– The rebellion led by Seol Tae Pyeong is fake. His Majesty is already aware of this rebellion. It is all a planned disturbance, so do not panic and remain in your place.
As she read the words appearing on the scroll Seol Tae Pyeong had given her as a gift, Black Princess Po Hwa Ryeong fell into deep thought for a moment.
Was this all orchestrated from the beginning? Tae Pyeong isn’t the kind of person to stir up such chaos so easily…
She had been the first to escape the banquet hall when the commotion broke out, and now, she was perched atop a large tree at the base of White Immortal Mountain.
Having spent her childhood roaming the foothills of White Immortal Mountain as an herbalist, these mountain paths were no different from her own backyard.
From the start, she was quick on her feet and more familiar with the mountains than even the wild beasts, so escaping had not been particularly difficult for her.
However, given her nature, she could never flee far and leave the palace maids behind in the banquet hall.
Despite her agility, she had virtually no combat skills.
In such chaos, staying put would have only increased the risk of being taken hostage. So, for now, she had simply chosen to escape first.
If Tae Pyeong is the one orchestrating all of this, then staying in the banquet hall wouldn’t have posed much danger after all…
But something felt off about the atmosphere at the base of the White Immortal Mountain.
Even though it was still broad daylight, an eerie tension filled the air.
An ordinary person might not have noticed anything unusual, but the Black Princess who was used to the energy of the mountains could sense a strange aura emanating from the White Immortal Mountain.
—There was no sign of movement from any wild animals.
Even just walking along the foothills, it had always been natural for the rustling of small rodents in the distance and the fluttering of birds taking flight to tickle her ears.
However, an eerie silence hung over the White Immortal Mountain. There was no sign of life.
It was as if every creature had sensed something ominous and fled long ago.
I need to check with Tae Pyeong and find out what’s going on.
It seemed like something major was unfolding, and it might be best not to interfere… But still, she had to at least understand what was happening.
With that, the Black Princess stretched once atop the tree, then swiftly climbed to the highest branches to scan the surroundings.
“…….”
For the Black Princess, who moved through the mountains as if they were her own home, reaching the mid-slopes of White Immortal Mountain took no time at all.
And on a mountain as high as the White Immortal, even from the mid-slopes, half of the Imperial Capital’s vast landscape was visible.
The view of Cheongdo Palace below, the grand and imposing structures of the Imperial Capital—
Gazing down at them had been one of the Black Princess’s childhood pastimes.
But today, the view that was always the same… looked different.
A fire…? No… an evacuation…?
Smoke was rising.
A few scattered plumes of smoke wouldn’t have been alarming.
However, in the vast city of the Imperial Capital below, countless columns of smoke were billowing from all directions and filling the sky.
It was too far to see clearly, but she could make out collapsed buildings and crowds of people fleeing.
What…? What’s happening in the Imperial Capital…?
Startled, the Black Princess leaped down from the tree and sprinted back toward the banquet hall.
– Demonic spirits! Demonic spirits have appeared…!”
– Protect the officials from the demonic spirits! There must be no casualties…!
Amidst the many court officials bound below the platform, the White Princess heard these desperate shouts.
And as if to confirm those words, countless demonic spirits began rising from the ground and surrounding the platform.
There were creatures with gaping holes in their bellies, their intestines spilling out. Others took the form of wolves, but half of their heads had been blown away with brain matter dripping from their skulls. Some had dozens of arms sprouting from their bodies, while others had no heads at all.
Each one was grotesque enough to make one’s stomach churn, yet they were all nothing more than lower demonic spirits.
The Black Moon Unit that worked directly under Seol Tae Pyeong’s command possessed enough skill to rival the ghost hands of the imperial family when it came to hunting demonic spirits.
And among them, he had brought only the most elite soldiers under his personal command. No matter how many lower demonic spirits appeared, they would be eliminated in an instant.
But… was this truly the situation General Seol had anticipated…?
The White Princess’s instincts were screaming.
There was no solid evidence, no absolute certainty, yet she could tell…..the situation was veering away from Seol Tae Pyeong’s original plan.
Was he trying to incite rebellion and shake up the political landscape within the palace? That seemed plausible, but even so, he shouldn’t have had the ability to command demonic spirits.
General Seol… Whatever it is you’re planning…
The White Princess quietly channeled Taoist magic to burn away the ropes binding her arms.
In the process, a slight burn formed on her wrist, but she merely frowned and dismissed it as trivial.
Things are getting complicated… I’ll need help…
“White Princess…!”
“It’s dangerous to leave the platform right now! The demonic spirits are rising all around the front courtyard of the banquet hall…!”
“I am aware.”
Ha Si Hwa had been assigned by Seol Tae Pyeong to monitor the White Princess’s situation and protect her.
When she raised her voice in an attempt to stop her, the White Princess scoffed.
“You come from the Inbong Clan yet ended up as a devoted subordinate of the Vice General.”
“That is…”
“I do not rebuke you for it. However, it seems the Vice General underestimates me. Did he think I would be more easily swayed if he sent someone from my own clan?”
Before reaching this position, the White Princess had faced countless brushes with death.
Even after becoming entangled with Seol Tae Pyeong, she had walked the edge of a cliff many times.
Every time she was in danger, he had saved her. She owed him too many debts to count.
However, as it had been said time and time again, the White Princess was not the kind of person who would set aside her personal desires for petty debts.
She rolled up her sleeves and cast a glance up at the White Immortal Mountain, where the demonic spirits had begun to run rampant.
As she let out a slow breath, the winter chill turned her exhalation into a faint, misty cloud.
“He must have assigned you to keep me from making any rash moves, fearing that if things go awry, it could become dangerous. How arrogant. Does he truly believe he can manipulate me so easily?”
“…White Princess?”
Seol Tae Pyeong was likely facing some great and unfathomable evil, risking his life once again in ways Ha Wol could not even begin to imagine.
She didn’t know why, but she found that aspect of him particularly irritating.
That was precisely why she had no intention of accepting his so-called kindness, which sought to tuck her away somewhere safe like a precious treasure. Instead, she cast aside his consideration, wrapped her body in spiritual energy, and strode calmly into the midst of the demonic spirits. After all, they were nothing more than lower demonic spirits.
“With the demonic spirits coming in, it’s very likely that the situation will turn out differently than expected, which would put him in a difficult position. At times like this, someone who can stay calm and manage the chaos is needed.”
She had heard that Seol Tae Pyeong, while fighting Grand General Seong Sa Wook, had ended up near the foothills of the White Immortal Mountain.
Once he learned that the demonic spirits had begun to overrun the area, he would undoubtedly return to the banquet hall as quickly as possible.
The White Princess reached into her robes and pulled out a Crane Feather Fan.
The fan, made of pure white feathers, was something she had specially requested from a Taoist of Cheongsan.
It was a treasured artifact that allowed her to sense the energy of Taoist magic more clearly, if only for a short while.
Of course, compared to Jin Cheong Lang who was naturally gifted in Taoist magic, her abilities were insignificant and barely a drop in the ocean. But at the very least, it would be enough to deal with a horde of lower demonic spirits.
Through the chaos of the battlefield, where demonic spirits clashed with the soldiers of Cheongdo Palace and the warriors of the Black Moon Unit, the young woman strolled in without the slightest sense of urgency.
***
Clang!
In Ha Yeon, who had been exchanging blows with Warrior Commander Jang Rae, drew a sharp breath as she cut down the sudden wave of demonic spirits.
She had only been told that her role was to stall the Warrior Commander and keep him from reaching the banquet hall. No one had mentioned anything about a sudden demonic spirits attack on the scene.
Something… is deviating from the Vice General’s plan…!
In Ha Yeon was the only crown princess consort among the Four Great Palaces who had been fully informed of the truth about the Plague Demonic Spirit.
Seol Tae Pyeong had orchestrated this entire grand scheme for one reason. That is to find and eliminate the Plague Demonic Spirit.
She understood that fact all too well. So she had expected that depending on how events unfolded, she might have to confront a demonic spirit.
However, seeing the sheer number of demonic spirits rising all over White Immortal Mountain, it was difficult to believe that this had all been planned.
“These things…”
Even the Black Moon warriors who had been following In Ha Yeon looked shaken as they began cutting down the spirits.
Likewise, the soldiers under Warrior Commander Jang Rae’s command were also slashing through the demonic spirits that had suddenly appeared.
Though they had been locked in combat just moments ago, the sudden outbreak of demonic spirits made such conflicts irrelevant.
“Something seems to be happening at the banquet hall.”
Warrior Commander Jang Rae spoke with a hardened expression.
“We need to head there immediately. It seems you’re thinking the same thing.”
– Warrior Commander Jang Rae is a figure trusted enough that even if his soldiers fall into chaos, he can quickly restore order.
– If he is absent, the soldiers on the field will experience significant confusion in command. So if you can keep him occupied until the operation is complete, do so at all costs.
That was the order Seol Tae Pyeong had given to In Ha Yeon.
She had planned to head to the banquet hall eventually, but not this soon.
However, the situation had clearly changed.
If she were to simply follow Seol Tae Pyeong’s instructions to the letter, the correct course of action would be to grit her teeth and stop Warrior Commander Jang Rae here.
But a wise subordinate was not one who merely carried out orders mechanically.
She had to assess the situation, reconsider the purpose behind the orders, and adapt if circumstances changed.
And In Ha Yeon was more than capable of such quick thinking.
“…We should head to the banquet hall first.”
Just as she said those words and lifted her gaze toward the Taehwa Pavilion standing against the backdrop of the deep blue sky—
The moon had risen.
Even though it was still daylight.
“…What?”
This was not the first time she had witnessed such a sight.
A moon hanging in the middle of the day.
No, rather than the day itself, it felt as if night had suddenly fallen in an instant.
The time-altering magic of the White Demonic Spirit.
“…..…”
In Ha Yeon’s breath caught in her throat as she stared up at the sky.
She couldn’t know the details… but it felt like a harbinger of disaster.
****
Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang was an exceptionally powerful demonic spirit, unlike any other that had ever attacked Cheongdo Palace.
With hundreds dead and countless wounded, it had crushed dozens of palace buildings, set mountains ablaze, and even half-destroyed the Hwalseong District. It was a monster beyond reason.
Among the countless demonic spirits spawned by the Plague Demonic Spirit, it was the strongest, so much so that even the famed Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong had been left in tatters just to bring it down.
If such a creature were to descend upon the banquet hall of Taehwa Pavilion, where high-ranking officials had gathered, the devastation would be unimaginable.
In the worst case, this could escalate into a disaster…. the annihilation of Cheongdo’s leaders.
A single swing of its massive blade could send razor-sharp winds tearing through the area, and a single swipe of its claws could end dozens of lives in an instant.
If left unchecked, within less than a minute, every human present would be dead.
Jin Cheong Lang could not stand idly by.
Whooosh!
Blessed by the divine fever, Jin Cheong Lang possessed immense power in Taoist magic, yet she had never unleashed it in full.
Just as one could not drain the entire ocean, there had never been a stage vast enough for her to release the full extent of her spiritual energy.
She had spent her life in the inner palace, where even a minor disturbance could lead to casualties.
But this was no time for restraint.
If she hesitated even once and allowed that monster to wield its full strength, dozens would perish with each passing second.
Gathering every ounce of her energy, Jin Cheong Lang unleashed the power of the Heavenly Dragon to crush Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang beneath its overwhelming force.
Whoooooosh!
The Heavenly Maiden revealing her true power.
Ordinary people could live their entire lives without ever witnessing such a sight.
And so, every person present found themselves frozen and their eyes were drawn to the immense energy of the Heavenly Dragon filling the sky.
Kaaaaaaaang!
It didn’t sound like the roar of any living creature; it was closer to the deep, resonating horn of a giant warship.
Above the White Immortal Mountain, the dragon descended.
Watching over the mortal world from the heavens, the guardian deity of Cheongdo occasionally manifested its will to shape the course of history.
Its colossal form emerged through the clouds.
In response to the plea of the country’s priestess, the Heavenly Maiden…
Kuuung!
The massive forepaw of the dragon, formed entirely of spiritual energy, came crashing down and it pinned the Sun Demonic Spirit’s enormous body beneath it.
The elaborate silk of her court robes billowed wildly in the surge of power, and a brilliant blue light flared in her eyes.
The arrival of the Heavenly Dragon alone sent violent winds sweeping across the land.
Urgh…!
There were only four people in all of Cheongdo Palace who had overcome the Heavenly Trial.
Jin Cheong Lang clenched her teeth and swung her hand downward in a sharp motion… In an instant, the monster’s movements were sealed.
Blood trickled from Jin Cheong Lang’s nose.
Three seconds—no, maybe five. That was all the strength she had exerted, yet it felt as if her entire body were burning in agony.
The energy of the Heavenly Dragon was not something a newly appointed Heavenly Maiden, who had only just begun adapting to the pure waters of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion, could easily withstand.
It was said that Ah Hyun, the Heavenly Maiden in her prime, could wield even greater power, but that was only because she had spent years acclimating to the Heavenly Dragon’s energy at the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
My whole body… It’s burning…!
But she couldn’t afford to lose consciousness now.
The only one in this place capable of killing that monstrous Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang was Seol Tae Pyeong.
At the very least, she had to hold the creature in place until he arrived.
However…
[Is this the power of that cursed Heavenly Dragon.]
Blue Pillar General Hwang Soo gripped his sword tightly.
No, it was not Hwang Soo himself. Some eerie presence lurking within his body had taken control, and before she knew it, it had closed the distance, standing right before Jin Cheong Lang.
Unless he fully regained his strength, he could not yet consume the detestable power of the Heavenly Dragon.
And so, the Plague Demonix Spirit swung his sword at its conduit…. the Heavenly Maiden.
To Jin Cheong Lang’s eyes, the movement appeared slow.
Yet she could not react.
All the energy in her body was already concentrated on her binding technique. Even if she tried to move now, there was no way she could evade that swift blade.
Her throat would be severed in a single strike, and she would die instantly.
At that very moment, just as fear threatened to consume her entire being—
Saaak!
Chwaaak!
A head was severed, and blood splattered through the air.
[Kuhuk…!]
But the one who lost his head was not Jin Cheong Lang.
It was Blue Pillar General Hwang Soo.
The head of the loyal warrior who had devoted his life to Cheongdo rolled helplessly across the floor after it got sliced away too swiftly to offer any resistance.
A spray of blood struck Jin Cheong Lang’s face with a sharp splatter.
She held her breath, struggling to keep her fading consciousness intact.
Filling her vision was the sight of Seol Tae Pyeong, ruthlessly kicking aside Hwang Soo’s now headless body.
“G-General… Seol…!”
Tears welled in her eyes as she called his name.
Just as Seol Tae Pyeong turned to check if she was unharmed, a massive figure suddenly came flying in, carrying the weight of an immense kick.
With a tremendous impact, he was sent hurtling backward and crashed into a pillar of Taehwa Pavilion.
Kwaaang! Thud!
Jin Cheong Lang’s pupils trembled violently.
The one who had stormed onto the battlefield and kicked him away so abruptly—
The one wielding a massive iron mace with a chilling smile on his face…. was none other than General Ah Cheon, who had already been subdued by Seol Tae Pyeong and thrown beyond the platform.
Jin Cheong Lang looked up at the sight and her entire body started trembling uncontrollably.
Ah Cheon. A general who had once defended Cheongdo with unwavering loyalty.
But now, that blood-stained smile of his was filled with pure madness.
[Kuhaha…! No matter how desperately you struggle…!]
Before he could even finish his sentence—
Hwak!
Seol Tae Pyeong shot forward, kicking off a pillar and slicing through the dust-filled air. His swift blade had already pierced Ah Cheon’s heart.
Puk!
Pushuk!
Blood spurted from the wound, staining the entire area crimson.
Yet even in the midst of that fountain of blood, General Ah Cheon continued to grin with a terrifying, maddened expression.
[Khh… How… how utterly amusing…]
Sensing the presence of those gathering near Taehwa Pavilion, the crazy monster’s grin stretched even wider.
[So, the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces, who once guarded the Four Cardinal Directions of the Heavenly Dragon Hall… have all taken your side.]
“……”
[I see now… I understand why you chose this cycle to make your move… But in the end… it is futile.]
And with that, the last traces of blood drained from Ah Cheon’s face. His eyes rolled back, and his consciousness faded.
Seol Tae Pyeong wordlessly pulled his sword free and flicked the blood from its blade.
Ah Cheon’s huge frame collapsed where he stood. His body fell forward, spraying blood across the courtyard of Taehwa Pavilion.
The assembled officials could do nothing but tremble in fear.
A general who had once defended Cheongdo had been cut down like a mere foot soldier, slain one by one.
That sight. It was exactly the same as when Seol Lee Moon had once strode into the main palace, cutting down everything in his path.
It was as if that maddened Sword Sovereign had manifested once again in this era.
Hwak!
Another high-ranking general rose to his feet and started swinging his blade in an attempt to sever Seol Tae Pyeong’s head.
Fierce Honor General Yoo Gwang Woon. His lips twisted into a maniacal grin. He twisted his body and drove a dagger deep into Seol Tae Pyeong’s side.
Puk!
Pushuk!
Blood gushed from the wound, and Jin Cheong Lang cried.
“General Seol …!”
Hwak!
But Seol Tae Pyeong caught Yoo Gwang Woon’s wrist, gripping the hand that still clutched the dagger.
Lowering his gaze, he silently looked at the blade buried in his own side, then slowly shifted his eyes toward Yoo Gwang Woon.
His gaze was that of a beast that had just caught its prey.
Sring!
In the blink of an eye, Yoo Gwang Woon’s severed head was already soaring through the air.
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