Episode 970
In the swamp (3)
The next day dawned at the imperial palace.
Yan Wei and his party rested at the residence chosen by the emperor himself.
Of course, in the meantime, Yeonwi did not sleep. Even though he was able to relieve his fatigue with appropriate moves, his energy was always directed towards Ki Cheon-woong, the head of the Shinhwa cult.
Peng Wugang rested comfortably and relieved all his fatigue, and Yang Chen sat deeper than the two, closer to the royal palace, and had another deep talk with the sleepless emperor.
Time passed and the sun was about to set on Seosan again.
The conversation with Yang Cheon and the time when the emperor, who had completed some government affairs, called for Gi Cheon-woong.
A ray of cool flame rose from the red flames that engulfed the imperial palace.
* * *
The giant, colored in a brilliant shade of turquoise, asked.
“How is the situation?”
“The head of the Jiangdong Byeoksan Yeonga, the head of the Hebei Paeng family, and the vice head of the Mukryongbu are leading troops and stationed at the palace.”
“I heard that he is the Emperor’s favorite swordsman of the Imperial Sword.”
“Rumor has it that his martial arts skills have reached the level of Heavenly Flower Sutra.”
“Is that true?”
“I can’t be sure because I can’t see it in person. However, after listening to the people in the palace, I think we must say that he has actually reached that level.”
“It’s amazing. From that small family, there are two masters who have reached the level of heaven. “You said that Yeon Ho-jeong’s talent is better than mine, so my father’s talent is probably not average either.”
“….”
“What about Yangcheon?”
“As the emperor’s prospective sire, he sits near the royal palace.”
“It’s a pain in the ass. “Can Yangcheon’s military power be confirmed?”
“It was quite far from the inner palace, so I couldn’t check it in person either. However, when Yang Cheon entered the country, his intense prayers could be felt.”
“How was it?”
“Based on prayer alone, there is a high probability that he is stronger than me.”
“I heard that you showed a bad side in the fight with the leader of the Four Eums, but it looks like you put in a lot of effort in that time.”
“….”
“But at this rate, things worked out well. “My father managed to persuade the emperor.”
“yes.”
“You know very well that the sooner the better, right?”
“of course.”
“However, if there are that many experts camped out, it will be difficult to survive even if the mission is accomplished.”
“Coming here, I thought my life was already dead. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Are there still any changes to that thought?”
“….”
“What happened? “It would be a waste to exchange the life of an emperor for the life of a beggar your size, but if you truly won’t return to me, I can’t help it.”
“I just act for the greater good.”
“In the end, a great cause is just a play on words. “Even if they promote the same cause, the actions of those who see one year ahead and those who see ten years ahead are different.”
“….”
“Time is running out, and I have no intention of arguing with you about this. So what about your father?”
“You must be having a private meeting with the emperor.”
“Didn’t you doubt yourself?”
“You had no doubts at all.”
“That’s interesting. This is why the world is fair. “You should have been satisfied with the military power that reached heaven, but you have lost your sense of purpose and even the roots of your spiritual eyes due to excessive greed. How can I understand your true intentions?”
“Even if his spiritual eyes were intact, he wouldn’t have doubted me.”
“Well, I guess he is like that too. “Because you are not working for us, you are acting for yourself.”
“….”
“What are you going to do? It seems difficult to survive, so how are you going to let people know that the emperor is dead?”
“If the emperor dies, there will be a big change not only in the imperial palace but also in the movements of the martial arts kingdom.”
“Look at their movements and predict them? “It’s too uncertain.”
“if…?”
“Since I want to die, it would be okay to break into the royal palace and explode it, but that is not enough to be sure that the emperor died here.”
“….”
“If you can escape and return to the main school to report, then do so. “If that is impossible….”
“It would be impossible.”
“hmm.”
“And I don’t have the time or ability to contact you.”
“….”
“I just do my best to kill the emperor. “I hope you can figure out how things are going here.”
“You… that way…”
“….”
“You’re going too far, saying you’re ready to die. “Have you forgotten that I am the leader of the Shinhwa cult of the time?”
“You are the leader of the Little Church.”
“….”
“You have not officially ascended to the position of leader of the church yet.”
“There is no difference except for the title.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“I think I’ll do it even if you tell me not to.”
“Please don’t be fooled by the evil cult leader.”
“…this guy.”
“He is not a villain that the Little Lord can handle. “We’ve been holding hands so far, but even if this is over, either kill me or cut off ties.”
“You really decided to mock me.”
“If you are the only one who does not know what others say is the problem, it is not because others are strange, but because you have failed to reflect on yourself.”
“….”
“For Su Jiaoju, that is pride. “If we throw away that useless pride and properly reproduce our original desire for improvement, Shinhwa Religion will become the best of the three religions and will be able to live for a long time.”
“Shut up.”
“Five of the palanquin workers are my subordinates.”
“….”
“I will watch the situation here and tell you to return to the temple when the emperor dies. Two out of five will reach the Order. “Is that enough?”
“….”
“Okay then.”
Sigh!
The brazier, extinguished by a bowl of water, gave off a cloud of white smoke.
The eyes of Yaharuk, the leader of the Shinhwa religion, caught fire.
“If your character was just as good as an ant’s eye, I wouldn’t have risked my life for something like this.”
After giving his final orders to his subordinates, Yaharuk came out of his residence.
He looked up at the sky.
‘There are a lot of stars.’
It was the same as the sky seen from the Shinhwa Church’s headquarters, but strangely different.
The stars I saw at the headquarters all contained pure white flames. Each one was bright and hot. The starlight was so clear and vivid that it wasn’t dark even though it was full of clouds.
However, the starlight that adorned the sky of this continent looked very cool.
The brightness is the same, but it does not contain fire. It was as if the small, immeasurable eyes of God were looking down at the earth.
Inexplicable coldness and discomfort.
Yaharuk sincerely hoped that the stars that filled the sky of this continent would also be filled with pure white fireworks.
‘Then let’s get started.’
It was then.
“Are you there?”
Yaharuk turned his head with a calm face.
There was no change in his expression, but he felt his heart sink.
When did it come?
I felt no sign of anything. It was only when I heard his voice that I realized he was there.
Yaharuk opened his mouth.
“Who are you?”
“It’s a necessity for Gangho. “He is said to be the head of the Gangdong Yeon family.”
For a moment, Yaharuk’s eyes wavered.
The Gangdong Yeon family meant the Byeoksan Yeonga, to which Yeon Ho-jeong, the greatest martial artist of the time, belonged.
And the person above that Yeonga would be Yeonwi, the head of the family.
In an unexpected moment, an unexpected person came to visit. Yaharuk felt a little nervous.
‘Why now? no way?’
Do you know about the emperor’s assassination?
I was so nervous that I couldn’t help but think about it, but soon Yaharuk sneered.
‘That can’t be possible.’
It was a mission that no one knew about. There is no way the martial arts leaders would know something that even Shinhwa cult leader Ki Cheon-woong doesn’t know.
In the first place, it is impossible to recognize the signs of the fireworks that are performed through sacred pots unless you are a descendant of Yeongan. What if you have reached the peak of enlightenment and have stepped into the realm of immortality?
No matter how much I thought about it, Yeonwi was not the person who fell into that category.
“What is the head of the Yeonga family doing here?”
“I guess you came because you had something to do.”
It was a laughing voice.
Calm and deep. Just listening to it makes me feel relaxed.
A voice that is completely different from the leader of the cult, Ki Cheon-woong, but also has a strangely similar aspect to it.
Yaharuk opened the door.
There stood a man who looked like a bamboo tree or like an old scholar who had worked hard to study properly all his life.
Yaharuk glanced over Yeonwi’s body in an instant.
‘does not exist?’
The sword is not visible.
Its appearance shows that it has no intention of fighting. An invisible relief appeared on Yaharuk’s face.
Yeonwi said with a smile.
“It’s my first time meeting you.”
“I guess so.”
“I have felt your rich charm since I entered the imperial palace. I was curious what kind of person he was, but he really didn’t look like an ordinary person. “You can tell at a glance that he is an excellently trained martial artist.”
It was a sincere compliment.
Yaharuk asked.
“What business do you have for me?”
“You’re blunt. “It’s different from what I heard.”
Yaharuk’s eyes narrowed.
Yeonwi pointed in the direction of the palace with his thumb.
“I asked the religious leader if it would be okay if I had a drink with you before meeting His Majesty. Fortunately, both the religious leader and His Majesty gave permission.”
“…!”
“I heard you’re quite good at drinking.”
“Just a little bit.”
“Whatever the reason, we are comrades who will fight together in the future. Are you going to use it if you don’t see each other even once? So I mustered up my courage and came to see you.”
Yaharuk’s eyes wavered.
Comrades to fight together. It was a word that was difficult to hear anywhere.
There were no comrades in Shinhwaism. There was no need to use those words in the first place. Because it is only natural to sacrifice one’s life for God and the religious leader.
Yaharuk, who was quietly looking at Yeonwi, suddenly spoke.
“If you do, I will drink just a little.”
There is no need to refuse just because the religious leader gave permission. If you refuse, you may actually be suspicious.
“But there is no alcohol here.”
“Don’t worry. Because it’s in my place. “Let’s walk slowly.”
Yaharuk’s shaking eyes gave off a brilliant light.
‘Could it be easier than you think?’
Yeonwi’s residence is very close to the royal palace. Compared to that, the distance here is considerable.
Anyway, if I was on my way to the palace, I thought I could have a drink with my wife and then sneak away and do some work.
Yaharuk nodded.
“Good.”
“Thank you for accepting me. “To be honest, I thought you would refuse.”
“…Why did you think that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? How many people have died between us? “Actually, we don’t have a relationship that makes us smile like this.”
I was like, oh my gosh.
Yeonwi shook his head.
“Still, the head of the Shinhwa cult must really have an eye for people to allow it so coolly.”
Yaharuk could not figure out what this action, which he so coolly permitted, had to do with the religious leader’s insight.
“That’s too much praise.”
“If you do, let’s walk slowly.”
“Good.”
So the two people walked in the direction of the inner palace.
Since they were powerful masters in the dark of night, the soldiers of the imperial palace guard guided them. Although it may be a verbal guide, it was intended to prevent unexpected actions as much as possible if something happened.
Naturally, Yaharuk felt frustrated being surrounded by soldiers.
And Yeonwi’s eyes looking at Yaharuk were cold and subdued, unlike when she first saw him.
