novelraw Chapter 123 : Chapter 123
Chapter 123 : Chapter 123
Chapter 123 Prince Yeomseong (1)
“Anyway, nothing ever goes easily.”
Pan Bing-yeong lifted the wine bottle to her mouth.
After gulping down the wine for a long time, she slammed the bottle onto the table with a loud THUD!
“Ah! I really hoped I wouldn't get involved with the Imperial Court……!”
As Pan Bing-yeong let out a deep sigh, the Red-faced Ghost and Six Dragons cautiously reached for their glasses while watching her mood.
“Did you guys see it correctly? Are you sure?”
“Of course. Whose request was it? Would we have done the job sloppily?”
The Red-faced Ghost stole a glance at me and nodded again.
“……Prince Yeomseong.”
I tilted my head.
“As you know, I’m not only unfamiliar with the current state of the Jianghu, but I also have zero knowledge about the Imperial Family. What kind of person is Prince Yeomseong?”
“I will explain that to you.”
Six Dragons quickly opened his mouth.
“The current Emperor originally had five brothers. Eventually, after the previous Emperor passed away, a fierce power struggle began among the five brothers. For two months, a bloodbath swept through the Imperial Court. In the end, three lost their lives, and finally two remained: the current Emperor Ju Jin-pyeong and his eldest brother, Ju Mun-pyeong.”
Six Dragons lifted the wine bottle to moisten his throat and continued.
“The eldest son, Ju Mun-pyeong, had legitimacy and tradition on his side, while the fourth son, Ju Jin-pyeong, possessed outstanding ability. Since the forces of these two men were evenly matched, public interest was high regarding who would take the Imperial Throne…… then suddenly, the eldest son Ju Mun-pyeong gave up the throne.”
“……Was there a special reason?”
“No one knows that reason even now. However, by giving up the throne like that, Ju Mun-pyeong was able to save his life. After ascending to the throne, Ju Jin-pyeong bestowed upon him the title of Prince Yeomseong and granted him the Tianjin region, southeast of Beijing. Since then, Prince Yeomseong has been enjoying a leisurely life in the Tianjin region he was granted.”
“And such a man as Prince Yeomseong possessed an item belonging to the Blood Cult and sent it to the Ghost Blood Sect? Does that mean he is connected to the Blood Cult?”
Pan Bing-yeong frowned at my words.
“It is only a speculation for now. We have to investigate properly. Who can trust these guys?”
“Sister, we’ve confirmed this information several times. We went through various channels with considerable effort……”
“Quiet!”
Pan Bing-yeong slammed the table with a SLAM!
“Miss Pan. Could you explain a bit more so I can understand the situation clearly?”
Pan Bing-yeong looked back at me and let out a deep sigh.
“Let me start by explaining why I fear the Imperial Court so much. The current Emperor is a very clever man. As soon as he ascended the Imperial Throne, he quickly took control of the Imperial Court and the political situation. He significantly increased the autonomy of the Murim and built strong relationships with the Jianghu. Approaching the Murim so favorably, he invited the top experts from each sect to take turns serving as martial arts instructors for the Imperial Court.”
“He took Murim experts as martial arts instructors?”
“Yes. While claiming he had a great interest in martial arts himself. Having obtained various martial arts of the Jianghu in that way, he used his innate memory to pass on those techniques to the high-ranking officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Imperial Army. As a result, the strength of the entire Imperial Court grew rapidly.”
Taking over Pan Bing-yeong’s words, Six Dragons continued.
“The disciples of the Nine Great Sect and One Beggar Clan number at most a few thousand, but the Imperial Army exceeds several hundred thousand. Even if only one-tenth of them have properly learned martial arts, the power of the Imperial Army is in a state equal to the entire Jianghu.”
The Red-faced Ghost, who was listening to the story from the side, tilted his head and asked.
“But what does that have to do with the Blood Cult? Prince Yeomseong gave up the fight for the throne, so doesn't he have nothing to do with the Imperial Army?”
“It looks that way on the surface. But the problem is that the people currently sitting in major positions within the Imperial Army were once under the command of Prince Yeomseong.”
I, who had been focusing on the story with a furrowed brow, opened my mouth.
“Let me summarize. If Prince Yeomseong, who still has strong ties to the Imperial Army, is colluding with the Blood Cult…… it means that the martial arts of the Blood Cult could be seeping into the Imperial Army, which already possesses massive power.”
Six Dragons nodded vigorously at my words.
“You are exactly right. If Prince Yeomseong really has a link to the Blood Cult, this will no longer be an incident involving only one or two members of the Imperial Court.”
Pan Bing-yeong let out a frustrated sigh at Six Dragons’ words.
“The situation is complicated enough as it is, but the scale of the matter is growing.”
“The Blood Cult didn't stop at swallowing the Murim but even stretched their hands to the Imperial Court……”
Hearing the story, the situation was much more serious than I had thought.
While the Murim was divided into respective factions and fighting for power, the Imperial Court had been secretly accumulating strength, and it meant that the hands of the Blood Cult had already reached such an Imperial Court.
If things went wrong, everything could be lost to the Blood Cult, backed by the Imperial Court.
“This is no ordinary matter. I have to check it immediately. We must confirm it properly and inform the Sado Alliance and the Murim Alliance of the details.”
I bit my lip hard.
“Sigh…… you’re going to go yourself again, aren't you?”
“Yes.”
At my firm answer, Pan Bing-yeong let out a deep sigh.
“It's not just anywhere; it's the Imperial Court. Even if you go this time, it won't be easy to accomplish anything.”
“I have a few things in mind for now. I don't know if those cards will be effective, but even if things don't go well, I have to go see for myself. I can't just stand by and watch.”
“Sigh…… who can stop you? Then I will go with you. I was feeling uneasy, and to think we’d end up going all the way to the Imperial Court.”
I widened my eyes at Pan Bing-yeong’s words.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay with that?”
“Why wouldn't I be? I’ve already quit as Law Enforcer anyway.”
“Ehh? What do you mean by that all of a sudden, Sister?”
Six Dragons turned his head toward Pan Bing-yeong with startled eyes.
“Tsk. There’s something like that. Kids don't need to know. I’m unemployed now.”
“Lord Mad Dragon said he would reinstate you, but you refused……”
“I had no choice. I’ve lost all affection for it. I plan to take some time to think things over.”
Pan Bing-yeong, who had been staring up at the sky with hollow eyes for a moment, washed out her bitter mouth with wine.
“It turned out well, though. I can be with Young Hero Jaun every day.”
The Red-faced Ghost and Six Dragons looked at each other and tilted their heads as if they couldn't understand.
“In any case, we need to properly verify the facts, so for the time being, let's leave the Central Plains to the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance and head to the Imperial Court ourselves.”
Pan Bing-yeong nodded at my words.
“Alright. Since the matter is what it is, we should depart immediately. Beijing is not a short distance away, so Young Hero Jaun, make sure to rest well while we travel. I’ll be staying close to watch over you. Got it? When can you guys depart?”
When Pan Bing-yeong asked Six Dragons and the Red-faced Ghost, the two of them jumped up and waved their hands at the same time.
“Oh boy. What are you saying, Sister? Surely you're not asking us to go with you?”
“Then what? You are the only ones who know the details properly. You should guide us.”
“Sister. We belong to the Janggang Water Fortress. You know that once we leave the Yangtze River, we aren't even as helpful as a grain of rice. We’ll give you all the information we’ve gathered, so this time, the two of you can go together intimately……”
“……Hm? Intimately?”
Pan Bing-yeong’s eyes widened, and she was lost in thought for a moment before she flashed a wide smile.
“Ahem. Well, come to think of it, I think it's a matter that the two of us can handle alone. Right, Young Hero Jaun?”
Pan Bing-yeong narrowed her eyes and looked at me with a smile. To this, I gave an awkward laugh and spoke up.
“Well, moving together as a pair would be fine, but…… I don't want to push you into dangerous situations like last time. So this time, I’d like to borrow a bit more help.”
Stopping my words for a moment and thinking deeply, I nodded and spoke.
“There’s the option of asking the Murim Alliance for help…… ah! It might be good to borrow the help of Brother Sam-sik. From what I heard from Lord Mad Dragon, he is currently at Mount Daeheuk, so it’s close to Beijing as well.”
“Brother Sam-sik? That…… bearded man?”
“Yes. We’ll travel with him for now, and if necessary, we can utilize the nearby Green Forest bandits, so that would be best.”
“……Bearded? Sam-sik? By any chance, are you two talking about the Great Star of Green Forest, Black Dragon Twin Axes?”
When the Red-faced Ghost asked with startled eyes, I turned toward him.
“Great Star?”
“Yes. He’s someone whose reputation has been very high recently…… the appearance of the Fortress Master of Yongho Fortress and the right-hand man of the Green Forest Supreme Ruler, Black Dragon Twin Axes, matches perfectly with what you just said.”
“That is the man. So Brother has already become a Great Star of Green Forest.”
I looked out of the inn with a peculiar expression.
“It seems he has established himself well, just as promised. Since we’re at it, let's go visit him to say hello.”
***
Pan Bing-yeong wiped her sweat and looked up at the high mountain peak.
“Young Hero…… is this the right place?”
I closed my eyes and let my energy spread to the surroundings.
After going through the events at the Sado Alliance, my sensory perception had definitely widened.
Nodding at the familiar energy felt from halfway up the mountain peak, I spoke.
“Yes, it's correct. We're almost there.”
“We could have just sent someone to tell him to come to Beijing……”
“We could have done that, but I’m very curious about how Brother is living. Moreover, since I heard he took over Yongho Fortress, I definitely want to visit at least once. Besides, I think this method might be much faster than sending someone.”
“Well…… it will be fast, I suppose. It’s just a bit bothersome.”
Pan Bing-yeong tapped her legs, stretched grandly, and yawned.
“Let’s go. Just a little more effort.”
When I spoke with a smile, Pan Bing-yeong let out a sigh and began to move.
A long time later, having reached the middle of the mountain, the two of us slowed down and stopped as we were pushing through the underbrush.
“Huh? Is it here?”
Pan Bing-yeong looked around at the surroundings with startled eyes.
“He picked a good spot.”
“Indeed. To think there was a place like this halfway up the mountain.”
Looking forward, the two of us whispered in low voices. At the middle of the mountain, where the steep incline had continued endlessly, a wide plain unfolded. And in the middle of that wide plain, a mountain fortress surrounded by a large circular wooden fence was situated.
Animal skins were hung in various places around the wooden fence, and in one corner, bandits could be seen butchering wild animals they had caught.
After watching the busy fortress for a moment, the two of us met each other's eyes and nodded.
“The size of the fortress is considerable. It seems he has truly established himself in the Green Forest as the rumors say?”
“Right. Let’s head in for now. I’m curious. How Brother is living in the Green Forest.”
Pan Bing-yeong and I stopped whispering and stood up to reveal our presence. As the two of us slowly walked out of the underbrush, the bandits who were butchering animals turned their heads simultaneously.
“Hello. By any chance……”
The moment I bowed my head slightly to offer a greeting and opened my mouth, the bandits stood up at once.
“Who goes there!”
“It’s nothing else, but……”
Before my words could even continue, the bandits clenched their teeth and pulled out hand axes from their waists.
“Huh?”
“We cannot leave someone alive who has found the location of our fortress. Kill them all!”
As someone shouted loudly, the bandits scattered in all directions stood up simultaneously and rushed toward the two of us.
Pulling out the hand axes tied to their waists, the bandits threw them toward us all at once.
─ WHOOSH
─ SWISH
With the sound of cutting through the air, the hand axes flying from all directions instantly filled the sky and flashed with light.
“It seems visiting the fortress without any notice was quite disrespectful.”
With a troubled expression, I drew my sword from my waist, pulled up my demonic energy, and stepped in front of Pan Bing-yeong.
“Even so. The greeting is a bit rough.”
Cracking my neck once to the left and right, I closed my eyes and began to focus on the surrounding energy.
‘A total of forty-two.’
The hand axes filling the sky were pouring down toward me with slight time intervals.
‘……This is very similar to the axe techniques of Brother that I saw at the Moyong Family. In the meantime, Brother has completely melted his own strengths into the axe techniques of the Green Forest.’
I slowly drew my sword.