“Is this revenge for your father?”
The Chief Councilor ought to maintain composure, even with a blade pressed against his throat.
Clang! Clang!
– Aaaaah! Please spare me!
Whoosh!
The banquet hall was in complete chaos.
The assassins of the Black Moon unit swiftly took control of the scene and quickly restrained the Emperor and the councilors to take them hostage.
Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Red Palace tried to resist by swinging their swords, but the elite assassins of the Black Moon unit, who were sharpened through years of rigorous training, weren’t easily subdued.
The stage burned, and screams echoed repeatedly, but to Seol Tae Pyeong and In Seon Rok, they sounded distant, like they were coming from far away.
Time seemed to flow differently.
To the gathered high officials and maids, every moment likely felt as fleeting as an arrow shot into the air. Yet for Seol Tae Pyeong and In Seon Rok who were standing face-to-face with only a sword between them, time stretched endlessly.
Amid the chaos, there was silence.
Amid that silence, Seol Tae Pyeong spoke.
“It is not.”
“If it’s not that, then what?”
In Seon Rok’s eyes, as he stared straight at Seol Tae Pyeong, reflected the wisdom of years.
The old fox who had held the position of Chief Councilor in this murky political swamp for decades tried to discern the meaning behind the rapidly unfolding events.
In a situation where it would be natural to tremble in fear, break out in cold sweat, or flee in a desperate attempt to preserve his life, he suspected.
“Are you trying to become Emperor?”
Blasphemous words spoken out loud.
At the top of this very Taehwa Pavilion sat Emperor Woon Sung.
Even knowing how treacherous his words were, Chief Councilor In Seon Rok maintained a composed expression as he addressed Seol Tae Pyeong.
“They say bloodline cannot lie. You’re walking the same path as Seol Lee Moon.”
“Well, whether I’ll walk the exact same path or not is yet to be seen.”
In the eyes of Seol Tae Pyeong who was gripping his sword tightly glimmered a crimson light eerily reminiscent of that monster from long ago. The one who walked toward the Emperor in the rain.
Closing his eyes brought forth the haunting image of that blood-drenched monster.
The mere act of imagining it sent a chill down one’s spine. A sight so horrific it was enough to make one shudder.
***
“Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong has staged a rebellion!”
“Seol Tae Pyeong has attacked the Taehwa Pavilion! Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong has attacked the Taehwa Pavilion!”
In an instant, the main palace fell into chaos.
Rumors travel faster than even the swiftest steed.
Even the news that the Vice General of the country had pointed his sword at the Emperor was enough to send shockwaves through everyone who heard it.
“The three great officials and all officials of Upper Second Rank or higher have been taken hostage at the Taehwa Pavilion!”
“Mobilize the army! This is an order to summon everyone, including the generals currently dispatched on campaigns!”
Not only the military officers of the Red Palace but also the soldiers stationed at Truth Insight Terrace were thrown into chaos. They started running frantically.
The Taehwa Pavilion at the White Immortal Mountain was not far away.
Since it was the Crown Prince’s birthday ceremony, most of the high-ranking generals and military officers were already present at the scene.
And so, there were plenty of forces that could be deployed quickly.
However, there was a problem.
“We can’t contact Warrior Commander Jang Rae who was in charge of the security on site!”
“It seems difficult to even enter the banquet hall right away! The assassins… the assassins have taken the high officials hostage!”
Officials of Upper Second Rank or higher were the very individuals responsible for the future of Cheongdo.
Each one held a position as significant as an entire institution, so with every life lost, Cheongdo’s future would inevitably waver.
If they recklessly stormed in and the hostages’ lives were endangered, the damage would spiral out of control.
Despite securing the entirety of the White Immortal Mountain and receiving reinforcements from the Truth Insight Terrace soldiers…!
Grand General Seong Sa Wook gripped his sword tightly with his brows furrowed.
No matter how strict the security was, if a high-ranking general with full control over military authority decided to break through, it could be done this easily.
“First, let’s enter the banquet hall! I will personally cut down the assassins who are holding the hostages!”
Grand General Seong Sa Wook’s swift swordsmanship was known to transcend even distances and strike down enemies without fail.
If he took control of the scene himself, the tide of the battle would surely shift.
Just as he prepared to step forward and take charge of the situation before it was too late—
Whooosh!
“What, what is that…!”
A wave of azure energy, shaped like a dragon, surged into the sky.
The mystical energy emanating from it spread outward, enveloping the entire area of Taehwa Pavilion in a thick mist.
The mist grew so dense that it became nearly impossible to discern even a few steps ahead.
Such a large-scale display of Taoist art was not something just anyone could wield. Even the most famous Taoist masters could not conjure a mist dense enough to engulf the entire Taehwa Pavilion.
This… this scale of Taoist arts… could it be…?
– It is said that the mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall has allied with Seol Tae Pyeong!
– This… this energy… it certainly feels imbued with the power of the Heavenly Dragon!
Seong Sa Wook felt his mind grow even more disoriented.
The young Taoist of the Heavenly Dragon Hall. The one who was said to be the proxy of the Heavenly Dragon, the force that governed the balance of the world.
Her decision to support Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong carried an undeniable implication.
What is happening?
A soldier’s duty was to maintain steadfast loyalty.
However, the fact that the mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall had aligned with Seol Tae Pyeong carried far too much weight.
The symbolic authority of the Heavenly Maiden was not something that fell short even when compared to the imperial family.
If so, where should his loyalty now lie?
Grand General Seong Sa Wook could do nothing but swallow dryly.
For now, however, his immediate task was clear.
He had to make his way through this suffocating mist to the banquet hall.
***
“All the officials from the Ministry of War have been subdued!”
“All the officials from the Ministry of Rites have also been subdued!”
“All the forces stationed outside the banquet hall have all been subdued!”
Amid the thickening mist, the sharp voices of the elite Black Moon Unit echoed as they reported their progress.
As Seong Sa Wook turned his gaze toward the stage, he saw the Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang standing there. The energy of her Taoist magic was shimmering faintly around her.
She was holding the Peaceful Moon Stone, a sacred artifact known to discern truth from lies.
Holding the stone in her hand, she glanced in his direction, then ran as fast as she could toward the Taehwa Pavilion.
The soldiers rushed to block her path.
“Your Highness! What is happening here? Please, stop!”
“Your Highness…! If this continues…!”
Whoosh!
A gleam of light flashed in Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes. As she unleashed her Taoist power in an instant, the soldiers before her collapsed; their eyes rolled back as they fell unconscious.
The art of illusion was her specialty.
With a single sweep of her sleeve, all the soldiers in the vicinity lost consciousness. She was no different from a living biochemical weapon.
Though she never used her power for evil purposes, once she unleashed it, it would take several skilled Taoist masters to stop her.
As an enemy, she was more terrifying than a Higher Demonic Spirit, and as an ally, she was more reliable than a thousand troops.
Boom! Crash!
At this rate, the banquet hall would be overtaken in an instant.
After taking control of the banquet hall, they could quickly force the Chief Councilor and hear the truth about the Plague Demonic Spirit before things got any worse.
However, pulling off such a large-scale operation without encountering any resistance was too much to hope for.
Boom!
Crash!
Through the mist Jin Cheong Lang had created, a figure emerged. He was larger and more imposing than most warriors.
With a single swing of his huge blade, the sword energy alone dispersed the surrounding mist.
Whoosh!
The wind created by the force of his swing sent nearby tables flying and extinguished the flames burning on the silk drapes of the stage.
– Hoooooooow!
With a single roar, as fierce as a beast’s cry, the entire area trembled.
The commanding presence of the spirited general made the high officials and soldiers in the banquet hall swallow hard.
Even as allies, they felt afraid. His overwhelming aura was enough to make them think so.
The sight of him stripped to the waist with his bulky body filled with bulging muscles, his thick beard flowing down, and his eyes glowing with ominous intensity as he gazed down at Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang was imposing.
This was General Seok Wol Ryeong, ranked fifth among Cheongdo’s military officials, the Grand Commander who oversaw the security of the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger District of the Imperial Capital.
“Heavenly Maiden! You are making a grave mistake right now!”
The sheer force of his voice alone felt like it might sweep everything away, but Jin Cheong Lang gritted her teeth and quickly channeled her Taoist power to knock Seok Wol Ryeong unconscious.
“Gah!”
Seok Wol Ryeong’s eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.
However, just as he was about to lose balance and collapse to the ground, he stabbed his huge blade into his own shoulder to stabilize himself.
“Graaaaaaah!”
A scream filled with pain echoed through the hall as blood sprayed into the air.
The blood sprayed so far and wide that even the collar of Jin Cheong Lang’s clothing was flecked with it.
The method to break free from an illusion spell pushed to its limits was self-inflicted harm.
It was the very method Seol Tae Pyeong had employed without hesitation on the day he first met Jin Cheong Lang.
Every general-level officer had reached the pinnacle of resolve and spirit.
If Seol Tae Pyeong had displayed such determination during his apprentice warrior days, it had been unusual. But for general-level officers, the willpower to drive a blade into one’s own flesh was practically a given.
The position of a general-level officer was not one that could be attained by just anyone.
As if to prove that fact, he regained his focus, locked eyes with Jin Cheong Lang, and shouted,
“My apologies, Your Highness! I will now subdue you with my full strength!”
Blood poured from his arm as he swung his sword, scattering crimson droplets into the air once more.
Clang!
Jin Cheong Lang swiftly used her Taoist arts to deflect the blade, yet her pupils trembled violently as she tightly cradled the Peaceful Moon Stone.
Until now, Seol Tae Pyeong was the only one who had endured her illusion spell through sheer willpower.
In the face of his monstrous determination to remain conscious even at the cost of stabbing himself, Jin Cheong Lang had no choice but to grit her teeth in frustration.
***
Clang!
He parried the swinging blade.
It was pointed toward In Seon Rok in a threatening stance.
Though it was an attack difficult to counter, Seol Tae Pyeong quickly reversed his grip and intercepted the strike coming at him from the side.
“You bastard! Seol Tae Pyeong! You’ve finally shown your true colors!”
Whoooosh!
In an instant, a ferocious strike bore down on Seol Tae Pyeong. He swiftly gripped his sword with both hands and braced himself with gritted teeth.
Each blow landed with incredible weight.
This was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Whoooosh!
Bursting through the mist with a single leap, the military officer reached the summit of Taehwa Pavilion.
Despite the heavy iron armor he wore, his movements were agile as he grabbed Seol Tae Pyeong by the collar. The man gritted his teeth as he threw Seol Tae Pyeong down the pavilion’s stairs, slamming him into the dirt below.
Whiik!
Saaak!
Dust scattered as Seol Tae Pyeong landed in a roll, only to be attacked by yet another strike immediately.
Clang!
The blows were so heavy that even when blocked, they sent dust billowing into the air.
“Is everyone alright? I’ll hold him off here! Head down to where the soldiers are and search for an escape route!”
It was the one-eyed general who shouted this.
Second in rank among Cheongdo’s military officers, Blue Pillar General Hwang Soo.
The blade of his Blue Snake Sword gleamed with a clear blue light.
The sharp blade, forged from the precious Blue Steel, was a mysterious weapon that only showed its true edge when held by him.
When in his grasp, it felt as light as a feather, yet to anyone else, it was as heavy as a thousand pounds. It was said to be a sword that had pledged its loyalty solely to Hwang Soo.
He shook the blade clean and shouted to the Emperor to flee, then turned his gaze once more toward Seol Tae Pyeong.
“You treacherous bastard! Did you think I wouldn’t see through your vile intentions?”
As the dust settled, the figures of other generals emerged from within.
One of them was Fierce Honor General Yoo Gwang Woon ranked sixth among Cheongdo’s military officers.
He was small in stature, with prominent white hair and a delicate face. He stood tall, holding a long sword in one hand and a small dagger in the other.
Opposite him stood Strategic General Ah Cheon ranked seventh among Cheongdo’s military officers.
Though he wore a kind smile on his broad face, the iron mace in his hand bore stains of blood from the countless demonic spirits he had slain.
He was second only to Seol Tae Pyeong in the number of demonic spirits he killed. He was a cold-blooded killer on the battlefield but was known for his boundless compassion for people. A virtuous general.
Those who knew the stark contrast between these two sides of him often shuddered at the sight of him, though Ah Cheon himself seemed to pay little mind to such reactions.
And there, at the center of it all was Seol Tae Pyeong standing with a drawn blade. He was ranked third among Cheongdo’s military officers.
The soldiers present gulped nervously at the sight.
It was rare enough to see so many generals of such high rank gathered in one place, but to witness them pointing their weapons at one another was an extraordinary and unprecedented sight.
To the ordinary soldiers, ignorant of the underlying events, this scene appeared to be nothing short of a battle between the stars of Cheongdo’s sky.
Each one of these generals commanded vast territories and legions of subordinates. No one could predict the outcome of this clash.
“Repent for your sins and lay down your weapons! If you do, though I may take your life, I will spare your men!”
Blue Pillar General Hwang Soo shouted from the peak of the Taehwa Pavilion.
Seol Tae Pyeong, the one behind all of this, had effectively turned every high-ranking military officer in Cheongdo into his enemy.
If they truly intended to block his path, even someone as skilled as the Vice General would be quickly subdued, no matter how formidable his strength was.
That was what everyone believed.
For that reason, they were curious to see how Seol Tae Pyeong would respond.
“….…”
However, Seol Tae Pyeong did not answer, as if even sparing time for a reply was beneath him.
Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword, disappeared from his spot, and by the time they realized what was happening, his blade was already slashing down toward General Yoo Gwang Woon.
Clang!
He wasted no time with unnecessary chatter. He moved without hesitation, as if the only thing that mattered was completing the task at hand, and struck at General Yoo Gwang Woo’s sword with unyielding force. Even his expression was the same.
“Urgh!”
His speed was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
Moreover, his energy was so obscure it couldn’t be sensed, forcing Yoo Gwang Woon to rely on near-instinctive reflexes to deflect the strike.
Yoo Gwang Woon’s eyes widened in shock.
Though Seol Tae Pyeong’s swing had seemed casual, the sheer weight behind it made it nearly impossible to counter.
After only four exchanges, Yoo Gwang Woon’s sword snapped under the pressure of Seol Tae Pyeong’s relentless attacks.
“What?!”
When Yoo Gwang Woon quickly jumped back to seek reinforcements from the other generals to get his bearings, Seol Tae Pyeong grabbed him by the collar and threw him to the ground.
“Ugh!”
Yet, his opponent was a high-ranking officer.
Losing his sword alone was not enough to subdue him.
Yoo Gwang Woon twisted his body and pushed against the ground, trying to nullify Seol Tae Pyeong’s strength.
Though he was unarmed, he knew that if Seol Tae Pyeong chose to strike with his blade, he could lose an arm at any moment.
But as someone who had attained the rank of general, he was prepared to sacrifice an arm if it meant confronting a traitor intent on overthrowing the nation.
With that resolve, Yoo Gwang Woon grabbed Seol Tae Pyeong’s blade with his bare hand.
Blood streamed down his forearm and dripped to the ground.
“Now!”
At that moment, out of the swirling dust, General Ah Cheon appeared while swinging his large iron mace down.
Boom!
For someone of his large build, his movements were astonishingly agile.
Though the mace struck Seol Tae Pyeong, he clenched his teeth and absorbed the blow with his shoulder.
Thud!
“This… this crazy bastard…!”
Ordinary men would have their bones shattered and collapse while vomiting blood after a single strike, but Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong endured the blow with his monstrous strength. Though pain contorted his brow, his bones neither shattered nor even cracked.
Ah Cheon had never in his life seen a man take such a large iron mace head-on without a weapon.
At the moment Ah Cheon’s eyes widened in disbelief, Seol Tae Pyeong was already gripping his face firmly.
The reason the Plague Demonic Spirit had hidden itself so carefully until fully awakening its power—
It was to avoid being killed by Seol Tae Pyeong.
As if to prove that point, Seol Tae Pyeong gritted his teeth, yanked Ah Cheon’s face closer, and drove his heavy fist directly into his gut.
“Ugh!”
A spray of blood erupted from Ah Cheon’s mouth.
Seol Tae Pyeong was a famous swordsman.
But to actually overpower General Ah Cheon without even drawing his sword…
Ah Cheon swallowed dryly.
He had no choice but to realize the incredible gap in their strength.
***
– Seol Tae Pyeong’s rebellion is fake. His Majesty is already aware of it. This is a carefully orchestrated disturbance, so remain calm and hold your positions.
The palace was thrown into chaos by Seol Tae Pyeong’s rebellion.
But that message resurfaced from the countless scrolls he scattered.
The message he sent to the people he trusted.
Those countless scrolls now shone across the palace and started fulfilling their intended purpose.
Leave a Reply