else. Yet just from the rumor that assassins had roamed the imperial capital last night, she was so shocked.
Indeed, now that she lived as the crown princess consort and mistress of one of the Four Great Palaces, her once bold spirit seemed to have waned.
From the point of view of a father who loved the spirit of the Vermilion Princess, this was somewhat regrettable, but at the same time he was moved by her more feminine demeanor. After all, children grew and changed in ways their parents could not foresee.
“Don’t worry too much, Ha Yeon-ah. The security of the inner palace is assured, so you can sleep with your legs stretched out tonight.”
“That… that is… reassuring, but…”
“Ha Yeon-ah, just trust your father.”
However, the Vermilion Princess’s expression did not improve.
Rumors were said to travel faster than the wind.
The rumor of Commander Seol Tae Pyeong’s uncertain fate spread quickly… it reached not only the crown princess consorts of the Four Great Palaces but also the ears of the Heavenly Maiden.
At the Heavenly Jade Pavilion where the waterfall cascaded down, Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun quietly sipped her tea. And even though there was no one around to hear, she whispered softly to herself.
“I feel sorry for you …”
She took another sip of tea and muttered to herself.
“Black Moon Leader …”
– Ssshhh
Cold water poured over Seol Tae Pyeong’s head. There was no better way to wake someone up.
When Seol Tae Pyeong opened his blurry eyes, an unfamiliar place came into view.
Was it a shabby cabin in the middle of the mountains?
The sound of leaves rustling in the wind could be heard from beyond the window.
Seol Tae Pyeong was lying on the floor of the cabin. He was completely battered and his arms were tied behind his back.
His body was covered in dried blood, and his face was swollen from being beaten.
“Ugh… huff…”
The only thing in his line of sight was the Black Moon Unit members. They were all wearing black hoods.
Yes, they had kidnapped Seol Tae Pyeong and brought him to this unfamiliar cabin in the mountains.
Seol Tae Pyeong who was thrown down like a piece of luggage had been trampled on and beaten almost all night.
He had been beaten so severely that it would have been strange if none of his bones were broken. He even lost consciousness several times until all resistance was gone.
After draining all of Seol Tae Pyeong’s energy several times, the team leader Geo Jin finally let him lie on the floor.
“If you have any foolish thoughts, know that you’ll get beaten even more.”
After saying that, Geo Jin took out a pouch filled with pure white medicinal powder from his pocket.
He pried open Seol Tae Pyeong’s mouth and poured the powder in. It was a drug that delayed the recovery of strength and was useful for keeping someone weakened for days.
Thud!
After pushing Seol Tae Pyeong back to the floor, Geo Jin sat on a wooden chair nearby. He looked quite exhausted.
“Whew… it ended easier than I thought.”
By this point, it was safe to say all necessary measures had been taken.
“When did the leader say he would arrive?”
“He said that he would come to assess the situation after the reconnaissance report on the main palace is completed.”
“Then he should be here soon. Is there anything else we need?”
“No. We’ve securely tied his arms, administered the weakening drug, and checked his eyes; there’s really no strength left in him. I heard he was a monster that even generals would have a hard time dealing with, but the job turned out to be easier than expected.”
“Right…”
Geo Jin exhaled a sigh and loosened his stiff shoulders.
This commander was so tenacious that no matter how many times he was beaten, he never lost consciousness. It was clear why the Black Moon Leader had warned them to be cautious. Still, persistently beating him eventually yielded results.
After resting for about an hour, there was a knock on the door outside the cabin.
When Geo Jin turned his gaze toward the door, one of the Black Moon members quickly stood up and went to the door.
After exchanging a few passwords, they fully confirmed the incomer’s identity and opened the door.
And there… stood a man accompanied by two elite-looking Black Moon members.
While the other Black Moon members wore black hoods, this man alone wore a white hood.
The eyes that shone through the hood were mature. He was a fairly old person.
“Leader! Yo-You’ve arrived!”
“……”
“We’ve taken care of everything!”
Geo Jin quickly ran out and bowed his head.
Cheong Jin Myeong, the one wearing the white hood, entered the cabin and surveyed the surroundings.
Beyond the resting Black Moon members, he saw a young man lying on the floor. He was barely breathing.
As he approached to examine him, he confirmed that the young man’s appearance matched the description he had received. It was indeed Commander Seol Tae Pyeong.
Having been beaten all night, his mental state was far from intact.
Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong was a cautious individual. He never revealed himself to strangers under normal circumstances.
Even when verifying a prisoner’s identity, he would only show himself if the opponent was in a near-death state.
Since he was the leader of the Black Moon Unit, he often found himself the target of many grudges. Therefore, he always stayed a step behind his subordinates while directing their actions.
Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong squatted down in front of Seol Tae Pyeong.
“I… apologize… I had to personally verify your identity… there was no other way…”
However, his voice was surprisingly gentle. Compared to team leader Geo Jin, his demeanor and voice were indeed mature.
“I didn’t want to go this far… but given my status… I might have caused you more suffering than necessary…”
The subordinates had beaten him all night, and now their leader appeared to apologize. They all seemed like a crazy bunch.
However, it was natural that he only revealed himself to an opponent who had been thoroughly subdued.
He was a figure whose identity must never be exposed. Such was the position of the Black Moon Leader.
“D… g… ugh…”
Seol Tae Pyeong tried to speak, but his voice was choked and wouldn’t come out properly.
The Black Moon Leader looked at him with pity, then let out a deep sigh.
“Just rest for now. Once everything is over, I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. It will be over soon. Just lie here for a while.”
Cheong Jin Myeong closed his eyes gently and bowed his head towards the battered Seol Tae Pyeong.
Then he stood up and gave instructions to his subordinate.
He had confirmed everything he needed to. The matter concerning the Inner Swords Commander was now nearly settled.
“I’ve confirmed with my own eyes that the Inner Swords Commander Seol Tae Pyeong is captured. Everyone has worked hard. Now, before we carry out the grand plan …”
“Yeah… I thought I was really going to die from the pain, really …”
Fwaaaah
Swaaah!
It was at that moment.
A streak of sword wind swirled inside the cabin.
It was said that speed beyond a certain limit couldn’t even be followed by the eye.
When the speed of a sword reached its limit, it no longer appeared as a mere sword strike but rather a kind of Taoist magic.
Was it a second?
Or perhaps even less than a second?
The time it took for Seol Tae Pyeong to tear off the ropes tied around his wrist, stand up, draw the sword from a nearby Black Moon Unit member, and unleash a series of strikes.
A moment so fleeting that no one except Seol Tae Pyeong himself could even observe it.
Yet that series of events undeniably occurred. There was ample evidence left behind.
The swirling sword wind. The split in two wooden blocks, chairs, tea cups, and even the hem of the Black Moon Unit member’s clothes.
Though the process passed by so quickly that it could not be observed, the results remained and crashed down on the Black Moon unit members like lightning.
Crash! Crack!
Swoosh!
The Black Moon Unit members who were struck by the back of the sword couldn’t even scream.
By the time Cheong Jin Myeong noticed that something was wrong and he turned his head…
The battered Sword Master was realigning his dislocated jaw with his own hands.
– Be wary of the swordsman named Seol Tae Pyeong in the palace.
– His skills are high… and he’s strong… it’s not just a matter of that… he’s simply… crazy…
These were the words of the high official who had informed Cheong Jin Myeong about the grand plan.
By the time Cheong Jin Myeong thought he finally understood the meaning of those words, his head had already been whipped to one side by a slap.
“Ugh!”
Then Seol Tae Pyeong grabbed him by the collar, brought his face close, and spoke.
His face covered in blood looked like that of a demonic spirit. One thing was clear. He did not resemble a human.
“You, you crazy …”
“Finally, I get to see your face up close… Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong.”
“You… you…”
“Yes. I knew you wouldn’t easily show yourself to a complete stranger. Anyway, aren’t you ashamed to be hiding like that after being born a man? Doesn’t it embarrass you to sneak around like that?”
Cheong Jin Myeong tried to open his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Seol Tae Pyeong who was gripping his collar tightly just leaned in closer and spoke in a terrifying tone.
“Yes, in order to see the expensive face of the Black Moon Leader… I can take a few hits for that… This man, Seol Tae Pyeong, doesn’t get upset over a few petty punches…!”
“…that, that’s…”
“…or so I thought.”
“…what?”
But it was too much.
Beating someone to the brink of death just to drain their energy isn’t something a person should do.
Seol Tae Pyeong said this while grinding his teeth.
“I could tolerate it up to about thirty hits.”
“…….”
“Once it went past fifty hits, I felt my grip on sanity snap. Still, I managed to endure.”
“…….”
“But seeing these bastards beat me all night long… I tried to stay rational… I’m sorry, I guess I’m just an ordinary man after all… Honestly, after getting hit this much, my head is throbbing and I’m pissed off…”
“…….”
“Indeed… humans are creatures of emotion…”
The Black Moon Unit members lying around all doubted their eyes.
They had beaten him nearly to death, so how could he still move like that?
“So… before we discuss things further… let’s say you get hit half as much as I did… I’m being generous here, right?”
“Wait… that was… not me, but my subordinates…”
“Oh, come on. You know the leader is supposed to take responsibility for his subordinates’ actions. Are you really going to weasel out of this here?”
With that, Seol Tae Pyeong grabbed his collar and slammed Cheong Jin Myeong to the ground.
Crash!
The sound of shaking and beating reverberated outside the cabin.
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