"The Former Emperor!"
At my shout, the man raised one eyebrow and then opened his mouth.
"So it is you... the successor of the Sword Immortal."
Although he had changed his appearance using Chehwa Manbyeonsul (Body Transformation Technique), he clearly recognized me as the Sword Immortal's successor. His whole body trembled as if overcome by a cold chill.
Was it because he had just encountered the one who had once instilled fear in him three hundred years ago?
Or was he shivering from excitement at this reunion?
— Fwoosh!
I rushed toward him, ready to strike.
But Master Biseon quickly moved to block my path.
"Stop."
"I must capture him."
"To me, the Emperor's safety comes first!"
Bound by a sacred pact, Biseon Noong (Old Man Biseon) prioritized the Emperor's well-being above all. Unlike me, who didn't care if the Emperor lived or died.
Still, if we failed to subdue the Former Emperor now and he took Mansashinui away, it would be impossible to recover from that loss.
Then the Former Emperor spoke.
"I thank you all for acting as I wished."
"As you wished?"
Even as he was gripped by the neck, the Emperor remained composed and questioned the former ruler.
The Former Emperor chuckled and replied.
"As expected of my descendant—so calm and collected."
"Descendant? What nonsense are you spouting? Master Biseon! I command you by the royal seal... I... uhk..."
The Former Emperor tightened his grip, cutting off the Emperor's words.
The Emperor was trying to say something important, heedless of his own safety—but the Former Emperor silenced him.
Just then, from behind the throne's pillar, someone leapt out like a bolt of lightning.
A middle-aged eunuch from the inner palace—one of the strongest warriors in the palace.
— Fwoosh!
He seized the opportunity and, in one fluid motion, slashed his Yeongeom (flexible sword) at the Former Emperor's neck.
— Clang!
"What?!"
The Former Emperor casually caught the flexible blade between two fingers.
Then, with a small twitch of his fingers, the sword—known for its flexibility—snapped in half and pierced through the eunuch's throat.
— Squelch!
"Khak!"
Clutching his throat, the eunuch staggered.
"Y-Your Majesty..."
And collapsed to the ground.
A master beyond the walls had been defeated in a single blow.
"How can you possess Seoncheon Jinggi (Innate Heavenly Energy)?!"
Biseon Noong cried out, shocked by the Former Emperor's prowess.
He must have come to the same realization as I did.
The Former Emperor had trained his Middle Dantian, enabling him to possess Seoncheon Jinggi. Thus, he was unaffected by the palace's internal energy suppression barriers.
The Former Emperor addressed Biseon Noong.
"I may as well be the Grand Emperor of old. Your attitude toward me is beyond insolent."
To this, Biseon Noong snorted.
"Now that I know what you're planning, do you think I would ever acknowledge you?"
"Still, I too am of the royal bloodline. Unless I give orders using the royal seal, you can't touch a single hair on my head, can you?"
"..."
Biseon Noong bit his lip tightly.
Bound by the royal pact, his actions were heavily restricted.
It was a frustrating situation—at this point, I was the only one free to act.
I signaled to Biseon Noong with my eyes.
It meant I would take the lead.
Then the Former Emperor turned to me.
"What a persistent fate we share. I suspected you'd try to interfere again—and I was right."
I scoffed.
"You talk a lot for someone who once disappeared, trembling in fear."
At my taunt, his eyes sharpened.
He hadn't lost composure, but my mention of his disgrace clearly irked him.
He spoke again.
"Let me warn you. Don't even lift a finger. If you do, Mansashinui will lose her only family because of you."
"What?"
What did he mean?
Could it be—the woman standing to the right of that long-bearded official—is Mansashinui's adoptive daughter?
Still restrained by the bandaged man, Mansashinui cried out in a heavy voice.
"You said you'd save her!"
At her cry, I scowled.
This was the worst possible development.
I hadn't anticipated that he had already made contact with her.
Without taking his eyes off me, the Former Emperor addressed Mansashinui.
"Did I keep my word?"
"...Yes, you did."
"Then nothing will happen—unless he does something foolish. But if he does, all consequences are on his head."
Mansashinui looked at me with anguish in her eyes.
She was silently pleading: Don't do anything that might hurt my daughter.
This was truly a dilemma.
My mind raced through countless scenarios.
'What should I do?'
Considering every variable, I had to make the best choice.
If I ignored his warning and used Jeongyo Hwanuigyeong (Righteous Medicine Soul Mirror), I could save the Empress and the adopted daughter—but I might kill the Emperor in the process.
'Would that be better?'
If the Emperor died, Biseon Noong's restraints would vanish.
Even if he failed to protect the Emperor, he would understand this was the best option.
Then the Former Emperor said:
"Hmph. Hypnotic suggestions won't work. Mongju (Dream Pearl) can't hear sound."
'!?'
Damn... he had already taken precautions.
"I can't allow you even the slightest opening. Biseon Noong, kill the Sword Immortal's successor."
"What did you say?!"
Biseon Noong was stunned.
Even I was taken aback—how could he give such an order?
Just because he held the Emperor hostage didn't mean Biseon Noong would follow his will.
"Do you think I would obey your command? I serve only..."
"Yes, the Emperor who holds the Royal Jade Seal. That would be me now. Emperor—this is the beginning of my era."
"Your... era?"
Even before he finished speaking, the Emperor's eyes turned vacant.
It was a completely different expression.
'No... It can't be...'
Then the Emperor, with that empty gaze, spoke:
"By the royal pact of the Jade Seal, I command you—Biseon Noong, kill that man."
'!?!'
The Emperor obeyed him.
I saw Mansashinui clench her lips and close her eyes in despair.
Had he used Hwanma Poison on the Emperor?
"This can't be!"
Biseon Noong couldn't hide his confusion.
At that moment, a jade-green glow radiated from the chest of the Emperor's gonryongpo (dragon robe)—and the same light flowed from Biseon Noong.
Then, Biseon Noong hurled his staff at me.
— Fwoosh!
Unlike the staged fights until now, this was a real strike.
"Kgh!"
— RUMBLE!!!
I barely dodged his attack, but the tension released from his staff shattered all the main hall pillars behind me.
"Master Biseon!"
I called out, trying to bring him to his senses, but his eyes were now glowing jade-green.
It didn't seem like mere suggestion—more like he was possessed by something—as he said to me,
"I cannot refuse the pact. Forgive this old man."
With those words, Master Biseon launched a strike at me.
His staff unleashed dozens of afterimages that pressured me heavily, each targeting my vital points, making it impossible to deal with them lightly.
—Papapapapak!
I countered using a supreme technique of the Guunmanhwa Palm Art.
Master Biseon's power was incomparably stronger than those who had surpassed the limits of human strength.
After all, wasn't he a Taoist on the same level as the masters of the Fuse Trigger Sect?
"What… what is this?!"
From behind me came King Gyeong's shocked voice.
With enemies in front and behind the hall, he couldn't move from my side.
It was the worst-case scenario—protecting the king while facing an elite master on the level of the Eight Taoists.
"Step back!"
Urgently, I used Air-Grasping Technique to shove King Gyeong to the side.
—Whoosh! Fwoooosh!
"Ugh! Yeon-saeng!"
The king himself must have been overwhelmed.
Not only was the situation dire, but my movements forced him to be tossed around repeatedly.
But the real problem was me.
I withdrew one hand while performing a technique, leaving an opening.
—Puff-puff-paff!
"Gah!"
His staff pierced through my Guunmanhwa Palm and struck my chest and abdomen.
I was thrown backward.
If I got pushed back further, I would lose distance from the king.
The internal pressure from the staff was painful enough to twist my organs, but I circulated the tension within me using Innate True Qi and expelled it through my foot.
—Craaaack!
The floor of the main hall cracked beneath me.
It was the Move-and-Harmonize technique.
But before I could fully redirect the energy, Master Biseon raised his staff and smashed it downward—
—Fweeeeeeoooo!
The pressure turned into a vortex like a dragon's wind fist, slamming down on me.
It was as if hundreds of thousands of pounds were pressing on me. The floor caved in, and my body was crushed downward.
'Damn it!'
—Wham!
This was no ordinary martial art.
Master Biseon's martial art was rooted in the element of Wind—he wielded the power of air.
As I kept being pinned down, I urgently reached into my pocket and pulled out the Namcheon Steel Sword from the Bag of Holding.
Then, stepping into True Awakening, I thrust my sword upward.
—Boom!
'Namcheon Sword Sect's 6th Form: Chasing the Vast Spiral Sword (逐亞廣回劍)!'
This form created a new whirlwind.
The crushing pressure weakened as if I had entered the eye of the storm.
At that moment, I launched myself upward.
But before I could rise, Master Biseon brought his staff down on my head.
Responding to his overwhelming force, I raised the Namcheon Steel Sword and used the 4th Form: Ascending Dragon Promotion Sword (回龍昇格劍).
—Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!
His staff pierced through the sword form's barrage.
He had already overpowered me in energy, his strike coming down like a rolling boulder.
—Clang!
I transitioned from sword to spear technique, using Golden Spear True Technique to curve his staff and redirect the force.
This was a level of technique most masters couldn't even dream of.
But as I deflected the staff, a ferocious leg strike from Master Biseon surged toward my chest.
—Papapapapapak!
"Urgh!"
I took multiple hits to the chest and spat out blood.
If I didn't counter now, I was done for.
I drew a large circle with the Namcheon Steel Sword. The air rippled, and Master Biseon's attack was deflected, hitting his own shoulder and abdomen.
It was a technique of Transferring True Qi, learned from Baek of the Self-Cultivation Pavilion.
—Puff-puff-paff!
Master Biseon staggered back.
But only for a moment—he launched another attack immediately.
He was on a completely different level from others like Ja-gyeongjeong. Regular attacks didn't even faze him.
[Unhwi. That man—what is he doing?]
As I fended off Master Biseon's storm-like assault, I glanced at the throne.
The current emperor was pulling something out from within his robe.
'The Imperial Seal?'
It looked like a splendid seal, likely the Imperial Seal.
He placed his palm on it, and the bottom of the seal glowed red-hot.
Then he stamped it onto the back of the man restraining Mansashinui.
—Chiiii!
"Guh!"
With a sizzle, a groan came from the bandaged man.
Then something surprising happened.
'His energy?'
The energy within the bandaged man surged, and he suddenly reached the level of a wall-crossing master.
"As I suspected. Then…"
The emperor now pressed the seal against his own chest.
But instead of stamping it, he drove it straight into his chest.
—Chiii!
As the seal embedded into his chest—
—Goooooooo!
The emperor's energy surged uncontrollably, far beyond before.
Previously limited to only innate qi, the moment the seal was embedded, his inner power seal was lifted.
"Fufufu. As I expected."
He cracked his neck and limbered up, clearly feeling refreshed, and then lunged at me.
—Flash!
I was already struggling to block Master Biseon, and now the emperor joined in with a deadly strike—I was forced into full defense.
This was the first time we met since 300 years ago, and his martial prowess had risen immensely.
—Slish-slish-slish!
His sword moved with strange motions and pierced my shoulder.
I barely managed to throw myself backward.
—Slash!
His sword rose upward.
Had I been even slightly slower, my left arm would've been sliced clean off.
But there was no time to breathe.
—Papapapap!
Master Biseon's staff landed three powerful blows on my ribs.
—Crack!
My ribs were broken.
Even using Move-and-Harmonize to redirect the energy, I couldn't fully block it—it was too strong.
But I couldn't go down just yet.
—Crackle!
I aimed the 2nd Form of Sorrow Palm Technique, Tiger-Following Frozen Chaos (從虎寒亂), at Master Biseon's forehead.
He swiftly tilted his head back.
—Smack!
But I wasn't aiming for his forehead—I was targeting his chest.
Twisting the form midway, I struck his chest with a chilling blast of Sorrow Qi. Master Biseon staggered back.
—Fwooooosh!
Haze rose from his chest.
He could shrug this off even without Yang-style inner energy.
"Fufufu. Even without being at full strength, I can still send you to the afterlife today, heir of the Sword Sage."
Believing he held the upper hand, the emperor sneered as he spoke.
I straightened myself, clutching my broken ribs.
"You've prepared quite a lot."
"You're quite formidable for someone who can only use their Middle Dantian. As expected, one can't take the heir of the Sword Sage lightly."
To that, I let out a sigh.
"It's been a while since I've been cornered like this."
Facing a transcendent-level master and someone on par with the Eight Taoists at the same time, while also protecting a hostage—was no easy task.
And just as the emperor said, I was fighting with only half my power.
"Yeon-saeng..."
Even King Gyeong, sensing this was the worst-case scenario, spoke with worry.
I was his only lifeline.
And now I was cornered.
As the emperor approached, he said,
"With your death, my era begins."
"Era... haah..."
I sighed.
Master Biseon, now free of the frost qi, also approached—like a herald of death.
I opened my mouth.
"Your Highness..."
The king looked at me in confusion.
To him, I said,
"From here on, survive on your own."
"What?!"
While the king panicked, the emperor burst into laughter and mocked me.
"Hahahahaha! Truly pathetic. That I ever worried about such a man… how foolish of me."
With those words, he slashed his sword at my neck.
"If you've given up, then accept death—"
—Clang!
At that moment, I caught his sword with my bare hand.
The emperor twisted his blade, trying to force it free, but it wouldn't budge.
"Kill him!"
At the emperor's command, Master Biseon hurled his staff at me.
But I caught it too.
—Whack!
As neither sword nor staff could move, the emperor's eyes trembled.
"Your energy..."
He must have felt it too.
My power was skyrocketing.
Then his gaze dropped to my left hand gripping his sword.
A round sigil was now engraved on the back of my hand.
His eyes widened.
"The Imperial Seal?!"
To his surprise, I said,
"Thanks for the tip."
I hadn't expected my Form-Assimilation Technique could replicate even this kind of seal mark.
But apparently, it could.
The emperor, instead of panicking, raised his energy and spoke calmly.
"…Do you still not understand the situation? This won't change anything."
"That's why, from now on, I'll forget everything and just kill you."
'!?'
—Fzzzzzt!
Suddenly, reddish lightning and pale haze surged from my entire body.
At that moment, both the emperor and Master Biseon were blasted backward.