Grand General Seong Sa Wook personally headed to Taehwa Pavilion to stop Seol Tae Pyeong.
This meant that the chaos would soon be resolved.
After all, no matter how formidable Seol Tae Pyeong was, it was impossible for him to subdue Seong Sa-wook, the greatest warrior of Cheongdo, without sustaining any damage.
Claaang!
Warrior Commander Jang Rae gritted his teeth as he blocked In Ha Yeon’s blade.
She’s strong.
He had crossed swords with her several times during her time as the Vermilion Princess, but her noble status had always prevented him from fighting her with all his might, forcing him to hold back.
However, the In Ha Yeon he encountered now after all this time had become a far more skilled swordsman than when she had been living in the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Even though she spent her life as the Vermilion Princess, she never neglected honing her talents as a swordsman.
Whooosh!
Each time In Ha Yeon moved swiftly and swung her sword, the fluttering of her robes obscured his view.
It was like watching a flower bloom, and although she had long since retired from her position as the Vermilion Princess, there was still an undeniable elegance in her movements.
Taaak!
Paaat!
When Jang Rae pulled back and created some distance while adjusting his sword, In Ha Yeon flicked her blade and smiled gracefully.
Against the backdrop of a winter mountain filled with bare branches, her fiery hair hung neatly, adding to her composed and elegant demeanor.
If I let my guard down, I’ll lose.
Her swordsmanship had been widely recognized even during her time as the Vermilion Princess, but he never imagined that she would be skilled enough to hold her own against the Warrior Commander of the country.
What made it even more surprising was her age; she was still young.
Another unbelievable talent has joined Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong’s ranks.
She was someone who deeply trusted and followed Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.
If even In Ha Yeon had been recruited into the Hwalseong District, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Seol Tae Pyeong had one of the most formidable teams of subordinates among any general in the country.
“Warrior Commander, it seems you’re still holding back with your sword.”
“…….!”
Whooooosh!
For a moment, Jang Rae lost sight of her as she bent her body backward and lunged forward with her sword aimed straight at him.
He barely managed to deflect her attack by swinging his sword, but In Ha Yeon spun around gracefully once more with her robes fluttering as she kicked the hilt of Jang Rae’s sword.
Claang! Baaang! Bang!
“Ugh!”
Warrior Commander Jang Rae tried to signal the nearby soldiers, but they all seemed too preoccupied with fighting off the Black Moon Unit members.
“…….”
However, Jang Rae sensed something off.
Countless soldiers and assassins from the Black Moon Unit members were clashing, yet strangely, there were no fatalities.
The assassins of the Black Moon Unit were undoubtedly skilled.
No matter how well-organized the soldiers of the Red Palace were, they had their limits. There was a clear difference between those thoroughly trained in military discipline and those who had honed raw, practical combat skills in the wilderness.
Even so, the assassins of the Black Moon Unit didn’t seem to be fighting with the intent to kill. Instead, they appeared to be aiming to incapacitate the soldiers rather than take their lives.
…They’ve been ordered not to kill…!
At that moment, Jang Rae’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“I understand that the Vice General isn’t someone who would recklessly stage such an unrestrained rebellion.”
Facing In Ha Yeon, who was pointing her sword at his face, Jang Rae spoke calmly.
“And I’m also aware that the Vermilion Princess….no Lady Ha Yeon personally trusts the Vice General. However, I can’t imagine someone like you would easily partake in such a radical plan.”
“Pe-Personally trusts…? Wh-What do you mean by that?”
“……?”
Ignoring the slight trembling of the sword tip in In Ha Yeon’s hand, Jang Rae continued speaking his thoughts without hesitation.
“There’s something deeper at play beneath this nonsensical and reckless plan.”
Jang Rae’s insight was sharp.
In Ha Yeon was momentarily at a loss for words, as though struck by his remark, but she soon regained her composure.
“Even so, Warrior Commander, you have a duty to fulfill. If there are traitors rising against the country, it is your role as the Warrior Commander of the Red Palace to stop them, even at the cost of your life.”
“You are correct. However, if the Vice General has a hidden purpose, I would like to hear it first.”
Jang Rae raised both arms slightly and addressed In Ha Yeon.
“Tell me the Vice General’s true intent. If it’s something I can agree with, I’ll join your cause.”
***
“Your Highness! Why?! Why are you siding with Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong?! Why?!”
Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes were filled with tears as she fled from Seok Wol Ryeong.
She held the Peaceful Moon Stone tightly in her arms and ran while gasping for breath. Her appearance was like that of a prey animal being hunted by a predator.
In reality, when it came to strength, the Heavenly Maiden Jin Cheong Lang wasn’t particularly outmatched by General Seok Wol Ryeong.
She had been born with a heaven-given talent for Taoist magic, and she possessed a huge amount of spiritual energy that could enchant hundreds or even thousands of people at once.
However, General Seok Wol Ryeong was known as the most unyielding warrior in the Cheongdo Empire.
With his entire body bulging with muscles as he charged forward, his appearance was reminiscent of a huge boar. This overwhelming presence alone was enough to make a delicate girl like her hold her breath in fear.
The sight of such a hulking man, covered in blood and weeping tears of anguish as he pursued her, was enough to overwhelm anyone on a human level before even considering physical strength.
Jin Cheong Lang was a girl of young age who had lived a life far removed from violence.
Though many overlooked this point due to the authority surrounding her position as the Heavenly Maiden, a girl of her tender age would instinctively freeze and flee if chased by such a blood-soaked brute.
She had never killed anyone, nor had she properly hit another person before. How could someone like her beat this unyielding warrior into unconsciousness?
This was not merely an issue of physical strength; it was a matter of combat experience and mental strength, which made it an unbearably cruel task for someone like Jin Cheong Lang, who had spent her days embroidering and arranging flowers.
“Heek! Aaahhhh!”
In the end, all she could do was scatter every kind of Taoist spell she knew while frantically running for her life.
Yet, even the spells she cast haphazardly packed enough force to rival fatal strikes.
Most ordinary warriors would have collapsed after being hit a few times, but Seok Wol Ryeong endured it all. He used his massive muscles to absorb the blows as he relentlessly pursued Jin Cheong Lang.
A tearful young girl running for her life and a blood-soaked brute screaming cries of anguish as he chased her.
To an outsider, it would have been a scene fraught with danger. Yet upon closer inspection, the one fulfilling his duty was none other than General Seok Wol Ryeong.
Clinging to the last shreds of his fading consciousness, Seok Wol Ryeong made a great leap and landed squarely in front of Jin Cheong Lang. He once again blocked her path.
The bloodied beast loomed over her and looked down at her with an intense gaze.
Jin Cheong Lang who was clutching the Peaceful Moon Stone to her chest trembled uncontrollably and let out a nervous hiccup.
– Killing must absolutely be avoided. Of course, I know you wouldn’t take a life lightly, Heavenly Maiden, but even an accidental death would only escalate the situation.
– If we want to clean up this mess later, there must be no casualties.
Seol Tae Pyeong had given Jin Cheong Lang this earnest advice.
However, at this point, it was unreasonable to try and control her strength. Jin Cheong Lang genuinely felt her life was in danger.
She was on the verge of unleashing all her internal energy to knock Seok Wol Ryeong away with everything she had.
“Heavenly Maiden.”
Blood dripped endlessly from Seok Wol Ryeong, but his expression carried a weight of seriousness.
Despite the blood flowing freely, despite the countless wounds that covered his body, Seok Wol Ryeong spoke in a steady and solemn voice without a hint of resentment.
“I, Seok Wol Ryeong, have dedicated my entire life to serving Cheongdo as a military officer. While I cannot claim my life has been perfectly virtuous, I have upheld my own principles and beliefs. That much, I can say with confidence.”
“……..”
“The generals and officials of Cheongdo are much the same. They are all people who love this country and have resolved to give their lives for it.”
Between the streams of blood, Seok Wol Ryeong’s eyes glimmered faintly, though their intensity had slightly diminished.
“Because they are such people, I believe they have the right to know the truth of what is happening.”
“You, you …”
“At the very least, the Emperor and the Heavenly Maiden, to whom I have pledged my loyalty, must be acting with a greater purpose in mind. Otherwise, you could not have risen to such position.”
The resolute tone of his voice carried a profound and devoted determination.
Even as blood poured from his wounds, Seok Wol Ryeong uttered every word with perfect clarity. His determination alone remained unwavering.
“So please tell me the greater purpose you hold, Heavenly Maiden. If I find it to be just, I will follow and believe in you.”
Inside Seok Wol Ryeong’s fiery gaze, there was a question directed at the Heavenly Maiden. A figure of such renown, a woman who stood at the pinnacle of Cheongdo.
The one who carried the weight of the world and honored the will of the Heavenly Dragon.
The woman who stood atop the Heavenly Dragon Hall. The woman who embodies the ideals of the country.
Jin Cheong Lang slowly closed her eyes and thought to herself.
In reality, she had only followed Seol Tae Pyeong because she liked him.
“.…….”
The Peaceful Moon Stone in her arms seemed to tremble faintly as if it were shivering.
As long as she held onto this stone, she could not tell a lie. If she did and the light of the stone faded, the entire plan would collapse.
Faced with Seok Wol Ryeong’s solemn expression and the heavy atmosphere of his unyielding determination, she wished she could simply say, “You don’t need to know, and move on.” But it didn’t seem that simple.
In the end, Jin Cheong Lang was left with only one choice.
“I, I, I, I…”
Before Seok Wol Ryeong’s glinting piercing gaze, Jin Cheong Lang’s confession continued hesitantly.
“B-Because… I just… like General Seol…”
“….…”
“And so… I just thought… if it was something General Seol was doing, I should trust and support him… Th-That’s… all there is…”
Seok Wol Ryeong’s eyes flashed ominously.
His gaze, cold and lifeless like that of a dead fish, left Jin Cheong Lang breathless. Her chest tightened painfully.
He was a high-ranking military officer. A general who had devoted his entire life to serving the Cheongdo Empire.
To stand before someone with such a resolute, weighty gaze and admit, “I just joined because I liked the guy doing it,” seemed utterly insane. It was a reckless, foolish display of shallow conviction.
“Let me ask you something, just to be sure.”
Seok Wol Ryeong asked in a deep voice heavy with suspicion.
The Peaceful Moon Stone cradled in Jin Cheong Lang’s arms trembled with a faint, whining vibration.
“What you said about liking General Seol… Do you mean… in the sense that I think you do… romantically?”
There was nowhere left to run now.
Jin Cheong Lang swallowed her tears her trembling head nodding as if it might fall off.
The Heavenly Maiden of Cheongdo Jin Cheong Lang harbored romantic feelings for Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.
That revelation alone was an earth-shattering secret, one capable of shaking the entire palace to its core.
“….…”
“….…”
“…So, what you’re saying is… that the Heavenly Maiden of the country involved herself in such a grand event, and the only reason for it was… simply to honor the wishes of the man you love? That’s it?”
“….…”
Jin Cheong Lang trembled with tears welling in her eyes. Meanwhile, Seok Wol Ryeong folded his arms across his bloodied, wounded torso. His expression was stern as he stood tall and unwavering.
That rising anger was about to attack Jin Cheong Lang.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Jin Cheong Lang could only ask herself in despair, “This is the truth, so what else can I even say?”
“….…”
However, in the next moment, hot tears began to flow freely from Seok Wol Ryeong’s eyes. This was the warm, earnest tears of a man overcome with emotion.
“…Huh?”
“Sob… I see now. So even when you rose to such heights as the Heavenly Maiden, you have held on to your pure heart and unwavering devotion.”
“…General Seok?”
“I, General Seok Wol Ryeong, have lived my entire life as a warrior…! But in the end, I understand that what truly makes a person human is not cold discipline or calculated reasoning, but a warm heart…!”
Caught off guard by Seok Wol Ryeong’s sudden flow of tears, Jin Cheong Lang could only fill her head with question marks. She couldn’t follow what was happening right now.
“The Vice General and the Heavenly Maiden of Cheongdo… The burdens they carry on their shoulders must be endlessly heavy, and surely, the trials and obstacles between them were countless…!”
“General Seok, I can’t follow what you’re trying to say right now….”
“I understand it well! Between lovers destined for tragedy, countless trials are bound to follow…!”
Seok Wol Ryeong, a general whose body was made entirely of muscle.
Ironically, his longest-standing hobby was indulging in cheap romance novels.
On weekends, he would wander through flower fields, make flower crowns, or visit famous tea shops in the imperial capital to indulge his unnecessarily girlish tastes. For these reasons, he was often called an oddball among the soldiers.
“W-Wait… are you saying it’s acceptable to join such a grand event for that reason?”
“Surely, the Vice General must have presented a greater, more noble cause. That’s something you’ll have to hear from the Vice General himself, but as for me, I’m simply moved by the Heavenly Maiden’s firm resolve, her loyalty and trust, and most of all, her pure feelings that led her to jump into this great vortex.
“…And that’s the part that moved you?”
“Why wouldn’t it move me! In times like these, where else would you find someone with the kind of pure devotion the Heavenly Maiden has? On the contrary… I find myself wanting to cheer for your heart!”
But still, this is the Heavenly Maiden of Cheongdo, the mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
Jin Cheong Lang couldn’t understand a word of what Seok Wol Ryeong was saying.
Despite her dumbfounded reaction, Seok Wol Ryeong continued. He lowered his head as he spoke.
“So that’s how it is! If that’s the case, then everything can be explained…! The Heavenly Maiden… has feelings for the Vice General as a man…!”
“Th-That is…!”
“Yearning…! Love…! A noble heart…! That wistful affection for Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong is what brought the Heavenly Maiden out of the Heavenly Dragon Hall…! How could one not be moved…!”
As General Seok Wol Ryeong passionately proclaimed his feelings, Jin Cheong Lang trembled and anxiously looked around.
Most of the officials had already fled, leaving the area eerily quiet. Jin Cheong Lang quickly stood up and spoke.
“F-For now, um…! Someone might be listening…! Lower your voice…!”
“Love! What a beautiful sound! This longing for Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong…! The tender bond, like cherry blossoms in spring, gently taking root…! Please, I beg you, tell me how such a delicate love story came to be—kraaahk!!!”
Thud!
A large rock flew straight into Seok Wol Ryeong’s face. It was thrown using a Taoist spell.
Whoosh!
“Guhhh…”
The rock hit him right in the face with such precision that Seok Wol Ryeong’s body fell backward.
Thump!
“Hah… hah… p-please, just be quiet…! E-Everyone’s going to hear…!”
Jin Cheong Lang’s face had turned bright red as if it had been scorched by fire.
No matter how much of a delicate, girlish taste someone might have, that didn’t mean they were fully prepared to handle the sensitivities of a maiden’s heart.
“Hah… hah…”
As if to prove the point, the sight of General Seok Wol Ryeong sprawled out cold on the cold dirt floor was pitiful.
The cold winter wind filled the space between the two with a chilling stillness.
“….…”
Before being the mistress of the Azure Dragon Palace, before being the mistress of the Heavenly Dragon Hall, Jin Cheong Lang was just one girl.
And for the first time in her life, she had knocked someone unconscious.
Yet, as she looked down at Seok Wol Ryeong who lay there with a satisfied smile as if he was grateful for the “beautiful story” she had shared…
She couldn’t shake the feeling that the real loser here… was herself.
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