Chapter 241: Turning Misfortune into Blessing (1)
'!!!!!!'
Blood dripped down from Seo Yerin's left sword finger.
And about five feet behind her stood Mok Gyeong-un, breathing heavily.
Joo Woonhyang's expression as she looked at the two of them was close to shock.
'How could this be······.'
She had expected to see Mok Gyeong-un being brutally defeated by Seo Yerin's hand, but the opposite result had occurred.
The peerless sword technique she unleashed had been thoroughly shattered.
One could tell just by looking at the intense whirlwind of sword energy that had vanished in an instant.
Of course, she wasn't the only one surprised.
'······He dismantled the technique.'
Seo Yerin, the Sixth Sky Demon, was also at a loss for words from shock.
While there had been those who blocked this continuous True Chasing Second Revolving Sword technique when she used it, no one had ever dismantled it before.
After all, this Chasing Second Revolving Sword was a technique that maximized power and compensated for weaknesses through clockwise and counterclockwise rotations.
Yet Mok Gyeong-un had shattered it.
And he did so by unifying all of his sword energy into a single point.
'How could something like this happen?'
This was something even Seo Yerin herself couldn't do.
Gathering sword energy into a single point was a realm that even she couldn't reach at her current level.
Yet he had entered that supreme realm in an instant?
Even though she saw it with her own eyes and directly experienced it, it was unbelievable.
'To think such talent existed in this world.'
It was beyond imagination.
Was this the level of talent her great-grandfather, once called the pinnacle of the old martial arts world, possessed?
No matter how outstanding one's martial talent was, reaching a level that surpassed one's own limits, let alone entering a realm one couldn't access, during a duel was something utterly incomprehensible.
-Drip!
Cold sweat trickled down her cheeks.
Her left hand had already lost strength due to Mok Gyeong-un's unified sword technique.
If he unleashed this technique that transcended the realm of limitations once more, she wondered if she could even block it.
'No. At times like this, fighting spirit is crucial.'
Even he would have difficulty executing such a technique again.
Since he had used a technique that far exceeded his own limits, his body must have been strained.
If she targeted that point, subduing him was still well within reach.
Moreover, she had yet to use her unique skill.
-Swoosh!
Seo Yerin flicked the blood off her left sword finger and tightly clenched her right sword finger.
Then, as she turned her body, she spoke.
"Impressive. However, I also······."
-Thud!
It was at that moment.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had been breathing roughly, suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Hazy steam rose from his fallen body.
-Ssssss!
Seeing this, Seo Yerin furrowed her brows, unable to hide her bewilderment.
She approached the fallen Mok Gyeong-un.
Even heat could be felt, as if his body temperature had skyrocketed.
-Swish!
Seo Yerin placed a finger on one of Mok Gyeong-un's acupoints.
Then, after examining the exposed parts of his body, she clicked her tongue with trembling eyes.
His entire body was severely swollen with bruises, as if all his muscles had ruptured, and even the strange energy within his body was raging erratically like someone who had lost control.
'His body has been overused beyond the extreme. Is this the price of that single sword strike that surpassed his abilities and limits?'
The condition was more serious than she thought.
But it wasn't incomprehensible either.
After all, that single sword strike wasn't something the current Mok Gyeong-un should have been able to execute.
Since he wielded a sword his body couldn't endure, this was probably the natural consequence.
"Haa."
Seo Yerin let out a sigh.
With this degree of internal and external injuries, participating in the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection was impossible from the start, and continuing to participate itself seemed unreasonable.
If he couldn't control his blood vessels, meridians, and internal energy here, he might lose his martial arts forever.
However, all of this was something he brought upon himself.
'This bastard tried to kill Woonhyang and the trainee Wi Bu-cheong. In the end, he must be punished for what he did.'
There was no need to go out of her way to help him.
It would be better to refer him for disciplinary action in this state······.
"Sixth Sky Demon!"
At that moment, upon hearing Joo Woonhyang's voice, Seo Yerin turned her head.
***
-Thud!
The sound of a window opening could be heard.
Soon, the chilly autumn wind slapped his cheeks, causing him to regain consciousness.
Joo Woonhyang slowly opened his closed eyes.
It was difficult to understand what had happened.
He clearly remembered talking to Seo Yerin about what had happened with Mok Gyeong-un before losing consciousness.
'Ugh.'
His stomach felt as if it had been turned inside out.
Dizziness washed over him, but as he regulated his breathing, it soon subsided.
'Where am I?'
In addition to the cold air, the scent of medicinal herbs permeated the room.
It seemed this place wasn't his dormitory.
As he was feeling puzzled, a clear voice reached his ears.
"You're awake."
"Sixth Sky Demon!"
The owner of that voice was none other than his teacher, Seo Yerin.
Joo Woonhyang hurriedly raised his upper body from the bed.
However, perhaps due to his internal injuries, he couldn't even sit up halfway.
Seo Yerin spoke to him as he struggled.
"Don't strain yourself. Your internal injuries were quite severe. Fortunately, I treated them with internal energy, so if you circulate your energy for about two days, you'll be fine."
"Did you heal me, Master?"
"······I'm the only one who can treat you."
"Aaaah."
Joo Woonhyang let out an exclamation at her words.
It was because they shared the same Innate True Energy that she could treat and heal his internal energy.
Joo Woonhyang slowly circulated his Innate True Energy and examined his body.
'!?'
Joo Woonhyang furrowed his brows for a moment.
The amount of Innate True Energy within his body had increased significantly compared to usual.
If he gained enlightenment with this much energy, he could reach the 4-star level.
Joo Woonhyang looked at her with surprised eyes.
"Sixth Sky Demon. How could this······."
Seo Yerin shook her head and spoke to the astonished Joo Woonhyang.
"You've also mastered the Innate True Energy, so you know it differs from regular internal energy."
Of course, he knew that.
Ordinary internal energy masters couldn't control Innate True Energy.
Only she could assist in treating his injuries.
"The Innate True Energy I injected to treat you was more than I expected. This injury has turned misfortune into a blessing for you."
She spoke calmly, but Joo Woonhyang clicked his tongue inwardly.
It was quite a large amount of Innate True Energy.
Of course, for her level, it might not be considered much.
-Pak!
Joo Woonhyang endured the pain and forcefully clasped his hands in salute.
"Thank you, Sixth Sky Demon. How can I repay this favor······."
Before he could finish, Seo Yerin shook her head again.
Then, with a soft sigh, she said,
"It's fine. More importantly, you were right."
"About what?"
"As you said, it seems trainee Wi Bu-cheong had indeed stuck a poisoned needle into the wooden pillow of the bed. The Poison Investigation Unit has already confirmed it."
"Ah!"
It was Joo Woonhyang who had defended Mok Gyeong-un to the best of his ability before fainting.
In fact, he didn't have to defend him.
Even though Mok Gyeong-un had changed his mind halfway, it was true that he had tried to kill Joo Woonhyang.
However, he owed a debt to Mok Gyeong-un and strangely didn't want to do that.
So, he had made sure Seo Yerin cleared up the misunderstanding.
"Therefore, since trainee Mok Gyeong-un saved your life and considering what you explained, he received a suspension of indictment as a mitigating factor."
Embroidered Uniform Guards had arrived at the scene while he was defending Mok Gyeong-un.
No matter how many nearby Guard warriors he had knocked unconscious by sealing their acupoints, it would have been stranger if the nearby Embroidered Uniform Guards on duty hadn't noticed such an intense fight.
Regardless of the circumstances, Mok Gyeong-un, who had escalated the incident, was referred to the disciplinary department, but ultimately received a suspension of indictment.
"Thank you, Sixth Sky Demon."
"No need. However, even though trainee Mok Gyeong-un received a suspension of indictment, he may have to voluntarily withdraw from the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection."
"What?"
What does that mean?
Could it be because of Mok Gyeong-un's injuries?
He had already guessed that Mok Gyeong-un's body had been strained after shattering Seo Yerin's technique and suddenly collapsing.
So Joo Woonhyang asked,
"Are his injuries severe?"
"Yes. He drew out a power that exceeded his own abilities."
She recalled the conversation she had with the Embroidered Uniform Guard's exclusive imperial physician last night.
[How is it? Even though I wanted to control his internal energy, I couldn't do anything because he possessed a completely opposite energy to mine.]
[······Oh my. I don't know how to tell you this.]
[What do you mean?]
[As a physician, I don't practice martial arts, so it's difficult for me to speak about energy, but there are too many ruptured muscles and blood vessels throughout his body.]
[I'm aware of that. I just want to know if he'll recover······.]
[With this extent of injuries, recovery in the near future is absolutely impossible.]
[Then, is it possible if he takes time?]
[It's hard to give you a definite answer. Since major muscles are torn and ruptured in many places, even if he recovers, he may have difficulty moving as he did before.]
[Ah······.]
It was an unfortunate situation, but it was serious.
The circulation of his internal energy was also a mess, and it wasn't just regular internal energy but an energy completely opposite to Innate True Energy, so she couldn't treat it as she had done for Joo Woonhyang.
With a body like this, continuing the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection process was unreasonable.
She might have to advise him to voluntarily withdraw as soon as he woke up.
***
Late the next night.
There are various ranks within the Imperial Hospital.
Among them, the lowest rank, the 9th-grade Chambong, had to be on standby at all times to check on patients' conditions, even if not in the dispensary.
Cho Cham-bong, a 9th-grade physician of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's internal hospital, clicked his tongue while looking at a patient with needles stuck all over his body.
His entire body was covered in bruises, and it was the first time he had seen a patient like this.
[You won't have many opportunities to examine a patient in such a critically severe condition. So, observe and record in detail.]
[Yes, Supervisor.]
Upon receiving orders from the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Sixth Sky Demon, his senior, the 7th-grade physician Supervisor Jae, who was diagnosing and treating the patient, gave him the opportunity to examine the patient as well.
Supervisor Jae had already judged that this patient's complete recovery was virtually impossible.
In fact, he had felt the same when he personally checked the patient's pulse and examined the affected areas.
With this degree of damage to the muscles and blood vessels, the patient might not be able to move properly for a long time, or even walk properly for the rest of his life.
'Tsk, tsk. What in the world did he do to end up like this?'
It was utterly incomprehensible.
With such thoughts, Cho Cham-bong sat next to the patient with a decoction in hand.
He slowly dipped a cloth into the medicine and placed it inside the patient's mouth.
For unconscious patients, the tongue is brought into contact with the soaked cloth to allow them to absorb even a small amount of the medicinal energy.
-Swish!
Cho Cham-bong, who had placed the cloth on the patient's tongue, checked his pulse.
Then, one of his eyebrows trembled and rose.
'What's this?'
Something was strange.
Just last night, the patient's pulse was extremely irregular and weak.
But now, the pulse was steady.
Finding this odd, Cho Cham-bong checked not only the pulse on the wrist but also the major acupoints, including the neck.
Doing so, he stood up with a surprised expression.
'What's going on? How could this happen overnight······.'
Thinking that he should report this to his senior who was in the dormitory, Cho Cham-bong entrusted the task of administering the medicine to a dispensary worker and hurriedly left.
Not long after he left, the door opened, and someone entered.
As the person entered, the dispensary worker who was holding the medicinal cloth to the patient's mouth was startled and stood up to greet him.
"What brings you here so late at night, Your Excellency?"
An old eunuch in a red official robe with face powder.
He was none other than Eunuch Beom of the Western Depot.
Eunuch Beom approached the dispensary worker and asked,
"I came to check on the patient's condition."
The dispensary worker couldn't help but feel inwardly puzzled by these words.
That was because he knew this patient was a Guard trainee participating in the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection.
Why would a eunuch from the Western Depot come to see such a person?
Although puzzled, the dispensary worker stepped aside and said,
"The patient's condition is not very good, so it will take several more days for him to wake up."
"Is it that serious?"
"That's what the attending physician, Supervisor Bae, said."
"Ah. Is that so? It seems quite severe."
"From what I heard, even if he's lucky enough to wake up, he won't be able to move for a while, and he may not be able to walk properly for the rest of his life."
Upon hearing the dispensary worker's words, the corners of Eunuch Beom's mouth slightly curled up.
The dispensary worker's suspicion grew even more at that sight.
The patient's condition is said to be poor, but why does he seem pleased?
Finding it strange, Eunuch Beom said,
"Could you give me a moment alone?"
"But the medicine needs to be administered now······."
"It won't take long."
With those words, Eunuch Beom took out a bundle of silver coins from his bosom.
The dispensary worker gulped at the sight of this.
Then, he quietly accepted the bundle of silver coins, bowed his head, and left the room.
Once alone, Eunuch Beom approached the patient who had needles stuck all over his body and his eyes closed.
"Hohoho."
Eunuch Beom laughed, unable to contain his joy.
He had never expected things to go so smoothly.
Just until yesterday, he had been sweating profusely, pleading for reconsideration, saying that this fellow had endangered His Majesty and himself because that person had shown interest in him.
However, that person's judgment was different.
Even if he was someone who had endangered His Majesty and himself, if he was such an outstanding talent, that person wanted to bring him under his wing somehow.
He even gave orders to meet with the fellow and arrange a position for him.
For Eunuch Beom, it was an order that couldn't have been more troublesome.
But the heavens helped him.
'It was Mok Gyeong-un, wasn't it?'
Eunuch Beom looked down at Mok Gyeong-un and grinned.
He had thought that a monstrous fellow like him would rarely be defeated by anyone, but how coincidental was this?
It was an opportunity given by the heavens.
For the sake of His Majesty, himself, and that person, a guy like this must never be allowed to come close.
So, with certainty,
'I'll shatter your danjeon, you bastard.'
If that happened, even the slightest possibility of him rising from the dead would completely vanish.
With that in mind, Eunuch Beom brought his hand toward Mok Gyeong-un's abdomen.
Just as his palm was about to touch the skin below the navel,
"What are you doing?"
'!?'
In an instant, Eunuch Beom's body froze as he was about to place his palm.
What the fuck was that just now?
Did he mishear?
He was clearly told that the patient's injuries were severe and he wouldn't wake up for several days.
But what the hell was going on?
'Could it be?'
Eunuch Beom's eyes slowly moved from the abdomen up the chest, neck, and then to the face.
-Thump!
At that moment, his heart sank.
That's because Mok Gyeong-un, who had been lying as if dead with his eyes closed, had suddenly opened his eyes wide and was staring at him.
243: Chapter 242: Turning Misfortune into Blessing (2)
Eunuch Beom, the eunuch from the Western Depot, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
He had been reassured after hearing from Supervisor Jae, the physician in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that Mok Gyeong-un's injuries were so severe that he wouldn't wake up for several days.
However, Mok Gyeong-un, who had been lying as if dead with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and stared at him, causing Eunuch Beom to be startled.
'What's going on?'
He wasn't sure what had happened, but it seemed Mok Gyeong-un had woken up earlier than the physician's prediction.
Eunuch Beom, whose heart had nearly leaped out of his chest from shock, quickly composed himself.
Although he had been surprised by Mok Gyeong-un's opened eyes, Mok Gyeong-un was still an injured man.
Wasn't it said that his condition was so dire that he might never walk properly again?
'They say you get scared by the ladle after being frightened by the snake.'
It seemed the defeat he had suffered there had greatly affected him.
There was no need for him to be intimidated in this situation, but he had unconsciously shrunk back.
-Chak!
Eunuch Beom, who had hesitated, hurriedly placed his hand above Mok Gyeong-un's danjeon.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had been staring at him, raised an eyebrow and spoke.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Your name is Mok Gyeong-un, isn't it?"
"So what?"
"Ha. Your imposing manner is still impressive."
"..."
'To not even blink an eye in this situation, he has a grand presence indeed.'
In a state where he couldn't move due to his injuries, Eunuch Beom had his hand placed above Mok Gyeong-un's danjeon.
This meant that with just a little force, he could shatter Mok Gyeong-un's danjeon.
Yet, Mok Gyeong-un showed no sign of dismay.
Rather, he was incredibly calm.
-Kkwak!
Eunuch Beom pressed his fingers into the area around Mok Gyeong-un's danjeon, applying force.
Then, he spoke.
"This may be misfortune for you, but the heavens are on your side."
"..."
"Accept the consequences of insulting His Majesty and shattering this old man's shoulder without resentment."
"His Majesty?"
Seeing Mok Gyeong-un's puzzled expression, Eunuch Beom scoffed and said,
"Didn't this old man clearly warn you not to provoke that noble person?"
"That noble identity you spoke of was His Majesty?"
"Don't carelessly utter his name. A ruffian from the martial arts world like you has no right to speak of him so casually."
Eunuch Beom scolded him sternly.
In response, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said,
"The title 'His Majesty' must be quite revered, seeing as you tell me not to even mention it."
"Insolent fellow."
This guy's arrogance was astounding.
However, his sarcastic attitude in this situation was truly irritating.
Eunuch Beom gathered his internal energy and formed a sharp qi on his fingertips, stabbing it into Mok Gyeong-un's abdomen.
-Pffft!
About one knuckle of his finger penetrated the abdomen.
Eunuch Beom curved the corners of his mouth mockingly.
Now, even this guy should realize that he was in a position where he had to beg and plead...
'!?'
Eunuch Beom furrowed his brows.
Even though five of his fingers had penetrated about one knuckle deep into the abdomen, Mok Gyeong-un was staring at him without any change in expression.
He seemed to possess an incredibly strong endurance.
At this point, he should have been groveling pathetically.
However, Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth.
"It's a bit different from what I expected. I don't think the person above your master would have ordered you to kill me."
'This bastard?'
Eunuch Beom's eyes flickered with surprise.
How did this guy guess the intentions of that person?
As he wondered, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly and continued.
"If they had sent an even stronger eunuch to test me, it doesn't seem like they would have done that. But since you're acting this way, is it because I'm injured and the person above you has changed their mind? Or are you defying their orders and seeking revenge on me, not wanting to miss the opportunity while I'm injured?"
'!?'
Eunuch Beom was momentarily dumbfounded.
Who the hell was this guy?
He was reading the situation based on fragmented circumstances without even knowing who that person was.
Due to the incident at the inn amidst the heavy rain, Eunuch Beom had already considered Mok Gyeong-un to have an exceptionally sharp mind, bordering on being vicious, but this left him tongue-tied.
This guy's true value wasn't limited to his martial arts.
His intelligence was also outstanding.
That made him even more fearsome.
'My judgment is indeed correct. This guy must never be allowed near His Highness.'
Although Eunuch Beom had wanted to see Mok Gyeong-un looking fearful or pathetic, now he only thought of quickly shattering his danjeon.
As he tried to apply force to his fingers,
-Tremble!
Suddenly, as if blocked by something, his fingers couldn't penetrate the flesh.
Moreover, the internal energy that had been in his fingers gradually dissipated.
'What in the world?'
At that moment of bewilderment,
His fingers, which had penetrated with a strong repulsive force from inside the body, were expelled outward.
'What?'
What was going on here?
Both the physician and the Embroidered Uniform Guard supervising the martial arts had said that Mok Gyeong-un's internal injuries were so severe that he would have difficulty controlling his own body.
With ruptured blood vessels, muscles, and disrupted internal energy circulation, he should have been no different from a cripple.
Yet, how could he exert this level of power?
Eunuch Beom, who had been momentarily astonished, tried to strike Mok Gyeong-un's abdomen again.
'I must destroy his danjeon.'
Regardless of what had happened, if he destroyed the danjeon, everything would be over.
Just as Eunuch Beom's palm was about to crash down on Mok Gyeong-un's danjeon with enough force to shatter not only the danjeon but also the internal organs,
An unexpected event occurred.
It was,
-Papapapapapak!
The needles inserted all over Mok Gyeong-un's body were ejected outward.
If they had simply been pulled out, it would have been fine, but each needle was imbued with internal energy, scattering in all directions like hidden weapons,
-Pfftpfftpfftpfftpfftpfft!
"Huk!"
Eunuch Beom hurriedly waved his hands, trying to block them, but seven needles pierced through his body.
Although they were thin needles, three penetrated his abdomen, one his shoulder, one above his right clavicle, and the others pierced through his left palm and right thigh.
"Kuh…"
The pain was so excruciating that Eunuch Beom collapsed backward.
Particularly, the areas where the needles had penetrated his abdomen and above his clavicle were in a dire state.
They were all vital acupuncture points.
Eunuch Beom hastily circulated his internal energy, trying to block the punctured areas.
However,
'The internal energy is dissipating.'
Centered around the punctured areas, his internal energy was scattering.
In a panic, Eunuch Beom drew upon more internal energy and circulated it.
If the internal energy was dissipating, the only way to overcome it was with stronger internal energy.
Right at that moment,
-Shuk!
'!?'
Eunuch Beom's eyes widened.
He saw Mok Gyeong-un sitting up from the bed.
But that wasn't all; black steam began to emanate from his entire body, and the bruised skin gradually lightened in color.
'Could it be that he's healing?'
No matter how he looked at it, that seemed to be the only explanation.
His speculation was correct.
As Mok Gyeong-un sat up and circulated the rampaging energy within his body, it stabilized, and the bruised skin rapidly restored itself.
In fact, Mok Gyeong-un's body had undergone a miraculous self-recovery overnight, and the remaining external wounds were healing.
"Ahh…"
A small gasp escaped Mok Gyeong-un's mouth.
This was because, as he circulated and soothed the rampaging energy within his body, he noticed that the amount of energy had significantly increased compared to before.
Especially the demonic energy, which had increased by more than 40%.
'What's this?'
Even Mok Gyeong-un himself had been aware when he collapsed.
The technique of concentrating sword energy into one had surpassed the limits of his body and enlightenment.
As a result, his overexerted body couldn't endure it and had broken down.
This was the first time such a thing had happened since he began cultivating martial arts.
-Are you alright, mortal?
Cheong-ryeong, who had been waiting for Mok Gyeong-un to wake up, asked with a worried voice.
She, too, had been concerned that something might have gone wrong due to Mok Gyeong-un exerting a force beyond his limits and the physician's words.
If it had been possible to possess Mok Gyeong-un, she would have wanted to temporarily take over his body and heal him.
However, since possession was impossible for Mok Gyeong-un, she could only watch.
-Yes. I feel much better now.
-How did you manage to exert such power?
-That power…
-The one where you unified the sword energy into one.
Even she had been astonished upon witnessing Mok Gyeong-un's technique.
It was a realm that even she, who still had lingering attachments to the sword even after death, couldn't imagine, let alone reach.
Yet, she wondered how this fellow had momentarily approached a domain close to the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
-I'm not sure. Nothing else comes to mind.
-You didn't think of anything else?
Upon hearing these words, Cheong-ryeong genuinely admired Mok Gyeong-un.
In that fleeting moment, transcending any realm, he had considered that to be the only optimal move.
Mok Gyeong-un had simply realized it.
It was just that his enlightenment and body hadn't fully supported him, so he had borne the full brunt of the backlash.
Cheong-ryeong, who had been clicking her tongue, finally spoke.
-You bastard, you really are a born martial arts genius.
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes flickered with surprise at her words.
This was because she, who usually refrained from speaking even in ordinary situations, had given him a proper compliment for the first time.
It seemed she acknowledged him to that extent.
-But don't overexert yourself. Even if you momentarily approached such a realm through a heaven-defying enlightenment, you have now experienced firsthand the consequences of doing so when unprepared.
-Well, that's true. But…
-But what?
Mok Gyeong-un silently clenched his fist tightly.
The intensity of the force exerted by his hand.
It had become much stronger than before he collapsed.
It was as if the swollen and torn muscles had become even more robust to endure it.
This wasn't a mere feeling.
'The blood vessels are the same.'
The speed at which energy circulated had greatly increased.
Just like when he had surpassed the bottleneck, it had now become as natural as breathing.
Because of this, Mok Gyeong-un himself felt a strange sensation.
'How curious.'
Would others also experience such a rapid change in their bodies when surpassing their limits?
It didn't seem so.
According to the medical knowledge he had learned from his grandfather and various medical texts, the human body was designed to slowly adapt to limits or harsh situations, not undergo such drastic changes.
'Hmm.'
In that regard, he seemed to be distinctly different from ordinary people.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head.
There, he saw Eunuch Beom from the Western Depot, lying on the floor, dragging his body and trying to quietly escape while suppressing his presence.
Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and got off the bed.
'Da-damn it!'
Startled, Eunuch Beom hurriedly struck the floor with both hands.
-Pak!
Using the rebound force, he tried to stand up.
However,
-Thwack!
"Ugh!"
As he got up, Mok Gyeong-un kicked him, causing him to fall back down.
Mok Gyeong-un pressed his foot on the area between Eunuch Beom's neck and chest.
-Kkwak!
"Kuh-kuh!"
Pressing down on that area, it was impossible for Eunuch Beom to breathe properly.
To the suffocating Eunuch Beom, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"It seems you don't have much attachment to life."
"Kuh… Wh-what?"
"Just like last time, even though I was minding my own business, you deliberately provoked me."
-Flinch!
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Eunuch Beom's face turned red and then ashen.
Struggling to breathe, he hastily said,
"Kuh-kuh… If- if you… try to harm me here… His Highness Prince Gyeongjin will never…"
"Ah. So it was him?"
The corners of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth twitched.
Seeing that expression, Eunuch Beom's eyes wavered.
What was this?
It was different from the reaction he had expected.
Prince Gyeongjin was the younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor and one of the four true powers of this nation.
With this cunning fellow, he should have understood what he meant, so why was he making such an ominous expression?
Right at that moment,
-Crack! Crunch!
The sound of a clavicle breaking rang out.
Eunuch Beom couldn't hold back the scream of pain.
Mok Gyeong-un kicked his chin.
-Thwack! Crunch!
"Kuh…!"
The sound of teeth colliding and shattering echoed.
Mok Gyeong-un bent down and brought his face close to the suffering Eunuch Beom.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"Kuh…"
As he opened his mouth, all of his teeth were cracked, and broken pieces fell out with a clatter.
Of course, they fell into his mouth, causing him to choke and sputter.
Mok Gyeong-un grabbed the face of Eunuch Beom, who was coughing up blood, and examined it closely. Then, he smiled brightly and said,
"Fortunately, the skin on your face is intact."
Upon hearing those words, the suffering Eunuch Beom furrowed his brows.
What the hell was he talking about?
After making his jaw and teeth like this, was he now saying that his face was fine?
'Damn bastard.'
You have made a grave mistake.
In the end, by making him like this, he had gained justification to persuade His Highness.
A dog that couldn't be leashed shouldn't be kept.
'Prepare yourself.'
Anyway, since there was also the crime of attempting to assassinate His Majesty, using this as justification, he would definitely…
-Pffft!
At that moment, Eunuch Beom's eyes widened.
He felt a sharp blade penetrating his jaw and reaching inside his nose.
The pain rushed in all at once, causing him to twist his body in a struggle.
But then,
-Tatatatatatak!
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-woon sealed his acupoints, rendering him unable to move.
Of course, he also sealed the points that would stop him from making any sound.
In agony yet unable to speak, Eunuch Beom could only open his eyes wide as Mok Gyeong-woon whispered softly in his ear.
"It's a pity you didn't just die back then. If you did, none of this would have happened."
'!?'
-Screech!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-woon carefully moved the blade up and down.
As if he was delicately peeling off the skin.
'Wh-what are you doing?'
Eunuch Beom's eyes widened even further, his pupils shaking madly.
Regardless, Mok Gyeong-woon continued his work with an elated smile.
-Screech! Screech!
'Stop! Stop it!'
With his eyes wide open, Eunuch Beom watched as his facial skin was slowly peeled away, his pupils gradually losing focus.
244: Chapter 243: Turning Misfortune into Blessing (3)
Two government officials were hurriedly heading to the Embroidered Uniform Guard hospital.
They were Supervisor Jae, a 7th-grade physician, and Cho Cham-bong, a 9th-grade physician.
With drowsy eyes, Supervisor Jae spoke in an irritated voice.
"If what you say isn't true, you'd better be prepared for the consequences."
"It's the truth. I even checked the eight major pulses."
"Oh my. You…"
Supervisor Jae shook his head.
That's because the Guard trainee named Mok Gyeong-un, who was hospitalized, was in no condition to wake up or improve in a short period of time.
Yet, how could his pulse return to normal overnight?
After assigning night duty, it seemed like the physician had left his senses somewhere out of fatigue.
'Nonsense.'
He was determined to give him a good scolding.
As they approached the hospital, they saw someone squatting outside, dozing off.
It was the dispensary worker.
"Hey, you rascal."
Cho Cham-bong reprimanded him upon seeing him.
The dispensary worker was startled and jumped up from his spot like a disciplined soldier.
Then, noticing Supervisor Jae and Cho Cham-bong, he spoke in a flustered manner.
"M-My lords."
"I told you to take care of my patient, yet you're slacking off."
"Th-That's not it."
"What do you mean that's not it? Right now…"
"A guest has come inside at the moment."
"A guest?"
Out of the blue, who was this guest?
As they were wondering, the dispensary worker carefully said,
"It's the Junior Supervisor Eunuch of the Western Depot."
"Junior Supervisor Eunuch?"
At those words, Supervisor Jae and Cho Cham-bong looked at each other, unable to hide their bewilderment.
Among the eunuchs of the Western Depot, the position of Junior Supervisor Eunuch was high enough to directly attend to the imperial family.
But why had a Junior Supervisor Eunuch come to the Embroidered Uniform Guard hospital?
Thinking something was amiss, they hurriedly went inside.
Upon entering, Cho Cham-bong, who was leading the way, looked around.
Then, seeing a bed, he couldn't hide his perplexity.
"Gasp!"
Seeing him so shocked that he almost fell backward, Supervisor Jae and the dispensary worker also looked in that direction.
However,
"Eek!"
"Wh-What is this!"
The reason for their shock was simple.
On the bed where the patient should have been lying, something torn into dozens of pieces was placed.
As physicians, they could immediately sense what it was.
It was none other than a dismembered corpse.
Faced with such a horrific sight, they were utterly perplexed about what to do.
As they stood there, shocked and at a loss, a rustling sound came from somewhere.
They simultaneously turned their heads.
It was in front of the medicinal herb drawers where various medicinal ingredients were stored, and someone wearing a red official robe could be seen.
"M-My lord?"
The dispensary worker unknowingly called out to him.
Then, the person in the red official robe turned his head and grinned eerily in the flickering lantern light.
'!!!!!!'
***
Bi-gyeong Palace.
This was the palace where Prince Gyeongjin, one of the four most powerful figures in the country, resided.
Originally, Prince Gyeongjin was governing the Sichuan region as a royal relative, but when the current emperor, who had cherished him even before his enthronement, ascended to the throne, he was summoned to the capital, Kaifeng.
And a palace was given to him to stay in.
Although the emperor cherished his younger brother, he added the character "bi" (毖), meaning "to be cautious and diligent," to the name of the palace to remind him not to forget his proper place.
Of course, despite the emperor's consideration, Prince Gyeongjin had steadily expanded his influence, leading to his current position.
-Swish!
A middle-aged man in his mid-fifties, exuding elegance, turned the page of an old book.
A middle-aged eunuch in a red official robe quietly observed him from near the door.
Just by looking at his splendid official attire, one could guess his position.
The middle-aged eunuch was none other than the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot.
-Swish!
The middle-aged man, who had been turning the pages at a steady pace, finally spoke.
"Eunuch Beom is late."
At his words, the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho, spoke in a groveling voice.
"Your Highness, shall I send someone to fetch him?"
The identity of the elegant middle-aged man with an impressive mustache was none other than Prince Gyeongjin, the master of this Bi-gyeong Palace.
As one of the four most powerful figures who controlled the country, he exuded not only elegance but also an arrogant and extraordinary spirit that seemed to encompass all things.
"No, it's fine. When the time comes, he will come on his own."
"Understood, Your Highness."
At Prince Gyeongjin's words, the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho, bowed his head with his hands clasped together.
However, concern was evident in his eyes as he bowed.
'He won't disobey Your Highness's order, will he?'
He had already seen Eunuch Beom unable to hide his joy upon hearing the news that Mok Gyeong-un, the late-stage disciple sent by the Heaven and Earth Society, had suffered severe injuries.
That worried him quite a bit.
'He must have been very scared.'
He could fully understand such feelings.
According to the reports, it was natural for anyone to rejoice and not miss this opportunity after suffering such injuries and humiliation.
However, this was not an opportunity for him.
[Examine that person's condition. We cannot lose such a valuable talent.]
Prince Gyeongjin wanted to have that late-stage disciple from the Heaven and Earth Society.
Being someone with a strong desire for talented individuals, he didn't care at all that Mok Gyeong-un had threatened the princess he cherished.
On the contrary, he said that someone like him was all the more worth taming.
This might be the difference between those with the ambition to rule the world and ordinary people.
'Eunuch Beom, please refrain from doing anything foolish.'
If he took this as an opportunity to do something foolish, His Highness would not forgive him.
His Highness disliked those who disobeyed his orders more than anyone else.
At that moment, Prince Gyeongjin closed the book he was reading and spoke.
"By the way, how is that wench still unharmed?"
"If you're referring to that wench…"
"I'm talking about that wench from Auspicious Palace."
"Ah… You mean Consort Ho, Your Highness."
Consort Ho.
The emperor had numerous women.
Among them, there were two women who received his particular favor: Imperial Noble Consort Seo and Consort Ho.
Originally, the emperor favored Imperial Noble Consort Seo the most, but he also didn't hesitate to show affection to Consort Nam and Consort Seomun, who bore his children.
Consort Seomun had a deep connection to Prince Gyeongjin's maternal side, his mother's family.
Therefore, Prince Gyeongjin had spared no investment and effort to ensure that Consort Seomun could receive the emperor's favor.
However, at some point, the dynamics within the Inner Court had changed.
It was because of the sudden appearance of Consort Ho.
'A peerless beauty that one couldn't help but be captivated by.'
This was what everyone who saw Consort Ho said in unison.
The appearance of the palace maid who had just entered the palace was so outstanding that rumors spread, saying her beauty rivaled that of Imperial Noble Consort Seo, who was called the epitome of beauty.
Naturally, the story reached the ears of the lascivious emperor.
'A mere three years…'
It hadn't been long since she entered the palace.
A young wench from a palace maid background, without any backing, had enchanted the emperor with her appearance alone and reached the position of consort in just three years.
Even Consort Seomun, who had given birth to a son, couldn't become a consort.
'A dangerous wench.'
At least Imperial Noble Consort Seo had won the emperor's heart over a long period of time.
But this woman had achieved it in just three years.
Prince Gyeongjin couldn't understand it.
Although the emperor was lascivious and couldn't resist any woman, his conquests were also quite severe, and he would quickly lose interest.
Even with his beloved Imperial Noble Consort Seo, he never stayed with her for more than three days.
However, he stayed in Consort Ho's quarters for as long as half a month, showing an immense favor towards her.
'What kind of sorcery is she using?'
Because of this, Prince Gyeongjin and the other powerful figures also considered her dangerous.
Even when they tried to bring her under their control, strangely, everyone failed.
Prince Gyeongjin had also tried to do so but to no avail.
He even tried to meet her in person and turn her to his side, but he ended up hearing humiliating words from her instead.
[If you're a royal relative, why don't you live in accordance with your proper place and prostrate yourself flat?]
Upon hearing these words, Prince Gyeongjin was greatly enraged.
No matter how much she was a consort favored by the emperor, she couldn't dare say such things to him so recklessly.
In the end, Prince Gyeongjin decided to use an extreme measure.
It was to use a slow-acting poison to make Consort Ho slowly die.
Unlike other concubines, she had no backing or people to help her, so even if her body weakened, there would be no one suitable for her to turn to for help.
So, Prince Gyeongjin intended to subjugate her when she was weakened.
However,
"Two months have passed, yet why is there no effect at all?"
At Prince Gyeongjin's question, the Chief Eunuch Ho answered with a troubled expression.
"…I apologize, Your Highness."
In fact, Eunuch Ho was also puzzled by this.
That's because he was told that the effects would appear in a month, but even after that period had passed, Consort Ho remained perfectly fine.
So, he had instructed the palace maid who had been planted to increase the dose of the slow-acting poison.
Nevertheless, two months had passed, but Consort Ho showed no signs of weakness.
On the contrary, there was even an illusion that her complexion was getting better by the day.
"Isn't there a stronger poison?"
"I apologize, Your Highness, but according to the person who manufactured the poison, if the dose is increased further, it may be detected by the food taster palace maids or the supervisor of the Imperial Hospital."
At Eunuch Ho's words, Prince Gyeongjin let out a soft sigh.
With Imperial Noble Consort Seo alone being a handful, if Consort Ho were to give birth to a son on top of that, the political situation could become even more chaotic.
'Should I focus on preventing her from conceiving instead?'
However, this was something the other three powerful figures would take action on even if he didn't.
From their perspective, it was also an undesirable situation.
Just as his thoughts were becoming complicated, a eunuch's voice was heard from outside.
-Your Highness, Eunuch Beom requests an audience.
"He's finally here. Let him in."
-Yes, Your Highness.
The door opened, and Eunuch Beom, who had his head bowed and hands clasped together, entered.
He bowed and greeted Prince Gyeongjin.
The Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho, who was watching him, had a glint in his eyes.
'Hmm?'
That's because, unlike the usual Eunuch Beom, he seemed calm.
Even his energy was well-concealed, making it difficult to sense.
Eunuch Ho's eyes narrowed.
No matter how much Eunuch Beom had reached the pinnacle-stage of Transcendent Realm, Eunuch Ho was a peerless master counted among the top four in the palace.
'He shouldn't be able to completely hide his energy from me.'
As he was finding it strange, Prince Gyeongjin gestured for Eunuch Beom to come closer and spoke.
"So, how is that person's condition? Is he likely to recover?"
-Step!
At this question, Eunuch Beom, with his head bowed, tried to take a step forward.
At that moment, Eunuch Ho quickly blocked his way with a swift lightfoot technique.
"Stop right there."
Prince Gyeongjin frowned and asked.
"Eunuch Ho, what are you doing?"
"Your Highness, please allow me to examine Eunuch Beom for a moment."
"Examine him? What do you mean?"
"Eunuch Beom, raise your head."
Eunuch Ho told Eunuch Beom, who had his head bowed, to lift his head.
Eunuch Beom slowly lowered his hands and raised his face.
Eunuch Beom's face, with the characteristic powdered makeup of eunuchs, looked no different from usual.
However, if there was one thing different,
'…These eyes?'
Eunuch Beom, who was always cautious in everything when standing before His Highness Prince Gyeongjin and the head of the Western Depot, had a face and eyes that were utterly calm.
Eunuch Ho's eyes sharpened as he grasped the handle of the leather belt at his waist and drew it out.
-Shing!
As he pulled the leather belt, a soft sword hidden inside was revealed.
Pointing the tip of the soft sword at Eunuch Beom, Eunuch Ho spoke in a voice filled with vigilance.
"Who are you, you bastard?"
Eunuch Beom remained silent at his question.
Prince Gyeongjin, who had also sensed something suspicious, stood up from his seat and grabbed the sheath he had hung on the decorative stand behind him.
What on earth was going on?
Just then, Eunuch Beom's lips twitched, and he opened his mouth.
"Ah, this is why quick-witted people are troublesome."
'!?'
This was not Eunuch Beom's voice.
His voice was hoarse, mixed with the characteristic gruffness of an old eunuch.
But this voice was very young.
245: Chapter 244: Prince Gyeongjin (1)
"Ah, this is why quick-witted people are troublesome."
'!?'
The young voice coming from the mouth of Eunuch Beom, an eunuch of the Western Depot.
As soon as they heard it, vigilance filled the eyes of Prince Gyeongjin and the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho.
Having been with Eunuch Beom for a long time, they could naturally distinguish him by his voice alone.
Chief Eunuch Ho spoke while pointing his soft sword.
"You… Who the hell are you?"
"There are definitely limitations with just the face."
"What?"
"Seems like you were lucky back there."
The corners of Eunuch Beom's mouth twitched.
Eunuch Beom, or rather the true identity behind that face, was Mok Gyeong-un.
From the moment he entered Prince Gyeongjin's palace, Mok Gyeong-un had no intention of avoiding being discovered at all costs, and through them, he realized the weaknesses of the Human Skin Mask.
It was difficult to deceive the energy of a master with keen senses like Eunuch Ho, even if he could fool them with just the face.
'Without internal energy, it would be difficult with just deception.'
If he could manipulate the yang energy of internal energy, he would have imitated the unique energy emitted by Eunuch Beom.
However, Mok Gyeong-un's energy was different from others, so he couldn't do that.
Moreover, if the voice was distinctly different or if he tried to deceive those who had known the face of this human skin for a long time, it was virtually impossible.
Considering this, it could be said that he was lucky at the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.
That's because the real Mok Gyeong-un had such a bad reputation that he didn't interact with his half-siblings, let alone his servants.
In conclusion,
'The Human Skin Mask is not a card to be used in this way.'
It was difficult to deceive those who knew the face or were close to him.
However, that didn't mean this was a useless card.
If he changed his approach, he could create amusing situations like before.
'It depends on how you think about it…'
Right then,
-Swish!
The soft sword of the Chief Eunuch Ho aimed at the space between his eyebrows.
In an instant, Mok Gyeong-un slightly tilted his head back and narrowly dodged the tip of the soft sword.
-Swish!
'He dodged it?'
It may have looked like a light strike, but it was an extremely fast thrust that even masters at the pinnacle-stage of Transcendent Realm would find difficult to avoid.
Yet, when Mok Gyeong-un lightly dodged it, Eunuch Ho couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
'This bastard is no ordinary person.'
It was a single thrust he had made with the intention of quickly subduing him, as it was in the presence of His Highness Prince Gyeongjin.
It was difficult to ascertain his level based on his energy, which was barely detectable, but with this one move, it became clear.
'He's a master on par with me.'
If he was such a supreme master, he could assess the opponent's skill with just a single move.
Eunuch Ho slightly bent and then straightened the wrist holding the soft sword.
The soft sword wriggled like a living snake and aimed at Mok Gyeong-un in a peculiar direction.
-Swish!
However, Mok Gyeong-un dodged the trajectory of the soft sword by simply taking half a step back.
As if he had anticipated that he would dodge it, Eunuch Ho shouted.
"Look here! An enemy has infiltrated!"
It was a cry infused with inner force.
Outside, there were Embroidered Uniform Guards and eunuchs from the Western Depot.
Calling for their help was not to repel this person but to evacuate His Highness.
However,
-An enemy has infiltrated! An enemy has infiltrated! An enemy has infiltrated!
At that moment, Eunuch Ho's voice resonated in the room like an echo.
It wasn't just a voice but one infused with inner force, so it was so resounding that Prince Gyeongjin frowned and hastily covered his ears.
"Ugh."
'Damn it!'
Eunuch Ho's complexion darkened.
The echo in this confined space was because the shout had bounced off and rebounded.
Through this, Eunuch Ho could tell.
'He has surrounded the entire room with true energy.'
Even a master at the pinnacle-stage of Transcendent Realm could cover a certain space with their true energy to block sound.
Naturally, a master of this caliber wouldn't be unable to do so.
-Tap tap tap!
Eunuch Ho displayed a peculiar footwork with quick, tottering movements, distancing himself from Mok Gyeong-un, and then stood in front of Prince Gyeongjin.
It was to protect him.
Eunuch Ho sent a secret message to convey his thoughts.
-Your Highness, this person is no ordinary master. Even I won't be able to subdue him easily, so if an opportunity arises, you must leave this place, even if it means breaking the window.
At his words, a glint flashed in Prince Gyeongjin's eyes.
As the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho was a master of martial arts whose match was hard to find throughout the entire palace.
This was the first time he had seen him show such vigilance.
That meant the unknown person wearing Eunuch Beom's face was a dangerous individual and an outstanding master, right?
'Then…'
Prince Gyeongjin spoke to Mok Gyeong-un, who was wearing Eunuch Beom's face.
"Hey, you. Who sent you here?"
'Your Highness?'
Seeing his behavior, Chief Eunuch Ho inwardly clicked his tongue.
It was no different from an assassin infiltrating the palace, yet in this situation, his master, whom he served, had the audacity to talk to such a person. He was truly bold.
But there was no way such a person would obediently answer His Highness's question…
"Well, who could have sent me?"
'!?'
Eunuch Ho frowned and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.
What the hell was he?
If he had come to assassinate His Highness, there was no way he would answer such a question one by one.
As he was puzzled, Prince Gyeongjin spoke calmly.
"For a master like you, whom even Eunuch Ho here is wary of, there are only three people who come to mind who could send you."
They were the powerful figures of the palace, excluding himself.
He thought it would be one of the three: Hang Yoon, the Grand Preceptor who also served as the Admiral of the Central Navy; the Prince Jong, the emperor's second prince; or Imperial Noble Consort Seo.
"Seeing that they even had you imitate the face of Eunuch Beom, who can be considered my close aide, they seem to have made up their mind."
This was an excellent move, even in his own opinion.
If it was said that he had died at the hands of Eunuch Beom, it would ultimately be concluded as an internal conflict.
Although the Embroidered Uniform Guards would investigate whether it was someone's instigation, it could be easily ended by eliminating the real Eunuch Beom.
Prince Gyeongjin clicked his tongue and said,
"You must have killed Eunuch Beom, right?"
"For a noble person, you're quite smart."
"Thank you for the compliment."
At his calm tone, Mok Gyeong-un was inwardly intrigued.
Although it was amusing to see him misunderstand and speculate based on partial circumstances, he was indeed different from ordinary people, befitting a clan that ruled a country.
It could be seen from how he tried to calmly unravel the situation while being tense.
Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,
"Then you must know that further conversation is meaningless."
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un clenched his sword fingers.
Sharp sword energy flowed out, and the air became heavy with murderous intent.
It was to the extent that even Prince Gyeongjin, who had not learned martial arts, could feel it.
'It's suffocating.'
Faced with Mok Gyeong-un's sharp aura, Eunuch Ho gripped his soft sword and assumed a fighting stance.
-Your Highness, while I hold off this person, you must leave no matter what.
Chief Eunuch Ho, who repeated those words once more, tried to launch himself toward Mok Gyeong-un.
Right then, Prince Gyeongjin stopped him.
"Hold it!"
At his command, Eunuch Ho couldn't hide his troubled expression.
If he were to release his fighting stance first in this situation, it would become difficult to protect Prince Gyeongjin.
Nevertheless, Prince Gyeongjin persisted.
"…Your Highness, that must not be done. This person is truly dangerous."
"It's fine, so stop."
"Your Highness!"
"Didn't I say it's fine? I trust you. And if today is my last day, it would be my fate to go even if you don't stop him."
At Prince Gyeongjin's words, Chief Eunuch Ho bit his lip and released his fighting stance.
Since the opponent was a master who couldn't be let down his guard against, he didn't want to easily release his vigilance, but he couldn't disobey His Highness's order.
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un spoke with puzzlement.
"Doesn't seem like a good choice."
At those words, Prince Gyeongjin clasped his hands together and showed courtesy toward Mok Gyeong-un.
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes flickered at the sight.
What kind of behavior was this all of a sudden?
As he wondered, Prince Gyeongjin bowed his head and spoke.
"I am a person who values talent and respects the strong who deserve to be treated well."
"You respect the strong?"
"That's right. I need many heroes like you for what I want to do."
'Ah…'
At Prince Gyeongjin's words, the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho, was troubled.
His Highness's strong point, or rather his bad habit, had emerged.
If there was a desirable talent, regardless of whether they were an enemy or an obstacle, he would first reach out to them.
This could be used in a good way, but there were also cases where it wasn't.
Especially if they were an enemy targeting his life.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
"You're quite a unique person."
At his tone, which sounded intrigued, Prince Gyeongjin couldn't help but feel inwardly relieved.
If he were someone who showed no reaction at all despite his utmost courtesy, there would be no room for negotiation.
However, showing such a reaction meant that he was someone who could be persuaded.
"I may be unique or foolish, but I have a great desire for talented individuals."
"It seems that way."
"Since the situation is like this, I'll be straightforward. I don't know whose request or order you received, but using an excellent talent like you for such a dirty job like assassination is no different from misusing resources."
Misusing resources.
It meant using the resources of one state in another state, implying that they were being used in a place where their true value was not recognized.
"So, with a heart that earnestly desires talent, I want to invite you to become my person. I don't know what compensation you receive from them, but I am willing to treat you even better, so please become a pillar of support for me."
Pillar of support.
It referred to a person who could be entrusted with important tasks of a household or a country, meaning someone who could handle the most critical matters.
Prince Gyeongjin's persuasive abilities and eloquence were close to being unrivaled.
With his profound learning, he had made numerous talents his own people through such eloquence.
'It is said that people bow their heads to those who recognize their worth. I don't know whose person he is, but no one will be able to treat him as well as I can.'
Whether it was Imperial Noble Consort Seo, who only had her body as a weapon, the arrogant and unmatched influential official Hang Yoon, or the cruel Second Prince, who believed his position had been stolen.
Which one of them could match his magnanimity?
-Tremble tremble!
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un lowered his head, covered his mouth with his palm, and slightly shook his face.
It seemed as if he was emotionally overwhelmed.
Seeing this, the corners of Prince Gyeongjin's mouth slightly rose.
It appeared that this gamble, born from his desire for talent, had paid off.
Prince Gyeongjin approached Mok Gyeong-un.
"Your Highness!"
Prince Gyeongjin shook his head.
"It's alright. This person has understood my intention."
With those words, Prince Gyeongjin approached Mok Gyeong-un again and placed his hand on his right shoulder, laughing heartily.
"Hahaha! It seems that I have virtue. To gain such an outstanding warrior with the capacity of a fortress…"
Suddenly, Prince Gyeongjin couldn't finish his sentence.
That's because Mok Gyeong-un's face, as he lifted his head, was closer to boredom, as if he was forcibly holding back a yawn, rather than being overwhelmed by his eloquence.
"You…"
"Ah, I apologize. It seemed too obvious that I was trying to hold back a yawn, as it's not polite to yawn while you're delivering an impassioned speech."
At those words, Prince Gyeongjin was dumbfounded.
He had shown such courtesy and praised him, yet the only reaction he showed was holding back a yawn?
This was equivalent to insulting him, a royal and a prince.
Prince Gyeongjin was inwardly very displeased, but since he was too close to Mok Gyeong-un, he suppressed it and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Perhaps my words were too long. Then let me put it simply. Please become my person."
With those words, he clasped his hands together and bowed his head once more, showing courtesy.
As a prince, he had lowered himself to this extent and praised him.
If he had done this much, even this bastard should show sufficient sincerity…
-Stab!
At that moment, something sharp pierced Prince Gyeongjin's left eyeball.
Rather than the pain from the needle that suddenly pierced his eye, Prince Gyeongjin was startled and tried to push Mok Gyeong-un away.
-Grab!
However, Mok Gyeong-un grabbed his wrist, making it impossible to push him away.
"You bastard!"
Seeing this scene, the enraged Chief Eunuch Ho hurriedly tried to save Prince Gyeongjin.
However,
"If you don't want to see His Highness die, it's best to stay still."
"You scoundrel!"
Chief Eunuch Ho hesitated on the spot.
He gritted his teeth.
Even if His Highness had said it was alright, he should have somehow prevented him from getting close.
Meanwhile, Prince Gyeongjin, who was squinting his left eye, spoke to Mok Gyeong-un in an incomprehensible tone.
"Wh-Why are you doing this? I even showed courtesy and said I would treat you even better…"
"Ah. You're asking why I suddenly did that?"
"…Yes."
"Because you talk too much."
'!?'
246: Chapter 245: Prince Gyeongjin (2)
Despite his courteous offer, which befit his status as royalty and a prince, the reason for stabbing his eye was simply because he talked too much?
Prince Gyeongjin was so dumbfounded that he was momentarily at a loss for words.
However, that was short-lived.
Immense pain rushed in, from his pierced eye to a severe headache.
"Ugh!"
"Your Highness!"
The Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, Eunuch Ho, called out to him in a worried voice.
Eunuch Ho was extremely furious.
If it weren't for Prince Gyeongjin, he would have wanted to unleash killing techniques on that insolent scoundrel right away.
But if he wasn't calm, His Highness might really lose his life.
Suppressing his anger, Chief Eunuch Ho carefully spoke.
"Please, I beg you to calm down. If you release His Highness unharmed, I promise not only to let you go safely but also to grant you anything you desire."
"Anything I desire?"
"That's right. If you release His Highness unharmed."
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,
"Ah. Then you can do anything for His Highness, right?"
That wasn't even worth mentioning.
"Of course!"
Chief Eunuch Ho answered with emphasis in his voice.
As the right-hand man who had served Prince Gyeongjin for a long time, he was willing to do anything for him.
Mok Gyeong-un curled his lips and said,
"Then, if you take your own life, I will release His Highness."
"What?"
At those words, Chief Eunuch Ho's expression froze for a moment.
He had expected the fellow to demand something that would benefit him in some way, as he was human, but he never thought he would tell him to end his own life.
Unable to suppress the anger he had been holding back, Eunuch Ho raised his voice.
"Are you even calling that a proper request?"
"Oh? Are you getting angry now?"
"What?"
"You said you could do anything for His Highness, but are you suddenly reluctant to give up your life?"
At those words, Chief Eunuch Ho's face contorted.
This cunning bastard was toying with him by creating a dilemma.
This was clearly the fellow's scheme.
If he were to die, the fellow would become even more unrestrained.
However, if he said he couldn't die here, His Highness Prince Gyeongjin might doubt his loyalty.
It was literally a dilemma where he couldn't do either.
At that moment, Prince Gyeongjin, who had been holding his pierced eye in pain, opened his mouth.
"Ugh… Eunuch Ho. Don't fall for this person's scheme while worrying about me."
"Your Highness!"
"I won't doubt your loyalty over such a thing."
At Prince Gyeongjin's words, Mok Gyeong-un laughed and said,
"You may talk a lot, but you're pretty good at assessing the situation."
"Haa… Haa… The fact that you asked Eunuch Ho to take his own life means you can't easily subdue him, right?"
"Well, you're not wrong."
Chief Eunuch Ho was not someone who could be killed in an instant.
Therefore, if he were to take his own life, things could become much easier.
"Then, could Your Highness tell Chief Eunuch to take his life on my behalf? If you do that, I'm willing to release you right away."
"Don't say things you don't mean."
"Things I don't mean?"
"Even though I treated you with courtesy, you ended up like this. Do you think I would believe those words?"
"Ah, I suppose that's true."
"I would never utter such words. Rather, there is only one command I would give Eunuch Ho."
"What?"
"Eunuch Ho. Don't worry about my safety and immediately break the window and go alert others of the enemy's infiltration."
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un raised an eyebrow.
Then, despite the pain, Prince Gyeongjin curled his lips and said,
"You may be able to kill me here, but you won't be able to leave the palace alive."
"You're making it interesting."
"Does this situation seem amusing to you? Then, can you really stop him if the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Southern Pacification Commissioner, arrives?"
'Southern Pacification Commissioner?'
At Prince Gyeongjin's words, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes narrowed.
This was because, according to the information he had heard beforehand, one of the three people he should be most wary of in the palace was Southern Pacification Commissioner, known as the pinnacle of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
He wasn't simply the pinnacle of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
Southern Pacification Commissioner Gu Seong-baek.
His other title as the protector of the emperor was the Blade King of the Northern Faction, the current pinnacle of the martial arts world and one of the Six Heavens.
There were many famous anecdotes about him, one of which was the story of him splitting three large ships led by the Changjiang Water Route Stronghold on the Yangtze River with a single blade.
Thanks to that tremendous feat, Southern Pacification Commissioner Gu Seong-baek newly added his prestige to the pinnacle of the martial arts world, which was originally called the Five Heavens.
'One of the Six Heavens.'
However, as the palace's supreme master, he never leaves the emperor's side even for a moment.
Therefore, some in the martial arts world call him a hidden dragon or a famous blade trapped in its sheath.
But the situation is different inside the palace.
"If the palace's masters, including the Southern Pacification Commissioner, arrive, do you think you can easily escape after harming me, no matter how outstanding a master you are?"
The reason Prince Gyeongjin said this to Mok Gyeong-un was simple.
It was to let him know that if he was prepared to risk his life, revenge could be taken immediately.
"…I see."
As if Mok Gyeong-un had grasped the situation to some extent, Prince Gyeongjin spoke in a slightly softer tone.
"Then how about we both take a step back?"
"Step back?"
"That's right. I won't force you to become my subordinate. But you should also stop trying to kill me and leave. If you do that, I will stake my honor and treat this matter as if it never happened."
This was the best measure Prince Gyeongjin could think of.
It was a ploy to let him know that the situation was harmful to both of them and make him give up on his own.
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said,
"Your current approach is much better than your earlier verbose talk."
"…Then will you accept my proposal? You don't even know my identity, so you have nothing to lose by retreating from here, right?"
"That's true."
"Then please release me."
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin as if pondering.
Prince Gyeongjin was confident that if he wasn't truly prepared to risk his life, he would accept his proposal this time.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth.
"I've thought about it, but I don't think there's any need for that."
"You truly!"
"No matter how I think about it, Chief Eunuch over there doesn't seem like he would let you die."
"Ha!"
Prince Gyeongjin clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded and said,
"If I give the order, Chief Eunuch will unconditionally follow it. You seem to be underestimating both me and Eunuch Ho."
"It's not underestimating. As far as I know, the palace has strict laws and regulations, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"If you die, won't they hold those responsible for your safety accountable as well?"
"…"
"And with death, no less."
At those words, Prince Gyeongjin was rendered speechless.
This was an undeniable fact.
If he were to be assassinated by someone, according to the palace regulations, all the Embroidered Uniform Guards and eunuchs who had guarded him would also be held accountable and executed.
Prince Gyeongjin inwardly clicked his tongue.
Since the enemy threatened his safety, he had proposed a method that could be a way out for both of them, without being too offensive.
However, this cunning bastard had immediately found a flaw in his scheme that was hard to detect.
In the end, Prince Gyeongjin had no choice but to gamble.
"…Chief Eunuch. Can you give your life for me?"
With those words, Prince Gyeongjin stared intently at Chief Eunuch Ho.
He didn't truly mean for him to sacrifice himself.
'You just need to show the will to give your life.'
That way, this person might accept his proposal.
Eunuch Ho's eyes were faintly trembling.
No matter how much he had pledged loyalty as a subject, it was a matter of his own life, so he seemed to hesitate even at the word of gambling.
However, as if he had understood the true intention in Prince Gyeongjin's eyes, he was about to answer with determination.
"I…"
But right at that moment, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
"Ah, since Your Highness is being so resolute, I should make some concessions as well."
"Concessions?"
"Yes. Then order Eunuch Ho to destroy his own danjeon. If you do that, I'll spare both your life and Eunuch Ho's life."
"What?"
At the words to destroy his danjeon, sparks flew from Eunuch Ho's eyes.
For a martial artist, destroying one's danjeon was not much different from giving up one's life.
Because it meant the end of life as a martial artist.
Although he had not learned martial arts, Prince Gyeongjin was not unaware of this, so he also raised his voice, unable to suppress his anger.
"Eunuch Ho is no different from my right arm. Telling him to destroy his danjeon is like cutting off my right arm. Do you think I would fall for such a scheme?"
"That's not for you to decide."
"What?"
"It depends on Eunuch Ho's choice. I'll count to five. If he doesn't destroy his own danjeon within that time, I'll kill you."
"You bastard!"
Eunuch Ho couldn't hold back and snapped at him.
He wanted to tear Mok Gyeong-un apart and kill him right away.
However, if he did that, Prince Gyeongjin would likely die at the hands of that person.
Meanwhile, Mok Gyeong-un sneered and said,
"I'm not even asking to kill him, just to give up martial arts to save you. If you can't even do that, you don't have any loyalty at all."
"What! You…"
"Then why are you hesitating? I'm saying I'll spare both your life and his. Is it that difficult? Is martial arts more important than His Highness?"
"…"
"Ah, I see. Well, if you're someone who values your own life, of course, martial arts would be precious too. In the end, when you peel back a layer, what's important to humans is their own selves."
"You, you bastard…"
Under Mok Gyeong-un's pressure, pushing Eunuch Ho like this, Prince Gyeongjin's complexion darkened.
This person was extremely skilled at psychologically driving the opponent to the extreme, to the point of suffocation.
It could be seen from Eunuch Ho's wavering appearance.
At this rate, it seemed like he would really give in.
"Ho Gong…"
-Grab!
"Ugh."
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un grabbed Prince Gyeongjin's neck.
Prince Gyeongjin, whose throat was blocked, coughed with a red face.
"You!"
"One!"
As he was about to say something, Mok Gyeong-un started counting.
The moment he heard "one," Eunuch Ho's expression hardened, and he was at a loss, unable to do anything.
Was this fellow really trying to kill His Highness?
No, from the moment he appeared wearing something like Eunuch Beom's human skin mask, it might have been a given.
"Two!"
Eunuch Ho bit his lip hard.
He had only two choices.
Either destroy his own danjeon as the fellow said, or break through the door as His Highness ordered, alert others of the enemy's infiltration, and seek help.
However, if it was the latter, His Majesty the Emperor would certainly hold him accountable.
In that case, the death penalty was definitely set.
-Crunch!
Whichever he chose, it was the worst situation for him.
At that moment, he saw Prince Gyeongjin, whose neck was being held, gesturing something toward him with his hand.
It was,
'Ah…'
He was pointing to his belly with his hand.
In other words, it meant to destroy his own danjeon.
Seeing this, Eunuch Ho's eyes sank heavily.
In the end, when his life was in danger, Prince Gyeongjin chose his own safety over the aftermath.
"Three!"
As the word "three" came out of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth, strength entered Eunuch Ho's hand holding the soft sword.
In that fleeting moment, countless thoughts flashed through Eunuch Ho's mind.
And finally, he made his choice.
It was none other than,
-Pak!
As Eunuch Ho threw the soft sword infused with strong energy toward Mok Gyeong-un, he immediately launched himself, smashed the window, and fled.
'Chief Eunuch!'
At this sight, Prince Gyeongjin's eyes widened as if they would tear apart from the sense of betrayal.
In the end, he had chosen his danjeon instead of saving him.
-Tap tap tap!
Eunuch Ho, who had broken through the window, bit his lip hard.
It was an unavoidable choice for him.
He had a way to escape the palace itself if worse came to worst regarding the palace's laws and the responsibility that would follow, but there was no answer if his danjeon was destroyed.
What if that fellow changed his words and killed both him with a destroyed danjeon and His Highness?
Then it would become an even worse situation.
'Your Highness, I apologize. In the end, you also thought of your own safety rather than mine, didn't you?'
And even if the fellow kept his promise and spared His Highness's life, he didn't think Prince Gyeongjin would employ him again with a destroyed danjeon.
In that case, it was better to plan for the future.
However, as Eunuch Ho, who had gone outside to raise an alarm, frowned.
'What's this?'
The surroundings of the palace were too quiet.
Within the Bi-gyeong Palace alone, there were dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guards and palace guards.
Yet, he couldn't feel their presence at all.
What on earth was going on?
Thinking something was strange, Eunuch Ho thought he should escape from the palace for now, considering that the fellow might chase after him.
So, as he was about to launch himself out of the palace,
-Tok tok!
The sound of footsteps came from the direction of the palace gate's pavilion.
Eunuch Ho unconsciously looked in that direction.
There, he saw a stunningly beautiful woman in splendid red and gold clothes walking toward him, holding something in one hand.
At that moment, Eunuch Ho's expression hardened.
Because the moment he saw the woman's face, he immediately recognized who she was.
'Consort Ho?'