Chapter 1812 – 1812. The Ascent To Guangmyeong
“I am Baekran. A First-Class Imperial Guard.”
My eyes widened at the completely unexpected revelation of her identity.
Perhaps she thought my reaction was one of disbelief, she pulled something out of her spatial pouch.
A shimmering golden cloth. It was inscribed with ‘First-Class Imperial Guard’ and below it was the Emperor’s jade seal. The Emperor’s seal glowed with a subtle rainbow light. From that seal, I could feel an unparalleled dignity that no one could imitate.
‘The Imperial Guard. The Emperor’s right hand.’
The Imperial Guard was the Emperor’s personal guard and special agent. They were the Emperor’s eyes, ears, and sword. They held the power of inspection, and it was said that even the officials working in the imperial palace trembled at the sight of the Imperial Guard.
‘First-Class, huh.’
There were three ranks in the Imperial Guard: Special-Class, First-Class, and Second-Class. Special-Class was the highest, followed by First-Class. I didn’t know exactly what position she held, but just the fact that the Imperial Guard had the power of inspection meant it was an incredibly high position.
“…I didn’t know you were a First-Class Imperial Guard of the Imperial Family.”
“Just act as you normally would. It’s more comfortable for me that way. And, though it goes without saying, my identity is a secret.”
“Why is a First-Class Imperial Guard here?”
“Because I am an Imperial Guard. Only Special-Class Imperial Guards escort His Majesty the Emperor. First-Class and Second-Class work outside the palace when they receive a mission.”
“Received a mission? What mission?”
“Do you want to know?”
Baekran smiled faintly.
I nodded, feeling uneasy.
“Recently, there have been rumors of impious and heretical martial arts circulating throughout the world, so I came to investigate. Of course, I’m not the only one who received this mission.”
“Impious and heretical martial arts?”
“You probably know it. The Reverse Demon God Technique. A demonic art that transforms humans into monsters. I’m investigating that martial art, and the Demonic Cult is one of the targets of the investigation.”
“Is the Reverse Demon God Technique something that would draw the attention of His Majesty the Emperor?”
“His Majesty the Emperor values the natural order. Humans should live as humans, and monsters should live as monsters. That is the natural order as His Majesty sees it. But the Reverse Demon God Technique is a demonic art that turns humans into monsters. His Majesty is concerned about the Reverse Demon God Technique.”
It seemed like Muk Jiryun was screwed. The only good thing was that the Emperor hadn’t openly made a move. I could still see a way out.
“The Reverse Demon God Technique and the Demonic Cult have nothing to do with each other.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
If I got involved in this, even the Demonic Cult would be screwed. There was no power in this land that could remain unscathed after incurring the Emperor’s displeasure.
‘Before I even become the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Cult is going to collapse.’
As I was sighing inwardly, Baekran asked me.
“Now it’s your turn. What is your identity?”
“I am Yeom Guseok, the Lightning Blade of the Demonic Cult’s Annihilation Squad.”
Baekran chuckled softly. Then, her expression changed completely. Her eyes, now serious, were as cold and sharp as frost.
“Are you still talking nonsense after coming all this way? You’re underestimating me too much. I know you’re not Yeom Guseok. Why did you join the Demonic Cult pretending to be Yeom Guseok? What is your real purpose?”
“…How did you know I wasn’t Yeom Guseok?”
“The Imperial Family’s intelligence network. Do you need more explanation?”
“As you said, I am not Yeom Guseok.”
I had killed the real Yeom Guseok and was pretending to be him. The reason I pretended to be Yeom Guseok? It was because of Cheon Yu-un. To receive Cheon Yu-un’s support, and to avoid Cheon Yu-un’s suspicion.
But I couldn’t say that as it was. It would be strange if I knew about Cheon Yu-un. It would only make her more suspicious.
‘In that case, it’s better to tell the truth. Of course, I can’t just say it. I have to make it so that she can’t dig into my identity any further.’
I thought for a moment before opening my mouth.
“I am Seong Yu-jin, a disciple of the Fallen Moon Goddess.”
“The Fallen Moon Goddess?!”
“Do you know her?”
“She is one of the key figures the Imperial Family is watching. She hasn’t come down from Fallen Moon Mountain, so it’s being kept quiet… but she’s a person who will cause a great upheaval in the world the moment she comes down from Fallen Moon Mountain.”
“You’re monitoring her?”
“She’s someone who is forbidden to be monitored by the Emperor’s orders. Still, news trickles in. So, you’re a disciple of that Fallen Moon Goddess.”
Though she was agreeing with my words, there was still suspicion in her eyes.
Still, perhaps because she knew about the Fallen Moon Goddess, she was more cautious than before.
“I still don’t understand. Why would a disciple of the Fallen Moon Goddess join the Demonic Cult? Did the Fallen Moon Goddess order you to?”
“My master is a laissez-faire type. She doesn’t care what I do. I already told you why I joined the Demonic Cult.”
“Are you talking about the reason you joined the Demonic Cult to become the Heavenly Demon? What is your reason for wanting to become the Heavenly Demon?”
“Because the Heavenly Demon is my rightful place. Do I need a reason beyond that?”
“Ha….”
Baekran laughed as if she was dumbfounded. Then, her mood relaxed.
“I understand. I’ll believe what you say for now. We don’t have time to keep doing this.”
She turned around and looked back. A group of people appeared in front of us. The resting warriors got up from their seats, grabbed their weapons, and waited for our reaction. I removed my barrier and stepped forward.
I surveyed the enemies. There were three masters of the Fifth Stage of Qi Circulation. The remaining forty warriors stood behind them.
‘They’re warriors from the Ma Clan and the Yun Clan, stationed in Baeyeong City. Did they join hands with the Yuun Merchant Guild?’
Looking back, it was stranger that the Yuun Merchant Guild hadn’t joined hands with the Yun Clan, who were the rulers of Baeyeong City. They couldn’t have been doing this openly near the city without some kind of collusion.
I stepped forward and said,
“Yun Clan! Do you know what you’re doing?!”
A middle-aged man with a beard slowly opened his mouth.
“Lightning Blade Yeom Guseok…. You speak informally. I am Yun Gong-seok, the head of the Yun Clan, the Flame Moon Slicer. By seniority, I am higher than you. Show some respect.”
“Respect, my ass. What you’re doing right now is an act of betrayal against the Cult. Do you know that?”
“The Cult will assume you’ve gone missing.”
“Very calculated, I see. By the way, you’re the head of the Yun Clan? No wonder people say the Ma Clan is declining.”
“How dare you bring up the Ma Clan…!”
“I’m saying it because it’s true.”
“How dare you…!”
Yun Gong-seok released his killing intent and pointed the blade of his moon blade at me. I also drew my sword. It wasn’t the broken sword from before, but the Fire Lotus Flying Blade.
‘They have the advantage. We only have me and Baekran as masters of the Fifth Stage of Qi Circulation… but they have three.’
It was fortunate that I had killed four masters of the Fifth Stage of Qi Circulation before they came. Otherwise, we would have been fighting 7 against 2, not 3 against 2.
‘That would have been hopeless.’
The reason Yun Gong-seok was late to move was obvious. He didn’t want to reveal his identity as much as possible.
‘It’s surprising that Hong Gang-hu showed up so late. Is he higher up than I thought? And is the guy next to him the head of the Yuun Merchant Guild?’
Even at this moment, he was standing there with a calm face. It was very irritating.
‘Their warriors are of higher quality, and they outnumber us by more than double. We might be able to hold out.’
I spoke to the warriors who were following us in a solemn voice.
“If we overcome this crisis, we can survive. So don’t give up and fight. If you give up, they will kill you without hesitation.”
This world was one where people’s lives were treated with less value than in a medieval fantasy. But no one was willing to treat their own life with less value.
Everyone took a stance in preparation for battle. I could feel the tension of the enemies. Their focus was on us. I grinned.
‘First strike wins. Meteor Sword!’
A giant sword appeared in the sky. The giant sword fell to the ground like a meteor. The formation of the gathered warriors collapsed. Yun Gong-seok and the other three masters of the Fifth Stage of Qi Circulation noticed and jumped away, but they couldn’t completely avoid the shockwave.
“Kill them!!”
I shouted and ran forward. My target was Yun Gong-seok. I would kill him quickly and then deal with Hong Gang-hu or the head of the Yuun Merchant Guild.
“You traitorous bastard! I’ll kill you in the name of the Heavenly Demon!”
“How dare you utter the name of the Heavenly Demon!”
Yun Gong-seok, who had fallen, jumped up from his seat and blocked my sword with his moon blade. His knees were shaking. I chuckled at the sight.
“Your lower body is weak. Don’t you know that the lower body is the most basic thing? You need to train more.”
“You attacked me with a cowardly surprise attack, and you have the nerve to talk so much!”
“You’re the one who set up a strange trap, and you’re making excuses.”
Yun Gong-seok’s face contorted. But he didn’t argue back. He had no excuse for the trap.
Ghost Cutting Sword Technique, Rakshasa Revolving Flash.
The Fire Lotus Flying Blade spun around. I used that rotational force to quickly swing my sword. Yun Gong-seok moved his long moon blade slightly to block the sword. The moon blade was so long that even a slight movement could cover any gaps.
‘He’s blocking really well. Damn it. If I had used the Thunder Heaven Style, he wouldn’t have been able to block it….’
The Ghost Cutting Sword Technique wasn’t a great martial art. Especially if you had money, you could easily learn the Ghost Cutting Sword Technique. Because of that, if you met someone who knew the Ghost Cutting Sword Technique well, the battle would often drag on.
‘Wait. I revealed my identity to Baekran. That I was a disciple of the Fallen Moon Goddess. Baekran isn’t the type to blab about it… and I was planning to kill everyone else after this was over. That way, I could take all the items here.’
I grinned.
Yun Gong-seok spoke sharply, as if he didn’t like my expression.
“What’s so funny? You’ve probably realized it by now, but your Ghost Cutting Sword Technique doesn’t work on me. You’re still clinging to such a pathetic martial art.”
“Really? Shall we test if you’ve really grasped the Ghost Cutting Sword Technique? Ghost Cutting Sword Technique, Evil Cut!”
Evil Cut was a large slash. As I raised my sword behind me, he grabbed his moon blade with both hands and took a defensive stance. He would block it and immediately counterattack.
But my sword was a thrust, not a slash. Yun Gong-seok, surprised, tried to turn his moon blade to deflect the sword. It was the moment my sword was about to hit the moon blade.
Thunder Heaven Style, Thunder Serpent.
Crack! The red sword wriggled like a snake, avoiding the moon blade and crawling towards his solar plexus.
“Not a chance!!!”
Yun Gong-seok shouted, infusing his voice with demonic energy. Demonic King’s Roar. It was a demonic version of the Lion’s Roar.
‘Damn it. To be caught by such a cheap trick.’
I stepped back. My ears were ringing, and my head was spinning. If I hadn’t been covering my body with internal energy, I would have been injured internally.
Yun Gong-seok must have thought this was an opportunity, as he rushed towards me. Blood was leaking from his mouth, perhaps from the aftereffects of the Demonic King’s Roar.
I was about to raise the Fire Lotus Flying Blade to prepare for a counterattack.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
A huge explosion occurred, engulfing the entire surrounding area.
