novelraw Chapter 150 : Chapter 150
Chapter 150 : Chapter 150
Chapter 150 Counterattack (3)
'That man... the strongest sword of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.'
Jaun looked at So Hui-bin. He was one of the generals who had been at the entrance of the Forbidden City on the day of the Heaven Worship Ceremony's departure ceremony.
Jaun focused his energy and observed So Hui-bin, then let out a small sigh.
'A warrior who can conceal his energy so perfectly... was in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.'
Even when Jaun properly focused, he could only faintly feel the huge energy contained in So Hui-bin's body.
'A warrior of this level is one of the best even in the Jianghu. If a warrior like this, along with the Commander, adds his strength... it would be worth a try.'
Jaun finished his observation of So Hui-bin and then raised his head. The Ice Rakshasa and the bearded man, who had run over, stopped in front of Jaun.
"Young hero, are you hurt anywhere?"
Jaun, who was looking at the Ice Rakshasa's eyes full of worry, smiled slightly and then patted the Demon Dragon Robe that was wrapped around his body.
The Ice Rakshasa, who had finally confirmed the existence of the Demon Dragon Robe, let out a sigh of relief as if she was glad.
"I'm safe for now. But the dangerous part starts now. Everyone must not let their guard down."
As the Ice Rakshasa nodded with a serious expression, Jaun turned around and met the Commander's eyes. The Commander, who had noticed Jaun's gaze, slowly rose from his seat.
"Let's go. We're going to run all the way to the Imperial Palace without stopping, so we need to distribute our energy well. Brother, please stand at the front with me."
The bearded man nodded and stood next to Jaun.
"We'll start first. Please follow us well, everyone. You'll be able to save your strength if you stick as close to us as possible."
The two men, who had confirmed that everyone was ready, turned to the front. The Embroidered Uniform Guard followed closely behind them.
As Jaun and the bearded man, who had confirmed that the formation was in place, properly raised their energy, the energy of the wind gathered from all directions and began to envelop the entire group.
"Hmm?"
"This is?"
The moment the Commander and So Hui-bin looked at each other with surprised eyes,
CRAAAAAASH
Jaun and the bearded man shot forward at the speed of lightning, pulling the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the group with the energy of the wind.
***
"...This is the first time I've seen Beijing this quiet."
The bearded man tilted his head as he passed through the wide-open gates of Beijing without any resistance.
Jaun looked at the city gate for a moment and then walked inside. Behind him, hundreds of Embroidered Uniform Guard who had survived the fierce battle at the shrine crossed the city gate.
CREAK, CLANG
He heard the sound of someone opening a window and then hastily closing it again. Beijing was filled with an unpleasant quietness and a strange silence, so much so that he could hear the sound of a window opening and closing.
'The Emperor and Prince Yeomseong. Neither of them has properly seized power yet. Is that why everyone is just watching?'
The people had not left Beijing. They were just holding their breath in their residences.
Jaun, who had spread his energy and surveyed the surrounding situation, began to move toward the Forbidden City, which was visible in the distance.
No one had blocked the group all the way to Beijing. That meant that all of Prince Yeomseong's forces were concentrated in the Forbidden City.
Jaun turned his head and looked at the Emperor, who was groaning in the Commander's arms.
During the journey, the Emperor had regained consciousness intermittently, but the aftereffects of the explosion were severe, and he had repeatedly closed his eyes again. The faces of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had been watching the Emperor who could not even move properly throughout the journey, were filled with anxiety.
'His complexion... is not good, but he's definitely recovering little by little.'
Jaun, who had confirmed that the Emperor's energy was gradually stabilizing thanks to the Commander's efforts, focused on the front again.
As a result of spreading his energy and surveying, there were no ambushes or traps, so Jaun began to move forward at a slightly faster speed.
Before long, the group that had crossed the city reached the front of the Forbidden City.
When they had set out for the Heaven Worship Ceremony, a flag with the character 'Yeong,' meaning 'brilliant,' was flying over the Forbidden City.
But now, that flag was nowhere to be seen, and instead, men in black military uniforms were densely packed on the walls of the Forbidden City.
The men in black military uniforms who were filling the long walls of the Forbidden City.
And the huge and refined yin energy felt from behind the city walls.
The Forbidden City, which had usually been full of splendor, had been transformed into a fortress surrounded by a thick energy.
A small sigh erupted from the mouth of the Commander, who was quietly looking around at the situation in the Forbidden City.
"...Hmm."
The Commander, who had been lost in thought for a moment, turned to Jaun.
"...You guys can go back now."
As the Commander opened his mouth, the bearded man, who was fiddling with his hand axe with a tense expression from behind, stopped his hand and looked at the Commander with a puzzled expression.
"You've been a great help just by coming this far. The Imperial Court's affairs will be handled by the Imperial Court... so you guys can stop here and leave."
For a moment, the corner of the bearded man's mouth twitched.
Jaun, who had gently grabbed the arm of the bearded man who was trying to protest with a reddened face, clenching and unclenching his fist, turned his head and looked at the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City, where blood energy and yin energy were tangled and swirling, was emitting a sharp killing intent like a single red and cold sword.
"Do you think... there's no possibility?"
At Jaun's words, the Commander did not give any answer. He just looked down at the Emperor in his arms with a firm expression.
"Is it because not only the Eastern Depot but other forces have also joined them?"
The Commander, who was looking at the men in black military uniforms who were surrounding the top of the Forbidden City's walls, slowly turned his head toward Jaun.
"Yes. The defenses are stronger than I thought. It won't be easy to break through with this number of people. So, leave the Imperial Court's affairs to the Imperial Court and you guys leave."
The Commander turned his body and looked at each and every one of the Embroidered Uniform Guard standing behind him.
"We are the Imperial Guard Command. We are those who have already dedicated all our lives and lives to the Emperor. But you are different. There is no need for you to risk your lives here. In a situation like this, I cannot guarantee your safety. Above all, the outcome of the battle will not change just because a few dozen of you join in."
The Commander looked down at the Emperor and clenched his fist.
"From the beginning to the end, we will protect His Majesty."
All the members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were looking at the Forbidden City with a solemn expression.
Jaun, who looked at them, relaxed his shoulders and opened his mouth.
"Of course, there is no need for us to interfere in the affairs of the Imperial Court. However, if the ones involved in this matter happen to be those who cannot breathe under the same sky as us... the story would be a little different, wouldn't it?"
At Jaun's words, the Commander turned his head.
"The ones on the city wall over there are the warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult who have accepted the martial arts of the Blood Cult. They are... the ones I must punish even if I have to risk my entire life."
At those words, the Commander let out a chuckle as if he had realized something.
"Ha, so you're also facing traitors?"
At the Commander's words, Jaun nodded. The Commander, who had been lost in thought for a moment, took a deep breath.
"In that case... perhaps it is the will of heaven. From the moment you, who are complete strangers, joined us, I felt that the wheel of fate, which I could not even fathom, was turning."
The Commander tied the Emperor to his body once more and then drew a golden sword from his waist.
"From now on, my offer to retreat will not be made again. If that is your situation, I will use anything that can increase even a slight possibility of protecting His Majesty. So think carefully and decide. Your revenge can be achieved someday even if it's not in this place."
At the Commander's words, Jaun shook his head from side to side.
"If we miss this opportunity... our revenge may become impossible. That's why we have no intention of retreating."
At Jaun's words, the Commander nodded.
"Good. In that case, I will not ask any more. From this moment on, I will consider you as the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the second object I must protect with my life. If you truly intend to join this cause, I would like you to move with the same heart as us. Do you have the will to do so?"
"Of course. We will be with the Embroidered Uniform Guard until this is over."
"What about the ones behind you?"
As the Commander turned his head, the bearded man scratched his head and then snorted.
"...I was once a looked-down-upon outsider from beyond the pale, another day a ruffian in the back alleys, and now I'm just playing the role of a mountain fortress leader, but I'm not a petty person who would run away just because the situation is difficult."
A faint smile crossed the Commander's face as he heard the bearded man's words. Then, the Commander, who had raised his golden sword high into the sky, turned his body.
"All members of the Imperial Guard Command, listen up! We will now escort His Majesty to his residence. No matter what threats arise in the process, protect him with your lives so that not a single hair on His Majesty's head is harmed. Think of it as the last mission of your lives and pour everything you have into it."
"Chung!"
The sharp energy wave, forged by the beliefs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, began to surge in all directions. Jaun bowed his head slightly to the Commander and then drew the Mangru Blood Sword from his waist.
ZIIING
As the blood sword let out a strange cry, a black demonic energy began to gather around Jaun's body.
The moment the group had finished their preparations, a thin, clear, but powerful voice echoed from the Forbidden City.
"The remnants of Emperor Yeongmin, listen! His Highness Prince Yeomseong, the eldest son of the late Emperor, has finally decided to accept the mandate of the Son of Heaven. In accordance with the legitimate line of succession, His Highness Prince Yeomseong, the eldest son, has ascended the throne, entrusted the major and minor affairs of the Imperial Court to the Eastern Depot, and has decided to disband the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which has become a mere figurehead."
The clear voice spread not only in front of the Forbidden City but throughout the entire city of Beijing.
"By the order of His Majesty the Emperor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is hereby disbanded. This is His Majesty's order, and if you do not follow it, you will be punished according to the laws of the Imperial Court."
The man who had finished speaking from the watchtower on the very top of the city gate stomped his foot, and from behind the men in black military uniforms, the warriors of the Eastern Depot in blue attire instantly came forward and lined up.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor, long live, long, long live!"
More than a thousand warriors of the Eastern Depot jumped up and lined up on the city wall. The city wall of the Forbidden City, where a human curtain had been spread, became even higher, and due to their momentum, it became even thicker.
The Commander, with a firm expression, raised his golden sword high into the sky once more.
"Protect His Majesty and his heavens. There is only one Son of Heaven, His Majesty. Let us sweep away the lawless group that makes such claims from the Imperial Palace and re-establish his heavens!"
"Chung!"
"Everyone, advance!"
At the Commander's words, the Embroidered Uniform Guard thrust their spears forward and held them at their waists.
"We will go in first from here, so you guys follow us."
At the Commander's words, Jaun shook his head from side to side.
"If we try to break down the city wall as it is now, the damage to the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be great. Therefore, we will go first."
"...You are only a little over ten people. No matter how much martial prowess you possess that can shake the heavens, you cannot overcome the wall of numbers. Follow us..."
Before the Commander could finish his words, an explosive demonic energy began to pour out from Jaun's body. And around Jaun's body, who had raised his demonic energy to its peak, a black energy gathered and wrapped around his body like a curtain.
The Commander's eyes, who had unconsciously gripped his sword tightly at the icy energy emanating from Jaun's eyes, widened.
Jaun turned his head and looked at the Commander.
"When it comes to dealing with the demons... their numbers mean nothing to me."
Jaun's raised foot stomped the ground hard.
RUUUMBLE!
Immediately after, Jaun's demonic energy, which had risen like a storm, began to shoot into the Forbidden City.