novelraw Chapter 141 : Chapter 141
Chapter 141 : Chapter 141
Chapter 141 Treason (4)
The next day, Jaun visited Gwak Jong-do early in the morning and asked about the large manor he had found while chasing the young Semu person the day before.
“...It seems your memory has not yet fully returned. To think you have forgotten the residence of the masters who teach His Majesty the Emperor his studies.”
‘Masters who teach the Emperor his studies?’
Jaun tilted his head, then changed the subject before Gwak Jong-do's suspicion could grow.
“It seems there are still parts that are not whole. Do not mind it. More importantly, are the preparations for today’s breakfast going well?”
Gwak Jong-do lowered his voice and nodded with a very serious expression.
“Is there any doubt? I have prepared everything by scraping together the entire given budget. It may be the last supper for some, so there should be no regrets.”
“Nonsense. This is not the last supper, but the beginning of many more to come.”
Gwak Jong-do nodded, looking at Jaun with sparkling eyes.
“It will surely be so. Finally... it is tomorrow, Thousand Households Commander.”
“Yes. I will cancel all training after today’s breakfast so that you can face tomorrow in perfect condition, so tell them to eat and enjoy themselves to their heart's content.”
“Hehe. Thank you. Let us go now. It is time.”
Gwak Jong-do began to walk ahead.
Jaun followed him toward the outer court of the Imperial Palace.
In front of a large inn at the edge of the Imperial Palace's outer court, all members of the 13th Division had already gathered. Seeing Jaun approach, they straightened their clothes and stood in a proper posture.
After glancing up at the huge inn before him, Jaun approached the assembled Embroidered Uniform Guard. Then, as he stared intently at the waiting guards, Jaun's mouth slowly opened.
“The moment we step inside the inn, let us face each other not as Embroidered Uniform Guard, but as man to man. Enjoy yourselves to the fullest and rest well. Resting well is just as important as training.”
“Chung!”
The loud voices of the Embroidered Uniform Guard filled the surroundings.
After sweeping his gaze over them once more in their gold-shining military uniforms, Jaun headed inside the inn.
‘Eat well. There is a mountain of work you will have to do tomorrow, risking your lives.’
Jaun entered the inn, checking and memorizing the face of each and every one of the lined-up Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Since they had rented the entire first to third floors, excluding the fourth floor of the inn, the interior was quiet.
As Jaun took a seat at the large table in the very center, the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the 13th Division quickly entered the inn and filled the seats.
The expressions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard entering the inn had become much more relaxed.
As more than three hundred people on each floor took their seats and began to raise their cups, the inside of the inn started to fill with a loud noise.
And at the table where Jaun was sitting, ten Hundred Households Commanders were seated.
Except for Gwak Jong-do, they were all people he was seeing for the first time, but Jaun enjoyed the drinking party as comfortably as if he were talking with a friend he had known for decades.
Food was endlessly brought to the table, and empty wine bottles filled the floor.
Although no one said it out loud, everyone knew. That after tomorrow, there would be people whose faces they would never see again.
That was why they sincerely enjoyed the banquet, which could be their last.
While the 13th Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was eating, drinking, and passing the time, the inn's door was flung open.
CRASH!
Hundreds of gazes focused on the door that opened with a loud noise.
“Huh? What the? Which bastards dare!”
Gwak Jong-do, who was quite drunk, shot up from his seat to get up, but froze when he saw the people entering the inn.
“Huh? The Eastern... Depot?”
Warriors dressed in blue official robes and wearing thick makeup entered the inn, confirmed the situation on the first floor, then frowned and covered their mouths with their sleeves.
The waiter rushed over, bowed his head, and opened his mouth.
“I apologize, esteemed sirs. Today, the first to third floors are unavailable due to a company dinner for the 13th Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
“What are you talking about? You know very well that Squad Leader Hyuk often visits this place at this hour!”
A thin but sharp voice filled the inn.
Jaun turned his head and looked at the people who had entered the inn.
‘Their presence is considerable. Their blood energy is also quite stable. If it is Squad Leader Hyuk, is he the one who is the real power in the Eastern Depot?’
The waiter trembled, not knowing what to do. Leaving the waiter behind, the Eastern Depot warriors turned their heads and scanned the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Gwak Jong-do, looking at them still standing at the entrance even after learning about the Embroidered Uniform Guard's dinner, scratched his head with a troubled expression.
“Damn it. Of all days... I chose this place because it was the only one big enough for this many people.”
When Jaun turned his head, he saw that the entire 13th Division had their heads lowered to the floor to avoid meeting the eyes of the Eastern Depot warriors.
‘Even though the Eastern Depot has lost the Emperor's trust, it seems they are still a difficult opponent for the 13th Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.’
One of the Eastern Depot members who had swept a glance over the tables opened his mouth.
“...It looks like you have eaten and drunk enough, so why not clear out now?”
At those words, silence descended on the first floor of the inn.
Gwak Jong-do looked back at Jaun with a troubled expression.
“Thousand Households Commander. I am sorry. I seem to have chosen the wrong place. Since we have eaten and drunk to some extent, it would be better to move somewhere else...”
“Us? Why should we do that?”
At Jaun’s words, Gwak Jong-do's face turned pale.
“Th-Thousand Households Commander.”
The Eastern Depot warriors who heard Jaun's words all turned their gazes toward him.
“...Is that bastard Thousand Households Commander Ma?”
“Yes, Squad Leader Hyuk.”
At the question from the man standing at the very back, the other warriors bowed their heads and answered in unison.
The warrior who asked the question was a middle-aged man with graying hair, and the white powder covering his wrinkled skin gave off a rather strange feeling.
“The Thousand Households Commander of the 13th Division. A worthless fellow who doesn't know his place is acting up.”
Squad Leader Hyuk walked toward Jaun, step by step. In the descended silence, the gazes of all the warriors in the inn followed Squad Leader Hyuk toward Jaun.
[If you are the 13th Division, you are the ones participating in the grand plan, right? The Eastern Depot has important matters to discuss for tomorrow's grand plan, so vacate your seats now.]
Squad Leader Hyuk sent a telepathic message as he walked toward Jaun.
Jaun, watching the approaching Squad Leader Hyuk, shrugged his shoulders.
‘I needed to reduce Prince Yeomseong’s power anyway, so this is perfect.’
The execution day of the grand plan was tomorrow.
Even if some trouble broke out here today, the situation was such that the grand plan could not be postponed.
Jaun sent a telepathic message to Squad Leader Hyuk.
[I do not see a reason why I must. Can you not just move somewhere else?]
[Ha, what? You insolent bastard. You came back injured from the north and now you have completely lost your senses.]
Squad Leader Hyuk's expression hardened upon hearing Jaun's telepathic message.
[No matter how much you participate in the grand plan, the main players of the new Imperial Court will be our Eastern Depot. Even if a few of you Embroidered Uniform Guard scraps get some crumbs, you will only be promoted from dogs guarding the outskirts of the palace to dogs guarding the inner court.]
As soon as the telepathic message ended, Squad Leader Hyuk arrived at the table where Jaun was sitting.
The sound of Gwak Jong-do gulping down his saliva filled the inn.
“You guys who lack what you should have are quite talkative. This place is reserved by us, so find somewhere else.”
The moment Jaun’s mouth opened, everyone in the inn's jaws dropped.
At the same time, a chilling energy filled the inn.
“...Hiccup.”
Gwak Jong-do's hands trembled as he started to hiccup.
The Eastern Depot warriors who were at the inn door shot forward behind Squad Leader Hyuk with their unique footwork in an instant.
“...What did you just say?”
The corners of Squad Leader Hyuk’s mouth trembled.
“The powder caked on your face looks like it will fall into the food, so why don't you step back a bit?”
Hearing Jaun's subsequent words, Gwak Jong-do laughed foolishly.
“Hahaha. So this is how I depart from this world, a day before the grand plan...”
As Gwak Jong-do looked up at Jaun with a vacant expression, a tremendous energy wave poured out toward Jaun.
“...You crazy bastard.”
Squad Leader Hyuk’s snow-white hand shot forward like lightning.
Jaun, who avoided Squad Leader Hyuk’s hand by tilting his head slightly to the side, floated his body into the air, retreated slightly, and kicked the table as it was.
CRAAASH!
The table full of food crashed down on the Eastern Depot warriors.
They quickly retreated to avoid the pouring food, but perhaps because the situation was so unexpected, they could not avoid it completely.
“Ugh.”
The Eastern Depot warriors, looking down at the food splattered on their clothes here and there, bit their lips hard.
“...Squad Leader!”
“Yes. No matter how close the grand plan is, I cannot let such a humiliation pass. I permit you to move.”
As soon as Squad Leader Hyuk's words fell, the Eastern Depot warriors soared into the air.
“Everyone, step back!”
Jaun emitted an energy wave to push back the Embroidered Uniform Guard standing nearby, and they flew backward without even being able to resist.
CRASH!
THUD!
“Ugh!”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who flew back without knowing why, rolled on the floor.
The Eastern Depot warriors, seeing that the obstructive Embroidered Uniform Guard had all been pushed away, actually increased their momentum as if it were a good thing. Soon, the palm energy of five men poured down towards Jaun.
WHOOSH
[Golden Ring Hegemonic Reversal Stance]
As if in response, Jaun’s hand drew a round golden circle in the air, and the incoming palm energy was deflected to the side.
CRAAASH!
Jaun, having deflected the palm energy of the Eastern Depot warriors, flew straight to a broomstick placed against the inn wall and picked it up.
SWOOSH!
As Jaun’s energy was imbued into it, all the fine twigs fell off, leaving only the handle of the broom. Jaun spun the broom, which had now become like a long staff, and took his stance.
“Thousand Households Commander Ma...”
As Gwak Jong-do, who had been pushed back by Jaun's momentum, got up, Jaun extended his hand to stop him.
“Do not come close. This is not a matter involving the 13th Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but something I have started alone. All of you stay back.”
At Jaun’s words, Squad Leader Hyuk ground his teeth and opened his mouth.
“...That is welcome news. If I only touch you, there will be less trouble later.”
Squad Leader Hyuk gestured, and the Eastern Depot warriors all raised their energy at once.
“Tear that bastard’s head off and bring it to me. With that, I will make him pay the price for the words he spat out today.”
As Squad Leader Hyuk took a step back, the Eastern Depot warriors shot forward.
Jaun, watching them, tilted his head from side to side once and then thrust the staff forward.
‘While recovering, I have perfectly mastered Thousand Households Commander Ma's energy and martial arts. If I am not found out here, I will be able to use the martial arts tomorrow when the grand plan unfolds without any worries.’
Jaun planned to use this opportunity to slightly reduce the Eastern Depot’s power and, at the same time, check his own condition.
The Eastern Depot warriors who ran forward all twisted their bodies and extended their legs forward.
WHOOSH
Pure internal energy built up through the Kuihua Scripture. Kicks filled with that internal energy splendidly filled the air.
As if to greet them, Jaun's staff shot forward at a high speed.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
A loud explosion erupted from the feet of the Eastern Depot warriors that met Jaun’s staff.
This time, Jaun rushed toward the Eastern Depot warriors who were stumbling back, unable to withstand the energy contained in the staff.
To properly verify his own condition, he intended to imbue sufficient internal energy from the very beginning.
[Golden Resonance Strike]
Jaun's body momentarily shone with a golden light, and soon, Jaun, who had become one with the staff, shot forward.
The faces of the Eastern Depot warriors who felt the energy in Jaun's staff turned even paler. They hurriedly lined up in a single file and placed their hands on each other's backs.
“Hiyahp!”
With the shout, the energy of the warriors lined up in a single file instantly poured into the body of the warrior standing at the very front.
‘So this is the Body-to-Body Heart Transmission of the Kuihua Scripture that I have only heard about.’
It was a representative energy technique of the Eastern Depot for transferring one's own energy to another.
A technique that could only be used by the warriors of the Eastern Depot, who had learned the same internal energy art called the Kuihua Scripture in the same way since they were young, unfolded before Jaun's eyes.
The clothes of the warrior standing at the front flapped violently, and then a white hand extended towards Jaun’s staff.