King Gyeong couldn't hide his satisfaction at the disgraceful sight of the two princes sprawled on the ground.
It seems he was immensely pleased that Jinwang and Yeongwang's efforts had been utterly destroyed in an instant.
Though Jinwang remained silent, Yeongwang seemed unable to comprehend the situation and shouted,
"Surely, Father wouldn't have granted that woman to you?"
What was he talking about now?
While I was puzzled, King Gyeong snorted and said,
"Do you really think His Majesty would do such a thing?"
"Then how does that wench possess such unbelievable martial arts...?"
–Smack!
Before he could finish, King Gyeong slapped Yeongwang across the cheek.
To the dumbfounded Yeongwang, King Gyeong said,
"She is this king's most beloved Wimu Warrior. A lowly man like you has no right to call her a wench."
"It's just one woman…"
"Have you forgotten that that woman destroyed everything you and your brother Jinwang had built?"
–Grit!
Enraged by King Gyeong's words, Yeongwang bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
Jinwang, on the other hand, had already given up, letting out constant sighs.
Accepting what cannot be changed was probably the better choice.
"You think this is the end?"
To Yeongwang's words, King Gyeong sneered and replied,
"Wimu Warrior Yeon rescued the imprisoned Northern Martial Commander. Right about now, she's probably already taken down the Golden Guards under him."
Before coming here, I had visited Geumok in the palace.
The Golden Guards spread throughout the inner and outer palace would be taken care of by Commander Bo Wonchan, and the troops from the Five Tiger Command were already marching toward the capital.
In essence, the advantage had clearly shifted to King Gyeong.
Rolling his eyes frantically, Yeongwang turned to me and said desperately,
"I apologize for calling you a wench, Wimu Warrior Yeon."
"I don't mind."
"Please help me. If you do, I'll grant you anything you desire."
He must have been desperate.
Trying to win me over in front of King Gyeong—
Well, if he could just sway me, it would essentially mean stripping King Gyeong of his core power. Makes sense.
Yeongwang quickly added,
"How about this? I'll make you my empress. That way, you'll hold the greatest power in the Daeyeon Empire after me."
"Ha!"
Jinwang, standing nearby, let out a scoff without meaning to at such an offer.
I was just as dumbfounded.
All three princes… there really wasn't much difference between them.
Just because I was a woman, they thought the best offer was making me the empress?
"Ha ha ha. Foolish wretch."
King Gyeong sneered at Yeongwang.
"What did you say?"
"Yeonsaeng… is not a woman someone like you can even dream of possessing."
He clearly meant to say "man" at first, then changed his words.
Then, as if to provoke, he casually placed his arm over my shoulder.
"Grr!"
Yeongwang, clearly irritated by the sight, ground his teeth.
Seems King Gyeong was enjoying teasing him.
'This isn't what matters right now.'
I ignored them and walked toward the fainted soldiers under Yeongwang's command.
Before subduing them with Jeongyo's Hwanuigyeong, I had already checked them over in advance.
'Are they among them?'
Some unfamiliar individuals had mixed in among Yeongwang's subordinates—
These ones were wearing bamboo hats.
If Geumsangje (Golden Emperor) or Noejang (Thunder Chief) had stepped in personally, they would very likely be among them.
–Rustle!
With a flick of my hand, the bamboo hats were removed.
'!?'
But they were not the Geumsangje or Noejang.
All five were unfamiliar faces.
'Are they wearing disguise masks?'
I reached toward their faces to check, but they weren't.
'Strange.'
From their clothes, they were clearly not palace officials.
Then who were they?
I turned to Yeongwang and asked,
"Who are these people?"
"Those people?"
"Didn't Your Highness bring them personally?"
"Who are they? Why are they with me… Argh!"
Looking at the hatless figures I pointed at, Yeongwang suddenly grimaced.
Then, as if seized by a severe headache, he clutched his head.
"Ughhh…"
"What's happening to you?"
It didn't look like a normal headache.
Cold sweat was running down his face, and the veins on his forehead were turning black.
'This is...'
I whispered to King Gyeong,
"It's Hwanma Poison."
The symptoms matched exactly with what Baek Ryeon and Seobok had experienced—
Memory loss, the spreading of poison into the brain, and intense headaches.
King Gyeong repeated,
"Hwanma Poison?"
"Those afflicted by this poison are hypnotized and act under the will of the one who dosed them."
"There's such a poison?"
"Yes. He's the one who created it."
"What?!"
King Gyeong looked incredulous and clicked his tongue.
He thought the royal family were like his own descendants and believed they wouldn't be used this way.
But the enemy had boldly used Hwanma Poison.
I said,
"The only hope to neutralize Hwanma Poison is the Divine Physician of Mansasinui."
"Ha! So that's why he's after the Divine Physician?"
"It's not just that. Why do you think he used it on a prince eligible for the throne?"
He clearly intended to manipulate the imperial family as well.
If Yeongwang had become the crown prince, that alone would've been a half-success.
"How dare he…!"
King Gyeong trembled in rage.
But this wasn't the time to be consumed by anger.
"He's not here. These people were a distraction."
"Then we must hurry."
"Yes."
"I understand. The Divine Physician is currently guarding His Majesty, so let us head for Okhyeon Palace."
If the enemy had shifted their attention to the imperial palace, there was no time to lose.
"What… what are you going to do?"
"Just go to sleep for a while."
"What?"
–Tatatatatak!
I used pressure point techniques to knock out Jinwang and Yeongwang.
"Step aside."
–Slice! Slice!
Then, without the slightest hesitation, King Gyeong drew his sword and cut their throats.
The two princes, unaware even in their unconsciousness, were killed.
"Why? Do I seem cruel?"
To King Gyeong's question, I shook my head.
They had both tried to take King Gyeong's life.
If left alive, they would only bring danger again in the future.
"It's better than bloodshed later."
"Haha… as expected, I truly like you. Would you continue to serve—"
"Let's move, please."
"Ahem. Right."
Together, we headed for Okhyeon Palace.
As we entered, we found a vast corridor stretching out like a boulevard.
Pointing to the far end, King Gyeong said,
"That's the main hall. Beyond it are His Majesty's office and private chambers."
"No need to search far."
"What do you mean?"
There were quite a few presences sensed inside the Great Hall.
Among them were auras of ordinary people who had not learned martial arts—likely the Emperor or the Man-sa-shin-ui (Divine Physician).
And so, we entered the Great Hall.
The hall, supported by large pillars, was vast enough to accommodate thousands.
At the far end of the hall was a high platform with a jade throne, upon which sat an old man with white hair dressed in a royal robe.
'Is that him?'
The old man on the jade throne seemed to be the Emperor.
He was the bold figure who had permitted a bloody war among his sons.
Even though he had not learned martial arts, his dignity and aura were extraordinary.
It's no wonder he's called Emperor.
'Man-sa-shin-ui!'
Next to him was a familiar face.
It had been a while since I last saw him, and he looked quite haggard—the Divine Physician.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to have been held captive.
He was looking at me, but probably didn't recognize me since I was in Yeonsaeng's form.
"Thankfully, we're not late. Let us pay our respects to His Majesty."
The Duke of Gyeong whispered quietly to me and then bowed toward the throne.
"This subject, Duke Gyeong Ju Yun-gyeong, greets Your Majesty the Emperor."
Following his lead, I also bowed.
Since someone of higher status than me was present, there was no need for me to speak.
'Thirteen.'
I focused instead on the hidden presences within the hall.
Behind the pillars, there were those hiding their bodies and auras. They seemed to be eunuchs of the Naehaengchang, tasked with the Emperor's safety.
One of them, hiding closest to the throne, had even surpassed the limits of concealment.
That one must be the strongest warrior in the palace.
Then, the Emperor's voice echoed through the Great Hall.
"You've exceeded my expectations, Ju Yun-gyeong, stepping into Okhyeon Palace."
"I am eternally grateful for Your Majesty's grace."
Now that I thought about it, hadn't he declared that the one who entered Okhyeon Palace would become Crown Prince?
In effect, that meant the Crown Prince's position was his.
Seeing the Duke of Gyeong tremble slightly, he must've been overwhelmed with anticipation.
But then, the Emperor said something completely unexpected.
"However, you broke the rule I set."
"Rule?"
The Duke asked quietly in confusion.
I too had no idea what the Emperor was talking about.
"Feigning ignorance, are we? Both of you, raise your heads."
Following his command, we slowly lifted our heads.
Suddenly, there was a bald old man standing beside the Emperor with a cane.
'What is this?'
He was the only one whose presence I hadn't sensed.
Considering that the supreme warrior was still hiding nearby, this old man couldn't be the same person. Then what was his identity?
Looking at the old man's face gave me a strange feeling.
It was the same feeling I had when standing before the masters of Dohwaseon.
Then the Emperor spoke again.
"Why did you do such a thing?"
"Your Majesty, I do not understand what you are referring to."
The Emperor, narrowing his eyes at the Duke, turned to the bald old man.
"What is your opinion, Elder Biseon?"
"Elder Biseon!"
At those words, the Duke exclaimed in shock.
From his expression, he clearly recognized the old man and was quite surprised.
He whispered to me:
"He is the hidden power that protects His Majesty within the royal palace."
'That man is the hidden power of the palace?'
So, this is the legendary Elder Biseon?
He appeared to be just an ordinary old man, but the complete absence of aura meant he had fully mastered his inner energy.
Then, Elder Biseon looked at me and spoke.
"Whose do-mun (discipleship) among the Nine do you belong to?"
"Do-mun?"
What was he talking about?
What did he mean by asking which of the Nine I followed?
-Tap! Tap!
Elder Biseon walked toward us with his cane, speaking again.
"Did you not come from where the peach blossoms bloom?"
'!?'
At those words, I was shocked.
"Where the peach blossoms bloom" was a known euphemism referring to Dohwaseon.
I never imagined such words would come from the mouth of the royal palace's hidden force.
With a serious voice, I asked him:
"Who exactly are you?"
"I asked first. Since you've mastered the Seonwon Energy Technique, you must be from one of the Nine... Ah, no, that can't be. Not the Nine."
Elder Biseon shook his head and continued.
"Then which of the Eight do you follow?"
…Which of the Eight?
Now I understood what he was asking.
He was referring to the Eight Taoists who lead Dohwaseon.
I could have answered honestly, but I hesitated.
Revealing Dohwaseon in front of an unknown elder seemed too dangerous.
"I cannot answer recklessly to someone whose identity I do not know. If you could reveal yourself first…"
"Impudent!"
Elder Biseon suddenly shouted.
A tremendous gust of pressure surged toward us.
'Damn!'
Quickly, I lunged forward, extending my sword fingers.
—Boom! Crash!
The intense wind split against my sword technique, shattering nearby pillars.
Behind me remained intact in a fan-like spread, while the surrounding area was a wreck.
The Duke of Gyeong shouted in shock.
"W-what is this?!"
"Silence!"
This time, Elder Biseon's voice was stern, without pressure.
Then, pointing his finger at me, he shouted again.
"Dohwaseon once formed an oath with the royal family long ago. That is why its members cannot interfere in court matters. So why did you assist the Duke?"
'Ha!'
He even knew about that ancient oath.
I had also heard that the Eight Taoists left worldly affairs because of such a pact.
But I thought that was just an excuse to retire.
Who exactly is this old man?
He didn't seem tied to the current Emperor, nor to the palace's enforcement units.
"Elder Biseon, what do you mean—"
"Duke Gyeong, I told you not to interfere."
He even scolded a prince.
As Elder Biseon fully revealed his energy, the room filled with intense spiritual pressure.
Pointing the cane at me, he said:
"If you received instruction from Dohwaseon, you would know this pact. You wouldn't break it. Therefore, I will subdue you in accordance with that oath."
—Fwoosh!
In an instant, Elder Biseon closed the distance to me.
With a flick of his left hand, the Duke was lifted into the air and flung safely further back.
"Hmph!"
He must have secured the prince before dealing with me.
Things were getting difficult.
I quickly sent him a voice transmission.
[I cannot answer because I do not know if you're friend or foe to Dohwaseon. Please identify yourself first…]
"You dare speak as if you don't know the punishment for breaking the oath!"
He shouted, swinging his cane.
The innate energy from his cane forced me to retreat while continuing the voice transmission.
[Though I was taught by Dohwaseon, I never formally entered any sect. I'm not bound by that pact.]
Even without knowing who he truly was, this should be safe to say.
But upon hearing it, Elder Biseon shouted in rage.
"You are no true disciple of Dohwaseon!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"No True Immortal would teach the Way to someone not formally initiated! Ha! You've deceived even yourself with your own lie!"
—Swish swish swish swish!
With that shout, his cane came alive, twisting in dozens of paths to subdue me.
I knew he wasn't ordinary, but not this powerful.
If I didn't fight seriously, I'd be in real danger.
'No choice.'
I unleashed Hwayang Seonkwon, imbued with the searing energy of Yang.
Flames surged from my fists, clashing with the twisting cane.
—Whoooosh! Crack crack!
As our techniques collided, Elder Biseon frowned.
"Hwayang Seonkwon?"
He even recognized it.
Without pause, I performed a palm technique that flowed like mist.
His eyes widened.
"Guun Manhwa Palm?"
Again, he identified the technique.
Then—what if I showed him this one?
Dodging his cane, I performed a spear-like movement with my hand, mimicking the Serpent Coiling Spear.
—Crack!
This time, Elder Biseon didn't block, retreating five steps.
He sent me a trembling voice transmission.
[No… Even Golden Spear True Scripture? Who are you, to have learned not one but three True Immortals' arts?]
As expected, showing was better than telling.
To his stunned face, I replied in transmission.
[Not just three.]
[What!?]
[I was taught by all eight.]
'!!!'
Elder Biseon's face froze in pure disbelief.