The Yeop family shrine within Cheongseong.
"Ancestral spirits, Crown Prince Yeop Hyun is reckless in nature and lacks virtue. We intend to depose him and appoint Yeop Rang as the new crown prince. Please watch over us!"
The booming voice of an old man in a black long robe echoed throughout the shrine.
Behind him, Yeop Rang smiled faintly. The elders of the Yeop family stood lined up on both sides.
"No!"
A bold voice cut through the solemn atmosphere like cold water.
Was she twelve or so?
A young girl, gasping for breath, ran to the entrance of the shrine.
Pale-faced and frail, anyone could see she was clearly unwell.
She had rushed here despite her weak condition after hearing the sudden news of her brother's deposition.
The old man in black frowned and shouted at her.
"Yeop Ryung, what are you doing!"
Yeop Ryung paused to catch her breath before speaking slowly.
"Elder, why do you suddenly intend to depose my brother?"
"This is a matter for the family elders. Do not interfere and step aside!"
The elder's harsh command struck Yeop Ryung's ears.
Unyielding, she stepped forward into the shrine. Her heart seemed to stop under the gaze of the elders, Yeop Rang, and the other senior family members.
Finally stopping before the elders, Yeop Ryung bowed lightly and began to speak.
"Elders, my brother is currently fighting a fierce battle on Namsan over mining rights with the Lee clan. To depose him for an absurd reason while he fights for our family is unjust!"
"Impudent child!"
The grand elder's furious voice rang loudly.
"What does a mere girl know, meddling in such matters! Guards, seize her!"
Yeop Rang, now crown prince, smiled cruelly.
"Set an example. Have her beaten with the rod."
"Take her and strike her thirty times with the rod!"
At the elder's command, the guards lined up outside the shrine approached Yeop Ryung.
Unable to contain her anger, Yeop Ryung clenched her fists and shouted.
"This is unfair! You cannot treat my brother, who has risked his life for the family for years, like this!"
The guard glanced at Yeop Rang. His gaze was icy and merciless.
A thought flickered in the guard's eyes.
'Now is the perfect chance to get on Yeop Rang's good side!'
"Lord Yeop Rang's rise to crown prince is decreed by heaven itself. How dare anyone cause such a disturbance!"
Smack!
The guard swung his large hand, instantly striking Yeop Ryung's cheek. Her face puffed up immediately, and she struggled to hold back tears, glaring fiercely at the guard.
Yeop Rang glanced at the guard and smiled.
'Impressive.'
"What's your name?"
The guard knelt hastily on one knee.
"I am Jang Mok, Your Highness!"
Yeop Rang nodded with satisfaction.
"Useful. Once I become crown prince, I intend to form a personal guard of about ten. From now on, stay by my side."
Jang Mok's face brightened at those words.
"I will engrave your boundless grace deep into my bones!"
Yeop Rang nodded and gestured.
"Now take her away. The offense of disturbing the order of this sacred shrine is not light. Do you understand?"
At that moment, a flash of killing intent appeared in Yeop Rang's eyes. Jang Mok did not miss it.
With a rough hand, Jang Mok grabbed Yeop Ryung by the hair. She struggled weakly, but it was useless. He dragged her out of the shrine.
Suddenly!
He stopped just a few steps out. The elders turned quickly toward the shrine entrance, sensing a cold presence.
"..."
Standing there, a warrior clad in a tattered robe, soaked in blood, was almost unrecognizable.
As the mysterious man lifted his head, his face became clear.
[Yeop Hyun!]
Yeop Rang's cold smile appeared as Yeop Hyun arrived. The elders stared in shock. The grand elder closed his eyes, a sinister expression on his face.
Yeop Hyun had run straight here after returning from Namsan.
His eyes fell on Yeop Ryung and Jang Mok, who still held her hair. His expression twisted instantly.
"How dare… how dare you lay a hand on someone!"
Jang Mok, startled, tried to look to Yeop Rang for help, but Yeop Hyun's fist struck his face in an instant.
Thud!
Jang Mok collapsed immediately.
Yeop Hyun didn't stop and charged again. Yeop Rang shouted in fury.
"Stop! How dare you touch my subordinate—"
But Yeop Hyun's foot struck Jang Mok's abdomen.
"Ughk…"
A scream escaped Jang Mok as blood spewed from his mouth. Yeop Hyun turned toward Yeop Rang.
"My… subordinate?"
Yeop Hyun began mercilessly stomping on Jang Mok's face.
Soon, Jang Mok was covered in blood, crying toward Yeop Rang.
"Y-Your Highness… please spare me… ughk…"
Despite the desperate pleas, Yeop Hyun did not stop. Only after Jang Mok lost consciousness did Yeop Hyun cease his punishment.
Yeop Hyun's gaze turned to Yeop Ryung. Seeing her trembling, his fists trembled as well.
Tears of sorrow streamed down Yeop Ryung's face as she looked at her brother.
"Brother… it hurts so much…"
At her words, Yeop Hyun's anger surged, and he kicked Jang Mok's head into the stone steps.
Crack!
Jang Mok's head was crushed, and blood splattered everywhere.
The elders watching were at a loss.
"How dare you touch my sister, you wretched bastard!"
Yeop Hyun's eyes blazed as he charged toward Yeop Rang.
"Impudent!"
In an instant, the grand elder moved toward Yeop Hyun like a shadow, his heavy staff aimed at Yeop Hyun's chest.
Yeop Hyun, face full of fury, punched at the grand elder.
Bang!
The impact of their fists shook the entire shrine.
Yeop Hyun's body was pushed back to the shrine entrance. The grand elder barely stopped after several steps.
The elders were astonished.
The warriors of Cheongseong had reached the levels of Chulchegyeong, Yeollyeokgyeong, Naejanggyeong, Gyeomsugyeong, Busikgyeong, Gibyeonggyeong, and Yegigyeong. Few had reached beyond Yegigyeong, a level considered nearly unattainable for ordinary warriors.
The grand elder was at Yegigyeong. Yeop Hyun, two levels below at Busikgyeong, should have been no match. Yet, after the clash, Yeop Hyun had been pushed back only a few steps.
The grand elder stared at Yeop Hyun in shock.
Yeop Hyun had been meticulously trained by the Yeop family. Moreover, his martial skills had grown rapidly over the years of war.
'A tiger cub…'
The killing intent in the grand elder's eyes deepened.
"Yeop Hyun, how dare you attack the crown prince before me!"
"…Crown prince?"
The grand elder smiled coldly.
"I almost forgot to tell you. You have already been deposed. From this moment, the crown prince of the Yeop family is Yeop Rang!"
Yeop Hyun narrowed his eyes.
"Deposed… me?"
"Yes. It is the decision of all the elders present."
Yeop Hyun's laugh echoed chillingly throughout the shrine.
"Hahaha! While I risked my life in foreign lands, you were scheming to depose me?"
The grand elder coldly pointed to Yeop Rang.
"Do you know what kind of person Yeop Rang is? He was recently chosen by heaven itself. He is a newly awakened Cheonseonjin—a chosen one of destiny!"
'That guy is a Cheonseonjin?'
Yeop Hyun was shocked.
In Cheongchang-gye, a Cheonseonjin is someone chosen by heaven. Normally living an ordinary life, they are awakened by heaven and experience sudden, drastic changes. Their cultivation accelerates rapidly, and they encounter countless opportunities and rare talents. They become the favorites of heaven itself.
Cheongchang-gye is divided into three major provinces. The Yeop family belonged to Gangguk, one of the hundreds of states within Cheongju. Over decades, fewer than ten in Gangguk had been chosen by heaven, each becoming a master in their field.
Yeop Hyun clenched his fists.
'If what he says is true… they will abandon me. No, they'll try to kill me!'
At that moment, Yeop Rang's cold voice reached Yeop Hyun.
"Elders! Yeop Hyun has committed murder here and dared to strike the grand elder. According to the Yeop family rules, how should he be dealt with?"
The elders dared not answer.
"Such a one must be punished with the rod, correct?"
Yeop Rang's rhetorical question received repeated nods of agreement from the elders. Being a Cheonseonjin and the grand elder's direct descendant, Yeop Rang's favor could not be challenged.
"Take him away!"
The grand elder glared at Yeop Hyun as dozens of guards quickly surrounded him.
"Wait!"
Yeop Hyun's voice echoed through the hall.
"The Yeop family has rules for the crown prince. A crown prince must display authority to all, and if challenged by a Yeop warrior, he must give them a lesson! Therefore, I, Yeop Hyun, formally challenge Crown Prince Yeop Rang to a duel!"
Yeop Rang narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"A challenge? Fine! Then let's do it on the Life-and-Death Platform. Are you confident?"
[Life-and-Death Platform!]
Suddenly, the hall buzzed with whispers.
The Life-and-Death Platform is the final stage for resolving conflicts that cannot be settled by words among the Yeop warriors. Once on the platform, one must accept the consequences, even death.
Yeop Hyun looked at Yeop Rang with a hint of amusement.
"Fine. I accept."
"One month from now, when the clan leader leaves the hall, you will ascend the platform. With the clan leader as witness, you will have no complaints."
"As you wish."
No further words were necessary.
Yeop Hyun lifted his sister and left the shrine.
Watching them leave, the grand elder spoke to Yeop Rang.
"He has been through life and death in war. Are you confident?"
Yeop Rang's eyes glinted with a flash of killing intent.
"I have only recently awakened as a Cheonseonjin. My mind and body have not yet fully merged. Still, killing Yeop Hyun will be as easy as crushing an ant. Wait and see. Within a month, no one in Cheongseong will rival Yeop Rang!"
The grand elder smiled and nodded.
"Very well."
He turned to another elder nearby.
"Among the warriors sent to Namsan, only Yeop Hyun returned. He looks pale and unwell. Yeop Go, you go check what happened there."
Yeop Go nodded and left the shrine. The grand elder, smiling slyly as if he knew something, remained behind.