Chapter 258 – Beast Blood Ritual (1)

In the lead-up to the Festival of Longevity, the Emperor organized a hunting competition.

It wasn’t particularly special for the Emperor to enjoy hunting as a hobby.

Holding a hunting competition wasn’t that unusual either.

Even the notably dull and lazy Emperor had held a few hunting competitions before.

Though they were called hunting competitions, they were hardly different from pleasure trips.

The problem was that this hunting competition was held not outside the palace, but within its grounds.

As ministers, the civil and military officials naturally had to kneel before the Emperor and offer their remonstrations.

It was an act against the law and the duties of their positions.

“Please, withdraw your command,” they said.

However, due to the silence of the Senior Grand Secretary Seong Yeok-ju, many scholars and officials who followed him remained silent as well.

Seeing this, other officials also did not dare to speak up.

Thus, a preposterously outrageous event proceeded without any objection.

Although the Forbidden City was vast, not all areas were involved in the hunting competition.

Excluding the inner courts of the Earthly Tranquility Palace, Union Peace Hall, and Heavenly Purity Palace, which could be considered the interior of the Forbidden City, animals roamed around the areas of the Eastern and Western Six Palaces.

With the northern Shenwu Gate, usually kept closed, now opened, the area behind it, including Jingshan and its garden, was designated as the hunting competition zone.

“From here, to here.”

Inspector Ye from the Eastern Depot explained the layout of the Imperial Palace.

It was obviously a serious crime to draw and possess the palace’s layout, but it was absurd that the secret police of the Eastern Depot couldn’t handle it.

“The Emperor is presumed to stay in the garden after passing through the Shenwu Gate. The Seven Great Immortals tempted His Majesty by saying he should absorb the natural vitality directly from the garden.”

“Imitating the methods of the sorcerers. Yes, it’s always like that.”

“The Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guards will personally take charge of His Majesty’s security.”

“The Seven Great Immortals will be by His Majesty’s side again this time.”

“Some are staying in Huangtian Palace, but the rest are certain.”

Recruiting the Admiral Grand Eunuch was a masterstroke.

The Supreme Peak master Hu Gyeong himself refused to step forward, but thanks to that, he could now use the spy and the secret police.

King Gye-yeong looked at the layout with a serious face.

Unlike usual, he was dressed simply, not ornately. He even had a thumb ring for shooting arrows on his finger.

Most of the imperial family staying in the Forbidden City were to participate in the hunting festival. This included King Gye-yeong and his children.

He pointed his finger at the Shenwu Gate.

“There is a moat surrounding the Forbidden City. The only place leading to the northern garden, the Garden, is here at the Shenwu Gate.”

“Yes, it’s a narrow path. The Embroidered Uniform Guards will strengthen the security.”

“In case something goes wrong, we’ll need to send a rear guard here. Those who will join later…”

“We will send Section Chief-level guards. Among them are those summoned by the Crown Prince’s teacher…”

The gaze of the group briefly focused on Yi-gang.

Yi-gang too was dressed appropriately for horseback hunting.

“These are my senior brothers. They are capable enough to compete with me.”

“Then they must be trustworthy.”

King Gye-yeong had come to trust Yi-gang, but today he did not smile carelessly.

It was that critical of a situation.

「The plan itself is simple.」

As Zhang Sanfeng said, the plan could be simplified and explained easily.

‘King Gye-yeong will alienate the Seven Great Immortals from the Emperor, and martial artists, including Yi-gang, will eliminate the Seven Great Immortals all at once.’

However, executing that plan could involve countless variables.

Firstly, it might not be possible to eliminate all of the Seven Great Immortals.

In that case, any surviving members of the Seven Great Immortals could do anything.

They might plead tearfully to the Emperor, and if so, the Emperor would be furious.

Alternatively, they might despair and attempt to harm the Emperor.

But if the Emperor were to die, the repercussions would be extraordinary.

Many involved would die, perhaps even King Gye-yeong himself.

If the Emperor died, there would be numerous power-seekers ready to wield their swords in the name of upholding stern laws.

Secondly, the other ‘power players’ were the problem.

“The Imperial Crown Prince?”

“The Admiral Grand Eunuch will protect him thoroughly.”

Who was the most important person after the current Emperor?

Naturally, it would be the next Emperor.

The justification for the Admiral Grand Eunuch not participating in the plan was indeed the protection of the Imperial Crown Prince.

The current Imperial Crown Prince was the child of a concubine, not the Empress. Moreover, he had received no affection from the Gyeongmun Emperor.

“Is the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guards attached to the Third Prince?”

“Though Commander-in-Chief Bu Yeong-hu appears jovial on the outside, he is extremely cautious. He probably hasn’t pledged complete loyalty.”

On the other hand, the Third Prince was the child of the Empress.

He was strongly supported by the external family’s power and also received the majority of the Gyeongmun Emperor’s favor.

If the situation became chaotic, there might be a conflict between the factions of the Imperial Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

It was not the worst-case scenario but was still something that needed to be prepared for.

「It’s complicated, so complicated.」

It was enough to make the usually gentle Zhang Sanfeng grumble. The power struggles within the palace were not something a warrior needed to worry about.

‘It’s not our concern.’

「Indeed. Just prepare for any potential situation.」

The worst-case scenario was the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon during the event.

Others might scoff at it as nonsense, but Yi-gang and Zhang Sanfeng were preparing for just that.

When asked what the Heavenly Demon would likely do first upon revival, Zhang Sanfeng replied, ‘He’d slaughter everyone around him and head straight for Xinjiang.’

If the Heavenly Demon truly came back, Yi-gang would change his course of action—to survive and protect those around him.

Yi-gang was ready to become a sword himself.

“I will personally persuade His Majesty and make the Seven Great Immortals step down,” King Gye-yeong said confidently.

That was indeed the core of this plan.

The Seven Great Immortals were reluctant to leave the Emperor’s side, and the Emperor was not pushing them away either.

They must be removed from the Emperor’s presence to resolve everything.

“For the Festival of Longevity, I have prepared a gift.”

King Gye-yeong had prepared a box made of gold.

The value of the box alone was enormous, let alone the worth of its contents, which was incalculable.

Even Yi-gang did not know what was inside.

At least King Gye-yeong was confident this would distract the Emperor.

“Take it.”

The final review of the plan was complete.

King Gye-yeong mounted his horse, and Yi-gang did the same.

The group that would approach the Emperor’s garden with King Gye-yeong included Inspector Ye from the Eastern Depot, Master Azure Sky, and Yi-gang—a total of four.

The two would assist Yi-gang in purging the Seven Great Immortals.

Queen Yuye saw off the departing group.

“Please, take care.”

King Gye-yeong’s expression grew even more solemn.

As they approached the main gate of Yongzhao Palace, those on horseback gathered around King Gye-yeong.

Among them were the Crown Prince and the Honorable County Princess as well.

“Father!”

King Gye-yeong, as if he had never been solemn, beamed at his daughter.

“Your riding posture is quite good!”

“Hehe, because I practiced. But it feels strange riding a horse inside the palace.”

The Honorable County Princess laughed shyly.

It was originally forbidden to ride horses within the palace unless it was an urgent dispatch. Even royalty did not ride horses like this unless necessary.

The cheerful demeanor of the Honorable County Princess warmed the atmosphere in the courtyard.

Naturally, the siblings were completely unaware of today’s plan.

Yi-gang suddenly felt something was amiss.

The Honorable County Princess was so cheerful that the Crown Prince should have been even more excited, but his expression was far from happy.

He led his horse and approached Yi-gang.

He seemed to struggle with whispering to Yi-gang while still mounted, flustered.

Eventually, he dismounted and came closer to Yi-gang.

Yi-gang leaned in to listen closely.

“I… have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

The rebellious Crown Prince had given up resisting Yi-gang at some point.

That didn’t mean he had completely surrendered to Yi-gang; he simply realized that he couldn’t overpower his new master on his own.

He probably still harbored some resentment towards Yi-gang.

“I’m sorry for the disrespect I’ve shown so far.”

But today was somehow different.

The Crown Prince, who seemed unaware of how to apologize, showed a much humbler attitude.

Yi-gang responded seriously for the moment.

“It’s alright.”

“…I.”

After hesitating for a moment, the Crown Prince spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“If a dangerous situation arises, I’ll be fine, but could you please protect my sister?”

“…What do you mean by a dangerous situation?”

The Crown Prince didn’t know what might happen next.

But suddenly making such a statement made Yi-gang feel wary.

“I have a… bad feeling.”

Was it a good thing? The Crown Prince didn’t actually know anything.

But when asked why he thought so, “Father has been acting a bit strange.”

“Strange, you say…”

“He’s usually kind but… he’s been unusually kind, forcing a smile, and he’s put many guards around my sister and me.”

“…”

“It was like this once before.”

That “before” must refer to when they were very young.

When an adversary of King Gye-yeong tried to kidnap the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince knew nothing, but he had noticed the strange changes in his parents.

Parents often mistook their children for knowing nothing.

However, even young children had deep thoughts and could sensitively detect changes in their parents.

“Don’t worry. Both of you will be safe.”

“…Still.”

Yi-gang tried to reassure him, but the Crown Prince seemed even more disturbed than he had expected.

He grabbed Yi-gang’s hand and pleaded.

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Please, just save my sister if something happens.”

“…”

The Crown Prince’s hand was shockingly cold.

But his eyes were blazing intensely.

“I will repay you in whatever way I can.”

“Ha ha…”

“From now on, I will behave well. I won’t cause trouble and I will train hard.”

It seemed unrelated to Yi-gang’s benefit to have him not cause trouble and train hard.

Yet, Yi-gang couldn’t help but smile wryly and said, “Remember the Azure Dragon’s Demon-Breaking Roar.”

“…”

“Shout loudly. If I am nearby, I will definitely save both of you. Even if I’m not, my colleagues will save Her Highness and Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

Yi-gang made that promise and released the Crown Prince’s hand.

He mounted his horse again and returned to King Gye-yeong’s side.

“You seem to have gotten quite close with the Crown Prince,” King Gye-yeong said, appearing slightly surprised.

Yi-gang replied with a smile, “You have raised His Highness the Crown Prince excellently.”

“Hmm? Haha, that’s the first time I’ve heard such words.”

Even as he said this, King Gye-yeong seemed pleased.

Yi-gang and King Gye-yeong urged their horses towards Shenwu Gate, the northern gate of the Forbidden City.

Beyond that gate, in the garden, the Emperor and the Seven Great Immortals would be waiting.

And then, the garden.

To the north of the Forbidden City was a mountain called Jingshan.

Surprisingly, it was not a naturally occurring mountain.

It was an artificial mountain created by human hands, by the Emperor.

The mountain was made from the earth dug up to create the moat surrounding the Forbidden City.

The remarkable achievement of creating a mountain seemed to demonstrate the strength of the Ming Dynasty.

The Emperor was in a pavilion called the Emperor’s Longevity Hall, built on Jingshan.

The pavilion was positioned so that Jingshan, the garden, and even the distant Shenwu Gate could be clearly seen.

“Isn’t the scenery magnificent, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“Indeed, it is.”

“They say that Yi, who was known for shooting down the sun, always enjoyed hunting,” Wi Mi-hyeon whispered by the Emperor’s side, “Hunting, from ancient times, has been about taking the vitality of living things. Blood represents essence, and the circulation of essence is the secret to longevity and the foundation of inner cultivation techniques.”

“Indeed.”

The Embroidered Uniform Guards, who were supposed to protect the Emperor, were not on the pavilion.

On the pavilion were some of the Seven Great Immortals and the Guardian.

As always, the Guardian did not reveal their presence openly.

They were currently standing on the rafters of the ceiling, ready to punish anyone who might attempt to harm the Emperor at any moment.

The Emperor mumbled as if he were drunk, “Soon, King Gye-yeong Yeong-sik will arrive. Is it alright like this?”

“Haha, we can just tell them to wait in the front for a while.”

“Yes… that’s right.”

Wi Mi-hyeon continued to appease the Emperor.

Yi-ryong had been standing silently all the while.

In the past few days, his face had become noticeably gaunt.

It was likely due to the mental effort he had expended in preparing for the grand plan.

From below the pavilion, Heuk Seok-gye came up and delivered a message to Yi-ryong.

-King Gye-yeong has arrived.

-I see. Is everything prepared?

-Yes.

Then we should begin the grand plan of the Beast Blood Ritual.
Yi-ryong looked up at the Guardian.

If it weren’t for the shackles of the Guardian, he would have dealt with this long ago. Additionally, Yo Myung-sa might still be alive.

Would killing the Emperor be enough revenge against the Guardian?

“Kuh…”

Yi-ryong let out a mocking laugh. Of course, their actions were not driven by something as petty as revenge.

They moved solely for the greater cause—for the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon.

To achieve this, they had thoroughly analyzed the Guardian.

When they would move and when they wouldn’t, and how to neutralize that monster, which was nothing more than a puppet.

-Wi Mi-hyeon. The time is now.

The expression of Wi Mi-hyeon, who was beside the Emperor, slightly stiffened.

She raised her head and looked below the pavilion.

Then, as if startled, she reached out to touch the Emperor.

“Your Imperial Majesty, look over there.”

“Hmm? Oh, oh.”

“It’s a snow-white snake. A white serpent!”

Just at that moment, a white snake could be seen in the distance.

The white serpent was considered a highly auspicious spiritual creature.

“Shoot it. It is said that if you shoot and kill a white serpent, you will not age or fall ill.”

“Me? That really is a white serpent.”

Heuk Seok-gye fetched a bow that had been prepared in advance and handed it to the Emperor.

The Gyeongmun Emperor clumsily took the bow.

The Guardian remained calm.

“Can I hit it? It’s so far away.”

“Do not worry. Surely, Heaven will assist Your Imperial Majesty.”

The Gyeongmun Emperor’s archery stance was a complete mess.

Even someone holding a bow for the first time would likely do better.

Wi Mi-hyeon offered advice from the side, “You need to aim higher. The distance is quite far.”

“Like this?”

“Think of aiming at the sky, at the sun.”

“If I do it this way… it feels like I won’t hit it at all.”

The Gyeongmun Emperor aimed the bow upwards.

The Guardian remained still.

This was not an act of attempting to harm the Emperor. Moreover, the Guardian was not capable of complex thinking.

Wi Mi-hyeon glanced at Yi-ryong, and Yi-ryong nodded.

“Shoot.”

Then, the Emperor released the arrow.

Piiing—

The arrow flew into the sky.

Naturally, it was far too high to hit the white serpent.

Yi-ryong whistled.

Hoooo—

It wasn’t a sharp tune that came out, but rather a sound like the breathing of an animal in winter hibernation.

Heuk Seok-gye also whistled in response.

A low, soft wind sound resonated between them.

“Darn it…”

The Gyeongmun Emperor clicked his tongue at the dismal trajectory of the arrow.

He turned his head to look at Wi Mi-hyeon, but she too, like the other Seven Great Immortals, was just looking up at the arrow.

It was whistling without making a sound.

Whiiing—

The Gyeongmun Emperor also stared blankly at the arrow he had shot.

The arrow did not fall.

Like a leaf blowing in the wind, it swayed back and forth in the air.

Since the Embroidered Uniform Guards were not keeping watch on the sky, no one was actually looking at the arrow.

“Huh?”

At the moment the surprised Gyeongmun Emperor uttered that exclamation, the arrow changed direction.

The arrowhead pointed directly at the Gyeongmun Emperor and then descended straight down.

By the time the danger was realized, it had already gained momentum.

The arrow embedded itself into the Gyeongmun Emperor’s bulky body.

Thunk!

Blood splattered.

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