Chapter 249 – Seven Great Immortals, Guardian (4)

Yi-gang almost spoke out without thinking.

‘Huh? A jiangshi?’

He barely swallowed his voice, but Zhang Sanfeng still had a serious expression as he observed the Guardian.

「I can’t feel any vitality. If he were human, that would be impossible.」

‘A jiangshi in this world… No, I suppose it could exist.’

Yi-gang shut his mouth, wanting to ask how a jiangshi could exist in this world.

There were ghosts and immortals; there’s no reason a jiangshi wouldn’t exist.

Jiangshi did exist. There were people in the world who would enshroud corpses to turn them into jiangshi.

To Yi-gang, who was once a modern man, this seemed bizarre, but in the Central Plains, a jiangshi was not considered a mere monster.

In fact, there were places that used jiangshi to transport corpses.

‘Ordinary jiangshi, maybe, but there are no skilled jiangshi.’

However, a jiangshi was nothing more than a dead person.

Even if it could move after death, it would only hop around; it couldn’t keep up with even a commoner, let alone a martial master.

But how could the Guardian, who was said to be on par with Absolute masters, be a jiangshi?

「There is such a thing as a powerful jiangshi.」

‘Are you talking about those celestial jiangshi or something? I thought they only appeared in legends.’

「Indeed. But…」

Zhang Sanfeng crossed his arms beside the Guardian.

「Well, it’s not a jiangshi after all.」

He seemed somewhat disappointed.

Meanwhile, the Guardian continued to glare at Yi-gang in an immobile stance.

Even if it’s not a jiangshi, it didn’t look like an ordinary person.

「To be precise, this person is in a state of suspended animation. Do you see this? Behind the neck here.」

‘From my angle, I can’t see it.’

「Under the fabric, he’s wearing armor. But there’s something strange attached to that armor.」

As Zhang Sanfeng explained, five crystal orbs were vertically embedded in the back of the Guardian.

The crystal orbs contained a peculiar blood-red liquid, and two of the five crystal orbs were already empty.

「What’s inside, I’m not sure… Oh dear.」

Zhang Sanfeng realized what it was.

It was a unique liquid that only Zhang Sanfeng could recognize.

「This is dragon’s blood. Is it condensed and refined…?」

‘Dragon’s blood?’

「Dragon’s blood possesses immense spiritual energy. However, for humans, it’s akin to poison; if ingested or injected into the body, it would inevitably result in death…」

The Guardian himself might not have noticed, but Zhang Sanfeng inspected every corner of the Guardian right up close.

Normally, touching the body of the Guardian or getting too close would trigger an attack, so it was something only Yi-gang and Zhang Sanfeng could manage.

「Moreover, this isn’t ordinary armor. Sharp needles are embedded in all the joints and muscles.」

No ordinary person could wear such armor.

Additionally, Yi-gang had now realized it too. The armor worn by the Guardian was undoubtedly a precious treasure, a Treasure. And of quite an extraordinary level.

「For armor to control its wearer… could such a wicked Treasure exist? And also… this dragon blood.」

If the dragon blood were to be injected, the true consciousness of the Guardian might awaken.

Yi-gang observed other items worn by the Guardian.

That peculiar demon mask also seemed like a Treasure. Shoes, belt—now that he looked closer, it seemed the Guardian was adorned with at least five or six Treasures.

‘Is this why he was said to be on par with Absolute masters?’

「That might be the case.」

If a Supreme Peak master were to use multiple Treasures simultaneously, they could indeed rival those at the Absolute level.

「However, I can’t fathom why he is in such a miserable state,」 Zhang Sanfeng muttered.

Yi-gang, too, wondered why the Guardian, who was supposed to protect the emperor, was in such a condition. It was a wretched state that could hardly be considered a human life.

But now wasn’t the time to find out why.

‘In this state, it will be hard to gain cooperation.’

If the Guardian were to join, it would be easy to sweep away the Seven Great Immortals. However, it was not in a state to communicate.

「There might be a way to bring him back to his senses…」

‘I might be struck down before figuring out how.’

Yi-gang had a guess.

The Guardian was acting like a jiangshi due to being in a state of suspended animation.

Even if the Treasure controlled his body, it couldn’t be better than being in his right mind.

‘If he feels threatened, he might return to his senses.’

「We might have to engage in a full-on battle.」

‘That won’t work, at least not now.’

It was uncertain if Yi-gang could defeat the Guardian. Even if he could, it would cause an uproar.

He hadn’t come here to fight the Guardian.

Since the messenger would return soon, Yi-gang decided to hold off on taking further action.

「Still, why not try speaking to it again?」

‘There was no response before.’

「They say sincerity moves heaven. Why not try asking once more?」

So, there was nothing to lose.

“Excuse me, can you hear me?”

“…”

“I didn’t come here to fight.”

“…”

“If you can understand what I’m saying, at least nod your head.”

“…”

There was still no response.

It felt like talking to a wall, so Yi-gang inwardly gave up on the conversation.

“…Guardian.”

It was at that low whispering moment.

The gaze of the Guardian fixed squarely on Yi-gang’s face, and his previously hunched posture returned to a normal stance.

It was as if all hostility had been withdrawn in an instant.

「Hmm…!」

‘What is this?’

Could he have sensed something?

Yi-gang and Zhang Sanfeng hadn’t noticed, but the Guardian’s reaction was natural.

His ability to protect the emperor while in an unconscious state was entirely due to the effect of a powerful spell.

It was a spell that responded to the emperor’s blood, compelling the Guardian to protect and follow him, and this applied to Yi-gang as well.

Although Yi-gang was not aware of it himself, he also had the blood of the imperial family from his mother.

The Guardian, responding to the imperial blood within Yi-gang, temporarily lowered his guard.

However, Yi-gang had not yet realized this underlying reason.

“I’m coming in.”

The messenger made their presence known from outside the door.

Yi-gang’s body accelerated like lightning.

Yo Myung-sa.

The fifth among the Seven Great Immortals.

She was the child of a shaman.

Born to a rather renowned shaman, she did not starve, but neither did she live an ordinary life.

Many visitors came to her mother, who was said to be possessed by a spirit.

Even Murim sects visited, attracted by her reputed spiritual power.

And so, one day, martial artists from a great sect came.

That night, her mother, dressed in white, hid young Yo Myung-sa in the attic.

-If something happens, go west. Ask your uncle for help and go west. You have talent, so he will accept you.

What was in the west, and why did her mother suddenly speak of such things?

Without any time to ask, her mother left Yo Myung-sa behind and went downstairs.

That night, Yo Myung-sa’s mother died.

It was clear that the warriors of a major sect had killed her. However, the reasons behind it and what conversations took place were unknown.

It felt like a sharp, white blade was lodged in her heart.

So, the young Yo Myung-sa went west and joined the Demon Cult.

The Demon Cult recognized Yo Myung-sa’s talents.

She was a better spirit medium than her mother.

She was taken in by the True Demon Palace Master and raised as one of the Seven Great Immortals.

Yet, the blade in her heart remained as sharp as ever.

All members of the Seven Great Immortals were exceptionally talented as sorcerers.

But among them, Yo Myung-sa’s talents were unique.

The first task of the Seven Great Immortals was to find the fragment of the Heavenly Demon’s soul, and Yo Myung-sa’s role was crucial in accomplishing this.

“Yo Myung-sa.”

“Yes, Eldest Brother.”

After keeping Yi-gang waiting, Yo Myung-sa returned to the base of the Seven Great Immortals.

Yi-ryong, who was there, frowned upon seeing Yo Myung-sa return.

“Why did you come back?”

“I came to get something.”

She cautiously gathered a few items while glancing at Yi-ryong.

Simple tea utensils, tea leaves, and white powder.

It was a type of Dream Soul Drug, which muddled a person’s mind and made them speak their inner thoughts.

Recognizing it, Yi-ryong quietly warned her.

“Investigate, but avoid taking any dangerous actions, Yo Myung-sa.”

“…”

“Answer.”

“…Yes.”

Yo Myung-sa stood at an angle where her face was hidden from Yi-ryong.

Because of this, she could hide her twisted expression.

‘Brotherhood, my foot.’

The Seven Great Immortals were bound together under the name of duty, but not everyone thought of each other warmly.

Yi-ryong, Jeok-woong, and Heuk Seok-gye treated each other like true brothers.

But not Yo Myung-sa. To her, the most important thing was herself.

Additionally, she had ambitions.

‘Once this grand task is over… I will become the… True Demon Palace’s…’

For now, she was following Yi-ryong’s command and direction, but she could not be satisfied with just that.

From the beginning, the core of this grand task was not Yi-ryong but Yo Myung-sa herself.

The True Demon Palace Vice Master had promised. If she returned, she would be given a greater role.

Moreover, the Vice Master had given Yo Myung-sa a secret hint.

That is…

“Yo Myung-sa.”

At that moment, Yi-ryong called her name again, startling her.

“Is there anything unusual about that Crown Prince’s teacher?”

Unusual?

There certainly was.

Yo Myung-sa debated whether to mention the possibility she had considered.

“…I am not sure yet.”

“I see. Got it.”

After much deliberation, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

She wasn’t certain, and even if she were, it was something she should definitely not reveal first.

Meanwhile, Yo Myung-sa picked up one more item.

It was a unique hair ornament, an antique made of sharkskin and metal decorations, used by men to tie their hair.

And inside it, there was a fragment of the Heavenly Demon’s soul.

“I’ll be back soon.”

This fragment was discovered by the Seven Great Immortals, or more precisely, by Yo Myung-sa, before coming to this imperial palace.

It was an item that should not be taken lightly or touched carelessly, even for a moment.

Clutching her pounding chest, Yo Myung-sa returned to where Yi-gang was.

“I’m coming in.”

As she was about to push the door open, Yo Myung-sa heard a clattering noise from inside the room.

She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door immediately.

“…You’re late.”

Yi-gang was sitting in the same position as when Yo Myung-sa had left.

Sitting on a chair, legs crossed, just as before.

Yo Myung-sa instinctively offered an excuse, “Ah, sorry, I’m sorry.”

What was she apologizing for being late for?

If she had observed carefully, she might have noticed that Yi-gang’s breathing was slightly rough, but Yo Myung-sa was already suspicious of a certain possibility.

If Yi-gang was indeed that person, he would certainly not be an ordinary man.

“I was preparing the tea leaves.”

She began to boil the tea water.

The tour of Huangtian Palace was roughly over, so she suggested they drink tea and wait here, but she saw this as an opportunity.

Just in case, she mixed some Dream Soul Drug powder into the tea leaves.

If Yo Myung-sa’s assumption was wrong, then she could just serve this tea.

“It seems that the Crown Prince’s teacher has earned King Gye-yeong’s trust.”

“It just happened that way.”

“So, before then…”

Yo Myung-sa began to ask about the things that had been bothering her.

She was roughly asking how Yi-gang had become the Crown Prince’s teacher.

In truth, even though the Seven Great Immortals had control over the emperor, their intelligence network was not very good.

It wasn’t just not good; it could be considered quite poor.

They had no experience in Jianghu and were also isolated here in the Forbidden City.

Normally, the Admiral Grand Eunuch of the Eastern Depot would have acted as the conduit for information, but after their relationship with him deteriorated, even that became impossible.

In other words, they had no information about King Gye-yeong among the various kings of the Forbidden City, nor about the new Crown Prince’s teacher he had appointed.

Even if Yi-gang answered in a half-heartedly fabricated manner, it would be hard to determine the truth.

“You’re a Taoist from the Azure Forest, I see.”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

At the mention of a Taoist from the Azure Forest, Yo Myung-sa displayed a puzzled expression.

She wondered if such an identity could be fabricated. Yi-gang, too, was just as puzzled.

It seemed Yo Myung-sa hadn’t thought of the Baek Noble Clan when Yi-gang mentioned he was from the Baek clan.

And in reality, that was indeed the case.

‘Is his identity prepared by the True Demon Palace as a Taoist of the Azure Forest? Is that… even possible?’

The Vice Master of the True Demon Palace had given a secret hint to Yo Myung-sa.

He had said that someday, he would send a person from the cult as an assistant, to wait for the right time.

She had been waiting, curious about who would come.

But it seemed that Yi-gang was not the person the Vice Master had mentioned.

‘A Taoist… it’s a plausible identity, but…’

The other members of the Seven Great Immortals hadn’t noticed, but Yo Myung-sa, born with the talents of a spirit medium, could sense it.

Yi-gang possessed an overwhelming spiritual energy.

It was a quality that an ordinary martial artist could never have. It was a power possible only for a genius sorcerer or someone born as a spirit medium surpassing even Yo Myung-sa.

That thought made her mind confused.

‘For now, I just need to figure it out.’

Yo Myung-sa poured the tea into a cup and handed it over.

She had a method to determine if someone was sent by the cult.

It was a bit risky to reveal this method, but if things went wrong, she could simply make him drink the tea.

“Please, drink.”

Yi-gang calmly took the teacup.

As he was about to bring the teacup to his lips…

Yo Myung-sa discreetly placed an item on the table.

It was the hair ornament containing a fragment of the Heavenly Demon’s soul.

And then.

“Do you recognize this…?”

Zzzzzzing—

Something shot out from Yi-gang’s waist with a violent vibrating sound.

It was none other than the Divine Demon Disk that Zhang Sanfeng was embedded in.

The very object that White Monkey Demonic Hand had stolen and fled with, which later came into Yi-gang’s possession, suddenly sprang out by itself.

The string tied to his waist pulled tight, and the needle, which always pointed in a mysterious direction, began spinning wildly.

In this astonishing situation…

Yi-gang, whose inner thoughts were not easily revealed, still maintained a blank expression.

This gave Yo Myung-sa a sense of certainty.

“Could it be…!”

She asked with a face that seemed both moved and shocked.

“A-Are you someone from that place?”

Yi-gang remained silent for a moment with an exceptionally cold expression, then finally spoke.

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